The Grandest Stage of Them All
August 4, 2017 12:26 AM Subscribe
Mueller convenes a Grand Jury while Trump tweets concern about our relationship with Russia.
Meanwhile WaPo highlights how Trump interacts with world leaders. And the criticism/testimony keeps coming. Mueller's list of people and request of records keeps growing. From Don Jr phone calls around the "adoption" meeting, to Top FBI Officials. And now we wait for indictments .
Meanwhile WaPo highlights how Trump interacts with world leaders. And the criticism/testimony keeps coming. Mueller's list of people and request of records keeps growing. From Don Jr phone calls around the "adoption" meeting, to Top FBI Officials. And now we wait for indictments .
It's the beginning of the end of the beginning.
posted by um at 12:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by um at 12:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
It was posted after 12:30 am Pacific Time so it's technically Friday's first Potus45 thread. It feels like Friday may be a busy day so I think we can be guaranteed five or six Potus45 threads.
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
It was posted after 12:30 am Pacific Time so it's technically Friday's first Potus45 thread. It feels like Friday may be a busy day so I think we can be guaranteed five or six Potus45 threads.
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
I've never gotten how "indict" sounds like "in-dight" but I'm an editor in real life and rules are rules.
Sorry Mr President.
posted by notyou at 12:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sorry Mr President.
posted by notyou at 12:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
posted by mazola at 4:31 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
It's 2017 and hope is dead. Life is a metafilter 45 thread forever. Make some tomato popcorn, call your Senator, and get some Putin jokes ready.
posted by saysthis at 12:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by mazola at 4:31 PM on August 4 [+] [!]
It's 2017 and hope is dead. Life is a metafilter 45 thread forever. Make some tomato popcorn, call your Senator, and get some Putin jokes ready.
posted by saysthis at 12:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [43 favorites]
Jeff Stein, Newsweek, How Russia Is Using LinkedIn As A Tool Of War Against Its U.S. Enemies:
Newsweek has found that pro-Moscow forces have put constant pressure on [LinkedIn] to suspend or permanently evict a number of its adversaries, many with long, distinguished careers in the U.S. military or its intelligence agencies. Not only has this muzzled credentialed critics and damaged professional reputations, but if Malcher’s suspicions were right, the Kremlin’s campaign to combat its adversaries on social media may have moved beyond cyberspace and into the streets.posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 12:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [37 favorites]
Thank you, AlexiaSky. You asked not what your thread could do for you, but...
posted by greermahoney at 12:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 12:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been busy all week demolishing a trailer at the lake. No internet. No TV.
I'm on a cheap cell phone and the first thing I get is the start of a Potus45 and "Is this the last..."
Way to give me a cardiac test...
Legit -- build a structure with limited access to all things political. If it all doesn't burn down while you're gone, it's a great vacation.
Well, back to the trenches.
posted by free f_ cat at 12:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm on a cheap cell phone and the first thing I get is the start of a Potus45 and "Is this the last..."
Way to give me a cardiac test...
Legit -- build a structure with limited access to all things political. If it all doesn't burn down while you're gone, it's a great vacation.
Well, back to the trenches.
posted by free f_ cat at 12:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?From Newsweek on 8/1:
Him (a former Republican MoC): Look. How long do you think it will be before everyone in Washington knows he’s flipping out? I don’t mean just weird. I mean really off his rocker.posted by xyzzy at 12:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Me: I don’t know.
Him: No all that long.
Me: So what are you telling me?
Him: They don’t have to plot against him. It will be obvious to everyone that he’s got to go. That’s where the twenty-fifth amendment really does comes in.
Me: So you think…
Him: Who knows? But he’s losing it fast. My betting is he’s out of office before the midterms. And Pence is president.
From the transcript of the phonecall between Trump and Turnbull, discussing asylum seeker resettlement in the US from Australian detention centres in a deal made with Obama.
posted by adept256 at 12:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [207 favorites]
Turnbull: Yes, the agreement, which the Vice-President just called the Foreign Minister about less than 24 hours ago and said your administration would be continuing, does not require you to take 2,000 people. It does not require you to take any. It requires, in return, for us to do a number of things for the United States — this is a big deal, I think we should respect deals.You fool Trump, Turnbull was trying to tell you could agree to the deal but not honour the spirit of it, and still look good. Absolutely none of this exchange helps the actual refugees, who're still now languishing in prison camps. (yes, prison camps, enough with this 'detention center' euphemism). Trump then signs off by saying colluding with Putin was more pleasant than colluding with the PM of Australia.
Trump: Who made the deal? Obama?
Turnbull: Yes, but let me describe what it is. I think it is quite consistent. I think you can comply with it. It is absolutely consistent with your executive order so please just hear me out. The obligation is for the United States to look and examine and take up to and only if they so choose — 1,250 to 2,000. Every individual is subject to your vetting. You can decide to take them or to not take them after vetting.
You can decide to take 1,000 or 100. It is entirely up to you. The obligation is to only go through the process.
...
Turnbull: You can certainly say that it was not a deal that you would have done, but you are going to stick with it.
Trump: I have no choice to say that about it. Malcolm, I am going to say that I have no choice but to honour my predecessor's deal. I will say it just that way. As far as I am concerned that is enough Malcolm. I have had it. I have been making these calls all day and this is the most unpleasant call all day. Putin was a pleasant call. This is ridiculous.
posted by adept256 at 12:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [207 favorites]
From Newsweek on 8/1:
That's just Robert Reich talking to his imaginary friend. Much like the conversation we're having here, but with less actual people.
posted by mmoncur at 12:57 AM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
I thought MeFi was all about speculative fiction! I've been lied to! ;)
posted by xyzzy at 1:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 1:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
1187 days until the next presidential election....
posted by Pendragon at 1:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
1187 days until the next presidential election....
posted by Pendragon at 1:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
1187 days until the next presidential election....
If we all agree to only allow one total comment per politic thread per day until then, this could be the final thread.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
If we all agree to only allow one total comment per politic thread per day until then, this could be the final thread.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
I promise, Joey. See you all Saturday.
posted by greermahoney at 1:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 1:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
That's just Robert Reich talking to his imaginary friend.
He says it's a former Republican MOC. So it could be his imaginary friend or it could be Joe Scarborough, a former Republican MOC whose show Reich has appeared on frequently.
posted by Justinian at 1:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
He says it's a former Republican MOC. So it could be his imaginary friend or it could be Joe Scarborough, a former Republican MOC whose show Reich has appeared on frequently.
posted by Justinian at 1:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
TWEET by Hateiohead
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
MeFites,
I had an epiphany today. Hopefully Trump will be impeached, or they Article 25 him, but maybe that's not even the best way to go about this.
If I were going to succinctly describe Trump to a martian, I'd say he's an incredibly thin-skinned bully who with a strong victim complex. Trump is a quitter, Trump is a master of cognitive dissonance. It doesn't matter whether or not he's telling the truth, the moment he says something, he treats it as true. It becomes true in his mind. His success relies on his constant re-writing of reality where he is a hero and everyone else is at fault.
The easiest way to get Trump to leave is to have him quit. He's a quitter, he's a master at giving up then changing the story after the fact. All we need to do, as citizens of the internet is to create narrative for him to grasp on to where quitting could be spun as the honorable thing to do.
What I mean is that if we organized enough trolls, bloggers, people on twitter etc to create a meme where Trump should quit as a way of protesting the corruption of Washington DC; that would give him an out. Trump doesn't want to be president anymore. He feels trapped. We need to give him an "honorable" escape hatch. How can we spin a fake movement so that he can tell himself that quitting is the right thing to do? All we need to do is provide him with a plausible justification.
Can we get someone on Fox and Friends to say something like, "The best thing the president can do is quit. That would show everyone that he was incorruptible and rejected the swamp." Plannedchaos, what are you up to right now? Trump could pretend to be a martyr and could spend the rest of his days golfing and calling in to morning news shows. We just need to clear an exit for him.
posted by Telf at 1:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [72 favorites]
I had an epiphany today. Hopefully Trump will be impeached, or they Article 25 him, but maybe that's not even the best way to go about this.
If I were going to succinctly describe Trump to a martian, I'd say he's an incredibly thin-skinned bully who with a strong victim complex. Trump is a quitter, Trump is a master of cognitive dissonance. It doesn't matter whether or not he's telling the truth, the moment he says something, he treats it as true. It becomes true in his mind. His success relies on his constant re-writing of reality where he is a hero and everyone else is at fault.
The easiest way to get Trump to leave is to have him quit. He's a quitter, he's a master at giving up then changing the story after the fact. All we need to do, as citizens of the internet is to create narrative for him to grasp on to where quitting could be spun as the honorable thing to do.
What I mean is that if we organized enough trolls, bloggers, people on twitter etc to create a meme where Trump should quit as a way of protesting the corruption of Washington DC; that would give him an out. Trump doesn't want to be president anymore. He feels trapped. We need to give him an "honorable" escape hatch. How can we spin a fake movement so that he can tell himself that quitting is the right thing to do? All we need to do is provide him with a plausible justification.
Can we get someone on Fox and Friends to say something like, "The best thing the president can do is quit. That would show everyone that he was incorruptible and rejected the swamp." Plannedchaos, what are you up to right now? Trump could pretend to be a martyr and could spend the rest of his days golfing and calling in to morning news shows. We just need to clear an exit for him.
posted by Telf at 1:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [72 favorites]
suelac (last thread): In 15 years, someone is going to write one hell of an opera about 45.
Pity that we have to suffer through these events to get there.
I am not a big opera fan but some years ago I happened on a PBS recording of Adams' Nixon In China and was enthralled from the moment Nixon walked out of the plane and sang, "History! History!" Oh yeah, that was exactly Tricky Dick. And then the wonderful part where Kissinger and Chou En-Lai and Chiang Ch'ing squirmed around the main players as Mao told a befuddled Nixon: "History is the sow who eats her young." And then poor Pat Nixon...
So if there is a Trump opera in the offing, I'm down with that, though I may not live another 15 years to see it. The warped, stupid Trump, the nasty, oily Putin, and poor Melania. Yeah, I'll pay to see that.
posted by CCBC at 1:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
Pity that we have to suffer through these events to get there.
I am not a big opera fan but some years ago I happened on a PBS recording of Adams' Nixon In China and was enthralled from the moment Nixon walked out of the plane and sang, "History! History!" Oh yeah, that was exactly Tricky Dick. And then the wonderful part where Kissinger and Chou En-Lai and Chiang Ch'ing squirmed around the main players as Mao told a befuddled Nixon: "History is the sow who eats her young." And then poor Pat Nixon...
So if there is a Trump opera in the offing, I'm down with that, though I may not live another 15 years to see it. The warped, stupid Trump, the nasty, oily Putin, and poor Melania. Yeah, I'll pay to see that.
posted by CCBC at 1:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
Yeah ok but first I want to rake through his tax returns and see him and his family squirm under the spotlight of criminal prosecutions.
posted by like_neon at 1:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by like_neon at 1:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
Yeah ok but first I want to rake through his tax returns and see him and his family squirm under the spotlight of criminal prosecutions.
posted by like_neon at 5:31 PM on August 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
Where is civil forfeiture when you need it?!
posted by saysthis at 1:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by like_neon at 5:31 PM on August 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
Where is civil forfeiture when you need it?!
posted by saysthis at 1:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
The easiest way to get Trump to leave is to have him quit.
ok but have you considered the classic and festive wicker man
posted by poffin boffin at 1:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [320 favorites]
ok but have you considered the classic and festive wicker man
posted by poffin boffin at 1:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [320 favorites]
> Plannedchaos, what are you up to right now?Promoting his book because he, like Trump, has 350 IQ and has already persuaded you to buy it.
posted by runcifex at 1:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't know why anyone would think that Trump is a quitter. He is not a quitter. He is the fucking master of extracting gold from rivers of slime. Failing casinos? That's fine. He'll just lease his names to the banks who loaned him the money to build them so they can do their damnedest to reclaim some of the investment. No American banks will lend to him anymore? That's fine. He hears that Deutsche Bank is up for anything. Scottish dude won't sell his "dumpy" little cottage, spoiling his golf course plans? He'll go on a years long campaign to smear this guy in the press, harass him legally, and try to ruin his life in town. Native Americans spoiling his plans for a development deal in NYS? That's fine, we'll collude with some mobsters to run a racist smear campaign designed by Roger Stone. Got caught talking about pussy grabbing in the middle of a Presidential campaign? That's no reason to quit. DOUBLE DOWN.
This is all out of the Roy Cohn playbook, and he follows his mentor's advice with dogged determination.
posted by xyzzy at 2:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [45 favorites]
This is all out of the Roy Cohn playbook, and he follows his mentor's advice with dogged determination.
posted by xyzzy at 2:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [45 favorites]
No one in Trump's base gives two shits about Russia. I'm from Jacksonville Florida (the heart of Trump country) and the Lynyrd Skynyrd lyric "Watergate does not bother me, does your conscience bother you?" could have been written today about "Stupid Watergate". As much fun as it is to speculate about Trump being perp-walked out of the White House, it has a next-to-zero chance of actually happening.
posted by Optamystic at 2:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 2:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Not only is Trump not a quitter, I don't think he's unhappy at all. I think, while he may not experience happiness like most of us do, he's having the time of his life.
Think about it, all his adult life he's been sure he was the smartest, most important person in the entire world. And like most narcissists, the differences between the world in his head and the real world would drive him crazy. Now there's the least amount of difference there has ever been -- the world is treating him as if he were just as important as he thinks he is. I doubt he's ever been happier.
He'll never voluntarily quit being president unless someone offers to make him King.
posted by mmoncur at 2:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Think about it, all his adult life he's been sure he was the smartest, most important person in the entire world. And like most narcissists, the differences between the world in his head and the real world would drive him crazy. Now there's the least amount of difference there has ever been -- the world is treating him as if he were just as important as he thinks he is. I doubt he's ever been happier.
He'll never voluntarily quit being president unless someone offers to make him King.
posted by mmoncur at 2:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Trump would quit tomorrow if he could guarantee people wouldn't laugh at him behind his back about it.
The dude has two failed marriages, led his companies into bankruptcy four times, been forced to fire multiple staff against his will and has not been able to carry out a campaign promise despite his political party controlling every arm of the government. Dunno about you that spells quitter to me.
posted by PenDevil at 2:24 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
The dude has two failed marriages, led his companies into bankruptcy four times, been forced to fire multiple staff against his will and has not been able to carry out a campaign promise despite his political party controlling every arm of the government. Dunno about you that spells quitter to me.
posted by PenDevil at 2:24 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
Obama’s former photographer Pete Souza is Trump’s classiest troll
I've been waiting for a new POTUS thread to mention this. It's just so tasty.
posted by chavenet at 2:33 AM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
I've been waiting for a new POTUS thread to mention this. It's just so tasty.
posted by chavenet at 2:33 AM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
He'll never voluntarily quit being president unless someone offers to make him King.
Perhaps, as self-impoverished post-Brexit Britain scrambles for a deal, whoring itself out to sheikhs and oligarchs ever more desperately, the US will offer it one: full preferential trade, larded with generous subsidies, with only one proviso: that the US President gets the title of Emperor of Britain (much in the way that Queen Victoria added Empress of India to her titles). This will be sold gently to the public, who otherwise would find it jarring: a month or two before it is officially raised, trusted talking heads in the press will start floating the idea that the US President has, for the past century, been a benevolent defacto emperor of the English-speaking world and/or the free world, and has brought great prosperity and such. The idea of the presidency's imperial dimension will reappear from multiple perspectives, engineering a sort of artificial Baader-Meinhof Effect. Then, when the great US-UK “freedom and prosperity pact” is announced, the clause establishing POTUS as Emperor over Britain, equal in stature to the Queen, will look more like a restatement of facts than anything novel.
posted by acb at 2:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
Perhaps, as self-impoverished post-Brexit Britain scrambles for a deal, whoring itself out to sheikhs and oligarchs ever more desperately, the US will offer it one: full preferential trade, larded with generous subsidies, with only one proviso: that the US President gets the title of Emperor of Britain (much in the way that Queen Victoria added Empress of India to her titles). This will be sold gently to the public, who otherwise would find it jarring: a month or two before it is officially raised, trusted talking heads in the press will start floating the idea that the US President has, for the past century, been a benevolent defacto emperor of the English-speaking world and/or the free world, and has brought great prosperity and such. The idea of the presidency's imperial dimension will reappear from multiple perspectives, engineering a sort of artificial Baader-Meinhof Effect. Then, when the great US-UK “freedom and prosperity pact” is announced, the clause establishing POTUS as Emperor over Britain, equal in stature to the Queen, will look more like a restatement of facts than anything novel.
posted by acb at 2:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
The dude has two failed marriages, led his companies into bankruptcy four times, been forced to fire multiple staff against his will and has not been able to carry out a campaign promise despite his political party controlling every arm of the government. Dunno about you that spells quitter to me.
That spells failure to me. Quitters are people who realize they're bad at something, or something isn't good for them... and quit doing it. I'm actually in favor of quitters. If I found myself elected President, I'd realize I don't have the skills for the job and I would quit for the sake of the country. Trump doesn't seem to have the class to be a quitter.
But I hope you're right and he finds a way to quit. I'll gladly eat whatever cakes are necessary for that to happen.
posted by mmoncur at 2:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
If I were hired as a lion tamer, I'd take one look at the lion and quit immediately. But Trump has always wanted to be a lion tamer! He knows he's the best at it, just like in his dreams!
The lion will eat him.
posted by adept256 at 2:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
The lion will eat him.
posted by adept256 at 2:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
The problem is that Trump sees a house cat not a lion. He doesn't even recognize the problem to quit .
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by AlexiaSky at 2:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Newsweek 3!!!: Why Trump's White House Fears April Ryan, One of America's Most Successful Black Journalists
"They thought they could pick me because I’m 'a little black woman from a little specialty media, a little black network,'" Ryan added. "But they didn't realize that black woman is strong, she is almost half a century old, and she’s been here, done that, got a T-shirt, folded it and washed it. And folks got my back."posted by Crystalinne at 2:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [84 favorites]
Paranoid, delusional people rarely grasp the fact that they are paranoid and deluded.
posted by Optamystic at 2:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 2:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
That Newsweek cover is astounding. Crazy has become so normalized that my first though on seeing that is "sick burn" instead of "what an image and message about the POTUS!" There's not a lick of political content, it's just a completely justified personal read of the guy.
posted by OmieWise at 3:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 3:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
That Newsweek cover is astounding. Crazy has become so normalized...
OK, I had been about 70/30 on that being fake, admittedly mostly due to the solar eclipse line, but no: [real] it is.
And they are really going in all snark-cannons blazing, top 4 current headlines on http://www.newsweek.com/
OK, I had been about 70/30 on that being fake, admittedly mostly due to the solar eclipse line, but no: [real] it is.
And they are really going in all snark-cannons blazing, top 4 current headlines on http://www.newsweek.com/
BAD NEWS BOTS - Has the Kremlin’s campaign to harass Putin’s critics on LinkedIn moved beyond the relative safety of the internet and into the streets?and possibly, even
Republicans: Trump’s Immigration Proposal ‘Devastating’ - That’s not exactly how it’s supposed to work.
Three Trump Appointees Owe IRS 'up to $50,000 Each' - The president himself reported no debt to the IRS, but has steadfastly refused to release his personal tax returns.
Scaramucci Memo: Obama, Clinton Press Officials React - “The memo is less insane than one would have guessed,” says a former Obama administration communications director.
Mosquito Season Is Spreading Viruses Across the U.S. - Sometimes summer really bites.posted by Buntix at 3:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
@WalshFreedom
They all lie. All politicians lie. Obama lied. Hillary lied.
Trump's at least open & honest about his lying.
@brianklaas Retweeted Joe Walsh
Ah yes, it was only a matter of time before Trump supporters would start touting Trump's pathological lying as a positive. And we've arrived
posted by chris24 at 3:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [187 favorites]
They all lie. All politicians lie. Obama lied. Hillary lied.
Trump's at least open & honest about his lying.
@brianklaas Retweeted Joe Walsh
Ah yes, it was only a matter of time before Trump supporters would start touting Trump's pathological lying as a positive. And we've arrived
posted by chris24 at 3:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [187 favorites]
ACB, I've said before that we here in the UK really could have stopped all this. If we'd just taken one for the team here, swallowed hard, and given Trump a title related to one of his golf courses or something then this would have all been avoided.
We missed a trick. Trump could have been distracted by wearing a red robe and putting Lord Trump of Golfingshire or whatever on his business cards - basically indefinitely.
posted by generichuman at 3:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
We missed a trick. Trump could have been distracted by wearing a red robe and putting Lord Trump of Golfingshire or whatever on his business cards - basically indefinitely.
posted by generichuman at 3:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
but have you considered the classic and festive wicker man
Every day, sometimes twice.
posted by corb at 3:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [54 favorites]
Every day, sometimes twice.
posted by corb at 3:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [54 favorites]
They all lie. All politicians lie. Obama lied. Hillary lied. Trump's at least open & honest about his lying.
I don't know that he's more open and honest about his lying, really. He's just worse at it.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 3:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [60 favorites]
I don't know that he's more open and honest about his lying, really. He's just worse at it.
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 3:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [60 favorites]
Trump could have been distracted by wearing a red robe and putting Lord Trump of Golfingshire or whatever, basically indefinitely.
Indefinitely, or would the hedonic-treadmill effect kick in, with him becoming habituated to his new title, as he did to the medal Saudi Arabia gave him and such. Eventually, by the end of his term, he'd have a chest covered with medals and a list of titles stretching for several pages and becoming increasingly lofty towards the end (“God-Emperor of space and time” perhaps?), bestowed by nations grateful for not being subjected to some act of petty vindictiveness.
posted by acb at 3:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Indefinitely, or would the hedonic-treadmill effect kick in, with him becoming habituated to his new title, as he did to the medal Saudi Arabia gave him and such. Eventually, by the end of his term, he'd have a chest covered with medals and a list of titles stretching for several pages and becoming increasingly lofty towards the end (“God-Emperor of space and time” perhaps?), bestowed by nations grateful for not being subjected to some act of petty vindictiveness.
posted by acb at 3:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
NYT: Police Say They Welcome Transgender Recruits Even if Trump Doesn’t
In the week since President Trump declared that transgender Americans would no longer be allowed in the military, some municipal officials have responded with an invitation: join our police force instead. Several cities — including Houston; Austin, Tex.; Aurora, Colo.; and Cincinnati — have encouraged transgender people to apply to their police departments. In Austin, San Diego, Seattle and other places, transgender officers already serve openly.posted by chris24 at 3:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [82 favorites]
“If you are dismissed from our military because of who you are, know that you are welcome in the city of Cincinnati and our police department,” Chris Seelbach, a city councilman, said at a protest last Wednesday in response to Mr. Trump’s announcement. ...
Mayor Steve Adler of Austin, a Democrat, posted his own series of three tweets, inviting transgender people dismissed or rejected from the military to apply to the Austin Police Department. “If you’re qualified to keep our country safe you’re qualified to keep Austin safe,” he wrote, adding, “Austin is the safest big city in Texas partly because we know our differences make us a stronger community.” ...
Chief Art Acevedo of the Houston Police Department weighed in soon after Mr. Adler. "If you served honorably @USArmy, @USNavy, @USMC, @USCG or @usairforce & want 2 continue serving, join us @houstonpolice. We're about heart!"
And the morning after Mr. Trump’s announcement, Chief Nick Metz of the Aurora Police Department in Colorado tweeted, “If US Military wont take U, @AuroraPD will!”
Every time I read POTUS45, it makes me think of a beer made with oatmeal instead of hops. A really bad beer.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:03 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:03 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's ironic this person thinks only people who are fluent in English can be Americans.
posted by adept256 at 4:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 4:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
We've covered this yet?
Russian Oligarch Money Connects to GOP Campaigns
During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators. Mitch McConnell was the top recipient of Blavatnik's donations, collecting $2.5 million for his GOP Senate Leadership Fund under the names of two of Blavatnik's holding companies, Access Industries and AI Altep Holdings, according to Federal Election Commission documents and OpenSecrets.org.
Marco Rubio's Conservative Solutions PAC and his Florida First Project received $1.5 million through Blavatnik's two holding companies. Other high dollar recipients of funding from Blavatnik were PACS representing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at $1.1 million, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham at $800,000, Ohio Governor John Kasich at $250,000 and Arizona Senator John McCain at $200,000.
posted by leotrotsky at 4:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
Russian Oligarch Money Connects to GOP Campaigns
During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonid "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators. Mitch McConnell was the top recipient of Blavatnik's donations, collecting $2.5 million for his GOP Senate Leadership Fund under the names of two of Blavatnik's holding companies, Access Industries and AI Altep Holdings, according to Federal Election Commission documents and OpenSecrets.org.
Marco Rubio's Conservative Solutions PAC and his Florida First Project received $1.5 million through Blavatnik's two holding companies. Other high dollar recipients of funding from Blavatnik were PACS representing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at $1.1 million, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham at $800,000, Ohio Governor John Kasich at $250,000 and Arizona Senator John McCain at $200,000.
posted by leotrotsky at 4:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
The easiest way to get Trump to leave is to have him quit. He's a quitter, he's a master at giving up then changing the story after the fact. All we need to do, as citizens of the internet is to create narrative for him to grasp on to where quitting could be spun as the honorable thing to do.All we need to do is organize a massive effort of emotional labor to ensure that this white man's feelings aren't hurt and maybe they will go away and not hurt us anymore.
Fuck that. We are not a nation of abused spouses. Drag him kicking and screaming from the distinguished office. Humiliate him. Jail him. Let him know that he failed. Let every person who supported him know that this was colossal mistake. Let it be clear. Let it be obvious. The last thing that needs to be protected are his feelings.
posted by bl1nk at 4:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [181 favorites]
They all lie. All politicians lie. Obama lied. Hillary lied.
So cynic. Very realist. Much hardened Leninist operative. Wow.
posted by adamgreenfield at 4:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
So cynic. Very realist. Much hardened Leninist operative. Wow.
posted by adamgreenfield at 4:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
Fuck that. We are not a nation of abused spouses. Drag him kicking and screaming from the distinguished office. Humiliate him.
Don't forget the long terms in federal prison!
Jail.
Oh, right. [drinks more coffee]
posted by entropicamericana at 4:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
Don't forget the long terms in federal prison!
Jail.
Oh, right. [drinks more coffee]
posted by entropicamericana at 4:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
Don't forget the long terms in federal prison!
As a rich white man, that just means he'll get to play much more golf.
posted by acb at 4:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
As a rich white man, that just means he'll get to play much more golf.
posted by acb at 4:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
bl1nk,
You misunderstood. I don't care about his feelings. I'm just saying, it'd be easier to get him out if you tricked him into believing it was his idea to quit the whole time.
Not everything is emotional labor.
posted by Telf at 4:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
You misunderstood. I don't care about his feelings. I'm just saying, it'd be easier to get him out if you tricked him into believing it was his idea to quit the whole time.
Not everything is emotional labor.
posted by Telf at 4:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Apparently, the Orange One dragged out-of-mothballs Hilary's emails during an appearance in West Virginia yesterday. The crowd responded with loud cheers of "Lock her up!" They still eat it up.
I have a real fear shit will get very, very ugly if the investigation gets anywhere near Trump.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
I have a real fear shit will get very, very ugly if the investigation gets anywhere near Trump.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
I'm still amazed at the solidarity of the Republicans in the face of Trumps abject incompetence and pretty obvious mental incapacity. What is it going to take before they finally break?
posted by octothorpe at 4:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 4:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
Any indication that tax cuts and war with Iran are off the table.
posted by adamgreenfield at 4:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 4:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
It might be easier to get him out by persuading him it's his idea (though I doubt it, given the 'news' sources he is actually attentive to). It's still not the best way because he absolutely deserves, at this point, to be impeached and prosecuted and, if these things are impossible, to at least suffer the humiliation of losing spectacularly in the next elections he cares about. It will be better for America, in the long run, for the political and legal system to demonstrate that governing like a cross between Caligula and Scrooge McDuck has consequences. Focusing on persuading him to step down implies that ordinary people really have no power at all in the system and that's a bad message to send. Maybe Roman senators had to desperately try to persuade bad emperors to go quietly. America is not supposed to be like that.
posted by Aravis76 at 4:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Aravis76 at 4:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
I'm just saying, it'd be easier to get him out if you tricked him into believing it was his idea to quit the whole time.
I don't want to signup for a future where he gets to walk around on chat shows talking about how awesome he was and how the witchhunt was so unfair. I don't want a future where Jared and Don Jr. get to continue to conduct shady deals and the idea of Trump quitting gives everyone a polite veneer to ignore any crimes that existed.
I want justice for the hundreds of immigrants who had valid visas and Green Cards who were forced to leave because of Trump's travel ban. I want vindication for the minorities and women who have been harassed since Trump came to power and empowered MAGAheads to be assholes to their neighbors and fellow citizens.
I realize you're proposing what has been an easier path, a path that was trod by Nixon before Trump. I know it's probably going to achieve a certain set of results faster than the scorched earth approach that I'm advocating. I'm saying that your certain set of results are not enough.
posted by bl1nk at 4:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [108 favorites]
I don't want to signup for a future where he gets to walk around on chat shows talking about how awesome he was and how the witchhunt was so unfair. I don't want a future where Jared and Don Jr. get to continue to conduct shady deals and the idea of Trump quitting gives everyone a polite veneer to ignore any crimes that existed.
I want justice for the hundreds of immigrants who had valid visas and Green Cards who were forced to leave because of Trump's travel ban. I want vindication for the minorities and women who have been harassed since Trump came to power and empowered MAGAheads to be assholes to their neighbors and fellow citizens.
I realize you're proposing what has been an easier path, a path that was trod by Nixon before Trump. I know it's probably going to achieve a certain set of results faster than the scorched earth approach that I'm advocating. I'm saying that your certain set of results are not enough.
posted by bl1nk at 4:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [108 favorites]
bl1nk,
I understand your point better now. Yes. My gut agrees with you, but I'm trying to imagine how the damage could be minimized at this point.
I was just wondering how we might get him out and begin the process of rebuilding. Marshall Plan over Treaty of Versailles if you catch my meaning. I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal. We can't keep on opening up the same wounds, their are too many American who'd see severe prosecution as a vindication of their fears about deep state, elite coastal liberals.
I think that just getting him to abdicate would leave a cleaner wound for us to suture.
posted by Telf at 5:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I understand your point better now. Yes. My gut agrees with you, but I'm trying to imagine how the damage could be minimized at this point.
I was just wondering how we might get him out and begin the process of rebuilding. Marshall Plan over Treaty of Versailles if you catch my meaning. I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal. We can't keep on opening up the same wounds, their are too many American who'd see severe prosecution as a vindication of their fears about deep state, elite coastal liberals.
I think that just getting him to abdicate would leave a cleaner wound for us to suture.
posted by Telf at 5:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
He's not a king. He doesn't get to abdicate. If he resigns, prosecution for any crimes he's committed should still be on the table.
posted by Aravis76 at 5:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Aravis76 at 5:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [41 favorites]
I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal.
Obama did that with Dubya and look where it got us.
posted by winna at 5:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
Obama did that with Dubya and look where it got us.
posted by winna at 5:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
Wittes on NPR: "I'm not a lawyer--I'm a sort of fake lawyer."
posted by box at 5:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 5:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Seth Abramson on the grand jury news, pointing out that there are now two grand juries, and making a distinction between how state and federal grand juries work.
For those averse to twitter, there is also this thread over on Daily Kos.
posted by zueod at 5:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
For those averse to twitter, there is also this thread over on Daily Kos.
posted by zueod at 5:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Everyone needs to think long and hard about whether you really want Trump gone or not. Remember...That would put Mike Pence in the Oval Office. And, he's someone who Congress can absolutely work with, minus all the strurm und drang.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 5:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Okay, a Grand Jury. I've tried to work out what that actually means for all of this. Federal Grand Juries (apparently there's a state one already for the Flynn case? Or was that federal as well?) are investigative bodies, so this is a way to get documents and evidence in favour of indictment. There's no defence attorneys present, so it's just a bunch of people who nod and agree the prosecutors speaking to them have a case that warrants indictment.
Can you indict a sitting president? I think so, but you can't actually try him until he gets impeached. We've sat and watched the system continually fail to impeach him so far, but perhaps this process will generate enough results to finally make the administration radioactive to the GOP. I mean, it took so long to get here, we can only hope that it's because they're lining up a head-shot.
But of course it won't be neat. They're going to bring people in who appear to be pathologically incapable of telling the truth in public. These people are going to testify on the record and under oath, despite having slithered out of that obligation thus far. We're likely going to see a barrage of federal perjury cases, and this whole situation is going to be a daily cat-and-mouse game both on the Trump front and on the Putin front.
Can you indict a sitting president? I think so, but you can't actually try him until he gets impeached. We've sat and watched the system continually fail to impeach him so far, but perhaps this process will generate enough results to finally make the administration radioactive to the GOP. I mean, it took so long to get here, we can only hope that it's because they're lining up a head-shot.
But of course it won't be neat. They're going to bring people in who appear to be pathologically incapable of telling the truth in public. These people are going to testify on the record and under oath, despite having slithered out of that obligation thus far. We're likely going to see a barrage of federal perjury cases, and this whole situation is going to be a daily cat-and-mouse game both on the Trump front and on the Putin front.
Hold on to yer butts!posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 5:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
> I'm still amazed at the solidarity of the Republicans in the face of Trumps abject incompetence and pretty obvious mental incapacity...
Leotrotsky's comment/link certainly indicates both an amazing yet ordinary reason for that solidarity. BTW, have the hacked RNC emails ever been leaked?
posted by klarck at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Leotrotsky's comment/link certainly indicates both an amazing yet ordinary reason for that solidarity. BTW, have the hacked RNC emails ever been leaked?
posted by klarck at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
The crowd responded with loud cheers of "Lock her up!" They still eat it up.
His supporters are primarily motivated by bigotry, including misogyny.
posted by OmieWise at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
His supporters are primarily motivated by bigotry, including misogyny.
posted by OmieWise at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
Can we NOT relitigate the argument over Pence or Trump: which is worse. The upshot being Trump is more dangerous to the world, Pence to the country.
posted by rikschell at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 5:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [49 favorites]
Everyone needs to think long and hard about whether you really want Trump gone or not.
No, we don't.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [94 favorites]
No, we don't.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [94 favorites]
Pence would be an empty suit placeholder like Gerald Ford, especially if Trump's fall implicated the Republican party organization as a whole and its operatives as colluders along the way. There's no inevitable law of history that dictates how any of this has to go down, regardless what certain stripes of Marxists, Christian Dominionists, right and left Social Darwinist New Atheists, Randian libertarians, and true acolytes of neoliberal, Straussian ideology may think.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:29 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 5:29 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
The upshot being Trump is more dangerous to the world, Pence to the country.
Yeah, I keep forgetting about those pesky launch codes.
posted by Optamystic at 5:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah, I keep forgetting about those pesky launch codes.
posted by Optamystic at 5:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Plus, all the circus about 45's ouster will be playing out during the mid-terms. How that's reflected in the elections is to some extent unknown, and to some extent up to the Dems, but the chances of a Pence presidency weakened not only by the legacy of the awfulness but by truculent legislators as well are far from zero.
In the end, though, 45 is a clear and present danger to us all. He must go, and the consequences dealt with.
posted by Devonian at 5:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
In the end, though, 45 is a clear and present danger to us all. He must go, and the consequences dealt with.
posted by Devonian at 5:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
>I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal.
Yeah, if by 'heal' you mean 'do the same thing again only with Kid Rock or whatever other criminally incompetent right-wing-talk-radio-educated jackass they have waiting in the wings.'
Salt. The. Fucking. Earth.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [144 favorites]
Yeah, if by 'heal' you mean 'do the same thing again only with Kid Rock or whatever other criminally incompetent right-wing-talk-radio-educated jackass they have waiting in the wings.'
Salt. The. Fucking. Earth.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 5:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [144 favorites]
This was the lead story on the BBC News this lunchtime, which in these times of Brexit, terrorism, a forever-stumbling UK government, the start of the football season in a football-fixated country, and many of our high rise buildings turning out to be fatally dangerous, is something.
Looking at the betting markets - where people are risking their money - there is some movement towards Trump leaving office sooner rather than later, but it's not conclusive.
posted by Wordshore at 5:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Looking at the betting markets - where people are risking their money - there is some movement towards Trump leaving office sooner rather than later, but it's not conclusive.
posted by Wordshore at 5:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
What if they left Trump in office, but took away twitter and all the evil assholes around him?
posted by yoga at 5:44 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by yoga at 5:44 AM on August 4, 2017
Pence would be an empty suit placeholder like Gerald Ford, especially if Trump's fall implicated the Republican party organization as a whole and its operatives as colluders along the way.
Here's some January background:
Vice President Pence to headline Koch grassroots eventHe's no empty suit. He's the second team.
WASHINGTON — Vice President Pence will address hundreds of grassroots activists affiliated with conservative billionaire Charles Koch later this month, network officials announced Friday — the latest measure of increased cooperation between one of the country's biggest political financiers and the Trump administration.
Pence will headline Americans for Prosperity's annual "Defending the American Dream Summit" on Aug. 19 in Richmond, Va. As many as 600 people are expected to attend.
Pence, a former Indiana governor and congressman, has longstanding ties to the network, but this is the first time he plans to publicly address a Koch gathering since ascending to the vice presidency.
Vice President Pence's hawkish tone on Russia contrasts with Trump approachBiding his time.
Jarrod Agen, deputy chief of staff to Pence, insisted that Trump and Pence were “completely aligned” on Russia.
“It was the president’s decision to send the vice president to the region. It was the president’s decision to deliver the message that the vice president delivered,” Agen told Reuters.
He added that Pence and Trump spoke every day during his trip and sometimes multiple times a day.
The disconnect between Pence and Trump on Russia is an anomaly. Pence usually goes to lengths to emphasize his loyalty to his boss and to downplay any differences.
Here's some January background:
The Radical Crusade of Mike Penceposted by tilde at 5:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
He's trampled on the rights of women, LGBTQ folks and the poor. Then there's the incompetence. Meet, quite possibly, the next president.
During his time as Indiana governor, Mike Pence made a name for himself as virulently anti-abortion and anti-LGBT.
By Stephen Rodrick
January 23, 2017
So what do we know about Pence? The governor benefited greatly from the wall-to-wall "Trump is a crazy monkey throwing feces" media coverage during the fall campaign, in that his record was undercovered, but it's out there and suggests that his impact as vice president will screw African-Americans, women, the poor and any other square peg in round America. His concerns for the parts of Indiana outside his comfort zone toggled between disinterest and disdain.
And here's the frightening thing: Unlike his boss, Mike Pence has an actual ideology. Pence proclaimed at the 2016 GOP convention that "I am a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order." However, his actual record – including turning down up to $80 million in federal pre-K funding – is the antithesis of Jesus' "whatever you do for one of the least of my brothers, you do for me" theology.
Actual question:
What are the consequences for people like Flynn and Kushner who keep amending their disclosure forms? I work on investigations, but prior to law enforcement getting involved, and our General Counsel has made it reasonably clear to me that if someone repays the money we think they took by fraud, it kind of takes the wind out of law enforcement's sails. So what is the liability regarding the amended forms?
posted by OmieWise at 5:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
What are the consequences for people like Flynn and Kushner who keep amending their disclosure forms? I work on investigations, but prior to law enforcement getting involved, and our General Counsel has made it reasonably clear to me that if someone repays the money we think they took by fraud, it kind of takes the wind out of law enforcement's sails. So what is the liability regarding the amended forms?
posted by OmieWise at 5:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Everyone needs to think long and hard about whether you really want Trump gone or not. Remember...That would put Mike Pence in the Oval Office. And, he's someone who Congress can absolutely work with, minus all the strurm und drang.
I've thought about it long and hard and then I thought about it longer and harder:
Get that fucker out and then we can worry about Pence.
posted by lydhre at 5:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [55 favorites]
I've thought about it long and hard and then I thought about it longer and harder:
Get that fucker out and then we can worry about Pence.
posted by lydhre at 5:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [55 favorites]
What if they left Trump in office, but took away twitter and all the evil assholes around him?
Kelly has done the twitter part:
Kelly has done the twitter part:
Something Weird Is Happening With President Trump's Twitterposted by tilde at 5:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Matt Novak
40 minutes ago Filed to: PRESIDENT TRUMP
But here at Gizmodo we can’t help but notice that something is a little different this week. The president’s Twitter feed has become, dare we say, restrained?
Yes, “restrained” is all relative, and there’s always the danger of saying that Donald Trump is “pivoting” at the precise moment that he shows us he’s the same man he always was. But there’s a noticeable change in his tweets from the past few days.Toyota & Mazda to build a new $1.6B plant here in the U.S.A. and create 4K new American jobs. A great investment in American manufacturing!Notice anything strange? Yes, Trump is still tweeting out things in a bombastic manner that would be considered ridiculous by normal presidential standards. But if you look at his most recent tweets, there is a lot less attacking of his “enemies” and a lot more emphasis on what he sees as positive developments. And it’s been happening all week.
Point of order: Trump's base will get sick of Pence quickly.
Where's the outrageous "Only I can save you" crap talking? What is with all the Jesus stuff? This guy is about half as orange as he should be. Okay, I'll give you that the hair is weird . . . etc.
posted by petebest at 5:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Where's the outrageous "Only I can save you" crap talking? What is with all the Jesus stuff? This guy is about half as orange as he should be. Okay, I'll give you that the hair is weird . . . etc.
posted by petebest at 5:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal.
Obama did that with Dubya and look where it got us.
Salt. The. Fucking. Earth.
Yeah, I'm on team tear the rot out at the root and cauterize the gaping, sucking hole with a white hot iron so we can be fucking done with it, but only because I think that level of conflict is probably inevitable now. Like anytime we're cauterizing gangrenous limbs, it's probably civil war time.
But this has got to fucking stop. One third of the country abusing the rest is not a sustainable situation. We have to do better. We've needed to do better for a long fucking time (Jesus CHRIST, the NAACP issued a travel warning for one of the states, and my reaction was just "yup that sounds right"), but these people are pushing it to the point of no return.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [80 favorites]
Obama did that with Dubya and look where it got us.
Salt. The. Fucking. Earth.
Yeah, I'm on team tear the rot out at the root and cauterize the gaping, sucking hole with a white hot iron so we can be fucking done with it, but only because I think that level of conflict is probably inevitable now. Like anytime we're cauterizing gangrenous limbs, it's probably civil war time.
But this has got to fucking stop. One third of the country abusing the rest is not a sustainable situation. We have to do better. We've needed to do better for a long fucking time (Jesus CHRIST, the NAACP issued a travel warning for one of the states, and my reaction was just "yup that sounds right"), but these people are pushing it to the point of no return.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [80 favorites]
Vice President Pence to headline Koch grassroots event
"Koch grassroots" is the most oxymoronic phrase I've heard in awhile.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 5:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [92 favorites]
"Koch grassroots" is the most oxymoronic phrase I've heard in awhile.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 5:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [92 favorites]
Get that fucker out and then we can worry about Pence.
Also this. We assembled a world-destroying military capability and then we gave the keys to a malignant narcissist who is edging towards dementia. We sort of have a moral obligation to the entire species to get him the hell away from the drones and the launch codes as soon as fucking possible.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
Also this. We assembled a world-destroying military capability and then we gave the keys to a malignant narcissist who is edging towards dementia. We sort of have a moral obligation to the entire species to get him the hell away from the drones and the launch codes as soon as fucking possible.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
Kelly has done the twitter part:
I don't doubt that Kelly has had an effect. The question is whether it will last. Trump seems to love generals (strong men to him) and it wouldn't surprise me if at least in the short term he's playing good and listening more than he has before. Wouldn't surprise me if there is some psychological daddy authoritarian crap in there as well. He probably is enjoying 'his General' and even proud of himself for getting a General so close to him.
It's the honeymoon period.
posted by Jalliah at 5:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
I don't doubt that Kelly has had an effect. The question is whether it will last. Trump seems to love generals (strong men to him) and it wouldn't surprise me if at least in the short term he's playing good and listening more than he has before. Wouldn't surprise me if there is some psychological daddy authoritarian crap in there as well. He probably is enjoying 'his General' and even proud of himself for getting a General so close to him.
It's the honeymoon period.
posted by Jalliah at 5:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
So, do we know who this Grand Jury is tasked with investigating, exactly? We know what they are investigating, but I can see us all getting very excited about an indictment for Trump only to find that we get indictments for Kushner, Don Jr., Manafort, Priebus, the whole clowncar of deplorables, but Trump somehow maintains plausible deniability (because he is, after all, an idiot being openly manipulated by people who are slightly less idiotic).
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just want to say that there are 2 things beans that came up late in the last thread that I think merit further examination by the brilliant hive mind:
1. The coal topic, highlighting the distinction between met coal and thermo coal & met coal's relationship to the steel industry, to Appalachia economic health, and to PAC $ generation.
(Yesterday I saw a sticker on an SUV that said "Friends of Coal". It *is* NC, but coinkydink?)
2. The daylighting comments about ALEC. This is why ALEC fight so hard for balanced budget amendments in the states and nationally. Even if the populace decides they've had enough of conservative policies, a balanced budget amendment prevents any government from enacting liberal policies. THIS. THIS. THIS.
(Which again circles back to the covert petri dish of NC I keep harping about: The worrying thing is that we've seen that once given power, Republican legislators will burrow into the state like parasites to keep their seat margins ridiculously high. North Carolina for instance.
.)
We should keep a wary eye on these seeds for course correction going forward.
posted by yoga at 6:00 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
1. The coal topic, highlighting the distinction between met coal and thermo coal & met coal's relationship to the steel industry, to Appalachia economic health, and to PAC $ generation.
(Yesterday I saw a sticker on an SUV that said "Friends of Coal". It *is* NC, but coinkydink?)
2. The daylighting comments about ALEC. This is why ALEC fight so hard for balanced budget amendments in the states and nationally. Even if the populace decides they've had enough of conservative policies, a balanced budget amendment prevents any government from enacting liberal policies. THIS. THIS. THIS.
(Which again circles back to the covert petri dish of NC I keep harping about: The worrying thing is that we've seen that once given power, Republican legislators will burrow into the state like parasites to keep their seat margins ridiculously high. North Carolina for instance.
.)
We should keep a wary eye on these seeds for course correction going forward.
posted by yoga at 6:00 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
Point of order: Trump's base will get sick of Pence quickly.
So what? He's in. He'll never hold a damned public event again, and will continue the work he's been doing without an orange Cheeto of a Pinocchio with the @POTUS twitter for him to grin and bear.
So what? He's in. He'll never hold a damned public event again, and will continue the work he's been doing without an orange Cheeto of a Pinocchio with the @POTUS twitter for him to grin and bear.
Trump's Cabinet Is Allegedly Holding Bible Study In The White House, & It's Probably Not OKposted by tilde at 6:00 AM on August 4, 2017 [66 favorites]
By Karen Fratti 3 days ago
According to a report from the Christian Broadcast Network on Monday, Trump's Cabinet is allegedly holding Bible study every week in the White House. Vice President Mike Pence, Betsy DeVos, Jeff Sessions, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price are among the attendees of the Bible study, which is taught by Capitol Ministries' Ralph Drollinger.
[...]
Lawmakers are allowed to practice any religion they want to, but the teachings of Drollinger and Capitol Ministries are extremely far right and evangelical. And it appears that the organization hopes to affect policy on a broader level, though its website states that it "stay[s] away from politics." Nevertheless, Drollinger has said that watching politicians spread the word of God pleases him.
He said of Sessions:He’ll go out the same day I teach him something and I’ll see him do it on camera and I just think, ‘Wow, these guys are faithful, available and teachable,’ and they’re at Bible study every week they’re in town.’Drollinger also holds some controversial views, especially regarding women and LGBT people. Drollinger believes that it is "sinful" for a female lawmaker to have children at home, especially if they are commuting to and from their respective state capitols and home. He also believes that homosexuality is an "abomination," and that Catholicism is a false religion.
It's unnerving to think of top Cabinet members, including the Vice President, being taught those sorts of lessons — especially since Trump campaigned on the idea that he supported the LGBTQ community and women, though his recent policy and speeches make it clear that that's not the case.
My theory is that there has been a soft coup, and Kelly is the prison guard.
posted by No Robots at 6:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by No Robots at 6:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
I have a real fear shit will get very, very ugly if the investigation gets anywhere near Trump.
This morning NPR played an excerpt from his speech in which Trump told his supporters, in addition to the usual "witch hunt" nonsense, that the investigation was a way to cheat them out of their choice of leader. It was chilling stuff. And the existence of the grand jury means the investigation is already near him and, more importantly, his finances.
posted by Gelatin at 6:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
This morning NPR played an excerpt from his speech in which Trump told his supporters, in addition to the usual "witch hunt" nonsense, that the investigation was a way to cheat them out of their choice of leader. It was chilling stuff. And the existence of the grand jury means the investigation is already near him and, more importantly, his finances.
posted by Gelatin at 6:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
I think Kelly having any effect on Trump is going to depend entirely on whether he's good at letting Trump think he's the one giving the orders (cause Trump gets to cosplay powerful Pres ordering Generals all day) and how deft he is at navigating the Bannon wing in 'office politics from hell edition.'
No idea if he is.
posted by Jalliah at 6:07 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've never gotten how "indict" sounds like "in-dight" but I'm an editor in real life and rules are rules.
It was endite for centuries until Latin-based spelling reform had its way. That spelling reform, begun in the 1500s, is also the reason for most of the silent Bs and Ss in English (dout to doubt to emphasize the link to dubitare, iland to island to emphasize the link to insula).
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:07 AM on August 4, 2017 [99 favorites]
It was endite for centuries until Latin-based spelling reform had its way. That spelling reform, begun in the 1500s, is also the reason for most of the silent Bs and Ss in English (dout to doubt to emphasize the link to dubitare, iland to island to emphasize the link to insula).
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:07 AM on August 4, 2017 [99 favorites]
Drollinger believes that it is "sinful" for a female lawmaker to have children at home, especially if they are commuting to and from their respective state capitols and home. He also believes that homosexuality is an "abomination," and that Catholicism is a false religion.
It's unnerving to think of top Cabinet members, including the Vice President, being taught those sorts of lessons.
It's less unnerving than predictable preaching to the choir. What's unnerving is glassy-eyed fanatics like these being in positions of power.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:08 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
It's unnerving to think of top Cabinet members, including the Vice President, being taught those sorts of lessons.
It's less unnerving than predictable preaching to the choir. What's unnerving is glassy-eyed fanatics like these being in positions of power.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:08 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
and that Catholicism is a false religion
Okay, so: Sessions, Pence (a former Catholic!), DeVos (for sure definitely thinks this already), Pompeo, Price are all open to the Pope being the antichrist etc...
Bannon, Mulvaney, dear departed Spicer, Ryan, are all devout (or think they are devout) Catholics, and are all raging antisemites.
Ivanka and Jared, and Gary Cohn: all Jews
But the one thing they can all agree on is that Muslims are the worst.
I'm generally a pretty live and let live, sanguine, non-asshole atheist but man am I tempted to make some remarks about religion as a concept here. (But go on secretly thinking that the people you have to work with are deluded agents of Satan, y'all. I'm sure it does wonders for team-building.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:08 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
Okay, so: Sessions, Pence (a former Catholic!), DeVos (for sure definitely thinks this already), Pompeo, Price are all open to the Pope being the antichrist etc...
Bannon, Mulvaney, dear departed Spicer, Ryan, are all devout (or think they are devout) Catholics, and are all raging antisemites.
Ivanka and Jared, and Gary Cohn: all Jews
But the one thing they can all agree on is that Muslims are the worst.
I'm generally a pretty live and let live, sanguine, non-asshole atheist but man am I tempted to make some remarks about religion as a concept here. (But go on secretly thinking that the people you have to work with are deluded agents of Satan, y'all. I'm sure it does wonders for team-building.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:08 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
>I think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal.
Uh, we tried that before. It's why Reconstruction got killed and why we're only now removing Confederate flags and statutes.
This scandal makes Watergate look like a school play. It is much deeper and more traitorous. We need to show the Nazis the door.
Yeah, I'm on team tear the rot out at the root and cauterize the gaping, sucking hole with a white hot iron so we can be fucking done with it, but only because I think that level of conflict is probably inevitable now. Like anytime we're cauterizing gangrenous limbs, it's probably civil war time.
But this has got to fucking stop. One third of the country abusing the rest is not a sustainable situation. We have to do better. We've needed to do better for a long fucking time (Jesus CHRIST, the NAACP issued a travel warning for one of the states, and my reaction was just "yup that sounds right"), but these people are pushing it to the point of no return.
Let's not get too over the top here. The solution is to remove the bilious lies that are pouring forth and brainwashing our fellow citizens. Turn off the bullshit spigot and the ship can start righting itself.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Uh, we tried that before. It's why Reconstruction got killed and why we're only now removing Confederate flags and statutes.
This scandal makes Watergate look like a school play. It is much deeper and more traitorous. We need to show the Nazis the door.
Yeah, I'm on team tear the rot out at the root and cauterize the gaping, sucking hole with a white hot iron so we can be fucking done with it, but only because I think that level of conflict is probably inevitable now. Like anytime we're cauterizing gangrenous limbs, it's probably civil war time.
But this has got to fucking stop. One third of the country abusing the rest is not a sustainable situation. We have to do better. We've needed to do better for a long fucking time (Jesus CHRIST, the NAACP issued a travel warning for one of the states, and my reaction was just "yup that sounds right"), but these people are pushing it to the point of no return.
Let's not get too over the top here. The solution is to remove the bilious lies that are pouring forth and brainwashing our fellow citizens. Turn off the bullshit spigot and the ship can start righting itself.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Bannon...
...might be a Catholic, however I think he and the current Pope might have a few ideological differences.
posted by PenDevil at 6:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
...might be a Catholic, however I think he and the current Pope might have a few ideological differences.
posted by PenDevil at 6:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Everyone needs to think long and hard about whether you really want Trump gone or not. Remember...That would put Mike Pence in the Oval Office. And, he's someone who Congress can absolutely work with, minus all the strurm und drang.
I like the idea of the impeachment process dragging out until after the next Congress is seated. Not only would that continue to humiliate and frustrate Trump, and continue to tie his malfeasance and treason to the Republican Party in general, but also it seems likely that the House at least might flip to Democratic control. With one house of Congress in Pence's hands, there's a limit to the damage Pence can do.
(Yes, he'll appoint Federalist Society ideologues to the Federal bench, but Trump is already doing that, so I consider it a push.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I like the idea of the impeachment process dragging out until after the next Congress is seated. Not only would that continue to humiliate and frustrate Trump, and continue to tie his malfeasance and treason to the Republican Party in general, but also it seems likely that the House at least might flip to Democratic control. With one house of Congress in Pence's hands, there's a limit to the damage Pence can do.
(Yes, he'll appoint Federalist Society ideologues to the Federal bench, but Trump is already doing that, so I consider it a push.)
posted by Gelatin at 6:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can we just start putting "If Trump goes, Pence will be President" in the actual posts so people don't feel so compelled to point it out every time?
posted by Etrigan at 6:14 AM on August 4, 2017 [46 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 6:14 AM on August 4, 2017 [46 favorites]
So if there's a far-right Bible study class in the WH every week, what's its legal status? What must the WH tell us about it if we ask? Most things in there have defined transparency or secrecy status. Does any meeting between principals have to be minuted, and if so what is the status of those minutes?
Would like to see some sunlight through the (shit) stained glass windows of the WH chapel, pls.
posted by Devonian at 6:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Would like to see some sunlight through the (shit) stained glass windows of the WH chapel, pls.
posted by Devonian at 6:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Pence is evil, predictable, and capable of feeling a certain amount of shame. Trump is evil, unpredictable, and is not capable of feeling shame.
I'd prefer the former over the later if those are my only two choices.
posted by Tevin at 6:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
I'd prefer the former over the later if those are my only two choices.
posted by Tevin at 6:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Bannon, Mulvaney, dear departed Spicer, Ryan, are all devout (or think they are devout) Catholics, and are all raging antisemites.
Those are the types of Catholics that just received a rebuke from the Vatican. They see Pope Franics as a liberal polluting the Church and leading it astray by focusing on helping the poor when they should be crushing homosexuals and unwed pregnant women.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
Those are the types of Catholics that just received a rebuke from the Vatican. They see Pope Franics as a liberal polluting the Church and leading it astray by focusing on helping the poor when they should be crushing homosexuals and unwed pregnant women.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
The solution is to remove the bilious lies that are pouring forth and brainwashing our fellow citizens.
There are a lot of steps that need to be taken. I think one of the most critical, early steps is to codify all the soft norms that kept government functioning up until now so that the current administration and future Republicans can't just waive them away when convenient.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
There are a lot of steps that need to be taken. I think one of the most critical, early steps is to codify all the soft norms that kept government functioning up until now so that the current administration and future Republicans can't just waive them away when convenient.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
And to contrast my opinion with what I posted from Romper, I don't think these senior officals are so much being "taught" bad things (like they're kids who are open to coercion) but being shown how their worldview is appropriate in the context or framework of this belief system.
I'm still casting about for impeachables for Pence ...
Bill Moyer's Pence Russia Timeline doesn't show a lot he'd get impeached over.
posted by tilde at 6:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm still casting about for impeachables for Pence ...
Bill Moyer's Pence Russia Timeline doesn't show a lot he'd get impeached over.
posted by tilde at 6:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Pence is evil, predictable, and capable of feeling a certain amount of shame.
Emphasis mine. Citation needed, please.
posted by tilde at 6:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Emphasis mine. Citation needed, please.
posted by tilde at 6:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Those are the types of Catholics that just received a rebuke from the Vatican.
But they're still Catholics. They still self-identify as observant Catholics. They believe in the Nicene Creed. Anyone who thinks Catholics aren't Christians is still going to think they are not Christians.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
But they're still Catholics. They still self-identify as observant Catholics. They believe in the Nicene Creed. Anyone who thinks Catholics aren't Christians is still going to think they are not Christians.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:22 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think we should return to the pre-election practice of including the boilerplate list of thread no-no's in each new post (no relitigating primaries or election, no Trump vs Pence: who sucks more?, etc.).
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
I'm still casting about for impeachables for Pence ...
Bill Moyer's Pence Russia Timeline doesn't show a lot he'd get impeached over.
This seems like a pointless exercise when the investigation of the campaign is in the early stages, and most of the details are classified.
posted by diogenes at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Bill Moyer's Pence Russia Timeline doesn't show a lot he'd get impeached over.
This seems like a pointless exercise when the investigation of the campaign is in the early stages, and most of the details are classified.
posted by diogenes at 6:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
IIRC, Pence's big liability is being told Flynn was compromised even before Sally Yates told the white house, so the "Flynn lied to me" alibi probably won't fly...
posted by mikelieman at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 6:30 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
A Trump impeachment or resignation is already a big longshot. Pence also being impeached would take a miracle.
Besides, even if that miracle happend and both Trump and Pence went down, that would just leave Ryan as President unless the Dems take back the House before it happens.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Besides, even if that miracle happend and both Trump and Pence went down, that would just leave Ryan as President unless the Dems take back the House before it happens.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
>Pence is evil, predictable, and capable of feeling a certain amount of shame. Emphasis mine. Citation needed, please.
I'm not going to dig for a source, but I'll expand on my thinking.
Pence cares about signalling his concern of certain values to the Evangelical base. The most important, to him and to them, is abortion. I do not doubt that he would feel shame if it were found out that he was negotiating with Democrats to expand access to abortion. The source of the shame would be that he would be less popular with the people of his base, but it would still be shame.
The point is that he has a set of socially-defined values (abhorrent and awful though I find them) that he would not easily betray. President Trump, from my observation of his actions, has at least two self-defined values that he would not betray: his own infallibility and, by extension, the infallibility of his family. Those are all defined by him, leaving him beholden to nobody else.
They're both evil, though. Just differently evil.
posted by Tevin at 6:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm not going to dig for a source, but I'll expand on my thinking.
Pence cares about signalling his concern of certain values to the Evangelical base. The most important, to him and to them, is abortion. I do not doubt that he would feel shame if it were found out that he was negotiating with Democrats to expand access to abortion. The source of the shame would be that he would be less popular with the people of his base, but it would still be shame.
The point is that he has a set of socially-defined values (abhorrent and awful though I find them) that he would not easily betray. President Trump, from my observation of his actions, has at least two self-defined values that he would not betray: his own infallibility and, by extension, the infallibility of his family. Those are all defined by him, leaving him beholden to nobody else.
They're both evil, though. Just differently evil.
posted by Tevin at 6:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
A Trump impeachment or resignation is already a big longshot.
I'm not sure how much of a longshot it is. At a certain point career politicians are going to start to have to consider their careers, even if they won't consider their country. I know it was a different time, but Nixon resigned because he didn't have the support of his party. It's hard for me to see Trump maintaining his support in the face of clear(er) evidence of wrongdoing.
If Trump doesn't pardon himself, which I think he will because he's that kind of a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" guy (see what I did there?), Pence will be in a very weird and difficult position. His political capital may not be great by the time everything shakes out, even with a GOP congress.
And, keep in mind, the Trumpcare debacle showed that there are real and intractable divisions in the GOP. I don't think a President Pence is just going to get whatever legislation he wants.
posted by OmieWise at 6:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure how much of a longshot it is. At a certain point career politicians are going to start to have to consider their careers, even if they won't consider their country. I know it was a different time, but Nixon resigned because he didn't have the support of his party. It's hard for me to see Trump maintaining his support in the face of clear(er) evidence of wrongdoing.
If Trump doesn't pardon himself, which I think he will because he's that kind of a "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" guy (see what I did there?), Pence will be in a very weird and difficult position. His political capital may not be great by the time everything shakes out, even with a GOP congress.
And, keep in mind, the Trumpcare debacle showed that there are real and intractable divisions in the GOP. I don't think a President Pence is just going to get whatever legislation he wants.
posted by OmieWise at 6:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Salt. The. Fucking. Earth.
The fact that being a rich white guy is a get-out-of-consequences-free card is how Trump ended up president in the first place. He should have been bankrupted, broke, and serving multiple terms way way before now. Instead he skated every time and went from real-estate mogul to reality show host to most powerful person (bar Putin) on the planet.
The system needs salting all the way down until being a belligerent amoral exploitationist isn't the ultimate trump card in society.
posted by Buntix at 6:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [50 favorites]
The fact that being a rich white guy is a get-out-of-consequences-free card is how Trump ended up president in the first place. He should have been bankrupted, broke, and serving multiple terms way way before now. Instead he skated every time and went from real-estate mogul to reality show host to most powerful person (bar Putin) on the planet.
The system needs salting all the way down until being a belligerent amoral exploitationist isn't the ultimate trump card in society.
posted by Buntix at 6:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [50 favorites]
Every time I read POTUS45, it makes me think of a beer made with oatmeal instead of hops. A really bad beer.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:03 AM on August 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
Dolt 45. Worse every time.
posted by emelenjr at 6:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:03 AM on August 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
Dolt 45. Worse every time.
posted by emelenjr at 6:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [49 favorites]
I'm not sure how much of a longshot it is.
I know there was a recent MetaTalk thread about doom and gloom in these threads, and I'm not trying to say all is lost. I just think we should temper our expectations and remain realistic. The investigation process is going to be frustratingly long and slow, and impeaching a President is a huge deal. I know people personally and see people online who are convinced it's all over and Trump is gone tomorrow. It doesn't help to despair, but it also doesn't help to live in a fantasy.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I know there was a recent MetaTalk thread about doom and gloom in these threads, and I'm not trying to say all is lost. I just think we should temper our expectations and remain realistic. The investigation process is going to be frustratingly long and slow, and impeaching a President is a huge deal. I know people personally and see people online who are convinced it's all over and Trump is gone tomorrow. It doesn't help to despair, but it also doesn't help to live in a fantasy.
posted by Sangermaine at 6:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
No going back: Anthony Scaramucci's White House job could cost him millions
Why Mooch's firing may result in a big tax bill.
posted by OmieWise at 6:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
Why Mooch's firing may result in a big tax bill.
posted by OmieWise at 6:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
I know people personally and see people online who are convinced it's all over and Trump is gone tomorrow.
Yeah, I agree that this is wishful thinking, but Seth Abramson and others have convinced me that impeachment during this term is not unlikely. I'm not saying it for sure happens, but I think there is a strong possibility.
posted by OmieWise at 6:46 AM on August 4, 2017
Yeah, I agree that this is wishful thinking, but Seth Abramson and others have convinced me that impeachment during this term is not unlikely. I'm not saying it for sure happens, but I think there is a strong possibility.
posted by OmieWise at 6:46 AM on August 4, 2017
Kelly has done the twitter part
Kyle Griffin: The president has retweeted this AM:
—1 Fox and Friends tweet
—1 Fox Business tweet
—2 Comments from a Fox Biz tweet
—1 James Woods tweet
(emphasis mine)
posted by PenDevil at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Kyle Griffin: The president has retweeted this AM:
—1 Fox and Friends tweet
—1 Fox Business tweet
—2 Comments from a Fox Biz tweet
—1 James Woods tweet
(emphasis mine)
posted by PenDevil at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Trump likes chaos and distractions.
"The nation is full of corruption. And I am in a unique position to bring this to light so we as a nation can put an end to it. Starting today you can login to pardon.whitehouse.gov and fill out the online form where you lay out the corrupt things you have done and get a pardon from me, the President. In 30 days the site will be taken down and the submitted forms will be made public and the people of the internet can start making America Great Again by reviewing who admitted to what crimes, told us of who they were working with, and then checking to see if those people admitted to the same crime or did not feel it was worth confessing for a full pardon. Those who did not confess will be submitted for prosecution."
(blather about how awesome Trump is)
"Remember: We are going to make America Great Again by providing employment for the underemployed lawyers who will all be needed for prosecuting all the corruption!"
[fake]
Ron Howard VO: Turns out the pardon.whitehouse.gov site didn't work for 27 days. And Trump resigned due to hand cramping after the Trump family was pardoned. Ruined his golf game for the last 15 years of his life. [true]
posted by rough ashlar at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
"The nation is full of corruption. And I am in a unique position to bring this to light so we as a nation can put an end to it. Starting today you can login to pardon.whitehouse.gov and fill out the online form where you lay out the corrupt things you have done and get a pardon from me, the President. In 30 days the site will be taken down and the submitted forms will be made public and the people of the internet can start making America Great Again by reviewing who admitted to what crimes, told us of who they were working with, and then checking to see if those people admitted to the same crime or did not feel it was worth confessing for a full pardon. Those who did not confess will be submitted for prosecution."
(blather about how awesome Trump is)
"Remember: We are going to make America Great Again by providing employment for the underemployed lawyers who will all be needed for prosecuting all the corruption!"
[fake]
Ron Howard VO: Turns out the pardon.whitehouse.gov site didn't work for 27 days. And Trump resigned due to hand cramping after the Trump family was pardoned. Ruined his golf game for the last 15 years of his life. [true]
posted by rough ashlar at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
So if there's a far-right Bible study class in the WH every week, what's its legal status? What must the WH tell us about it if we ask?
I wonder if taxpayer money being allocated to pay for it?
posted by Gelatin at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I wonder if taxpayer money being allocated to pay for it?
posted by Gelatin at 6:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
ok but have you considered the classic and festive wicker man
I think by now you know that's all I think about. For everything.
posted by maxsparber at 6:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think by now you know that's all I think about. For everything.
posted by maxsparber at 6:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
But here at Gizmodo we can’t help but notice that something is a little different this week. The president’s Twitter feed has become, dare we say, restrained?
IANAD, but I believe that Trump has a severe untreated personality disorder. And having had to deal with a person in my life with a severe untreated personality disorder, if I have learned anything (and I've learned a lot), I've learned that these moments of seeming self-control, never - and I mean never - last. Even in the face of severe consequences like the ones Trump may be facing.
You might get a few days, a week, maybe even two weeks, where they seem like they're getting better and acting reasonably, but inevitably it all comes crashing down. I honestly think the only way to get Trump to stop lashing out on Twitter would be to actually take away his phone for an extended time, which will never happen, and even if it did, he would just find another outlet in which to lash out, be it a press conference, a rally or a TV interview. If he seems restrained now, I give it a week, tops, before he's back to his batshit tweets. He is incapable of controlling himself.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [54 favorites]
IANAD, but I believe that Trump has a severe untreated personality disorder. And having had to deal with a person in my life with a severe untreated personality disorder, if I have learned anything (and I've learned a lot), I've learned that these moments of seeming self-control, never - and I mean never - last. Even in the face of severe consequences like the ones Trump may be facing.
You might get a few days, a week, maybe even two weeks, where they seem like they're getting better and acting reasonably, but inevitably it all comes crashing down. I honestly think the only way to get Trump to stop lashing out on Twitter would be to actually take away his phone for an extended time, which will never happen, and even if it did, he would just find another outlet in which to lash out, be it a press conference, a rally or a TV interview. If he seems restrained now, I give it a week, tops, before he's back to his batshit tweets. He is incapable of controlling himself.
posted by triggerfinger at 6:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [54 favorites]
An incomplete list:
Jeff Sessions will never recuse himself.
Congress will have his back.
David Nunez will never recuse himself.
Congress will have his back.
Congress will never allow a special prosecutor.
Congress will give Trump cover to fire Mueller.
Congress doesn't care about Trumo's cozy relationship with Putin.
Congress will never hold hearings.
Trump will never get impeached..
posted by Room 641-A at 6:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
Congress will have his back.
David Nunez will never recuse himself.
Congress will have his back.
Congress will never allow a special prosecutor.
Congress will give Trump cover to fire Mueller.
Congress doesn't care about Trumo's cozy relationship with Putin.
Congress will never hold hearings.
Trump will never get impeached..
posted by Room 641-A at 6:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
I don't doubt that Kelly has had an effect. The question is whether it will last.
I doubt it. The pattern up to now is that Trump manages to settle down and behave for a few days, either because he gets a lot of flak or has a mood swing or distracting shiny object (like travel) or there's a new person on the scene, like a new attorney or Kelly, who exerts some momentary influence. But then he gets bored or pissed or agitated and reverts to form.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:00 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
I doubt it. The pattern up to now is that Trump manages to settle down and behave for a few days, either because he gets a lot of flak or has a mood swing or distracting shiny object (like travel) or there's a new person on the scene, like a new attorney or Kelly, who exerts some momentary influence. But then he gets bored or pissed or agitated and reverts to form.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:00 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
I don't want to signup for a future where he gets to walk around on chat shows talking about how awesome he was and how the witchhunt was so unfair. I don't want a future where Jared and Don Jr. get to continue to conduct shady deals and the idea of Trump quitting gives everyone a polite veneer to ignore any crimes that existed.
This. If Trump quits and then spends the rest of his days on talk shows talking about how "how rigged" the system was, that will perpetuate his base.
Trump's like a dandelion, and the people who voted him in are the roots. Plucking Trump out of office won't kill the weed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
This. If Trump quits and then spends the rest of his days on talk shows talking about how "how rigged" the system was, that will perpetuate his base.
Trump's like a dandelion, and the people who voted him in are the roots. Plucking Trump out of office won't kill the weed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
The only way to stop him tweeting is to somehow have Twitter break down for everyone.
I wish.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I wish.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Is Kelly going to decamp to Bedminster with Trump for his vacation? Maybe they can finally build their G.R.O.S.S. members only treehouse in the back garden?
posted by PenDevil at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
A Trump impeachment is a huge Longshot because the GOP congresspersons responsible for it (a) simply do not care, (b) are aware of the shitrain from their party and the administration if they even consider it, (c) consider it suicide for their Congressional careers and/or (d) figure it's about 50/50 that angry Trumpoids will shoot them in the head.
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required. Like "biting a white baby's fingers off on live TV" blatant and even that would leave his approval ratings in the thirties.
posted by delfin at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required. Like "biting a white baby's fingers off on live TV" blatant and even that would leave his approval ratings in the thirties.
posted by delfin at 7:02 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's 2017 and hope is dead. Life is a metafilter 45 thread forever. Make some tomato popcorn, call your Senator, and get some Putin jokes ready.
Worst Tom Cochrane parody ever.
posted by Talez at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
Worst Tom Cochrane parody ever.
posted by Talez at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
IANAD, but I believe that Trump has a severe untreated personality disorder. etc
IANAD either, but I am licensed in a couple of states to diagnose mental disorders, and I tend to agree with your whole comment, even though diagnosing from afar is impossible and therefore any actual diagnosis cannot be arrived at.
posted by OmieWise at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
IANAD either, but I am licensed in a couple of states to diagnose mental disorders, and I tend to agree with your whole comment, even though diagnosing from afar is impossible and therefore any actual diagnosis cannot be arrived at.
posted by OmieWise at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required. Like "biting a white baby's fingers off on live TV" blatant and even that would leave his approval ratings in the thirties.
"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
"I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
"...but I can see us all getting very excited about an indictment for Trump only to find that we get indictments for Kushner, Don Jr., Manafort, Priebus, the whole clowncar of deplorables, but Trump somehow maintains plausible deniability..."
I suspect that we are far more likely to see Jared or DoJu or any of the other deplorables indicted before Trump himself. Indicting a sitting President is uncharted legal waters, and who knows whether that would ultimately succeed? At the very least, years would be spent arguing whether one could proceed instead of arguing the actual merits of the case.
If, however, you proceed against one of the 'lesser' figures, it's much easier to go ahead. There's still an argument to be made whether they're protected by executive privilege, but that's already been tested somewhat. And then you get to arguing the merits -- and Trump is pulled down into the muck pretty quickly.
But then what happens? Who knows -- the facts could be so bad that an impeachment is politically unavoidable, or it could be spun to his base the right way and no-one would care, or he might be left alone as a poisoned figure whom everyone ignores, or he could pardon the kids and put a stop to it, but then they are no longer able to claim the 5th, so if you proceeded against someone else the pardoned people would have to talk... No idea.
All of which is to say I would not expect an indictment against Trump himself. Go for the sure thing, and then -- who knows?
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:06 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I suspect that we are far more likely to see Jared or DoJu or any of the other deplorables indicted before Trump himself. Indicting a sitting President is uncharted legal waters, and who knows whether that would ultimately succeed? At the very least, years would be spent arguing whether one could proceed instead of arguing the actual merits of the case.
If, however, you proceed against one of the 'lesser' figures, it's much easier to go ahead. There's still an argument to be made whether they're protected by executive privilege, but that's already been tested somewhat. And then you get to arguing the merits -- and Trump is pulled down into the muck pretty quickly.
But then what happens? Who knows -- the facts could be so bad that an impeachment is politically unavoidable, or it could be spun to his base the right way and no-one would care, or he might be left alone as a poisoned figure whom everyone ignores, or he could pardon the kids and put a stop to it, but then they are no longer able to claim the 5th, so if you proceeded against someone else the pardoned people would have to talk... No idea.
All of which is to say I would not expect an indictment against Trump himself. Go for the sure thing, and then -- who knows?
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:06 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required.
If there's one thing that this administration has been good at, it's been moving the goalposts these past eight months.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:06 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
If there's one thing that this administration has been good at, it's been moving the goalposts these past eight months.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:06 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
The president’s Twitter feed has become, dare we say, restrained?The propaganda style changed. Less dicta or Supreme Leader Tantrum and more retweets of grassroot devotional content. Perhaps his own Twitter time got cut back somewhat and staff are filling in, but it's still propaganda. Plus ça change...
posted by runcifex at 7:08 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Welcome to the theocracy
The Capitol Ministries D.C. Bible studies are sponsored by Vice President Mike Pence, eight Cabinet Members, and 56 U.S. Senators and Representatives.
Ralph Drollinger the Pastor Leading Trump Cabinet's Bible Study Has Troubling History.
posted by adamvasco at 7:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Capitol Ministries D.C. Bible studies are sponsored by Vice President Mike Pence, eight Cabinet Members, and 56 U.S. Senators and Representatives.
Ralph Drollinger the Pastor Leading Trump Cabinet's Bible Study Has Troubling History.
posted by adamvasco at 7:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I still wonder why his name/brand hasn't been taken down Rick Santorum style.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required.
It's hard to get more blatant than Trump bragging he fired Comey to stall the Russia investigation on national TV -- a public admission of the kind of obstruction of justice that moved the House to prepare impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon.
We must never forget or forgive the extend to which Republican officials are carrying water for this crook.
posted by Gelatin at 7:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
It's hard to get more blatant than Trump bragging he fired Comey to stall the Russia investigation on national TV -- a public admission of the kind of obstruction of justice that moved the House to prepare impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon.
We must never forget or forgive the extend to which Republican officials are carrying water for this crook.
posted by Gelatin at 7:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
"There were no Russians in our campaign"
Boris Ephsteyn has a sad.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Boris Ephsteyn has a sad.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
think the less we rub other American' faces in the dog poop of this administration, the easier it'll be to heal
You're right, -ish. Like, in an ideal world you would be right, and we would have a (admittedly flawed) Pacto del Olvido for our own mini-Franco. And we would have democracy for forty or fifty years.
But it is both impossible to truly forget and impossible for each side not to lick their wounds. I keep trying to think of sides of a civil war that actually do forget and actually have healed, and I come up with nothing. Even in England you see echoes of civil wars five hundred years old in voting patterns and cultural remnants.
What do you do when half the country hates the other half? I mean, really, what do you do?
posted by corb at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
You're right, -ish. Like, in an ideal world you would be right, and we would have a (admittedly flawed) Pacto del Olvido for our own mini-Franco. And we would have democracy for forty or fifty years.
But it is both impossible to truly forget and impossible for each side not to lick their wounds. I keep trying to think of sides of a civil war that actually do forget and actually have healed, and I come up with nothing. Even in England you see echoes of civil wars five hundred years old in voting patterns and cultural remnants.
What do you do when half the country hates the other half? I mean, really, what do you do?
posted by corb at 7:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
I just don't see impeachment as a realistic option. And two-thirds of the Senate? Even if the House flipped, even with a smoking gun of treason, there are way too many Republicans who would implicate themselves not to defend him. They don't believe in facts anymore, which means proof is an illusion.
The best we can do is strip the administration down to two people, and fucking indict everyone else. They are all criminals, and we can minimize the damage by taking out as many of them as possible, and try like hell to flip Congress in 2018, and try even harder to take state legislatures in 2020 to redraw the lines.
If the GOP has not turned on Trump by now, they never ever will. We will not be safe until the Republican Party is as dead as the Whigs.
posted by rikschell at 7:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
The best we can do is strip the administration down to two people, and fucking indict everyone else. They are all criminals, and we can minimize the damage by taking out as many of them as possible, and try like hell to flip Congress in 2018, and try even harder to take state legislatures in 2020 to redraw the lines.
If the GOP has not turned on Trump by now, they never ever will. We will not be safe until the Republican Party is as dead as the Whigs.
posted by rikschell at 7:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
And that white baby deserved it.
posted by rikschell at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rikschell at 7:18 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
If the GOP has not turned on Trump by now, they never ever will
They just voted to stay in session to prevent Trump from firing Sessions/Mueller or making any recess appointments. That would have been unthinkable even a few weeks ago, and that was before we learned about the jury grands. Once those subpoenas start rolling out it will be everyone for themself.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [55 favorites]
They just voted to stay in session to prevent Trump from firing Sessions/Mueller or making any recess appointments. That would have been unthinkable even a few weeks ago, and that was before we learned about the jury grands. Once those subpoenas start rolling out it will be everyone for themself.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [55 favorites]
Was the intention of the post to link to trump's twitter account https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump or was it supposed to be a specific tweet about relations with Russia? maybe this one https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/893083735633129472 ?
posted by czytm at 7:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by czytm at 7:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm at work so I can't dig up all the links, but there are certifiable cracks in the GOP wall. Multiple bills aimed at limited the presidents power, the aforementioned keeping sessions open to prevent recess appointments. These things being bipartisan, hell Lindsey Graham is involved.
More and more they're testing the water of speaking out against Lord Dampnut. It isn't outside the realm of possibility, and is inching every toward probability.
posted by Twain Device at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
More and more they're testing the water of speaking out against Lord Dampnut. It isn't outside the realm of possibility, and is inching every toward probability.
posted by Twain Device at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
What do you do when half the country hates the other half? I mean, really, what do you do?
Republicans are not even forty percent of the country, never mind half.
posted by winna at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
Republicans are not even forty percent of the country, never mind half.
posted by winna at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
corb,
I know. What do we do? We don't even believe in the same reality as the people on the other side of this debate. We can't even establish terra firma as a foundation for a healing process. The Venn Diagrams don't even overlap any more.
People are more motivated by fear of the opposing party than they motivated to vote in favor of their own candidates.
Do we go full "bluexit" and just create two blue coastal zones with a red flyover country? (Obviously, that is not a real suggestion.)
I have more in common with random people across Europe and Asia who happen to travel and read books than I do with 50% of Americans. How do we actually make things better?
posted by Telf at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
I know. What do we do? We don't even believe in the same reality as the people on the other side of this debate. We can't even establish terra firma as a foundation for a healing process. The Venn Diagrams don't even overlap any more.
People are more motivated by fear of the opposing party than they motivated to vote in favor of their own candidates.
Do we go full "bluexit" and just create two blue coastal zones with a red flyover country? (Obviously, that is not a real suggestion.)
I have more in common with random people across Europe and Asia who happen to travel and read books than I do with 50% of Americans. How do we actually make things better?
posted by Telf at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
You're right, -ish. Like, in an ideal world you would be right, and we would have a (admittedly flawed) Pacto del Olvido for our own mini-Franco. And we would have democracy for forty or fifty years.
Colombia voted to continue a violent and bloody insurrection because the terms of peace involved giving quarter. But I'm sure the Colombian government will finally rub the faces of those rebels in the bloody soil after half a fucking century.
posted by Talez at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Colombia voted to continue a violent and bloody insurrection because the terms of peace involved giving quarter. But I'm sure the Colombian government will finally rub the faces of those rebels in the bloody soil after half a fucking century.
posted by Talez at 7:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The big unknowable, I think, is how many of the GOP bigwigs will be found to have known, or be entangled in, the Russia scandal. We know that it was an open secret that there was Russian involvement in the campaign. Remember this gem from May?
“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.
(WaPo, May 17 2017, reporting on June 2016 conversation)
So it's an open question about what will appear as the subpoenas kick in and the pinboard disappears under a sea of pretty ribbons. But that something will appear that implicates GOPers outside the bullseye is, I feel, inevitable. Whatever it is, it will change the calculations about what happens next.
posted by Devonian at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) said, according to a recording of the June 15, 2016, exchange, which was listened to and verified by The Washington Post. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher is a Californian Republican known in Congress as a fervent defender of Putin and Russia.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) immediately interjected, stopping the conversation from further exploring McCarthy’s assertion, and swore the Republicans present to secrecy.
(WaPo, May 17 2017, reporting on June 2016 conversation)
So it's an open question about what will appear as the subpoenas kick in and the pinboard disappears under a sea of pretty ribbons. But that something will appear that implicates GOPers outside the bullseye is, I feel, inevitable. Whatever it is, it will change the calculations about what happens next.
posted by Devonian at 7:27 AM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
a way to cheat them out of their choice of leader.
Welcome to the pain of 2017.
posted by yoga at 7:29 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Welcome to the pain of 2017.
posted by yoga at 7:29 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
The Capitol Ministries D.C. Bible studies are sponsored by Vice President Mike Pence, eight Cabinet Members...
The VP and eight cabinet members are sufficient to invoke 25.4.
I leave it up to the individual to decide whether that represents a faint glimmer of hope, or a source of apprehension that worse is yet to come.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
The VP and eight cabinet members are sufficient to invoke 25.4.
I leave it up to the individual to decide whether that represents a faint glimmer of hope, or a source of apprehension that worse is yet to come.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I don't envy the Republicans. They're trying to thread an impossible needle right now. If they stick with Trump, will he bring them all down (and with his tanking popularity, he might.) But he provides great cover for their attempts to reverse the 20th century, which, thank God, they are so astonishingly incompetent after that despite having control of all branches of government now they keep suffering embarrassing defeats — I guess that's what happens when there isn't an actual Republican party, but instead a party of three contrasting interests, the lickspittles to plutocracy who actually want to accomplish a massive transference of wealth upwards, the religious extremists who want to United States to be a Christian version of the taliban, and the Tea Party burn-it-all-downists who are simply in it to make sure government doesn't and cannot work.
And can they get Trump out of office without it blowing up on them? Probably not. So all they can do is hope he successfully turns the country into an autocracy and hope that when he starts show trials they aren't the first he shoots.
posted by maxsparber at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
And can they get Trump out of office without it blowing up on them? Probably not. So all they can do is hope he successfully turns the country into an autocracy and hope that when he starts show trials they aren't the first he shoots.
posted by maxsparber at 7:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
I've been saying this all along, and I still stand by it: when the tide turns the Republicans in Congress and the Senate will make a run for the fucking exits. The tide hasn't turned yet, but it's getting there (see: Russian sanctions, prevention of recess appointments, breaks in the ranks on healthcare, trans ban, even immigration!).
They'll scramble like rats to get off the USS Trump and not all of them will make it before it sinks.
posted by lydhre at 7:35 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
They'll scramble like rats to get off the USS Trump and not all of them will make it before it sinks.
posted by lydhre at 7:35 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
I've been saying this all along, and I still stand by it: when the tide turns the Republicans in Congress and the Senate will make a run for the fucking exits.
Those words belong on a cake.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
Those words belong on a cake.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
The comparison has bee made ad nausea from the get go, but having rewatched All the President's Men twice in the past week, it really is amazing how closely this mimics Watergate(thank you John Oliver, for Stupid Watergate).
Our current situation appears to be on a rapidly increasing pace compared to Normal Watergate, so I think it is somewhat safe to gauge our expectations in line with how Watergate turned out.
posted by Twain Device at 7:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Our current situation appears to be on a rapidly increasing pace compared to Normal Watergate, so I think it is somewhat safe to gauge our expectations in line with how Watergate turned out.
posted by Twain Device at 7:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
How has the tide not turned, though? The fact that there has not yet been tide turning makes me think there never will be. Every single day, Trump and his affiliates do something we would have previously considered intolerable and inconceivable.
posted by something something at 7:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by something something at 7:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
What do you do when half the country hates the other half? I mean, really, what do you do?
Republicans are not even forty percent of the country, never mind half.
Based on the results of the 2016 race, only 28% of the actual US electorate voted for Trump, which is almost exactly the oft-cited 27% "crazification factor" that represents the minimum level of batshit-crazy conservative support. This seems to be reflected in the ever-diminishing poll numbers (right now hovering in the middle 30s) that he's had since entering office. The crazies have always been with us, and it's always been our job to cancel them out and outnumber them to elect people with a firmer grasp on reality.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
Republicans are not even forty percent of the country, never mind half.
Based on the results of the 2016 race, only 28% of the actual US electorate voted for Trump, which is almost exactly the oft-cited 27% "crazification factor" that represents the minimum level of batshit-crazy conservative support. This seems to be reflected in the ever-diminishing poll numbers (right now hovering in the middle 30s) that he's had since entering office. The crazies have always been with us, and it's always been our job to cancel them out and outnumber them to elect people with a firmer grasp on reality.
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
Do we go full "bluexit" and just create two blue coastal zones with a red flyover country? (Obviously, that is not a real suggestion.)
Because splitting up the Union or because of a 'winner takes all' system makes an appearance of 'this blue and that red' VS the real situation of Blue+Red+Green+whatever other colors represent Libertarians and others+whatever color represents those who have decided participation WRT voting is pointless and therefore a blue coast/red center is bullshit?
The people calling for fair voting/instant runoff/monster raving loony party representation/Dez Nuts are at least trying to give the non-voters due to a lack of representation in a red/blue system reduction a reason to feel they could get representation.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Because splitting up the Union or because of a 'winner takes all' system makes an appearance of 'this blue and that red' VS the real situation of Blue+Red+Green+whatever other colors represent Libertarians and others+whatever color represents those who have decided participation WRT voting is pointless and therefore a blue coast/red center is bullshit?
The people calling for fair voting/instant runoff/monster raving loony party representation/Dez Nuts are at least trying to give the non-voters due to a lack of representation in a red/blue system reduction a reason to feel they could get representation.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It would require absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing on Trump's part. And no, we're not there yet on the scale required.
The key here is that it would have to be "absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing" to the Republicans. Nothing will happen until the Republican Congress thinks it has more to lose with its base than to gain by sticking with Trump.
Trump is not a natural Republican. Even though he's currently railing against the Democrats, it's not being done out of deep-set principle. I wonder if the Democrats could pursue a strategy of finding some way to work with Trump on something, thereby pissing off Congressional Republicans and driving a wedge between them.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
The key here is that it would have to be "absolutely blatant, vile and undeniable wrongdoing" to the Republicans. Nothing will happen until the Republican Congress thinks it has more to lose with its base than to gain by sticking with Trump.
Trump is not a natural Republican. Even though he's currently railing against the Democrats, it's not being done out of deep-set principle. I wonder if the Democrats could pursue a strategy of finding some way to work with Trump on something, thereby pissing off Congressional Republicans and driving a wedge between them.
posted by Sangermaine at 7:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know. What do we do? We don't even believe in the same reality as the people on the other side of this debate. We can't even establish terra firma as a foundation for a healing process. The Venn Diagrams don't even overlap any more.
IMHO the way forward involves a lot of biting our tongues, putting up with terrible people, and no shortage of bending the limits of intellectual honesty.
One of the most valuable things the Right propaganda machine is great at is taking a really complicated situation with many nuanced parts, putting in sources of people's misery that meet their narrative but sound correct and follow a vaguely plausible chain of causality, and treating it as the absolute truth.
The have no fear about sounding wrong or being wrong because they immediately treat any threat to their narrative as one of the others, one of those that are the reason why people are in misery and just trying to trick you.
Now the left on the other hand appeals a lot to being not-a-shitty person. Good luck with that. It lost 2016.
So what do we do? My vote is to direct the anger to the correct targets using the Right's own strategy. Instead of allowing them to own shitty narratives that involve immigrants taking jobs, the counter narrative on the left instead of "immigrants are people", or "lazy Americans don't want jobs they take", both of which are true statements, the left's narrative on this needs to a relentless "you were replaced with robots and Chinese workers because your old boss wanted another ivory backscratcher. Your jobs aren't coming back. Anyone who says they are is a liar. We want to help you to adapt and at least stay on your feet by taking that money your old boss made by selling you out." You don't even talk about taxes. You don't go fucking near "raising taxes on the top end" because the right will delete the "on the top end" part and run you saying "raising taxes" over and over. You just talk about taking the money of the rich people that sold them out. Vengeance against someone that caused them harm. If someone says that involves raising taxes, deny it. Say their taxes won't change. In fact they'll probably go down. Say that they're only bringing up taxes because they're rich and they're scared that we're about to take what has been stolen from us.
Now this is hard for the left to do because it doesn't defend immigrants. It doesn't reflect the true reality of the situation. It has lies, lies of omission. There's no getting away from that. Defending its oversimplification involves not a small amount of comebacks that involve "that's just rich assholes trying to get you to not hate them". These are all things the left in aggregate finds really difficult. But appealing to the intuitive emotional part of people is what gets through to them. If you have to explain things outside of intiuition and common tropes you've probably already lost.
posted by Talez at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [66 favorites]
IMHO the way forward involves a lot of biting our tongues, putting up with terrible people, and no shortage of bending the limits of intellectual honesty.
One of the most valuable things the Right propaganda machine is great at is taking a really complicated situation with many nuanced parts, putting in sources of people's misery that meet their narrative but sound correct and follow a vaguely plausible chain of causality, and treating it as the absolute truth.
The have no fear about sounding wrong or being wrong because they immediately treat any threat to their narrative as one of the others, one of those that are the reason why people are in misery and just trying to trick you.
Now the left on the other hand appeals a lot to being not-a-shitty person. Good luck with that. It lost 2016.
So what do we do? My vote is to direct the anger to the correct targets using the Right's own strategy. Instead of allowing them to own shitty narratives that involve immigrants taking jobs, the counter narrative on the left instead of "immigrants are people", or "lazy Americans don't want jobs they take", both of which are true statements, the left's narrative on this needs to a relentless "you were replaced with robots and Chinese workers because your old boss wanted another ivory backscratcher. Your jobs aren't coming back. Anyone who says they are is a liar. We want to help you to adapt and at least stay on your feet by taking that money your old boss made by selling you out." You don't even talk about taxes. You don't go fucking near "raising taxes on the top end" because the right will delete the "on the top end" part and run you saying "raising taxes" over and over. You just talk about taking the money of the rich people that sold them out. Vengeance against someone that caused them harm. If someone says that involves raising taxes, deny it. Say their taxes won't change. In fact they'll probably go down. Say that they're only bringing up taxes because they're rich and they're scared that we're about to take what has been stolen from us.
Now this is hard for the left to do because it doesn't defend immigrants. It doesn't reflect the true reality of the situation. It has lies, lies of omission. There's no getting away from that. Defending its oversimplification involves not a small amount of comebacks that involve "that's just rich assholes trying to get you to not hate them". These are all things the left in aggregate finds really difficult. But appealing to the intuitive emotional part of people is what gets through to them. If you have to explain things outside of intiuition and common tropes you've probably already lost.
posted by Talez at 7:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [66 favorites]
They'll scramble like rats to get off the USS Trump and not all of them will make it before it sinks.
When articles of impeachment reach the House floor, it's not going to be a McCain-thumbs-down nailbiter to see which 22 Republican Representatives switch sides to get us to the magic 218. There will be at least 350 Ayes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to 400.
posted by Etrigan at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
When articles of impeachment reach the House floor, it's not going to be a McCain-thumbs-down nailbiter to see which 22 Republican Representatives switch sides to get us to the magic 218. There will be at least 350 Ayes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to 400.
posted by Etrigan at 7:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is a tough position for a GOP legislator to be in. Seriously.
Here is why I think the GOP cannot maintain "party discipline" (i.e., backing Trump) as this continues to develop:
1) Despite the lure of White Nationalism as an organizing principle, which is essentially what recommends Putin to people like Sessions, many folks in the GOP are more concerned about the loss of US dominance and have an innate distrust of the Russians.
2) The GOP is, at this point, a broad coalition with some natural fractures. We saw this on healthcare. Not everyone in the GOP congress is a natural Trump ally.
3) There is indication that people who voted for Trump are now ashamed to say that. Those same people (edit: constituents) will either be quiet, or outraged themselves, at evidence presented against Trump.
4) Many politicians in the GOP have further career ambitions, whether that's to run for the Senate or for President. They will have to weigh whether supporting Trump does more damage to those ambitions than does turning on him. A chunk of those people will realize that supporting Trump will damage their possibilities in state-wide or country-wide races in the future.
This is a group that couldn't even agree on a healthcare bill they'd been selling for seven years. (I know, they hadn't ever actually produced a replacement bill worthy of the name, but that further highlights the dysfunction.) I just don't see how evidence of high crimes won't split this group like a watermelon wrapped in rubber bands.
posted by OmieWise at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Here is why I think the GOP cannot maintain "party discipline" (i.e., backing Trump) as this continues to develop:
1) Despite the lure of White Nationalism as an organizing principle, which is essentially what recommends Putin to people like Sessions, many folks in the GOP are more concerned about the loss of US dominance and have an innate distrust of the Russians.
2) The GOP is, at this point, a broad coalition with some natural fractures. We saw this on healthcare. Not everyone in the GOP congress is a natural Trump ally.
3) There is indication that people who voted for Trump are now ashamed to say that. Those same people (edit: constituents) will either be quiet, or outraged themselves, at evidence presented against Trump.
4) Many politicians in the GOP have further career ambitions, whether that's to run for the Senate or for President. They will have to weigh whether supporting Trump does more damage to those ambitions than does turning on him. A chunk of those people will realize that supporting Trump will damage their possibilities in state-wide or country-wide races in the future.
This is a group that couldn't even agree on a healthcare bill they'd been selling for seven years. (I know, they hadn't ever actually produced a replacement bill worthy of the name, but that further highlights the dysfunction.) I just don't see how evidence of high crimes won't split this group like a watermelon wrapped in rubber bands.
posted by OmieWise at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Even though he's currently railing against the Democrats
He just sent out a tweet blaming the Republicans for "worsening relations" with Russia. He was haranguing his own, hand-picked AG for weeks. He attacked the R's for not passing healthcare; mentioning the Ds is almost an afterthought.
I don't think the Republicans are having a morality crisis, I think theyre having a power struggle with a President who loathes them.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
He just sent out a tweet blaming the Republicans for "worsening relations" with Russia. He was haranguing his own, hand-picked AG for weeks. He attacked the R's for not passing healthcare; mentioning the Ds is almost an afterthought.
I don't think the Republicans are having a morality crisis, I think theyre having a power struggle with a President who loathes them.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
When articles of impeachment reach the House floor,
I'm going on record that this will never happen. Ryan won't allow it. And if the Dems somehow fail their way to control of the house, the Rs will scream murder about partisan witch hunts. And without the Senate to go along, an impeachment without removal is... that and $1.75 will get you a coke. Just ask Bill Clinton.
Also, we are better off with Trump than Pence. I didn't think so before, but his calls to Mexico and Australia revealed that Trump is an absolute pushover. All bark, no bite.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm going on record that this will never happen. Ryan won't allow it. And if the Dems somehow fail their way to control of the house, the Rs will scream murder about partisan witch hunts. And without the Senate to go along, an impeachment without removal is... that and $1.75 will get you a coke. Just ask Bill Clinton.
Also, we are better off with Trump than Pence. I didn't think so before, but his calls to Mexico and Australia revealed that Trump is an absolute pushover. All bark, no bite.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder if the Democrats could pursue a strategy of finding some way to work with Trump on something, thereby pissing off Congressional Republicans and driving a wedge between them.
This was the original plan -- they were going to go full steam ahead on infrastructure before the GOP could get anything together, and try to use a big spending plan as a wedge between Trump and Republicans in Congress. They even had a bill with a big press release and a steps-of-the-capitol event to show it off. Trump('s handlers) ignored it and decided that healthcare should be the administration's first order of business.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
This was the original plan -- they were going to go full steam ahead on infrastructure before the GOP could get anything together, and try to use a big spending plan as a wedge between Trump and Republicans in Congress. They even had a bill with a big press release and a steps-of-the-capitol event to show it off. Trump('s handlers) ignored it and decided that healthcare should be the administration's first order of business.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:50 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump('s handlers) ignored it and decided that healthcare should be the administration's first order of business.
Wonder if they're rethinking this, just to give Trump a 'win' and make him look more bipartisan than the GOP is acting these days^H^H^Hdecades. Emeny-of-my-enemy stuff.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on August 4, 2017
Wonder if they're rethinking this, just to give Trump a 'win' and make him look more bipartisan than the GOP is acting these days^H^H^Hdecades. Emeny-of-my-enemy stuff.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:54 AM on August 4, 2017
Most of today's Republican voters are not natural Republicans either. They have been trained carefully to support an ideology and a crusade, not a party.
posted by delfin at 7:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by delfin at 7:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm going on record that this will never happen.
On record? Doesn't count. Put it on a cake.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
On record? Doesn't count. Put it on a cake.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 7:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
I suspect that even if they wanted to go back to the infrastructure wedge, the ACA fight and Russia investigation have drawn the battle lines far too sharply for Trump to have any interest in supporting anything the Ds like, or for Democrats to unify behind anything designed for Trump to actively like (as opposed to forcing him to grudgingly sign things he'd rather veto).
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2017
Most of today's Republican voters are not natural Republicans either. They have been trained carefully to support an ideology and a crusade, not a party.
I think this is exactly wrong. Trump had an R after his name, and that's what mattered to a huge chunk of his voters -- not his multiple marriages, not his transparent areligiosity, not his past, not his present. Just that he was an R, and that's their team, and fuck the other team.
posted by Etrigan at 8:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
I think this is exactly wrong. Trump had an R after his name, and that's what mattered to a huge chunk of his voters -- not his multiple marriages, not his transparent areligiosity, not his past, not his present. Just that he was an R, and that's their team, and fuck the other team.
posted by Etrigan at 8:01 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
When articles of impeachment reach the House floor, it's not going to be a McCain-thumbs-down nailbiter to see which 22 Republican Representatives switch sides to get us to the magic 218. There will be at least 350 Ayes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets to 400.
Which doesn't matter in the least, especially if the vote takes place after a potential Democratic flip in 2018; the magic number is 66 votes in the Senate. I hope your prediction of Republicans turning against Trump holds true in the upper chamber as well, but frankly, I doubt it.
posted by Gelatin at 8:04 AM on August 4, 2017
Which doesn't matter in the least, especially if the vote takes place after a potential Democratic flip in 2018; the magic number is 66 votes in the Senate. I hope your prediction of Republicans turning against Trump holds true in the upper chamber as well, but frankly, I doubt it.
posted by Gelatin at 8:04 AM on August 4, 2017
Trolls Hijack White-Power Sites to Discuss Color Swatches (Ben Collins, Daily Beast)
But there’s one surprise: When you click on “WHITE POWER,” it shows a 136 kilowatt power generator. That power generator is white.posted by Room 641-A at 8:06 AM on August 4, 2017 [151 favorites]
On WhitePolitics, according to a stickied post on the site, “racism is now banned,” and it is now a place to “hail the greatest of whites, Swiss Coffee!”
“It’s hilarious. What’s not to like?” Ianna Urquhart, a moderator at r/WhitePolitics and r/Whites, told The Daily Beast.
WhitePolitics switched over from a largely dormant, headless white-supremacist forum on Tuesday. The community is just the latest that Urquhart and a team of semi-organized Reddit power users have taken away from white-supremacist, transphobic, or straight up neo-Nazi groups in order to make terrible puns and wreak havoc.
Any possibility of GOP congresspeople standing up to Trump depends on pressure from constituents. One of the best way to make them feel that pressure is in a town hall. Now is a good time to call your congresspeople and ask about town halls.
Since January Toomey has been saying that he holds town halls during the August recess. It's August. His staffers say they have no information about town halls.
He is screwed either way. He holds one and the press covers a room full of constituents yelling at him. He doesn't hold one and he looks like the scheming liar that he is.
Keep up the pressure, folks.
posted by mcduff at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
Since January Toomey has been saying that he holds town halls during the August recess. It's August. His staffers say they have no information about town halls.
He is screwed either way. He holds one and the press covers a room full of constituents yelling at him. He doesn't hold one and he looks like the scheming liar that he is.
Keep up the pressure, folks.
posted by mcduff at 8:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
[Sessions'll] go out the same day I teach him something and I’ll see him do it on camera and I just think, ‘Wow, these guys are faithful, available and teachable,’ and they’re at Bible study every week they’re in town.’Weirdly, a few nights ago I woke up with a tune in my head that I couldn't place. It liked to have drove me nuts for a day, but I kept humming it and I finally placed it as Steve Taylor's "Over My Dead Body" off the album Meltdown. In the '80s, Taylor was a Christian songwriter notable for his critical takes on evangelical Christian shibboleths. ("We Don’t Need No Color Code" off the same album is an attack on Bob Jones University.) A high school friend of mine played Meltdown for me. He was into Christian rock and trying to evangelize me and I was resistant to being evangelized to but sort of dug the New Wave stylings and we met in the middle over it. But I never followed Taylor's career and honestly, I don't think I've thought of him once in 30 years before this week. (I wasn't even aware or had forgotten that his later band, Chagall Guevara, was on the Pump Up The Volume soundtrack.) Meahwhile, Taylor has had a successful career and still performs and is still a Christian and is out there on Twitter and seems to be as appalled by Donald Trump as every other person who doesn't want something from him is.
Anyway, 30 years ago Taylor wrote in the voice of a Christian in Communist Poland
You make a mockery of all that we hold sacred hereand 30 years later, Trump's dignity wraiths brag about Jesus and collaborate with Russians.
You drive us underground in hopes that we will disappear
We seek our sanctuary where the altar candle burns
Our dignity's a legacy the cross of Jesus reaffirms.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
the magic number is 66 votes in the Senate.
67.
posted by Etrigan at 8:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
67.
posted by Etrigan at 8:16 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Dave McKenna/Deadspin: The Sad Failure Of Donald Trump's Desperate Attempt At A Baseball League
Points out that it looked like he was trying to become an MLB owner by creating a new league in the late 1980's, getting a team in the new league cheaply, and then getting MLB to absorb the new league and his team. Should be noted that the NFL, NHL, and NBA each absorbed franchises from rival leagues that folded in the 1960's and 1970's, trailblazing a path for the USFL to crash and burn under Trumps influence. Typical Trump.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Points out that it looked like he was trying to become an MLB owner by creating a new league in the late 1980's, getting a team in the new league cheaply, and then getting MLB to absorb the new league and his team. Should be noted that the NFL, NHL, and NBA each absorbed franchises from rival leagues that folded in the 1960's and 1970's, trailblazing a path for the USFL to crash and burn under Trumps influence. Typical Trump.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:17 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ok, I've just listened to Taylor's "I Want To Be A Clone," the eponymous track off his first record. Not only does it sound like Christian Oingo Boingo, but it should be Mike Pence's personal anthem.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 8:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
So how come he hasn't yet gone ballistic over the Newsweek cover?
posted by Melismata at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 8:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fox probably hasn't talked about the cover yet.
posted by cmfletcher at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
um: It's the beginning of the end of the beginning.
The breaking news was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the House of White. But it was a beginning.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
The breaking news was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the House of White. But it was a beginning.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
Apologies if this was posted previously, but a friend shared this last night and I thought it was pretty good:
With the departure of The Mooch, Act I ends.
With Mueller convening a grand jury, Act II begins.
posted by mosk at 8:33 AM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
With the departure of The Mooch, Act I ends.
With Mueller convening a grand jury, Act II begins.
posted by mosk at 8:33 AM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
Exheunt.
posted by snofoam at 8:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by snofoam at 8:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
...pursued by a bear, presumably.
posted by Etrigan at 8:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
The crazies have always been with us, and it's always been our job to cancel them out and outnumber them to elect people with a firmer grasp on reality.
This has certainly been the task for American democracy, over and over and over.
Preventing another Civil War, squeezing the KKK out of Congress, McCarthyism, the Goldwater, Nixon, and Reagan surges. And now trying to repair the Electoral college flips and the redistrictiing movement out of Texas and the South for the last 10 years. Keeping the US from becoming the rabid corporate-reined racist theocracy it can always become.
posted by rc3spencer at 8:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
This has certainly been the task for American democracy, over and over and over.
Preventing another Civil War, squeezing the KKK out of Congress, McCarthyism, the Goldwater, Nixon, and Reagan surges. And now trying to repair the Electoral college flips and the redistrictiing movement out of Texas and the South for the last 10 years. Keeping the US from becoming the rabid corporate-reined racist theocracy it can always become.
posted by rc3spencer at 8:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
>...pursued by a Russian bear, presumably.
FTFY
posted by mosk at 8:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
FTFY
posted by mosk at 8:38 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Goddamn, for any other president that Newsweek cover would be too over-the-top for MAD Magazine. Fucken 2017, man.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [42 favorites]
The breaking news was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the House of White. But it was a beginning.
*pulls, annoyed, on braid*
The Writers definitely have Robert Jordan's wordiness, that is true.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Buntix: And they are really going in all snark-cannons blazing, top 4 current headlines on http://www.newsweek.com/
What I see:
GOLF AND TELEVISION WON'T MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN
Donald Trump promised "forgotten Americans" he'd be their tireless advocate in the White House. That hasn't quite panned out thus far.
* Vote Kid Rock in 2018
And that article opens with ... and ad for Kid Rock American Badass Grills. Welcome the next President, same as the current President? Well, let's start out smaller:
"It’s all a gimmick, and I'm shilling so hard that Kid Rock will likely call me up to be his Media Manager within the day." But here it is, the 2nd link on the top of Newsweek's front page, just after bashing Trump for being a fraud.
Fuck you, Newsweek, this is how we get celebrity politicians, by ironically and jokingly supporting them in the beginning, and giving them any publicity at all. Stunt politicians should be the final sentence in a round-up of weird news of the nation for the week, not the second story on a major publication, even if it's a half-joke article.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [73 favorites]
What I see:
Donald Trump promised "forgotten Americans" he'd be their tireless advocate in the White House. That hasn't quite panned out thus far.
* Vote Kid Rock in 2018
And that article opens with ... and ad for Kid Rock American Badass Grills. Welcome the next President, same as the current President? Well, let's start out smaller:
Newsweek does not, as a rule, make political endorsements, but I’m going to go rogue on this one: I hereby endorse Kid Rock’s 2018 run for the U.S. Senate.(Emphasis mine) I get the feeling that you're joking, Alexander Nazaryan, but if I were your editor, before kicking your article back as hypocritical crap, I'd edit the final line to read:
Yes, that Kid Rock.
No, this isn’t fake news.
...
It’s no accident that, earlier this year, Kid Rock was invited to the White House with professional racist and sometime singer Ted Nugent (Sarah Palin was there, too). President Donald Trump knows which way the wind is blowing, and it isn’t in the direction of anything resembling moral seriousness. The forces Trump rode into public office brook party division: an erosion of trust in civic institutions, a celebration of crass ignorance as a kind of virtue, an utter debasement of our shared culture. Those forces will be available in 2018 and 2020 and beyond, if not to Kid Rock then to someone else. (I fully expect we will see a President Kardashian in the not-distant-enough future.)
But, really, could we do any better than Kid Rock? Does anyone more perfectly encapsulate our national priorities? Is there any one else alive who has punched Tommy Lee and assaulted some random guy at Waffle House? If he were any more patriotic, he'd eat a bald eagle raw.
...
Kid Rock also speaks fearlessly on race. Confronted with his apparent affection for the Confederate flag in 2015, he had this to say to the offended: “Kiss my ass.” I can hear shades of JFK, can’t you? In 2013, Kid Rock told Howard Stern that he frequently used the N-word and saw no problems in doing so.
...
Today, however, the Oval Office is just another reality television set, the presidential seal a prime branding opportunity. Trump has so thoroughly debased the presidency (and it's only been 173 days) that it is now little more than a marketing gimmick. So the question of whether Kid Rock’s announcement is a gimmick or not is almost beside the point.
It’s all a gimmick, and we’re all living in it.
"It’s all a gimmick, and I'm shilling so hard that Kid Rock will likely call me up to be his Media Manager within the day." But here it is, the 2nd link on the top of Newsweek's front page, just after bashing Trump for being a fraud.
Fuck you, Newsweek, this is how we get celebrity politicians, by ironically and jokingly supporting them in the beginning, and giving them any publicity at all. Stunt politicians should be the final sentence in a round-up of weird news of the nation for the week, not the second story on a major publication, even if it's a half-joke article.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [73 favorites]
Trump's at least open & honest about his lying.
BUT HE ISN'T! THAT'S THE POINT!
He say "just kidding" or "psyche!" when talking about his support from the Boy Scouts or the police, or the turnout for his inauguration, or his results for the popular vote. WE HAVE TO SAY "WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS IS A LIE" AFTERWORDS, or pretend that his shills are being at all honest when they try to spin his lies as half truths -- "Well, lots of Boy Scout leaders said he was great after his grandstanding and demagoguery and inciting violence," when asked why he lied about getting a telephone call from the head of BSA.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
BUT HE ISN'T! THAT'S THE POINT!
He say "just kidding" or "psyche!" when talking about his support from the Boy Scouts or the police, or the turnout for his inauguration, or his results for the popular vote. WE HAVE TO SAY "WHICH EVERYONE KNOWS IS A LIE" AFTERWORDS, or pretend that his shills are being at all honest when they try to spin his lies as half truths -- "Well, lots of Boy Scout leaders said he was great after his grandstanding and demagoguery and inciting violence," when asked why he lied about getting a telephone call from the head of BSA.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
DOJ warns the media could be targeted in crackdown on leaks (Easley, The Hill)
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday announced a government-wide crackdown on leakers, which will include a review of the Justice Department’s policies on subpoenas for media outlets that publish sensitive information.posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
At a press conference with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Sessions announced that the Justice Department, FBI and government intelligence agencies will begin directing resources into the investigations of government leaks and would prioritize prosecuting those that pass sensitive information along to the press.
Sessions said he had empowered his deputy director Rod Rosenstein and incoming FBI director Christopher Wray to oversee the classified leaks investigations and to monitor the progress of each case.
trailblazing a path for the USFL to crash and burn under Trumps influence. Typical Trump.
Travel arrangements for USFL players courtesy Trump Air
posted by Room 641-A at 8:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Travel arrangements for USFL players courtesy Trump Air
posted by Room 641-A at 8:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Drollinger needs a security check. Drollinger needs to be banned from the White House, and bible study sessions on the dime of the citizens of the US should not happen. If these are happening during business hours in public buildings by individuals on the public payroll, they are illegal.
posted by Oyéah at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 8:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [33 favorites]
so I had the following conversation with my shrink, who was born around 1930 something, seriously:
angrycat: Did you hear any of the rally in WV last night? It scared me. Like, it freaked me out deeply. Do you think I'm being paranoid?
shrink: Well, as you know, I'm very old, and I can remember speeches of Hitler. That speech reminded me of Hitler's speeches.
angrycat: :O
posted by angrycat at 9:03 AM on August 4, 2017 [123 favorites]
angrycat: Did you hear any of the rally in WV last night? It scared me. Like, it freaked me out deeply. Do you think I'm being paranoid?
shrink: Well, as you know, I'm very old, and I can remember speeches of Hitler. That speech reminded me of Hitler's speeches.
angrycat: :O
posted by angrycat at 9:03 AM on August 4, 2017 [123 favorites]
I was planning to frame a new thread just around Donnie the Infirm's golf vacation, based on a couple of pieces I hadn't seen posted yet. (So glad to find a new thread this morning!) Here they are:
First, this deliciously snarky piece from GQ: Laziest President in American History Departs for 17-Day Golf Vacation
If you prefer your golf-related snark to be more analytical, this piece, with a great graphic and links to hypocritical tweets, from Philip Bump at the WaPo: By End of August, Trump Will Have Spent Three Times As Many Days at Leisure as Obama.
And bonus, a fresh piece this morning from Mr. Bump, who is rapidly approach National Treasure status (National Goodies Basket?): Trump Says He's Been Working Hard. Here's the Current Status on Things
posted by martin q blank at 9:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
First, this deliciously snarky piece from GQ: Laziest President in American History Departs for 17-Day Golf Vacation
If you prefer your golf-related snark to be more analytical, this piece, with a great graphic and links to hypocritical tweets, from Philip Bump at the WaPo: By End of August, Trump Will Have Spent Three Times As Many Days at Leisure as Obama.
And bonus, a fresh piece this morning from Mr. Bump, who is rapidly approach National Treasure status (National Goodies Basket?): Trump Says He's Been Working Hard. Here's the Current Status on Things
posted by martin q blank at 9:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
I think that certain folks who might be getting unwanted calls, from megalomaniacs, should put thirties, martial music as their on hold tunes, then let them run for a good long while before picking up; then pretend to be half deaf, and request repeats, while complaining about the connection.
posted by Oyéah at 9:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 9:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sessions said he had empowered his deputy director Rod Rosenstein and incoming FBI director Christopher Wray to oversee the classified leaks investigations and to monitor the progress of each case.
That's Christopher Wray, confirmed with 42 Democratic votes in favor after Trump obstructed justice to fire his predecessor in an attempt to stop the investigation into foreign collusion to steal a presidential election.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:14 AM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
That's Christopher Wray, confirmed with 42 Democratic votes in favor after Trump obstructed justice to fire his predecessor in an attempt to stop the investigation into foreign collusion to steal a presidential election.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:14 AM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Barack Spinoza: DOJ warns the media could be targeted in crackdown on leaks (Easley, The Hill)
Related? Decline In Democracy Spreads Across The Globe As Authoritarian Leaders Rise (NPR, Aug. 3, 2017) Across the world, many democracies are sliding further and further toward authoritarianism. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Larry Diamond of Stanford University about this "global democratic recession."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
Related? Decline In Democracy Spreads Across The Globe As Authoritarian Leaders Rise (NPR, Aug. 3, 2017) Across the world, many democracies are sliding further and further toward authoritarianism. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Larry Diamond of Stanford University about this "global democratic recession."
Turkey is not the only country where democratic ideals are eroding. Democracy is retreating in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro is consolidating power. In the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte has jailed his political opponents. In Poland and Hungary, leaders are cracking down on the press and trying to control the judiciary. We reached out to Larry Diamond at Stanford University - he's a founding editor of the Journal of Democracy - and asked what he sees when he looks at the state of democracy worldwide.For more reading on the topic: Authoritarianism Goes Global: The Challenge to Democracy
Over the past decade, illiberal powers have become emboldened and gained influence within the global arena. Leading authoritarian countries—including China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela—have developed new tools and strategies to contain the spread of democracy and challenge the liberal international political order. Meanwhile, the advanced democracies have retreated, failing to respond to the threat posed by the authoritarians.Happy Friday!
As undemocratic regimes become more assertive, they are working together to repress civil society while tightening their grip on cyberspace and expanding their reach in international media. These political changes have fostered the emergence of new counternorms—such as the authoritarian subversion of credible election monitoring—that threaten to further erode the global standing of liberal democracy.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
I already feel as if trapped in a room, with Triumph of the Will playing in an endless loop.
posted by runcifex at 9:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by runcifex at 9:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The point is that [Pence] has a set of socially-defined values (abhorrent and awful though I find them) that he would not easily betray.
I take your point. :-| And it's pretty much what's running things now, from what I can see. If we Agnew Pence, it won't be Ryan. But not sure who.
If my watching of fictional WH-centric drama is any indication, Trump can try to make it through to January 21, 2019, he can resign and give Pence 10 solid years in office.
/dreads
re: Limiting Presidential powers upthread -- they effectively did this with Obama, stealing his Supreme Court pick and being general obstructionist assholes, this would just codify it, I guess, assuming they could get it passed? Though they pulled this shit on Clinton to limit Presidential SS Protection (which didn't apply to him and then got reversed, IIRC, though some reps want to make Presidents pay for it out of pocket after 10 years out).
TLDR version: They might make limits but then they'd probalbly just undo them again. Or not be able to undo them and be stuck with it.
posted by tilde at 9:23 AM on August 4, 2017
I take your point. :-| And it's pretty much what's running things now, from what I can see. If we Agnew Pence, it won't be Ryan. But not sure who.
If my watching of fictional WH-centric drama is any indication, Trump can try to make it through to January 21, 2019, he can resign and give Pence 10 solid years in office.
/dreads
re: Limiting Presidential powers upthread -- they effectively did this with Obama, stealing his Supreme Court pick and being general obstructionist assholes, this would just codify it, I guess, assuming they could get it passed? Though they pulled this shit on Clinton to limit Presidential SS Protection (which didn't apply to him and then got reversed, IIRC, though some reps want to make Presidents pay for it out of pocket after 10 years out).
TLDR version: They might make limits but then they'd probalbly just undo them again. Or not be able to undo them and be stuck with it.
posted by tilde at 9:23 AM on August 4, 2017
Travel arrangements for USFL players courtesy Trump Air
Where every seat is (billed as) First Class.
posted by achrise at 9:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Where every seat is (billed as) First Class.
posted by achrise at 9:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
And to chase dire international news with glum national financial news: Why America's Wages Are Barely Rising (NPR, Aug. 3, 2017)
[We'll be competitive with China and Mexico in no time! Trump 2020! {/moldy hamburger}]
posted by filthy light thief at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Andrew Chamberlain, the chief economist at the jobs and recruiting company Glassdoor, says even as the unemployment rate fell to a 16-year low recently, wage growth has slowed. The company's own data for July confirm that. He says it shows "very sluggish growth, the slowest pace we've recorded in about three years and it's the sixth straight month that pay growth has declined."Thanks, President Trump! (We can say that now, right?)
The Labor Department's numbers aren't quite that bad, but they do show wage growth averaging 2.5 percent in the past four months after peaking at 2.9 percent in December. (The latest figures will be part of Friday's employment report for July.) Chamberlain says wage growth at this stage of an economic recovery should be close to 3.5 percent.
[We'll be competitive with China and Mexico in no time! Trump 2020! {/moldy hamburger}]
posted by filthy light thief at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I can't see Pence or any Trump successors doing as well in w world where the rule of law has been restored sufficiently for Trump to go, TBH. The whole stack of cards comes down at that point.
Downside is they know it.
posted by Artw at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Downside is they know it.
posted by Artw at 9:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Preventing another Civil War, squeezing the KKK out of Congress
I haven't heard of these aspects of US history (perhaps because I'm an immigrant). Where can I read more about previous the risk of another civil war? Googling, I just find stuff about contemporary risks.
posted by Coventry at 9:26 AM on August 4, 2017
I haven't heard of these aspects of US history (perhaps because I'm an immigrant). Where can I read more about previous the risk of another civil war? Googling, I just find stuff about contemporary risks.
posted by Coventry at 9:26 AM on August 4, 2017
s'real simple:
DEMOCRATS 2018: YOU WILL! 👏 BE HELD! 👏 ACCOUNTABLE! 👏👏
posted by petebest at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
DEMOCRATS 2018: YOU WILL! 👏 BE HELD! 👏 ACCOUNTABLE! 👏👏
posted by petebest at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I take your point. :-| And it's pretty much what's running things now, from what I can see. If we Agnew Pence, it won't be Ryan. But not sure who.
John Kelly. No doubt in my mind.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
John Kelly. No doubt in my mind.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The options are not (necessarily) President Trump or President Pence
The options are accountability or authoritarianism
We can choose to do nothing based on "what if" scenarios or we can make elected officals answerable to wrongdoing.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
The options are accountability or authoritarianism
We can choose to do nothing based on "what if" scenarios or we can make elected officals answerable to wrongdoing.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 9:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [30 favorites]
Heck, I wouldn't be especially surprised if Trump acts on his own to switch Pence for Kelly in the next 12 months.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:34 AM on August 4, 2017
Can he do that? Isn't the VP elected? (Does that matter?)
posted by Sys Rq at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 9:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
No, he cannot do that.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:37 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Josh Marshall of TPM: We’re Back to Manafort
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [61 favorites]
Indeed, it is so obviously so that I still don’t know why it hit me only when I read this piece. Don Jr. is a moron. Kushner may not be a moron but certainly a year ago he was altogether new to this world of spycraft and international intrigue. While even a fool as big as Don Jr. could not have missed the plain words of Goldstone’s letter in which he says he is speaking as an intermediary of a Russian government effort to elect his father, certainly other aspects of the approach could have eluded him. Same with Kushner. But [the post-Soviet underworld] was literally Manafort’s world. Not just working in and around spies for years but for more than a decade doing so in the lands of the former Soviet Union. It is simply not possible that the nature of what was happening and what was being discussed wasn’t immediately clear to Manafort. [...]I'm basically with Josh: Manafort knew exactly what the meeting was--an attempt to manufacture kompromat and as a bonus, actually influence a major US party's presidential nominee. If Mueller manages to flip Manafort, the whole rotten building will start to crumble.
[...] Manafort is really the key person in the meeting. That is not simply because he was the campaign manager but because he – not simply unique in the Trump campaign but uniquely for almost anyone involved in any way in any part of the 2016 presidential campaign, among operatives, journalists, anyone – had the experience and background to essentially guarantee he knew what that meeting was about.
And yet, he seems to have done nothing – at least nothing to block or stymie what the Russians on the other side of the approach were trying to achieve.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 9:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [61 favorites]
I mean in the sense that he'd pressure Pence to resign and then nominate Kelly to replace him. I know the VP doesn't serve at the pleasure of the president, but if the president decides the VP has to go, then something's going to give.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2017
TLDR version is: Pence can resign (or be removed from office, unlikely), Trump can "pick" Kelly, but he'd have to be confirmed by the House and Senate.
Section 2 of the Twenty-fifth Amendment provides for vice presidential succession:posted by tilde at 9:43 AM on August 4, 2017
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
I haven't heard of these aspects of US history (perhaps because I'm an immigrant). Where can I read more about previous the risk of another civil war? Googling, I just find stuff about contemporary risks.
Eric Forner is the go-to person for contemporary history of Reconstruction. Here's an article he wrote in the NYT. Book (amazon link).
We won the Civil War, but to a dismaying extent lost the peace.
If you didn't grow up in the States you might not have read Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and the sequels -- they're historical fiction aimed at youth but they're good and give a portrait of black Southern life in the 30s and are easily available at your local library.
Also look at W.E.B. DuBois, if you're interested in more scholarly takes.
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
Eric Forner is the go-to person for contemporary history of Reconstruction. Here's an article he wrote in the NYT. Book (amazon link).
We won the Civil War, but to a dismaying extent lost the peace.
If you didn't grow up in the States you might not have read Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and the sequels -- they're historical fiction aimed at youth but they're good and give a portrait of black Southern life in the 30s and are easily available at your local library.
Also look at W.E.B. DuBois, if you're interested in more scholarly takes.
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
I think we'd all prefer Bingo Bob for VP if it comes to that.
posted by Molesome at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Molesome at 9:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Thanks, tivalasvegas. I'd heard the term Reconstruction, but not that continued war was a possibility. Foner's book is going on my list.
posted by Coventry at 9:47 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Coventry at 9:47 AM on August 4, 2017
Trump is just straight up retweeting bots now, not that anything matters.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:49 AM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
If Trump is forced to resign or is impeached, and we get Pence, what will warm my heart somewhat is the knowledge that unless Trump is literally put into solitary confinement, he will spend the rest of his remaining days trying to undermine and turn people against Pence.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
Thanks, tivalasvegas. I'd heard the term Reconstruction, but not that continued war was a possibility. Foner's book is going on my list.
I wouldn't call it continued war in the total sense that the Civil War was. But certainly there was a low-level terrorist insurgency, particularly around elections to suppress the black vote, which ultimately led to the weakening of Federal political will to continue the Reconstruction process, the overthrow of multi-racial Southern state governments in favor of revanchist "Redemption" governments and the reinstatement of serfdom.
I suspect the residents of Baghdad circa 2007 would have interesting things to say about this period in American history...
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I wouldn't call it continued war in the total sense that the Civil War was. But certainly there was a low-level terrorist insurgency, particularly around elections to suppress the black vote, which ultimately led to the weakening of Federal political will to continue the Reconstruction process, the overthrow of multi-racial Southern state governments in favor of revanchist "Redemption" governments and the reinstatement of serfdom.
I suspect the residents of Baghdad circa 2007 would have interesting things to say about this period in American history...
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I know that grand juries can go on for a long time, but can they hand down indictments immediately or do they wait until they're finished? Or is there a strategy behind it?
posted by Room 641-A at 10:03 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 10:03 AM on August 4, 2017
Just a bit of silliness:
Hackers reprogram message board on I-80 in Dixon [CA] to mock Trump (KCRA/SFGate)
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:04 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Hackers reprogram message board on I-80 in Dixon [CA] to mock Trump (KCRA/SFGate)
An electronic message board on Interstate 80 near Dixon was hacked, allowing someone to type a few words about President Trump.Well I say silly but can also imagine serious legal trouble for the hacker(s) as anti-hacking laws can be surprisingly strict (source: cyberlaw class)
A KCRA 3 viewer sent in a photo of the sign on Thursday night, which reads, "Trump has herpes."
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:04 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
One reason wages aren't going up: As Cities Raise Minimum Wages, Many States Are Rolling Them Back (NPR, way back on July 18, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
After dozens of city and county governments voted to raise their local minimum wage ordinances in the last several years, states have been responding by passing laws requiring cities to abide by statewide minimums. So far, 27 states have passed such laws.I wonder if those conservatives who shout "States' Rights!" when they feel the Feds overstep their bounds are bothered at all when the States aherm, trump, local laws. I'm guessing not, as minimum wage is only an issue if you're stuck at that level, and that's a poor person issue, right?
The latest example of this is in Missouri, where a state law will take effect next month, rolling back St. Louis' $10-an-hour minimum wage ordinance passed earlier this year. That means thousands of minimum-wage earners in the city could go back to earning the state rate of $7.70 an hour.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:05 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
It's Friday, so I'm hopeful for a Scoop o'clock today. Especially since they're talking about going after leaks again, particularly maybe going after reporters to force them to reveal sources.
posted by azpenguin at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by azpenguin at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
If Trump is forced to resign or is impeached, and we get Pence, what will warm my heart somewhat is the knowledge that unless Trump is literally put into solitary confinement, he will spend the rest of his remaining days trying to undermine and turn people against Pence.
Nope, he'll just talk about how great he was until these baseless allegations forced him out.
posted by tilde at 10:12 AM on August 4, 2017
"Unreconstructed Confederate" is an old insult I'm doing my best to bring back.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:15 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
As for states rights:
This trend [increasing states rights legislation to override local control] is particularly notable in the country’s two megastates: California and Texas. Each is increasingly controlled by ideological fanatics who see in their statehouse dominion an ideal chance to impose their agenda on dissenting communities. In California, Jerry Brown’s climate jihad is the rationale for employing “the coercive power of the central state,” in his own words, to gain control over virtually every aspect of planning and development.Greg Abbot has a few thoughts on this as well ...
In Texas, the impetus comes from the far right, which has been working to strip localities of their traditional ability to control their own affairs, which, as two Houston scholars recently pointed out, has been critical to that state’s success. These efforts cover a host of issues, from fracking and ride-sharing to transgender bathrooms, a topic which affects very few but has, absurdly, become the key issue for a legislative special session. (source)
“Some local governments, like the city of Austin, are doing everything they can to overregulate,” Abbott said at a press conference announcing the special session. “I want legislation that … prevent[s] cities from micromanaging what property owners do with trees on their private land.”posted by tilde at 10:19 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Why was the governor asking lawmakers to examine what appeared to be a non-issue?
The answer may lie in Abbott’s personal experience with Austin’s tree ordinance. In a recent radio interview, Abbott said he was upset that the city of Austin wouldn’t allow him to remove a pecan tree at the house he owned in West Austin and required him to plant new trees.
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.” (source)
I'm Beto O'Rourke, and I'm challenging Ted Cruz in 2018. Ask me anything!
posted by scalefree at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
DOJ warns the media could be targeted in crackdown on leaks (Easley, The Hill)
Also this "crackdown" on the press reminds me of a project draft I scrapped a few years ago, thinking that such a premise was too implausible. Maybe it's time to resurrect it. Perhaps during my [non-existent] summer recess...
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday announced a government-wide crackdown on leakers, which will include a review of the Justice Department’s policies on subpoenas for media outlets that publish sensitive information.Sometimes I go through the exercise of "What Would Fox Do?" I.e., what message would conveniently ignore nuance and protocol and get the base all frothy and screamy. In this case the spin would be "WHY ARE THEY SO MAD ABOUT LEAKS?! WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?!"
Also this "crackdown" on the press reminds me of a project draft I scrapped a few years ago, thinking that such a premise was too implausible. Maybe it's time to resurrect it. Perhaps during my [non-existent] summer recess...
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't know how I'd feel about Texas destroying it's ability to be the only red state that actually makes money.
posted by Artw at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:20 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder if those conservatives who shout "States' Rights!" when they feel the Feds overstep their bounds are bothered at all when the States aherm, trump, local laws. I'm guessing not, as minimum wage is only an issue if you're stuck at that level, and that's a poor person issue, right?
(Because I hate myself & I know one of the WAMU people who was on the air that day) I listened to much of the radio interview with the libertarian who is running for governor. There was some chatter about minimum wage issues and even the libertarian was vaguely -shrug- about it and actually thought city-level ones made way more sense, as he mostly talked about there being an issue with a state-wide MW when there's such a swing between COL in Arlington vs smaller VA towns.
tl;dr: more proof that purported 'conservative' poitions now are often actually serf-seeking.
posted by phearlez at 10:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
(Because I hate myself & I know one of the WAMU people who was on the air that day) I listened to much of the radio interview with the libertarian who is running for governor. There was some chatter about minimum wage issues and even the libertarian was vaguely -shrug- about it and actually thought city-level ones made way more sense, as he mostly talked about there being an issue with a state-wide MW when there's such a swing between COL in Arlington vs smaller VA towns.
tl;dr: more proof that purported 'conservative' poitions now are often actually serf-seeking.
posted by phearlez at 10:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
I honestly didn't know that trees had an owner of their means of production, Greg. But now, thanks to you, I've learned that the City of Austin, Texas owns the means of production of trees.
posted by Talez at 10:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
I honestly didn't know that trees had an owner of their means of production, Greg. But now, thanks to you, I've learned that the City of Austin, Texas owns the means of production of trees.
posted by Talez at 10:25 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Also, nobody tell him about Conservation Land in MA law. He'll have the Texas State Guard come and liberate us and it'll be an incident.
posted by Talez at 10:28 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Talez at 10:28 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
So glad Josh Marshall wrote that about Manafort. I really wanted to put the Manafort-Sessions theory on the website somehow, but I didn't feel like I had the credibility to write it...
Now I can just link to Marshall's piece.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Now I can just link to Marshall's piece.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:32 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Meanwhile: Several government agencies are abandoning enforcement of equal rights to elevate white America.
posted by adamvasco at 10:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 10:34 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
A spectre is haunting Texas - the spectre of Tree Communism
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 10:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 10:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
Meanwhile: Several government agencies are abandoning enforcement of equal rights to elevate white America.
One reason wages aren't going up: As Cities Raise Minimum Wages, Many States Are Rolling Them Back (NPR, way back on July 18, 2017)
Reconstruction all over again?
posted by tilde at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
One reason wages aren't going up: As Cities Raise Minimum Wages, Many States Are Rolling Them Back (NPR, way back on July 18, 2017)
Reconstruction all over again?
posted by tilde at 10:41 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
And yet he likely wants the state to own and control every uterus in Texas.
posted by rocket88 at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [85 favorites]
And yet he likely wants the state to own and control every uterus in Texas.
posted by rocket88 at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [85 favorites]
In better news; commenters hijack white supremacy forums on reddit, turn them into innocuous discussions of laundry and coffee.
posted by emjaybee at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 10:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
I wonder if those conservatives who shout "States' Rights!" when they feel the Feds overstep their bounds are bothered at all when the States aherm, trump, local laws.
Nope. I've lobbied in a certain wang-shaped state on home-rule issues for a few years and I can assure you the "feds are intrudin' on state's rights" wingnuts don't give a shit.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Nope. I've lobbied in a certain wang-shaped state on home-rule issues for a few years and I can assure you the "feds are intrudin' on state's rights" wingnuts don't give a shit.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
So have I ever told you all about the time Mitch McConnell invaded my dream? This slightly irritating amusement happened several weeks ago, during one of the periods of high activity around one of the Senate healthcare votes.
The dream started out in an auditorium where there was a small Senatorial meet and greet. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was there with another Senator, whom I in correctly named as Jim Bunning (R-KY) to a companion in the dream, but was actually Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX). I was extremely friendly and polite to them, as I tried to calmly lay out why they really be voting for whatever horrible version of the bill McConnell and his staff had written. They each shook my hand and were reasonably polite but were still going to support it.
After the meet and greet, I found myself with a small group of people who were putting on an event with performances to protest the bill. I was part of this group, and I was given my task: to improvise reasons not to support the bill over Faith No More's Epic. I had to be ready to do so in front of thousands of people within an hour.
This task was a bit panic-inducing, and I found myself somewhere else needing to run to the auditorium to make it in time. Somehow, though, Mitch McConnell was there with me. I again reiterated my opposition to the healthcare plan, then told him we really had to get to my performance. He laughed, then we linked arms (wtf) and ran together to my high school auditorium so I could do my song.
I hope the performance went well.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 10:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
The dream started out in an auditorium where there was a small Senatorial meet and greet. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was there with another Senator, whom I in correctly named as Jim Bunning (R-KY) to a companion in the dream, but was actually Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX). I was extremely friendly and polite to them, as I tried to calmly lay out why they really be voting for whatever horrible version of the bill McConnell and his staff had written. They each shook my hand and were reasonably polite but were still going to support it.
After the meet and greet, I found myself with a small group of people who were putting on an event with performances to protest the bill. I was part of this group, and I was given my task: to improvise reasons not to support the bill over Faith No More's Epic. I had to be ready to do so in front of thousands of people within an hour.
This task was a bit panic-inducing, and I found myself somewhere else needing to run to the auditorium to make it in time. Somehow, though, Mitch McConnell was there with me. I again reiterated my opposition to the healthcare plan, then told him we really had to get to my performance. He laughed, then we linked arms (wtf) and ran together to my high school auditorium so I could do my song.
I hope the performance went well.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 10:44 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Nope. I've lobbied in a certain wang-shaped state on home-rule issues for a few years and I can assure you the "feds are intrudin' on state's rights" wingnuts don't give a shit.
They won't give a shit about federal intrusion either now that there's a white nationalist in power and federal priorities are shifting from at least trying to do something on civil rights and equality issues, to pursuing the white grievance of the day from hate radio as a federal crime.
States rights was never a coherent intellectual position, it's always been about enforcing their own authoritarian policies by any dishonest rhetoric that can get traction and 5 votes on the Supreme Court.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
They won't give a shit about federal intrusion either now that there's a white nationalist in power and federal priorities are shifting from at least trying to do something on civil rights and equality issues, to pursuing the white grievance of the day from hate radio as a federal crime.
States rights was never a coherent intellectual position, it's always been about enforcing their own authoritarian policies by any dishonest rhetoric that can get traction and 5 votes on the Supreme Court.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
It's Obama's birthday. I do wonder what he might be wishing for today.
posted by thebrokedown at 10:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 10:51 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
A letter from Comey's friend to Pence (8/2/17)
posted by growabrain at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's Obama's birthday. I do wonder what he might be wishing for today.
and what his cake says
posted by prefpara at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
and what his cake says
posted by prefpara at 10:53 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
And yet he likely wants the state to own and control every uterus in Texas.
I'm sure he'd be open to limiting tree decision making to men.
posted by phearlez at 10:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
And yet he likely wants the state to own and control every uterus in Texas.
I'm sure he'd be open to limiting tree decision making to men.
posted by phearlez at 10:54 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, Republicans don't like state governments because they're local, they like state governments because they're the strongest lever for implementing their regressive policies. States that do things contrary to the revanchist agenda (eg: legal weed) get nothing but grief from the Rs.
posted by obliviax at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by obliviax at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
tl;dr: more proof that purported 'conservative' poitions now are often actually serf-seeking.
I'm guessing this was a typo but if not, well played.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm guessing this was a typo but if not, well played.
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:55 AM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's Obama's birthday. I do wonder what he might be wishing for today.
#Obamaday is #1 on Twitter right now.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
#Obamaday is #1 on Twitter right now.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:56 AM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
A spectre is haunting Texas - the spectre of Tree Communism
Plus, per that other thread on the Blue other thread? what's that? the trees of North America are literally moving left across the continent so
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Plus, per that other thread on the Blue other thread? what's that? the trees of North America are literally moving left across the continent so
posted by tivalasvegas at 10:57 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think this is exactly wrong. Trump had an R after his name, and that's what mattered to a huge chunk of his voters -- not his multiple marriages, not his transparent areligiosity, not his past, not his present. Just that he was an R, and that's their team, and fuck the other team.
Still disagree. Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan mattered more than that R. An awful lot of Rs previously in good standing get run out of town on a primary rail if they dare to have independent opinions.
posted by delfin at 10:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Still disagree. Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan mattered more than that R. An awful lot of Rs previously in good standing get run out of town on a primary rail if they dare to have independent opinions.
posted by delfin at 10:58 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's Obama's birthday.
‘He is a Muslim traitor!’: Racists seethe after Fox & Friends wishes Obama happy birthday
posted by Room 641-A at 10:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
‘He is a Muslim traitor!’: Racists seethe after Fox & Friends wishes Obama happy birthday
posted by Room 641-A at 10:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm Beto O'Rourke, and I'm challenging Ted Cruz in 2018. Ask me anything!
Is it to a duel to the death? If he challenges Cruz to a pistols-at-high-noon showdown, I'll watch.
posted by zarq at 10:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Is it to a duel to the death? If he challenges Cruz to a pistols-at-high-noon showdown, I'll watch.
posted by zarq at 10:59 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
National Treasure Alexandra Petri, WaPo: Notes for the president’s babysitter on John Kelly’s night off
This week’s big news is how excited we are that, under the strong hand and watchful eye of retired Gen. John F. Kelly, the president is finally sitting up straight in meetings and “rattling off stats” like a BIG BOY. Next, shoe-tying! But what if the new chief of staff needs a night off? Fortunately, for the sake of this premise, I got my hands on the notes he left for the babysitter.Stopped Clock Jennifer Rubin, WaPo: An aberrant president induces aberrant behavior
Hi! Thank you so much for doing this. I should be back around 10. Please call me or Mad Dog if you have any questions at all.
I have been working hard to establish a routine. We have some simple (white) house rules that we are trying to implement to keep the president from getting cranky, starting a global conflict and/or committing an impeachable offense.
[…] leaks abound, making even Democratic critics of the president queasy when the president loses the ability to seek honest advice and speak candidly. Well, these people need to leak because the country must know how unfit he is. Perhaps, but once again the problem goes beyond one contemptible Oval Office occupant. The office of the presidency, ironically for an authoritarian pretender like Trump, is taking a beating. David Frum argues that “if no high national-security secret has been betrayed in these transcripts, the workings of the U.S. government have been gravely compromised, and in ways that will be very difficult to repair even after Trump leaves office. Trump’s violation of basic norms of government has driven people who would otherwise uphold those norms unto death to violate them in their turn. Contempt for Trump’s misconduct inspires counter-misconduct.”posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:03 AM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
So do we break the rules to save the country from Trump or let Trump implode in ways that could have grave consequences for the country’s national security and democratic institutions? We have no perfect formula, no algorithm for determining when to veer from the norm and when to let Trump drive himself and possibly the country into a ditch. Let’s try out a few guidelines that may help us survive the Trump presidency.
Or to put it another way -- Always Vote GOP Over Dems and Always Vote For Traditional GOP Ideals are two very different concepts even if the result is often the same. That's where the corbs separate from the 27%ers.
posted by delfin at 11:07 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by delfin at 11:07 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think this is exactly wrong. Trump had an R after his name, and that's what mattered to a huge chunk of his voters -- not his multiple marriages, not his transparent areligiosity, not his past, not his present. Just that he was an R, and that's their team, and fuck the other team.
Still disagree. Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan mattered more than that R. An awful lot of Rs previously in good standing get run out of town on a primary rail if they dare to have independent opinions.
Yes, "Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan" is the "fuck the other team" part, and the reason that Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan is decades of propaganda dedicated to push people to be tribally Republican. Those things aren't about ideology and a crusade, they're about party. They're being used by a comparatively few people of a particular ideology on a particular crusade, but the millions and millions of people who voted for the least qualified major-party nominee in American history because of his party affiliation. If he'd run as a third-party candidate, he would have got as many electoral votes as Ross Perot.
Primaries are different, and the reason they are is because of the tribal Republicanism -- the vast majority of voters in safe R districts aren't examining the ideology of the candidates, and they don't show up to the primaries, so the ones that do show up know that they can pick the craziest R possible and all the other one-election-a-year types will dutifully pull the R lever.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Still disagree. Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan mattered more than that R. An awful lot of Rs previously in good standing get run out of town on a primary rail if they dare to have independent opinions.
Yes, "Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan" is the "fuck the other team" part, and the reason that Democrats Are Evil And Hillary Is Satan is decades of propaganda dedicated to push people to be tribally Republican. Those things aren't about ideology and a crusade, they're about party. They're being used by a comparatively few people of a particular ideology on a particular crusade, but the millions and millions of people who voted for the least qualified major-party nominee in American history because of his party affiliation. If he'd run as a third-party candidate, he would have got as many electoral votes as Ross Perot.
Primaries are different, and the reason they are is because of the tribal Republicanism -- the vast majority of voters in safe R districts aren't examining the ideology of the candidates, and they don't show up to the primaries, so the ones that do show up know that they can pick the craziest R possible and all the other one-election-a-year types will dutifully pull the R lever.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
So have I ever told you all about the time Mitch McConnell invaded my dream?
And that dream's name?
America
posted by orange ball at 11:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
And that dream's name?
America
posted by orange ball at 11:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
From that lawfare post:
posted by Coventry at 11:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Impeachment must be treated like high-risk surgery, he insists, ‘to be resorted to only when the rightness of diagnosis and treatment is sure.’”If only the US would treat foreign military adventures with the same care...
posted by Coventry at 11:11 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Amid Washington dysfunction, lack of accomplishments, Trump clings to his shrinking support
As political and legal troubles mount, President Donald Trump holds ever tighter onto a base of support that grows ever smaller. Trump has placed cultivation of intensity within his base at the center of the administration's strategy across the board. (John Harwood, CNBC)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:12 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
As political and legal troubles mount, President Donald Trump holds ever tighter onto a base of support that grows ever smaller. Trump has placed cultivation of intensity within his base at the center of the administration's strategy across the board. (John Harwood, CNBC)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:12 AM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
when to let Trump drive himself and possibly the country into a ditch.
A ditch? A ditch?! I'd be thrilled if he only drove us into a ditch, Jennifer Rubin! I long for him to drive us into a mere ditch! I mean, we are already rattling along, driving in the ditch? The car's taking a real beating, and we're getting bruises and whiplash, and also some people have been chucked out of the car, but still, that's comparatively okay! Right now it feels like we're letting him drive the car towards a lake, or worse still, a cliff with a long drop. Republicans have got to fucking call the cops on this reckless driver. That's it, that's the only option.
posted by yasaman at 11:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [38 favorites]
A ditch? A ditch?! I'd be thrilled if he only drove us into a ditch, Jennifer Rubin! I long for him to drive us into a mere ditch! I mean, we are already rattling along, driving in the ditch? The car's taking a real beating, and we're getting bruises and whiplash, and also some people have been chucked out of the car, but still, that's comparatively okay! Right now it feels like we're letting him drive the car towards a lake, or worse still, a cliff with a long drop. Republicans have got to fucking call the cops on this reckless driver. That's it, that's the only option.
posted by yasaman at 11:13 AM on August 4, 2017 [38 favorites]
( ^ zarq I thought the proper nomenclature for this was "Sabres in a pit" and then I googled and found it didn't exist when it totally fucking should.)
posted by adamvasco at 11:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 11:21 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Dinesh D’Souza visited the White House to see Bannon and Gorka and hawk his book The Big Lie, which carries the subtitle "Exposing the Nazi roots of the American left." He tweeted out pictures of himself and then deleted tweets.
The photos also reveal that Bannon has "TAXES" written in big letters on his to-do list whiteboard, with a box around it and lots of arrows pointing to it and even a star by it. [real]
posted by zachlipton at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
The photos also reveal that Bannon has "TAXES" written in big letters on his to-do list whiteboard, with a box around it and lots of arrows pointing to it and even a star by it. [real]
posted by zachlipton at 11:23 AM on August 4, 2017 [35 favorites]
Manafort was really the key person in "The Meeting"
posted by growabrain at 11:24 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 11:24 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
The photos also reveal that Bannon has "TAXES" written in big letters on his to-do list whiteboard, with a box around it and lots of arrows pointing to it and even a star by it.
Can someone do a zoom & enhance on those photos? There's an awful lot of illegible text there that might be interesting to read.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Can someone do a zoom & enhance on those photos? There's an awful lot of illegible text there that might be interesting to read.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
I listened to the new episode of Oh No Ross and Carrie on my lunch hour today. It's part two of their reporting about a UFO and Metaphysics conference and apparently allllll those people are Trumpers.
So, like, pick your poison for Trump-voting:
A. Team Republican
B. Hillary is literal actual Satan
C. I like people who, like me, loudly reject reality, it doesn't matter what their politics are
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
So, like, pick your poison for Trump-voting:
A. Team Republican
B. Hillary is literal actual Satan
C. I like people who, like me, loudly reject reality, it doesn't matter what their politics are
posted by soren_lorensen at 11:26 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also, those photos of Gorka and Bannon smiling while holding a book titled The Big Lie are kind of spot-on, considering the source of the phrase:
A big lie is a propaganda technique. The expression was coined by Adolf Hitler, when he dictated his 1925 book Mein Kampf, about the use of a lie so "colossal" that no one would believe that someone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."posted by Atom Eyes at 11:33 AM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
An Evil Tree: The Story of Communism.
posted by Rumple at 11:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
An Evil Tree: The Story of Communism.
posted by Rumple at 11:36 AM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
tl;dr: more proof that purported 'conservative' poitions now are often actually serf-seeking.
I'm guessing this was a typo but if not, well played.
It was not.
posted by phearlez at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm guessing this was a typo but if not, well played.
It was not.
posted by phearlez at 11:39 AM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
and apparently allllll those people are Trumpers.
Fairly sure RT (and offshoots like wikileaks) put quite a bit of effort into courting the chemtrail/anti-vax/911-truther types. Even those notionally on the left and not trumpable would have been Hillaryphobes.
See also: those on the left but pro-brexit because they believe the EU is being paid off by big pharma to regulate alternative medicine out of existence.
The political compass could really do with a woo axis.
posted by Buntix at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Fairly sure RT (and offshoots like wikileaks) put quite a bit of effort into courting the chemtrail/anti-vax/911-truther types. Even those notionally on the left and not trumpable would have been Hillaryphobes.
See also: those on the left but pro-brexit because they believe the EU is being paid off by big pharma to regulate alternative medicine out of existence.
The political compass could really do with a woo axis.
posted by Buntix at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
I think it's worth highlighting just how big the war is against McMaster in right-wing media right now. Daily Caller is running stories like EXCLUSIVE: ‘Everything The President Wants To Do, McMaster Opposes,’ Former NSC Officials Say
(citing two former NSC officials, presumably ones he's fired). Breitbart is running with "McMaster ‘Deeply Hostile to Israel and to Trump'" and attacking him for exonerating Susan Rice.
It's all out war.
posted by zachlipton at 11:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
(citing two former NSC officials, presumably ones he's fired). Breitbart is running with "McMaster ‘Deeply Hostile to Israel and to Trump'" and attacking him for exonerating Susan Rice.
It's all out war.
posted by zachlipton at 11:43 AM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
Dinesh D’Souza visited the White House to see Bannon and Gorka and hawk his book The Big Lie, which carries the subtitle "Exposing the Nazi roots of the American left."
I know that appearances don't mean shit and that we really really shouldn't judge people based on them, but I have this instinctive cognitive disconnect between seeing that dorky, boyish face of his and trying to reconcile it with the deeply noxious bag of runny dogcrap that quivers behind it and regularly farts out lies and hate through his mouth and fingers.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
I know that appearances don't mean shit and that we really really shouldn't judge people based on them, but I have this instinctive cognitive disconnect between seeing that dorky, boyish face of his and trying to reconcile it with the deeply noxious bag of runny dogcrap that quivers behind it and regularly farts out lies and hate through his mouth and fingers.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:45 AM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Dinesh D’Souza visited the White House to see Bannon and Gorka and hawk his book...
Do you mean, sir, Convicted Felon Dinesh D'Souza?
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [40 favorites]
Do you mean, sir, Convicted Felon Dinesh D'Souza?
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:46 AM on August 4, 2017 [40 favorites]
[Convicted Felon] Dinesh D’Souza visited the White House to see Bannon and Gorka
FTFY.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
FTFY.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:47 AM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean, I know there's definitely a niche fame market in being the pet nonwhite mouthpiece who supports everyone's racism (cf. Kaitlyn Jenner and Yiannopoulous), but Jesus Christ, man, have some self-respect.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 11:48 AM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
> I think it's worth highlighting just how big the war is against McMaster in right-wing media right now.
Well let me just check that on the handy-dandy tool linked in the previous thread and see what the top Russian twitter-bot topics and hashtags are right now.
posted by klarck at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Well let me just check that on the handy-dandy tool linked in the previous thread and see what the top Russian twitter-bot topics and hashtags are right now.
posted by klarck at 11:52 AM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Has anyone started chanting "Lock Him Up" at Trump yet? Does he ever go out in public?
posted by Bee'sWing at 11:57 AM on August 4, 2017
posted by Bee'sWing at 11:57 AM on August 4, 2017
Martin Shkreli found guilty of securities fraud
Ha Ha!
posted by chaoticgood at 12:04 PM on August 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
Ha Ha!
posted by chaoticgood at 12:04 PM on August 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
Life isn't all bad.
Martin Shkreli Is Found Guilty of Fraud
Martin Shkreli Is Found Guilty of Fraud
Martin Shkreli, accused of defrauding his hedge fund investors and a pharmaceutical company, was convicted on three of eight counts on Friday, after a five-week trial in the Federal District Court in Brooklyn.posted by chris24 at 12:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [36 favorites]
He faces as much as 20 years in prison.
The conviction, even as a mixed verdict, was a shattering defeat for the divisive Mr. Shkreli, who said before the trial that he was “so innocent” that the judge, jury and prosecutors would apologize to him afterward.
A pair of stories on Sessions' leak crackdown. The details are lacking, but the overall impression is disturbing and threatening.
BuzzFeed, Zoe Tillman: The Justice Department Is Reviewing Obama-Era Journalist Protections
posted by zachlipton at 12:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
BuzzFeed, Zoe Tillman: The Justice Department Is Reviewing Obama-Era Journalist Protections
Sessions announced at a news conference Friday morning that the department is reviewing its policies for subpoenaing reporters, suggesting that Obama-era guidelines that placed limits on the practice could be rolled back.Politico, Josh Gerstein and Madeline Conway: Sessions: DOJ reviewing policies on media subpoenas
The department will "respect the important role that the press plays," Sessions said, "but it is not unlimited."
Reporters "cannot place lives at risk with impunity," Sessions said. "We must balance their role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in our intelligence community, the armed forces, and all law abiding Americans."
...
He said that in the first six months after Trump took office, there were nearly as many criminal referrals concerning leaks of classified information as there were in the previous three years combined. A criminal referral means a request that the Justice Department investigate the possible leak of classified information that could harm national security. A referral can come from the intelligence community, or other sources outside the Justice Department.
“So today, I have this message for our friends in the intelligence community,” he continued. “The Department of Justice is open for business, and I have this warning for would-be leakers: Don't do it.”Sessions left the press conference without taking any questions.
Sessions also announced that the FBI has created a new team specifically focused on leaks of classified information to the press and public.
...
While all the officials who spoke Friday inveighed against the grave harm done by leakers, no examples were given. National Counterintelligence Executive William Evanina said that was the product of a "paradox," where confirming th' leak exacerbates the damage.
posted by zachlipton at 12:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
let this be the Shkreli in the coalmine for the fate of assholes with money
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [57 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [57 favorites]
Now we're never going to get to hear that new Wu-Tang Clan album. :(
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
chris24: He faces as much as 20 years in prison.
That's great, but how little time could he face? Upper limits are great, but the cynic in me wants to know what the least amount of time he could be sentenced to do. Also, what's the chance that he's the next King of Swiss Miss, Bernie Madoff? Really, prison doesn't sound too hard on old Bernie, though we're safer for it.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's great, but how little time could he face? Upper limits are great, but the cynic in me wants to know what the least amount of time he could be sentenced to do. Also, what's the chance that he's the next King of Swiss Miss, Bernie Madoff? Really, prison doesn't sound too hard on old Bernie, though we're safer for it.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
There's a gap between the trial and the sentencing, so I think I know who the new White House Communications Director is gonna be
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Murder Conviction Overturned in Infamous Blackwater Massacre Case.
posted by yoga at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by yoga at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Now we're never going to get to hear that new Wu-Tang Clan album. :(
Two words: civil forfeiture
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
Two words: civil forfeiture
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
Faint of Butt: Now we're never going to get to hear that new Wu-Tang Clan album. :(
East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94: Two words: civil forfeiture
Seven more words: possible heist, by or with Bill Murray.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94: Two words: civil forfeiture
Seven more words: possible heist, by or with Bill Murray.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
Now we're done chuckling at the Newsweek cover, the Economist's cover has a somewhat darker take on POTUS.
Sessions announced at a news conference Friday morning that the department is reviewing its policies for subpoenaing reporters,
Leak to the Guardian. Next?
posted by Devonian at 12:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
Sessions announced at a news conference Friday morning that the department is reviewing its policies for subpoenaing reporters,
Leak to the Guardian. Next?
posted by Devonian at 12:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
Seven more words: possible heist, by or with Bill Murray.
So this is how the Trump presidency is going to go down? With RZA and Bill Murray breaking into the DoJ to retrieve the album only to actually find evidence of a massive criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the president.
posted by Talez at 12:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
So this is how the Trump presidency is going to go down? With RZA and Bill Murray breaking into the DoJ to retrieve the album only to actually find evidence of a massive criminal conspiracy that goes all the way to the president.
posted by Talez at 12:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [21 favorites]
yoga: Murder Conviction Overturned in Infamous Blackwater Massacre Case.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Separately, the court said Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Evan Liberty, who were all convicted of manslaughter and other offenses over their respective roles in the incident, should be re-sentenced because their 30-year prison terms were too long. The court also threw out one of Liberty’s convictions for attempted manslaughter.It's not over yet.
...
The Justice Department’s case against Slatten, “hinged on his having fired the first shots, his animosity toward the Iraqis having led him to target the white Kia unprovoked,” the court said in the unsigned ruling.
But the statements made by the unnamed co-defendant immediately afterward that he fired the first shot “strike at the heart of that theory and instead point to the co-defendant, not Slatten,” the court said.
The defendants were convicted in October 2014. Slatten had been sentenced to life in prison.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Seven more words: possible heist, by or with Bill Murray.
Sadly, no.
posted by Etrigan at 12:19 PM on August 4, 2017
Sadly, no.
posted by Etrigan at 12:19 PM on August 4, 2017
Using the DOJ to go after journalists and sources for leaks and fake news is dumb and counterproductive. In that kind of process wouldn't the court require discovery and testimony? So wouldn't all this action lead to legal proof that all these leaks are 100% true not fake news? Also, aren't they inviting some mid-level bureaucrat to make a name for himself by leaking info, then defending himself by saying, "You can't prosecute me for leaking an illegal order."
So I guess it's the perfect Trump policy.
posted by Glibpaxman at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
So I guess it's the perfect Trump policy.
posted by Glibpaxman at 12:21 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Using the DOJ to go after journalists and sources for leaks and fake news is dumb and counterproductive. In that kind of process wouldn't the court require discovery and testimony?
They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it, and to whip up their base about how anti-Trumpist leaks are worse than Trumpists doing bad things.
posted by Etrigan at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it, and to whip up their base about how anti-Trumpist leaks are worse than Trumpists doing bad things.
posted by Etrigan at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Eh, the DOJ thing seems to me like it's the usual Trump bluster, just funneled through Sessions. He probably told him to make proclamations about it to sound tough. They've been talking about cracking down on leaks but the leaks keep leaking.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Fleebnork at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
Really, prison doesn't sound too hard on old Bernie [Madoff], though we're safer for it.
I don't really think we're safer... Madoff was a reflection of the proverb "You can't cheat an honest man." According to Markopolos, those of his investors who questioned his improbably stable returns concluded he was probably abusing his position as market maker to front run-stock prices.
posted by Coventry at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't really think we're safer... Madoff was a reflection of the proverb "You can't cheat an honest man." According to Markopolos, those of his investors who questioned his improbably stable returns concluded he was probably abusing his position as market maker to front run-stock prices.
posted by Coventry at 12:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I believe that as a prisoner Shkreli is entitled to essential medications for free, sadly
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:29 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:29 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Two thoughts on this beautiful Friday afternoon, as I sit here, basking in the good fortune of being 2.5 years self-employed (thanks to Obamacare), but the poorest I've been in most of my adult life, with the doors open at my shop to let the fresh air blow through:
1. The word "trump" is going to have interesting nuance in coming years, in those uses where it was previously a perfectly innocuous word; i.e, in card games and other gamesmanship.
2. I'm terrified. I live in the whitest, most Trumpistani part of the country. And I feel like I'm in some Sci-Fi thing, hiding my true thoughts, hoping I don't get found out.
posted by yesster at 12:30 PM on August 4, 2017 [37 favorites]
1. The word "trump" is going to have interesting nuance in coming years, in those uses where it was previously a perfectly innocuous word; i.e, in card games and other gamesmanship.
2. I'm terrified. I live in the whitest, most Trumpistani part of the country. And I feel like I'm in some Sci-Fi thing, hiding my true thoughts, hoping I don't get found out.
posted by yesster at 12:30 PM on August 4, 2017 [37 favorites]
Waaaaaay back in May I posted this comment, in the context of whether or not California money Dems would support Ted Lieu over old-guard Feinstein:
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-hollywood-money-governors-race-20170804-story.html
My educated (but no longer professional) guess is that your Newsom supporters would trend towards supporting DiFi; I would definitely take note if some of the biggest names in the article start fundraising for Lieu or any other challenger. Unlike the old days, however, it wouldn't be unthinkable for a Ted Lieu to raise enough money to be competitve a la Bernie.
Etrigan: They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it, and to whip up their base about how anti-Trumpist leaks are worse than Trumpists doing bad things.
Oh, thank God someone really smart said this! I believe the same thing. The WaPos of this world conduct Extreme Vetting of these kinds of things, they have lawyers who know every inch of the law, and journalists who have shown extreme bravery when faced with jail time. And re the media subpoenas, isn't that what Obama tried, unsuccessfully?
posted by Room 641-A at 12:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
And speaking of Ted Lieu, a few threads ago, on the topic of Ted Lieu's political future, I said to keep an eye on the meet-and-greets and follow the Hollywood money and supporters.Here's a very early look at how the governor's race is shaping up:
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-hollywood-money-governors-race-20170804-story.html
My educated (but no longer professional) guess is that your Newsom supporters would trend towards supporting DiFi; I would definitely take note if some of the biggest names in the article start fundraising for Lieu or any other challenger. Unlike the old days, however, it wouldn't be unthinkable for a Ted Lieu to raise enough money to be competitve a la Bernie.
Etrigan: They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it, and to whip up their base about how anti-Trumpist leaks are worse than Trumpists doing bad things.
Oh, thank God someone really smart said this! I believe the same thing. The WaPos of this world conduct Extreme Vetting of these kinds of things, they have lawyers who know every inch of the law, and journalists who have shown extreme bravery when faced with jail time. And re the media subpoenas, isn't that what Obama tried, unsuccessfully?
posted by Room 641-A at 12:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
So as not to abuse the edit window, I think this was more Sessions getting Trump off his ass and stop tweeting about him.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 12:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
Two thoughts on this beautiful Friday afternoon, as I sit here, basking in the good fortune of being 2.5 years self-employed (thanks to Obamacare)
It bears repeating, often, loudly, and raising as much stench as possible. In UK parlance "to trump" refers to performing a bum eruction.
I am 3 days away from being 20 years and 1 month self-employed. Likewise I would never have got here without healthcare that was free(/affordable) at the point of provision. It is pretty much an essential pre-condition for genuine entrepreneurship (person has idea, makes stuff, profits), as opposed to malicious-variant-entrepreneurship (person has idea, person sells soul to persons with none, also the idea, stuff is either made or not made depending on profitability and market share, profit is or isn't made but the stock price goes up anyway, other stuff happens, we are all suddenly living in a mad max universe where trump is now immortal).
Another thing that would really help would be a legal system where cost of participation wasn't a barrier or bias to justice.
posted by Buntix at 12:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
It bears repeating, often, loudly, and raising as much stench as possible. In UK parlance "to trump" refers to performing a bum eruction.
I am 3 days away from being 20 years and 1 month self-employed. Likewise I would never have got here without healthcare that was free(/affordable) at the point of provision. It is pretty much an essential pre-condition for genuine entrepreneurship (person has idea, makes stuff, profits), as opposed to malicious-variant-entrepreneurship (person has idea, person sells soul to persons with none, also the idea, stuff is either made or not made depending on profitability and market share, profit is or isn't made but the stock price goes up anyway, other stuff happens, we are all suddenly living in a mad max universe where trump is now immortal).
Another thing that would really help would be a legal system where cost of participation wasn't a barrier or bias to justice.
posted by Buntix at 12:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
In Trump’s World, Whites Are the Only Disadvantaged Class
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
In Trump’s World, Whites Are the Only Disadvantaged Class
that's White Males (and of very heterosexual orientation)
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
that's White Males (and of very heterosexual orientation)
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it
I'm not so sure about this. One of the things that came out of the guidelines Holder developed (consulting with lawyers for major news organizations) were a bunch of restrictions on subpoenaing reporters, including a requirement that the Attorney General usually needed to sign off on such a request personally. The BuzzFeed story says that they are reviewing those guidelines because of "concerns raised by career prosecutors about finding ways to speed up the pace of cases."
Changing this could lead to more situations where reporters are compelled to reveal sources. It's not necessarily about prosecuting the journalists, but threatening them with jail for refusing to reveal their sources. That very much can, and has, stood up.
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not so sure about this. One of the things that came out of the guidelines Holder developed (consulting with lawyers for major news organizations) were a bunch of restrictions on subpoenaing reporters, including a requirement that the Attorney General usually needed to sign off on such a request personally. The BuzzFeed story says that they are reviewing those guidelines because of "concerns raised by career prosecutors about finding ways to speed up the pace of cases."
Changing this could lead to more situations where reporters are compelled to reveal sources. It's not necessarily about prosecuting the journalists, but threatening them with jail for refusing to reveal their sources. That very much can, and has, stood up.
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
They have no intent for it to go to court, because they know that it won't stand up. They're just trying to scare journalists away from it, and to whip up their base about how anti-Trumpist leaks are worse than Trumpists doing bad things.
I know they're dumbasses, but have they really thought about the incentive structures for professional journalists and major news organizations?
I mean, I'm not one, don't know any national political reporters, and don't even know anyone who's still a reporter. But it just seems to me, as a dumbass outsider, that reporters from the national newspapers and news organizations know that they have smart, big, powerful, well-connected lawyers advising them and backing them up. And that being the reporter -- or newspaper, or news network -- that Trump tried to silence is not really much of a penalty?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:56 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know they're dumbasses, but have they really thought about the incentive structures for professional journalists and major news organizations?
I mean, I'm not one, don't know any national political reporters, and don't even know anyone who's still a reporter. But it just seems to me, as a dumbass outsider, that reporters from the national newspapers and news organizations know that they have smart, big, powerful, well-connected lawyers advising them and backing them up. And that being the reporter -- or newspaper, or news network -- that Trump tried to silence is not really much of a penalty?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:56 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
1. The word "trump" is going to have interesting nuance in coming years, in those uses where it was previously a perfectly innocuous word; i.e, in card games and other gamesmanship.
It's already almost ruining euchre for me. Almost.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's already almost ruining euchre for me. Almost.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
WaPo: There's No Such Thing as a Trump Democrat
posted by C'est la D.C. at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by C'est la D.C. at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
Trumo just boarded Air Force One for vacation. Time for oppo droppo! (Please.)
posted by Room 641-A at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 12:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Meanwhile across the Atlantic: Benjamin Netanyahu suspected of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, police say
This can't make things better.
posted by mephron at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
This can't make things better.
posted by mephron at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
From the Trump Democrat article:
People tend to forget how they voted in previous elections, with more recalling they voted for the winner than actually did.
Some people maybe shouldn't be voting at all.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
People tend to forget how they voted in previous elections, with more recalling they voted for the winner than actually did.
Some people maybe shouldn't be voting at all.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
People tend to forget how they voted in previous elections, with more recalling they voted for the winner than actually did.
Why attribute to forgetfulness what we can instead attribute to lying your ass off
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [57 favorites]
Why attribute to forgetfulness what we can instead attribute to lying your ass off
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [57 favorites]
Come to think of it, maybe I did vote for Trump...
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
In my experience this voter forgetfulness is actually explained by the reality that they did not vote at all.
posted by bearwife at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 1:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
" I'm terrified. I live in the whitest, most Trumpistani part of the country. And I feel like I'm in some Sci-Fi thing, hiding my true thoughts, hoping I don't get found out."Howdy, neighbor!
posted by TwoToneRow at 1:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trumo just boarded Air Force One for vacation. Time for oppo droppo! (Please.) - posted by Room 641-A at 3:59 PM
Dropped 4:00pm.
Exclusive: FBI tracked 'fake news' believed to be from Russia on Election Day
Dropped 4:00pm.
Exclusive: FBI tracked 'fake news' believed to be from Russia on Election Day
The FBI monitored social media on Election Day last year in an effort to track a suspected Russian disinformation campaign utilizing "fake news," CNN has learned. In the months leading up to Election Day, Twitter and Facebook were the feeding grounds for viral "news" stories floating conspiracies and hoaxes, many aimed at spreading negative false claims about Hillary Clinton.posted by chris24 at 1:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [43 favorites]
On Election Day, dozens of agents and analysts huddled at a command center arrayed with large monitoring screens at the FBI headquarters in Washington watching for security threats, according to multiple sources. That included analysts monitoring cyber threats, after months of mounting Russian intrusions targeting every part of the US political system, from political parties to policy think-tanks to state election systems.
On this day, there was also a group of FBI cyber and counterintelligence analysts and investigators watching social media. FBI analysts had identified social media user accounts behind stories, some based overseas, and the suspicion was that at least some were part of a Russian disinformation campaign, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.
I'm listening to the hourly news report on NPR. "Trump has been trumpeting the news about a Chinese whatever…"
Probably Fox comm
posted by tilde at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Probably Fox comm
posted by tilde at 1:08 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yeah he's been making bogus claims that Foxconn is going to be bigly investing $10 billion in the US.
posted by Fleebnork at 1:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Fleebnork at 1:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I still wanna know how I can get into this Mueller prosecution business I'm legit tryna take down a president I want a team of prosecutors with impeccable credentials
posted by gucci mane at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 1:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
People tend to forget how they voted in previous elections, with more recalling they voted for the winner than actually did.
With some exceptions - after his resignation, it was hard for me to find anyone who admitted they voted for Nixon (and I was running in semi-Republican circles at the time).
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
With some exceptions - after his resignation, it was hard for me to find anyone who admitted they voted for Nixon (and I was running in semi-Republican circles at the time).
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was just thinking about Scott Worsleys use of the word trumpeting
posted by tilde at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by tilde at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2017
Changing this could lead to more situations where reporters are compelled to reveal sources. It's not necessarily about prosecuting the journalists, but threatening them with jail for refusing to reveal their sources. That very much can, and has, stood up.
And by extension, about discouraging leaks. "Even if the reporters promise you absolute anonymity, we can just throw them in jail until they give you up. Before you send that e-mail to the Post, ask yourself, how sure are you that they won't crack?"
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
And by extension, about discouraging leaks. "Even if the reporters promise you absolute anonymity, we can just throw them in jail until they give you up. Before you send that e-mail to the Post, ask yourself, how sure are you that they won't crack?"
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I think in the future, playing a trump in bridge will refer to placing a joker on top of the trick and then crying out "fake rules" when others point out you have to follow suit.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
They just interviewed Iliana Watson from politico and EJ Lederman from The Washington Post on NPR. EJ said " I don't think general Kelly can change Trump is a big tough marine but that's a tall order. Quote or something along those lines. It finished up at 4:20 it started about 4:16, so you should be picking it up again in about an hour from now. All things considered news show.
When I gets outside of the thread where in for 3 1/2 more years.
posted by tilde at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2017
When I gets outside of the thread where in for 3 1/2 more years.
posted by tilde at 1:19 PM on August 4, 2017
Is Toddler immune from the leak hunt? Just asking.
posted by Dashy at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Dashy at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Foxconn is going to be bigly investing $10 billion in the US.
"But probably more like $30 billion" [real]
Chicago Tribune: Foxconn steers clear of Trump's $30 billion investment claim
posted by Room 641-A at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
"But probably more like $30 billion" [real]
Chicago Tribune: Foxconn steers clear of Trump's $30 billion investment claim
posted by Room 641-A at 1:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's already almost ruining euchre for me. Almost.
Oh god, and the euchre belt runs across the upper Midwest...
Were there voters that went Trump in WI/MI/OH/PA because of vaguely subconscious positive associations with throwing down the right/left/ace of Trump halfway through a hand
oh god, statistics says there probably were
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Oh god, and the euchre belt runs across the upper Midwest...
Were there voters that went Trump in WI/MI/OH/PA because of vaguely subconscious positive associations with throwing down the right/left/ace of Trump halfway through a hand
oh god, statistics says there probably were
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
> WaPo: There's No Such Thing as a Trump Democrat
posted by tonycpsu at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
The aberration wasn’t their votes for Trump but their votes for Obama.THIS! So much post-election punditry tried to make it sound like the reduction in vote share from Obama to Clinton was a colossal failure, when in reality Obama was a once-in-a-generation candidate who had some of the strongest anti-incumbent winds ever at his back. Those voters were going to come home, and Trump's stew of xenophobia and toxic masculinity was the perfect way to bring them back. I'm glad at least one pundit gets it.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
Is it possible Trump brought in a general, sort of a federal marshall, in Kelly, so he could go on vacation? Then Vice President Penance could just go on with his personal, never ending, Vacation Bible School?
posted by Oyéah at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 1:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
They're both evil, though. Just differently evil.
Pence's campaign slogan: Evil Different
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Pence's campaign slogan: Evil Different
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Daily Beast, Betsy Woodruff, Noah Shachtman: Team Trump Sics Spy Hunters on Leakers
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
We are taking a stand,” Sessions said. “This culture of leaking must stop.”Of course, leak investigations are dangerous:
Ron Hosko, former deputy director of the FBI, said these changes could result in prosecution of members of Congress and Hill staffers. In the past, he said the FBI identified members of Congress who leaked classified information, who the Justice Department then declined to prosecute. Agents were often frustrated by this, Hosko added. Given the attorney general’s announcement, he said, members of Congress and Hill staffers may be more likely to face prosecution.
“Let’s face it: Capitol Hill leaks like a sieve,” Hosko said.
Perkins may want to take a bit more of a wait-and-see approach. These leak investigations have a habit of taking some rather odd turns. President Nixon’s anti-leak team—the so-called “plumbers”—eventually helped bring down his presidency.Also, please enjoy Rep. Maxine Waters on The View with special surprise appearance by "Reclaiming My Time" gospel singer Mykal Kilgore.
posted by zachlipton at 1:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [39 favorites]
I listened to the new episode of Oh No Ross and Carrie on my lunch hour today. It's part two of their reporting about a UFO and Metaphysics conference and apparently allllll those people are Trumpers.
A lot of the "Freeman on the land" gibberish is one half New Age woo and one half Trump-friendly anti-globalism/NWO/anti-Zionism etc. etc. Just a couple of days ago a woman named Heather Ann Tucci-Jarraf, one of the operators of the One People's Public Trust scam was arrested in DC in connection to earlier acts of bank fraud. Her website I-UV.com is totally woo and totally nuts.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
A lot of the "Freeman on the land" gibberish is one half New Age woo and one half Trump-friendly anti-globalism/NWO/anti-Zionism etc. etc. Just a couple of days ago a woman named Heather Ann Tucci-Jarraf, one of the operators of the One People's Public Trust scam was arrested in DC in connection to earlier acts of bank fraud. Her website I-UV.com is totally woo and totally nuts.
posted by octobersurprise at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Exclusive: FBI tracked 'fake news' believed to be from Russia on Election Day
And there lies yet another rub, rolling us all off into the runnels.
How is it possible that the NSA et al couldn't come up with http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/.
I mean I could write that in a weekend (apart, possibly, from getting chart.js to consistently apply shading - that is beyond the ken of any), I am pretty sure they have better computer programmers than me on the payroll.
It makes the whole far-right media 'deep state' narrative interesting.
Did they (the deep state) completely miss it (and if so how are we ever meant to believe that Stitchers could be a real thing).
Did they log it but the analyses was off.
Did they see it coming but the chain of command gave it a go (the underlying narrative for most clash-of-nations thrillers).
Did they see it coming, and actually it turns out the TLA badge doesn't mean much when you are going up against the big guys (and their buyers of ink and bullets in the back of the head in barrels).
@NSA my dude, what happened?
[disclaimer: I am of the anarchist tendency; not a supporter of any state, deep or otherwise, any implied support shouldn't be]
posted by Buntix at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
And there lies yet another rub, rolling us all off into the runnels.
How is it possible that the NSA et al couldn't come up with http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/.
I mean I could write that in a weekend (apart, possibly, from getting chart.js to consistently apply shading - that is beyond the ken of any), I am pretty sure they have better computer programmers than me on the payroll.
It makes the whole far-right media 'deep state' narrative interesting.
Did they (the deep state) completely miss it (and if so how are we ever meant to believe that Stitchers could be a real thing).
Did they log it but the analyses was off.
Did they see it coming but the chain of command gave it a go (the underlying narrative for most clash-of-nations thrillers).
Did they see it coming, and actually it turns out the TLA badge doesn't mean much when you are going up against the big guys (and their buyers of ink and bullets in the back of the head in barrels).
@NSA my dude, what happened?
[disclaimer: I am of the anarchist tendency; not a supporter of any state, deep or otherwise, any implied support shouldn't be]
posted by Buntix at 1:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The media certainly could of, instead they remained dedicated to being "fair and balanced".
posted by Artw at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ron Hosko, former deputy director of the FBI, said these changes could result in prosecution of members of Congress and Hill staffers.
Has a member of Congress ever been prosecuted for leaking, let alone convicted? How about a staffer?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2017
Has a member of Congress ever been prosecuted for leaking, let alone convicted? How about a staffer?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:01 PM on August 4, 2017
“Let’s face it: Capitol Hill leaks like a sieve,” Hosko said.
“Let’s face it: Capitol Hill leaks like a Steve,” Hosko said. FTFY
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
“Let’s face it: Capitol Hill leaks like a Steve,” Hosko said. FTFY
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 2:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Any member of Congress can read anything into the record and be completely immune from prosecution for it. (They are liable from punishment from their own House for it, though.) This is how Mike Gravel published the Pentagon Papers.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
I listened to the new episode of Oh No Ross and Carrie on my lunch hour today. It's part two of their reporting about a UFO and Metaphysics conference and apparently allllll those people are Trumpers.
Definitely not. However, and this is a little tinfoil-hatty, but, those Trumpers are the loudest and most dickish. So they're easier to spot as a dispassionate observer. Yeah. Think about it.
posted by petebest at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2017
Definitely not. However, and this is a little tinfoil-hatty, but, those Trumpers are the loudest and most dickish. So they're easier to spot as a dispassionate observer. Yeah. Think about it.
posted by petebest at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2017
I hope McCain will tell us about the UFOs...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:07 PM on August 4, 2017
WORLD GOVERNMENT LEADER: We have agreed to allow President Trump to announce you
ALIENS: Pass
posted by petebest at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
ALIENS: Pass
posted by petebest at 2:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [12 favorites]
Fox News anchor calls grand juries "undemocratic farce" one day after calling for grand jury for Clinton. [real]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [76 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [76 favorites]
Sessions: "rogue White House officials with security clearances selling out our country."
So, Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn?
posted by Room 641-A at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
So, Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn?
posted by Room 641-A at 2:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
"Take me to your leader" has never had more chilling implications.
"Umm, could you guys come back in maybe four years or so? You picked a really bad time. Or you could go land in Germany, that'd be fine. I can draw you a map."
posted by MrVisible at 2:20 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
"Umm, could you guys come back in maybe four years or so? You picked a really bad time. Or you could go land in Germany, that'd be fine. I can draw you a map."
posted by MrVisible at 2:20 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
tilde: “Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
Because this quote was bothering me, Washington Post has more on Austin's battle with the State of Texas over its tree protection requirements, which comes from "a long-standing ordinance that requires property owners to get permission — and sometimes pay a fee — before cutting down any tree greater than 19 inches in diameter on their own land."
posted by filthy light thief at 2:23 PM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
Because this quote was bothering me, Washington Post has more on Austin's battle with the State of Texas over its tree protection requirements, which comes from "a long-standing ordinance that requires property owners to get permission — and sometimes pay a fee — before cutting down any tree greater than 19 inches in diameter on their own land."
Many Austin boosters say that if the air smells pleasant in Austin, it’s thanks to the trees, which cover nearly a third (PDF) of the land in the city.Abbot, stay out of California, because the California Environmental Quality Act will overwhelm your soft brain with is far-reaching concerns for community, historic and environmental concerns to consider when developing in parts of the state. And this hippie thinks that the state, the 5th largest economy in the world, is better for it. (Sure, Texas is up there, above Canada, but below Brazil, Italy, India, France, and oh ... there's California. #CaliPrideForever even though I'm #NewMexicoProud)
posted by filthy light thief at 2:23 PM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
Can we just silently agree that if the aliens land here we go all underground railroad and smuggle them up to Ottawa?
posted by cmfletcher at 2:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 2:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Did the aliens grant some of us the power of telepathy? Now I've got serious FOMO.
posted by Coventry at 2:30 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by Coventry at 2:30 PM on August 4, 2017
Can we just silently agree that if the aliens land here we go all underground railroad and smuggle them up to Ottawa?
When the M'pel'glor Imperium sends its husk creatures, it's not sending its best.
posted by nathan_teske at 2:32 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
When the M'pel'glor Imperium sends its husk creatures, it's not sending its best.
posted by nathan_teske at 2:32 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Gannett/USA Today: Mueller using at least two grand juries
One in Virginia, one in DC.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
One in Virginia, one in DC.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
Holyfuckingshit, it only takes trees to be socialist now?
posted by rhizome at 2:38 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 2:38 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Unreconstructed Confederate" is an old insult I'm doing my best to bring back.
Careful - it's not always taken as an insult.
posted by absalom at 2:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Careful - it's not always taken as an insult.
posted by absalom at 2:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
On Forest Lane, butchered trees offer 'horrific' peek at Texas' future if Abbott gets his way Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Morning News
In a tweet Thursday, Abbott said he's out to "end cities' assault[s] on individual liberty." The end result would be devastating for a city like Dallas, which, according to the nonprofit Texas Trees Foundation, is one of the fastest-warming cities in the country because of sprawl and development burying soil beneath concrete. Dallas and the surrounding counties have been in violation of the Clean Air Act for decades; study after study shows that when trees vanish, temperatures rise. The first-of-its-kind study of Dallas' urban forest actually put a number on how much all of this is worth: "Trees provide annual savings of over $9 million through energy conservation," for starters.posted by mcdoublewide at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2017 [41 favorites]
Like most conservative Texans, Abbott hates absolutely everything about Austin to an utterly irrational degree. He's at the "look at that bitch eating crackers" phase in his Austin hate.
And, like most American conservatives, he's fetishized private property to a truly horrifying degree. To him the idea that the government, at any level, might have regulations about what you can do with your private property is anathema (offer not valid for your uterus).
posted by sotonohito at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2017 [38 favorites]
And, like most American conservatives, he's fetishized private property to a truly horrifying degree. To him the idea that the government, at any level, might have regulations about what you can do with your private property is anathema (offer not valid for your uterus).
posted by sotonohito at 2:42 PM on August 4, 2017 [38 favorites]
This Trump real estate deal looks awfully like criminal tax fraud (David Herzig and Bridget Crawford, WaPo)
Two tax lawyers break down the president’s sale of two condos to his son.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [51 favorites]
Two tax lawyers break down the president’s sale of two condos to his son.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [51 favorites]
"...and also I can't find Lik-M-Aid ANYWHERE. When did Austin elect crypto-Hitler as candy czar?"
posted by rhizome at 2:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 2:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
On Forest Lane, butchered trees offer 'horrific' peek at Texas' future if Abbott gets his way ...
Obviously not a Rush fan or he'd know that cutting down the trees is, like, socialism, man.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Obviously not a Rush fan or he'd know that cutting down the trees is, like, socialism, man.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
This Trump real estate deal looks awfully like criminal tax fraud
Now the nature of Trump's business over the years has become obvious, one of the most confusing elements of his rise to power is that, no matter how many lawsuits he has lost or settled along the way, he hasn't yet been charged with a single crime. I mean. I know the guy's rich. He likes to file baseless lawsuits and he likes to plant nasty tabloid articles. Is that enough to render a person immune from prosecution?
Or perhaps someone has been protecting him besides his lawyer?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:54 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
Now the nature of Trump's business over the years has become obvious, one of the most confusing elements of his rise to power is that, no matter how many lawsuits he has lost or settled along the way, he hasn't yet been charged with a single crime. I mean. I know the guy's rich. He likes to file baseless lawsuits and he likes to plant nasty tabloid articles. Is that enough to render a person immune from prosecution?
Or perhaps someone has been protecting him besides his lawyer?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:54 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
Is that enough to render a person immune from prosecution?
That, and some decades of practice at effectively placed local bribery.
posted by rc3spencer at 2:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
That, and some decades of practice at effectively placed local bribery.
posted by rc3spencer at 2:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
“Austin, Texas owns your trees,” Abbott said. “That’s insanity. … It’s socialistic.”
Just the Red Oaks, surely?
Re the fetishism of private property, it is ironic, given that the vast majority of Home owner associations are corporations owned by Texas legislators, and they have codified the right to strip you of your property with no recompense if you do something they don't like. See all the stories of people losing their houses to hoas in Texas. So Abbott can kiss my shiny rural ass, especially since our property was incorporated into the city, and we don't have an hoa, now that my town has gone from 5k people to 50k people, and there are less than 200 homes this size in the entire dfw metroplex that don't have any hoa restrictions, the value of our property has doubled, which means that my tax bill is now twice the size of my mortgage. (And now I can't keep chickens, because now we're inside city limits. Bastards.)
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
Just the Red Oaks, surely?
Re the fetishism of private property, it is ironic, given that the vast majority of Home owner associations are corporations owned by Texas legislators, and they have codified the right to strip you of your property with no recompense if you do something they don't like. See all the stories of people losing their houses to hoas in Texas. So Abbott can kiss my shiny rural ass, especially since our property was incorporated into the city, and we don't have an hoa, now that my town has gone from 5k people to 50k people, and there are less than 200 homes this size in the entire dfw metroplex that don't have any hoa restrictions, the value of our property has doubled, which means that my tax bill is now twice the size of my mortgage. (And now I can't keep chickens, because now we're inside city limits. Bastards.)
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
The IRS at least is so grossly underfunded that criminal investigation is seeming, in recent years, beyond their ability to even care about. Not that they do none of it, but a lot of people are getting away with a lot of shit right now that is completely within the realm of criminal prosecution and they can't even bother to do simple audits.
posted by Sequence at 3:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Sequence at 3:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
The new excuse; DC juries aren't white enough to be fair to Trump. Alan Dershowitz:
“It gives the prosecutor a tremendous tactical advantage… the case now can be brought not in Northern Virginia, which is a swing area, sometimes Democrat, sometimes Republican… but the District of Columbia, which is always solidly Democratic and has an ethnic and racial composition that might be very unfavorable to the Trump Administration.”
posted by chris24 at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
“It gives the prosecutor a tremendous tactical advantage… the case now can be brought not in Northern Virginia, which is a swing area, sometimes Democrat, sometimes Republican… but the District of Columbia, which is always solidly Democratic and has an ethnic and racial composition that might be very unfavorable to the Trump Administration.”
posted by chris24 at 3:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
On NPR, on All Things Considered, airing right now:
They must have made a major editorial decision, which is: Don't lead with any story regarding Donald Trump, unless there is actually something NEWSWORTHY to report.
Everywhere else it's Trump headlines.
I might start to like NPR news coverage again.
(it's been 6 minutes, so . . .)
posted by yesster at 3:07 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
They must have made a major editorial decision, which is: Don't lead with any story regarding Donald Trump, unless there is actually something NEWSWORTHY to report.
Everywhere else it's Trump headlines.
I might start to like NPR news coverage again.
(it's been 6 minutes, so . . .)
posted by yesster at 3:07 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
“It gives the prosecutor a tremendous tactical advantage… the case now can be brought not in Northern Virginia, which is a swing area, sometimes Democrat, sometimes Republican… but the District of Columbia, which is always solidly Democratic and has an ethnic and racial composition that might be very unfavorable to the Trump Administration.”
My reaction to that idea is, "sounds great!"... is that not Alan Dershowitz's reaction?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
My reaction to that idea is, "sounds great!"... is that not Alan Dershowitz's reaction?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
What's the selection process for grand jurors? It seems true that if you're looking for DC residents who don't have strong opinions on the President of the United States, it may take a while...
Wait, there's no defense attorney is there? So selection would seem straightforward.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Wait, there's no defense attorney is there? So selection would seem straightforward.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sounds as though Dershowitz might be angling for the job.
posted by Coventry at 3:14 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by Coventry at 3:14 PM on August 4, 2017
My reaction to that idea is, "sounds great!"... is that not Alan Dershowitz's reaction?
He's been such a solidly supportive Trumper that people have been mocking him for sacrificing what little reputation he has left to try to get hired by Trump.
If you check out his twitter feed, you'll see that he believes there's no doubt Trump can pardon himself, that Don Jr. clearly has done nothing criminal, that collusion is not a crime, etc.
posted by chris24 at 3:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
He's been such a solidly supportive Trumper that people have been mocking him for sacrificing what little reputation he has left to try to get hired by Trump.
If you check out his twitter feed, you'll see that he believes there's no doubt Trump can pardon himself, that Don Jr. clearly has done nothing criminal, that collusion is not a crime, etc.
posted by chris24 at 3:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Everyone needs to think long and hard about whether you really want Trump gone or not. Remember...That would put Mike Pence in the Oval Office. And, he's someone who Congress can absolutely work with, minus all the strurm und drang.
I have thought of this, and it's worth considering yes. But Pence would also be a much more *normal* President, his appointees would not all be designed to tear apart their departments, and he presumably has a bit more of a conscience than the absolute bottom line.
He'd be a bad President, but he'd be a traditionally bad President. He wouldn't be some kind of ludicrous, insane hyper-Nixon.
posted by JHarris at 3:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I have thought of this, and it's worth considering yes. But Pence would also be a much more *normal* President, his appointees would not all be designed to tear apart their departments, and he presumably has a bit more of a conscience than the absolute bottom line.
He'd be a bad President, but he'd be a traditionally bad President. He wouldn't be some kind of ludicrous, insane hyper-Nixon.
posted by JHarris at 3:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
The last black man Alan Dershowitz had a good opinion of was O.J. Simpson.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
I served on a grand jury a couple years ago - not sure that the experience is totally identical to what we can expect is happening in DC/NoVA but when I did it, there was no process for seating people. It was based on math and who they needed. People either asked for deferrals, got lucky and didn't get selected, or served for 11 days.
We did see one defense attorney, though he didn't present any arguments he was accompanying his client who made the highly unusual decision to testify on his own behalf (literally the only one of the 20+ cases we heard where this happened).
Also, fuck alan deshowitz - unless hes about to argue we retry every poor black and brown person convicted by a jury with fewer than a pair of jurors of color I don't really care what he has to say.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [34 favorites]
We did see one defense attorney, though he didn't present any arguments he was accompanying his client who made the highly unusual decision to testify on his own behalf (literally the only one of the 20+ cases we heard where this happened).
Also, fuck alan deshowitz - unless hes about to argue we retry every poor black and brown person convicted by a jury with fewer than a pair of jurors of color I don't really care what he has to say.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 3:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [34 favorites]
Ctrl F Fisting. Huh, nothing. I figured you will all be talking about this latest insanity.
The NRA released another violent ad w/ spokeswoman Dana. In it she says, "We are going to fist the Old Grey Hag." At least that's what people heard and were outraged by until
@Yashar Ali Found original version of NRA ad which is longer + has captions that say "fisk". NRA should also delete their tweet
The original tweet had "#FistofTruth.#
So naturally there is a great deal of debate whether the ad is using Fisk or Fist or whether (as I am supposing) they are deliberately using a misleading word that could be heard wrongly. Outrage! Shock! Much discussion of said ad. Plausible deniability.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
The NRA released another violent ad w/ spokeswoman Dana. In it she says, "We are going to fist the Old Grey Hag." At least that's what people heard and were outraged by until
@Yashar Ali Found original version of NRA ad which is longer + has captions that say "fisk". NRA should also delete their tweet
The original tweet had "#FistofTruth.#
So naturally there is a great deal of debate whether the ad is using Fisk or Fist or whether (as I am supposing) they are deliberately using a misleading word that could be heard wrongly. Outrage! Shock! Much discussion of said ad. Plausible deniability.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
NRA should also delete their tweet
#StarkFistOfRemoval
posted by octobersurprise at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
#StarkFistOfRemoval
posted by octobersurprise at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
The fisk/fist debate is a prime example of how we're all collectively miserable unless there's a regular diet of bombshell scoops and/or outrage.
posted by zachlipton at 3:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
So naturally there is a great deal of debate whether the ad is using Fisk or Fist
Maybe we could ask Görk
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe we could ask Görk
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The new excuse; DC juries aren't white enough to be fair to Trump. Alan Dershowitz:But but but....wasn't it like thirty seconds ago that trump was saying how much those communities love him. And that he won the popular vote if you took the illegal voting out? Is someone suggesting folks will also get themselves ONTO A JURY illegally?
“It gives the prosecutor a tremendous tactical advantage… the case now can be brought not in Northern Virginia, which is a swing area, sometimes Democrat, sometimes Republican… but the District of Columbia, which is always solidly Democratic and has an ethnic and racial composition that might be very unfavorable to the Trump Administration.”
posted by chris24 at 6:06 PM on August 4 [4 favorites +] [!]
This is my surprised face.
posted by bilabial at 3:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Metafilter: Ctrl F Fisting. Huh, nothing.
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 3:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
What the hell is a Fisk? It sounds even worse...
posted by Captain l'escalier at 3:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Captain l'escalier at 3:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's blogging slang from around 2005 about refuting a news article line by line (after Robert Fisk). I'm pretty sure nobody has used it for at least a decade.
posted by dilaudid at 3:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by dilaudid at 3:47 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
It's German for "The Times, The"
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
The racists have a sad.
@ryanstruyk (CNN Politics)
Optimism in Trump's presidency falling among whites without a college degree (Quinnipiac poll) -->
November 74%
March 70%
May 59%
Now 51%
posted by chris24 at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
@ryanstruyk (CNN Politics)
Optimism in Trump's presidency falling among whites without a college degree (Quinnipiac poll) -->
November 74%
March 70%
May 59%
Now 51%
posted by chris24 at 3:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Am I right in saying the most significant piece of legislation this President has yet signed is one which he described as unconstitutional and which puts constraints on his own ability to conduct foreign policy?
I wonder: is he is tired of all the #winning?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I wonder: is he is tired of all the #winning?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:05 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I know you guys know this but this: To him the idea that the government, at any level, might have regulations about what you can do with your private property is anathema (offer not valid for your uterus). is SUCH a stupid idea that is so easily disproved.
Like, one of the people in my neighborhood, which is a rural area with no city services of any kind, didn't have a septic system. They were just running raw sewage out a pipe across their lawn. Well neighbors found out and reported them and they got in trouble with the county. Because that puts EVERYONE'S HEALTH AT RISK. It may be your property, but what you do on it still effects me. Like if you fired a gun on your property and it traveled to mine and hit me.
posted by threeturtles at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
Like, one of the people in my neighborhood, which is a rural area with no city services of any kind, didn't have a septic system. They were just running raw sewage out a pipe across their lawn. Well neighbors found out and reported them and they got in trouble with the county. Because that puts EVERYONE'S HEALTH AT RISK. It may be your property, but what you do on it still effects me. Like if you fired a gun on your property and it traveled to mine and hit me.
posted by threeturtles at 4:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
Everyone in Congress is really stressed about the pee tape.
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
NBC Nightly News had ANOTHER segment on rural white voters in a red state (WY). What is behind this? Schadenfreude that some of them regret their choice? Pointing and laughing at the ones who don't? Who do they think wants to see this stuff over and over?
posted by AFABulous at 4:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 4:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
In all the hoopla about Fist vs. Fisk I hope it didn't escape anyone's notice that the NRA just put out an ad attacking the NYTimes. That seems a bit...strange. I get the NYTimes is supposedly a Liberal Institution but it strikes me that there are other, more liberal targets.
Also in one of the Podcasts I listened to yesterday they brought up an interesting point. When Rupert Murdoch bought the Wall Street Journal he said he would have no hand in the running of it. After all the WSJ was a well regarded Conservative paper. However this past interview with Trump showed a FOX-like tendency to treat Trump with great deference and an almost fawning attitude. There is definitely a noticeable Murdoch touch.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:19 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Also in one of the Podcasts I listened to yesterday they brought up an interesting point. When Rupert Murdoch bought the Wall Street Journal he said he would have no hand in the running of it. After all the WSJ was a well regarded Conservative paper. However this past interview with Trump showed a FOX-like tendency to treat Trump with great deference and an almost fawning attitude. There is definitely a noticeable Murdoch touch.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:19 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Holyfuckingshit, it only takes trees to be socialist now?
Trees are pretty suspicious, when you think about it
When was the last time you saw a tree investing in the stock market, or joining the chamber of commerce, or the NRA
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:33 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
Trees are pretty suspicious, when you think about it
When was the last time you saw a tree investing in the stock market, or joining the chamber of commerce, or the NRA
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:33 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
Wow. That article. They are really doing their best to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
"76 percent of Republicans still support him, not so bad."
"Democrats didn't care that Bill Clinton was guilty."
"Hillary must have done something worse because she lost."
"Plus with peace and prosperity reigning across the land.."
(all my paraphrasing except the last)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:34 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
"76 percent of Republicans still support him, not so bad."
"Democrats didn't care that Bill Clinton was guilty."
"Hillary must have done something worse because she lost."
"Plus with peace and prosperity reigning across the land.."
(all my paraphrasing except the last)
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:34 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Politico John Kelly's big challenge: Controlling the tweeter in chief
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
For example, advisers believed for days that Trump was likely to pick John Pistole as FBI director. Inside the administration, three officials said, there was little initial support for Christopher Wray, the former FBI official who was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s attorney in the bridge-closing controversy. “No one really was pushing for Wray,” one senior administration official said.That must be of great comfort to Wrey-- You got your job because the President was tired of fielding applicants.
After talking extensively with Christie, who sold Trump on the former FBI official’s bona fides as a lawyer, Trump decided to go with Wray without telling others on staff, advisers said. White House officials waking up to the tweet were startled, and hurriedly wrote a news release to correspond to it. Much of the president’s inner circle knew little about Wray. Trump was simply tired of the search, these people said.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
Who do they think wants to see this stuff over and over?
My only theory is that Trump's election drives home just how many Americans really are hateful, spiteful, and/or just incredibly fucking dumb. Given so many decades of American exceptionalism, with much of the media being deeply complicit in it, that's a hard thing to grapple with. So hard that many of them would rather try to salvage some sense of "people really aren't that bad" out of this whole mess.
Some people find comfort in acknowledging we're not really special. Other people find that horrifying.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
My only theory is that Trump's election drives home just how many Americans really are hateful, spiteful, and/or just incredibly fucking dumb. Given so many decades of American exceptionalism, with much of the media being deeply complicit in it, that's a hard thing to grapple with. So hard that many of them would rather try to salvage some sense of "people really aren't that bad" out of this whole mess.
Some people find comfort in acknowledging we're not really special. Other people find that horrifying.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
That must be of great comfort to Wrey-- You got your job because the President was tired of fielding applicants.
And from the same article, the Twitter trans ban came because he was tired of people arguing with him. Give this man nuke codes!
And from the same article, the Twitter trans ban came because he was tired of people arguing with him. Give this man nuke codes!
President Donald Trump’s White House and Defense Department lawyers had warned him against the transgender military ban for days. They were concerned about the ramifications of the policy, how military officials would respond and what legal backlash it could cause, two West Wing officials familiar with last month’s discussions said. The lawyers thought there would be plenty of time for more discussions and were analyzing arguments.posted by chris24 at 4:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [43 favorites]
Frustrated with being “slow-walked,” in the words of one White House official, the president took to Twitter last week — jarring many in the West Wing out of complacency and startling his lawyers, Defense Department officials and West Wing aides, who learned of the change in a series of tweets.
“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump began.
The administration had no plan in place, but Trump told others they would have to “get in gear” if he announced the ban first, one White House adviser who spoke to Trump said. He also said the announcement would stop the lawyers from arguing with him anymore. There is still no plan in place, and Defense Department officials have said they won’t implement the ban until guidance is given.
Plus with peace and prosperity reigning across the land
If that's what's reigning, why am I getting sprinkled with pee?
posted by maxwelton at 4:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
If that's what's reigning, why am I getting sprinkled with pee?
posted by maxwelton at 4:45 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
The word out of Murdoch-land is that Rupert himself asked Roger Ailes to change FoxNews' Pro-Trump Anti-Hillary tilt before the election. And Rupert's two sons are decidedly less "tighty-righty" than Dad. I'm actually somewhat surprised that, after the death of Ailes and ouster of O'Reilly, there isn't a noticeable change in editorial direction, except for tolerance for Shep Smith, who the Hannity called "anti-Trump" on his radio show but not on his TV show. I would think that, knowing how much the Donald loves his Fox and Friends, more moderate forces in Murdoch-land would be planting stories in there to soften him up.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
The best thing they could do is get rid of Hannity because he is so far up DJT's ass he can't see anything but the glory and power of Trump.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:50 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:50 PM on August 4, 2017
Rosie Gray: The War Against H.R. McMaster
Loren DeJonge Schulman, an NSC staffer under Obama, has a related piece on Can This National Security Council Handle a Real Crisis?, which discusses how this administration has not had to deal with a series crisis not of its own making and raises some well-informed concerns about what will happen when that isn't the case. Well worth reading.
posted by zachlipton at 4:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
“It’s noticed, how can you not notice it?” said a source close to McMaster, when asked if the former Army general is registering the pushback.Specifically, McMaster is concerned that Cernovich is getting leaks from inside the NSC!
It’s come from all corners. Breitbart News, the website Bannon controlled as executive chairman before joining the Trump campaign, has produced a flurry of negative stories about McMaster over the past two days, accusing him of “purging” dissenters and kowtowing to “holdovers” from the Obama administration. Fox News host Sean Hannity has tweeted about McMaster, saying he might need to go. Radio host Laura Ingraham has also weighed in, tweeting that “Obama holdovers at NSC or State Dept who are leaking shd do real time for these leaks. Why has McMasters fired actual Trump supporters?” The Daily Caller published an interview with two former NSC officials attacking him, accusing him of undermining the president’s foreign-policy agenda. Circa, a site owned by the conservative Sinclair Broadcasting company, published a letter Thursday that McMaster sent months ago to his predecessor Susan Rice, in which he informed her that she could keep her security clearance. It’s a standard letter, but it has caused a furor in light of the ongoing controversy over unmasking.
The provocative right-wing blogger and activist Mike Cernovich has launched a sustained attack on McMaster, including setting up a website called McMasterLeaks.com. When it launched, the main page displayed a large cartoon of the Rothschilds controlling a George Soros puppet, which in turn controlled puppets representing McMaster and former CIA director David Petraeus. (The hand labeled “Rothschilds” has since been relabeled “Saudis.” Cernovich told me he changed it because complaints about the cartoon’s anti-Semitism are “not a hill to die on,” and “if everybody wants to complain, then fine—I’ll just put the Saudis at the top.”)
Loren DeJonge Schulman, an NSC staffer under Obama, has a related piece on Can This National Security Council Handle a Real Crisis?, which discusses how this administration has not had to deal with a series crisis not of its own making and raises some well-informed concerns about what will happen when that isn't the case. Well worth reading.
posted by zachlipton at 4:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [16 favorites]
People either asked for deferrals, got lucky and didn't get selected, or served for 11 days.
Got lucky and didn't get selected?! Let me tell you I'm having real FOMO over no longer living in DC right now. The District's hottest club is Grand Jury Service. It has everything: grandfather clocks, money laundering, pee tape kompromat - you know, that thing where the Russians tape the US President getting off to a bunch of sex workers doing watersports?
posted by Emily's Fist at 4:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [67 favorites]
Got lucky and didn't get selected?! Let me tell you I'm having real FOMO over no longer living in DC right now. The District's hottest club is Grand Jury Service. It has everything: grandfather clocks, money laundering, pee tape kompromat - you know, that thing where the Russians tape the US President getting off to a bunch of sex workers doing watersports?
posted by Emily's Fist at 4:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [67 favorites]
The common thread between the Wrey and trans ban anecdotes is that Trump got tired of understanding an important issue and just decided to tweet out a decision in the hope that it would make all the meetings and boring stuff stop.
That fits nicely with this explanation of Trump's attention span, which is buried in an excellent story on Trump's Afghanistan plan, or lack thereof, and McMaster's attempts to form a strategy:
That fits nicely with this explanation of Trump's attention span, which is buried in an excellent story on Trump's Afghanistan plan, or lack thereof, and McMaster's attempts to form a strategy:
Trump had little time for in-depth briefings on the Afghanistan’s history, its complicated politics or its seemingly endless civil war. Even a single page of bullet points on the country seemed to tax the president’s attention span on the subject, said senior White House officials.posted by zachlipton at 5:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [32 favorites]
“I call the president the two-minute man,” said one Trump confidant. “The president has patience for a half-page.”
Another problem was overcoming the president’s skepticism that winning in Afghanistan was even possible.
On Afghanistan, McMaster wanted something that would appeal to the president’s instincts as a promoter, U.S. officials said.
The solution: The general dug up pictures of Kabul’s Massoud Circle from 2005 and 2015 to show how businesses and traffic had returned to the once desolate area. And he asked one of his Afghanistan experts to find a black-and-white snapshot from 1972 of Afghan women in miniskirts walking through Kabul.
“The goal was to give the president the idea that Afghanistan was not this hopeless place,” said one U.S. official familiar with the briefing, which included several pictures of the country.
Let me tell you I'm having real FOMO over no longer living in DC right now. The District's hottest club is Grand Jury Service. It has everything: grandfather clocks, money laundering, pee tape kompromat - you know, that thing where the Russians tape the US President getting off to a bunch of sex workers do watersports?
OMG it's YOU Stefon.
posted by HyperBlue at 5:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
OMG it's YOU Stefon.
posted by HyperBlue at 5:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
I would think that, knowing how much the Donald loves his Fox and Friends, more moderate forces in Murdoch-land would be planting stories in there to soften him up.
This would probably only alienate Trump. During the election, Fox might have swayed things with a more reasonable (read: left) tilt, but that didn't happen. Now they have clear influence over the guy in the White House just by feeding him garbage through Fox and Friends. The alternative is to try to pull back from the far right, which will involve a lengthy period of wandering the political & media wilderness trying to become credible or reasonable or something. Better to rule in Hell, as the quote goes.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
This would probably only alienate Trump. During the election, Fox might have swayed things with a more reasonable (read: left) tilt, but that didn't happen. Now they have clear influence over the guy in the White House just by feeding him garbage through Fox and Friends. The alternative is to try to pull back from the far right, which will involve a lengthy period of wandering the political & media wilderness trying to become credible or reasonable or something. Better to rule in Hell, as the quote goes.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
chris24: "That must be of great comfort to Wrey-- You got your job because the President was tired of fielding applicants.
And from the same article, the Twitter trans ban came because he was tired of people arguing with him. Give this man nuke codes! "
Oh jeezus. If and when he tweets "the bombing will begin in five minutes", he'll actually mean it. We're all fucked.
posted by mhum at 5:08 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
And from the same article, the Twitter trans ban came because he was tired of people arguing with him. Give this man nuke codes! "
Oh jeezus. If and when he tweets "the bombing will begin in five minutes", he'll actually mean it. We're all fucked.
posted by mhum at 5:08 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm watching Star Trek TOS on BBC America tonight.
We could really use Gary Seven about now.
posted by wittgenstein at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
We could really use Gary Seven about now.
posted by wittgenstein at 5:18 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Let me tell you I'm having real FOMO over no longer living in DC right now. The District's hottest club is Grand Jury Service. It has everything: grandfather clocks, money laundering, pee tape kompromat - you know, that thing where the Russians tape the US President getting off to a bunch of sex workers do watersports?
...Dan Cortese.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:23 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
...Dan Cortese.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:23 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
From the WP article zachlipton linked upthread:
Another problem was overcoming the president’s skepticism that winning in Afghanistan was even possible.
For once Trump appears to be right. I'm not comforted by the fact that so called adults in the room are saying that they believe a war in Afghanistan is winnable.
posted by rdr at 5:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Another problem was overcoming the president’s skepticism that winning in Afghanistan was even possible.
For once Trump appears to be right. I'm not comforted by the fact that so called adults in the room are saying that they believe a war in Afghanistan is winnable.
posted by rdr at 5:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
“I call the president the two-minute man,” said one Trump confidant.
"Not even close," snorted Melania.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [73 favorites]
"Not even close," snorted Melania.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [73 favorites]
I don't entirely disagree, but I'm extremely not comforted by the fact that the guy making the decision has to be shown old pictures of women in miniskirts to make sure he pays attention.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [15 favorites]
Ummmmmm we have a memo from Mattis telling all Department of Defense employees to be ethical and do the right thing at all times? This is... somehow the opposite of comforting to me.
posted by Andrhia at 5:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Andrhia at 5:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
HuffPost, Yashar Ali (who claimed he had something big dropping back when we were all arguing about fisting/fisking): Fox News Host Sent Unsolicited Lewd Text Messages To Colleagues, Sources Say
Eric Bolling, a longtime Fox News host, sent an unsolicited photo of male genitalia via text message to at least two colleagues at Fox Business and one colleague at Fox News, a dozen sources told HuffPost.posted by zachlipton at 5:41 PM on August 4, 2017 [25 favorites]
Recipients of the photo confirmed its contents to HuffPost, which is not revealing their identities. The women, who are Bolling’s current and former Fox colleagues, concluded the message was from him because they recognized his number from previous work-related and informal interactions.The messages were sent several years ago, on separate occasions.
...
When asked whether Bolling at any point had sent unsolicited lewd or inappropriate text messages or emails (including an image of a man’s genitalia) to Fox News or Fox Business colleagues, his attorney Michael J. Bowe responded, “Mr. Bolling recalls no such inappropriate communications, does not believe he sent any such communications, and will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made.”
...
He has had a history of making misogynistic on-air remarks during his tenure at Fox News, the most notable during a September 2014 segment on the panel show “The Five” while discussing the first woman fighter pilot from the United Arab Emirates leading the bombing of the Islamic State. Bolling asked on air if instead of saying “boots on the ground” it would be more appropriate to say “boobs on the ground.” He apologized the next day, citing “a look” he got from his wife when he arrived home.
I expect every member of the Department to play the ethical midfield. I need you to be aggressive and show initiative without running the ethical sidelines, where even one misstep will have you out of bounds.
This is probably just a tragically bad sports metaphor, but it kind of sounds like he's saying "be ethical, but not TOO ethical, you know"?
posted by theodolite at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is probably just a tragically bad sports metaphor, but it kind of sounds like he's saying "be ethical, but not TOO ethical, you know"?
posted by theodolite at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
NYT with tonight's big scoop: Special Counsel’s Office Seeks White House Documents on Flynn
Investigators working for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, recently asked the White House for documents related to former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn, and have questioned witnesses about whether he was secretly paid by the Turkish government during the final months of the presidential campaign, according to people close to the investigation.posted by zachlipton at 5:46 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
Though not a formal subpoena, the document request is the first known instance of Mr. Mueller’s team asking the White House to hand over records.
In interviews with potential witnesses in recent weeks, prosecutors and F.B.I. agents have spent hours pouring over the details of Mr. Flynn’s business dealings with a Turkish-American businessman who worked last year with Mr. Flynn and his consulting business, the Flynn Intel Group.
Mr. Bolling recalls no such inappropriate communications, does not believe he sent any such communications, and will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made.
lol might as well immediately follow up with "oh, THOSE dick pics" with a denial like that
Bolling asked on air if instead of saying “boots on the ground” it would be more appropriate to say “boobs on the ground.” He apologized the next day, citing “a look” he got from his wife when he arrived home.
christ
posted by prize bull octorok at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
lol might as well immediately follow up with "oh, THOSE dick pics" with a denial like that
Bolling asked on air if instead of saying “boots on the ground” it would be more appropriate to say “boobs on the ground.” He apologized the next day, citing “a look” he got from his wife when he arrived home.
christ
posted by prize bull octorok at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2017 [28 favorites]
Trump only hires people who have Russian ties and FOX only hires men who like to sexually harass women. Put them together...SitCom idea?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:48 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
And "Boobs on the Ground" it is!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:49 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
Somebody needs to make a flow chart that's just a circle with "Should I send a picture of my genitalia to some one who has not asked for such a picture?" and "No, I should not."
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [22 favorites]
the air smells pleasant in Austin,
I laughed. 7 years in Austin that ended 25 years ago and I still can't get that awful smell of mold, cedar pollen, and Grackle shit out of my memory. Luckily that's only when it's warm which is like ... oh shit, 9-10 months of the year?
posted by spitbull at 5:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I laughed. 7 years in Austin that ended 25 years ago and I still can't get that awful smell of mold, cedar pollen, and Grackle shit out of my memory. Luckily that's only when it's warm which is like ... oh shit, 9-10 months of the year?
posted by spitbull at 5:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I officially plan to not care or be interested in stories from the conservative cesspit until:
1) Hannity is charged with something
2) Sessions is charged with something
3) Pence is charged with something
4) Impeachment proceedings are announced
As much as I enjoy seeing conservatives diving headlong into the woodchipper, the OMGISTHISTHEBIGONE tone of coverage of the abattior gets old. Wake me up when one of the hydra's heads that can't grow back gets chopped off.
posted by saysthis at 5:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
1) Hannity is charged with something
2) Sessions is charged with something
3) Pence is charged with something
4) Impeachment proceedings are announced
As much as I enjoy seeing conservatives diving headlong into the woodchipper, the OMGISTHISTHEBIGONE tone of coverage of the abattior gets old. Wake me up when one of the hydra's heads that can't grow back gets chopped off.
posted by saysthis at 5:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Somebody needs to make a flow chart that's just a circle with "Should I send a picture of my genitalia to some one who has not asked for such a picture?" and "No, I should not."
Not quite that flow chart, but a flow chart
posted by Bovine Love at 5:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Not quite that flow chart, but a flow chart
posted by Bovine Love at 5:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
The Times story fails to mention the biggest scandal about Flynn taking money from Turkey, the one I've been complaining about since March, which is that he adopted pro-Turkish military policy as basically his first act on the job (more on this from McClatchy) immediately after taking the money. At an absolute minimum, it gives the impression that our military policy is for sale to the highest bidder, and that the rewards accrue personally to the officials. I very much hope Mueller's office is looking into Flynn's policy decisions here and who he was talking to at the time.
It seems like that should be enough, on its own, to be a massively huge deal.
posted by zachlipton at 6:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
It seems like that should be enough, on its own, to be a massively huge deal.
posted by zachlipton at 6:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [58 favorites]
It seems like that should be enough, on its own, to be a massively huge deal.
Surely This, 2017 Edition
posted by mubba at 6:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
Surely This, 2017 Edition
posted by mubba at 6:02 PM on August 4, 2017 [20 favorites]
Surely This, 2017-08-05T01:20:37+00:00 Edition.
posted by chortly at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by chortly at 6:21 PM on August 4, 2017 [18 favorites]
I will say that Trump's gotten really fucking lucky this year that there hasn't been a hurricane or other natural disaster requiring the services of FEMA or the allocation of billions of dollars for clean-up. (Not counting previously allocated monies that Trump elected to not hand over.)
posted by Autumnheart at 6:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 6:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
On the other hand, so have we. He'd make Brownie look like Mark Watford by comparison.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
pls back the kickstarter for my adult party card game, Surely This!? where you play as candidates vying to ascend to the highest levels of governance while dodging--or exploiting--heinous scandals that would ruin the lives of lesser people
example of play: Bob plays a You Did Terrible Things While Visiting That Libertarian Sea Nation And There Are Witnesses card, which would sink Susan's candidate twenty points in the polls, but she counters with Cable News Producer Is In The Same Underground Sex Cult As You, neutralizing it, and responds with Psychotic Dictator Is Your BFF, cancelling Bob's next turn. With Bob on the ropes, Joe plays his What You Bragged About In Your Unpublished Memoir Is Technically Murder card, but since the Nothing Makes Sense Anymore card was active from a previous round, the dice are rolled and Bob actually gains fifteen points in the polls and wins the New Hampshire primary
posted by prize bull octorok at 6:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [171 favorites]
example of play: Bob plays a You Did Terrible Things While Visiting That Libertarian Sea Nation And There Are Witnesses card, which would sink Susan's candidate twenty points in the polls, but she counters with Cable News Producer Is In The Same Underground Sex Cult As You, neutralizing it, and responds with Psychotic Dictator Is Your BFF, cancelling Bob's next turn. With Bob on the ropes, Joe plays his What You Bragged About In Your Unpublished Memoir Is Technically Murder card, but since the Nothing Makes Sense Anymore card was active from a previous round, the dice are rolled and Bob actually gains fifteen points in the polls and wins the New Hampshire primary
posted by prize bull octorok at 6:26 PM on August 4, 2017 [171 favorites]
US Government Rejects Aid for Montana Firefighting Costs
(That was July 25; the state appealed and the denial was reversed a couple days later.)
posted by rtha at 6:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
(That was July 25; the state appealed and the denial was reversed a couple days later.)
posted by rtha at 6:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Susan counters by shooting Bob in the center of Times Square, which ends the game Golden Snitch style.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
From that NYT Flynn article...
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
The entire The entire enterprise would probably have gone unnoticed if Mr. Flynn had not written an opinion piece advocating improved relations between Turkey and the United States and calling Mr. Gulen “a shady Islamic mullah.”Really? The Daily Caller? AkaBreitbart Lite? Why would they do that to Flynn? what am I missing?
The opinion piece appeared on Election Day. Soon after, The Daily Caller revealed that the Flynn Intel Group had a contract with Inovo, prompting the Justice Department look into Mr. Flynn’s relationship with Mr. Alptekin.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I will say that Trump's gotten really fucking lucky this year that there hasn't been a hurricane or other natural disaster requiring the services of FEMA or the allocation of billions of dollars for clean-up.Serious hurricanes typically happen in August, September or October. He, and the rest of us, haven't gotten lucky yet.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:36 PM on August 4, 2017 [19 favorites]
Another problem was overcoming the president’s skepticism that winning in Afghanistan was even possible.
That actually sounds like a sensible attitude.
posted by Coventry at 6:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
That actually sounds like a sensible attitude.
posted by Coventry at 6:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm just disappointed Flynn missed the opportunity to call his shady business the Flynntel Group.
posted by just_ducky at 6:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by just_ducky at 6:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
Joe plays his What You Bragged About In Your Unpublished Memoir Is Technically Murder card
Oh, dear, Ben Carson is in the game? Are there cards to latch on to another candidate like a remora and end up in their cabinet?
Now I'm nostalgic for the days when I thought seeing someone vehemently countering accusations that they had not stabbed someone was the weirdest thing ever in politics. Innocent times, those.
posted by jackbishop at 6:40 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Oh, dear, Ben Carson is in the game? Are there cards to latch on to another candidate like a remora and end up in their cabinet?
Now I'm nostalgic for the days when I thought seeing someone vehemently countering accusations that they had not stabbed someone was the weirdest thing ever in politics. Innocent times, those.
posted by jackbishop at 6:40 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
That actually sounds like a sensible attitude.
Technically, yes. But he has no idea where or what Afghanistan is. He thinks all wars are unwinnable unless (a) he thinks of the war first, and (b) he is immediately praised for having won the war.
Which another thing, very big and I think you'll see a lot more people like the kid in that rally so fantastic was, an hour - the Prime Minister told me this, okay, with two feet and a gorgeous view I said it's not going to matter because the generals are - did you get a shot of the fruit?
posted by petebest at 6:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Technically, yes. But he has no idea where or what Afghanistan is. He thinks all wars are unwinnable unless (a) he thinks of the war first, and (b) he is immediately praised for having won the war.
Which another thing, very big and I think you'll see a lot more people like the kid in that rally so fantastic was, an hour - the Prime Minister told me this, okay, with two feet and a gorgeous view I said it's not going to matter because the generals are - did you get a shot of the fruit?
posted by petebest at 6:44 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
pls back the kickstarter for my adult party card game, Surely This!? where you play as candidates vying to ascend to the highest levels of governance while dodging--or exploiting--heinous scandals that would ruin the lives of lesser people
fry_shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
fry_shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
Ever since the election, every time I get the urge to play Illuminati! I then get this overwhelming sense of horror that whatever happens in the game might happen in real life the next day, because it's 2017 and anything is fucking possible. And then I put the game back on the shelf.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [26 favorites]
McClatchy: Diplomats laughing at Trump over leaked Mexico transcript
“He’s the opposite of Teddy Roosevelt,” that official quipped to Guajardo about Trump. “He speaks loudly and carries a small stick.”
posted by chris24 at 7:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [89 favorites]
“He’s the opposite of Teddy Roosevelt,” that official quipped to Guajardo about Trump. “He speaks loudly and carries a small stick.”
posted by chris24 at 7:00 PM on August 4, 2017 [89 favorites]
I will say that Trump's gotten really fucking lucky this year that there hasn't been a hurricane or other natural disaster requiring the services of FEMA or the allocation of billions of dollars for clean-up.
CNN: US Still on Track for 'Above Average' Atlantic Hurricane Season—"Warm sea surface temperatures and a weak or non-existent El Niño will contribute to an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, Colorado State University announced Friday. CSU predicting 16 named storms -- including the five that have already occurred in addition to eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The seasonal outlook from CSU agrees with the one the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released just before the hurricane season began on June 1. NOAA's outlook called for 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
CNN: US Still on Track for 'Above Average' Atlantic Hurricane Season—"Warm sea surface temperatures and a weak or non-existent El Niño will contribute to an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, Colorado State University announced Friday. CSU predicting 16 named storms -- including the five that have already occurred in addition to eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The seasonal outlook from CSU agrees with the one the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released just before the hurricane season began on June 1. NOAA's outlook called for 11 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
The whole "no-one ever wins a war in Afghanistan" is up there with "the French army always surrenders" as far as bad history goes. You know Vizzini was a moron, right?
posted by um at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by um at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Okay so for reals I've been taking some notes on a semi-co-op board/card game where each player plays as a member of the trump administration/republican legislature, everyone from ivanka trump to kellyanne conway to mad dog mattis to bannon to ryan to mcconnell to pence. (Trump himself isn't represented by a player; everyone vies to control Trump actions by playing persuasion cards, tv appearance cards, and through tactical leaks). Technically everyone is working toward a common goal (high approval ratings, or maybe just high tv ratings), but also every player has a secret goal; secret goals range from the large-scale political to the completely petty (so, for example, Bannon's goals could be anything from "establish fourth reich" to "get Priebus fired.") The secret goals are designed such that although cooperation is technically possible, cooperative wins are much harder than backstabby ones, with temptations toward petty backstabbing offered at every stage of the game.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
UN: Note to Correspondents on the Paris Climate Agreement
In answers to questions received, I can confirm that today, 4 August 2017, the Secretary-General received, in his capacity as Depositary of the Paris Agreement, a communication from the Permanent Representative of the United States of America expressing the intention of the United States to exercise its right to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, as soon as it is eligible to do so under the Agreement, unless it identifies suitable terms for reengagement. The Secretary General welcomes any effort to reengage in the Paris Agreement by the United States.posted by rewil at 7:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wish to sign up for your newsletter, YCTAB
I always think of Trump as Cthulhu in every Cthulhu-based board game I've ever played. If you even see him, everyone immediately goes insane and the game is over.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
I always think of Trump as Cthulhu in every Cthulhu-based board game I've ever played. If you even see him, everyone immediately goes insane and the game is over.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Though it's neither here nor there, the trees = socialism story reminds me of the fact that Greg Abbott was paralyzed decades ago because of a tree that fell on him, crushing his spine. Because the tree was on a private property, Abbott sued the homeowner and a tree inspection company, claiming they were negligent for not warning people about the tree (which was essentially rotted and hollow at the core) or remove it. He ended up settling for tax free annuity payments for life, which, while he is now a wealthy man, he has said he would give it all back if he could regain the use of his legs.
Just wanted to reiterate that Greg Abbott is an asshole.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:13 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
Abbott was a track star in high school—he is said to have never lost a race—but in 1984 a tree fell on him while he was jogging through the wealthy enclave of River Oaks, in Houston, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He had just graduated from law school and had no health insurance. Fortunately, he won a nine-million-dollar judgment against the homeowner whose tree had fallen and the company that had inspected the tree and failed to recommend its removal. Later, Abbott, as a member of the Texas Supreme Court, and then as attorney general, supported measures that capped pain-and-suffering damages in medical-malpractice cases at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.source
Just wanted to reiterate that Greg Abbott is an asshole.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:13 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
You know Vizzini was a moron, right?
I don't see a realistic outcome for the US adventure in Afghanistan which I would call a victory. Or at least, the ones I can conceive of all involve setting new records for brutal tyranny and genocide.
posted by Coventry at 7:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I don't see a realistic outcome for the US adventure in Afghanistan which I would call a victory. Or at least, the ones I can conceive of all involve setting new records for brutal tyranny and genocide.
posted by Coventry at 7:14 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
There used to be a game called El Presidente where the players were either the President or government ministers (Minister of Defense or Tourism or Interior, etc). The point of the game was to conspire with and against your fellow players, stage coups, imprison your rivals, and so on. Never played it but always wanted to.
Seems like that game could be adapted to the current situation. One big change: no one gets to play the President. Instead, the start of every turn would be a roll of a D20. Take a look at the crisis table to see what insane thing the president did that day or what new scandal was unveiled. And then the rest of the turn has players working together to manage the crisis while simultaneously working to undermine each other in order to get the most influence points with the President. Or they could play in "burn it all down mode" where someone gets enough points to be the last person standing while the President is impeached and everyone else is indicted.
posted by honestcoyote at 7:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Seems like that game could be adapted to the current situation. One big change: no one gets to play the President. Instead, the start of every turn would be a roll of a D20. Take a look at the crisis table to see what insane thing the president did that day or what new scandal was unveiled. And then the rest of the turn has players working together to manage the crisis while simultaneously working to undermine each other in order to get the most influence points with the President. Or they could play in "burn it all down mode" where someone gets enough points to be the last person standing while the President is impeached and everyone else is indicted.
posted by honestcoyote at 7:43 PM on August 4, 2017 [11 favorites]
Add drinking and that sounds like a combo of Diplomacy and Asshole
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Which is just the game we need right now
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
And in "yeah, that sounds about par for 2017" - Cats start fires in Central Washington [real, not Trump-related]
[or is it?]
posted by ctmf at 7:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
[or is it?]
posted by ctmf at 7:55 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ooh, I'm only a couple hours late on today's big scoop, which I read about ten minutes ago. Did anyone notice this sentence down in the story?
"For months, prosecutors have used multiple grand juries to issue subpoenas for documents related to Mr. Flynn."
I mean, we just found out for certain of the second one yesterday. I suppose two grand juries is "multiple" but it just sounds kinda like more than two. I mean, if it was only two, why not just say two, not multiple. Excuse me while I eat my beans.
Oh, and we really didn't have news of the new grand jury issuing subpoenas until yesterday either. Or I am just woefully behind and mixed up.
Also, what about that whole story of Flynn being in a meeting talking about kidnapping the Pennsylvania mullah?
Ah, beans! (Am I playing this right?)
posted by kemrocken at 7:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
"For months, prosecutors have used multiple grand juries to issue subpoenas for documents related to Mr. Flynn."
I mean, we just found out for certain of the second one yesterday. I suppose two grand juries is "multiple" but it just sounds kinda like more than two. I mean, if it was only two, why not just say two, not multiple. Excuse me while I eat my beans.
Oh, and we really didn't have news of the new grand jury issuing subpoenas until yesterday either. Or I am just woefully behind and mixed up.
Also, what about that whole story of Flynn being in a meeting talking about kidnapping the Pennsylvania mullah?
Ah, beans! (Am I playing this right?)
posted by kemrocken at 7:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Eric Bolling joins the Nostradumbass club. 2011.
@ericbolling:
I haven't heard Rep Weiner confirm or deny that the tweeted picture is of his middie.. Why would one take a picture of ones junk anyway?
posted by chris24 at 8:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
@ericbolling:
I haven't heard Rep Weiner confirm or deny that the tweeted picture is of his middie.. Why would one take a picture of ones junk anyway?
posted by chris24 at 8:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Abbott was paralyzed decades ago because of a tree that fell on him
That's why he hates all trees.
posted by spitbull at 8:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
That's why he hates all trees.
posted by spitbull at 8:03 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
Preet does have some expertise in this area.
@PreetBharara:
If true, request for WH documents re: Flynn's work for Turkey is much more significant than breathless reporting about GJ yesterday. Much.
posted by chris24 at 8:07 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
@PreetBharara:
If true, request for WH documents re: Flynn's work for Turkey is much more significant than breathless reporting about GJ yesterday. Much.
posted by chris24 at 8:07 PM on August 4, 2017 [31 favorites]
Surely they're playing an unreleased expansion of Illuminati in the WH. Trump is playing as UFOs but keeps forgetting his special goal.
Covfefe is the new Fnord.
posted by N-stoff at 8:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
Covfefe is the new Fnord.
posted by N-stoff at 8:15 PM on August 4, 2017 [24 favorites]
I expect every member of the Department to play the ethical midfield. I need you to be aggressive and show initiative without running the ethical sidelines, where even one misstep will have you out of bounds.
This is probably just a tragically bad sports metaphor, but it kind of sounds like he's saying "be ethical, but not TOO ethical, you know?”
I read that as he is saying they should be focused on being well away from the edge of ethical, as in be beyond reproach. The sidelines are where you’re haven’t crossed the boundary into behavior that is unethical... but only barely.
posted by phearlez at 8:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is probably just a tragically bad sports metaphor, but it kind of sounds like he's saying "be ethical, but not TOO ethical, you know?”
I read that as he is saying they should be focused on being well away from the edge of ethical, as in be beyond reproach. The sidelines are where you’re haven’t crossed the boundary into behavior that is unethical... but only barely.
posted by phearlez at 8:16 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
You know, I didn't think Trump could still shock me, but I still, days later, really can't believe that a sitting US president called the White House a dump in earshot of random people he didn't know, and nobody seems to care.
I feel like next week he'll be like "oh yeah, the original Declaration of Independence? I wiped my ass with it the other day, could've been softer and more absorbent" and people are gonna be like "yup, Trump gonna Trump." Seriously, I hate to be all Sam the Eagle here, but is nothing sacred?
posted by potrzebie at 8:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
I feel like next week he'll be like "oh yeah, the original Declaration of Independence? I wiped my ass with it the other day, could've been softer and more absorbent" and people are gonna be like "yup, Trump gonna Trump." Seriously, I hate to be all Sam the Eagle here, but is nothing sacred?
posted by potrzebie at 8:17 PM on August 4, 2017 [63 favorites]
Why would one take a picture of ones junk anyway?
It truly is a mystery, though. What does either side of the transaction get out of it?
posted by Coventry at 8:20 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
It truly is a mystery, though. What does either side of the transaction get out of it?
posted by Coventry at 8:20 PM on August 4, 2017 [5 favorites]
Consensual junk pictures are my jam. Unsolicited, not so much.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
> One big change: no one gets to play the President. Instead, the start of every turn would be a roll of a D20. Take a look at the crisis table to see what insane thing the president did that day or what new scandal was unveiled. And then the rest of the turn has players working together to manage the crisis while simultaneously working to undermine each other in order to get the most influence points with the President. Or they could play in "burn it all down mode" where someone gets enough points to be the last person standing while the President is impeached and everyone else is indicted.
Well so I was thinking each turn would have several phases, with trump actions happening in each phase, and with different ways to influence trump actions. so the phase cycle might be:
3:00 AM [players draw replacement persuasion and media cards, play random card from trump tweet deck]
Fox & Friends [players play media appearance cards; player who wins phase gets to draw three trump tweet cards and play one, discarding the others]
Signing Ceremony [players play persuasion cards; extra bonus for being the last player in the phase to play a card. player who wins phase gets to draw three executive order cards and play one, discarding the others]
Scoop O'clock [player with attorney general title gets to draw three investigation cards and play one, two, or all of them]
Trump tweets can trigger crises, but also lowers the trump psychological stress meter. Trump tweets can lead to firings, but so can high trump stress levels. A firing causes a persuasion phase to happen; the winner of the persuasion phase picks the person fired. Fired players can still influence events, but never draw more persuasion or media cards. and cards played by fired players can be cancelled with the meatloaf card.
anyway
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
Well so I was thinking each turn would have several phases, with trump actions happening in each phase, and with different ways to influence trump actions. so the phase cycle might be:
3:00 AM [players draw replacement persuasion and media cards, play random card from trump tweet deck]
Fox & Friends [players play media appearance cards; player who wins phase gets to draw three trump tweet cards and play one, discarding the others]
Signing Ceremony [players play persuasion cards; extra bonus for being the last player in the phase to play a card. player who wins phase gets to draw three executive order cards and play one, discarding the others]
Scoop O'clock [player with attorney general title gets to draw three investigation cards and play one, two, or all of them]
Trump tweets can trigger crises, but also lowers the trump psychological stress meter. Trump tweets can lead to firings, but so can high trump stress levels. A firing causes a persuasion phase to happen; the winner of the persuasion phase picks the person fired. Fired players can still influence events, but never draw more persuasion or media cards. and cards played by fired players can be cancelled with the meatloaf card.
anyway
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:24 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
>I still, days later, really can't believe that a sitting US president called the White House a dump in earshot of random people he didn't know, and nobody seems to care.
If a Democrat said that, every Republican in Congress would be screeching about it like they were trying to fucking echolocate.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [131 favorites]
If a Democrat said that, every Republican in Congress would be screeching about it like they were trying to fucking echolocate.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 8:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [131 favorites]
And here I've been thinking the Trump presidency could most accurately be represented with the Call of Cthulhu system. I know I feel like I'm having to make constant SAN checks.
posted by Justinian at 8:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:52 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
potrzebie: "You know, I didn't think Trump could still shock me, but I still, days later, really can't believe that a sitting US president called the White House a dump in earshot of random people he didn't know, and nobody seems to care."
So, imho, this particular event highlights one of the fundamental asymmetries of our current mass media environment. Consider if the situation were flipped and Hillary Clinton were overheard calling the White House a dump. We all know what would happen next, right? The entire right-wing propaganda machine would simultaneously erupt into Defcon 1 scandal mode. The regular, mainstream media would then also have to start talking about it because they treat outlets like Fox News as, well, actual news organizations and the fact that they're covering this means it's a real story. And so on, and so on. Instead, what happened in this case is that basically none of the right-wing outlets covered this story. And the mainstream media, despite all the accusations of liberal bias, just reported it like a normal story. And that's the end of that.
Essentially, for all the talk about media bubbles and what not, I would propose that the real issue is not really about diversity in media consumption but rather this asymmetry. Even if all you read is the NYT, you're still going to get some of the Fox News framing because the NYT treats Fox as if it weren't a propaganda outlet and reacts to them accordingly. But, if all you watch is Fox News, you're basically only going to get their perspective because they don't have any internal ethical obligation to cover anything that doesn't serve their propaganda mission. This latter phenomenon is basically summed up in this Kumail Nanjiani tweet:
And even once one of these kinds of "bad-for-the-GOP" stories reaches some critical mass where the right-wing media is forced to say something about it, of course they're going to spin it in ways the mainstream media wouldn't even contemplate, e.g.: "Would you even care if he was guilty?"
posted by mhum at 8:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
So, imho, this particular event highlights one of the fundamental asymmetries of our current mass media environment. Consider if the situation were flipped and Hillary Clinton were overheard calling the White House a dump. We all know what would happen next, right? The entire right-wing propaganda machine would simultaneously erupt into Defcon 1 scandal mode. The regular, mainstream media would then also have to start talking about it because they treat outlets like Fox News as, well, actual news organizations and the fact that they're covering this means it's a real story. And so on, and so on. Instead, what happened in this case is that basically none of the right-wing outlets covered this story. And the mainstream media, despite all the accusations of liberal bias, just reported it like a normal story. And that's the end of that.
Essentially, for all the talk about media bubbles and what not, I would propose that the real issue is not really about diversity in media consumption but rather this asymmetry. Even if all you read is the NYT, you're still going to get some of the Fox News framing because the NYT treats Fox as if it weren't a propaganda outlet and reacts to them accordingly. But, if all you watch is Fox News, you're basically only going to get their perspective because they don't have any internal ethical obligation to cover anything that doesn't serve their propaganda mission. This latter phenomenon is basically summed up in this Kumail Nanjiani tweet:
CNN: Grand JuryAlso, the replies on that tweet have a bunch of screenshots of simultaneous news notifications from WaPo, CNN, etc... and Fox to show some real-life examples.
MSNBC: Grand Jury
Fox News: Is zebras a kind of horse?
And even once one of these kinds of "bad-for-the-GOP" stories reaches some critical mass where the right-wing media is forced to say something about it, of course they're going to spin it in ways the mainstream media wouldn't even contemplate, e.g.: "Would you even care if he was guilty?"
posted by mhum at 8:53 PM on August 4, 2017 [53 favorites]
Soren feels the same way, I see. I'm sure someone will run with one of these and actually make a game.
posted by Justinian at 8:53 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by Justinian at 8:53 PM on August 4, 2017
Looking forward to the later stages mentioned in the DailyKos post mentioned way upthread:
This is Phase 2 (out of ten), and Phase 2 is the longest phase. Impeachment is Phase 9.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
This is Phase 2 (out of ten), and Phase 2 is the longest phase. Impeachment is Phase 9.
- I've said "Phase 2" of the probe will be when Mueller is able to start questioning witnesses like JD Gordon under oath. This is Phase 2. Phase 2 also involves procurement of hard-to-access (rather than voluntarily submitted) financial documents from the U.S. and overseas.
- Phase 3, which we *will* get to, is the issuance of many "true bills" (indictments) against minor figures in the probe and Trump aides.
- Phase 4 is either the use of testimony from these indicted figures, now cooperating individuals, to indict Trump, or to outline a case.
- Phase 5 is what DOJ chooses to do with Mueller's report, in what timeframe and at whose direction at Main Justice (Brand or Rosenstein).
- Phase 6 takes place in Congress, as the DOJ referral is debated first in Judiciary then in the House (then possibly in Judiciary again).
- Phase 7 is the impeachment vote in the House, Phase 8 the trial for possible conviction in the Senate. Phase 9, the *aftermath* of that.
- Phase 10 is the start of whatever administration comes next and key decisions (e.g. pardons) made by Pence, Ryan, Hatch, whoever it is.
- In answer to the queries: that's "12 to 18 months" from the day of Mueller's appointment to impeachment. Phase 2 is the longest phase.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
California preparing to sue Trump administration (Franco Ordoñez & Christopher Cadelago, McClatchy)
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra — in conjunction with other California city and county attorneys — is considering charging the Justice Department with violating the Constitution by threatening to take crime-fighting funds away from cities and states that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration agents, according to those sources.posted by Room 641-A at 9:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [34 favorites]
“The cities and states affected by these provisions have strong arguments to make in court that these conditions are illegal,” said a former Justice Department official familiar with California officials’ thinking. “If Congress wanted these requirements to be part of the grant funding decision, they would have written it into the law.”
pls back the kickstarter for my adult party card game, Surely This!? where you play as candidates vying to ascend to the highest levels of governance while dodging--or exploiting--heinous scandals that would ruin the lives of lesser people
fry_shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif
Yeah seriously why is that not a game
You can't just put ideas like that on the internet for free
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
fry_shut_up_and_take_my_money.gif
Yeah seriously why is that not a game
You can't just put ideas like that on the internet for free
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2017 [17 favorites]
so, since newsweek doesn't actually print publish (from what I can tell), is there any way I can purchase multiple copies of that cover?
posted by yesster at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2017
posted by yesster at 9:22 PM on August 4, 2017
I want a more visual 45 game. Convert Space Station 13 to Space Station 1600 and watch Bannon mutate Mooch into a mute blob, weld him into a locker and fire it out an airlock.
posted by delfin at 9:25 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by delfin at 9:25 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trans Military Ban is Now Policy (Los Angeles Blade, August 4, 2017 at 6:37 pm PDT)
Though the policy—called “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out”—has not yet been made public, sources familiar with the planning said it would encourage early retirement, usher out any enlisted personnel after their contract is up, and would fire trans officers up for promotion. Basically, said a source, “the administration want to get rid of transgender servicemembers as fast as they can.”posted by AFABulous at 9:31 PM on August 4, 2017 [57 favorites]
No one yet knows what will happen to the servicemembers currently fighting in combat. The new policy does allow trans servicemembers to continue serving but apparently does not offer any protection from harassment or other efforts to get them to quit.
Trans Military Ban is Now Policy
That. Fucker.
posted by darkstar at 9:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
That. Fucker.
posted by darkstar at 9:35 PM on August 4, 2017 [27 favorites]
AFABulous, that's just . . . fuck.
I've never shared on here (BECAUSE ITS NOT MY STORY), that I have a trans nephew.
My (recently dead, like just in 2017 dead) parents were remarkably accepting of my nephew.
My nephew wants to serve (I don't agree with that decision, but it's his life (so i support him in his choice)).
Now?
He's such an awesome young man. He has a brother who wants to serve with him.
Fuck everything about this orange shitstain. FUCK TRUMP. FUCK ALL OF THESE FUCKERS.
posted by yesster at 9:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [75 favorites]
I've never shared on here (BECAUSE ITS NOT MY STORY), that I have a trans nephew.
My (recently dead, like just in 2017 dead) parents were remarkably accepting of my nephew.
My nephew wants to serve (I don't agree with that decision, but it's his life (so i support him in his choice)).
Now?
He's such an awesome young man. He has a brother who wants to serve with him.
Fuck everything about this orange shitstain. FUCK TRUMP. FUCK ALL OF THESE FUCKERS.
posted by yesster at 9:37 PM on August 4, 2017 [75 favorites]
I can't even feel anything anymore.
posted by AFABulous at 9:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 9:39 PM on August 4, 2017 [9 favorites]
Goddamnit. Can we get this fucker out already? When even Orrin Fucking Hatch is more friendly towards LGBT military members than you, you've failed the humanity test.
Toomey expressed some tepid opposition when Trump originally tweeted this bullshit. I'll be calling his office to remind him of this and praise him for it, and encourage him to take a stand to defend our servicemembers. I don't have too much hope for him, but I'll drive a wedge into any crack in their hateful armor.
posted by biogeo at 9:54 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Toomey expressed some tepid opposition when Trump originally tweeted this bullshit. I'll be calling his office to remind him of this and praise him for it, and encourage him to take a stand to defend our servicemembers. I don't have too much hope for him, but I'll drive a wedge into any crack in their hateful armor.
posted by biogeo at 9:54 PM on August 4, 2017 [10 favorites]
Really? The Daily Caller? AkaBreitbart Lite? Why would they do that to Flynn? what am I missing?
This was before Trump took office. The number of Republican operatives outside the Trump campaign who wanted Michael Fucking Flynn to be appointed National Security Advisor was negligible. Everyone knew he was crazy and corrupt and crazy corrupt and bad news for the country and the party.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
This was before Trump took office. The number of Republican operatives outside the Trump campaign who wanted Michael Fucking Flynn to be appointed National Security Advisor was negligible. Everyone knew he was crazy and corrupt and crazy corrupt and bad news for the country and the party.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:57 PM on August 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
what would happen if soldiers and prospective soldiers stood in solidarity with one another in real numbers and pledged not to enlist or re-enlist as long as any group of people was denied the right to serve, or serve fully? Men refused to do it for women, so I don't know why it would be different now. but it could be. surely some of them are brave enough. especially the 18-year-olds who haven't signed away their lives yet, just thinking about it. it wouldn't be a strike, they wouldn't have to face prison or take any real risk, just take a real moral stand and follow through.
I'll hold my breath
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'll hold my breath
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:59 PM on August 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
Can he do that? I mean seriously, does the title commander in chief really mean that he can decide policy like that by fiat? Wtf. This is some serious bullshit affecting real soldiers, by a coward who avoided service by being rich enough.
We can not standby while they start picking off our friends and allies one by one. What do we do to help?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
We can not standby while they start picking off our friends and allies one by one. What do we do to help?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 10:01 PM on August 4, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't know what the hell to do either. Open your home to an unemployed trans vet if you can, maybe. Make it a Big Fucking Deal if people make transphobic jokes. Harass your politicians, for what good it does. Treat your trans friends like they are who they say they are. Hire trans people if you can.
I'm cynical. In 2001 I didn't think it would get better. It got better and it got worse. It is what it is.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm cynical. In 2001 I didn't think it would get better. It got better and it got worse. It is what it is.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
He can decide to that, but the courts don't have to let him. I imagine that various justice orgs will get involved and take this matter to the judicial branch. Unfortunately, no federal law explicitly identifies transgender individuals as a protected class, so that's a hurdle that might need to be leaped also.
posted by xyzzy at 10:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 10:10 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
We can not standby while they start picking off our friends and allies one by one. What do we do to help?
Call your reps, ask them to make a public statement about the ban. If they make a positive one, call back and thank them. Otherwise, admonish them.
Contribute to ACLU, Transgender Law Center and Lambda Legal. They will be filing the lawsuits.
Call your trans friends and offer to take them out for coffee, or send them a nice postcard or something. We need to know someone is in our corner. I know four people who have barely been able to get out of bed since Trump tweeted about the ban last Wednesday. These are folks who normally are calm and collected. We're not surprised but we're still stunned that this is a real thing that is really happening.
If you don't have any trans friends, follow your state/local LGBT orgs and see if they are planning any rallies or need anything.
Above all, challenge transphobic comments and "jokes" from the cis people in your life. Educate yourself so you can educate others. If you see someone on social media spouting bullshit at a trans person, step in.
We need you. We need you now.
posted by AFABulous at 10:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
Call your reps, ask them to make a public statement about the ban. If they make a positive one, call back and thank them. Otherwise, admonish them.
Contribute to ACLU, Transgender Law Center and Lambda Legal. They will be filing the lawsuits.
Call your trans friends and offer to take them out for coffee, or send them a nice postcard or something. We need to know someone is in our corner. I know four people who have barely been able to get out of bed since Trump tweeted about the ban last Wednesday. These are folks who normally are calm and collected. We're not surprised but we're still stunned that this is a real thing that is really happening.
If you don't have any trans friends, follow your state/local LGBT orgs and see if they are planning any rallies or need anything.
Above all, challenge transphobic comments and "jokes" from the cis people in your life. Educate yourself so you can educate others. If you see someone on social media spouting bullshit at a trans person, step in.
We need you. We need you now.
posted by AFABulous at 10:12 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
it wouldn't be a strike, they wouldn't have to face prison or take any real risk,
Unfortunately, any action that even smacks of collective bargaining is illegal as fuck in the military. It would still be great and I wish they would, but it is not correct to say that they wouldn't have to face prison or take real risk.
posted by corb at 10:25 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Unfortunately, any action that even smacks of collective bargaining is illegal as fuck in the military. It would still be great and I wish they would, but it is not correct to say that they wouldn't have to face prison or take real risk.
posted by corb at 10:25 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
Even if the ban gets thrown out and no trans servicemember is actually dismissed, this is doing damage RIGHT NOW. I'm not in the military nor a vet, so I can't speak to that aspect. I can speak directly to the effect it's having on me and people I know. Walking around in a daze, sleeping 16 hours, unable to eat. I don't know how I can convey this feeling. The president of the country called me a burden and a disruption. You can say he's unhinged and you'd be right, but that doesn't mean I don't care what he says. Millions of people hang on his every word. I have to share space with some of them. Imagine walking around not knowing who wants you banished from public life. Is it the barista? My insurance agent? The X-ray technician?
I spent time with a young trans friend tonight and we were chatting about a web comic he wants to write. It's about a colony in space full of LGBTQ people. The colonists would send scouts back to earth to basically rescue people who were endangered because of their LGBTQ status. My friend clearly saw this as a utopian vision (Luxury Gay Space Communism!) but holy shit, it's dark to think that we can't even exist on the same planet with the rest of y'all.
posted by AFABulous at 10:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
I spent time with a young trans friend tonight and we were chatting about a web comic he wants to write. It's about a colony in space full of LGBTQ people. The colonists would send scouts back to earth to basically rescue people who were endangered because of their LGBTQ status. My friend clearly saw this as a utopian vision (Luxury Gay Space Communism!) but holy shit, it's dark to think that we can't even exist on the same planet with the rest of y'all.
posted by AFABulous at 10:27 PM on August 4, 2017 [86 favorites]
"Chilling effect"
That's what they're doing.
Against trans.
Against the press.
Against democracy itself.
posted by yesster at 10:40 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
That's what they're doing.
Against trans.
Against the press.
Against democracy itself.
posted by yesster at 10:40 PM on August 4, 2017 [14 favorites]
What it really boils down to is that conservatives can't stand anyone different from them, because it's weeeeeird and it makes them "uncomfortable" (oh noes, uncomfortable!) and thus they feel the urge to kill it. Trans, gay, of color, female, anything like that and there you go, it's gotta go. Kill it, harass it, kick it out of the country, make sure that the weiiiiiiiiiiiiiird doesn't exist any more, and everything will be Just Fine again!
The Mob Song from Beauty and the Beast always sums it up well:
"We don't like
What we don't understand
In fact it scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least"
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
The Mob Song from Beauty and the Beast always sums it up well:
"We don't like
What we don't understand
In fact it scares us
And this monster is mysterious at least"
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:50 PM on August 4, 2017 [13 favorites]
This article about why autocrats fear LGBT rights is a good explanation (I know it was posted in a previous thread but it's relevant now).
The appeal of autocracy lies in its promise of radical simplicity, an absence of choice. In Trump’s imaginary past, every person had his place and a securely circumscribed future, everyone and everything was exactly as it seemed, and government was run by one man issuing orders that could not and need not be questioned. The very existence of queer people—and especially transgender people—is an affront to this vision. Trans people complicate things, throw the future into question by shaping their own, add layers of interpretation to appearances, and challenge the logic of any one man decreeing the fate of people and country.posted by AFABulous at 10:54 PM on August 4, 2017 [52 favorites]
Next on Fox and Friends: "So what's the big deal if there is a pee pee tape?"
posted by rainy at 10:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by rainy at 10:58 PM on August 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I will say that Trump's gotten really fucking lucky this year that there hasn't been a hurricane or other natural disaster
1) That's because he's making America So Great that mother nature dare not attack.
2) The Air Force's whitepaper about controlling the weather in 2025 is ahead of schedule
And while the posters who mention about how having a functional government is helpful and Trump is un-tunctional the reality is:
Any hurricane that hits Mar-a-lago will result in the throwing of resources at the needed response in such a way it will LOOK like he's super-responsive.
Just not responsive on a per Dollar basis, once people break it down.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
1) That's because he's making America So Great that mother nature dare not attack.
2) The Air Force's whitepaper about controlling the weather in 2025 is ahead of schedule
And while the posters who mention about how having a functional government is helpful and Trump is un-tunctional the reality is:
Any hurricane that hits Mar-a-lago will result in the throwing of resources at the needed response in such a way it will LOOK like he's super-responsive.
Just not responsive on a per Dollar basis, once people break it down.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:11 PM on August 4, 2017 [1 favorite]
Buzzfeed, John Hudson: Rumors Of "Purge List" Rattle White House Staff
posted by xyzzy at 11:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
“Very few people know who’s going to get axed next, but if you’re viewed as a Flynnstone it’s a liability,” said a person close to the White House, referring to staffers hired by McMaster’s predecessor, retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.Jesus. I had no idea that McMaster had been so busy stacking up the pink slips.
McMaster, for example, dismissed top Middle East adviser Derek Harvey, last week amid reports that Harvey had become too close to Trump’s chief strategist, Stephen Bannon – a bitter rival of McMaster.
McMaster’s firing of Ezra Cohen-Watnick on Wednesday is linked to the arrival of John Kelly, the former secretary of homeland security who took over as chief of staff on Monday. McMaster tried to fire Cohen-Watnick earlier this year but was stymied by Bannon and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who came to his defense. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the “ouster” of Cohen-Watnick was “intended as a show of confidence from Mr. Kelly to Mr. McMaster.”
The firing of the NSC’s director for strategy planning, Richard Higgins, on July 21, meanwhile, was linked to a conspiratorial memo he’d sent about radical Islam rather than his ties to Bannon or NSC aide Sebastian Gorka, an NSC aide said.
posted by xyzzy at 11:51 PM on August 4, 2017 [8 favorites]
On the other hand, given that Flynn's a fucking spy and so is everyone he's hired, in normal times it would be weird they got to stay on as long as they did.
posted by Artw at 12:01 AM on August 5, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:01 AM on August 5, 2017 [41 favorites]
Trans Military Ban is Now Policy
I lied. I care. Who do we sue? Where do I donate?
Senseless, hurtful, weak, disgusting, and pandering to exactly the wrong interests. On the plus side, way to start a civil war, you orange fuck.
posted by saysthis at 12:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I lied. I care. Who do we sue? Where do I donate?
Senseless, hurtful, weak, disgusting, and pandering to exactly the wrong interests. On the plus side, way to start a civil war, you orange fuck.
posted by saysthis at 12:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
in normal times it would be weirdAmy Siskind's been compiling a regularly published list of things that are happening that are not normal/ok in accordance with a guide that suggests you do so in order to resist authoritarianism.
(Edited to correct spelling of Amy's name.)
posted by xyzzy at 12:12 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
I lied. I care. Who do we sue? Where do I donate?
Here's a good start.
posted by greermahoney at 12:25 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Here's a good start.
posted by greermahoney at 12:25 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Traditionally, presidents going on vacation have published their reading list. A list of books they'd like to catch up on during their time off. I like them, they keep me alert to things I may otherwise have missed.
For some odd reason, Donald hasn't published one. Now what am I going to do? Can you guys think of anything Don and I should be reading?
posted by adept256 at 12:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
For some odd reason, Donald hasn't published one. Now what am I going to do? Can you guys think of anything Don and I should be reading?
posted by adept256 at 12:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
Resistbotted to Hawaii's congressional delegation asking them to make strong public statements against this despicable, transphobic policy and in support of Hawaii's vulnerable trans population.
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 12:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
The only thing President Sex-Criminal reads is chyrons.
posted by blueberry at 1:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by blueberry at 1:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Can you guys think of anything Don and I should be reading?
Devil's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency
Why the Germans? Why the Jews?: Envy, Race Hatred, and the Prehistory of the Holocaust
posted by Coventry at 3:56 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Devil's Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency
Why the Germans? Why the Jews?: Envy, Race Hatred, and the Prehistory of the Holocaust
posted by Coventry at 3:56 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
This CNN piece One year into the FBI's Russia investigation, Mueller is on the Trump money trail
and this Slate piece U.S. Reportedly Intercepted Suspected Russian Agents' Chatter That Manafort Asked for Their Help With Clinton
have been updated with a statement from Jason Maloni, Manafort's spokesperson:
Oh? Once again, that's not for the investigatee to say.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
and this Slate piece U.S. Reportedly Intercepted Suspected Russian Agents' Chatter That Manafort Asked for Their Help With Clinton
have been updated with a statement from Jason Maloni, Manafort's spokesperson:
"Paul Manafort did not collude with the Russian government to undermine the 2016 election or to hack the DNC. Other than that comment, we aren't going to respond to anonymous officials illegally peddling second hand conspiracy theories. But the Justice Department, and the courts if necessary, should hold someone to account for the flood of unlawful government leaks targeting Mr. Manafort."did not collude
Oh? Once again, that's not for the investigatee to say.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
All their denials use "collude" like it's a crime or a legal term. It's not. That word means nothing. Obstruction. Laundering. Wire fraud. Computer fraud. Tax evasion. Agent of a foreign government. Racketeering. Espionage. Those are what Mueller is looking for, not "collusion".
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [53 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [53 favorites]
Re: POTUS call transcripts with foreign leaders
The difference between illegal leaks and inconvenient leaks, video and transcript of a PBS News Hour discussion between former CIA general counsel Jeffrey Smith and James Risen of The New York Times
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
The difference between illegal leaks and inconvenient leaks, video and transcript of a PBS News Hour discussion between former CIA general counsel Jeffrey Smith and James Risen of The New York Times
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
It seems odd to me that the "Los Angeles Blade" is the only source on the supposed policy implementation of the bigoted military transgender ban. Has anyone seen it sourced elsewhere?
posted by spitbull at 4:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 4:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Ex-Bush ethics lawyer [Richard Painter]: Use lie detectors on the White House press secretary, The Hill
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Friday the Justice Department might consider using lie detector tests to find out who has been leaking information to media from within the Trump administration.posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
---
A former ethics lawyer under former President George W. Bush thinks that if the Trump administration wants to start using lie detectors they should start with the White House press secretary.
“The place will light up like a disco!” Richard Painter tweeted on Friday night...
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the new White House press secretary, this week pledged she would not lie from the podium.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the new White House press secretary, this week pledged she would not lie from the podium.
Slow clap
posted by Rykey at 4:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
Slow clap
posted by Rykey at 4:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
It seems odd to me that the "Los Angeles Blade" is the only source on the supposed policy implementation of the bigoted military transgender ban. Has anyone seen it sourced elsewhere?
I follow a fair bit of politics Twitter and a number of LGBT folks and I'm not seeing anything confirming this or even reporting the Blade's story. It is early on a Saturday AM so who knows.
posted by chris24 at 5:08 AM on August 5, 2017
I follow a fair bit of politics Twitter and a number of LGBT folks and I'm not seeing anything confirming this or even reporting the Blade's story. It is early on a Saturday AM so who knows.
posted by chris24 at 5:08 AM on August 5, 2017
"The Los Angeles Blade" began publishing in March 2017. I think we need to be very alert to fake news meant to outrage and divide us. Wait for confirmation from a credible source.
posted by spitbull at 5:09 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:09 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
It seems odd to me that the "Los Angeles Blade" is the only source on the supposed policy implementation of the bigoted military transgender ban. Has anyone seen it sourced elsewhere?
The article is mirrored on "Washington Blade". And yesterday The Hill reported the WH reaching out to the Pentagon to help draft the promised ban. It doesn't seem too surprising from past behaviour if WH legal review had waved this through as claimed.
"The [Washington] Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the United States and third largest by circulation, behind the Philadelphia Gay News and the Gay City News of New York City." -- wiki.
posted by sourcejedi at 5:12 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The article is mirrored on "Washington Blade". And yesterday The Hill reported the WH reaching out to the Pentagon to help draft the promised ban. It doesn't seem too surprising from past behaviour if WH legal review had waved this through as claimed.
"The [Washington] Blade is the oldest LGBT newspaper in the United States and third largest by circulation, behind the Philadelphia Gay News and the Gay City News of New York City." -- wiki.
posted by sourcejedi at 5:12 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did the "Washington Blade" provide the original reporting?
posted by spitbull at 5:14 AM on August 5, 2017
posted by spitbull at 5:14 AM on August 5, 2017
Ah, looks like it not. Byline on both articles is Karen Ocamb, news editor for The Los Angeles Blade.
posted by sourcejedi at 5:20 AM on August 5, 2017
posted by sourcejedi at 5:20 AM on August 5, 2017
So a bit further, Karen Ocamb wrote the story and has some credibility as an LGBT-focused journalist. But the report is only claiming a single source for a rumor of an unreleased policy. As with so much possible fake news, we are reacting to shadows like they're bears. But maybe they're rocks.
posted by spitbull at 5:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Friday the Justice Department might consider using lie detector tests to find out who has been leaking information to media from within the Trump administration.
Lie detectors have been discredited for like 20 years, but they do work very well for scaring people.
posted by diogenes at 5:22 AM on August 5, 2017 [34 favorites]
Lie detectors have been discredited for like 20 years, but they do work very well for scaring people.
posted by diogenes at 5:22 AM on August 5, 2017 [34 favorites]
Ocamb quotes and cites exactly one anonymous source. So the story is as good as that source.
posted by spitbull at 5:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also Ocamb appears to *be* the "LA Blade," after being laid off at Frontiers, LA's established LGBT news outlet. The brand new and (obviously low-budget ) LA Blade appears unconnected to the famous and older Washington Blade. And after 14 hours online (conveniently posted on a Friday night) no major outlet has kicked this up or found another source.
Maybe it's a scoop, and we know a policy initiative has started so it could just be a set of guesses about what that might look like. In the absence of independent confirmation from a more credible source I'm not inclined to react like it must be true as written.
posted by spitbull at 5:33 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe it's a scoop, and we know a policy initiative has started so it could just be a set of guesses about what that might look like. In the absence of independent confirmation from a more credible source I'm not inclined to react like it must be true as written.
posted by spitbull at 5:33 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sorry to pepper and I'll let it go, but to be fair to Ocamb she claims: "Two sources says [sic, make of that singular/plural confusion what you will] they have confirmation from their sources at the White House and Pentagon that the “phase out” policy is on its way to the Secretary of Defense.". Only one source is quoted and we already knew "a policy" was on its way from the White House anyway. So the issue is whether any of the details are correct. Note that these "two sources" only have "sources at the WH," and are not themselves inside the WH.
posted by spitbull at 5:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I wonder which part of 'First they came for the immigrants. Then they came for the transgendered. Then they came for the press' people don't understand?
posted by Devonian at 5:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 5:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
Here's your Senate Armed Services Committee members. Call them individually or the committee office at 202-224-3871.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
"Trans people," please, not "transgendered" or "transgenders."
Anyway, it would be great if it wasn't true. I saw "Blade" and assumed Washington Blade, which, as noted, has been around for a very long time and is 100% credible. Fuck the author if it turns out to be a scare tactic, because it fucking worked.
posted by AFABulous at 6:07 AM on August 5, 2017 [23 favorites]
Anyway, it would be great if it wasn't true. I saw "Blade" and assumed Washington Blade, which, as noted, has been around for a very long time and is 100% credible. Fuck the author if it turns out to be a scare tactic, because it fucking worked.
posted by AFABulous at 6:07 AM on August 5, 2017 [23 favorites]
I wonder which part of 'First they came for the immigrants. Then they came for the transgendered. Then they came for the press' people don't understand?
The people who come next in that progression understand perfectly. So do the 46% of the country that hate them. It's what they voted for, and our anti-democratic system leaves the majority without any tools in government to stop it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:17 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
The people who come next in that progression understand perfectly. So do the 46% of the country that hate them. It's what they voted for, and our anti-democratic system leaves the majority without any tools in government to stop it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:17 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I saw "Blade" and assumed Washington Blade
Yes isn't that interesting.?
Sorry about the terminology but many major news sources shorthand the policy as "transgender ban," so I probably internalized that phrasing unconsciously. Believe me, when I see the phrase it translates to "people I must stand with" in my mind.
It's another Trumpian Razor problem. We know he and his followers are transphobic bigots. We also can be reasonably sure that going after trans people with cruel and outrageous policies is a potent distraction from the news of corruption and crime in the administration. Both can be true and require a response. So making sure we aren't played as an outrage organ is a mode of resisting the cynicism of that.
posted by spitbull at 6:19 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes isn't that interesting.?
Sorry about the terminology but many major news sources shorthand the policy as "transgender ban," so I probably internalized that phrasing unconsciously. Believe me, when I see the phrase it translates to "people I must stand with" in my mind.
It's another Trumpian Razor problem. We know he and his followers are transphobic bigots. We also can be reasonably sure that going after trans people with cruel and outrageous policies is a potent distraction from the news of corruption and crime in the administration. Both can be true and require a response. So making sure we aren't played as an outrage organ is a mode of resisting the cynicism of that.
posted by spitbull at 6:19 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't particularly think, for the purposes of opposition, it matters what stage the ban is at - the Commander-in-Chief has ordered it, so it's there. (Of course, it very much matters in other ways.)
It's very dangerous to dismiss 45's pronouncements as 'oh, he's a liar, he's incompetent, it won't happen, it doesn't matter', because that's capitulating to the chaos. He says it, he owns it: that's the job description.
posted by Devonian at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's very dangerous to dismiss 45's pronouncements as 'oh, he's a liar, he's incompetent, it won't happen, it doesn't matter', because that's capitulating to the chaos. He says it, he owns it: that's the job description.
posted by Devonian at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
It is weird that (afaict) no one else has picked it up. The verified folks on trans twitter are just repeating the LA Blade. We'll see. It was late last night.
Also Ocamb appears to *be* the "LA Blade," after being laid off at Frontiers, LA's established LGBT news outlet. The brand new and (obviously low-budget ) LA Blade appears unconnected to the famous and older Washington Blade.
I disagree with this; there are 8 people on staff and after a brief perusal I noticed at least that many different bylines. The print version is distributed all over LA. The Washington Blade RT'd the LA Blade story from the account of its political reporter. LA Blade's website's style and logo are identical to the Washington Blade's website.
posted by AFABulous at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also Ocamb appears to *be* the "LA Blade," after being laid off at Frontiers, LA's established LGBT news outlet. The brand new and (obviously low-budget ) LA Blade appears unconnected to the famous and older Washington Blade.
I disagree with this; there are 8 people on staff and after a brief perusal I noticed at least that many different bylines. The print version is distributed all over LA. The Washington Blade RT'd the LA Blade story from the account of its political reporter. LA Blade's website's style and logo are identical to the Washington Blade's website.
posted by AFABulous at 6:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
And you are correct and I am wrong, AFABulous. Payments for subscriptions to the "LA Blade" get made out to "The Washington Blade." Curious that they don't make it easy to tell.
posted by spitbull at 6:25 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 6:25 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
We also can be reasonably sure that going after trans people with cruel and outrageous policies is a potent distraction from the news of corruption and crime in the administration
I'm gonna take a break after this, but it's not a distraction. Whatever Trump's actual beliefs about trans folks, Pence and Bannon are behind this and they're using it to pressure Republicans about funding for the wall.
Also, maybe it for you, but it's not a "distraction" for people to lose their livelihood and it's not a distraction for the millions of other trans people who are emotionally impacted. It's offensive to call it that.
posted by AFABulous at 6:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [42 favorites]
I'm gonna take a break after this, but it's not a distraction. Whatever Trump's actual beliefs about trans folks, Pence and Bannon are behind this and they're using it to pressure Republicans about funding for the wall.
Also, maybe it for you, but it's not a "distraction" for people to lose their livelihood and it's not a distraction for the millions of other trans people who are emotionally impacted. It's offensive to call it that.
posted by AFABulous at 6:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [42 favorites]
"Also a distraction" means it is intentionally being used as a wedge issue and attention bait. In no way does that minimize the seriousness of the intention to harm trans people. No offense was intended but I'm not giving up the word "distraction."
posted by spitbull at 6:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 6:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
In response to some of the pushback on the racial undertones to this attack - Why leftists don't trust Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Deval Patrick - on three *coincidentally* black D politicians, the Intercept's Lee Fang tweeted this last night which might explain why the far left struggles to get minority votes:
@lhfang
Japanese and British empires pacified their colonies with puppet leaders plucked from local ethnic groups. It's a successful strategy.
posted by chris24 at 6:40 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
@lhfang
Japanese and British empires pacified their colonies with puppet leaders plucked from local ethnic groups. It's a successful strategy.
posted by chris24 at 6:40 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
"Also a distraction" means it is intentionally being used as a wedge issue and attention bait. In no way does that minimize the seriousness of the intention to harm trans people. No offense was intended but I'm not giving up the word "distraction."
The problem with saying it's a "distraction" is that then loads of cis people say "it's just a distraction, focus on the real issue". I'm pretty cynical, but the capacity for most cis people, including ones that think of themselves as progressive, to care about trans people for more than about two minutes is pretty low.
posted by hoyland at 6:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
The problem with saying it's a "distraction" is that then loads of cis people say "it's just a distraction, focus on the real issue". I'm pretty cynical, but the capacity for most cis people, including ones that think of themselves as progressive, to care about trans people for more than about two minutes is pretty low.
posted by hoyland at 6:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
We've had this argument before.
posted by Melismata at 6:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 6:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Metafilter : We've had this argument before.
posted by bardophile at 6:52 AM on August 5, 2017 [86 favorites]
posted by bardophile at 6:52 AM on August 5, 2017 [86 favorites]
Human rights are never a distraction.
posted by supercrayon at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by supercrayon at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
The Washington Blade launched the Los Angeles Blade earlier this year. They are sister publications and share content.
They're both members of the National Gay Newspaper Guild.
This is the second time the Washington paper has tried to expand its reach. The New York Blade was launched in the late '90's, but shuttered about 7 years ago.
posted by zarq at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
They're both members of the National Gay Newspaper Guild.
This is the second time the Washington paper has tried to expand its reach. The New York Blade was launched in the late '90's, but shuttered about 7 years ago.
posted by zarq at 6:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mod note: Yes, let's not have the distraction argument again, please. It's perfectly fine for people to discuss this news.
posted by taz (staff) at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 7:01 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
which might explain why the far left
I would love it if we could stop calling them the far left. They don't have a monopoly on far left positions, they just have a monopoly on reveling in (often straight) white male privilege and South Park-style "all your social justice concerns are performative token bullshit" nihilism.
Alt-left works for me, as does "adolescent shitlords," but one of those is probably more acceptable than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [49 favorites]
I would love it if we could stop calling them the far left. They don't have a monopoly on far left positions, they just have a monopoly on reveling in (often straight) white male privilege and South Park-style "all your social justice concerns are performative token bullshit" nihilism.
Alt-left works for me, as does "adolescent shitlords," but one of those is probably more acceptable than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [49 favorites]
I hope that this is just a rumor, but ever since Trump's tweet the threat is real. It's good to avoid panicking but we should remain alert. I'll still be calling Toomey's office to communicate the following:
1. Toomey represented the people of Pennsylvania well by affirming the rights and merits of our trans servicemembers in the military in response to the President's tweet.
2. It has been reported that the White House is moving forward on turning the President's poorly-conceived outburst into actionable policy.
3. Should the White House produce real policy to this effect, I expect Senator Toomey to publicly denounce it and use any and all legislative tools to prevent such policy from being implemented.
I'll contact my other representatives with the same message, but given that Toomey mostly rolls over for the party but has actually expressed some mild opposition on this issue already, his office seems worth targeting.
posted by biogeo at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
1. Toomey represented the people of Pennsylvania well by affirming the rights and merits of our trans servicemembers in the military in response to the President's tweet.
2. It has been reported that the White House is moving forward on turning the President's poorly-conceived outburst into actionable policy.
3. Should the White House produce real policy to this effect, I expect Senator Toomey to publicly denounce it and use any and all legislative tools to prevent such policy from being implemented.
I'll contact my other representatives with the same message, but given that Toomey mostly rolls over for the party but has actually expressed some mild opposition on this issue already, his office seems worth targeting.
posted by biogeo at 7:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
@lhfang
Japanese and British empires pacified their colonies with puppet leaders plucked from local ethnic groups. It's a successful strategy.
And the United States used it against Native Americans.
posted by Quonab at 7:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Japanese and British empires pacified their colonies with puppet leaders plucked from local ethnic groups. It's a successful strategy.
And the United States used it against Native Americans.
posted by Quonab at 7:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
And Lee Fang yesterday: Liberals disagree w/Richard Spencer's policy outlook but share his core belief that race alone determines your value in society
Maybe we should not give a fuck what alt-left shitlords employed by Russian front groups like Lee Fang tweet.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [46 favorites]
Maybe we should not give a fuck what alt-left shitlords employed by Russian front groups like Lee Fang tweet.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [46 favorites]
pls back the kickstarter for my adult party card game, Surely This!? where you play as candidates vying to ascend to the highest levels of governance while dodging--or exploiting--heinous scandals that would ruin the lives of lesser people
Threepenny Opera: The Game
I mean the whole point of the Threepenny Opera was to satirise how the Weimar Republic's elites weren't that much different from gangsters, and said elites found it dreadfully droll rather than making them feel guilty, which not only reinforced its point but made it feel like the only way to do something about it was to blow everything to hell. Like, it's sort of satirical, but I feel there's stronger material in a satirical game about the editors who decide one heinous crime is not newsworthy and another is enough to sink them forever.
Personally I'm more partial to the hidden victory condition game about manipulating Trump, rethemed to be about a fictional leader.
posted by Merus at 7:22 AM on August 5, 2017
Threepenny Opera: The Game
I mean the whole point of the Threepenny Opera was to satirise how the Weimar Republic's elites weren't that much different from gangsters, and said elites found it dreadfully droll rather than making them feel guilty, which not only reinforced its point but made it feel like the only way to do something about it was to blow everything to hell. Like, it's sort of satirical, but I feel there's stronger material in a satirical game about the editors who decide one heinous crime is not newsworthy and another is enough to sink them forever.
Personally I'm more partial to the hidden victory condition game about manipulating Trump, rethemed to be about a fictional leader.
posted by Merus at 7:22 AM on August 5, 2017
Jeff Sessions's Leak Probe Press Conference Was Misleading (David Stein, Newsweek)
“Conspicuously absent,” The Washington Post noted, “were representatives for the FBI, which generally investigates leaks.” Rosenstein said the new FBI Director, Christopher Wray, wasn’t there because he had just started his job this week.posted by Room 641-A at 7:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [29 favorites]
Unlikely. Wray’s office is just a short walk across Pennsylvania Avenue from the Justice Department. If Wray were unavailable, plenty of other top FBI officials certainly were. Under a president obsessed with how his officials come across on television, the exclusion of them seemed deliberate. [...]
The tableau presented by Sessions, who is struggling to hold on to his job after weeks of withering criticism from Trump for recusing himself from the Russia investigation, seemed designed to suggest to the president’s political base that other, more trusted security agencies would play a prominent role in the leak investigation.
Not going to happen. As opposed to what the TV pictures might suggest, U.S. intelligence agencies are barred from criminal investigations of leaks (although they conduct their own internal probes).
“Only the FBI has jurisdiction to conduct that type of investigation,” Robert L. Dietz, who has held senior legal positions at the CIA, NSA, the National Geo-Spatial Agency and the Defense Department, tells Newsweek. “Indeed, the entire intel establishment has no authority over leaks.”
I wonder which part of 'First they came for the immigrants. Then they came for the transgendered. Then they came for the press' people don't understand?
The poem itself? It tends to get snowcloned a lot in a way that I think undercuts the intention. The way I always read it, the first couple of targets have a bit of 'ha ha fuck those guys' to them, not just 'I was not a communist' but 'like I'm going to defend communists, did you see what they've done to Russia?' To me, it's a poem about how tactics matter more than targets, that it matters what is meant by 'coming for'.
It kind of bugs me because it's such an important message and people have spent the intervening years frittering it down into meaninglessness that it's kind of nice to see one person on the internet who seems to understand it.
posted by Merus at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
The poem itself? It tends to get snowcloned a lot in a way that I think undercuts the intention. The way I always read it, the first couple of targets have a bit of 'ha ha fuck those guys' to them, not just 'I was not a communist' but 'like I'm going to defend communists, did you see what they've done to Russia?' To me, it's a poem about how tactics matter more than targets, that it matters what is meant by 'coming for'.
It kind of bugs me because it's such an important message and people have spent the intervening years frittering it down into meaninglessness that it's kind of nice to see one person on the internet who seems to understand it.
posted by Merus at 7:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe we should not give a fuck what alt-left shitlords employed by Russian front groups like Lee Fang tweet.
And maybe we should because there seems to be a coordinated attempt by elements of the left to take down minority candidates well in advance of 2020?
posted by chris24 at 7:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [25 favorites]
And maybe we should because there seems to be a coordinated attempt by elements of the left to take down minority candidates well in advance of 2020?
posted by chris24 at 7:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [25 favorites]
the Economist's cover has a somewhat darker take on POTUS.
Fill-in presenter Antony Funnell discussing Thucydides's Trap with author and academic Graham Allison on ABC Radio National's Late Night Live:
Fill-in presenter Antony Funnell discussing Thucydides's Trap with author and academic Graham Allison on ABC Radio National's Late Night Live:
GA: ... What you would wish and hope - absent the Thucydidean dynamic here - is that adults would sit down and say, OK, how can we resolve this problem together?posted by flabdablet at 7:37 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
If this was an issue - I mean, it's hard to imagine the analogue, but if it was an issue between Australia and the US with something going on in Timor or whatever, adults would sit down and say, look, we can solve this problem and we have to give something, you have to give something. Let's think of the various options and work through and find a solution.
AF: But we're not talking about adults really, are we, here?
I understand that Obama and Xi Jinping have actually discussed Thucydides's Trap. But we're talking about, what, Kim Jong Un on one side, and Donald Trump. Well, some people would say: where's the adult in that room?
GA: Exactly ... in this case, you also have what was previously thought to be the one erratic, irrational leader in the world that could make a difference: Kim Jong Un. And now he's got a serious rival.
Richard Painter, on AM Joy earlier:
Pauly Shore as Stephen Miller [NSFW]
And once again, I raise my glass to the photo editors.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
"Alan Dershowitz doesn't like grand juries because he's spent his career defending very rich people who are very guilty."From the "it takes a weasel to know one" files:
Pauly Shore as Stephen Miller [NSFW]
And once again, I raise my glass to the photo editors.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
Thanks, this is new to me. How did "trans people" come to be preferred? (Or why are the alternatives problematic?)
AFABulous is taking a break. The phrasings he deprecated are listed under "terms to avoid" here.
The preferred phrasing would be "transgender people". "Transgender" is shown as acceptable as an adjective, but not a noun. "trans people" scans better as a replacement in the original context, I think. But I'm probably phrasing this confusingly, just read the link.
posted by sourcejedi at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
AFABulous is taking a break. The phrasings he deprecated are listed under "terms to avoid" here.
The preferred phrasing would be "transgender people". "Transgender" is shown as acceptable as an adjective, but not a noun. "trans people" scans better as a replacement in the original context, I think. But I'm probably phrasing this confusingly, just read the link.
posted by sourcejedi at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
coordinated attempt by elements of the left
God, I don't even think they're that smart. I think what happened was they developed their own ecosystem during the 2016 election, and their biases and resentments made them easy targets for manipulation, and the only thing that has changed since then is that those ecosystems are more entrenched and self-reinforcing. Once you have a patreon supporting your podcast and a half dozen subreddits to recruit from you're not going to use your megaphone to promote something that challenges the world view of your audience. You're going to give the customers what they want. And you're going to have to escalate if you want to grow, because that's how being paid for content works in a competitive market.
So I don't think it has to be coordinated by the Alt-left. I think they just all swallow the same bullshit. The creation and distribution of that bullshit might be occasionally (or frequently, who knows) coordinated by people who find this sort of thing useful, but I don't think it requires a grand conspiracy at this stage. The machine already exists. Anyone can feed them what they like and point them at a particular target.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
God, I don't even think they're that smart. I think what happened was they developed their own ecosystem during the 2016 election, and their biases and resentments made them easy targets for manipulation, and the only thing that has changed since then is that those ecosystems are more entrenched and self-reinforcing. Once you have a patreon supporting your podcast and a half dozen subreddits to recruit from you're not going to use your megaphone to promote something that challenges the world view of your audience. You're going to give the customers what they want. And you're going to have to escalate if you want to grow, because that's how being paid for content works in a competitive market.
So I don't think it has to be coordinated by the Alt-left. I think they just all swallow the same bullshit. The creation and distribution of that bullshit might be occasionally (or frequently, who knows) coordinated by people who find this sort of thing useful, but I don't think it requires a grand conspiracy at this stage. The machine already exists. Anyone can feed them what they like and point them at a particular target.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
each turn would have several phases, with trump actions happening in each phase
I'm glad somebody's using their nervous energy for something good. Don't forget to eat!
posted by petebest at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2017
I'm glad somebody's using their nervous energy for something good. Don't forget to eat!
posted by petebest at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2017
I don't know who Lee Fang is, but I also don't trust Cory Booker anymore.
This is coming from someone who years ago thought he was great.
But then I started working in Newark among community members from all districts and walks of life, and most of them by that time *did not like him at all*. Which I found, as a white outsider who had been immersed in the "legend" puzzling, to be honest. But over years of being a fly on the wall it began to become clear that a large percentage of Newark's less affluent citizens and the majority of Newark's (black) progressives did not feel his policies and ideologies were ones that would help bridge the great income inequalities they see. They feel much more positively about his successor, Ras Baraka.
He's been very good imo on calling out problems with our criminal justice system and mass incarceration, and he's been on the right side of LGBT issues since way back. Those are all important stances. But he's been extremely cozy with Wall Street and giant corporations all along, and his January vote against allowing cheaper drugs from Canada when he accepts big contributions from Pharma is a *huge* problem for people who are against their representatives being controlled by our corporate overlords.
Also, ask people in Newark who work within the school systems what the Charter schools have done to the public school system there. I work within those public schools and sometimes within the Charter schools. I see first hand how it's created a wider chasm between the haves and the have-nots and how it's draining resources from an already under-funded public school system. Access to a good education should be a human right and the system Booker helped implement in Newark is completely undermining that.
posted by stagewhisper at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [39 favorites]
This is coming from someone who years ago thought he was great.
But then I started working in Newark among community members from all districts and walks of life, and most of them by that time *did not like him at all*. Which I found, as a white outsider who had been immersed in the "legend" puzzling, to be honest. But over years of being a fly on the wall it began to become clear that a large percentage of Newark's less affluent citizens and the majority of Newark's (black) progressives did not feel his policies and ideologies were ones that would help bridge the great income inequalities they see. They feel much more positively about his successor, Ras Baraka.
He's been very good imo on calling out problems with our criminal justice system and mass incarceration, and he's been on the right side of LGBT issues since way back. Those are all important stances. But he's been extremely cozy with Wall Street and giant corporations all along, and his January vote against allowing cheaper drugs from Canada when he accepts big contributions from Pharma is a *huge* problem for people who are against their representatives being controlled by our corporate overlords.
Also, ask people in Newark who work within the school systems what the Charter schools have done to the public school system there. I work within those public schools and sometimes within the Charter schools. I see first hand how it's created a wider chasm between the haves and the have-nots and how it's draining resources from an already under-funded public school system. Access to a good education should be a human right and the system Booker helped implement in Newark is completely undermining that.
posted by stagewhisper at 7:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [39 favorites]
Maybe we should not give a fuck what alt-left shitlords employed by Russian front groups like Lee Fang tweet.
It matters because it's further dividing left/dem/bernie whatever you want to call it world.
Unfortunately from what I've watching is that folks like this guy and variations of, including the contingent that's all 'we can work with alt-right peeps (Mike Cernovich wtf people?) on the issues where we align' are not just tweeting for kicks but going after actual real people. And a good many of these people are POC. I've seen whole bunch of white people, mostly men but woman as well, all with leftie creds lecturing POC and dismissing concerns. The lectures on how MLK would be supporting their views are the most wtf? What I've been reading is a whole lot of 'you don't understand racism this isn't racist at all, you don't understand Bernie we know best type shit, you don't understand what we mean by working with the alt-right and your concerns about racism and misogyny aren't important at all.'
And the even stupider thing is that these ones by doing this shit are pushing supportive people (POC, woman) away.
There are even literal hit lists out there in leftie world naming other lefties.
It would be great to just chalk it all up to Russian backed people but it really isn't. Some maybe but not all.
It's been sad to watch. It's a pattern I've seen the left repeat over and over for 25 years.
posted by Jalliah at 7:51 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
It matters because it's further dividing left/dem/bernie whatever you want to call it world.
Unfortunately from what I've watching is that folks like this guy and variations of, including the contingent that's all 'we can work with alt-right peeps (Mike Cernovich wtf people?) on the issues where we align' are not just tweeting for kicks but going after actual real people. And a good many of these people are POC. I've seen whole bunch of white people, mostly men but woman as well, all with leftie creds lecturing POC and dismissing concerns. The lectures on how MLK would be supporting their views are the most wtf? What I've been reading is a whole lot of 'you don't understand racism this isn't racist at all, you don't understand Bernie we know best type shit, you don't understand what we mean by working with the alt-right and your concerns about racism and misogyny aren't important at all.'
And the even stupider thing is that these ones by doing this shit are pushing supportive people (POC, woman) away.
There are even literal hit lists out there in leftie world naming other lefties.
It would be great to just chalk it all up to Russian backed people but it really isn't. Some maybe but not all.
It's been sad to watch. It's a pattern I've seen the left repeat over and over for 25 years.
posted by Jalliah at 7:51 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
coordinated attempt by elements of the left
God, I don't even think they're that smart.
@JoyAnnReid (MSNBC)
We're going to talk about the anti-Kamala wave on the left this weekend on the show. So a couple of things...
@Taniel (538)
I see more about Sanders & Harris than about races like the #ILGov primary in 6 mnths, where interesting progs face self-funding billionaire
- I believe in using primaries to fight, debate, & disagree. But this 2020 focus *3* yrs early obscures 2018 work, which features primaries.
@yashar (New York mag, Mother Jones)
Astounding how quickly the Bernie Sanders crew has mobilized against Kamala Harris. [screenshot of meme]
posted by chris24 at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [39 favorites]
God, I don't even think they're that smart.
@JoyAnnReid (MSNBC)
We're going to talk about the anti-Kamala wave on the left this weekend on the show. So a couple of things...
@Taniel (538)
I see more about Sanders & Harris than about races like the #ILGov primary in 6 mnths, where interesting progs face self-funding billionaire
- I believe in using primaries to fight, debate, & disagree. But this 2020 focus *3* yrs early obscures 2018 work, which features primaries.
@yashar (New York mag, Mother Jones)
Astounding how quickly the Bernie Sanders crew has mobilized against Kamala Harris. [screenshot of meme]
posted by chris24 at 7:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [39 favorites]
And maybe we should because there seems to be a coordinated attempt by elements of the left to take down minority candidates well in advance of 2020?
Hillary and most other dems are only left by a useless "left of GWB" metric. Dems have for decades been tepid supporters of gay marriage or union rights, and full throated supporters of the failed GWOT. Why is it a fight to raise the minimum wage even in (those precious few) D states ? FFS.
We are in this mess because the Dem strategy of Republican-lite sucks now, has sucked in the past, and will continue to suck into the future. Dems talk one thing in the campaign, and other in practice (See DADT). Cory Booker doesn't suck because he's black, he sucks because he thinks Bain Capital is awesome. DWS sucks not because she is a she, but because she is a terrible and corrupt human being (see also DiFi).
Being a shitty Dem is bad enough for us, but lucrative as hell for them. They don't have to care how bad trump is - they're millionaires who are sufficiently insulated from whatever happens. Do you want a better Dem party ? We need better Democrats - the ones that got us here aint it. They suck - by definition.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
Hillary and most other dems are only left by a useless "left of GWB" metric. Dems have for decades been tepid supporters of gay marriage or union rights, and full throated supporters of the failed GWOT. Why is it a fight to raise the minimum wage even in (those precious few) D states ? FFS.
We are in this mess because the Dem strategy of Republican-lite sucks now, has sucked in the past, and will continue to suck into the future. Dems talk one thing in the campaign, and other in practice (See DADT). Cory Booker doesn't suck because he's black, he sucks because he thinks Bain Capital is awesome. DWS sucks not because she is a she, but because she is a terrible and corrupt human being (see also DiFi).
Being a shitty Dem is bad enough for us, but lucrative as hell for them. They don't have to care how bad trump is - they're millionaires who are sufficiently insulated from whatever happens. Do you want a better Dem party ? We need better Democrats - the ones that got us here aint it. They suck - by definition.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
And maybe we should because there seems to be a coordinated attempt by elements of the left to take down minority candidates well in advance of 2020?
Yep. I'm not sure it's there is any sort of central coordination or it's a band-wagon type effect but it's happening. I'm aware of it because months back I purposely diversified my twitter news account and added a whole bunch of people, mostly POC who have varying leftie viewpoints. So I'm seeing it from that perspective. This shit started a few weeks ago and has heated up over the past week or so. And any one who dares ask the question 'why are all the people you all are going after POC AND mostly woman?" gets some BS about not focusing on identity politics or BS about MLK. Seriously, these folks are using MLK against black people. THAT IS FUCKED UP.
posted by Jalliah at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2017 [42 favorites]
Yep. I'm not sure it's there is any sort of central coordination or it's a band-wagon type effect but it's happening. I'm aware of it because months back I purposely diversified my twitter news account and added a whole bunch of people, mostly POC who have varying leftie viewpoints. So I'm seeing it from that perspective. This shit started a few weeks ago and has heated up over the past week or so. And any one who dares ask the question 'why are all the people you all are going after POC AND mostly woman?" gets some BS about not focusing on identity politics or BS about MLK. Seriously, these folks are using MLK against black people. THAT IS FUCKED UP.
posted by Jalliah at 8:00 AM on August 5, 2017 [42 favorites]
Seriously we're 10 months away from most states' cutoff to register to run. About 14 months from the 2018 election everyone here is expecting Dems to win. Too early to go public but not too early to plan.
When I saw "DEMOCRATS 2018: BETTER JOBS" my first thought was, we're gonna lose the second-most important election ever. I'm in favor of primary scuffling, but if DCCC does't get their messaging head out of the 1970's ass we'll get plowed under by the talk-radio borg again next November.
DEMOCRATS 2018: What Are YOU Running For?
posted by petebest at 8:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
When I saw "DEMOCRATS 2018: BETTER JOBS" my first thought was, we're gonna lose the second-most important election ever. I'm in favor of primary scuffling, but if DCCC does't get their messaging head out of the 1970's ass we'll get plowed under by the talk-radio borg again next November.
DEMOCRATS 2018: What Are YOU Running For?
posted by petebest at 8:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Kamala Harris corncob meme set off some deliciously rustled jimmies amongst Democrats' Establishment Twitter. Jesse Singal summarized, p. amusing drama. Even @dril had to weigh in against "Al DiGiorno's" defamation.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
including the contingent that's all 'we can work with alt-right peeps
I mean, of course they are. Can we stop calling them the left?
I feel like there's an axis missing from that political orientation. I think their proper political orientation is more described by angry, young, white, male resentment.
the anti-Kamala wave
I see most of these chucklefucks as puppets, not puppet-masters, but that doesn't mean there isn't someone feeding them very specific info to determine their next target. Otoh, regardless of whether there's some political operative or entity behind it, the effort wouldn't catch fire if there wasn't all that racist and misogynist kindling there in the first place.
It's sort of chicken and the egg at this point. There's this lumbering monster of angry young white men and people who identify with them on the internet, and it can be baited. I don't think revelations about who particularly baited them in a given instance would change anything. I mean, shit, no one cared that the Bernie subreddit had been hocking insane Russian propaganda. Didn't change the fact that they're still racist and sexist and are going to go on being racist and sexist.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2017 [27 favorites]
I mean, of course they are. Can we stop calling them the left?
I feel like there's an axis missing from that political orientation. I think their proper political orientation is more described by angry, young, white, male resentment.
the anti-Kamala wave
I see most of these chucklefucks as puppets, not puppet-masters, but that doesn't mean there isn't someone feeding them very specific info to determine their next target. Otoh, regardless of whether there's some political operative or entity behind it, the effort wouldn't catch fire if there wasn't all that racist and misogynist kindling there in the first place.
It's sort of chicken and the egg at this point. There's this lumbering monster of angry young white men and people who identify with them on the internet, and it can be baited. I don't think revelations about who particularly baited them in a given instance would change anything. I mean, shit, no one cared that the Bernie subreddit had been hocking insane Russian propaganda. Didn't change the fact that they're still racist and sexist and are going to go on being racist and sexist.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:04 AM on August 5, 2017 [27 favorites]
Ugh. I was happier not knowing the Twitsoteric meaning of "corncob". Reason #312 not to be on the Tweeters.
posted by petebest at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017
posted by petebest at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017
The "cheaper drugs from Canada" thing - that's some kind of weird deliberate wedge, not an actual workable policy, right?
posted by Artw at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I mean, of course they are. Can we stop calling them the left?
No. Because they are. They really are. Some of the people that have been pushing this line of thinking It's appalling I know but just deciding they aren't left isn't going to make it non issue. And it's not just young men. One of the main people pushing this line of thinking is a woman and she has a relatively large following. And woman are supporting it. I would say that it's mostly a young white guy thing but unfortunately not just a young white guy thing.
posted by Jalliah at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
No. Because they are. They really are. Some of the people that have been pushing this line of thinking It's appalling I know but just deciding they aren't left isn't going to make it non issue. And it's not just young men. One of the main people pushing this line of thinking is a woman and she has a relatively large following. And woman are supporting it. I would say that it's mostly a young white guy thing but unfortunately not just a young white guy thing.
posted by Jalliah at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
the effort wouldn't catch fire if there wasn't all that racist and misogynist kindling there in the first place.
Exactly. We don't see the same shit against someone like Mark Warner who is basically the closest thing you can get to a Senate seat filler. Introduces nothing, puts his name on any Republican bill he can get his hands on. Yeah. Sure. Kamala Harris's politics are the problem. Not her melanin and labia. Not here. No-siree, Bob.
posted by Talez at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [28 favorites]
Exactly. We don't see the same shit against someone like Mark Warner who is basically the closest thing you can get to a Senate seat filler. Introduces nothing, puts his name on any Republican bill he can get his hands on. Yeah. Sure. Kamala Harris's politics are the problem. Not her melanin and labia. Not here. No-siree, Bob.
posted by Talez at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [28 favorites]
We don't see the same shit against someone like Mark Warner
Or Biden, who is as corporate as anyone, and is the biggest possible D name for 2020 besides Sanders.
posted by chris24 at 8:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Or Biden, who is as corporate as anyone, and is the biggest possible D name for 2020 besides Sanders.
posted by chris24 at 8:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
We don't see the same shit against someone like Mark Warner
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:18 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:18 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The "cheaper drugs from Canada" thing - that's some kind of weird deliberate wedge, not an actual workable policy, right?
Either that or this one vote was so important that Cory Booker is now Satan.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:18 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
Either that or this one vote was so important that Cory Booker is now Satan.
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:18 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
We don't see the same shit against someone like Mark Warner
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
Kamala Harris isn't up 'til 2022 but that's not stopping anyone.
posted by chris24 at 8:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [38 favorites]
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
Kamala Harris isn't up 'til 2022 but that's not stopping anyone.
posted by chris24 at 8:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [38 favorites]
Bernie, Kamala, and the Left’s War of Mutually Assured Destruction
The worst elements of both sides are engaging cynically in the ongoing civil war. Some Sanders supporters eagerly want to see him run again in 2020, and are actively seeking to kneecap every potential challenger to him–especially those who might be able to more easily secure Hillary Clinton’s coalition of older and minority voters. If not racist and sexist in motivation, this strategy is racist and sexist in its effects and will attract the worst elements of society. On the other hand, establishment moderates since the early days of the Democratic Leadership Council have sought a marriage of the much-vaunted “Emerging Democratic Majority” with an educated, upper-middle-class fiscally centrist donor class. This has been to the detriment of the economy as a whole, and to the electoral fortunes of the Democratic Party in general. They have no intention of taking a sharper stand against the predatory financial sector, and actively seek to use ideologically aligned women and minority candidates as a wedge against more radical activists who might threaten to alienate the wealthy donor class they have sought to woo away from the Republican Party since the Reagan era.
It is no exaggeration to say that if the Democratic Party fractures in 2020 along the same lines it did in 2016, it may not recover. Votes for Clinton over Sanders notwithstanding, women and minority voters are not ideologically more moderate than whites and men within the party. If the the fault lines once again pit more moderate minority candidates against more economically progressive white candidates, the resulting warfare will create the worst of all worlds: watered down economic policy that fails to win back disaffected white working class workers, combined with a bruising primary trading insults that could demotivate both class-conscious millennials and identity-conscious older women and minorities, depending on the eventual victor.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
The worst elements of both sides are engaging cynically in the ongoing civil war. Some Sanders supporters eagerly want to see him run again in 2020, and are actively seeking to kneecap every potential challenger to him–especially those who might be able to more easily secure Hillary Clinton’s coalition of older and minority voters. If not racist and sexist in motivation, this strategy is racist and sexist in its effects and will attract the worst elements of society. On the other hand, establishment moderates since the early days of the Democratic Leadership Council have sought a marriage of the much-vaunted “Emerging Democratic Majority” with an educated, upper-middle-class fiscally centrist donor class. This has been to the detriment of the economy as a whole, and to the electoral fortunes of the Democratic Party in general. They have no intention of taking a sharper stand against the predatory financial sector, and actively seek to use ideologically aligned women and minority candidates as a wedge against more radical activists who might threaten to alienate the wealthy donor class they have sought to woo away from the Republican Party since the Reagan era.
It is no exaggeration to say that if the Democratic Party fractures in 2020 along the same lines it did in 2016, it may not recover. Votes for Clinton over Sanders notwithstanding, women and minority voters are not ideologically more moderate than whites and men within the party. If the the fault lines once again pit more moderate minority candidates against more economically progressive white candidates, the resulting warfare will create the worst of all worlds: watered down economic policy that fails to win back disaffected white working class workers, combined with a bruising primary trading insults that could demotivate both class-conscious millennials and identity-conscious older women and minorities, depending on the eventual victor.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
Or Biden, who is as corporate as anyone,
Oh come on. Diamond Joe is only a little bit more conservative than HRC in voting record. I didn't realize that corporate as anyone was the US Chamber of Commerce publicly shitting on you for an anti-business voting record.
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
SHE'S NOT UP FOR REELECTION UNTIL 2022!
posted by Talez at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh come on. Diamond Joe is only a little bit more conservative than HRC in voting record. I didn't realize that corporate as anyone was the US Chamber of Commerce publicly shitting on you for an anti-business voting record.
Because he's not up for re-election until 2020 ?
SHE'S NOT UP FOR REELECTION UNTIL 2022!
posted by Talez at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
This period of time, before the 2018 campaigns begin in earnest, is the right time for the various tribes within the left to be having these difficult discussions and heated arguments about the direction of the Democratic party and the kind of candidates we run. The problem is that Kamala Harris ISN'T GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2018. This obsession about Presidential politics and quest for a perfect Presidential candidate to solve our problems is a big part of why we're in this mess. Mid-terms matter, state and local races matter. Kamala Harris' hypothetical Presidential run in 2020 shouldn't even register on anyone's radar at this point.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 8:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
posted by Talez at 8:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by Talez at 8:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [32 favorites]
JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
If you like baseball, there are THIRTY MLB teams to choose to support.
USA Politics. Pretty much TWO.
I understand parliamentary systems offer more distinct choices, but then we'd be living in a different country.
posted by mikelieman at 8:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you like baseball, there are THIRTY MLB teams to choose to support.
USA Politics. Pretty much TWO.
I understand parliamentary systems offer more distinct choices, but then we'd be living in a different country.
posted by mikelieman at 8:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Or Biden, who is as corporate as anyone...
Oh come on. Diamond Joe is only a little bit more conservative than HRC in voting record...
Sorry, I meant as corporate as anyone in the D party. And despite being as or more "corporate" as HRC, Diamond Joe had a 80+% favorability from Sanders supporters while HRC had <20%.
posted by chris24 at 8:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [33 favorites]
Oh come on. Diamond Joe is only a little bit more conservative than HRC in voting record...
Sorry, I meant as corporate as anyone in the D party. And despite being as or more "corporate" as HRC, Diamond Joe had a 80+% favorability from Sanders supporters while HRC had <20%.
posted by chris24 at 8:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [33 favorites]
Sorry, I meant as corporate as anyone in the D party. And despite being as or more "corporate" as HRC, Diamond Joe had a 80+% favorability from Sanders supporters while HRC had <20%.
My misunderstanding then. I apologize. Yes. That's absolutely true and worrying.
posted by Talez at 8:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
My misunderstanding then. I apologize. Yes. That's absolutely true and worrying.
posted by Talez at 8:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
Kamala Harris' hypothetical Presidential run in 2020 shouldn't even register on anyone's radar at this point
And yet
JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
This is sort of mean by "are they even left?" Are they relevantly left? like are these people that actually ever showed up to vote Democratic, or are these all the protest votes?
Not that that isn't damaging. We saw how they depressed youth turnout in a couple of key states.
it's not only angry young white men
Yeah, this will never not kill me, but that's why I included people who identify with them. Not as in "I am a young white man," but who identify with and place themselves within their worldview. There will never not be those people, for some fucking reason.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:29 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
And yet
JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
This is sort of mean by "are they even left?" Are they relevantly left? like are these people that actually ever showed up to vote Democratic, or are these all the protest votes?
Not that that isn't damaging. We saw how they depressed youth turnout in a couple of key states.
it's not only angry young white men
Yeah, this will never not kill me, but that's why I included people who identify with them. Not as in "I am a young white man," but who identify with and place themselves within their worldview. There will never not be those people, for some fucking reason.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:29 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I mean, in some ways, it's sort of interesting, because it feels like we're fighting the same war on two different fronts. Neither the Alt-Right nor the Alt-Left share the common ground of reality with anyone else, both have commercial eco-systems building up around them that will need to perpetuate the insanity to remain viable, and both mock and reject any sort of introspection or self-criticism. (If your response to POC being like "why the attacks on POC" is to quote MLK...you might need to learn to listen to POC.) They both have populist stances on economic issues, and they both reject and mock "social justice warriors" or "identity politics", which are two different names for functionally the same thing.
They look pretty similar to me. Like in an old video game when they take a monster and just change its helmet or whatever and BAM new monster. I assume you fight them the same way.
I just don't know what that is yet.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
They look pretty similar to me. Like in an old video game when they take a monster and just change its helmet or whatever and BAM new monster. I assume you fight them the same way.
I just don't know what that is yet.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
They look pretty similar to me. Like in an old video game when they take a monster and just change its helmet or whatever and BAM new monster. I assume you fight them the same way.
Point of order, a more apt and technically correct comparison to old video games would be that the monsters are palette shifted. It's more apt because in this case you're palette shifting from a red to a blue monster.
.... I'll see myself out.
posted by Talez at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
Point of order, a more apt and technically correct comparison to old video games would be that the monsters are palette shifted. It's more apt because in this case you're palette shifting from a red to a blue monster.
.... I'll see myself out.
posted by Talez at 8:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
his January vote against allowing cheaper drugs from Canada when he accepts big contributions from Pharma is a *huge* problem for people who are against their representatives being controlled by our corporate overlords.
The reason the Booker hate seems sort of artificially ginned up to me is that I see this brought up all the time... without any mention of the fact that Booker then co-sponsored a drug re-importation bill with Sanders.
I mean, if he is in the thrall of his corporate masters, why would be do that?
And if people care so passionately about this issue on its own merits and not just because of viral stories on social media, why don't they know or care about that bill?
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [47 favorites]
The reason the Booker hate seems sort of artificially ginned up to me is that I see this brought up all the time... without any mention of the fact that Booker then co-sponsored a drug re-importation bill with Sanders.
I mean, if he is in the thrall of his corporate masters, why would be do that?
And if people care so passionately about this issue on its own merits and not just because of viral stories on social media, why don't they know or care about that bill?
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [47 favorites]
This obsession about Presidential politics and quest for a perfect Presidential candidate to solve our problems is a big part of why we're in this mess. Mid-terms matter, state and local races matter.
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS
One of the reasons Dems are in the pickle that they are in is because of the focus on the precious Presidency and maybe a few big sexy Senate races or governorships instead of the more boring but equally important local and midterm races.
The reason that a Constitutional convention can even be floated (and I don't think we're in any real danger yet but we need to be aware) is Republican takeover of state houses. One of the reasons North Carolina is a clusterfuck and Roy Cooper is hamstrung is, yes, gerrymandering, but also that Dems do not get out the vote for other than Presidential races.
WE. NEED. TO. SWEAT. THE. SMALL. STUFF. Howard Dean's 60 State Strategy WORKED. We need to repeat it. Get Dems into office from dogcatcher and city council on up.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [74 favorites]
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS
One of the reasons Dems are in the pickle that they are in is because of the focus on the precious Presidency and maybe a few big sexy Senate races or governorships instead of the more boring but equally important local and midterm races.
The reason that a Constitutional convention can even be floated (and I don't think we're in any real danger yet but we need to be aware) is Republican takeover of state houses. One of the reasons North Carolina is a clusterfuck and Roy Cooper is hamstrung is, yes, gerrymandering, but also that Dems do not get out the vote for other than Presidential races.
WE. NEED. TO. SWEAT. THE. SMALL. STUFF. Howard Dean's 60 State Strategy WORKED. We need to repeat it. Get Dems into office from dogcatcher and city council on up.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [74 favorites]
Thought of another similarity. They both idolize or demonize politicians and public figures rather than see them as flawed humans who they agree with on some things and disagree with on others. Either you are noble and can do no wrong (in which case they put their hands in their ears and shout "fake news!" whenever they hear something that might threaten that perception) or you are evil and false in every possible way (in which case even the good you do is somehow part of a manipulative calculation). They see politicians as saviors or villains, not as tools.
They're both fundamentally childish. Which I would find comforting, except for the Third Reich's whole ridiculous (and equally childish) obsession with the occult.
Childish shit still gets people killed. Idk maybe this an authoritarian tendency?
posted by schadenfrau at 8:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
They're both fundamentally childish. Which I would find comforting, except for the Third Reich's whole ridiculous (and equally childish) obsession with the occult.
Childish shit still gets people killed. Idk maybe this an authoritarian tendency?
posted by schadenfrau at 8:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
WE. NEED. TO. SWEAT. THE. SMALL. STUFF. Howard Dean's 60 State Strategy WORKED. We need to repeat it. Get Dems into office from dogcatcher and city council on up.
I swear I read somewhere that this is the exact strategy the religious right tried back in the 80s - start with getting people into the smaller offices that no one else runs for because they're small potatoes and no one pays attention, and most often they're not opposed, and then they just worked their way up.
And think about it. How much attention do you pay to the smaller offices when you go to the voting booth? Hell, how many candidates are there? Me, whenever I'm voting on the offices like city council or city chief judge or whatever, I'm instructed to "pick any five" and there are only five candidates anyway, and I don't know anything about any of them so I just say "fuck it" and pick all five.
The people who get in on those ground-floor offices can then run for progressively bigger offices, using the fact that they had "x years experience in city government".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on August 5, 2017 [23 favorites]
I swear I read somewhere that this is the exact strategy the religious right tried back in the 80s - start with getting people into the smaller offices that no one else runs for because they're small potatoes and no one pays attention, and most often they're not opposed, and then they just worked their way up.
And think about it. How much attention do you pay to the smaller offices when you go to the voting booth? Hell, how many candidates are there? Me, whenever I'm voting on the offices like city council or city chief judge or whatever, I'm instructed to "pick any five" and there are only five candidates anyway, and I don't know anything about any of them so I just say "fuck it" and pick all five.
The people who get in on those ground-floor offices can then run for progressively bigger offices, using the fact that they had "x years experience in city government".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on August 5, 2017 [23 favorites]
Childish shit still gets people killed. Idk maybe this an authoritarian tendency?
A control thing IMHO. On the far right it's making sure you feel in control even if things are way out of your control. On the far left it's ensuring before you delegate any form of authority that you can be assured that you'll have some form of control.
posted by Talez at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
A control thing IMHO. On the far right it's making sure you feel in control even if things are way out of your control. On the far left it's ensuring before you delegate any form of authority that you can be assured that you'll have some form of control.
posted by Talez at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Or, y'know, some of us might have legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations about Kamala Harris, nurtured over long-term familiarity and confirmed by personal interaction, and it would be so very nice to be able to express those reservations without being slagged as a brocialist/Russian shill/privileged angry young white male simmering in resentment over the withdrawal of privilege/useful idiot, please and thank you.
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 8:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
By all means, lets stand on the hollowed out shell that was once America and proudly swear to continue our strategy of winning by losing. If the Dems can get the Rs to 40 states, do we all win a toaster oven or something ?
We've had Corporate Dem policies and politicians for the entirety of my adult life. And here we are. This, today, is the America they helped to create. Do you need more evidence that Dems suck ?
I'd cheerfully vote for a disabled black woman from The Rez who didn't suck. I'm just tired of Dems who do, in fact, suck. If that makes me an Alt-Left racist BernieBro misogynist, then... well, I dunno.
My economically struggling gay son, my only child, deserves a better Democratic party. The current crop sucks. They've sucked since I've been aware of politics. They need - I need - for them to stop sucking.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
By all means, lets stand on the hollowed out shell that was once America and proudly swear to continue our strategy of winning by losing. If the Dems can get the Rs to 40 states, do we all win a toaster oven or something ?
We've had Corporate Dem policies and politicians for the entirety of my adult life. And here we are. This, today, is the America they helped to create. Do you need more evidence that Dems suck ?
I'd cheerfully vote for a disabled black woman from The Rez who didn't suck. I'm just tired of Dems who do, in fact, suck. If that makes me an Alt-Left racist BernieBro misogynist, then... well, I dunno.
My economically struggling gay son, my only child, deserves a better Democratic party. The current crop sucks. They've sucked since I've been aware of politics. They need - I need - for them to stop sucking.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Seems CNN is getting rid of some of their Trumpsters. Kayleigh McEnamy is leaving. If only Jeff Lord is next...
posted by chris24 at 8:55 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 8:55 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
Or, y'know, some of us might have legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations about Kamala Harris, nurtured over long-term familiarity and confirmed by personal interaction, and it would be so very nice to be able to express those reservations
I mean, ok, but that doesn't do a lot to address the "why her? Why now? What makes her different than a gajillion others?" concerns. It's not like you do these things in a vacuum. Context informs meaning.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [35 favorites]
I mean, ok, but that doesn't do a lot to address the "why her? Why now? What makes her different than a gajillion others?" concerns. It's not like you do these things in a vacuum. Context informs meaning.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [35 favorites]
Or, y'know, some of us might have legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations about Kamala Harris, nurtured over long-term familiarity and confirmed by personal interaction, and it would be so very nice to be able to express those reservations without being slagged as a brocialist/Russian shill/privileged angry young white male simmering in resentment over the withdrawal of privilege/useful idiot, please and thank you.
I'm also interested to know any of your legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations to Kirsten Gillibrand too.
posted by Talez at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
I'm also interested to know any of your legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations to Kirsten Gillibrand too.
posted by Talez at 8:59 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
Or, y'know, some of us might have legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations about Kamala Harris, nurtured over long-term familiarity and confirmed by personal interaction, and it would be so very nice to be able to express those reservations without being slagged as a brocialist/Russian shill/privileged angry young white male simmering in resentment over the withdrawal of privilege/useful idiot, please and thank you.
This is a problem. I agree. And this is why what this group is doing right is not something to ignore. I think the phrase is 'this is why we can't have nice things'. When you have people expressing the same sorts of reservations that you are and also adding in things like 'co-opted black elite and various other Uncle Tom type phrasing' and also discounting the concerns, largely coming from other left type POC about the current level of energy that's popped up against Harris, it makes it difficult to sort through who is who and where their motivations are coming from.
And whether it's warranted or one of the messages that is coming through, along with any legitimate criticism is tainted with the stink of racism and misogyny.
posted by Jalliah at 9:06 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm also interested to know any of your legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations to Kirsten Gillibrand too.
oh, I can give you an advance preview of at least one popular reservation: she voted as a representative of her district when representing her district, before moving up to the Senate where she could vote to represent her entire state, and also her own views (and yes, I do believe that. as much as any career politician has personal views, I do believe that hers are more or less as she describes them.)
this means guns. Voting to placate your gun-loving constituents is immoral when Gillibrand did it and obviously the only thing one can do, practically speaking, when Sanders does it. note the tenses -- she stopped, with a full, convincing, and intelligent explanation of her current views; he didn't. but Vermonters deserve pandering and upstate New Yorkers don't.
personal disclosure: I grew up in the district she used to represent, although I was gone by the time she was elected. I know what she was dealing with.
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
oh, I can give you an advance preview of at least one popular reservation: she voted as a representative of her district when representing her district, before moving up to the Senate where she could vote to represent her entire state, and also her own views (and yes, I do believe that. as much as any career politician has personal views, I do believe that hers are more or less as she describes them.)
this means guns. Voting to placate your gun-loving constituents is immoral when Gillibrand did it and obviously the only thing one can do, practically speaking, when Sanders does it. note the tenses -- she stopped, with a full, convincing, and intelligent explanation of her current views; he didn't. but Vermonters deserve pandering and upstate New Yorkers don't.
personal disclosure: I grew up in the district she used to represent, although I was gone by the time she was elected. I know what she was dealing with.
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
If only Jeff Lord is next...
My theory is that Jeffery will only leave CNN when his dark mission on our plane of existence is complete. He's only there because Zucker owed Satan a solid. Back in the early 2000s Satan got the entire Friends cast to extend their contracts another couple of years and for that Zucker was forever in his debt.
posted by Talez at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
My theory is that Jeffery will only leave CNN when his dark mission on our plane of existence is complete. He's only there because Zucker owed Satan a solid. Back in the early 2000s Satan got the entire Friends cast to extend their contracts another couple of years and for that Zucker was forever in his debt.
posted by Talez at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's been posted here before, but it really is amazing how women and POC have to be perfect but white men get forgiven/excused for almost everything. And I say that as a white man.
posted by chris24 at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [100 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 9:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [100 favorites]
This is all an extension of the purity politics that is so rampant in so many parts of the left. It's a type of gotcha journalism, or gotcha activism, where people go looking for any one thing they can point to for why a person should be shunned. That Cory Booker Canada drugs thing is perfect because it's based on social media memes that failed to understand the context of his vote, which was meaningless in terms of effect.
The fact that this tactic is SO OFTEN turned on women and POC and NOT on white men is the real sign of the sincerity of the people doing the finger pointing. Older white men are forgiven anything, women in particular NOTHING.
Not to mention, WHY THE FUCK IS ANYONE TALKING ABOUT 2020?? Go canvass for a local race and shut the fuck up.
posted by threeturtles at 9:15 AM on August 5, 2017 [76 favorites]
The fact that this tactic is SO OFTEN turned on women and POC and NOT on white men is the real sign of the sincerity of the people doing the finger pointing. Older white men are forgiven anything, women in particular NOTHING.
Not to mention, WHY THE FUCK IS ANYONE TALKING ABOUT 2020?? Go canvass for a local race and shut the fuck up.
posted by threeturtles at 9:15 AM on August 5, 2017 [76 favorites]
Really? Even here? What if I hold white men to the same standards? What if I also think Bernie is shit on intersectionality issues? What if I'm – shock, horror – an adult who does not happen to be completely blind to the way legitimate agendas can be coopted by bad actors?
Maybe it's best that I check out of this discussion now. I'm tired of the Woke Purity Olympics in my circles – which are, mind you, a decent chunk further to the left and I daresay at least as diverse as this good blue place, if not quite a bit more so – and forgive me, I just don't have the energy to contend with it here as well from the other direction.
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe it's best that I check out of this discussion now. I'm tired of the Woke Purity Olympics in my circles – which are, mind you, a decent chunk further to the left and I daresay at least as diverse as this good blue place, if not quite a bit more so – and forgive me, I just don't have the energy to contend with it here as well from the other direction.
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Schadenfrau: They're both fundamentally childish. Which I would find comforting, except for the Third Reich's whole ridiculous (and equally childish) obsession with the occult.
Childish shit still gets people killed. Idk maybe this an authoritarian tendency?
I agree with you that it is about authoritarianism. Simple people want simple answers. Right wing authoritarianism in particular is linked to lower cognitive ability - which means that someone might not be able to appreciate complexity and shades of gray. They only "get" black and white, right or wrong, with us or against us thinking.
I believe there are authoritarians on the left, but they are not nearly as prevalent. There are lefties who want simple answers and believe in the "with us or against us" "you are on a pedestal or in a pit" simplistic lines of thought. I think there are other people who aren't authoritarian by nature, but don't have the mental bandwidth, or spoons if you will, for anything but simple answers. Poverty saps brainpower and I think some people want simple answers because their brainpower has been eaten up by life challenges.
FWIW I am very against the black-and-white type of authoritarian mindset and wish that the left, at least, because I expect better of them, would stop with the putting candidates on a pedestal and then pulling them down.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:17 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
Childish shit still gets people killed. Idk maybe this an authoritarian tendency?
I agree with you that it is about authoritarianism. Simple people want simple answers. Right wing authoritarianism in particular is linked to lower cognitive ability - which means that someone might not be able to appreciate complexity and shades of gray. They only "get" black and white, right or wrong, with us or against us thinking.
I believe there are authoritarians on the left, but they are not nearly as prevalent. There are lefties who want simple answers and believe in the "with us or against us" "you are on a pedestal or in a pit" simplistic lines of thought. I think there are other people who aren't authoritarian by nature, but don't have the mental bandwidth, or spoons if you will, for anything but simple answers. Poverty saps brainpower and I think some people want simple answers because their brainpower has been eaten up by life challenges.
FWIW I am very against the black-and-white type of authoritarian mindset and wish that the left, at least, because I expect better of them, would stop with the putting candidates on a pedestal and then pulling them down.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:17 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's been posted here before, but it really is amazing how women and POC have to be perfect but white men get forgiven/excused for everything
I agree with you of course, but there's another layer of random unreasoning sports-team-style fandom even on top of that. I will never understand why people care so much about Gillibrand's fully explainable House history when measured against her current Senate activity and giant pile of fantastic votes and positions, and so little about Elizabeth Warren's history of actual confessed Republican voting. I would vote for either of them in a second, no question, I excuse Warren even though I will never love her (and don't have to, to vote for her.) but this is a one-to-one woman-to-woman comparison and it still makes no sense.
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:19 AM on August 5, 2017 [26 favorites]
I agree with you of course, but there's another layer of random unreasoning sports-team-style fandom even on top of that. I will never understand why people care so much about Gillibrand's fully explainable House history when measured against her current Senate activity and giant pile of fantastic votes and positions, and so little about Elizabeth Warren's history of actual confessed Republican voting. I would vote for either of them in a second, no question, I excuse Warren even though I will never love her (and don't have to, to vote for her.) but this is a one-to-one woman-to-woman comparison and it still makes no sense.
posted by queenofbithynia at 9:19 AM on August 5, 2017 [26 favorites]
> JFC, I swear the calibration for "corporate Democrat" for some people is "doesn't advocate for the seizing of the means of production".
I mean, yes, that is the goal. If you are on the left the goal is in fact to socialize key industries, in order to either (if you're closer to social democrat) alleviate the excesses of capitalism or (if you're closer to democratic socialist) replace capitalism with economic democracy.
If you do not think that capitalism is a problem — that capitalism and democracy are compatible, that capitalism and justice are compatible, that the productive forces unlocked by capitalism's means of resource allocation are worth the suffering and death caused by capitalism — at least get your head out of the 90s for long enough to acknowledge that in this year 2017 the consensus in favor of a liberal market economy has in fact broken down in the United States; the right is now open about favoring white supremacist neofeudalism over liberal market capitalism, and the left in America does in fact now, miraculously, exist.
> I'm also interested to know any of your legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations to Kirsten Gillibrand too.
Probably the worst habit across metafilter as a whole is the tendency to mistake contempt for sophistication.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [28 favorites]
I mean, yes, that is the goal. If you are on the left the goal is in fact to socialize key industries, in order to either (if you're closer to social democrat) alleviate the excesses of capitalism or (if you're closer to democratic socialist) replace capitalism with economic democracy.
If you do not think that capitalism is a problem — that capitalism and democracy are compatible, that capitalism and justice are compatible, that the productive forces unlocked by capitalism's means of resource allocation are worth the suffering and death caused by capitalism — at least get your head out of the 90s for long enough to acknowledge that in this year 2017 the consensus in favor of a liberal market economy has in fact broken down in the United States; the right is now open about favoring white supremacist neofeudalism over liberal market capitalism, and the left in America does in fact now, miraculously, exist.
> I'm also interested to know any of your legitimate, principled, policy-based reservations to Kirsten Gillibrand too.
Probably the worst habit across metafilter as a whole is the tendency to mistake contempt for sophistication.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [28 favorites]
Really? Even here? What if I hold white men to the same standards?
Kamala Harris would be the least of your concerns.
posted by Talez at 9:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
Kamala Harris would be the least of your concerns.
posted by Talez at 9:21 AM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
What if I hold white men to the same standards?
How on earth would we know when the only people you're targeting are WOC? I mean at some point, standards are as standards do. If you're not going after the white men but you do find yourself joining the bandwagon that's going after women and POC, maybe ask yourself why.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
How on earth would we know when the only people you're targeting are WOC? I mean at some point, standards are as standards do. If you're not going after the white men but you do find yourself joining the bandwagon that's going after women and POC, maybe ask yourself why.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:22 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone on any side who is 100% sure that they are right, have all the answers, and those answers are both easy and self-evident. In my personal life this has correlated strongly to people who have never been questioned because of who they are, not because of the brilliance of what they believe.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
And I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone whose idea of progressive thought and action appears to be bracketed by Sand Hill Road on one coast and the MIT Media Lab on the other, but I've said my piece, read the room, and know when to back away.
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:30 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 9:30 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Can we get back to (Republican) politics? Please?
posted by persona at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by persona at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
And I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone whose idea of progressive thought and action appears to be bracketed by Sand Hill Road on one coast and the MIT Media Lab on the other
Buddy I used to live less than a mile from where 280 hit Saratoga Ave and now I live where 495 hits Route 3. We can do this dance all day if you want.
posted by Talez at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Buddy I used to live less than a mile from where 280 hit Saratoga Ave and now I live where 495 hits Route 3. We can do this dance all day if you want.
posted by Talez at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
WE. NEED. TO. SWEAT. THE. SMALL. STUFF. Howard Dean's 60 State Strategy WORKED. We need to repeat it. Get Dems into office from dogcatcher and city council on up.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:43 AM on August 5
Hell, we can do even better! Let's have a 70 State Strategy!
posted by Reverend John at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [47 favorites]
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:43 AM on August 5
Hell, we can do even better! Let's have a 70 State Strategy!
posted by Reverend John at 9:32 AM on August 5, 2017 [47 favorites]
And I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone whose idea of progressive thought and action appears to be bracketed by Sand Hill Road on one coast and the MIT Media Lab on the other
I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
It's a condemnation of the Democrats' love affair with the tech startup industry.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's a condemnation of the Democrats' love affair with the tech startup industry.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
And I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone whose idea of progressive thought and action appears to be bracketed by Sand Hill Road on one coast and the MIT Media Lab on the other
Literally no one mentioned any policy positions in this discussion. But we did talk about the Alt-Left's tendency towards black and white thinking, so that makes the "NO TRUE PROGRESSIVE" thing kind of funny.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Literally no one mentioned any policy positions in this discussion. But we did talk about the Alt-Left's tendency towards black and white thinking, so that makes the "NO TRUE PROGRESSIVE" thing kind of funny.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
He's trying to imply we're all coastal liberal elites with bad geography references. Bracketing progressive thought at Sand Hill Road. STANFORD IS RIGHT THERE TO THE EAST OF IT. Then you have UC Berkeley which is on the other side of the bay, far from the westerly position of Sand Hill Road and that's like grand central for progressive elitism. A far more sensible reference would be west of 680 but I suspect our friend here is making the area deliberately smaller for rhetorical effect.
That's also to say his reference of the MIT Media Lab is also kind of poor because for one it's east of Harvard, and secondly, the entire Greater Boston area is so ridiculously and unashamedly blue that you can't really confine it to central Boston. If anything you gotta go to Worcester before Republican voters will admit their affiliation in polite company.
It's a condemnation of the Democrats' love affair with the tech startup industry.
That would be stupid because most of the tech industry the Democrats are in love with is on Page Mill and hanging off San Tomas.
posted by Talez at 9:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
He's trying to imply we're all coastal liberal elites with bad geography references. Bracketing progressive thought at Sand Hill Road. STANFORD IS RIGHT THERE TO THE EAST OF IT. Then you have UC Berkeley which is on the other side of the bay, far from the westerly position of Sand Hill Road and that's like grand central for progressive elitism. A far more sensible reference would be west of 680 but I suspect our friend here is making the area deliberately smaller for rhetorical effect.
That's also to say his reference of the MIT Media Lab is also kind of poor because for one it's east of Harvard, and secondly, the entire Greater Boston area is so ridiculously and unashamedly blue that you can't really confine it to central Boston. If anything you gotta go to Worcester before Republican voters will admit their affiliation in polite company.
It's a condemnation of the Democrats' love affair with the tech startup industry.
That would be stupid because most of the tech industry the Democrats are in love with is on Page Mill and hanging off San Tomas.
posted by Talez at 9:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Is Alt-Left just accelerationist dicks who think Russia can do no wrong or are we going broader than that?
posted by Artw at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I mean, yes, that is the goal. If you are on the left the goal is in fact to socialize key industries, in order to either (if you're closer to social democrat) alleviate the excesses of capitalism or (if you're closer to democratic socialist) replace capitalism with economic democracy.
I know this correct and subscribe to many of these types of viewpoints. Have for years. They've evolved with experience but the baseline is still there. Its possible that many of the people in the group we're talking about here do subscribe to these viewpoints. Problem being that with some of the interactions going on right now any message or persuasion attempts is not. Right now for certain groups on the left 'corporate dem' has no consistant meaning except 'democrat that is not what I believe or not Bernie approved'. That's it. They are neo-cons, neo-liberal and yes even alt-right (wtf?). Hell I've seen Joy Reid being called 'alt-right'. It's all about the 'establishment' guys.
I dunno. I guess I'm just really frustated because of 25+ years of watching the same sorts of racism and sexist BS happen on the left and the same sort pattern of others on the left explaining it away and watching things not be a great as they could be or just down right fail.
I don't have a solution. I don't think there can be a solution until there is a more widespread understanding that there has always been and still is a problem. Or at least enough of a problem that it's going to keep holding the left as whole back while the forces on the right side of things have their playtime.
posted by Jalliah at 9:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
I know this correct and subscribe to many of these types of viewpoints. Have for years. They've evolved with experience but the baseline is still there. Its possible that many of the people in the group we're talking about here do subscribe to these viewpoints. Problem being that with some of the interactions going on right now any message or persuasion attempts is not. Right now for certain groups on the left 'corporate dem' has no consistant meaning except 'democrat that is not what I believe or not Bernie approved'. That's it. They are neo-cons, neo-liberal and yes even alt-right (wtf?). Hell I've seen Joy Reid being called 'alt-right'. It's all about the 'establishment' guys.
I dunno. I guess I'm just really frustated because of 25+ years of watching the same sorts of racism and sexist BS happen on the left and the same sort pattern of others on the left explaining it away and watching things not be a great as they could be or just down right fail.
I don't have a solution. I don't think there can be a solution until there is a more widespread understanding that there has always been and still is a problem. Or at least enough of a problem that it's going to keep holding the left as whole back while the forces on the right side of things have their playtime.
posted by Jalliah at 9:46 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
I want to add that sweating the small stuff - running for city council, transit board, school board, etc. - is the only reasonable way for third parties to get their foot in the door as viable alternatives. I have lost all respect for the Green Party because all they seem to do is put on a quixotic Presidential run every four years and then disappear into the woodwork. I don't think they're trying to be an actual party, just a platform for grandstanders.
Meanwhile, the Socialists are doing it right: they have put Kshama Sawant on the Seattle City Council. The Working Families Party is putting Randy Bryce up as a House candidate. This is how parties start, by putting candidates out for smaller offices and establishing a grass-roots presence first. (I don't even have to tell you what we get if we send someone completely inexperienced to the Presidency. If only we got ants.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [32 favorites]
Meanwhile, the Socialists are doing it right: they have put Kshama Sawant on the Seattle City Council. The Working Families Party is putting Randy Bryce up as a House candidate. This is how parties start, by putting candidates out for smaller offices and establishing a grass-roots presence first. (I don't even have to tell you what we get if we send someone completely inexperienced to the Presidency. If only we got ants.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [32 favorites]
>> And I remain profoundly mistrustful of anyone whose idea of progressive thought and action appears to be bracketed by Sand Hill Road on one coast and the MIT Media Lab on the other
> I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
Sand Hill Road (a suburban avenue in Palo Alto running from the mall next to Stanford up into the hills) is shorthand for Silicon Valley venture capital in general, since that's where the top VC firms site their offices. The Sand Hill Road power-players believe themselves to have good — nay, revolutionary! — politics, but due to being completely disconnected from everyone not their class, their primary real political commitments are to channeling money to themselves, and to maintaining the system that allows them to channel money to themselves.
The MIT Media Lab employs a lot of high-profile academics who likewise front as Tech Revolutionaries, who use/abuse a lot of Deleuze-type critical theory to position the Tech Revolutionary as the protagonist of the as-yet-unwritten history of the 21st century, but who ultimately just make fun little toys in the interest of channeling prestige to themselves. Their primary political commitment is ultimately to maintaining the system that allows them to channel prestige to themselves.
It is important to diligently critique these people now, and to insofar as is possible politically suppress these people now, so that we don't have to have party schisms in 2020 over Mark Zuckerberg winning the Democratic Party nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
> I live in the rust belt, I don't even know what that means.
Sand Hill Road (a suburban avenue in Palo Alto running from the mall next to Stanford up into the hills) is shorthand for Silicon Valley venture capital in general, since that's where the top VC firms site their offices. The Sand Hill Road power-players believe themselves to have good — nay, revolutionary! — politics, but due to being completely disconnected from everyone not their class, their primary real political commitments are to channeling money to themselves, and to maintaining the system that allows them to channel money to themselves.
The MIT Media Lab employs a lot of high-profile academics who likewise front as Tech Revolutionaries, who use/abuse a lot of Deleuze-type critical theory to position the Tech Revolutionary as the protagonist of the as-yet-unwritten history of the 21st century, but who ultimately just make fun little toys in the interest of channeling prestige to themselves. Their primary political commitment is ultimately to maintaining the system that allows them to channel prestige to themselves.
It is important to diligently critique these people now, and to insofar as is possible politically suppress these people now, so that we don't have to have party schisms in 2020 over Mark Zuckerberg winning the Democratic Party nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
Is Alt-Left just accelerationist dicks who think Russia can do no wrong or are we going broader than that?
I tend to think the accelerationism and the Russia skepticism is more of a symptom the angry young white male resentment identity, myself, so...I think there are a couple of identifying characteristics, but the main ones, for me, would be the way they go after POC and women*, and the whole authoritarian tendencies thing (though that seems vaguer).
*And the light version of this would be the South Park-style nihilism, which bleeds into the whole "performative social justice" thing pretty quickly.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I tend to think the accelerationism and the Russia skepticism is more of a symptom the angry young white male resentment identity, myself, so...I think there are a couple of identifying characteristics, but the main ones, for me, would be the way they go after POC and women*, and the whole authoritarian tendencies thing (though that seems vaguer).
*And the light version of this would be the South Park-style nihilism, which bleeds into the whole "performative social justice" thing pretty quickly.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Someone told me last night that Sen. Warren might have trouble with her re-election next year, but haven't found any good cites for the claim. Anyone know of solid obstacles for her? Her contenders look weak to me.
I'm trying to figure out who to support with organization and door knocking in the Fall. I live in Boston, so a meaningful race in MA would mean a lot less driving than NH, where I was thinking of contributing.
posted by Coventry at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2017
I'm trying to figure out who to support with organization and door knocking in the Fall. I live in Boston, so a meaningful race in MA would mean a lot less driving than NH, where I was thinking of contributing.
posted by Coventry at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2017
> Is Alt-Left just accelerationist dicks who think Russia can do no wrong or are we going broader than that?
Alt-left is a thing that only exists by lazy analogy. If you want to critique left edgelords, it's more precise and more useful to use the term that they use for themselves: the "dirtbag left."
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Alt-left is a thing that only exists by lazy analogy. If you want to critique left edgelords, it's more precise and more useful to use the term that they use for themselves: the "dirtbag left."
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Is Alt-Left just accelerationist dicks who think Russia can do no wrong or are we going broader than that?
Latest edition
If goals align we should be open to working with the alt-right. And if you all have a problem with that you are stupid because it's all about the establishment and if you're POC and are all 'what really?' I have something to tell you about MLK, he would be fine with this you know.
At least this is what some of the POC and allies who have been dealing with this bull crap are calling them.
posted by Jalliah at 9:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Latest edition
If goals align we should be open to working with the alt-right. And if you all have a problem with that you are stupid because it's all about the establishment and if you're POC and are all 'what really?' I have something to tell you about MLK, he would be fine with this you know.
At least this is what some of the POC and allies who have been dealing with this bull crap are calling them.
posted by Jalliah at 9:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
They're both a little outdated, but recognizable references to tech startups, with a famous VC firm on the west coast and navel gazing gurus on the east. He's not wrong to mistrust them... They gave us Peter Theil and other alt right Dark Enlightenment shit stains on one side of the spectrum, and Zuck For Prez on the other.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:52 AM on August 5, 2017
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:52 AM on August 5, 2017
and Zuck For Prez on the other.
You forget their greatest achievement. They got one of the most reliable, progressive congressmen in the House thrown out of his seat for some VC sycophant yes man just by putting a D in front of said sycophant's name.
posted by Talez at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
You forget their greatest achievement. They got one of the most reliable, progressive congressmen in the House thrown out of his seat for some VC sycophant yes man just by putting a D in front of said sycophant's name.
posted by Talez at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Alt-left is a thing that only exists by lazy analogy. If you want to critique left edgelords, it's more precise and more useful to use the term that they use for themselves: the "dirtbag left."
Maybe this was the case before last month. It has evolved over the past few weeks to 'include the align with the alt right' folks.
I think it may further evolve going to evolve to include the dems=nazi type folks. This line of thinking has been flying around over the past week. I've seen it and variations of it more now. I don't think it's totally gelled yet as a go to talking point but it's possible.
posted by Jalliah at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Maybe this was the case before last month. It has evolved over the past few weeks to 'include the align with the alt right' folks.
I think it may further evolve going to evolve to include the dems=nazi type folks. This line of thinking has been flying around over the past week. I've seen it and variations of it more now. I don't think it's totally gelled yet as a go to talking point but it's possible.
posted by Jalliah at 9:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Far Right Christian movement began by a concerted effort to take over local school boards. They are still using that as a method to get a foot in the door. When I was standing in line to vote in the last election I was handed business cards by 2 people, both running for the school board. Knowing nothing about either one I asked one question, "Do you have children in this school system?" The young white man replied, "No my daughter is home schooled because the local schools are bad. I want to change them." The middle-aged Black woman replied, "Yes. I have two children in school and my husband is a teacher."
I volunteer in the local elementary school and happen to know it is well-run, clean and inviting, with a good library and computer room. They could use more money like all the schools in NC but I can only assume that the reason the school wasn't good enough for the man's daughter was because there were too many Black children and/or too much education about evolution.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:55 AM on August 5, 2017 [67 favorites]
I volunteer in the local elementary school and happen to know it is well-run, clean and inviting, with a good library and computer room. They could use more money like all the schools in NC but I can only assume that the reason the school wasn't good enough for the man's daughter was because there were too many Black children and/or too much education about evolution.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 9:55 AM on August 5, 2017 [67 favorites]
There is no Alt-Left. It's a backformation coined by liberals to suggest that being to the left of Hillary Clinton makes you just as bad as Richard Spencer. There is the self-identified dirtbag left, which is a hive of "class is the important thing and other issues are bourgeois distractions" dorks who've been a wart on leftism for decades (if you've heard the term "brocialism", that's an old left-wing term of abuse for that sort of person), but they don't call themselves "Alt-Left".
Maybe this was the case before last month. It has evolved over the past few weeks to include the align with the alt right folks.
Leftists have been yelling at the dirtbag left about this for months (the cheerfulness, for example, with which the Chapo Trap House hosts pal around with Nick Mullen, or Angela Nagle's cheerful parroting of alt-right rhetoric and arguments in Kill All Normies). Liberals coming late to the meeting, seeing the argument, and yelling "you're all as bad!" isn't helpful.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Maybe this was the case before last month. It has evolved over the past few weeks to include the align with the alt right folks.
Leftists have been yelling at the dirtbag left about this for months (the cheerfulness, for example, with which the Chapo Trap House hosts pal around with Nick Mullen, or Angela Nagle's cheerful parroting of alt-right rhetoric and arguments in Kill All Normies). Liberals coming late to the meeting, seeing the argument, and yelling "you're all as bad!" isn't helpful.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:58 AM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
"alt-left" seems to be giving way too much credit, tbh
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
but they don't call themselves "Alt-Left"
I can't imagine why this would be surprising, but I don't actually care what people who are racist and misogynist in action if not (yet) in stated beliefs call themselves.
Like not even a little bit.
I'd rather call them what they are, especially now that they are overtly aligning themselves with the Alt-Right. Helps the rest of us figure out who's dangerous and who isn't.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
I can't imagine why this would be surprising, but I don't actually care what people who are racist and misogynist in action if not (yet) in stated beliefs call themselves.
Like not even a little bit.
I'd rather call them what they are, especially now that they are overtly aligning themselves with the Alt-Right. Helps the rest of us figure out who's dangerous and who isn't.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
Knowing nothing about either one I asked one question, "Do you have children in this school system?"
This is such a great test for school-board candidates, and I wish I had thought to be using it the past 32 years.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
This is such a great test for school-board candidates, and I wish I had thought to be using it the past 32 years.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
They're both a little outdated, but recognizable references to tech startups, with a famous VC firm on the west coast and navel gazing gurus on the east. He's not wrong to mistrust them...
Sure, but how does this apply to Kamala Harris? If it's that she gets donations from tech companies, Joy Reid posted the top 5 donors for Harris and Sanders this morning.
For Sanders it's:
1) Google
2) Univ of Cal.
3) Microsoft
4) US. Post Office
5) Apple
For Harris it's:
1) Time Warner
2) 21st Century Fox
3) Venable LLP
4) Creative Artists Agency
5) Google
So I'm not sure how the tech/Dem link gets her worse than Sanders.
posted by chris24 at 10:04 AM on August 5, 2017 [15 favorites]
Sure, but how does this apply to Kamala Harris? If it's that she gets donations from tech companies, Joy Reid posted the top 5 donors for Harris and Sanders this morning.
For Sanders it's:
1) Google
2) Univ of Cal.
3) Microsoft
4) US. Post Office
5) Apple
For Harris it's:
1) Time Warner
2) 21st Century Fox
3) Venable LLP
4) Creative Artists Agency
5) Google
So I'm not sure how the tech/Dem link gets her worse than Sanders.
posted by chris24 at 10:04 AM on August 5, 2017 [15 favorites]
call themselves "Alt-Left"
*looks down at keyboard*
Maybe I'm "Fn+Left" - functional lefty. Get shit done. I can write the oppo on my running for school board now: Educated for 13 years in private religious schools, never a day in public school. Two kids in charter schools over 8-12 year time span. Keeps switching registration from NPA to D and back again.
posted by tilde at 10:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
*looks down at keyboard*
Maybe I'm "Fn+Left" - functional lefty. Get shit done. I can write the oppo on my running for school board now: Educated for 13 years in private religious schools, never a day in public school. Two kids in charter schools over 8-12 year time span. Keeps switching registration from NPA to D and back again.
posted by tilde at 10:08 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Her contenders look weak to me.
That's a badly outdated list, because it leaves off Geoff Diehl (Trump's Mass. campaign head last year - how'd that work out for ya, Geoff?) and the Man Who Invented E-Mail (who got into a shouting match with Howie Carr over who loves Trump more) and includes Charlie Baker, who would be an interesting candidate, but who has shown no signs he wants to run against Warren rather than run for re-election as the Nation's Most Popular Governor.
posted by adamg at 10:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's a badly outdated list, because it leaves off Geoff Diehl (Trump's Mass. campaign head last year - how'd that work out for ya, Geoff?) and the Man Who Invented E-Mail (who got into a shouting match with Howie Carr over who loves Trump more) and includes Charlie Baker, who would be an interesting candidate, but who has shown no signs he wants to run against Warren rather than run for re-election as the Nation's Most Popular Governor.
posted by adamg at 10:10 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
The alt-left are the Bernie Bros, the Louise Mensch followers, the Jill Stein supporters, the chemtrailers, the unreformed "Trump is better than Hillary" trolls. Thank you.
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
posted by chrchr at 10:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
posted by chrchr at 10:13 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
That's a badly outdated list, because it leaves off Geoff Diehl
Thanks, found him last night, got him mixed up with the Republican on the list. Still seems weak... His main platform seems to be "I won't write any books while a Senator, unlike Warren." Also, no point campaigning for the General, this Fall. It would have to be a primary threat.
posted by Coventry at 10:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thanks, found him last night, got him mixed up with the Republican on the list. Still seems weak... His main platform seems to be "I won't write any books while a Senator, unlike Warren." Also, no point campaigning for the General, this Fall. It would have to be a primary threat.
posted by Coventry at 10:16 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm sure this won't piss off Trump at all or drive a a wedge between him and Pence and the party.
@alexburnsNYT
Pence advisers have told GOP donors they want to be ready -- ya know, just in case >>
NYT: Republican Shadow Campaign for 2020 Takes Shape as Trump Doubts Grow
@alexburnsNYT
Pence advisers have told GOP donors they want to be ready -- ya know, just in case >>
NYT: Republican Shadow Campaign for 2020 Takes Shape as Trump Doubts Grow
Senators Tom Cotton and Ben Sasse have already been to Iowa this year, Gov. John Kasich is eyeing a return visit to New Hampshire, and Mike Pence’s schedule is so full of political events that Republicans joke that he is acting more like a second-term vice president hoping to clear the field than a No. 2 sworn in a little over six months ago.posted by chris24 at 10:18 AM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
President Trump’s first term is ostensibly just warming up, but luminaries in his own party have begun what amounts to a shadow campaign for 2020 — as if the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue weren’t involved. The would-be candidates are cultivating some of the party’s most prominent donors, courting conservative interest groups and carefully enhancing their profiles. Mr. Trump has given no indication that he will decline to seek a second term.
But the sheer disarray surrounding this presidency, the intensifying investigation by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and the plain uncertainty about what Mr. Trump will do in the next week, let alone in the next election, have prompted Republican officeholders to take political steps that are unheard-of so soon into a new administration.
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
*shudders in horror*
@alexburnsNYT
Pence advisers have told GOP donors they want to be ready -- ya know, just in case >>
*shudders in delight*
I think I sprained my schadensprunger.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [25 favorites]
*shudders in horror*
@alexburnsNYT
Pence advisers have told GOP donors they want to be ready -- ya know, just in case >>
*shudders in delight*
I think I sprained my schadensprunger.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:20 AM on August 5, 2017 [25 favorites]
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
I dunno, come up with someone after 2018? There are already people who have been positioning themselves for a run, we're only hearing about Zuck because he's trying to compress an entire political career into a few years and he can afford a presidential PR organization and personal photographers. Benioff he ain't.
posted by rhizome at 10:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I dunno, come up with someone after 2018? There are already people who have been positioning themselves for a run, we're only hearing about Zuck because he's trying to compress an entire political career into a few years and he can afford a presidential PR organization and personal photographers. Benioff he ain't.
posted by rhizome at 10:23 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
The alt-left are the Bernie Bros, the Louise Mensch followers, the Jill Stein supporters, the chemtrailers, the unreformed "Trump is better than Hillary" trolls. Thank you.
In other words, it just means anybody you a) don't like and b) associate with the left, regardless of whether they actually belong together as a group. Got it.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
In other words, it just means anybody you a) don't like and b) associate with the left, regardless of whether they actually belong together as a group. Got it.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
There is no Alt-Left. It's a backformation coined by liberals to suggest that being to the left of Hillary Clinton makes you just as bad as Richard Spencer.
Wow. Okay. I'll be sure to go let the people dealing with these particular folks that they are bad and wrong for calling them that. Bad POC progressive, bad POC progressive. I get that this isn't an all POC believe this thing but regardless 'alt left' is being used right now to describe this particular group of people who are being racist and pretty much telling POC that they are either stupid, ignorant, co-opted and that their 'identity' politics and concerns don't matter because it will all be fixed with single payer! and when the economic system is fixed. And for POC who are progressive, or left or socialist it's also a problem because it's difficult to have a conversation about these issues when you got your own crew discounting it.
Anyways, this is going to go nowhere. I'm not even sure why I bothered to bring up what I've been seeing. I thought about it because it's been getting worse over the past few weeks. And gross, really gross. It's made me nauseous because it's not hard to see where it could go. (Not a good place) It's still just getting explained away as 'not left' or 'not an issue' or 'oh it's just those liberals at it again'. And therefore anyone that uses it or says it must be liberal.
smh.
posted by Jalliah at 10:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
I fully expect that in three years I'll be exhorted to support Noted Leftist Mark Zuckerberg
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I fully expect that in three years I'll be exhorted to support Noted Leftist Mark Zuckerberg
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I despise both the dirtbag left and liberals who want to smear the entirety of the left with their shitty beliefs and behavior. The use of "alt-left" is part of that smear.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:29 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:29 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
I don't think he has a chance of winning the nom, but I worry about a third party run that results in a R victory.
posted by chris24 at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I don't think he has a chance of winning the nom, but I worry about a third party run that results in a R victory.
posted by chris24 at 10:30 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
5 ways to make a winning Trump magazine cover
posted by growabrain at 10:31 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:31 AM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I don't think he has a chance of winning the nom, but I worry about a third party run that results in a R victory.
On the plus side a "reverse Clinton" won't just be a disgusting sex position anymore.
posted by Talez at 10:31 AM on August 5, 2017
On the plus side a "reverse Clinton" won't just be a disgusting sex position anymore.
posted by Talez at 10:31 AM on August 5, 2017
Blast rocks Bloomington Islamic center (Stephen Montemayor, Star Tribune)
No one was hurt in the explosion, which was reported just after 5 a.m.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
No one was hurt in the explosion, which was reported just after 5 a.m.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:34 AM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
despise both the dirtbag left and liberals who want to smear the entirety of the left with their shitty beliefs and behavior. The use of "alt-left" is part of that smear.
Are you even reading my comments? Nowhere have I said or even suggested that it is being used to smear the entirety of the left. It's not. It is being used as a short hand to describe particular leftie groups and ways of thinking and interacting. And for the most part the people that I've been following who have started to use it are not liberal. They're variations of progressive including those that like Bernie and his ideas.
posted by Jalliah at 10:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
Are you even reading my comments? Nowhere have I said or even suggested that it is being used to smear the entirety of the left. It's not. It is being used as a short hand to describe particular leftie groups and ways of thinking and interacting. And for the most part the people that I've been following who have started to use it are not liberal. They're variations of progressive including those that like Bernie and his ideas.
posted by Jalliah at 10:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
> The alt-left are the Bernie Bros, the Louise Mensch followers, the Jill Stein supporters, the chemtrailers, the unreformed "Trump is better than Hillary" trolls. Thank you.
Why is it useful to put together this disparate set of people — most of whom disagree with each other on nearly everything — under one name? This is a real question.
Likewise, how do you sort "Bernie Bros" from reasonable Sanders supporters? This is a real question, not a rhetorical one. Is it possible to have supported Sanders in the Democratic Party primaries and not be a Bernie Bro?
Likewise, what parts of the groups well to the left of Sanders count as alt-left and which ones don't? Note that many left-of-Sanders organizations were vehement in their refusal to support Sanders; the typical organized-socialist line on Sanders was that his candidacy served to "sheepdog" leftists back into the Democratic Party, and so they opposed him in those terms.
Are the IWW alt-left? Are antifa alt-left? If so, why is it useful to use this umbrella term? If not, why not?
What, in short, does this term get you? Is it a useful tool for highlighting misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia within elements of the left in the interest of combating them, or is it instead a term used to position all left-of-liberal positions as misogynist, white supremacist, and homophobic?
For my part, clearly, I think developing an umbrella term describing homophobic, misogynist, and white-supremacist elements within the left and then presenting those elements as a movement — a movement the presence of which by implication taints all left-of-liberal positions — is less useful than specifically naming-and-shaming specific misogynists, homophobes, and white supremacists on the left, and identifying practices within left organizations and left conversations that can lead to the misogynists, white supremacists, and homophobes taking over.
This requires neither pretending that leftism is devoid of misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia, nor pretending that the existence of misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia on the left makes leftism untenable. After all, there is no extant political philosophy — anarchism, socialism, liberalism, what have you — that misogynists, white supremacists, and homophobes haven't espoused and haven't tried to hijack.
It's maybe useful to turn to how people handled this in the recent DSA thread — to my eye, that thread was (although contentious) full of cogent, precise, clear, useful critiques from the left of that organization's positions and practices. This subthread, however, is a hot mess — even though many of the same people participated in both conversations.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:38 AM on August 5, 2017 [51 favorites]
Why is it useful to put together this disparate set of people — most of whom disagree with each other on nearly everything — under one name? This is a real question.
Likewise, how do you sort "Bernie Bros" from reasonable Sanders supporters? This is a real question, not a rhetorical one. Is it possible to have supported Sanders in the Democratic Party primaries and not be a Bernie Bro?
Likewise, what parts of the groups well to the left of Sanders count as alt-left and which ones don't? Note that many left-of-Sanders organizations were vehement in their refusal to support Sanders; the typical organized-socialist line on Sanders was that his candidacy served to "sheepdog" leftists back into the Democratic Party, and so they opposed him in those terms.
Are the IWW alt-left? Are antifa alt-left? If so, why is it useful to use this umbrella term? If not, why not?
What, in short, does this term get you? Is it a useful tool for highlighting misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia within elements of the left in the interest of combating them, or is it instead a term used to position all left-of-liberal positions as misogynist, white supremacist, and homophobic?
For my part, clearly, I think developing an umbrella term describing homophobic, misogynist, and white-supremacist elements within the left and then presenting those elements as a movement — a movement the presence of which by implication taints all left-of-liberal positions — is less useful than specifically naming-and-shaming specific misogynists, homophobes, and white supremacists on the left, and identifying practices within left organizations and left conversations that can lead to the misogynists, white supremacists, and homophobes taking over.
This requires neither pretending that leftism is devoid of misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia, nor pretending that the existence of misogyny, white supremacy, and homophobia on the left makes leftism untenable. After all, there is no extant political philosophy — anarchism, socialism, liberalism, what have you — that misogynists, white supremacists, and homophobes haven't espoused and haven't tried to hijack.
It's maybe useful to turn to how people handled this in the recent DSA thread — to my eye, that thread was (although contentious) full of cogent, precise, clear, useful critiques from the left of that organization's positions and practices. This subthread, however, is a hot mess — even though many of the same people participated in both conversations.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:38 AM on August 5, 2017 [51 favorites]
I wouldn't mind seeing this discussion move away from the catch-all labels ("alt-left", "liberals", "leftists", "dirtbag left") and toward problematic behaviors that people who may or may not identify with those labels engage in. Sometimes these labels help us build and maintain our mental model of what's going on, and I've certainly used them myself, but there are a lot of folks at the margins who don't feel that any of those labels adequately describe their views, so it's probably best if we try to talk in terms of what's dividing us.
The Harris corncob thing is emblematic of specific behaviors that some on the left side of the political spectrum have exhibited for some time. It's Presidential politics über alles, with a woman of color in the crosshairs, based on very few data points about her record as a prosecutor and a politician. The 2017 writers really outdid themselves when they threw this C-plot into the mix.
Any candidate who has a record of public service is going to have things they've done wrong, and most will have something in that record that can be seen as disqualifying, but at some point, you have to run someone to win, so we can't just disqualify everyone. Doing it to a person of Harris' background for an election that's 3+ years away that she hasn't even declared her candidacy for is an extremely bad look.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [31 favorites]
The Harris corncob thing is emblematic of specific behaviors that some on the left side of the political spectrum have exhibited for some time. It's Presidential politics über alles, with a woman of color in the crosshairs, based on very few data points about her record as a prosecutor and a politician. The 2017 writers really outdid themselves when they threw this C-plot into the mix.
Any candidate who has a record of public service is going to have things they've done wrong, and most will have something in that record that can be seen as disqualifying, but at some point, you have to run someone to win, so we can't just disqualify everyone. Doing it to a person of Harris' background for an election that's 3+ years away that she hasn't even declared her candidacy for is an extremely bad look.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [31 favorites]
> What are we going to do about Zuckerberg? Goddamn his whole act gives me the creeps.
dammit i remapped my keyboard and lost the hotkey for the "establish workers' councils seize control of productive property establish condition of dual power etc. etc." paragraph.
but yeah dude is a creep. the thing I'm most afraid of is him mounting a third-party chaos campaign after losing the nomination, but the thing I'm second-most afraid of is him winning the nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
dammit i remapped my keyboard and lost the hotkey for the "establish workers' councils seize control of productive property establish condition of dual power etc. etc." paragraph.
but yeah dude is a creep. the thing I'm most afraid of is him mounting a third-party chaos campaign after losing the nomination, but the thing I'm second-most afraid of is him winning the nomination.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:41 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Nowhere have I said or even suggested that it is being used to smear the entirety of the left.
Except that because the term is so ill-defined, it can be applied to pretty much anyone on the left who you don't like, and has blatantly negative connotations. Effectively, that is smearing "the entirety of the Left," since some people will use it on anyone to the left of they themselves. It's lazy thinking.
posted by Coventry at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
Except that because the term is so ill-defined, it can be applied to pretty much anyone on the left who you don't like, and has blatantly negative connotations. Effectively, that is smearing "the entirety of the Left," since some people will use it on anyone to the left of they themselves. It's lazy thinking.
posted by Coventry at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
I despise both the dirtbag left and liberals who want to smear the entirety of the left with their shitty beliefs and behavior. The use of "alt-left" is part of that smear.
there are elements of the democratic party that will do anything they can to smear those they find too socialist, too radical, too whatever - it's been going on for many years - cherry pick a few problematic people and claim that's what the rest of them really stand for
posted by pyramid termite at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
there are elements of the democratic party that will do anything they can to smear those they find too socialist, too radical, too whatever - it's been going on for many years - cherry pick a few problematic people and claim that's what the rest of them really stand for
posted by pyramid termite at 10:42 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Likewise, how do you sort "Bernie Bros" from reasonable Sanders supporters? This is a real question, not a rhetorical one. Is it possible to have supported Sanders in the Democratic Party primaries and not be a Bernie Bro?
Oh god we're so close to DRTP but here we go.
A Bernie Bro votes for Trump or Stein in the general out of spite. A reasonable Sanders supporter realizes they lost, gets on board with the Democratic party for the election, because holy shit a fascist stormfront is coming. I was a huge Bernie supporter in the primaries. I gave money to his campaign because I thought he had a better vision going forward. About the time his victory became mathematically all but impossible I switched whole hog to HRC because fuck Trump.
For instance, Sarah Silverman was a huge Bernie supporter in the primaries. She came to the party because she knew it was either someone she mildly disagreed with or, well, Trump.
So yes, I believe it's entirely possible. IMHO it involves no small amount of being unbitter about who won the primaries and that's the difference between a Bernie Bro and a reasonable Sanders supporter. Everyone had their say, reasonable people accept the loss with dignity.
posted by Talez at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [59 favorites]
Oh god we're so close to DRTP but here we go.
A Bernie Bro votes for Trump or Stein in the general out of spite. A reasonable Sanders supporter realizes they lost, gets on board with the Democratic party for the election, because holy shit a fascist stormfront is coming. I was a huge Bernie supporter in the primaries. I gave money to his campaign because I thought he had a better vision going forward. About the time his victory became mathematically all but impossible I switched whole hog to HRC because fuck Trump.
For instance, Sarah Silverman was a huge Bernie supporter in the primaries. She came to the party because she knew it was either someone she mildly disagreed with or, well, Trump.
So yes, I believe it's entirely possible. IMHO it involves no small amount of being unbitter about who won the primaries and that's the difference between a Bernie Bro and a reasonable Sanders supporter. Everyone had their say, reasonable people accept the loss with dignity.
posted by Talez at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [59 favorites]
Are you even reading my comments? Nowhere have I said or even suggested that it is being used to smear the entirety of the left. It's not.
I'm very sorry if I gave the suggestion that that was you- I'm distracted and a little upset (unrelated causes) and I'm not communicating effectively, and that's entirely on me. I'm basing that on what I see elsewhere, particularly on liberal twitter.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm very sorry if I gave the suggestion that that was you- I'm distracted and a little upset (unrelated causes) and I'm not communicating effectively, and that's entirely on me. I'm basing that on what I see elsewhere, particularly on liberal twitter.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is it possible to have supported Sanders in the Democratic Party primaries and not be a Bernie Bro?
of course - i supported sanders and when it was apparent that clinton was going to win, i moved on to support her
posted by pyramid termite at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
of course - i supported sanders and when it was apparent that clinton was going to win, i moved on to support her
posted by pyramid termite at 10:45 AM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Do I want to spoil the surprise and name this person's name? #NotTheOnion2017 #PeakPoe2017
"I do think it is a, certainly a serious matter when a special counsel is accused—and I was accused of that—of exceeding his or her authority. That's a serious matter because we do not want investigators and prosecutors out on a fishing expedition."
posted by Evilspork at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
"I do think it is a, certainly a serious matter when a special counsel is accused—and I was accused of that—of exceeding his or her authority. That's a serious matter because we do not want investigators and prosecutors out on a fishing expedition."
posted by Evilspork at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I understand parliamentary systems offer more distinct choices, but then we'd be living in a different country.
And this would be bad exactly how?
Who's HAPPY with how things are?
posted by rough ashlar at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
And this would be bad exactly how?
Who's HAPPY with how things are?
posted by rough ashlar at 10:47 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The term "Bernie Bro" was in wide use as a way to baselessly smear Bernie supporters as misogynistic long before the Presidential nomination was clear.
posted by Coventry at 10:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 10:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mod note: Yes, now we are relitigating the primaries and it's time to steer in some other direction.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:49 AM on August 5, 2017 [48 favorites]
It has been 0 hours since we relitigated the primaries on metafilter
posted by dis_integration at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2017 [73 favorites]
posted by dis_integration at 10:51 AM on August 5, 2017 [73 favorites]
Please please please....
The Mooch's replacement could be Stephen Miller
posted by chris24 at 10:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
The Mooch's replacement could be Stephen Miller
posted by chris24 at 10:53 AM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Journalist here. Just wanted to offer some perspective about what the DoJ is trying to do here.
I understand people are incredulous that they could get away with subpoenaing reporters are routing leakers. But the efficacy doesn't actually matter. The chilling effect does. It's designed to make media outlets who lack the financial resources question whether or not to run a story in the first place. Even fights they would invariably win could bankrupt some of them. Moreover the chilling effect makes would-be leakers skittish and reluctant to pick up a phone or send an email.
In other words it doesn't matter how realistic or tenable the details of Sessions' plan is. If it adds another layer of risk and fear to leakers and reporters, then that's good enough for him.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [73 favorites]
I understand people are incredulous that they could get away with subpoenaing reporters are routing leakers. But the efficacy doesn't actually matter. The chilling effect does. It's designed to make media outlets who lack the financial resources question whether or not to run a story in the first place. Even fights they would invariably win could bankrupt some of them. Moreover the chilling effect makes would-be leakers skittish and reluctant to pick up a phone or send an email.
In other words it doesn't matter how realistic or tenable the details of Sessions' plan is. If it adds another layer of risk and fear to leakers and reporters, then that's good enough for him.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 10:54 AM on August 5, 2017 [73 favorites]
And this would be bad exactly how?
Who's HAPPY with how things are?
It's not about bad or happy. It's about what's possible, given the starting conditions. We have to start from where we are. At this point, we're arguing about how to use taxes with people who believe "All Taxation Is Theft"
I'm overwhelmed with just getting through the day at work, and then taking care of my family responsibilities. I can't imagine a path that reforms US Politics to the point where we would end up in desirable end-condition.
D&D Alignment Charts had it down. This isn't left-or-right, but multi-dimensional.
posted by mikelieman at 10:56 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Who's HAPPY with how things are?
It's not about bad or happy. It's about what's possible, given the starting conditions. We have to start from where we are. At this point, we're arguing about how to use taxes with people who believe "All Taxation Is Theft"
I'm overwhelmed with just getting through the day at work, and then taking care of my family responsibilities. I can't imagine a path that reforms US Politics to the point where we would end up in desirable end-condition.
D&D Alignment Charts had it down. This isn't left-or-right, but multi-dimensional.
posted by mikelieman at 10:56 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Mooch's replacement could be Stephen Miller
a.k.a The Colossus of Apophasis a.k.a David Duke's "favorite Jew".
posted by Talez at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
a.k.a The Colossus of Apophasis a.k.a David Duke's "favorite Jew".
posted by Talez at 11:02 AM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am not sure if Maduro is running Trump's playbook, or of Trump is coaching Maduro. Meanwhile Duterte, trolled Kim Jong il, calling him obese, and of low intellect. I had to vocabulary up a bit for that comment. Now Duterte is living on borrowed time, maybe a lot of his people, as he has given Kim Jong il a handy target. Assholes world wide are out of their closets and prancing about, golfing, threatening, and keeping us all nervous, while the stock markets climb. Meanwhile the web is trolling Trump to reveal his knowledge about space aliens. Generals are babysitting the white house staff, while Trump vacations. The Repugnican congress has gone home on vacation, having accomplished nothing but proving the case for sentient evil possession. The prairie dog, masquerading as Attorney General is waving his bible about, and threatening the free press, and first amendment rights of all Americans. We have plenty to talk about, shudder about, and we should not forget that August is the last of this summer, and don't let the world's biggest bastards ruin your travels, bbq's, dialogues with children, opportunities to hand hold, tell stories, wade in streams, or watch sunsets. Insist on living, even the most threatened of us must live our real, American lives, in spite of the obvious obstacles now, and to come.
posted by Oyéah at 11:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 11:03 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
...a hot mess
Yes, and I regret my part in making it hotter and messier. I apologize. I apologize for not explaining myself or my position particularly well, and I apologize for using shorthand for inclinations and habitual stances that may have been too obscure. For the record, I was not accusing anybody here of being anything, and above all I apologize if anyone took my comments as a personal criticism.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:15 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yes, and I regret my part in making it hotter and messier. I apologize. I apologize for not explaining myself or my position particularly well, and I apologize for using shorthand for inclinations and habitual stances that may have been too obscure. For the record, I was not accusing anybody here of being anything, and above all I apologize if anyone took my comments as a personal criticism.
posted by adamgreenfield at 11:15 AM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I want someone to directly ask Jeff Sessions: "What actual leaks that have actually occurred would you consider to be "illegal"?
He's saying there have been illegal leaks.
Present them.
If not, then STFU
posted by yesster at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
He's saying there have been illegal leaks.
Present them.
If not, then STFU
posted by yesster at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
Zuck running as a third party candidate is a nightmare that hadn't even occurred to me. I'm just worried about him being a big, big money presence in the Democratic primary and weirding the whole process with his money and his name recognition and whatever his politics are. If Zuck wants to run for president, he should start like everyone else by running for some lower offices first. You shouldn't get to buy your way to the highest office in the land.
posted by chrchr at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 11:26 AM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
Yet here we are.
posted by rhizome at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 11:27 AM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
Likewise, how do you sort "Bernie Bros" from reasonable Sanders supporters?
Easy, if they supported Sanders, they weren't Bernie Bros, which was almost entirely a fictitious propaganda operation waged from the Kremlin and not any sort of meaningful political movement or demographic. The number of actual Sanders supporters who refused to vote HRC out of spite is so infinitesimally small, they're really not worth discussing.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Easy, if they supported Sanders, they weren't Bernie Bros, which was almost entirely a fictitious propaganda operation waged from the Kremlin and not any sort of meaningful political movement or demographic. The number of actual Sanders supporters who refused to vote HRC out of spite is so infinitesimally small, they're really not worth discussing.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:28 AM on August 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Huh. Whole lotta women on Twitter have reposted hateful shit they get from people calling themselves Bernie supporters. Seems pretty real to me.
posted by emjaybee at 11:31 AM on August 5, 2017 [44 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 11:31 AM on August 5, 2017 [44 favorites]
The number of actual Sanders supporters who refused to vote HRC out of spite is so infinitesimally small, they're really not worth discussing.
Interesting that I know some IRL. I know that's anecdotal, but I can't imagine why I, as a huge feminist and HRC supporter, would have attracted a bunch of outliers. I just assumed they're were likely a ton around.
posted by greermahoney at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
Interesting that I know some IRL. I know that's anecdotal, but I can't imagine why I, as a huge feminist and HRC supporter, would have attracted a bunch of outliers. I just assumed they're were likely a ton around.
posted by greermahoney at 11:35 AM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
The number of actual Sanders supporters who refused to vote HRC out of spite is so infinitesimally small, they're really not worth discussing
Well that's good (although I think debatable), because we're discussing harassment of women and POC
Unless you're claiming we made all of that up
posted by schadenfrau at 11:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Well that's good (although I think debatable), because we're discussing harassment of women and POC
Unless you're claiming we made all of that up
posted by schadenfrau at 11:36 AM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
I still have people come unglued on Facebook whenever I say anything negative or critical about Sanders. Particularly if it's in mockery of any of the anti-Clinton garbage like "no difference between Clinton and Trump." But it doesn't even have to be about the election: if it's critical of whatever Sanders is doing in Congress today, the same cult of personality holds strong.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:37 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:37 AM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
Now Duterte is living on borrowed time, maybe a lot of his people, as he has given Kim Jong il a handy target.
North Korea is not going to invade or nuke the Philippines. I mean I guess that is just exactly the very stupid way that the world would end but aside from a pynchonian absurdity it's like the craziest scenario I can imagine
posted by dis_integration at 11:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
North Korea is not going to invade or nuke the Philippines. I mean I guess that is just exactly the very stupid way that the world would end but aside from a pynchonian absurdity it's like the craziest scenario I can imagine
posted by dis_integration at 11:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Mod note: OMG seriously enough. There are some jerky people who supported Bernie, and there are some totally a-okay fabulous people who supported Bernie. Sometimes the a-okay people got unwarranted criticism and feel touchy about it. Sometimes the jerky people are really truly jerks and do bad things that the a-okay people wouldn't agree with. All these things are true. Enough.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [64 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:39 AM on August 5, 2017 [64 favorites]
North Korea is not going to invade or nuke the Philippines.
Oyéah's comment led me to look up where NK is with its nuclear program, though, and it looks like serious people think they have the components necessary to make a nuclear tipped ICBM. That is much faster than I expected.
posted by Coventry at 11:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oyéah's comment led me to look up where NK is with its nuclear program, though, and it looks like serious people think they have the components necessary to make a nuclear tipped ICBM. That is much faster than I expected.
posted by Coventry at 11:43 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I cannot figure out what's going on here. The Los Angeles Blade released another article about the trans ban referencing a memo from Mattis about "ethical standards" (but does not say anything about trans people or the ban). Yet I can't find this story ANYWHERE else, and it can't be attributed to a blase attitude towards trans people because the media was all over his tweets last week. You'd think that moving forward with WH policy would warrant more coverage. Please post if you see anything or if it's derailing the thread, memail me.
posted by AFABulous at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 11:44 AM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
imo, even this sort of thing can be laid at Trump's door
Google Employee's Anti-Diversity Manifesto Goes 'Internally Viral'
which is what makes him and his "base" so very dangerous to the rest of the planet.
posted by infini at 11:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [27 favorites]
Google Employee's Anti-Diversity Manifesto Goes 'Internally Viral'
which is what makes him and his "base" so very dangerous to the rest of the planet.
posted by infini at 11:48 AM on August 5, 2017 [27 favorites]
Lambda Legal, a well-respected organization, says on their blog that they are suing Trump, but they only reference the LA Blade article. How can you sue over something that hasn't been confirmed? This is so weird.
posted by AFABulous at 11:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AFABulous at 11:50 AM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Along with not relitigating the primaries, could we please please PLEASE stop fucking catastrophizing about 2020? Please.
posted by lydhre at 12:03 PM on August 5, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 12:03 PM on August 5, 2017 [48 favorites]
Sure, but how does this apply to Kamala Harris? If it's that she gets donations from tech companies, Joy Reid posted the top 5 donors for Harris and Sanders this morning.
Those are not the top five donors. Rather that is the list of organizations whose employees contributed the most (some companies have PACs as well which are also counted but the amount is negligible for the specific companies listed). Do not conflate employees with the companies they work for. Their interests may not be the same as the employers.
posted by nolnacs at 12:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
Those are not the top five donors. Rather that is the list of organizations whose employees contributed the most (some companies have PACs as well which are also counted but the amount is negligible for the specific companies listed). Do not conflate employees with the companies they work for. Their interests may not be the same as the employers.
posted by nolnacs at 12:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
Do not conflate employees with the companies they work for. Their interests may not be the same as the employers.
ESPECIALLY "21st Century Fox", which is co-owned by the Murdochs with News Corp and FauxNews.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:40 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
ESPECIALLY "21st Century Fox", which is co-owned by the Murdochs with News Corp and FauxNews.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:40 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Weird when bits of ethical norm pop out of the conservative swamp like lonely little islands.
posted by Artw at 12:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Not so much ethical as legal, I suspect. Fox has such a powerful mouthpiece that they pretty much get to write their own ethics and engineer supporting propaganda their fans enthusiastically agree with... Whereas they're already under legal scrutiny for creating a hostile work environment, so that's a real risk for them.
posted by Coventry at 12:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 12:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
per Yashar Ali, Eric Bolling has been suspended pending investigation. Too bad so sad.
posted by lalex at 12:42 PM on August 5 [3 favorites +] [!]
There's no link there, yet there's 3 favorites?
posted by yesster at 12:56 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
My idea of a good press secretary would be an articulate speaker who is capable of thinking fast, able to convey the President's policies to the press clearly, and one who is capable of not antagonizing the media representatives. SHS and Miller both fail on all accounts. I don't know know much about other departments in the administration but I do know a little bit about communication and it stuns me how bad both of these people are.
Huckabee-Sanders cannot hide her contempt. She is dour and humorless while betraying how little she knows about the actual policies themselves. She stands at the podium exuding an air of grievance as though she has been forced to deal with an unpleasant task. Miller, on the other hand, takes more joy from his labors but it is a joy based in bullying others-- both the listener and the recipient of the latest cruel anti-other policy. He is weak and petulant but has unexpectedly found a way to lash out at anyone who isn't a White Supremacist. Both of these two train wrecks get in the way of the message. Both enflame rather than inform.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:56 PM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
Huckabee-Sanders cannot hide her contempt. She is dour and humorless while betraying how little she knows about the actual policies themselves. She stands at the podium exuding an air of grievance as though she has been forced to deal with an unpleasant task. Miller, on the other hand, takes more joy from his labors but it is a joy based in bullying others-- both the listener and the recipient of the latest cruel anti-other policy. He is weak and petulant but has unexpectedly found a way to lash out at anyone who isn't a White Supremacist. Both of these two train wrecks get in the way of the message. Both enflame rather than inform.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:56 PM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
I hope Trump makes Miller the face of the White House. That guy is so deep in the alt-right fever swamp that his dog whistles are fully audible.
posted by diogenes at 1:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 1:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
The continuous siren that is the Trump dogwhistle can get louder?
posted by Artw at 1:06 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 1:06 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
The continuous siren that is the Trump dogwhistle can get louder?
The representatives of Trumpism vary in their slickness at concealing the worst of it. Miller is at the low end of that bell curve.
posted by diogenes at 1:10 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The representatives of Trumpism vary in their slickness at concealing the worst of it. Miller is at the low end of that bell curve.
posted by diogenes at 1:10 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The continuous siren that is the Trump dogwhistle can get louder?
Yeah, at this point even my cats are putting their paws on their ears and mewling in pain-horror
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:11 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, at this point even my cats are putting their paws on their ears and mewling in pain-horror
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:11 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, at this point even my cats are putting their paws on their ears and mewling in pain-horror
It can always get worse. Spicer and Huckabee-Sanders weren't particularly prone to spouting white-nationalist talking points from the podium.
posted by diogenes at 1:18 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
It can always get worse. Spicer and Huckabee-Sanders weren't particularly prone to spouting white-nationalist talking points from the podium.
posted by diogenes at 1:18 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am losing all faith that anything dramatic is going to happen from the Mueller investigation. They will find a bunch of impropriety, but nothing really actionable or earth-shaking. Trump will survive and continue to fuck everyone over and enrich himself and his family.
posted by chaz at 1:23 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by chaz at 1:23 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Another thread, another drawing.
By request, a somewhat less than flattering rendering of the mendacious goober, Jeff Sessions, whom I think I loathe more than anyone else in the administration.
Head's up, a Facebook link, and thank you all for the wonderful discussions, it's pretty much the only way i can make sense of this mess.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 1:24 PM on August 5, 2017 [40 favorites]
By request, a somewhat less than flattering rendering of the mendacious goober, Jeff Sessions, whom I think I loathe more than anyone else in the administration.
Head's up, a Facebook link, and thank you all for the wonderful discussions, it's pretty much the only way i can make sense of this mess.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 1:24 PM on August 5, 2017 [40 favorites]
Miller is at the low end of that bell curve.
(white-supremacisterical)
posted by contraption at 1:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
(white-supremacisterical)
posted by contraption at 1:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Is there a word for a meritocracy, except where a lack of morals is the metric used to judge your merit? Because that's the system that has allowed Stephen Miller to rise to the top.
posted by diogenes at 1:27 PM on August 5, 2017
posted by diogenes at 1:27 PM on August 5, 2017
Miller is at the low end of that bell curve.
(white-supremacisterical)
Oof, I wish I could say I did that on purpose...
posted by diogenes at 1:28 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
(white-supremacisterical)
Oof, I wish I could say I did that on purpose...
posted by diogenes at 1:28 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Found this totally over-the-top hagiography of Eric Bolling that the Star-Ledge/NJ.com published a few months ago. Looks like he had designs on Booker's senate seat.
posted by octothorpe at 1:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 1:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
The continuous siren that is the Trump dogwhistle can get louder?
Dogsiren?
posted by rhizome at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Dogsiren?
posted by rhizome at 1:34 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
You shouldn't get to buy your way to the highest office in the land.
Agree. But, it's not 100% 'buying your way' I don't think, although the money obviously helps. When I hire, there's education/degree, there are internal candidates with experience, and there is "equivalent experience". That's how we get some military vets who worked in similar fields and even management candidates who know essentially nothing about X, but who have managed people. All those people tend to work out in different ways, and having a mix is good.
I think the whole "government should be run like a business" simplistic myth is making private-sector CEOs appear (to many) to have equivalent experience. Turns out, government is NOT like business in a whole lot of important ways.
posted by ctmf at 1:38 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Agree. But, it's not 100% 'buying your way' I don't think, although the money obviously helps. When I hire, there's education/degree, there are internal candidates with experience, and there is "equivalent experience". That's how we get some military vets who worked in similar fields and even management candidates who know essentially nothing about X, but who have managed people. All those people tend to work out in different ways, and having a mix is good.
I think the whole "government should be run like a business" simplistic myth is making private-sector CEOs appear (to many) to have equivalent experience. Turns out, government is NOT like business in a whole lot of important ways.
posted by ctmf at 1:38 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
Dog-LRAD
posted by ctmf at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ctmf at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is there a word for a meritocracy, except where a lack of morals is the metric used to judge your merit?
Capitalism?
posted by romakimmy at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2017 [70 favorites]
Capitalism?
posted by romakimmy at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2017 [70 favorites]
I cannot figure out what's going on here. The Los Angeles Blade released another article about the trans ban referencing a memo from Mattis about "ethical standards" (but does not say anything about trans people or the ban). Yet I can't find this story ANYWHERE else, and it can't be attributed to a blase attitude towards trans people because the media was all over his tweets last week. You'd think that moving forward with WH policy would warrant more coverage. Please post if you see anything or if it's derailing the thread, memail me.
So the "ethical standards" memo is a weird document that Mattis issued to the entire military (Andrhia posted it in the thread last night) and released to the press, generically reminding everyone to be ethical. The defense reporters I follow were all taken by surprise and nobody really knew what it was about or why, or even whether it was meant to be connected to Trump's trans announcement.
BuzzFeed's Chris Geidner has a little thread on the framing of the Blade story:
The Mooch's replacement could be Stephen Miller
If Scaramucci was fired for grabbing too much of the spotlight, I'm not sure a guy who auditioned by getting into a dominance contest with a 305' torchbearing statue is going to be an improvement in that regard.
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
So the "ethical standards" memo is a weird document that Mattis issued to the entire military (Andrhia posted it in the thread last night) and released to the press, generically reminding everyone to be ethical. The defense reporters I follow were all taken by surprise and nobody really knew what it was about or why, or even whether it was meant to be connected to Trump's trans announcement.
BuzzFeed's Chris Geidner has a little thread on the framing of the Blade story:
I've seen a lot of guidance, drafts, reporteds, and rumors from this White House. Until they issue it, I presume they're still fighting.None of that is to say that implementation of the policy isn't being discussed, but especially in this White House, there's a difference between discussing a policy and actually having it executed by a separate executive agency, and it's worth keeping that in mind.
So, we now have one report on "guidance" being OK'ed by the White House on trans service, & a legal org using that to say they'll be suing.
If the White House wanted to issue a policy, they'd issue a policy: An executive order. Guidance is guidance, passing the buck.
It will lead to policy, yes, but guidance is evidence that even the White House isn't sure how to make Trump's tweets into a lawful policy.
Anyway, I don't doubt that White House Counsel's Office signed off on guidance relating to trans service, but I urge caution in responses.
We've been through this w the religious liberty order & the 2nd travel ban. Until something is actually issued by this admin, it's not done.
With those caveats, and the understanding that I don't think this report captures those realities, here it is: [link to LA Blade report]
(I greatly respect @KarenOcamb's work; I just differ with her about the approach to this report.)
And, this is the resulting legal attack (which I get, is advocacy), from @LambdaLegal: [link to Lambda Legal announcing lawsuit]
The Mooch's replacement could be Stephen Miller
If Scaramucci was fired for grabbing too much of the spotlight, I'm not sure a guy who auditioned by getting into a dominance contest with a 305' torchbearing statue is going to be an improvement in that regard.
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [22 favorites]
So, the Dallas dems are doing an Anne Richards fundraising dinner, with Keith Ellison. And I was all, "whoo, I'm going to go tell him, in the name of St. Anne, why the Dems should not be supporting forced birth candidates." And then, when I went order a ticket, I ran smack into that wall of "I am not wealthy enough to have a voice at this table." I mean, the cheap tickets aren't outrageous, by fundraising standards, but only the hoity toity get to buy sponsorship seats, which are the only tickets where you get to talk to Mr Ellison. Bare minimum cost, $500, and those are the cheap seats. Corporate sponsors are paying 10,000 for a table of 8. Guess who the party is really listening to.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [37 favorites]
If Scaramucci was fired for grabbing too much of the spotlight, I'm not sure a guy who auditioned by getting into a dominance contest with a 305' torchbearing statue is going to be an improvement in that regard.
I dunno. Trump's already very familiar with Miller taking the spotlight as an opening act at campaign rallies. Miller's been doing it ever since Sessions joined the campaign, when he detached his remora suction-cup from Sessions' pale belly and attached to Trump (who seems to enjoy it).
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I dunno. Trump's already very familiar with Miller taking the spotlight as an opening act at campaign rallies. Miller's been doing it ever since Sessions joined the campaign, when he detached his remora suction-cup from Sessions' pale belly and attached to Trump (who seems to enjoy it).
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
I mean, I'd like a radically different campaign finance system in this country, but insofar as we have this one, I'm not convinced that "Democrats should charge less for fundraisers" is a winning strategy.
I'm all for the idea that officials should be more accessible outside of fundraisers, but I also get the impression Ellison has been doing a number of free public events.
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm all for the idea that officials should be more accessible outside of fundraisers, but I also get the impression Ellison has been doing a number of free public events.
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Also, not to defend high-priced access schemes, but raising the price on some lets you lower the price on others (assuming you want to make the same money). It's kind of "tax the rich" in practice. Unless, like you say, the cheap seats don't get any meaningful participation.
posted by ctmf at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 2:01 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
LAMDA Legal has annnouced a lawsuit over the apparent pursuit by admin and DoD of a policy change on transgender persons in the military.
posted by spitbull at 2:28 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:28 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
LAMDA legal has also posted a donation page in support of this specific lawsuit, to which I was proud to donate just now.
posted by spitbull at 2:31 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:31 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Jon Davidson, legal director at Lambda Legal, said in an emailed statement the suit would be filed “very soon” and would challenge the policy under the equal protection and due process clauses of the constitution.
“Further details will be forthcoming but we are not yet ready to disclose whom we are suing on behalf of, the named defendants or precisely when or where we will be filing,” Davidson said.
posted by sourcejedi at 2:34 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
“Further details will be forthcoming but we are not yet ready to disclose whom we are suing on behalf of, the named defendants or precisely when or where we will be filing,” Davidson said.
posted by sourcejedi at 2:34 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
BTW it's "Ann" Richards, no "e." And I voted for her. Oh for someone with her charisma today.
posted by spitbull at 2:36 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 2:36 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
we should not forget that August is the last of this summer, and don't let the world's biggest bastards ruin your travels, bbq's, dialogues with children, opportunities to hand hold, tell stories, wade in streams, or watch sunsets.
QFMFT, yo. Reclaim some of that time while the reclaiming's good.
posted by petebest at 2:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
QFMFT, yo. Reclaim some of that time while the reclaiming's good.
posted by petebest at 2:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean, the cheap tickets aren't outrageous, by fundraising standards, but only the hoity toity get to buy sponsorship seats, which are the only tickets where you get to talk to Mr Ellison. Bare minimum cost, $500, and those are the cheap seats. Corporate sponsors are paying 10,000 for a table of 8. Guess who the party is really listening to
Hah. Ellison held a (free) town hall in my district, which is not his own. (Because our Republican rep won't have them.) It was focused on healthcare. He spent a good chunk of time talking about women's healthcare, planned parenthood, and why he was pro-choice. He praised the largely female leadership of "the resistance."
He took a lot of questions from the audience.
And he spent at least five minutes complaining about the awful fundraisers he has to attend.
I have video of a lot of that, if anyone wants to suggest a good way of sharing it.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
Hah. Ellison held a (free) town hall in my district, which is not his own. (Because our Republican rep won't have them.) It was focused on healthcare. He spent a good chunk of time talking about women's healthcare, planned parenthood, and why he was pro-choice. He praised the largely female leadership of "the resistance."
He took a lot of questions from the audience.
And he spent at least five minutes complaining about the awful fundraisers he has to attend.
I have video of a lot of that, if anyone wants to suggest a good way of sharing it.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [36 favorites]
Oh no, Putin's posted more shirtless photos online. This time he's fishing. Let us all pray that Trump doesn't respond in kind.
posted by Room 641-A at 2:54 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 2:54 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
You know if Putin shot someone on Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge, he would get away with it for real. In fact he already did. (Boris Nemtsov.)
posted by spitbull at 3:00 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 3:00 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
If Scaramucci was fired for grabbing too much of the spotlight, .
Was that the reason? I thought it was outside pressure over the Lizza interview plus one of his main jobs, firing Reince, was done. I think he liked what he saw, just like with Miller. (Although I'm sureif either get SNL "President Scarmucci" attention it will be See Ya!)
posted by Room 641-A at 3:00 PM on August 5, 2017
Was that the reason? I thought it was outside pressure over the Lizza interview plus one of his main jobs, firing Reince, was done. I think he liked what he saw, just like with Miller. (Although I'm sure
posted by Room 641-A at 3:00 PM on August 5, 2017
To clarify, the $75 ticket price to enter wasn't a barrier, what annoyed me was that only sponsors got to talk to the man responsible for driving dem strategy moving forward. I wanted to mention things we've talked about here, like the fact that the Dems depend on free labor of primarily women. That women have been the water carriers for this party for the fifty some odd years I've been alive. And that our rights are not negotiable.
Re Anne v. Ann, for reasons, my autocorrect adds an e, and I wasn't paying attention. I too voted for her. I've even been at bbqs with her, because I interned with the sainted Molly. I've been in Texas so long y'all, I remember when we were a yellow dog state.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Re Anne v. Ann, for reasons, my autocorrect adds an e, and I wasn't paying attention. I too voted for her. I've even been at bbqs with her, because I interned with the sainted Molly. I've been in Texas so long y'all, I remember when we were a yellow dog state.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 3:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Autocorrect is an evil bug masquerading as a feature.
posted by Bringer Tom at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Bringer Tom at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
I have video of a lot of that, if anyone wants to suggest a good way of sharing it.
Youtube's good. Maybe reach out to him on Twitter with the link.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2017
Youtube's good. Maybe reach out to him on Twitter with the link.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:12 PM on August 5, 2017
Oh for someone with her charisma today.
If America weren't a deeply sexist nation that wouldn't consider a female presidential candidate without the "experience" of being married to a more successful politician, Ann Richards could've been elected the first woman President in '92.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
If America weren't a deeply sexist nation that wouldn't consider a female presidential candidate without the "experience" of being married to a more successful politician, Ann Richards could've been elected the first woman President in '92.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
only the hoity toity get to buy sponsorship seats, which are the only tickets where you get to talk to Mr Ellison. Bare minimum cost, $500, and those are the cheap seats. Corporate sponsors are paying 10,000 for a table of 8. Guess who the party is really listening to.
More money=More speech
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
More money=More speech
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Chomsky says Trump’s scandals are only a distraction to hide what's going on behind the scenes
In ‘A Continuing Conversation with Geographers’, Noam Chomsky – one of the most influential scientists and respected intellectuals of our time – spoke his mind on the Trump administration’s ongoing scandal concerning Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer. In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion, and media would serve the public much better by focusing on what’s going on behind the scenes of America’s most popular reality show.
posted by gucci mane at 3:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
In ‘A Continuing Conversation with Geographers’, Noam Chomsky – one of the most influential scientists and respected intellectuals of our time – spoke his mind on the Trump administration’s ongoing scandal concerning Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer. In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion, and media would serve the public much better by focusing on what’s going on behind the scenes of America’s most popular reality show.
posted by gucci mane at 3:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion
I saw the best minds of [your] generation
Destroyed by "Chomsky"
Well-fed, hysterical ...
posted by Barack Spinoza at 3:37 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
I saw the best minds of [your] generation
Destroyed by "Chomsky"
Well-fed, hysterical ...
posted by Barack Spinoza at 3:37 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm baffled by this continued insistence that it's impossible to investigate crimes and potential Russian collusion while also having concern about the "behind the scenes" stuff Chomsky is complaining about. I mean, I suppose you could point fingers at every Democrat who voted AYE to the various Cabinet appointees, but even if every single one had voted NAY they would still have been confirmed. What are we supposed to do, exactly? Be aware of how dangerous Trump's cabinet is? Trust me, I know.
posted by xyzzy at 3:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [64 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 3:44 PM on August 5, 2017 [64 favorites]
Thank you, xyzzy.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 3:46 PM on August 5, 2017
posted by Barack Spinoza at 3:46 PM on August 5, 2017
In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion
Well, at least I know I can disregard anything Chomsky says from here on out. Has he been hanging out with Jill Stein or something?
posted by diogenes at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Well, at least I know I can disregard anything Chomsky says from here on out. Has he been hanging out with Jill Stein or something?
posted by diogenes at 3:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Normally I am OK with Chomsky, but in this case the Trump family doings consist of what ever it takes to establish an intimate relationship with Putin's reputed $200 billion. As such it is lipstick lathered on the sacrificial virgin, who is the embodiment of all most of us hold dear. That's the 99% who like to love our honorable country, who wish to thrive here, who wish for our children and grandchildren to enjoy busy and meaningful lives. We did not sign on for a multilevel arms marketing theocracy.
It is agonizing to watch the evil play out in our congress, under the blind mind of the capitalist predators/losers of the Trump family. It is ridiculous to watch the angry, dishonest hag Sarah Huckabee Sanders deflect reality, and then the swollen botox clown lips of Lara Trump spew more kerosene on the Trumpster fire.
Chomsky implies there is something worthy in this band of grifters dissing on and profiting wildly from their stay in the Whitehouse. Chomsky is way off base here.
posted by Oyéah at 3:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
It is agonizing to watch the evil play out in our congress, under the blind mind of the capitalist predators/losers of the Trump family. It is ridiculous to watch the angry, dishonest hag Sarah Huckabee Sanders deflect reality, and then the swollen botox clown lips of Lara Trump spew more kerosene on the Trumpster fire.
Chomsky implies there is something worthy in this band of grifters dissing on and profiting wildly from their stay in the Whitehouse. Chomsky is way off base here.
posted by Oyéah at 3:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion
It's clearly not diplomacy because diplomacy is conducted by diplomats: representatives of the state, not representatives of political campaigns looking for outside assistance to subvert the institutions of said state.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [44 favorites]
It's clearly not diplomacy because diplomacy is conducted by diplomats: representatives of the state, not representatives of political campaigns looking for outside assistance to subvert the institutions of said state.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:53 PM on August 5, 2017 [44 favorites]
Not for nothing but the Russia stuff pushed out his NSA, limited his AG, and hamstrung him. It's had more effect on his Cabinet and agenda than Ds voting for confirmation have.
posted by chris24 at 3:54 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 3:54 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Ann Richards could've been elected the first woman President in '92.
She ... didn't run? (She had only been governor since January of '91 at that time, anyway, and the only time her name seems to have come up for higher office after she was defeated by W. was a brief flurry of interest of making her Kerry's running mate, but she wasn't interested.)
while also having concern about the "behind the scenes" stuff Chomsky is complaining about
I think this is basically suggestive of an accelerationist viewpoint: the stuff where you're worried about the legitimacy and stable functioning of the US government is class or racial privilege, and it really isn't important if it all falls apart: it was all capitalist hegemony anyway. At least, that's more or less what I see on Twitter (and if people are looking for a functional definition of the alt-left, well, that's a starting point).
As to what is actually "behind the scenes", that's not clear -- there's been precious little actual legislation passed, and the biggest story that doesn't seem to get much coverage is the gutting and kneecapping of the State Department in a way that I almost feel should please the Chomskyan tendency.
posted by dhartung at 3:55 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
She ... didn't run? (She had only been governor since January of '91 at that time, anyway, and the only time her name seems to have come up for higher office after she was defeated by W. was a brief flurry of interest of making her Kerry's running mate, but she wasn't interested.)
while also having concern about the "behind the scenes" stuff Chomsky is complaining about
I think this is basically suggestive of an accelerationist viewpoint: the stuff where you're worried about the legitimacy and stable functioning of the US government is class or racial privilege, and it really isn't important if it all falls apart: it was all capitalist hegemony anyway. At least, that's more or less what I see on Twitter (and if people are looking for a functional definition of the alt-left, well, that's a starting point).
As to what is actually "behind the scenes", that's not clear -- there's been precious little actual legislation passed, and the biggest story that doesn't seem to get much coverage is the gutting and kneecapping of the State Department in a way that I almost feel should please the Chomskyan tendency.
posted by dhartung at 3:55 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Federal employees step up defiance of Trump (The Hill)
Government employees are growing increasingly willing to criticize or defy the White House and President Trump’s top appointees.posted by Barack Spinoza at 4:03 PM on August 5, 2017 [29 favorites]
A handful of current and former career staffers in the Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have openly shredded their superiors within the last several weeks, continuing a trend that has developed throughout the government over the course of Trump’s tenure in the Oval Office.
The growing opposition in the executive branch comes as the White House’s legislative agenda has stalled in Congress and Trump turns to his Cabinet agencies to change course in several policy areas. It also is emanating from career staffers or political holdovers whose resistance to Trump has, at times, been rooted in deep opposition to the president’s agenda.
@realDonaldTrump: Working in Bedminster, N.J., as long planned construction is being done at the White House. This is not a vacation - meetings and calls!
Meanwhile, the vacation continues on Instagram, he's popping into weddings and playing golf.
This is some pair of photos. Everything about this, the Presidential seal shirt, the Presidential seal golf cart...
posted by zachlipton at 4:09 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Meanwhile, the vacation continues on Instagram, he's popping into weddings and playing golf.
This is some pair of photos. Everything about this, the Presidential seal shirt, the Presidential seal golf cart...
posted by zachlipton at 4:09 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
I am losing all faith that anything dramatic is going to happen from the Mueller investigation. They will find a bunch of impropriety, but nothing really actionable or earth-shaking.
I think that's a reasonable view with regard to the Russia stuff; it really is possible that these idiots would have been perfectly happy to collude illegally with Russia during the campaign but were too incompetent to manage it, and all Mueller will find on that front is impropriety... but I think it's significantly more likely he'll find illegalities (money laundering, etc) going back quite some time in the Trump family finances.
posted by Justinian at 4:19 PM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
I think that's a reasonable view with regard to the Russia stuff; it really is possible that these idiots would have been perfectly happy to collude illegally with Russia during the campaign but were too incompetent to manage it, and all Mueller will find on that front is impropriety... but I think it's significantly more likely he'll find illegalities (money laundering, etc) going back quite some time in the Trump family finances.
posted by Justinian at 4:19 PM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
That's the 99% who like to love our honorable country,
And this mindset is more than part of the problem because USA has been seen time and time again to be anything but an honorably country but the myth lingers on.
posted by adamvasco at 4:36 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
And this mindset is more than part of the problem because USA has been seen time and time again to be anything but an honorably country but the myth lingers on.
posted by adamvasco at 4:36 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
I would think "too incompetent too collude" (or to realize they were colluding, anyway) was a real possibility if not for the presence of Manafort. Manafort knew he was colluding. The rest of them should have known to report the email Don Jr got and not to take the meeting. They may have broken the law by not reporting it, whether out of ignorance or not.
But Manafort was not ignorant. This was his world.
And Sessions is not a political naif. He was talking to Kislyak about policy concessions well before the Don Jr/ Kushner meeting, back in April, according to Kislyak.
And Flynn... Former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, top level clearance, having dinner with Putin and taking money from RT as early as December 2015? Flynn knew exactly what he was doing. As someone said earlier, he was a fucking spy.
Trump and his family may have been suckered by a soft approach, but the money laundering is how the Russians knew they would be open to such an approach. Their incompetence is no real defense.
But Flynn, Manafort, and Sessions can't even lean in the stupidity defense. They knew what they were doing. There were intercepts of Russians bragging about their influence with Flynn and Manafort. Peter Smith was soliciting stolen emails from Russian hackers and saying he was talking to Flynn about it. They KNEW.
There is plenty for Mueller to prosecute, if he is is allowed to do his job.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:38 PM on August 5, 2017 [52 favorites]
But Manafort was not ignorant. This was his world.
And Sessions is not a political naif. He was talking to Kislyak about policy concessions well before the Don Jr/ Kushner meeting, back in April, according to Kislyak.
And Flynn... Former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, top level clearance, having dinner with Putin and taking money from RT as early as December 2015? Flynn knew exactly what he was doing. As someone said earlier, he was a fucking spy.
Trump and his family may have been suckered by a soft approach, but the money laundering is how the Russians knew they would be open to such an approach. Their incompetence is no real defense.
But Flynn, Manafort, and Sessions can't even lean in the stupidity defense. They knew what they were doing. There were intercepts of Russians bragging about their influence with Flynn and Manafort. Peter Smith was soliciting stolen emails from Russian hackers and saying he was talking to Flynn about it. They KNEW.
There is plenty for Mueller to prosecute, if he is is allowed to do his job.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:38 PM on August 5, 2017 [52 favorites]
Oh, I agree re: Manafort. But Trump himself is the big game.
posted by Justinian at 4:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Phlegmco(tm): By request, a somewhat less than flattering rendering of the mendacious goober, Jeff Sessions
Same drawing after SCIENCE
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
Same drawing after SCIENCE
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [8 favorites]
From the "EPA Staffers Speak Out" article above,
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich on Friday even accused special counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director now investigating Russia’s involvement in last year’s election, as representing the “deep state at its worse.”
Something about today - a lot of the articles (or maybe just the quotes) having typos and other issues is adding to the standard surreality.
posted by petebest at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2017
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich on Friday even accused special counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director now investigating Russia’s involvement in last year’s election, as representing the “deep state at its worse.”
Something about today - a lot of the articles (or maybe just the quotes) having typos and other issues is adding to the standard surreality.
posted by petebest at 4:47 PM on August 5, 2017
Oh, I agree re: Manafort. But Trump himself is the big game.
I think "Your campaign manager was knowingly colluding with Russia and you were deliberately asking no questions because you were afraid of your history of money laundering coming out" is more than impeachable enough.
God. Somebody get someone with a credible name to write up that scenario up in so many words so I can link to it. All the analysis pieces I can find so far hint way too broadly at that possibility. I want to spell it out but if I put it on some anonymous website it is just a conspiracy theory, which will make people take the facts that fill the rest of the website less seriously.
Bonus if the credible person includes some credible speculation about the role of Flynn and Sessions too.
Someone needs to just spell it out.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
I think "Your campaign manager was knowingly colluding with Russia and you were deliberately asking no questions because you were afraid of your history of money laundering coming out" is more than impeachable enough.
God. Somebody get someone with a credible name to write up that scenario up in so many words so I can link to it. All the analysis pieces I can find so far hint way too broadly at that possibility. I want to spell it out but if I put it on some anonymous website it is just a conspiracy theory, which will make people take the facts that fill the rest of the website less seriously.
Bonus if the credible person includes some credible speculation about the role of Flynn and Sessions too.
Someone needs to just spell it out.
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
Carlos Lozada, WaPo, reviews three new books: Sorry, but I don’t care how you felt on election night. Not anymore.
The impulse to write and share such early thoughts, to grapple with a shocking and disorienting event, is understandable. Less understandable is the impulse to bind collections of such essays into anthologies that, months later, purport to show a path forward for Trump’s opponents. Yes, individual essays and open letters can inspire on occasion. Put dozens of them together, however, and their timeliness erodes, their echoes annoy, and their inadequacy as self-styled resistance manuals grows clear.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
I don’t know how else to put this, but I no longer care how you felt on election night. Not anymore.
Two recent collections, “Radical Hope” and “How Do I Explain This to My Kids?,” featuring dozens of essays by artists, novelists, journalists and activists, reveal the limits of the approach. A third, “Rules for Resistance,” with contributors who have battled or chronicled authoritarianism worldwide, displays emotion sobered by experience, providing a more resonant and practical read six months into the Trump presidency.
House Dems Urge DOD, Joint Chiefs Of Staff: Don’t Change Transgender Policy (Nicole Lafond, TPM)
A group of 50 Democratic U.S. House members sent a letter Friday to the heads of the Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff requesting that they not comply with the President’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and “at a minimum” not make any changes until a policy study has been completed.posted by Room 641-A at 5:01 PM on August 5, 2017 [32 favorites]
“We write to not only express our strong opposition to President Trump’s recent tweets seeking to ban transgender individuals from the military, but to remind you not to comply with any unconstitutional directive which may ultimately be issued,” the letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, read. “We reject the premise that the presence of transgender troops interferes with the morale or combat readiness of our Armed Forces.”
aw fuck I've been sending out my story of POTUS 45 adaptation and survival for a few weeks now, no lie.
posted by angrycat at 5:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 5:02 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Autocorrect is an evil bug masquerading as a feature.
Counterpoint, as we learned in the previous thread: type "Motörhead" and the correct meaningless heavy metal umlaut snaps right into place.
posted by spitbull at 5:17 PM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
Counterpoint, as we learned in the previous thread: type "Motörhead" and the correct meaningless heavy metal umlaut snaps right into place.
posted by spitbull at 5:17 PM on August 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
Carlos Lozada, WaPo, eh? Book reviewer? Okay, I'll take a chance. *click*
The first one I recall . . . wow we're recalling already? Shouldn't we let the brandy kick in first, or - okay, you're the book review guy. Pray, continue.
. . . was by New Yorker editor David Remnick, who proclaimed . . . Proclaimed. "Who proclaimed". Y'know I gotta say, and I'm empathetic to it, heck I live here, amirite, but. It seems a little, y'know, bombastic just right out of the gate like that. Let's - okay, no, you're right, continue.
. . . who proclaimed “revulsion and profound anxiety” at Donald Trump’s victory. But it was Aaron Sorkin, America’s leading purveyor of political self-righteousness, who
*close window*
Well. That was three minutes or so.
posted by petebest at 5:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
The first one I recall . . . wow we're recalling already? Shouldn't we let the brandy kick in first, or - okay, you're the book review guy. Pray, continue.
. . . was by New Yorker editor David Remnick, who proclaimed . . . Proclaimed. "Who proclaimed". Y'know I gotta say, and I'm empathetic to it, heck I live here, amirite, but. It seems a little, y'know, bombastic just right out of the gate like that. Let's - okay, no, you're right, continue.
. . . who proclaimed “revulsion and profound anxiety” at Donald Trump’s victory. But it was Aaron Sorkin, America’s leading purveyor of political self-righteousness, who
*close window*
Well. That was three minutes or so.
posted by petebest at 5:22 PM on August 5, 2017 [6 favorites]
it really is possible that these idiots would have been perfectly happy to collude illegally with Russia during the campaign but were too incompetent to manage it, and all Mueller will find on that front is impropriety
There's going to be more meetings. The microtargeting of Russia disinformation to the precinct level came from somewhere. The targeting and the timing of Clinton leaks were the collusion, and I'd bet a lot that Mueller has more evidence regarding that than just one meeting. Plus the money trail is going to be dirty as fuck.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
There's going to be more meetings. The microtargeting of Russia disinformation to the precinct level came from somewhere. The targeting and the timing of Clinton leaks were the collusion, and I'd bet a lot that Mueller has more evidence regarding that than just one meeting. Plus the money trail is going to be dirty as fuck.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:24 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
The Donald, in a public speech, implored RUSSIA specifically to leak more Anti-Hillary stuff! Open and shut case. Are the Good Guys getting as dumb as the Bad Guys?
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [24 favorites]
but the myth lingers on.
It's not just a myth for many. It's a goal and it can seem an awful lot like how republicans approach governance when the harsher critics seem to mock even the possibility and legitimacy of those aspirations.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:48 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's not just a myth for many. It's a goal and it can seem an awful lot like how republicans approach governance when the harsher critics seem to mock even the possibility and legitimacy of those aspirations.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:48 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump's attorneys are just going to see how far the "he was just joking and anyway he's an idiot" defense can get them.
posted by lydhre at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 5:49 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
Chomsky made those remarks on April 6. I wouldn't have agreed with him then, either, but a lot more solid evidence has come to light since, and the threat of dismantling the social safety net did look a lot more severe then.
posted by Coventry at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 5:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a link to a July 30th Chomsky interview with Amy Goodman titled "President Donald Trump & America" in the sidebar to that talk. (Which I haven't listened to, but probably will, and probably reflects more recent events.)
posted by Coventry at 5:54 PM on August 5, 2017
posted by Coventry at 5:54 PM on August 5, 2017
This is some pair of photos. Everything about this, the Presidential seal shirt, the Presidential seal golf cart..
Fairway 1?
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:58 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Fairway 1?
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:58 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
There's a link to a July 30th Chomsky interview with Amy Goodman titled "President Donald Trump & America" in the sidebar to that talk.
That interview references Comey saying he's investigating collusion "this week," so the date in the title is inaccurate. (Also, the title says Jul 30th and it was posted Jul 29. :-)
posted by Coventry at 5:59 PM on August 5, 2017
That interview references Comey saying he's investigating collusion "this week," so the date in the title is inaccurate. (Also, the title says Jul 30th and it was posted Jul 29. :-)
posted by Coventry at 5:59 PM on August 5, 2017
Bertrand Russell’s Delicious Response To British Fascist Oswald Mosle
Obligatory
posted by Room 641-A at 6:19 PM on August 5, 2017 [89 favorites]
Dear Sir Oswald,a lot more solid evidence has come to light
Thank you for your letter and for your enclosures. I have given some thought to our recent correspondence. It is always difficult to decide on how to respond to people whose ethos is so alien and, in fact, repellent to one’s own. It is not that I take exception to the general points made by you but that every ounce of my energy has been devoted to an active opposition to cruel bigotry, compulsive violence, and the sadistic persecution which has characterised the philosophy and practice of fascism.
I feel obliged to say that the emotional universes we inhabit are so distinct, and in deepest ways opposed, that nothing fruitful or sincere could ever emerge from association between us.
I should like you to understand the intensity of this conviction on my part. It is not out of any attempt to be rude that I say this but because of all that I value in human experience and human achievement.
Yours sincerely,
Bertrand Russell
Obligatory
posted by Room 641-A at 6:19 PM on August 5, 2017 [89 favorites]
In Chomsky’s view, the meeting should rather be regarded as a responsible diplomatic gesture than an attempt at collusion
And if it were the only meeting, the only point of connection between the Russian gov't and the presidential campaign last year, that would be a reasonable assumption. However, it wasn't. Whether this meeting (and other connections) had the actual goal of "diplomacy" or "collusion" is exactly what the investigation is supposed to find out.
The way to convince the investigators is to say, "here's the records of what we discussed; you see, nothing unusual; just some good-natured discussion between former business associates who may be seeing a lot more of each other in the future," not, "this investigation is a waste of time and based on false news and a cloud over the administration and it needs to go away fast."
Only one of those responses leans toward "proactive diplomacy," and it's not the one currently taking place on Twitter.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
And if it were the only meeting, the only point of connection between the Russian gov't and the presidential campaign last year, that would be a reasonable assumption. However, it wasn't. Whether this meeting (and other connections) had the actual goal of "diplomacy" or "collusion" is exactly what the investigation is supposed to find out.
The way to convince the investigators is to say, "here's the records of what we discussed; you see, nothing unusual; just some good-natured discussion between former business associates who may be seeing a lot more of each other in the future," not, "this investigation is a waste of time and based on false news and a cloud over the administration and it needs to go away fast."
Only one of those responses leans toward "proactive diplomacy," and it's not the one currently taking place on Twitter.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 6:45 PM on August 5, 2017 [11 favorites]
I eagerly await Trump tweeting Chomsky quotes as a defense, not bothering to read past the "diplomatic gesture" throwaway line. Chomsky sort of overstated that dismissal of Russia, and his core argument is quite conspiracy-driven. Indeed he refers to the Russia collusion case as a ... wait for it ... "distraction" from the real bloody business of dismantling government and the social contract, all with a sufficiently ominous level of ruthless efficiency and congressional Democrats' near willful enabling to make you lie awake in bed listening for footsteps.
Don't buy it myself. But he was right about the universal neurobiological basis of linguistic structure, in its essence the most powerful anti-racist idea in all of 20th century scientific thought, so I give him all due respect. /
posted by spitbull at 6:56 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
Don't buy it myself. But he was right about the universal neurobiological basis of linguistic structure, in its essence the most powerful anti-racist idea in all of 20th century scientific thought, so I give him all due respect. /
posted by spitbull at 6:56 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
At just about any other point in history, he'd probably be right, but no, the Russia situation is real and about geopolitics, not our own domestic problems (except to the extent our contempt for each other and racism and sexism have weakened us enough to make such a brazen plot possible in the first place).
posted by saulgoodman at 7:08 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 7:08 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
Julian Borger in The Guardian:
White House as Crime Scene.
A really good summary of the state of play in the Mueller investigation. Didn't see it posted above.
posted by spitbull at 7:09 PM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
White House as Crime Scene.
A really good summary of the state of play in the Mueller investigation. Didn't see it posted above.
posted by spitbull at 7:09 PM on August 5, 2017 [19 favorites]
The only thing Chomsky is really wrong about is whether or not there's Trump-Russia collusion.
There is a concerted effort to dismantle our government and civil society. It just so happens that Trump and Putin are a sort of reactionary wild card in that equation -- and I think the problem Chomsky has is a problem a lot of more radical people have, in that defending against Trump/Putin feels like defending the economic and political movements that made Trump/Putin possible.
But our democratic and civic norms, laws and institutions are worth defending, even if they've been thoroughly undermined by the marketization of every aspect of our lives and the atomization of polities into consumers. And even if the political hegemony of the United States has in the past made those very things so possible.
We have to do both: prevent Trump/Putin from permanently damaging the ideas of democracy and "The West", while also making sure that it is something people are able to participate in and benefit from so that they actually give a shit about it.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:29 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
There is a concerted effort to dismantle our government and civil society. It just so happens that Trump and Putin are a sort of reactionary wild card in that equation -- and I think the problem Chomsky has is a problem a lot of more radical people have, in that defending against Trump/Putin feels like defending the economic and political movements that made Trump/Putin possible.
But our democratic and civic norms, laws and institutions are worth defending, even if they've been thoroughly undermined by the marketization of every aspect of our lives and the atomization of polities into consumers. And even if the political hegemony of the United States has in the past made those very things so possible.
We have to do both: prevent Trump/Putin from permanently damaging the ideas of democracy and "The West", while also making sure that it is something people are able to participate in and benefit from so that they actually give a shit about it.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:29 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
I eagerly await Trump tweeting Chomsky quotes as a defense...
This is when I'll go buy a pound of weed, some rice and beans, some undeveloped land in the desert, and hide out for 3 1/2 years. I learned a long time ago not to fight crazy people. I guess I'm learninig not to fight crazy nations.
posted by rdr at 7:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is when I'll go buy a pound of weed, some rice and beans, some undeveloped land in the desert, and hide out for 3 1/2 years. I learned a long time ago not to fight crazy people. I guess I'm learninig not to fight crazy nations.
posted by rdr at 7:30 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
The only thing Chomsky is really wrong about is whether or not there's Trump-Russia collusion.
Also, in early April I think it was still reasonable for someone to need more convincing evidence than was publicly available, when they've spent the last fifty years uncovering warmongering government lies in the face of widespread public ridicule.
posted by Coventry at 7:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, in early April I think it was still reasonable for someone to need more convincing evidence than was publicly available, when they've spent the last fifty years uncovering warmongering government lies in the face of widespread public ridicule.
posted by Coventry at 7:50 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, in early April I think it was still reasonable for someone to need more convincing evidence
That's a great point. Seems like we're sometimes careless about appreciating the importance of timing in understanding the meaning of distant events when we're being flooded with too many at once. I'd bet skilled propagandists knowingly use that cognitive weakness to opportunistically encourage confusion for tactical advantages.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's a great point. Seems like we're sometimes careless about appreciating the importance of timing in understanding the meaning of distant events when we're being flooded with too many at once. I'd bet skilled propagandists knowingly use that cognitive weakness to opportunistically encourage confusion for tactical advantages.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:00 PM on August 5, 2017 [4 favorites]
the importance of timing in understanding the meaning of distant events
It's more that the public evidence at that stage was still nowhere near a slam dunk. Even now, I wouldn't be gobsmacked if Mueller came up empty, though I'd be surprised.
posted by Coventry at 8:14 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's more that the public evidence at that stage was still nowhere near a slam dunk. Even now, I wouldn't be gobsmacked if Mueller came up empty, though I'd be surprised.
posted by Coventry at 8:14 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
There is a concerted effort to dismantle our government and civil society.
Also your army, I believe. The attack on tg servicepeople is consistent with the known prejudices of Trump's team, but it hasn't been widely welcomed, not even by the people who might have supported a Federal "bathroom bill". The military doesn't want to discharge serving troops that came out once their gender was accepted, or even start quizzing recruits whether they really identify with their assigned gender. So where is the impetus coming from? I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's another bit of Russian trolling to (a) distract the public's attention from the current investigations, and (b) weaken the US armed forces by pushing them to accept the inevitable McCarthyist denunciations that spiteful people will make. I mean, just imagine the investigations about whether Officer X really thinks of herself as a woman, or whether she is walking around being all transgender in her head.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:33 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also your army, I believe. The attack on tg servicepeople is consistent with the known prejudices of Trump's team, but it hasn't been widely welcomed, not even by the people who might have supported a Federal "bathroom bill". The military doesn't want to discharge serving troops that came out once their gender was accepted, or even start quizzing recruits whether they really identify with their assigned gender. So where is the impetus coming from? I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's another bit of Russian trolling to (a) distract the public's attention from the current investigations, and (b) weaken the US armed forces by pushing them to accept the inevitable McCarthyist denunciations that spiteful people will make. I mean, just imagine the investigations about whether Officer X really thinks of herself as a woman, or whether she is walking around being all transgender in her head.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:33 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
> I guess I'm learninig not to fight crazy nations.
so I'm going to have to break some bad news about nations to you.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:33 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
so I'm going to have to break some bad news about nations to you.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:33 PM on August 5, 2017 [5 favorites]
Now We Have a Road Map to the Trump Campaign’s Collusion With Russia, Jon Chait
The figure carrying out the operation in question was Peter W. Smith, who died at the age of 81 earlier this year. Smith is hardly a lone kook. He’s an established Republican donor with a demonstrated history in financing ethically murky investigations, such as paying Arkansas state troopers for stories of Bill Clinton’s sexual dalliances.That Time I Got Recruited To Collude With The Russians, Matt Tait
Smith surfaced earlier in the week in an explosive Wall Street Journal report by Shane Harris, which Harris followed up on Friday night. What really underscores the significance of Harris’s reporting, though, is a detailed account, also published Friday night, by Matt Tait, a British cybersecurity expert who dealt extensively with Smith. Tait’s report makes it clear that Smith had access to Michael Flynn, at the very least, and was working not only to obtain stolen Clinton emails but also to hide the Trump campaign’s involvement.
Over the course of our conversations, one thing struck me as particularly disturbing. Smith and I talked several times about the DNC hack, and I expressed my view that the hack had likely been orchestrated by Russia and that the Kremlin was using the stolen documents as part of an influence campaign against the United States. I explained that if someone had contacted him via the “Dark Web” with Clinton’s personal emails, he should take very seriously the possibility that this may have been part of a wider Russian campaign against the United States. And I said he need not take my word for it, pointing to a number of occasions where US officials had made it clear that this was the view of the U.S. intelligence community as well.posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:33 PM on August 5, 2017 [13 favorites]
Smith, however, didn’t seem to care. From his perspective it didn’t matter who had taken the emails, or their motives for doing so. He never expressed to me any discomfort with the possibility that the emails he was seeking were potentially from a Russian front, a likelihood he was happy to acknowledge. If they were genuine, they would hurt Clinton’s chances, and therefore help Trump.
Gorka loses his +1 as dudes who went around to Bannon behind McMaster's back get axed.
posted by rhizome at 8:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 8:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
non-emeritus academic would refrain from stirring the pot.
He's between stirring the pot for decades, and his unpopular views have often been borne out. I tend to give a lot more weight to his views than I do to those attributed by journalists to unnamed intelligence officials.
posted by Coventry at 8:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
He's between stirring the pot for decades, and his unpopular views have often been borne out. I tend to give a lot more weight to his views than I do to those attributed by journalists to unnamed intelligence officials.
posted by Coventry at 8:52 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Help me jeebus I'd need more than a pound of ganja for 3.5 years.
For everyone's benefit, I did the math: 3.5 years = 1278 days. (Damn that is depressing.)
A pound of the chronic is 454 grams. A fair-sized joint is about a half a gram. A reasonably-sized bowl is about the same. So with a pound of da kine, you could get baked about once every 36 hours or so for the next 3-1/2 years.
Of course, if your bud has any seeds in it, you could grow your own. In which case the quality would drop in subsequent harvests, but you would be able to start out with a much smaller amount and still have plenty.
As for the rice and beans, just add a few gallons of canola oil and lots of canned butter, some vitamins and a good variety of veggie seeds for your garden. You're going to get the munchies a lot out on the Fatty Frontier, so maybe you don't have to worry too much about about dietary fatigue, but still.
posted by darkstar at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
For everyone's benefit, I did the math: 3.5 years = 1278 days. (Damn that is depressing.)
A pound of the chronic is 454 grams. A fair-sized joint is about a half a gram. A reasonably-sized bowl is about the same. So with a pound of da kine, you could get baked about once every 36 hours or so for the next 3-1/2 years.
Of course, if your bud has any seeds in it, you could grow your own. In which case the quality would drop in subsequent harvests, but you would be able to start out with a much smaller amount and still have plenty.
As for the rice and beans, just add a few gallons of canola oil and lots of canned butter, some vitamins and a good variety of veggie seeds for your garden. You're going to get the munchies a lot out on the Fatty Frontier, so maybe you don't have to worry too much about about dietary fatigue, but still.
posted by darkstar at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
Ok, which one of you is Noam Chomsky? Fess up.
posted by medusa at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by medusa at 8:57 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mod note: When The Zuck declares for some office you may discuss him at length but until then I am deleting Saturday Night Circular Firing Squads about Imaginary Candidates.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:03 PM on August 5, 2017 [111 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:03 PM on August 5, 2017 [111 favorites]
Thank you, Eyebrows. I love you, Eyebrows.
posted by greermahoney at 9:08 PM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 9:08 PM on August 5, 2017 [20 favorites]
In a short update from emergent US Leftist politics land, day 3 of the DSA National Convention saw the winning vote for creation of Afro socialist/POC working groups and caucuses along side Labor Solidarity groups and a formal split from Socialist International. Over 100k was raised from regional chapters. Press coverage continues to be supportive and growing, delegates are getting used to Malort.
Thank you.
posted by The Whelk at 9:14 PM on August 5, 2017 [31 favorites]
Thank you.
posted by The Whelk at 9:14 PM on August 5, 2017 [31 favorites]
Not him, but a big fan. Got into an argument with him once, long before my politics began to align his way. He kicked my ass. Very civilly, of course.
posted by Coventry at 9:16 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 9:16 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
On thing that drives me crazy is the argument about whether "Collusion" occurred. As many have stated, that's not a crime, and that is true.
That's a crime.
posted by mikelieman at 9:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
18 U.S. Code § 953 - Private correspondence with foreign governmentshttps://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/953
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both....
That's a crime.
posted by mikelieman at 9:25 PM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
Surely they're playing an unreleased expansion of Illuminati in the WH. Trump is playing as UFOs but keeps forgetting his special goal.
Covfefe is the new Fnord.
Yeah, about that... Steve Jackson has recently elliptically suggested that there might be more on the way.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:31 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Covfefe is the new Fnord.
Yeah, about that... Steve Jackson has recently elliptically suggested that there might be more on the way.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:31 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
18 U.S. Code § 953 - Private correspondence with foreign governments
This is the Logan Act, about which you can read more in a CRS report. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for violating it in the 218 years we've had it, and it's unclear to what extent it is even constitutional. It mostly falls into the weird category of American laws that we usually pretend aren't laws.
posted by zachlipton at 9:35 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is the Logan Act, about which you can read more in a CRS report. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for violating it in the 218 years we've had it, and it's unclear to what extent it is even constitutional. It mostly falls into the weird category of American laws that we usually pretend aren't laws.
posted by zachlipton at 9:35 PM on August 5, 2017 [2 favorites]
It mostly falls into the weird category of American laws that we usually pretend aren't laws.
FINE. Here's 18 USC 1001.
18 USC 371...
posted by mikelieman at 9:43 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
FINE. Here's 18 USC 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—and while we're at it...
(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.
18 USC 371...
If two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.BTW, plenty of people have been prosecuted for 18 USC 1001. Including Martha Stewart.
posted by mikelieman at 9:43 PM on August 5, 2017 [7 favorites]
Saturday night musing: Michelle and Barack Obama were proponents of volunteering, and Generation Y was already on board. Now it's 2017, and Trump has ... letters from young kids who volunteer to mow the White House lawn.
I miss the Obamas.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:59 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
I miss the Obamas.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:59 PM on August 5, 2017 [10 favorites]
Wow... From Devil's Bargain :
That same day, Palin’s daughter Bristol told a TV reporter that her mother had made up her mind about a presidential run. Andrew Breitbart, who trekked to Pella to serve as ringmaster for the occasion, was as effusive in his praise of Bannon as he was Palin, remarking afterward that he considered Bannon to be “the Leni Riefenstahl of the Tea Party movement.”posted by Coventry at 10:00 PM on August 5, 2017 [18 favorites]
Jill Stein on MSNBC defending North Korea!
Presented without comment.
posted by Justinian at 10:10 PM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
Presented without comment.
posted by Justinian at 10:10 PM on August 5, 2017 [21 favorites]
I did not know that Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth got her start as star villain on the first season of The Apprentice. (Per Devil's Bargain.)
posted by Coventry at 10:21 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 10:21 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
With respect to the criminality of "collusion" ... I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that there is already a prima facie case for violations of the following federal laws:
18 U.S. Code § 201 (anti-bribery and public corruption)
18 U.S. Code § 371 (conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the U.S.)
18 U.S. Code § 953 (the Logan Act)
18 U.S. Code § 1001 (false statements or entries)
18 U.S. Code § 1030 (Fraud connected w/ computers -- accessory after the fact)
18 U.S. Code § 1345, 1346 & 1349 (Fraud, Schemes, Attempts, and Conspiracy)
36 U.S. Code § 510 (Disclosure of and prohibition on certain donations)
52 U.S. Code § 30121 (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act)
And I think (setting aside the Logan Act owing to its history) that those are plausible just on the basis of Don Jr.'s emails, though the emails alone might not be enough to get me to convict, were I on a jury.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 10:27 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
18 U.S. Code § 201 (anti-bribery and public corruption)
18 U.S. Code § 371 (conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the U.S.)
18 U.S. Code § 953 (the Logan Act)
18 U.S. Code § 1001 (false statements or entries)
18 U.S. Code § 1030 (Fraud connected w/ computers -- accessory after the fact)
18 U.S. Code § 1345, 1346 & 1349 (Fraud, Schemes, Attempts, and Conspiracy)
36 U.S. Code § 510 (Disclosure of and prohibition on certain donations)
52 U.S. Code § 30121 (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act)
And I think (setting aside the Logan Act owing to its history) that those are plausible just on the basis of Don Jr.'s emails, though the emails alone might not be enough to get me to convict, were I on a jury.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 10:27 PM on August 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
I did not know that Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth got her start as star villain on the first season of The Apprentice.
Star villain is... overstating it a bit. She was one of those reality star types who takes the show way, way too seriously and then wasn't even all that good at what she was doing and threw a lot of tantrums. I like Wikipedia's summary:
posted by Sequence at 10:29 PM on August 5, 2017 [26 favorites]
Star villain is... overstating it a bit. She was one of those reality star types who takes the show way, way too seriously and then wasn't even all that good at what she was doing and threw a lot of tantrums. I like Wikipedia's summary:
Fired: Omarosa Stallworth - for making too many excuses for herself, being difficult to work with, inability to take responsibility for her failures, and not delivering on her promises.So, you know, great fit for this administration.
posted by Sequence at 10:29 PM on August 5, 2017 [26 favorites]
lecturing people about why our pain isn't genuine.
Got a cite?
posted by Coventry at 10:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Got a cite?
posted by Coventry at 10:42 PM on August 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
There has been a bombing of a mosque in Minnesota. No word yet on the perpetrator(s) or whether law enforcement considers this a hate crime.
LA Times: 'There is too much anger out there.' Bombing of a Minnesota mosque leaves Muslims concerned
WaPo/AP: The Latest: FBI: Investigation ongoing into mosque blast
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:46 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
LA Times: 'There is too much anger out there.' Bombing of a Minnesota mosque leaves Muslims concerned
WaPo/AP: The Latest: FBI: Investigation ongoing into mosque blast
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:46 PM on August 5, 2017 [9 favorites]
And yet the President, who jumps to conclusions about deaths in foreign countries and has a staff that invents massacres, has seen fit to say nothing.
posted by zachlipton at 10:59 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:59 PM on August 5, 2017 [17 favorites]
Oh! And we have a nice "Why did you join" video produced and your reporter was in a photo on CNN that's getting a lot of attention but one is looking at one's phone.
posted by The Whelk at 11:18 PM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:18 PM on August 5, 2017 [16 favorites]
Nobody has ever been prosecuted for violating it in the 218 years we've had it, and it's unclear to what extent it is even constitutional.
Well there's a first time for everything.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Well there's a first time for everything.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 12:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
somebody I know compared Chomsky to Karl Marx a few years back. Brilliant. Way ahead of his time. And in time, trust that various cynics and fools and fanatics will take his polemic way too far. People are gonna get hurt.
posted by philip-random at 12:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 12:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
you could get baked about once every 36 hours or so
Count me in for seven pounds.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [21 favorites]
Count me in for seven pounds.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [21 favorites]
Door 64--they're an a-number-one guy, great friend of mine--is talking about getting baked every, you know, five or six hours. You know how you can tell? You can take number and split it with another number, not many people know that, it's one of the greatest things! Thought of it yesterday and everyone was very congratulatory, just like the electoral college victory, except that number was too big to split, really, very big, very very big, biggest number, really.
posted by maxwelton at 12:50 AM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 12:50 AM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
Norman Lear is boycotting the WH reception that occurs after the Kennedy Center awards this year. Gloria Estefan, another honoree, plans to attend the reception and bend Trump's ear in an attempt to lobby for immigrants.
posted by xyzzy at 1:09 AM on August 6, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 1:09 AM on August 6, 2017 [11 favorites]
Re: affirmative action / discriminatory college admissions
If anyone's looking for talking points, here's a start (obviously it does not go into detail on ALL the angles):
Who benefits from discriminatory college admissions policies? White males (LA Times editorial, 8/2/17)
legacy preferences
multimillion-dollar donations
athletic student preferences
gender balance policies (TIL that women account for more than 70% of high school valedictorians)
I would add to the questions section:
Is it up to the [federal] government to define the meritocracy?
How do we address implicit bias in measuring an applicant's merit? (The recent Google employee "antidiversity manifesto" controversy has reminded me painfully that race/gender/class/identity influences how people evaluate the ability of others.)
Aspects I need to learn/think more about:
data/statistics, case studies (e.g., historical examples like Jewish student quotas)
worldview differences--Is college a zero-sum game?
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [24 favorites]
If anyone's looking for talking points, here's a start (obviously it does not go into detail on ALL the angles):
Who benefits from discriminatory college admissions policies? White males (LA Times editorial, 8/2/17)
If the Trump administration really intends to examine discriminatory college-admission policies, as a New York Times report suggests, it had best be prepared for what it will find: A lot of white people who benefit from admission preferences that have been around far longer than affirmative action.subtopics in the editorial:
...President Trump is intimately familiar with the ways that college admissions practices aid members of the wealthy white establishment.
The three Trump children who attended the University of Pennsylvania were eligible for legacy preferences — the boost that most private colleges and universities give to the children of alumni. Overwhelmingly, it benefits white people.
...If the Justice Department’s investigation seeks to create some sort of pure meritocracy, it will have to consider these and other questions. What is merit, after all, in academics?
legacy preferences
multimillion-dollar donations
athletic student preferences
gender balance policies (TIL that women account for more than 70% of high school valedictorians)
I would add to the questions section:
Is it up to the [federal] government to define the meritocracy?
How do we address implicit bias in measuring an applicant's merit? (The recent Google employee "antidiversity manifesto" controversy has reminded me painfully that race/gender/class/identity influences how people evaluate the ability of others.)
Aspects I need to learn/think more about:
data/statistics, case studies (e.g., historical examples like Jewish student quotas)
worldview differences--Is college a zero-sum game?
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [24 favorites]
I hear some people's boltholes, very sad, tiny little freak flags, people are saying that maybe just once every 36 hours - you know, this country is just going to hell, tiny little joints. By the way I roll the best splifs, huge, everyone wants to be in my bolthole because they just love my massive doobs... pure, no tobacco, and massive at least 2 or 3 grammes and very tightly packed, so let me tell you this bolthole is going to be beautiful, the biggest freak flag and massive joints every 2, 3 hours, you're going to be tired of smoking it is going to be just beautiful. 20 pounds. The most. Huge.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:33 AM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 1:33 AM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
No straight, she's straight! That joint just got one gramme bigger, there is no straight, fully buzzed at all times, no straight.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:39 AM on August 6, 2017
posted by Meatbomb at 1:39 AM on August 6, 2017
MetaFilter: I won MetaFilter because it's a cannabis-infested den.
posted by runcifex at 1:40 AM on August 6, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by runcifex at 1:40 AM on August 6, 2017 [10 favorites]
Just put your desert bolthole near Trump's wall and you can get fresh weed delivered by catapult. Watch your head though.
Also have you considered how many pounds of cheetos you'd need to stash?
posted by spitbull at 2:01 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also have you considered how many pounds of cheetos you'd need to stash?
posted by spitbull at 2:01 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Gloria Estefan, another honoree, plans to attend the reception and bend Trump's ear in an attempt to lobby for immigrants.
It never fucking works; it'd be like when the Congressional Black Caucus or the Pope met with Trump - he just grins and uses their presence and status to advance his agenda.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [54 favorites]
It never fucking works; it'd be like when the Congressional Black Caucus or the Pope met with Trump - he just grins and uses their presence and status to advance his agenda.
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [54 favorites]
It never fucking works
True. The only response is to turn your back. Estevan is only useful to him for the length of the photoshoot, after that she's just some ( - go wild with your own Trump-esque insult here - ). You gotta think of this guy like any run-of-the-mill abusive asshole who's too far up his own ass to care about you unless you become a means to one of his own ends.
posted by From Bklyn at 2:53 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
True. The only response is to turn your back. Estevan is only useful to him for the length of the photoshoot, after that she's just some ( - go wild with your own Trump-esque insult here - ). You gotta think of this guy like any run-of-the-mill abusive asshole who's too far up his own ass to care about you unless you become a means to one of his own ends.
posted by From Bklyn at 2:53 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yeah. The problem with Estefan is that she's never going to be the last person Trump talks to before he decides to implement some sweeping new policy on twitter. About 1100 years ago, when the return of repeal/replace was starting to ramp up, Trump made some favorable remarks in a meeting about some health care ideas that would have gutted the tax reform Paul Ryan salivates over daily and nightly. Immediately other folks in the room (Kushner, Bannon) had to steer him back to loving the callous bullshit that eventually became the House bill that passed. The one Trump later called "mean."
posted by xyzzy at 2:59 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 2:59 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
(Heh, as a side note, it's sort of hilarious to have Pence's spokesperson insisting that he has no plans to primary Trump in 2020 immediately followed by a link to an article where Pence is set to headline a Koch event. Yeaaaaaah. Riiiiiigggghhht. No primarying of Trump. Suuuuuure.)
posted by xyzzy at 3:01 AM on August 6, 2017
posted by xyzzy at 3:01 AM on August 6, 2017
Jesus Kelley is scaring the shit out of me as an apparently competent Nazi/Nazi herder
posted by angrycat at 3:58 AM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 3:58 AM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Florida will pay $82,000 after losing vote-by-mail lawsuit, AP News, 8/3/17
Court records filed last week show the administration of Gov. Rick Scott agreed to pay the money to end a lawsuit over the state’s vote-by-mail law...posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:04 AM on August 6, 2017 [16 favorites]
The Florida Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee sued the state last year because the law did not require voters to be notified if their signatures on their ballot and voter registration forms don’t match. A federal judge called the law “illogical” and “bizarre.”
Jesus Kelley is scaring the shit out of me as an apparently competent Nazi/Nazi herder
Relax. If Kelley were competent, he would not be in the Trump administration. Applies to everyone in the Trump administration. If you looked at Trump the candidate and decided it would be a good career move to join his administration, you are per definition not as smart as you think you are.
posted by mumimor at 4:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [31 favorites]
Relax. If Kelley were competent, he would not be in the Trump administration. Applies to everyone in the Trump administration. If you looked at Trump the candidate and decided it would be a good career move to join his administration, you are per definition not as smart as you think you are.
posted by mumimor at 4:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [31 favorites]
you are per definition not as smart as you think you are.
yes^!!! Exhibits a-z . . . Bannon, Flynn, Gorka, Conway, Carson, R Perry, Scaramucci, Miller, Sessions, Mnuchin, Pence, etc, etc. Anosognosia ad infinitum.
posted by rc3spencer at 5:24 AM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
yes^!!! Exhibits a-z . . . Bannon, Flynn, Gorka, Conway, Carson, R Perry, Scaramucci, Miller, Sessions, Mnuchin, Pence, etc, etc. Anosognosia ad infinitum.
posted by rc3spencer at 5:24 AM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
It sounds like a great job, probably good for my career, lots of prestige. What happened to the last lion tamer though?
posted by adept256 at 5:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 5:28 AM on August 6, 2017 [23 favorites]
The Insomnia Report:
Utah joins throng suing EPA contractors over toxic mine spill (Douglas Main, Newsweek)
Woman comes forward as Bolling sexual harassment victim (Jacqueline Thomsen, The Hill)
Twitter celebrates Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli’s courtroom sketch artists — who clearly loathed him (David Ferguson, Raw Story)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:34 AM on August 6, 2017 [16 favorites]
Utah joins throng suing EPA contractors over toxic mine spill (Douglas Main, Newsweek)
Woman comes forward as Bolling sexual harassment victim (Jacqueline Thomsen, The Hill)
Twitter celebrates Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli’s courtroom sketch artists — who clearly loathed him (David Ferguson, Raw Story)
posted by Room 641-A at 5:34 AM on August 6, 2017 [16 favorites]
Backfire Effect fails to replicate. Correction of false information has positive effect.
Keep firing those fact torpedoes at the thermal exhaust ports!
posted by srboisvert at 6:40 AM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
Keep firing those fact torpedoes at the thermal exhaust ports!
posted by srboisvert at 6:40 AM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
Goebbels vs Stephen Miller comparison of speaking style
Watching this video makes me think there's no way Miller hasn't been watching tape of Goebbels and practicing in the mirror since he was 14.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2017 [26 favorites]
Watching this video makes me think there's no way Miller hasn't been watching tape of Goebbels and practicing in the mirror since he was 14.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:50 AM on August 6, 2017 [26 favorites]
Backfire Effect fails to replicate. Correction of false information has positive effect.
Fake news. I remain convinced of the backfire effect.
posted by ocschwar at 6:56 AM on August 6, 2017 [25 favorites]
Fake news. I remain convinced of the backfire effect.
posted by ocschwar at 6:56 AM on August 6, 2017 [25 favorites]
Watching this video makes me think there's no way Miller hasn't been watching tape of Goebbels and practicing in the mirror since he was 14.
Trump used to keep a book of Hitler speeches by his bedside.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:04 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Watching this video makes me think there's no way Miller hasn't been watching tape of Goebbels and practicing in the mirror since he was 14.
I don't doubt it. The only differences are: (1) Goebbels was popular, (2) Goebbels was able to mask his sociopathy and could successfully mimic human facial expressions, probably due to growing up with in-person radicalization and not being indoctrinated mainly through talk radio, (3) Goebbels didn't throw in his lot with people who wanted to kill him for his ethnicity (although given that he had a minor disability in the form of his bad foot, maybe there is a parallel here), and (4) Goebbels was married and had a long-term girlfriend/mistress, while Miller has The Red Pill, /r/incel and Infowars-brand Super Male Vitality.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [13 favorites]
I don't doubt it. The only differences are: (1) Goebbels was popular, (2) Goebbels was able to mask his sociopathy and could successfully mimic human facial expressions, probably due to growing up with in-person radicalization and not being indoctrinated mainly through talk radio, (3) Goebbels didn't throw in his lot with people who wanted to kill him for his ethnicity (although given that he had a minor disability in the form of his bad foot, maybe there is a parallel here), and (4) Goebbels was married and had a long-term girlfriend/mistress, while Miller has The Red Pill, /r/incel and Infowars-brand Super Male Vitality.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [13 favorites]
Norman Lear is boycotting the WH reception
I don't recall where I saw it, but it was suggested that this year is full of shade, considering that all but one are PoC, and the one white person was at the forefront of integrating television and using his platform to speak out onliberal civil rights and other small-d democratic issues.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't recall where I saw it, but it was suggested that this year is full of shade, considering that all but one are PoC, and the one white person was at the forefront of integrating television and using his platform to speak out on
posted by Room 641-A at 7:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Miller has always been a real charmer.
VIDEO: "Am I the only one who is sick & tired of being told to pick up my trash when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us"
posted by chris24 at 7:32 AM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
VIDEO: "Am I the only one who is sick & tired of being told to pick up my trash when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us"
posted by chris24 at 7:32 AM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
How Trump Adviser Stephen Miller Divided a Santa Monica Synagogue (Brendan Smialowski, The Hollywood Reporter)
There's a word for the Stephen Millers of the world, and I don't use it lightly: Kapo
The Miller family belonged to the Santa Monica Synagogue only for two or three years — enough time for their eldest son, Stephen, to graduate Hebrew school in 2001. Miller's young face, with a grin, peeks out from the corner of that year's confirmation class photo, which hangs on a back wall of the temple, near a toilet and rec room. "We did our best here to teach Stephen the ethical standards of Judaism," says Jeff Marx, the Reform synagogue's longtime rabbi, who tutored Miller and appears with him in the class portrait. [...]Goebbels didn't throw in his lot with people who wanted to kill him for his ethnicity
Although recent media reports have suggested that Miller's parents were liberals typical of the progressive enclave of Santa Monica, members of the Jewish community insist otherwise. Steven Windmueller, a professor of Jewish Communal Service at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion who has known the Millers for many years ("a lovely couple"), says their political leanings align closely with their son's. "They have been and are conservative Republicans," he says. One person acquainted with the Millers says they departed the Santa Monica Synagogue when it became clear they "weren't a good fit" with its reform-minded congregation
There's a word for the Stephen Millers of the world, and I don't use it lightly: Kapo
A kapo or prisoner functionary (German: Funktionshäftling, see § Etymology) was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp who was assigned by the SS guards to supervise forced labor or carry out administrative tasks. Also called "prisoner self-administration", the prisoner functionary system minimized costs by allowing camps to function with fewer SS personnel. The system was designed to turn victim against victim, as the prisoner functionaries were pitted against their fellow prisoners in order to maintain the favor of their SS overseers. [...]posted by Room 641-A at 7:43 AM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
Prisoner functionaries were spared physical abuse and hard labor, provided they performed their duties to the satisfaction of the SS functionaries. They also had access to certain privileges, such as civilian clothes and a private room.
Delaware D Senator Chris Coons. I certainly hope he's right.
@kylegriffin1
Chris Coons to ABC: If the president fired Mueller, "that would be crossing a big line and I think you would see strong bipartisan action."
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
@kylegriffin1
Chris Coons to ABC: If the president fired Mueller, "that would be crossing a big line and I think you would see strong bipartisan action."
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
miller is several levels of charisma below dwight schrute pretending to be mussolini. he's got tenacity and fixations but no fanatic passion; I think the Goebbels comparison would never happen if they weren't both skinny brunets. miller would murder me along with millions of others, sure, but I don't think it would ever give him the kind of pleasure he gets from adjusting his tie knot in a mirror and thinking about how fearfully impressed the CNN hosts will be when they see it.
not to say he is not dangerous, not at all. but he started pruning his personality back in high school or before and now it is set in the shape it was then, but also the size. it is too small for his body the way other DC men's bodies are too small for their baggy suits.
posted by queenofbithynia at 7:49 AM on August 6, 2017 [14 favorites]
not to say he is not dangerous, not at all. but he started pruning his personality back in high school or before and now it is set in the shape it was then, but also the size. it is too small for his body the way other DC men's bodies are too small for their baggy suits.
posted by queenofbithynia at 7:49 AM on August 6, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm just suprised he had hair at some point.
posted by Artw at 8:06 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:06 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's a word for the Stephen Millers of the world, and I don't use it lightly: Kapo
Unless he is literally collaborating with Nazis in concentration camps, don't use it at all.
posted by maxsparber at 8:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [34 favorites]
Unless he is literally collaborating with Nazis in concentration camps, don't use it at all.
posted by maxsparber at 8:13 AM on August 6, 2017 [34 favorites]
Unless he is literally collaborating with Nazis in concentration camps, don't use it at all.
It's a tough call, because he is literally collaborating with Nazis who want literal concentration camps for millions of people. I personally won't use the term, but I think it's understandable if other Jews do.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's a tough call, because he is literally collaborating with Nazis who want literal concentration camps for millions of people. I personally won't use the term, but I think it's understandable if other Jews do.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:16 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yeah, you're right, maxsparber. The dogwhistles colored my judgement and I shouldn't have gone there.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:17 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:17 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I need a word stronger than shande.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:18 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:18 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's a bad dude, but Jews calling Jews kapos is the ugliest thing we do.
And he's really more of a Ettore Ovazza.
posted by maxsparber at 8:19 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
And he's really more of a Ettore Ovazza.
posted by maxsparber at 8:19 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
I need a word stronger than shande.
verkakte pisher is accurate but doesn't roll off the tongue.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:20 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
verkakte pisher is accurate but doesn't roll off the tongue.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:20 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
How about 'fucking asshole' ?
posted by From Bklyn at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by From Bklyn at 8:29 AM on August 6, 2017 [31 favorites]
Chris Coons to ABC: If the president fired Mueller, "that would be crossing a big line and I think you would see strong bipartisan action."
Within minutes we would see the first of millions of protesters emptying out into the streets. You can be among them. Sign up to get notified should the unthinkable happen. Nobody is Above the Law, Mueller Firing Rapid Response. Hosted by MoveOn, they will harvest your email address for more routine emails & donation requests but you can opt out of those once the first one arrives.
posted by scalefree at 8:30 AM on August 6, 2017 [26 favorites]
Within minutes we would see the first of millions of protesters emptying out into the streets. You can be among them. Sign up to get notified should the unthinkable happen. Nobody is Above the Law, Mueller Firing Rapid Response. Hosted by MoveOn, they will harvest your email address for more routine emails & donation requests but you can opt out of those once the first one arrives.
posted by scalefree at 8:30 AM on August 6, 2017 [26 favorites]
Trump is just straight up retweeting bots now, not that anything matters.
149K followers in eight months? That's pretty tricky, even for someone who's not a stock photo image.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:31 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
149K followers in eight months? That's pretty tricky, even for someone who's not a stock photo image.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:31 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
This argument over this word again
No one is arguing.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
No one is arguing.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:32 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
Found by a friend, apologies if this has been linked already:
"If you ever want to see what the Putinbots are pushing at any given time, check out this live updated statistical analysis." http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/
posted by Evilspork at 8:41 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
"If you ever want to see what the Putinbots are pushing at any given time, check out this live updated statistical analysis." http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/
posted by Evilspork at 8:41 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
yep - we're talking about that dashboard right over here.
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 8:48 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 8:48 AM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's eerily quiet on the news front for a Sunday morning.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:03 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 9:03 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's August, 45's off for the summer and I dare say a lot of other people are recharging their batteries too. Been a hell of a year so far.
Plus, wouldn't it be nice to have a breather on these threads too. Set the squelch to actual new news,,,
posted by Devonian at 9:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [18 favorites]
Plus, wouldn't it be nice to have a breather on these threads too. Set the squelch to actual new news,,,
posted by Devonian at 9:11 AM on August 6, 2017 [18 favorites]
Trump is just straight up retweeting bots now, not that anything matters.
149K followers in eight months? That's pretty tricky, even for someone who's not a stock photo image.
I just spent an hour investigating this account and I feel very confident I have traced down the owner. They are a bot in the sense they are using the account to drive traffic to their store and they have fudged their background to change the names of their home city and college. But they are a college student, female, and black. They did go to charter schools, they were raised in an urban NJ city. Whether they really are a rabid Trump supporter or are impersonating one to drive business to their store isn't something I've been able to determine. I guess a plucky reporter will have to find out.
posted by stagewhisper at 10:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
149K followers in eight months? That's pretty tricky, even for someone who's not a stock photo image.
I just spent an hour investigating this account and I feel very confident I have traced down the owner. They are a bot in the sense they are using the account to drive traffic to their store and they have fudged their background to change the names of their home city and college. But they are a college student, female, and black. They did go to charter schools, they were raised in an urban NJ city. Whether they really are a rabid Trump supporter or are impersonating one to drive business to their store isn't something I've been able to determine. I guess a plucky reporter will have to find out.
posted by stagewhisper at 10:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
This is a single twitter post but I've been fascinated (and laughing) at it for 10 mins. I have to share because it's so bizzare on many levels.
Jake Tapper went to a lego expo with his son and in between his regular type posts, has been posting some pretty neat pictures of displays they saw.
And then this one appears: @potus in lego
Which is...I dunno...wow. What is this? The comments are funny. That he tagged the Pres is absurb and quite the deadpan troll I think which I've just can't stop giggling about.
posted by Jalliah at 10:51 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Jake Tapper went to a lego expo with his son and in between his regular type posts, has been posting some pretty neat pictures of displays they saw.
And then this one appears: @potus in lego
Which is...I dunno...wow. What is this? The comments are funny. That he tagged the Pres is absurb and quite the deadpan troll I think which I've just can't stop giggling about.
posted by Jalliah at 10:51 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
And then this one appears: @potus in lego
That link is broken.
posted by octothorpe at 11:10 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
That link is broken.
posted by octothorpe at 11:10 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Re. Miller:
The face you make when the police cadaver dog lingers over your flower bed
When mom casually but knowingly mentions that people are noticing that pets are disappearing
And Jalliah's POTUS in Lego tweet is gone, but here's another.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:12 AM on August 6, 2017 [13 favorites]
The face you make when the police cadaver dog lingers over your flower bed
When mom casually but knowingly mentions that people are noticing that pets are disappearing
And Jalliah's POTUS in Lego tweet is gone, but here's another.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:12 AM on August 6, 2017 [13 favorites]
Trump's wall through the National Butterfly Center . This is just awful.
posted by dhruva at 11:15 AM on August 6, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by dhruva at 11:15 AM on August 6, 2017 [43 favorites]
And then this one appears: @potus in lego
That link is broken.
Oh It looks like he deleted the tweet.
I happen to have a screenshot.
posted by Jalliah at 11:15 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
That link is broken.
Oh It looks like he deleted the tweet.
I happen to have a screenshot.
posted by Jalliah at 11:15 AM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
I can't believe I looked at that twitter thread until I figured out the origin of "Gone forever, Aaron Hernandez!'
posted by angrycat at 11:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by angrycat at 11:21 AM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Estefan can talk about what she wants. Trump will talk about her weight, makeup, or relative need for a boob job.
posted by Oyéah at 11:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 11:23 AM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
149K followers in eight months? That's pretty tricky, even for someone who's not a stock photo image.
A stock image, I might add, on which they lightened the skin color because blackety black.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:26 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
A stock image, I might add, on which they lightened the skin color because blackety black.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:26 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Heavy contacted me but I gave the info to another friend who is a reporter. They just updated their site so they figured it out on their own
but she's a real person.
posted by stagewhisper at 11:37 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
but she's a real person.
posted by stagewhisper at 11:37 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
on another note, can you imagine how weird it'd be to be some schlubby Joe who just wanted to hit a tennis ball and shout his name on video, and then time passes and it's turned into an ironic catchphrase? it feels like a recurring nightmare I have
posted by angrycat at 11:42 AM on August 6, 2017
posted by angrycat at 11:42 AM on August 6, 2017
Horrific scenes from the drug-infested den that is New Hampshire.
posted by adamg at 11:43 AM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by adamg at 11:43 AM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
For those complaining about the slow news day, the war against the investigation may be escalating.
There were weaselly words about going after leakers as well.
posted by Candleman at 11:48 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
"If he finds evidence of a crime that is within the scope of what Director Mueller and I have agreed is the appropriate scope of this investigation, then he can," Rosenstein said. "If it's something outside that scope he needs to come to the acting attorney general, at this time me, for permission to expand his investigation."The interview, of course, was with Fox News. It's tricky to parse the actual intent there - if could be paying lip service to White House demands (in that the scope clearly said that pretty much anything discovered during the investigation became in-scope, so if that's what the "agreement" says as well, Mueller still has carte blanche) or the beginning of a showdown.
There were weaselly words about going after leakers as well.
posted by Candleman at 11:48 AM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Dhruva, the link about putting the wall through the butterfly reserve is awful. Can they do anything to stop it? At least file a lawsuit?
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 11:51 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 11:51 AM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
From the article about the wall being built through the butterfly reserve:
Five Border Patrol agents arrived at the center the next day unannounced. “They told me there was no way what I was reporting about the work crew clearing vegetation could be true,” Wright said.
She took the men across the levee road to show them the heavy machinery that had been left behind and the areas that had already been cleared for a 150-foot “border enforcement zone”...
I would love to have seen, "oh, if there was no work crew here yesterday, then obviously they didn't leave behind any equipment, right? So I can just clean up any litter that someone left on the property - maybe sell it to a recycling company, like we would with soda cans and such? And of course, if someone scuffed up the terrain while they walked through, we can try to erase the damage."
When a gov't official says "nobody from our department was here recently" and you know otherwise, the response should be, "can I have that in writing?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:10 PM on August 6, 2017 [29 favorites]
Five Border Patrol agents arrived at the center the next day unannounced. “They told me there was no way what I was reporting about the work crew clearing vegetation could be true,” Wright said.
She took the men across the levee road to show them the heavy machinery that had been left behind and the areas that had already been cleared for a 150-foot “border enforcement zone”...
I would love to have seen, "oh, if there was no work crew here yesterday, then obviously they didn't leave behind any equipment, right? So I can just clean up any litter that someone left on the property - maybe sell it to a recycling company, like we would with soda cans and such? And of course, if someone scuffed up the terrain while they walked through, we can try to erase the damage."
When a gov't official says "nobody from our department was here recently" and you know otherwise, the response should be, "can I have that in writing?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:10 PM on August 6, 2017 [29 favorites]
A good long long read on the list of Trump conflicts of interest thus far.
Along with his unprecedented wealth, Trump brings to the office unique and gravely concerning entanglements that, whether he recognizes their effects or not, threaten to undermine his decision-making as president. The plan Trump and Dillon announced on January 11 would do very little to resolve the conflicts: It places control of his assets in the hands of his two adult sons and a longtime associate of their father’s with what so far amounts to a pinky-swear assurance that, despite their proximity to the president, they will not discuss any aspect of the business with him.posted by tilde at 1:39 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Daniel Nexon, LGM: Why the Right-Wing War on George Soros Matters
I guess it’s a small victory that people drawing and writing Protocols of the Elders of Zion fanfic feel the need to insist that they’re not being anti-Semitic. That’s often the case now: the relevant discourse is structurally isomorphic with libels against Jews, but it’s ‘merely’ about Soros or ‘merely’ about the Rothschilds. Indeed, as Jennings Brown and Jacob Steinblatt note in a piece chronicling the rise of Soros as a boogeyman in the American right: [...]posted by tonycpsu at 1:59 PM on August 6, 2017 [25 favorites]
So what we’re seeing is the normalization of anti-Semitic tropes and rhetoric in the Republican party. It’s another cancer that’s on the brink of metastasizing; the window of opportunity to excise it is closing.
But I’m not holding my breath. Nothing in recent history suggests that Republicans will do the right thing. Moreover, the peculiar politics of Israel provide real cover here. Maybe your rhetoric is indistinguishable from actual neo-Nazis, but hey, how can you be anti-Semitic if you support Israel’s unfettered hand in the West Bank and unequivocally back Israeli policy in the wider Middle East? Of course, mixing pro-Israel politics with anti-Semitic tropes is nothing new for the American right.
To complicate matters, as Israel backslides, Netanyahu has also not merely targeted Soros but actively sided with right-wing aspiring autocrats. [...]
Israel itself is playing with fire here. [...]
Israel’s alignment is one of the stranger dimensions of the rise of transnational ties and rhetorical convergences among national right-wing movements. The effects Cass Mudde alludes to are not limited to Europe; they’re at work in the United States.
If there’s any ground for optimism about the GOP, it’s the anti-Semitism is a growing problem on the left as well—both in the United States and abroad. Perhaps attempts to use it as a wedge issue will encourage some Republicans to get their own house in order? Regardless, this is just one of many fronts that nominally responsible GOP officials and figures need to fight back on if they want to turn back the tide of Fascism Lite™ that’s swallowing their party.—and the country.
I just spent an hour investigating this account and I feel very confident I have traced down the owner.
Used a stock photo too, no?
posted by scalefree at 2:02 PM on August 6, 2017
Used a stock photo too, no?
posted by scalefree at 2:02 PM on August 6, 2017
Wright told Padilla that the center was considering putting up a gate on their private road to prevent the contractors from entering their property. But Padilla told her that within 25 miles of the international border, the CBP had authority to enter private property and could cut the lock off the gate. He also told her that any work crew on the levee would now have a “green uniform presence,” which means an armed Border Patrol agent on guard.Can someone who's more familiar with the law than I am explain how this isn't a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment? How does "being within 25 miles of the international border" constitute probable cause?
posted by biogeo at 2:10 PM on August 6, 2017 [10 favorites]
When you find yourself as armed security breaking into a butterfly reserve so you can build a wall through it, at what point do you ask are we the baddies?
posted by adept256 at 2:17 PM on August 6, 2017 [96 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 2:17 PM on August 6, 2017 [96 favorites]
biogeo, it's the 100-mile border rule, where it's considered to be a 'port of entry' to the US, and certain constitutional protections are limited. The basics are here.
posted by gofargogo at 2:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 2:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Used a stock photo too, no?
Used some stock photos, used some actual photos of herself wearing a MAGA hat with her face obscured, used a fake name, changed her "background story" to use different NJ cities and colleges than where she lived/attends but she's a real person. She's a college student, she's black, and she's a Trump supporter going way back to her since deleted real-life twitter account.
posted by stagewhisper at 2:27 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Used some stock photos, used some actual photos of herself wearing a MAGA hat with her face obscured, used a fake name, changed her "background story" to use different NJ cities and colleges than where she lived/attends but she's a real person. She's a college student, she's black, and she's a Trump supporter going way back to her since deleted real-life twitter account.
posted by stagewhisper at 2:27 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
(Missed the edit window to add) Not to mention the CBP has regularly violated people's rights in these areas with no consequences. At this point, when they feel comfortable targeting MoCs and denying the existence of detainees, who's going to stop them?
posted by gofargogo at 2:28 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by gofargogo at 2:28 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Daniel Nexon, LGM: Why the Right-Wing War on George Soros Matters
Reading that article is almost too painful; it is hard to see a Jew at the front of this propaganda and using those phrases. These last weeks, as the trumpists come under more pressure, they are also escalating the fascism. The good thing is that a lot of people and media and countries are seeing it and reacting. Millions of Americans are resisting. It seems most of Europe has given up entirely on American leadership. We've seen Trump's conversations with Mexico's and Australia's leaders. No one in Asia is looking to America for protection. This has it's own set of extremely scary consequences, but it is a huge difference from Hitler and Mussolini who both had international (including American) admirers and supporters.
This will find a positive ending, but the road there is going to be rough.
posted by mumimor at 2:29 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
Reading that article is almost too painful; it is hard to see a Jew at the front of this propaganda and using those phrases. These last weeks, as the trumpists come under more pressure, they are also escalating the fascism. The good thing is that a lot of people and media and countries are seeing it and reacting. Millions of Americans are resisting. It seems most of Europe has given up entirely on American leadership. We've seen Trump's conversations with Mexico's and Australia's leaders. No one in Asia is looking to America for protection. This has it's own set of extremely scary consequences, but it is a huge difference from Hitler and Mussolini who both had international (including American) admirers and supporters.
This will find a positive ending, but the road there is going to be rough.
posted by mumimor at 2:29 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
The butterfly sanctuary situation is somewhat complicated. It sounds like the trespassing vandals are contractors, not actual government agents, which means they really have no authority to go on private property after being ordered off. (Isn't Texas a Stand Your Ground state? Contractors dispatched like this could be in real danger ha-ha.) So it's kind of up to whatever agency authorized them to send an actual agent with a badge to flash. I'm sure the CPB agents who said this couldn't possibly be happening would love to have a talk with that guy.
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:30 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Bringer Tom at 2:30 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
NYT: A Game of Cat and Mouse With High Stakes: Deportation
The federal government’s current emphasis on deporting undocumented immigrants — even those facing low-level charges — has, in effect, turned courthouses in New York State into arenas where practitioners of criminal law face off against enforcers of immigration law.posted by zachlipton at 2:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [16 favorites]
In New York City, judges, defense lawyers and clients have been on high alert for months, watching to see if immigration enforcement officers, many in plain clothes, are in a courthouse. If a pair of people look suspicious, lawyers from the Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services and the Legal Aid Society send an internal email alert. Defendants duck into bathrooms or race to another floor.
When officers for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, are thought to be in a courthouse, a sympathetic judge might reschedule a defendant’s appearance, or, in a seemingly perverse move, set bail that could send a defendant to Rikers Island — keeping the person out of ICE’s hands because the jail complex does not turn over undocumented immigrants to the agency.
Can they do anything to stop it
Sorry, I have no idea (I'm not from the US). The link turned up on the twitter feed of some ecologists that I follow.
posted by dhruva at 2:49 PM on August 6, 2017
Sorry, I have no idea (I'm not from the US). The link turned up on the twitter feed of some ecologists that I follow.
posted by dhruva at 2:49 PM on August 6, 2017
Legal analysis from the right (Andrew McCarthy, The National Review): Even if criminal behavior is non-existent, Mueller's grand jury may recommend presidential impeachment based on "conduct unbecoming."
posted by Gordion Knott at 2:52 PM on August 6, 2017 [8 favorites]
I do not believe there is a legally sufficient case of criminal obstruction. Trump had legitimate power to exercise prosecutorial discretion in recommending against any further criminal investigation of Flynn. The president, furthermore, has the authority to dismiss the FBI director at any time — for any reason or no reason.
Obviously, I’m just a commentator here in the peanut gallery, and other commentators see things differently. But even if I am right that there is no crime, bear in mind that we are talking precisely about what a grand jury may do when there is no crime — i.e., when a public official has engaged in dodgy but noncriminal behavior that is somehow connected to criminal misconduct allegedly committed by others. Mueller could very well argue that this is Trump’s situation, and that it thus calls for a grand-jury report questioning his suitability for the responsibilities of the presidency.
(...)
The Constitution’s standard for impeachable conduct, “high crimes and misdemeanors,” is a concept more analogous to military justice than to penal law. It involves violations of an officeholder’s public trust, transgressions that call into question his fitness to wield power and carry out high responsibilities. High crimes and misdemeanors need not be felonies chargeable in criminal court; they include all manner of execrable episodes and abuses of power that cause us to question a public official’s fitness.
In other words, they are just the sort of thing you’d find in a report issued by a grand jury. Which means that a report issued by a grand jury could be just the sort of thing a special counsel might refer to Congress as the potential foundation for an impeachment case.
Flake extends his attacks on Trump and the GOP — all the way back to the dawn of birtherism
posted by triggerfinger at 3:10 PM on August 6, 2017 [19 favorites]
But Sunday, as he promoted his book on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Flake took his assault on Trumpism back years further — all the way to the pre-dawn of Trump’s political rise.On the one hand, I am definitely of the "too little, too late" school of thought on Jeff Flake, on the other hand, he is still speaking out against Trump more than about 95% of other Republicans.
To “when the birtherism thing was going on,” as Flake put it to talk show host Chuck Todd.
“Some people did stand up, but not enough,” the senator said. “That was particularly ugly.”
“Did you do enough?” Todd asked.
Flake smiled. “On that, I think I did.”
(...)
Still, the “Meet the Press” host sounded skeptical that Flake’s condemnations of Trumpism always matched up with his comportment in the Senate.
“You vote with the president 93.5 percent of the time,” Todd said.
Flake countered that he stood up to Trump when it mattered and that most of those votes anyway were just confirmations.
“All we’re really doing is approving the president’s cabinet picks [and] justices,” he said.
Flake didn’t mention that one of the justices he voted to confirm was John Bush. Years earlier, as NPR noted, Bush had written blog posts about Obama’s ancestry in Kenya, quoting liberally from sites that peddled some of the first birther conspiracy theories.
posted by triggerfinger at 3:10 PM on August 6, 2017 [19 favorites]
A recommendation to impeach from the Special Prosecutor would be as good as a op-ed on Huffington Post to Republicans in Congress. It's criminal charges or exoneration.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Flake countered that he stood up to Trump when it mattered and that most of those votes anyway were just confirmations.
Confirmations totally don't matter, obviously. Which is why they go through a whole confirmation process in the Senate.
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
Confirmations totally don't matter, obviously. Which is why they go through a whole confirmation process in the Senate.
Christ, what an asshole.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
There has been a bombing of a mosque in Minnesota.
I mean, I suppose that Muslims have prayers in there but it's a former elementary school that's been converted to a community center. There are often basketball games and other stuff going on there. They were having football practice on the field behind the building this morning. I don't really think of it as a mosque.
It's adjacent to a nice park and I walk my dog past this building every day. Just about everyone is super nice and friendly.
On the bright side, no one was hurt and the damage was limited to one office and a window. I'm glad they weren't very good white-nationalist terrorists, I guess.
posted by VTX at 3:22 PM on August 6, 2017 [10 favorites]
I mean, I suppose that Muslims have prayers in there but it's a former elementary school that's been converted to a community center. There are often basketball games and other stuff going on there. They were having football practice on the field behind the building this morning. I don't really think of it as a mosque.
It's adjacent to a nice park and I walk my dog past this building every day. Just about everyone is super nice and friendly.
On the bright side, no one was hurt and the damage was limited to one office and a window. I'm glad they weren't very good white-nationalist terrorists, I guess.
posted by VTX at 3:22 PM on August 6, 2017 [10 favorites]
Legal analysis from the right (Andrew McCarthy, The National Review): Even if criminal behavior is non-existent, Mueller's grand jury may recommend presidential impeachment based on "conduct unbecoming."
This seems to be embarrassed GOP elites trying to suggest a soft landing solution for Trump. I agree that if Mueller recommended anything less than criminal charges that Trump and far right congress critters would read that as exoneration. And I can't see why Mueller would consider that a legitimate use of prosecutorial power.
posted by spitbull at 3:30 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
This seems to be embarrassed GOP elites trying to suggest a soft landing solution for Trump. I agree that if Mueller recommended anything less than criminal charges that Trump and far right congress critters would read that as exoneration. And I can't see why Mueller would consider that a legitimate use of prosecutorial power.
posted by spitbull at 3:30 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Flake countered that he stood up to Trump when it mattered and that most of those votes anyway were just confirmations.
Who can forget that moment when he walked on to the floor of the Senate during the vote, went to the clerk, and gave her a thumbs up.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
Who can forget that moment when he walked on to the floor of the Senate during the vote, went to the clerk, and gave her a thumbs up.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]
I suppose that Muslims have prayers in there but it's a former elementary school that's been converted to a community center.... I don't really think of it as a mosque.
The firebomb hit just prior to morning prayers, and the office was that of the imam. They call it an Islamic Center, but for all practical purposes it's a mosque with an anodyne public face, and I don't think there's any advantage to pretending it's somehow less than a church or synagogue (either of which might also serve as a "community center" during the majority of its active hours). It wasn't bombed because of the football games.
posted by dhartung at 3:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [52 favorites]
The firebomb hit just prior to morning prayers, and the office was that of the imam. They call it an Islamic Center, but for all practical purposes it's a mosque with an anodyne public face, and I don't think there's any advantage to pretending it's somehow less than a church or synagogue (either of which might also serve as a "community center" during the majority of its active hours). It wasn't bombed because of the football games.
posted by dhartung at 3:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [52 favorites]
Yeah, we don't need Mueller for "conduct unbecoming." That has been on display literally every day since (and including) the inauguration. If Republicans gave a damn about that, we'd be well into impeachment hearings already.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
When's the last time a former elementary school building got bombed up?
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:39 PM on August 6, 2017
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:39 PM on August 6, 2017
A JCC may not be a synagogue, but if somebody bombed one, I'd sure as hell call it anti-Semitic terrorism. The same goes for a Muslim community center.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [66 favorites]
On the one hand, I am definitely of the "too little, too late" school of thought on Jeff Flake, on the other hand, he is still speaking out against Trump more than about 95% of other Republicans.
When your approval rating is somewhere around syphilis you pull out the big guns.
He's trying to swing centrist because he knows the right wing is ready to primary the fuck out of him.
posted by Talez at 3:59 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
When your approval rating is somewhere around syphilis you pull out the big guns.
He's trying to swing centrist because he knows the right wing is ready to primary the fuck out of him.
posted by Talez at 3:59 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
the way other DC men's bodies are too small for their baggy suits.
As a lifelong DC-area resident, I can confirm that this comes right after 'blue striped button-down & khakis' on the list of Dudes to Avoid Warning Signs.
posted by nonasuch at 4:04 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
As a lifelong DC-area resident, I can confirm that this comes right after 'blue striped button-down & khakis' on the list of Dudes to Avoid Warning Signs.
posted by nonasuch at 4:04 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Remember when we thought it would take years for the wall to get started because so much of the land was private property that would have to be legally acquired through the courts? I guess they are going to skip the court part and just start building.
The Butterfly Sanctuary story is horrific, nightmarish even. As a gardener in particular this is unimaginable. To have the government come into my garden and cut down my specimen trees and carefully chosen bushes that I have nurtured -- there is nothing worse outside murdering my family. And am I to understand that once the wall goes up they will be permanently cut-off from 70% of the land they own? Or will there be a door in the fence? My heart breaks for the couple that put so much effort into this sanctuary along with their investors, their employees, and anyone who loves butterflies and planned to visit.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [30 favorites]
The Butterfly Sanctuary story is horrific, nightmarish even. As a gardener in particular this is unimaginable. To have the government come into my garden and cut down my specimen trees and carefully chosen bushes that I have nurtured -- there is nothing worse outside murdering my family. And am I to understand that once the wall goes up they will be permanently cut-off from 70% of the land they own? Or will there be a door in the fence? My heart breaks for the couple that put so much effort into this sanctuary along with their investors, their employees, and anyone who loves butterflies and planned to visit.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [30 favorites]
He's trying to swing centrist because he knows the right wing is etc
But we want him to succeed at that and embolden his colleagues, it seems to me.
posted by spitbull at 4:12 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
But we want him to succeed at that and embolden his colleagues, it seems to me.
posted by spitbull at 4:12 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
I CAnnot get away from 45.
I told Kevin his watches reminded me of something I’d seen on television a few weeks earlier. Charlie Sheen was on a talk show, recounting the time Donald Trump gave him a pair of diamond-encrusted platinum cuff links that he claimed were from Harry Winston. An appraiser later told Sheen they were nothing more than “cheap pewter and bad zirconia.” No one was surprised by the story, least of all Kevin.posted by tilde at 4:14 PM on August 6, 2017 [14 favorites]
(Source)
But we want him to succeed at that and embolden his colleagues, it seems to me.
Absolutely. Right up until the moment we try to vote his ass out of office in 2018. 'Course the Democrats actually have to run somebody for that to happen.
posted by Justinian at 4:17 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Absolutely. Right up until the moment we try to vote his ass out of office in 2018. 'Course the Democrats actually have to run somebody for that to happen.
posted by Justinian at 4:17 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
More on the butterfly center story. They're doing a fundraiser for their legal funds.
posted by dhruva at 4:27 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by dhruva at 4:27 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
Bulldozing a butterfly sanctuary is just cartoonishly evil. It's like something out if a Disney movie. If a bunch of scrappy kids and their schoolteacher don't put a stop to it I will be very disappointed.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:53 PM on August 6, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:53 PM on August 6, 2017 [66 favorites]
But we want him to succeed at that and embolden his colleagues, it seems to me.
Me too, but at the same time I've been watching prominent Republicans and never-Trumpers like John Kasich, Evan McMullin, Ana Navarro, David Brooks, Jennifer Rubin (and to a lesser degree, John McCain, the Bushes, etc) say these things for the last year or more and every time I think it will give cover to the congressional republicans to do the same, and every time they stay silent. At this point, if they haven't spoken up, they're either true believers or spineless cowards and anyone who speaks out at this point can be safely considered to be a craven opportunist and nothing more. So I don't hold out much hope is what I'm saying.
The only reason I still want them to speak out is because I believe that part of the GOP-supporting populace (the ones who vote along party lines but don't otherwise pay much attention to politics) can be swayed.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:02 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Me too, but at the same time I've been watching prominent Republicans and never-Trumpers like John Kasich, Evan McMullin, Ana Navarro, David Brooks, Jennifer Rubin (and to a lesser degree, John McCain, the Bushes, etc) say these things for the last year or more and every time I think it will give cover to the congressional republicans to do the same, and every time they stay silent. At this point, if they haven't spoken up, they're either true believers or spineless cowards and anyone who speaks out at this point can be safely considered to be a craven opportunist and nothing more. So I don't hold out much hope is what I'm saying.
The only reason I still want them to speak out is because I believe that part of the GOP-supporting populace (the ones who vote along party lines but don't otherwise pay much attention to politics) can be swayed.
posted by triggerfinger at 5:02 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
they're either true believers or spineless cowards
I think we can be comfortably certain it's Door 2.
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think we can be comfortably certain it's Door 2.
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Bulldozing a butterfly sanctuary is perfectly logical. It's something out of "House of Cards". Screw effing over the private citizens who have been all over the news 'whining' that they don't want the government in their private land business. Kill off the butterflies, who don't pay taxes and can't really sue. Even if you lose, you've destroyed the sanctuary and can sell the oil and mineral and exploitation rights to a contributor.
posted by tilde at 5:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by tilde at 5:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
More on 'TrumpTV' ...
CNN’s resident Donald Trump supporter Kayleigh McEnany, whose pundit gig insisting the president is really playing 4D chess none of us can understand came to an abrupt end on Saturday, now has a new job reading pro-Trump propaganda online.posted by tilde at 5:06 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
McEnany has secured a gig regurgitating the administration’s preferred “real news” on Trump’s official Facebook page, which appears to be part of the president’s ongoing efforts to cut the media middleman out of his messaging to supporters.
I could have sworn that the state was actually really pissed about the butterfly sanctuary (because takings, not butterflys) and was going to fight it. I can't find anything now.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:08 PM on August 6, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 5:08 PM on August 6, 2017
No joke, I honestly think that the number of true believers, even in the senate, might actually still outnumber the cowards. (Horrifying if true)
posted by triggerfinger at 5:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
'Course the Democrats actually have to run somebody for that to happen.
You can NOT be serious!
/McEnroe
posted by petebest at 5:11 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
You can NOT be serious!
/McEnroe
posted by petebest at 5:11 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Dean Heller gets his payoff for selling out Nevada
Fresh off Sen. Dean Heller’s vote for the so-called skinny Obamacare repeal, a SuperPAC linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will spend seven figures to defend him — including fending off any primary challenge.
In case you wondered just how much a soul goes for.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:31 PM on August 6, 2017 [45 favorites]
Fresh off Sen. Dean Heller’s vote for the so-called skinny Obamacare repeal, a SuperPAC linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will spend seven figures to defend him — including fending off any primary challenge.
In case you wondered just how much a soul goes for.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:31 PM on August 6, 2017 [45 favorites]
It says seven figures but they forgot to include the 30 pieces of silver.
posted by Justinian at 5:34 PM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:34 PM on August 6, 2017 [20 favorites]
Whoa whoa whoa.
I'm a hundred or so comments behind, but...
THE BACKFIRE EFFECT FAILED TO REPLICATE?
Holy crap that's Big.
posted by Yowser at 5:38 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm a hundred or so comments behind, but...
THE BACKFIRE EFFECT FAILED TO REPLICATE?
Holy crap that's Big.
posted by Yowser at 5:38 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
Essentially, if you haven't seen a replication of a claimed psychology result in the past year or two, you should consider the claim suspect. For more details, see the readings of the aptly named course, Everything Is Fucked. Its professor, Sanjay Srivastava, was probably my favorite twitter follow.
posted by Coventry at 5:44 PM on August 6, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 5:44 PM on August 6, 2017 [21 favorites]
Dean Heller gets his payoff for selling out Nevada
Fuck him. I'd rather kick his ass next November than have him lose in the primary anyway. I want the voters he voted to fuck over to serve him a pie and say "When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Heller."
posted by chris24 at 5:47 PM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Fuck him. I'd rather kick his ass next November than have him lose in the primary anyway. I want the voters he voted to fuck over to serve him a pie and say "When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Heller."
posted by chris24 at 5:47 PM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
THE BACKFIRE EFFECT FAILED TO REPLICATE?
Isn't the hell world we live in now replication of the backfire effect? Or is it all going to evaporate now, people coming to their senses as the backfire curse lifts?
God I hope so...
posted by Artw at 5:49 PM on August 6, 2017
Isn't the hell world we live in now replication of the backfire effect? Or is it all going to evaporate now, people coming to their senses as the backfire curse lifts?
God I hope so...
posted by Artw at 5:49 PM on August 6, 2017
No joke, I honestly think that the number of true believers, even in the senate, might actually still outnumber the cowards. (Horrifying if true)
I largely share the pessimism about the integrity and stand-uppingness of GOP Congressmembers but also:
I was recently watching documentaries about Watergate. Though I vaguely knew that cravenness isn't a new thing in the GOP, it was surprising to see just how many and how intensely Republicans clung to Nixon right up until the resignation--and beyond the resignation, for some die-hard fans. But there was a point where too much stuff came out for even the lingerers to stay.
Will there be such a tipping point for this Congress and this administration? No one knows. Personally I'm going to try not to dwell on that too much (pessimism/hope that kills and all that) and instead focus on doing whatever we can to get to that tipping point.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
I largely share the pessimism about the integrity and stand-uppingness of GOP Congressmembers but also:
I was recently watching documentaries about Watergate. Though I vaguely knew that cravenness isn't a new thing in the GOP, it was surprising to see just how many and how intensely Republicans clung to Nixon right up until the resignation--and beyond the resignation, for some die-hard fans. But there was a point where too much stuff came out for even the lingerers to stay.
Will there be such a tipping point for this Congress and this administration? No one knows. Personally I'm going to try not to dwell on that too much (pessimism/hope that kills and all that) and instead focus on doing whatever we can to get to that tipping point.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:01 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
Initial signs do point to the existence of cartilage, though it's uncertain it can hold the weight of an actual Hogan-esque figure. I'm actually not worried at this stage that Congress will be forced into a more significant showdown with the White House; I'm more concerned about the outcome.
I'm going on record that this will never happen. Ryan won't allow it.
Picking up this older comment of Pogo's from the pre-Cretaceous era (i.e. way up thread), Ryan is in an interesting and problematic position here. I actually wouldn't wish it on a nicer person, but granny-starver Ryan isn't actually that nice [I do dispute that he's an obvious anti-Semite as soren lorensen suggested; I've never seen that and I live in his district]. He spent almost the entire fall campaign literally unable to say Trump's name, only using "our candidate" or "our nominee". He was probably in the (pretty large) camp that expected an HRC win. Only after the election did he make up, so to speak, with the incoming administration.
I'm certain that as a partisan he's very pragmatic and worries mainly about the Republican brand, as well as 2018 mid-term losses that seem more and more inevitable [I'm not yet expecting the House to flip, though, due to gerrymandering]. He's also the movement conservative through and through and a lot more concerned about his long-held goals in "benefit reform" and tax-reduction than almost anything else on the table. He's even been one of the more immigration-friendly Republicans. As a former VP nominee he obviously feels a yearning toward the White House, but rebellion in his own party from the reactionary wing has him dubbed a RINO and widely hated. Indeed, when "our candidate" held a rally here, he was actively booed.
I suspect if he's honest with himself he knows that's never going to happen for him. So he wants -- needs -- to have a momentous term as Speaker that will make him more than an historical footnote. The last thing he wants is to have to impeach. BUT. I feel his pragmatism, such as it is, and his partisanship, however misplaced, are likely to make him amenable to a realization that they have no choice but to try to force the man out. When that will come, and what the outcome might be, are the unknown factors.
posted by dhartung at 6:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm going on record that this will never happen. Ryan won't allow it.
Picking up this older comment of Pogo's from the pre-Cretaceous era (i.e. way up thread), Ryan is in an interesting and problematic position here. I actually wouldn't wish it on a nicer person, but granny-starver Ryan isn't actually that nice [I do dispute that he's an obvious anti-Semite as soren lorensen suggested; I've never seen that and I live in his district]. He spent almost the entire fall campaign literally unable to say Trump's name, only using "our candidate" or "our nominee". He was probably in the (pretty large) camp that expected an HRC win. Only after the election did he make up, so to speak, with the incoming administration.
I'm certain that as a partisan he's very pragmatic and worries mainly about the Republican brand, as well as 2018 mid-term losses that seem more and more inevitable [I'm not yet expecting the House to flip, though, due to gerrymandering]. He's also the movement conservative through and through and a lot more concerned about his long-held goals in "benefit reform" and tax-reduction than almost anything else on the table. He's even been one of the more immigration-friendly Republicans. As a former VP nominee he obviously feels a yearning toward the White House, but rebellion in his own party from the reactionary wing has him dubbed a RINO and widely hated. Indeed, when "our candidate" held a rally here, he was actively booed.
I suspect if he's honest with himself he knows that's never going to happen for him. So he wants -- needs -- to have a momentous term as Speaker that will make him more than an historical footnote. The last thing he wants is to have to impeach. BUT. I feel his pragmatism, such as it is, and his partisanship, however misplaced, are likely to make him amenable to a realization that they have no choice but to try to force the man out. When that will come, and what the outcome might be, are the unknown factors.
posted by dhartung at 6:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Initial signs do point to the existence of cartilage, though it's uncertain it can hold the weight of an actual Hogan-esque figure.
And I strongly doubt that his son has the fortitude to follow in those footsteps.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:12 PM on August 6, 2017
And I strongly doubt that his son has the fortitude to follow in those footsteps.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:12 PM on August 6, 2017
Initial signs do point to the existence of cartilage, though it's uncertain it can hold the weight of an actual Hogan-esque figure.
And I strongly doubt that his son has the fortitude to follow in those footsteps.
From that obit linked by dhartung:
While Larry Hogan Jr. was running for the Maryland governor’s office in 2014, he often cited his father’s stance toward Nixon as an example of political courage.
After the 2016 election, the governor revealed that he wrote in his father’s name on the presidential ballot, rather than vote for either of the major party candidates.
Jesus it's like Kasich writing in McCain's name. It's the pinnacle of "both sides are bad"-ism. Just take the L and vote for HRC you spineless jackasses.
posted by dhens at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
And I strongly doubt that his son has the fortitude to follow in those footsteps.
From that obit linked by dhartung:
While Larry Hogan Jr. was running for the Maryland governor’s office in 2014, he often cited his father’s stance toward Nixon as an example of political courage.
After the 2016 election, the governor revealed that he wrote in his father’s name on the presidential ballot, rather than vote for either of the major party candidates.
Jesus it's like Kasich writing in McCain's name. It's the pinnacle of "both sides are bad"-ism. Just take the L and vote for HRC you spineless jackasses.
posted by dhens at 6:19 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
Trump applies for casino trademarks in Macau
Donald Trump's international business dealings have come under much scrutiny, even before he became president. Now, a new trademark deal in Macau has raised questions over whether Trump is snapping up gaming licenses while in office.
As first reported by the South China Morning Post, DTTM Operations LLC, a Delaware-based company affiliated with the president, filed four trademark applications in Macau under the Trump name. One of these applications was for "gambling and casino services and facilities," provoking speculation that Trump is moving to capitalize on what is considered an international casino hub.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [17 favorites]
Donald Trump's international business dealings have come under much scrutiny, even before he became president. Now, a new trademark deal in Macau has raised questions over whether Trump is snapping up gaming licenses while in office.
As first reported by the South China Morning Post, DTTM Operations LLC, a Delaware-based company affiliated with the president, filed four trademark applications in Macau under the Trump name. One of these applications was for "gambling and casino services and facilities," provoking speculation that Trump is moving to capitalize on what is considered an international casino hub.
posted by Room 641-A at 6:37 PM on August 6, 2017 [17 favorites]
This is the Logan Act, about which you can read more in a CRS report. Nobody has ever been prosecuted for violating it in the 218 years we've had it.
Maybe that's because no political figures collaborated with America's enemies during that time.
posted by msalt at 6:46 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
Maybe that's because no political figures collaborated with America's enemies during that time.
posted by msalt at 6:46 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
Devil's Bargain claims that The Wall was a mnemonic designed to keep Trump focused on anti-immigration rhetoric:
Inside Trump’s circle, the power of illegal immigration to manipulate popular sentiment was readily apparent, and his advisers brainstormed methods for keeping their attention-addled boss on message. They needed a trick, a mnemonic device. In the summer of 2014, they found one that clicked. “Roger Stone and I came up with the idea of ‘the Wall,’ and we talked to Steve [Bannon] about it,” said Nunberg. “It was to make sure he talked about immigration.”posted by Coventry at 6:50 PM on August 6, 2017 [21 favorites]
Initially, Trump seemed indifferent to the idea. But in January 2015, he tried it out at the Iowa Freedom Summit, a presidential cattle call put on by David Bossie’s group, Citizens United. “One of his pledges was, ‘I will build a Wall,’ and the place just went nuts,” said Nunberg. Warming to the concept, Trump waited a beat and then added a flourish that brought down the house. “Nobody,” he said, “builds like Trump.”
Also Devil's Bargain: Kellyanne Conway is a terrible source for information, even when that's her professional duty:
Hoping to illustrate the futility of a run [on the NYS Govenorship], Nunberg asked Bossie to commission a survey. In December, Bossie hired Kellyanne Conway to poll likely New York voters to get a clear picture of Trump’s chances.posted by Coventry at 7:05 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
The results were as bad as Stone and Nunberg anticipated—but instead of highlighting the fact that her poll showed Trump losing to Cuomo by 35 points, Conway left out that information and produced an analysis suggesting that Trump could win. “She wrote a sycophantic memo telling Trump he was like the Kennedys,” Nunberg complained.
A (very) long read from Andrew Rice and New York Magazine: The Original Russia Connection
"Felix Sater has cut deals with the FBI, Russian oligarchs, and Donald Trump. He’s also quite a talker."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [14 favorites]
"Felix Sater has cut deals with the FBI, Russian oligarchs, and Donald Trump. He’s also quite a talker."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [14 favorites]
In fact, the only reason Trump didn't put himself through the NYS meatgrinder was that he couldn't persuade Astorino to drop out of the Republican primary in return for the Lieutenant Governor position!
posted by Coventry at 7:14 PM on August 6, 2017
posted by Coventry at 7:14 PM on August 6, 2017
Maybe that's because no political figures collaborated with America's enemies during that time.It doesn't matter. The Logan Act can't really be used because of this legal concept of "desuetude," which is essentially the principle that unenforced criminal statutes cease to be enforceable laws suitable for bringing indictments. In fact, the use of decrepit statutes may violate due process. The last Logan Act indictment was in 1803. (Desuetude doesn't apply to the US Constitution, but the Logan Act is just a law, not an amendment.) In any case, even in a similar situation where a Nixon campaign flunkie told Vietnam to chillax until he was President, no one bothered to bring Logan Act charges against the flunkie. This law is dead. It's useless to cling to it.
We've got emoluments, obstruction of justice, perjury, and espionage to process still. If even two of those turn out to be supported by evidence, that seems like a healthy foundation for impeachment. Or sending a dozen or two people to club fed, at any rate.
posted by xyzzy at 7:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
If they really wanted to demonstrate that Trump's tweet about how he's working and this isn't a vacation was true, they could probably start by not releasing completely empty public schedules.
posted by zachlipton at 7:23 PM on August 6, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 7:23 PM on August 6, 2017 [23 favorites]
EMILY's List Expands After 16,000 Women Reach Out About Running For Office (Ruby Cramer, BuzzFeed News)
The record before: 920 women from 2015-2016. ("That was our Hillary bomb.")
posted by Room 641-A at 7:58 PM on August 6, 2017 [65 favorites]
The record before: 920 women from 2015-2016. ("That was our Hillary bomb.")
posted by Room 641-A at 7:58 PM on August 6, 2017 [65 favorites]
One of the methods suggested for the Indivisible guide was; when attending town halls, people should try to coordinate and spread themselves out around the room to make their malcontentment appear to be coming from all corners, rather than a unique pocket of a half dozen disgruntled constituents ... Jeff Flake town hall (YouTube video, 15sec (from April (but gonna contend it is still relevant))).
posted by phoque at 8:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by phoque at 8:08 PM on August 6, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump tweeted his thanks to "Nicole Mincey," someone who said nice things about him on Twitter, and things have gotten weird. She described herself (until her account was suspended) as a "black conservative" entrepreneur selling Trump merchandise. Heavy.com has been digging into it (warning: trying to untangle this will make your head hurt), and it has gotten increasingly ridiculous: the photo was a retouched version of a model from a stock photo; a college student with the real name that was associated with the account (but a different face) says her identity was stolen. It's all extremely odd.
Such situations have historically been avoided by having someone make sure that people actually exist before they are given public acknowledgement by the President of the United States.
posted by zachlipton at 8:13 PM on August 6, 2017 [40 favorites]
Such situations have historically been avoided by having someone make sure that people actually exist before they are given public acknowledgement by the President of the United States.
posted by zachlipton at 8:13 PM on August 6, 2017 [40 favorites]
Man, never attract the eye of sauron. Does nobody read the classics anymore?
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:41 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:41 PM on August 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
Dean Heller gets his payoff for selling out Nevada
Fresh off Sen. Dean Heller’s vote for the so-called skinny Obamacare repeal, a SuperPAC linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will spend seven figures to defend him — including fending off any primary challenge.
So Heller has McConnell defending him. I'm kind of surprised that there is some honor amongst thieves given the reality of the situation on the ground. Maybe they think they can surf the progressive wave on a surfboard made of the electorate's usual collective amnesia of Republican malfeasance and intransigence.
Let's see what Wynn does though. He's written single checks bigger than McConnell's assurances so depending on what side of the bed he wakes up on, Heller could still be in some deep shit. I'm sure some turtle lackey, if not Yertle himself, is calling Steve every day to butter him up.
posted by Talez at 8:52 PM on August 6, 2017
Fresh off Sen. Dean Heller’s vote for the so-called skinny Obamacare repeal, a SuperPAC linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it will spend seven figures to defend him — including fending off any primary challenge.
So Heller has McConnell defending him. I'm kind of surprised that there is some honor amongst thieves given the reality of the situation on the ground. Maybe they think they can surf the progressive wave on a surfboard made of the electorate's usual collective amnesia of Republican malfeasance and intransigence.
Let's see what Wynn does though. He's written single checks bigger than McConnell's assurances so depending on what side of the bed he wakes up on, Heller could still be in some deep shit. I'm sure some turtle lackey, if not Yertle himself, is calling Steve every day to butter him up.
posted by Talez at 8:52 PM on August 6, 2017
The lesson learned here is that Yo The Marines Kelly is very sincere in Country, President, and only then if I don't have to wake up early on a weekend to deal with Whatever The Hell Else I Have to Deal With random family members and no-kidding nazis, in that order. He's just not very... oh, I dunno... competent. He silenced the tweets! He got the Twitler account on message! And then! And then! He, or his staff acting on his behalf then done fucked up.
The song you are thinking of is "Entry of the Gladiators" by Julius Fučík.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
The song you are thinking of is "Entry of the Gladiators" by Julius Fučík.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Honor? He wants his next vote. When he needs another senator's vote, he needs his trust. Senate is like a tiny village, even McConnell does not shit where he lives.
posted by rainy at 9:01 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by rainy at 9:01 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
From that Heavy article that zachpilon linked " However, a July 4, 2017 press release touting the creation of the “ProTrump45” merchandise store, which lists Nicole Mincey as the media contact, provides an address for the store that traces back to the mail room of the real college student’s Jersey City university, Heavy has learned."
Yeah, as I've been saying above in this fast moving thread I've been giving reporters info -such as this "thing they have learned" for example. ^
It's a real person, she's a college student there, she's black, She's not a bot etc.
posted by stagewhisper at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yeah, as I've been saying above in this fast moving thread I've been giving reporters info -such as this "thing they have learned" for example. ^
It's a real person, she's a college student there, she's black, She's not a bot etc.
posted by stagewhisper at 9:24 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean, I suppose that Muslims have prayers in there but it's a former elementary school that's been converted to a community center.
Whether or not you think of it as one, I guarantee you that the entire community calls it their masjid. By definition, a mosque is where communal prayers are conducted. That it also serves as a community center is another standard feature of a mosque /masjid. As someone else pointed out, the attack was on the imam's office. Finally, that the building doesn't look like a typical mosque and is called a community center is a typical accommodation that many Muslim communities have to make in order to establish mosques without challenge from neighborhood associations, town councils, etc.
posted by bardophile at 9:39 PM on August 6, 2017 [42 favorites]
According to Devil's Bargain, Trump became very popular with AA and Hispanic people because of the way POC were portrayed on The Apprentice. Advertising on the show was prized for its diversity. Of course he threw all that away with birtherism and the "rapists and murderers" rhetoric, but there could be some leftovers.
posted by Coventry at 9:39 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Coventry at 9:39 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
And how anybody, including Trump himself, was portrayed on The Apprentice was mostly the work of Mark Burnett and his writersproducers. Come on, "Reality TV" is America's Greatest Oxymoron.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:45 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:45 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm not saying beliefs of viewers are sane... Honestly, I question the sanity of anyone who watches broadcast TV. Just saying it's plausible there are still POC supporters left over.
posted by Coventry at 9:53 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Coventry at 9:53 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm just saying that a lot of the image of Donald Trump for a large portion of America had been created by the fictions in The Apprentice. And when he's up for re-election, he's going to have a hard time defeating any challenger more popular than Kim Jung-Il. Not that the Democrats aren't considering it...
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
John Oliver: Stephen Miller’s ‘Truly One of the Most Revolting Humans (Minions) I Have Ever Seen’
posted by Room 641-A at 10:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 10:21 PM on August 6, 2017 [22 favorites]
> One of the methods suggested for the Indivisible guide was; when attending town halls, people should try to coordinate and spread themselves out around the room to make their malcontentment appear to be coming from all corners, rather than a unique pocket of a half dozen disgruntled constituents ...
oh my god that's what ISO members do at public meetings. That's hilarious.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:28 PM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
oh my god that's what ISO members do at public meetings. That's hilarious.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:28 PM on August 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Politico :
How Trump's FCC helped Sinclair's Expansion
It's basically the "But what if a dog played on the team?" of clever tricks.
The loophole is a throwback to the days when the ultra-high-frequency TV spectrum — the part higher than Channel 13 — was filled with low-budget stations with often-scratchy reception over analog rabbit ears. That quality gap no longer exists in today's world of digital television, but under the policy that Pai revived, the commission does not fully count those stations’ market size when tallying a broadcaster's national reach.
Bonus: Article comes with Pai's very punchable face in quite possibly its most punchable pose.
posted by Yowser at 10:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
How Trump's FCC helped Sinclair's Expansion
It's basically the "But what if a dog played on the team?" of clever tricks.
The loophole is a throwback to the days when the ultra-high-frequency TV spectrum — the part higher than Channel 13 — was filled with low-budget stations with often-scratchy reception over analog rabbit ears. That quality gap no longer exists in today's world of digital television, but under the policy that Pai revived, the commission does not fully count those stations’ market size when tallying a broadcaster's national reach.
Bonus: Article comes with Pai's very punchable face in quite possibly its most punchable pose.
posted by Yowser at 10:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
[I've been mostly offline for a couple of days, apologies if any of these are repeats]
** NJ gov -- Dem candidate Murphy backing recreational marijuana. In general, Murphy is running pretty strongly left (as is Northam in VA), which is especially interesting, given Dems would have unified control if he wins, as seems highly likely.
** 2018 Senate -- PPP poll shows Jeff Flake approval and re-elect numbers are terrible, but still no major Dem candidate.
** 2018 House:
[I've been mostly offline for a couple of days, apologies if any of these are repeats]
** NJ gov -- Dem candidate Murphy backing recreational marijuana. In general, Murphy is running pretty strongly left (as is Northam in VA), which is especially interesting, given Dems would have unified control if he wins, as seems highly likely.
** 2018 Senate -- PPP poll shows Jeff Flake approval and re-elect numbers are terrible, but still no major Dem candidate.
** 2018 House:
-- Nate Cohn points out that there have not been as many GOP retirements in close districts as we might expect, so a note of caution on the possibility of a Dem wave. Of course, it's still relatively early, as well.** Odds & ends:
-- Vox: Trump approval off everywhere except narrowly GOP districts. Which is obviously where Dems would most want to see that happening. On the other hand, this seems to be contradicted by special election results so far.
-- Quinnipiac poll has Dems opening 52-38 lead on the generic ballot. 538 poll average is at 48-38.
-- In-depth Cook Political look at where the fluid districts are (due to gerrymandering and geographic sortation, things are much more static than 20 years ago).
-- Sabato: Dems looking at significant gubernatorial pickups in 2018. This is very significant for 2020 redistricting.posted by Chrysostom at 10:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [39 favorites]
-- Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll of close congressional districts finds 60-29 in opposition of Trump firing Mueller. By 86-10, they say Trump should not be allowed to pardon himself.
Chicago to file federal lawsuit over sanctuary cities threat, WaPo
Chicago will keep fighting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies with a federal lawsuit alleging it’s illegal for the federal government to withhold public safety grants from so-called sanctuary cities, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday...posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 10:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
The lawsuit will be filed Monday.
Officials said there are new qualifications for a public safety grant requiring cities to share information with federal immigration authorities. City officials allege those qualifications are unconstitutional.
Chicago received about $2.3 million in such grants last year, which have been used for buying police vehicles.
Chicago is being helped by two outside law firms on a pro bono basis.
John Oliver, Last Week Tonight: Border Patrol, on what happened the last time we had a major hiring surge and why we shouldn't do that again.
On a related subject, BuzzFeed has a good look at what happens to people when they're deported to Mexico: What Happens When Long-Term US Residents Get Deported To Mexico: "Detentions by ICE are up 38%, and removals are expected to rise, but Mexican border cities like Nogales aren't prepared for the influx of new, struggling residents. BuzzFeed News talked to the deportees and the volunteers helping keep them alive."
And the NYT has a look at the chaos Tillerson has caused in the State Department: Diplomats Question Tactics of Tillerson, the Executive Turned Secretary of State, to the extent he won't even trust subordinates to send traditional greetings:
posted by zachlipton at 11:52 PM on August 6, 2017 [63 favorites]
On a related subject, BuzzFeed has a good look at what happens to people when they're deported to Mexico: What Happens When Long-Term US Residents Get Deported To Mexico: "Detentions by ICE are up 38%, and removals are expected to rise, but Mexican border cities like Nogales aren't prepared for the influx of new, struggling residents. BuzzFeed News talked to the deportees and the volunteers helping keep them alive."
And the NYT has a look at the chaos Tillerson has caused in the State Department: Diplomats Question Tactics of Tillerson, the Executive Turned Secretary of State, to the extent he won't even trust subordinates to send traditional greetings:
Several times a week the State Department sends a greeting to a foreign country on the occasion of its national day. By tradition, the salutations have been written by low-level diplomats and routinely approved by their superiors.Some of us at least held out the thought that he didn't know anything about diplomacy, but at least could function as a second-rate manager. That turned out to be false too. This story also confirms, as we've discussed in the thread previously, that he's revoked essentially all the delegated authorities int he department and is running everything out of his office, even as he's failed to appoint anyone to most senior positions. And then there's just being an asshole:
But not anymore.
Now the messages go through Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson’s office, where his top assistants insist on vetting them, and where they often sit for weeks before coming back with extensive editing changes, according to several department officials. To these officials, it is a classic case of micromanagement — and emblematic of the way Mr. Tillerson has approached running the State Department.
In another example of just how much Mr. Tillerson is sweating the details, he recently insisted that his staff members submit a memorandum justifying each proposed hiring of a diplomatic spouse in the embassies in Baghdad and Kabul, Afghanistan. Such spousal jobs are an important means of encouraging diplomats to take hardship posts and generally save the department the expense of sending and housing another American independently.If you've got someone who is willing to sit in a building with an American flag in Kabul and all they ask is that you find a job for their spouse too, that seems like a really good deal for the government.
Mr. Tillerson personally reviewed the necessity for every one of those jobs.
“Because there’s a hiring freeze, it requires the secretary’s signature to make any of these hires,” Mr. Hammond said.
posted by zachlipton at 11:52 PM on August 6, 2017 [63 favorites]
While Larry Hogan Jr. was running for the Maryland governor’s office in 2014, he often cited his father’s stance toward Nixon as an example of political courage.
This weekend's Washington Post Magazine has a longform article about Hogan that touches on this:
posted by peeedro at 12:00 AM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
This weekend's Washington Post Magazine has a longform article about Hogan that touches on this:
Hogan described to me a weekend morning not long after his father’s funeral. He was sinking into an easy chair in the basement of the governor’s mansion — he calls it his “man cave” — wading through the stacks of “homework” his staff leaves for him most evenings. On CNN, pundits discussed the news that Trump had just fired the FBI director. When Hogan looked at the television screen, he caught an unexpected sight. A grainy image of the House Judiciary Committee was serving as a backdrop to a report on the echoes of past scandal. “I looked up and there’s my dad,” he recalls.That's the extent of his political courage at the moment, wondering if someday he may have to have a public opinion on a subject that makes his party look bad. He's almost mavericky.
In seeing it, he seemed to understand that his father’s role in Watergate had the potential to become an inescapable ghost for him. People around him, he says, have already started to wonder openly if a moment will come when he, like his father before him, will be driven to buck his party and turn on the president. “Everyone’s talking about it, and they are making comparisons,” Hogan told me. “I’ve thought a lot about the magnitude of that moment and how important and tough a decision it was that he made.”
posted by peeedro at 12:00 AM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
That's the extent of his political courage at the moment, wondering if someday he may have to have a public opinion on a subject that makes his party look bad. He's almost mavericky.
Fuck this guy. I look forward to voting this sack of shit out next year. He's an anomaly anyway in otherwise deep-blue Maryland.
posted by CommonSense at 12:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
Fuck this guy. I look forward to voting this sack of shit out next year. He's an anomaly anyway in otherwise deep-blue Maryland.
posted by CommonSense at 12:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
He's an anomaly anyway in otherwise deep-blue Maryland.
Can we... can we just fully eat all the Republican fascist/collaborator officeholders yet?
I'm hangry and it is grrar time. I don't even really know the particular officeholder to whom you refer but they sound bad and they probably should be eaten.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:46 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Can we... can we just fully eat all the Republican fascist/collaborator officeholders yet?
I'm hangry and it is grrar time. I don't even really know the particular officeholder to whom you refer but they sound bad and they probably should be eaten.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:46 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Nice try Sarlacc. You finish your Boba Fett and then we'll talk about Republicans.
posted by um at 12:58 AM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by um at 12:58 AM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
Claims of Seymour Hersh says Seth Rich contacted WikiLeaks - wanted money
Further claim of an FBI report exists that backs that up.
posted by rough ashlar at 1:07 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Further claim of an FBI report exists that backs that up.
posted by rough ashlar at 1:07 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Re: Minneapolis/Bloomington mosque bombing
[Minnesota Governor] Dayton calls Bloomington mosque blast "act of terrorism"-- Minneaplis Star Tribune
[Minnesota Governor] Dayton calls Bloomington mosque blast "act of terrorism"-- Minneaplis Star Tribune
The attack on a Bloomington Islamic center is "an act of terrorism" and a hate crime, Gov. Mark Dayton declared Sunday during a visit to show solidarity...posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:23 AM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
Though no one was injured and the damage was contained to one office, the size of the visiting political delegation on a Sunday morning underscored the gravity of the crime.
The group included Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, state Rep. Andrew Carlson, DFL-Bloomington, Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead, state Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to the Legislature, and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress.
There were no updates on the investigation Sunday. A Bloomington police deputy referred calls to the FBI and said he had no new information...
The center is just south of Ellison's district in an area represented by GOP U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, who wasn't at Sunday's gathering. On Saturday, just after noon, Paulsen tweeted, "Standing w/ Dar Al-farooq community today. Relieved to hear no one was hurt. I'm confident the investigation will get to the bottom of this."...
Mohamed Omar, executive director of the Islamic center, announced the creation of a GoFundMe page aiming to raise $95,000 to repair the damage. Early Sunday evening, the fund had received about a fourth of that...
Minnesota law enforcement reported 14 anti-Muslim bias incidents last year, according to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, a record high. On Sunday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported that "Islamophobic trolls" had flooded its Facebook page with messages supporting the bombing.
Claims of Seymour Hersh says Seth Rich contacted WikiLeaks - wanted moneyYeah, get back to me when Seymour Hersh actually writes a sourced article. The FBI has tons of reports, many of which are full of half-truths and rumors. The existence of a report does not imply any level of veracity. That's what investigations are for.
Further claim of an FBI report exists that backs that up.
posted by xyzzy at 2:07 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
they sound bad and they probably should be eaten
I was lineball on eating the leftover salmon lasagne that turned up under the bedclothes two days later, but I wouldn't eat that.
posted by flabdablet at 2:07 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was lineball on eating the leftover salmon lasagne that turned up under the bedclothes two days later, but I wouldn't eat that.
posted by flabdablet at 2:07 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Claims of Seymour Hersh says Seth Rich contacted WikiLeaks - wanted money
Further claim of an FBI report exists that backs that up.
So, uh, first, Hersh hasn't been what he was for years now. Second, and more importantly, it is not even clear this audio is of Hersh. That article is sourcing that info from a nutcase alt-right website for the audio and T_D for the transcript. And the website hosting the article itself is not exactly . . . a hotbed of journalistic integrity, one might say.
Are we really gonna be entertaining the Seth Rich nonsense here? Should we hop on the Pizzagate train, too?
posted by Anonymous at 2:14 AM on August 7, 2017
Further claim of an FBI report exists that backs that up.
So, uh, first, Hersh hasn't been what he was for years now. Second, and more importantly, it is not even clear this audio is of Hersh. That article is sourcing that info from a nutcase alt-right website for the audio and T_D for the transcript. And the website hosting the article itself is not exactly . . . a hotbed of journalistic integrity, one might say.
Are we really gonna be entertaining the Seth Rich nonsense here? Should we hop on the Pizzagate train, too?
posted by Anonymous at 2:14 AM on August 7, 2017
BREAKING: I just reported to the FBI that Seth Rich died because he was moving in on Killary's Republibaby murder racket, which she somehow profited from and which belongs to Hillary so don't even try it mothaeffa yeah that's right I killed Seth Rich those children were not his to harvest. k1ll4R33 4 LYFE [FAKENEWS]
BREAKING: I just made a T-shirt with a --> [fake] <-- logo on it (minus arrows). Only I can wear it, because it's not for sale. [REALNEWS]
posted by saysthis at 2:21 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
BREAKING: I just made a T-shirt with a --> [fake] <-- logo on it (minus arrows). Only I can wear it, because it's not for sale. [REALNEWS]
posted by saysthis at 2:21 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
Claims of Seymour Hersh says Seth Rich contacted WikiLeaks - wanted money
Well that is batshitinsane, and another example of the sad decline of Hersh.
I reminds me of something I think about on and off. Back during the Bush administration when they were sending out lies by the dozen every month, a lot of real knowledge and facts came from media and journalists who were somewhat "fringy", left populist. Seymour Hersh writing for the New Yorker was the most mainstream as I recall it, otherwise those were the finest days of the then young Salon, Slate, and even Counterpunch and a number of blogs by different specialists or even Iraqis risking their lives to send out news. In other words, in order to figure out what was really going on, you had to spend a lot of time on the internet searching for relatively obscure sources and connect the dots independently. Or you could buy books, I still have a few of those little fast-printed paperbacks that were barely mentioned in the media, for instance one by Hans Blix. And of course most of the Democratic Party voted for the war on Iraq. Back then, it was a reasonable position to believe the WH-house lies and I knew many well-informed people who did, even several socialists.
Now all of the mainstream media are reporting on the lies from the White House, and Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed and Vanity Fair are doing great reporting and analysis! It's really a different situation. And I don't think the Democrats will vote for an Iran war unless the Iranians bomb Israel or something equally crazy.
But there is a dimension to this change that I also think is significant. Back then, the major voices on both sides were white men. I know, there were Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, who were monumentally had, in the administration and that NYTimes reporter, what was her name. I'm not so much thinking of the individuals doing the dirty work here as the main drivers of the narrative, both in the administration, in the mainstream media and among the critics among whom Hersh was probably the most significant. Now he has been sidelined by reporters at Teen Vogue. Now Maxine Waters is on The View, speaking out against the President — nothing like that happened during the Bush presidency.
It's not only the white working class voters who are out of the loop. It's also the macho hero reporters, and the war-mongering senators and the marxist-authoritarian academics, and they are all fighting back, with teeth and claws.
posted by mumimor at 2:22 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well that is batshitinsane, and another example of the sad decline of Hersh.
I reminds me of something I think about on and off. Back during the Bush administration when they were sending out lies by the dozen every month, a lot of real knowledge and facts came from media and journalists who were somewhat "fringy", left populist. Seymour Hersh writing for the New Yorker was the most mainstream as I recall it, otherwise those were the finest days of the then young Salon, Slate, and even Counterpunch and a number of blogs by different specialists or even Iraqis risking their lives to send out news. In other words, in order to figure out what was really going on, you had to spend a lot of time on the internet searching for relatively obscure sources and connect the dots independently. Or you could buy books, I still have a few of those little fast-printed paperbacks that were barely mentioned in the media, for instance one by Hans Blix. And of course most of the Democratic Party voted for the war on Iraq. Back then, it was a reasonable position to believe the WH-house lies and I knew many well-informed people who did, even several socialists.
Now all of the mainstream media are reporting on the lies from the White House, and Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed and Vanity Fair are doing great reporting and analysis! It's really a different situation. And I don't think the Democrats will vote for an Iran war unless the Iranians bomb Israel or something equally crazy.
But there is a dimension to this change that I also think is significant. Back then, the major voices on both sides were white men. I know, there were Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, who were monumentally had, in the administration and that NYTimes reporter, what was her name. I'm not so much thinking of the individuals doing the dirty work here as the main drivers of the narrative, both in the administration, in the mainstream media and among the critics among whom Hersh was probably the most significant. Now he has been sidelined by reporters at Teen Vogue. Now Maxine Waters is on The View, speaking out against the President — nothing like that happened during the Bush presidency.
It's not only the white working class voters who are out of the loop. It's also the macho hero reporters, and the war-mongering senators and the marxist-authoritarian academics, and they are all fighting back, with teeth and claws.
posted by mumimor at 2:22 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Claims of Seymour Hersh says Seth Rich contacted WikiLeaks - wanted money
[On preview, deleting my comments that just echo everything else being said here.]
Evaluating news in 2017 is hard work because there is no shortage of viewpoints, and it's super easy to just seek out and adopt the viewpoint (and corresponding news) that matches your own world view. But if you're going to understand what's actually happening in the world, it's not enough to just find somebody telling a story you want to believe. You have to also understand who they are, why they are telling that story, what they have to gain from it, and likewise who is supporting and promoting the story, and why, and who stands to gain, and if you're going to be intellectually honest about it you've got to do the same for the other side, who's telling the opposing story, and why, and what do they stand to gain. That's a lot of work and not many people can be arsed to do it, which is why fake news is so very effective.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 2:27 AM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
[On preview, deleting my comments that just echo everything else being said here.]
Evaluating news in 2017 is hard work because there is no shortage of viewpoints, and it's super easy to just seek out and adopt the viewpoint (and corresponding news) that matches your own world view. But if you're going to understand what's actually happening in the world, it's not enough to just find somebody telling a story you want to believe. You have to also understand who they are, why they are telling that story, what they have to gain from it, and likewise who is supporting and promoting the story, and why, and who stands to gain, and if you're going to be intellectually honest about it you've got to do the same for the other side, who's telling the opposing story, and why, and what do they stand to gain. That's a lot of work and not many people can be arsed to do it, which is why fake news is so very effective.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 2:27 AM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tillerson says U.S., Russia can settle problems, ease tension
posted by J.K. Seazer at 2:43 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Monday he believes Washington and Russia can find a way to ease tension, saying it wouldn't be useful to cut ties over the single issue of suspected Russian meddling in the U.S. election...I mean, say what you will about Neville Chamberlain, but at least he wasn't trying to appease people who had already directly attacked his country.
Tillerson met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on the sidelines of an international gathering in Manila on Sunday, where he also asked about Moscow's retaliation to new U.S. sanctions against Russia.
The meeting was their first since President Donald Trump reluctantly signed into law the sanctions that Russia said amounted to a full-scale trade war and ended hopes for better ties.
Lavrov on Sunday said he believed his U.S. colleagues were ready to continue dialogue with Moscow on complex issues despite tensions.
Tillerson said he discussed Russia's suspected meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with Lavrov to "help them understand how serious this incident had been and how seriously it damaged the relationship" between the two nations.
But Tillerson said that should not irreversibly damage ties.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 2:43 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
...appease people who had already directly attacked his country.
Uh, hello... Russia didn't attack Tillerson's "country" (which more directly describes Exxon/Mobil), they helped get him into power... not an enemy, an ally!
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
Uh, hello... Russia didn't attack Tillerson's "country" (which more directly describes Exxon/Mobil), they helped get him into power... not an enemy, an ally!
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
The Logan Act can't really be used because of this legal concept of "desuetude," which is essentially the principle that unenforced criminal statutes cease to be enforceable laws suitable for bringing indictments. In fact, the use of decrepit statutes may violate due process. The last Logan Act indictment was in 1803.
Where can I read more about the application of desuetude to the Logan Act? This conclusion surprises me because I can't imagine how the Act meets the criteria given on the desuetude wiki page. It is blatantly malum in se, and there hasn't been any period of notorious violation of Logan, or any policy nonenforcement.
posted by Coventry at 3:05 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Where can I read more about the application of desuetude to the Logan Act? This conclusion surprises me because I can't imagine how the Act meets the criteria given on the desuetude wiki page. It is blatantly malum in se, and there hasn't been any period of notorious violation of Logan, or any policy nonenforcement.
posted by Coventry at 3:05 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Evaluating news in 2017 is hard work because there is no shortage of viewpoints, and it's super easy to just seek out and adopt the viewpoint (and corresponding news) that matches your own world view.
It was much harder during the 00's. It's true that everyone selects the news that suit their world view, but people always did that. However, the scandalous lack of critique on the side of the mainstream media during Bush/Blair and the real life consequences of that failure on the side of the media, along with the very real threat of extinction due to a new media economy has meant that most serious and some light publications are much more critical of government spin than they were then.
But, because in our age facts have a liberal bias, this has led the Right and the Far Left to create fake news outlets with Fox News and crazy blogs as the forerunners and models. The thing is that the Right as it is today could not survive in a society where all news channels based their reporting on facts and knowledge, and while the rightwing media are horrendous propaganda outlets and terrible and can lead to catastrophes such as the Trump presidency, I see the Right's failure to create a policy based on reality as a net positive. The Republican failure to write an alternative to the ACA is a case in point. Wait and see now as they have to write a budget proposal.
The competent fiscal Conservatives of old times were much more sinister, and not only by themselves but also because neoliberalism was created in response to their critique of the welfare state.
Well, that's just my opinion, man…
posted by mumimor at 3:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
It was much harder during the 00's. It's true that everyone selects the news that suit their world view, but people always did that. However, the scandalous lack of critique on the side of the mainstream media during Bush/Blair and the real life consequences of that failure on the side of the media, along with the very real threat of extinction due to a new media economy has meant that most serious and some light publications are much more critical of government spin than they were then.
But, because in our age facts have a liberal bias, this has led the Right and the Far Left to create fake news outlets with Fox News and crazy blogs as the forerunners and models. The thing is that the Right as it is today could not survive in a society where all news channels based their reporting on facts and knowledge, and while the rightwing media are horrendous propaganda outlets and terrible and can lead to catastrophes such as the Trump presidency, I see the Right's failure to create a policy based on reality as a net positive. The Republican failure to write an alternative to the ACA is a case in point. Wait and see now as they have to write a budget proposal.
The competent fiscal Conservatives of old times were much more sinister, and not only by themselves but also because neoliberalism was created in response to their critique of the welfare state.
Well, that's just my opinion, man…
posted by mumimor at 3:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Debt-Ceiling Crisis Is Real (NYTimes opinion piece)
posted by mumimor at 3:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 3:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Where can I read more about the application of desuetude to the Logan Act?Steve Vladeck wrote a piece at Lawfare about the Logan Act with respect to the Republican "open letter" to Iran designed to undermine Obama's efforts to close the nuclear deal. He covers points about its probable unconstitutionality as well as desuetude.
It should be noted that within the last few years SCOTUS has refused to hear cases involving old, traditionally unenforced statues.
posted by xyzzy at 4:13 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you wanted confirmation that Trump's base is eroding, the panicked Fake News rant from Donny this morning should help. Pretty much everything he's called fake news has turned out to be true.
@realDonaldTrump
The failing @nytimes, which has made every wrong prediction about me including my big election win (apologized), is totally inept!
- The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling). Look at rallies in Penn, Iowa, Ohio.......
- ...and West Virginia. The fact is the Fake News Russian collusion story, record Stock Market, border security, military strength, jobs.....
- ... Supreme Court pick, economic enthusiasm, deregulation & so much more have driven the Trump base even closer together. Will never change!
- Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!
posted by chris24 at 4:24 AM on August 7, 2017 [21 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
The failing @nytimes, which has made every wrong prediction about me including my big election win (apologized), is totally inept!
- The Trump base is far bigger & stronger than ever before (despite some phony Fake News polling). Look at rallies in Penn, Iowa, Ohio.......
- ...and West Virginia. The fact is the Fake News Russian collusion story, record Stock Market, border security, military strength, jobs.....
- ... Supreme Court pick, economic enthusiasm, deregulation & so much more have driven the Trump base even closer together. Will never change!
- Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!
posted by chris24 at 4:24 AM on August 7, 2017 [21 favorites]
- The Trump base is far bigger
Somebody should remind him that he doesn't just work for his "Base"...
To paraphrase, "All your base ARE US... "
posted by mikelieman at 4:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Somebody should remind him that he doesn't just work for his "Base"...
To paraphrase, "All your base ARE US... "
posted by mikelieman at 4:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
He has never considered himself working for his Base... he considers his Base working for Him.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:34 AM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:34 AM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
They say pick your battles, no?
Proudly, my $ goes to MeFi, ACLU, Butterflies and Emily's List.
posted by yoga at 5:03 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
Proudly, my $ goes to MeFi, ACLU, Butterflies and Emily's List.
posted by yoga at 5:03 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yesterday:
Bloomberg: New Chief of Staff Kelly Moves Quickly to Tame Trump's Tweets
Today:
@realDonaldTrump
Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist!
- Never in U.S.history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and....
- ...conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion?
---
Of course, Mr. Hard Worker/I Don't Watch CNN tweeted this 15 minutes after Senator Blumenthal was on CNN. And he got 5 deferments from Vietnam and called avoiding STD's his personal Vietnam.
Given the earlier tweet about the Times and his manic ranting, I'm thinking we may have scoop o'clock today.
posted by chris24 at 5:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
Bloomberg: New Chief of Staff Kelly Moves Quickly to Tame Trump's Tweets
Today:
@realDonaldTrump
Interesting to watch Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut talking about hoax Russian collusion when he was a phony Vietnam con artist!
- Never in U.S.history has anyone lied or defrauded voters like Senator Richard Blumenthal. He told stories about his Vietnam battles and....
- ...conquests, how brave he was, and it was all a lie. He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child. Now he judges collusion?
---
Of course, Mr. Hard Worker/I Don't Watch CNN tweeted this 15 minutes after Senator Blumenthal was on CNN. And he got 5 deferments from Vietnam and called avoiding STD's his personal Vietnam.
Given the earlier tweet about the Times and his manic ranting, I'm thinking we may have scoop o'clock today.
posted by chris24 at 5:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
What do you even do with a PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES who writes, "He cried like a baby and begged for forgiveness like a child." I just want him to SHUT. UP. AND. STOP. WHINING.
posted by xyzzy at 5:13 AM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 5:13 AM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
Dear Donald,
Less Whining. More Winning.
posted by Twain Device at 5:14 AM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Less Whining. More Winning.
posted by Twain Device at 5:14 AM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Kelley did pretty good though. Got to give him some credit. He managed to mostly contain ragey (I need my tweet fix) Donald for a week. That's not bad relatively speaking.
posted by Jalliah at 5:16 AM on August 7, 2017 [28 favorites]
made every wrong prediction about me including my big election win (apologized)
begged for forgiveness like a child
Because Trump thinks apologizing and asking forgiveness are humiliating acts done by weak people.
Of course in reality the reason Trump has never done either is that he doesn't have the strength.
posted by OnceUponATime at 5:27 AM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
begged for forgiveness like a child
Because Trump thinks apologizing and asking forgiveness are humiliating acts done by weak people.
Of course in reality the reason Trump has never done either is that he doesn't have the strength.
posted by OnceUponATime at 5:27 AM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
Uh, wtf?
Hersh, who has been around the block several times, and is intimately familiar with how the intelligence community operates – as well as being personally familiar with the individuals involved – is onto the game that’s being play here. In his words:
“I have a narrative of how that whole fucking thing began, it’s a Brennan operation, it was an American disinformation and fucking the fucking President, at one point when they, they even started telling the press, they were back briefing the press, the head of the NSA was going and telling the press, fucking cock-sucker Rogers, was telling the press that we even know who in the GRU, the Russian Military Intelligence Service, who leaked it. I mean [it’s] all bullshit…. Trump’s not wrong to think they all fucking lie about him.”
. . . However, it looks like Hersh didn’t know he was being recorded, because the recording directly contradicts both Hersh and what NPR is reporting. An email exchange between Butowsky and Hersh, in which the former pleads with the famous journalist to go public, has been published, and when a reporter called him for comment Hersh clammed up:
“‘I’m not going to comment about that stuff, I mean, come on, I live in the real world.’
“When asked to confirm that it was him speaking on the bombshell audio recording, he stated, ‘I’m not going to talk to anybody about that. No comment.’”
Man. Can I get a witness?
posted by petebest at 5:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hersh, who has been around the block several times, and is intimately familiar with how the intelligence community operates – as well as being personally familiar with the individuals involved – is onto the game that’s being play here. In his words:
“I have a narrative of how that whole fucking thing began, it’s a Brennan operation, it was an American disinformation and fucking the fucking President, at one point when they, they even started telling the press, they were back briefing the press, the head of the NSA was going and telling the press, fucking cock-sucker Rogers, was telling the press that we even know who in the GRU, the Russian Military Intelligence Service, who leaked it. I mean [it’s] all bullshit…. Trump’s not wrong to think they all fucking lie about him.”
. . . However, it looks like Hersh didn’t know he was being recorded, because the recording directly contradicts both Hersh and what NPR is reporting. An email exchange between Butowsky and Hersh, in which the former pleads with the famous journalist to go public, has been published, and when a reporter called him for comment Hersh clammed up:
“‘I’m not going to comment about that stuff, I mean, come on, I live in the real world.’
“When asked to confirm that it was him speaking on the bombshell audio recording, he stated, ‘I’m not going to talk to anybody about that. No comment.’”
Man. Can I get a witness?
posted by petebest at 5:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey, all. I'm updating the Election Thread Reference in the MeFi wiki to cover the fact it's now August 2017 and political threads are still going strong. Lots of new jokes, references, norms to cover. Please help out by editing/adding! #matleaveprojects
posted by whitewall at 5:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by whitewall at 5:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [37 favorites]
He managed to mostly contain ragey (I need my tweet fix) Donald for a week. That's not bad relatively speaking.
He's been reined in before, by people other than Kelly. It never lasts and it's not that impressive.
(And how screwed up is it that "how long they can prevent the predisent from self-immolating" is our standard of quality? GWB was not a smart man or a great president, but his staffers could at least focus on issues other than constantly curbing his self-destruction.)
posted by jackbishop at 5:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [19 favorites]
He's been reined in before, by people other than Kelly. It never lasts and it's not that impressive.
(And how screwed up is it that "how long they can prevent the predisent from self-immolating" is our standard of quality? GWB was not a smart man or a great president, but his staffers could at least focus on issues other than constantly curbing his self-destruction.)
posted by jackbishop at 5:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [19 favorites]
Chris Coons to ABC: If the president fired Mueller, "that would be crossing a big line and I think you would see strong bipartisan action."
Within minutes we would see the first of millions of protesters emptying out into the streets. You can be among them. Sign up to get notified should the unthinkable happen. Nobody is Above the Law, Mueller Firing Rapid Response. Hosted by MoveOn, they will harvest your email address for more routine emails & donation requests but you can opt out of those once the first one arrives.
Quick fashion tip for the next major public protest: the 'Hero' t-shirt.
posted by progosk at 5:46 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Within minutes we would see the first of millions of protesters emptying out into the streets. You can be among them. Sign up to get notified should the unthinkable happen. Nobody is Above the Law, Mueller Firing Rapid Response. Hosted by MoveOn, they will harvest your email address for more routine emails & donation requests but you can opt out of those once the first one arrives.
Quick fashion tip for the next major public protest: the 'Hero' t-shirt.
posted by progosk at 5:46 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
He's been reined in before, by people other than Kelly. It never lasts and it's not that impressive.
(And how screwed up is it that "how long they can prevent the predisent from self-immolating" is our standard of quality? GWB was not a smart man or a great president, but his staffers could at least focus on issues other than constantly curbing his self-destruction.)
Sorry. I should have added a sarcasm tag.
posted by Jalliah at 6:05 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
(And how screwed up is it that "how long they can prevent the predisent from self-immolating" is our standard of quality? GWB was not a smart man or a great president, but his staffers could at least focus on issues other than constantly curbing his self-destruction.)
Sorry. I should have added a sarcasm tag.
posted by Jalliah at 6:05 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
DJT tweet: Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!
Mr. President, I think we finally agree on something. It's damn near impossible to believe that.
posted by penduluum at 6:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [56 favorites]
Mr. President, I think we finally agree on something. It's damn near impossible to believe that.
posted by penduluum at 6:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [56 favorites]
I mean, I suppose that Muslims have prayers in there but it's a former elementary school that's been converted to a community center.
There are thousands of American christian churches in former storefronts and big box stores. And the better ones also function as community centers hosting secular things like AA meetings, community club meetings and theater. The worse ones provide shelter only for taxes. This is really not an area people should be rules-lawyering Muslims on what is and isn't a mosque because they really have American Christians whooped on the consistency of service and space.
posted by srboisvert at 6:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [31 favorites]
There are thousands of American christian churches in former storefronts and big box stores. And the better ones also function as community centers hosting secular things like AA meetings, community club meetings and theater. The worse ones provide shelter only for taxes. This is really not an area people should be rules-lawyering Muslims on what is and isn't a mosque because they really have American Christians whooped on the consistency of service and space.
posted by srboisvert at 6:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [31 favorites]
"it's not just fake news anymore, it's fake reality - IT'S A FAKE WORLD!!"
(fake)
posted by pyramid termite at 6:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
(fake)
posted by pyramid termite at 6:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now he judges collusion?
Did he just admit there is collusion?
posted by double bubble at 6:48 AM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Did he just admit there is collusion?
posted by double bubble at 6:48 AM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
I know, there were Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, who were monumentally had, in the administration
If by "had" you mean "keen never ever to tear off the blinkers regardless of the volume of warnings being screamed from the sidelines, in order to maintain what they must desperately have wished was something vaguely resembling plausible deniability" then of course I agree.
posted by flabdablet at 6:51 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
If by "had" you mean "keen never ever to tear off the blinkers regardless of the volume of warnings being screamed from the sidelines, in order to maintain what they must desperately have wished was something vaguely resembling plausible deniability" then of course I agree.
posted by flabdablet at 6:51 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
Did he just admit there is collusion?
Nobody's seriously denying collusion anymore. We're just debating whether or not America is really even worth defending or deserves to be interfered with by foreign powers now.
posted by saulgoodman at 6:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [45 favorites]
Nobody's seriously denying collusion anymore. We're just debating whether or not America is really even worth defending or deserves to be interfered with by foreign powers now.
posted by saulgoodman at 6:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [45 favorites]
It's raining today so no golf & nothing else on his schedule. Therefore he'll be free to spend the day stewing about the Mueller investigation and nursing his grievances.
I just found out that Trump TV on Facebook is being paid for by his reelection campaign funds. It also pays the legal bills for himself and his family. He'll probably need to send out another begging email soon touting his great new communication channel but he has few other accomplishments to boast about.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
I just found out that Trump TV on Facebook is being paid for by his reelection campaign funds. It also pays the legal bills for himself and his family. He'll probably need to send out another begging email soon touting his great new communication channel but he has few other accomplishments to boast about.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
he has few other accomplishments to boast about
Oh come now. Ramming the beeyewtiful Trump Wall straight through a butterfly sanctuary on private property has to count for something.
posted by flabdablet at 6:55 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh come now. Ramming the beeyewtiful Trump Wall straight through a butterfly sanctuary on private property has to count for something.
posted by flabdablet at 6:55 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
he has few other accomplishments to boast about
what about the same economic indicators that Obama had last year?
posted by thelonius at 7:00 AM on August 7, 2017
what about the same economic indicators that Obama had last year?
posted by thelonius at 7:00 AM on August 7, 2017
I find myself hoping for 17 straight days of rain, maybe something biblical, even.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:08 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:08 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
if you're going to understand what's actually happening in the world, it's not enough to just find somebody telling a story you want to believe. You have to also understand who they are, why they are telling that story, what they have to gain from it, and likewise who is supporting and promoting the story, and why, and who stands to gain,
All true and nicely put, but none of it it is 2017- or even these-days-specific. That is exactly, nearly to-the-word exactly, how I was taught to evaluate sources in middle school. regular old 80s-90s public school, not some fancy timeskip rich kid school for future Internet readers. we went over and over it again, even though we understood it the first time, for years. Every time I have ever tried to teach someone why and how I edit their work the way I do and what I mean by clarity and transparency, a version of this is what I say: this is what your readers will be asking themselves when they read your claim or your opinion presented without citations or evidence, I say.
just because 2017 is when people started saying the phrase "fake news" doesn't mean we just now figured out how to tell a damn lie. or that critical thinking is any harder than it's ever been. we need to teach it in school, but we always have needed to, and we did sometimes used to actually do it.
posted by queenofbithynia at 7:14 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
All true and nicely put, but none of it it is 2017- or even these-days-specific. That is exactly, nearly to-the-word exactly, how I was taught to evaluate sources in middle school. regular old 80s-90s public school, not some fancy timeskip rich kid school for future Internet readers. we went over and over it again, even though we understood it the first time, for years. Every time I have ever tried to teach someone why and how I edit their work the way I do and what I mean by clarity and transparency, a version of this is what I say: this is what your readers will be asking themselves when they read your claim or your opinion presented without citations or evidence, I say.
just because 2017 is when people started saying the phrase "fake news" doesn't mean we just now figured out how to tell a damn lie. or that critical thinking is any harder than it's ever been. we need to teach it in school, but we always have needed to, and we did sometimes used to actually do it.
posted by queenofbithynia at 7:14 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
100-mile-border-zone
First I've heard of this. Good thing in only affects 2/3's of the population.
Srsly, Lynchburg VA as an immigration checkpoint?
posted by MtDewd at 7:15 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
First I've heard of this. Good thing in only affects 2/3's of the population.
Srsly, Lynchburg VA as an immigration checkpoint?
posted by MtDewd at 7:15 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
100-mile-border-zone
First I've heard of this. Good thing in only affects 2/3's of the population.
Note that it counts as a "border" any body of water that itself touches a border -- hence Lake Michigan, putting Chicago in the border zone.
posted by Etrigan at 7:24 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
First I've heard of this. Good thing in only affects 2/3's of the population.
Note that it counts as a "border" any body of water that itself touches a border -- hence Lake Michigan, putting Chicago in the border zone.
posted by Etrigan at 7:24 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
First I've heard of this. Good thing in only affects 2/3's of the population.
It's not a new thing. War on the border - NY Times, 8/17/13, which references the time a US senator was stopped by a border patrol 125 miles south of the Canadian border.
"When Mr. Leahy asked what authority the agent had to detain him, the agent pointed to his gun and said, 'That’s all the authority I need.' "
posted by adamg at 7:33 AM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
It's not a new thing. War on the border - NY Times, 8/17/13, which references the time a US senator was stopped by a border patrol 125 miles south of the Canadian border.
"When Mr. Leahy asked what authority the agent had to detain him, the agent pointed to his gun and said, 'That’s all the authority I need.' "
posted by adamg at 7:33 AM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
what about the same economic indicators that Obama had last year?
Ah yes, the so-called Trump Bump.
I am fully expecting all his anti-trade fuckery, once it really starts to bite, to make international markets suffer a serious loss of confidence in the soundness of doing business with the US, leading to a wave of divestments - the Trump Dump - and ushering in a new low in US and quite possibly world economic activity, the Trump Slump.
In a turbulent market money will always, in the wise words of my dear departed father, move from weak hands into strong hands. Which probably explains more than it should about Trump's sensitivity to being reminded of his tiny little fingers and his rather pathetic compulsion to compensate with the whole Ultimate Handshaking Championship thing.
posted by flabdablet at 7:36 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
Ah yes, the so-called Trump Bump.
I am fully expecting all his anti-trade fuckery, once it really starts to bite, to make international markets suffer a serious loss of confidence in the soundness of doing business with the US, leading to a wave of divestments - the Trump Dump - and ushering in a new low in US and quite possibly world economic activity, the Trump Slump.
In a turbulent market money will always, in the wise words of my dear departed father, move from weak hands into strong hands. Which probably explains more than it should about Trump's sensitivity to being reminded of his tiny little fingers and his rather pathetic compulsion to compensate with the whole Ultimate Handshaking Championship thing.
posted by flabdablet at 7:36 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
Maybe he's planning to bring back manufacturing jobs by sinking the American dollar so low that it becomes competitive with third world nations.
posted by Talez at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Talez at 7:40 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
it counts as a "border" any body of water that itself touches a border -- hence Lake Michigan, putting Chicago in the border zone
You people had better hope that Trump spends no more time talking to our Prime Minister, lest he let slip the idea of excising an entire continent from its own "migration zone".
posted by flabdablet at 7:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
You people had better hope that Trump spends no more time talking to our Prime Minister, lest he let slip the idea of excising an entire continent from its own "migration zone".
posted by flabdablet at 7:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
@pixelatedboat: Wow, this is a remarkable opportunity for the leaders of tomorrow
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:54 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:54 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
A good overview from Morten G. Ender at Just Security: Tweets, Trans, and the American Military. Snippet: "Other uniformed organizations responsible for public service and safety have seen no reduction in cohesion, readiness, disruptions, or costs such as trans firefighters and police officers. Currently, the American military is likely the largest employer of transgender people in the country. Further, research on veterans shows that transgender Americans serve at twice the rate of their cisgender peers. Transgender service seems to be an opportunity here not a distraction."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:54 AM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:54 AM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
Coventry: Warming to the concept, Trump waited a beat and then added a flourish that brought down the house. “Nobody,” he said, “builds like Trump.”
Good news, land owners and residents of south-west US, the wall will be built, but then it'll fall into disrepair and the contractors maintaining the wall will file for bankruptcy. Pretty soon, the only thing to remain will be the shiny gold letters, 30 feet tall, shouting TRUMP at anyone who looks towards this particular failure, which the banks who financed the contractors will continually polish, to ensure that their investment wasn't for naught.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Good news, land owners and residents of south-west US, the wall will be built, but then it'll fall into disrepair and the contractors maintaining the wall will file for bankruptcy. Pretty soon, the only thing to remain will be the shiny gold letters, 30 feet tall, shouting TRUMP at anyone who looks towards this particular failure, which the banks who financed the contractors will continually polish, to ensure that their investment wasn't for naught.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Flagging this article, from Anita Kumar and McClatchy DC: Trump hands US policy writing to shadow groups of business execs.
"President Donald Trump, lacking trust in the speed, skill or loyalty of the government workers he inherited, is shifting the task of writing U.S. policy to a network of advisory groups stacked with business executives that operates outside of public view.
"It’s a move that could be cheered by the voters who sent Trump to Washington to clean house. But it’s also one that might be breaking the law."
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:09 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
"President Donald Trump, lacking trust in the speed, skill or loyalty of the government workers he inherited, is shifting the task of writing U.S. policy to a network of advisory groups stacked with business executives that operates outside of public view.
"It’s a move that could be cheered by the voters who sent Trump to Washington to clean house. But it’s also one that might be breaking the law."
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:09 AM on August 7, 2017 [47 favorites]
During Genocide, Trump Intervenes for Himself and Friends.
The ongoing scandal, though, isn’t the machinations of Trump and Jakarta. Rather it’s the reluctance—bordering on refusal—of Washington to do anything effective to alleviate the genocide and destruction in West Papua.
posted by adamvasco at 8:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
The ongoing scandal, though, isn’t the machinations of Trump and Jakarta. Rather it’s the reluctance—bordering on refusal—of Washington to do anything effective to alleviate the genocide and destruction in West Papua.
posted by adamvasco at 8:10 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Debt-Ceiling Crisis Is Real (NYTimes opinion piece)
This was colossally stupid when they used it as leverage against the democrats, but now that they control both houses of Congress and the presidency?
They're literally pointing a gun at their own head and threatening to shoot.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [30 favorites]
This was colossally stupid when they used it as leverage against the democrats, but now that they control both houses of Congress and the presidency?
They're literally pointing a gun at their own head and threatening to shoot.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [30 favorites]
Huh. From NYT comments:
"The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned." - 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. A conservative reading of this amendment, a strict constructionist reading, leads to the inevitable conclusion that any law that prevents the United States Treasury from honoring the debt of the United States is unconstitutional and therefore should be ignored. The Treasury should continue to borrow the funds it requires and let Congress whine and whimper, which they it does so well.
That's a really good point. But it probably won't help the interest rates on government debt from skyrocketing though.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:21 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
"The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned." - 14th amendment to the United States Constitution. A conservative reading of this amendment, a strict constructionist reading, leads to the inevitable conclusion that any law that prevents the United States Treasury from honoring the debt of the United States is unconstitutional and therefore should be ignored. The Treasury should continue to borrow the funds it requires and let Congress whine and whimper, which they it does so well.
That's a really good point. But it probably won't help the interest rates on government debt from skyrocketing though.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:21 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
BuzzFeed: Peter Thiel has said publicly that Trump’s administration is “off to a terrific start.” Privately, he’s told friends that there is a 50% chance the current presidency “ends in disaster.”
It seems Palantir was unable to make this calculation before election day
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:29 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
It seems Palantir was unable to make this calculation before election day
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:29 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
Note that it counts as a "border" any body of water that itself touches a border -- hence Lake Michigan, putting Chicago in the border zone.
Not to defend the 100 miles or anything, but re: Chicago, it should be noted that:
1. Boats exist as a somewhat popular method of cross-border traffic
2. Chicago is the sole link between the Great Lakes Waterway and the Mississippi, making it a popular hub for recreational boaters from all around the world
3. The procedures for reporting entry to the US by boat are just a tad loosey-goosey compared to road and airport crossings
posted by Sys Rq at 8:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Not to defend the 100 miles or anything, but re: Chicago, it should be noted that:
1. Boats exist as a somewhat popular method of cross-border traffic
2. Chicago is the sole link between the Great Lakes Waterway and the Mississippi, making it a popular hub for recreational boaters from all around the world
3. The procedures for reporting entry to the US by boat are just a tad loosey-goosey compared to road and airport crossings
posted by Sys Rq at 8:32 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Only click this link if you have a vomit bag ready, it is a s..tload of conservative wishful thinking and speculation from the Times Literary Supplement: Why the Trump dynasty will last sixteen years (don't worry it is truly maniacal BS, but we all need to know the thinking on the other side).
For those who understandably don't want to read it, the main point of the text is that the true reason for Trump's victory was that car prices were driven up by Obama's regulations and focus on clean energy. Then there is a bit of pandering to the Bernie bros (which worked, since I have it from my Hillary-hating radical leftist friends), and finally there is this:
For those who understandably don't want to read it, the main point of the text is that the true reason for Trump's victory was that car prices were driven up by Obama's regulations and focus on clean energy. Then there is a bit of pandering to the Bernie bros (which worked, since I have it from my Hillary-hating radical leftist friends), and finally there is this:
As for Ivanka, in addition to her unique on-the-job training, lately pursued at the G20 meeting, in which she was a real participant, she is also preparing herself by carefully differentiating her personal views on a number of electorally important issues from those of her beloved father – who seems to accept her publicized dissents with paternal equanimity. No wonder that leading Democrats and non-Trumpers continue to act hysterically even eight months after the election. President Trump’s plan threatens to exclude them all from office until long past their retirement age.posted by mumimor at 8:35 AM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Not to defend the 100 miles or anything, but re: Chicago, it should be noted that:
4. Chicago is literally hundreds (as in plural) of miles from the Canadian border if you are flying. If you want to do it in a boat, you're going to have to navigate the entirety of Lake Michigan and dozens of miles of Lake Huron, and that's just if you're migrating to the U.S. from Cockburn Island, which has a population of zero, and that's not because everyone on it jumped in a boat to get to Soldier Field.
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
4. Chicago is literally hundreds (as in plural) of miles from the Canadian border if you are flying. If you want to do it in a boat, you're going to have to navigate the entirety of Lake Michigan and dozens of miles of Lake Huron, and that's just if you're migrating to the U.S. from Cockburn Island, which has a population of zero, and that's not because everyone on it jumped in a boat to get to Soldier Field.
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
The Times Literary Supplement writer is Edward Luttwak, who has a whole section of his Wikipedia page devoted to his inaccurate predictions
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:38 AM on August 7, 2017 [18 favorites]
With Trump in the White House, Obama science experts operate shadow network to press their positions
posted by Chrysostom at 8:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
4. Chicago is literally hundreds (as in plural) of miles from the Canadian border if you are flying.....
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7
The northernmost parts of Lake Michigan are less than 100 miles from the Canadian border - THAT is the factor that determines Chicago is within the 100 mile zone -- ergo any area within 100 miles of Lake Michigan is within the 100 mile zone. It doesn't have to make sense, it is the law.
posted by W Grant at 8:47 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7
The northernmost parts of Lake Michigan are less than 100 miles from the Canadian border - THAT is the factor that determines Chicago is within the 100 mile zone -- ergo any area within 100 miles of Lake Michigan is within the 100 mile zone. It doesn't have to make sense, it is the law.
posted by W Grant at 8:47 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I always thought the 100 mile limit was a ruse to extend ICE authority.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
Talking points on a clean debt ceiling bill for when we call, write, and fax our Congresscritters:
Senate phone directory and fax contact.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 8:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [37 favorites]
- Expect the Congresscritter to vote for a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling
- No amendments to gut the social safety net, no denial of Planned Parenthood funding, no money for a wasteful wall
- Essential to raise the debt ceiling so as to preserve the full faith and credit of the US Government
- Failing to raise debt ceiling would cause a massive global recession
- Endangers the place of the dollar as the global reserve currency, a huge strategic advantage for the United States
- Will blame Congresscritter personally and campaign against them if they fail to vote for a clean debt ceiling increase bill
Senate phone directory and fax contact.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 8:49 AM on August 7, 2017 [37 favorites]
Venezuelan Troops Say They Quashed Attempted Anti-Government Attack At Military Base (Amy Held for NPR, Aug. 6, 2017)
In the terrible, ongoing struggles in Venezuela, an attempt to initiate or imply division among the ranks of the Venezuelan army lead to some people hoping that some troops were finally backing down from supporting Maduro, which is apparently the only real source of power for the dictator who claims to be a socialist. While the military isn't a monolithic entity that completely backs Maduro, the generals in the army, the armed forces in - collectively have been given enormous powers over the economy. They've been allowed to get involved in mining, in the oil industry. There's an army bank (Phil Gunson, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group and specializes in Venezuela, via NPR in May 2017). The army has been bought.
Looping back to the US: listening to NPR's coverage of this recent anti-government attack at a military base, I'm thrilled to hear that so many in the military have come out vocally against Trump's knee-jerk transgender military ban. Trump doesn't have military support like Maduro or other dictators, even if he is the commander in chief.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:57 AM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
In the terrible, ongoing struggles in Venezuela, an attempt to initiate or imply division among the ranks of the Venezuelan army lead to some people hoping that some troops were finally backing down from supporting Maduro, which is apparently the only real source of power for the dictator who claims to be a socialist. While the military isn't a monolithic entity that completely backs Maduro, the generals in the army, the armed forces in - collectively have been given enormous powers over the economy. They've been allowed to get involved in mining, in the oil industry. There's an army bank (Phil Gunson, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group and specializes in Venezuela, via NPR in May 2017). The army has been bought.
Looping back to the US: listening to NPR's coverage of this recent anti-government attack at a military base, I'm thrilled to hear that so many in the military have come out vocally against Trump's knee-jerk transgender military ban. Trump doesn't have military support like Maduro or other dictators, even if he is the commander in chief.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:57 AM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Axios: Trump's "dangerously low" support among his base
Automated phone polling by the rising GOP public-affairs firm Firehouse Strategies, along with the data analytics team at 0ptimus, finds Trump's base shrinking among likely midterm voters in the key swing states of Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Ohio (2,901 interviews).posted by chris24 at 9:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
Partner Alex Conant tells me:
- "Our data shows Trump losing support inside the Republican Party and a noticeable drop in his perceived honesty."
- "Just 6 months in office, Trump is getting into dangerously low territory in key swing states. Trump's base of support has shrunk from 35.3% of voters who have a 'strongly favorable' view of him in April to only 28.6%."
- "Notably, much of that erosion is among Republicans: Strongly favorable views among GOP voters dropped from 54.1% to 44.9%, while unfavorable views increased from 20.5% to 27.9%."
- Why it matters: "Trump cannot take continued GOP support for granted in swing states."
This is really not an area people should be rules-lawyering Muslims on what is and isn't a mosque because they really have American Christians whooped on the consistency of service and space.
My point is that this isn't an oasis for Muslims to be Muslims. It's just some building where Muslims go do Muslim stuff and is otherwise ignored. It's an integral part of my community just like the other churches that perform a lot of community functions.
The target might have been a mosque but they hit a lot more than that. They didn't just attack some Muslims who live here, they attacked my community and I'm really pissed off about it.
They call it an Islamic Center, but for all practical purposes it's a mosque with an anodyne public face.
I can appreciate what you're trying to say here but we call it what we call it because that's what it is. What I'm telling you is that this is a central part of my community. My neighbors, the other members of my community, and I think of it and refer to it as a community center.
If you're ever driving around my neighborhood and ask for direction to the local mosque, we wouldn't know what you're talking about.
posted by VTX at 9:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
My point is that this isn't an oasis for Muslims to be Muslims. It's just some building where Muslims go do Muslim stuff and is otherwise ignored. It's an integral part of my community just like the other churches that perform a lot of community functions.
The target might have been a mosque but they hit a lot more than that. They didn't just attack some Muslims who live here, they attacked my community and I'm really pissed off about it.
They call it an Islamic Center, but for all practical purposes it's a mosque with an anodyne public face.
I can appreciate what you're trying to say here but we call it what we call it because that's what it is. What I'm telling you is that this is a central part of my community. My neighbors, the other members of my community, and I think of it and refer to it as a community center.
If you're ever driving around my neighborhood and ask for direction to the local mosque, we wouldn't know what you're talking about.
posted by VTX at 9:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
There is literally no constituency less powerful or rich than Trump that will not get the shaft, regardless of their support for him:
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told a group of farmers and agricultural leaders Saturday that he’s “embarrassed” of President Donald Trump’s proposed ambitions to cut 36 percent in the federally subsidized crop insurance program within the next decade.posted by Caxton1476 at 9:06 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
Everything old is new again: Is This White House More Exposed To Leaks Than Previous Administrations? NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith talks with Bowdoin College Professor Andrew Rudalevige, who reminds us that Reagan's directive on the use of polygraph tests to counter espionage activity and in clearances for employees dealing in highly classified materials was leaked, when he wanted to use polygraph tests on a portion of the the executive branch, but they back-pedaled to say it was only in espionage cases. Rudalevige then said this on leaks:
I think in general, the more information the public has about government workings, the better. That doesn't mean there aren't exceptions. But, you know, leaks tend to decline when there's collegiality inside the White House and when there's a deliberative decision-making process that allows people to air their views and feel that they're being heard. Again, I can only judge from leaks, but it seems that the Trump White House is struggling to put in place that kind of decision-making process.posted by filthy light thief at 9:09 AM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
And for a look at state news: Sued for Discrimination, Missouri Senator Pushes Law Limiting Discrimination Suits (Sarah Fenske for River Front Times, April 12, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 9:18 AM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
In March 2015, a man who used to work at Show-Me Rent to Own in Sikeston, Missouri, filed a lawsuit alleging that his supervisor regularly used racial slurs against him, telling him, among other things, to "quit acting like a n*gger" — and that a map on the wall of the store circled a majority black neighborhood with the words "do not rent" written next to it.And now it's a law, set to take effect on August 28, 2017. In response, the Missouri NAACP issued an urgent MISSOURI TRAVEL ADVISORY
The owner of the business is state Senator Gary Romine (R-Farmington), and in response to the suit, his lawyers acknowledged that, yes, a map in the back of the store had those very words written upon it. Everything else, he pretty much denied.
In any other state, that kind of admission might be a scandal — or at least grounds for future questioning. "Hey, Senator Romine! Who was redlined by that 'do not rent to' directive? And did any employees tell you about the allegations against your supervisor? If so, did you take any action?"
But hey, this is Missouri. And instead of Romine's business practices forcing him into the hot seat, he's instead using them as the basis of a folksy anecdote about "frivolous litigation" to advance legislation that would gut workplace protection against racial discrimination in Missouri — legislation that's now on the fast track.
Individuals traveling in the state are advised to travel with extreme CAUTION. Race, gender and color based crimes have a long history in Missouri. Missouri, home of Lloyd Gaines, Dredd Scott and the dubious distinction of the Missouri Compromise and one of the last states to loose its slaveholding past, may not be safe. The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP will follow Governor Greitien’s review of this Jim Crow Bill – SB 43 – and we will update the NAACP advisory for the State of Missouri if this measure is vetoed. SB 43 legalizes individual discrimination and harassment in Missouri and would prevent individuals from protecting themselves from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in Missouri.Hopefully Gov. Greitien re-thinks his decision on this bill now that there is national attention on this law, and particularly Sen. Romine.
Moreover, over zealous enforcement of routine traffic violations in Missouri against African-Americans has resulted in an increasing trend that shows African-Americans are 75% more likely to be stopped than Caucasians. These stops have resulted in increased traffic fines, senseless searches of vehicle and persons, and on occasion unnecessary violence.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:18 AM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
Manchin's embracing a sort of fecal nihilism.
Jacqueline Thompson, The Hill: Manchin: 'I don't give a shit' if I win reelection
“I don’t give a shit, you understand? I just don’t give a shit,” Manchin told the Charleston Gazette-Mail on Sunday. “Don’t care if I get elected, don’t care if I get defeated, how about that. If they think because I’m up for election, that I can be wrangled into voting for shit that I don’t like and can’t explain, they’re all crazy.”
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:22 AM on August 7, 2017 [24 favorites]
Jacqueline Thompson, The Hill: Manchin: 'I don't give a shit' if I win reelection
“I don’t give a shit, you understand? I just don’t give a shit,” Manchin told the Charleston Gazette-Mail on Sunday. “Don’t care if I get elected, don’t care if I get defeated, how about that. If they think because I’m up for election, that I can be wrangled into voting for shit that I don’t like and can’t explain, they’re all crazy.”
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:22 AM on August 7, 2017 [24 favorites]
It's healthy to keep one's expectations in check.
posted by BS Artisan at 9:28 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by BS Artisan at 9:28 AM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
chris24: "Our data shows Trump losing support inside the Republican Party and a noticeable drop in his perceived honesty."
Hahahaha! That doesn't matter any more: Trump supporters know Trump lies. They just don’t care. (Brian Resnick for Vox, July 10, 2017) -- A new study explains the psychological power — and hard limits — of fact-checking journalism.
To me, this looks like support of Trump is a drug that is hard to kick. Half of Republicans still had strongly favorable views of Trump. Strongly favorable. Tell me when that number falls below 30%. Blare sirens when his re-election tours are in empty venues.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:29 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
Hahahaha! That doesn't matter any more: Trump supporters know Trump lies. They just don’t care. (Brian Resnick for Vox, July 10, 2017) -- A new study explains the psychological power — and hard limits — of fact-checking journalism.
The corrections didn’t change their feelings about Trump (when participants in the corrections conditions were compared with controls)."Notably, much of that erosion is among Republicans: Strongly favorable views among GOP voters dropped from 54.1% to 44.9%, while unfavorable views increased from 20.5% to 27.9%."
“People were willing to say Trump was wrong, but it didn’t have much of an effect on what they felt about him,” Nyhan says.
To me, this looks like support of Trump is a drug that is hard to kick. Half of Republicans still had strongly favorable views of Trump. Strongly favorable. Tell me when that number falls below 30%. Blare sirens when his re-election tours are in empty venues.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:29 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
In the wake of John Kelly moving from the Department of Homeland Security to the White House, DHS Chief Information Officer resigns after three months on job:
‘Run the government like a business’ strikes again?
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:39 AM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
The chief information officer at the Department of Homeland Security has resigned from his position after only three months on the job, the department confirmed on Monday. Richard Staropoli, a former U.S. Secret Service agent, resigned last week and will officially leave the top information security role in the department at the start of September. {...}The Hill notes, pokerfaced, "It is unclear why Staropoli chose to leave the post."
Before coming to DHS, he worked in the private sector as the chief information security officer for the hedge fund Fortress Investment Group. {...}
In June, Staropoli appeared to forecast big plans for DHS’s information security office — he laid out plans to reorganize the office to operate more like a hedge fund and to spend money more carefully on IT.
‘Run the government like a business’ strikes again?
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:39 AM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
Harold Pollack/Vox: We have a political problem no one wants to talk about: very old politicians
Blanket judgments about older politicians are of course indefensible. Many of our older leaders have more skill and intellectual firepower than most of us will ever have. Feel free to debate Mitch McConnell on legislative tactics or Hillary Clinton on health policy if you doubt me. Countless examples, down to @JohnDingell’s hilarious Twitter feed, remind us that gifted people contribute to our common life well after the conventional retirement age.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:01 AM on August 7, 2017 [44 favorites]
Still, people who do not watch Congress regularly can be taken aback by just how advanced in age — and sometimes evidently slowed — people at the pinnacle of power can be. ...
In the [Senate] as a whole, 23 senators are at least 70. Seven are 80 or older.
Up for some weekly Bible study study in the White House? It's attended by a baker's dozen or so Cabinet members and led by a dude who said women with young children who work are sinners! If the WH is too much of a dump you can try his classes for the Senate/House instead.
posted by xyzzy at 10:03 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 10:03 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I hear they're reading both Corinthians this week.
posted by spitbull at 10:04 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 10:04 AM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
Ex-CNN Commentator Kayleigh McEnany Suddenly Pops Up On Trump’s Facebook Page (Justin Baragona for Mediaite, August 6, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
A day after taking to Twitter announcing that she was no longer with CNN, it appears we now know what political pundit Kayleigh McEnany’s new gig is — anchoring short pro-Trump news videos as part of the president’s 2020 re-election campaign.(Emphasis mine.) Good political senses there, Stetler.
In the campaign ad/news broadcast, McEnany touts recent jobs numbers, the RAISE Act and a Medal of Honor ceremony. At the end of the 90-second video, McEnany thanked the audience for joing her before sigining out by stating “that’s the real news.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this “real news” program associated with Trump as it has previously been hosted by the president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump.
During today’s Reliable Sources, host Brian Stelter brought up the Facebook video, highlighting how it is an ad dressed up as news.
“Looks like a newscast, has the graphical appearance, it sounds like a newscast,” Stelter stated. “But it’s a promotional effort either for the Donald Trump re-election campaign or the Republican National Committee.”
posted by filthy light thief at 10:15 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
"NEWS-- @kayleighmcenany joining RNC as natl spokesman. Expected to be big tv presence for the GOP. In playbook pm today"
Wingnut welfare at its best.
posted by Talez at 10:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wingnut welfare at its best.
posted by Talez at 10:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
4. Chicago is literally hundreds (as in plural) of miles from the Canadian border if you are flying.....
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7
The northernmost parts of Lake Michigan are less than 100 miles from the Canadian border - THAT is the factor that determines Chicago is within the 100 mile zone -- ergo any area within 100 miles of Lake Michigan is within the 100 mile zone. It doesn't have to make sense, it is the law.
The even more ridiculous part of this just barely offshore in Lake Michigan is outside of Chicago's jurisdiction. In the past this has resulted in offshore party flotillas where boaters tie their boats together, just inside breakwaters, and get drunk and wasted while blaring music loud enough to disturb lakefront residents and the only agency with any jurisdiction is the coast guard and they don't care to enforce anything to stop it (Chicago's boaters are almost all in that particular demographic that is protected but not policed).
So Chicago doesn't get to police Chicago stuff because it is on water but the Border Patrol can police Chicago because it is near a water border (but not really)
posted by srboisvert at 10:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:38 AM on August 7
The northernmost parts of Lake Michigan are less than 100 miles from the Canadian border - THAT is the factor that determines Chicago is within the 100 mile zone -- ergo any area within 100 miles of Lake Michigan is within the 100 mile zone. It doesn't have to make sense, it is the law.
The even more ridiculous part of this just barely offshore in Lake Michigan is outside of Chicago's jurisdiction. In the past this has resulted in offshore party flotillas where boaters tie their boats together, just inside breakwaters, and get drunk and wasted while blaring music loud enough to disturb lakefront residents and the only agency with any jurisdiction is the coast guard and they don't care to enforce anything to stop it (Chicago's boaters are almost all in that particular demographic that is protected but not policed).
So Chicago doesn't get to police Chicago stuff because it is on water but the Border Patrol can police Chicago because it is near a water border (but not really)
posted by srboisvert at 10:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
“Looks like a newscast, has the graphical appearance, it sounds like a newscast,” Stelter stated. “But it’s a promotional effort either for the Donald Trump re-election campaign or the Republican National Committee.”
Pence, of course, knows all about running a propaganda shop dressed up as news.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
Pence, of course, knows all about running a propaganda shop dressed up as news.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [13 favorites]
the only agency with any jurisdiction is the coast guard and they don't care to enforce anything to stop it
The Coast Guard's jurisdiction covers navigational safety and search and rescue. (Among others.) If the partyers aren't unsafe or a hazard to navigation, no, the Coast Guard isn't going to act as an arm of the city's police department because some partyers are making too much noise.
And you don't want them to.
posted by suelac at 10:57 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Coast Guard's jurisdiction covers navigational safety and search and rescue. (Among others.) If the partyers aren't unsafe or a hazard to navigation, no, the Coast Guard isn't going to act as an arm of the city's police department because some partyers are making too much noise.
And you don't want them to.
posted by suelac at 10:57 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Coast Guard's jurisdiction covers navigational safety and search and rescue. (Among others.)
Among those "others" that you elide are drug interdiction and migrant interdiction, so it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for them to engage in other law enforcement missions.
posted by Etrigan at 11:08 AM on August 7, 2017
Among those "others" that you elide are drug interdiction and migrant interdiction, so it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for them to engage in other law enforcement missions.
posted by Etrigan at 11:08 AM on August 7, 2017
no, the Coast Guard isn't going to act as an arm of the city's police department because some partyers are making too much noise
In the example cited, the commenter did specify that these boaters are "drunk and wasted," so the pertinent issue is operating a watercraft while intoxicated (BWI), not making too much noise.
posted by zakur at 11:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
In the example cited, the commenter did specify that these boaters are "drunk and wasted," so the pertinent issue is operating a watercraft while intoxicated (BWI), not making too much noise.
posted by zakur at 11:17 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch for them to engage in other law enforcement missions.
You realize the Coast Guard is DHS, right? It is, in fact, a stretch to expect them to enforce local noise ordnances if there's no other maritime/navigational safety hazard at issue.
posted by suelac at 11:25 AM on August 7, 2017
You realize the Coast Guard is DHS, right? It is, in fact, a stretch to expect them to enforce local noise ordnances if there's no other maritime/navigational safety hazard at issue.
posted by suelac at 11:25 AM on August 7, 2017
Orrin Hatch said the GOP "shot its wad" at health care and then his Comm person got to spend all day apparently arguing that it was a Civil War term that Hatch learned in his Civl War youth. "Wad" was trending on DC twitter for. a while.
posted by angrycat at 11:28 AM on August 7, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 11:28 AM on August 7, 2017 [41 favorites]
It is, in fact, a stretch to expect them to enforce local noise ordnances if there's no other maritime/navigational safety hazard at issue.
Why?
There are no other maritime/navigational safety hazards at issue in their entire drug interdiction mission. Why is it so far beyond the pale for the city of Chicago to ask them to assist with a known problem and empower them to engage in certain particular aspects of local law enforcement, as other federal agencies do all the time?
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why?
There are no other maritime/navigational safety hazards at issue in their entire drug interdiction mission. Why is it so far beyond the pale for the city of Chicago to ask them to assist with a known problem and empower them to engage in certain particular aspects of local law enforcement, as other federal agencies do all the time?
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
surely hatch is merely a fan of model rocketry
posted by murphy slaw at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 11:30 AM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
I mean, a wad is in fact something you'd shoot from a gun. I would wager the naughty colloquial usage we're familiar with probably derives from its usage in firearms.
posted by chrchr at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 11:36 AM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
Orrin Hatch said the GOP "shot its wad" at health care
McCain's thumb-down was definitely the money shot then.
posted by diogenes at 11:39 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
McCain's thumb-down was definitely the money shot then.
posted by diogenes at 11:39 AM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Yeah I enjoy laughing at Orrin Hatch too, but this has been a conversation going on for a long time.
posted by penduluum at 11:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by penduluum at 11:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I would wager the naughty colloquial usage we're familiar with probably derives from its usage in firearms.
The Online Etymology Dictionary agrees.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Online Etymology Dictionary agrees.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:41 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wadergate
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on August 7, 2017 [21 favorites]
I actually remember once somebody said that to me in all innocence and I turned red and they were like ???
posted by angrycat at 11:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 11:44 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I... didn't realize the firearms origin was so obscure. I better cross this one off the lexicon.
posted by Justinian at 11:47 AM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:47 AM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
I would wager the naughty colloquial usage we're familiar with probably derives from its usage in firearms
...a metaphor perhaps more apparent to users of cocaine.
posted by flabdablet at 11:50 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
...a metaphor perhaps more apparent to users of cocaine.
posted by flabdablet at 11:50 AM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Huh, and I had presumed it originated from "wad" as in "quantity of cash," i.e. "we've spent all we had on this and our resources are depleted." In any case, it's surprising that this even gets airtime after "not trying to suck my own cock."
posted by contraption at 11:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by contraption at 11:52 AM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll of close congressional districts finds [that] by 86-10, they say Trump should not be allowed to pardon himself.
The perfect capstone to Trump's Incompetocracy would be if he resigned, and pardoned himself -- in that order.
Only to have someone point out that since he had resigned he no longer had the pardon power.
posted by msalt at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
The perfect capstone to Trump's Incompetocracy would be if he resigned, and pardoned himself -- in that order.
Only to have someone point out that since he had resigned he no longer had the pardon power.
posted by msalt at 11:55 AM on August 7, 2017 [22 favorites]
Some news, certified 100% wad-free:
WaPo op-ed by David Cohen (former CIA Deputy Director): Trump is trying to politicize intelligence to support his Iran policy. That’s dangerous.
WaPo, David Fahrenthold and Lori Rozsa: ‘Apply by fax’: Before it can hire foreign workers, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club advertises at home — briefly. Mar-a-Lago does not appear to be looking particularly diligently for American workers before they hire foreign ones.
Daily Beast, Lachlan, Swin: Lara Trump ‘Running the Show’ at ‘Trump TV’
Kayleigh McEnany had a bunch of birther tweets back in 2012. If Jeff Flake is so offended his party embraced birtherism, maybe he should do something about the new RNC spokeswoman? She also tweeted out an WND article ""Obama campaign takes money from 'Osama bin Laden'..." (to save you the click, you can put anything in the "name" field when you donate, which shouldn't be a surprise).
And whatever this is—@kayleighmcenany: How I Met Your Brother -- Never mind, forgot he's still in that hut in Kenya. #ObamaTVShows
NYDN: The Army is refusing to rename General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jackson Drive at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn saying it would be "controversial and divisive" to do so (isn't it also divisive to continue to memorialize Confederate generals in Brooklyn?). Sounds like this would be a good one to contact your reps about, particularly if you live in New York.
Supporting The Individual Health Insurance Market. A sort of wonky look at some things that could help the individual market, such as not sabotaging it.
NYT/Upshot, Austin Frakt: Medicare Advantage Spends Less on Care, So Why Is It Costing So Much?. In which Medicare Advantage plans (private insurers paid by the government to offer Medicare coverage) game the system such that premiums exceed medical costs by 30%, which amounts to around $20B/year, costing the government more despite paying for less medical care.
posted by zachlipton at 12:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [40 favorites]
WaPo op-ed by David Cohen (former CIA Deputy Director): Trump is trying to politicize intelligence to support his Iran policy. That’s dangerous.
WaPo, David Fahrenthold and Lori Rozsa: ‘Apply by fax’: Before it can hire foreign workers, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club advertises at home — briefly. Mar-a-Lago does not appear to be looking particularly diligently for American workers before they hire foreign ones.
Daily Beast, Lachlan, Swin: Lara Trump ‘Running the Show’ at ‘Trump TV’
President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law is “running the show” at his Trump TV project funded by his reelection campaign, multiple sources tell The Daily Beast.Remember when Eric was supposed to be off "running the business" and not in politics?
When the Trump campaign unveiled a new Trump-friendly news product on social media last week, viewers weren’t just seeing a novel political strategy in the form of “Trump TV.” They were watching a new power center in the president’s orbit and the political apparatus pursuing his reelection.
Lara Trump, wife of Eric, is now “running the show” on the Trump campaign’s newest advertising product, as one Republican source close to the campaign told The Daily Beast, citing her past “expertise” in TV news broadcasting as a former Inside Edition producer.
...
Since Trump took office, Parscale has stepped back from day-to-day operations at Giles-Parscale and its Trump campaign operations, according to a source with direct knowledge of the campaign’s workings. Instead, Parscale is focusing most of his efforts on his newer consulting firm, Parscale Strategies, and its work for America First Policies, a dark-money nonprofit group that supports the Trump policy agenda.
Giles-Parscale hired Lara in late March. Since then, she has taken over its Trump campaign work, practically replacing Parscale on that front in all respects but his official campaign title.
...
A source familiar with the development of “Real News” told The Daily Beast that Tomi Lahren, a former anchor for right-wing media network The Blaze and a current spokeswoman for pro-Trump nonprofit Great America Alliance, had been “strongly considered” for a position.
Kayleigh McEnany had a bunch of birther tweets back in 2012. If Jeff Flake is so offended his party embraced birtherism, maybe he should do something about the new RNC spokeswoman? She also tweeted out an WND article ""Obama campaign takes money from 'Osama bin Laden'..." (to save you the click, you can put anything in the "name" field when you donate, which shouldn't be a surprise).
And whatever this is—@kayleighmcenany: How I Met Your Brother -- Never mind, forgot he's still in that hut in Kenya. #ObamaTVShows
NYDN: The Army is refusing to rename General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jackson Drive at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn saying it would be "controversial and divisive" to do so (isn't it also divisive to continue to memorialize Confederate generals in Brooklyn?). Sounds like this would be a good one to contact your reps about, particularly if you live in New York.
Supporting The Individual Health Insurance Market. A sort of wonky look at some things that could help the individual market, such as not sabotaging it.
NYT/Upshot, Austin Frakt: Medicare Advantage Spends Less on Care, So Why Is It Costing So Much?. In which Medicare Advantage plans (private insurers paid by the government to offer Medicare coverage) game the system such that premiums exceed medical costs by 30%, which amounts to around $20B/year, costing the government more despite paying for less medical care.
posted by zachlipton at 12:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [40 favorites]
arguing that it was a Civil War term that Hatch learned in his Civil War youth.
Which side did Hatch fight for?
posted by Chrysostom at 12:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [34 favorites]
Which side did Hatch fight for?
posted by Chrysostom at 12:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [34 favorites]
54% of Republicans favor airstrikes on North Korean nuclear sites
A reminder: Seoul, South Korea is within range of North Korean artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. There is no such thing as a surgical strike of North Korean nuclear sites. It's all-in or nothing. If someone tries to sell you on this, they're trying to sell you on Korean War 2.0. China has been moving troops and building bunkers along the border in case this happens.
posted by bluecore at 12:18 PM on August 7, 2017 [44 favorites]
A reminder: Seoul, South Korea is within range of North Korean artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. There is no such thing as a surgical strike of North Korean nuclear sites. It's all-in or nothing. If someone tries to sell you on this, they're trying to sell you on Korean War 2.0. China has been moving troops and building bunkers along the border in case this happens.
posted by bluecore at 12:18 PM on August 7, 2017 [44 favorites]
I've been arguing about Korea with strangers on Facebook, and the Republican talking points are "There are only two options. Buy them off or show them who is boss."
I'm like... what about not attacking them? Because they really have no reason to attack us unless they are attacked. And we didn't attack any other country which acquired nukes since 1945 just because they acquired nukes, including the USSR, which was much more threatening in its posture toward us than North Korea. So seriously how about just... not attacking them?
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:29 PM on August 7, 2017 [41 favorites]
I'm like... what about not attacking them? Because they really have no reason to attack us unless they are attacked. And we didn't attack any other country which acquired nukes since 1945 just because they acquired nukes, including the USSR, which was much more threatening in its posture toward us than North Korea. So seriously how about just... not attacking them?
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:29 PM on August 7, 2017 [41 favorites]
"It is unclear why Staropoli chose to leave the post."
How many businesses have the resources to run a good infosec program? How about the people who are supposed to be 'the best of the best' - say the NSA. Didn't they suffer some data breaches? The office of management and budget - my memory is a high profile loss of data there.
What indication exists that the US Government is going to fund infosec at the level it needs to be funded at given the reporting about various failed IT projects and when things like roads and buildings are getting "non-A" grades? How do you go to management and say "yea, that is a perfectly functioning printer. HP won't patch it and as their ad campaign points out you should have patched gear so your choice is have it used as an attack point OR replace it." How do tax payers feel about replacing switches and printers because the vendor won't update but the gear is still working?
In consulting you are the goat, the hero, or the tech specialist. The 3rd one on the list comes in, solves the issue, leaves and no one much remembers 6 months later. The hero - everyone WANTS to be the hero.
But the goat? If it takes a couple of months to get the feel for what is going on and how bad it may be and a month to come to the conclusion there will be no changes due to budget - being the goat is typically not a thing you can get your next job with a pay hike as "the goat".
And what's the effect of a rudderless infosec program? I guess in Trumplandia we'll get to find out.
posted by rough ashlar at 12:33 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
How many businesses have the resources to run a good infosec program? How about the people who are supposed to be 'the best of the best' - say the NSA. Didn't they suffer some data breaches? The office of management and budget - my memory is a high profile loss of data there.
What indication exists that the US Government is going to fund infosec at the level it needs to be funded at given the reporting about various failed IT projects and when things like roads and buildings are getting "non-A" grades? How do you go to management and say "yea, that is a perfectly functioning printer. HP won't patch it and as their ad campaign points out you should have patched gear so your choice is have it used as an attack point OR replace it." How do tax payers feel about replacing switches and printers because the vendor won't update but the gear is still working?
In consulting you are the goat, the hero, or the tech specialist. The 3rd one on the list comes in, solves the issue, leaves and no one much remembers 6 months later. The hero - everyone WANTS to be the hero.
But the goat? If it takes a couple of months to get the feel for what is going on and how bad it may be and a month to come to the conclusion there will be no changes due to budget - being the goat is typically not a thing you can get your next job with a pay hike as "the goat".
And what's the effect of a rudderless infosec program? I guess in Trumplandia we'll get to find out.
posted by rough ashlar at 12:33 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
arguing that it was a Civil War term that Hatch learned in his Civil War youth.
Which side did Hatch fight for?
Roundheads.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:33 PM on August 7, 2017 [65 favorites]
Which side did Hatch fight for?
Roundheads.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:33 PM on August 7, 2017 [65 favorites]
a lot of people don't quite give the same amount of humanity to Asians over there. There's an assumption that because there are so many, a few million here and there murdered by wars where white American folk can go and become REAL MEN ain't no thang.
No kidding. You should see some of the stuff people were posting on the anniversary of Hiroshima yesterday. I mean we don't need to hash out here and now "Was it necessary?" But it was shocking to see so many people who thought the only factor that needed to be considered in that decision was "Would you rather have let more American troops die had the war continued?"
How many American soldiers vs. how many Japanese civilians? That's not even part of the calculation for some folks. For some any American life counts more than any number of non-American lives, even if the non-Americans are families just living in their homes and not threatening us at all. And many would consider it traitorous to weigh the costs any other way.
President Trump has approved a plan to arm Syrian Kurds so they can participate in the battle to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State, a strategy that has drawn deep opposition from Turkey, a NATO ally.
This is the plan that Michael Flynn initially scuppered after taking $500,000 from Turkey.
There are a whole lot of places where stories about Turkey and Russia overlap in Trumpworld [warning, link goes to one of my comments in another megathread], and I have been wondering why that is. I guess maybe they just share a common interest in preventing the US from arming Kurds? Assad can't be a fan of that idea anymore than Erdogan is, and Putin wants to prop up Assad. So maybe they both were trying to buy influence and both wanted the same thing, and corrupt Trump people like Flynn were willing to sell the same military policy to two "customers."
The fact that it happened anyway after Flynn was fired is the kind of thing that makes me wonder how much control Trump really has over the military right now. He does everything the generals tell him to (and lets Mattis set troop levels), even when it contradicts what Putin tells him to do. I can't decide if that's a good thing, exactly. It's not a great thing. But maybe he is just bored and disinterested in military strategy.
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:58 PM on August 7, 2017 [14 favorites]
No kidding. You should see some of the stuff people were posting on the anniversary of Hiroshima yesterday. I mean we don't need to hash out here and now "Was it necessary?" But it was shocking to see so many people who thought the only factor that needed to be considered in that decision was "Would you rather have let more American troops die had the war continued?"
How many American soldiers vs. how many Japanese civilians? That's not even part of the calculation for some folks. For some any American life counts more than any number of non-American lives, even if the non-Americans are families just living in their homes and not threatening us at all. And many would consider it traitorous to weigh the costs any other way.
President Trump has approved a plan to arm Syrian Kurds so they can participate in the battle to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State, a strategy that has drawn deep opposition from Turkey, a NATO ally.
This is the plan that Michael Flynn initially scuppered after taking $500,000 from Turkey.
There are a whole lot of places where stories about Turkey and Russia overlap in Trumpworld [warning, link goes to one of my comments in another megathread], and I have been wondering why that is. I guess maybe they just share a common interest in preventing the US from arming Kurds? Assad can't be a fan of that idea anymore than Erdogan is, and Putin wants to prop up Assad. So maybe they both were trying to buy influence and both wanted the same thing, and corrupt Trump people like Flynn were willing to sell the same military policy to two "customers."
The fact that it happened anyway after Flynn was fired is the kind of thing that makes me wonder how much control Trump really has over the military right now. He does everything the generals tell him to (and lets Mattis set troop levels), even when it contradicts what Putin tells him to do. I can't decide if that's a good thing, exactly. It's not a great thing. But maybe he is just bored and disinterested in military strategy.
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:58 PM on August 7, 2017 [14 favorites]
In today's episode of Republican Representatives Say The Darnedest Things: Republican Rep. Will Hurd of Texas talks about what he's heard from constituents (NPR, August 7, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
What are you hearing from voters?Emphasis mine. Remember that Hurd voted against AHCA, possibly in part because he's in "a consistent swing district." For a fun look back at AHCA, here's How the House voted to pass the GOP health-care bill, so you can see who else voted no besides all the Dems. The Tuesday Group, an informal caucus of approximately 50 moderate Republican House Reps featured heavily in the No votes with 12 of the 20, but there were another 32 or so who voted Yes.
HURD: Well, you hear a lot about veterans issues. I think this is a consistent theme that I've been hearing for the two and a half years that I've heard in Congress. You also hear that people want to see Congress actually work together to get things done. Let's try and send a D or R or whatever jersey you like to where and get things done for the American people. And it's good feedback because one of the reasons that I think Congress has such a low approval rating is that, sometimes, what we talk about up in Washington, D.C., is different than what people talk about at home. And that's why I crisscrossed these 29 counties that I represent. It takes 10 and a half hours to drive across my district.
GREENE: Well, let me ask you, if I can, about one issue where there seems to be a movement towards Republicans and Democrats working together. And that's health care. Although, I'm sure you have some Republican voters who were very adamant about wanting the Affordable Care Act - Obamacare - repealed and replaced as quickly as possible. And you made a difficult decision to vote against that repeal and replace plan in the House. Do some voters think you broke a promise to them?
HURD: No, because the reality is I always focus on the outcome. You know, sometimes, in political competitions, we only talk about the tactic. And so I've always said, who cares what the verb is before Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act? The outcome that we're trying to achieve is that, in the individual market, how do you increase access to and decrease cost of health care? And the the bright light is this plan that 20 Democrats, 20 Republicans have been working on in the House. Senate had some hearings on it before they left for the summer. And I think the only way we're going to solve some of these big problems is by working together. And what happens is a lot of people haven't heard of that in my district.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:01 PM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
I don't have the expertise or knowledge to judge whether this was or is a good thing to have done
I'd imagine it was accidental, but it's certainly not a bad thing when you consider that by 'tackle' Erdogan almost certainly intends something far closer to ethnic cleansing.
Guessing it's been posted before, but this Rolling Stone article is a good intro to the YPG, even though the primary focus is on the anarchist/anti-fa international brigade fighting alongside them.
posted by Buntix at 1:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'd imagine it was accidental, but it's certainly not a bad thing when you consider that by 'tackle' Erdogan almost certainly intends something far closer to ethnic cleansing.
Guessing it's been posted before, but this Rolling Stone article is a good intro to the YPG, even though the primary focus is on the anarchist/anti-fa international brigade fighting alongside them.
posted by Buntix at 1:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
arguing that it was a Civil War term that Hatch learned in his Civil War youth.
Which side did Hatch fight for?
Roundheads.
Saints
posted by The Tensor at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Which side did Hatch fight for?
Roundheads.
Saints
posted by The Tensor at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
And we didn't attack any other country which acquired nukes since 1945 just because they acquired nukes, including the USSR, which was much more threatening in its posture toward us than North Korea.
After the USSR gained the ability to nuke America, Mutually Assured Destruction came into play. North Korea does not yet have the ability to nuke America.
North Korea's rhetoric is more violent than the USSR's rhetoric ever was. Of course, rhetoric is not action. But confidence in a country sticking to a stable and sustainable path of action derives from confidence in stable and predictable leadership. In the long term, the DPRK is anything but stable and predictable. It's possible that allowing the DPRK to gain the ability to nuke Alaska in the hope that they will never exercise that ability is the least-terrible option. It could also be the most-terrible option. It's very worrying to me.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:19 PM on August 7, 2017
After the USSR gained the ability to nuke America, Mutually Assured Destruction came into play. North Korea does not yet have the ability to nuke America.
North Korea's rhetoric is more violent than the USSR's rhetoric ever was. Of course, rhetoric is not action. But confidence in a country sticking to a stable and sustainable path of action derives from confidence in stable and predictable leadership. In the long term, the DPRK is anything but stable and predictable. It's possible that allowing the DPRK to gain the ability to nuke Alaska in the hope that they will never exercise that ability is the least-terrible option. It could also be the most-terrible option. It's very worrying to me.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:19 PM on August 7, 2017
I'm just some dude and I don't know what should be done about North Korea but I'm pretty sure I know better than the President does. So hopefully he doesn't... do... anything.
You can sub in any noun you like for 'North Korea' and the same sentiment applies
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
You can sub in any noun you like for 'North Korea' and the same sentiment applies
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
I'm pretty sure I know better than the President does.
I've run this over in my head repeatedly, and while I think most above the age of 13 could handle
reading, mapping and entering any nuclear attack plan codes from the binder, I don't think he could manage it.
posted by rc3spencer at 1:32 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
I've run this over in my head repeatedly, and while I think most above the age of 13 could handle
reading, mapping and entering any nuclear attack plan codes from the binder, I don't think he could manage it.
posted by rc3spencer at 1:32 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
North Korea does not yet have the ability to nuke America.
I think the problem is we don't know that that's true, and won't know when it becomes true. They're much farther along than the speculative progression from 5 or even 2 years ago suggested.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:41 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think the problem is we don't know that that's true, and won't know when it becomes true. They're much farther along than the speculative progression from 5 or even 2 years ago suggested.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:41 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
The Congressional Map Has A Record-Setting Bias Against Democrats
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:43 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:43 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
And that's why I crisscrossed these 29 counties that I represent. It takes 10 and a half hours to drive across my district.
And if that's not a reason for increasing the number of House Representatives...
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
And if that's not a reason for increasing the number of House Representatives...
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
I've run this over in my head repeatedly, and while I think most above the age of 13 could handle
reading, mapping and entering any nuclear attack plan codes from the binder, I don't think he could manage it.
Who would have thought that Trump's limited attention span could end up saving the world.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:48 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
reading, mapping and entering any nuclear attack plan codes from the binder, I don't think he could manage it.
Who would have thought that Trump's limited attention span could end up saving the world.
posted by nathan_teske at 1:48 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Redistricting gets a good hard look on Oct 3.
posted by rc3spencer at 1:49 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rc3spencer at 1:49 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
North Korea does not yet have the ability to nuke America.
I think that is questionable.
North Korea's rhetoric is more violent than the USSR's rhetoric ever was.
I think that is very questionable. They sure never promised not to use all those nuclear arms they were racing against us to build. They tried to install some in Cuba. And unlike North Korea they were an expansionist empire.
In the long term, the DPRK is anything but stable and predictable.
I think that is questionable too. Everything I've read suggests that Kim Jong Un is rational. He is developing nukes as a deterrent against American regime change ambitions to preserve his personal power. As long as we don't threaten that, he is very unlikely to use them. (Sucks for North Koreans, though, who are treated as his personal property. Stalin sucked for Russians too. Famine and brutal repression in both cases.)
Now the question is what we should do if North Korea tries to make a move against South Korea. For the moment South Koreans seem less worried about that possibility than about the fallout of a nuclear war in their back yard should we provoke Kim Jong Un.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think that is questionable.
North Korea's rhetoric is more violent than the USSR's rhetoric ever was.
I think that is very questionable. They sure never promised not to use all those nuclear arms they were racing against us to build. They tried to install some in Cuba. And unlike North Korea they were an expansionist empire.
In the long term, the DPRK is anything but stable and predictable.
I think that is questionable too. Everything I've read suggests that Kim Jong Un is rational. He is developing nukes as a deterrent against American regime change ambitions to preserve his personal power. As long as we don't threaten that, he is very unlikely to use them. (Sucks for North Koreans, though, who are treated as his personal property. Stalin sucked for Russians too. Famine and brutal repression in both cases.)
Now the question is what we should do if North Korea tries to make a move against South Korea. For the moment South Koreans seem less worried about that possibility than about the fallout of a nuclear war in their back yard should we provoke Kim Jong Un.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump:
posted by zachlipton at 1:55 PM on August 7, 2017 [42 favorites]
The Fake News Media will not talk about the importance of the United Nations Security Council's 15-0 vote in favor of sanctions on N. Korea!It's raining, so he's not golfing, and the President is Mad On The Internet again.
[ed. note: CNN did multiple segments on this topic as he was tweeting]
How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business?
I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there
posted by zachlipton at 1:55 PM on August 7, 2017 [42 favorites]
It takes 10 and a half hours to drive across my district.
Welcome to Texas GOP gerrymandering. Yes, his district includes a lot of nothing in West Texas, but it's also stretched to include parts of San Antonio and El Paso, both blue-leaning areas. The reason it's a swing district is because the Valley and both those cities are heavily Latino. But surely, rather than require a congressman to drive 10 hours to visit his entire district, they could just make a nice squareish sort of area or a thicker area around the border instead of trying to include blue areas 800 miles apart. And this isn't even one of the more problematic districts. Why, oh, why did anyone ever think putting the elected officials in charge of who got to elect them was a good idea?
posted by threeturtles at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2017 [29 favorites]
Welcome to Texas GOP gerrymandering. Yes, his district includes a lot of nothing in West Texas, but it's also stretched to include parts of San Antonio and El Paso, both blue-leaning areas. The reason it's a swing district is because the Valley and both those cities are heavily Latino. But surely, rather than require a congressman to drive 10 hours to visit his entire district, they could just make a nice squareish sort of area or a thicker area around the border instead of trying to include blue areas 800 miles apart. And this isn't even one of the more problematic districts. Why, oh, why did anyone ever think putting the elected officials in charge of who got to elect them was a good idea?
posted by threeturtles at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2017 [29 favorites]
Ugh, is his tweeting really just because it's raining? I was hoping for upcoming scoop o'clock. But it's already almost past five on the east coast.
posted by yasaman at 1:59 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yasaman at 1:59 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Anybody with a nuke has the ability to nuke America. You can load it in a cargo container and ship into right into Long Beach Harbor. They probably don't yet have the ability to hit the US with a nuclear ICBM but that's not the same thing as not being able to nuke America.
posted by Justinian at 2:00 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:00 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business?
The New York Times has been profitable for years. Is it possible the President is someone who tells lies????
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [35 favorites]
The New York Times has been profitable for years. Is it possible the President is someone who tells lies????
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [35 favorites]
How much longer will the failing nytimes, with its big losses and massive unfunded liability (and non-existent sources), remain in business?
I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there
(tl;dr: On no less than two occasions, the Senator said he served "in Vietnam" instead of "during Vietnam." Lock him up, amirite?)
(Also, it's a great place to vacation. Is Trump under the impression that the war's still raging?)
posted by Sys Rq at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
I think Senator Blumenthal should take a nice long vacation in Vietnam, where he lied about his service, so he can at least say he was there
There was controversy in 2010, during his senate campaign, when The New York Times reported that Blumenthal misspoke on at least one occasion about his service[...]"The NYT is unreliable!" NEXT TWEET: "Hey, check out this old NYT article!"
(tl;dr: On no less than two occasions, the Senator said he served "in Vietnam" instead of "during Vietnam." Lock him up, amirite?)
(Also, it's a great place to vacation. Is Trump under the impression that the war's still raging?)
posted by Sys Rq at 2:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
Fair enough, Trump. You get your investigation of Blumenthal and Obama and Hillary and the lying media together, get them on the stand and under oath, and we get to do the same to you. That work?
posted by Rykey at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, it's a great place to vacation. Is Trump under the impression that the war's still raging?
Venereal Diseases still exist so Trump's personal Vietnam War has never ended.
posted by srboisvert at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
Venereal Diseases still exist so Trump's personal Vietnam War has never ended.
posted by srboisvert at 2:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [25 favorites]
How's the bone spur Mr. Twoscoops?
posted by petebest at 2:24 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by petebest at 2:24 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
DavidMarkDC: This @davidhawkings column explains Trump's obsession with Sen. R. Blumenthal (D-CT). Goes back to NYC real estate.
Perhaps more importantly, both are central figures in families that have amassed enormous fortunes in the world of prestige Manhattan real estate. For many years, Trump’s principal competitors included enterprises controlled by Peter Malkin, whose daughter Cynthia has been married to Blumenthal for 35 years. (Her riches have made him one of the dozen richest members of Congress every year since his arrival, with a minimum net worth of $67 million as he cruised to re-election last year.)
The future president and the future senator’s father-in-law were even antagonists in one of the premier New York property battles of recent vintage, over the convoluted ownership structure for the Empire State Building, with ended in 2002 with Trump claiming to have wrested a $15 million profit mainly at Malkin’s expense.
Everything comes back to Manhattan real estate and how Trump was always the junior partner except when he was an outright laughingstock.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:31 PM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
Perhaps more importantly, both are central figures in families that have amassed enormous fortunes in the world of prestige Manhattan real estate. For many years, Trump’s principal competitors included enterprises controlled by Peter Malkin, whose daughter Cynthia has been married to Blumenthal for 35 years. (Her riches have made him one of the dozen richest members of Congress every year since his arrival, with a minimum net worth of $67 million as he cruised to re-election last year.)
The future president and the future senator’s father-in-law were even antagonists in one of the premier New York property battles of recent vintage, over the convoluted ownership structure for the Empire State Building, with ended in 2002 with Trump claiming to have wrested a $15 million profit mainly at Malkin’s expense.
Everything comes back to Manhattan real estate and how Trump was always the junior partner except when he was an outright laughingstock.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:31 PM on August 7, 2017 [48 favorites]
Meanwhile, resourceful MAGA-hatted researchers are busy untangling the sinister web of Deep State/Mainstream News collusion:
McMaster Deputy’s Husband Works For Reporter Maggie Haberman’s Mom (real; not consciously satire)
posted by neroli at 2:37 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
McMaster Deputy’s Husband Works For Reporter Maggie Haberman’s Mom (real; not consciously satire)
posted by neroli at 2:37 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Lock him up, amirite?
no but also don't make it a serious argument by pretending he didn't "mislead," if you want to be nicer than "lied" but not as willfully excusing of it as "misspoke." does it disqualify him from being a senator? nope. from criticizing Trump about anything, including Trump's own much more numerous and much more serious lies and his own lack of any kind of service and misuse of the armed forces? nope.
everyone should ignore rehashes of this because it's old news and was never that big a deal; nobody voted for him because they thought he was an exciting war hero and/or killer of men and it was all publicized and clarified years and years ago. T mentioning it is an honest-to-god distraction such as we hear tell of in legends. it did actually happen, though. this is true even though I believe the only response anyone should bother to make to Republicans dredging it up is "everybody knows; nobody cares."
posted by queenofbithynia at 2:49 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
no but also don't make it a serious argument by pretending he didn't "mislead," if you want to be nicer than "lied" but not as willfully excusing of it as "misspoke." does it disqualify him from being a senator? nope. from criticizing Trump about anything, including Trump's own much more numerous and much more serious lies and his own lack of any kind of service and misuse of the armed forces? nope.
everyone should ignore rehashes of this because it's old news and was never that big a deal; nobody voted for him because they thought he was an exciting war hero and/or killer of men and it was all publicized and clarified years and years ago. T mentioning it is an honest-to-god distraction such as we hear tell of in legends. it did actually happen, though. this is true even though I believe the only response anyone should bother to make to Republicans dredging it up is "everybody knows; nobody cares."
posted by queenofbithynia at 2:49 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
> Everything comes back to Manhattan real estate...
That might as well be the tagline for this entire Democracy Souls clusterfucking nightmare.
posted by Johann Georg Faust at 2:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
That might as well be the tagline for this entire Democracy Souls clusterfucking nightmare.
posted by Johann Georg Faust at 2:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
The office of management and budget - my memory is a high profile loss of data there.
Though I never actually worked for the US Government, as a research contractor dealing with human subjects, I was forced by some byzantine regulation to be registered as an employee so they could do a background check on me using government resources. That led to me being victimized by the theft of my data from the OPM along with 22 million others.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:57 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Though I never actually worked for the US Government, as a research contractor dealing with human subjects, I was forced by some byzantine regulation to be registered as an employee so they could do a background check on me using government resources. That led to me being victimized by the theft of my data from the OPM along with 22 million others.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:57 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
That might as well be the tagline for this entire Democracy Souls clusterfucking nightmare.
Damn, that's an excellent way to frame this, because G-d knows I've seen a bunch of game over screens since the Republican primary ended.
Media and US voters for the most part let Trump get away with a long list of stuff they've straight up killed Democratic politicians for: YOU DIED
Mainstream US media can't bring itself to outright say Trump was pure garbage in all the debates and lost: YOU DIED
People keep debating HRC's likability: YOU DIED
Election Night, every single goddamn time Trump won a state: YOU DIED
Pretty much every time he's opened his mouth since Jan 20: YOU DIED
I don't even want to think about what New Game+ is going to be like. And Trump's just a casul!
posted by lord_wolf at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
Damn, that's an excellent way to frame this, because G-d knows I've seen a bunch of game over screens since the Republican primary ended.
Media and US voters for the most part let Trump get away with a long list of stuff they've straight up killed Democratic politicians for: YOU DIED
Mainstream US media can't bring itself to outright say Trump was pure garbage in all the debates and lost: YOU DIED
People keep debating HRC's likability: YOU DIED
Election Night, every single goddamn time Trump won a state: YOU DIED
Pretty much every time he's opened his mouth since Jan 20: YOU DIED
I don't even want to think about what New Game+ is going to be like. And Trump's just a casul!
posted by lord_wolf at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
They tried to install some in Cuba.
After the US installed some in Turkey. Removing them was the tradeoff for the Soviet Union removing their missiles from Cuba.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:06 PM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
Anthem is withdrawing from ObamaCare in Nevada
This is pretty much the first in a set of dominos and if the Republicans have any sense of strategy this will be the only thing they ever refer to in regards to healthcare. If we had a Democratic trifecta in Nevada the solution would be (relatively) simple, let the public buy into Medicaid on the individual market in 2018. An insurer of last resort. Maybe the Democratic legislature can get Sandoval to buy into a plan like that but I don't think it'll happen as he vetoed it before.
The battle to save some semblance of healthcare just got infinitely harder with the constant "WE TOLD YOU SO!" from the Republican caucus. This is despite the insurers pulling out because they don't want to have to deal with the shitheel in chief's temper tantrums.
posted by Talez at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [45 favorites]
Anthem’s decision to exit Nevada’s exchanges comes after uncertainty over the continuation of funding for cost-sharing reduction subsidies, or reimbursements to insurers for discounted care provided to low income individuals, caused the insurer to warn late last month of reduced participation in 2018.And that's it. They've done it. They've broken the individual market. 8,000 people without coverage they can't even buy. Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey and White Pine counties, and Carson City all have no individual market insurers in 2018. Trump didn't even have to sign a single EO.
This is pretty much the first in a set of dominos and if the Republicans have any sense of strategy this will be the only thing they ever refer to in regards to healthcare. If we had a Democratic trifecta in Nevada the solution would be (relatively) simple, let the public buy into Medicaid on the individual market in 2018. An insurer of last resort. Maybe the Democratic legislature can get Sandoval to buy into a plan like that but I don't think it'll happen as he vetoed it before.
The battle to save some semblance of healthcare just got infinitely harder with the constant "WE TOLD YOU SO!" from the Republican caucus. This is despite the insurers pulling out because they don't want to have to deal with the shitheel in chief's temper tantrums.
posted by Talez at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [45 favorites]
MetaFilter: certified 100% wad-free
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:13 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 3:13 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
gif of dying to the Anor Londo archers, but replace the "YOU DIED" text with "BUT HER EMAILS"
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:16 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:16 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Um, apparently the evangelicals want to yell at the Pope for Trump? That seems not particularly normal. WaPo, Michelle Boorstein: Trump’s evangelical advisers want a meeting with Pope Francis over controversial article
Sen. Schatz replies that he's drafted a bill to eliminate the debit limit entirely and will file it when the Senate comes back into session.
Connor Wroe Southard, Paste: How Should We Write About Trump Voters? Answer: Don't.
DOJ filed an update in the Franciscan Alliance case (suit challenging federal regulations that prohibit federally funded health care entities from discriminating, including discrimination against trans people and those seeking reproductive care) that says that they are reviewing revisions to the anti-discrimination regulations and that they anticipate them being posted for comment in the future. So that's just a whole new way this administration could hurt people.
Reupping from April, Chris Moody's The time I went to summer camp with the future mini-Trump, in which the author attended mock government camp with Stephen Miller:
Marketwatch reports on a University of Missouri study of how much people trust various news sources. People trust the Economist, public television, and Reuters. The New York Times does as well as the Kansas City Star, NBC and CNN as well as Drudge. Bringing up the bottom: Infowars, Trump himself, "Social Media," Breitbart, BuzzFeed, and the least trusted: Occupy Democrats. Unfair to BuzzFeed tbh.
And finally, Eric Trump is pleased to learn (indeed, it "made [his] week") from @UberFacts that you can buy bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the cereal.
posted by zachlipton at 3:22 PM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
President Trump’s evangelical advisory board is asking Pope Francis for meetings with him and other high-level Vatican officials to discuss “efforts to divide evangelicals and Catholics.”It seems like every other day, there's an even crueler, more barbaric story about something ICE is doing. Today's is horrifying. Harford Currant: ICE Accused of Using Children To Arrest Undocumented Parents
The request comes a few weeks after two of Francis’s closest allies published an extremely critical article about the shared political activism of conservative evangelicals and Catholics, saying it has “an ideology of conquest.”
The piece attracted wide attention because of the connection that the authors — an Italian Catholic priest and an Argentine Presbyterian pastor — have to the pope and because of its range: It disparaged everything from conservative evangelicalism and prosperity gospel to the popular idea that the United States is blessed by God. It was published mid-July in the influential Rome-based Jesuit publication La Civilta Cattolica.
An undocumented immigrant from West Haven has been arrested by federal immigration agents in Connecticut and activists say the man’s 9-year-old son was used “as bait” to lure the immigrant in so he could be taken into custody.Brian Beutler: Democrats, Don’t Raise the Debt Limit. Democrats should hold firm and demand that Republicans abolish the debt limit rather than bail them out yet again, or at least take some of the sting out of it by allowing the President to raise it unilaterally, subject to Congressional disapproval. It's a dangerous game of chicken, and I'm not sold, but worth reading.
A lawyer for Mynor Espinoza, the undocumented immigrant arrested June 5, said Friday that asking parents to sign federal documents for their children in order to arrest the parents appears to be a new and disturbing tactic by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Connecticut.
...
His 9-year-old son, a fourth child who was not born in the country, is also undocumented and was picked up about a year ago attempting to enter the U.S. unaccompanied. Federal officials turned the boy over to his father after Espinoza promised to bring the child to any scheduled immigration hearings and to cooperate with requests from ICE officials.
Rodriguez said Espinoza was requested to come to ICE offices in Hartford to sign some papers for his son, and was immediately arrested when he did so and transferred to detention in Massachusetts.
Rodriguez said Espinoza has no criminal record in the U.S. and that he was fleeing persecution in Guatemala and would face “imminent danger” if forced to return there.
Sen. Schatz replies that he's drafted a bill to eliminate the debit limit entirely and will file it when the Senate comes back into session.
Connor Wroe Southard, Paste: How Should We Write About Trump Voters? Answer: Don't.
The GOP agenda under Trump is basically what it would have been under Marco Rubio or Jeb Bush, only with more chaotic news cycles and instantly lower approval ratings. The Matt Pattersons of the world didn’t create this reality—that would be the Charles Kochs and Sheldon Adelsons—but they do know how to keep it going. One way to keep the oligarchic agenda humming along is to give it an aesthetic of rugged authenticity. Trump does that very well, and he gets a lot of media help. It may be impossible to write a Trump Voter piece, however careful, that doesn’t end up doing the work of making age-old robber baron politics look like an Andrew Wyeth painting come to life. We should probably stop trying.Dean Obeidallah, Daily Beast: Anti-Muslim Violence Is Everywhere—Except in the American Media: "Saturday’s bombing of a Minnesota mosque was just one violent incident in a long string of them. When will they get the attention they deserve?"
There are lots of worthwhile things we could learn about life in Redding, California or rural Colorado or anywhere else with especially reactionary politics. Everyone quoted in Hessler’s piece had something to say about their home. The frustrating thing about Trump Voter pieces is not that they reduce whole regions to politics; it’s that they reduce those politics to Trump. If voting for Trump was such a convulsive act in Grand Junction, then is it also true that if Hillary Clinton were president, life there would be noticeably different? Trump Voter pieces mostly don’t seem interested in that kind of question. There might be hand-waves at NAFTA and industrial decay and opiates and wealth being sucked into big cities. Why is any of that happening? Who benefits? Can we do anything about it? I guess we could look ruefully out our windows at the world we share with Trump Voters.
DOJ filed an update in the Franciscan Alliance case (suit challenging federal regulations that prohibit federally funded health care entities from discriminating, including discrimination against trans people and those seeking reproductive care) that says that they are reviewing revisions to the anti-discrimination regulations and that they anticipate them being posted for comment in the future. So that's just a whole new way this administration could hurt people.
Reupping from April, Chris Moody's The time I went to summer camp with the future mini-Trump, in which the author attended mock government camp with Stephen Miller:
A lanky young man who looked serious beyond his years, Miller began by shouting his case for why we should make him our leader. Roaring at the top of his lungs while he paced across the grass, Miller took us by surprise when he called for a fierce campaign of espionage against our neighboring counties.This happened a few months after Miller ran for student government on a platform of everyone being slobs because the school employed janitors.
Unlike his competitors, Miller didn't speak in clichéd generalities. He had a plan. He declared that he would organize a "black ops" force to spy on and infiltrate the other counties in an effort to -- I suppose? -- sabotage them. To Miller, the other boys in the camp weren't here to cooperate in the spirit of forming a more perfect union, but were to be dominated. They weren't "us." They were the enemy.
His raucous speech was a tremendous success. Miller knew his voting base: A hoard of testosterone-fueled teenage boys itching for something to believe in, even if it was just made up. Miller whipped us into a frenzy, and the crowd, myself included, cheered on the ridiculousness.
...
Miller was elected with a resounding majority.
It wasn't long, however, before some of us began to question our decision to elect someone merely for the shock value. At a county meeting later that week, Miller was involved in an incident that quickly spread around campus. He stood to his feet and, in a rage, yelled and flipped over a table, which crashed in front of him. The room fell silent. No one knew what to think.
Marketwatch reports on a University of Missouri study of how much people trust various news sources. People trust the Economist, public television, and Reuters. The New York Times does as well as the Kansas City Star, NBC and CNN as well as Drudge. Bringing up the bottom: Infowars, Trump himself, "Social Media," Breitbart, BuzzFeed, and the least trusted: Occupy Democrats. Unfair to BuzzFeed tbh.
And finally, Eric Trump is pleased to learn (indeed, it "made [his] week") from @UberFacts that you can buy bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the cereal.
posted by zachlipton at 3:22 PM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
Putting on the grift:
Assuming he is impeached or resigned, what would that do to his well – funded 2020 reelection campaign? He could still run it until 2020, right? I mean seriously, is there anything in the bylines that says you can file for running for election if you aren't technically in eligible to run?
posted by tilde at 3:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
Assuming he is impeached or resigned, what would that do to his well – funded 2020 reelection campaign? He could still run it until 2020, right? I mean seriously, is there anything in the bylines that says you can file for running for election if you aren't technically in eligible to run?
posted by tilde at 3:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
And finally, Eric Trump is pleased to learn (indeed, it "made [his] week") from @UberFacts that you can buy bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the cereal.
I'm just imaging the sound and mouth feel of eating that and I want to run screaming down the street to get it out of my brainmeat
posted by tilde at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2017 [11 favorites]
"President Trump’s evangelical advisory board is asking Pope Francis for meetings with him and other high-level Vatican officials to discuss “efforts to divide evangelicals and Catholics.”"
WOULD THAT BE THE WEDGE WHERE YOUR LEADERS SPENT SEVERAL DECADES INSISTING CATHOLICS AREN'T CHRISTIANS AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HELL? THAT WEDGE?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2017 [89 favorites]
WOULD THAT BE THE WEDGE WHERE YOUR LEADERS SPENT SEVERAL DECADES INSISTING CATHOLICS AREN'T CHRISTIANS AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HELL? THAT WEDGE?
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:26 PM on August 7, 2017 [89 favorites]
I mean seriously, is there anything in the bylines that says you can file for running for election if you aren't technically in eligible to run?
Why would he be ineligible? I don't think impeachment means you can't run for office again. (Difference office, but see Roy Moore as an example). The list of qualifications to run for President doesn't seem to prohibit it, nor does the impeachment clause seem to deal with it one way or the other.
posted by thefoxgod at 3:27 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why would he be ineligible? I don't think impeachment means you can't run for office again. (Difference office, but see Roy Moore as an example). The list of qualifications to run for President doesn't seem to prohibit it, nor does the impeachment clause seem to deal with it one way or the other.
posted by thefoxgod at 3:27 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
And finally, Eric Trump is pleased to learn (indeed, it "made [his] week") from @UberFacts that you can buy bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the cereal.
Progression of acts necessary to give a fleeting thrill to sociopathic aristocrats:
1) pay $200,000 to kill an elephant
2) hunt human beings on private island
3) attempt to create a racist subterranean realm of degenerate slavebeasts a la Lovecraft's The Rats in The Walls
4) eat handfuls of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the crumbs of cereal that your Charms Sorting Boy always leaves behind with his chilblained little peasant fingers
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:34 PM on August 7, 2017 [42 favorites]
Progression of acts necessary to give a fleeting thrill to sociopathic aristocrats:
1) pay $200,000 to kill an elephant
2) hunt human beings on private island
3) attempt to create a racist subterranean realm of degenerate slavebeasts a la Lovecraft's The Rats in The Walls
4) eat handfuls of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the crumbs of cereal that your Charms Sorting Boy always leaves behind with his chilblained little peasant fingers
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:34 PM on August 7, 2017 [42 favorites]
"President Trump’s evangelical advisory board is asking Pope Francis for meetings with him and other high-level Vatican officials to discuss “efforts to divide evangelicals and Catholics.”"
WOULD THAT BE THE WEDGE WHERE YOUR LEADERS SPENT SEVERAL DECADES INSISTING CATHOLICS AREN'T CHRISTIANS AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HELL? THAT WEDGE?
I have a quick & easy way to heal the Catholic-Evangelical divide: join the traditions of the Church, accept the seven sacraments, recognize transubstantiation, and follow the apostolic succession.
Easy!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:39 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
WOULD THAT BE THE WEDGE WHERE YOUR LEADERS SPENT SEVERAL DECADES INSISTING CATHOLICS AREN'T CHRISTIANS AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO HELL? THAT WEDGE?
I have a quick & easy way to heal the Catholic-Evangelical divide: join the traditions of the Church, accept the seven sacraments, recognize transubstantiation, and follow the apostolic succession.
Easy!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:39 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
I received a giant bag of dehydrated mini marshmallows as part of my Quonsmas gift. They're gone now.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by sevenyearlurk at 3:43 PM on August 7, 2017 [12 favorites]
I mean seriously, is there anything in the bylines that says you can file for running for election if you aren't technically in eligible to run?
Congress can prevent an impeached president from running again, but they are not required to.
posted by dilaudid at 3:45 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Congress can prevent an impeached president from running again, but they are not required to.
posted by dilaudid at 3:45 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Uhhhh.
@Scaramucci: We take the subject of cocaine and its use very seriously in my family. This is worth a listen. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-motivation-inside-tmi/id1100017220?mt=2&i=1000376333151
[link is to his podcast, which doesn't seem to have been updated since November's episode with Wilbur Ross]
I...I think most of us were already aware of just how serious he takes the subject?
posted by zachlipton at 4:12 PM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
@Scaramucci: We take the subject of cocaine and its use very seriously in my family. This is worth a listen. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-motivation-inside-tmi/id1100017220?mt=2&i=1000376333151
[link is to his podcast, which doesn't seem to have been updated since November's episode with Wilbur Ross]
I...I think most of us were already aware of just how serious he takes the subject?
posted by zachlipton at 4:12 PM on August 7, 2017 [26 favorites]
Congress can prevent an impeached president from running again, but they are not required to.
How is that? I'm curious.
posted by Mental Wimp at 4:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
How is that? I'm curious.
posted by Mental Wimp at 4:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
@Scaramucci: We take the subject of cocaine and its use very seriously in my family.
That's gotta be a hack.
posted by diogenes at 4:31 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
That's gotta be a hack.
posted by diogenes at 4:31 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
How is that? I'm curious.
It's written in the constitution:
It's written in the constitution:
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.posted by Talez at 4:36 PM on August 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
> That's gotta be a hack.
Former hack -- he lost his job recently.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:37 PM on August 7, 2017 [60 favorites]
Former hack -- he lost his job recently.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:37 PM on August 7, 2017 [60 favorites]
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States
That sure sounds to me like he can't be President again.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:42 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
That sure sounds to me like he can't be President again.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:42 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
That sure sounds to me like he can't be President again.
Only if the senate votes to disqualify (simple majority) along with convict.
posted by Talez at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Only if the senate votes to disqualify (simple majority) along with convict.
posted by Talez at 4:48 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
How is that? I'm curious.
Here's an overview.
posted by dilaudid at 4:35 PM on August 7 [+] [!]
Thanks, hydromorphone!
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:05 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's an overview.
posted by dilaudid at 4:35 PM on August 7 [+] [!]
Thanks, hydromorphone!
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:05 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Gee, that Scaramucci guy sure is good at communications.
posted by threeturtles at 5:05 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 5:05 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Link
President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club needs to hire 35 waiters for this winter’s social season in Palm Beach, Fla.
Late last month, the club placed an ad on page C8 of the Palm Beach Post, crammed full of tiny print laying out the job experience requirements in classified ad shorthand. “3 mos recent & verifiable exp in fine dining/country club,” the ad said. “No tips.”
The ad gave no email address or phone number. “Apply by fax,” it said. The ad also provided a mailing address. It ran twice, then never again.
Resist bot needs that fax number IMHO.
posted by tilde at 5:06 PM on August 7, 2017 [38 favorites]
Someone impeached could run again if Senate didn't bar it - but in the meantime, he'd be subject to the chance of civil and criminal prosecution for whatever activities caused the impeachment.
And anyone running against him, primaries or later, would have an easy time with meme-like talking points: "where's all that winning we were supposed to get tired of? Why should anyone believe you'd do better the next time around?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
And anyone running against him, primaries or later, would have an easy time with meme-like talking points: "where's all that winning we were supposed to get tired of? Why should anyone believe you'd do better the next time around?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
“Apply by fax,” it said.
so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)
posted by pyramid termite at 5:10 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)
posted by pyramid termite at 5:10 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
"My family has cocaine traditions"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:19 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:19 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
so how many waitrons have fax machines?
All of them ... if you are represented by a H1-B foreign contract mill.
posted by JackFlash at 5:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
All of them ... if you are represented by a H1-B foreign contract mill.
posted by JackFlash at 5:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
“Apply by fax,” it said.
so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)
UPS store, Publix, Office Depot, Post Office, Staples. $3.00 or so.
posted by tilde at 5:21 PM on August 7, 2017
UPS store, Publix, Office Depot, Post Office, Staples. $3.00 or so.
Gotta spend money to be a denied job!
posted by Talez at 5:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Gotta spend money to be a denied job!
posted by Talez at 5:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
oh, yeah, fedex kinko's too - but that's a pain ... i'm too old to get it i guess
posted by pyramid termite at 5:28 PM on August 7, 2017
posted by pyramid termite at 5:28 PM on August 7, 2017
You'll be shocked to know Trump lied about something: Trump Made Up His Story About the 21 Club Renovation, Former Owner and CEO Say.
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:30 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:30 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
DOJ flips on SCOTUS purge case
Today, DOJ said that Ohio’s purge is fine. But as the brief itself notes, that’s not what DOJ said last year, either in amicus participation in a Georgia federal trial court or in the 6th Circuit version of this very case. (As mentioned, I was involved.) It’s quite rare for the DOJ to change course after a filing a brief in the court of appeals: the Solicitor General’s office is often called the “Tenth Justice,” in part because while reversals happen, there’s a thumb on the scale to treat DOJ filings with some internal quasi-precedential weight.
And the brief is also notable for another reason: the signature block shows no participation from career civil rights attorneys.
That's the Sessions DOJ explicitly reversing course from challenging voter suppression purges, to arguing voter suppression is intended under the Voter Registration Act.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
Today, DOJ said that Ohio’s purge is fine. But as the brief itself notes, that’s not what DOJ said last year, either in amicus participation in a Georgia federal trial court or in the 6th Circuit version of this very case. (As mentioned, I was involved.) It’s quite rare for the DOJ to change course after a filing a brief in the court of appeals: the Solicitor General’s office is often called the “Tenth Justice,” in part because while reversals happen, there’s a thumb on the scale to treat DOJ filings with some internal quasi-precedential weight.
And the brief is also notable for another reason: the signature block shows no participation from career civil rights attorneys.
That's the Sessions DOJ explicitly reversing course from challenging voter suppression purges, to arguing voter suppression is intended under the Voter Registration Act.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [57 favorites]
the Sessions DOJ explicitly reversing course from challenging voter suppression purges, arguing voter suppression is intended under the Voter Registration Act.
And away we go...
posted by Rykey at 6:10 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
And away we go...
posted by Rykey at 6:10 PM on August 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
A CNN poll finds 74% of Americans don't trust most of what the White House claims in official communications, while 38% approve of the job Trump is doing as president; meaning at least 12% of Americans believe that Trump lies most of the time, but that he is doing a good job. Now That's What I Call Nihilism!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:18 PM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:18 PM on August 7, 2017 [36 favorites]
While the Venezuela military isn't a monolithic entity that completely backs Maduro, the generals in the army, the armed forces in - collectively have been given enormous powers over the economy.
What kind of third-rate country hands over their government to a bunch of generals?
Oh, wait ...
posted by JackFlash at 6:29 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
What kind of third-rate country hands over their government to a bunch of generals?
Oh, wait ...
posted by JackFlash at 6:29 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
That's why one of the few times the Rs cried out to defy Trump it was to support Sessions. NO WAIT DON'T FIRE OUR RACIST AG BAGMAN, WAIT TILL HE DISENFRANCHISES THE MINORITIES AT LEAST
posted by benzenedream at 6:30 PM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 6:30 PM on August 7, 2017 [15 favorites]
NYT, Lisa Friedman: Government Report Finds Drastic Impact of Climate Change on U.S.
Speaking of suppressed, The Guardian, Oliver Milman: US federal department is censoring use of term 'climate change', emails reveal:
Politico, Adam Behsudi: Trump’s Trade Pullout Roils Rural America: "After the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, other nations launch 27 separate negotiations to undercut U.S. exporters." A longform look at the post-TPP trade deals that are being formed without us, as we're basically nowhere, and the impacts on American agriculture.
posted by zachlipton at 6:32 PM on August 7, 2017 [44 favorites]
The average temperature in the United States has risen rapidly and drastically since 1980, and recent decades have been the warmest of the past 1,500 years, according to a sweeping federal climate change report awaiting approval by the Trump administration.The draft report was leaked to the Times by scientists who fear it will be suppressed.
The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. It directly contradicts claims by President Trump and members of his cabinet who say that the human contribution to climate change is uncertain and that the ability to predict the effects is limited.
Speaking of suppressed, The Guardian, Oliver Milman: US federal department is censoring use of term 'climate change', emails reveal:
Staff at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been told to avoid using the term climate change in their work, with the officials instructed to reference “weather extremes” instead.NYT, Matthew Rosenberg: Trump Likes When C.I.A. Chief Gets Political, but Officers Are Wary. A deep look at Mike Pompeo, "perhaps the most openly political spy chief in a generation," and what it means when the CIA chief is incredibly partisan.
A series of emails obtained by the Guardian between staff at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a USDA unit that oversees farmers’ land conservation, show that the incoming Trump administration has had a stark impact on the language used by some federal employees around climate change.
A missive from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, lists terms that should be avoided by staff and those that should replace them. “Climate change” is in the “avoid” category, to be replaced by “weather extremes”. Instead of “climate change adaption”, staff are asked to use “resilience to weather extremes”.
...
In her email to staff, dated 16 February this year, Moebius-Clune said the new language was given to her staff and suggests it be passed on. She writes that “we won’t change the modeling, just how we talk about it – there are a lot of benefits to putting carbon back in the sail [sic], climate mitigation is just one of them”, and that a colleague from USDA’s public affairs team gave advice to “tamp down on discretionary messaging right now”.
In contrast to these newly contentious climate terms, Moebius-Clune wrote that references to economic growth, emerging business opportunities in the rural US, agro-tourism and “improved aesthetics” should be “tolerated if not appreciated by all”.
Politico, Adam Behsudi: Trump’s Trade Pullout Roils Rural America: "After the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, other nations launch 27 separate negotiations to undercut U.S. exporters." A longform look at the post-TPP trade deals that are being formed without us, as we're basically nowhere, and the impacts on American agriculture.
posted by zachlipton at 6:32 PM on August 7, 2017 [44 favorites]
The draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies, which has not yet been made public, concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now.
I know there have been virtually no "below average" temperature days here in Los Angeles in July or August of this or last year, and that trend looks to continue for September. We're consistently 5-6 degrees above what used to be average.
posted by Justinian at 6:35 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
I know there have been virtually no "below average" temperature days here in Los Angeles in July or August of this or last year, and that trend looks to continue for September. We're consistently 5-6 degrees above what used to be average.
posted by Justinian at 6:35 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
meaning at least 12% of Americans believe that Trump lies most of the time, but that he is doing a good job. Now That's What I Call Nihilism!
There was a time in professional wrestling when the promoters and performers would never admit that pro wrestling wasn't "real." Nowadays the everyone knows pro wrestling is "fake," and though of course the performers generally stay in character, pro wrestling no longer holds itself out as "real." People still watch, cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys. Tell a pro wrestling fan it's "fake" and that doesn't faze them one bit.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 6:38 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
There was a time in professional wrestling when the promoters and performers would never admit that pro wrestling wasn't "real." Nowadays the everyone knows pro wrestling is "fake," and though of course the performers generally stay in character, pro wrestling no longer holds itself out as "real." People still watch, cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys. Tell a pro wrestling fan it's "fake" and that doesn't faze them one bit.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 6:38 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
wasn't it inevitable? - you televise it and sooner or later, it just becomes another spectacle, more damned reality tv
and here we are
posted by pyramid termite at 6:59 PM on August 7, 2017
and here we are
posted by pyramid termite at 6:59 PM on August 7, 2017
McMaster Deputy’s Husband Works For Reporter Maggie Haberman’s Mom
Surely this.
posted by petebest at 7:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
Surely this.
posted by petebest at 7:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [9 favorites]
I wish I could argue like this thread when these subjects come up in real life. Mostly I just get a few items in and then some combination of fuckit / whatever.
MetaFilter: certified 100% wad-free
Cite?
posted by petebest at 7:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
MetaFilter: certified 100% wad-free
Cite?
posted by petebest at 7:14 PM on August 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
A missive from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, lists terms that should be avoided by staff and those that should replace them. “Climate change” is in the “avoid” category, to be replaced by “weather extremes”. Instead of “climate change adaption”, staff are asked to use “resilience to weather extremes”.
Note that we're talking about farming here.
Talk to a farmer about "weather extremes", and in effect you're saying "just hang in there. Next season will be better." Talk to a farmer about "climate change," and you're saying "you need to change what you plant and how you grow it, because this will continue."
This particular change of phrase is professional malpractice, because it's knowingly giving wrong advice to people who will be harmed by following it.
posted by ocschwar at 7:21 PM on August 7, 2017 [94 favorites]
A missive from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, lists terms that should be avoided by staff and those that should replace them.
Boy, she sounds really...
one-sided.
posted by biogeo at 7:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [103 favorites]
Boy, she sounds really...
one-sided.
posted by biogeo at 7:23 PM on August 7, 2017 [103 favorites]
Hey, remember when Journey was at the White House?
Journey Are the Latest Proud American Institution That Donald Trump Threatens to Destroy (Andy Cush, Spin)
posted by Room 641-A at 7:24 PM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
Journey Are the Latest Proud American Institution That Donald Trump Threatens to Destroy (Andy Cush, Spin)
Just over a week ago, three members of Journey made a visit to Donald Trump’s White House, meeting with press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and posing for photos with staffers. If you’re the type who’s not ashamed to belt out “Faithfully” when it blasts regally forth from a wedding DJ’s P.A. speakers, perhaps you were a little disappointed with the classic rock survivors for aligning themselves with the president. But there’s no way you were as bummed as Journey guitarist and co-founder Neal Schon himself.tl;dr It's not so much Trump, but they never do anything political. Schoen doesn't seem to be a fan, though, and he seems serious about ending everything.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:24 PM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
And anyone running against him, primaries or later, would have an easy time with meme-like talking points: "where's all that winning we were supposed to get tired of? Why should anyone believe you'd do better the next time around?"
You miss my point but I may have expressed it badly. "Running for reelection " is just actually keeping the grift train running. "Donations for reeelction" are paying for lawyers and trump tv ... if he's always running that grift canal is open. Better than GoFundMe.
posted by tilde at 7:26 PM on August 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
And finally, Eric Trump is pleased to learn (indeed, it "made [his] week") from @UberFacts that you can buy bags of Lucky Charms marshmallows without the cereal.
Good lord. You know how I know they sell bags of just-marshmallows? Because they used to carry this stuff in the grocery store near me. It was available in those loose floppy bags, right next to the loose floppy bags of knock-off-brand "poor-people" cereal.
Eric Trump is gentrifying breakfast.
(Also, your college food tip of the day: Off-Brand Lucky Charms marshmallows added to Grape Nuts will keep you going until late afternoon.)
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:47 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Good lord. You know how I know they sell bags of just-marshmallows? Because they used to carry this stuff in the grocery store near me. It was available in those loose floppy bags, right next to the loose floppy bags of knock-off-brand "poor-people" cereal.
Eric Trump is gentrifying breakfast.
(Also, your college food tip of the day: Off-Brand Lucky Charms marshmallows added to Grape Nuts will keep you going until late afternoon.)
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:47 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yes! Ha ha! I knew Neal would come back for us!
Yes I am and you still miss the point. Arranged photo op against what we've all stood for up until 2 years ago and Jon changed radically
I told you that guy was trouble, man. Look, call Jan Hammer we'll get some Coke Zeros and party down. I mean, I could sit in on drums or whatever if you want.
Hey, it's a win. Mark it, Dude.
posted by petebest at 7:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yes I am and you still miss the point. Arranged photo op against what we've all stood for up until 2 years ago and Jon changed radically
I told you that guy was trouble, man. Look, call Jan Hammer we'll get some Coke Zeros and party down. I mean, I could sit in on drums or whatever if you want.
Hey, it's a win. Mark it, Dude.
posted by petebest at 7:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
** NJ gov -- GOP candidate Guadagno touting internal poll that only has her trailing by 9 points. Uh....
** 2018 Senate -- Strategic National poll shows Dean Heller trailing in a primary challenge to Rep. Mark Amodei 26-27. [No link - I'm not linking to the Daily Caller]
** Odds & ends:
posted by Chrysostom at 7:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [39 favorites]
** NJ gov -- GOP candidate Guadagno touting internal poll that only has her trailing by 9 points. Uh....
** 2018 Senate -- Strategic National poll shows Dean Heller trailing in a primary challenge to Rep. Mark Amodei 26-27. [No link - I'm not linking to the Daily Caller]
** Odds & ends:
-- WSJ: Party ID in exurbs is trending away from GOP, towards Dems.=> Reminder that there are three special elections tomorrow: IA HD-82, MO SD-28, MO HD-50.
-- WaPo: How other countries do redistricting better than the US.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [39 favorites]
FYI, if it hasn't been posted yet, Turner Classic Movies. TCM, is airing the movie "Scaramouche" tonight, right now. It's half way done, but you can still watch the rest.
posted by yesster at 8:00 PM on August 7, 2017
posted by yesster at 8:00 PM on August 7, 2017
A missive from Bianca Moebius-Clune, director of soil health, lists terms that should be avoided by staff and those that should replace them.
Boy, she sounds really...
one-sided.
Magnificent.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:01 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Boy, she sounds really...
one-sided.
Magnificent.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:01 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Journey Are the Latest Proud American Institution That Donald Trump Threatens to Destroy
Guess you could say he's
(•_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
tearing them apart.
Na na na na na na, na na na na na
Na na na na na na na...
(Don't stop believin'!)
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:02 PM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
Guess you could say he's
(•_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
tearing them apart.
Na na na na na na, na na na na na
Na na na na na na na...
(Don't stop believin'!)
posted by Cookiebastard at 8:02 PM on August 7, 2017 [16 favorites]
biogeo: "Can someone who's more familiar with the law than I am explain how this isn't a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment? How does "being within 25 miles of the international border" constitute probable cause?"
Because of the upheld 100 mile constitutional free zone.
pyramid termite: "so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)"
This is a blantant move to avoid having anyone apply . However pretty much any computer with a phone jack can send faxes. I'm not sure what percentage of new machines have phone jacks but it's not zero. Also there are free and subscription email to fax services available. And most job search centres will have faxing capabilities.
However unless the pay is exceptional (highly unlikely considering the ad is a dodge to hire foreign workers) the no tips thing is much more of a hit for someone with the skills to work someplace like Mar-A-Lago.
posted by Mitheral at 9:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Because of the upheld 100 mile constitutional free zone.
pyramid termite: "so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)"
This is a blantant move to avoid having anyone apply . However pretty much any computer with a phone jack can send faxes. I'm not sure what percentage of new machines have phone jacks but it's not zero. Also there are free and subscription email to fax services available. And most job search centres will have faxing capabilities.
However unless the pay is exceptional (highly unlikely considering the ad is a dodge to hire foreign workers) the no tips thing is much more of a hit for someone with the skills to work someplace like Mar-A-Lago.
posted by Mitheral at 9:09 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Adorable tigerlings Mewler and Impeach chase Golf Course One down the fairway. Cute until they're big enough to eat his face.
posted by adept256 at 9:26 PM on August 7, 2017
posted by adept256 at 9:26 PM on August 7, 2017
How are you supposed to apply by fax to a job as with no fax number? It's a deliberate Catch-22.
posted by medusa at 9:46 PM on August 7, 2017
posted by medusa at 9:46 PM on August 7, 2017
"111-1111. Lois? Damn! 111-1112. Lois? Damn!"
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on August 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
How are you supposed to apply by fax to a job as with no fax number? It's a deliberate Catch-22.
This is what people do when they want to avoid Equal Opportunity laws.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:02 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is what people do when they want to avoid Equal Opportunity laws.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:02 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh, I missed the actual reason in Mithreal's comment, never mind!
posted by Room 641-A at 10:03 PM on August 7, 2017
posted by Room 641-A at 10:03 PM on August 7, 2017
Remember the whole story with Erik Prince going off to the Seychelles to meet with a Putin confidante shortly before the inauguration?
Prince did an interview (the clip is worth watching) with Erin Burnett, and, well, it's pretty weird. He claims he wasn't there on behalf of the Trump team or anyone else and it has nothing to do with collusion and that met with this completely unmemorable Russian over a beer and it was so unmemorable that he doesn't even know the guy's name or have his contact info.
So his story is apparently that the UAE set Prince up with this meeting with the Russian to discuss "future business" because it was "maybe someone who would be useful for you to know," and Prince left without bothering to learn the guy's name?
posted by zachlipton at 10:35 PM on August 7, 2017 [51 favorites]
Prince did an interview (the clip is worth watching) with Erin Burnett, and, well, it's pretty weird. He claims he wasn't there on behalf of the Trump team or anyone else and it has nothing to do with collusion and that met with this completely unmemorable Russian over a beer and it was so unmemorable that he doesn't even know the guy's name or have his contact info.
So his story is apparently that the UAE set Prince up with this meeting with the Russian to discuss "future business" because it was "maybe someone who would be useful for you to know," and Prince left without bothering to learn the guy's name?
posted by zachlipton at 10:35 PM on August 7, 2017 [51 favorites]
That kind of thing happens to me constantly.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:46 PM on August 7, 2017 [29 favorites]
Secrecy and Suspicion Surround Trump’s Deregulation Teams (Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, and Danielle Ivory, The New York Times)
“It is unacceptable for federal agencies to operate in such a clandestine and unaccountable manner especially when the result could be the undoing of critical public health and safety protections,” Representatives Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia and David Cicilline of Rhode Island wrote in the letter.Russian bots are starting to attack the Republican Party (Chris Riotta, Newsweek)
The congressmen cited a recent investigation by ProPublica and The New York Times revealing that members of the deregulation teams have included lawyers who represented businesses in cases against government regulators, staff members of political dark money groups and employees of industry-funded organizations opposed to environmental rules.
Russian-linked bots and trolls have caused a surge in use of the hashtag #ResignPaulRyan on Twitter over the last 48 hours, just as the Republican speaker of the House was returning to his hometown of Wisconsin for a month-long respite from Washington, D.C.posted by Room 641-A at 10:47 PM on August 7, 2017 [18 favorites]
So Erik Prince is claiming that he flew to the Seychelles Islands to have a beer with a Russian man whose name he didn't even know? Like you do...
posted by msalt at 10:56 PM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by msalt at 10:56 PM on August 7, 2017 [10 favorites]
Coming this fall on NBC, it's That's Our Kislyak!
🎶 He's got a face, that you can't place, that's our Kislyak 🎶
posted by Room 641-A at 11:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
🎶 He's got a face, that you can't place, that's our Kislyak 🎶
posted by Room 641-A at 11:04 PM on August 7, 2017 [23 favorites]
Why Are All These Russians Constantly Colluding With Me? [fake] [no, faker than that]
Speaking of fakeness, I thought I saw a discussion here of "kayfabe", or what wrestling insiders call the fake storylines that bleed into "real-life" personas. Seems to me that's a better way of describing how Trump supporters, like Joe Walsh, view his lies. "Yeah, it's not true, but it got the libtards foaming at the mouth!"
posted by dhartung at 11:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
Speaking of fakeness, I thought I saw a discussion here of "kayfabe", or what wrestling insiders call the fake storylines that bleed into "real-life" personas. Seems to me that's a better way of describing how Trump supporters, like Joe Walsh, view his lies. "Yeah, it's not true, but it got the libtards foaming at the mouth!"
posted by dhartung at 11:51 PM on August 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
dhartung, you're not alone.
And if you like heavy-handed interpret-a-thons like me...
- Wrestling with Reality - The Simulation of Professional Wrestling in American Society
- The Athlete as Buffoon: Cultural and Philosophical Considerations on Professional Wrestling
- From Roland Barthes himself: The World of Wrestling
Remember the whole story with Erik Prince going off to the Seychelles to meet with a Putin confidante shortly before the inauguration?
No, but I remember that time he married a lady who was once a fish from the waist down.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
No, but I remember that time he married a lady who was once a fish from the waist down.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
The conservatives turning against Donald Trump The Guardian, by David Smith, Lauren Gambino, Ben Jacobs and Sabrina Siddiqui in Washington
posted by mumimor at 1:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 1:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Presented without comment, a Kierkegaard quote just spotted in Hunter Thompson's Hell's Angels:
The daily press is the evil principle of the modern world, and time will only serve to disclose this fact with greater and greater clearness. The capacity of the newspaper for degeneration is sophistically without limit, since it can always sink lower and lower in its choice of readers. At last it will stir up all those dregs of humanity which no state or government can control.And from "Kim Kierkegaardashian" (@KimKierkegaard):
The daily press is the evil principle of the modern world; its capacity for degeneration is without limit. Love all the ladies at The View!posted by salix at 3:31 AM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
pyramid termite: "so how many waitrons have fax machines? (and no tips???)"
This is a blantant move to avoid having anyone apply . However pretty much any computer with a phone jack can send faxes.
We'll ignore that if you have a Raspberry Pi, place the IncrediPBX distro on it, port/install the software fax, go get a google voice number, figure out how to use that for outgoing dialing, and install whatever the gateway software now is - you can fax without a phone jack via a print option on your Windows/Unix box.
Because a phone jack is going to become hard to find over time. Bush the Lesser timeframe for federal regulation changes were started and I though approved as part of "ObamaPhone" regs.
Far simpler to use the camera on the phone, take a picture of the application, and download something like FaxFile on Android and use that to send the fax. Because - as noted above - faxing is reduced to software these days.
Oh and if you can figure out and have the interest in the Raspberry Pi solution odds are you have other employment options than the very U-R-Peon no tipping rules at Mar-a-logo.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:57 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is a blantant move to avoid having anyone apply . However pretty much any computer with a phone jack can send faxes.
We'll ignore that if you have a Raspberry Pi, place the IncrediPBX distro on it, port/install the software fax, go get a google voice number, figure out how to use that for outgoing dialing, and install whatever the gateway software now is - you can fax without a phone jack via a print option on your Windows/Unix box.
Because a phone jack is going to become hard to find over time. Bush the Lesser timeframe for federal regulation changes were started and I though approved as part of "ObamaPhone" regs.
Far simpler to use the camera on the phone, take a picture of the application, and download something like FaxFile on Android and use that to send the fax. Because - as noted above - faxing is reduced to software these days.
Oh and if you can figure out and have the interest in the Raspberry Pi solution odds are you have other employment options than the very U-R-Peon no tipping rules at Mar-a-logo.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:57 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
No, but I remember that time he married a lady who was once a fish from the waist down.
Hey, what happens in the Seychelles is supposed to stay in the Seychelles
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Hey, what happens in the Seychelles is supposed to stay in the Seychelles
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
So his story is apparently that the UAE set Prince up with this meeting with the Russian to discuss "future business" because it was "maybe someone who would be useful for you to know," and Prince left without bothering to learn the guy's name?
The UAE is, of course, the country US intelligence accuses of hacking Qatari government websites and planting literal fake news to precipitate an anti-Qatar backlash, with President Trump eagerly throwing oil on the flames, regardless of the number of US troops in Qatar.
I would like to know more about the relationship between the UAE and the Putin administration.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
The UAE is, of course, the country US intelligence accuses of hacking Qatari government websites and planting literal fake news to precipitate an anti-Qatar backlash, with President Trump eagerly throwing oil on the flames, regardless of the number of US troops in Qatar.
I would like to know more about the relationship between the UAE and the Putin administration.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Ah yes, the perennial comparisons of partisan politics to 'wrestling', when the meaning is theatre. (natch!)
Actual sporting wrestlers around the world shake their heads for a second, and get back to perfecting their sport.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Actual sporting wrestlers around the world shake their heads for a second, and get back to perfecting their sport.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Politico - An overseas trip to contact a former British spy exposes friction among House, Senate investigators and special counsel Robert Mueller.
Follow up from the Guardian
Two US congressional staffers who travelled to London in July and tried to contact former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, were sent by a longstanding aide to Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House intelligence committee and a close ally of the White House.
posted by adamvasco at 4:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Follow up from the Guardian
Two US congressional staffers who travelled to London in July and tried to contact former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, were sent by a longstanding aide to Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House intelligence committee and a close ally of the White House.
posted by adamvasco at 4:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Talking Points Memo and BuzzFeed have been digging into the Twitter network of fake identities that Trump retweeted
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Someone last night projected Putin on the Trump Soho Hotel here in NYC with the messages "Happy to Help, Bro", "Follow the Money", and others. With a group dressed in uniforms with MAGA hats carrying a Russian flag and lined up outside the hotel.
PIX
posted by chris24 at 5:01 AM on August 8, 2017 [30 favorites]
PIX
posted by chris24 at 5:01 AM on August 8, 2017 [30 favorites]
The “Diego” account was one of a large number that [was] suspended
We're actually living in System Shock, aren't we?
posted by octothorpe at 5:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
We're actually living in System Shock, aren't we?
posted by octothorpe at 5:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
At 6:00am this moment POTUS retweeted 3 Fox & friends tweets, announced he "will be holding a major briefing" on the opioid crisis, and announced that after "many years of failure" countries are coming together to do something about NK.
The "major briefing" will be at 3:00 p.m. by Tom Price at the Summer White House, AKA Bedford golf club. DJT being on vacation means everyone has to travel from DC to talk to him or give press briefings.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:20 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
The "major briefing" will be at 3:00 p.m. by Tom Price at the Summer White House, AKA Bedford golf club. DJT being on vacation means everyone has to travel from DC to talk to him or give press briefings.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:20 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just to mention there are like 500 online fax services, including the big one (eFax). You don't need a fax machine, a phone line, or a custom raspberry pi rig.
posted by spitbull at 5:27 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:27 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Did they (Kelly? Sessions? Miller? Kushner?) send Tweetolini to play in the grass to get him to STFU and/or out of the way of shit like DOJ overturning voter purge rulings in Ohio?
posted by yoga at 5:28 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by yoga at 5:28 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tom Price: Ahh: Trump's "major briefing" on opioids is a briefing of HIM, from Tom Price, not him briefing the public.
posted by octothorpe at 5:29 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 5:29 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
But LEAKS!
@kylegriffin1 (MSNBC producer for Laurence O'Donnell)
This Fox report that Trump just RT'd cites anonymous sources discussing classified U.S. intel assessments.
US spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat
posted by chris24 at 5:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
@kylegriffin1 (MSNBC producer for Laurence O'Donnell)
This Fox report that Trump just RT'd cites anonymous sources discussing classified U.S. intel assessments.
US spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat
posted by chris24 at 5:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
Ah cancel that. According to Daniel Dale of the Toronto Star, the major briefing will be Price briefing the President not the press. In other words, Trump will play a round of golf, have some lunch, then snooze through a 20 minute meeting with Price who will attempt to keep Big Boy's interest with charts and pictures. Maybe puppets and song for all we know.
🎼 This is a story bout a man named Ed 🎶 Poor coal miner barely kept his family fed 🎶 Then one day he took a little pill 🎶 And now he spends his days looking for a re-fill. Opioid. White gold. Pain relief.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
🎼 This is a story bout a man named Ed 🎶 Poor coal miner barely kept his family fed 🎶 Then one day he took a little pill 🎶 And now he spends his days looking for a re-fill. Opioid. White gold. Pain relief.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
SysRq: No, but I remember that time he married a lady who was once a fish from the waist down.
AM DED
posted by wenestvedt at 5:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
AM DED
posted by wenestvedt at 5:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
When you watch the lunchtime news here in Merrie Englande, and you see a piece about US politics, and there's footage of Donald Trump talking at a rally, and you sigh as you watch Trump for the nth thousandth time over the many years and decades, and then you look at his hair, and it finally clicks and you realise with a sudden start - it's an otter...
posted by Wordshore at 5:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Wordshore at 5:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
He's mid-30s with a good economy. That may be about to change.
@samstein
WELP. Rep. Tom Cole says House GOP will likely defy Trump White House and not pass a clean debt ceiling hike.
posted by chris24 at 5:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
@samstein
WELP. Rep. Tom Cole says House GOP will likely defy Trump White House and not pass a clean debt ceiling hike.
posted by chris24 at 5:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
This Fox report that Trump just RT'd cites anonymous sources discussing classified U.S. intel assessments
I'm sure the DOJ will get right on that.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:56 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm sure the DOJ will get right on that.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:56 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
But LEAKS!
@kylegriffin1 (MSNBC producer for Laurence O'Donnell)
This Fox report that Trump just RT'd cites anonymous sources discussing classified U.S. intel assessments.
US spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat
Well. Oiled. Machine.
@ddale8
On Fox & Friends, Nikki Haley said she can't discuss this because it's classified, said it's a shame if it was published. Trump tweeted it.
posted by chris24 at 6:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [67 favorites]
@kylegriffin1 (MSNBC producer for Laurence O'Donnell)
This Fox report that Trump just RT'd cites anonymous sources discussing classified U.S. intel assessments.
US spy satellites detect North Korea moving anti-ship cruise missiles to patrol boat
Well. Oiled. Machine.
@ddale8
On Fox & Friends, Nikki Haley said she can't discuss this because it's classified, said it's a shame if it was published. Trump tweeted it.
posted by chris24 at 6:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [67 favorites]
While we’re distracted by Trump’s vacation, his team is secretly dismantling the government
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state” is one of the few areas where Trump has been making rapid headway, even while on vacation, largely due to secret deregulation teams being appointed at each major government agency.
posted by adamvasco at 6:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [27 favorites]
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state” is one of the few areas where Trump has been making rapid headway, even while on vacation, largely due to secret deregulation teams being appointed at each major government agency.
posted by adamvasco at 6:09 AM on August 8, 2017 [27 favorites]
WELP. Rep. Tom Cole says House GOP will likely defy Trump White House and not pass a clean debt ceiling hike.
And even if they happened to scrape something together, what are the odds that the Senate GOP will show a united front (or any front at all) after the healthcare fiasco?
posted by Slackermagee at 6:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
And even if they happened to scrape something together, what are the odds that the Senate GOP will show a united front (or any front at all) after the healthcare fiasco?
posted by Slackermagee at 6:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
WELP. Rep. Tom Cole says House GOP will likely defy Trump White House and not pass a clean debt ceiling hike.
Ugh. We're going to see just how deep Paul Ryan values country over party.
We're fucked.
posted by Talez at 6:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ugh. We're going to see just how deep Paul Ryan values country over party.
We're fucked.
posted by Talez at 6:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Molly Ball for The Atlantic The Trump Show Never Ends
This is what’s going to happen, day in and day out—an endless loop of shock and fury.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:37 AM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
This is what’s going to happen, day in and day out—an endless loop of shock and fury.
Washington is torn between paralysis and alarm. The Congress is at odds with itself and its president. The special counsel’s investigation gets hotter and hotter, and has just been taken to a grand jury. There is talk of a constitutional crisis.Is it too early to start drinking?
Yet the Trump Show goes on.
The presidency in crisis! How can this possibly be sustained? Where will it end? What is going to happen? But the answer is right in front of us: It’s happening right now, on an endless loop. This is what’s going to happen, day in and day out—nonstop chaos, plot twists and cliffhangers, a furious, embattled president who finds new ways to shock while never seeming to change.
The show goes on. The ratings are terrific! Trump keeps campaigning for the election that happened nine months ago, determined to keep that feeling alive.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:37 AM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
So uh, what's the best tack for 401k allocation, if you assume the feces are going to come in contact with the rotating air circulation device?
Asking...for a friend.
posted by notsnot at 6:37 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Asking...for a friend.
posted by notsnot at 6:37 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Hey, what happens in the Seychelles is supposed to stay in the Seychelles
He sells LLC shells down by the Seychelles.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 AM on August 8, 2017 [107 favorites]
He sells LLC shells down by the Seychelles.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 AM on August 8, 2017 [107 favorites]
So uh, what's the best tack for 401k allocation, if you assume the feces are going to come in contact with the rotating air circulation device?
Don't retire.
posted by thelonius at 6:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Don't retire.
posted by thelonius at 6:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
So uh, what's the best tack for 401k allocation, if you assume the feces are going to come in contact with the rotating air circulation device?
There isn't one. Nobody knows what will even happen.
Our best outcome is that everyone continues with the illusion that the US is the safest place to park your money and we get out with an increase in treasury yields. It will put a multibillion hole in the government's finances but it won't be complete collapse. If you tried to hedge against complete collapse by swapping your portfolio to gold you'd look pretty stupid.
Our worst outcome is that the US defaults, the CDS triggers will cause chaos among counterparties and the financial system goes tits fucking up a'la 2007 on a rocket. At that point the guy holding your 401k is probably going bankrupt anyway.
posted by Talez at 6:46 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
There isn't one. Nobody knows what will even happen.
Our best outcome is that everyone continues with the illusion that the US is the safest place to park your money and we get out with an increase in treasury yields. It will put a multibillion hole in the government's finances but it won't be complete collapse. If you tried to hedge against complete collapse by swapping your portfolio to gold you'd look pretty stupid.
Our worst outcome is that the US defaults, the CDS triggers will cause chaos among counterparties and the financial system goes tits fucking up a'la 2007 on a rocket. At that point the guy holding your 401k is probably going bankrupt anyway.
posted by Talez at 6:46 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Some good news, the Texas bathroom bill looks dead.
Texas House gatekeeper likely won’t hold another hearing on ‘bathroom bill’
Texas House gatekeeper likely won’t hold another hearing on ‘bathroom bill’
A key lawmaker to any statewide legislation tells KXAN he likely won’t hold a special session hearing on the controversial bill known as the “bathroom bill,” which could be the death knell for the bill this year. House Chair of the State Affairs Committee and State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, said he heard enough in an all night, emotional hearing on the issue during the regular session. The bill must pass his committee to become law and he has not yet called a vote.posted by chris24 at 6:46 AM on August 8, 2017 [32 favorites]
“Quite candidly, at this point I don’t know what a hearing would add when we already had hearings,” said Rep. Cook. ... “I’m not sure that the legislation… that’s been proposed accomplishes anything that would be beneficial to the state of Texas,” said Rep. Cook. “It seems to be a diversion from the real issues that Texans face.”
My deepest long-term fear isn't so much from civil or world war. While those things would be catastrophic and the risk is very real to me, I worry that the more likely scenario is that we manage to end this without violence or at least not a lot of it only to later figure out that the damage has already been done to put us on a path that ends America's place as the world's trade currency.
Trump wants to create tax breaks/incentives for companies to repatriate their stockpiles of cash. Companies flush with cash but not any worthwhile projects to invest it will seek to return much of that cash to their shareholders, largely via stock buy-backs. The wealthy folks that own most of that wealth will be getting tax breaks on investment income as well and he'd have a hard time creating a better environment for a MAJOR recession that could also help pop the $11 Trillion commercial real estate bubble which...would not help.
Couple that with China's recent endeavor to invest in their own and their trading partner's infrastructure and I worry that China is going to replace the US as the world's trade currency and we'll lose all the advantages that come with that including the end of U.S. supremecy in the world.
posted by VTX at 7:02 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
Trump wants to create tax breaks/incentives for companies to repatriate their stockpiles of cash. Companies flush with cash but not any worthwhile projects to invest it will seek to return much of that cash to their shareholders, largely via stock buy-backs. The wealthy folks that own most of that wealth will be getting tax breaks on investment income as well and he'd have a hard time creating a better environment for a MAJOR recession that could also help pop the $11 Trillion commercial real estate bubble which...would not help.
Couple that with China's recent endeavor to invest in their own and their trading partner's infrastructure and I worry that China is going to replace the US as the world's trade currency and we'll lose all the advantages that come with that including the end of U.S. supremecy in the world.
posted by VTX at 7:02 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
So uh, what's the best tack for 401k allocation, if you assume the feces are going to come in contact with the rotating air circulation device?
guns ammo beans liquor
posted by entropicamericana at 7:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
guns ammo beans liquor
posted by entropicamericana at 7:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
In re the debt ceiling: I was freaking out about it to someone I know who is in the financial industry. He said he was mostly not worried because, as he said, the Republicans flinched when Obama was president. If they fail to raise the debt ceiling and thus crash the economy, it's on them - there's no Democrats to blame and it will be catastrophically bad. These are people who did not want to face the relatively minor chaos caused by the collapse of Obamacare, so it seems unlikely that they want to plunge the US into a Greece-like disaster.
Also, think about all the rich people who don't want a giant market crash and a global recession - you'd better bet that arms are being twisted all around Washington even as we speak.
I mean, I am still anxious because obviously Trump is terrible and all this brinksmanship is incredibly foolish, but I'm not as worried - I think it's relatively likely that there will be a lot of saber-rattling and idiocy but the limit will be raised.
posted by Frowner at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [23 favorites]
Also, think about all the rich people who don't want a giant market crash and a global recession - you'd better bet that arms are being twisted all around Washington even as we speak.
I mean, I am still anxious because obviously Trump is terrible and all this brinksmanship is incredibly foolish, but I'm not as worried - I think it's relatively likely that there will be a lot of saber-rattling and idiocy but the limit will be raised.
posted by Frowner at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [23 favorites]
Frozen concentrated orange juice futures.
posted by delfin at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by delfin at 7:11 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
Duct tape and oxycodone.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:13 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 7:13 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
> lose all the advantages that come with [the status of the USD as world's trade currency]The "exorbitant privilege" is mostly a myth. It's more accurate to speak of the reserve currency's "exorbitant burden". There's a reason why Japan really, really hates the idea of the Yen as a reserve currency. The Japanese want none of the burden.
posted by runcifex at 7:14 AM on August 8, 2017
the damage has already been done to put us on a path that ends America's place as the world's trade currency.
The path was set the second Nixon opened the door to China. The first day Trump stepped into the White House there was a massive acceleration.
The "exorbitant privilege" is mostly a myth. It's more accurate to speak of the reserve currency's "exorbitant burden". There's a reason why Japan really, really hates the idea of the Yen as a reserve currency. The Japanese want none of the burden.
It's easy to describe the trading advantage the United States has had the past forty years as a burden without considering just how much it has benefited from it. Hell, if another country tried to implement QE2, without the inherent advantage of the world being a practically infinite sink of US dollars, they would have imploded.
The US gets to export worthless paper and get back real goods in return.
Outside of half a dozen countries, other countries need to send us real goods for our currency to buy things from third countries.
During a financial crisis our interest rates on debt go down. We can borrow money at extremely low rates to supply countercyclical spending while other countries are raising rates to stop their imports from immediately jumping in price.
Anyone who thinks of the USD's status as a burden is a damn fool. We wouldn't have survived 2007 without it.
posted by Talez at 7:24 AM on August 8, 2017 [34 favorites]
The path was set the second Nixon opened the door to China. The first day Trump stepped into the White House there was a massive acceleration.
The "exorbitant privilege" is mostly a myth. It's more accurate to speak of the reserve currency's "exorbitant burden". There's a reason why Japan really, really hates the idea of the Yen as a reserve currency. The Japanese want none of the burden.
It's easy to describe the trading advantage the United States has had the past forty years as a burden without considering just how much it has benefited from it. Hell, if another country tried to implement QE2, without the inherent advantage of the world being a practically infinite sink of US dollars, they would have imploded.
The US gets to export worthless paper and get back real goods in return.
Outside of half a dozen countries, other countries need to send us real goods for our currency to buy things from third countries.
During a financial crisis our interest rates on debt go down. We can borrow money at extremely low rates to supply countercyclical spending while other countries are raising rates to stop their imports from immediately jumping in price.
Anyone who thinks of the USD's status as a burden is a damn fool. We wouldn't have survived 2007 without it.
posted by Talez at 7:24 AM on August 8, 2017 [34 favorites]
On Fox & Friends, Nikki Haley said she can't discuss this because it's classified, said it's a shame if it was published. Trump tweeted it.
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
If they fail to raise the debt ceiling and thus crash the economy, it's on them - there's no Democrats to blame and it will be catastrophically bad.
And yet somehow a tale could be spun, I'm certain...
posted by Rykey at 7:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
And yet somehow a tale could be spun, I'm certain...
posted by Rykey at 7:42 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Carla del Ponte announced she was resigning from the U.N.’s independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria in frustration at the Security Council’s inaction to hold criminals accountable in war-battered Syria where she said “everyone is bad.” In comments published Sunday by the Swiss magazine Blick, she criticized President Bashar Assad’s government, his opponents and the international community.
One story of survival: The Syrian Scientist Who Risked His Life For A Chance At His Dream (NPR web comic illustration by Erik Nelson Rodriguez, [audio] story produced by Rebecca Davis, Joe Palca, Meredith Rizzo, Madeline Sofia and ANdrea Kissack; July 11, 2017)
That story continued: Syrian Refugee And German Scientist Make An Unlikely Team (Rebecca Davis and Joe Palca, August 7, 2017)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Permanent members Russia, a key backer of Assad’s government, and ally China vetoed a U.N. resolution in May 2014 to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal.Edith M. Lederer, AP via Washington Post, Aug. 7, 2017
“Believe me, the terrible crimes committed in Syria I neither saw in Rwanda nor ex-Yugoslavia,” del Ponte told Blick. “We thought the international community had learned from Rwanda. But no, it learned nothing.”
“I give up. The states in the Security Council don’t want justice,” Del Ponte said. “I can’t any longer be part of this commission which simply doesn’t do anything.”
One story of survival: The Syrian Scientist Who Risked His Life For A Chance At His Dream (NPR web comic illustration by Erik Nelson Rodriguez, [audio] story produced by Rebecca Davis, Joe Palca, Meredith Rizzo, Madeline Sofia and ANdrea Kissack; July 11, 2017)
That story continued: Syrian Refugee And German Scientist Make An Unlikely Team (Rebecca Davis and Joe Palca, August 7, 2017)
German scientist Matthias Schmidt wants to extract rare earth metals from abandoned mines using bacteria. He has an unlikely partner — Nedal Said, a Syrian refugee scientist who escaped Aleppo.But don't worry, former CIA station chief, Daniel Hoffman doesn't think that anyone in the US has colluded with Russia, ignoring the fact that the Russian goal soiling the U.S. political process and undermine the credibility of the 2016 election required a partnership. Luckily, he's not speaking for the whole IC: others write "it is impossible to rule out the possibility of collusion between [Russia and Trump's campaign]."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:47 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
adamvasco: While we’re distracted by Trump’s vacation, his team is secretly dismantling the government
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state”
For the Western Sage Grouse, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is moving to loosen protections for the greater sage grouse (NPR, Aug. 8, 2017), and the U.S. government lifted protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region, though it will be up to the courts to decide whether the revered and fearsome icon of the West stays off the threatened species list (Matt Volz, Associated Press via Chicago Tribune, July 31, 2017).
posted by filthy light thief at 7:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state”
For the Western Sage Grouse, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is moving to loosen protections for the greater sage grouse (NPR, Aug. 8, 2017), and the U.S. government lifted protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region, though it will be up to the courts to decide whether the revered and fearsome icon of the West stays off the threatened species list (Matt Volz, Associated Press via Chicago Tribune, July 31, 2017).
More than a month after announcing grizzlies in and around Yellowstone National Park are no longer threatened, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially handed over management of the approximately 700 bears living across 19,000 square miles in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming to wildlife officials in those states.Because less than 2,000 bears is totally a safe population size.
The ruling does not apply to the approximately 1,000 bears living farther north in the Northern Continental Divide area that includes Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Not much is expected to immediately change as a result of the handover. State wildlife officials have been working for decades to protect the bears as their population grows and their range expands farther away from the oldest U.S. national park, and they say they will continue to do so.
Federal wildlife officials will also monitor the states for five years and re-impose protections if the population drops below 500 bears.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
Even if it isn't, the problem is that the president is doing this indiscriminately. It's one thing to say the American people need to know this, it's another to do it un-fucking-knowingly. And it's not the first time!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Even if it isn't, the problem is that the president is doing this indiscriminately. It's one thing to say the American people need to know this, it's another to do it un-fucking-knowingly. And it's not the first time!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
So uh, what's the best tack for 401k allocation, if you assume the feces are going to come in contact with the rotating air circulation device?
There isn't one. Nobody knows what will even happen.
Krugman says the exact same thing. You're practically a Nobel prize winning economist ;)
Somewhat more ominiously, he ends with this:
To see default by a basically solvent government as more than a mere glitch, you’d have to believe that we have an unbridgeable partisan divide, with one party largely dominated by extremists, and with a president who is ignorant, incompetent, and vindictive.
Oh, wait.
posted by diogenes at 7:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
There isn't one. Nobody knows what will even happen.
Krugman says the exact same thing. You're practically a Nobel prize winning economist ;)
Somewhat more ominiously, he ends with this:
To see default by a basically solvent government as more than a mere glitch, you’d have to believe that we have an unbridgeable partisan divide, with one party largely dominated by extremists, and with a president who is ignorant, incompetent, and vindictive.
Oh, wait.
posted by diogenes at 7:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
John Kelley is really doing a bangup job keeping President Trump's tweets under control.
posted by Tevin at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Tevin at 7:54 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
In other words, if the Dems can't take back the House and Senate in 2018 and impeach Trump, his cronies will have another 2 years of mass destruction in the name of "local economies and investment opportunities."
Dear Republicans: the things that you think are in your way as Servants of Economic Growth, like trees and animals, are the very thing that make it worthwhile to live somewhere. Raze all that and try to re-create it, and you end up with Disneyland, a fake, commercial playground.
Which may be less of a disincentive than I hope.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:55 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Dear Republicans: the things that you think are in your way as Servants of Economic Growth, like trees and animals, are the very thing that make it worthwhile to live somewhere. Raze all that and try to re-create it, and you end up with Disneyland, a fake, commercial playground.
Which may be less of a disincentive than I hope.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:55 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
People say that Jared Kushner seems to be largely powerless and to have few achievements, but it turns out he part-owned a firm which hired lobbyists to protect Obamacare, so that qualifies as a win for the Trump administration.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:59 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
Last time — when he confirmed the pulling of secret money/support to Syrian rebel groups — some journalists FOIAed details on the program on the premise it was now declassified. That request hasn't been answered yet, but I would guess the same would happen here and we'll find out what the classification supposedly is in the government's reply.
posted by chris24 at 8:01 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
Last time — when he confirmed the pulling of secret money/support to Syrian rebel groups — some journalists FOIAed details on the program on the premise it was now declassified. That request hasn't been answered yet, but I would guess the same would happen here and we'll find out what the classification supposedly is in the government's reply.
posted by chris24 at 8:01 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Chet: Look around you, Roman, for God's sakes, this is beautiful country. Take a good look.
Roman: I'll tell you what I see, if you want to know.
Chet: Yeah, I'm curious.
Roman: I see the underdeveloped resources of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, a consortium exploiting over a billion dollars in forest products. I see a paper mill and a mining operation, a green belt between lakeside condos and a waste management facility focusing on the newest rage in waste: Medical refuse. Infected bandages, body parts, IV tubing, syringes, fluid, blood, radioactive waste, all safely contained, sunken in the lake and sealed for centuries. I ask you, what do you see?
Chet: I just see... see trees.
John Candy and Dan Aykroyd, The Great Outdoors, 1988
posted by Servo5678 at 8:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
Roman: I'll tell you what I see, if you want to know.
Chet: Yeah, I'm curious.
Roman: I see the underdeveloped resources of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, a consortium exploiting over a billion dollars in forest products. I see a paper mill and a mining operation, a green belt between lakeside condos and a waste management facility focusing on the newest rage in waste: Medical refuse. Infected bandages, body parts, IV tubing, syringes, fluid, blood, radioactive waste, all safely contained, sunken in the lake and sealed for centuries. I ask you, what do you see?
Chet: I just see... see trees.
John Candy and Dan Aykroyd, The Great Outdoors, 1988
posted by Servo5678 at 8:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
Well some things will change. Hurricane season is getting closer.
But what if the really big thing that hits Trump is neither a natural catastrophe or an act of terror, but an economic crisis of his own doing.
While we’re distracted by Trump’s vacation, his team is secretly dismantling the government
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state” is one of the few areas where Trump has been making rapid headway, even while on vacation, largely due to secret deregulation teams being appointed at each major government agency.
Deregulation sounds good to some people and benefits a few among the very rich. But even for most billionaires, this can end very badly. Actually, it probably will end very badly. This opinion piece in the Guardian contains a reminder of who wants deregulation, why and what happens then:
But what if the really big thing that hits Trump is neither a natural catastrophe or an act of terror, but an economic crisis of his own doing.
While we’re distracted by Trump’s vacation, his team is secretly dismantling the government
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reduce red tape in government. As president, the “deconstruction of the administrative state” is one of the few areas where Trump has been making rapid headway, even while on vacation, largely due to secret deregulation teams being appointed at each major government agency.
Deregulation sounds good to some people and benefits a few among the very rich. But even for most billionaires, this can end very badly. Actually, it probably will end very badly. This opinion piece in the Guardian contains a reminder of who wants deregulation, why and what happens then:
As we watch it unfold from Britain, one parallel with our own situation becomes obvious. In both countries, an elite group has forced a proactive break with globalisation: “America first” and Brexit are both attempts to save national free-market projects at the expense of ditching multilateral systems and rules.posted by mumimor at 8:19 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
But once the external constraint is ditched, the modern right has this unresolved dilemma: the levels of economic freedom it wants always produce levels of discontent that require political freedom to be curtailed. The Brexit-boosting types here and the Steve Bannon types in the US share a fantasy about the kind of market-driven society they want to live in, but can see no way to achieve it other than through a period of chaos.
Duct tape and oxycodone.
[holds envelope to forehead]
"What did the TSA discover in Rush Limbaugh's carry-on bag?"
posted by Gelatin at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [63 favorites]
[holds envelope to forehead]
"What did the TSA discover in Rush Limbaugh's carry-on bag?"
posted by Gelatin at 8:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [63 favorites]
Dear Republicans: the things that you think are in your way as Servants of Economic Growth, like trees and animals, are the very thing that make it worthwhile to live somewhere. Raze all that and try to re-create it, and you end up with Disneyland, a fake, commercial playground.
Which may be less of a disincentive than I hope.
Brings to mind those weird "recreations" of Main Streets you see in many of the newer strip malls here in the Midwest. There's sidewalks and benches and fountains, and often even old-fashioned street signs to help you get around. But instead of local independent shops you'd find in an actual town, it's all corporate chains.
The economic logic with these places is pretty perverted: Invest in local small businesses to keep downtowns thriving? Nice try, Lenin. Unfair competition with no loyalty wants to set up shop miles from downtown? Those developers and corporate tenants are gonna need tax breaks and new infrastructure!
posted by Rykey at 8:32 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Which may be less of a disincentive than I hope.
Brings to mind those weird "recreations" of Main Streets you see in many of the newer strip malls here in the Midwest. There's sidewalks and benches and fountains, and often even old-fashioned street signs to help you get around. But instead of local independent shops you'd find in an actual town, it's all corporate chains.
The economic logic with these places is pretty perverted: Invest in local small businesses to keep downtowns thriving? Nice try, Lenin. Unfair competition with no loyalty wants to set up shop miles from downtown? Those developers and corporate tenants are gonna need tax breaks and new infrastructure!
posted by Rykey at 8:32 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well some things will change. Hurricane season is getting closer.
Starts June 1. We're already on F for Franklin (Atlantic side) after D for Don (Atlantic side) and H for Hilary (Pacific side, and for Sir Edmund, no doubt) will likely get a turn at the forecast bulletins as well.
Ends Nov 30.
posted by tilde at 8:34 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Starts June 1. We're already on F for Franklin (Atlantic side) after D for Don (Atlantic side) and H for Hilary (Pacific side, and for Sir Edmund, no doubt) will likely get a turn at the forecast bulletins as well.
Ends Nov 30.
posted by tilde at 8:34 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Talez, I don't think any of your list of "privileges" were actually. First of all, any independent monetary authority can do the same, as is done very openly by the central banks of the Eurozone, Japan, and less openly by China (according to Gov. Zhou Xiaochuan of PBoC). Second, you'd be hard-pressed to name any paper currency that is "worthless". The really worthless ones are rarities.
Also, the "sink" of USD is not the rest of the world, but the United States itself. The US does not exchange goods for "worthless" paper. In fact, US domestic demand is the hard anchor of world capitalism. Trade flows are carried out in USD because for every $1 in the flow, this one dollar (actually more than one, but for the proof of concept I'm ignoring the monetary expansion by banking) will end up spent by someone in the United States for something. The gears of world trade and capital flow turns because the US accepts inevitable foreign investment, in the belief that the products of those investments will meet demand. And this comes as a cost, or "burden", if US domestic consumption goes on the worsening track (i.e. by increased inequality), unable to match the capital flow. Perhaps a better narration is this article from 2011 (linked in my previously linked post). You don't have to agree, and it's a bit of an old post, but I still think the points haven't been mooted as often as they deserve.
Sorry for a long derail ,but just for the record, I'm not by implication saying that playing with national solvency is a good thing. It's incredibly bad. If the US defaults on its debt, those hit hardest will be the most vulnerable ones, as it has been in every single crisis. As I see it the only way in defusing the instability caused by global capitalism is to increase equality especially in the United States and China, hence reversing the trend of global imbalances. Of course Trump and the Republicans are not helping at all, and I'm not implying that one possible unintended consequence of their irresponsible actions might in any way justify them.
posted by runcifex at 8:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Also, the "sink" of USD is not the rest of the world, but the United States itself. The US does not exchange goods for "worthless" paper. In fact, US domestic demand is the hard anchor of world capitalism. Trade flows are carried out in USD because for every $1 in the flow, this one dollar (actually more than one, but for the proof of concept I'm ignoring the monetary expansion by banking) will end up spent by someone in the United States for something. The gears of world trade and capital flow turns because the US accepts inevitable foreign investment, in the belief that the products of those investments will meet demand. And this comes as a cost, or "burden", if US domestic consumption goes on the worsening track (i.e. by increased inequality), unable to match the capital flow. Perhaps a better narration is this article from 2011 (linked in my previously linked post). You don't have to agree, and it's a bit of an old post, but I still think the points haven't been mooted as often as they deserve.
Sorry for a long derail ,but just for the record, I'm not by implication saying that playing with national solvency is a good thing. It's incredibly bad. If the US defaults on its debt, those hit hardest will be the most vulnerable ones, as it has been in every single crisis. As I see it the only way in defusing the instability caused by global capitalism is to increase equality especially in the United States and China, hence reversing the trend of global imbalances. Of course Trump and the Republicans are not helping at all, and I'm not implying that one possible unintended consequence of their irresponsible actions might in any way justify them.
posted by runcifex at 8:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Remember many crises ago, when JCCs and synagogues all over the country were getting bomb threats? And it turned out that the culprit was an Israeli-American teenager? Looks like it was for pay.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 8:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 8:43 AM on August 8, 2017 [43 favorites]
Also, think about all the rich people who don't want a giant market crash and a global recession - you'd better bet that arms are being twisted all around Washington even as we speak.
We're talking about a group of people who will be cashing out at the peak of the stock-markets rise. It'll be the peak because it will be all this selling off of assets to capitalize on the massive influx of cash that the companies have with a tax-break for themselves is what will CAUSE the recession. You'll have a TON more sellers than buyers and that will drive stock prices down.
Fortunately for the wealthy, they'll have hired professionals to manage their money who will react to a market crash by moving to cash. Now they can sit on their pile of cash while the world burns and, when it starts to look like things are going to start to recover, they'll still have that big pile of cash and can buy a stock they sold at it's peak for $80/share for half that and start the cycle all over again.
That's how I see the economic incentives lining up. The wealthy people working against those incentives and I don't want to count on enough of them to ignore that to prevent it from happening.
It's not so much that wealthy people WANT the market to crash, just that they'll do the best thing for themselves at given point without considering the larger ramifications and having just converted a bunch of assets to cash, the recession won't really affect them so they might not care. It's not like we can get every significant stock holder on skype together so they can all promise each other not to all sell their stocks at once or something. Once the trend is established and recognized by the market at large, there won't be much anyone can do to stop it. If we're VERY lucky, things will get spaced out such we have adults running the government again when it happens and can take effective action to mitigate the damage but if we lose our place as the world's trade currency, there isn't much we can do to get it back for generations.
posted by VTX at 8:52 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
We're talking about a group of people who will be cashing out at the peak of the stock-markets rise. It'll be the peak because it will be all this selling off of assets to capitalize on the massive influx of cash that the companies have with a tax-break for themselves is what will CAUSE the recession. You'll have a TON more sellers than buyers and that will drive stock prices down.
Fortunately for the wealthy, they'll have hired professionals to manage their money who will react to a market crash by moving to cash. Now they can sit on their pile of cash while the world burns and, when it starts to look like things are going to start to recover, they'll still have that big pile of cash and can buy a stock they sold at it's peak for $80/share for half that and start the cycle all over again.
That's how I see the economic incentives lining up. The wealthy people working against those incentives and I don't want to count on enough of them to ignore that to prevent it from happening.
It's not so much that wealthy people WANT the market to crash, just that they'll do the best thing for themselves at given point without considering the larger ramifications and having just converted a bunch of assets to cash, the recession won't really affect them so they might not care. It's not like we can get every significant stock holder on skype together so they can all promise each other not to all sell their stocks at once or something. Once the trend is established and recognized by the market at large, there won't be much anyone can do to stop it. If we're VERY lucky, things will get spaced out such we have adults running the government again when it happens and can take effective action to mitigate the damage but if we lose our place as the world's trade currency, there isn't much we can do to get it back for generations.
posted by VTX at 8:52 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Brings to mind those weird "recreations" of Main Streets you see in many of the newer strip malls here in the Midwest. There's sidewalks and benches and fountains, and often even old-fashioned street signs to help you get around. But instead of local independent shops you'd find in an actual town, it's all corporate chains.
And further, it's all privately owned land so the "public square" is not public at all and they can kick anyone out for basically any reason they want.
posted by AFABulous at 9:00 AM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
And further, it's all privately owned land so the "public square" is not public at all and they can kick anyone out for basically any reason they want.
posted by AFABulous at 9:00 AM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Kadar got good reviews. One AlphaBay user wrote that the threats were “Amazing on time and on target. We got evacuated and got the day cut short.”
It's hard enough to get me to post an online review after buying a mug on Amazon; I am unlikely to post a review after hiring someone to fabricate terrorist threats
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
It's hard enough to get me to post an online review after buying a mug on Amazon; I am unlikely to post a review after hiring someone to fabricate terrorist threats
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:06 AM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
> If we're VERY lucky, things will get spaced out such we have adults running the government again when it happens and can take effective action to mitigate the damage
There's a stretch goal beyond that one you've identified, though.
When it becomes rational (or, I guess, locally rational) for big money to short the market, they'll short the market. When this happens, overleveraged financial institutions are going to be at the center of a world of pain, much like they were in 2008.
The state will be presented with the option of simply bailing out these financial institutions, as in the 2008 crisis, or with the option of instead nationalizing them, as the left proposed in 2008. If the people of the United States are sufficiently unrest-ey at this moment, it may become impossible for the state to avoid seizing the means of finance — a necessary first step toward the establishment of economic democracy.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:07 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
There's a stretch goal beyond that one you've identified, though.
When it becomes rational (or, I guess, locally rational) for big money to short the market, they'll short the market. When this happens, overleveraged financial institutions are going to be at the center of a world of pain, much like they were in 2008.
The state will be presented with the option of simply bailing out these financial institutions, as in the 2008 crisis, or with the option of instead nationalizing them, as the left proposed in 2008. If the people of the United States are sufficiently unrest-ey at this moment, it may become impossible for the state to avoid seizing the means of finance — a necessary first step toward the establishment of economic democracy.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:07 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
VTX, I'd summarise what you were saying as follows: the exceptionally rich people have gigantically disproportionate resources that enable them to re-assign the cost of a crisis to the less fortunate. The resources doesn't have to be tangible, such as deeper access to markets by the hedge fund managers. The intangible assets are influence on policy, insider information, barrier of entry, and in general the institutions that stack against the less rich -- the House always wins. This is why having Trump occupying the presidency is incredibly bad, and having Big Money in politics is incredibly bad.
There's an anecdote. During the 2015 market crash of China, the Chinese government -- the ultimate rentier and plutocrat in said country -- created an investment fund (whose finances were murky, with possibly unfunded obligations) that directly interfered in the markets (with no proof of actually helping anything, btw). Some small speculators got the idea of imitating what little was known about the fund's portfolio and making some allegedly quick bucks, because "the House always wins". Most of them got burned severely. What they failed to recognize was that the House wins not because their fund managers are unbeatable. It wins because even if it loses, it is you that end up footing its bills.
posted by runcifex at 9:13 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
There's an anecdote. During the 2015 market crash of China, the Chinese government -- the ultimate rentier and plutocrat in said country -- created an investment fund (whose finances were murky, with possibly unfunded obligations) that directly interfered in the markets (with no proof of actually helping anything, btw). Some small speculators got the idea of imitating what little was known about the fund's portfolio and making some allegedly quick bucks, because "the House always wins". Most of them got burned severely. What they failed to recognize was that the House wins not because their fund managers are unbeatable. It wins because even if it loses, it is you that end up footing its bills.
posted by runcifex at 9:13 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Servo5678: Chet: I just see... see trees.
"You've never felt how small you were when looking at the ocean."
He laughed. "Never. Nor looking at the planets. Nor at mountain peaks. Nor at the Grand Canyon. Why should I? When I look at the ocean, I feel the greatness of man. I think of man's magnificent capacity that created this ship to conquer all that senseless space. When I look at mountain peaks, I think of tunnels and dynamite. When I look at the planets, I think of airplanes."
And now I understand what Republicans see when they look at undeveloped land: "all that senseless space."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
"You've never felt how small you were when looking at the ocean."
He laughed. "Never. Nor looking at the planets. Nor at mountain peaks. Nor at the Grand Canyon. Why should I? When I look at the ocean, I feel the greatness of man. I think of man's magnificent capacity that created this ship to conquer all that senseless space. When I look at mountain peaks, I think of tunnels and dynamite. When I look at the planets, I think of airplanes."
And now I understand what Republicans see when they look at undeveloped land: "all that senseless space."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
The Washington Post: DPRK has a miniaturized nuclear warhead which can fit on its missiles
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:15 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:15 AM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
The Washington Post: DPRK has a miniaturized nuclear warhead which can fit on its missiles
looks like i picked the wrong week to quit pcp
posted by entropicamericana at 9:17 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
looks like i picked the wrong week to quit pcp
posted by entropicamericana at 9:17 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
Maybe Trump will go back to praising Kim Jong-un now?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:18 AM on August 8, 2017
maybe the nuclear winter will cancel out the global warming and we'll have to listen to all the climate change deniers say "told you so"
posted by entropicamericana at 9:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 9:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
it may become impossible for the state to avoid seizing the means of finance — a necessary first step toward the establishment of economic democracy.
It's a first step to several destinations and while that's one of them I don't like much of the others.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's a first step to several destinations and while that's one of them I don't like much of the others.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:21 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's not so much that wealthy people WANT the market to crash, just that they'll do the best thing for themselves at given point without considering the larger ramifications and having just converted a bunch of assets to cash, the recession won't really affect them so they might not care.
But that's a far cry from "let the Republicans crash the economy". The crisis of 2008 had different and more complicated root causes - it wasn't just "we choose A and the economy carries on, we choose B and it burns to the ground".
I think that people often assume that the rich are all like Steven Bannon - that they don't just think "I will use my wealth to ride out a disaster if I have to" but "wouldn't it be great if we had disasters all the time; I would use my wealth to rule". Lots of fairly rich, fairly influential people basically want things to go on as they are now - unfairly but predictably and safely, with the same old scrim of the rule of law, etc etc. They want shipping futures to be reliable, they want supply chains not to lock up, they want their business insurance to be predictable, they want flows of oil, minerals and goods to continue at predictable prices. I'm not saying these are good people - they're just people who would rather be minor aristocracy in the current US than reign in Hell.
My bet is on kicking the can down the road - there will probably be an agreement to raise the debt ceiling til year end, and then there will be arm twisting.
posted by Frowner at 9:23 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
But that's a far cry from "let the Republicans crash the economy". The crisis of 2008 had different and more complicated root causes - it wasn't just "we choose A and the economy carries on, we choose B and it burns to the ground".
I think that people often assume that the rich are all like Steven Bannon - that they don't just think "I will use my wealth to ride out a disaster if I have to" but "wouldn't it be great if we had disasters all the time; I would use my wealth to rule". Lots of fairly rich, fairly influential people basically want things to go on as they are now - unfairly but predictably and safely, with the same old scrim of the rule of law, etc etc. They want shipping futures to be reliable, they want supply chains not to lock up, they want their business insurance to be predictable, they want flows of oil, minerals and goods to continue at predictable prices. I'm not saying these are good people - they're just people who would rather be minor aristocracy in the current US than reign in Hell.
My bet is on kicking the can down the road - there will probably be an agreement to raise the debt ceiling til year end, and then there will be arm twisting.
posted by Frowner at 9:23 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Please welcome our newest member to the club! the DPRK. Please, welcome them. No seriously stand up, clap, give gifts.
posted by rc3spencer at 9:26 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rc3spencer at 9:26 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTIONS - WASHINGTON SPECIALS
Boilerplate: Lots of law comes out of state legislatures, plenty of it bad. These elections don't get much attention, doubly so for special elections. Because of the small scope, a small amount of your money or time could help elect these folks! Please pitch in, if you can!
The multiple Washington state specials on November 7 feature what is probably THE most consequential special election of 2017 in SD-45. Democrats control the governor's mansion and the House, and they *should* control the Senate, but for reasons that surpass understanding, a D senator is caucusing with the Rs, thus giving the GOP control of the state Senate. Unsurprisingly, they've used that control to cause all sorts of mischief.
Wonk notes: Washington (like California) has a top two primary, but even if you exceed 50%, you still hold the general. This means we have a strong indication how the general will turn out, if there weren't multiple serious candidates. Also, they WA uses the same borders for the SDs and HDs, but the House has multi-member constituencies.
Previously noted: September elections.
***
First up: Washington House elections. The Dems control the House 50-48, so control cannot change.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
Boilerplate: Lots of law comes out of state legislatures, plenty of it bad. These elections don't get much attention, doubly so for special elections. Because of the small scope, a small amount of your money or time could help elect these folks! Please pitch in, if you can!
The multiple Washington state specials on November 7 feature what is probably THE most consequential special election of 2017 in SD-45. Democrats control the governor's mansion and the House, and they *should* control the Senate, but for reasons that surpass understanding, a D senator is caucusing with the Rs, thus giving the GOP control of the state Senate. Unsurprisingly, they've used that control to cause all sorts of mischief.
Wonk notes: Washington (like California) has a top two primary, but even if you exceed 50%, you still hold the general. This means we have a strong indication how the general will turn out, if there weren't multiple serious candidates. Also, they WA uses the same borders for the SDs and HDs, but the House has multi-member constituencies.
Previously noted: September elections.
***
First up: Washington House elections. The Dems control the House 50-48, so control cannot change.
===Senate elections. This is where a D senator caucusing with Rs is causing them to control (Ds have nominal control 25-24).
House District 7 -- Susan Swanson
HD-7 is currently an R seat (the incumbent was appointed as interim senator in SD-7); no D ran in 2016, 2014, or 2012 for either seat in the district. District went for Trump 63-29 and Romney 61-36. In the special primary, the R won 66-34.
=> At least the Dems had a candidate this time.
===
House District 31 -- Nate Lowry
HD-31 is currently an R seat (the incumbent was appointed as interim senator in SD-31); no D ran for either seat in 2016; in 2014 and 2012, D and R each took one of the seats. District went for Trump 50-42 and for Romney 50-48. In the special primary, the R won 57-43.
=> This is probably a winnable district, but doesn't look like it happens this time.
===
House District 48 -- Vandana Slatter
HD-48 is currently a D seat (the incumbent was appointed as interim senator in SD-48); no R ran for either seat in 2016; Ds won both seats in 2014 and 2012 by about 40 point margins. District went for Clinton 68-25 and Obama 62-36. In the special primary, the D won 77-23 over a Libertarian, no R candidate.
=> Super-safe D hold.
===
===Tonight, results from today's three specials, plus info on South Carolina HD-31, which has a primary today, but the general coming up shortly.
Senate District 7 -- Karen Hardy
SD-7 is currently an R seat (the incumbent took a job at the USDA); no D candidate in 2014 or 2013 (a special), the R won 75-25 in 2010. District went for Trump 63-29 and Romney 61-36. In the special primary, the R won 67-33.
=> Again, at least the Dems had a candidate this time.
===
SD-31 -- Michelle Rylands
SD-31 is currently an R seat (the incumbent won a seat on County Council); Ds ran, but did not reach the general in 2014 and 2010. District went for Trump 50-42 and for Romney 50-48. In the special primary, the R won 58-42.
=> This is probably a winnable district, but doesn't look like it happens this time.
===
Senate District 37 -- Rebecca Saldaña
SD-37 is currently a D seat (the incumbent won a seat in Congress); an R ran, but did not reach the general in 2014, no R ran in 2010. District went for Clinton 87-8 and for Obama 86-11. There was no opponent in the special primary, so the general is moot.
=> Now THIS is a safe seat.
===
Senate District 45 -- Manka Dhingra
SD-45 is currently an R seat (the incumbent passed away); R won 53-47 in 2014 and 51-49 in 2010. District went for Clinton 65-28 and Obama 58-40. In the special primary, the D won 51-41 (the third candidate was an independent, but seemed centrish, maybe a tad left of that).
=>This is the big magilla. Based on the primary and 2016 pres, the D looks good, but there is a lot of outside GOP money flowing in.
===
Senate District 48 -- Patty Kuderer
SD-48 is currently a D seat (the incumbent was elected lieutenant governor); D won 65-35 in 2014 and 53-47 in 2010. District went for Clinton 68-25 and Obama 62-36. In the special primary, the D won 62-23 over a Libertarian, no R candidate.
=> Super-safe D hold.
===
posted by Chrysostom at 9:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
It's geography fucking us again - Washington is deep red outside of where all the people live, so a handful of far-right weirdos who happen to sit in a lot of empty square footage have an outsized degree of control.
posted by Artw at 9:45 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:45 AM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well, the state looks to go about 55-45 Dem in presidentials, so you'd expect D control of the legislature, but not overwhelmingly so.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 AM on August 8, 2017
Also, they WA uses the same borders for the SDs and HDs, but the House has multi-member constituencies.
If memory serves, Washington is one of the states where there are two separate individual races in each House district, not one where the top two vote-getters in the district win seats. That's better described as having two single-member constituencies with the same boundaries.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
If memory serves, Washington is one of the states where there are two separate individual races in each House district, not one where the top two vote-getters in the district win seats. That's better described as having two single-member constituencies with the same boundaries.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
DPRK has a miniaturized nuclear warhead which can fit on its missiles
I would take this WaPo article with an extremely large block of salt. Miniaturization is much more difficult than making a nuke in the first place. This would imply first that they have mastered implosion. Their first bomb most likely fizzled because they tried to make a gun bomb out of plutonium, and the reason you try that is that the impossibly high assembly speed for a plutonium gun bomb sounds like an easier problem to solve than implosion. Then it implies they have a source for tritium and/or lithium-6 deuteride, and that they have acquired a degree of understanding of how the reaction progresses which would normally take more than the few tests they've done, at least two with inapplicable gun-style bombs, to master.
Then, even if they've done all that, what it most likely leaves them with is a Hiroshima class device they can just barely get in the air, on a missile they probably can't aim very well. Someone clearly wants us to be more scared of this than we should be.
posted by Bringer Tom at 9:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [35 favorites]
I would take this WaPo article with an extremely large block of salt. Miniaturization is much more difficult than making a nuke in the first place. This would imply first that they have mastered implosion. Their first bomb most likely fizzled because they tried to make a gun bomb out of plutonium, and the reason you try that is that the impossibly high assembly speed for a plutonium gun bomb sounds like an easier problem to solve than implosion. Then it implies they have a source for tritium and/or lithium-6 deuteride, and that they have acquired a degree of understanding of how the reaction progresses which would normally take more than the few tests they've done, at least two with inapplicable gun-style bombs, to master.
Then, even if they've done all that, what it most likely leaves them with is a Hiroshima class device they can just barely get in the air, on a missile they probably can't aim very well. Someone clearly wants us to be more scared of this than we should be.
posted by Bringer Tom at 9:53 AM on August 8, 2017 [35 favorites]
That's correct, ROU_Xenophobe, there's a seat A and a seat B, with the same boundaries. I should have been clearer.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:55 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:55 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Someone clearly wants us to be more scared of this than we should be.
Yeah, this leak stinks of prepping us for an attack on NK.
posted by chris24 at 9:59 AM on August 8, 2017 [48 favorites]
Yeah, this leak stinks of prepping us for an attack on NK.
posted by chris24 at 9:59 AM on August 8, 2017 [48 favorites]
Someone clearly wants us to be more scared of this than we should be.
Yeah, this leak stinks of prepping us for an attack on NK.
I look forward to the next report about how these warheads are located in the area around Pyongyang and east, west, south and north somewhat.
posted by diogenes at 10:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah, this leak stinks of prepping us for an attack on NK.
I look forward to the next report about how these warheads are located in the area around Pyongyang and east, west, south and north somewhat.
posted by diogenes at 10:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
I am not convinced that they will be able to convince the allies in the region to assist in a preemptive strike.
It seems optimistic to assume that Trump cares about convincing allies.
posted by diogenes at 10:10 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
It seems optimistic to assume that Trump cares about convincing allies.
posted by diogenes at 10:10 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can't help but think of "aluminum tubes."
NYT: THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE IRAQIS; U.S. SAYS HUSSEIN INTENSIFIES QUEST FOR A-BOMB PARTS
posted by chris24 at 10:16 AM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
NYT: THREATS AND RESPONSES: THE IRAQIS; U.S. SAYS HUSSEIN INTENSIFIES QUEST FOR A-BOMB PARTS
posted by chris24 at 10:16 AM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
there's a seat A and a seat B, with the same boundaries. I should have been clearer
Nah, I just rolled a 1 on my saving throw against pedantry.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Nah, I just rolled a 1 on my saving throw against pedantry.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
What a weird voting system. We're a species that can create weapons that cause millions of deaths in an eyeblink, but we can't come up with a fair way of choosing leaders. Maybe the Great Filter is just the fact that voting systems are impossible.
posted by contraption at 10:50 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by contraption at 10:50 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
we can't come up with a fair way of choosing leaders
We can come up with fair(er) systems just fine. The hard part is getting people to use them.
posted by shponglespore at 11:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
We can come up with fair(er) systems just fine. The hard part is getting people to use them.
posted by shponglespore at 11:05 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
we can't come up with a fair way of choosing leaders.
Hell, we can't even come up with a fair definition of "fair".
posted by Etrigan at 11:08 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Hell, we can't even come up with a fair definition of "fair".
posted by Etrigan at 11:08 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump is on the twitters. Repeat: Trump is on the twitters!
He's bitching about Clinton and shit while the world burns.
posted by Justinian at 11:14 AM on August 8, 2017
He's bitching about Clinton and shit while the world burns.
posted by Justinian at 11:14 AM on August 8, 2017
We're a species that can create weapons that cause millions of deaths in an eyeblink, but we can't come up with a fair way of choosing leaders.
Those two ideas overlap in interesting ways.
posted by Rykey at 11:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Those two ideas overlap in interesting ways.
posted by Rykey at 11:14 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's hard to implement fair voting systems with one entire party dedicated to suppressing, undermining and subverting the very idea of voting to maintain their own power.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:22 AM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
After 200 days, rarely has any Administration achieved what we have achieved..not even close! Don't believe the Fake News Suppression Polls!
What are suppression polls, now?
posted by leotrotsky at 11:24 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
What are suppression polls, now?
posted by leotrotsky at 11:24 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, why does he keep saying AmazonWashingtonPost? If anything, that makes Amazon sound more credible and the Washington Post sound cooler. It'd be like saying DisneyNewYorkTimes.
And basically everybody* loves Amazon; it's the 6th most valuable brand in the world. Who doesn't love Prime?
*not here obviously, you grumpy people
posted by leotrotsky at 11:25 AM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
And basically everybody* loves Amazon; it's the 6th most valuable brand in the world. Who doesn't love Prime?
*not here obviously, you grumpy people
posted by leotrotsky at 11:25 AM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
Because he's an idiot? The stupidest part is that Amazon doesn't own WaPo.
posted by Justinian at 11:26 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:26 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I can't help but think of "aluminum tubes."
There's a particular kind of nausea that set in last time around, when the press got solidly behind the PNAC's puppet administration and started pumping out floods of TINA propaganda about invading Iraq despite public opposition on an unprecedented scale, that I'm getting a fair bit of again after reading the WaPo miniature nukes piece.
I really, really don't want Noam Chomsky to be right about the almost perfect alignment of the interests of the Press and the arms sales oligarchy. Not this time. Not with Trump's tiny fingers poised over the button.
On the surface it seems that Trump having declared war on the Press should make them rather less sympathetic to providing propaganda support for his regime's more egregiously boneheaded aims, but I have a sinking sense of dread that Press vs Trump really will turn out to be no more genuine than the WWF-style shouting match it so closely resembles.
posted by flabdablet at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
There's a particular kind of nausea that set in last time around, when the press got solidly behind the PNAC's puppet administration and started pumping out floods of TINA propaganda about invading Iraq despite public opposition on an unprecedented scale, that I'm getting a fair bit of again after reading the WaPo miniature nukes piece.
I really, really don't want Noam Chomsky to be right about the almost perfect alignment of the interests of the Press and the arms sales oligarchy. Not this time. Not with Trump's tiny fingers poised over the button.
On the surface it seems that Trump having declared war on the Press should make them rather less sympathetic to providing propaganda support for his regime's more egregiously boneheaded aims, but I have a sinking sense of dread that Press vs Trump really will turn out to be no more genuine than the WWF-style shouting match it so closely resembles.
posted by flabdablet at 11:27 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Objectively speaking, what are the accomplishments of this administration? What did they set out to do which they have done? The main narrative I hear is that they are incompetent and fractious, but I also fear that makes some of the progress they've made on their agenda. Does anyone have a good summary or list of what's changed since January 19th?
posted by cell divide at 11:29 AM on August 8, 2017
posted by cell divide at 11:29 AM on August 8, 2017
Also, why does he keep saying AmazonWashingtonPost?
He occasionally floats the idea that the WaPo is a propaganda arm of Amazon / BezosCorp dedicated to ensuring that Amazon doesn't pay sales tax or somesuch.
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
He occasionally floats the idea that the WaPo is a propaganda arm of Amazon / BezosCorp dedicated to ensuring that Amazon doesn't pay sales tax or somesuch.
posted by Etrigan at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
OverlappingElvis: Remember many crises ago, when JCCs and synagogues all over the country were getting bomb threats? And it turned out that the culprit was an Israeli-American teenager? Looks like it was for pay.
Hiring an overseaskid with a computer cyber-terrorist is cheap:
posted by filthy light thief at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hiring an overseas
A federal court has unsealed new documents in the case against an Israeli teenager, Michael Kadar, who has been accused of making at least 245 threatening calls to Jewish Community Centers and schools around the United States. According to the documents, Kadar advertised a “School Email Bomb Threat Service” on AlphaBay, an online marketplace for illicit goods and services that was shut down by the federal government in July. Authorities have identified an individual in California who allegedly ordered and paid for at least some of Kadar’s threats.Total cost, at $30 per bomb threat: $7,350.
A newly unsealed search warrant alleges that Kadar charged $30 for an email bomb threat to a school, plus a $15 surcharge if the buyer wanted to frame someone for it. “There is no guarantee that the police will question or arrest the framed person,” Kadar allegedly wrote in his ad.I just add the persons name to the email. In addition my experience of doing bomb threats putting someones name in the emailed threat will reduce the chance of the threat being successful. But it’s up to you if you would like me to frame someone.Kadar charged double for a threatening email to a school district or multiple schools, but districts with more than 12 schools required a “custom listing.” He noted that he was available “almost 24/7 to make emails,” and he promised to refund non-successful threats.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:30 AM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Etrigan: He occasionally floats the idea that the WaPo is a propaganda arm of Amazon / BezosCorp dedicated to ensuring that Amazon doesn't pay sales tax or somesuch.
It's more basic than that: Trump seems to be taking aim at Bezos because he's upset with The Washington Post's coverage of his campaign, which he called "unfair," going on to say that he would use libel laws to go after the press in the courts. (He also mentioned The New York Times.)
Anyone who actually called Trump on his bullshit instead of giving him free air time during the primaries became a mortal enemy.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
It's more basic than that: Trump seems to be taking aim at Bezos because he's upset with The Washington Post's coverage of his campaign, which he called "unfair," going on to say that he would use libel laws to go after the press in the courts. (He also mentioned The New York Times.)
Anyone who actually called Trump on his bullshit instead of giving him free air time during the primaries became a mortal enemy.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:33 AM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump sincerely seems to believe that the media's job is to provide free PR for him
posted by thelonius at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
What did they set out to do which they have done?
weaken the Federal government
posted by thelonius at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
weaken the Federal government
posted by thelonius at 11:35 AM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
cjelli: That's right: the President allegedly has a staff of ten people preparing him a twice-daily folder of photographs of positive news coverage. Not representative coverage; not coverage of the United States; not coverage of the world situation. And not analysis: photographs.
And sometimes just pictures of "Trump on TV looking powerful."
I'm surprised they don't ask him to tell them the story of the snake again, or recount his election victory over Crooked Hillary, or about surviving his own private Viet Nam of the dating scene.
"Please grandpa Trump, tell us about grabbing women by the pussy again! Tell us how masculine you are!"
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
And sometimes just pictures of "Trump on TV looking powerful."
I'm surprised they don't ask him to tell them the story of the snake again, or recount his election victory over Crooked Hillary, or about surviving his own private Viet Nam of the dating scene.
"Please grandpa Trump, tell us about grabbing women by the pussy again! Tell us how masculine you are!"
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Trump gets a folder full of positive news about himself twice a day
Narcissus Smirked
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Narcissus Smirked
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:36 AM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Etrigan: He occasionally floats the idea that the WaPo is a propaganda arm of Amazon / BezosCorp dedicated to ensuring that Amazon doesn't pay sales tax or somesuch.
It's more basic than that: Trump seems to be taking aim at Bezos because he's upset with The Washington Post's coverage of his campaign, which he called "unfair," going on to say that he would use libel laws to go after the press in the courts.
Yes, that's his reason, but "WaPo as Amazon anti-tax propaganda" is how he tries to sell it, so it's not quite so obviously "I don't like them because they're mean to me!"
posted by Etrigan at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's more basic than that: Trump seems to be taking aim at Bezos because he's upset with The Washington Post's coverage of his campaign, which he called "unfair," going on to say that he would use libel laws to go after the press in the courts.
Yes, that's his reason, but "WaPo as Amazon anti-tax propaganda" is how he tries to sell it, so it's not quite so obviously "I don't like them because they're mean to me!"
posted by Etrigan at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Trump sincerely seems to believe that the media's job is to provide free PR for him
Well, until he was inaugurated, he wasn't wrong.
posted by Autumnheart at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [27 favorites]
Well, until he was inaugurated, he wasn't wrong.
posted by Autumnheart at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [27 favorites]
thelonius: Trump sincerely seems to believe that the media's job is to provide free PR for him stroke his fragile white male ego.
FTFY.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
FTFY.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:38 AM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
What did they set out to do which they have done? The main narrative I hear is that they are incompetent and fractious, but I also fear that makes some of the progress they've made on their agenda. Does anyone have a good summary or list of what's changed since January 19th?
Trump Has Quietly Accomplished More Than It Appears
In short:
- rolling back every climate and pollution regulation in sight
- suppressing and ending climate science
- deporting everyone in sight, even people told they were safe
- voting suppression, and laying the grounds for MASSIVE voting suppression
- stopping criminal justice reform
- rolling back LGBQ rights
- essentially ending civil rights enforcement across all federal agencies
- enforcement actions are down across every regulatory oversight agency
They're pretty much doing everything they said they would do apart from legislatively. It's been quiet, and not yet very visible in most areas. But Trump is slowly but surely ending every reform or progressive measure undertaken by Obama, and rolling back anything vaguely liberal sounding. On top of remaking the federal judiciary into an army of Clarence Thomas', which is terrifying for the future of the federal government's abiltiy to respond to any problem.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [89 favorites]
Trump Has Quietly Accomplished More Than It Appears
In short:
- rolling back every climate and pollution regulation in sight
- suppressing and ending climate science
- deporting everyone in sight, even people told they were safe
- voting suppression, and laying the grounds for MASSIVE voting suppression
- stopping criminal justice reform
- rolling back LGBQ rights
- essentially ending civil rights enforcement across all federal agencies
- enforcement actions are down across every regulatory oversight agency
They're pretty much doing everything they said they would do apart from legislatively. It's been quiet, and not yet very visible in most areas. But Trump is slowly but surely ending every reform or progressive measure undertaken by Obama, and rolling back anything vaguely liberal sounding. On top of remaking the federal judiciary into an army of Clarence Thomas', which is terrifying for the future of the federal government's abiltiy to respond to any problem.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:40 AM on August 8, 2017 [89 favorites]
Of course, Trump is also wrong, because Amazon now collects sales tax in every state that has a sales tax, which would make buying the Post a particularly inefficient scheme of lobbying to avoid sales tax.
posted by zachlipton at 11:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
I read this horrifying thing by Erik Prince about how we should pay Blackwater 10 trillion dollars to do whatever the fuck they want in Afghanistan (sorry, "restructure under an unsupervised private sector presidential envoy") and was extremely ready to make some East India Company jokes, but it turns out Erik was way ahead of me there, except serious and without the slightest sense that what the East India Company and similar colonial endeavors did was a disgusting, genocidal crime against humanity that should never be re-created.
posted by Copronymus at 11:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by Copronymus at 11:41 AM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
But Trump is slowly but surely ending every reform or progressive measure undertaken by Obama,
The thing about regulations and executive orders is that while they can be rolled back with the stroke of a pen they can also be reinstated with the stroke of a pen. Once a D gets back in the white house they will be back. That's why executive orders aren't seen as meaningful accomplishments.
posted by Justinian at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
The thing about regulations and executive orders is that while they can be rolled back with the stroke of a pen they can also be reinstated with the stroke of a pen. Once a D gets back in the white house they will be back. That's why executive orders aren't seen as meaningful accomplishments.
posted by Justinian at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
>: Remember many crises ago, when JCCs and synagogues all over the country were getting bomb threats? And it turned out that the culprit was an Israeli-American teenager? Looks like it was for pay.
Can someone on Twitter tweet that to MCNBC'S Stepahnie Rhule and Ali Velshi? Gorka was on their show, and when asked if the Minnapolis bombing was terrorism, he claimed that every instance of supposed right-wing threats and bombing were proven to be fake. They had no response, although I thought Ruhle was going to reach through the split screen and punch him in the face.
Also, Jeff Bezos is a real billionaire so of course Trumo hates him.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can someone on Twitter tweet that to MCNBC'S Stepahnie Rhule and Ali Velshi? Gorka was on their show, and when asked if the Minnapolis bombing was terrorism, he claimed that every instance of supposed right-wing threats and bombing were proven to be fake. They had no response, although I thought Ruhle was going to reach through the split screen and punch him in the face.
Also, Jeff Bezos is a real billionaire so of course Trumo hates him.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:44 AM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
The fax number is in the ad.
Update: the Palm Beach Post checked it out, and at least today (the job ads ran on the 27th), the fax number is disconnected and doesn't accept faxes.
posted by zachlipton at 11:46 AM on August 8, 2017 [26 favorites]
Update: the Palm Beach Post checked it out, and at least today (the job ads ran on the 27th), the fax number is disconnected and doesn't accept faxes.
posted by zachlipton at 11:46 AM on August 8, 2017 [26 favorites]
Gorka was on their show, and when asked if the Minnapolis bombing was terrorism, he claimed that every instance of supposed right-wing threats and bombing were proven to be fake.
Here's a Government Accountability Office report from April showing 106 right-wing terrorist killings in the USA since 2001. (Zero for left-wing)
The GAO is a legislative branch office run by the Comptroller General, a Senate-confirmed Obama appointee.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
Here's a Government Accountability Office report from April showing 106 right-wing terrorist killings in the USA since 2001. (Zero for left-wing)
The GAO is a legislative branch office run by the Comptroller General, a Senate-confirmed Obama appointee.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:51 AM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
An Obama appointee? Well obviously it's fake.
Honestly, no one makes me more stabby than Gorka.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:56 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Honestly, no one makes me more stabby than Gorka.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:56 AM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Can someone on Twitter tweet that to MCNBC'S Stepahnie Rhule and Ali Velshi? Gorka was on their show, and when asked if the Minnapolis bombing was terrorism, he claimed that every instance of supposed right-wing threats and bombing were proven to be fake. They had no response, although I thought Ruhle was going to reach through the split screen and punch him in the face.
But.... the article says that every bomb threat made by Kadar and Thompson were fake?
I'm not defending that Nazi Gorka. But this article doesn't disprove his point, does it?
posted by zarq at 11:58 AM on August 8, 2017
But.... the article says that every bomb threat made by Kadar and Thompson were fake?
I'm not defending that Nazi Gorka. But this article doesn't disprove his point, does it?
posted by zarq at 11:58 AM on August 8, 2017
Here's a Government Accountability Office report from April showing 106 right-wing terrorist killings in the USA since 2001. (Zero for left-wing)
Thank you!
posted by zarq at 11:58 AM on August 8, 2017
Thank you!
posted by zarq at 11:58 AM on August 8, 2017
The GAO is a legislative branch office run by the Comptroller General, a Senate-confirmed Obama appointee.
V. disappointed at the lack of a cool uniform on that guy.
posted by Etrigan at 12:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
V. disappointed at the lack of a cool uniform on that guy.
posted by Etrigan at 12:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's 20 things Mike Pence has done since taking office:posted by tilde at 12:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [25 favorites]
1. In January, Pence and others lobbied Trump to take hard-line positions on abortion, making good on some of his anti-choice campaign pledges.
2. Pence has led the charge to advance Trump's policy agenda.
3. He's been very vocal about supporting the use of tax dollars to fund religious schools.
4. In January, Pence met with anti-abortion activists at the White House and delivered a speech at the annual March for Life.
5. Pence spent much of February selling the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court as "mainstream."
6. Pence cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, the first time a vice president has done so on a cabinet pick.
7. In May, Pence was named the head of Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
8. Pence invited anti-abortion activists to the White House to discuss how to merge their agenda with that of the administration.
9. Later that month, he would cast the tie-breaking vote to nullify an Obama-era rule allowing that Title X funds be used for family planning services.
10. Pence has met with members of the financial industry and championed efforts to roll back Dodd-Frank consumer protections.
Personally I think there's no such thing as a fake bomb threat. There might not be a bomb, but the threat is always real.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 12:01 PM on August 8, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 12:01 PM on August 8, 2017 [29 favorites]
Official Mike Pence website. [fake][brilliant]
posted by jocelmeow at 12:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by jocelmeow at 12:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [25 favorites]
Classification power rests with the President. If the President re-tweets classified information to the public, is it still classified?
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
So now the state of government-held secrets turns on the argument about whether retweets are not endorsements is a valid statement. As always, the stupidest timeline.
posted by phearlez at 12:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
The question has been raised before, and the answer is... nobody knows! Isn't that hilarious?
So now the state of government-held secrets turns on the argument about whether retweets are not endorsements is a valid statement. As always, the stupidest timeline.
posted by phearlez at 12:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm not defending that Nazi Gorka. But this article doesn't disprove his point, does it?
I think you're right. I have the munchies.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think you're right. I have the munchies.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Personally I think there's no such thing as a fake bomb threat. There might not be a bomb, but the threat is always real.
What if you call up and say, someone is going to call with a bomb threat tomorrow? And then don't.Is that a real bomb threat threat, or a fake bomb threat?
posted by thelonius at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
What if you call up and say, someone is going to call with a bomb threat tomorrow? And then don't.Is that a real bomb threat threat, or a fake bomb threat?
posted by thelonius at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
T.D. Strange: They're pretty much doing everything they said they would do apart from legislatively. It's been quiet, and not yet very visible in most areas. But Trump is slowly but surely ending every reform or progressive measure undertaken by Obama, and rolling back anything vaguely liberal sounding. On top of remaking the federal judiciary into an army of Clarence Thomas', which is terrifying for the future of the federal government's abiltiy to respond to any problem.
The good thing is that most of those quiet actions can be un-done by the next administration, to a degree. And if there's enough of a swing back to the Dems, the pendulum can swing beyond "undo Trump's term" and into "go beyond what Obama did."
Question: how is this round of federal judiciary appointments different from the past? Oh shit Republicans Are Blocking So Many Nominees It’s Caused a Judicial Emergency (Jay Michaelson, The Daily Beast, May 16, 2016)
The judicial confirmation rate under the Republican-controlled Senate is less than half of what it was when Democrats held power under George W. Bush. There are so few judges that it’s hurting the country.
And that was the true power of the Party of No. Fuck.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
The good thing is that most of those quiet actions can be un-done by the next administration, to a degree. And if there's enough of a swing back to the Dems, the pendulum can swing beyond "undo Trump's term" and into "go beyond what Obama did."
Question: how is this round of federal judiciary appointments different from the past? Oh shit Republicans Are Blocking So Many Nominees It’s Caused a Judicial Emergency (Jay Michaelson, The Daily Beast, May 16, 2016)
The judicial confirmation rate under the Republican-controlled Senate is less than half of what it was when Democrats held power under George W. Bush. There are so few judges that it’s hurting the country.
And that was the true power of the Party of No. Fuck.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
I think you're right. I have the munchies.
Ha! East Manitoba's link is a perfect substitute. :D
posted by zarq at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ha! East Manitoba's link is a perfect substitute. :D
posted by zarq at 12:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
the folders are filled with screenshots of positive cable news chyrons (those lower-third headlines and crawls), admiring tweets, transcripts of fawning TV interviews, praise-filled news stories, and sometimes just pictures of Trump on TV looking powerful.
Nine zillion CEOs and politicians who would see right through this and demand to know what's being hidden from them, and we get the guy who's so fragile he'd never admit there was anything but praise. So glad he's running the country.
posted by Rykey at 12:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [28 favorites]
Nine zillion CEOs and politicians who would see right through this and demand to know what's being hidden from them, and we get the guy who's so fragile he'd never admit there was anything but praise. So glad he's running the country.
posted by Rykey at 12:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [28 favorites]
Would you guys support the Democrats blocking a debt ceiling increase if it isn't a clean increase? There are certainly situations they should refuse to go along, like tying the debt ceiling increase to health care bullshit, but what if it's something less problematic but still problematic?
My feeling is... and I can't believe I'm saying this... the Democrats should refuse to support anything but a clean increase even if that means default. Because once you pay the Danegeld...
posted by Justinian at 12:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
My feeling is... and I can't believe I'm saying this... the Democrats should refuse to support anything but a clean increase even if that means default. Because once you pay the Danegeld...
posted by Justinian at 12:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump sincerely seems to believe that the media's job is to provide free PR for him.
That's grossly inaccurate: he thinks it's everyone's job.
“The real threat,” Hecker said, “is we’re going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.”
I don't trust Trump to handle this crisis, for fear of exactly that. Hopefully calmer minds will temper his decision-making.
Precisely. Kim Jong-un is not the person we need to be afraid of here, except insofar as he seems not to have gotten the memo that, since January, he's now fucking with a hair-trigger ignoramus with no judgment and a mostly offline State Department.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's grossly inaccurate: he thinks it's everyone's job.
“The real threat,” Hecker said, “is we’re going to stumble into a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.”
I don't trust Trump to handle this crisis, for fear of exactly that. Hopefully calmer minds will temper his decision-making.
Precisely. Kim Jong-un is not the person we need to be afraid of here, except insofar as he seems not to have gotten the memo that, since January, he's now fucking with a hair-trigger ignoramus with no judgment and a mostly offline State Department.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
@Brand_Allen
Trump approval (among Republicans)
CBS: 80%
Quinnipiac: 76%
IBD: 71%
Obama approval among Dems (Aug '09)
Marist: 90%
CNN: 90%
ABC/WaPo: 90%
---
On top of this, Trump's approval with Inds is 34% while Obama was at 43%.
And as you all know, Dems lost 63 seats the next fall.
Below 80% in your own party is danger zone.
posted by chris24 at 12:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Trump approval (among Republicans)
CBS: 80%
Quinnipiac: 76%
IBD: 71%
Obama approval among Dems (Aug '09)
Marist: 90%
CNN: 90%
ABC/WaPo: 90%
---
On top of this, Trump's approval with Inds is 34% while Obama was at 43%.
And as you all know, Dems lost 63 seats the next fall.
Below 80% in your own party is danger zone.
posted by chris24 at 12:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Well, the opioid briefing hadn't even started yet, and they've already spelled opioid wrong.
Then there was some sage advice from the President: @JenniferJJacobs Trump says to prevent opioid overdoses, tell youths "no good, really bad for you." "If they don't start it'll never be a problem."
posted by zachlipton at 12:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Then there was some sage advice from the President: @JenniferJJacobs Trump says to prevent opioid overdoses, tell youths "no good, really bad for you." "If they don't start it'll never be a problem."
posted by zachlipton at 12:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
And, oh dear, if North Korea escalates their threats, they will be met with "fire and fury and frankly power the likes of which the world has never seen before."
posted by zachlipton at 12:28 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:28 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
That sounds exactly like something Kim Jong-un would say. Exactly.
posted by Justinian at 12:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
Nah, Kim Jong-Un's English is better.
posted by stonepharisee at 12:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 12:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [35 favorites]
Below 80% in your own party is danger zone.
Well, the Democratic party would be in danger. I'm not convinced there is such a floor for Republicans.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well, the Democratic party would be in danger. I'm not convinced there is such a floor for Republicans.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
“If the American imperialists provoke us a bit, we will not hesitate to slap them with a pre-emptive nuclear strike. The United States must choose! It’s up to you whether the nation called the United States exists on this planet or not.”
That's Kim Jong-Un's quote; semantically identical to POTUS's statement, but with a bit more panache.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
That's Kim Jong-Un's quote; semantically identical to POTUS's statement, but with a bit more panache.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Here's the video on that.
@SimonMaloy:
posted by zachlipton at 12:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
@SimonMaloy:
hi just to put it plain English hereHe's just drawn one hell of a red line. If North Korea does "make any more threats," what happens then?
the president of the United States just explicitly threatened to initiate a nuclear holocaust
posted by zachlipton at 12:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
I guess Trump is tired of being compared to Joffrey so he's trying to go full Aerys II.
posted by Justinian at 12:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Here's the video on that.
Does he have his arms awkwardly folded like that because he thinks he needs to hide his tiny hands to seem more threatening?
posted by Roommate at 12:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Does he have his arms awkwardly folded like that because he thinks he needs to hide his tiny hands to seem more threatening?
posted by Roommate at 12:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Jeez, when I called the President a "hair-trigger ignoramus" 25 minutes ago, it really wasn't necessary for the universe to provide immediate confirmation.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [59 favorites]
Does he have his arms awkwardly folded like that because he thinks he needs to hide his tiny hands to seem more threatening?
I wonder whether the enormity of the situation he's in has really just hit him and he's hugging himself for a sense of security.
posted by Etrigan at 12:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
I wonder whether the enormity of the situation he's in has really just hit him and he's hugging himself for a sense of security.
posted by Etrigan at 12:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Instead, the folders are filled with screenshots of positive cable news chyrons (those lower-third headlines and crawls), admiring tweets, transcripts of fawning TV interviews, praise-filled news stories, and sometimes just pictures of Trump on TV looking powerful.
Ironically, Senator Franken could fill a unique role in the Trump administration.
posted by mikepop at 12:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ironically, Senator Franken could fill a unique role in the Trump administration.
posted by mikepop at 12:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Also, making a statement like that at a meeting of the opioid commission? Is definitely not a great way to help people decrease their drug intake.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
In retrospect it was probably a mistake for the defense briefers to put the risks and outcomes section of military strike plans for NK on page 2.
posted by Justinian at 12:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
What a weird voting system. We're a species that can create weapons that cause millions of deaths in an eyeblink, but we can't come up with a fair way of choosing leaders.
So it turns out that, in the short version, it's logically impossible to build a fair and reasonable way to make any decisions that bind everyone, such as who the leader is going to be. This is the Arrow theorem and it's super-gloomy and awful.
The longer version is that we can list a few traits that any fair and reasonable way of making decisions should have.
(1) Social transitivity -- if we like A better than B and we like B better than C, we shouldn't choose A over C. If we do, we've fucked up hard and our society can be turned into a money pump.
(2) Universal admissibility -- we might not count someone's input into a collective decision because they're too young, or are in prison, or whatever, but we *won't* refuse to count someone's input into a collective decision because of the content of their preferences, because what they want somehow isn't good enough. If we do that, we're an awful dystopia more or less right off the bat.
(3) Pareto optimality -- if literally everyone, without a single solitary exception, prefers A over B then we have fucked up pretty large indeed if we choose B over A.
(4) Independence from irrelevant alternatives -- say we're choosing between A and B, which are unrelated to ice cream. If an evil wizard reverses everyone's preferences between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so that everyone who liked chocolate better now prefers vanilla and vice versa, that shouldn't change the decision over A and B. It would be crazypants bonkers for that to happen and represent a kind of fuckup.
(5) Non-Dictatorship -- there isn't some single person who effectively makes all decisions that are binding on everyone. No one single person such that, in the end, it is only their preferences that decide what binds us all. [egon] That would be bad. [/egon]
These line up as
ST
U
P
I
D (yes I know D for nonDictatorship is pushing things but gimme this okay)
Which is a handy mnemonic for the fact that it's logically impossible to meet all five of these at the same time. There are many proofs which take different tacks, but I like Ordeshook's which boils down to:
(1) Dictatorship (or decisiveness) is contagious from one choice to another until it eats the entire space of choices
(2) Someone is decisive about something.
Anyway, the practical upshot is that there is no way for humans -- or anything else -- to make decisions together that is not 100% guaranteed to be completely horrible. HOWEVER, first past the post voting is still comically terrible even in the shit-universe of social preference mechanisms.
Social choice theory is interesting, but (a) is sufficiently grim that people prone to depression might avoid it and (b) requires having several extra brains to actually do as opposed to just appreciate what other people did.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
So it turns out that, in the short version, it's logically impossible to build a fair and reasonable way to make any decisions that bind everyone, such as who the leader is going to be. This is the Arrow theorem and it's super-gloomy and awful.
The longer version is that we can list a few traits that any fair and reasonable way of making decisions should have.
(1) Social transitivity -- if we like A better than B and we like B better than C, we shouldn't choose A over C. If we do, we've fucked up hard and our society can be turned into a money pump.
(2) Universal admissibility -- we might not count someone's input into a collective decision because they're too young, or are in prison, or whatever, but we *won't* refuse to count someone's input into a collective decision because of the content of their preferences, because what they want somehow isn't good enough. If we do that, we're an awful dystopia more or less right off the bat.
(3) Pareto optimality -- if literally everyone, without a single solitary exception, prefers A over B then we have fucked up pretty large indeed if we choose B over A.
(4) Independence from irrelevant alternatives -- say we're choosing between A and B, which are unrelated to ice cream. If an evil wizard reverses everyone's preferences between chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so that everyone who liked chocolate better now prefers vanilla and vice versa, that shouldn't change the decision over A and B. It would be crazypants bonkers for that to happen and represent a kind of fuckup.
(5) Non-Dictatorship -- there isn't some single person who effectively makes all decisions that are binding on everyone. No one single person such that, in the end, it is only their preferences that decide what binds us all. [egon] That would be bad. [/egon]
These line up as
ST
U
P
I
D (yes I know D for nonDictatorship is pushing things but gimme this okay)
Which is a handy mnemonic for the fact that it's logically impossible to meet all five of these at the same time. There are many proofs which take different tacks, but I like Ordeshook's which boils down to:
(1) Dictatorship (or decisiveness) is contagious from one choice to another until it eats the entire space of choices
(2) Someone is decisive about something.
Anyway, the practical upshot is that there is no way for humans -- or anything else -- to make decisions together that is not 100% guaranteed to be completely horrible. HOWEVER, first past the post voting is still comically terrible even in the shit-universe of social preference mechanisms.
Social choice theory is interesting, but (a) is sufficiently grim that people prone to depression might avoid it and (b) requires having several extra brains to actually do as opposed to just appreciate what other people did.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
Michael Ian Black: Your periodic reminder that Trump has publicly fantasized about using nuclear weapons for decades.
posted by contraption at 12:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by contraption at 12:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
"North Korea best not ..."
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
(Why yes, as my ashes are floating to the ground I'll be debating whether a quote was exact.)
posted by NorthernLite at 12:59 PM on August 8, 2017
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
(Why yes, as my ashes are floating to the ground I'll be debating whether a quote was exact.)
posted by NorthernLite at 12:59 PM on August 8, 2017
The Ongoing Campaign to Cut Legal Immigration (Jonathan Blitzer for New Yorker, August 8, 2017) -- Hard-liners have been waiting for two decades for a President to endorse the RAISE Act, as Trump did last week.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Last week, when Donald Trump publicly endorsed the RAISE Act, a bill that would drastically curb legal immigration to the United States, he did what immigration hard-liners had waited more than two decades for a President to do. The bill, whose acronym is short for Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment, was introduced in February by Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue, both Republicans, but it hadn’t attracted much attention until Trump took up its mantle. “This legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling American families who deserve an immigration system that puts their needs first,” Trump said at a White House press conference. “Our people, our citizens, and our workers,” he went on, have struggled while “competing for jobs against brand-new arrivals.”Find Out If President Trump Would Let You Immigrate to America (Lisa Marie Segarra and David Johnson for TIME Magazine, August 7, 2017)
While Trump made combating illegal immigration a cornerstone of his Presidential campaign, he also pledged to limit legal immigration. It’s this side of the issue that’s addressed in the RAISE Act. If it becomes law, it would cut the number of legal permanent residents allowed into the country each year from a million to five hundred thousand, mainly by limiting the number of foreign family members that current residents are allowed to sponsor. Family unity has been one of the core principles of the U.S.’s immigration system since the nineteen-sixties—anyone with a green card is allowed to sponsor extended family members, like siblings, grandparents, and adult children—but the RAISE Act would cap the number of green cards allocated to family sponsors, and eliminate family sponsorship beyond spouses and minor children. The bill would also implement a point system that would rank applicants seeking to come to the U.S. for work—about a hundred and fifty thousand such people come to the U.S. every year—and give an advantage to immigrants who already speak English.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
"North Korea best not ..."
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
Per the video that zachlipton linked, that's exactly what he said.
posted by Etrigan at 1:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
Per the video that zachlipton linked, that's exactly what he said.
posted by Etrigan at 1:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
It sounds like he said "statement" while the transcript had him saying "state," but the transcript otherwise seems accurate. It's a thousand times worse watching it though.
posted by zachlipton at 1:06 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by zachlipton at 1:06 PM on August 8, 2017
Josh Marshall at TPM (not known for alarmism) on Trump's nuclear sabre-rattling:
If You Weren’t Worried Yet, You Can Start Now
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
If You Weren’t Worried Yet, You Can Start Now
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
zachlipton: "He's just drawn one hell of a red line. If North Korea does "make any more threats," what happens then?"
I'd bet nothing militarily. It still seems unlikely the US will launch a preemptive strike over sabre rattling[1] (I hope) in which case the Trump administration and the US lose yet more face and power on the world stage.
filthy light thief: "give an advantage to immigrants who already speak English."
It's a big advantage too, 12 out of 30 required points can be obtained by being fluent in English, only 6 points for moderate English. If you don't speak English you better be under 30 and have a US Phd that guarantees you employment with a salary 13X the federal poverty level. Kind of a weird requirement for a nation with no official language.
[1] I mean you never can tell but the President doesn't actually physically launch the missiles. Hopefully the procedure incorporates enough cooler heads to prevent a whimsical disaster. And leaving aside the impact of the radiation spread by nuclear weapons (even if North Korea doesn't successfully strike at the US mainland); the international blow back (economically and possibly militarily) from launching a pre-emptive strike would be immense. Like the US is the the rest of the world as Cuba was to the US under embargo.
posted by Mitheral at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'd bet nothing militarily. It still seems unlikely the US will launch a preemptive strike over sabre rattling[1] (I hope) in which case the Trump administration and the US lose yet more face and power on the world stage.
filthy light thief: "give an advantage to immigrants who already speak English."
It's a big advantage too, 12 out of 30 required points can be obtained by being fluent in English, only 6 points for moderate English. If you don't speak English you better be under 30 and have a US Phd that guarantees you employment with a salary 13X the federal poverty level. Kind of a weird requirement for a nation with no official language.
[1] I mean you never can tell but the President doesn't actually physically launch the missiles. Hopefully the procedure incorporates enough cooler heads to prevent a whimsical disaster. And leaving aside the impact of the radiation spread by nuclear weapons (even if North Korea doesn't successfully strike at the US mainland); the international blow back (economically and possibly militarily) from launching a pre-emptive strike would be immense. Like the US is the the rest of the world as Cuba was to the US under embargo.
posted by Mitheral at 1:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
As the special counsel, Robert Mueller, and the team he’s hired investigate Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign, the Watergate investigation is often invoked. But what’s known so far seems to bear more resemblance to the Agnew investigation. Bloomberg News recently reported that Mueller is looking at a “broad range of transactions involving Trump’s businesses as well as those of his associates,” and that the inquiry “also has absorbed a money-laundering probe” begun by Preet Bharara, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who was fired by Trump, in March. As Paul Waldman wrote recently in the Washington Post, “While the possibility of campaign collusion is what started this scandal, the financial connections between Trump and Russia may wind up being just as important.”Jeffrey Frank for the New Yorker, August 7, 2017
For a little distraction: The Cosmic Rightness of Pauly Shore as Stephen Miller (Ian Crouch for New Yorker, August 7, 2017) -- The comedian is nearly two decades older than Trump’s policy adviser, but the two make for a natural pair. (With embedded Funny or Die clip)
posted by filthy light thief at 1:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
President Trump has exchanged private messages with Russia special counsel Robert Mueller (USA Today)
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 1:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Donald Trump Sex Nightmare at 1:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
Pres Trump's statement on North Korea, borrows a phrase from Pres Harry Truman on Aug 6 1945, on use of atomic bomb against Japan: "If they do not accept our terms the may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth"
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
PEOPLE: Whew that dumbfuck lazy-ass president of ours is taking a vacation. Sure does underscore what a lazy-ass he is, but at least maybe he will slow down all of his horror-damage.
TRUMP: We will kill North Korea with nukes ASAP
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
TRUMP: We will kill North Korea with nukes ASAP
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
Whelp, time to go about my day here on the west coast, hoping that two chubby assholes who were both raised by fathers of almost incalculable cruelty and who have both inherited more wealth and power than their shallow souls were ever meant to handle don't decide to destroy the world while I'm too busy keeping up with my precarious economic conditions to also keep up with breaking news!!
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [114 favorites]
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [114 favorites]
"maybe Dennis Rodman can talk some sense into the President," is an actual thing one could say in a completely not joking way in 2017
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [51 favorites]
From the Josh Marshall post:
What if North Korea issues more threats? Presumably Trump fails to respond with a nuclear attack and reveals his threats as empty or – truly, truly unimaginably – he launches a nuclear attack. These are not good choices to face.
It's almost a certainty that North Korea issues more threats, right?
posted by diogenes at 1:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
What if North Korea issues more threats? Presumably Trump fails to respond with a nuclear attack and reveals his threats as empty or – truly, truly unimaginably – he launches a nuclear attack. These are not good choices to face.
It's almost a certainty that North Korea issues more threats, right?
posted by diogenes at 1:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
"He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing,'' Trump's chief counsel John Dowd told USA TODAY in an interview Tuesday. "He asked me to share that with him and that's what I've done.''
in other words, he totally tried to do another obstruction of justice on Mueller but his lawyer successfully ran interference
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
in other words, he totally tried to do another obstruction of justice on Mueller but his lawyer successfully ran interference
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
Trump's legal team has been in contact with Mueller's office, and Dowd says he has passed along the president's messages expressing “appreciation and greetings’’ to the special counsel.
So I'm gonna guess that it's either:
A) Mueller responded "How fucking dumb are you? We shouldn't be talking" and Dowd told Trump "He said 'Thanks.'"
or
2) Dowd tried to explain to Trump how fucking dumb it would be, then gave up and just made up the convo with Mueller.
posted by Etrigan at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
So I'm gonna guess that it's either:
A) Mueller responded "How fucking dumb are you? We shouldn't be talking" and Dowd told Trump "He said 'Thanks.'"
or
2) Dowd tried to explain to Trump how fucking dumb it would be, then gave up and just made up the convo with Mueller.
posted by Etrigan at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
President Trump has exchanged private messages with Russia special counsel Robert Mueller (USA Today)
Trump: Hi, Mr. Mueller, can you please assure me that I'm not under investigation?
Mueller: No.
Trump: Oh, so you mean, NO, I'm definitely NOT under investigation.
Mueller: Go away.
Trump: Sounds like an assurance to me.
Mueller: I said go the hell away.
Trump: Got it. That would make three times you have assured me I'm not under investigation.
Mueller: Seriously, what the shit? You fucking people, I swear.
Ty Cobb: Mr. Mueller, as President Trump's personal attorney, I'm hereby requesting you to send us a certified letter confirming that you have thrice assured him he's not under investigation. Preferably notarized. And much appreciation for all your good work, sir.
Mueller: Fuck my life.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [42 favorites]
Trump: Hi, Mr. Mueller, can you please assure me that I'm not under investigation?
Mueller: No.
Trump: Oh, so you mean, NO, I'm definitely NOT under investigation.
Mueller: Go away.
Trump: Sounds like an assurance to me.
Mueller: I said go the hell away.
Trump: Got it. That would make three times you have assured me I'm not under investigation.
Mueller: Seriously, what the shit? You fucking people, I swear.
Ty Cobb: Mr. Mueller, as President Trump's personal attorney, I'm hereby requesting you to send us a certified letter confirming that you have thrice assured him he's not under investigation. Preferably notarized. And much appreciation for all your good work, sir.
Mueller: Fuck my life.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [42 favorites]
the president's messages expressing “appreciation and greetings’’ to the special counsel
Because of course that's what you send to the person investigating you and your co-conspirators. I think it's in Emily Post.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Because of course that's what you send to the person investigating you and your co-conspirators. I think it's in Emily Post.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
This is hardly deep analysis, but on the right, I see people using the NK issue to try to silence internal dissent and call for party unity, further continuing the pattern where Trump's military aggression is rewarded by the silencing of criticism and becomes a get out of jail free card.
I'm sure there's a German word for the mix of dread and horror that this fills me with.
posted by prefpara at 1:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm sure there's a German word for the mix of dread and horror that this fills me with.
posted by prefpara at 1:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
I know the whole "it's a distraction" theory is problematic, but have we considered the possibility that threatening nuclear war is a distraction from the fact that his opioid plan mainly consists of telling kids that drugs are "no good, really bad for you?"
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
his opioid plan mainly consists of telling kids that drugs are "no good, really bad for you?"
Which is not only idiotic but also a bad Nancy Reagan rip-off.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Which is not only idiotic but also a bad Nancy Reagan rip-off.
posted by FelliniBlank at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
My bet is that unless the military actually refuses to launch an attack, Trump will get bored and demand one. I think we'll make an unprovoked nuclear strike on North Korea, with all that entails for South Korea, and of course all the innocent people in North Korea, who've had a completely horrible time of it. I think this is actually it - not today, maybe, but soon enough.
What's obvious is that all these people want to nuke North Korea. They don't view this as a last resort or something terrible to be avoided. It's obvious from their rhetoric that they are itching to drop the bomb. I have no way of understanding their subjectivity, but it's obviously broken and deficient in some way, some kind of inability to reason about anything except what's immediately in front of them. But they wouldn't be using the language that they do if they didn't want to drop the bomb. North Korea is not a realistic threat to us. It's self-serving garbage nonsense to pretend otherwise. Truman - for all that I think dropping the bomb on Japan was a huge mistake - was at least in the middle of a real war.
But they're going to drop the bomb because it's fun. That's what they're going to do. There is going to be a nuclear war in my lifetime, not for even the most feeble reason but because we did not decommision the bombs right at the end of the Cold War when it might have worked, and because the majority of Americans preferred a television level of morality and politics to any kind of uncomfortable assessment of risk.
posted by Frowner at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
What's obvious is that all these people want to nuke North Korea. They don't view this as a last resort or something terrible to be avoided. It's obvious from their rhetoric that they are itching to drop the bomb. I have no way of understanding their subjectivity, but it's obviously broken and deficient in some way, some kind of inability to reason about anything except what's immediately in front of them. But they wouldn't be using the language that they do if they didn't want to drop the bomb. North Korea is not a realistic threat to us. It's self-serving garbage nonsense to pretend otherwise. Truman - for all that I think dropping the bomb on Japan was a huge mistake - was at least in the middle of a real war.
But they're going to drop the bomb because it's fun. That's what they're going to do. There is going to be a nuclear war in my lifetime, not for even the most feeble reason but because we did not decommision the bombs right at the end of the Cold War when it might have worked, and because the majority of Americans preferred a television level of morality and politics to any kind of uncomfortable assessment of risk.
posted by Frowner at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
(4) Independence from irrelevant alternatives -- say we're choosing between A and B, which are unrelated to ice cream. If an evil wizard reverses everyone's preferences between chocolate and vanilla ice cream...
This isn't how Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) is typically understood in a social choice context. A better example is: if, in a social choice between vanilla and chocolate, vanilla wins, then, in a social choice between vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, chocolate must not win (or, strictly, it must not beat vanilla.)
I recommend the Wikipedia article on Arrow's impossibility theorem. (If you skip the "Formal Statement" section it should be pretty accessible to those without math backgrounds.) I'll point out that the scope of the theorem isn't quite as impossibly broad as ROU_Xenophobe let on: it only applies to ranked voting electoral systems.
posted by lozierj at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
This isn't how Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives (IIA) is typically understood in a social choice context. A better example is: if, in a social choice between vanilla and chocolate, vanilla wins, then, in a social choice between vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, chocolate must not win (or, strictly, it must not beat vanilla.)
I recommend the Wikipedia article on Arrow's impossibility theorem. (If you skip the "Formal Statement" section it should be pretty accessible to those without math backgrounds.) I'll point out that the scope of the theorem isn't quite as impossibly broad as ROU_Xenophobe let on: it only applies to ranked voting electoral systems.
posted by lozierj at 1:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm sure there's a German word for the mix of dread and horror that this fills me with.
I'm notseein' one.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm notseein' one.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
yeah kids don't do opioids
save them for after the Boom Boom, when you'll be able to trade them for ammunition, expired MREs, and the services of mutant laborers
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
save them for after the Boom Boom, when you'll be able to trade them for ammunition, expired MREs, and the services of mutant laborers
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here's 20 things Mike Pence has done since taking office:
Of the ten you listed here, only one has any actual effect:
posted by msalt at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Of the ten you listed here, only one has any actual effect:
Later that month, he would cast the tie-breaking vote to nullify an Obama-era rule allowing that Title X funds be used for family planning services.The rest are all urging this or forming that commission. So, he hasn't done much except discourage impeachment by his presence.
posted by msalt at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
President Trump has exchanged private messages with Russia special counsel Robert Mueller (USA Today)
This is the equivalent of the Comey dinner, I take it? Don Trumponi's Sicilian kiss of death, aka the awkward solitary overdone steak dinner of death?
posted by Behemoth at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is the equivalent of the Comey dinner, I take it? Don Trumponi's Sicilian kiss of death, aka the awkward solitary overdone steak dinner of death?
posted by Behemoth at 1:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
"He appreciates what Bob Mueller is doing,'' Trump's chief counsel John Dowd told USA TODAY in an interview Tuesday. "He asked me to share that with him and that's what I've done.''
in other words, he totally tried to do another obstruction of justice on Mueller but his lawyer successfully ran interference.
It might be simpler than that. I'd wager Trump thinks this all goes away if Mueller likes him.
posted by BS Artisan at 1:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [30 favorites]
in other words, he totally tried to do another obstruction of justice on Mueller but his lawyer successfully ran interference.
It might be simpler than that. I'd wager Trump thinks this all goes away if Mueller likes him.
posted by BS Artisan at 1:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [30 favorites]
I mean, the whole "Oh god He's going to provoke North Korea into nuclear conflict" thing is just a distraction from the "Holy Christ he's dismantling government and subverting the very principles of Democracy and selling out the USA to Russia thing. Or is it the other way around? Maybe both are a distraction from the "White supremacist neo-nazi actual-fascists are openly operating in the White House thing and the "Jesus Fuck, the Obama economy is going to run out of steam while the healthcare system collapses because of his meddling" thing. Which are a distraction from "In The Name Of All That Is Holy He Is Implementing Policy To Exacerbate Climate Chang?! Why?!" thing. Anyways, yes I am super distracted these days.
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [65 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [65 favorites]
> yeah kids don't do opioids
Not opioids, opiods. Totally different!
posted by gingerbeer at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Not opioids, opiods. Totally different!
posted by gingerbeer at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
So, in lieu of an Auriga whispering "Memento homo," you've got ten guys saying "You're so bigly!" to the man-child with the nukes.
Swear to God, in the grand course of human history, this is probably the worst leader ever to hold this much power over others. And I'm including Stalin, because even he wasn't dumb enough to consider triggering a nuclear first strike.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Swear to God, in the grand course of human history, this is probably the worst leader ever to hold this much power over others. And I'm including Stalin, because even he wasn't dumb enough to consider triggering a nuclear first strike.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
My bet is that unless the military actually refuses to launch an attack, Trump will get bored and demand one. I think we'll make an unprovoked nuclear strike on North Korea, with all that entails for South Korea...
There's no way they would refuse a direct order to his face. But...
"Sorry, sir. The button didn't work. We're not sure why not. We've got our best people working on it, rest assured." (meanwhile, 25th amendment process starts)
posted by msalt at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
There's no way they would refuse a direct order to his face. But...
"Sorry, sir. The button didn't work. We're not sure why not. We've got our best people working on it, rest assured." (meanwhile, 25th amendment process starts)
posted by msalt at 1:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
> Sorry, sir. The button didn't work.
"What? I told you people to switch to steam-powered nukes!"
posted by tonycpsu at 1:38 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
"What? I told you people to switch to steam-powered nukes!"
posted by tonycpsu at 1:38 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
My bet is that unless the military actually refuses to launch an attack, Trump will get bored and demand one. I think we'll make an unprovoked nuclear strike on North Korea, with all that entails for South Korea...
I've said before, I think Mattis and Kelly (probably McMaster, too) have already covered this base. I honestly believe that Mattis would remove the president (likely in conjunction with Pence and others to make it kosher) before following through with a nuclear strike.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've said before, I think Mattis and Kelly (probably McMaster, too) have already covered this base. I honestly believe that Mattis would remove the president (likely in conjunction with Pence and others to make it kosher) before following through with a nuclear strike.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
guys i think everything is cool if north korea just never makes another threat to the united states ever okay
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
This is hardly deep analysis, but on the right, I see people using the NK issue to try to silence internal dissent and call for party unity, further continuing the pattern where Trump's military aggression is rewarded by the silencing of criticism and becomes a get out of jail free card.
oh like that has ever worked
posted by entropicamericana at 1:42 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
oh like that has ever worked
posted by entropicamericana at 1:42 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
That Trump seems to think these threats exceptional, rather than par for the course (pun intended; the President is, after all, currently on a golf vacation), does not exactly bode well for how he formulates a response to the unfolding situation.
Of course, after Trump sycophants crow about liberals taking him "literally, but not seriously" as the key to his victory, he makes the exact same mistake the core of what can only generously be called his "policy" towards NK. North Korea has always needed to be dealt with seriously, without taking their threats literally.
posted by jason_steakums at 1:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Of course, after Trump sycophants crow about liberals taking him "literally, but not seriously" as the key to his victory, he makes the exact same mistake the core of what can only generously be called his "policy" towards NK. North Korea has always needed to be dealt with seriously, without taking their threats literally.
posted by jason_steakums at 1:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Threats of nuclear war have a smaller impact on the stock market than I would have guessed.
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Threats of nuclear war have a smaller impact on the stock market than I would have guessed.
Because everyone knows Trump is a full-of-shit push-over
Wall Street knows it. Kim Jong Un knows it.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Because everyone knows Trump is a full-of-shit push-over
Wall Street knows it. Kim Jong Un knows it.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Threats of nuclear war have a smaller impact on the stock market than I would have guessed.
You can't sell off your stock when we're all glowing dust anyway, so why sell it off in anticipation of global annihilation?
As Tom Lehrer sings: We'll all go together when we go.
posted by dis_integration at 1:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
You can't sell off your stock when we're all glowing dust anyway, so why sell it off in anticipation of global annihilation?
As Tom Lehrer sings: We'll all go together when we go.
posted by dis_integration at 1:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
President Trump has exchanged private messages with Russia special counsel Robert Mueller (USA Today)
Is it possible that this is the White House's way of trying to get ahead of news* that Trump has had to turn over documents to Mueller? "Yes, we exchanged messages with Mueller. Totally just social messages." "Well, maybe we sent a document or two. But mostly we were saying hi." "Well, now that you mention it, we did turn over all of Trump's phone records along with our heartiest greetings."
* I mean, it would be a stupid and ineffective attempt so, you know, it's entirely in character.
posted by mcduff at 1:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
Is it possible that this is the White House's way of trying to get ahead of news* that Trump has had to turn over documents to Mueller? "Yes, we exchanged messages with Mueller. Totally just social messages." "Well, maybe we sent a document or two. But mostly we were saying hi." "Well, now that you mention it, we did turn over all of Trump's phone records along with our heartiest greetings."
* I mean, it would be a stupid and ineffective attempt so, you know, it's entirely in character.
posted by mcduff at 1:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
Maybe this "fire and fury and power the world has never seen" will consist of Trump insulting Kim Jong-un's wife or something
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
I feel like if President Trump uses nuclear weapons it would be against a power that does not have the ability to strike back. I've always thought that he would try to "solve" Syria by using nuclear weapons in a way that was fully sanctioned by Russia to avoid any potential negative effects.
Bullys don't usually pick targets who can hit them back.
posted by Tevin at 1:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Bullys don't usually pick targets who can hit them back.
posted by Tevin at 1:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Mod note: A couple deleted. As always, I get the dark-humor intent but please in these times let's not joke about nuclear war any more than we'd joke about the Holocaust. And it should go without saying, let's not with the ironic racism.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
As Tom Lehrer sings: We'll all go together when we go.
Oh God, there are about 100 Tom Lehrer lyrics that are applicable these days.
posted by Melismata at 1:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Oh God, there are about 100 Tom Lehrer lyrics that are applicable these days.
posted by Melismata at 1:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
President Trump has exchanged private messages with Russia special counsel Robert Mueller (USA Today)
“The president has sent messages back and forth,’’ Dowd said, declining to elaborate further.
Sigh, they don't even understand how two-way communication works
posted by piyushnz at 1:56 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
“The president has sent messages back and forth,’’ Dowd said, declining to elaborate further.
Sigh, they don't even understand how two-way communication works
posted by piyushnz at 1:56 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
> Joel Clement in WaPo: I’m a scientist. I’m blowing the whistle on the Trump administration.
Democracy Now: Meet the Senior Federal Official Blowing the Whistle on Trump's Suppression of Climate Science
posted by homunculus at 1:57 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
Democracy Now: Meet the Senior Federal Official Blowing the Whistle on Trump's Suppression of Climate Science
posted by homunculus at 1:57 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
The cable, sent by the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to embassies on Friday, also said diplomats should make clear the United States wants to help other countries use fossil fuels.
what they desire is man's red fire to make their dreams come true
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
what they desire is man's red fire to make their dreams come true
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's telling to me that though I'm afraid about nukes I'm not panicked because I've been afraid since November. Just depressed
posted by emjaybee at 2:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 2:00 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
kospi and nikkei 225, less certain.
Even an ETF that holds South Korean stocks fell by less than 1%.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:00 PM on August 8, 2017
Even an ETF that holds South Korean stocks fell by less than 1%.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:00 PM on August 8, 2017
"fire and fury and power the world has never seen"
When President Trump says stuff like this, he is actually saying, "I am much crazier than you Mr. Kim, hugely crazy, the most crazy guy you ever saw walking around outside a jail, or mental institution."
Obviously we are growing bananas in the United States, just not edible ones. No man, not even well done, with ketchup.
posted by Oyéah at 2:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
When President Trump says stuff like this, he is actually saying, "I am much crazier than you Mr. Kim, hugely crazy, the most crazy guy you ever saw walking around outside a jail, or mental institution."
Obviously we are growing bananas in the United States, just not edible ones. No man, not even well done, with ketchup.
posted by Oyéah at 2:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
*checks thread for the first time today*
o.O
*checks disaster supplies storage closet and makes mental note to add a few more jars of peanut butter*
posted by darkstar at 2:04 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
o.O
*checks disaster supplies storage closet and makes mental note to add a few more jars of peanut butter*
posted by darkstar at 2:04 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
The VIX only popped from 10 up to 11, towards the close of the day. The vix is the volatility index, when it is high, the market is usually poised for a correction. This is not a high vix. It's half what the highest has been over the last year. That said, all of the action was in the last hour, and in that same hour the Dow went down 33 points, and there were minor sell off in other markets.
Disclaimer, I am not a knowledge expert on stock markets. I'm just a small, ridiculously conservative, risk adverse investor.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Disclaimer, I am not a knowledge expert on stock markets. I'm just a small, ridiculously conservative, risk adverse investor.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
My parents and extended family live in Seoul. I've visited North Korea (Gaesong once, and that Geumgangsan resort area once), taught English to North Korean refugees briefly when I lived in Seoul and in fact was living in Seoul during the 2006 nuclear bomb test (which immediately followed one of my North Korea jaunts, making me feel like my U.S. dollars went directly to the plutonium).
I've always felt it a wee bit strange that many of my Korean friends and colleagues have pooh-poohed the U.S. media's apocalyptic frenzy (see Time covers), with one even saying "this issue is between the U.S. and North Korea." Well yes, but the U.S. population isn't located on the same damn peninsula (not to ignore 30,000+ troops).
But I've honestly come to downplay the periodic saber-rattling as well, saber-rattling and stopped making panicked calls to my parents in Korea. Except goddamn Trump has now made me feel way less sanguine about American diplomacy. Maybe someone should include full-color pictures of the Trump portfolio in South Korea.
posted by spamandkimchi at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
I've always felt it a wee bit strange that many of my Korean friends and colleagues have pooh-poohed the U.S. media's apocalyptic frenzy (see Time covers), with one even saying "this issue is between the U.S. and North Korea." Well yes, but the U.S. population isn't located on the same damn peninsula (not to ignore 30,000+ troops).
But I've honestly come to downplay the periodic saber-rattling as well, saber-rattling and stopped making panicked calls to my parents in Korea. Except goddamn Trump has now made me feel way less sanguine about American diplomacy. Maybe someone should include full-color pictures of the Trump portfolio in South Korea.
posted by spamandkimchi at 2:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
I've had that banana ketchup. It's not bad!
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
A suggestion for election-related reading in lieu of yet more nuclear/existential doom-and-or-gloom, I came across this excellent FPP from a decade ago on the mathematics of voting systems.
posted by lozierj at 2:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by lozierj at 2:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
1: Holy crap! This is fantastic, anem0ne. My four-year-old picky eater basically eats ketchup with a side of whatever else is the meal. Getting bananna in him rather than heinz would be superb.
2: This reminds me of the DC-area company I mentioned when we were talking about the shitty selection they made for made-in-America week. Chups.
posted by phearlez at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
2: This reminds me of the DC-area company I mentioned when we were talking about the shitty selection they made for made-in-America week. Chups.
posted by phearlez at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm old enough to remember the Soviet Union's dissolution but not enough to understand the significance at that time. I also wasn't really aware of the Cold War, nor the nuclear threat, having been born during Gorbachev's Secretary-hood.
Without getting into details, I've started having bad dreams about hypothethesized Cold War outcomes. I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Without getting into details, I've started having bad dreams about hypothethesized Cold War outcomes. I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 2:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
You know, just yesterday I was honestly thinking how nice it was Trump was taking a vacation, because yesterday was a nice quiet day. Some bad tweets, yes, but that's just background noise nowadays. And now Tuesday has happened. I wish he played more golf.
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
The cable, sent by the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to embassies on Friday, also said diplomats should make clear the United States wants to help other countries use fossil fuels.
A CEO of an oil company trying to use the diplomatic corps to promote fossil fuels? No conflict of interest or ethics issues here. No siree. #DRAINTHESWAMP #MAGA #SETHRICH
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
A CEO of an oil company trying to use the diplomatic corps to promote fossil fuels? No conflict of interest or ethics issues here. No siree. #DRAINTHESWAMP #MAGA #SETHRICH
posted by Talez at 2:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [45 favorites]
I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Can confirm. The Cold War never felt this stupid, not even when wearing a one-shouldered neon green sweatshirt.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [81 favorites]
Can confirm. The Cold War never felt this stupid, not even when wearing a one-shouldered neon green sweatshirt.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [81 favorites]
Without getting into details, I've started having bad dreams about hypothethesized Cold War outcomes. I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?
congratulations you are now an honorary gen-xer please accept these vintage uk-made doc martens as a welcoming gift
posted by entropicamericana at 2:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [97 favorites]
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?
congratulations you are now an honorary gen-xer please accept these vintage uk-made doc martens as a welcoming gift
posted by entropicamericana at 2:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [97 favorites]
I've started having bad dreams about hypothethesized Cold War outcomes. I guess this is how the Cold War felt
You'll want to put on some Ultravox and maybe those Spitting Image puppets for ambience, but besides that, yes.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
You'll want to put on some Ultravox and maybe those Spitting Image puppets for ambience, but besides that, yes.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
I'm sure there's a German word for the mix of dread and horror that this fills me with.
Weltschmerz gets you part of the way. Although good old Angst ain't bad.
I had a PhD student once write an entire dissertation on han in Korean aesthetics. (I just thought of them because they now work in Seoul.) Han (as I understood it) requires that you have already suffered, allowing you to embrace the condition as a condition for resisting it.
posted by spitbull at 2:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Weltschmerz gets you part of the way. Although good old Angst ain't bad.
I had a PhD student once write an entire dissertation on han in Korean aesthetics. (I just thought of them because they now work in Seoul.) Han (as I understood it) requires that you have already suffered, allowing you to embrace the condition as a condition for resisting it.
posted by spitbull at 2:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?
Older here, confirmed. Enjoy the post-nuclear, zombie filled narcissistic russian subculture on High Rises dream time.
posted by rc3spencer at 2:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Older here, confirmed. Enjoy the post-nuclear, zombie filled narcissistic russian subculture on High Rises dream time.
posted by rc3spencer at 2:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
...all this bomb talk made me think I was still in the Godzilla thread
Haven't we learned anything [rhetorical] from the nuclear allegory (link to 2014 Telegraph article on how Godzilla was a commentary on war, nukes, etc.).
Also TIL that Godzilla skin was designed after keloid scars of Hiroshima victims. *Shudder*
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 2:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Haven't we learned anything [rhetorical] from the nuclear allegory (link to 2014 Telegraph article on how Godzilla was a commentary on war, nukes, etc.).
Also TIL that Godzilla skin was designed after keloid scars of Hiroshima victims. *Shudder*
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 2:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Pat Robertson Appalled by MSNBC Success: ‘Rachel Maddow of All People is Number One!’ (Jon Levine, Mediaite)
"North Korea best not ..."
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
Ron Howard: Jesse had gone to far, and she had best watch her mouth. [REAL]
posted by Room 641-A at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
“MSNBC is now winning the demographic ratings against Fox, they’ve got the demos, which is the 18 to 49 young people, isn’t that amazing.”
Robertson’s longtime co-host Terry Meeuwsen offered the Silk to Robertson’s Diamond.
“MSNBC, really?” she said in disbelief.
“Rachel Maddow of all people is number one, but Fox is self-imposed wounds,” said Robertson.
"North Korea best not ..."
I don't know, does that full quote (which is one reporter quoting another pool reporter) sound like his speaking style?
Ron Howard: Jesse had gone to far, and she had best watch her mouth. [REAL]
posted by Room 641-A at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Excommunicated Cardinal: "Without getting into details, I've started having bad dreams about hypothethesized Cold War outcomes. I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?"
Having come of age in the 80s you are still missing the existential dread that the entire planet would turn into a nuclear waste land. Realistically NK has very few warheads and the US can obliterate all of NK several times over with a small fraction of it's arsenal. Unless the other nuclear powers get involved (not out of the question but not inevitable at this time) it's unlikely a nuclear shooting match between NK and the Cheeto would wipe out all multicelluar life on the planet at this time.
posted by Mitheral at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [28 favorites]
Older, wiser MeFites: confirm or refute?"
Having come of age in the 80s you are still missing the existential dread that the entire planet would turn into a nuclear waste land. Realistically NK has very few warheads and the US can obliterate all of NK several times over with a small fraction of it's arsenal. Unless the other nuclear powers get involved (not out of the question but not inevitable at this time) it's unlikely a nuclear shooting match between NK and the Cheeto would wipe out all multicelluar life on the planet at this time.
posted by Mitheral at 2:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [28 favorites]
The longer term, bigger picture, worry I have Mitheral is that Mad King Don will use nukes, and by doing so make the use of nukes less taboo and open the gates for further limited nuclear wars, which of course will snowball into less restraint on the employment of nukes overall.
With even President Cruz (R-Lizard People) I'd feel less that the American President will deploy nukes basically just because it makes him feel big and manly and in so doing make everyone else on Earth more willing to use nukes.
posted by sotonohito at 2:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
With even President Cruz (R-Lizard People) I'd feel less that the American President will deploy nukes basically just because it makes him feel big and manly and in so doing make everyone else on Earth more willing to use nukes.
posted by sotonohito at 2:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
There is this site I turn to when I feel uncertain wether this reality is the same reality as the one before Christmas, and today I found this quote:
posted by mumimor at 2:54 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
“I always felt that a president is accountable for making the best decisions, but that there are going to be a lot of unexpected twists and turns along the way. And as I said recently, this is still a human enterprise and these are big, tough, complicated problems. Somebody noted to me that by the time something reaches my desk, that means it’s really hard. Because if it were easy, somebody else would have made the decision and somebody else would have solved it.” (New York Times, March 7, 2009)Also, what Mitheral said: North Korea can send one, maybe two missiles to somewhere in the US, which might be Alaska. That would be bad but that is all they can do. And the response would be the annihilation of North Korea including millions and millions of innocent North Koreans. Theoretically, China or Russia could engage, but that seems so unlikely. (I admit WW1 was equally unlikely and it happened, but at the time Germany and the Habsburg Empire thought they were on par with UK and France and that was not an unrealistic judgement. The US has more military force than the next five or six countries combined.
posted by mumimor at 2:54 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can fear Trump kneejerking into some kind of unwarranted military strike without worrying about disappearing in a white flash. If I was in Liechtenstein I'd be just as worried because NK's missiles are about as likely to veer off course and hit them as us.
In the early 80s, as a lad, I had some fear of nuclear doom. Not because the Russians we're crazy but because we were. So this is not unfamiliar territory.
posted by delfin at 2:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
In the early 80s, as a lad, I had some fear of nuclear doom. Not because the Russians we're crazy but because we were. So this is not unfamiliar territory.
posted by delfin at 2:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
The longer term, bigger picture, worry I have Mitheral is that Mad King Don will use nukes, and by doing so make the use of nukes less taboo
I think this would depend on the reaction. If he were not immediately removed from office and put on trial for war crimes you're probably right. Assuming you're talking about a pre-emptive use.
posted by Justinian at 2:57 PM on August 8, 2017
I think this would depend on the reaction. If he were not immediately removed from office and put on trial for war crimes you're probably right. Assuming you're talking about a pre-emptive use.
posted by Justinian at 2:57 PM on August 8, 2017
Here's 20 things Mike Pence has done since taking office:
Of the ten you listed here, only one has any actual effect:
Later that month, he would cast the tie-breaking vote to nullify an Obama-era rule allowing that Title X funds be used for family planning services.
The rest are all urging this or forming that commission. So, he hasn't done much except discourage impeachment by his presence.
posted by msalt at 4:33 PM on August 8
[3 favorites +] [!]
REad the linked article, each headline I posted (first 10) has cites. I'd severely disagree with your assessment of the rest (giving cover to and encouraging discrimination and stripping of civil rights) being big he's the VICE PRESIDENT and alleged onsite adult. And he gave us Besty Damn Vos
posted by tilde at 2:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I guess this is how the Cold War felt, but just..so so much more stupid.
Well, the Cold War did have its Trumpian moments.
If I could talk to Kim Jong Un for ten minutes, I'd explain how he's pulling a Reagan. Don't poke at an aging empire run by a paranoid old man. There's almost nothing to gain and a great chance of burning everything Kim has.
posted by honestcoyote at 3:04 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, the Cold War did have its Trumpian moments.
"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."That, plus all the other pointless actions, in Reagan's first term, terrified the paranoid old men running the Soviet Union. Reagan & co. gleefully pushed the Soviet's buttons so perfectly that we almost lost everything. Even Reagan came to realize this and pulled back. A pity we can't expect such relative maturity from the modern Republicans.
If I could talk to Kim Jong Un for ten minutes, I'd explain how he's pulling a Reagan. Don't poke at an aging empire run by a paranoid old man. There's almost nothing to gain and a great chance of burning everything Kim has.
posted by honestcoyote at 3:04 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, the Cold War did have its Trumpian moments.
Indeed. I can remember being as appalled and outraged at Reagan's actions. He just had a different version of dumb-old-grandpa vibe. But just as many sycophants and big money dancing around his inadequacies.
posted by rc3spencer at 3:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Indeed. I can remember being as appalled and outraged at Reagan's actions. He just had a different version of dumb-old-grandpa vibe. But just as many sycophants and big money dancing around his inadequacies.
posted by rc3spencer at 3:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Reuters: North Korea seriously considering strike on Guam: Reports, citing state media (story in its entirety as of now is below):
posted by zachlipton at 3:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
North Korea is considering a plan to fire missiles at Guam, state media said Tuesday according to multiple reports.That did not take long.
A spokesman for North Korea's military told KCNA that it would carry out a pre-emptive operation if there were signs of U.S. provocation.
posted by zachlipton at 3:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
"Mushroom cloud" -- "The final Potus45 thread" gets a whole new meaning..
posted by Namlit at 3:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Namlit at 3:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Let's quickly tell him that Guam is an invention of #fake news
posted by Namlit at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Luckily Trump has no idea Guam is part of the US. This is fine.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
can you guys hold off for an hour, i really don't want to die in a cubicle or a car thx
posted by entropicamericana at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
"North Korea seriously considering strike on Guam: Reports, citing state media"
Nope. If they were really considering it, they wouldn't announce it.
Whether Trump recognizes that is a different question.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Nope. If they were really considering it, they wouldn't announce it.
Whether Trump recognizes that is a different question.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
If it makes you feel any better lalex, you beat me on to "does Trump even know what Guam is?"
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Whether Trump recognizes...
*Uncontrollable laughter*
posted by Namlit at 3:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
*Uncontrollable laughter*
posted by Namlit at 3:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm pretty sure Guam has already capsized into the ocean so we should be fine.
posted by GalaxieFiveHundred at 3:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by GalaxieFiveHundred at 3:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Nope. If they were really considering it, they wouldn't announce it. Whether Trump recognizes that is a different question.
Absolutely, but this just illustrates the stupidity in Trump's statement. He promised the "fire and fury and frankly power" if North Korea "make[s] any more threats to the United States," not if they acted, but if they spoke, and we're talking about a country that repeatedly and predictably makes such threats.
It's depressing that this still doesn't count as the Trump Administration having to deal with an emergency that isn't of their own making.
posted by zachlipton at 3:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
Absolutely, but this just illustrates the stupidity in Trump's statement. He promised the "fire and fury and frankly power" if North Korea "make[s] any more threats to the United States," not if they acted, but if they spoke, and we're talking about a country that repeatedly and predictably makes such threats.
It's depressing that this still doesn't count as the Trump Administration having to deal with an emergency that isn't of their own making.
posted by zachlipton at 3:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
Can confirm. The Cold War never felt this stupid, not even when wearing a one-shouldered neon green sweatshirt.
Dr. Strangelove didn't come from nowhere. The difference between this current situation and the cold war is that the stupid used to be mostly hidden from view. It also wasn't president but it was a lot of top people that surrounded the presidents.
posted by srboisvert at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Dr. Strangelove didn't come from nowhere. The difference between this current situation and the cold war is that the stupid used to be mostly hidden from view. It also wasn't president but it was a lot of top people that surrounded the presidents.
posted by srboisvert at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
For decades, North Korea has been educating its population to believe that the United States desires to kill them all. At last we have a President of the United States who is trying to communicate the same goal. This is international coöperation at its best
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [31 favorites]
can you guys hold off for an hour, i really don't want to die in a cubicle or a car thx
I'm taking my kids to a Mets game tonight.
They're 16.5 games out of first place.
And....
Wow, I feel conflicted.
posted by zarq at 3:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm taking my kids to a Mets game tonight.
They're 16.5 games out of first place.
And....
Wow, I feel conflicted.
posted by zarq at 3:29 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
coöperation
Dat New Yorker mag house style tho
posted by dis_integration at 3:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Dat New Yorker mag house style tho
posted by dis_integration at 3:32 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Took a SEPTA elevator from train to street. I got on as a sweet little old lady was anxiously looking behind her, tapping the door open button so that I and some people behind me could get on.
"Oh," she said. "I always get nervous and push the door close button when I meant to push the open door one! Did I do it right that time?"
The elevator car of people laughed and assured her that she did.
Then she said, "This is why nobody should have the nuclear bomb!"
Silence except for me, who lapsed into suppressed anxious giggles.
Then she said, "That's all right, nobody worry about that!"
Then the whole car started tittering nervously.
posted by angrycat at 3:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [55 favorites]
"Oh," she said. "I always get nervous and push the door close button when I meant to push the open door one! Did I do it right that time?"
The elevator car of people laughed and assured her that she did.
Then she said, "This is why nobody should have the nuclear bomb!"
Silence except for me, who lapsed into suppressed anxious giggles.
Then she said, "That's all right, nobody worry about that!"
Then the whole car started tittering nervously.
posted by angrycat at 3:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [55 favorites]
I'm taking my kids to a Mets game tonight.
They're 16.5 games out of first place.
Zarq, it sounds like you're asking permission to IgnoreTMF. ITMFA and go to the game.
posted by tilde at 3:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Dr. Strangelove didn't come from nowhere.
Dr. Strangelove didn't need [FAKE] tags on the poster
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
Dr. Strangelove didn't need [FAKE] tags on the poster
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
it's unlikely a nuclear shooting match between NK and the Cheeto would wipe out all multicelluar life on the planet at this time.
Even a regional nuclear war could spark "unprecedented" global cooling and reduce rainfall for years, according to U.S. government computer models. Widespread famine and disease would likely follow, experts speculate.
Not to mention the global social and political changes that would likely follow. This ain't no party, this ain't no disco.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [25 favorites]
Even a regional nuclear war could spark "unprecedented" global cooling and reduce rainfall for years, according to U.S. government computer models. Widespread famine and disease would likely follow, experts speculate.
Not to mention the global social and political changes that would likely follow. This ain't no party, this ain't no disco.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:44 PM on August 8, 2017 [25 favorites]
Indeed. I can remember being as appalled and outraged at Reagan's actions. He just had a different version of dumb-old-grandpa vibe. But just as many sycophants and big money dancing around his inadequacies.
Here's something to think about that will haunt your dreams:
Even though it was pretty apparent at the time to anyone who bothered to look closely that the above read of President Reagan's admin is accurate -- despite the already in process deification of the man in American media, a few notable exceptions aside -- and despite this read's accuracy becoming even more apparent in recent years as more truths are unearthed, there are still a large number of people -- including Democrats (eg Obama) -- who enthusiastically bend the knee and praise the man at every opportunity as St Ronald The Blessed Who Conquered Comm'nism And Sits Now at The Right Hand of God, Advising Him on How Best To Order The Affairs of the World to Benefit Wealthy White Conservative Americans.*
So in starting in the 2040s or so -- assuming there's still a here here -- look for the Democratic candidate for the Presidency to take every opportunity to remind everyone about how much they admire Trump as a bold leader who knew how to command attention, leverage social media, bring jobs back to America, and draw bright red lines for America's foreign and domestic enemies.
Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
* This is the full name Republicans will soon insist be placed on all buildings and street signs and currency (yep) honoring the man, and Dems will roll right over and agree.....
posted by lord_wolf at 3:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Here's something to think about that will haunt your dreams:
Even though it was pretty apparent at the time to anyone who bothered to look closely that the above read of President Reagan's admin is accurate -- despite the already in process deification of the man in American media, a few notable exceptions aside -- and despite this read's accuracy becoming even more apparent in recent years as more truths are unearthed, there are still a large number of people -- including Democrats (eg Obama) -- who enthusiastically bend the knee and praise the man at every opportunity as St Ronald The Blessed Who Conquered Comm'nism And Sits Now at The Right Hand of God, Advising Him on How Best To Order The Affairs of the World to Benefit Wealthy White Conservative Americans.*
So in starting in the 2040s or so -- assuming there's still a here here -- look for the Democratic candidate for the Presidency to take every opportunity to remind everyone about how much they admire Trump as a bold leader who knew how to command attention, leverage social media, bring jobs back to America, and draw bright red lines for America's foreign and domestic enemies.
Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
* This is the full name Republicans will soon insist be placed on all buildings and street signs and currency (yep) honoring the man, and Dems will roll right over and agree.....
posted by lord_wolf at 3:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Han
poetry break: "Han" (audio, NSFW language)
from Broken Speak, by Asian American spoken word collective I Was Born With Two Tongues
posted by salix at 3:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
poetry break: "Han" (audio, NSFW language)
from Broken Speak, by Asian American spoken word collective I Was Born With Two Tongues
posted by salix at 3:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
What's the current status of the mine shaft gap?
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:48 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Hill: "I don't know what he's saying and I've long ago given up trying to interpret what he says," [Senator] McCain said of Trump during an interview with a local Arizona radio station first reported by NBC. "That kind of rhetoric, I'm not sure how it helps."
"In other words, the old walk softly but carry a big stick, Teddy Roosevelt's saying, which I think is something that should've applied because all it's going to do is bring us closer to a serious confrontation," McCain warned. "I think this is very, very, very serious." ...
"I take exception to the president's words because you got to be sure you can do what you say you're going to do," said McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Now that McCain has shown his willingness to take action to thwart a president he detests, I hope he will call for Trump's resignation, or for an invocation of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
"In other words, the old walk softly but carry a big stick, Teddy Roosevelt's saying, which I think is something that should've applied because all it's going to do is bring us closer to a serious confrontation," McCain warned. "I think this is very, very, very serious." ...
"I take exception to the president's words because you got to be sure you can do what you say you're going to do," said McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Now that McCain has shown his willingness to take action to thwart a president he detests, I hope he will call for Trump's resignation, or for an invocation of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:55 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
Breaking: Worried Guam locals frantically install Trump signage, branding on their tallest building. [fake]
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:56 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by sebastienbailard at 3:56 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco.
Damn, I just got a new notebook too.
posted by thelonius at 3:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Damn, I just got a new notebook too.
posted by thelonius at 3:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
So there's a semi-local special election for state legislature, and I'm seriously freaked out about it. The district was previously represented by a Democrat, who died in office recently, but it's fairly conservative. The Democratic candidate was previously on the school board, where he defended the rights of trans kids, and the Republican has been running attack ads aimed at him because of it. The prediction that I'm seeing is that if the Republican wins, the state Republicans are going to go all out on culture war stuff, especially anti-trans stuff, in 2018. And I seriously am not going to be able to handle it if that happens.
I'm hearing that early voting numbers look pretty encouraging, but it's traditionally a close district, and who knows what the hell is going to happen. So anyway, please send good election vibes towards Iowa if you have any.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:05 PM on August 8, 2017 [26 favorites]
I'm hearing that early voting numbers look pretty encouraging, but it's traditionally a close district, and who knows what the hell is going to happen. So anyway, please send good election vibes towards Iowa if you have any.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:05 PM on August 8, 2017 [26 favorites]
What good are notebooks
posted by suelac at 4:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by suelac at 4:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Now that McCain has shown his willingness to take action to thwart a president he detests, I hope he will call for Trump's resignation, or for an invocation of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
I really hope that Pence and enough cabinet members have signed and sealed 25th Amendment Section 4 declarations sitting in Hatch's and Ryan's desks for a quick as possible, break glass in case of emergency backup plan.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:09 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I really hope that Pence and enough cabinet members have signed and sealed 25th Amendment Section 4 declarations sitting in Hatch's and Ryan's desks for a quick as possible, break glass in case of emergency backup plan.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:09 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I just want to pretend our President did not threaten another country with nuclear war. So, instead, I will obssess over his Folders of Praise.
10 staffers work on this daily? At over $100,000 yearly plus benefits I'm guessing that adds up to some serious tax dollars. It would be a whole lot cheaper to hire a masseuse to come in every day and rub his body rather than spend hundreds of manhours rubbing his ego.
I'm also imagining some examples on display in either the Museum of Crimes committed by Trump or the Trump Presidential Library (whichever one gets built.) What a fun display for schoolchildren! What a great school project. Make your own Praise Folder.
I'm with Zach, though, (as is so often the case) in that I was enjoying this brief respite from the news while the Big Boy went on vacation. And now here we are: Folders of Praise, "Opiod" treatment consisting of locking people up, and Nuclear War threats. What a perfect summation of the entire Trump agenda.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
10 staffers work on this daily? At over $100,000 yearly plus benefits I'm guessing that adds up to some serious tax dollars. It would be a whole lot cheaper to hire a masseuse to come in every day and rub his body rather than spend hundreds of manhours rubbing his ego.
I'm also imagining some examples on display in either the Museum of Crimes committed by Trump or the Trump Presidential Library (whichever one gets built.) What a fun display for schoolchildren! What a great school project. Make your own Praise Folder.
I'm with Zach, though, (as is so often the case) in that I was enjoying this brief respite from the news while the Big Boy went on vacation. And now here we are: Folders of Praise, "Opiod" treatment consisting of locking people up, and Nuclear War threats. What a perfect summation of the entire Trump agenda.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
I'm getting really tired of all the news talking heads acting like Trump's "fire and fury" bit was like a planned, strategic message designed to "send a message to China about stepping up their efforts to restrain N. Korea" or "playing the madman" or like a set-up for behind-the-scenes diplomacy. They're talking about it like it's something said by a regular president. They do this every. fucking. time. something military comes up (like the Syria attack) with this guy.
What possible reason do we have to think that comment was anything other than what he constantly does -- spouting off utter BULLSHIT spontaneously and irresponsibly about anyfuckingthing without one whit of foresight or thought?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
What possible reason do we have to think that comment was anything other than what he constantly does -- spouting off utter BULLSHIT spontaneously and irresponsibly about anyfuckingthing without one whit of foresight or thought?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
It would be a whole lot cheaper to hire a masseuse to come in every day and rub his body. . . .
Well, until the massive harassment settlement.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, until the massive harassment settlement.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, eeeeeeeewwwwww.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
If my bulgogi tacos end up tripling in price from all this foofaraw I WILL BE WRITING A STRONG LETTER.
posted by delfin at 4:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by delfin at 4:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
RobotVoodooPower: "Even a regional nuclear war could spark "unprecedented" global cooling and reduce rainfall for years, according to U.S. government computer models. Widespread famine and disease would likely follow, experts speculate.
"
Well sure, but even those horrific effects pale in comparison to what an all out exchange between the USSR and the USA would have resulted in at the height of their arsenals. I mean the US alone had enough nuclear weapons to essentially directly kill every man, woman and child on the planet several times over (30K+ warheads at their peak). It would make the effects of the Chicxulub impactor look like an usually warm summer day.
posted by Mitheral at 4:30 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
"
Well sure, but even those horrific effects pale in comparison to what an all out exchange between the USSR and the USA would have resulted in at the height of their arsenals. I mean the US alone had enough nuclear weapons to essentially directly kill every man, woman and child on the planet several times over (30K+ warheads at their peak). It would make the effects of the Chicxulub impactor look like an usually warm summer day.
posted by Mitheral at 4:30 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
We take a break from nuclear threats for a brief word from Ryan Lizza: What to Make of the Mike Pence 2020 Rumors
posted by zachlipton at 4:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
Two weeks ago, when I spoke to Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director—the same conversation in which he pilloried several colleagues, threatened to fire his entire staff, and claimed to have called the F.B.I. to investigate the White House chief of staff—he offered some cryptic thoughts about Vice-President Mike Pence. “Why do you think Nick’s there, bro?” Scaramucci asked me, referring to Nick Ayers, Pence’s recently installed chief of staff. “Are you stupid?” He continued, “Why is Nick there? Nick’s there to protect the Vice-President because the Vice-President can’t believe what the fuck is going on.” Given everything else Scaramucci told me that day, I left this exchange out of my original article about the conversation. But, in light of the news this week about Pence’s political machinations, the remarks seem worth revisiting.Yeah, thanks for leaving that bit out Ryan. Pence's position is a hell of a lot more newsworthy than alleged Bannon's flexibility.
On Saturday, the Times, citing conversations with seventy-five Republicans, reported that two of Pence’s aides, including Ayers, have told other Republicans that the Vice-President, in the words of the Times, “wants to be ready” to run for President in 2020 in case the opportunity arises.
...
But what did Scaramucci mean when he told me that Pence couldn’t “believe” what was going on? And what was he getting at when he asked me to think about why Ayers had been hired? At the time, I took his reference to what was “going on” to mean the general dysfunction in the White House. But, as the Times noted over the weekend, Ayers’s appointment was “a striking departure from vice presidents’ long history of elevating a government veteran to be their top staff member. Mr. Ayers had worked on many campaigns but never in the federal government.” Was Scaramucci suggesting that Ayers was meant to protect Pence from the fallout if and when Trump collapses politically, resigns, decides not to run for reëlection, or is impeached? (Scaramucci did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.)
posted by zachlipton at 4:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
CNBC: "North Korea seriously considering strike on Guam: Reports, citing state media"
escalating, quickly, etc.
Fortunately they don't have the ability to do so. Let's hope Trump can figure that out.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
escalating, quickly, etc.
Fortunately they don't have the ability to do so. Let's hope Trump can figure that out.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm getting really tired of all the news talking heads acting like Trump's "fire and fury" bit was like a planned, strategic message designed to "send a message to China about stepping up their efforts to restrain N. Korea" or "playing the madman" or like a set-up for behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
The only thing remotely like strategy I would believe is if Trump and Kim were coordinating all this strongman playacting to make them both look tough but yeah, impulsive idiocy with no plan is certainly the real case.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
The only thing remotely like strategy I would believe is if Trump and Kim were coordinating all this strongman playacting to make them both look tough but yeah, impulsive idiocy with no plan is certainly the real case.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Eh? They've tested missiles with the range to hit Guam.
It wouldn't be effective at much of anything but they could do it.
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
It wouldn't be effective at much of anything but they could do it.
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Big morning tomorrow for Fox and Friends, as the show’s producers decide whether to lead us into nuclear war
The above quoted tweet from Pinboard guy makes me want to crawl under my desk with an entire bottle of liquor. I'm not catastrophizing or anything, or not much. Just holy fuck this is all so fucking irresponsible. WORDS MEAN THINGS. The geopolitical order shouldn't be--you know what, never mind, we all know. You all know, right? See you later, I'm gonna hang out under the desk.
posted by yasaman at 4:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [33 favorites]
The above quoted tweet from Pinboard guy makes me want to crawl under my desk with an entire bottle of liquor. I'm not catastrophizing or anything, or not much. Just holy fuck this is all so fucking irresponsible. WORDS MEAN THINGS. The geopolitical order shouldn't be--you know what, never mind, we all know. You all know, right? See you later, I'm gonna hang out under the desk.
posted by yasaman at 4:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [33 favorites]
It wouldn't be effective at much of anything but they could do it.
I'm still not convinced just because they've got a missile and a miniaturized warhead that they could -- on purpose -- put the warhead on the missile, shoot it at a target, have it reenter the atmosphere on the target, and deliver the warhead to the proper altitude where it would then detonate.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm still not convinced just because they've got a missile and a miniaturized warhead that they could -- on purpose -- put the warhead on the missile, shoot it at a target, have it reenter the atmosphere on the target, and deliver the warhead to the proper altitude where it would then detonate.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:43 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Big morning tomorrow for Fox and Friends, as the show’s producers decide whether to lead us into nuclear war
/ConfusedBrianKilmeade.jpg
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
/ConfusedBrianKilmeade.jpg
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Remember the good old days, when The Guam Problem was just silly Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay turning it into their own personal fiefdom?
Is this really what McConnell and Ryan wanted? Someone needs to stand up and invoke the 25th amendment.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is this really what McConnell and Ryan wanted? Someone needs to stand up and invoke the 25th amendment.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nothing drowns out scandal like the fire and fury
of 59 Tomahawk Missiles
Like maybe this was included in the fluffer briefing or whatever it's called when his staff present him with images of Chyrons praising his name or whatever the fuck
posted by angrycat at 4:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
of 59 Tomahawk Missiles
Like maybe this was included in the fluffer briefing or whatever it's called when his staff present him with images of Chyrons praising his name or whatever the fuck
posted by angrycat at 4:49 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Daniel Dale Did Donald Trump accidentally threaten nuclear war out of a penchant for hyperbole?: Analysis
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
In 2012, when Donald Trump was a celebrity businessman, he wrote on Twitter: “Price of corn has jumped over 50%. This will cause a jump in food prices perhaps beyond what we've ever seen.”So possibly just his usual hyperbole. People are pointing to his body language when he made his threats today, his arms crossed and withdrawn rather than defiant.
Four years later, when he was running for president, he told the New York Times that China was building, in the South China Sea, “a military fortress the likes of which perhaps the world has not seen.”
[few more examples of "which the world has never seen]
Without the “like the world has never seen,” Trump’s remarks about “fire and fury” could conceivably have been taken to mean any kind of military strike. With the “like the world has never seen,” the comments are an unmistakable threat of nuclear annihilation.[...]it is also possible that the president bumbled into the threat because he did not understand the ramifications of a favourite phrase he had in his head.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
@PACAF: S. Dakota #Airmen arrive on Guam; conduct #bilateral missions w/Japan & ROK--U.S. ready to #fighttonight (4:21 PM - 8 Aug 2017)
posted by christopherious at 4:57 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by christopherious at 4:57 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
So possibly just his usual hyperbole.
Yeah, a nuclear exchange followed by some chucklefuck saying "it was just a joke bro lighten up!" sounds about on par for 2017.
Jesus Christ these fucking existentially dangerous idiots.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
Yeah, a nuclear exchange followed by some chucklefuck saying "it was just a joke bro lighten up!" sounds about on par for 2017.
Jesus Christ these fucking existentially dangerous idiots.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
The Cheeto only has three levels of anything. The worse ever, the best ever and occasionally somewhat neutral. Nothing is ever nuanced inbetween the extremes.
posted by Mitheral at 4:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 4:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
So possibly just his usual hyperbole.
here's the thing though
presidents aren't supposed to be prone to hyperbole
especially not when that hyperbole COULD ACCIDENTALLY START WARS
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
here's the thing though
presidents aren't supposed to be prone to hyperbole
especially not when that hyperbole COULD ACCIDENTALLY START WARS
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
"Given everything else Scaramucci told me that day, I left this exchange out of my original article about the conversation. But, in light of the news this week about Pence’s political machinations, the remarks seem worth revisiting.HEY RYAN YOU SHOULD'VE PUT THAT IN GOOD CHRIST WHAT FUN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
Seriously, it seems important. And would've given everyone a great reason to make lots of hot buttered popcorn.
Just publish the full transcript of everything everyone ever says, at this point, okay?
posted by Caxton1476 at 5:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
On Fox & Friends, Nikki Haley said she can't discuss this because it's classified, said it's a shame if it was published. Trump tweeted it.
Trump tweeted a leak from a report that he could have read himself (hint: he's the President*). Think about that. The man is truly insane. He doesn't realize who he is.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
Trump tweeted a leak from a report that he could have read himself (hint: he's the President*). Think about that. The man is truly insane. He doesn't realize who he is.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:03 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
U.S. ready to #fighttonight
This seems unnecessarily confrontational...
And it was posted less than an hour ago, so the Pacific Air Force said this well after Trump's comments, and after North Korea responded with another threat.
posted by diogenes at 5:09 PM on August 8, 2017
This seems unnecessarily confrontational...
And it was posted less than an hour ago, so the Pacific Air Force said this well after Trump's comments, and after North Korea responded with another threat.
posted by diogenes at 5:09 PM on August 8, 2017
If you go to the Pacific Air Force's web site, the top headline is "South Dakota Airmen arrive ready to 'Fight Tonight' from Guam."
What's with the fucking "Fight Tonight" branding? Is this a horribly timed coincidence, or are they really trying to get a hashtag going for a nuclear war?
posted by diogenes at 5:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
What's with the fucking "Fight Tonight" branding? Is this a horribly timed coincidence, or are they really trying to get a hashtag going for a nuclear war?
posted by diogenes at 5:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
On the surface it seems that Trump having declared war on the Press should make them rather less sympathetic to providing propaganda support for his regime's more egregiously boneheaded aims
The thing to me is, I don't think this is Trump-driven propaganda. I think Trump is the one being driven here.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
The thing to me is, I don't think this is Trump-driven propaganda. I think Trump is the one being driven here.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 5:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
So you know what's not fun? Coming back to the internet after some lovely sex, feeling all happy and relaxed and seeing 185 new posts and thinking, "Hmm, I wonder what happened?" Oh, nothing, just impending nuclear war...
I wish I still had cake.
posted by threeturtles at 5:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
I wish I still had cake.
posted by threeturtles at 5:17 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
As Gen-X I remember growing up seeing the nuclear fallout shelter signs on the post office and masons lodge and asking my parents about it, but at the time the USSR was poor and throwing hissy fits about the Olympics and waiting in line for bread and bananas and trading Levi's for cars and being into Billy Joel so it always sort of seemed alarmist and overblown. Now I'm wondering how long until those signs go back up and duck and cover drills are reinstituted in schools.
Semi-related, my dad trolled the hell out of me when I was 9 and told me that those aluminum awnings everyone got in the 50s could be popped closed over the window to protect from fallout. I believed that until well into adulthood. Maybe it was an artifact of dark humor at the time.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Semi-related, my dad trolled the hell out of me when I was 9 and told me that those aluminum awnings everyone got in the 50s could be popped closed over the window to protect from fallout. I believed that until well into adulthood. Maybe it was an artifact of dark humor at the time.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
He thinks he's in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and if he just acts tough, they'll back down.
posted by ctmf at 5:19 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by ctmf at 5:19 PM on August 8, 2017
Kim Jong-un, oh, Kim Jong-un
I am so afraid of dying...
posted by snofoam at 5:20 PM on August 8, 2017
I am so afraid of dying...
posted by snofoam at 5:20 PM on August 8, 2017
With all the hubbub over the "fire and fury", did anyone else notice that Melania Trump was at the opiod briefing? Judging from her tweet, it's a cause she cares about deeply, I'm glad she's working to help our youth/people.
posted by peeedro at 5:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by peeedro at 5:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Senator Markey says "I think we are inside of the modern-day Cuban Missile Crisis."
So that's reassuring...
posted by diogenes at 5:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
So that's reassuring...
posted by diogenes at 5:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
From the press release about the Fight Tonight thing, it seems like it was a 10 hour flyover mission in the region as part of an ongoing series of these things with Japan and the ROK, and it was over by the time it was posted. Hopefully that's all it is and it remains that way.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 5:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
As Gen-X I remember growing up seeing the nuclear fallout shelter signs on the post office and masons lodge and asking my parents about
Out of personal curiosity, what year were you born? I was born in '73 and we did duck-and-cover drills. I remember questioning the logic of covering my head in the face of an atomic blast even at that age. I mentioned that to my dad as an adult, and he responded with an anecdote about being assigned busywork in the Army Reserves, where he would "suit up in a radiation suit and practice falling away from the flash." Heh.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Out of personal curiosity, what year were you born? I was born in '73 and we did duck-and-cover drills. I remember questioning the logic of covering my head in the face of an atomic blast even at that age. I mentioned that to my dad as an adult, and he responded with an anecdote about being assigned busywork in the Army Reserves, where he would "suit up in a radiation suit and practice falling away from the flash." Heh.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:24 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
it seems like it was a 10 hour flyover mission in the region as part of an ongoing series of these things with Japan and the ROK, and it was over by the time it was posted.
Damn, posting "South Dakota Airmen arrive ready to 'Fight Tonight' from Guam" is one hell of an unfortunate coincidence.
posted by diogenes at 5:29 PM on August 8, 2017
Damn, posting "South Dakota Airmen arrive ready to 'Fight Tonight' from Guam" is one hell of an unfortunate coincidence.
posted by diogenes at 5:29 PM on August 8, 2017
In 1979 there was the big No Nukes concert.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Turns out that threats of nuclear war don't stop the news.
Daily Beast, Asawin Suebsaeng and Spencer Ackerman: Pentagon to Bannon’s Blackwater Buddy Erik Prince: GTFO: "The world’s most notorious mercenary chief is trying to sell the Trump administration on a plan to privatize America’s longest war. But the Pentagon brass are not having it." Apparently, Bannon is the only one who is into this idea. And we've got this alarming bit (I'm, um, just going to put the especially bad part in bold since I just assume your eyes have all glazed over into the same state of despair I'm sporting):
Politico: Special counsel Robert Mueller's finances go public: "He gave up a law firm partnership where he made almost $3.5 million since the beginning of 2016 by taking on the role of special counsel." I've got to assume he didn't do so for no reason.
posted by zachlipton at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Daily Beast, Asawin Suebsaeng and Spencer Ackerman: Pentagon to Bannon’s Blackwater Buddy Erik Prince: GTFO: "The world’s most notorious mercenary chief is trying to sell the Trump administration on a plan to privatize America’s longest war. But the Pentagon brass are not having it." Apparently, Bannon is the only one who is into this idea. And we've got this alarming bit (I'm, um, just going to put the especially bad part in bold since I just assume your eyes have all glazed over into the same state of despair I'm sporting):
Prince generally agrees with Trump’s chief strategist about ratcheting down the level of conventional forces—and often is quick to propose extreme measures to try to crush enemies abroad. Last year, Prince appeared on Bannon’s Breitbart radio program where he said he would “not leave [the fight against ISIS] to the DoD to sort it out” and insisted that it “should be the intelligence community” to take the lead. One of the ways in which Prince wanted the U.S. intelligence community to take the reins was to revive for the modern era the Phoenix Program, a Vietnam War-era project spearheaded by the CIA and special ops that critics have documented as fueled by torture and death-squad tactics.BuzzFeed, Steven Perlberg: Behind The Jared And Ivanka PR Machine, on what's up with them having their own spokesman. The spokesman, Josh Raffel, is described by an anonymous reporter as "the most competent staffer in the West Wing" (a not so anonymous reporter, one of the authors of the article just above this one in fact, slyly agrees).
Raffel’s response when contacted for this story — focusing on how he skillfully influences pieces about Kushner and Ivanka Trump — offers a case study in how he skillfully influences pieces about Kushner and Ivanka Trump.The piece opens with a weird anecdote about Kushner getting upset about Olivia Nuzzi recording him and sending a press aide and Secret Service agent to falsely tell her recording was forbidden.
He declined to comment, but after BuzzFeed News reached out to him, numerous White House officials reached out to BuzzFeed News to speak (mostly) anonymously.
Politico: Special counsel Robert Mueller's finances go public: "He gave up a law firm partnership where he made almost $3.5 million since the beginning of 2016 by taking on the role of special counsel." I've got to assume he didn't do so for no reason.
posted by zachlipton at 5:31 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
76, Autumnheart. Tornado drills were our jam in the midwest. I don't remember ever doing a duck and cover.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
we're not currently in the middle of an acute crisis/escalation with North Korea.
I'm not an expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen" followed by more threats from North Korea could be considered an escalation.
posted by diogenes at 5:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm not an expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure "North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen" followed by more threats from North Korea could be considered an escalation.
posted by diogenes at 5:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
Damn, posting "South Dakota Airmen arrive ready to 'Fight Tonight' from Guam" is one hell of an unfortunate coincidence.
I don't think it's coincidence so much as the cause and effect is flipped: the Air Force isn't there in direct response to Kim's Guam threat, Kim chose Guam as the target of the threat in response to the training/show of strength mission flying out of there the same day Trump pushed him about making threats.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I don't think it's coincidence so much as the cause and effect is flipped: the Air Force isn't there in direct response to Kim's Guam threat, Kim chose Guam as the target of the threat in response to the training/show of strength mission flying out of there the same day Trump pushed him about making threats.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Honestly I'm curious if Trump actually does start a nuclear war if my dad will continue to share "I support and pray for Trump" garbage on Facebook. Nothing has stopped him thus far so I don't see why millions of innocent people dying would either. Just more "fake news"
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 5:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 5:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
I kind of feel like we all should have all the cake and lovely sex we want right now.
Earlier today I tweeted:
It makes me feel so weird that I have to divide my mental energy into bills/job/family/housework/apocalypse.
But that's been life for a while now. Tomorrow I will go into work like everything's okey-dokey and talk about Work Stuff as though it mattered then at breaks I'll be here, seeing what new horrors we are discussing.
I only have a little grey hair, I'm starting to think that four years of this is going to leave me totally white-headed.
posted by emjaybee at 5:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [38 favorites]
Earlier today I tweeted:
It makes me feel so weird that I have to divide my mental energy into bills/job/family/housework/apocalypse.
But that's been life for a while now. Tomorrow I will go into work like everything's okey-dokey and talk about Work Stuff as though it mattered then at breaks I'll be here, seeing what new horrors we are discussing.
I only have a little grey hair, I'm starting to think that four years of this is going to leave me totally white-headed.
posted by emjaybee at 5:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [38 favorites]
I was born in '73 and we did duck-and-cover drills.
And as a cub reporter in the early 1980s, one of the first things I covered in one of the small towns to which I was assigned (after the gypsy-moth infestation, yuck) was a Reagan-administration plan to empty out cities in the event of impending nuclear war and have all the residents move into temporary quarters in the surrounding suburbs. The particular suburb I covered had a state hospital with huge grounds and the feds had this plan to house tens of thousands of Bostonians there (in tents, I guess). The residents of the town were, of course, not amused.
posted by adamg at 5:37 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
And as a cub reporter in the early 1980s, one of the first things I covered in one of the small towns to which I was assigned (after the gypsy-moth infestation, yuck) was a Reagan-administration plan to empty out cities in the event of impending nuclear war and have all the residents move into temporary quarters in the surrounding suburbs. The particular suburb I covered had a state hospital with huge grounds and the feds had this plan to house tens of thousands of Bostonians there (in tents, I guess). The residents of the town were, of course, not amused.
posted by adamg at 5:37 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
Prescient.
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
Prescient.
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
Ahh, April 2017, when we all felt fine telling a new mom that her stress about pending nuclear war was totally overblown and that she should in fact probably see a doctor. How quaint!
(For the record, I still think all of the answers are correct, and more importantly there are a lot of good suggestions on how to handle the stress, which some people might need today. But if the question were re-asked today I'd probably cheerfully add that there's no point stressing about a world where we're all dead because we'll all be dead.)
posted by acidic at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
(For the record, I still think all of the answers are correct, and more importantly there are a lot of good suggestions on how to handle the stress, which some people might need today. But if the question were re-asked today I'd probably cheerfully add that there's no point stressing about a world where we're all dead because we'll all be dead.)
posted by acidic at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Today in Best Headlines:
‘To hell with both of them’: Top nonproliferation expert chugs wine while blasting ‘lunatics’ Trump and Jung-un
posted by emjaybee at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
‘To hell with both of them’: Top nonproliferation expert chugs wine while blasting ‘lunatics’ Trump and Jung-un
posted by emjaybee at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
I'm just sitting here trying very hard - VERY HARD - to not start yelling "Clinton was the warhawk, right? Right? You bunch of stupid fuckers."
I still can't believe this is our life in 2017. Fuck.
posted by lydhre at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [96 favorites]
I still can't believe this is our life in 2017. Fuck.
posted by lydhre at 5:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [96 favorites]
76, Autumnheart. Tornado drills were our jam in the midwest. I don't remember ever doing a duck and cover.
MN here. Maybe it differed by city and/or state. At any rate, I'm not in a big hurry to introduce them to a new generation.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
MN here. Maybe it differed by city and/or state. At any rate, I'm not in a big hurry to introduce them to a new generation.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:47 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm just sitting here trying very hard - VERY HARD - to not start yelling "Clinton was the warhawk, right? Right? You bunch of stupid fuckers."
but her emails
posted by entropicamericana at 5:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
but her emails
posted by entropicamericana at 5:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
diogenes: "Is this a horribly timed coincidence, or are they really trying to get a hashtag going for a nuclear war?"
For whatever it's worth, "ready to fight tonight" (sometimes rendered as "win tonight"?) appears to be a longstanding slogan for the Osan Air Base in S. Korea and possibly also adopted by the various units stationed there. It makes a kind of sense given their location that combat readiness would be emphasized. They probably do everything with that slogan attached. However, they might have wanted to check themselves today, especially since they were just doing exercises in Guam...
posted by mhum at 5:52 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
For whatever it's worth, "ready to fight tonight" (sometimes rendered as "win tonight"?) appears to be a longstanding slogan for the Osan Air Base in S. Korea and possibly also adopted by the various units stationed there. It makes a kind of sense given their location that combat readiness would be emphasized. They probably do everything with that slogan attached. However, they might have wanted to check themselves today, especially since they were just doing exercises in Guam...
posted by mhum at 5:52 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
There needs to be a website for the sole purpose of keeping track of what people support Donald Trump and how they support him.
For history. I would do this but I don't have the technical skill.
How does one start a wiki
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:54 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
For history. I would do this but I don't have the technical skill.
How does one start a wiki
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:54 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
I posted this post back in June, about what's turned out to be a tremendously prescient dream I had in 2012. According to that, the shit goes down in about 4 weeks. I don't even know how to feel about this anymore. I'd say it feels like being in a bad dream, but that's a little too on the nose.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 5:58 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
Now I'm getting stupid nostalgic for Wendy's and terrible cassingles and utterly implausible dance offs.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [4 favorites]
I really hope that Pence and enough cabinet members have signed and sealed 25th Amendment Section 4 declarations sitting in Hatch's and Ryan's desks for a quick as possible, break glass in case of emergency backup plan.
If there's one thing these guys are good at, it's planning ahead
posted by EarBucket at 5:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
If there's one thing these guys are good at, it's planning ahead
posted by EarBucket at 5:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
>There needs to be a website for the sole purpose of keeping track of what people support Donald Trump and how they support him.
Head over to Reddit; there are a couple front-page threads about North Korea, with comments running into the thousands--many, if not most, of them saying 'thank goodness we have a Prezdint who's not Ascairt to Do Something'.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Head over to Reddit; there are a couple front-page threads about North Korea, with comments running into the thousands--many, if not most, of them saying 'thank goodness we have a Prezdint who's not Ascairt to Do Something'.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
This seemed a lot funnier nine months ago.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
Another current White House official said that the idea for the twice-daily ego boost came from Priebus and former Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who competed to deliver the folder and be the bearer of the good news.
That kind of makes sense(?) in a perverse, Trump-thinking kind of way. You hired Spicer to be your spokesperson, obviously it goes without saying that you would prefer news coverage to be positive. You have a "performance counseling" when that doesn't seem to be happening. Somehow there is a miscommunication, you're doing great things and the press isn't understanding. It's Spicey's fault - he must be doing it wrong. But you can't just whine about it, you're a professional here. You have to give Spicey a "smart" goal. Even better, make them come up with their own goal. Tomorrow, you want to see five positive news stories where Spicey and Rinse have successfully communicated what we're trying to get across. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bounded. Ready, go. Obviously if you're Spicey, you're not about to bring in critical news stories.
Oh, who are we kidding, Cheeto just likes people to praise him and do humiliating things for him.
posted by ctmf at 6:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
That kind of makes sense(?) in a perverse, Trump-thinking kind of way. You hired Spicer to be your spokesperson, obviously it goes without saying that you would prefer news coverage to be positive. You have a "performance counseling" when that doesn't seem to be happening. Somehow there is a miscommunication, you're doing great things and the press isn't understanding. It's Spicey's fault - he must be doing it wrong. But you can't just whine about it, you're a professional here. You have to give Spicey a "smart" goal. Even better, make them come up with their own goal. Tomorrow, you want to see five positive news stories where Spicey and Rinse have successfully communicated what we're trying to get across. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bounded. Ready, go. Obviously if you're Spicey, you're not about to bring in critical news stories.
Oh, who are we kidding, Cheeto just likes people to praise him and do humiliating things for him.
posted by ctmf at 6:06 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
And: our collective power to freak each other out is strong. I'm not saying it's not valid. Just offering a counterpoint to OMG DOOM.
Here's the thing, though: you don't have to be freaked out or doomy or actively fearful of imminent real-world events, which I agree are unlikely to occur, for this shit to be stressful, especially in an environment where the President keeps stressing the American people (and world) out. On purpose. Sometimes just to take attention away from other stuff. It's sadistic emotional abuse.
It's possible to be calm and rational and also SUFFUSED WITH CORTISOL, and people on Twitter saying words to the effect of "Oh hyper down nobody's getting blowed up today, you're such a baby" does nothing to ameliorate the ongoing lowgrade trauma of living in 2017, especially for people with skin in the game.
But I agree it would be nice if the newsjerks could cover the nuke thing with less obvious breathless excitement.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [76 favorites]
Here's the thing, though: you don't have to be freaked out or doomy or actively fearful of imminent real-world events, which I agree are unlikely to occur, for this shit to be stressful, especially in an environment where the President keeps stressing the American people (and world) out. On purpose. Sometimes just to take attention away from other stuff. It's sadistic emotional abuse.
It's possible to be calm and rational and also SUFFUSED WITH CORTISOL, and people on Twitter saying words to the effect of "Oh hyper down nobody's getting blowed up today, you're such a baby" does nothing to ameliorate the ongoing lowgrade trauma of living in 2017, especially for people with skin in the game.
But I agree it would be nice if the newsjerks could cover the nuke thing with less obvious breathless excitement.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [76 favorites]
FelliniBlank, yes! Fucking fucking yes. Thank you! Perfectly articulated.
posted by OmieWise at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sigh, they don't even understand how two-way communication works
Well, no, of course not. The Communications Director is gone, so no one else knows how anything "communications" works.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well, no, of course not. The Communications Director is gone, so no one else knows how anything "communications" works.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
New Yorker Why Is Donald Trump Still So Horribly Witless About the World?
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
Republican critics are divided on whether Trump can grow into the job. “Trump is completely irredeemable,” Eliot A. Cohen, who was a counsellor to Condoleezza Rice at the State Department, told me. “He has a feral instinct for self-survival, but he’s unteachable. The ban on Muslims coming into the country and building a wall, and having the Mexicans pay for it, that was all you needed to know about this guy on foreign affairs. This is a man who is idiotic and bigoted and ignorant of the law.” Cohen was a ringleader of an open letter warning, during the campaign, that Trump’s foreign policy was “wildly inconsistent and unmoored.”The whole article is worth a read because it has lots of sharply critical remarks about various missteps by Trump from FO experts.
But other Republicans from earlier Administrations still hold out hope. “Whenever Trump begins to learn about an issue—the Middle East conflict or North Korea—he expresses such surprise that it could be so complicated, after saying it wasn’t that difficult,” Gordon, from the Bush Administration, said. “The good news, when he says that, is it means he has a little bit of knowledge.” So far, however, the learning curve has been pitifully—and dangerously—slow.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 6:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
especially not when that hyperbole COULD ACCIDENTALLY START WARS
I just wanted to say that I'd find this sentence totally hilarious if I weren't so worried it were true.
posted by uosuaq at 6:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just wanted to say that I'd find this sentence totally hilarious if I weren't so worried it were true.
posted by uosuaq at 6:14 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
tfw you realize that avoiding nuclear war relies in part on the north korean government realizing that donald trump is a witless, blustering buffoon
posted by mhum at 6:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by mhum at 6:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [21 favorites]
Politico: Special counsel Robert Mueller's finances go public: "He gave up a law firm partnership where he made almost $3.5 million since the beginning of 2016 by taking on the role of special counsel." I've got to assume he didn't do so for no reason.
Mueller isn't motivated by money, but law partnerships for people like Mueller are a constant presence. He's one of the best and most famous lawyers in America. No matter how the Special Counsel turns out, Mueller will always have an open door at literally every law firm in the country. He makes any firm he's attached to FAR more money than they're paying him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
Mueller isn't motivated by money, but law partnerships for people like Mueller are a constant presence. He's one of the best and most famous lawyers in America. No matter how the Special Counsel turns out, Mueller will always have an open door at literally every law firm in the country. He makes any firm he's attached to FAR more money than they're paying him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:27 PM on August 8, 2017 [14 favorites]
On the other hand, if he brings down the President, he can live off book royalties forever
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
There needs to be a website for the sole purpose of keeping track of what people support Donald Trump and how they support him.First, be smart, from the very beginning
For history. I would do this but I don't have the technical skill.
How does one start a wiki
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:54 PM on August 8 [1 favorite +] [!]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:37 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
On the other hand, if he brings down the President, he can live off book royalties forever
Or, say, 60 million times five patreon dollars per month.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
Or, say, 60 million times five patreon dollars per month.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [12 favorites]
McCain: "In other words, the old walk softly but carry a big stick, Teddy Roosevelt's saying [...]"
That may be a typo rather than a misstatement, but what Roosevelt actually said was "Speak softly, and carry a big stick". The difference is significant: Roosevelt meant that the US should engage in peaceful negotiations to head off crises, albeit negotiations backed by the US's regional supremacy. The McCain quote implies nothing about negotiation; insofar as it means anything it evokes the image of someone tiptoeing up behind you with a club.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
That may be a typo rather than a misstatement, but what Roosevelt actually said was "Speak softly, and carry a big stick". The difference is significant: Roosevelt meant that the US should engage in peaceful negotiations to head off crises, albeit negotiations backed by the US's regional supremacy. The McCain quote implies nothing about negotiation; insofar as it means anything it evokes the image of someone tiptoeing up behind you with a club.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:51 PM on August 8, 2017 [40 favorites]
I'm torn between stepping back from the news and trying for an ignorance is bliss strategy or just keeping on like I normally am. It's not like I can really do anything about but worry and stress. But at the same time is it more stressful to know and speculate or just ignore it and focus on good things I do have some control over.
posted by Jalliah at 6:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 6:59 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ilan Goldenberg: 1. Danger with Trump and nukes isn't just the crazy tough talk but the absolute lack of credibility that comes with it When he first came into office many of our partners and adversaries were nervous but now they just think he's a joke Whether it be threatening North Korea with a carrier that wasn't there or threatening China for not doing more to rein in North Korea. It is clear the man is all talk no action Not to mention his incompetence on one signature issue after another - the wall, the Muslim ban, Obamacare And of course he is also a serial liar So does Kim Jung Un or anyone for that matter take him seriously when he threatens war? Doubtful & that is incredibly dangerous because it will cause our adversaries to push the envelope and test him & when they do that is precisely the type of situation where miscalculation could actually lead to genuine conflict Especially if it's coupled with over the top belligerent rhetoric & a policy process that sometimes emanates from his twitter account
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:02 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Mod note: ASCII art isn't forbidden, but it's not awesome to put it in a thread likely to go mega. Please, think of the mobile browsers! Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
ctmf: "He thinks he's in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and if he just acts tough, they'll back down."
Not the lesson at all of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The military (notably LeMay) were pushing Kennedy to be more aggressive, and if listened to, would surely have sparked a nuclear exchange.
Not that I expect Trump to be aware of that or take the proper lesson.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Not the lesson at all of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The military (notably LeMay) were pushing Kennedy to be more aggressive, and if listened to, would surely have sparked a nuclear exchange.
Not that I expect Trump to be aware of that or take the proper lesson.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Ok but if other countries' leaders are smart enough to know he isn't smart, they probably don't want him firing off nukes for any reason, one presumes?
posted by emjaybee at 7:14 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by emjaybee at 7:14 PM on August 8, 2017
It is clear the man is all talk no action
Oh God, please let no one on television take up this theme, or else he we bomb North Korea just to soothe the ego wound. "And fake news CNN said I was all talk! I showed them!"
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
Oh God, please let no one on television take up this theme, or else he we bomb North Korea just to soothe the ego wound. "And fake news CNN said I was all talk! I showed them!"
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:15 PM on August 8, 2017 [10 favorites]
It is clear the man is all talk no action
Oh God, please let no one on television take up this theme, or else he we bomb North Korea just to soothe the ego wound. "And fake news CNN said I was all talk! I showed them!"
Yep. We have a President* who has the mentality of a 7 year old. If that.
posted by Mental Wimp at 7:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh God, please let no one on television take up this theme, or else he we bomb North Korea just to soothe the ego wound. "And fake news CNN said I was all talk! I showed them!"
Yep. We have a President* who has the mentality of a 7 year old. If that.
posted by Mental Wimp at 7:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
From mefi's own jscalzi: PSA: the correct response to anyone still saying there was no difference between the 2016 candidates is "Oh, shut the fuck up, asshole."
Yes, jscalzi, yes it is.
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [94 favorites]
Yes, jscalzi, yes it is.
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on August 8, 2017 [94 favorites]
Trump Campaign Turns Over Thousands of Documents in Russia Probe
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, his son Donald Trump Jr. and former campaign manager Paul Manafort have started turning over documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of the panel’s expanded investigation of Russian election-meddling.posted by J.K. Seazer at 7:23 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
The Trump campaign turned over about 20,000 pages of documents on Aug. 2, committee spokesman George Hartmann said Tuesday. Manafort provided about 400 pages on Aug. 2, including his foreign-advocacy filing, while Trump Jr. gave about 250 pages on Aug. 4, Hartmann said. The committee had asked them last month to start producing the documents by Aug. 2.
while Trump Jr. gave about 250 pages on Aug. 4 . . .
. . . mostly written in crayon. [fake, probably]
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:26 PM on August 8, 2017
. . . mostly written in crayon. [fake, probably]
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:26 PM on August 8, 2017
Maddow just reported on a bonkers story:
Secretive search for man behind Trump dossier reveals tension in Russia inquiry (Julien Borger, The Guardian)
Secretive search for man behind Trump dossier reveals tension in Russia inquiry (Julien Borger, The Guardian)
Two US congressional staffers who travelled to London in July and tried to contact former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele were sent by a longstanding aide to Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House intelligence committee and a close ally of the White House. [...]posted by Room 641-A at 7:26 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
The two staffers turned up unannounced at Steele’s lawyers’ offices while the former MI6 officer was in the building, according to a report by Politico on Friday. But the committee’s leading Democrat, Adam Schiff, said on Sunday neither he nor his Republican counterpart had been informed about the staffers’ London trip.
A congressional official insisted, however, that the staffers were in London on official committee business. He said they had been told to make contact with Steele’s lawyers, rather than Steele himself.
“It was an intelligence committee trip although going to meet with the lawyer was not the sole purpose of the trip. They were also there on other committee business,” the official said, but he added he could not describe what else the committee staffers were doing in London.
in the meantime, Sleepy Rex is in my country right now talking abt terrorism.
(everyone makes jokes about the obvious targets in that Orb picture, but as usual, no one notices my PM creeping on the side but in the front as well. The country that's getting Saudi money to build a peace centre following tht event)
posted by cendawanita at 7:28 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
(everyone makes jokes about the obvious targets in that Orb picture, but as usual, no one notices my PM creeping on the side but in the front as well. The country that's getting Saudi money to build a peace centre following tht event)
posted by cendawanita at 7:28 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I really hope that Pence and enough cabinet members have signed and sealed 25th Amendment Section 4 declarations sitting in Hatch's and Ryan's desks for a quick as possible, break glass in case of emergency backup plan.You mean the party that ran on 7 years of repeal and replace but never bothered to write a replace? Nah. 25 will happen over lunch. The delivered envelope will be stained with dots of shrimp juice and mousse.
posted by xyzzy at 7:28 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
Special election results:
** MO SD-28 -- R hold, 68-32 . This district had no D candidate in 2014 or 2010. Incidentally, this will trigger another special, as the R is currently in the state House.
** MO HD-50 -- Looks like R hold, 52-48. Major overperformance by the D here, this is about a 60+ GOP district. No D had run in about 10 years.
Still waiting on IA HD-82.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
** MO SD-28 -- R hold, 68-32 . This district had no D candidate in 2014 or 2010. Incidentally, this will trigger another special, as the R is currently in the state House.
** MO HD-50 -- Looks like R hold, 52-48. Major overperformance by the D here, this is about a 60+ GOP district. No D had run in about 10 years.
Still waiting on IA HD-82.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:33 PM on August 8, 2017 [22 favorites]
Well I for one am glad that the White House is finally going to solve global warming by launching us into a nuclear winter instead! I bet it was one of Jared's suggestions, since he's so good at solving all of the most difficult world problems.
posted by TwoStride at 7:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 7:39 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
And YES to the back ground stress of this. Even if it won't happen there is probably not one (rational) person who didn't get a little cortisol bump reading Trump's threat.
I'm honestly concerned that even if the world goes along relatively OK until we emerge from this long national nightmare, there are going to be serious longterm stress-related health effects for a not insignificant chunk of the population. Which is yet another reason why we must prevent the gutting of Obamacare at all costs.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm honestly concerned that even if the world goes along relatively OK until we emerge from this long national nightmare, there are going to be serious longterm stress-related health effects for a not insignificant chunk of the population. Which is yet another reason why we must prevent the gutting of Obamacare at all costs.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:40 PM on August 8, 2017 [9 favorites]
UPCOMING SPECIAL ELECTIONS - SEPTEMBER ADDENDUM
We have a result in the rather late primary for this SC special.
September 26 -- South Carolina House District 31 -- Rosalyn Henderson Myers
HD-31 is a D seat (the incumbent resigned due to health issues); the D won 77-23 in 2016, and ran unopposed in 2014 and 2012. The district went for Clinton 72-24, and for Obama 79-20. The Rs control the SC House by about 40 seats.
=> Safe D hold.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
We have a result in the rather late primary for this SC special.
September 26 -- South Carolina House District 31 -- Rosalyn Henderson Myers
HD-31 is a D seat (the incumbent resigned due to health issues); the D won 77-23 in 2016, and ran unopposed in 2014 and 2012. The district went for Clinton 72-24, and for Obama 79-20. The Rs control the SC House by about 40 seats.
=> Safe D hold.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:41 PM on August 8, 2017 [15 favorites]
lalex: sent!
posted by standardasparagus at 7:42 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by standardasparagus at 7:42 PM on August 8, 2017
From Wikipedia:
"The NCCS [Nuclear Command and Control System] provides the President of the United States with the means to authorize the use of nuclear weapons in a crisis and to prevent unauthorized or accidental use."
I'm not crazy about this clown show admin's ability to do any of those things. Those last parts are just as scarily important as the first. Do we know he hasn't put "his generals" in charge of the decision to destroy the planet?
posted by ctmf at 7:51 PM on August 8, 2017
"The NCCS [Nuclear Command and Control System] provides the President of the United States with the means to authorize the use of nuclear weapons in a crisis and to prevent unauthorized or accidental use."
I'm not crazy about this clown show admin's ability to do any of those things. Those last parts are just as scarily important as the first. Do we know he hasn't put "his generals" in charge of the decision to destroy the planet?
posted by ctmf at 7:51 PM on August 8, 2017
Do we know he hasn't put "his generals" in charge of the decision to destroy the planet?
My money says that he's already tried to order a nuclear strike at least once, and probably more than once, and that some combination of Mattis, McMaster, and Kelly persuaded him not to. I think they manage to walk the tightrope of stroking his ego just so in order to convince him that it was never actually his idea to drop that nuke on Pyongyang/Raqqa/etc., and that it did not equate to a de-facto military coup to gently deny him. I think that it won't keep working forever.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:01 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
My money says that he's already tried to order a nuclear strike at least once, and probably more than once, and that some combination of Mattis, McMaster, and Kelly persuaded him not to. I think they manage to walk the tightrope of stroking his ego just so in order to convince him that it was never actually his idea to drop that nuke on Pyongyang/Raqqa/etc., and that it did not equate to a de-facto military coup to gently deny him. I think that it won't keep working forever.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:01 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
tfw you realize that avoiding nuclear war relies in part on the north korean government realizing that donald trump is a witless, blustering buffoon
I wish Donald Trump would realize that Donald Trump is a witless, blustering buffoon.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
I wish Donald Trump would realize that Donald Trump is a witless, blustering buffoon.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:07 PM on August 8, 2017 [17 favorites]
The Trump campaign turned over about 20,000 pages of documents on Aug. 2,
of which, 15,000 were blank and apparently being used as camera props stacked on desks.
posted by p3t3 at 8:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
of which, 15,000 were blank and apparently being used as camera props stacked on desks.
posted by p3t3 at 8:10 PM on August 8, 2017 [16 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
** 2017 AL Senate special -- Trump has finally jumped into this race, endorsing current Sen. Luther Strange. Polls show Strange and Roy "that Ten Commandments guy" Moore very close, and definitely headed for a runoff for the GOP nom, which will be tantamount to a victory in the general.
** VA gov -- VCU poll has Northam up 42-37 on Gillespie. Ds also lead for LG 43-38, and for AG 45-39. Dems were also preferred to control the House of Delegates 48-41.
** 2018 Senate -- Perennial candidate Danny "son of the old UNLV basketball coach" Tarkanian has declared his candidacy challenging Dean Heller for the GOP nod. Tarkanian has lost numerous races and is hard right, so he might have a shot at the nomination, but would be considered a week general election candidate.
** Odds & ends:
** 2017 AL Senate special -- Trump has finally jumped into this race, endorsing current Sen. Luther Strange. Polls show Strange and Roy "that Ten Commandments guy" Moore very close, and definitely headed for a runoff for the GOP nom, which will be tantamount to a victory in the general.
** VA gov -- VCU poll has Northam up 42-37 on Gillespie. Ds also lead for LG 43-38, and for AG 45-39. Dems were also preferred to control the House of Delegates 48-41.
** 2018 Senate -- Perennial candidate Danny "son of the old UNLV basketball coach" Tarkanian has declared his candidacy challenging Dean Heller for the GOP nod. Tarkanian has lost numerous races and is hard right, so he might have a shot at the nomination, but would be considered a week general election candidate.
** Odds & ends:
-- Lots of polls today about Trump approval, pretty much all bad:posted by Chrysostom at 8:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [28 favorites]CBS: 36/58-- Also an ARG poll has Kasich beating Trump in a theoretical New Hampshire primary 52-40.
CNN: 38/56. Strong approval numbers down, too.
TIPP: 32/59
-- Susan Collins is widely considered to be looking to move to the Maine governor's mansion, but a new PPP poll shows her losing the GOP nomination 44-33. This might be complicated by the Maine's possible move to ranked choice voting (this is in legal limbo, but probably will go into effect for primaries and state races). People also talking about Collins running as an independent, which is relatively frequent in Maine.
-- Looking ahead to 2020 Senate, Cory Gardner [R-CO] is severely underwater in a new PPP poll, 24/56 approval and losing 46-41 to generic Dem.
I guessing there's a good chance that Trump attempts to press the button and a butler shows up with a diet coke.
posted by JackFlash at 8:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 8:12 PM on August 8, 2017 [18 favorites]
Update: the Democrat won our special election thingie pretty handily, so it looks like the transphobic TV ads didn't work. Phew!
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [66 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [66 favorites]
Yep, very solid win in IA HD-82, a seat I was pretty nervous about. That and another damnwealmostdidit result in MO HD-50, and this is further confirmation of positive trendlines for the Dems.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:21 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
Where are these IA HD-82 results coming from? All I'm seeing are tweets with nothing to back them up.
posted by shenderson at 8:28 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by shenderson at 8:28 PM on August 8, 2017
Ok, so not to get too in the weeds with Iowa politics, but Iowa 82 is a weird seat. It's mostly a normal Iowa small-town/ rural district, but the biggest town is Fairfield, which is an outlier. Fairfield is home of Maharishi University, which is associated with the Transcendental Meditation movement, and there are a lot of people there who moved there specifically to be close to the school and associated community. And my sense, having done some calling in Fairfield, is that those folks' politics can be a little idiosyncratic. In 2016, Jill Stein did better in Jefferson County, where Fairfield is, than in any other county in Iowa. And it's pretty clear that this election was won because of relatively high Democratic turnout in Jefferson County. So I don't think it necessarily predicts anything about the rest of the state.
Other things: there was a big push to get Indivisible and Action Iowa (the group that Pantsuit Iowa evolved into) members to knock doors in Fairfield for the past two weekends. Also, there was a particularly awful suicide of a trans teenager there really recently, which everyone knows about, and I think the transphobic ads may have backfired.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Other things: there was a big push to get Indivisible and Action Iowa (the group that Pantsuit Iowa evolved into) members to knock doors in Fairfield for the past two weekends. Also, there was a particularly awful suicide of a trans teenager there really recently, which everyone knows about, and I think the transphobic ads may have backfired.
Where are these IA HD-82 results coming from?Still all on Twitter, because the county auditors' pages are a mess, but reliable twitter accounts, including the Secretary of State.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 8:36 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Wait. What Fresh hell did I miss? Why are the third string sites lighting up with NK saying they'll nuke Guam? Why are we performing shows of force at Guam? Does everyone want this fucking war?
It's a good thing we have a secret ballot because I swear I would want all the fuckers who put this shitheel in office to be conscripted to fight in the fresh hell that would be created.
posted by Talez at 8:37 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's a good thing we have a secret ballot because I swear I would want all the fuckers who put this shitheel in office to be conscripted to fight in the fresh hell that would be created.
posted by Talez at 8:37 PM on August 8, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's mostly a normal Iowa small-town/ rural district, but the biggest town is Fairfield, which is an outlier. Fairfield is home of Maharishi University, which is associated with the Transcendental Meditation movement, and there are a lot of people there who moved there specifically to be close to the school and associated community.
Well, this is weird. My wife's Uncle is a long time member(? associate? I dunno) of this place that went up to Iowa from Kentucky 2 weeks prior to the election, to meditate against Trump.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:45 PM on August 8, 2017
Well, this is weird. My wife's Uncle is a long time member(? associate? I dunno) of this place that went up to Iowa from Kentucky 2 weeks prior to the election, to meditate against Trump.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:45 PM on August 8, 2017
ArbitraryAndCapricious, I take your point - and more broadly, specials are always weird, and you shouldn't try to extrapolate too hard - but on the other hand:
* the late D incumbent had had a number of quite close calls in past elections
* the district went for Trump by 21 points, and Romney lost by only 2 points
* voter registration is about 2 points more GOP than Dem
All that adds up to a very toss-up election, I think. A 9.3 point Dem win is quite good.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
* the late D incumbent had had a number of quite close calls in past elections
* the district went for Trump by 21 points, and Romney lost by only 2 points
* voter registration is about 2 points more GOP than Dem
All that adds up to a very toss-up election, I think. A 9.3 point Dem win is quite good.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Do we know he hasn't put "his generals" in charge of the decision to destroy the planet?
Lord, I hope so.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Lord, I hope so.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:50 PM on August 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
But never have I heard it said
That tweets would lead to the world’s end.
posted by miyabo at 8:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
Some say in ice.
But never have I heard it said
That tweets would lead to the world’s end.
posted by miyabo at 8:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [20 favorites]
The Iowa 82 special election was targeted by Postcards to Voters, which gives you addresses of likely Democratic voters in districts with close local races, so you can send them a postcard and remind them to vote. If anyone is looking for a relatively low-stress thing to do, that's a good one.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:11 PM on August 8, 2017 [23 favorites]
prefpara: on the right, I see people using the NK issue to try to silence internal dissent and call for party unity
I think I just got sent to my room by the Twitters because I replied to each tweet you quoted with "North Korea isn't the more dangerous party here. Tell your buddy @realdonaldtrump to shut the fuck up before he kills us all."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
I think I just got sent to my room by the Twitters because I replied to each tweet you quoted with "North Korea isn't the more dangerous party here. Tell your buddy @realdonaldtrump to shut the fuck up before he kills us all."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:19 PM on August 8, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yeah, between NK and Donald Trump I know which I think is less likely to use nukes first.
posted by Justinian at 9:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 9:20 PM on August 8, 2017 [5 favorites]
My decision a couple years ago to totally abandon Twitter is looking better and better all the time. WHO CARES if the Twitterverse is left to only Trumpenstein Monsters? There are so many better places to communicate and get useful information.
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 9:35 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
ROU_Xenophobe:
So it turns out that, in the short version, it's logically impossible to build a fair and reasonable way to make any decisions that bind everyone, such as who the leader is going to be. This is the Arrow theorem and it's super-gloomy and awful.
lozierj: I'll point out that the scope of the theorem isn't quite as impossibly broad as ROU_Xenophobe let on: it only applies to ranked voting electoral systems.
This is super important and worth emphasizing again. Arrow's Impossibility Theorem proves that it's impossible to build a voting system that meets all of the requirements that ROU_Xenophobe gave, but there are good reasons to think that some of those requirements (particularly independence of irrelevant alternatives, but perhaps to a lesser extent transitivity) are not as important as they might seem at first. Any voting system which attempts to select the "best" candidate is subject to the Impossibility Theorem, but voting systems which attempt to select the "most acceptable" candidate are not necessarily. Notably, Kenneth Arrow, who founded the field of social choice theory and proved the impossibility theorem, eventually came to advocate preference voting, since it avoids the problems of ranked-choice voting.
posted by biogeo at 10:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
So it turns out that, in the short version, it's logically impossible to build a fair and reasonable way to make any decisions that bind everyone, such as who the leader is going to be. This is the Arrow theorem and it's super-gloomy and awful.
lozierj: I'll point out that the scope of the theorem isn't quite as impossibly broad as ROU_Xenophobe let on: it only applies to ranked voting electoral systems.
This is super important and worth emphasizing again. Arrow's Impossibility Theorem proves that it's impossible to build a voting system that meets all of the requirements that ROU_Xenophobe gave, but there are good reasons to think that some of those requirements (particularly independence of irrelevant alternatives, but perhaps to a lesser extent transitivity) are not as important as they might seem at first. Any voting system which attempts to select the "best" candidate is subject to the Impossibility Theorem, but voting systems which attempt to select the "most acceptable" candidate are not necessarily. Notably, Kenneth Arrow, who founded the field of social choice theory and proved the impossibility theorem, eventually came to advocate preference voting, since it avoids the problems of ranked-choice voting.
posted by biogeo at 10:08 PM on August 8, 2017 [7 favorites]
Kansas City voters approved 69-31 a measure to raise the city's minimum wage to $15 by 2022. The state legislature has blocked municipalities from setting their own minimums, there's currently a legal battle over that.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 PM on August 8, 2017 [24 favorites]
Arrow is about social choice mechanisms, not voting, and applies to anything that inputs individual preferences and outputs socially-binding choices or preferences. You can do proofs without any voting. Well, except by the dictator.
It's certainly true that Arrow only applies to mechanisms that could be used to generate a complete preference ordering.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's certainly true that Arrow only applies to mechanisms that could be used to generate a complete preference ordering.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:53 PM on August 8, 2017 [3 favorites]
North Korea seriously considering strike on Guam: Reports, citing state media
Does anyone else see this as a good sign? While Trump administration leaks pump up Pyongyang's threat to the US mainland, the most belligerent North Koreans are talking about Guam, a dot in the ocean that's 3,000 miles away (vs. 5,000 to Seattle).
Especially after adjusting for exaggerated threats, this tells me that even North Korean propagandists don't think a mainland US threat would be credible. Which is very reassuring.
posted by msalt at 11:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
Does anyone else see this as a good sign? While Trump administration leaks pump up Pyongyang's threat to the US mainland, the most belligerent North Koreans are talking about Guam, a dot in the ocean that's 3,000 miles away (vs. 5,000 to Seattle).
Especially after adjusting for exaggerated threats, this tells me that even North Korean propagandists don't think a mainland US threat would be credible. Which is very reassuring.
posted by msalt at 11:13 PM on August 8, 2017 [2 favorites]
not if you're in Guam
posted by philip-random at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [59 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 11:16 PM on August 8, 2017 [59 favorites]
My decision a couple years ago to totally abandon Twitter is looking better and better all the time. WHO CARES if the Twitterverse is left to only Trumpenstein Monsters? There are so many better places to communicate and get useful information.
With respect, I think this (common) attitude reflects a deep misunderstanding of Twitter. Much more than Facebook, you only see who you follow. So if you're seeing a lot of idiots on Twitter, it's your own damn fault. Stop following Trump and Kardashians &c.
My feed is full of intelligent and generally left-of-center football fans, because that's who I follow (and what I write about). Twitter is a tremendous tool for both news content and humor; you just have to select for it.
posted by msalt at 11:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [37 favorites]
With respect, I think this (common) attitude reflects a deep misunderstanding of Twitter. Much more than Facebook, you only see who you follow. So if you're seeing a lot of idiots on Twitter, it's your own damn fault. Stop following Trump and Kardashians &c.
My feed is full of intelligent and generally left-of-center football fans, because that's who I follow (and what I write about). Twitter is a tremendous tool for both news content and humor; you just have to select for it.
posted by msalt at 11:18 PM on August 8, 2017 [37 favorites]
The idea of rewiring the Football Button to send forth the Diet Coke Signal instead, as posted above, was a pretty brilliant one.
posted by christopherious at 11:23 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by christopherious at 11:23 PM on August 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
I never followed idiots on Twitter, but it seems to be only idiots whose twittering reaches to other media. My communications with like-minded and likeable people use other media.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:33 PM on August 8, 2017
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:33 PM on August 8, 2017
How weird is it to think that we started the day with Trump tweeting out an article that leaked highly classified information? I mean, that's what I woke up to, and that's what I stupidly thought was going to be a thing for at least a little bit. It still feels like that should be a thing.
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:34 PM on August 8, 2017 [19 favorites]
this has the ring of truth @jbarro: "Trump might react calmly to this Guam threat if he doesn't know Guam is part of the United States."
Well, Guam's Republicans went for Trump in last year's territorial caucuses, and Trump in fact schmoozed delegates (including the Republican governor) in the lead-up to them.
So, if nothing else, Trump won't forget it because he won there (also last year, he did, to my surprise, thank Northern Mariana Islands Republicans in his Super Tuesday II speech, when they selected him in their caucus as well).
posted by dhens at 12:07 AM on August 9, 2017
Well, Guam's Republicans went for Trump in last year's territorial caucuses, and Trump in fact schmoozed delegates (including the Republican governor) in the lead-up to them.
So, if nothing else, Trump won't forget it because he won there (also last year, he did, to my surprise, thank Northern Mariana Islands Republicans in his Super Tuesday II speech, when they selected him in their caucus as well).
posted by dhens at 12:07 AM on August 9, 2017
Trump won't forget it because he won there
We are talking about the same Donald Trump who incorrectly claimed last week he won New Hampshire?
posted by mightygodking at 1:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
We are talking about the same Donald Trump who incorrectly claimed last week he won New Hampshire?
posted by mightygodking at 1:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
You are also forced to see every troll and bot that @s you unless you make your profile private in which case you can't talk to anybody who doesn't follow you. If you want to engage in Twitter, you have to leave your profile open and leave yourself vulnerable to abuse the first time you piss off a Gamergater.
Twitter has made some changes at the profile setting end that has improved my experience immensely. I can't think of leaving twitter, my work and community are based there, albeit mostly out of Africa.
First, twitter lets you mute words and phrases from both your timeline (this is recent, its just wonderful) and your notifications. So once I plugged in everything from Trump through to Scaramucci, even friends whom I follow don't show up if that tweet contains one of these words.
Further, you can tweak the quality filter to exclude notifications from a variety of accounts - eggs, unverified, without a phone number, new accounts etc etc i.e. you can choose whom you see in the troll potential section
Lastly, cleaning up the follower list is hygiene, like brushing your teeth, morning and evening, then its not thousands.
And, as said earlier, your experience is how you choose it. In my African timeline, life is currently watching the Kenyan elections closely and discussing the recent South African no confidence motion.
I just don't see the word Trump or Trump's anymore unless its been embedded in auto extract of the link, which happens maybe 1/20 times. I.e. the filter has been working very well and I'm very happy with it.
ps. I have a locked account and if @ someone directly, they can read your engagement. I also have a professional curation account, and maybe there's that other one
posted by infini at 1:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Twitter has made some changes at the profile setting end that has improved my experience immensely. I can't think of leaving twitter, my work and community are based there, albeit mostly out of Africa.
First, twitter lets you mute words and phrases from both your timeline (this is recent, its just wonderful) and your notifications. So once I plugged in everything from Trump through to Scaramucci, even friends whom I follow don't show up if that tweet contains one of these words.
Further, you can tweak the quality filter to exclude notifications from a variety of accounts - eggs, unverified, without a phone number, new accounts etc etc i.e. you can choose whom you see in the troll potential section
Lastly, cleaning up the follower list is hygiene, like brushing your teeth, morning and evening, then its not thousands.
And, as said earlier, your experience is how you choose it. In my African timeline, life is currently watching the Kenyan elections closely and discussing the recent South African no confidence motion.
I just don't see the word Trump or Trump's anymore unless its been embedded in auto extract of the link, which happens maybe 1/20 times. I.e. the filter has been working very well and I'm very happy with it.
ps. I have a locked account and if @ someone directly, they can read your engagement. I also have a professional curation account, and maybe there's that other one
posted by infini at 1:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Guam is kind of a pathetic threat, it highlights the impotence of NK and the differential power balance. I mean, yeah, sucks for Guam, but it is like pulling out an arm hair on a gorilla... what is guam, maybe .05% of US GDP and population?
posted by Meatbomb at 2:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 2:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Guam is also home to a major US air base... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base
I mean, there's a kind of logic behind the threat.
posted by modernnomad at 2:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I mean, there's a kind of logic behind the threat.
posted by modernnomad at 2:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Sure, North Korea knows that.
But does North Korea think Trump knows that?
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
But does North Korea think Trump knows that?
posted by sebastienbailard at 2:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Hmmm ....
posted by tilde at 3:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Sorry, Mike Pence, You’re Doomed
Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska can style himself as a humble, homespun remedy to Trump’s cupidity and histrionics. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas can take a calibrated approach, more hawkish than Trump on foreign policy but eager to link arms with him on immigration.
Pence, though, is squeezed tight into a corner of compulsory worship. And despite his behind-the-scenes machinations, he has done a masterful job of appearing perfectly content there.
In news photographs and video, you catch other politicians glancing at the president in obvious bafflement. Not Pence. Never Pence. He moons. He beams. It’s 50 shades of infatuation. Daniel Day-Lewis couldn’t muster a more mesmerizing performance, and it’s an unusually florid surrender of principles.
I was born in '73 and we did duck-and-cover drills
Really? Mid-60s kid here, public schooled in NY suburbs, and we never did any such thing. I even remember a 7th grade science teacher who took some delight in reminding us that if there was a nuclear war none of us would survive to hear the boom. We all knew the "lean over and kiss your ass goodbye" joke though.
posted by spitbull at 4:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Really? Mid-60s kid here, public schooled in NY suburbs, and we never did any such thing. I even remember a 7th grade science teacher who took some delight in reminding us that if there was a nuclear war none of us would survive to hear the boom. We all knew the "lean over and kiss your ass goodbye" joke though.
posted by spitbull at 4:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
There needs to be a website for the sole purpose of keeping track of what people support Donald Trump and how they support him.
For history. I would do this but I don't have the technical skill.
How does one start a wiki
You can rent wiki's from many places and they will take care of the administration. If you are gonna run one you have to be aware of security updates needed, apply them, and keep good backups so you can reload once the site gets defaced as it will. Same with responding to requests for the removal of viruses and trojans.
You might be farther ahead to make it a static site, use tools like hugo.io and limit yourself to track certain known public people with what would be called public positions VS any random name you find on the internet.
And before you begin, go an read up on defamation and libel laws and make sure you are willing to have a fight over Federal laws on how you, as the operator of a web site, can avoid liability. Because as Elon Musk is pointing at with his Hyperloop drama in the last 30 days - the regulatory environment is the showstopper not the tech. Oh and go read up on qwest's CEO, Melania and Tarpley, search Judicial Watch with a quote “What do you expect when you sue the president?” and ask yourself "do I want to put myself and those close to me in the crosshairs in case I am actually effective and gain the notice of those in power?"
You MIGHT be more effective to look back at Nixon, see what laws were created in response to what happened and ask "What SHOULD be the new laws in the future to address the excesses of ____". You get to fill in the blank - if you make it Trump then expect a handwave 'that's in the past now - MoveOn".
posted by rough ashlar at 4:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
For history. I would do this but I don't have the technical skill.
How does one start a wiki
You can rent wiki's from many places and they will take care of the administration. If you are gonna run one you have to be aware of security updates needed, apply them, and keep good backups so you can reload once the site gets defaced as it will. Same with responding to requests for the removal of viruses and trojans.
You might be farther ahead to make it a static site, use tools like hugo.io and limit yourself to track certain known public people with what would be called public positions VS any random name you find on the internet.
And before you begin, go an read up on defamation and libel laws and make sure you are willing to have a fight over Federal laws on how you, as the operator of a web site, can avoid liability. Because as Elon Musk is pointing at with his Hyperloop drama in the last 30 days - the regulatory environment is the showstopper not the tech. Oh and go read up on qwest's CEO, Melania and Tarpley, search Judicial Watch with a quote “What do you expect when you sue the president?” and ask yourself "do I want to put myself and those close to me in the crosshairs in case I am actually effective and gain the notice of those in power?"
You MIGHT be more effective to look back at Nixon, see what laws were created in response to what happened and ask "What SHOULD be the new laws in the future to address the excesses of ____". You get to fill in the blank - if you make it Trump then expect a handwave 'that's in the past now - MoveOn".
posted by rough ashlar at 4:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Don't know how to link to the tweets, but apparently Tillerson is out there doing some solid work like sayings things along the lines of NK doesn't "understand diplomatic language" and also NK is not an imminent threat. I guess that would be one way to approach the fact that NK issued a threat immediately after Trump said any more threats equal fire and fury.
The man is a motherfucker and we may be fucked but I see a gleam of awareness in Tillerson's eyes that nuclear war might not be the best thing.
posted by angrycat at 4:30 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
The man is a motherfucker and we may be fucked but I see a gleam of awareness in Tillerson's eyes that nuclear war might not be the best thing.
posted by angrycat at 4:30 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Well, I guess we should be happy that Trump is starting his morning on the way to the golf course retweeting Fox instead of launching nukes.
He's already retweeted them 6 times this morning about everything from Fire and Fury to Mexican raw sewage. Still amazing that the man with access to the best information in the world gets his news from Fox & Friends.
posted by chris24 at 4:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
He's already retweeted them 6 times this morning about everything from Fire and Fury to Mexican raw sewage. Still amazing that the man with access to the best information in the world gets his news from Fox & Friends.
posted by chris24 at 4:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
As angrycat said, the adults are rapidly erasing Trump's redline. Just another tantrum by our toddler president.
@AP:
BREAKING: Tillerson says exchange of threats on North Korea doesn't mean US is moving closer to military option.
posted by chris24 at 4:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
@AP:
BREAKING: Tillerson says exchange of threats on North Korea doesn't mean US is moving closer to military option.
posted by chris24 at 4:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
I mean, yeah, sucks for Guam, but it is like pulling out an arm hair on a gorilla... what is guam, maybe .05% of US GDP and population?
For people like Paul McDonald, whom NPR interviewed this morning, and for 162,896 others, Guam is home, and has been long enough that some people remember being invaded by Japanese during World War II.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
For people like Paul McDonald, whom NPR interviewed this morning, and for 162,896 others, Guam is home, and has been long enough that some people remember being invaded by Japanese during World War II.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
I finally get to do one!
MetaFilter: an unusually florid surrender of principles.
posted by BS Artisan at 4:53 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
MetaFilter: an unusually florid surrender of principles.
posted by BS Artisan at 4:53 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
Dare I say... Surely This?
posted by Rykey at 4:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Rykey at 4:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's sadistic emotional abuse.
THIS. A hundred trillion times this.
posted by yoga at 5:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
THIS. A hundred trillion times this.
posted by yoga at 5:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Lovely to wake up in the morning to yet another nuclear twitter threat from the US president.
This time it's threatening pretty much the entire world.
"Do not make us use these things world! It will make me sad but I'll do it if I have too cause we have all the power" (fake)
Actual tweets: My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before....
...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
posted by Jalliah at 5:09 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
This time it's threatening pretty much the entire world.
"Do not make us use these things world! It will make me sad but I'll do it if I have too cause we have all the power" (fake)
Actual tweets: My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before....
...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
posted by Jalliah at 5:09 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Relevant morning reading: Unlearning the myth of American innocence, Suzy Hansen.
American exceptionalism did not only define the US as a special nation among lesser nations; it also demanded that all Americans believe they, too, were somehow superior to others. How could I, as an American, understand a foreign people, when unconsciously I did not extend the most basic faith to other people that I extended to myself? This was a limitation that was beyond racism, beyond prejudice and beyond ignorance. This was a kind of nationalism so insidious that I had not known to call it nationalism; this was a self-delusion so complete that I could not see where it began and ended, could not root it out, could not destroy it.posted by BS Artisan at 5:11 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
He modernized the entire missile corps in 200 days. Ok.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [42 favorites]
> My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before......Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
Gobsmacking. This chest-thumping is being consumed by millions, along with breathless tabloid articles on TV about perceived threats, presented hyperbolically, ensuring that any public discussion is framed in the most ghastly way possible, before we ever get started. The whole world is indeed threatened by this man and his enablers.
posted by stonepharisee at 5:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Gobsmacking. This chest-thumping is being consumed by millions, along with breathless tabloid articles on TV about perceived threats, presented hyperbolically, ensuring that any public discussion is framed in the most ghastly way possible, before we ever get started. The whole world is indeed threatened by this man and his enablers.
posted by stonepharisee at 5:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
As angrycat said, the adults are rapidly erasing Trump's redline. Just another tantrum by our toddler president.
So he gets up, has a bowl of Wheaties or chocolate cake or whatever, and merrily repaints it. In ketchup. Somehow I'm not reassured.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
So he gets up, has a bowl of Wheaties or chocolate cake or whatever, and merrily repaints it. In ketchup. Somehow I'm not reassured.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Really? Mid-60s kid here, public schooled in NY suburbs, and we never did any such thing.
I think it depends where you lived. I was born in 1974 and came back from Germany to live in the U.S. around 1980, in rural north Florida, and we had to watch nuclear incident preparedness and practice ducking under our desks, etc., too. Can't recall how frequently. Seems like it was only earlier in elementary school.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:33 AM on August 9, 2017
I think it depends where you lived. I was born in 1974 and came back from Germany to live in the U.S. around 1980, in rural north Florida, and we had to watch nuclear incident preparedness and practice ducking under our desks, etc., too. Can't recall how frequently. Seems like it was only earlier in elementary school.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:33 AM on August 9, 2017
Satisfying op-ed from Frank Bruni in The New York Times: Sorry, Charlie BrownMike Pence, You're Doomed
The other day, from the Naval Observatory in Washington, you heard a howl of such volume and anguish that it cracked mirrors and sent small forest animals scurrying for cover.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:33 AM on August 9, 2017
The other day, from the Naval Observatory in Washington, you heard a howl of such volume and anguish that it cracked mirrors and sent small forest animals scurrying for cover.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:33 AM on August 9, 2017
Still amazing that the man with access to the best information in the world gets his news from Fox & Friends instead
FTFY
posted by tilde at 5:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe writing "fake" Trump tweets about imminent nuclear threats is a parody too far?
posted by spitbull at 5:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 5:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
This is just pure, unadulterated insanity. You don't even need to be prepared for the job of President to know that acting like an unhinged moron in the general direction of the DPRK is just giving Kim Jong-Un exactly what he wants. Anyone who can read and understand words spoken nearby should be able to figure this out. I thought the whole point of being a sociopathic "win-at-any-cost" business mogul was to, you know, ACTUALLY WIN. This is not winning. This shit needs to be stopped right now.
posted by xyzzy at 5:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by xyzzy at 5:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
Sir, this is a Wendy's
posted by delfin at 5:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [72 favorites]
Sir, this is a Wendy's
posted by delfin at 5:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [72 favorites]
Everyone is talking about Trump. That's always been his only definition of winning.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
He said this on August 8. I ... don't know if it's better or worse if he actually remembered Nagasaki.
posted by allthinky at 5:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by allthinky at 5:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
where you lived
For sure. For those of us in the environs of NYC we pretty much knew we were a pink vapor the moment shooting started. I remember watching The Day After and laughing my ass off when the doctor dude came to in his Volvo (240DL sedan, as I recall) on the EMP-frozen highway, dusted himself off, and started marching through the carnage toward his home. World's safest car indeed.
ETA wasn't that set in like Kansas?
posted by spitbull at 5:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
For sure. For those of us in the environs of NYC we pretty much knew we were a pink vapor the moment shooting started. I remember watching The Day After and laughing my ass off when the doctor dude came to in his Volvo (240DL sedan, as I recall) on the EMP-frozen highway, dusted himself off, and started marching through the carnage toward his home. World's safest car indeed.
ETA wasn't that set in like Kansas?
posted by spitbull at 5:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Day After was centered around Lawrence, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 5:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before.
again, taking credit for Obama's work
posted by thelonius at 5:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
again, taking credit for Obama's work
posted by thelonius at 5:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
Maybe writing "fake" Trump tweets about imminent nuclear threats is a parody too far?
If you are talking about my comment that wasn't a parody. That's what I 'heard' as a non-US citizen, when I read them. A fucking incompetent lunatic who has all the power is threatening the entire world right now and the majority of the world can't do bupkiss about it.
posted by Jalliah at 5:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you are talking about my comment that wasn't a parody. That's what I 'heard' as a non-US citizen, when I read them. A fucking incompetent lunatic who has all the power is threatening the entire world right now and the majority of the world can't do bupkiss about it.
posted by Jalliah at 5:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Gen X came by its fascination with apocalyptic fiction honestly--who in our demographic doesn't remember the TV premier of The Day After? It was practically hyped as a non-fiction PSA or something. Then you had Sting on the radio singing about Kruschev saying he would bury us and wondering naively aloud about whether the Russians' love for their children would be enough to save us and our own. It's not hard for Gen Xers to imagine politicians willing to accept mass human annihilation because we grew up being warned it might happen any second.
posted by saulgoodman at 5:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 5:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
He said this on August 8. I ... don't know if it's better or worse if he actually remembered Nagasaki.
Maybe he thinks Nagasaki's somewhere in North Korea
...nah. It's probably "he doesn't know/think/remember, and he doesn't care."
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:00 AM on August 9, 2017
Maybe he thinks Nagasaki's somewhere in North Korea
...nah. It's probably "he doesn't know/think/remember, and he doesn't care."
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:00 AM on August 9, 2017
This was a limitation that was beyond racism, beyond prejudice and beyond ignorance. This was a kind of nationalism so insidious that I had not known to call it nationalism; this was a self-delusion so complete that I could not see where it began and ended, could not root it out, could not destroy it.
Oh for fuck's sake.
The US is perhaps exceptional in the degree to which those who finally work out what nationalism actually means are likely to seize upon the idea that their brand of nationalism is somehow more insidiously self-deluding than anybody else's.
"Our fucked-upness is the best and deepest fucked-upness!"
So much winning.
posted by flabdablet at 6:05 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh for fuck's sake.
The US is perhaps exceptional in the degree to which those who finally work out what nationalism actually means are likely to seize upon the idea that their brand of nationalism is somehow more insidiously self-deluding than anybody else's.
"Our fucked-upness is the best and deepest fucked-upness!"
So much winning.
posted by flabdablet at 6:05 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
So...when is all this "I will nuke everything to protect Murrica" going to turn his approval ratings around?
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you are talking about my comment that wasn't a parody. That's what I 'heard' as a non-US citizen, when I read them.
You're not alone.
More and more my internal radio station is playing the song with the Two Words in it in Trump's voice rather than Leary's. It's scarily authentic.
posted by flabdablet at 6:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
You're not alone.
More and more my internal radio station is playing the song with the Two Words in it in Trump's voice rather than Leary's. It's scarily authentic.
posted by flabdablet at 6:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
when is all this "I will nuke everything to protect Murrica" going to turn his approval ratings around?
Why would he want to turn his approval ratings around when everybody loves him?
posted by flabdablet at 6:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why would he want to turn his approval ratings around when everybody loves him?
posted by flabdablet at 6:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before.
I'm pretty sure his first order as President was to tell the Parks Department to take down their inauguration photos.
posted by Mchelly at 6:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [74 favorites]
I'm pretty sure his first order as President was to tell the Parks Department to take down their inauguration photos.
posted by Mchelly at 6:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [74 favorites]
not if you're in Guam
I think it's more likely that, even if we assume that a threat to Guam is credible, a threat to the mainland US is not. Therefore, any actual attack on Guam just invites annihilation and the end of the Kim regime.
it is like pulling out an arm hair on a gorilla
It sucks for the hairs but it's really only a good way to get yourself mauled by a Gorilla. It would be monumentally stupid to pull a Gorilla's arm hair which is why I don't think the Gorilla's arm hair is in any danger.
PS: Apologies for comparing Guam to a Gorilla's arm hair, I'm sure it's lovely there.
posted by VTX at 6:22 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think it's more likely that, even if we assume that a threat to Guam is credible, a threat to the mainland US is not. Therefore, any actual attack on Guam just invites annihilation and the end of the Kim regime.
it is like pulling out an arm hair on a gorilla
It sucks for the hairs but it's really only a good way to get yourself mauled by a Gorilla. It would be monumentally stupid to pull a Gorilla's arm hair which is why I don't think the Gorilla's arm hair is in any danger.
PS: Apologies for comparing Guam to a Gorilla's arm hair, I'm sure it's lovely there.
posted by VTX at 6:22 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Tillerson: Trump Is Using Language Kim Jong Un Can Understand
This part here is particularly snarky:
Ook ook ah ah ah!Just kidding, here's the actual article.
This is language, a new vocabulary, the likes of which the world has never seen! This is President Trump communicating with Chairman Kim!Sorry, sorry, for real this time.
Tillerson offered his take on the current tensions during a quick stop in Guam, where his plane refueled on a tour that has included a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Speaking to reporters on his plane, Tillerson said he didn't see an imminent threat to Guam and hadn't considered changing his route.So, on the one hand, I agree that there's very likely no imminent danger from North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Americans get way too panicky about North Korea, but as North Korea expert and recent internet meme star Robert E. Kelly explains, "North Korean nukes are almost certainly for deterrence and defense." On the other hand, I really wonder why Tillerson, as it appears from this report, could not have been bothered to take a few steps out of his plane and direct some of those comforting words to the people who actually live in Guam.
According to a pool report from his talk with reporters aboard the State Department plane, Tillerson was also asked if Americans should be worried. He replied, "I think Americans should sleep well at night" and not be concerned by recent statements.
This part here is particularly snarky:
The escalation in rhetoric follows a U.N. Security Council resolution to strengthen economic sanctions against North Korea — a measure that could block roughly a third of the country's exports. And on the same day Trump and Kim exchanged barbs, a report emerged that U.S. intelligence analysts believe North Korea has succeeded in developing a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit on its missiles.posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:22 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Speaking Wednesday morning, Tillerson said, "Nothing I have seen and nothing I know of would indicate that situation has dramatically changed in the last 24 hours."
As for the recent exchanges between Trump and North Korea, Tillerson said, "I think the U.S. and the international community with respect to North Korea, has actually had a pretty good week," citing the sanctions and statements of solidarity from nations at the ASEAN meetings in the Philippines.
The sanctions were adopted over the weekend; on Monday, North Korea accused the U.S. of a "felonious crime" and threatened "to take ultimate measures."
Sorry, Mike Pence, You're Doomed
Man, pence & tRump. I have a new Alt-universe Theory: We're all just minor characters in the worst remake of "The Odd Couple" ever.
posted by NorthernLite at 6:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Man, pence & tRump. I have a new Alt-universe Theory: We're all just minor characters in the worst remake of "The Odd Couple" ever.
posted by NorthernLite at 6:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
who in our demographic doesn't remember the TV premier of The Day After? It was practically hyped as a non-fiction PSA or something
The Day After was intended to be a PSA. It was an explicitly political gesture that was enormously politically difficult to achieve and resulted in all kinds of pulled advertising. As we now know, Reagan watched it and it gave him pause - difficult to say how much pause, but it played a role in the desescalation of nuclear politics in the early eighties.
Two thoughts:
1. An interesting historical anecdote about the difficulty of warning about nuclear war in any political way: The BBC made a movie, The War Game, that was not broadcast until the early eighties. The BBC brass said that this was because the movie was too depressing, but my feeling is that it was canned for political reasons, since this was the time that the UK was looking to build up its own nuclear arsenal. Later, the Thatcher government would produce an amazingly bullshit amount of lying propaganda which claimed that you could basically ride out a nuclear war in your house - the horrifically depressing When The Wind Blows is a deconstruction of this idea. (I mean seriously, I would rather watch Threads than WTWB, and Threads was bad enough.)
2. Cultural work: the late seventies through the mid eighties saw an enormous amount of cultural work to build a popular anti-nuclear consensus. It wasn't a strong left consensus, since a lot of it was basically "let's not all die in a fireball, even if we hate the Russians", but there were effective cultural changes that came from movies, music and art at the mass level. Cultural work is worthwhile but it's slow. When people say "where is the anti-Trump art we were promised" and so on, I keep thinking that it took years - probably four or five at least - to see broad anti-nuclear cultural consensus. The internet is faster but past a certain point you can't just tell people "write deeply moving and also popular cultural productions by dawn".
posted by Frowner at 6:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
The Day After was intended to be a PSA. It was an explicitly political gesture that was enormously politically difficult to achieve and resulted in all kinds of pulled advertising. As we now know, Reagan watched it and it gave him pause - difficult to say how much pause, but it played a role in the desescalation of nuclear politics in the early eighties.
Two thoughts:
1. An interesting historical anecdote about the difficulty of warning about nuclear war in any political way: The BBC made a movie, The War Game, that was not broadcast until the early eighties. The BBC brass said that this was because the movie was too depressing, but my feeling is that it was canned for political reasons, since this was the time that the UK was looking to build up its own nuclear arsenal. Later, the Thatcher government would produce an amazingly bullshit amount of lying propaganda which claimed that you could basically ride out a nuclear war in your house - the horrifically depressing When The Wind Blows is a deconstruction of this idea. (I mean seriously, I would rather watch Threads than WTWB, and Threads was bad enough.)
2. Cultural work: the late seventies through the mid eighties saw an enormous amount of cultural work to build a popular anti-nuclear consensus. It wasn't a strong left consensus, since a lot of it was basically "let's not all die in a fireball, even if we hate the Russians", but there were effective cultural changes that came from movies, music and art at the mass level. Cultural work is worthwhile but it's slow. When people say "where is the anti-Trump art we were promised" and so on, I keep thinking that it took years - probably four or five at least - to see broad anti-nuclear cultural consensus. The internet is faster but past a certain point you can't just tell people "write deeply moving and also popular cultural productions by dawn".
posted by Frowner at 6:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
As was pointed out on last night's Late Night Live, the customary DPRK response to having sanctions imposed on them has been to test a nuke, and they haven't done that this time around. For Kim, that's what displaying restraint looks like.
posted by flabdablet at 6:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 6:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Kind of amazed Tillerson woke up to speak to the press at all.
posted by Artw at 6:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Speaking to reporters on his plane, Tillerson
Hey, at least Rex "I'm not a big media access person" Tillerson let reporters on the plane!
posted by Room 641-A at 6:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Hey, at least Rex "I'm not a big media access person" Tillerson let reporters on the plane!
posted by Room 641-A at 6:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I have almost no anxiety about North Korea - as long as the US doesn't back them into a corner for cheap political gain. If I were in Guam, for instance, I would be worried that Trump would tweetscalate the bombs into falling because he is a malicious fool.
If I were in charge, we would work on building a relationship with North Korea through neutral aid - things they could inspect and see were not sinister, first off, like food or medical devices or the safe kinds of raw materials. The best thing to do about North Korea is try to cool them off in the hopes that either Kim will be a better ruler if he's flattered rather than threatened or that someone else will eventually organically take power. The point should be to keep them stable, which means helping to keep the population stable by not immiserating people.
posted by Frowner at 6:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
If I were in charge, we would work on building a relationship with North Korea through neutral aid - things they could inspect and see were not sinister, first off, like food or medical devices or the safe kinds of raw materials. The best thing to do about North Korea is try to cool them off in the hopes that either Kim will be a better ruler if he's flattered rather than threatened or that someone else will eventually organically take power. The point should be to keep them stable, which means helping to keep the population stable by not immiserating people.
posted by Frowner at 6:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'm having a hard time putting myself into a mindset where "Nuclear War Is Bad" is a controversial message. I guess maybe the message was "*Nobody's* Going To Win A Nuclear War," and that's what the powers that be didn't want people to hear or think about.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
National Treasure John Dingell.
@JohnDingell:
43 years ago today. Concise and to the point.
You could even fit it in a tweet, @realDonaldTrump.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States.
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon
posted by chris24 at 6:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [89 favorites]
@JohnDingell:
43 years ago today. Concise and to the point.
You could even fit it in a tweet, @realDonaldTrump.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby resign the Office of President of the United States.
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon
posted by chris24 at 6:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [89 favorites]
The internet is faster but past a certain point you can't just tell people "write deeply moving and also popular cultural productions by dawn".
I'm guessing you aren't a regular commenter over at FanFare :p
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm guessing you aren't a regular commenter over at FanFare :p
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
2. Cultural work: the late seventies through the mid eighties saw an enormous amount of cultural work to build a popular anti-nuclear consensus.
Frowner, do you recall any articles or books which discuss this? I would love to read them.
posted by shothotbot at 6:43 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Frowner, do you recall any articles or books which discuss this? I would love to read them.
posted by shothotbot at 6:43 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
So...when is all this "I will nuke everything to protect Murrica" going to turn his approval ratings around?
This is what has me worried. Average Americans tend to rally around a president when it comes to war, (early on, at least) even if they don't like him or agree with his policies. And it wouldn't be hard to convince people who don't follow news or politics all that closely (i.e., half the country) that North Korea's an imminent threat. Even people who don't like Trump would adopt a "Yeah, Trump sucks, but something has to be done" type of stance.
So even if war wouldn't necessarily turn Trump's approval ratings around, it hasn't been a sufficiently tough sell for the most part. I'd love to be wrong—maybe this would be the triggering incident that gets millions out in the street, calling for Trump's head—but history's not on our side here.
posted by Rykey at 6:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is what has me worried. Average Americans tend to rally around a president when it comes to war, (early on, at least) even if they don't like him or agree with his policies. And it wouldn't be hard to convince people who don't follow news or politics all that closely (i.e., half the country) that North Korea's an imminent threat. Even people who don't like Trump would adopt a "Yeah, Trump sucks, but something has to be done" type of stance.
So even if war wouldn't necessarily turn Trump's approval ratings around, it hasn't been a sufficiently tough sell for the most part. I'd love to be wrong—maybe this would be the triggering incident that gets millions out in the street, calling for Trump's head—but history's not on our side here.
posted by Rykey at 6:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm having a hard time putting myself into a mindset where "Nuclear War Is Bad" is a controversial message.The controversy wasn't really about whether nuclear war was bad, because duh. The issue was about whether nuclear *weapons* were bad. Pro-nuke people subscribed to the idea of mutually assured destruction, which said that the only thing stopping the US and Soviet Union from having a terrible war was the fact that nobody could survive that war, so ultimately nukes were saving millions of lives. Whereas the anti-nuke people thought that maybe both sides should just figure out how to solve their problems without mass death, because the potential for world annihilation was too big a risk to take, and there had to be other ways to prevent World War III than mutually-assured destruction.
Trump, on the other hand, seems not to have assimilated the basic "nobody wins a nuclear war" message, which is a new level of terrifying.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Huh. Nixon's resignation was addressed to the Secretary of State. I would have guessed the Vice President.
posted by shothotbot at 6:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by shothotbot at 6:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
> 43 years ago today. Concise and to the point.Every year on this day I leave the PKD message "THE EMPIRE NEVER ENDED" somewhere. Well, I've been trying to.
You could even fit it in a tweet, @realDonaldTrump.
So here it is, now, on MeFi in this thread.
posted by runcifex at 6:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
If you weren't sure this was in part a ploy to beat the war drum and get his numbers up. On Fox this morning:
@DavidWright_CNN:
Full Gorka: "During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK. This is analogous to the Cuban missile crisis. We need to come together."
posted by chris24 at 6:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
@DavidWright_CNN:
Full Gorka: "During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK. This is analogous to the Cuban missile crisis. We need to come together."
posted by chris24 at 6:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
Frowner, do you recall any articles or books which discuss this? I would love to read them.
Sadly, I don't really have books - I prepared a presentation on Cold War pop culture a couple of years ago and did a lot of internet research. (I've just now this morning decided that I'm going to expand it into a community ed class, actually.)
I started looking around for reviews of things like How To Talk To Your Children About Nuclear War (an actual book), Jane Langton's The Fragile Flag*, When The Wind Blows, Barefoot Gen and so on and went from there. Part of the deal is that I remember a lot of this stuff since I was a child and young teen in the eighties.
*Inspired by true events and enormously influential on me as a child - it's about some kids who decide that they will walk to the White House from Concord MA to talk to the President and dissuade him from starting what is essentially the Star Wars program.
posted by Frowner at 6:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sadly, I don't really have books - I prepared a presentation on Cold War pop culture a couple of years ago and did a lot of internet research. (I've just now this morning decided that I'm going to expand it into a community ed class, actually.)
I started looking around for reviews of things like How To Talk To Your Children About Nuclear War (an actual book), Jane Langton's The Fragile Flag*, When The Wind Blows, Barefoot Gen and so on and went from there. Part of the deal is that I remember a lot of this stuff since I was a child and young teen in the eighties.
*Inspired by true events and enormously influential on me as a child - it's about some kids who decide that they will walk to the White House from Concord MA to talk to the President and dissuade him from starting what is essentially the Star Wars program.
posted by Frowner at 6:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK. This is analogous to the Cuban missile crisis. We need to come together.
Yes I remember what a unified time it was, like how JFK's top advisor and Russia ran attacks against the head of the NSC in right-wing media.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:53 AM on August 9, 2017 [40 favorites]
Yes I remember what a unified time it was, like how JFK's top advisor and Russia ran attacks against the head of the NSC in right-wing media.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:53 AM on August 9, 2017 [40 favorites]
who in our demographic doesn't remember the TV premier of The Day After?My parents were extremely permissive about media, so it was perfectly fine and normal for their 8 year-old (me) to watch The Day After with them. And in sixth grade we were assigned Hershey's Hiroshima for English class. And when disasters and horrific things happened? We watched them live on tv as part of "civics." Challenger and Ronald Reagan's speech about it. The Lebanon airport attacks. Various airplane disasters/hijackings. So, you know, just normal elementary school stuff in the 80's. It was strange to contrast it to the 9/11 attacks, where teachers at my mom's school were sneaking out of class to watch the news but completely avoiding the subject in class, even when directly asked about it.
You know, I read recently that the US has not been at war for only ~20 years of its existence. Sounds about right.
posted by xyzzy at 6:53 AM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Who voted for Fox & Friends to decide WWIII?
@MattGertz:
Just the president's favorite show casually discussing deploying nuclear missiles to South Korea, no big deal.
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 6:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
@MattGertz:
Just the president's favorite show casually discussing deploying nuclear missiles to South Korea, no big deal.
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 6:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
by all means let's unite the country into a deathcult of nuclear fear so we can scare the shit out of another generation of children (like we did in 1963) and wonder why they turn out to be such nihilists 10 to 20 years later
posted by pyramid termite at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
Quite recently, I did some work which meant going back through the history of post-war civil defence in the UK, which as a child of the Cold War meant at the time early warning networks, bomb spotters reporting to a hierarchy of hardened command and government facilities, emergency broadcasts, all that sort of thing.
On finding and reading the very first post fusion bomb wargame studies, which were classified over the whole period of active civil defence, it was extraordinarily clear that from the start, the planners had realised that any form of civil defence would be completely useless. All the UK's bunkers and all the concomitant razzmatazz was a pure con job, purely political posturing to create an environment where the population as a whole didn't have to confront the enormity of the situation. Lots of people did realise this, of course, but the politicians and civil service didn't have to admit it.
And, post Cold War and the end of the Western-Soviet ideological tribal game, nobody's taken the opportunity to say what the purpose of global-reach nuclear weapons is and whether it's strong enough to bear the shocking moral implications of having them. They're just sorta hanging around, waiting for a new ideological tribal game to adorn. The sort of asymmetric war that NK could be a part of really isn't it, which I'm sure NK is quite aware of, so in my more hopeful moments I can see that this current spot of primate shit-throwing will end up not in conflagration but an awakening of the realisation of just how grotesque it is to maintain an arsenal of weapons that not only could but if ever used would, destroy everything.
Of course, 45's role in this is to GTFO ASAP, because you don't want an actual chimpanzee at the controls. A few million people on the streets should do it.
posted by Devonian at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
On finding and reading the very first post fusion bomb wargame studies, which were classified over the whole period of active civil defence, it was extraordinarily clear that from the start, the planners had realised that any form of civil defence would be completely useless. All the UK's bunkers and all the concomitant razzmatazz was a pure con job, purely political posturing to create an environment where the population as a whole didn't have to confront the enormity of the situation. Lots of people did realise this, of course, but the politicians and civil service didn't have to admit it.
And, post Cold War and the end of the Western-Soviet ideological tribal game, nobody's taken the opportunity to say what the purpose of global-reach nuclear weapons is and whether it's strong enough to bear the shocking moral implications of having them. They're just sorta hanging around, waiting for a new ideological tribal game to adorn. The sort of asymmetric war that NK could be a part of really isn't it, which I'm sure NK is quite aware of, so in my more hopeful moments I can see that this current spot of primate shit-throwing will end up not in conflagration but an awakening of the realisation of just how grotesque it is to maintain an arsenal of weapons that not only could but if ever used would, destroy everything.
Of course, 45's role in this is to GTFO ASAP, because you don't want an actual chimpanzee at the controls. A few million people on the streets should do it.
posted by Devonian at 6:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is my shocked face. But um, someone (hi Steve!) knew and wrote fire and fury for him.
@McCormackJohn: (Weekly Standard)
"The White House, including the national-security team, was unaware President Trump was preparing to speak publicly about North Korea."
posted by chris24 at 6:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
@McCormackJohn: (Weekly Standard)
"The White House, including the national-security team, was unaware President Trump was preparing to speak publicly about North Korea."
posted by chris24 at 6:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
Huh. Nixon's resignation was addressed to the Secretary of State. I would have guessed the Vice President.
3 U.S. Code § 20 - Resignation or refusal of office:
posted by Etrigan at 7:02 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
3 U.S. Code § 20 - Resignation or refusal of office:
The only evidence of a refusal to accept, or of a resignation of the office of President or Vice President, shall be an instrument in writing, declaring the same, and subscribed by the person refusing to accept or resigning, as the case may be, and delivered into the office of the Secretary of State.There are a few reasons for it, including that the VP has a conflict of interest if the President is resigning, and the SoS historically had a lot of meta-government functions (e.g., publication of laws) that have been mostly parceled out to newer agencies.
posted by Etrigan at 7:02 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK. This is analogous to the Cuban missile crisis. We need to come together.
And of course, while Tillerson tries to de-escalate and calm Americans, Gorka is comparing to closest we've come to WWIII
The. Best. People.
posted by chris24 at 7:03 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
And of course, while Tillerson tries to de-escalate and calm Americans, Gorka is comparing to closest we've come to WWIII
The. Best. People.
posted by chris24 at 7:03 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sebastian Gorka, speaking on Fox news: [to North Korea] "don't test [America] -- We are not just a superpower. We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power."
What the fuck does that even mean?
posted by leotrotsky at 7:05 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
What the fuck does that even mean?
posted by leotrotsky at 7:05 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Sebastian Gorka, speaking on Fox news: [to North Korea] "don't test [America] -- We are not just a superpower. We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power."
What the fuck does that even mean?
Remember back in the late '90s after the Soviet Union fell and there was basically no one left to challenge American hegemony and it was the End of History and whatever? The U.S. as "hyperpower" was a big thing back then.
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
What the fuck does that even mean?
Remember back in the late '90s after the Soviet Union fell and there was basically no one left to challenge American hegemony and it was the End of History and whatever? The U.S. as "hyperpower" was a big thing back then.
posted by Etrigan at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
We are a superpower led by a hyperactive toddler
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [37 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [37 favorites]
I think it depends where you lived. I was born in 1974 and came back from Germany to live in the U.S. around 1980, in rural north Florida, and we had to watch nuclear incident preparedness and practice ducking under our desks, etc., too.
More to the point, it depended on where you live in the sense that it depended on what the irrational boogeymen of your local school board or school principal were, as opposed to depending on anything remotely grounded in sense and reason.
Born in 1970, spent half my childhood either on a USAF base or immediately adjacent to one. I remember them playing the national anthem over outdoor loudspeakers ever damn day. I remember grump German barbers and a really embarrassing number of public service ads on AFN. At Zweibrucken or Spangdahlem, the farmer just across the fence from base housing in the early 70s would chuck sweets through the fence from his tractor. Can't recall ever doing duck and cover drills or watching nuclear preparedness anything.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
More to the point, it depended on where you live in the sense that it depended on what the irrational boogeymen of your local school board or school principal were, as opposed to depending on anything remotely grounded in sense and reason.
Born in 1970, spent half my childhood either on a USAF base or immediately adjacent to one. I remember them playing the national anthem over outdoor loudspeakers ever damn day. I remember grump German barbers and a really embarrassing number of public service ads on AFN. At Zweibrucken or Spangdahlem, the farmer just across the fence from base housing in the early 70s would chuck sweets through the fence from his tractor. Can't recall ever doing duck and cover drills or watching nuclear preparedness anything.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:07 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
What the fuck does that even mean?
Forget it, leotrotsky. It's Gorkatown.
In other news:
Washington Post: FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [81 favorites]
Forget it, leotrotsky. It's Gorkatown.
In other news:
Washington Post: FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [81 favorites]
> What the fuck does that even mean?
It means they really don't want anyone thinking about Russia or healthcare or the Spinal Tap drummer procession inside the WH communications shop.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
It means they really don't want anyone thinking about Russia or healthcare or the Spinal Tap drummer procession inside the WH communications shop.
posted by tonycpsu at 7:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK. This is analogous to the Cuban missile crisis. We need to come together.
Errr . . well, half the country did. It was a very contentious divided time in the US, through and post-election.
posted by rc3spencer at 7:09 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Errr . . well, half the country did. It was a very contentious divided time in the US, through and post-election.
posted by rc3spencer at 7:09 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
In news photographs and video, you catch other politicians glancing at the president in obvious bafflement. Not Pence. Never Pence. He moons. He beams. It’s 50 shades of infatuation. Daniel Day-Lewis couldn’t muster a more mesmerizing performance, and it’s an unusually florid surrender of principles.
Eh. Pence's face doesn't really do any expression convincingly. He has Squinty Concern and Totally Blank and Forced Smile and that's about it.
posted by emjaybee at 7:11 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
Eh. Pence's face doesn't really do any expression convincingly. He has Squinty Concern and Totally Blank and Forced Smile and that's about it.
posted by emjaybee at 7:11 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
"The search warrant was wide-ranging and FBI agents working with special counsel Robert Mueller departed the home with various records."
posted by chris24 at 7:12 AM on August 9, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 7:12 AM on August 9, 2017 [34 favorites]
More to the point, it depended on where you live in the sense that it depended on what the irrational boogeymen of your local school board or school principal were, as opposed to depending on anything remotely grounded in sense and reason.
Same here. Born in '66, father was a submariner, boomers. Never witnessed a drill, preparedness, etc, and we lived on base several times during our travels.
But . . . when Three Mile Island occurred and we lived at the Mechanicsburg Navy Depot, the local school systems had us covering our selves with blankets and run when getting on the buses. Me and my brother would giggle at the radiation paranoia, even from a public school.
We would share the crazy stories from our school day with our father over dinner.
posted by rc3spencer at 7:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Same here. Born in '66, father was a submariner, boomers. Never witnessed a drill, preparedness, etc, and we lived on base several times during our travels.
But . . . when Three Mile Island occurred and we lived at the Mechanicsburg Navy Depot, the local school systems had us covering our selves with blankets and run when getting on the buses. Me and my brother would giggle at the radiation paranoia, even from a public school.
We would share the crazy stories from our school day with our father over dinner.
posted by rc3spencer at 7:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power."
What the fuck does that even mean?
It means that US power is basically just hype, these days.
posted by Grangousier at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
What the fuck does that even mean?
It means that US power is basically just hype, these days.
posted by Grangousier at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
It's Scoop o'Clock in the morning! The Washington Post: FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
The search warrant was wide-ranging and FBI agents working with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III departed the home with various records.
The raid came as Manafort has been voluntarily producing documents to congressional committees investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The search warrant indicates investigators may have argued to a federal judge they had reason to believe Manafort could not be trusted to turn over all records in response to a grand jury subpoena.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
The search warrant was wide-ranging and FBI agents working with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III departed the home with various records.
The raid came as Manafort has been voluntarily producing documents to congressional committees investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The search warrant indicates investigators may have argued to a federal judge they had reason to believe Manafort could not be trusted to turn over all records in response to a grand jury subpoena.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
Millennial: your generation got houses and jobs
Boomer: yes but we lived with constant fear of nuclear winter
Millennial: hold my avocado
posted by tonycpsu at 7:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [80 favorites]
Boomer: yes but we lived with constant fear of nuclear winter
Millennial: hold my avocado
posted by tonycpsu at 7:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [80 favorites]
The Manafort search was on July 26, an epic Twitter Day for the President: Transgender ban; welcoming American hero John McCain back to town for the HC vote; IN AMERICA WE WORSHIP GOD; Foxconn's investment; a jab at Murkowski; a brag about an Ohio rally.
posted by notyou at 7:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by notyou at 7:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
I thought Manafort might be working with the Feds already... apparently not.
How long before the President tweets a request for him to "stay strong"?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
How long before the President tweets a request for him to "stay strong"?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
"The search warrant was wide-ranging and FBI agents working with special counsel Robert Mueller departed the home with various records."
Rule 1. Don't piss off the FBI.
Rule 2. Really don't piss off the FBI if you're dirty.
Rule 3. Really, REALLY don't piss off the FBI if you're dirty AND colluding with a foreign power.
It's amazing to me that the Trump still doesn't seem to grasp how utterly fucked he is. A lifetime free of consequences makes him believe that he's still teflon. The crazy part is he still might have gotten away with it if he'd fired Mueller sooner, or done a better job of not alienating Republicans on the Hill. Now I think there's just too much momentum.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
Rule 1. Don't piss off the FBI.
Rule 2. Really don't piss off the FBI if you're dirty.
Rule 3. Really, REALLY don't piss off the FBI if you're dirty AND colluding with a foreign power.
It's amazing to me that the Trump still doesn't seem to grasp how utterly fucked he is. A lifetime free of consequences makes him believe that he's still teflon. The crazy part is he still might have gotten away with it if he'd fired Mueller sooner, or done a better job of not alienating Republicans on the Hill. Now I think there's just too much momentum.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
"Manafort’s allies fear that Mueller hopes to build a case against Manafort unrelated to the 2016 campaign, in hopes that the former campaign operative would provide information against others in Trump’s inner circle in exchange for lessening his own legal exposure."
Gee, ya think?
posted by uncleozzy at 7:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
Gee, ya think?
posted by uncleozzy at 7:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
That's the thing though; none of us here is confident that the FBI, whatever they uncover, will really be able to get him, because he's got the Republicans still on his side.
I hope they can, of course. It would be a glorious day when he learned that there are consequences to his actions. Him in an orange jumpsuit in a cell, it's a beautiful dream.
But he is like he is because rich dudes hardly ever get really prosecuted and punished properly for their crimes. So it's a very small hope.
posted by emjaybee at 7:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
I hope they can, of course. It would be a glorious day when he learned that there are consequences to his actions. Him in an orange jumpsuit in a cell, it's a beautiful dream.
But he is like he is because rich dudes hardly ever get really prosecuted and punished properly for their crimes. So it's a very small hope.
posted by emjaybee at 7:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
@normative
This weirdly omits an obvious but important point: Warrants, unlike subpoenas, require probable cause.
- You can't get a warrant raid a private home just because you're unsure a subject will fully comply with a subpoena...
- Rather, they had to persuade a judge there was PC to believe evidence of a crime would be found in the course of the search.
- And given the obvious political sensitivity of the target, I have to think they were pretty goddamn confident about the results.
- I mean, imagine you're an FBI SAC. Or a federal judge. Do you sign off on a *predawn raid* on the home of he President's former CM...
- ...if you think there's any chance you're going to end up with egg on your face? It'd be professional suicide.
- That an extraordinary step like this could be authorized says they think they've got something clear & damning on Manafort, at least.
posted by chris24 at 7:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [102 favorites]
@normative
This weirdly omits an obvious but important point: Warrants, unlike subpoenas, require probable cause.
- You can't get a warrant raid a private home just because you're unsure a subject will fully comply with a subpoena...
- Rather, they had to persuade a judge there was PC to believe evidence of a crime would be found in the course of the search.
- And given the obvious political sensitivity of the target, I have to think they were pretty goddamn confident about the results.
- I mean, imagine you're an FBI SAC. Or a federal judge. Do you sign off on a *predawn raid* on the home of he President's former CM...
- ...if you think there's any chance you're going to end up with egg on your face? It'd be professional suicide.
- That an extraordinary step like this could be authorized says they think they've got something clear & damning on Manafort, at least.
posted by chris24 at 7:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [102 favorites]
But he is like he is because rich dudes hardly ever get really prosecuted and punished properly for their crimes. So it's a very small hope.
There's an important distinction here, though. This isn't tax fraud. This isn't even murder. It's fucking collusion and espionage. The FBI runs our counter-intelligence in this country; THEY DO NOT SCREW AROUND with this.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:31 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
There's an important distinction here, though. This isn't tax fraud. This isn't even murder. It's fucking collusion and espionage. The FBI runs our counter-intelligence in this country; THEY DO NOT SCREW AROUND with this.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:31 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
The documents are said to include notes Manafort took while attending a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016.
=== Paul's Adoption Criteria!!!: ===
Kid must be Super-Cute! <3
SMART, Good at math
Boy or Girl it DOESNT MATTER I will love and raise my BILINGUAL CHILD
Mrs Manafort will be so happy 😁
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
=== Paul's Adoption Criteria!!!: ===
Kid must be Super-Cute! <3
SMART, Good at math
Boy or Girl it DOESNT MATTER I will love and raise my BILINGUAL CHILD
Mrs Manafort will be so happy 😁
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
cjelli: The cable, sent by the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, to embassies on Friday, also said diplomats should make clear the United States wants to help other countries use fossil fuels.
Beyond the conflict of interest issues that would otherwise be a HUGE NEWS DEAL, they're fighting progress: Britain, France, Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, India and CHINA all have plans or widely announced intentions to ban all vehicles that run on gas or diesel. Norway is on the leading edge, with plans to ditch ICEs by 2025, with France and England looking out to 2040. China already has better incentives to "increase sales of so-called New Energy Vehicles" than the US.
GOP is truly the party of the dinosaurs, except this dying breed wants to make sure they 1) make as much money as they go extinct, and 2) they're thrilled at the chance to take down as many people with them as they can.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
Beyond the conflict of interest issues that would otherwise be a HUGE NEWS DEAL, they're fighting progress: Britain, France, Norway, The Netherlands, Germany, India and CHINA all have plans or widely announced intentions to ban all vehicles that run on gas or diesel. Norway is on the leading edge, with plans to ditch ICEs by 2025, with France and England looking out to 2040. China already has better incentives to "increase sales of so-called New Energy Vehicles" than the US.
GOP is truly the party of the dinosaurs, except this dying breed wants to make sure they 1) make as much money as they go extinct, and 2) they're thrilled at the chance to take down as many people with them as they can.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
N. Korea reminds me a lot of videos where a dog chases off a bear or cougar.
The cougar has more or less innocently wandered into a dangerous situation. Neither the dog nor the cougar actually wants to fight. But holy cow will they make some dangerous looking faces and sounds at each other.
Both animals are basically saying to the other, "Motherfucker, if you come at me, you had better BRING IT 'cause I will FUCK YOU UP!"
Meanwhile their internal dialogue boils down to, "Shit shit shit, I hope I make it out of this alive. Even if I can take that thing out I'm still going to get hurt. I do NOT need this today, I hope it just leaves."
If either of them flinches too much, there is going to be a fight and both animals are going to get hurt, one or both will likely die. Neither of them wants a fight but it sure looks like the other DOES.
The cougar slowly backs off making threats all the while. Finally, when it feels safe enough, it will turn tail and GTFO. Then both creatures go living their lives.
And that seems to be what was happening. It's like Trump doesn't realize that, at least to N. Korea, we're the fucking cougar. All we really need to do is slowly back away and then there won't be a fight. The dog might not have much of a chance but it's not zero and it can still hurt the cougar really bad on it's way out.
Besides, there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad people (the Kim regime). I think the metaphor stretches that far.
posted by VTX at 7:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
The cougar has more or less innocently wandered into a dangerous situation. Neither the dog nor the cougar actually wants to fight. But holy cow will they make some dangerous looking faces and sounds at each other.
Both animals are basically saying to the other, "Motherfucker, if you come at me, you had better BRING IT 'cause I will FUCK YOU UP!"
Meanwhile their internal dialogue boils down to, "Shit shit shit, I hope I make it out of this alive. Even if I can take that thing out I'm still going to get hurt. I do NOT need this today, I hope it just leaves."
If either of them flinches too much, there is going to be a fight and both animals are going to get hurt, one or both will likely die. Neither of them wants a fight but it sure looks like the other DOES.
The cougar slowly backs off making threats all the while. Finally, when it feels safe enough, it will turn tail and GTFO. Then both creatures go living their lives.
And that seems to be what was happening. It's like Trump doesn't realize that, at least to N. Korea, we're the fucking cougar. All we really need to do is slowly back away and then there won't be a fight. The dog might not have much of a chance but it's not zero and it can still hurt the cougar really bad on it's way out.
Besides, there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad people (the Kim regime). I think the metaphor stretches that far.
posted by VTX at 7:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
It's not surprising that Trump would make threats which would be extremely damaging/difficult to follow through on: it's basically how he's always worked. Up until now he's had the luxury of doing it to people who were too powerless to call his bluff (contractors, family, employees under NDA, etc.) and far enough below the radar that if he needs a backup plan, he could always throw money at them to go away.
Now he's interacting with entities which are his peer in terms of power (Congress, China, and the like), and in an arena where the things he says are receiving an extraordinary amount of attention. This scuttles both his plan A and his plan B: he has no real good reason to believe his antagonists aren't in a position to stay the course in spite of his bluster, and when they do, he can't pretend his original threat never happened.
And that feels like what's playing out in North Korea: He makes an ultimatum he doesn't intend to follow through on, planning to either get what he wants or rewrite history so there wasn't an ultimatum. But what worked OK in crooked real estate ends up being really shitty in international politics: either we end up in a war we really, really don't want to be in, or we lose yet another bit of prestige when it becomes apparent the threats were all talk. If it were just him being humiliated here, I would shrug and laugh when (please, let it be when and not if) he waffles, but this really does damage to the US's ability to be taken seriously by anyone.
posted by jackbishop at 7:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Now he's interacting with entities which are his peer in terms of power (Congress, China, and the like), and in an arena where the things he says are receiving an extraordinary amount of attention. This scuttles both his plan A and his plan B: he has no real good reason to believe his antagonists aren't in a position to stay the course in spite of his bluster, and when they do, he can't pretend his original threat never happened.
And that feels like what's playing out in North Korea: He makes an ultimatum he doesn't intend to follow through on, planning to either get what he wants or rewrite history so there wasn't an ultimatum. But what worked OK in crooked real estate ends up being really shitty in international politics: either we end up in a war we really, really don't want to be in, or we lose yet another bit of prestige when it becomes apparent the threats were all talk. If it were just him being humiliated here, I would shrug and laugh when (please, let it be when and not if) he waffles, but this really does damage to the US's ability to be taken seriously by anyone.
posted by jackbishop at 7:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Trump hasn't suggested anything to address this beyond 'don't make threats and don't build weapons,' which hasn't worked and will not work.
To be fair, this is at least consistent with his opiods policy.
posted by flabdablet at 7:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
To be fair, this is at least consistent with his opiods policy.
posted by flabdablet at 7:36 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
@HeerJeet (New Republic)
Mueller is treating Trump's campaign like it was a mob operation. Which is the right thing to do.
---
@realDonaldTrump: ...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
@ericgeller (Politico)
I believe this was the original dialogue for Grand Moff Tarkin
posted by chris24 at 7:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
@HeerJeet (New Republic)
Mueller is treating Trump's campaign like it was a mob operation. Which is the right thing to do.
---
@realDonaldTrump: ...Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!
@ericgeller (Politico)
I believe this was the original dialogue for Grand Moff Tarkin
posted by chris24 at 7:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
this really does damage to the US's ability to be taken seriously by anyone
Again, to be fair, that actually happened on the day the gullible-moron brigade voted Trump into office. You won't regain it until he's gone.
posted by flabdablet at 7:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
Again, to be fair, that actually happened on the day the gullible-moron brigade voted Trump into office. You won't regain it until he's gone.
posted by flabdablet at 7:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
it's basically how he's always worked. Up until now he's had the luxury of doing it to people who were too powerless to call his bluff (contractors, family, employees under NDA, etc.) and far enough below the radar that if he needs a backup plan, he could always throw money at them to go away.
Never forget this. He's always been a dumber bully, with money as a buffer when the bullying doesn't work. So many situations coming up for him outside his white rich comfort zone. I'm so happy he's getting these learning opportunities so late in life. So lucky!
posted by rc3spencer at 7:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Never forget this. He's always been a dumber bully, with money as a buffer when the bullying doesn't work. So many situations coming up for him outside his white rich comfort zone. I'm so happy he's getting these learning opportunities so late in life. So lucky!
posted by rc3spencer at 7:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Anyone know if Don Jr is still in the country?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:43 AM on August 9, 2017
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:43 AM on August 9, 2017
Anyone know if Don Jr is still in the country?
I was also wondering if Don Jr. actually testified in July to the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was scheduled to do so on the same day as Manafort, but I could not find any reports that he actually had.
posted by pjenks at 7:45 AM on August 9, 2017
I was also wondering if Don Jr. actually testified in July to the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was scheduled to do so on the same day as Manafort, but I could not find any reports that he actually had.
posted by pjenks at 7:45 AM on August 9, 2017
Gen X came by its fascination with apocalyptic fiction honestly--who in our demographic doesn't remember the TV premier of The Day After?
Aut Threads aut nihil.
Anyway, back to the Twitters:
Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump): Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III. [real, 31 Aug 2013]
Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump ): I truly believe that our country has the worst and dumbest negotiators of virtually any country in the world. [real, 28 Nov 2013]
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
Aut Threads aut nihil.
Anyway, back to the Twitters:
Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump): Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III. [real, 31 Aug 2013]
Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump ): I truly believe that our country has the worst and dumbest negotiators of virtually any country in the world. [real, 28 Nov 2013]
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
How would you characterize Cheeto's Twitter threats towards Kim Jong Un?
a) Childish double dog daring.
b) Adolescent posturing.
c) Teenage dick measuring.
d) Uh, we're all going to die.
posted by orange swan at 7:51 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
a) Childish double dog daring.
b) Adolescent posturing.
c) Teenage dick measuring.
d) Uh, we're all going to die.
posted by orange swan at 7:51 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Room 641-A: Hey, at least Rex "I'm not a big media access person" Tillerson let reporters on the plane!
Last time Rex didn't allow US reporters to join him, Japanese media got to portray him as sleepy, which is an image that is now stuck to him.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Last time Rex didn't allow US reporters to join him, Japanese media got to portray him as sleepy, which is an image that is now stuck to him.
Without regular US reporters around Tillerson to confirm or correct that report, it circulated widely until Tillerson personally rebutted the claims.Huh, whoda thunk, a foreign country doesn't portray this current mess of an administration and its emissaries in the best light, and there's no US media to provide a different viewpoint, so everyone goes with the only report published.
“They never invited us for dinner, then at the last minute they realized that optically it wasn’t playing very well in public for them, so they put out a statement that we didn’t have dinner because I was tired,” Tillerson said.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Rust Moranis: Washington Post: FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort’s home
posted by filthy light thief at 7:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Manafort has been voluntarily producing documents to congressional committees investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The search warrant indicates investigators may have argued to a federal judge they had reason to believe Manafort could not be trusted to turn over all records in response to a grand jury subpoena.¿Porque No Los Dos?
It could also have been intended to send a message to President Trump’s former campaign chairman that he should not expect gentle treatment or legal courtesies from Mueller’s team.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
How would you characterize Cheeto's Twitter threats towards Kim Jong Un?
a) Childish double dog daring.
b) Adolescent posturing.
c) Teenage dick measuring.
d) Uh, we're all going to die.
e) All of the above
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
The documents are said to include notes Manafort took while attending a meeting with Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016.
Manafort, is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?!
posted by lord_wolf at 8:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [71 favorites]
Manafort, is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?!
posted by lord_wolf at 8:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [71 favorites]
a) Childish double dog daring.
b) Adolescent posturing.
c) Teenage dick measuring.
d) Uh, we're all going to die.
A, B and C.
D is of course true, but unlikely to have much to do with anything Trump says about North Korea. I can see nothing he's said yet, and expect to see nothing he will say, that would strike the DPRK leadership as in any way inconsistent with the attitude they'll have come to expect from a Republican administration.
posted by flabdablet at 8:04 AM on August 9, 2017
b) Adolescent posturing.
c) Teenage dick measuring.
d) Uh, we're all going to die.
A, B and C.
D is of course true, but unlikely to have much to do with anything Trump says about North Korea. I can see nothing he's said yet, and expect to see nothing he will say, that would strike the DPRK leadership as in any way inconsistent with the attitude they'll have come to expect from a Republican administration.
posted by flabdablet at 8:04 AM on August 9, 2017
Again, to be fair, that actually happened on the day the gullible-moron brigade voted Trump into office. You won't regain it until he's gone.
Even after he's gone. The United States is forever tarnished by the fact that we voted someone dumber than Bush into office. We looked at that shitshow and thought "hmmm, that was a fantastic time for the United States, I WISH I COULD TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL". You only get one Bush before " fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
No. Forever, the United States will be the bipolar aunt that's loving and sweet at one family gathering and then four years later she's threatening to burn the fucking house down with everyone in it.
posted by Talez at 8:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [55 favorites]
Even after he's gone. The United States is forever tarnished by the fact that we voted someone dumber than Bush into office. We looked at that shitshow and thought "hmmm, that was a fantastic time for the United States, I WISH I COULD TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL". You only get one Bush before " fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
No. Forever, the United States will be the bipolar aunt that's loving and sweet at one family gathering and then four years later she's threatening to burn the fucking house down with everyone in it.
posted by Talez at 8:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [55 favorites]
It's a small comfort, but I do enjoy now getting to repeatedly giggle while saying "predawn raid" in reference to any of these entitled fuckers. Try it; it's fun!
Hoping eventually to get the opportunity to say "frogmarch," "perp walk," "shackles," and "allocute."
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
Hoping eventually to get the opportunity to say "frogmarch," "perp walk," "shackles," and "allocute."
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:10 AM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
Manafort, is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?!
It's a pretty sad commentary to realize this guy is apparently just as dumb as Don Jr.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's a pretty sad commentary to realize this guy is apparently just as dumb as Don Jr.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
He spent years living in countries where such behavior is integral to the droit de seigneur.
posted by ocschwar at 8:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ocschwar at 8:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
One of the stupidest things about the super- versus hyperpower hairsplitting is that each word comes from the same proto-Indo-European root. 'Super' is just how it ended up in Latin, while hyper is the Greek form.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 8:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [52 favorites]
Hoping eventually to get the opportunity to say "frogmarch," "perp walk," "shackles," and "allocute."
don't forget "gallows" or "firing squad"
posted by entropicamericana at 8:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
don't forget "gallows" or "firing squad"
posted by entropicamericana at 8:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled againA friend of mine recently argued that Bush was having a political epiphany as he was relating this story and decided that it was much better to look like a complete moron than to hand Democrats a video of him saying "Shame on me." I wonder if that's true.
Anyway, I'm always a bit amused at people who take notes on criminal conspiracies and then, you know, keep them. I hope Manafort turns out to be the kind of guy who keeps a BuJo.
x Discuss HRC dossier with Russian lawyer
> Call Putin re: 19% Rosneft
! Find out if encryption is better than taking notes
posted by xyzzy at 8:21 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
It's a pretty sad commentary to realize this guy is apparently just as dumb as Don Jr.
I mean I guess the FBI must have a pretty good idea that the notes exist but I just can't get past the idea that Manafort, with all that is going down would just have the notes filed in in house. He can't be that dumb can he? Like why wouldn't he just burn them or somehow get rid of this evidence. Or maybe he has a secret stash spot that the FBI found out about and has a warrant for.
It just seems silly 'yep the notes from this meeting that there is a Grand Jury on are filed in the top drawer.' There has to be something more.
posted by Jalliah at 8:22 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Today's fanfic daydream: "The Trump-Kushner household was rudely awakened and thrown into disarray today by a predawn raid as federal agents descended in force on the upscale townhome."
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ian Milhiser: The smartest people in Trumpland (via)
There is nothing comparable to the Federalist Society on the left. That is, there is no group which has the same ability to identify the best and the brightest lights in the legal profession, screen them for ideological purity, and that also has the influence necessary to fill the bench with their people.posted by tonycpsu at 8:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
To be clear, there is a liberal group, the American Constitution Society, which strives to play a similar role. ACS, which I worked for during part of the Bush administration, was founded as an explicit counterpart to the Federalist Society. Yet ACS members, including myself, spent much of the Obama years watching their heroes get crucified by Senate Republicans. ACS itself became a place to hear pep talks from slain martyrs.
ACS’s 2010 convention, for example, was promoted as the first time Dawn Johnsen, a former ACS board member Obama unsuccessfully nominated to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, would speak publicly after she withdrew her nomination. “Being willing to stand on principle and fight for liberties that were at times controversial has not hurt me professionally,” Johnsen insisted in her speech, before listing several of her many impressive professional accomplishments.
It was a good speech. But it didn’t change the fact that Johnsen got locked out of the halls of power due to some combination of her opposition to torture and her strong support for abortion rights. [...]
The best minds of the left give inspiring speeches, while the greatest intellects of the right wear black robes.
@gilbertjasono: It is kind of poetic that there is now a nuclear standoff between a literal Fat Man and Little Boy
@dansjensen: ...but which is which?
@gilbertjasono: They are both the fat man and the little boy. It’s beautiful, really
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [68 favorites]
@dansjensen: ...but which is which?
@gilbertjasono: They are both the fat man and the little boy. It’s beautiful, really
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [68 favorites]
"North Korea seriously considering strike on Guam: Reports, citing state media"
Nope. If they were really considering it, they wouldn't announce it.
Not necessarily. Kim Jong Un is not the brightest bulb around either.
Turns out that threats of nuclear war don't stop the news.
That's because they are empty threats. The whole world has pretty much figured out that T is a fucking idiotic blowhard, for which I am grateful.
posted by Melismata at 8:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Nope. If they were really considering it, they wouldn't announce it.
Not necessarily. Kim Jong Un is not the brightest bulb around either.
Turns out that threats of nuclear war don't stop the news.
That's because they are empty threats. The whole world has pretty much figured out that T is a fucking idiotic blowhard, for which I am grateful.
posted by Melismata at 8:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
It's amazing to me that the Trump still doesn't seem to grasp how utterly fucked he is.
I really want to believe this, and in any rational world this would completely hold up as events unfold.
But in a rational world, Trump would never have been elected. And at this point with the way so many people talk about this whole thing I'm starting to have flashbacks to the weeks in LA before the verdict on the cops who beat Rodney King. That jury wasn't even made up of politicians.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I really want to believe this, and in any rational world this would completely hold up as events unfold.
But in a rational world, Trump would never have been elected. And at this point with the way so many people talk about this whole thing I'm starting to have flashbacks to the weeks in LA before the verdict on the cops who beat Rodney King. That jury wasn't even made up of politicians.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I just stumbled over this NY Times piece, which is from July, but seems to be a thorough, well-sourced and excellent piece on how military action against North Korea would play out. (Did a search, doesn't appear to have been posted yet on the Blue.)
In North Korea, 'Surgical Strike' Could Spin Into 'Worst Kind of Fighting'
posted by martin q blank at 8:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
In North Korea, 'Surgical Strike' Could Spin Into 'Worst Kind of Fighting'
posted by martin q blank at 8:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
> The United States is forever tarnished by the fact that we voted someone dumber than Bush into office.
Last week I was talking with some friends and someone said "You know how everyone's like 'I'd take GWB over Trump in a heartbeat'? Maybe in four years we'll all be saying 'I'd take Trump over ______ in a heartbeat'." We all had a good laugh and then fell into a brief melancholic silence (in my case because I couldn't discount the possibility of this happening).
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
Last week I was talking with some friends and someone said "You know how everyone's like 'I'd take GWB over Trump in a heartbeat'? Maybe in four years we'll all be saying 'I'd take Trump over ______ in a heartbeat'." We all had a good laugh and then fell into a brief melancholic silence (in my case because I couldn't discount the possibility of this happening).
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
don't forget "gallows" or "firing squad"
something tumbrels something something
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
something tumbrels something something
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
It just seems silly 'yep the notes from this meeting that there is a Grand Jury on are filed in the top drawer.'
I can see him keeping notes as a future bargaining chip.
Which he apparently failed to use effectively, much to my schadenglee.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
I can see him keeping notes as a future bargaining chip.
Which he apparently failed to use effectively, much to my schadenglee.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
I like to follow wonkish #nevertrump Republicans on Twitter because I like seeing reasoned responses from the other side of the aisle. Here's a list of nuclear weapon wonks that one helpfully provided for all you MeTwits:
@LawDavF
@ArmsControlWonk
@Woolaf
@StephenUCS
@AtomicAnalyst
@nukes_of_hazard
@nukestrat
@KingstonAReif
@SecDef19
inb4 UGH TWITTER
tl;dr of the day: Trump is full of shit when he says he's modernized our nuclear weapon stockpile.
posted by Talez at 8:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
@LawDavF
@ArmsControlWonk
@Woolaf
@StephenUCS
@AtomicAnalyst
@nukes_of_hazard
@nukestrat
@KingstonAReif
@SecDef19
inb4 UGH TWITTER
tl;dr of the day: Trump is full of shit when he says he's modernized our nuclear weapon stockpile.
posted by Talez at 8:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I mean I guess the FBI must have a pretty good idea that the notes exist but I just can't get past the idea that Manafort, with all that is going down would just have the notes filed in in house. He can't be that dumb can he? Like why wouldn't he just burn them or somehow get rid of this evidence.
A possible explanation that I see for keeping the notes: they are insurance for Manafort; his own little piece of kompromat on some people in the administration, or a potential bargaining chip to be played to protect himself in a criminal investigation.
He also is likely one of those guys who thinks he's the smartest one in the room, and would never have thought his home might get raided and his chip taken.
posted by nubs at 8:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
A possible explanation that I see for keeping the notes: they are insurance for Manafort; his own little piece of kompromat on some people in the administration, or a potential bargaining chip to be played to protect himself in a criminal investigation.
He also is likely one of those guys who thinks he's the smartest one in the room, and would never have thought his home might get raided and his chip taken.
posted by nubs at 8:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Actually, I think the Manafort thing was just Mueller's way of reciprocating Trump's messages of appreciation. Nothing says "I dig you the most" like executing a search warrant on one of your former cohorts.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I can see him keeping notes as a future bargaining chip.
Which he apparently failed to use effectively, much to my schadenglee.
Oh yes. I forgot about that possibility. That makes sense. Thanks. Weirdly that makes me feel better.
posted by Jalliah at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump hits new polling low as base shrinks (Steven Shepard, Politico)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
Here's a source for the Korean A-bomb victims
posted by Tobu at 8:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Tobu at 8:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
I kind of feel bad for Manafort. All he wanted to do was betray his country in exchange for cash.
posted by diogenes at 8:47 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 8:47 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
Shouldn't Trump's support be dwindling anyway as 'days since Hillary was running' increases? I've always assumed there was little to no support for Trump without the context of Hillary Clinton / other Republicans running against him.
He's not relatable (except to richy-rich lucky born reactionaries) to nearly all of america without someone to represent hate and disappointment being opposed to him. I would expect these numbers to gradually continue declining no matter what his actions or comments.
posted by rc3spencer at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
He's not relatable (except to richy-rich lucky born reactionaries) to nearly all of america without someone to represent hate and disappointment being opposed to him. I would expect these numbers to gradually continue declining no matter what his actions or comments.
posted by rc3spencer at 8:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I kind of feel bad for Manafort. All he wanted to do was betray his country in exchange for cash.
Don't feel bad for him. He'll just dine on some meat loaf and all his legal worries will disappear.
posted by Talez at 8:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Don't feel bad for him. He'll just dine on some meat loaf and all his legal worries will disappear.
posted by Talez at 8:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
We all had a good laugh and then fell into a brief melancholic silence (in my case because I couldn't discount the possibility of this happening).
Did it look something like this?
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Did it look something like this?
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Some folks on the tweeters are correlating 45's twitter activity with the Manafort raid.
So, Manafort gets raided and that day 45 complains about AG Sessions and the FBI and then follows up with the transgender ban. I mean, it's blindingly obvious that Trump has no filter and his motives are utterly transparent. His moral calculus looks like this: "DAMN, they're really going after Manafort, the guy I claimed to barely know but who lived in my building since 2006 and ran my campaign. What if the press gets word of the raid? I hate the FBI, why are they hurting me? *tap tap tap* I KNOW! I CAN DISTRACT EVERYONE BY RUINING THOUSANDS OF LIVES! *tap tap tap* That'll keep the Dems and the press busy for awhile. Pence likes it, too."
(If you're curious, you can see a list of some of the "interesting" people who live in Trump tower here. Includes an Italian "count" who hates immigrants, Paul Manafort, an ex-con whose father purchased art that was stolen from Jews by the Nazis, etc.)
posted by xyzzy at 8:57 AM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
So, Manafort gets raided and that day 45 complains about AG Sessions and the FBI and then follows up with the transgender ban. I mean, it's blindingly obvious that Trump has no filter and his motives are utterly transparent. His moral calculus looks like this: "DAMN, they're really going after Manafort, the guy I claimed to barely know but who lived in my building since 2006 and ran my campaign. What if the press gets word of the raid? I hate the FBI, why are they hurting me? *tap tap tap* I KNOW! I CAN DISTRACT EVERYONE BY RUINING THOUSANDS OF LIVES! *tap tap tap* That'll keep the Dems and the press busy for awhile. Pence likes it, too."
(If you're curious, you can see a list of some of the "interesting" people who live in Trump tower here. Includes an Italian "count" who hates immigrants, Paul Manafort, an ex-con whose father purchased art that was stolen from Jews by the Nazis, etc.)
posted by xyzzy at 8:57 AM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
I've been seeing comparisons on Twitter to RICO investigations- nail a little guy, roll him over on his boss, roll his boss over on his boss's boss...
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Shouldn't Trump's support be dwindling anyway as 'days since Hillary was running' increases? I've always assumed there was little to no support for Trump without the context of Hillary Clinton / other Republicans running against him.
IMHO the healthcare debate really did work for breaking the spell on a number of his fans. During his rallies Trump was truly attacking Obamacare from the left. Which was both correct and sensible since, well, the ACA was a Republican fucking idea from the '90s. Attacking Obamacare from the right is basically him yelling "I WANT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO DIE IN A DITCH" at the rallies which doesn't really play well in Omaha, somewhere in middle America.
The second the CBO says your insurance is going bye-bye under Ryan or McConnell's latest shitpile of legislation and Trump is saying "GET IT PASSED! I NEED A WIN!" you suddenly realize that bright flaming orange ball of gas isn't your friend. All of the barriers of cognitive dissonance you've put up suddenly shatter. You feel fucking stupid for what feels like forever. Like you've been taken advantage of, like you've been a dupe, a rube, a mark for this incompetent shitbag to enrich himself and his ego. I've seen it happen a couple of times. It's quite interesting to watch.
For a lot of people it's all fun and games punching down at minorities and queers (which is disgusting in and of itself) but the second your neck is in the noose it gives you a different perspective. Which is probably why he still has support. There's plenty of groups that still haven't been affected by Trump (65+ I'm looking at you) who are still willing to give him much, much, much more rope.
posted by Talez at 9:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
IMHO the healthcare debate really did work for breaking the spell on a number of his fans. During his rallies Trump was truly attacking Obamacare from the left. Which was both correct and sensible since, well, the ACA was a Republican fucking idea from the '90s. Attacking Obamacare from the right is basically him yelling "I WANT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO DIE IN A DITCH" at the rallies which doesn't really play well in Omaha, somewhere in middle America.
The second the CBO says your insurance is going bye-bye under Ryan or McConnell's latest shitpile of legislation and Trump is saying "GET IT PASSED! I NEED A WIN!" you suddenly realize that bright flaming orange ball of gas isn't your friend. All of the barriers of cognitive dissonance you've put up suddenly shatter. You feel fucking stupid for what feels like forever. Like you've been taken advantage of, like you've been a dupe, a rube, a mark for this incompetent shitbag to enrich himself and his ego. I've seen it happen a couple of times. It's quite interesting to watch.
For a lot of people it's all fun and games punching down at minorities and queers (which is disgusting in and of itself) but the second your neck is in the noose it gives you a different perspective. Which is probably why he still has support. There's plenty of groups that still haven't been affected by Trump (65+ I'm looking at you) who are still willing to give him much, much, much more rope.
posted by Talez at 9:01 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
From July, here's a typical threat from the DPRK:
Because of the obvious plausibility of this threatening statement, the United States has not destroyed the Kim regime, nor is it likely to attempt to soon. Therefore, the statement remains as an effective threat. The statement certainly contains hyperbole regarding the DPRK's ability to wage war. Nevertheless, the regime's ability to do terrible damage to the interests of America and its allies, and to kill the citizens of America and its allies, is manifest. All that protects us are the self-preserving motivations of the Kim family.
Now let's look at Trump's statement from yesterday, which we might consider a little more... off-the-cuff...
There is no other way to interpret the President's words.
The DPRK's immediate reaction was to threaten to attack an American territory, because appearing weak in the face of American aggression would itself be seen as undermining the Kim dynasty. There is no indication that President Trump is fulfilling his promise to initiate a nuclear war. Indeed, Tillerson is trying to calm things down, possibly so he can take a nap. Trump made a specific threat which was immediately revealed to be impotent*.
Not only has President Trump reduced America's rhetorical moral authority to that of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, but he has done so by making an absurd bluff which everyone knew would immediately be called. Except, perhaps, for the President himself. Who can say what lurks in the mind of President Trump?
Donald's statement will have garnered him some good screen-time on Fox and Friends and some good immediate reactions from an angry and dejected fraction of Americans on social media, many of whom see a prospective nuclear war as a problem only affecting a generation of ungrateful millennials. On every other level, it is self-destructive, both for the President and his nation.
* "Impotent" is a good word for this president; let's get people on the TV immediately saying the President is impotent thanks
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [60 favorites]
KCNA reported that a spokesman from the North Korean Foreign Ministry said, “The DPRK legally stipulates that if the supreme dignity of the DPRK is threatened, it must preemptively annihilate those countries and entities that are directly or indirectly involved in it, by mobilizing all kinds of strike means including the nuclear ones.”This is typical of the official statements made over many years. This rhetoric is a defining characteristic of the North Korean regime. But note that this threat is in the form of an if-then statement: if the United States tries to destroy the Kim regime, then the DPRK will attack the United States and its allies.
“Should the US dare to show even the slightest sign of attempt to remove our supreme leadership, we will strike a merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer, honed and hardened over time,” the foreign ministry spokesman added.
Because of the obvious plausibility of this threatening statement, the United States has not destroyed the Kim regime, nor is it likely to attempt to soon. Therefore, the statement remains as an effective threat. The statement certainly contains hyperbole regarding the DPRK's ability to wage war. Nevertheless, the regime's ability to do terrible damage to the interests of America and its allies, and to kill the citizens of America and its allies, is manifest. All that protects us are the self-preserving motivations of the Kim family.
Now let's look at Trump's statement from yesterday, which we might consider a little more... off-the-cuff...
“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Mr. Trump told reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., where he is spending much of the month on a working vacation. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”This, too, is an if-then statement: if North Korea continues making rhetorical threats as they have been doing for decades, then Trump will start a nuclear war.
“[Kim Jong-un] has been very threatening beyond a normal state, and as I said, they will be met with fire and fury, and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before.”
There is no other way to interpret the President's words.
The DPRK's immediate reaction was to threaten to attack an American territory, because appearing weak in the face of American aggression would itself be seen as undermining the Kim dynasty. There is no indication that President Trump is fulfilling his promise to initiate a nuclear war. Indeed, Tillerson is trying to calm things down, possibly so he can take a nap. Trump made a specific threat which was immediately revealed to be impotent*.
Not only has President Trump reduced America's rhetorical moral authority to that of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, but he has done so by making an absurd bluff which everyone knew would immediately be called. Except, perhaps, for the President himself. Who can say what lurks in the mind of President Trump?
Donald's statement will have garnered him some good screen-time on Fox and Friends and some good immediate reactions from an angry and dejected fraction of Americans on social media, many of whom see a prospective nuclear war as a problem only affecting a generation of ungrateful millennials. On every other level, it is self-destructive, both for the President and his nation.
* "Impotent" is a good word for this president; let's get people on the TV immediately saying the President is impotent thanks
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [60 favorites]
Re Manafort's notes, I assume the search warrant included computers and any kind of recording device. They'll probably also check the answering machine, the Walkman, and open the clock on the mantle.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 9:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
the president's korea remarks were improvised
(this is fine)
posted by entropicamericana at 9:11 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
(this is fine)
posted by entropicamericana at 9:11 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
> I KNOW! I CAN DISTRACT EVERYONE BY RUINING THOUSANDS OF LIVES!
I've been trying very hard not to think this the last ~24 hours, and how he might act if really cornered.
posted by Buntix at 9:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been trying very hard not to think this the last ~24 hours, and how he might act if really cornered.
posted by Buntix at 9:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
the president's korea marks were improvised
(this is fine)
This is completely unsurprising.
posted by Melismata at 9:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
(this is fine)
This is completely unsurprising.
posted by Melismata at 9:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Q: There are two places in the United States of America which are not part of a state. One is the District of Columbia. What is the other?
A: Palmyra Atoll.
As a side-effect of its exclusion from the newly-created State of Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll is the only remaining incorporated territory of the United States, meaning it is legally considered an integral part of the United States. All the other territories, including Guam and even Puerto Rico, are unincorporated and legally considered possessions of the United States.
This also means that Palmyra Atoll is, by far, the southern-most point of the United States.
Since Palmyra Atoll has no permanent population, its lack of political representation is inconsequential. (It should be noted that the District of Columbia does in fact have a permanent population.)
Alright, back to the apocalypse.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
A: Palmyra Atoll.
As a side-effect of its exclusion from the newly-created State of Hawaii, Palmyra Atoll is the only remaining incorporated territory of the United States, meaning it is legally considered an integral part of the United States. All the other territories, including Guam and even Puerto Rico, are unincorporated and legally considered possessions of the United States.
This also means that Palmyra Atoll is, by far, the southern-most point of the United States.
Since Palmyra Atoll has no permanent population, its lack of political representation is inconsequential. (It should be noted that the District of Columbia does in fact have a permanent population.)
Alright, back to the apocalypse.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:23 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
1. On one hand you have an unpredictable leader beloved by his supporters, and many of those supporters are hankering for a war. They're aided by a complicit media that regularly ratchets up the tension by framing every move by the end as an existential threat, meaning that the supporters want to end it as quickly as possible. This leader only gets his information from sycophants, clearly shows signs of not understanding reality, can't even provide healthcare to all of his citizens, and is managed by two retired generals, which does not provide any comfort at all.
One hand you say?
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
One hand you say?
posted by RolandOfEld at 9:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Talez: tl;dr of the day: Trump is full of shit when he says he's modernized our nuclear weapon stockpile.
Maybe he meant that it's modern by Trump standards: gilt to the hilt, just like his buildings, and stamped TRUMP for good measure. Ta da! It's "modern"!
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on August 9, 2017
Maybe he meant that it's modern by Trump standards: gilt to the hilt, just like his buildings, and stamped TRUMP for good measure. Ta da! It's "modern"!
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on August 9, 2017
The New York Times: You will all be shocked to learn that Donnie pulled his impotent nuclear bluff out of his grotesque behind as part of the World's Most Dangerous Improv Routine
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:25 AM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
Even if China and Russia don't launch in response to the DPRK or USA nuking each other, the seal's broken and the use of nukes is on the table. Part of MAD is the knowledge that using a nuke means you're dead. If either side uses a nuke and lives to tell about it, that makes the use of nuclear weapons a tactical decision rather than a last resort. That's an even worse situation than we're in now.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:28 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:28 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
"I thought Manafort might be working with the Feds already... apparently not." I am not sure why you would think that way. Try thinking another way. Imagine you are as screwed as Manafort is, especially if 45 goes down, and potentially 46, and there is no one to pardon you. But, meanwhile, it is important to look like you are in the same place as you were, and you had to let your big brother in, and they took what they took. By this means it doesn't look given. I can imagine there are enemies on all sides of this situation, because it, as my beloved Aunt Dee would say, "Is crooked as a snake!" (In the house of mirrors.)
posted by Oyéah at 9:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 9:33 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
the president's korea remarks were improvised
I'm seeing this getting kind-of spun like that makes it ok, which boggles me. The stakes are high, and you want to make sure people don't misread the situation - whatever side of it they are on. It's this kind of "improv" that leads to the other side saying "yes, and..." and starting to blow shit up or take risky actions because the signals they are getting from Trump's Improv Team are so mixed and confusing that they interpret the situation as a larger threat than maybe what they were meant to be. We're going to mis-understand our way into a war with this.
KIM Jong-Un is a murderous dickbag, but he's largely in control of his mental faculties and knows a shooting war ends with his death.
Yes, and...if he thinks that the US is gearing for that shooting war - that it is imminent - he may also feel he has nothing left to lose by unleashing ten different kinds of hell on the Korean peninsula before going out.
posted by nubs at 9:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm seeing this getting kind-of spun like that makes it ok, which boggles me. The stakes are high, and you want to make sure people don't misread the situation - whatever side of it they are on. It's this kind of "improv" that leads to the other side saying "yes, and..." and starting to blow shit up or take risky actions because the signals they are getting from Trump's Improv Team are so mixed and confusing that they interpret the situation as a larger threat than maybe what they were meant to be. We're going to mis-understand our way into a war with this.
KIM Jong-Un is a murderous dickbag, but he's largely in control of his mental faculties and knows a shooting war ends with his death.
Yes, and...if he thinks that the US is gearing for that shooting war - that it is imminent - he may also feel he has nothing left to lose by unleashing ten different kinds of hell on the Korean peninsula before going out.
posted by nubs at 9:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm seeing this getting kind-of spun like that makes it ok, which boggles me.
"That doesn't count! I wasn't ready!" is what every big-talking loser says when he loses a fight.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
"That doesn't count! I wasn't ready!" is what every big-talking loser says when he loses a fight.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:35 AM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
One of the stupidest things about the super- versus hyperpower hairsplitting is that each word comes from the same proto-Indo-European root. 'Super' is just how it ended up in Latin, while hyper is the Greek form.
My love for you grows every day, Excommunicated Cardinal. You had me at proto-Indo-European root.
posted by greermahoney at 9:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [51 favorites]
My love for you grows every day, Excommunicated Cardinal. You had me at proto-Indo-European root.
posted by greermahoney at 9:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [51 favorites]
So if I understand things correctly, in 2017 we hope for the rationality of Kim Jong-Un to keep things together. Strange timeline indeed.
posted by stonepharisee at 9:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 9:40 AM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
If you're curious, you can see a list of some of the "interesting" people who live in Trump tower here. Includes an Italian "count" who hates immigrants, Paul Manafort, an ex-con whose father purchased art that was stolen from Jews by the Nazis, etc.
So a lot like the building in Rosemary's Baby, only taller and golder.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
So a lot like the building in Rosemary's Baby, only taller and golder.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK.
Dear Rep. Gorka:
We were led by Jack Kennedy. We know Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a president beloved by all. Rep. Gorka, Trump is no Jack Kennedy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [48 favorites]
Dear Rep. Gorka:
We were led by Jack Kennedy. We know Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a president beloved by all. Rep. Gorka, Trump is no Jack Kennedy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [48 favorites]
I'm not convinced that Trump managed to "improvise" a phrase that echoed Harry Truman. The fact that it wasn't what was written on the piece of paper in front of him doesn't mean he hadn't been prepped.
posted by uosuaq at 9:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 9:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
Pentagon to Bannon’s Blackwater Buddy Erik Prince: GTFO (Asawin Suebsaeng and Spencer Ackerman, The Daily Beast)
posted by Room 641-A at 9:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
“The Pentagon is not interested in privatizing the war in Afghanistan,” the former official told The Daily Beast.Also, reminder that Betsy DeVos is Erik Prince's sister.
Several current and former Trump administration officials said that despite Prince’s recent reemergence on cable news—the venue of choice when attempting to persuade President Donald Trump—Prince has no significant internal support. That is, with one big exception: Steve Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist and an avowed bureaucratic enemy of the national security adviser, Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm seeing this getting kind-of spun like that makes it ok, which boggles me. The stakes are high, and you want to make sure people don't misread the situation - whatever side of it they are on. It's this kind of "improv" that leads to the other side saying "yes, and..." and starting to blow shit up or take risky actions because the signals they are getting from Trump's Improv Team are so mixed and confusing that they interpret the situation as a larger threat than maybe what they were meant to be. We're going to mis-understand our way into a war with this.
really missing my Second City days right now - expect the writers and the improv teams to be discussing which megacorp benefits from this one
posted by infini at 9:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Here is that poster I remember, about nuclear war preparedness...
posted by Oyéah at 9:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 9:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
the president's korea remarks were improvised
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a "yes, and?"
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [36 favorites]
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a "yes, and?"
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [36 favorites]
East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94: There is no other way to interpret the President's words.
Trump's remarks were criticized by fellow Republican Sen. John McCain, who told an Arizona radio station, "I don't know what he's saying, and I've long ago given up trying to interpret what he says. (included in an NPR piece from this morning, titled "Tillerson: Trump Is Using Language Kim Jong Un Can Understand")
"Improvised remarks" means that everyone around him is washing their hands of any involvement. "Not me," they're all saying, "it's all this kook."
"But you should listen to him and take his words as gospel when we want you to."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump's remarks were criticized by fellow Republican Sen. John McCain, who told an Arizona radio station, "I don't know what he's saying, and I've long ago given up trying to interpret what he says. (included in an NPR piece from this morning, titled "Tillerson: Trump Is Using Language Kim Jong Un Can Understand")
"Improvised remarks" means that everyone around him is washing their hands of any involvement. "Not me," they're all saying, "it's all this kook."
"But you should listen to him and take his words as gospel when we want you to."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh man, how shitty at improv would Trump be? Solid "no, but" guy there.
Unless he was being led on by a Russian or a Nazi or something, I guess. You could probably get an ever escalating string of racist authoritarian crap out of him that way.
posted by Artw at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Unless he was being led on by a Russian or a Nazi or something, I guess. You could probably get an ever escalating string of racist authoritarian crap out of him that way.
posted by Artw at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's not just that the remarks were improvised. It's that, as with the trans ban tweet, the actual generals and defense department and state department people had no idea that he planned to make any statement about North Korea when he spoke.
Because he doesn't plan or consult. He just spouts bullshit spontaneously.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [39 favorites]
Because he doesn't plan or consult. He just spouts bullshit spontaneously.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:52 AM on August 9, 2017 [39 favorites]
You know there are some nuke-happy madmen in India and Pakistan who are just waiting for Trump to break the seal, as it were.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:55 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:55 AM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Is it just me, or do the rest of y'all also now cringe whenever the thread reloads and you see the first comment? --
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?Oh the sweet summer innocence of five days ago.
posted by FelliniBlank at 9:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
During the Cuban missile crisis, we stood behind JFK.
Also to note there were many moving parts to the Cuban missile crisis that only came to light later. Didn't the US also quietly remove missiles from Turkey?
But I don't have a PhD like Dr. Gorka.
posted by readery at 9:59 AM on August 9, 2017
Also to note there were many moving parts to the Cuban missile crisis that only came to light later. Didn't the US also quietly remove missiles from Turkey?
But I don't have a PhD like Dr. Gorka.
posted by readery at 9:59 AM on August 9, 2017
Oh man, how shitty at improv would Trump be? Solid "no, but" guy there.
Personally, I picture Michael Scott at improv class. "The most exciting thing that can happen in a movie, or TV, or real life - someone has a gun. That's why I always start with a gun."
posted by nubs at 10:02 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Personally, I picture Michael Scott at improv class. "The most exciting thing that can happen in a movie, or TV, or real life - someone has a gun. That's why I always start with a gun."
posted by nubs at 10:02 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Also from that Tillerson piece on NPR: this is the image they chose for the article, which includes this line:
posted by filthy light thief at 10:06 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Tillerson was also asked if Americans should be worried, according to the pool report. He replied, "I think Americans should sleep well at night" and not be concerned by recent statements.So I made this.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:06 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Meanwhile, on Fox this morning while I was at my doctor's office, there are new details about Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac!
posted by wittgenstein at 10:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by wittgenstein at 10:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
From the first Trump is mad at John Kelly story from Sarah Westswood in the Washington Examiner:
posted by yasaman at 10:15 AM on August 9, 2017 [57 favorites]
But while the president has offered Kelly a level of control Priebus never managed to obtain, Trump has resisted giving his new chief of staff veto power over the spontaneous and provocative tweets that often serve as a distraction for his administration.Nine days for the shine to wear off!
A series of news reports suggesting Kelly had sought oversight of Trump's Twitter account, including a report that claimed Kelly wanted to know in advance what the president planned to post, made their way to Trump's desk last week, a person familiar with the situation told the Washington Examiner.
Trump "was pissed when he read Kelly wanted to control his Twitter feed," the person said.
posted by yasaman at 10:15 AM on August 9, 2017 [57 favorites]
Didn't the US also quietly remove missiles from Turkey?
I heard that was Bertrand Russell's doing. The crisis was getting resolved, when he published an article suggesting that the U.S. should remove missiles from Turkey, and after that, the Soviets demanded it.
posted by thelonius at 10:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I heard that was Bertrand Russell's doing. The crisis was getting resolved, when he published an article suggesting that the U.S. should remove missiles from Turkey, and after that, the Soviets demanded it.
posted by thelonius at 10:16 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
>"You know how everyone's like 'I'd take GWB over Trump in a heartbeat'? Maybe in four years we'll all be saying 'I'd take Trump over ______ in a heartbeat'."
I keep mentioning Kid Rock. Maybe people think I'm joking.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 10:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I keep mentioning Kid Rock. Maybe people think I'm joking.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 10:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Alleged adult in the room Gen. Maddog Mattis: North Korea should "cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime".
So, that seems like it's helping.
I never understood why we had any faith in a guy named "Mad dog" drummed out of the Obama administration for pushing too hard for war with Iran.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:19 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
So, that seems like it's helping.
I never understood why we had any faith in a guy named "Mad dog" drummed out of the Obama administration for pushing too hard for war with Iran.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:19 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
I am trying not to spend most of the day watching 80s nuclear apocalypse movies. Because that is a terrible idea.
posted by allthinky at 10:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by allthinky at 10:20 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Andrew Kaczynski: GOP Sen. Ron Johnson: McCain's brain tumor might have been factor in no vote on health care
posted by zombieflanders at 10:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 10:24 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Alleged adult in the room Gen. Maddog Mattis
Mattis is a bloodthirsty, piece of shit war criminal, his reputation is unearned, and the cult of personality he has built up amongst soldiers and veterans is disturbingly anti-democratic in its own right.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Mattis is a bloodthirsty, piece of shit war criminal, his reputation is unearned, and the cult of personality he has built up amongst soldiers and veterans is disturbingly anti-democratic in its own right.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:26 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Senator Johnson attributes McCain's "no" vote on ACA repeal to a brain tumor affecting his judgement. The other two Republican Senators who voted "no" are women, so presumably no brain tumor was necessary.
If you have a Senator, call them and ask the Senate to censure Senator Johnson.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [80 favorites]
If you have a Senator, call them and ask the Senate to censure Senator Johnson.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:27 AM on August 9, 2017 [80 favorites]
I never understood why we had any faith in a guy named "Mad dog" drummed out of the Obama administration for pushing too hard for war with Iran.
There was an irrational hope that a well-crafted hammer that sees every problem as a nail would still be superior to a bunch of wingnuts who see every problem as an opportunity to screw us.
posted by Freon at 10:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
There was an irrational hope that a well-crafted hammer that sees every problem as a nail would still be superior to a bunch of wingnuts who see every problem as an opportunity to screw us.
posted by Freon at 10:29 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
I have been assured that he is a "warrior scholar" because he can recite Sun Tzu quotes.
posted by JackFlash at 10:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 10:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Weirdly McCain's statement on the Johnson business doesn't describe him as "disturbed" by the accusations.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Is it just me, or do the rest of y'all also now cringe whenever the thread reloads and you see the first comment? --
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
Every moment Trump45 (worst malt liquor ever) is president, there is a non-zero chance that this will be the final thread for a number of different reasons.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
This is the final Potus45 thread, right?
Every moment Trump45 (worst malt liquor ever) is president, there is a non-zero chance that this will be the final thread for a number of different reasons.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
I have been assured that he is a "warrior scholar" because he can recite Sun Tzu quotes.
Awesome! All these years of being able to quote Yoda must mean I'm a Jedi then!
posted by nubs at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
Awesome! All these years of being able to quote Yoda must mean I'm a Jedi then!
posted by nubs at 10:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
I have been assured that he is a "warrior scholar" because he can recite Sun Tzu quotes.
Awesome! All these years of being able to quote Yoda must mean I'm a Jedi then!
I'm a
posted by tilde at 10:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
'Duck-and-cover' veteran here. In retrospect, I'd say the last drills we had (this was in central PA) were around the time of the Cuban missile crisis.
I didn't see The Day After. I always get it confused with 'Special Bulletin', which gave me nightmares in 1983.
posted by MtDewd at 10:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I didn't see The Day After. I always get it confused with 'Special Bulletin', which gave me nightmares in 1983.
posted by MtDewd at 10:46 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
let's get people on the TV immediately saying the President is impotent thanks
and while we're at it let's have more 3/4 face shots from the angle that shows the structural integrity of the Trump combover being inexorably undermined like hotel frontage on a Florida shoreline
posted by flabdablet at 10:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
and while we're at it let's have more 3/4 face shots from the angle that shows the structural integrity of the Trump combover being inexorably undermined like hotel frontage on a Florida shoreline
posted by flabdablet at 10:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
the FBI must have a pretty good idea that the [Manafort] notes exist but I just can't get past the idea that Manafort, with all that is going down would just have the notes filed in in house. He can't be that dumb can he? Like why wouldn't he just burn them or somehow get rid of this evidence. Or maybe he has a secret stash spot that the FBI found out about and has a warrant for.
There's a simple reason he had to keep notes: Manafort has been involved in complex money-laundering schemes involving not just Ukrainian and Russian money, but hundreds or thousands of shell companies and bank accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.
It's not like remembering one PIN code. If he loses that paperwork, he's lost all his money.
posted by msalt at 10:49 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
There's a simple reason he had to keep notes: Manafort has been involved in complex money-laundering schemes involving not just Ukrainian and Russian money, but hundreds or thousands of shell companies and bank accounts in Cyprus and elsewhere.
It's not like remembering one PIN code. If he loses that paperwork, he's lost all his money.
posted by msalt at 10:49 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
McCain's brain tumor might have been factor in no vote on health care
In that it gave McCain empathy for other, less wealthy Americans who might face a similar health crisis?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:51 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
In that it gave McCain empathy for other, less wealthy Americans who might face a similar health crisis?
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:51 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
Reading through a summary of the financial disclosures of Mueller's investigative team has made me feel better than anything else has in months. These are all very bright, serious, substantial people with deep experience in various aspects of the law and politics. That they have left the tremendous professional successes they enjoy--even temporarily--to work on what is essentially a pro bono gig for them, one that is complex, massively consequential and fraught with potential for all kinds of difficulty, speaks to the importance and urgency they assign to this task.
Trump and his team, on the other hand, demonstrate time and time again that they are, variously, dumb, ignorant, solipsistic, venal, selfish, hateful, and more, but even those among them with some cognitive firepower (e.g., Bannon) suffer from a shared delusion: that they can continue to create reality as they imagine it. They've lied, cheated and gotten really lucky to make it this far, but, you know, reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
As mentioned upthread, Trump has thus far only lived in a world where his privilege and wealth have allowed bluster, bullying and buying to keep reality at bay. The stakes now are not mere money, and too many of us over here in actual, shared reality are affected by this bullshit to allow their fantasy world to persist. Their delusions will crash against the truth of the world, my hope at this point is that it will be the work of Mueller and his team that are the means of reckoning and not, say, a mushroom cloud.
(Also, I'm not really paying any more attention to 'how Republicans will react' or whatever. They have lost their ability to influence this unfolding disaster and are now just being dragged along in react mode like the rest of us. And if the continued viscerally angry treatment of sitting representatives here in deep-red central California ("May you die in pain") is any indication, Congressional Republicans are in a whole heap of trouble in 2018.)
posted by LooseFilter at 10:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
Trump and his team, on the other hand, demonstrate time and time again that they are, variously, dumb, ignorant, solipsistic, venal, selfish, hateful, and more, but even those among them with some cognitive firepower (e.g., Bannon) suffer from a shared delusion: that they can continue to create reality as they imagine it. They've lied, cheated and gotten really lucky to make it this far, but, you know, reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
As mentioned upthread, Trump has thus far only lived in a world where his privilege and wealth have allowed bluster, bullying and buying to keep reality at bay. The stakes now are not mere money, and too many of us over here in actual, shared reality are affected by this bullshit to allow their fantasy world to persist. Their delusions will crash against the truth of the world, my hope at this point is that it will be the work of Mueller and his team that are the means of reckoning and not, say, a mushroom cloud.
(Also, I'm not really paying any more attention to 'how Republicans will react' or whatever. They have lost their ability to influence this unfolding disaster and are now just being dragged along in react mode like the rest of us. And if the continued viscerally angry treatment of sitting representatives here in deep-red central California ("May you die in pain") is any indication, Congressional Republicans are in a whole heap of trouble in 2018.)
posted by LooseFilter at 10:54 AM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
In that it gave McCain empathy for other, less wealthy Americans who might face a similar health crisis?
No empathy required. After the vote McCain still insisted he wants to repeal Obamacare. He just didn't like the process of the bill in the Senate.
posted by JackFlash at 10:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
No empathy required. After the vote McCain still insisted he wants to repeal Obamacare. He just didn't like the process of the bill in the Senate.
posted by JackFlash at 10:56 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
I didn't see The Day After. I always get it confused with 'Special Bulletin', which gave me nightmares in 1983.
Maybe we need to send Trump DVD copies of both of these and of Threads.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:57 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Maybe we need to send Trump DVD copies of both of these and of Threads.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:57 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
In that it gave McCain empathy for other, less wealthy Americans who might face a similar health crisis?
The GOP should hire Dr House to diagnose empathy as a symptom of some rare life threatening disease requiring immediate medical attention.
posted by Glibpaxman at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
The GOP should hire Dr House to diagnose empathy as a symptom of some rare life threatening disease requiring immediate medical attention.
posted by Glibpaxman at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
>Senator Johnson attributes McCain's "no" vote on ACA repeal to a brain tumor affecting his judgement.
Ignorance, stupidity, and ideological tunnel vision are also brain conditions that affect peoples' judgements...
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ignorance, stupidity, and ideological tunnel vision are also brain conditions that affect peoples' judgements...
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
1980s Anti nuclear-war activism, in Canada at least, was synonymous with Helen Caldicott's If You Love This Planet, which was designated "foreign political propaganda" by the Reagan administration and suppressed in the US (this move backfired when it won an Oscar in 1982 for Documentary Short Subject). Otherwise, every punk band everywhere referenced nuclear annihilation, either seriously or ironically ("Dance till the bombs drop!").
posted by jokeefe at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by jokeefe at 11:00 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
For those of you unaware of Twitter's "President Supervillain" - the latest panel
posted by achrise at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by achrise at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
every punk band everywhere referenced nuclear annihilation, either seriously or ironically ("Dance till the bombs drop!")
Indeed. this was a formative mind opening experience at the end of high school for me. Hugely influential compilation for later years.
posted by rc3spencer at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Indeed. this was a formative mind opening experience at the end of high school for me. Hugely influential compilation for later years.
posted by rc3spencer at 11:08 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, on Fox this morning while I was at my doctor's office, there are new details about Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac!
It's important that everyone lodge a complaint when forced to listen to this flat-out political propaganda in any public place -- doctor's office, tire shop, or god forbid government office (DMV).
posted by msalt at 11:12 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
It's important that everyone lodge a complaint when forced to listen to this flat-out political propaganda in any public place -- doctor's office, tire shop, or god forbid government office (DMV).
posted by msalt at 11:12 AM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
Wonky PDF on Russel's involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis (which came as news to me. Thanks Thelonious)
posted by stonepharisee at 11:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 11:13 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
So, it seems like when the FBI conducts a pre-dawn raid on the sitting President's former campaign manager, it should be a bigger headline than the third place.
Right now on the NYT:
* Trump’s Threat of ‘Fire and Fury’ Raises Alarm in Asia
* Trump Improvised North Korea Threat, Surprising Aides
* F.B.I. Raided Home of Paul Manafort in Russia Investigation
At least the WaPo is leading with:
* FBI raided ex-Trump campaign chairman’s home for Russia probe
followed by:
* As Tillerson tries to assuage Americans’ fear, Trump highlights U.S. nuclear arsenal
I guess this is par for the course in 2017.
And of course:
> Meanwhile, on Fox this morning while I was at my doctor's office, there are new details about Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac!
Ha ha sob.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Right now on the NYT:
* Trump’s Threat of ‘Fire and Fury’ Raises Alarm in Asia
* Trump Improvised North Korea Threat, Surprising Aides
* F.B.I. Raided Home of Paul Manafort in Russia Investigation
At least the WaPo is leading with:
* FBI raided ex-Trump campaign chairman’s home for Russia probe
followed by:
* As Tillerson tries to assuage Americans’ fear, Trump highlights U.S. nuclear arsenal
I guess this is par for the course in 2017.
And of course:
> Meanwhile, on Fox this morning while I was at my doctor's office, there are new details about Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch on the tarmac!
Ha ha sob.
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:14 AM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
* Trump Improvised North Korea Threat, Surprising Aides
WHY IS ANYONE STILL SURPRISED BY HIS BEHAVIOR
posted by Melismata at 11:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
WHY IS ANYONE STILL SURPRISED BY HIS BEHAVIOR
posted by Melismata at 11:18 AM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
More evidence Manafort is toast.
@NatEnquirer
Donald Trump Advisor Paul Manafort Caught Up In Sick Sex Scandal!
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/photos/paul-manafort-sex-scandal-mistress/
@HeerJeet Retweeted National Enquirer
Looks like Trump is throwing Manafort under the bus.
@yashar Retweeted National Enquirer
Interesting. The National Enquirer is controlled by a close friend of Trump's.
posted by chris24 at 11:31 AM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
@NatEnquirer
Donald Trump Advisor Paul Manafort Caught Up In Sick Sex Scandal!
http://www.nationalenquirer.com/photos/paul-manafort-sex-scandal-mistress/
@HeerJeet Retweeted National Enquirer
Looks like Trump is throwing Manafort under the bus.
@yashar Retweeted National Enquirer
Interesting. The National Enquirer is controlled by a close friend of Trump's.
posted by chris24 at 11:31 AM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Senator Mitch McConnell said I had "excessive expectations," but I don't think so. After 7 years of hearing Repeal & Replace, why not done?
This seems like pure Scavino. Scavino was ranting along basically the same lines this morning. And the worst part is, he's not wrong. Republicans were making up this repeal and replace crap for seven years to the extent it became the centerpiece of their party, and the lie that they actually meant it got so big that an alarming number of people somehow believed they really did have a plan.
And, um, the President's criminal lawyer is seemingly advocating for war in North Korea: @JaySekulow: The strategic patience of the Obama Admin didn't work w/ North Korea. We can't negotiate our way to disarming North Korea. It doesn't work.
Also, GLAD and NCLR filed their lawsuit today seeking an injunction to stop any ban of transgender people from serving in the military.
posted by zachlipton at 11:32 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
This seems like pure Scavino. Scavino was ranting along basically the same lines this morning. And the worst part is, he's not wrong. Republicans were making up this repeal and replace crap for seven years to the extent it became the centerpiece of their party, and the lie that they actually meant it got so big that an alarming number of people somehow believed they really did have a plan.
And, um, the President's criminal lawyer is seemingly advocating for war in North Korea: @JaySekulow: The strategic patience of the Obama Admin didn't work w/ North Korea. We can't negotiate our way to disarming North Korea. It doesn't work.
Also, GLAD and NCLR filed their lawsuit today seeking an injunction to stop any ban of transgender people from serving in the military.
posted by zachlipton at 11:32 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
It's important that everyone lodge a complaint when forced to listen to this flat-out political propaganda in any public place -- doctor's office, tire shop, or god forbid government office (DMV).
Actually, I'd give the second one a pass, as tire shop waiting rooms are the only places on earth that make watching Fox News seem pleasurable by comparison.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2017
Actually, I'd give the second one a pass, as tire shop waiting rooms are the only places on earth that make watching Fox News seem pleasurable by comparison.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2017
So, it seems like when the FBI conducts a pre-dawn raid on the sitting President's former campaign manager, it should be a bigger headline than the third place.
IMHO "POTUS threatens nuclear war" is more headline-worthy as "FBI raids campaign manager's house."
posted by Lyme Drop at 11:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
IMHO "POTUS threatens nuclear war" is more headline-worthy as "FBI raids campaign manager's house."
posted by Lyme Drop at 11:34 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
So, Obvious Anagram was at least at Trump Tower the day of the June meeting with the Russian Lawyer and Manafort and Don Jr and Jared et al. He got fired the day after the Manafort raid. I'm trying to draw some sort of a line between these two events but I'm not quite getting there. Help?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
And, um, the President's criminal lawyer is seemingly advocating for war in North Korea: @JaySekulow: The strategic patience of the Obama Admin didn't work w/ North Korea. We can't negotiate our way to disarming North Korea. It doesn't work.Starting WW3 is an unusual legal strategy, but darn it, it just could work.
posted by dis_integration at 11:37 AM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
I'm currently sitting in a gastrointestinal specialist's office with my mom, and I am just so relieved that they are playing some in-house video about the dangers of diarrhea rather than Fox. She hates it when I make a scene.
posted by thebrokedown at 11:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 11:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
TRUE, it seems. Speaking of Guam.
Rep. Hank Johnson said he feared that stationing 8,000 Marines on Guam would cause the island to 'become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.'
posted by philip-random at 11:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Rep. Hank Johnson said he feared that stationing 8,000 Marines on Guam would cause the island to 'become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize.'
posted by philip-random at 11:38 AM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
I am trying not to spend most of the day watching 80s nuclear apocalypse movies. Because that is a terrible idea.
Watch JEREMIAH instead. I thought that was an underrated tv series and if you're gonna wallow in nuclear fear you may as well get some whodunnit along the way. Plus it was smart in some pleasant ways, like portraying bartering with formerly valuable precious metals as out of favor because of the risk of radioactivity.
posted by phearlez at 11:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Watch JEREMIAH instead. I thought that was an underrated tv series and if you're gonna wallow in nuclear fear you may as well get some whodunnit along the way. Plus it was smart in some pleasant ways, like portraying bartering with formerly valuable precious metals as out of favor because of the risk of radioactivity.
posted by phearlez at 11:39 AM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Canada to set up border camp as number of asylum seekers swells
posted by infini at 11:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by infini at 11:41 AM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Senator Mitch McConnell said I had "excessive expectations," but I don't think so. After 7 years of hearing Repeal & Replace, why not done?
He's... he's not... wrong... here....
mm, guess I should've read the rest of that comment...
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
He's... he's not... wrong... here....
mm, guess I should've read the rest of that comment...
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
I am trying not to spend most of the day watching 80s nuclear apocalypse movies. Because that is a terrible idea.
Don't watch about 40% of the original Twilight Zone episodes either.
posted by Melismata at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
Don't watch about 40% of the original Twilight Zone episodes either.
posted by Melismata at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
I'm currently sitting in a gastrointestinal specialist's office with my mom, and I am just so relieved that they are playing some in-house video about the dangers of diarrhea rather than Fox.
How can you tell?
posted by Gelatin at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [56 favorites]
How can you tell?
posted by Gelatin at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2017 [56 favorites]
You know there are some nuke-happy madmen in India and Pakistan who are just waiting for Trump to break the seal, as it were.
posted by Faint of Butt at 21:55 on 8/9
Yeah, let me just patronize those brown folk. They clearly are more plausibly trigger-happy lunatics than anyone else.
posted by bardophile at 11:44 AM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
How can you tell?
Chyrons are less alarming
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Chyrons are less alarming
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:45 AM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
> every punk band everywhere referenced nuclear annihilation, either seriously or ironically ("Dance till the bombs drop!")
Realizing that "I Melt With You" is *literally* about two people melting pretty much ruined that song for me.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Realizing that "I Melt With You" is *literally* about two people melting pretty much ruined that song for me.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:48 AM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the State Department, is berating reporters for being "obsessed" with Trump's comments on NK. Reporter helpfully points out that they're following up on apocalyptic threats from her boss. She smugly deflects.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:50 AM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the State Department, is berating reporters for being "obsessed" with Trump's comments on NK.
"Oh, okay. Let's turn to the fact that the President's campaign manager's home was raided by the FBI last month. Are we 'obsessed' with that too? How about how he couldn't get his own party to vote on health care reform? How about whether the Secretary agrees with the President that the solution to the opioid crisis is asking people not to start using opioids? You should be thanking us for asking you about an actual Constitutional function of the Presidency here."
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
"Oh, okay. Let's turn to the fact that the President's campaign manager's home was raided by the FBI last month. Are we 'obsessed' with that too? How about how he couldn't get his own party to vote on health care reform? How about whether the Secretary agrees with the President that the solution to the opioid crisis is asking people not to start using opioids? You should be thanking us for asking you about an actual Constitutional function of the Presidency here."
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
You dropped a bomb on me played on three different stations while I was driving around yesterday (3pm to 6pm ET).
I like that "No Fox News" sticker idea, Burhanistan. I should put my label maker in my purse.
posted by tilde at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I like that "No Fox News" sticker idea, Burhanistan. I should put my label maker in my purse.
posted by tilde at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm currently sitting in a gastrointestinal specialist's office with my mom, and I am just so relieved that they are playing some in-house video about the dangers of diarrhea rather than Fox.
MetaFilter: Given the alternative, now I WANT to be exposed to anus
posted by delfin at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
MetaFilter: Given the alternative, now I WANT to be exposed to anus
posted by delfin at 11:58 AM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
deep cut, delfin
posted by cortex at 11:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by cortex at 11:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
Yeah, let me just patronize those brown folk. They clearly are more plausibly trigger happy lunatics than anyone else.
Oh, for-- yes, every country has its share of trigger-happy lunatics, but I named India and Pakistan because a) they actually have nuclear weapons and b) have rumbled about using them in the past. More specifically, they are two of the only three countries (the other is North Korea, which we're already talking about) that are known to possess the weapons and have not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. (I could have named Israel, because its nuclear capabilities are rather ambiguous, but bringing up Israel in any context often leads to thread derails and angry moderators.)
Sometimes, things actually aren't racist.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [43 favorites]
Oh, for-- yes, every country has its share of trigger-happy lunatics, but I named India and Pakistan because a) they actually have nuclear weapons and b) have rumbled about using them in the past. More specifically, they are two of the only three countries (the other is North Korea, which we're already talking about) that are known to possess the weapons and have not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. (I could have named Israel, because its nuclear capabilities are rather ambiguous, but bringing up Israel in any context often leads to thread derails and angry moderators.)
Sometimes, things actually aren't racist.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:59 AM on August 9, 2017 [43 favorites]
One of the stupidest things about the super- versus hyperpower hairsplitting is that each word comes from the same proto-Indo-European root. 'Super' is just how it ended up in Latin, while hyper is the Greek form.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 11:18 AM on 8/9
Right, but you could say this about a great many other pairs of words in modern English, derived from Old English and Latin, or Old French and Latin, Old Norse and Old English, or even Old French and slightly-less Old French. English has been prolifically borrowing words from other languages since before English was called English. The modern usage of the words often differs vastly from the original meaning. And I'd argue that the ancient derivation of a given pair of words (while pretty damn cool to trace back and point out) does not, and maybe should not, make the distinct uses of each in the pair irrelevant or somehow invalid merely because the ultimate derivation of each can be traced back to a common word from 500, 1000, or 8000 years ago.
/derail
posted by rbellon at 12:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 11:18 AM on 8/9
Right, but you could say this about a great many other pairs of words in modern English, derived from Old English and Latin, or Old French and Latin, Old Norse and Old English, or even Old French and slightly-less Old French. English has been prolifically borrowing words from other languages since before English was called English. The modern usage of the words often differs vastly from the original meaning. And I'd argue that the ancient derivation of a given pair of words (while pretty damn cool to trace back and point out) does not, and maybe should not, make the distinct uses of each in the pair irrelevant or somehow invalid merely because the ultimate derivation of each can be traced back to a common word from 500, 1000, or 8000 years ago.
/derail
posted by rbellon at 12:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
That's what I Melt with You is about?
Jesus, some guy romancing me gave me a mix tape with that on it.
posted by angrycat at 12:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Jesus, some guy romancing me gave me a mix tape with that on it.
posted by angrycat at 12:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Are you fucking kidding me. I'm sick of this constant fucking gaslighting and abuse that rolls down shit mountain right over the journalists down to us. Yeah assholes, we're a little "obsessed" with signs the president might plunge the planet into nuclear apocalypse, how crazy of us, we're just being hysterical, there's really nothing to worry about at all and how dare we upset them by even suggesting there's something to worry about.
posted by yasaman at 12:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 12:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
why are you liberals so obsessed with the most powerful man in the world being dangerously incompetent and willing to talk loosely about his use of a massive nuclear arsenal smh
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [55 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [55 favorites]
MetaFilter: Given the alternative, now I WANT to be exposed to anus
Wish granted.
posted by Fizz at 12:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wish granted.
posted by Fizz at 12:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I can't believe no one has has mentioned "Testament" yet in the pantheon of TV movies about nuclear war. That was the most heartbreaking one for me although admittedly the end of "Threads" is haunting.
Around here we've taken to calling Manafort, Patient Zero as he seems to be the source of a lot of Russian contact. My husband was excited about the raid because this is a very public move by the FBI and they are dealing with a close friend of the President. You have to ask yourself why Manafort was prepared to work for Trump for free.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
Around here we've taken to calling Manafort, Patient Zero as he seems to be the source of a lot of Russian contact. My husband was excited about the raid because this is a very public move by the FBI and they are dealing with a close friend of the President. You have to ask yourself why Manafort was prepared to work for Trump for free.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 12:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
The thread's moving fast this morning, but I wanted to echo the point above about generational stress and add some additional background. As mentioned before, Gen-Xers come by their apocalyptic, thermonuclear stress honestly. 1983 was a banner year for cortisol-inducing media, especially:
March 1983 - Reagan announces the Strategic Defense Initiative, to develop a missile-based defense against Soviet nuclear attack. The Soviets saw this as a threat to the balance of power and withdrew from nuclear arms reduction talks. The SDI announcement coincided with advancements by the Soviets in their air defense system that Reagan feared would undermine US nuclear bomber supremacy. The SALT II treaty regime had collapse following the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan, and Reagan was keen to re-engage because of the inherent danger and weakness of the strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction. In 1982, he proposed SALT III, but the treaty - eventually called START I - wouldn't be signed until 1991 due to the escalation of tensions during this time. These concerns, and the implications of nuclear war, were constantly on the news throughout these years.
March 1983 - Special Bulletin - NBC Night at the Movies introduces us to a nuclear terrorist plot, with the goal being nuclear disarmament.
June 1983 - War Games - a young Matthew Broderick almost starts WWIII. "A strange game...the only winning move is not to play." Led Reagan to work with Congress to improve defense cybersecurity from hacking.
September 1983 - Soviet Petrov incident - An honest to goodness, for real, almost accidental start of WWIII resulting from a false missile attack alarm. Basically, one man's quick thinking - and rejection of response protocol - prevented a nuclear exchange between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Nov 1983 - The Day After - a widely viewed, grimly nihilistic, socially traumatizing, made-for-TV movie depicting results of nuclear attack in central U.S. Led to widespread angst and discussion about consequences of nuclear war.
1983-1984- 99 Luftballons - Popular German song about how a cluster of balloons seen on radar sets off a military response that subsequently triggers nuclear war. So popular that in 1984 the English version is released in U.K. And U.S. (as 99 Red Balloons) and received heavy rotation on MTV). I remember how my high school German teacher, when asked about the song, said that it reflected the sentiments and fears of people throughout Europe.
September 1984 - Threads - U.K. TV movie about a nuclear war between NATO and Warsaw Pact countries that resulted from conflict between U.S. and Soviet Union.
June 1985 - Russians, the rather maudlin Sting song hoping citizens of Soviet Union have basic human decency and therefore won't want to destroy the world. Honestly, by the time this song was released as a single in November 1985, it felt like it was a bit behind the wave. Gorbachev was in power and had already made his public statements about the economic weakness of the Soviet Union. The terms glasnost and perestroika were soon to become well-known and there was a glimmer of hope that started to tinge conversations about US.-Soviet rapprochement.
There are other events/media during the early-to-mid 80's, but these were major ones off the top of my head that drew a lot of attention. The era was neatly bracketed by the Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986) nuclear power plant meltdown events, just in case Gen-Xers weren't paying attention. These events also nearly bracket my teenage years, too.
On preview: Testament, mentioned by SLoG, came out in November 1983. Can't believe I forgot that one.
posted by darkstar at 12:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [60 favorites]
March 1983 - Reagan announces the Strategic Defense Initiative, to develop a missile-based defense against Soviet nuclear attack. The Soviets saw this as a threat to the balance of power and withdrew from nuclear arms reduction talks. The SDI announcement coincided with advancements by the Soviets in their air defense system that Reagan feared would undermine US nuclear bomber supremacy. The SALT II treaty regime had collapse following the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan, and Reagan was keen to re-engage because of the inherent danger and weakness of the strategy of Mutually Assured Destruction. In 1982, he proposed SALT III, but the treaty - eventually called START I - wouldn't be signed until 1991 due to the escalation of tensions during this time. These concerns, and the implications of nuclear war, were constantly on the news throughout these years.
March 1983 - Special Bulletin - NBC Night at the Movies introduces us to a nuclear terrorist plot, with the goal being nuclear disarmament.
June 1983 - War Games - a young Matthew Broderick almost starts WWIII. "A strange game...the only winning move is not to play." Led Reagan to work with Congress to improve defense cybersecurity from hacking.
September 1983 - Soviet Petrov incident - An honest to goodness, for real, almost accidental start of WWIII resulting from a false missile attack alarm. Basically, one man's quick thinking - and rejection of response protocol - prevented a nuclear exchange between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Nov 1983 - The Day After - a widely viewed, grimly nihilistic, socially traumatizing, made-for-TV movie depicting results of nuclear attack in central U.S. Led to widespread angst and discussion about consequences of nuclear war.
1983-1984- 99 Luftballons - Popular German song about how a cluster of balloons seen on radar sets off a military response that subsequently triggers nuclear war. So popular that in 1984 the English version is released in U.K. And U.S. (as 99 Red Balloons) and received heavy rotation on MTV). I remember how my high school German teacher, when asked about the song, said that it reflected the sentiments and fears of people throughout Europe.
September 1984 - Threads - U.K. TV movie about a nuclear war between NATO and Warsaw Pact countries that resulted from conflict between U.S. and Soviet Union.
June 1985 - Russians, the rather maudlin Sting song hoping citizens of Soviet Union have basic human decency and therefore won't want to destroy the world. Honestly, by the time this song was released as a single in November 1985, it felt like it was a bit behind the wave. Gorbachev was in power and had already made his public statements about the economic weakness of the Soviet Union. The terms glasnost and perestroika were soon to become well-known and there was a glimmer of hope that started to tinge conversations about US.-Soviet rapprochement.
There are other events/media during the early-to-mid 80's, but these were major ones off the top of my head that drew a lot of attention. The era was neatly bracketed by the Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986) nuclear power plant meltdown events, just in case Gen-Xers weren't paying attention. These events also nearly bracket my teenage years, too.
On preview: Testament, mentioned by SLoG, came out in November 1983. Can't believe I forgot that one.
posted by darkstar at 12:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [60 favorites]
Realizing that "I Melt With You" is *literally* about two people melting pretty much ruined that song for me.
whaaaaaat
posted by zarq at 12:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
whaaaaaat
posted by zarq at 12:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Lots of gloom and doom when I was walking around with a bit less grey hair than now. One to add to darkstar's list ...
The Manhattan Project movie and novelization (1986).
posted by tilde at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Manhattan Project movie and novelization (1986).
posted by tilde at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
....I'm seriously close to starting a movement to send DVDs of THREADS to the White House and Trump Tower.
Who's with me?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Who's with me?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Mustn't forget World War III, which is set in the early 1990s but has an 80s feel to it. Also, narrated by David McCallum.
posted by orrnyereg at 12:21 PM on August 9, 2017
posted by orrnyereg at 12:21 PM on August 9, 2017
Is it time for an 80's revival? I thought we already had one of those?
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
whaaaaaat
See, when you stop the world, the sun just beats down on the same area of Earth continuously. I don't have to tell you how hot that makes things: hot enough to melt hearts, let's just say.
posted by rhizome at 12:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
See, when you stop the world, the sun just beats down on the same area of Earth continuously. I don't have to tell you how hot that makes things: hot enough to melt hearts, let's just say.
posted by rhizome at 12:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Twain Device: I'm at work so I can't dig up all the links, but there are certifiable cracks in the GOP wall. Multiple bills aimed at limited the presidents power, the aforementioned keeping sessions open to prevent recess appointments.
I missed this before, but here's some coverage of Senate blocks Trump from making recess appointments on Axious on Aug. 3. Here's the entire article/piece:
posted by filthy light thief at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
I missed this before, but here's some coverage of Senate blocks Trump from making recess appointments on Axious on Aug. 3. Here's the entire article/piece:
The Senate moved unanimously to block President Trump from making appointments during the August break Thursday evening. Democrats had said they'd make such a move after reports emerged that Trump was considering replacing Attorney General Jeff Sessions during the recess.All emphasis original. Via today's Re:Act letter
- The Senate agreed to hold pro forma sessions throughout the recess. This procedure was also used to block appointments during the Obama administration.
- Worth noting: the announcement was made by moderate Republican Lisa Murkowski, who split from Trump over health care. The Senate also made a slew of confirmations and passed several measures before shutting down for the summer.
- Another update: The Senate will not hold any legislative sessions until September. Mitch McConnell had previously intended to delay the break until August 11 to allow the now-stalled health care plan to move forward.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Realizing that "I Melt With You" is *literally* about two people melting pretty much ruined that song for me.
whaaaaaat
Modern English lead singer Robbie Grey, who wrote the song with his four bandmates, explained: "I don't think many people realized it was about a couple making love as the bomb dropped. As they made love, they become one and melt together."
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [40 favorites]
whaaaaaat
Modern English lead singer Robbie Grey, who wrote the song with his four bandmates, explained: "I don't think many people realized it was about a couple making love as the bomb dropped. As they made love, they become one and melt together."
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [40 favorites]
99 Luftballons - Popular German song about how a cluster of balloons seen on radar sets off a military response that subsequently triggers nuclear war.
Woah. I had NO IDEA that's what that song was about. I didn't have cable at the time (or for years afterwards) and since I was in college, I wasn't really paying attention to pop culture. Fascinating.
posted by suelac at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Woah. I had NO IDEA that's what that song was about. I didn't have cable at the time (or for years afterwards) and since I was in college, I wasn't really paying attention to pop culture. Fascinating.
posted by suelac at 12:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
All this, and nobody has cited 1977's Damnation Alley yet?
C'mon! That had George Peppard and Jan-Michael Vincent in it! That movie brought the A-Team and Airwolf together before they were even TV shows!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
C'mon! That had George Peppard and Jan-Michael Vincent in it! That movie brought the A-Team and Airwolf together before they were even TV shows!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
> admittedly the end of "Threads" is haunting.
Just the end? Tough crowd.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
Just the end? Tough crowd.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
"Panuc belds it's wred aluert" can't get clearer than that.
posted by rhizome at 12:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
We interrupt this revival of the part of my childhood that I never wanted to see again for an action alert:
The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, which would deny Trump the authority to launch a first strike with nuclear weapons without a declaration of war from Congress. Call assorted Congress critters now.
Cosponsors in the house
Cosponsors in the senate
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [69 favorites]
The Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, which would deny Trump the authority to launch a first strike with nuclear weapons without a declaration of war from Congress. Call assorted Congress critters now.
Cosponsors in the house
Cosponsors in the senate
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [69 favorites]
Melt With You
c.f. Josh Ritter's "Temptation of Adam":
I think about the Big One, WWIII
Would we ever really care the world had ended?
You could hold me here forever like you're holding me tonight
I look at that great big red button and I'm tempted
posted by emelenjr at 12:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
c.f. Josh Ritter's "Temptation of Adam":
I think about the Big One, WWIII
Would we ever really care the world had ended?
You could hold me here forever like you're holding me tonight
I look at that great big red button and I'm tempted
posted by emelenjr at 12:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
“A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The only value in our two nations possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely?” - President Reagan, 1984 State of the Union
“If you don't stop talking shit to me, I will use my nuclear weapons to kill you and many of your citizens.” - President Trump, 2017 (paraphrased)
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:29 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
“If you don't stop talking shit to me, I will use my nuclear weapons to kill you and many of your citizens.” - President Trump, 2017 (paraphrased)
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:29 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Politico: Top Trump donor ponies up to take out Flake: "Robert Mercer is donating $300,000 to a super PAC backing Kelli Ward, who is running against the GOP senator in a primary next year."
And, um, there's an inflatable chicken with Trump hair by the White House. Here's the wide shot. (I am begrudgingly linking to Hilary Rosen's twitter because she has chicken pictures, but I remember what she did as head of the RIAA and I do not wish her well). I've yet to see reports on who is responsible for the chicken, and calling him a chicken at this particular moment doesn't exactly seem wise. Trump is also in New Jersey.
posted by zachlipton at 12:30 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
And, um, there's an inflatable chicken with Trump hair by the White House. Here's the wide shot. (I am begrudgingly linking to Hilary Rosen's twitter because she has chicken pictures, but I remember what she did as head of the RIAA and I do not wish her well). I've yet to see reports on who is responsible for the chicken, and calling him a chicken at this particular moment doesn't exactly seem wise. Trump is also in New Jersey.
posted by zachlipton at 12:30 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
> the president's korea remarks were improvised
The New York Times Says "Fire and Fury" Was Improvised. I'm Skeptical.
The New York Times Says "Fire and Fury" Was Improvised. I'm Skeptical.
I'm sure tht the Times is at least partly correct: It's likely that Trump didn't "run the specific language by" at least some of his advisers. Getting everyone on the same page is not how Trump rolls. Many of his aides might honestly believe that the line was improvised because they assume it would have been discussed and vetted in the White House before Trump went public with it. But that's not Trump's M.O.posted by tonycpsu at 12:33 PM on August 9, 2017 [29 favorites]
Wouldn't the author want to claim credit, or at least surreptitiously get out the word that he or she (I'm guessing he) was the author? I think the author knows better. Trump really doesn't like it when someone else seizes the spotlight. The author knows this, and so do his allies in the White House. [...]
We've seen Trump improvise. He improvised an hour a night in most of his campaign speeches, although he repeated familiar riffs. He didn't hesitate in those speeches. He didn't get that lost look he has in the above clip. And if the paper in front of him is just notes from his opioid meeting, why does he sneak four glances at it in the course of an utterance that goes on for a little more than half a minute?
Somebody worked the wording out in advance. Maybe it was Trump himself. More likely, Trump got it from an aide. Trump never quite memorized it. Whatever happened, now he's being ceded the credit.
This also reminds me of the moment in 2008 when we were told that Sarah Palin improvised a great deal of her Republican convention speech because the Teleprompter broke halfway through. The story was repeatedly debunked, but for her fans it became part of her legend. Trump is the male Palin, so why not cook up a similar myth for him?
And, um, there's an inflatable chicken with Trump hair by the White House.
Oh God he's going to take that totally the wrong way, isn't he? "They think I'm too chicken to use nukes, do they? I'll show them...."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh God he's going to take that totally the wrong way, isn't he? "They think I'm too chicken to use nukes, do they? I'll show them...."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
The Buck, Buck Stops Here
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
September 1983 - Soviet Petrov incident
Also in September 1983. Korean Air Lines Flight 007: A Soviet Su-15 interceptor shoots down KAL007 after it accidentally strayed into USSR prohibited airspace over the Kamchatka Peninsula, killing all on board, including a US congressman. The Soviet government admitted no fault and would later claim the US was deliberately testing the Soviet Union's military preparedness, possibly to provoke a war.
80s nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Also in September 1983. Korean Air Lines Flight 007: A Soviet Su-15 interceptor shoots down KAL007 after it accidentally strayed into USSR prohibited airspace over the Kamchatka Peninsula, killing all on board, including a US congressman. The Soviet government admitted no fault and would later claim the US was deliberately testing the Soviet Union's military preparedness, possibly to provoke a war.
80s nostalgia isn't all it's cracked up to be.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
Nov 1983 - The Day After - a widely viewed, grimly nihilistic, socially traumatizing, made-for-TV movie depicting results of nuclear attack in central U.S. Led to widespread angst and discussion about consequences of nuclear war.
A couple years later, one of my seventh grade teachers decided to show this in class. (It was a bullshit elective on exploring careers or some such.) I found a teacher who'd let me hang out in his classroom during the same period, 'cause I didn't want to watch it. This led to an interesting discussion between the two about whether or not kids should be subjected to scary movies without their consent, and a lot of bullshit pressure on me to watch.
Me: I don't need to sit through an hour of seeing people wring their hands in fear and worry before everything actually falls apart.
Him: But this is important for you to understand! This is the world we live in!
Me: My mom was stationed at SAC Headquarters in the Air Force. She used to type up actual plans for World War III. We've had this discussion. I don't need the movie, thanks.
Him: ...
Me: You want to know some of the things they used as code names?
Him: ...
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [53 favorites]
A couple years later, one of my seventh grade teachers decided to show this in class. (It was a bullshit elective on exploring careers or some such.) I found a teacher who'd let me hang out in his classroom during the same period, 'cause I didn't want to watch it. This led to an interesting discussion between the two about whether or not kids should be subjected to scary movies without their consent, and a lot of bullshit pressure on me to watch.
Me: I don't need to sit through an hour of seeing people wring their hands in fear and worry before everything actually falls apart.
Him: But this is important for you to understand! This is the world we live in!
Me: My mom was stationed at SAC Headquarters in the Air Force. She used to type up actual plans for World War III. We've had this discussion. I don't need the movie, thanks.
Him: ...
Me: You want to know some of the things they used as code names?
Him: ...
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [53 favorites]
eponysterical!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
Inflatable Trump Rooster.
what a cock
posted by entropicamericana at 12:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
what a cock
posted by entropicamericana at 12:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
other events/media during the early-to-mid 80's
And for gamers there was GDW's Twilight: 2000, a role-playing game set in the last stages of WWIII, in which nuclear weapons have been scatteringly deployed, but worse, nearly all the world's petroleum production capacity is wrecked (which meant that a new party could be issued an M-1 tank, but good luck driving it around). The modules and sourcebooks were depressingly well-researched (and, hey, even postulated an underground neo-Nazi conspiracy that used the chaos of post-nuclear America to seize power). For some reason, I loved it, but I'm sure it was as a way of dealing with Cold War H-bomb paranoia.
posted by Gelatin at 12:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
And for gamers there was GDW's Twilight: 2000, a role-playing game set in the last stages of WWIII, in which nuclear weapons have been scatteringly deployed, but worse, nearly all the world's petroleum production capacity is wrecked (which meant that a new party could be issued an M-1 tank, but good luck driving it around). The modules and sourcebooks were depressingly well-researched (and, hey, even postulated an underground neo-Nazi conspiracy that used the chaos of post-nuclear America to seize power). For some reason, I loved it, but I'm sure it was as a way of dealing with Cold War H-bomb paranoia.
posted by Gelatin at 12:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
The New York Times Says "Fire and Fury" Was Improvised. I'm Skeptical.
Yeah. Daily Beast says the line wasn't worked out with aides or military officials ahead of time, but he's been using similar language privately in "in sporadic fits of venting." Also, Bannon thinks it would be "dumb" to overreact to North Korea's threats.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah. Daily Beast says the line wasn't worked out with aides or military officials ahead of time, but he's been using similar language privately in "in sporadic fits of venting." Also, Bannon thinks it would be "dumb" to overreact to North Korea's threats.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I want an Inflatable Trump Rooster for my yard so bad- it could go up with my inflatable Halloween Snoopy or Christmas Dinosaur!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I thought it was impossible/goofy when it came out. But the last few years Tank Girl has seemed the more probable future over time.
posted by rc3spencer at 12:43 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by rc3spencer at 12:43 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
The saddest thing about the threat of nuclear destruction would be my inability to resist spending my remaining moments desperately trying to contact Jill Stein voters to ask how it's working out for them
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [78 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [78 favorites]
Another tough day of meetings and calls; not a vacation. [It's golf. Did you even think for a second it wasn't going to be golf behind that link?]
posted by zachlipton at 12:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
We give them money/But are they grateful
No, they're spiteful/And they're hateful
They don't respect us/So let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one/And pulverize them
It took 45 years, but political science has finally caught up to "Political Science."
posted by Mothlight at 12:45 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
No, they're spiteful/And they're hateful
They don't respect us/So let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one/And pulverize them
It took 45 years, but political science has finally caught up to "Political Science."
posted by Mothlight at 12:45 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
The June 12, 1982 protest in Central Park (NYT link) was HUGE. We talked about nothing else in school (7th grade) for weeks before and after in Massachusetts (probably a teacher or two went to it). It was so big that I still vividly remember the date from the buttons we all wore; when I went to google it just now, all I had to type was "June 12 nuclear protest" and it came up.
posted by Melismata at 12:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
He said "Fire and Fury" twice. The first time it sounds plausibly improvised, if one had normal linguistic abilities. The second time though the mask slips. He says Fire, Fury, and then unnecessarily says Power, as if mere Fire and Fury and were not enough. To my ear that says he had F&F as a single lexical item, so prepared and prepped. And it fell apart, losing the little cliched rhetorical force it might have had. So my money is on Bannon whispering.
posted by stonepharisee at 12:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 12:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Me: My mom was stationed at SAC Headquarters in the Air Force. She used to type up actual plans for World War III. We've had this discussion. I don't need the movie, thanks.
When I was but a wee one, I would climb up on the living room sofa to watch the Nikes rise from their silos.
Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker (1980). " ... the littl shynin man, the Addom he runs in the wud."
posted by octobersurprise at 12:49 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
When I was but a wee one, I would climb up on the living room sofa to watch the Nikes rise from their silos.
Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker (1980). " ... the littl shynin man, the Addom he runs in the wud."
posted by octobersurprise at 12:49 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Is it time for an 80's revival? I thought we already had one of those?
We did the fun 80's revival - the games, music videos, and movies that we enjoyed. We haven't done the dark 80's revival yet - the fear of nuclear annihilation, the films about nuclear war, the growing understanding of the developing climate catastrophe, the hairstyles.
And for gamers there was GDW's Twilight: 2000, a role-playing game set in the last stages of WWIII, in which nuclear weapons have been scatteringly deployed, but worse, nearly all the world's petroleum production capacity is wrecked (which meant that a new party could be issued an M-1 tank, but good luck driving it around). The modules and sourcebooks were depressingly well-researched (and, hey, even postulated an underground neo-Nazi conspiracy that used the chaos of post-nuclear America to seize power). For some reason, I loved it, but I'm sure it was as a way of dealing with Cold War H-bomb paranoia.
I loved it too! It was the first tabletop RPG I played that wasn't D&D, and it was awesome in its way - the main campaign setting is Poland, where you play as survivors of the US 5th Division, which is where we played, but we always thought it might be fun to pick up some of the US based stuff and play with that too. It definitely was a way of coping with a world that was paranoid and scary. I've actually been thinking about Twilight:2000 a bit again recently, no doubt because it feels like you could dust it off and play with only minor adjustments to the setting history.
posted by nubs at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
We did the fun 80's revival - the games, music videos, and movies that we enjoyed. We haven't done the dark 80's revival yet - the fear of nuclear annihilation, the films about nuclear war, the growing understanding of the developing climate catastrophe, the hairstyles.
And for gamers there was GDW's Twilight: 2000, a role-playing game set in the last stages of WWIII, in which nuclear weapons have been scatteringly deployed, but worse, nearly all the world's petroleum production capacity is wrecked (which meant that a new party could be issued an M-1 tank, but good luck driving it around). The modules and sourcebooks were depressingly well-researched (and, hey, even postulated an underground neo-Nazi conspiracy that used the chaos of post-nuclear America to seize power). For some reason, I loved it, but I'm sure it was as a way of dealing with Cold War H-bomb paranoia.
I loved it too! It was the first tabletop RPG I played that wasn't D&D, and it was awesome in its way - the main campaign setting is Poland, where you play as survivors of the US 5th Division, which is where we played, but we always thought it might be fun to pick up some of the US based stuff and play with that too. It definitely was a way of coping with a world that was paranoid and scary. I've actually been thinking about Twilight:2000 a bit again recently, no doubt because it feels like you could dust it off and play with only minor adjustments to the setting history.
posted by nubs at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I want to know some of the things they used as code names!!
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 12:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Russian invasion? Red Dawn (1984), in which a plucky band of American teens fights off the Soviets. Followed up, of course, by the 2012 remake, in which a plucky band of American teens fight off the North Koreans.
posted by adamg at 12:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by adamg at 12:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
No way did Trump come up with an alliterative phrase as nice as Fire and Fury, or for that matter a complete sentence, without advance planning and help. And yet I am sure this was also neither vetted nor thought out. He just grabbed the words, without bothering to assess their impact or meaning.
It is beyond belief how reckless and dangerous he is. I have a dear friend in Guam. I fear for my friend.
posted by bearwife at 12:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
It is beyond belief how reckless and dangerous he is. I have a dear friend in Guam. I fear for my friend.
posted by bearwife at 12:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
"A concise argument for copy editors."
posted by Evilspork at 12:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by Evilspork at 12:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
He said "Fire and Fury" twice.
The other part of that was "like the world has never seen." He used variations of this twice in his 4 minute opioid statement. That phrase isn't part of his usual verbal rope-a-dope, pointing to a prepared line that sneaked into his statement on another topic.
posted by peeedro at 12:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
The other part of that was "like the world has never seen." He used variations of this twice in his 4 minute opioid statement. That phrase isn't part of his usual verbal rope-a-dope, pointing to a prepared line that sneaked into his statement on another topic.
posted by peeedro at 12:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
This is the world we live in... whoooooaa... 🎶
posted by Mchelly at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Subtle political action idea.
So, Trump's childhood home is now available as a lodging option on AirbnB. It's a 5-bedroom Tudor house in Jamaica Estates in Queens, but it sleeps 20 because most of the rooms have been stocked with bunk beds. And the decor is really trying to capitalize on the Trump connection - there are framed photos of the man, a bunch of signs scattered throughout (including one marking the room where he was conceived, I am not making that up) and such.
What do y'all think of: a bunch of people renting it out for one night, and then spending that night planting very subtle progressive messaging throughout. Nothing obvious - this is going to be cleaned in between users and everything - we want small and easy-to-overlook stuff, so it's not clear how long it's been there. Things like: tucking a couple copies of Zinn's history of the US on the bookshelves, a small photo of Obama tucked into the silverware drawer, slipping a brochure for the Demoratic Party rep into the stack of magazines in the bathroom....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
So, Trump's childhood home is now available as a lodging option on AirbnB. It's a 5-bedroom Tudor house in Jamaica Estates in Queens, but it sleeps 20 because most of the rooms have been stocked with bunk beds. And the decor is really trying to capitalize on the Trump connection - there are framed photos of the man, a bunch of signs scattered throughout (including one marking the room where he was conceived, I am not making that up) and such.
What do y'all think of: a bunch of people renting it out for one night, and then spending that night planting very subtle progressive messaging throughout. Nothing obvious - this is going to be cleaned in between users and everything - we want small and easy-to-overlook stuff, so it's not clear how long it's been there. Things like: tucking a couple copies of Zinn's history of the US on the bookshelves, a small photo of Obama tucked into the silverware drawer, slipping a brochure for the Demoratic Party rep into the stack of magazines in the bathroom....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
> The other part of that was "like the world has never seen." He used variations of this twice in his 4 minute opioid statement yt . That phrase isn't part of his usual verbal rope-a-dope, pointing to a prepared line that sneaked into his statement on another topic.
Yeah, it's tough, because he only has enough memory to keep two or three turns of phrase in his head at once without permanently deleting more important data, like the measurements of Miss Teen USA 1987, or one of his three synonyms for "great".
posted by tonycpsu at 12:58 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yeah, it's tough, because he only has enough memory to keep two or three turns of phrase in his head at once without permanently deleting more important data, like the measurements of Miss Teen USA 1987, or one of his three synonyms for "great".
posted by tonycpsu at 12:58 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
The NYT has a follow-up article, Manafort’s Home Searched as Part of Mueller Inquiry, to this morning's Washington Post bombshell that suggests that Mueller is indeed following the money.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:59 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Investigators for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, recently searched the Northern Virginia home of President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, for tax documents and foreign banking records, a sign that the inquiry into Mr. Manafort has broadened, according to a person familiar with the matter.[...]If the Bank Secrecy Act is in play, then charges of money-laundering are not far behind. (Manafort does his business with Putin and his banking at Cyprus—how could he not be laundering money?)
Until now, it was only known that Mr. Manafort was under investigation for his business dealings with his son-in-law, his role in the 2016 meeting between Trump campaign officials and the Russians and whether his work for the Ukranian government violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.[...]
But the search warrant for the tax and foreign banking records suggests that investigators are looking at criminal charges related to the federal Bank Secrecy Act, which requires Americans to report their foreign banking accounts.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:59 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
Can't we just pee on the conception-bed? I mean it's less subtle probably but it would feel better
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
Red Dawn (1984), in which a plucky band of American teens fights off the Soviets
I was amazed to learn that there is a sizable group out there that loves the film and views it as something triumphant; my main takeaways from it were things like: the scene where the downed fighter pilot says to one of the kids that "all that hate will burn him up" and the kid smiles a spooky grin and says "keeps me warm at night"; the kids realizing one of their number is a traitor and having to kill him while everyone is crying and screaming; the final sequence, where the Wolverines launch a suicidal attack that ends with the two brothers dying in each other's arms on a park bench. I never recall it as a triumphal film, but rather a movie that shows the horrors of a guerrilla war on both sides.
posted by nubs at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I was amazed to learn that there is a sizable group out there that loves the film and views it as something triumphant; my main takeaways from it were things like: the scene where the downed fighter pilot says to one of the kids that "all that hate will burn him up" and the kid smiles a spooky grin and says "keeps me warm at night"; the kids realizing one of their number is a traitor and having to kill him while everyone is crying and screaming; the final sequence, where the Wolverines launch a suicidal attack that ends with the two brothers dying in each other's arms on a park bench. I never recall it as a triumphal film, but rather a movie that shows the horrors of a guerrilla war on both sides.
posted by nubs at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Olivia Nuzzi has lost her god-damned mind, so that's just fine. Everything is fine.
posted by Yowser at 1:02 PM on August 9, 2017
posted by Yowser at 1:02 PM on August 9, 2017
It's becoming impossible to google for it, but I swear he used that "world has never seen" language when talking about "nuclear" during the campaign.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017
posted by paper chromatographologist at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017
To add to darkstar's timeline:
August 1984 - Reagan joke about outlawing Russia and bombing them leads to a Red Alert. (Note: it took four days for that story to break. Today it would take four minutes.)
Another song: Forever Young - Alphaville
He said "Fire and Fury" twice
Thank you. I just saw the clip and thought it was technical problem.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
August 1984 - Reagan joke about outlawing Russia and bombing them leads to a Red Alert. (Note: it took four days for that story to break. Today it would take four minutes.)
Another song: Forever Young - Alphaville
He said "Fire and Fury" twice
Thank you. I just saw the clip and thought it was technical problem.
posted by Room 641-A at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I'd just figured the phrase "Like The World Has Never Seen" showed up in a trailer for the new Death Wish or something.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 1:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Last time Rex didn't allow US reporters to join him, Japanese media got to portray him as sleepy, which is an image that is now stuck to him. [snip]
posted by filthy light thief at 7:56 AM on August 9 [17 favorites +] [!]
From the article, it was the Korea Herald rather than the Japanese media.
I was hoping to find out what Japanese phrase they used for sleepy...
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 7:56 AM on August 9 [17 favorites +] [!]
From the article, it was the Korea Herald rather than the Japanese media.
I was hoping to find out what Japanese phrase they used for sleepy...
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
If the Bank Secrecy Act is in play, then charges of money-laundering are not far behind.
I'm pretty sure that everyone at FBI, DOJ, &tc. always knew this would end up as JAFMLS ( Just Another Money Laundering Scheme... ) with Trump Real Estate as the "sink" for all that dirty Russian money.
posted by mikelieman at 1:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure that everyone at FBI, DOJ, &tc. always knew this would end up as JAFMLS ( Just Another Money Laundering Scheme... ) with Trump Real Estate as the "sink" for all that dirty Russian money.
posted by mikelieman at 1:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
as tire shop waiting rooms are the only places on earth that make watching Fox News seem pleasurable by comparison.
My tire shop is run by obsessive Germans whose main line of work is rebuilding Porsches, and they play Mozart all day.
posted by spitbull at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [43 favorites]
My tire shop is run by obsessive Germans whose main line of work is rebuilding Porsches, and they play Mozart all day.
posted by spitbull at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [43 favorites]
This is like the Cuban Missile Crisis and everyone in the cabinet is General Buck Turgidson and the president is some know-nothing real-estate con-artist from the 80s.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Olivia Nuzzi has lost her god-damned mind, so that's just fine. Everything is fine.
Context?
posted by zachlipton at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Context?
posted by zachlipton at 1:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I think I was just a little young for The Day After, but our second grade (!) teacher showed some Nostradamus documentary narrated by Orson Welles in which Welles claimed Nostradamus predicted WWIII would start right around the time I was old enough to be drafted. So, yeah, thanks for traumatizing us, Mr. Second Grade Teacher Guy.
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
posted by dirigibleman at 1:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
posted by dirigibleman at 1:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
To add to darkstar's timeline:
And don't forget Weird Al's "Christmas At Ground Zero"! Today it's just one of many cutesy Christmas novelty songs, but very relevant when it first came out.
posted by Melismata at 1:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
And don't forget Weird Al's "Christmas At Ground Zero"! Today it's just one of many cutesy Christmas novelty songs, but very relevant when it first came out.
posted by Melismata at 1:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
I kind of feel like we all should have all the cake and lovely sex we want right now.
I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT CAKE.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT CAKE.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
the main campaign setting is Poland, where you play as survivors of the US 5th Division, which is where we played, but we always thought it might be fun to pick up some of the US based stuff and play with that too.
Not to make this thread a T2K derail, I promise, but one of the many kick-the-dog things I loved about the game is that for parties that start out in Poland, making it back thru enemy lines (well, territory occupied by what's left of the Warsaw Pact) and somehow back home to the good old US of A is the players' meta-goal.
Then, if they manage to do so, they find the situation in America is just as bad if not worse.
That said, while the situation was portrayed as being unrelentingly bleak -- did I mention the "nuclear autumn" that threatens the few areas that managed to feed their populations? -- the adventures made clear that while the world was a mess and there was nothing the players could do but survive, they could make a difference to small groups of people. I think that lesson stuck, too.
posted by Gelatin at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Not to make this thread a T2K derail, I promise, but one of the many kick-the-dog things I loved about the game is that for parties that start out in Poland, making it back thru enemy lines (well, territory occupied by what's left of the Warsaw Pact) and somehow back home to the good old US of A is the players' meta-goal.
Then, if they manage to do so, they find the situation in America is just as bad if not worse.
That said, while the situation was portrayed as being unrelentingly bleak -- did I mention the "nuclear autumn" that threatens the few areas that managed to feed their populations? -- the adventures made clear that while the world was a mess and there was nothing the players could do but survive, they could make a difference to small groups of people. I think that lesson stuck, too.
posted by Gelatin at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
To add to darkstar's timeline:
Party At Ground Zero, Fishbone
World Destruction, Time Zone (Afrika Bambaataa feat.John Lydon)
posted by mcdoublewide at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Party At Ground Zero, Fishbone
World Destruction, Time Zone (Afrika Bambaataa feat.John Lydon)
posted by mcdoublewide at 1:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
(including one marking the room where he was conceived, I am not making that up)
Mary Trump
Is mother proud of little boy today
Ah-ha this kiss you give
It's never ever going to fade away
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:12 PM on August 9, 2017
Mary Trump
Is mother proud of little boy today
Ah-ha this kiss you give
It's never ever going to fade away
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:12 PM on August 9, 2017
uh-huh
Massive, inflatable chicken with orange hair is staring down the White House, CBS News
Massive, inflatable chicken with orange hair is staring down the White House, CBS News
The inflatable chicken, situated on the Ellipse facing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is a visual that organizers of the Tax Day March have used in the past to coax President Trump to release his tax returns.posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 1:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
I'm positive there was a MetaFilter discussion about how literally every town in the United States was weirdly certain and proud that they'd be one of the first few localities vaporized in a nuclear missile exchange
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
I'm positive there was a MetaFilter discussion about how literally every town in the United States was weirdly certain and proud that they'd be one of the first few localities vaporized in a nuclear missile exchange
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Oh for fuck sake: Donald Trump on NK in 1999.
Highlights:
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Highlights:
- He would negotiate
- NK are developing nuclear weapons for a reason
- Better to solve the problem then versus later
- Same stupid rhetorical devices
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Apparently "Walk the Dinosaur" is also about nuclear Armageddon, somehow, according to the songwriter. And speaking of dinosaurs and nukes, how can we ever forget Sting's immortal lyrics:
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Hey mighty brontosaurusPure poetry.
Don't you have a lesson for us
You thought your rule would always last
There were no lessons in your past
You were built three stories high
They say you would not hurt a fly
If we explode the atom bomb
Would they say that we were dumb?
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Another entry for the 1983 apocalyptic timeline, one I only learned about a couple years ago: Able Archer, a NATO simulation exercise that the USSR mistook for real. Background subject for the German TV series Deutschland 83.
posted by dnash at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by dnash at 1:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Let's not forget Can's thematically efficient Mushroom
"I was born, I was dead."
posted by rc3spencer at 1:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
"I was born, I was dead."
posted by rc3spencer at 1:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey mighty brontosaurus (pssst, that's "Walking In Your Footsteps," not "Walk the Dinosaur")
posted by dnash at 1:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dnash at 1:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
To continue the 80s derail, Previous Askme
posted by Mchelly at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hey mighty brontosaurus (pssst, that's "Walking In Your Footsteps," not "Walk the Dinosaur")
And speaking of dinosaurs and nukes,
Methinks, based on this connector, Faint of Butt knew that.
posted by greermahoney at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
And speaking of dinosaurs and nukes,
Methinks, based on this connector, Faint of Butt knew that.
posted by greermahoney at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
Well, for me it was, growing up, NYC, and when I went to college in '85 we were all pretty sure that the Watervliet Arsenal had a MIRV or two targeted at it...
posted by mikelieman at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Well, for me it was, growing up, NYC, and when I went to college in '85 we were all pretty sure that the Watervliet Arsenal had a MIRV or two targeted at it...
posted by mikelieman at 1:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Somehow I am reminded of the best scene in any Michael Moore flick not involving rabbits. It's in Bowling for Columbine, where he interviews the PR flack of the local Lockheed Martin missile plant (the largest employer in the Littleton area) and Moore asks how a town like Littleton could have produced two stone cold mass killers like Klebold and Harris, with a huge missile under construction behind the PR dude as he opines about not understanding where the option to solve problems with violence could have entered their minds and how Lockheed was paying for anger management classes locally.
America, fuck yeah, in a mordant cinematic nutshell.
posted by spitbull at 1:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
America, fuck yeah, in a mordant cinematic nutshell.
posted by spitbull at 1:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [28 favorites]
Has anyone seen A Boy and his Dog with Don Johnson and Jason Robards? I think I stumbled upon it on TMC and was rather shocked it got made. (TW: rape, if I remember correctly.)
Also, octobersurprise mentioned Riddley Walker. Very good book.
And finally: Robot Jox!
posted by orange ball at 1:30 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Also, octobersurprise mentioned Riddley Walker. Very good book.
And finally: Robot Jox!
posted by orange ball at 1:30 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
> Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
It was a perverse source of pride in my hometown, which probably would have been one of the earlier Canadian targets in a full-out nuclear war due to the the petrochemical plants collectively known as Chemical Valley (Because of Sarnia's importance in this industry, it appeared on a United States Government list of possible Soviet targets as part of its Anti-Energy nuclear strike strategy during the Cold War").
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
It was a perverse source of pride in my hometown, which probably would have been one of the earlier Canadian targets in a full-out nuclear war due to the the petrochemical plants collectively known as Chemical Valley (Because of Sarnia's importance in this industry, it appeared on a United States Government list of possible Soviet targets as part of its Anti-Energy nuclear strike strategy during the Cold War").
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
>“A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. The only value in our two nations possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely?” - President Reagan, 1984 State of the Union
If only the White House was occupied by someone as thoughtful and qualified as a senile actor whose wife's astrologist was making the important calls.
No, I mean seriously.
I've lapped the nostalgia-for-Dubya stage and moved on to nostalgia for Reagan. Truly we live in remarkable times.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [29 favorites]
If only the White House was occupied by someone as thoughtful and qualified as a senile actor whose wife's astrologist was making the important calls.
No, I mean seriously.
I've lapped the nostalgia-for-Dubya stage and moved on to nostalgia for Reagan. Truly we live in remarkable times.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [29 favorites]
It also occurs to me that, since 1983 pre-dated the internet, it was network television and motion pictures that still reigned supreme as the media in our lives, giving them a larger relative impact on social culture.
That these forms of media were mostly passively consumed makes me wonder if such existential stresses caused greater social trauma, since people couldn't really vent or commiserate efficiently.
Or perhaps, the modern ability to have multi-thousand comment discussion threads in realtime, with similarly anxious people around the world, may be orchestrating tensions in a way that the media landscape in the early 80's did not support.
Hard to tell, really...
posted by darkstar at 1:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
That these forms of media were mostly passively consumed makes me wonder if such existential stresses caused greater social trauma, since people couldn't really vent or commiserate efficiently.
Or perhaps, the modern ability to have multi-thousand comment discussion threads in realtime, with similarly anxious people around the world, may be orchestrating tensions in a way that the media landscape in the early 80's did not support.
Hard to tell, really...
posted by darkstar at 1:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Modern English lead singer Robbie Grey, who wrote the song with his four bandmates, explained: "I don't think many people realized it was about a couple making love as the bomb dropped. As they made love, they become one and melt together."
I'll stop the world and melt with you!
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:33 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I'll stop the world and melt with you!
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:33 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
previously on askme, Americans: Was your town a [rumored] Cold War missile target?
posted by peeedro at 1:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 1:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also probably worth remembering that the origins of the Internet (TCP/IP) lie in an effort at DARPA to have some communications infrastructure left between missile launch sites and labs for a retaliatory strike in the event the Soviets managed to get a first strike volley off.
So on the one hand, nuclear war, but on the other, Metafilter.
posted by spitbull at 1:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [29 favorites]
So on the one hand, nuclear war, but on the other, Metafilter.
posted by spitbull at 1:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [29 favorites]
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
I was about five years old when I'd finally overheard enough news broadcasts and adult conversations to grok that the threat of atomic annihilation was A Thing and the way my mom calmed me down about it was to tell me that no one was going to give a shit about our apple orchards during a war and that if anything, the Russians would want them intact afterwards.
She was always pretty real with me about stuff like that when I was little, though. I'm grateful for it. After a morning watching violent toy-branded Reagan era cartoons, I asked her how countries knew when a war was over? Like, when did it stop? Did you really have to kill everyone on the other side before it really ended or what? I only remember this moment because I'll never forget her answer: "No honey, you usually wind up capturing most of them."
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I was about five years old when I'd finally overheard enough news broadcasts and adult conversations to grok that the threat of atomic annihilation was A Thing and the way my mom calmed me down about it was to tell me that no one was going to give a shit about our apple orchards during a war and that if anything, the Russians would want them intact afterwards.
She was always pretty real with me about stuff like that when I was little, though. I'm grateful for it. After a morning watching violent toy-branded Reagan era cartoons, I asked her how countries knew when a war was over? Like, when did it stop? Did you really have to kill everyone on the other side before it really ended or what? I only remember this moment because I'll never forget her answer: "No honey, you usually wind up capturing most of them."
posted by EatTheWeek at 1:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yeah, living pretty much in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain (and thus NORAD) during the 1980s made the threat especially vivid. It was quite a feeling to go see WarGames at a multiplex in Colorado Springs in 1983.
posted by Mothlight at 1:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 1:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Modern English lead singer Robbie Grey, who wrote the song with his four bandmates, explained: "I don't think many people realized it was about a couple making love as the bomb dropped. As they made love, they become one and melt together."
Augh, it's eighties body horror!!!! Cannot unsee!!! I really, really do not need eighties body horror on top of all the rest of this.
posted by Frowner at 1:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Augh, it's eighties body horror!!!! Cannot unsee!!! I really, really do not need eighties body horror on top of all the rest of this.
posted by Frowner at 1:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
It's getting kinda chatfiltery in here with all the nostalgia for apocalyptic media... we don't *have* to hit 3000 comments a day, you know...
posted by Roommate at 1:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by Roommate at 1:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
In the largest strike plans, there are so many warheads involved that you basically have to find reasons for any significantly populated area to not be a target, or at least, not in the vicinity of a target. Even in a more limited counter-force strike scenario, there's an incentive for the strikee to "use them or lose them" and so the number of likely targets quickly proliferates.
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by AndrewInDC at 1:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
He said "Fire and Fury" twice. The first time it sounds plausibly improvised, if one had normal linguistic abilities. The second time though the mask slips. He says Fire, Fury, and then unnecessarily says Power, as if mere Fire and Fury and were not enough.
Yeah, he often editorializes during speeches, commenting on what he just read or learned. "...It's true..." "...Not many people know that..." The "power" addition the second time is the giveaway "fire and fury" is someone else's because "power" is what he would've added to it — ruining the alliterative beauty of it, but anyway — if it had been his.
posted by chris24 at 1:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yeah, he often editorializes during speeches, commenting on what he just read or learned. "...It's true..." "...Not many people know that..." The "power" addition the second time is the giveaway "fire and fury" is someone else's because "power" is what he would've added to it — ruining the alliterative beauty of it, but anyway — if it had been his.
posted by chris24 at 1:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Has anyone seen A Boy and his Dog with Don Johnson and Jason Robards? I think I stumbled upon it on TMC and was rather shocked it got made. (TW: rape, if I remember correctly.)
This was in heavy rotation on the Counselor Lounge VCR in the early/mid-80's...
posted by mikelieman at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017
This was in heavy rotation on the Counselor Lounge VCR in the early/mid-80's...
posted by mikelieman at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017
God, this is like the conversation we had over dinner last night when I was asked to recount the annual article in my local paper growing up on what would happen to my hometown if Wright Patterson AFB got nuked. This is so fucked up.
posted by charred husk at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by charred husk at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Frankie also says "When you hear the air attack warning you and your family must take cover." ("Two Tribes.")
posted by octobersurprise at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 1:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
We were within blast range of Lockheed Martin.
Aerojet here.
My grandfather worked there from the late 50s through the early 70s (and then he died of lung cancer at age 55).
posted by elsietheeel at 1:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Aerojet here.
My grandfather worked there from the late 50s through the early 70s (and then he died of lung cancer at age 55).
posted by elsietheeel at 1:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did anyone also hear this with regard to the Y2K bug? My dad carted us all up to my uncle's remote place in the Smokies for New Year's Eve in 1999. ... The blasts never came, and we had a fun time in the mountains.
The wife and I and a college room-mate went to Atlanta for Widespread Panic's NYE2K. FWIW, my chief-programmer called me while I was waiting for a plane in chicago-midway on New Year's Day, to tell me everything ticked over properly. Given the horrible 4GL we were on ( Dataflex ), it did take a notable amount of work....
posted by mikelieman at 1:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
The wife and I and a college room-mate went to Atlanta for Widespread Panic's NYE2K. FWIW, my chief-programmer called me while I was waiting for a plane in chicago-midway on New Year's Day, to tell me everything ticked over properly. Given the horrible 4GL we were on ( Dataflex ), it did take a notable amount of work....
posted by mikelieman at 1:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
A clip or tweet of him contradicting himself from the past never fails to turn up.
Is trump trying to pull the "anti George" trick?
posted by WaterAndPixels at 2:01 PM on August 9, 2017
Is trump trying to pull the "anti George" trick?
posted by WaterAndPixels at 2:01 PM on August 9, 2017
chris24: Yeah, he often editorializes during speeches, commenting on what he just read or learned.
What he learned just before the speech, or what he learned as he read the teleprompter?
posted by clawsoon at 2:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
What he learned just before the speech, or what he learned as he read the teleprompter?
posted by clawsoon at 2:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now Y2K, that was a fun existential crisis - at the time I was an editor at a trade publication covering large-scale computer networking, so we did a ton of stories on how companies were preparing and then, as the clocks turned from '99 to '00, we liveblogged (remember blogs?) the resulting chaos, except, well, people prepared pretty well and not all that much really happened. Except in Montana, where a future Senate candidate was busy drinking "colloidal silver" to deal with the collapse of society and turned himself permanently blue.
posted by adamg at 2:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by adamg at 2:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
What he learned just before the speech, or what he learned as he read the teleprompter?
As he reads the teleprompter. You can watch him give a speech and actually see the moment of surprise/revelation as he reads something he didn't know before.
posted by chris24 at 2:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
As he reads the teleprompter. You can watch him give a speech and actually see the moment of surprise/revelation as he reads something he didn't know before.
posted by chris24 at 2:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
Lots of '80's nostalgia going on. I understand the need to relieve tension caused by the relentless parade of depressingly dystopian news, but maybe time to spin the movie and music references out into their own FPP to keep this politics thread from overwhelming those of us on mobile devices???
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 2:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by LeftMyHeartInSanFrancisco at 2:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Now that Manafort is back in the news, I thought I'd like to point out one other aspect that suggests how super-fucked (hyper-fucked?) that dude is. So, it was known that Manafort had apparently bought a bunch of high-end properties in cash (i.e.: no mortgage). But then, in 2016, he took out some mortgages on these already paid-off properties (e.g.: NYT, 2017/04/12, "After Campaign Exit, Manafort Borrowed From Businesses With Trump Ties"). I figured this had to be some kind of money-laundering thing although it didn't match any pattern that I was familiar with nor did it show up in any of my further Google research for how taking a mortgage out on a fully paid-off property helps in money laundering.
Well, as it turns out, Paul Manafort has a son-in-law, Jeffrey Yohai, who was running some kind of real-estate investment company that may have turned into (or was designed from the start as?) a Ponzi scheme. And there's some possibility that Manafort got pulled into Yohai's schemes and either lost his shirt or is covering Yohai's losses. And maybe that's why he was taking out mortgages on his paid-off properties. In other words, in addition to being under a whole bunch of investigations on all kinds of fronts, there's a chance that Manafort is broke. Not, like, "sleeping under a bridge" broke but maybe broke enough. At the very least, it looks like the FBI is/was looking at him for financial misdeeds unrelated (at least directly) to Russian money laundering or campaign influence but just plain old-fashioned fraud.
Here are a couple of articles on that front:
LA Times, 2017/03/28: $3-million real estate deal with Paul Manafort's son-in-law goes south for Dustin Hoffman and son
NYT, 2017/06/23: "F.B.I. Investigating Deals Involving Paul Manafort and Son-in-Law"
No word on whether or not Jeffrey counts as a large, adult son(-in-law).
posted by mhum at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Well, as it turns out, Paul Manafort has a son-in-law, Jeffrey Yohai, who was running some kind of real-estate investment company that may have turned into (or was designed from the start as?) a Ponzi scheme. And there's some possibility that Manafort got pulled into Yohai's schemes and either lost his shirt or is covering Yohai's losses. And maybe that's why he was taking out mortgages on his paid-off properties. In other words, in addition to being under a whole bunch of investigations on all kinds of fronts, there's a chance that Manafort is broke. Not, like, "sleeping under a bridge" broke but maybe broke enough. At the very least, it looks like the FBI is/was looking at him for financial misdeeds unrelated (at least directly) to Russian money laundering or campaign influence but just plain old-fashioned fraud.
Here are a couple of articles on that front:
LA Times, 2017/03/28: $3-million real estate deal with Paul Manafort's son-in-law goes south for Dustin Hoffman and son
NYT, 2017/06/23: "F.B.I. Investigating Deals Involving Paul Manafort and Son-in-Law"
No word on whether or not Jeffrey counts as a large, adult son(-in-law).
posted by mhum at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Considering more modern threats...
I have recently noticed that the "Godwin Rule" is almost never invoked to chastise a commenter from making Nazi comparisons.
It seems a quaintly outmoded rule in an era of actual fascists (Sebastian Gorka) and wannabe fascists (Stephen Miller) serving as mouthpieces for the Chief Executive, as they urge citizens to "support the Executive" as he threatens nuclear war, or to ignore that whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" thing as we demonize immigrants.
posted by darkstar at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
I have recently noticed that the "Godwin Rule" is almost never invoked to chastise a commenter from making Nazi comparisons.
It seems a quaintly outmoded rule in an era of actual fascists (Sebastian Gorka) and wannabe fascists (Stephen Miller) serving as mouthpieces for the Chief Executive, as they urge citizens to "support the Executive" as he threatens nuclear war, or to ignore that whole "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" thing as we demonize immigrants.
posted by darkstar at 2:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
As he reads the teleprompter. You can watch him give a speech and actually see the moment of surprise/revelation as he reads something he didn't know before.
So if you hacked the teleprompter, you wouldn't just get him to read it a la Ron Burgundy, you'd get an extended riff on whatever stupid shit you put up there?
posted by clawsoon at 2:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
So if you hacked the teleprompter, you wouldn't just get him to read it a la Ron Burgundy, you'd get an extended riff on whatever stupid shit you put up there?
posted by clawsoon at 2:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
So if you hacked the teleprompter, you wouldn't just get him to read it a la Ron Burgundy, you'd get an extended riff on whatever stupid shit you put up there?
I absolutely think you could get him to read/riff off of whatever you put up there. He'd assume it had to be the best smartest thing that he'd approved of if it was up there for him to read.
posted by chris24 at 2:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
I absolutely think you could get him to read/riff off of whatever you put up there. He'd assume it had to be the best smartest thing that he'd approved of if it was up there for him to read.
posted by chris24 at 2:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
This outpouring of 80s nuclear-dread cultural referents is a pretty grim counterpoint to the RP1 thread down the hall, where the mood of the room is rather more gleeful in savaging (shallower) 80s stuff. If you're like me and need a more encouraging pick-me-up keyed to a moment when Reagan was president-elect, unlock that funky chain dance: Brothers! Sisters! We Don't Need This Fascist Groove Thang!
also listen to more minutemen, double nickels all the time
posted by miles per flower at 2:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
also listen to more minutemen, double nickels all the time
posted by miles per flower at 2:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Current Salon headline:
FBI's predawn raid of Manafort
FBI raids home of former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort to "seize documents" — then Trump tweets his trans ban
Gee, you'd think that Trump wasn't paying attention to the things that were going on around him, or something...
posted by Melismata at 2:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
FBI's predawn raid of Manafort
FBI raids home of former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort to "seize documents" — then Trump tweets his trans ban
Gee, you'd think that Trump wasn't paying attention to the things that were going on around him, or something...
posted by Melismata at 2:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby.
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, for us. Every conversation about WWIII I can recall from my early years took for granted that we'd all be dead in the first ten minutes. Glowing circles on a CRT somewhere.
I came up during the tail end of the cultural shift - born 1980 - and the Cold War (CW1?) was over in popular consciousness before I became politically aware. But those early conversations, and the cultural response, were foundational. It's axiomatic to me that the world can be destroyed, may be ending in ten minutes, and that humans will determine if, when, and how.
There was a real button. Someone really had to push it.
I think that's what makes me go full crazy over climate skeptics. They want to argue about the existence of ICBMs or claim that nuclear exchanges are a natural cycle, and I don't know how many of our last ten minutes are left.
posted by BS Artisan at 2:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, for us. Every conversation about WWIII I can recall from my early years took for granted that we'd all be dead in the first ten minutes. Glowing circles on a CRT somewhere.
I came up during the tail end of the cultural shift - born 1980 - and the Cold War (CW1?) was over in popular consciousness before I became politically aware. But those early conversations, and the cultural response, were foundational. It's axiomatic to me that the world can be destroyed, may be ending in ten minutes, and that humans will determine if, when, and how.
There was a real button. Someone really had to push it.
I think that's what makes me go full crazy over climate skeptics. They want to argue about the existence of ICBMs or claim that nuclear exchanges are a natural cycle, and I don't know how many of our last ten minutes are left.
posted by BS Artisan at 2:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Realizing that "I Melt With You" is *literally* about two people melting pretty much ruined that song for me.
that was the immediate appeal for me, right up there with Enola Gay (the one about the girl that should've just stayed home yesterday) in terms of irresistible pop confections about how we're all gonna die, and soon.
But then, I was more of a 70s kid, already well immersed in musical apocalypse.
posted by philip-random at 2:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
that was the immediate appeal for me, right up there with Enola Gay (the one about the girl that should've just stayed home yesterday) in terms of irresistible pop confections about how we're all gonna die, and soon.
But then, I was more of a 70s kid, already well immersed in musical apocalypse.
posted by philip-random at 2:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
He says Fire, Fury, and then unnecessarily says Power
Actually, he said "frankly power". I think it's the new solar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 2:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Actually, he said "frankly power". I think it's the new solar.
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 2:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Master Diplomat: Pundits Have Noted Similarities Between Trump’s N. Korea Statements And JFK’s Iconic ‘Prepare To Be Radioactive Skeletons, Motherfuckers’ Speech That De-escalated The Cuban Missile Crisis [ClickHole is a satirical publication]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, probably good to rein in the freeform nostalgia stuff at this point. Fodder for some perfectly good pop nostalgia posts in their own right, go for it.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
He says Fire, Fury, and then unnecessarily says Power
Actually, he said "frankly power". I think it's the new solar.
Nah nah, he said franking power. He's gonna send a lotta letters.
posted by phearlez at 2:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
Actually, he said "frankly power". I think it's the new solar.
Nah nah, he said franking power. He's gonna send a lotta letters.
posted by phearlez at 2:22 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
Has anyone seen A Boy and his Dog with Don Johnson and Jason Robards? I think I stumbled upon it on TMC and was rather shocked it got made. (TW: rape, if I remember correctly.)
Yes. It's an interesting premise, but not a good movie.
Many movies have rape scenes, so that wouldn't be a problem for a studio. Especially back in the 70's. The novella it's based on was written by Harlan Ellison and he was friends with the director, L. Q. Jones. Ellison spent 3 years trying to write the screenplay before Jones finished it himself. The final had quite a few changes from the original source material.
I was searching for something for an FPP and it turned up in the search results on Youtube a couple of weeks ago. If you search for the movie's name on google, there's a link.
One fun piece of trivia... the film contained some nudity and a rape scene, and constant talk about Johnson's character wanting to have sex with a woman -- any available woman. After a screening, it received a PG rating from the MPAA. (MPAA ratings were established in '68. A Boy and his Dog was released in '75.) The director apparently lobbied the MPAA and argued that the film deserved an R rating, because he didn't want children exposed to sexually explicit content. Basically the reverse of every film producer's experience with the MPAA, ever. It was released with an R.
posted by zarq at 2:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yes. It's an interesting premise, but not a good movie.
Many movies have rape scenes, so that wouldn't be a problem for a studio. Especially back in the 70's. The novella it's based on was written by Harlan Ellison and he was friends with the director, L. Q. Jones. Ellison spent 3 years trying to write the screenplay before Jones finished it himself. The final had quite a few changes from the original source material.
I was searching for something for an FPP and it turned up in the search results on Youtube a couple of weeks ago. If you search for the movie's name on google, there's a link.
One fun piece of trivia... the film contained some nudity and a rape scene, and constant talk about Johnson's character wanting to have sex with a woman -- any available woman. After a screening, it received a PG rating from the MPAA. (MPAA ratings were established in '68. A Boy and his Dog was released in '75.) The director apparently lobbied the MPAA and argued that the film deserved an R rating, because he didn't want children exposed to sexually explicit content. Basically the reverse of every film producer's experience with the MPAA, ever. It was released with an R.
posted by zarq at 2:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
You can watch him give a speech and actually see the moment of surprise/revelation as he reads something he didn't know before.
JFC, its all Trump's Mirror. "Most people don't know about [common fact]" = "I don't know about this."
posted by Room 641-A at 2:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
JFC, its all Trump's Mirror. "Most people don't know about [common fact]" = "I don't know about this."
posted by Room 641-A at 2:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
thelonius: "My first order as President was to renovate and modernize our nuclear arsenal. It is now far stronger and more powerful than ever before.
again, taking credit for Obama's work"
And an outright lie, the US nuclear arsenal at it's height was an order of magnitude larger than it currently is.
posted by Mitheral at 2:29 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
again, taking credit for Obama's work"
And an outright lie, the US nuclear arsenal at it's height was an order of magnitude larger than it currently is.
posted by Mitheral at 2:29 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Dems in disarray!
@ddale8 (Toronto Star)
Today in Republicans:
- Trump goes after McConnell
- Mercer goes after Flake
- Johnson goes after McCain's brain cancer
posted by chris24 at 2:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
@ddale8 (Toronto Star)
Today in Republicans:
- Trump goes after McConnell
- Mercer goes after Flake
- Johnson goes after McCain's brain cancer
posted by chris24 at 2:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
@MikeDelMoro (ABC)
Per a source familiar with the investigation: a dozen armed FBI woke up Manafort by knocking on his *bedroom door*
@renato_mariotti (former fed prosecutor) Retweeted Michael Del Moro
Shocking--this suggests the FBI obtained a "no knock" warrant. That would mean they thought Manafort would destroy evidence if they knocked.
posted by chris24 at 2:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [76 favorites]
Per a source familiar with the investigation: a dozen armed FBI woke up Manafort by knocking on his *bedroom door*
@renato_mariotti (former fed prosecutor) Retweeted Michael Del Moro
Shocking--this suggests the FBI obtained a "no knock" warrant. That would mean they thought Manafort would destroy evidence if they knocked.
posted by chris24 at 2:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [76 favorites]
every punk band everywhere referenced nuclear annihilation, either seriously or ironically ("Dance till the bombs drop!")
My friends, I offer for your enjoyment a delightful nuclear annihilation-themed ditty from right now (2016), courtesy of Martha, the finest queer anarchist vegan pop-punk band in Pity Me, UK:
I’ve been messed up in my head,
Since I finished watching Threads,
When I couldn’t sleep for weeks,
Seeking shelter in the sheets.
Have I always been like this?
Like a toothy teenage kiss?
Like the Labrador we miss?
Like the tape hiss?
But at a party all the planets got in line,
Passion forged under a four-pound box of wine,
That’s when you knew, when you felt certain it was love,
He held your hair while you were throwing up.
I never heard a more romantic story.
Christine, everybody else just bores me.
And when the bombs begin to drop,
And my skin is dripping off,
I’ll remember you in all your glory.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
My friends, I offer for your enjoyment a delightful nuclear annihilation-themed ditty from right now (2016), courtesy of Martha, the finest queer anarchist vegan pop-punk band in Pity Me, UK:
I’ve been messed up in my head,
Since I finished watching Threads,
When I couldn’t sleep for weeks,
Seeking shelter in the sheets.
Have I always been like this?
Like a toothy teenage kiss?
Like the Labrador we miss?
Like the tape hiss?
But at a party all the planets got in line,
Passion forged under a four-pound box of wine,
That’s when you knew, when you felt certain it was love,
He held your hair while you were throwing up.
I never heard a more romantic story.
Christine, everybody else just bores me.
And when the bombs begin to drop,
And my skin is dripping off,
I’ll remember you in all your glory.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
So if you hacked the teleprompter, you wouldn't just get him to read it a la Ron Burgundy, you'd get an extended riff on whatever stupid shit you put up there?
"And, frankly, nobody knows this, but go fuck yourself, San Diego. Believe me."
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
"And, frankly, nobody knows this, but go fuck yourself, San Diego. Believe me."
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Frankie also says "When you hear the air attack warning you and your family must take cover." ("Two Tribes.")
Ratings not number 1
Squandering wealth a rich man's son
On NBC Thursday Nights
But he tweets Fox and Friends-yeah
Tell the world that you're winning.
posted by Talez at 2:51 PM on August 9, 2017
Ratings not number 1
Squandering wealth a rich man's son
On NBC Thursday Nights
But he tweets Fox and Friends-yeah
Tell the world that you're winning.
posted by Talez at 2:51 PM on August 9, 2017
Trump touting the $3 Billion Foxconn deal may have been a bit premature. Wisconsin legislators might not have the votes.
Journal Sentinel Senate Republican leader raises questions on Foxconn deal, says he doesn't have votes yet
Journal Sentinel Senate Republican leader raises questions on Foxconn deal, says he doesn't have votes yet
Fitzgerald said it was "striking" that a report issued this week by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that state taxpayers would not recoup their investment in Foxconn until 2043. The bureau described that timeline as the best-case scenario, with the Wisconsin plant fully operational and spawning job growth at suppliers and other companies that would come to the area.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
"Is it going to be a good deal for taxpayers? A lot of that is going to be based on viability, on how this happens over the next 15, 25 years," Fitzgerald said. "And what is the payback going to be? And it's difficult to really measure that right now."
Sebastian Gorka, speaking on Fox news: [to North Korea] "don't test [America] -- We are not just a superpower. We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power."
What the fuck does that even mean?
That's just the sound of Gorka sucking his own dick
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
What the fuck does that even mean?
That's just the sound of Gorka sucking his own dick
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 2:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
Eric Bolling filed a $50 million lawsuit against Yashar Ali, personally, for his reporting about Bolling's dick picks to his colleagues. Bolling is represented by lawyers at Kasowitz Benson, who also represent Trump.
Discovery is going to be interesting I'll bet.
posted by zachlipton at 2:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Discovery is going to be interesting I'll bet.
posted by zachlipton at 2:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Sebastian Gorka, speaking on Fox news: [to North Korea] "don't test [America] -- We are not just a superpower. We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power."
What the fuck does that even mean?
Pretty sure it means Gorka ferreted (and I use that term only semi-figuratively) out the location of Scaramucci's abandoned WH coke stash.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
What the fuck does that even mean?
Pretty sure it means Gorka ferreted (and I use that term only semi-figuratively) out the location of Scaramucci's abandoned WH coke stash.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Gorka trying real hard to make that daily pro-Trump briefing folder.
posted by PenDevil at 2:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 2:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Josh Marshall has an excellent piece on Why President Bush’s North Korea Failure Is Important to Remember.
Basically these clowns want to toss another diplomatically oriented potential solution to particular cases of nuclear proliferation out the window because they don't like the idea of diplomacy with specific countries and/or want to feel tough (without actually being effective or tough).
They use the word "appeasement" in reference to a situation that is very different than the post-WWI Europe--the United State have an enormous amount of non-military actions that can be taken in pursuit of getting a change of behavior from DPRK and the Republic of Iran. These countries aren't like a resurgent Germany building up military forces in the face of a western Europe utterly devastated by an unprecedentedly deadly war.
Military action in either country would be horrifying and stupid. The human cost to the DPRK, RoK, and the RoI should be disqualification enough, but if one can't empathize that much, such wars would be unwinnable and cost the United States dearly in lives, dollars, and credibility.
I don't know how to resolve these conflicts peacefully and effectively, but initiating military action would be the worst course of action possible.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 2:59 PM on August 9, 2017 [32 favorites]
The simple reality was that the Bush team didn’t like the deal but had nothing to replace it with. The threat of force wasn’t credible because of the costs of a military confrontation which the North Koreans were well aware of. So the US got to act tough (or rather feel tough) and not go in for ‘appeasement’ and the result was that North Korea became a nuclear power. Might they have become a nuclear power anyway? Maybe. But it seems very hard to argue that they would have gotten there as quickly as they did or would even be there today if the US had continued with the quite minor amounts of aid the Agreed Framework required. [...][Bold emphasis mine]
The real lesson I draw from this is that we should be extremely wary about actions which have the feeling or appearance of toughness but which are likely to have negative or even dire results because we have no viable, alternative policy. That seems very much like the situation we are moving toward with North Korea. Certainly it’s what President Trump was doing yesterday when he made wild threats he is highly, highly unlikely to follow through on. [...]
No less important, I’m quite certain that it is almost exactly the situation and folly that President Trump and his nuttier advisors are moving toward with Iran. We allowed Iran to do this. We gave them this money. For all this, in the future they could go ahead and build a bomb anyway. We haven’t actually ‘solved’ the threat, just postponed it. There are good rejoinders to each of these arguments. But there are merits to them too. But what’s the alternative? I would argue that in practice we have no real military alternative which is better than what we have now. And yet, we look likely to repeat the same mistake: taking the ego boost of feeling tough at the price of accepting a negative or perhaps catastrophic results. Refusing negotiation isn’t tough if you’re not actually willing to take up the alternative. Indeed, it is the most regular and orthodox military doctrine that threats only act as deterrents if they are credible. On both fronts, this is a lesson very much worth learning.
Basically these clowns want to toss another diplomatically oriented potential solution to particular cases of nuclear proliferation out the window because they don't like the idea of diplomacy with specific countries and/or want to feel tough (without actually being effective or tough).
They use the word "appeasement" in reference to a situation that is very different than the post-WWI Europe--the United State have an enormous amount of non-military actions that can be taken in pursuit of getting a change of behavior from DPRK and the Republic of Iran. These countries aren't like a resurgent Germany building up military forces in the face of a western Europe utterly devastated by an unprecedentedly deadly war.
Military action in either country would be horrifying and stupid. The human cost to the DPRK, RoK, and the RoI should be disqualification enough, but if one can't empathize that much, such wars would be unwinnable and cost the United States dearly in lives, dollars, and credibility.
I don't know how to resolve these conflicts peacefully and effectively, but initiating military action would be the worst course of action possible.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 2:59 PM on August 9, 2017 [32 favorites]
From Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post: ‘God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un,’ evangelical adviser says
posted by MrVisible at 3:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by MrVisible at 3:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
In order to combat the Opioid crisis, Christie has suggested violating HIPAA in a couple of ways.
Stat: Do family members have a right to know when a loved one overdoses on opioids?
VOX Trump’s opioid epidemic commission wants the president to declare a state of emergency
I can easily imagine that once a state outlaws certain types of BC, for example, a National data base of your prescription purchases would come in handy.
Eric Bolling filed a $50 million lawsuit against Yashar Ali, personally, for his reporting about Bolling's dick picks
Aaah. Thanks for that, Zachlipton. I saw this all over my twitter feed but could not remember who Bolling is nor could I be bothered to look him up.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Stat: Do family members have a right to know when a loved one overdoses on opioids?
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is leading President Trump’s opioid task force, this week told reporters the panel is discussing ways to ensure family members know when a person is revived with naloxone following an overdose. The goal would be to ensure that, after a near-death experience, those struggling with addiction have a support system to help steer them toward treatment.Then there is this:
“There has got to be a way that we can let parents and loved ones know when people have been reversed with Narcan,” Christie said Monday, using a brand name for naloxone.
VOX Trump’s opioid epidemic commission wants the president to declare a state of emergency
Provide federal support for state-based prescription drug monitoring programs. These programs, which all 50 states now have, let doctors closely watch a patient’s prescription drug history — letting them see if, say, a patient is shopping around to obtain as many opioids as possible from different doctors, or if a patient has a history of misusing drugs. But these programs often aren’t very robust and don’t share data across state lines, which federal aid could help address.That means they want to be able to put your prescription purchases in a National data base to see if you are getting prescriptions written by more than one doctor. That sounds like a civil liberties lawsuit waiting to happen.
I can easily imagine that once a state outlaws certain types of BC, for example, a National data base of your prescription purchases would come in handy.
Eric Bolling filed a $50 million lawsuit against Yashar Ali, personally, for his reporting about Bolling's dick picks
Aaah. Thanks for that, Zachlipton. I saw this all over my twitter feed but could not remember who Bolling is nor could I be bothered to look him up.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
reporting about Bolling's dick picks
That is a disgustingly hilarious typo (?), especially as my last MeFi action before this was commenting about skin scrapers
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
That is a disgustingly hilarious typo (?), especially as my last MeFi action before this was commenting about skin scrapers
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Something tells me Trump is going to unhappy again with Senator Blumenthal.
@kylegriffin1
Judiciary Cmte's Blumenthal: "Apparently there is now no question of clear evidence connecting Paul Manafort to some criminal wrongdoing."
@kylegriffin1
Judiciary Cmte's Blumenthal: "Apparently there is now no question of clear evidence connecting Paul Manafort to some criminal wrongdoing."
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a former U.S. Attorney and Connecticut Attorney General and a current member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement following reports that FBI agents raided the home of former Trump campaign chairman, Pa. Manafort, in late July:posted by chris24 at 3:09 PM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
"This pre-dawn search and seizure, a raid typical of the most serious criminal investigations dealing with uncooperative or untrusted potential targets, is a significant and even stunning development. A federal judge signing this warrant would demand persuasive evidence of probable cause that a serious crime has been committed and that less intrusive and dramatic investigative means would be ineffective. This kind of raid in the early morning hours with no advanced notice shows an astonishing and alarming distrust for the Presidents former campaign chairman. It seems to decimate his claim that he is cooperating with law enforcement. Apparently there is now no question of clear evidence connecting Paul Manafort to some criminal wrongdoing. This highly significant step reaffirms the reasons that I first urged appointment of a Special Counsel with the power to execute such investigative measures and bring criminal charges and redoubles my determination to protect this investigation from political interference."
@renato_mariotti (former fed prosecutor) Retweeted Michael Del Moro
Shocking--this suggests the FBI obtained a "no knock" warrant. That would mean they thought Manafort would destroy evidence if they knocked.
gotta protect the pee tape
posted by standardasparagus at 3:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Shocking--this suggests the FBI obtained a "no knock" warrant. That would mean they thought Manafort would destroy evidence if they knocked.
gotta protect the pee tape
posted by standardasparagus at 3:10 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Bolling's dick picks
Worst. Shark Tank pitch. Ever.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Worst. Shark Tank pitch. Ever.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
That is a disgustingly hilarious typo (?)
So much for my thinking I should write the mods to get that fixed before anyone noticed...
posted by zachlipton at 3:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
So much for my thinking I should write the mods to get that fixed before anyone noticed...
posted by zachlipton at 3:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
@AP BREAKING: North Korea's military calls Trump's threat a 'load of nonsense,' says 'only absolute force' can work on Trump.
Only absolute force can work on Trump? I feel like there is a joke there but I'm not really sure how to interpret this.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Only absolute force can work on Trump? I feel like there is a joke there but I'm not really sure how to interpret this.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:19 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Never before have I wished for a giant inflatable animal to get the Ghostbusters treatment and go on a rampage.
posted by TwoStride at 3:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 3:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Jeez man, some of us live in the area. One rampaging nutter with bad hair is enough, don't wish a second on us.
posted by phearlez at 3:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 3:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Is it time for an 80's revival? I thought we already had one of those?
History always repeats, first as LOL, than as WTF?!?
posted by kirkaracha at 3:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Specifically, North Korea says it plans to "hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam", overflying Japan.
posted by zachlipton at 3:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
And specifically over Hiroshima?
Classy, that.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Classy, that.
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hey, sorry if this has been covered already, I had to take a break from the politics, but I just saw this Samantha Bee piece about how the Kurds love Trump because he is giving them weapons??? and I just? think I am losing my mind, because I swear to god, wasn't that Hillary Clinton's plan on the campaign trail? right? She said that at a debate? This is the third news piece I've seen about this issue in the past few months and not one of them have mentioned that this is exactly what Clinton said we should do?
Google tells me that Clinton was pushing to arm the Kurds from the very beginning of the Syrian civil war (Guardian) when she was Sec of State. Obama said no at the time, but kept the option on the table. (WaPo, Carol Morello) so I am not losing my grip on reality. But I am losing my fucking temper that donald trump is getting credit, even from SAM BEE, for a decision that Clinton personally set in motion with her recommendation as Sec of State. good fucking god. Someone please tell me that I am wrong, that I am misunderstanding, something. please.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [39 favorites]
Google tells me that Clinton was pushing to arm the Kurds from the very beginning of the Syrian civil war (Guardian) when she was Sec of State. Obama said no at the time, but kept the option on the table. (WaPo, Carol Morello) so I am not losing my grip on reality. But I am losing my fucking temper that donald trump is getting credit, even from SAM BEE, for a decision that Clinton personally set in motion with her recommendation as Sec of State. good fucking god. Someone please tell me that I am wrong, that I am misunderstanding, something. please.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [39 favorites]
Since it seems like both parties are suing for war over Twitter, I gotta wonder how far removed Kim Jong-Un is from pressing send on their tweets. Can't those little shits just flame each other via DM?
No no that's where they send each other poll numbers and fart jokes and plan the next round of comments. [fake, because I'm not sure DJT understands DMs]
posted by tilde at 3:36 PM on August 9, 2017
Specifically, North Korea says it plans to "hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam", overflying Japan.
From that tweet link @KyungLahCNN: KCNA: Hwasong12 will go above Shimane, Hiroshima & Koichi [sic] Pref, fly 3 356.7 km for 1 065 sec and hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam.
The Wikipedia page for Hwasong-12 lists the sole successful test as the launch from May 2017: "Missile was fired on a lofted trajectory with apogee of 2,111.5 km, landing 787 km away in the Sea of Japan."
So...Guam? or Hiroshima 2.0?
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
From that tweet link @KyungLahCNN: KCNA: Hwasong12 will go above Shimane, Hiroshima & Koichi [sic] Pref, fly 3 356.7 km for 1 065 sec and hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam.
The Wikipedia page for Hwasong-12 lists the sole successful test as the launch from May 2017: "Missile was fired on a lofted trajectory with apogee of 2,111.5 km, landing 787 km away in the Sea of Japan."
So...Guam? or Hiroshima 2.0?
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 3:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Thank you Secret Life of Gravy for posting these links regarding the use of opiates and the regime's proposed "solutions". I loath how these jackoffs talk about people who are using and assume that a family member's desire to know something outweighs a person's right to healthcare privacy. Using opiates should not and does not mean that one is suddenly a second class citizen.
Many people who are using do so because it's the least bad out of a ton of really shitty alternatives. Many of these folks have left homes and families because of abuse or other intolerable situations and are just trying to get through to the next day. I really resent Chris Christie bumbling around, suggesting policies that might stick already vulnerable people back into abusive, coercive situations.
People need to be met where they are at, be empowered to make healthier choices, and most importantly, have their dignity and autonomy recognized at all stages of the process.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 3:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
Many people who are using do so because it's the least bad out of a ton of really shitty alternatives. Many of these folks have left homes and families because of abuse or other intolerable situations and are just trying to get through to the next day. I really resent Chris Christie bumbling around, suggesting policies that might stick already vulnerable people back into abusive, coercive situations.
People need to be met where they are at, be empowered to make healthier choices, and most importantly, have their dignity and autonomy recognized at all stages of the process.
posted by Excommunicated Cardinal at 3:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [15 favorites]
Hmm. The FBI raids Manafort's home on the 26th of July and we don't find out about it for two weeks. And no more we should, of course: we don't need to know every breathless detail of an ongoing investigation. It's such a contrast with the present US government-as-soap-opera. And I hope the revelation and (more importantly, the period for which it was withheld) has a properly salutary effect on his unindicted co-conspirators, and makes them come forward.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Slate Trump’s Evangelical Adviser Says God’s OK With “Taking Out” Kim Jong-Un
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
Robert Jeffress, pastor of a Southern Baptist megachurch in Dallas, said in a statement given to the Christian Broadcasting Network. “God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary—including war—to stop evil. In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong-Un.”Hey, remember the good old days when religious leaders counseled people to turn the other cheek and create Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men? Maybe that's just my rosy-tinted glasses looking backwards.
Jeffress, who was one of Trump’s earliest and loudest evangelical supporters during the 2016 campaign, later tweeted praise for the president’s reliability and predictability[...]
In a follow-up interview with the Washington Post, Jeffress elaborated that he was referring to Romans 13, which includes a passage on how Christians should relate to political authorities. The passage says that government authorities have been installed by God, and a ruler is the “servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.” In Jeffress’ interpretation, that gives leaders freedom “to do whatever, whether it’s assassination, capital punishment or evil punishment to quell the actions of evildoers like Kim Jong Un.”
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
The Mooch is going to be on Colbert's show next Monday. That's, uh, sure gonna be something.
posted by yasaman at 3:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 3:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mod note: Joseph Gurl, you have used up every last bit of slack we're willing to give you. Do not post any more Clinton stuff in politics threads, period.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 3:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 3:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [49 favorites]
Meanwhile, back at the Hud....
Think Progress Ben Carson comes face-to-face with the cruel consequences of Trump’s housing policy choices
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Think Progress Ben Carson comes face-to-face with the cruel consequences of Trump’s housing policy choices
In early April, HUD announced it would close and destroy the nearly 40 buildings that make up the two projects — and would not rebuild them, a worst-case combination of choices from locals’ perspective. [...]“could be the death knell for Cairo.” Carson’s staff told residents to expect housing vouchers which they could use to find new homes, but were given little other detail. Public housing systems across the country already have long waitlists. [...]He is fucking clueless, isn't he.
Carson responded to community members’ frustration, disappointment, and pleas for help by seeming to contradict the decision his staff has already taken. “I think the right steps involve preserving as many housing units as we possibly can,” the secretary said at one point. “I think by the grace of God it’s possible to save this place,” he said at another. His overall message, per NPR, was “to offer assurances that HUD will help everyone who wants to stay in Cairo to be able to do so.”
That’s a very different message than HUD officials have been delivering to Cairo residents since this spring’s decision to destroy the ailing World War 2-era houses. While they haven’t published any hard deadline for people to move out, one city councilwoman said she was told privately in April that everyone needed to find new homes within six month
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:51 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary—including war—to stop evil.
We should be so lucky.
posted by Rykey at 3:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
We should be so lucky.
posted by Rykey at 3:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
So, was Hitler a "ruler"? What about Pol Pot? Or Ceausescu? Did they not have these divine rights granted by the bearded asshole in the sky, for this "whatever means necessary" bullshit? Doesn't Jeffres' own so-called holy book say "vengeance is mine says the lord"?
Fuck this servant of god crap, governments and leaders are servants of the people.
posted by phliar at 3:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
Fuck this servant of god crap, governments and leaders are servants of the people.
posted by phliar at 3:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
Buzzfeed This Is What European Diplomats Really Think About Donald Trump
“He has no historical view. He is only dealing with these issues now, and seems to think the world started when he took office,” a diplomat told BuzzFeed News, pointing to Trump’s remarks and tweets about defence spending. “He thinks that NATO existed only to keep the communists out of Europe. He has a similar attitude in Asia-Pacific with Japan, ignoring that the US basically wrote their constitution.” During his presidential campaign, Trump called out Japan to pay more for the security US provides, including for hosting the US troops in the country. Japan’s constitution restricts its military options.posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 3:59 PM on August 9, 2017 [71 favorites]
They also believe Trump’s foreign policy is chiefly driven by an obsession with unravelling Barack Obama’s policies. “It’s his only real position,” one European diplomat said. “He will ask: ‘Did Obama approve this?’ And if the answer is affirmative, he will say: ‘We don’t.’ He won’t even want to listen to the arguments or have a debate. He is obsessed with Obama.”
It all goes back to Obama making a joke about Trump at the Press Corps Dinner event (where that sort of thing is normal).
Trump is exacting vengeance.
posted by yesster at 4:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
Trump is exacting vengeance.
posted by yesster at 4:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [14 favorites]
Hmm. The FBI raids Manafort's home on the 26th of July and we don't find out about it for two weeks. And no more we should, of course: we don't need to know every breathless detail of an ongoing investigation. It's such a contrast with the present US government-as-soap-opera. And I hope the revelation and (more importantly, the period for which it was withheld) has a properly salutary effect on his unindicted co-conspirators, and makes them come forward.
It is fascinating how the FBI is now a perfectly tight ship given that before the election they were blabbing about even possible investigations that never came to be.
posted by srboisvert at 4:09 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
It is fascinating how the FBI is now a perfectly tight ship given that before the election they were blabbing about even possible investigations that never came to be.
posted by srboisvert at 4:09 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
It is fascinating how the FBI is now a perfectly tight ship
Leaks happen when people lose faith in the process. As long as people within the FBI have faith in Muller's investigative process, I would expect there to be zero leaks.
posted by prefpara at 4:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Leaks happen when people lose faith in the process. As long as people within the FBI have faith in Muller's investigative process, I would expect there to be zero leaks.
posted by prefpara at 4:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
> Hmm. The FBI raids Manafort's home on the 26th of July and we don't find out about it for two weeks. And no more we should, of course: we don't need to know every breathless detail of an ongoing investigation.
To wit: the Dumb Old Chump tweeted his proposal for a trans* military ban on the same day, along with a few other crazier-than-usual things. Did he think the FBI was going to leak about the raid, and this was another attempt at attention-hogging or changing the focus? The guy has an endless flaggon of bullshit, but maybe it has to be used in moderation, because now that story is just sitting out there like an open sore.
> Hey, remember the good old days when religious leaders counseled people to turn the other cheek and create Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men? Maybe that's just my rosy-tinted glasses looking backwards.
Pastor of a Southern Baptist Megachurch in Texas does not a religious leader make. Maybe you're thinking of that guy in the Vatican? Or those kickass nuns in NCAN?
posted by Johann Georg Faust at 4:21 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
To wit: the Dumb Old Chump tweeted his proposal for a trans* military ban on the same day, along with a few other crazier-than-usual things. Did he think the FBI was going to leak about the raid, and this was another attempt at attention-hogging or changing the focus? The guy has an endless flaggon of bullshit, but maybe it has to be used in moderation, because now that story is just sitting out there like an open sore.
> Hey, remember the good old days when religious leaders counseled people to turn the other cheek and create Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men? Maybe that's just my rosy-tinted glasses looking backwards.
Pastor of a Southern Baptist Megachurch in Texas does not a religious leader make. Maybe you're thinking of that guy in the Vatican? Or those kickass nuns in NCAN?
posted by Johann Georg Faust at 4:21 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Shocking--this suggests the FBI obtained a "no knock" warrant. That would mean they thought Manafort would destroy evidence if they knocke
The one thing Blumenthal didn't mention, that I just heard on MSNBC, is that pre-dawn raids are really unusual. They have set hours, from early morning to late night, and for anything outside those hours you need to convince a judge to allow it.
I am curious where Manafort lives that none of his neighbor's noticed pre-dawn FBI agents in flak jackets swarming in apartment, or that not one spread then news.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
The one thing Blumenthal didn't mention, that I just heard on MSNBC, is that pre-dawn raids are really unusual. They have set hours, from early morning to late night, and for anything outside those hours you need to convince a judge to allow it.
I am curious where Manafort lives that none of his neighbor's noticed pre-dawn FBI agents in flak jackets swarming in apartment, or that not one spread then news.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
It all goes back to Obama making a joke about Trump at the Press Corps Dinner event
No it doesn't.
Trump went on the birther attack against Obama before the correspondents dinner. In fact, the joke that Obama made was about Trump's birther attack. The second Obama joke was about Trump running for president.
So Trump had already decided to run for president and was viciously attacking Obama before the correspondents dinner. This was the basis of Obama's jokes.
This story that Obama caused Trump to get mad is just revisionist bullshit.
posted by JackFlash at 4:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [71 favorites]
No it doesn't.
Trump went on the birther attack against Obama before the correspondents dinner. In fact, the joke that Obama made was about Trump's birther attack. The second Obama joke was about Trump running for president.
So Trump had already decided to run for president and was viciously attacking Obama before the correspondents dinner. This was the basis of Obama's jokes.
This story that Obama caused Trump to get mad is just revisionist bullshit.
posted by JackFlash at 4:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [71 favorites]
Jeffress elaborated that he was referring to Romans 13, which includes a passage on how Christians should relate to political authorities. The passage says that government authorities have been installed by God*
*if and only if those government authorities are toeing the Republican party line
posted by jason_steakums at 4:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
*if and only if those government authorities are toeing the Republican party line
posted by jason_steakums at 4:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Pastor of a Southern Baptist Megachurch in Texas does not a religious leader make.
Folks on Twitter are referring to him as a "radical cleric." I like the way they think.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [68 favorites]
Folks on Twitter are referring to him as a "radical cleric." I like the way they think.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [68 favorites]
I am curious where Manafort lives that none of his neighbor's noticed pre-dawn FBI agents in flak jackets swarming in apartment, or that not one spread then news.
His neighbors probably think he's an asshole and were rooting for the feds.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
His neighbors probably think he's an asshole and were rooting for the feds.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [31 favorites]
Buzzfeed This Is What European Diplomats Really Think About Donald Trump
posted by Secret Life of Gravy
More quotes:
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy
More quotes:
The officials revealed that at international meetings, Trump has openly mocked his own aides, contradicting and arguing with them in front of other leaders. That has compounded the impression of an administration in chaos. “We can hear everything, it’s weird,” one diplomat said.I'm really curious to see what a really organized [foreign, non-Russian] government could do to play this situation to their advantage. Not just PR-wise (like Macron) but how to manipulate these factions into other pragmatic gains. (Maybe I've been thinking too much about political intrigue in historical fiction, like I, Claudius, Tudors, Hiizurutokoronotenshi...)
Officials also expressed concerns over the status of the State Department, and the lack of seasoned diplomats and experts within the White House[...]
“The White House lacks crucial expertise,” one said. “The State Department and others are isolated. You have the generals, the National Security Council, and then a void. There aren’t enough diplomats, experts etc. in the White House. [Secretary of state Rex] Tillerson has a small team. Does Trump listen to [James] Mattis [secretary of defence], [H.R.] McMaster [national security adviser], to the experts?”
The officials think only Trump's family members, in particular his daughter Ivanka, really have the president's trust. They described the body language between Trump and Tillerson as “terrible”.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
So um I only know Us history from basically TV but isn't the fact that royalty is considered "given by god" like one of the standards of why America is better than the UK? I don't quite understand why a nation that seemingly was really into being "INDEPENDENT AND FREE!!" in 6 months has gone towards "Our dear leader was appointed by GOD!!"... Doubt anyone can answer but can anyone point me to information about this type of god lust that seems to have taken over your country? It is so different from any religious people I know.
This Simpsons clip explains most of it.
posted by Talez at 4:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
This Simpsons clip explains most of it.
posted by Talez at 4:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
The truth is that Carson is presiding over a housing policy agenda guaranteed to produce hundreds of thousands of Cairo-style evictions across the public housing system in the coming years.
so that's the republican solution to dying neighborhoods and dying towns - tear down the housing and don't replace it, forcing people to relocate, even if it's an extreme hardship, even if there's really no place for them to go
now all the wacko conservative talk about u n agenda 21 and fema camps is starting to make sense
trump's mirror, folks - it applies to more than trump - this isn't what the far right fears is going to be done to them by the u n or the government
it's what they want to do to US
posted by pyramid termite at 4:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
so that's the republican solution to dying neighborhoods and dying towns - tear down the housing and don't replace it, forcing people to relocate, even if it's an extreme hardship, even if there's really no place for them to go
now all the wacko conservative talk about u n agenda 21 and fema camps is starting to make sense
trump's mirror, folks - it applies to more than trump - this isn't what the far right fears is going to be done to them by the u n or the government
it's what they want to do to US
posted by pyramid termite at 4:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [38 favorites]
Everything they say they're afraid of, what they're really afraid of is that they might not have been the first ones to think of it.
posted by rifflesby at 4:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by rifflesby at 4:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I can't get past the idea that Trump gave HUD to Ben Carson solely for the reason that it has "urban" in the name and Carson is black, and therefore urban. Is there literally any other explanation?
posted by Justinian at 4:58 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:58 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
It all goes back to Obama making a joke about Trump at the Press Corps Dinner event (where that sort of thing is normal).
Trump is exacting vengeance.
In true toddler fashion—by fulfilling Obama's prophecy about how utterly shit he'd be as president.
posted by Rykey at 5:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Trump is exacting vengeance.
In true toddler fashion—by fulfilling Obama's prophecy about how utterly shit he'd be as president.
posted by Rykey at 5:02 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
You are right about their plans to tear down and not rebuild (as well as cutting food stamps entirely) but I foresee a lot of homelessness. They think they can force the poor to haul themselves up out of poverty by taking away all safety nets. Some will claw their way out. Those who can't will suffer.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
isn't the fact that royalty is considered "given by god" like one of the standards of why America is better than the UK? I don't quite understand why a nation that seemingly was really into being "INDEPENDENT AND FREE!!" in 6 months has gone towards "Our dear leader was appointed by GOD!!"..
This has been a noted example of the cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy in the formation of the U.S. since it's inception.* I have very dear British friends that will good-naturedly tease me about how the 4th of July celebrates the "colonists' sinful rebellion against their God-ordained ruler".
For the counterargument, here is an example that rationalizes the U.S. Revolution in terms of disobeying unlawful orders / overthrowing unlawful rulers.
*See also: "All men are created equal."
posted by darkstar at 5:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
This has been a noted example of the cognitive dissonance and hypocrisy in the formation of the U.S. since it's inception.* I have very dear British friends that will good-naturedly tease me about how the 4th of July celebrates the "colonists' sinful rebellion against their God-ordained ruler".
For the counterargument, here is an example that rationalizes the U.S. Revolution in terms of disobeying unlawful orders / overthrowing unlawful rulers.
*See also: "All men are created equal."
posted by darkstar at 5:04 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
*See also: "All men are created equal**."
**Offer may not be available to women, non-whites and in certain southern states.
posted by Talez at 5:07 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
**Offer may not be available to women, non-whites and in certain southern states.
posted by Talez at 5:07 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
yesterday: It all goes back to Obama making a joke about Trump at the Press Corps Dinner event (where that sort of thing is normal).
Trump is exacting vengeance..
The waiting list is very long!
The Hill: 'Trump to Michigan gov: I never forget' those who didn't endorse me
Time: Donald Trump’s 2016 Grudge Tour
AP News: Analysis: Trump won’t change; he can’t let go of a grudge
The Atlantic: Trump's Grudges Are His Agenda
The View: Seth Meyers Talks 'Late Night' and Trump's Grudge Against Him on The View
posted by Room 641-A at 5:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump is exacting vengeance..
The waiting list is very long!
The Hill: 'Trump to Michigan gov: I never forget' those who didn't endorse me
Time: Donald Trump’s 2016 Grudge Tour
AP News: Analysis: Trump won’t change; he can’t let go of a grudge
The Atlantic: Trump's Grudges Are His Agenda
The View: Seth Meyers Talks 'Late Night' and Trump's Grudge Against Him on The View
posted by Room 641-A at 5:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Atlantic put up a long excerpt from Kurt Andersen's upcoming book, "Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire—A 500-Year History", titled How America Lost Its Mind. Kurt Andersen was co-founder of Spy Magazine, and the article implicitly and explicitly talks about Donald Trump.
The following quote from it has an interesting angle:
The following quote from it has an interesting angle:
Treating real life as fantasy and vice versa, and taking preposterous ideas seriously, is not unique to Americans. But we are the global crucible and epicenter. We invented the fantasy-industrial complex; almost nowhere outside poor or otherwise miserable countries are flamboyant supernatural beliefs so central to the identities of so many people. This is American exceptionalism in the 21st century. The country has always been a one-of-a-kind place. But our singularity is different now. We’re still rich and free, still more influential and powerful than any other nation, practically a synonym for developed country. But our drift toward credulity, toward doing our own thing, toward denying facts and having an altogether uncertain grip on reality, has overwhelmed our other exceptional national traits and turned us into a less developed country.posted by ZeusHumms at 5:09 PM on August 9, 2017 [37 favorites]
People see our shocking Trump moment—this post-truth, “alternative facts” moment—as some inexplicable and crazy new American phenomenon. But what’s happening is just the ultimate extrapolation and expression of mind-sets that have made America exceptional for its entire history.
America was created by true believers and passionate dreamers, and by hucksters and their suckers, which made America successful—but also by a people uniquely susceptible to fantasy, as epitomized by everything from Salem’s hunting witches to Joseph Smith’s creating Mormonism, from P. T. Barnum to speaking in tongues, from Hollywood to Scientology to conspiracy theories, from Walt Disney to Billy Graham to Ronald Reagan to Oprah Winfrey to Trump. In other words: Mix epic individualism with extreme religion; mix show business with everything else; let all that ferment for a few centuries; then run it through the anything-goes ’60s and the internet age. The result is the America we inhabit today, with reality and fantasy weirdly and dangerously blurred and commingled.
From the "gee who could possibly have predicted this except everyone everywhere?" file --
Fortune: California Crops Rot as Immigration Crackdown Creates Farmworker Shortage
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
Fortune: California Crops Rot as Immigration Crackdown Creates Farmworker Shortage
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
Leaks happen when people lose faith in the process. As long as people within the FBI have faith in Muller's investigative process, I would expect there to be zero leaks.
And when the FBI harbors rogue elements that don't like the Democratic candidate, led by a Director that agrees with the traitors or is too weak to stop them.
We're sort of forced to root for the FBI at this point, but they're still the same people that intentionally threw the 2016 election to Trump. They own him as much as anyone.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
And when the FBI harbors rogue elements that don't like the Democratic candidate, led by a Director that agrees with the traitors or is too weak to stop them.
We're sort of forced to root for the FBI at this point, but they're still the same people that intentionally threw the 2016 election to Trump. They own him as much as anyone.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
If you ask me, more rouge elements could only improve the FBI.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Are there any more official White House theme weeks or have we gone through them all?
posted by triggerfinger at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ooo, damn that edit window!
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Yea. I should've left it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Upcoming White House theme weeks:
* Shelter
* Iodine
* Barter
posted by 0xFCAF at 5:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
* Shelter
* Iodine
* Barter
posted by 0xFCAF at 5:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
I think Canticle for Liebowitz Week is coming up in September.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
Upcoming White House theme weeks
I was going to say "followed by Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance Weeks" but it's always Denial and Anger Week at the White House, and Trump will never get to Acceptance.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
I think we can all agree the FBI's rouge game has not been on point since Hoover.
posted by Freon at 5:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
posted by Freon at 5:24 PM on August 9, 2017 [30 favorites]
isn't the fact that royalty is considered "given by god" like one of the standards of why America is better than the UK?
That shows a pretty limited understanding of the role of royalty in the UK, of constitutional monarchy, and of parliamentary sovereignty (to say nothing of the roots of the US constitution). The monarch isn't divinely ordained. Charles I and James II thought they were; that didn't go so well for them. One lost his head, the other lost his kingdom. There's a legal fiction that the crown is the source of all authority, but that authority is vested in Parliament, and in the elected government, not in the monarch (and as the examples of Charles I and James II show, a monarch who questions that can and will be removed or replaced). Not only the UK but also Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are constitutional monarchies; none of them is less democratic, less free or "worse" than the USA.
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 5:26 PM on August 9, 2017
That shows a pretty limited understanding of the role of royalty in the UK, of constitutional monarchy, and of parliamentary sovereignty (to say nothing of the roots of the US constitution). The monarch isn't divinely ordained. Charles I and James II thought they were; that didn't go so well for them. One lost his head, the other lost his kingdom. There's a legal fiction that the crown is the source of all authority, but that authority is vested in Parliament, and in the elected government, not in the monarch (and as the examples of Charles I and James II show, a monarch who questions that can and will be removed or replaced). Not only the UK but also Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are constitutional monarchies; none of them is less democratic, less free or "worse" than the USA.
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 5:26 PM on August 9, 2017
NYT, Lisa Friedman: Government Report Finds Drastic Impact of Climate Change on U.S.
The draft report was leaked to the Times by scientists who fear it will be suppressed.
Just an update here, it turns out that this was still true, scientists did leak it to the Times, but the report had already been uploaded to the Internet Archive in January.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
The draft report was leaked to the Times by scientists who fear it will be suppressed.
Just an update here, it turns out that this was still true, scientists did leak it to the Times, but the report had already been uploaded to the Internet Archive in January.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Interesting article but every time someone argues for any form of American exceptionalism, I feel like he human race becomes dumber. I'll see his witch trials, Scientology and Hollywood, and raise him a Buddha bone, yellow turban, white lotus, Taiping and Cultural Revolution.
posted by wobumingbai at 5:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by wobumingbai at 5:27 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Canticle for Liebowitz Week
My company has an office in Texarkana. Maybe I should ask for a transfer.
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
My company has an office in Texarkana. Maybe I should ask for a transfer.
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
I know a lot is going on, but am I the only one who just totally missed this?
Ambassador To South Korea And Now It’s A Big Problem (John Hudson, BuzzFeed News)
So, yesterday Trump threatened to nuke North Korea, while at the same time Justin Trudeau was in South Korea, having negotiated the release of a North Korean prisoner. Cool.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ambassador To South Korea And Now It’s A Big Problem (John Hudson, BuzzFeed News)
So, yesterday Trump threatened to nuke North Korea, while at the same time Justin Trudeau was in South Korea, having negotiated the release of a North Korean prisoner. Cool.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
EatTheWeak: "Also, I'm sure every kid was told, "When the Soviets launch their nukes, we'll be the first or second town to be wiped out." In our case it was because of a ceramics plant nearby."
I live less than an hour from Los Alamos. I'm pretty sure we're actually a target here.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
I live less than an hour from Los Alamos. I'm pretty sure we're actually a target here.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:32 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Besides an Ambassador to South Korea, the State Department also doesn't have an Undersecretary for arms control and international security affairs, Assistant secretary for arms control, verification, and compliance, Assistant secretary for international security and nonproliferation affairs, or an Assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. All positions you really want vacant right now.
posted by zachlipton at 5:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
Hey guise I have a great idea! What about Nominate A Qualified Candidate For A Vacant Position Week. And if he's too busy watching TV that week he could crowd source it.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
So let me get this straight: Obama warns Trump that Trump will face NK nuke proliferation as his first crisis, Trump names Callista Gingrich as ambassador to the Vatican, leaves SK slot open.
What a stupid stupid fucker.
posted by angrycat at 5:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [53 favorites]
What a stupid stupid fucker.
posted by angrycat at 5:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [53 favorites]
We're sort of forced to root for the FBI at this point, but they're still the same people that intentionally threw the 2016 election to Trump. They own him as much as anyone.
Trump doesn't pay his debts.
posted by Bovine Love at 5:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump doesn't pay his debts.
posted by Bovine Love at 5:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump doesn't pay his debts.
Making him the anti-Lannister?
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:43 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Making him the anti-Lannister?
posted by Bringer Tom at 5:43 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Pretty much. Man is a serial bankruptcy practitioner.
posted by Bovine Love at 5:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Bovine Love at 5:46 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
So let me get this straight: Obama warns Trump that Trump will face NK nuke proliferation as his first crisis, Trump names Callista Gingrich as ambassador to the Vatican, leaves SK slot open.
It's really for the best. Every Ambassadorship that Trump leaves open means an infinitely more qualified Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, a career state department official and professional diplomat, is our representative.
posted by Talez at 5:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
It's really for the best. Every Ambassadorship that Trump leaves open means an infinitely more qualified Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, a career state department official and professional diplomat, is our representative.
posted by Talez at 5:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
NYT: Mitch McConnell’s ‘Excessive Expectations’ Comment Draws Trump’s Ire. Before getting mad at McConnell on Twitter, he did it by phone:
Before Mr. Trump’s tweet, he spoke by phone with Mr. McConnell to express his disappointment in the senator’s comments, according to a person with knowledge of the call.posted by zachlipton at 5:56 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Growing animated, Mr. Trump emphasized that he would continue to push for a repeal, the person said, and suggested Mr. McConnell do the same.
So let me get this straight: Obama warns Trump that Trump will face NK nuke proliferation as his first crisis ...
"Bin Laden to strike at US."
posted by octobersurprise at 5:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
"Bin Laden to strike at US."
posted by octobersurprise at 5:57 PM on August 9, 2017 [23 favorites]
I was going to say "followed by Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance Weeks" but it's always Denial and Anger Week at the White House, and Trump will never get to Acceptance.
When I saw the title for this thread here's the first thing I thought of:
STAGES OF GRIEF
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. The Grandest Stage of Them All
posted by mmoncur at 6:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
When I saw the title for this thread here's the first thing I thought of:
STAGES OF GRIEF
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. The Grandest Stage of Them All
posted by mmoncur at 6:06 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Possible future Theme Weeks:
"Excessive Expectations Week"
"Fire And Fury Week"
"Kardashian Is the Only Good Kim Week"
"Make America Glow Week"
"A Week Like You've Never Seen... Week"
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Excessive Expectations Week"
"Fire And Fury Week"
"Kardashian Is the Only Good Kim Week"
"Make America Glow Week"
"A Week Like You've Never Seen... Week"
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Considering NK's threat to drop a missile offshore of Guam, I think I'd feel more comfortable if I was on Guam if they were actually trying to hit the island, as that would make them less likely to actually hit it by mistake.
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
@Scaramucci: .@RyanLizza is the Linda Tripp of 2017. People know. And he is up at night not being able to live with himself.
Presented without comment due to evens shortage.
posted by zachlipton at 6:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
Presented without comment due to evens shortage.
posted by zachlipton at 6:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
wut
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
Just an update here, it turns out that this was still true, scientists did leak it to the Times, but the report had already been uploaded to the Internet Archive in January.
I think it's a real telling indication about just how detached the rest of society is from scientists in general, that the NYTimes reporter worded his story like that. This was about a report that's being produced jointly with the National Academy of Sciences, and there is no way the NAS would agree to be part of it if there was any chance of the report being suppressed.
There is, however, a significant chance that the WHite House will demand significant redactions to the report or else order the agencies involved to withdraw their support from it, and a pre-emptive move by scientists to call attention to the report before those redactions happen, is a goood move.
posted by ocschwar at 6:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think it's a real telling indication about just how detached the rest of society is from scientists in general, that the NYTimes reporter worded his story like that. This was about a report that's being produced jointly with the National Academy of Sciences, and there is no way the NAS would agree to be part of it if there was any chance of the report being suppressed.
There is, however, a significant chance that the WHite House will demand significant redactions to the report or else order the agencies involved to withdraw their support from it, and a pre-emptive move by scientists to call attention to the report before those redactions happen, is a goood move.
posted by ocschwar at 6:26 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
"Ride Mike Pence like a pony week."
Presented without comment due to evens shortage.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Presented without comment due to evens shortage.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Fire And Fury Week"
"Fire and Furry week"
Fify.
posted by greermahoney at 6:33 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
"Fire and Furry week"
Fify.
posted by greermahoney at 6:33 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
"snow in august week*
*you are your own fidget spinner week*
posted by pyramid termite at 6:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
*you are your own fidget spinner week*
posted by pyramid termite at 6:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nuclear winter is coming.
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Bringer Tom at 6:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Is Mooch Lewinski in that analogy?
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:36 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
@Scaramucci: .@RyanLizza is the Linda Tripp of 2017. People know. And he is up at night not being able to live with himself.
I really hope Scaramucci has dry cleaned his suit by now.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
I really hope Scaramucci has dry cleaned his suit by now.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
I really hope Scaramucci has dry cleaned his suit by now.
I am honestly more horrified at possible analogies to the cigar anecdote.
posted by Talez at 6:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
I am honestly more horrified at possible analogies to the cigar anecdote.
posted by Talez at 6:42 PM on August 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Don't worry. Who needs cigars when we've got dick picks (upthread)
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:46 PM on August 9, 2017
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 6:46 PM on August 9, 2017
I feel dumb. I don't get that Saramucci tweet.
posted by Jalliah at 6:48 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
means an infinitely more qualified Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, a career state department official and professional diplomat
Who has to qualify every policy, promise and assurance with "of course, that's true today; I could get replaced by some unqualified idiot who undoes it all tomorrow."
posted by ctmf at 6:49 PM on August 9, 2017
Who has to qualify every policy, promise and assurance with "of course, that's true today; I could get replaced by some unqualified idiot who undoes it all tomorrow."
posted by ctmf at 6:49 PM on August 9, 2017
If you don't get it, that just means you're still sane.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2017 [22 favorites]
Oh dear god please don't let this involve Steve Bannon in a blue dress.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:50 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
If you don't get it, that just means you're still sane.
I know what it's about. I just don't get what he is trying to say about Lizza. Or am I trying to make a crazy tweet into something sane? Is it supposed to make sense?
posted by Jalliah at 6:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I know what it's about. I just don't get what he is trying to say about Lizza. Or am I trying to make a crazy tweet into something sane? Is it supposed to make sense?
posted by Jalliah at 6:52 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I feel dumb. I don't get that Saramucci tweet.
Both situations involve someone recording someone surreptitiously and the person who was the target of being recorded getting fucked by it. For instance Mooch got quoted as saying “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock.” thinking that every word he said wasn't recorded and it would never get back to Bannon. Lewinsky also spilled her guts to Linda Tripp who sneakily recorded the conversation and we all know the rest of that story.
posted by Talez at 6:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Both situations involve someone recording someone surreptitiously and the person who was the target of being recorded getting fucked by it. For instance Mooch got quoted as saying “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock.” thinking that every word he said wasn't recorded and it would never get back to Bannon. Lewinsky also spilled her guts to Linda Tripp who sneakily recorded the conversation and we all know the rest of that story.
posted by Talez at 6:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh dear god please don't let this involve Steve Bannon in a blue dress.
Would that make him both Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton?
posted by nsillik at 6:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Would that make him both Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton?
posted by nsillik at 6:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
The followup tweet sort of tries to clarify: "Yes. He absolutely taped the call without my permission. #lowlife" (responding to whether he's accusing Lizza of taping the call without permission).
New York and DC are both one-party consent states: it's perfectly legal to record the call without permission. And Scaramucci was on the record, as we all know. A recording or just taking notes would amount to the same thing.
Say what you will about the Iraqi Information Minister, but I'm pretty sure that guy understood that when a Communications Director calls up a reporter to talk about the government on-the-record, that reporter is going to, you know, report about it.
posted by zachlipton at 6:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
New York and DC are both one-party consent states: it's perfectly legal to record the call without permission. And Scaramucci was on the record, as we all know. A recording or just taking notes would amount to the same thing.
Say what you will about the Iraqi Information Minister, but I'm pretty sure that guy understood that when a Communications Director calls up a reporter to talk about the government on-the-record, that reporter is going to, you know, report about it.
posted by zachlipton at 6:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
I'm guessing Mooch just got his tax bill from his White House adventure lasting less than a third of a Kardashian.
posted by Talez at 6:55 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Talez at 6:55 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Both situations involve someone recording someone surreptitiously and the person who was the target of being recorded getting fucked by it. For instance Mooch got quoted as saying “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock.” thinking that every word he said wasn't recorded and it would never get back to Bannon. Lewinsky also spilled her guts to Linda Tripp who sneakily recorded the conversation and we all know the rest of that story.
Ah okay. I'd forgotten about the recording part. Thank you, thank you. I feel much better now. Phew
posted by Jalliah at 6:55 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Ah okay. I'd forgotten about the recording part. Thank you, thank you. I feel much better now. Phew
posted by Jalliah at 6:55 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
And if he's too busy watching TV that week he could crowd source it.
I mean, yeah, it's not like he does his own search or writes the nominations with his own hand. Just assign it to someone already. Between that and the grudges thing, how much you want to be he's had hundreds of ghostwritten nominations on his desk for signature that he's rejected because the candidate once offended him in some minor way?
posted by ctmf at 7:01 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I mean, yeah, it's not like he does his own search or writes the nominations with his own hand. Just assign it to someone already. Between that and the grudges thing, how much you want to be he's had hundreds of ghostwritten nominations on his desk for signature that he's rejected because the candidate once offended him in some minor way?
posted by ctmf at 7:01 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Gizmodo, Dell Cameron YouTube Stars Who Met With Feds to 'Grow' Trump-Themed Business Were Paid by Trump Campaign
posted by zachlipton at 7:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
A pair of familiar faces from the 2016 campaign trail randomly popped up on the US Commerce Department’s Twitter account Monday afternoon. But by Tuesday morning they were gone.Read on to learn about how the tweet was deleted, the Trump Campaign claimed they weren't paying them last year but paid them anyway, the meeting was setup by a Trump campaign advisor who is now acting head of the agency, and other shenanigans.
YouTube stars Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson—better known as “Diamond” and “Silk,” respectively—were invited to the Commerce Department’s headquarters this week, apparently to discuss ways in which they could expand their business. The pair runs a political blog aimed at promoting President Trump and denigrating his critics.
The Commerce Department revealed Diamond and Silk’s visit in a photo posted on the department’s official Twitter account, which said the duo had met with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to “discuss how to grow their business and build their brand.”
...
Now after having been declared paid Trump campaign consultants, a former Trump campaign staffer is ushering the YouTube celebrities into a federal office building, allegedly to help expand their Trump-themed business—the very existence of which remains curious, given Trump’s propensity for suing people who try to profit off his name, even when their name also happens to be Trump.
posted by zachlipton at 7:05 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Oh dear god please don't let this involve Steve Bannon in a blue dress.
🎶 Bannon with the blue dress / blue dress / blue dress / Bannon with the blue dress on 🎶
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
🎶 Bannon with the blue dress / blue dress / blue dress / Bannon with the blue dress on 🎶
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
I think Scaramucci feels particularly betrayed by Lizza because Lizza was supposed to be a paisan' (aka "bro"). One of the first things Scaramucci said during his phone call to CNN the morning after the interview was "I was teasing you and it was sarcastic. It was one Italian to another...."
Scaramucci reminds me of a lot of the Italian-American guys I grew up with on the other side of Long Island Sound who liked to make like they were wiseguys (even before The Sopranos). They always made me schifo.
posted by camyram at 7:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Scaramucci reminds me of a lot of the Italian-American guys I grew up with on the other side of Long Island Sound who liked to make like they were wiseguys (even before The Sopranos). They always made me schifo.
posted by camyram at 7:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh dear god please don't let this involve Steve Bannon in a blue dress.
is there anyway you can make a cheeto that's about 9 inches long - about the size of a cigar?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:17 PM on August 9, 2017
is there anyway you can make a cheeto that's about 9 inches long - about the size of a cigar?
posted by pyramid termite at 7:17 PM on August 9, 2017
Off-topic kinda but:
is there anyway you can make a cheeto that's about 9 inches long - about the size of a cigar?
All I can think of with this gang is *this*. (possibly nsfw)
posted by stagewhisper at 7:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
is there anyway you can make a cheeto that's about 9 inches long - about the size of a cigar?
All I can think of with this gang is *this*. (possibly nsfw)
posted by stagewhisper at 7:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
I am curious where Manafort lives that none of his neighbor's noticed pre-dawn FBI agents in flak jackets swarming in apartment, or that not one spread then news.
I recognize the building in the CNN story, it's a tony condo building. The Daily Mail wants you to know it's a three bedroom condo that he paid $2.75M for in 2015.
posted by peeedro at 7:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I recognize the building in the CNN story, it's a tony condo building. The Daily Mail wants you to know it's a three bedroom condo that he paid $2.75M for in 2015.
posted by peeedro at 7:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sometimes, things actually aren't racist.
Late response because it's now morning in Pakistan and I was asleep when you commented. If you would amend that to "sometimes things aren't intended to be racist even when they sound racist to the people they are about," I could live with it.
(Mods, I promise that's the last comment I make about this here.)
posted by bardophile at 7:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
Late response because it's now morning in Pakistan and I was asleep when you commented. If you would amend that to "sometimes things aren't intended to be racist even when they sound racist to the people they are about," I could live with it.
(Mods, I promise that's the last comment I make about this here.)
posted by bardophile at 7:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
MSNBC justice analyst.
@matthewamiller:
Every sign we've seen to date shows Mueller moving very aggressively. Think it's safe to assume he's already gotten Trump's tax returns.
posted by chris24 at 7:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [58 favorites]
@matthewamiller:
Every sign we've seen to date shows Mueller moving very aggressively. Think it's safe to assume he's already gotten Trump's tax returns.
posted by chris24 at 7:54 PM on August 9, 2017 [58 favorites]
You know, I'm still not sure Scaramucci was the strangest Trump Communications Director story (extremely tawdry gossip follows).
Remember 8 billion years back in December when they announced that they were going to give the job to Jason Miller? And then it was reveled he and Trump surrogate A.J. Delgado went to a strip club with members of the press in Vegas the night before Trump's last debate? And then Delgado started tweeting congrats on the promotion to "the baby-daddy" when Miller was announced for the job, calling him "The 2016 version of John Edwards" (Miller is married to someone else; they had a second child in January)? And then two days later Miller was no longer going to be Communications Director? Yeah, that all happened.
So now, according to Page Six (sigh), Delgado wasn't kidding in those tweets. She gave birth last month to a son, Miller is the father, and he's apparently still married to his wife.
I mean, at least Scaramucci lasted more than two days. Scaramucci wrecked his marriage and Miller allegedly somehow didn't though?
Whoever puts together a reality show consisting entirely of fired Trump staffers could make a killing.
posted by zachlipton at 8:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
Remember 8 billion years back in December when they announced that they were going to give the job to Jason Miller? And then it was reveled he and Trump surrogate A.J. Delgado went to a strip club with members of the press in Vegas the night before Trump's last debate? And then Delgado started tweeting congrats on the promotion to "the baby-daddy" when Miller was announced for the job, calling him "The 2016 version of John Edwards" (Miller is married to someone else; they had a second child in January)? And then two days later Miller was no longer going to be Communications Director? Yeah, that all happened.
So now, according to Page Six (sigh), Delgado wasn't kidding in those tweets. She gave birth last month to a son, Miller is the father, and he's apparently still married to his wife.
I mean, at least Scaramucci lasted more than two days. Scaramucci wrecked his marriage and Miller allegedly somehow didn't though?
Whoever puts together a reality show consisting entirely of fired Trump staffers could make a killing.
posted by zachlipton at 8:08 PM on August 9, 2017 [27 favorites]
And I hope to God there's an actual QC process over who gets access to the codes.
I wonder if the famous Roger Fisher idea would even work now: In a March 1981 paper, while discussing the importance on reaching a "wise decision", especially in terms of nuclear arms, [Fisher] suggested implanting the nuclear launch codes in a volunteer. If the President of the United States wanted to activate nuclear weapons, he would be required to kill the volunteer to retrieve the codes.:
I wonder if the famous Roger Fisher idea would even work now: In a March 1981 paper, while discussing the importance on reaching a "wise decision", especially in terms of nuclear arms, [Fisher] suggested implanting the nuclear launch codes in a volunteer. If the President of the United States wanted to activate nuclear weapons, he would be required to kill the volunteer to retrieve the codes.:
My suggestion was quite simple: Put that needed code number in a little capsule, and then implant that capsule right next to the heart of a volunteer. The volunteer would carry with him a big, heavy butcher knife as he accompanied the President. If ever the President wanted to fire nuclear weapons, the only way he could do so would be for him first, with his own hands, to kill one human being. The President says, “George, I’m sorry but tens of millions must die.” He has to look at someone and realize what death is—what an innocent death is. Blood on the White House carpet. It’s reality brought home.posted by gwint at 8:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [108 favorites]
When I suggested this to friends in the Pentagon they said, “My God, that’s terrible. Having to kill someone would distort the President’s judgment. He might never push the button.“
September 2016 - Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt
August 2017 - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Reportedly Put Their Divorce On Hold
I hope this means we're going back to the old timeline.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [44 favorites]
August 2017 - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Reportedly Put Their Divorce On Hold
I hope this means we're going back to the old timeline.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [44 favorites]
Trump would just hand the knife to Bannon.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 8:13 PM on August 9, 2017 [12 favorites]
When I suggested this to friends in the Pentagon they said, “My God, that’s terrible. Having to kill someone would distort the President’s judgment. He might never push the button.“
"You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"
posted by orange ball at 8:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
"You can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"
posted by orange ball at 8:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
Bannon, spitting out the capsule, his face and teeth bathed in blood: "What knife?"
posted by Behemoth at 8:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by Behemoth at 8:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [35 favorites]
As y'all know, I'm really trying. But all of this Korea stuff has me seriously sick at heart. I'm slogging through, but I am scared. I think I just need to go watch old video of Obama, but today was really hard.
posted by dogheart at 8:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by dogheart at 8:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [7 favorites]
Transparency dictates I should point out that Delgado seems displeased with the article.
@AJDelgado13: Hi @PageSixEmily At least 5 wrong facts in your article. Really bizarre. And you never attempted to contact me by phone today. That's a lie.
The sheer amount of drama that comes out of these people...
posted by zachlipton at 8:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
@AJDelgado13: Hi @PageSixEmily At least 5 wrong facts in your article. Really bizarre. And you never attempted to contact me by phone today. That's a lie.
The sheer amount of drama that comes out of these people...
posted by zachlipton at 8:18 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mod note: Minor note, folks: the small tag is best used briefly and sparingly, as it's not super easy to read on all devices. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 8:21 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 8:21 PM on August 9, 2017 [10 favorites]
I wonder if the famous Roger Fisher idea would even work now: In a March 1981 paper, while discussing the importance on reaching a "wise decision", especially in terms of nuclear arms, [Fisher] suggested implanting the nuclear launch codes in a volunteer. If the President of the United States wanted to activate nuclear weapons, he would be required to kill the volunteer to retrieve the codes.:
Incidentally, this is a plot point on HBO's recent and wonderful final season of The Leftovers.
posted by dis_integration at 8:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Incidentally, this is a plot point on HBO's recent and wonderful final season of The Leftovers.
posted by dis_integration at 8:39 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
STUDY: Trump and Walker’s huge Foxconn giveaway will cost a whole generation of Wisconsin taxpayers (Aaron Rupar, Think Progress)
Meanwhile....
L.A. Mayor's Office Sends Out Weed-Related Press Release At 4:20 P.M
posted by Room 641-A at 8:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Meanwhile....
L.A. Mayor's Office Sends Out Weed-Related Press Release At 4:20 P.M
posted by Room 641-A at 8:41 PM on August 9, 2017 [16 favorites]
Hey, I know I've been pretty vocal in the past about never wanting to listen to the garbage that comes out of Trump's mouth ever again, but if he has something he wants to say about Mitch McConnell I say why not hear the man out.
posted by triggerfinger at 8:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [49 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 8:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [49 favorites]
I am curious where Manafort lives that none of his neighbor's noticed pre-dawn FBI agents in flak jackets swarming in apartmentMy dad once tripped over a SWAT guy hidden behind a woodpile in our backyard. After blinking and backing away, he looked around and noticed that the neighborhood was crawling with police and SWAT, but he was so focused on getting wood for the wood-burning stove he didn't even register the activity.
posted by xyzzy at 9:01 PM on August 9, 2017 [41 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
** VA gov -- Quinnipiac poll has Northam up 44-38, about the same as yesterday's VCU poll. Respondents also preferred Dems to control the House of Delegates, 49-38. FYI, it would take 17 flipped seats for the Dems to retake the VA House.
** Odds & ends:
** VA gov -- Quinnipiac poll has Northam up 44-38, about the same as yesterday's VCU poll. Respondents also preferred Dems to control the House of Delegates, 49-38. FYI, it would take 17 flipped seats for the Dems to retake the VA House.
** Odds & ends:
-- Mentioned upstream, Trump at new low in Morning Consult poll at 40% approval. Strongly approve also at new low of 18%.posted by Chrysostom at 9:07 PM on August 9, 2017 [26 favorites]
-- UNH poll has Trump approval at 34/55 in NH. In Columbus, John Kasich reads with interest.
But her emails. For real.
Nine months after the presidential election was decided, a federal judge is ordering the State Department to try again to find emails Hillary Clinton wrote about the Benghazi attack. ... In all, State found 348 Benghazi-related messages or documents that were sent to or from Clinton in a period of nearly five months after the attack. However, the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch argued that the search wasn't good enough because State never tried to search its own systems for relevant messages in the official email accounts of Clinton's top aides. In a 10-page ruling issued Tuesday, Mehta — an Obama appointee — agreed. ...posted by maudlin at 9:09 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
I would love to see it happen, but the VA House is almost comically gerrymandered, with all the Democratic areas in NoVa, Richmond and Newport cordoned off to preserve a permanent Republican majority in the cross burning parts of the state.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:11 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pssst: Newport is in Rhode Island. Newport News is in VA.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
Agree, T.D. Strange, but there are also 17 R-represented House districts that went for Clinton. I think picking off a fair number of those is likely.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:20 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
This is so emblematic of the entire Trump administration because if he'd put someone with even the most basic qualifications in the communications director post, like I would literally accept "majored in communications", they of course would have known how to avoid this situation.
One of the aspects of my job is media training clients. I also schedule and manage interviews with press.
People who are being interviewed will often say incredibly stupid things on the record. They may forget that they have to watch their words. They may assume that a reporter will not do anything to make them look bad -- especially in quid pro quo situations such as needing access to the WH Communications Director, or to remain on his good side. They may assume that they are so powerful that they are untouchable. A reporter wouldn't dare piss off the White House....
Scaramucci's ego got the best of him. He bragged to a reporter and assumed he was untouchable. That's why he keeps complaining that he was betrayed and trying to rewrite what happened.
Much of media training is teaching someone how to present the information they want to, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Experience dealing with reporters would have helped Scaramucci. But learning to not allow himself to become the story is a lesson that even trips up experienced interview subjects sometimes. He needed training.
posted by zarq at 9:21 PM on August 9, 2017 [18 favorites]
The motto of the trump administration should be "He needed training."
Or maybe "Nevertheless, he needed training."
posted by medusa at 9:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
Or maybe "Nevertheless, he needed training."
posted by medusa at 9:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [19 favorites]
"Wasn't my choice to discuss this but since Jason went to Page Six, I guess I now have to share. Story to @mckaycoppins . Stay tuned."
You know those people who are constantly surrounded by drama and their social groups are nothing but endless bickering and egos and most people try to stay as far away from them as possible? It feels like this whole administration is this. Constant new fights among different players that are minor but reinforce the ultimate ceaseless drama that is their world. And we're all forced to deal with it.
I'm exhausted.
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [32 favorites]
You know those people who are constantly surrounded by drama and their social groups are nothing but endless bickering and egos and most people try to stay as far away from them as possible? It feels like this whole administration is this. Constant new fights among different players that are minor but reinforce the ultimate ceaseless drama that is their world. And we're all forced to deal with it.
I'm exhausted.
posted by downtohisturtles at 9:25 PM on August 9, 2017 [32 favorites]
Nine months after the presidential election was decided, a federal judge is ordering the State Department to try again to find emails Hillary Clinton wrote about the Benghazi attack.
And since the State Department staff consists of Tillerson and his assistant Siri, this will really cut into his nap time.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
And since the State Department staff consists of Tillerson and his assistant Siri, this will really cut into his nap time.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:37 PM on August 9, 2017 [20 favorites]
The 60s are back!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [5 favorites]
From the Foxconn investment article Room 641-A linked above:
I mean seriously, think back 25 years to the kind of video display screens in use then, and all of the various disruptive technological innovations made since.
posted by darkstar at 9:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [37 favorites]
In a study released on Tuesday, the nonpartisan Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau concluded that the $3 billion taxpayer giveaway Gov. Scott Walker (R) and President Trump want to give to Foxconn in exchange for an LCD manufacturing plant in the southeastern part of the state wouldn’t be paid back for at least 25 years.Ron Howard: "There won't."
“[A]ny cash-flow analysis that covers a period of nearly 30 years must be considered highly speculative, especially for a manufacturing facility and equipment that may have a limited useful life,” the study notes. In other words, by the time the plant would theoretically pay off for taxpayers, it may be no longer be operational. No one knows if there will even be a need for these kind of LCD screens 25 years from now.
I mean seriously, think back 25 years to the kind of video display screens in use then, and all of the various disruptive technological innovations made since.
posted by darkstar at 9:53 PM on August 9, 2017 [37 favorites]
Heh...from the other article linked in the same comment:
posted by darkstar at 10:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
On Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed Cat Packer (formerly of Drug Policy Alliance) as executive director of the city's newly-established Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation, which will oversee the regulation and taxation of cannabis in Los Angeles. The department itself will be governed by a five-member Cannabis Regulation Commission.I think I have a theory about who was responsible for wedging all those cats in their scanners...
posted by darkstar at 10:00 PM on August 9, 2017 [21 favorites]
Just caught this: Conservative pundit David Brooks, burned out by the Trump era, is quitting political writing for good.
It is no exaggeration to say that Mr. Brooks spent every hour of his professional career boosting Republicans and Conservatism, mocking Democrats and Liberals, and relentlessly positioning himself as America's Most Ubiquitous Conservative Public Intellectual. And yet, in 2017 during the Republican Party's Year of Jubilee -- the year when Mr. Brooks' Republican Party owned every branch of the federal government and Mr. Brooks' Conservative Movement had effectively conquered the media both through direct propaganda efforts (Fox News/Hate Radio/etc.) and by bludgeoning the "mainstream media" into a state of meek complicity -- Mr. Brooks announced that he was suddenly sick and tired writing about Conservatism or politics.posted by darkstar at 10:12 PM on August 9, 2017 [60 favorites]
> If the President of the United States wanted to activate nuclear weapons, he would be required to kill the volunteer to retrieve the codes.
Donnie would: "So you're saying that I wouldn't be prosecuted for that?"
Ok. Stab/rip/misses finding the code. Still killing the volunteer, but never finding the code.
posted by porpoise at 10:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Donnie would: "So you're saying that I wouldn't be prosecuted for that?"
Ok. Stab/rip/misses finding the code. Still killing the volunteer, but never finding the code.
posted by porpoise at 10:14 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Mr. Brooks announced that he was suddenly sick and tired writing about Conservatism or politics.
Oh boo hoo. Sounds like SOMEone can't get paid anymore. Boo fucking hoo.
posted by porpoise at 10:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh boo hoo. Sounds like SOMEone can't get paid anymore. Boo fucking hoo.
posted by porpoise at 10:16 PM on August 9, 2017 [3 favorites]
Burhanistan: "Russian Spy Plane Trolls trump"
TIL: how civilized spy plane flights are (I mean sure there are probably flights that operate outside the treaty but still, the treaty must reduce tensions all around).
Secret Life of Gravy: "You are right about their plans to tear down and not rebuild (as well as cutting food stamps entirely) but I foresee a lot of homelessness. They think they can force the poor to haul themselves up out of poverty by taking away all safety nets. Some will claw their way out. Those who can't will suffer."
This viewpoint on the part of conservatives is so frustrating. Like any significant portion of the people who have the wherewithal to pull them selves up is going to be seduced away from that activity by Section 8 housing and food stamps.
Bringer Tom: "Canticle for Liebowitz Week
My company has an office in Texarkana. Maybe I should ask for a transfer."
The future history Robert A. Heinlein's "Friday" takes place in has a Balkanized USA (and Canada). It's looking more realistic everyday.
chris24: "@matthewamiller:
Every sign we've seen to date shows Mueller moving very aggressively. Think it's safe to assume he's already gotten Trump's tax returns."
Isn't this just a matter of calling up the IRS and asking for them to throw it up on their FTP server? Or does the actual paperwork contain more details that the IRS doesn't access unless the filee is audited?
posted by Mitheral at 10:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
TIL: how civilized spy plane flights are (I mean sure there are probably flights that operate outside the treaty but still, the treaty must reduce tensions all around).
Secret Life of Gravy: "You are right about their plans to tear down and not rebuild (as well as cutting food stamps entirely) but I foresee a lot of homelessness. They think they can force the poor to haul themselves up out of poverty by taking away all safety nets. Some will claw their way out. Those who can't will suffer."
This viewpoint on the part of conservatives is so frustrating. Like any significant portion of the people who have the wherewithal to pull them selves up is going to be seduced away from that activity by Section 8 housing and food stamps.
Bringer Tom: "Canticle for Liebowitz Week
My company has an office in Texarkana. Maybe I should ask for a transfer."
The future history Robert A. Heinlein's "Friday" takes place in has a Balkanized USA (and Canada). It's looking more realistic everyday.
chris24: "@matthewamiller:
Every sign we've seen to date shows Mueller moving very aggressively. Think it's safe to assume he's already gotten Trump's tax returns."
Isn't this just a matter of calling up the IRS and asking for them to throw it up on their FTP server? Or does the actual paperwork contain more details that the IRS doesn't access unless the filee is audited?
posted by Mitheral at 10:17 PM on August 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
To clarify, because the title is otherwise misleading: David Brooks isn't retiring from writing about politics - the header was sarcastic. He's just conveniently shying away from thinking or writing about Trump, who is at the center of politics in this country, and is the inevitable result of the downward spiral of conservative politics - including Brooks' own punditry - over the past 40 years.
posted by darkstar at 10:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 10:28 PM on August 9, 2017 [24 favorites]
Aw.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 10:31 PM on August 9, 2017 [25 favorites]
So Brooks is not going to opine about Trump? What's he got against page views, his publisher asks.
posted by notyou at 10:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 10:34 PM on August 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now we have David Brooks' poetry to look forward to instead... just when you thought things couldn't get darker.
posted by goHermGO at 10:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by goHermGO at 10:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [9 favorites]
To clarify, because the title is otherwise misleading: David Brooks isn't retiring from writing about politics
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
HOW CAN WE MISS YOU IF YOU WON'T GO AWAY?posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:35 PM on August 9, 2017 [46 favorites]
“A 25-Year Army Vet Explains the North Korea Warning Sign He's Waiting For,” Robert Bateman, Esquire, 09 August 2017
posted by ob1quixote at 10:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
cjelli: “Sebastian Gorka, speaking on Fox news: [to North Koea] "don't test [America] -- We are not just a superpower. We were a superpower. We are now a hyper-power." [real, twitter link]”
cjelli: “I'm not joking: we probably should be a little afraid of what Gorka, et al, might do.”Yes, that's what really worries me. That these simpletons may believe their own bullshit and think they have a free hand.
Gelatin: “And for gamers there was GDW's Twilight: 2000”I always preferred The Morrow Project.
posted by ob1quixote at 10:44 PM on August 9, 2017 [6 favorites]
Specifically, North Korea says it plans to "hit the waters 30 to 40 km away from Guam", overflying Japan.
NK General: "There's no friggin' way we'll ever hit Guam. Look at a map! See how tiny that is? We'll just land in the water somewhere near it."
NK Communications Director: "We'll just say that's what we wanted to do."
Kim Jong-Un: "Brilliant!"
NK General: "But... uh...."
posted by msalt at 11:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
NK General: "There's no friggin' way we'll ever hit Guam. Look at a map! See how tiny that is? We'll just land in the water somewhere near it."
NK Communications Director: "We'll just say that's what we wanted to do."
Kim Jong-Un: "Brilliant!"
NK General: "But... uh...."
posted by msalt at 11:03 PM on August 9, 2017 [17 favorites]
We can't negotiate our way to disarming North Korea. It doesn't work.
This is true, but only because Republican administrations have reneged on every agreement negotiated to date.
posted by flabdablet at 11:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
This is true, but only because Republican administrations have reneged on every agreement negotiated to date.
posted by flabdablet at 11:23 PM on August 9, 2017 [33 favorites]
The dread of Trump's Apocalypse seems to be spreading into even to some of my relatively apolitical Millennial co-workers. (The ones who were political weren't working tonight.)
So tonight, a bunch of my co-workers were talking about Stephen King's IT, and how frightening clowns were. The manager asked me: "So, suburbanbeanik, are you afraid of clowns?" I replied not particularly. "So what are you afraid of?" she asked.
"Nuclear war," I said.
Everybody paled and grew silent.
Welcome to 2017, everyone! It's like the worst parts of 1967 and 1987 got together and had a horrible mutant baby.
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 11:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
So tonight, a bunch of my co-workers were talking about Stephen King's IT, and how frightening clowns were. The manager asked me: "So, suburbanbeanik, are you afraid of clowns?" I replied not particularly. "So what are you afraid of?" she asked.
"Nuclear war," I said.
Everybody paled and grew silent.
Welcome to 2017, everyone! It's like the worst parts of 1967 and 1987 got together and had a horrible mutant baby.
posted by suburbanbeatnik at 11:38 PM on August 9, 2017 [45 favorites]
In other ridiculous, chickens-coming-home-to-roost, right-wing politics: The Rise and Fall of the “Freest Little City in Texas" : How a libertarian experiment in city government fell apart over taxes, debt and some very angry people.
posted by darkstar at 11:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 11:40 PM on August 9, 2017 [13 favorites]
In other ridiculous, chickens-coming-home-to-roost, right-wing politics:
Previously on the rest of MetaFilter.
posted by one for the books at 11:49 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Previously on the rest of MetaFilter.
posted by one for the books at 11:49 PM on August 9, 2017 [11 favorites]
Circular Firing Squad edition.
NYT, Adam Nagourney, Democratic Fight in California Is a Warning for the National Party
posted by zachlipton at 12:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
NYT, Adam Nagourney, Democratic Fight in California Is a Warning for the National Party
But in recent weeks, California Democrats have emerged as something else: a cautionary tale for a national party debating how to rebuild and seize back power. Even at a time of overall success, state Democrats are torn by a bitter fight for the party leadership, revealing the kind of divisions — between insiders and outsiders, liberals and moderates — that unsettled the national party last year and could threaten its success in coming years.BuzzFeed, Ruby Cramer, Our Revolution Takes Issue With The "Dictatorial," "Arrogant," "Pompous" DNC
“What we are seeing in California is similar to what we are seeing on the national level,” said Betty T. Yee, the Democratic state controller. “If we don’t do our work to really heal our divide, we are going to miss our chance to motivate Democrats.”
The fight pits Eric C. Bauman, a longtime party leader, against Kimberly Ellis, a Bay Area activist. Mr. Bauman won the election by just over 60 votes out of 3,000 cast at the party convention in May, but Ms. Ellis has refused to concede, claiming voting improprieties, like permitting ineligible people to vote for Mr. Bauman.
“Dictatorial.” “Arrogant.” “Pompous.” “Superficial.” “Tone-deaf.” “Tone-dead.” “Out of line.” “Insulting” — “absolutely insulting.”I'm attending a political event tomorrow night and was promised donuts. I didn't know I'm supposed to be insulted by that?
These are the words that Nina Turner, president of the group founded by Bernie Sanders to further his "political revolution," used in an interview to describe the Democratic National Committee. The grievances converge around a recent trip to deliver petitions to the party’s headquarters in Washington, where Turner and other progressives were greeted by barricades, security guards, and an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people," that instead is far too willing to “disregard people,” to “dismiss,” “belittle,” and “shun,” to “push them to the side” — all of which has left Turner with the view, as she puts it, that "the establishment side of the Democratic Party have shown themselves to be dictators" who "want to dictate the terms of unity."
posted by zachlipton at 12:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
This sort of humor from Twitter reminded me of the role jokes used to play in the Soviet Union - subversive humor that everybody laughed at because it spoke truth to power. Dark, sardonic, but ultimately reflecting reality.
From @TeaPainUSA
If Trump wants to destroy North Korea, he should buy it and turn it into one of his casinos.
posted by vac2003 at 1:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [76 favorites]
From @TeaPainUSA
If Trump wants to destroy North Korea, he should buy it and turn it into one of his casinos.
posted by vac2003 at 1:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [76 favorites]
but Ms. Ellis has refused to concede, claiming voting improprieties
You know who else claims he actually won the vote count if you don't count the voting improprieties? FFS.
all of which has left Turner with the view, as she puts it, that "the establishment side of the Democratic Party have shown themselves to be dictators" who "want to dictate the terms of unity."
It occurred to me during the campaign that Nina Turner isn't actually a very good person and nothing since the election has disabused me of that notion.
posted by Justinian at 1:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
You know who else claims he actually won the vote count if you don't count the voting improprieties? FFS.
all of which has left Turner with the view, as she puts it, that "the establishment side of the Democratic Party have shown themselves to be dictators" who "want to dictate the terms of unity."
It occurred to me during the campaign that Nina Turner isn't actually a very good person and nothing since the election has disabused me of that notion.
posted by Justinian at 1:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
From @TeaPainUSA
If Trump wants to destroy North Korea, he should buy it and turn it into one of his casinos.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog / Robert Smigel at the RNC a year ago:
How is Trump going to destroy ISIS? Is he going to buy it and run it like one of his casinos?
(Just to give credit where credit's due... example google result)
posted by XMLicious at 1:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
I have been waiting for Robert Smigel to make another ep of X Presidents with Obama -- did this happen yet?
posted by apparently at 2:35 AM on August 10, 2017
posted by apparently at 2:35 AM on August 10, 2017
Is it time for an 80's revival? I thought we already had one of those?
Ya only THINK there is an 80's revival because the late night comedians are back to telling jokes about Trump.
Don't worry - the eventual 'Trump bankrupts the organization he's in charge of' are coming.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Ya only THINK there is an 80's revival because the late night comedians are back to telling jokes about Trump.
Don't worry - the eventual 'Trump bankrupts the organization he's in charge of' are coming.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Isn't this just a matter of calling up the IRS and asking for them to throw it up on their FTP server?
No idea of the mechanism, but yes, Mueller can get the returns direct from the IRS without involving Trump or Trump even knowing.
posted by chris24 at 3:50 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
No idea of the mechanism, but yes, Mueller can get the returns direct from the IRS without involving Trump or Trump even knowing.
posted by chris24 at 3:50 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Hey, I know I've been pretty vocal in the past about never wanting to listen to the garbage that comes out of Trump's mouth ever again, but if he has something he wants to say about Mitch McConnell I say why not hear the man out.
You're in luck! Today's first tweet.
@realDonaldTrump:
Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!
posted by chris24 at 4:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
You're in luck! Today's first tweet.
@realDonaldTrump:
Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!
posted by chris24 at 4:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
Speaking of WH theme weeks: I can't wait for Indictment Week, that'll be great for the country.
posted by lydhre at 4:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by lydhre at 4:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldn't get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!
I'd say that's going in the campaign ad of McConnell's primary challenger in 2020.
posted by leotrotsky at 4:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd say that's going in the campaign ad of McConnell's primary challenger in 2020.
posted by leotrotsky at 4:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Maybe it won't be this long drawn out Mueller/Impeachment thing. Mitch gets all riled up and says "I'll show you Repeal & Replace" Boom! Trump gone next week.
posted by meech at 4:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by meech at 4:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
I'm enjoying Smack the Turtle Week so far.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
I'm attending a political event tomorrow night and was promised donuts. I didn't know I'm supposed to be insulted by that?Well, if I'm reading this article correctly, you're supposed to be insulted by donuts if they're handed to you over a barricade after you show up unannounced with 60 people to a political party's headquarters. For maximum outrage, be sure to skip all the meetings you've been invited to prior to the donut incident.
posted by xyzzy at 4:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Speaking of WH theme weeks: I can't wait for Indictment Week, that'll be great for the country.
I see your Indictment Week and raise you Conviction and Sentencing Week.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
I see your Indictment Week and raise you Conviction and Sentencing Week.
posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 4:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
"Manafort, is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?!"
I have ADHD, and anytime I watch a spy movie the first thing I think is that I would not survive for more than a week as a spy. I have to write everything down and I even have a checklist for my makeup routine.
The kgb would find my notes and see physical descriptions of people and pretty much a chronicle of every single development. They would also find flowcharts and other memory aids I would have developed in my downtime.
It's beyond me how some people rely on memory. I would be freaking the fuck out if I had to meet with a colluding power without a notepad and maybe even a recording device.
posted by Tarumba at 4:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [44 favorites]
I have ADHD, and anytime I watch a spy movie the first thing I think is that I would not survive for more than a week as a spy. I have to write everything down and I even have a checklist for my makeup routine.
The kgb would find my notes and see physical descriptions of people and pretty much a chronicle of every single development. They would also find flowcharts and other memory aids I would have developed in my downtime.
It's beyond me how some people rely on memory. I would be freaking the fuck out if I had to meet with a colluding power without a notepad and maybe even a recording device.
posted by Tarumba at 4:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [44 favorites]
Chait takes down Greenwald: The Alt-Right and Glenn Greenwald Versus H.R. McMaster
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Kelly is on the cover of TIME. Countdown to Trump wanting him gone starts... now.
posted by chris24 at 4:52 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 4:52 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Just caught this: Conservative pundit David Brooks, burned out by the Trump era, is quitting political writing for good.
I am a member of a group that holds a black tie dinner every year to celebrate the birthday of the 18th century English author Samuel Johnson. The schedule is drinks, dinner, after-dinner talk by a Johnson scholar, more drinks. This year's talk is by David Brooks. If he's pivoting from punditry to Samuel Johnson, life is going to be much worse for me, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice for the good of everyone else.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
I am a member of a group that holds a black tie dinner every year to celebrate the birthday of the 18th century English author Samuel Johnson. The schedule is drinks, dinner, after-dinner talk by a Johnson scholar, more drinks. This year's talk is by David Brooks. If he's pivoting from punditry to Samuel Johnson, life is going to be much worse for me, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice for the good of everyone else.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
In a new poll, half of Republicans say they would support postponing the 2020 election if Trump proposed it
it is not an exaggeration to say the Republican Party is an existential threat to both democracy and the world
posted by entropicamericana at 4:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [134 favorites]
it is not an exaggeration to say the Republican Party is an existential threat to both democracy and the world
posted by entropicamericana at 4:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [134 favorites]
This being Samuel Johnson, who's famous for (amongst other things) declaring patriotism to be the last refuge of the scoundrel.
(Although, as I never tire of pointing out, he missed the fact that when the scoundrel gets there, he finds it was full of idiots all along.)
posted by Grangousier at 5:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
(Although, as I never tire of pointing out, he missed the fact that when the scoundrel gets there, he finds it was full of idiots all along.)
posted by Grangousier at 5:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I am a member of a group that holds a black tie dinner every year to celebrate the birthday of the 18th century English author Samuel Johnson.
No judgment here, I'm into some weird shit myself, but ... This is for real?
posted by BS Artisan at 5:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
No judgment here, I'm into some weird shit myself, but ... This is for real?
posted by BS Artisan at 5:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's real, and it's spectacular.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [52 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [52 favorites]
Awesome :)
posted by BS Artisan at 5:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by BS Artisan at 5:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Poor Moral Hazard. If his master is going to be refocusing on Serious Writing and Intellectual Pursuits, M.H. may self-neuter.
posted by delfin at 5:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by delfin at 5:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've been trying to disengage somewhat from the 45 threads, but I just want to say that I'm so, so glad i caught this exchange.
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:28 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 5:28 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
what?
Cuban diplomats expelled by US amid 'hearing loss' claims, BBC, 8/10/17
Cuban diplomats expelled by US amid 'hearing loss' claims, BBC, 8/10/17
Reports suggest US diplomats could have suffered hearing loss related to the use of covert sonic devices.posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 5:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Cuba's foreign ministry said it was investigating the allegations...
The Associated Press reports the diplomats' hearing loss could have been linked to sonic devices which emit inaudible sound waves that can cause deafness.
US officials, speaking to the agency anonymously, said investigations had determined devices had been deployed either inside or outside diplomats' homes.
It is understood that the two expelled Cuban diplomats left Washington DC in May, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Havana.
I'd say that's going in the campaign ad of McConnell's primary challenger in 2020.
It's happening right now in another republican senate primary race:
It's happening right now in another republican senate primary race:
In Alabama, [McConnell] has become an unlikely bogeyman in the Republican primary for a special Senate election to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Conservatives challenging McConnell’s preferred candidate, the appointed fill-in Senator Luther Strange, have laced into the majority leader without abandon. Representative Mo Brooks, an anti-immigration hawk, has called his campaign a referendum on “swamp king Mitch McConnell” and has vowed to oppose him as party leader if elected. “Mo’s tired of McConnell’s failure, cowardice, and surrender, and so are you,” a narrator in one Brooks TV ad intoned. Judge Roy Moore, the social conservative warrior who was suspended from his post as Alabama’s chief justice, has adopted a similar strategy in his campaign. Urging Republicans to “send McConnell a message,” Moore attacked his “D.C. slime machine” and said he “lied” about repealing Obamacare in a recent ad.posted by peeedro at 5:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Here's an extended take on the Cuban diplomat expulsion, from WaPo:
U.S. expelled two Cuban diplomats after embassy employees in Cuba developed unexplained ailments, Anne Gearan, WaPo
U.S. expelled two Cuban diplomats after embassy employees in Cuba developed unexplained ailments, Anne Gearan, WaPo
The U.S. government expelled two Cuban diplomats in May, after Americans working at the U.S. Embassy in Havana suffered unexplained physical ailments, the State Department said Thursday.posted by Sockin'inthefreeworld at 5:36 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
A small number of Americans began reporting symptoms at the end of 2016, and a few either were removed for medical treatment in the United States or asked to leave, State Department officials said Thursday.
Spokeswoman Heather Nauert linked “incidents which have caused a variety of physical symptoms” to the decision to expel two Cubans, but she did not directly blame the Cuban government for harming the Americans...
The FBI is conducting an investigation of the illnesses or symptoms reported by the State Department employees over several months. Further U.S. action could follow if that investigation points to Cuban government targeting of U.S. employees, officials said.
I've been trying to decide if it was a bad month to be reading "Under the Dome".
It seems pretty topical, with using fear to control everything (although Rennie seems a lot smarter than Trump).
I'm fairly certain it will end well (no spoilers please). Only wish I had the same optimism IRL.
I guess Canticle for Liebowitz is up next on my reading list.
posted by MtDewd at 5:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
It seems pretty topical, with using fear to control everything (although Rennie seems a lot smarter than Trump).
I'm fairly certain it will end well (no spoilers please). Only wish I had the same optimism IRL.
I guess Canticle for Liebowitz is up next on my reading list.
posted by MtDewd at 5:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
In A New Poll, Half Of Republicans Say They Would Drink Poisoned Flavor-Aid If Trump Proposed It [fake]
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
If Donald Trump were to say that the 2020 presidential election should be postponed until the country can make sure that only eligible American citizens can vote, would you support or oppose postponing the election?
WTF survey makers? Why the hell would you ask Republican/Trump voters, who are by definition a credulous, suggestible, morally-deficient collection of id-ruled dopes, such a question and thereby put the idea into their empty heads? God help us all if this gets covered on Fox and Friends.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
WTF survey makers? Why the hell would you ask Republican/Trump voters, who are by definition a credulous, suggestible, morally-deficient collection of id-ruled dopes, such a question and thereby put the idea into their empty heads? God help us all if this gets covered on Fox and Friends.
posted by FelliniBlank at 5:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
In A New Poll, 100% of Middlesclasstool Say Half Of Republicans Can Establish Their Unprincipled and Predatory Bioshock Dystopian Hellscape Somewhere Else, Thank You Very Goddamn Much [real]
posted by middleclasstool at 6:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 6:07 AM on August 10, 2017 [39 favorites]
I guess Canticle for Liebowitz is up next on my reading list.
Why read? Listen is an option. (could not find on archive.org)
posted by rough ashlar at 6:09 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Why read? Listen is an option. (could not find on archive.org)
posted by rough ashlar at 6:09 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Middleclasses-tool?
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
In A New Poll, Half Of Republicans Say They Would Drink Poisoned Flavor-Aid If Trump Proposed It [fake]
citation needed
posted by entropicamericana at 6:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
citation needed
posted by entropicamericana at 6:11 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sebastian Gorka is a fuckin lunatic.
Interview On Radio 4’s Today Programme Prompts Disbelief.
posted by adamvasco at 6:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
Interview On Radio 4’s Today Programme Prompts Disbelief.
posted by adamvasco at 6:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
In A New Poll, Half Of Republicans Say They Would Drink Poisoned Flavor-Aid If Trump Proposed It
At Jonestown, most of those killed were not willing suicides but were forced to drink the poison at gunpoint; many bodies were found to have been shot. Likewise, most of the suffering imposed by the administration and the GOP does not (yet) primarily affect his fandom: remember, it was middle-to-upper-income voters who put Trump over the edge, not the poorest or most marginalized. The GOP base isn't Jonestown: it's Jim Jones himself, and we're trapped in the jungle with them.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
At Jonestown, most of those killed were not willing suicides but were forced to drink the poison at gunpoint; many bodies were found to have been shot. Likewise, most of the suffering imposed by the administration and the GOP does not (yet) primarily affect his fandom: remember, it was middle-to-upper-income voters who put Trump over the edge, not the poorest or most marginalized. The GOP base isn't Jonestown: it's Jim Jones himself, and we're trapped in the jungle with them.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
The first comment in this thread is feeling a little prophetic.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I guess Canticle for Liebowitz is up next on my reading list.
I belong to a whole book club of post-apocalyptic fiction if anyone else wants more...most of the apocalypses have been nuclear, with the occasional plague or zombie, so there's a rich mine. (I actualy quite like how in one of the books we've read, the characters in the fictional world referred to the war that brought about the end as "The Big Stupid".)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:34 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
I belong to a whole book club of post-apocalyptic fiction if anyone else wants more...most of the apocalypses have been nuclear, with the occasional plague or zombie, so there's a rich mine. (I actualy quite like how in one of the books we've read, the characters in the fictional world referred to the war that brought about the end as "The Big Stupid".)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:34 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
I've been trying to decide if it was a bad month to be reading "Under the Dome". It seems pretty topical, with using fear to control everything (although Rennie seems a lot smarter than Trump). I'm fairly certain it will end well (no spoilers please). Only wish I had the same optimism IRL.
Would one get the same impression from watching The Simpsons Movie?
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:36 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Would one get the same impression from watching The Simpsons Movie?
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:36 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sebastian Gorka is a fuckin lunatic.
Thanks for the link. Also, pleased to hear the Beeb not address SebGor as "Doctor".
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thanks for the link. Also, pleased to hear the Beeb not address SebGor as "Doctor".
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
@Scaramucci: .@RyanLizza is the Linda Tripp of 2017. People know. And he is up at night not being able to live with himself.
@MonicaLewinsky Retweeted Anthony Scaramucci
😳
---
2017 is a helluva year.
posted by chris24 at 7:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [56 favorites]
@MonicaLewinsky Retweeted Anthony Scaramucci
😳
---
2017 is a helluva year.
posted by chris24 at 7:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [56 favorites]
The finest line from that Gorka rant is "In the last six months, do we look like an administration that doesn’t act?" To which the only reply can be "Why, yes. Yes, you do. You look like an administration that couldn't find its collective ass in the dark."
I wonder if the White House sent Gorka to do that interview or if he just up and chose to do it himself. I'd say there's an even chance it's the latter.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I wonder if the White House sent Gorka to do that interview or if he just up and chose to do it himself. I'd say there's an even chance it's the latter.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump steps up attacks on McConnell for failure on health-care reform (WaPo)
Since the collapse of a health-care bill, Trump has belittled GOP senators as looking like “fools” and suggested they change the chamber’s rules to make it easier to pass bills.posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:19 AM on August 10, 2017
The president’s attacks on a leader popular among Senate Republicans comes as lawmakers are poised to try to tackle other shared — but challenging — priorities in the fall, including a tax overhaul. They also are faced with trying to craft a budget and raise the nation’s debt ceiling.
“Discerning a particular strategy or goal from these tweets is hard,” said Doug Heye, a Republican consultant and former Capitol Hill staffer. “It just doesn’t help enact any part of his agenda, and it sends a further troubling sign to Capitol Hill Republicans already wary of the White House.”
at times like this i try to remind myself that we avoided nuclear holocaust in my youth even with the idiot ronald reagan and his scurrilous band of cronies at the helm
and then i remember that trump and his crew are significantly dumber than even that convocation of asshats
posted by murphy slaw at 7:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
and then i remember that trump and his crew are significantly dumber than even that convocation of asshats
posted by murphy slaw at 7:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
McCain knocks Trump while unveiling Afghan strategy (Rebecca Kheel, The Hill)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:24 AM on August 10, 2017
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:24 AM on August 10, 2017
Gorka is the Dr. Oz of fascism.
posted by Artw at 7:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:24 AM on August 10, 2017 [39 favorites]
Conviction in the Senate was always going to be the hardest part of the impeachment process, so you keep doing you with the McConnell fight, Donnie.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:26 AM on August 10, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 7:26 AM on August 10, 2017 [43 favorites]
Republicans limiting early voting in Marion County, letting it bloom in suburbs
State and local Republicans have expanded early voting in GOP-dominated areas and restricted it in Democratic areas, an IndyStar investigation has found, prompting a significant change in Central Indiana voting patterns.posted by chris24 at 7:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [94 favorites]
From 2008 to 2016, GOP officials expanded early voting stations in Republican dominated Hamilton County, IndyStar's analysis found, and decreased them in the state's biggest Democratic hotbed, Marion County.
That made voting more convenient in GOP areas for people with transportation issues or busy schedules. And the results were immediate. Most telling, Hamilton County saw a 63 percent increase in absentee voting from 2008 to 2016, while Marion County saw a 26 percent decline. Absentee ballots are used at early voting stations.
Population growth and other factors may have played a role, but Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Richardson, a Republican, told IndyStar the rise in absentee voting in Hamilton County was largely a result of the addition of two early voting stations, which brought the total to three.
"It was a great concept to open those (voting stations)," Richardson said, adding that the turnout might have increased with the addition of even more voting machines.
Other Central Indiana Republican strongholds, including Boone, Johnson and Hendricks counties, also have added early voting sites — and enjoyed corresponding increases in absentee voter turnout.
But not Marion County, which tends to vote Democratic, and has a large African-American population. During that same 2008-16 period, the number of early voting stations declined from three to one in Marion County, as Republican officials blocked expansion.
Haters already hatin', but Claire is spending the August recess holding town halls in Red Missouri.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:29 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:29 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
First Russian spambots targeting GOP and now DJT shitting on McConnell?
I wonder if he is planting the seeds to play the victim if a Mueller indictment is looming closer. Maybe Trump will abandon ship with his loyal stragglers to start a whole new party, keep milking them for cash, blame the GOP for his colossal failures, and all of this with full support of Putin who will play along as justification for continued attacks on both major parties.
But then again, he's an idiot, so it could just be that too.
posted by p3t3 at 7:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I wonder if he is planting the seeds to play the victim if a Mueller indictment is looming closer. Maybe Trump will abandon ship with his loyal stragglers to start a whole new party, keep milking them for cash, blame the GOP for his colossal failures, and all of this with full support of Putin who will play along as justification for continued attacks on both major parties.
But then again, he's an idiot, so it could just be that too.
posted by p3t3 at 7:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Republicans limiting early voting in Marion County, letting it bloom in suburbs
It's inarguable that Republicans hate the very idea of democracy. We're getting close to poll taxes and a de facto repeal of the 15th amendment in Republican controlled states.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 AM on August 10, 2017 [31 favorites]
It's inarguable that Republicans hate the very idea of democracy. We're getting close to poll taxes and a de facto repeal of the 15th amendment in Republican controlled states.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:49 AM on August 10, 2017 [31 favorites]
Trump was showing off disloyalty to the party from the very first Republican debate. (Would you consider running as an independent if you lost the nomination?)
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I wonder if he is planting the seeds to play the victim if a Mueller indictment is looming closer. Maybe Trump will abandon ship with his loyal stragglers to start a whole new party, keep milking them for cash, blame the GOP for his colossal failures, and all of this with full support of Putin who will play along as justification for continued attacks on both major parties.
I'd love to see them split the Right. But I've been halfway hoping for that to happen since 2010 and it's been seven years and it hasn't happened yet so...
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:53 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd love to see them split the Right. But I've been halfway hoping for that to happen since 2010 and it's been seven years and it hasn't happened yet so...
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:53 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm sure I'm late to the party in coming to this realization, but the fears of a party split go a long way to explain the practicality of the GOP supporting Trump's candidacy at all cost.
Which ... uh ... if that's the case ... doesn't bode too well for any hopes I might have had that they turn against him under the condition that President Trump actively impedes the GOP's congress ability to fulfill their agenda.
If there is no President Trump, they may only be a 75% (or whatever number less than 100%) of what they formerly were so any agenda is moot.
posted by Tevin at 8:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Which ... uh ... if that's the case ... doesn't bode too well for any hopes I might have had that they turn against him under the condition that President Trump actively impedes the GOP's congress ability to fulfill their agenda.
If there is no President Trump, they may only be a 75% (or whatever number less than 100%) of what they formerly were so any agenda is moot.
posted by Tevin at 8:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
They will go down with this flaming Nazi zeppelin.
posted by Artw at 8:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I wonder if the White House sent Gorka to do that interview or if he just up and chose to do it himself. I'd say there's an even chance it's the latter.
I'd say more than even chance, given their completely monkey-fucking-a-football level of coordination and their dearth of communications professionals. Who would possibly be coordinating this shit from the WH?
posted by phearlez at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'd say more than even chance, given their completely monkey-fucking-a-football level of coordination and their dearth of communications professionals. Who would possibly be coordinating this shit from the WH?
posted by phearlez at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Trump's retweets this morning include several that directly compare him (favorably) to Obama, one being a ridiculous poll showing Trump vs. Obama as 61/39, one from Fox News's "The Five" that praises Trump for being "unpredictable" unlike Obama who was all-too-predictable (shades of Nixon's "madman theory"), and one from John Bolton that seems designed to stroke Trump's... ego.
posted by dhens at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by dhens at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Oh, the inhumanity.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 8:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
"I am a member of a group that holds a black tie dinner every year to celebrate the birthday of the 18th century English author Samuel Johnson."
No judgment here, I'm into some weird shit myself, but ... This is for real?
posted by BS Artisan
It's real, and it's spectacular.
posted by Horace Rumpole
This depth and breadth of references makes me happy
posted by phearlez at 8:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
No judgment here, I'm into some weird shit myself, but ... This is for real?
posted by BS Artisan
It's real, and it's spectacular.
posted by Horace Rumpole
This depth and breadth of references makes me happy
posted by phearlez at 8:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
McCain knocks Trump while unveiling Afghan strategy
McCain said he developed his strategy, which he is filing as an amendment to the annual defense policy bill, after consulting with some of the country’s “most experienced and respected former military and intelligence officials.”Just because Trump hasn't come up with a strategy doesn't excuse violating separation of powers. Military strategy is pretty clearly an Executive Branch responsibility.
I know, I used "Trump" and "responsibility," but I'm trying to hold onto norms here.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Secret Life of Gravy: In a follow-up interview with the Washington Post, Jeffress elaborated that he was referring to Romans 13, which includes a passage on how Christians should relate to political authorities.
The only reply to citations for the bible or other religious beliefs in the United States should be: Article Six of the United States Constitution provides that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States," and the first amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"; or more plainly, the United States was founded on and believes in the separation of church and state, and has since its founding.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
The only reply to citations for the bible or other religious beliefs in the United States should be: Article Six of the United States Constitution provides that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States," and the first amendment to the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"; or more plainly, the United States was founded on and believes in the separation of church and state, and has since its founding.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
What's the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
One is a flaming Nazi gasbag, and the other is a dirigible.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [77 favorites]
One is a flaming Nazi gasbag, and the other is a dirigible.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:13 AM on August 10, 2017 [77 favorites]
Does Gorka have Top Secret security clearance yet? Maybe they're trotting him out in front of characters because the dude has nothing else to do all day.
posted by PenDevil at 8:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by PenDevil at 8:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
one being a ridiculous poll showing Trump vs. Obama as 61/39
It's an unscientific Twitter poll from a Twitter account (which is all it is, no website or anything else) catering to wingnuts. That it wasn't 90-10 is shocking.
For reference, some other recent "polls":
Do you think Seth Rich was murdered by the DNC / Clintons?
– 48% – Yes
– 52% – No
Do you think the wage gap for women is real?
– 17% – Yes
– 83% – No
Desperation, the world's worst cologne.
posted by chris24 at 8:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
It's an unscientific Twitter poll from a Twitter account (which is all it is, no website or anything else) catering to wingnuts. That it wasn't 90-10 is shocking.
For reference, some other recent "polls":
Do you think Seth Rich was murdered by the DNC / Clintons?
– 48% – Yes
– 52% – No
Do you think the wage gap for women is real?
– 17% – Yes
– 83% – No
Desperation, the world's worst cologne.
posted by chris24 at 8:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
Just because Trump hasn't come up with a strategy doesn't excuse violating separation of powers. Military strategy is pretty clearly an Executive Branch responsibility.
Yet one more way in which Trump's blend of incompetence and lack of interest in governing is undermining our constitutional framework! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Yet one more way in which Trump's blend of incompetence and lack of interest in governing is undermining our constitutional framework! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
McCain knocks Trump while unveiling Afghan strategy
Sadly, this does not refer to McCain's plans to retire and take up knitting.
From the article:
Jeez, it's a face-palmingly textbook case of "doomed to repeat the mistakes of the history you didn't learn from."
posted by darkstar at 8:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Sadly, this does not refer to McCain's plans to retire and take up knitting.
From the article:
McCain does not specify how many troops would be necessary to "turn the tide," but he calls for an “enduring United States counterterrorism presence in Afghanistan.”So, McCain's strategy is basically to pour more money and people into the black hole of Afghanistan, basically to set up civil and military occupation and policing in perpetuity of a country whose population hates us.
McCain says the president should ensure the Defense secretary, secretary of State and military commanders have all the resources they need, including military forces, civilian personnel, financial resources and authorities.
He adds that the United States should pursue an “integrated civil-military” approach that includes deploying more U.S. troops; providing more targeting authority against the Taliban, Haqqani Network, al Qaeda, ISIS and “other terrorist groups that threaten the United States, its allies and its core interests"; and pursuing a joint agreement with the government of Afghanistan for a long-term, open-ended U.S. presence.
Jeez, it's a face-palmingly textbook case of "doomed to repeat the mistakes of the history you didn't learn from."
posted by darkstar at 8:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
In a new poll, half of Republicans say they would support postponing the 2020 election if Trump proposed it
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT
posted by Rykey at 8:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT
posted by Rykey at 8:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to live in a dump in fuckin' Washington DC and there isn't even a golf course
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:28 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:28 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Maximilian Kasy, WaPo: Liberals are terrible at arguing with conservatives. Here’s how they can get better.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:29 AM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Much normative (or value-based) reasoning by liberals (and mainstream economists) is about the consequences of political actions for the welfare of individuals. Statements about the desirability of policies are based on trading off the consequences for different individuals. If good outcomes result from a policy without many negative consequences, then the policy is a good one. When Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) remarked on the Affordable Care Act this spring, for example, she said, “I feel strongly that when we’re talking about our sick, when we’re talking about our poor … and we’re talking about something that would deny those in need with the relief and the help that they need, that they want and deserve, it does put in place a question about our moral values.” In other words, if a policy will harm the welfare of individuals in need, it’s a bad policy.This is the best concise explanation of the differences I've seen. It still boils down to "Let's help people" versus "Fuck you, I've got mine," but the tactics he outlines may be useful in making a point to all but the worst Deplorables.
Meanwhile, much conservative normative reasoning is about procedures rather than consequences. For example, as long as property rights and free exchange are guaranteed, the outcome is deemed just by definition, regardless of the consequences. People are “deserving” of whatever the market provides them with. For instance, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) seemed to center the idea of unfairness in his argument against the Affordable Care Act: “The idea of Obamacare is,” he said, “that the people who are healthy pay for the people who are sick.”
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:29 AM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
In a new poll, half of Republicans say they would support postponing the 2020 election if Trump proposed it
Donald Trump was elected because a significant fraction of the American population wanted not to elect a competent leader but to make an outrageous and offensive statement expressing their general anger at society. Telling a pollster you support the collapse of democracy is a similar statement.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
Donald Trump was elected because a significant fraction of the American population wanted not to elect a competent leader but to make an outrageous and offensive statement expressing their general anger at society. Telling a pollster you support the collapse of democracy is a similar statement.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
What's the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
No one will be shocked when Gorka goes down in flames.
posted by Behemoth at 8:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
No one will be shocked when Gorka goes down in flames.
posted by Behemoth at 8:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
What's the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
The humanity
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:31 AM on August 10, 2017 [148 favorites]
The humanity
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:31 AM on August 10, 2017 [148 favorites]
When the Hindenburg exploded, things of value were lost.
posted by delfin at 8:38 AM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by delfin at 8:38 AM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
One's a European gas bag, whereas the other was a zeppelin.
posted by Sys Rq at 8:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 8:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
The loss of one makes you say, Oh the humanity.
The loss of the other makes you say, Oh, the huge manatee.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
The loss of the other makes you say, Oh, the huge manatee.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:40 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Also, Hindenburg inarguably had much better facial hair than Gorka does.
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Various, Guardian: Huddled masses? Losers! Trump v the Statue of Liberty
A senior Trump advisor, Stephen Miller, sparked a furor last week when he dismissed the famous poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty. In response, we asked 21 poets: what type of poem would Trump like to see at the statue?Example:
Poem Dictated to Eric Trump at 3.46am After a Marathon Video Binge of Twilight and its Two Sequelsposted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
“I will dissect your heart and lungs, immigrant,
Remove their masses and eat them,
A wretched meal. Yet, I teem
With health in all weathers. Look at me
Ascending my golden escalator!” --xoxo Donald.
— Bhanu Kapil
Talking Points Memo: Trump Admin Abandons Latino Outreach For Obamacare Sign-Ups
This is serious stuff. I hope non-governmental organizations will get the contributions they need to help mitigate this temporary sabotage of the federal government's responsibility to the general welfare of its citizens.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [28 favorites]
This is serious stuff. I hope non-governmental organizations will get the contributions they need to help mitigate this temporary sabotage of the federal government's responsibility to the general welfare of its citizens.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [28 favorites]
McCain does not specify how many troops would be necessary to 'turn the tide'
There were 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2011. The Taliban controls a lot of Afghanistan. The tide's out and it's not coming back.
And besides, the war's been over since December 2014. Obama declared victory but forgot to go home.
posted by kirkaracha at 8:45 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
FelliniBlank: From the "gee who could possibly have predicted this except everyone everywhere?" file --
Fortune: California Crops Rot as Immigration Crackdown Creates Farmworker Shortage
There's no need to "predict" this, this happened in the United States, and a mere FIVE YEARS AGO: Georgia and Alabama laws drove out illegal immigrants but also had unexpected consequences, both in 2012.
Why? Because low-pay, physically demanding jobs don't get a lot of in-state applicants. See also: Cawker City, Kansas is dying, down from three grocery stores in the '60s to zero now. 4 hours away and farther from any US Interstate route is Garden City, KS, which is thriving ...because they embraced immigrants back in the 1970s. Now there are at least 27 different languages spoken in this community of only 27,000 people. The best part of that NPR article? Immigrants cycle through those demanding, low paying jobs, and move on to improve the community by starting other businesses, making room for more immigrants to come in and fill those jobs.
The US food industries run because of immigrants, full stop. Seasonal tourism centers operate because of immigrant workers. Construction relies heavily on immigrants. The United States is built on, by, and with immigrants. The sooner we purge these deplorable racist, xenophobic assholes from positions of power, the better for this country, and the world at large, not because we're taking motivated workers from economically challenged countries, but because we can show people that such backwards thinking that currently leads our country is no way to lead a country.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [136 favorites]
Fortune: California Crops Rot as Immigration Crackdown Creates Farmworker Shortage
There's no need to "predict" this, this happened in the United States, and a mere FIVE YEARS AGO: Georgia and Alabama laws drove out illegal immigrants but also had unexpected consequences, both in 2012.
Why? Because low-pay, physically demanding jobs don't get a lot of in-state applicants. See also: Cawker City, Kansas is dying, down from three grocery stores in the '60s to zero now. 4 hours away and farther from any US Interstate route is Garden City, KS, which is thriving ...because they embraced immigrants back in the 1970s. Now there are at least 27 different languages spoken in this community of only 27,000 people. The best part of that NPR article? Immigrants cycle through those demanding, low paying jobs, and move on to improve the community by starting other businesses, making room for more immigrants to come in and fill those jobs.
The US food industries run because of immigrants, full stop. Seasonal tourism centers operate because of immigrant workers. Construction relies heavily on immigrants. The United States is built on, by, and with immigrants. The sooner we purge these deplorable racist, xenophobic assholes from positions of power, the better for this country, and the world at large, not because we're taking motivated workers from economically challenged countries, but because we can show people that such backwards thinking that currently leads our country is no way to lead a country.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [136 favorites]
What's the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
Hindenburg, who thought he could control Hitler and brought the Nazis into his coalition thinking they'd be useful, controllable allies, makes a fine comparison to Nixon.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hindenburg, who thought he could control Hitler and brought the Nazis into his coalition thinking they'd be useful, controllable allies, makes a fine comparison to Nixon.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
@CharmlessNurk:
Gozer: Choose the form of the Destructor.
Americans: *trying to empty their minds*
Gozer: The choice is made. The Traveler has come...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Gozer: Choose the form of the Destructor.
Americans: *trying to empty their minds*
Gozer: The choice is made. The Traveler has come...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Seasonal tourism centers operate because of immigrant workers.
Lack of visa workers has Cape and Islands hotspots in a bind
posted by adamg at 9:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Lack of visa workers has Cape and Islands hotspots in a bind
posted by adamg at 9:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
People are still talking about the Hindenburg 80 years after it's flameout crash. I wouldn't give Gorka 80 weeks.
posted by rc3spencer at 9:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by rc3spencer at 9:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
ob1quixote: “A 25-Year Army Vet Explains the North Korea Warning Sign He's Waiting For,” Robert Bateman, Esquire, 09 August 2
So what am I looking for as a siren?posted by filthy light thief at 9:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
James Mattis.
If Secretary of Defense Mattis resigns, anytime soon (say in the next few weeks), all bets are off. Why does this worry me? Because Mattis would resign, as I think would national security adviser H.R. McMaster, should an order be issued to commit overt military action. If you see that happen, maybe we should all worry. Until then, relax but monitor.
So, McCain's strategy is basically to pour more money and people into the black hole of Afghanistan, basically to set up civil and military occupation and policing in perpetuity of a country whose population hates us.
It makes me wonder if his brain cancer has affected him. He used to just suggest bombing countries every time he needed attention.
posted by srboisvert at 9:14 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
It makes me wonder if his brain cancer has affected him. He used to just suggest bombing countries every time he needed attention.
posted by srboisvert at 9:14 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Given that the Mueller investigation isn't leaking immediately like a broken sieve that's broken exactly in a way to leak more rather than less (ie, unlike the Trump administration), that we're hearing this much, this long after the fact, suggests that there are probably a lot more subpoenas out there that we haven't heard about yet.
Grand Juries are like jazz - it's about the leaks you don't hear.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:22 AM on August 10, 2017 [33 favorites]
Grand Juries are like jazz - it's about the leaks you don't hear.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:22 AM on August 10, 2017 [33 favorites]
Talking Points Memo: Trump Admin Abandons Latino Outreach For Obamacare Sign-UpsBut wait, there's more!
This is serious stuff. I hope non-governmental organizations will get the contributions they need to help mitigate this temporary sabotage of the federal government's responsibility to the general welfare of its citizens.
Editorial: The Trump administration is using Obamacare marketing dollars to attack ObamacareGranted, TPM has a story about this too: HHS Is Reportedly Using Obamacare Outreach Funds To Undermine The Law
President Trump keeps saying Obamacare will fail on its own. So why is his administration trying so hard to kill it?
The latest effort was uncovered by the Daily Beast website, which reported Thursday that Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services was dipping into its “consumer information and outreach” budget — money Congress provided to encourage people to obtain insurance through Obamacare — to produce nearly two dozen YouTube videos blasting the law as burdensome and harmful.
That’s certainly a novel interpretation of “outreach.” Worse, the Affordable Care Act isn’t necessarily to blame for the sometimes heartrending problems cited by the consumers in the videos. For example, one person complained about potentially staggering out-of-pocket costs he thought he faced, unaware that the healthcare law caps them at a far lower level. Another said the act’s Medicaid expansion steered money to “able-bodied adults” at the expense of her special-needs son, when the real cause of her son’s benefit cuts was the huge budget deficit in her home state of Illinois.
"Republicans have been undermining the healthcare law since day one."
posted by tilde at 9:25 AM on August 10, 2017 [43 favorites]
zachlipton: I'm attending a political event tomorrow night and was promised donuts. I didn't know I'm supposed to be insulted by that?
In normal circumstances, offering food at a meeting is a good way to get people to attend when they might otherwise be on the fence about coming. But given the current political climate and level of involvement, an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people," can be re-phrased to say "if someone offers you donuts now, they're just trying to appease you and don't understand you already are engaged enough to not need food as a draw."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:26 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
In normal circumstances, offering food at a meeting is a good way to get people to attend when they might otherwise be on the fence about coming. But given the current political climate and level of involvement, an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people," can be re-phrased to say "if someone offers you donuts now, they're just trying to appease you and don't understand you already are engaged enough to not need food as a draw."
posted by filthy light thief at 9:26 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump's indecision on Afghanistan leaves generals in lurch
Instead of approving their plan for more troops as anticipated, the president has caught his generals off guard by questioning whether the 16-year-long effort to stabilize Afghanistan is still worth it, according to current and former military officials familiar with the conversations. Meanwhile, news reports raise the prospects he might replace the top U.S. commander in the region or hand private contractors the day-to-day task of advising the flagging Afghan security forces.posted by kirkaracha at 9:33 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
...
Trump’s failure to approve a plan — any plan — has surprised U.S. commanders in Afghanistan, in the Pentagon and at the U.S. Central Command, the officials said. Some had expected the tough-talking president to give a swift sign-off on their plan to add more U.S. troops — on top of more than 8,000 already there — to advise and assist Afghan forces, despite his campaign criticisms of George W. Bush’s and Barack Obama’s wars.
> Much normative (or value-based) reasoning by liberals (and mainstream economists) is about the consequences of political actions for the welfare of individuals. [...]
Meanwhile, much conservative normative reasoning is about procedures rather than consequences. For example, as long as property rights and free exchange are guaranteed, the outcome is deemed just by definition, regardless of the consequences. People are “deserving” of whatever the market provides them with. For instance, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) seemed to center the idea of unfairness in his argument against the Affordable Care Act: “The idea of Obamacare is,” he said, “that the people who are healthy pay for the people who are sick.”
This is trying to frame the difference as being between consequentialist ethics and deontological ethics.
Predictably, I'm going to quibble. Specifically, the framing here elides how conservative stances appear to themselves be outcome-driven; the conservative strategy, as I see it, is to think of a preferred output (exemptions from taxation for the wealthy, say, or the disenfranchisement of people of color, or the establishment of a condition wherein it's impossible to be simultaneously female-bodied and free), and then engineer a set of rules that yield that preferred output.
In my experience — and please, people with different experience, tell me of instances where I'm wrong here — anyway, in my experience, attempting to engage in process-based arguments with conservatives is a fool's game: if, for example, you make a states-rights appeal for drug legalization, or a local-rule based appeal for increased minimum wages, you'll generally find the conservative in question adjusting their ethical rules to yield their preferred output — or just telling you to shut your mouth — rather than adjusting their preferred output to accord with what their ethical rules generate.
Meanwhile, the description of liberal stances seems not-quite-right either. The description here assumes consequentialism is necessarily utilitarianism; that liberals don't just think in terms of consequences, but specifically aim for the consequences that result in the greatest total utility (or greatest total good) for the greatest number of people. It's less about the welfare of individuals and more about the welfare of populations.
I'd argue that something like the reverse form of the conservative reasoning process is at play in most liberal reasoning; whereas conservatives reverse-engineer a set of rules that generate their preferred consequences, liberals position themselves as society-level utility-maximizers by arguing that correctly following a set of defined rules (market rules of allocation and exchange, regulated through written laws and well-defined institutional processes) will necessarily result in the maximization of utility. This is why, for example, the ACLU is understood as a liberal organization rather than a conservative or socialist one; the implicit argument they make when they defend (for example) white supremacists in court is that the rules of the legal system, if correctly followed in all cases, will yield justice for all.
It is this very stance that results in the perception that liberals are out-of-touch elitists or whatever, since positing that a set of rules properly followed yields the greatest good for the greatest number requires pretending that one can take a genuinely disinterested stance on what those rules should be; that a given specific person can find a "view from nowhere" granting them universal insight that transcends their individual preferences and desires. This reads as condescending — what, you know my life better than I do? — and also hypocritical — what, you're telling me these rules you're arguing for, which seem to benefit you more than me, really are in everyone's interest? pull the other one, it's got bells on.
In short, the characteristically liberal rhetorical move of positing oneself as someone capable of making a disinterested assessment of population-level utility is inherently suspect, since the person making that claim has to both establish their bona fides as a genuinely disinterested observer and also defend their claim to universal knowledge derived from their disinterest — difficult, since anyone with political commitments necessarily has a limited perspective and real interests to defend.
So I guess I'd argue that what appears to be conservative deontological ethics is actually consequentialism wearing the mask of deontology, while what appears to be liberal consequentialism reduces to a deontological ethics rooted in a claim to transcendental, universal, disinterested knowledge of what set of rules are best for all.
> This is the best concise explanation of the differences I've seen. It still boils down to "Let's help people" versus "Fuck you, I've got mine," but the tactics he outlines may be useful in making a point to all but the worst Deplorables.
Based on this, I don't think you can reasonably claim that either the liberal position boils down to "let's help people" or that the conservative position boils down to "fuck you, I've got mine." Instead, the liberal position has to be understood as a specific strategy for determining how to help people — find a universal disinterested view from nowhere and then implement disinterested rules that maximize universal utility as perceived from the disinterested standpoint — and the conservative position has to be understood as a way to mask the particularity of their interests behind claims to disinterested interpretation of rules.
Predictably, I'd like to claim that a non-transcendental, materialist, openly self-interested consequentalist consequentalism is more effective and sound than either conservative consequentialism disguised as deontology or liberal deontology disguised as utilitarian consequentialism — that instead of claiming universal disinterested knowledge about what's best for everyone and thereby exposing oneself to (justified) claims of hypocrisy, political actors should instead make arguments for, and militate for, specific material benefits for specific groups of people. Following this strategy, you can push for material benefits for large groups of people — the working class, women, people of color — through building cross-identity solidarity; if the alliance of people benefitted is large enough and solid enough, that alliance can win particular material gains for all of its members — minimum wage increases, wage gap reduction and elimination, improved access to reproductive care, reparations — without anyone either claiming universal knowledge or pretending to be a disinterested arbiter rather than an interested participant.
The significance here is that this is a fundamentally bottom-up process in a way that liberal utilitarianism isn't; whereas the liberal approach requires pretending to find a standpoint from above that's separate from self-interest, and then assuming that everyone will agree with claims made from this standpoint, this approach entails building power through mutually defending each others' self-interest, without pretending that politics isn't always an agonistic process involving competing and often mutually incompatible interests.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:37 AM on August 10, 2017 [72 favorites]
Meanwhile, much conservative normative reasoning is about procedures rather than consequences. For example, as long as property rights and free exchange are guaranteed, the outcome is deemed just by definition, regardless of the consequences. People are “deserving” of whatever the market provides them with. For instance, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) seemed to center the idea of unfairness in his argument against the Affordable Care Act: “The idea of Obamacare is,” he said, “that the people who are healthy pay for the people who are sick.”
This is trying to frame the difference as being between consequentialist ethics and deontological ethics.
Predictably, I'm going to quibble. Specifically, the framing here elides how conservative stances appear to themselves be outcome-driven; the conservative strategy, as I see it, is to think of a preferred output (exemptions from taxation for the wealthy, say, or the disenfranchisement of people of color, or the establishment of a condition wherein it's impossible to be simultaneously female-bodied and free), and then engineer a set of rules that yield that preferred output.
In my experience — and please, people with different experience, tell me of instances where I'm wrong here — anyway, in my experience, attempting to engage in process-based arguments with conservatives is a fool's game: if, for example, you make a states-rights appeal for drug legalization, or a local-rule based appeal for increased minimum wages, you'll generally find the conservative in question adjusting their ethical rules to yield their preferred output — or just telling you to shut your mouth — rather than adjusting their preferred output to accord with what their ethical rules generate.
Meanwhile, the description of liberal stances seems not-quite-right either. The description here assumes consequentialism is necessarily utilitarianism; that liberals don't just think in terms of consequences, but specifically aim for the consequences that result in the greatest total utility (or greatest total good) for the greatest number of people. It's less about the welfare of individuals and more about the welfare of populations.
I'd argue that something like the reverse form of the conservative reasoning process is at play in most liberal reasoning; whereas conservatives reverse-engineer a set of rules that generate their preferred consequences, liberals position themselves as society-level utility-maximizers by arguing that correctly following a set of defined rules (market rules of allocation and exchange, regulated through written laws and well-defined institutional processes) will necessarily result in the maximization of utility. This is why, for example, the ACLU is understood as a liberal organization rather than a conservative or socialist one; the implicit argument they make when they defend (for example) white supremacists in court is that the rules of the legal system, if correctly followed in all cases, will yield justice for all.
It is this very stance that results in the perception that liberals are out-of-touch elitists or whatever, since positing that a set of rules properly followed yields the greatest good for the greatest number requires pretending that one can take a genuinely disinterested stance on what those rules should be; that a given specific person can find a "view from nowhere" granting them universal insight that transcends their individual preferences and desires. This reads as condescending — what, you know my life better than I do? — and also hypocritical — what, you're telling me these rules you're arguing for, which seem to benefit you more than me, really are in everyone's interest? pull the other one, it's got bells on.
In short, the characteristically liberal rhetorical move of positing oneself as someone capable of making a disinterested assessment of population-level utility is inherently suspect, since the person making that claim has to both establish their bona fides as a genuinely disinterested observer and also defend their claim to universal knowledge derived from their disinterest — difficult, since anyone with political commitments necessarily has a limited perspective and real interests to defend.
So I guess I'd argue that what appears to be conservative deontological ethics is actually consequentialism wearing the mask of deontology, while what appears to be liberal consequentialism reduces to a deontological ethics rooted in a claim to transcendental, universal, disinterested knowledge of what set of rules are best for all.
> This is the best concise explanation of the differences I've seen. It still boils down to "Let's help people" versus "Fuck you, I've got mine," but the tactics he outlines may be useful in making a point to all but the worst Deplorables.
Based on this, I don't think you can reasonably claim that either the liberal position boils down to "let's help people" or that the conservative position boils down to "fuck you, I've got mine." Instead, the liberal position has to be understood as a specific strategy for determining how to help people — find a universal disinterested view from nowhere and then implement disinterested rules that maximize universal utility as perceived from the disinterested standpoint — and the conservative position has to be understood as a way to mask the particularity of their interests behind claims to disinterested interpretation of rules.
Predictably, I'd like to claim that a non-transcendental, materialist, openly self-interested consequentalist consequentalism is more effective and sound than either conservative consequentialism disguised as deontology or liberal deontology disguised as utilitarian consequentialism — that instead of claiming universal disinterested knowledge about what's best for everyone and thereby exposing oneself to (justified) claims of hypocrisy, political actors should instead make arguments for, and militate for, specific material benefits for specific groups of people. Following this strategy, you can push for material benefits for large groups of people — the working class, women, people of color — through building cross-identity solidarity; if the alliance of people benefitted is large enough and solid enough, that alliance can win particular material gains for all of its members — minimum wage increases, wage gap reduction and elimination, improved access to reproductive care, reparations — without anyone either claiming universal knowledge or pretending to be a disinterested arbiter rather than an interested participant.
The significance here is that this is a fundamentally bottom-up process in a way that liberal utilitarianism isn't; whereas the liberal approach requires pretending to find a standpoint from above that's separate from self-interest, and then assuming that everyone will agree with claims made from this standpoint, this approach entails building power through mutually defending each others' self-interest, without pretending that politics isn't always an agonistic process involving competing and often mutually incompatible interests.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:37 AM on August 10, 2017 [72 favorites]
But given the current political climate and level of involvement, 'an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people,"' can be re-phrased to say "if someone offers you donuts now, they're just trying to appease you and don't understand you already are engaged enough to not need food as a draw."
Or, you know, they just wanted to be nice and offer some donuts and water. This strikes me as an ultimate "bitch eating crackers" complaint. There is literally nothing the DNC could do other than roll over and give them everything they're asking for that they wouldn't attempt to construe as evidence of corrupt arrogance.
posted by biogeo at 9:43 AM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
Or, you know, they just wanted to be nice and offer some donuts and water. This strikes me as an ultimate "bitch eating crackers" complaint. There is literally nothing the DNC could do other than roll over and give them everything they're asking for that they wouldn't attempt to construe as evidence of corrupt arrogance.
posted by biogeo at 9:43 AM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
In normal circumstances, offering food at a meeting is a good way to get people to attend when they might otherwise be on the fence about coming. But given the current political climate and level of involvement, an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people,"
For me this is a perfect example of how someone can take a position I am inclined to agree with and then make me way less receptive to it by putting a crank-sounding unrelated grump in front of it.
Put less snarky, if you walk into an encounter pre-decided that the people involved are stupid and disingenuous then of course you can frame pretty much any action they take as being in service to that state. You wanna convince me that an organization is being dismissive? You need something that looks more like a priori dismissive and less like fried dough.
posted by phearlez at 9:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
For me this is a perfect example of how someone can take a position I am inclined to agree with and then make me way less receptive to it by putting a crank-sounding unrelated grump in front of it.
Put less snarky, if you walk into an encounter pre-decided that the people involved are stupid and disingenuous then of course you can frame pretty much any action they take as being in service to that state. You wanna convince me that an organization is being dismissive? You need something that looks more like a priori dismissive and less like fried dough.
posted by phearlez at 9:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
Dammit biogeo
posted by phearlez at 9:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 9:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, if they don't want the donuts, I'll take them.
posted by biogeo at 9:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by biogeo at 9:47 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
Trump: Mitch, get back to work and put Repeal & Replace, Tax Reform & Cuts and a great Infrastructure Bill on my desk for signing. You can do it!
Does he still not understand that members of Congress are not his employees, or is he daring them to prove otherwise?
posted by contraption at 9:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
Does he still not understand that members of Congress are not his employees, or is he daring them to prove otherwise?
posted by contraption at 9:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
Let's talk bluntly about what is happening in the American information space. /1 Because, Americans are being radicalized to reject core values of a democratic society /2 What have we heard from Fox-iverse this week? - At home, America is doing great. Economy going gangbusters, everything coming up roses /3 - BUT there are many enemies we must confront Via Gorka: left extremists are staging terror attacks/hate attacks in order to smear POTUS /4 Via Prince: our military & its leadership are weak & broken, and our wars should be outsourced to private forces w/no rules of engagement /5 Via POTUS, fox, Breitbart: establishment republicans are enemy far worse than democrats, will be challenged by trump's election machine /6 Don't underestimate importance of this. SCL/CA not a normal company. They have clear agenda. It's linked to trump/7 What's going to happen now is Republican Party will be gutted & repopulated w/ pro-Trump candidates. Think tea party elex, but far worse /8 These candidates, who reject fundamental democratic institutions/values, idea of tolerance and indisputable truth, American leadership .../9 ... Will be backed by a powerful alliance of media, data-analytics, money operating totally opaquely. Not clear stated agenda ... /10 Beyond elevation of small group of billionaires into positions where they control politics as means of controlling economic resources/11 This is why our institutions are being gutted. Because control requires centralization. Ditto with Trump team needing congress to be weak/12 Sound familiar? It's because it's what happened in Russia after 2000, only w/o the security state involved /13 But there are new tools that make the drive to accomplish this more possible. We're mostly ignoring how it is happening /14 The core apparatus of conservative media is sending 1 message: only president can be trusted. Dark forces prevent him from delivering... /15 So the only way for him to be successful is to attack the enemy within. That's how you conduct state capture w/ 25% radicalized base/16 If I knew nothing about America and were analyzing its information environment the way I do that of other countries... /17 I would tell you a campaign of subversion is well underway, near complete. This will move out of info space soon. Always does. /18 Now we have an external enemy and crisis, North Korea, and a reason to centralize more control to deal with crisis /19
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [44 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [44 favorites]
cjelli: Given that the Mueller investigation isn't leaking immediately like a broken sieve that's broken exactly in a way to leak more rather than less (ie, unlike the Trump administration), that we're hearing this much, this long after the fact, suggests that there are probably a lot more subpoenas out there that we haven't heard about yet.
I keep thinking about what Jonah Goldberg, senior editor at the National Review, said on NPR back in February of this year: there are four key kinds of leaks in the current administration:
I feel that Mueller's investigation could be controlling the flow of information really well, in that these "leaks" are just their way of getting information out in such a way to both indicate that they are digging deep, and are in complete control of the situation (as in, a bedroom knock to alert Manafort that they were already in his house, which the public learns weeks later).
posted by filthy light thief at 9:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I keep thinking about what Jonah Goldberg, senior editor at the National Review, said on NPR back in February of this year: there are four key kinds of leaks in the current administration:
- leaks as attacks in internal White House staff battles,
- permanent government people acting against Trump's terrible policies (something like Deep Throat, "a vital check on anti-democratic impulses emanating from the Nixon White House"),
- a way to get Trump's attention, or
- intentionally leaked to get a story out
I feel that Mueller's investigation could be controlling the flow of information really well, in that these "leaks" are just their way of getting information out in such a way to both indicate that they are digging deep, and are in complete control of the situation (as in, a bedroom knock to alert Manafort that they were already in his house, which the public learns weeks later).
posted by filthy light thief at 9:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Politico Playbook: Good Thursday morning. COINCIDENCE?: “Fire and fury” is a mission in the videogame “World of Warcraft.” Who had a business and personal connection to “World of Warcraft”? Stephen K. Bannon
Steve Bannon Saw the ‘Monster Power’ of Angry Gamers While Farming Gold in World of Warcraft
posted by chris24 at 9:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
Steve Bannon Saw the ‘Monster Power’ of Angry Gamers While Farming Gold in World of Warcraft
posted by chris24 at 9:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
Or, you know, they just wanted to be nice and offer some donuts and water.
The insult wasn't the donuts, it was serving them with water instead of coffee. I mean... who does that??
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
The insult wasn't the donuts, it was serving them with water instead of coffee. I mean... who does that??
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Does he still not understand that members of Congress are not his employees, or is he daring them to prove otherwise?
He's blameshifting. He's dithering on Afghanistan because he hasn't figured out on whom he can dump the blame without splattering himself with it, too.
posted by notyou at 9:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
He's blameshifting. He's dithering on Afghanistan because he hasn't figured out on whom he can dump the blame without splattering himself with it, too.
posted by notyou at 9:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Republicans in the Senate couldn't pass a healthcare bill, but maybe they'll have more luck if they try to do it at the same time as taxes and infrastructure.
posted by diogenes at 9:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 9:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
I'm thinking that a handful of Senate and House Dems may be the only adults in this entire government.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's only a matter of time before Trump gives McConnell a belittling nickname.
posted by diogenes at 9:59 AM on August 10, 2017
posted by diogenes at 9:59 AM on August 10, 2017
I'm really starting to miss PNAC. I mean, sure they were a shadowy cabal of neo-colonialists but at least they kept the trains wrecking on-time.
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
PATRIOTHOLE: Our Brave Savior: Donald Trump Is Working TIRELESSLY To Return The Precious White Orbs Obama STOLE From The FURIOUS Dwarf King That Lives Under America
[PATRIOTHOLE is a satirical publication]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
[PATRIOTHOLE is a satirical publication]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:00 AM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
It's only a matter of time before Trump gives McConnell a belittling nickname.
"Yawning Yertle"?
posted by Talez at 10:01 AM on August 10, 2017
"Yawning Yertle"?
posted by Talez at 10:01 AM on August 10, 2017
diogenes: The Republicans in the Senate couldn't pass a healthcare bill, but maybe they'll have more luck if they try to do it at the same time as taxes and infrastructure.
I know, right? Just make a bill so big that it cannot be comprehended. It will be too big to fail! Let's call it something that sounds like it would be a real war cry. How about MAGA? Make America Great Act. It's catchy, right? No? Try shouting it, like you're defending the Alamo.
That's it! Let's call it ALAMO! Americas Last Assault on Meddling Operatives! A last stand kind of thing, to really rile up the base, and fight against those meddling operatives, the so-called "Democrats," who are really commie pinkos.
(Wait, is that still a bad thing? I'm so confused.)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:02 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I know, right? Just make a bill so big that it cannot be comprehended. It will be too big to fail! Let's call it something that sounds like it would be a real war cry. How about MAGA? Make America Great Act. It's catchy, right? No? Try shouting it, like you're defending the Alamo.
That's it! Let's call it ALAMO! Americas Last Assault on Meddling Operatives! A last stand kind of thing, to really rile up the base, and fight against those meddling operatives, the so-called "Democrats," who are really commie pinkos.
(Wait, is that still a bad thing? I'm so confused.)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:02 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Mueller’s team of investigators has sent subpoenas in recent weeks from a Washington grand jury
In recent weeks? The Washington grand jury was reported empanelled just a week ago. Has it been going longer than that?
It's interesting that events like the raid have been kept out of the press for so long, when it's not like they're either secret or legally protected from being reported. That sort of news normally spreads rapidly under its own steam.
posted by Devonian at 10:02 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
In recent weeks? The Washington grand jury was reported empanelled just a week ago. Has it been going longer than that?
It's interesting that events like the raid have been kept out of the press for so long, when it's not like they're either secret or legally protected from being reported. That sort of news normally spreads rapidly under its own steam.
posted by Devonian at 10:02 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
I frankly loathe Gorka. His affect and bombast certainly make me predisposed to dislike him, but of course it's his fascism I really despise, and that he is speaking on behalf of the Presidency and infecting our politics at its highest level with his fascism that really turns my stomach.
So, making jokes about him leaves me conflicted. Nevertheless, I will forever relish the MeFi collaborative joke-writing upthread that led to this:
You folks are doing the Lord's work up in here.
posted by darkstar at 10:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
So, making jokes about him leaves me conflicted. Nevertheless, I will forever relish the MeFi collaborative joke-writing upthread that led to this:
Q. What is the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
A1. One is a flaming Nazi gasbag and the other is a dirigible.
A2. No one will be shocked when Gorka goes down in flames.
...and my favorite...
A3. Oh, the humanity.
You folks are doing the Lord's work up in here.
posted by darkstar at 10:04 AM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
“Fire and fury” is a mission in the videogame “World of Warcraft.” Who had a business and personal connection to “World of Warcraft”? Stephen K. Bannon
On the other hand I could see Stephen Miller being a Tom Waits fan:
On the other hand I could see Stephen Miller being a Tom Waits fan:
He's got the fire and the furyposted by contraption at 10:05 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
At his command
Well you don't have to worry
If you hold on to Jesus hand
We'll all be safe from Satan
When the thunder rolls
We just gotta help me keep the devil
Way down in the hole
okay so really the way you tell whether the people organizing a political meeting care about people is by checking to see whether or not child care is provided. If it is, the meeting is being run by people who want everyone to be able to attend; if it's not, the people organizing the meeting are tacitly excluding working parents from the process.
Anyway, I thought the donuts thing was weird when I first read it, but after reading y'all tearing into Turner for saying it I think I'm on Turner's side. Would it be easier to understand if the offering were cookies instead of donuts? like, "oh, that's sweet, no, we won't let you in to deliver your petition, here, have a cookie, that'll make it all better."
If someone claims to represent you, but gives you snack foods instead of letting you in their building, that someone may not actually be on your side.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Anyway, I thought the donuts thing was weird when I first read it, but after reading y'all tearing into Turner for saying it I think I'm on Turner's side. Would it be easier to understand if the offering were cookies instead of donuts? like, "oh, that's sweet, no, we won't let you in to deliver your petition, here, have a cookie, that'll make it all better."
If someone claims to represent you, but gives you snack foods instead of letting you in their building, that someone may not actually be on your side.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Trump’s failure to approve a plan — any plan — has surprised U.S. commanders in Afghanistan, in the Pentagon and at the U.S. Central Command, the officials said.
He wants Erik Prince's "give me Afghanistan" plan but he doesn't want to get his fingerprints on the approval, he needs somebody else to OK it. Unsurprisingly the Pentagon hates the idea of making Erik Prince the de facto King of Afghanistan but Trump can't let go of it. Once he sees that nobody will step up & do what he wants without him having to ask for it he'll make the ultimate sacrifice of saying "this is what I want" but he won't actually formally order it.
posted by scalefree at 10:09 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
He wants Erik Prince's "give me Afghanistan" plan but he doesn't want to get his fingerprints on the approval, he needs somebody else to OK it. Unsurprisingly the Pentagon hates the idea of making Erik Prince the de facto King of Afghanistan but Trump can't let go of it. Once he sees that nobody will step up & do what he wants without him having to ask for it he'll make the ultimate sacrifice of saying "this is what I want" but he won't actually formally order it.
posted by scalefree at 10:09 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
McCain knocks Trump while unveiling Afghan strategy (Rebecca Kheel, The Hill)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:24 AM on August 10 [+] [!]
Okay, fair warning. I'm going to engage in full-on ad hominem attack. McCain is Mr. "The Surge Worked."
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:24 AM on August 10 [+] [!]
Okay, fair warning. I'm going to engage in full-on ad hominem attack. McCain is Mr. "The Surge Worked."
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
With all the archaic literature I have read in my life, I never saw this word, nor learned its meaning until today.
Now I am sure this has to be a simulation. They are running out of players, names, concepts.
posted by Oyéah at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Now I am sure this has to be a simulation. They are running out of players, names, concepts.
posted by Oyéah at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Would it be easier to understand if the offering were cookies instead of donuts?
Nope, still seems innocuous to me. Would it be easier to understand if it were "breaking bread together"?
posted by biogeo at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Nope, still seems innocuous to me. Would it be easier to understand if it were "breaking bread together"?
posted by biogeo at 10:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
With Bank Subpoenas, Mueller Turns Up the Heat on Manafort (Christian Berthelsen and Greg Farrell, Bloomberg Politics))
Isn't this just a matter of calling up the IRS and asking for them to throw it up on their FTP server?
Since people have been dying to know if and when Mueller would ask for them, I read it more as, "now we can take an educated guess that he has done whatever he needed to do and is possession of them" rather than the delivery method.
U.S. expelled two Cuban diplomats after embassy employees in Cuba developed unexplained ailments
This was another bonkers story that Maddow discussed last night. It's worth watching; as usual, she pieces together all the details like no one else can.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
In fact, Manafort had alerted authorities to a controversial meeting on June 9, 2016, involving Trump’s son Donald Jr., other campaign representatives and a Russian lawyer promising damaging information on Hillary Clinton, according to people familiar with the matter. The president and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were dragged into the matter as details repeatedly emerged that contradicted the initial accounts of that meeting.(Emphasis mine)
Isn't this just a matter of calling up the IRS and asking for them to throw it up on their FTP server?
Since people have been dying to know if and when Mueller would ask for them, I read it more as, "now we can take an educated guess that he has done whatever he needed to do and is possession of them" rather than the delivery method.
U.S. expelled two Cuban diplomats after embassy employees in Cuba developed unexplained ailments
This was another bonkers story that Maddow discussed last night. It's worth watching; as usual, she pieces together all the details like no one else can.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:12 AM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
For the love of all that's holy, stop offering those guys donuts or we'll end up with four more years of Tsar Donnie or whatever god-awful piece of shit is still left standing in the White House by 2020.
posted by Behemoth at 10:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Behemoth at 10:18 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's only a matter of time before Trump gives McConnell a belittling nickname.
I mean, his first name is "Mitch." It sorta writes itself.
posted by spitbull at 10:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
I mean, his first name is "Mitch." It sorta writes itself.
posted by spitbull at 10:19 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
> Nope, still seems innocuous to me. Would it be easier to understand if it were "breaking bread together"?
That formulation would only be appropriate if the people Turner's group was petitioning came out to accept the petition and then discuss it over donuts (or cookies, or bread). Quote the original article:
I think the reason why people are misreading this situation is because people genuinely do think that Turner doesn't have standing to deliver petitions to the DNC; that the empty gesture of sending out donuts is more than enough, because the DNC doesn't have to do anything at all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
That formulation would only be appropriate if the people Turner's group was petitioning came out to accept the petition and then discuss it over donuts (or cookies, or bread). Quote the original article:
The grievances converge around a recent trip to deliver petitions to the party’s headquarters in Washington, where Turner and other progressives were greeted by barricades, security guards, and an offering of donuts and water, an empty gesture indicative, as she saw it, of an institution that isn't “smart enough, humble enough, to say let’s take a step back and really listen to the people,"It's a deep misreading of the situation to present this as "breaking bread together."
I think the reason why people are misreading this situation is because people genuinely do think that Turner doesn't have standing to deliver petitions to the DNC; that the empty gesture of sending out donuts is more than enough, because the DNC doesn't have to do anything at all.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:20 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Would it be easier to understand if it were "breaking bread together"?
That doesn't seem quite right. Isn't "breaking bread together" when you invite somebody in to dine with you, as opposed to barricading them out and giving them something to eat while they stand by the side of the road?
posted by contraption at 10:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
That doesn't seem quite right. Isn't "breaking bread together" when you invite somebody in to dine with you, as opposed to barricading them out and giving them something to eat while they stand by the side of the road?
posted by contraption at 10:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Also has anyone checked to see if David Brooks and Garrison Keillor have ever appeared together? Both seem to believe they can suggest just tuning Trump out. I can't imagine what they have in common that could make that seem plausible!
posted by spitbull at 10:22 AM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 10:22 AM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
National Treasure Alexandra Petri, WaPo: The worst improv scenarios from Trump’s presidency so far
If President Trump is doing improv, that explains why I have been stuck in a basement every night for weeks not laughing. It explains a lot of other things, honestly. What is more likely, that the president thinks Jared Kushner can succeed where hundreds of experienced diplomats have failed, or that a man from the audience shouted, “WHAT IF A BABY HAD TO FIX THE MIDDLE EAST” and the team went with it? I just wish that everyone around him would stop saying “yes, and.”posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:22 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
Here are a few other great improv scenarios and prompts that Trump has been sharing with us over the past 200 days. Based on the suggestions, I assume the audience is drunk.
While it sounds delicious in theory, I'm hoping we don't devolve into a circular baking squad.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
A good thread from Brittany Packnett, a member of the Ferguson Commission and President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
@MsPackyetti
It's amazing to watch folks say Harris, Booker and Patrick are too establishment-as if black folks could win statewide office + not be.
- I've been trying to figure out what really was grinding my gears about this "critique," and I finally did: its the SuperBlack complex again.
- Let me be clear: every politician must be tested and held accountable. EVERY one.
- But the expectation of black people that we are altogether Black enough to be down but not too Black to be elected is trash.
- Any current Black politician close enough to sniff around the presidency is there because their Blackness was acceptable on some level.
- But instead of question the systems/culture that require Black people to be both two dimensional AND superheroes, you throw salt.
- And *then* you have the audacity to declare that the measuring stick for said Black politicians are the politics of an old white man?
- An old white man who, by the way, *really* struggled on race and doesn't seem to be bothered by anti-choice democrats. Hmmm...
- And when we say "BernieBros tend to be bad w race," we get trolled. but them measuring black pols to Bernie in the first place is proof.
- .@ProfessorCrunk, per usual, laid it out beautifully. Esp. discussing the "visionary pragmatism" that black women HAVE to operate with. [screenshot]
- If you read nothing else, read this from @ProfessorCrunk. If you still don't get it, your ignorance might be willful. COSMO: Get Off Kamala Harris's Back
- Now, I absolutely hope to reach the point where patently progressive Black candidates who take on class AND race can win statewide office.
- But pls know: that will take the continued dismantling of racism and double standards as much as candidate recruitment. Work accordingly.
- Scrutinize politicians. All of them. We must. But scrutiny that ignores the double standards of oppression are bad takes + won't stand up.
posted by chris24 at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [83 favorites]
@MsPackyetti
It's amazing to watch folks say Harris, Booker and Patrick are too establishment-as if black folks could win statewide office + not be.
- I've been trying to figure out what really was grinding my gears about this "critique," and I finally did: its the SuperBlack complex again.
- Let me be clear: every politician must be tested and held accountable. EVERY one.
- But the expectation of black people that we are altogether Black enough to be down but not too Black to be elected is trash.
- Any current Black politician close enough to sniff around the presidency is there because their Blackness was acceptable on some level.
- But instead of question the systems/culture that require Black people to be both two dimensional AND superheroes, you throw salt.
- And *then* you have the audacity to declare that the measuring stick for said Black politicians are the politics of an old white man?
- An old white man who, by the way, *really* struggled on race and doesn't seem to be bothered by anti-choice democrats. Hmmm...
- And when we say "BernieBros tend to be bad w race," we get trolled. but them measuring black pols to Bernie in the first place is proof.
- .@ProfessorCrunk, per usual, laid it out beautifully. Esp. discussing the "visionary pragmatism" that black women HAVE to operate with. [screenshot]
- If you read nothing else, read this from @ProfessorCrunk. If you still don't get it, your ignorance might be willful. COSMO: Get Off Kamala Harris's Back
- Now, I absolutely hope to reach the point where patently progressive Black candidates who take on class AND race can win statewide office.
- But pls know: that will take the continued dismantling of racism and double standards as much as candidate recruitment. Work accordingly.
- Scrutinize politicians. All of them. We must. But scrutiny that ignores the double standards of oppression are bad takes + won't stand up.
posted by chris24 at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [83 favorites]
In recent weeks? The Washington grand jury was reported empanelled just a week ago. Has it been going longer than that?
There's been an active grand jury in Virginia for a while; the recent D.C. grand jury is the second one.
posted by cortex at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
There's been an active grand jury in Virginia for a while; the recent D.C. grand jury is the second one.
posted by cortex at 10:23 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
can be re-phrased to say "if someone offers you donuts now, they're just trying to appease you and don't understand you already are engaged enough to not need food as a draw."
In the case of the meeting I'm going to tonight, I'm 99% sure the donuts are there because the guy who runs it is really excited about giving away a big pile of donuts rather than any great conspiracy.
posted by zachlipton at 10:25 AM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
In the case of the meeting I'm going to tonight, I'm 99% sure the donuts are there because the guy who runs it is really excited about giving away a big pile of donuts rather than any great conspiracy.
posted by zachlipton at 10:25 AM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
While it sounds delicious in theory, I'm hoping we don't devolve into a circular baking squad.
We're definitely headed in that direction with all these cake pledges.
posted by contraption at 10:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
We're definitely headed in that direction with all these cake pledges.
posted by contraption at 10:30 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I think we're okay if it's just the members of the squad that are circular.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:31 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:31 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
> In the case of the meeting I'm going to tonight, I'm 99% sure the donuts are there because the guy who runs it is really excited about giving away a big pile of donuts rather than any great conspiracy.
This guy who gives away donuts, do you get to talk with him in person or does he have security guards who deny you entry to the meeting?
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:32 AM on August 10, 2017
This guy who gives away donuts, do you get to talk with him in person or does he have security guards who deny you entry to the meeting?
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 10:32 AM on August 10, 2017
That formulation would only be appropriate if the people Turner's group was petitioning came out to accept the petition and then discuss it over donuts (or cookies, or bread). Quote the original article:
Also quoting the original article - they showed up with 60 people. That's not something you do to have a discussion, that's a visibility stunt. It's not said one way or the other by the article but its implied they showed up mostly unannounced. They showed up with a bullhorn, as displayed in the video linked in the original article.
I'm not against visibility stunts. I think they serve a valuable purpose. But there's no indication here, for example, that any effort was made to schedule a meeting with Perez to deliver this. You want to tell me nobody would meet with you so you had to do this to get attention? I'm receptive and I think it's smart. But the DNC HQ is on Capitol Hill, and if you think you're gonna lead a group of 60 people anywhere into a building unannounced there w/o an issue you're just ignorant or disingenuous.
And when, in relation to all of that, you even bother to mention that you were offered food? You sound like a jackass who has to reach for grievances.
posted by phearlez at 10:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
Also quoting the original article - they showed up with 60 people. That's not something you do to have a discussion, that's a visibility stunt. It's not said one way or the other by the article but its implied they showed up mostly unannounced. They showed up with a bullhorn, as displayed in the video linked in the original article.
I'm not against visibility stunts. I think they serve a valuable purpose. But there's no indication here, for example, that any effort was made to schedule a meeting with Perez to deliver this. You want to tell me nobody would meet with you so you had to do this to get attention? I'm receptive and I think it's smart. But the DNC HQ is on Capitol Hill, and if you think you're gonna lead a group of 60 people anywhere into a building unannounced there w/o an issue you're just ignorant or disingenuous.
And when, in relation to all of that, you even bother to mention that you were offered food? You sound like a jackass who has to reach for grievances.
posted by phearlez at 10:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
With all the archaic literature I have read in my life, I never saw this word, nor learned its meaning until today.
Now I am sure this has to be a simulation. They are running out of players, names, concepts.
This is why I was so caught by the turn of phrase in the hourly NPR news with Scott Worsely the other day:
posted by tilde at 10:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Now I am sure this has to be a simulation. They are running out of players, names, concepts.
This is why I was so caught by the turn of phrase in the hourly NPR news with Scott Worsely the other day:
I'm listening to the hourly news report on NPR. "Trump has been trumpeting the news about a Chinese whatever…"They can't use trumpery much yet, but they're itchin' to.
posted by tilde at 10:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
yeah this is 100% "bitch eating crackers" as stated above. It's also really sad, because instead of I don't know, working together, Turner is turning this into a spectacle which is the last thing we need.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 10:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 10:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
"But the DNC is the real enemy" rings more and more hollow every day as our democracy dies.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:37 AM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:37 AM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
> It’s only in the aftermath of Trump’s election that there’s widespread acknowledgement of just how powerful harnessing the online population of privileged but angry young men can be. Bannon’s genius was recognizing this long before the rest of the world caught on.
In 2004* I visited a friend who was big into playing what I'm pretty sure was Counterstrike on XBox Live. I've never been much of a gamer, and I've never played anything online, so I was surprised and appalled by the rampant and constant racism, homophobia and sexism that constantly poured out of his speakers as he played with and against what sounded like mostly teenagers from the U.S. south (who would have been in the same time zone as Halifax). "I just tune it out," he said. And now here we are.
* I know it was 2004 because we watched this game in a pub full of Sad English Football Fans.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
In 2004* I visited a friend who was big into playing what I'm pretty sure was Counterstrike on XBox Live. I've never been much of a gamer, and I've never played anything online, so I was surprised and appalled by the rampant and constant racism, homophobia and sexism that constantly poured out of his speakers as he played with and against what sounded like mostly teenagers from the U.S. south (who would have been in the same time zone as Halifax). "I just tune it out," he said. And now here we are.
* I know it was 2004 because we watched this game in a pub full of Sad English Football Fans.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I think we're okay if it's just the members of the squad that are circular.
First, assume a perfectly circular firing squad...
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
First, assume a perfectly circular firing squad...
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
First, assume a perfectly circular firing squad...
In a vacuum...
posted by Talez at 10:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
In a vacuum...
posted by Talez at 10:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
...on an infinitely long treadmill. Will it take off??
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 10:46 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Old Kentucky Shark at 10:46 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
...and a massless, frictionless member.
posted by darkstar at 10:46 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 10:46 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
"But the DNC is the real enemy" rings more and more hollow every day as our democracy dies.
The Republicans control 34 states, The House, Senate, Presidency and SCOTUS.
With friends like these....
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
The Republicans control 34 states, The House, Senate, Presidency and SCOTUS.
With friends like these....
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:48 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
This guy who gives away donuts, do you get to talk with him in person or does he have security guards who deny you entry to the meeting?
With the DNC, a group of 60 or so people showed up with a bullhorn. I honestly think sending down staffers to talk to them outside, give them food and drink, accept their petition, offer to continue to work with the group's leader, already a DNC member and someone who sits on several DNC committees, and stand aside as they held their rally, is about as good as you're going to expect under such circumstances. Groups of 60 people with a bullhorn don't get randomly invited inside to meetings.
I really don't know what you'd expect more than "thank you for the petition, we need your support, here's a few words from our Political Director, please enjoy some donuts as you hold your rally."
posted by zachlipton at 10:49 AM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
With the DNC, a group of 60 or so people showed up with a bullhorn. I honestly think sending down staffers to talk to them outside, give them food and drink, accept their petition, offer to continue to work with the group's leader, already a DNC member and someone who sits on several DNC committees, and stand aside as they held their rally, is about as good as you're going to expect under such circumstances. Groups of 60 people with a bullhorn don't get randomly invited inside to meetings.
I really don't know what you'd expect more than "thank you for the petition, we need your support, here's a few words from our Political Director, please enjoy some donuts as you hold your rally."
posted by zachlipton at 10:49 AM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
You mess with the bullhorn, you get the donuts.
posted by thelonius at 10:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 10:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah, I mean they had the political director - who reports straight to the XO and the Chair - accept this petition and talk to them. If Our Revolution's complaint boils down to "they wouldn't let us have our bullhorn-using rally inside their lobby and then they had the NERVE to offer us food" then I guess my days of not taking them seriously are coming to a middle.
posted by phearlez at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
With Bank Subpoenas, Mueller Turns Up the Heat on Manafort (Christian Berthelsen and Greg Farrell, Bloomberg Politics))
Just as important, Gates was identified (pdf) as an agent of Ukrainian gas oligarch Dmytro Firtash in a 2011 racketeering lawsuit that also named Manafort. And Firtash is well known to Mueller's investigative team member Lisa Page, who, when she was a Justice Department trial attorney, had partnered with a Budapest-based FBI task force that helped put together an ongoing money laundering case against Firtash.
In short, Mueller's net is drawing tighter.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
Mueller’s team of investigators has sent subpoenas in recent weeks from a Washington grand jury to global banks for account information and records of transactions involving Manafort and some of his companies, as well as those of a long-time business partner, Rick Gates, according to people familiar with the matter.Bloomberg's article identifies Gates only as Manafort's "long-time business partner", but he was also Manafort's deputy on the Trump campaign. (It turns out Manafort enlisted a lot of his shady associates for the Trump campaign, which is bound to come back to bite him now.)
Just as important, Gates was identified (pdf) as an agent of Ukrainian gas oligarch Dmytro Firtash in a 2011 racketeering lawsuit that also named Manafort. And Firtash is well known to Mueller's investigative team member Lisa Page, who, when she was a Justice Department trial attorney, had partnered with a Budapest-based FBI task force that helped put together an ongoing money laundering case against Firtash.
In short, Mueller's net is drawing tighter.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:54 AM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
I guess the question of why the Republicans control so much right now is whether (1) it's primarily because the DNC is overly beholden to monied interests and incapable of effectively corralling the herd of cats that makes up the political left, or (2) it's mainly because the GOP is obscenely well funded, willing to exploit our cultural legacies of sexism, racism, xenophobia and homophobia, and embraces the existential urgency of antidemocratic suppression of the voting franchise among its opponents.
It's probably a little bit of both, tbh.
posted by darkstar at 10:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
It's probably a little bit of both, tbh.
posted by darkstar at 10:55 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
It's probably a little bit of both, tbh.
Plus old people vote and don't like taxes.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Plus old people vote and don't like taxes.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
plus when young people try to get the democrats to look out for their interests, they get told to fuck off but here's a donut
posted by entropicamericana at 10:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 10:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Yes, I should have added our cultural legacies (human frailties?) of fear, selfishness and greed, as well.
posted by darkstar at 10:59 AM on August 10, 2017
posted by darkstar at 10:59 AM on August 10, 2017
plus when young people try to get the democrats to look out for their interests, they get told to fuck off but here's a donut
posted by phearlez at 11:01 AM on August 10, 2017 [21 favorites]
Turner, the 49-year-old former Ohio state senator and DNC member herself,is this like how Eric Trump is a young man?
posted by phearlez at 11:01 AM on August 10, 2017 [21 favorites]
I guess the question of why the Republicans control so much right now is whether (1) it's primarily because the DNC is overly beholden to monied interests and incapable of effectively corralling the herd of cats that makes up the political left, or (2) it's mainly because the GOP is obscenely well funded, willing to exploit our cultural legacies of sexism, racism, xenophobia and homophobia, and embraces the existential urgency of antidemocratic suppression of the voting franchise among its opponents.
Given the state of the political left at the moment "herding cats" seems a bit like a fucking understatement.
I mean, I'm not surprised that the DNC can't corral people who accuse the DNC of bribing them with donuts.
posted by lydhre at 11:03 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Given the state of the political left at the moment "herding cats" seems a bit like a fucking understatement.
I mean, I'm not surprised that the DNC can't corral people who accuse the DNC of bribing them with donuts.
posted by lydhre at 11:03 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
This is getting ridiculous. The petitions were accepted, they were allowed to have a rally, they were offered refreshments. The group of 60 were not allowed into the building, which sounds like common sense to me.
Casting that as being told to fuck off and here's a donut is so hyperbolic as to verge on trolling at this point, ffs.
posted by darkstar at 11:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [62 favorites]
Casting that as being told to fuck off and here's a donut is so hyperbolic as to verge on trolling at this point, ffs.
posted by darkstar at 11:06 AM on August 10, 2017 [62 favorites]
Jason "spend more time with my family" Chaffetz has accepted a fellowship at Harvard. Harvard is located in Massachusetts. His family is not.
What? Did the Fox News gig fall through or something?
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
What? Did the Fox News gig fall through or something?
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
Donuts'n'Watergate
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:08 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
What? Did the Fox News gig fall through or something?
Harvard is in the Acela corridor, so he can just live between Manhattan and Cambridge, if, that is, he can stomach all the cosmopolitanism and coastal elitism. (*natch*)
posted by dis_integration at 11:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Harvard is in the Acela corridor, so he can just live between Manhattan and Cambridge, if, that is, he can stomach all the cosmopolitanism and coastal elitism. (*natch*)
posted by dis_integration at 11:10 AM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mod note: A few comments removed, reload and please chill a bit.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:14 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:14 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I guess the question of why the Republicans control so much right now is whether (1) it's primarily because the DNC is overly beholden to monied interests and incapable of effectively corralling the herd of cats that makes up the political left, or (2) it's mainly because the GOP is obscenely well funded, willing to exploit our cultural legacies of sexism, racism, xenophobia and homophobia, and embraces the existential urgency of antidemocratic suppression of the voting franchise among its opponents.
You didn't mention the biggest reason; a party in power for 8 years almost always suffers huge losses. The only exception since WWII is Reagan. And the idea that the last 8 years are markedly worse is wrong, they were similar to or smaller than most postwar presidencies.
NYT: Obama-Era Political Losses, the Real Story
posted by chris24 at 11:17 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
You didn't mention the biggest reason; a party in power for 8 years almost always suffers huge losses. The only exception since WWII is Reagan. And the idea that the last 8 years are markedly worse is wrong, they were similar to or smaller than most postwar presidencies.
NYT: Obama-Era Political Losses, the Real Story
posted by chris24 at 11:17 AM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
The DNC has made a 31-year-old former Sanders supporter, Amanda Brown Lierman, the policital director. The Perez - Ellison race ended with Perez immediately making Ellison the vice chair.
On the other side, we have stuff like this donut complaint and statements like
To portray this as a clash of the young outsiders with the establishment olds is false on its face. In their every statement and complaint the Our Revolution folks reinforce the image folks have of them as people who can never accept a compromise or let go of a time they didn't get their way.
posted by phearlez at 11:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
On the other side, we have stuff like this donut complaint and statements like
“Chairman Perez won, but the energy was behind Congressman Keith Ellison," said Turner.from a late-40s former state senator. And the crowd who accompanied her. I mean man, LOOK at those oppressed youths!
To portray this as a clash of the young outsiders with the establishment olds is false on its face. In their every statement and complaint the Our Revolution folks reinforce the image folks have of them as people who can never accept a compromise or let go of a time they didn't get their way.
posted by phearlez at 11:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
Upon re-read, I recognize that the phrase "corralling the herd of cats that makes up the political left", while evocative, is dismissive. A better phrasing might be: "representing the sometimes widely divergent and passionately held values and preferred methods of the political left."
Nevertheless, I confess to being one of the cats.
posted by darkstar at 11:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Nevertheless, I confess to being one of the cats.
posted by darkstar at 11:21 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
There's been an active grand jury in Virginia for a while; the recent D.C. grand jury is the second one.
I know, but the report specifically referred to the latter.
It's not an important detail in the panoply of awful we're swimming through, but who doesn't want to know more about the coming indictofest?
posted by Devonian at 11:27 AM on August 10, 2017
I know, but the report specifically referred to the latter.
It's not an important detail in the panoply of awful we're swimming through, but who doesn't want to know more about the coming indictofest?
posted by Devonian at 11:27 AM on August 10, 2017
The manager asked me: "So, suburbanbeanik, are you afraid of clowns?" I replied not particularly. "So what are you afraid of?" she asked.
"Nuclear war," I said.
Everybody paled and grew silent.
I've been in two separate problem-solving huddles at work today where the conversation went something like:
A: This is such a mess. Unraveling/solving this problem is going to be a nightmare.
B: Well, by next week North Korea might be dropping bombs on us, so what's the rush?
And then we moved on, went and did other things instead.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
"Nuclear war," I said.
Everybody paled and grew silent.
I've been in two separate problem-solving huddles at work today where the conversation went something like:
A: This is such a mess. Unraveling/solving this problem is going to be a nightmare.
B: Well, by next week North Korea might be dropping bombs on us, so what's the rush?
And then we moved on, went and did other things instead.
posted by mudpuppie at 11:27 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Plus old people vote and don't like taxes.
I think if you look at it from a few steps back it's even more clear some of the reasons for their success. Not only is that demographic one that consistently shows up to vote (which is the number
1 reason by a mile), but they're a group whose interests more align with don't let anything change. "Reject everything" as a message is consistent across their party. Any Dem running on "let's do X" means you have to cope with people having a variety of priorities for what should be X even before you account for how those are sometimes priorities at odds with each other.
As congress has shown us for the last few decades, being the people who say NUH-UH is a hell of a lot easier than actually advancing stuff. The way everything - including basic reality - works is biased towards people who just want to reject and delay. Inertia is a thing and it's Republican. So not only do they have a unity of purpose, they have a united demonstration of success. "We stopped change" appeals to your whole electorate. "We did X" suffers the same problem in bragging as it does as a rally cry - not all Dem voters were enthused by X.
On the upside, this is something that could be a big help in the next elections. The Republican party has been basing so much of recent years' promises on actually doing shit, in so far as repealing in-place things is an action. They were elected to change something (back, but still). So now they actually have to deal with the consequences of both how it looked when they were trying to do it (kicking people off medicare) but also that their electorate was divided on doing it and how they were doing it. Here's hoping that bites them in the ass.
posted by phearlez at 11:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
I think if you look at it from a few steps back it's even more clear some of the reasons for their success. Not only is that demographic one that consistently shows up to vote (which is the number
1 reason by a mile), but they're a group whose interests more align with don't let anything change. "Reject everything" as a message is consistent across their party. Any Dem running on "let's do X" means you have to cope with people having a variety of priorities for what should be X even before you account for how those are sometimes priorities at odds with each other.
As congress has shown us for the last few decades, being the people who say NUH-UH is a hell of a lot easier than actually advancing stuff. The way everything - including basic reality - works is biased towards people who just want to reject and delay. Inertia is a thing and it's Republican. So not only do they have a unity of purpose, they have a united demonstration of success. "We stopped change" appeals to your whole electorate. "We did X" suffers the same problem in bragging as it does as a rally cry - not all Dem voters were enthused by X.
On the upside, this is something that could be a big help in the next elections. The Republican party has been basing so much of recent years' promises on actually doing shit, in so far as repealing in-place things is an action. They were elected to change something (back, but still). So now they actually have to deal with the consequences of both how it looked when they were trying to do it (kicking people off medicare) but also that their electorate was divided on doing it and how they were doing it. Here's hoping that bites them in the ass.
posted by phearlez at 11:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
For whatever it's worth in the Dems: Can They Do This discussion, I reluctantly decided to attend an Indivisible meeting last night. I have been discouraged since becoming precinct chair, because I really didn't feel supported or connected to my fellow chairs and we seemed to either be all newbies or burnt-out people who had stopped trying a long time ago. The local Dems are severely neglected, understaffed and underfunded, and their only advice was just "bug the shit out of people so they will vote," which is understandable, but not exactly inspiring.
So anyway, I didn't know that it was worth going but went to my local Indivisible. And it was on fire. Within two hours I had met two precinct chairs in my immediate neighborhood and been put into a messaging group with the others. I was informed of upcoming activities fighting SB4 and invited to join interest groups for anything that moved me; voting, social justice, what have you. We met in the furniture shop of a local business woman, who a. had been the person to put on the local "show us your tax returns, Trump" march and b. apparently asks her customers if they voted Trump, and if they did, she tells them to get out. This is in Fort Worth, Texas, a red spot in a red state, mind you.
So anyway, I'm going to meet Beto O'Rourke tomorrow (running against Cruz) and then there's an immigration panel the following weekend to teach us how to fight more effectively at City Council meetings. I found out and got a bumper sticker for the woman running against my execrable state rep.
It bothers me that we have to go around party leadership---this is not Bernie diehards, everyone there voted Hilary--but I guess we have to.
posted by emjaybee at 11:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [76 favorites]
So anyway, I didn't know that it was worth going but went to my local Indivisible. And it was on fire. Within two hours I had met two precinct chairs in my immediate neighborhood and been put into a messaging group with the others. I was informed of upcoming activities fighting SB4 and invited to join interest groups for anything that moved me; voting, social justice, what have you. We met in the furniture shop of a local business woman, who a. had been the person to put on the local "show us your tax returns, Trump" march and b. apparently asks her customers if they voted Trump, and if they did, she tells them to get out. This is in Fort Worth, Texas, a red spot in a red state, mind you.
So anyway, I'm going to meet Beto O'Rourke tomorrow (running against Cruz) and then there's an immigration panel the following weekend to teach us how to fight more effectively at City Council meetings. I found out and got a bumper sticker for the woman running against my execrable state rep.
It bothers me that we have to go around party leadership---this is not Bernie diehards, everyone there voted Hilary--but I guess we have to.
posted by emjaybee at 11:32 AM on August 10, 2017 [76 favorites]
To portray this as a clash of the young outsiders with the establishment olds is false on its face.
Indeed. I'm an old and have been fed up with the DNC/DCCC for almost two decades. These kids think they invented lame-ass-not-particularly-left-democrats, but I've known them since before ...
Well, they've always been sold out.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:33 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
Indeed. I'm an old and have been fed up with the DNC/DCCC for almost two decades. These kids think they invented lame-ass-not-particularly-left-democrats, but I've known them since before ...
Well, they've always been sold out.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 11:33 AM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
mudpuppie: I've been in two separate problem-solving huddles at work today where the conversation went something like:
A: This is such a mess. Unraveling/solving this problem is going to be a nightmare.
B: Well, by next week North Korea might be dropping bombs on us, so what's the rush?
My boss put a print-out of this at work (cross stitch message: "when work feels overwhelming, remember that you're going to die")
It used to make me grin at the morbid humor. This week, it seems a bit too real.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
A: This is such a mess. Unraveling/solving this problem is going to be a nightmare.
B: Well, by next week North Korea might be dropping bombs on us, so what's the rush?
My boss put a print-out of this at work (cross stitch message: "when work feels overwhelming, remember that you're going to die")
It used to make me grin at the morbid humor. This week, it seems a bit too real.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
My boss mentioned NK during a meeting yesterday, too, when we were talking about work stuff. Guess everybody's feelin' that dread!
posted by emjaybee at 11:37 AM on August 10, 2017
posted by emjaybee at 11:37 AM on August 10, 2017
No story linked yet, but via AP's twitter:
BREAKING: Trump: `You can ask the question' whether Senate Leader McConnell should step aside if he can't deliver on agenda.
[insert Nelson Muntz laugh here]
posted by yasaman at 11:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
BREAKING: Trump: `You can ask the question' whether Senate Leader McConnell should step aside if he can't deliver on agenda.
[insert Nelson Muntz laugh here]
posted by yasaman at 11:39 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Well, they've always been sold out.
Of course they have. They're party machinery. It is not possible to be in there and not be a sell out even beyond some of the sleaze they coddle for the sake of money. The best you hope for is that they're dishonest politicians in the sense that they don't stay bought.
So we need to never let up on them and always push them to being better. But the last year has shown that we can move them and should keep trying to. It would just be nice if we could focus on fighting the next fight, not the ones that are over.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Of course they have. They're party machinery. It is not possible to be in there and not be a sell out even beyond some of the sleaze they coddle for the sake of money. The best you hope for is that they're dishonest politicians in the sense that they don't stay bought.
So we need to never let up on them and always push them to being better. But the last year has shown that we can move them and should keep trying to. It would just be nice if we could focus on fighting the next fight, not the ones that are over.
posted by phearlez at 11:41 AM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
The context on that is apparently not quite as bold as it sounds in the AP tweet:
@JenniferJJacobs: PRESS: Should Mitch step down? TRUMP: If he doesn't get repeal done, and taxes and infrastructure, "then you can ask me that question."
That's really really different.
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
@JenniferJJacobs: PRESS: Should Mitch step down? TRUMP: If he doesn't get repeal done, and taxes and infrastructure, "then you can ask me that question."
That's really really different.
posted by zachlipton at 11:42 AM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
I just love that these Sarah Kendzior tweets are the gift that keeps on giving.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 11:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Oh oh, Trump might stop lying about graduating from Wharton.
Trump immigration plan to cost 4.6 million jobs, Ivy League study finds
Trump immigration plan to cost 4.6 million jobs, Ivy League study finds
In a report published Thursday, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School said the immigration plan, dubbed the RAISE Act, would result in 4.6 million lost jobs by the year 2040. It also found that the U.S. economy would be 2% smaller than it would be under the current immigration policy during that time.posted by chris24 at 11:44 AM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Last week, Trump threw his support behind the RAISE Act, a bill crafted by Republican Senators David Perdue and Tom Cotton. The proposal seeks to cut legal immigration to the U.S. by 50% within a decade.
"If you have fewer workers, we will have less economic growth," said Kimberly Burham, a managing director at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan research team at UPenn.
Economists say the U.S. economy depends on foreign workers to grow the labor force and maintain growth. Since 2000, Baby Boomers have been retiring at a much faster pace than the U.S. job market has been growing, according to data from the Atlanta Federal Reserve and Labor Department.
In recent weeks? The Washington grand jury was reported empanelled just a week ago. Has it been going longer than that?
It has been. The reporting is vague, but the grand jury appears to be at least several weeks old. This article from August 3 in the Washington Post says "Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III began using a grand jury in federal court in Washington several weeks ago as part of his investigation of possible coordination between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign, according to two people familiar with the inquiry."
posted by OmieWise at 11:45 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
It has been. The reporting is vague, but the grand jury appears to be at least several weeks old. This article from August 3 in the Washington Post says "Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III began using a grand jury in federal court in Washington several weeks ago as part of his investigation of possible coordination between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign, according to two people familiar with the inquiry."
posted by OmieWise at 11:45 AM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I just want to emphasize, because it doesn't seem to have nearly enough attention, Room 641-A's comment upthread about how Manafort tipped the FBI off to the "adoption" meeting. That's huge. And now the National Enquirer is attacking Manafort? That's a pretty huge deal.
Meanwhile, Gorka is attacking the Secretary of State, saying everyone should ignore him when he tries to calm tensions over North Korea. And the State Department Spokeswoman is defending Tillerson by pointing out that he's "a Cabinet sec. He's fourth in line to the presidency."
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
Meanwhile, Gorka is attacking the Secretary of State, saying everyone should ignore him when he tries to calm tensions over North Korea. And the State Department Spokeswoman is defending Tillerson by pointing out that he's "a Cabinet sec. He's fourth in line to the presidency."
posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
Some guy who doesn't have security clearance because he can't get security clearance because he's a Nazi Fuck is helpfully enlightening us of the fact that the Secretary of State doesn't have jurisdiction over international relations. Cool Beans
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:59 AM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
I'm hoping we don't devolve into a circular baking squad.
My mom became a circular baker because she got sick of us fighting over the corner pieces (more icing).
I DO NOT ENDORSE CIRCULAR BAKING.
posted by srboisvert at 12:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
My mom became a circular baker because she got sick of us fighting over the corner pieces (more icing).
I DO NOT ENDORSE CIRCULAR BAKING.
posted by srboisvert at 12:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them like they never thought possible' (WaPo)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them like they never thought possible'
I thought I remembered that the generals were supposedly in charge now? Good luck everyone.
posted by lydhre at 12:02 PM on August 10, 2017
I thought I remembered that the generals were supposedly in charge now? Good luck everyone.
posted by lydhre at 12:02 PM on August 10, 2017
Job creation! DOE-funded Oak Ridge (National Lab) to Cut Up to 350 Jobs in 2017; Brookhaven Lab to eliminate 175 jobs using buyouts
posted by armacy at 12:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by armacy at 12:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them like they never thought possible'
@ddale8 (Daniel Dale, DC correspondent Toronto Star)
This is what always happens.
Trump: Grandiose inflammatory statement
Aides: He didn't mean that
Trump: I SUPER meant that
posted by chris24 at 12:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [85 favorites]
@ddale8 (Daniel Dale, DC correspondent Toronto Star)
This is what always happens.
Trump: Grandiose inflammatory statement
Aides: He didn't mean that
Trump: I SUPER meant that
posted by chris24 at 12:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [85 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them which seem in breach of the laws of thermodynamics; they will have no mouth, yet they must scream' [Tomorrow's WaPo, Fake]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
It's not a great sign that Trump and Gorka are simultaneously making a concerted effort to undo any de-escalation that Tillerson managed.
posted by diogenes at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them like they never thought possible'
He's in more dire need of a blowjob than any white man in history.
posted by zarq at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
He's in more dire need of a blowjob than any white man in history.
posted by zarq at 12:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Maybe then we can impeach
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [58 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [58 favorites]
'things will happen to them like they never thought possible'
Consequences will never be the same.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Consequences will never be the same.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'm worried that Bannon currently has Trump's ear on the North Korea issue, and I suspect that Bannon wants it to escalate.
posted by diogenes at 12:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by diogenes at 12:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
What does that even mean, I'm sure they've considered the possibility of complete nuclear annihilation of the peninsula so I mean are we going to bomb them with cake or what's the plan
hahah I said 'plan', implying that there may be a plan hahahaha
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
hahah I said 'plan', implying that there may be a plan hahahaha
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
The President of the United States has given up trying to appeal to the general population and is now trying to gratify a tiny fraction of loyal supporters who do not care about humanity and who delight in mindless hatred and violence without concern for consequence, and who will not change their support for this evil unless and until they themselves suffer the fallout.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
What does that even mean, I'm sure they've considered the possibility of complete nuclear annihilation so I mean are we going to bomb them with cake or what's the plan
Prank war. You think they've considered the possibility that the whole B-1 flyby is just a distraction while we leave a flaming bag of dog poop next to the DMZ?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:11 PM on August 10, 2017
Prank war. You think they've considered the possibility that the whole B-1 flyby is just a distraction while we leave a flaming bag of dog poop next to the DMZ?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:11 PM on August 10, 2017
> @JenniferJJacobs: PRESS: Should Mitch step down? TRUMP: If he doesn't get repeal done, and taxes and infrastructure, "then you can ask me that question."
"In the meantime, if you need me I'll be tweeting from the back nine. It's his job, not mine." (fake)
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
"In the meantime, if you need me I'll be tweeting from the back nine. It's his job, not mine." (fake)
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
The President of the United States has given up trying to appeal to the general population and is now trying to gratify a tiny fraction of loyal supporters
He was never trying to appeal to anyone but the red light on top of the camera.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
He was never trying to appeal to anyone but the red light on top of the camera.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
The President of the United States has given up trying to appeal to the general population and is now trying to gratify a tiny fraction of loyal supporters who do not care about humanity
And the men whispering in his ear actively desire a cataclysm.
posted by diogenes at 12:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
And the men whispering in his ear actively desire a cataclysm.
posted by diogenes at 12:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
> The President of the United States has given up trying to appeal to the general population and is now trying to gratify a tiny fraction of loyal supporters who do not care about humanity and who delight in mindless hatred and violence without concern for consequence, and who will not change their support for this evil unless and until they themselves suffer the fallout.
These people will not blame Trump even if they someday suffer from literal fallout from a nuclear war he started. They will huddle around campfires made of burning tires, cooking mutated rats and drinking water that glows, and they will curse Hillary and Obama and the Democrats and liberals and trans people.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:16 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
These people will not blame Trump even if they someday suffer from literal fallout from a nuclear war he started. They will huddle around campfires made of burning tires, cooking mutated rats and drinking water that glows, and they will curse Hillary and Obama and the Democrats and liberals and trans people.
posted by The Card Cheat at 12:16 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
The President of the United States has given up trying to appeal to the general population and is now trying to gratify a tiny fraction of loyal supporters who do not care about humanity and who delight in mindless hatred and violence without concern for consequence, and who will not change their support for this evil unless and until they themselves suffer the fallout.
Not only do they have no concern about consequences it's also about having no reality based understanding of what the consequences would be. If the Trumpsters I've been reading are any indication they seem to have this idea that all that Trump has to do is 'take NK out' with the US's super fantastic and magical special forces. It will be easy, fast and no big deal. And Trump is the only guy who has the strength to do it. Everyone else is just too chicken.
They're living in a fantasy land where it seems that actual superheros exist and the 'good guys' always win no matter what.
posted by Jalliah at 12:17 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
Not only do they have no concern about consequences it's also about having no reality based understanding of what the consequences would be. If the Trumpsters I've been reading are any indication they seem to have this idea that all that Trump has to do is 'take NK out' with the US's super fantastic and magical special forces. It will be easy, fast and no big deal. And Trump is the only guy who has the strength to do it. Everyone else is just too chicken.
They're living in a fantasy land where it seems that actual superheros exist and the 'good guys' always win no matter what.
posted by Jalliah at 12:17 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
If Americans Can Find North Korea on a Map, They’re More Likely to Prefer Diplomacy
posted by theodolite at 12:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 12:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
Trump escalates rhetoric on North Korea, threatening 'things will happen to them like they never thought possible' (WaPo)
:(
I was thinking that nothing would happen until his vacay was over because his image-obsession will mean he'll want to make the announcement from the White House, after walking down that long red-carpeted hall. But now I think he's seriously going to announce the start of WW3 from a goddamn golf course driveway.
posted by dis_integration at 12:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
:(
I was thinking that nothing would happen until his vacay was over because his image-obsession will mean he'll want to make the announcement from the White House, after walking down that long red-carpeted hall. But now I think he's seriously going to announce the start of WW3 from a goddamn golf course driveway.
posted by dis_integration at 12:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
These kids think they invented lame-ass-not-particularly-left-democrats, but I've known them since before ...
At 53, this is how I've felt about utopian leftists and their insane purity tests since tagging along with my mom to McGovern rallies. Right now I'm amazed at how many progressives online have leapt from "we barely escaped Obamacare repeal this year" to fantasizing about whether the forthcoming Medicare for all single payer system we are now sure to get is going to cover naturopathy or not.
posted by spitbull at 12:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
At 53, this is how I've felt about utopian leftists and their insane purity tests since tagging along with my mom to McGovern rallies. Right now I'm amazed at how many progressives online have leapt from "we barely escaped Obamacare repeal this year" to fantasizing about whether the forthcoming Medicare for all single payer system we are now sure to get is going to cover naturopathy or not.
posted by spitbull at 12:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
They had heroin when Trump was growing up too.
posted by spitbull at 12:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 12:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
If Trump could name which ocean Guam is in, I'd feel a little better.
He'd probably point at southern Pennsylvania instead and boast of how the Guamish vote helped swing his victory.
posted by delfin at 12:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
He'd probably point at southern Pennsylvania instead and boast of how the Guamish vote helped swing his victory.
posted by delfin at 12:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
If Americans Can Find North Korea on a Map, They’re More Likely to Prefer Diplomacy
I honestly can't find North Korea on an unlabeled map, and 100% prefer diplomacy over President Dumbfuck provoking North Korea into a nuclear war.
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I honestly can't find North Korea on an unlabeled map, and 100% prefer diplomacy over President Dumbfuck provoking North Korea into a nuclear war.
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
If Americans Can Find North Korea on a Map, They’re More Likely to Prefer Diplomacy
My parents said they saw a segment on some news show a couple of days ago. They were asking Americans where NK was on a map of the world.
Apparently it's north of Sudbury Ontario, Canada just south of Georgian bay.
posted by Jalliah at 12:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
My parents said they saw a segment on some news show a couple of days ago. They were asking Americans where NK was on a map of the world.
Apparently it's north of Sudbury Ontario, Canada just south of Georgian bay.
posted by Jalliah at 12:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump thinks declaring a national emergency is done the same way Michael Scott declares bankruptcy.
posted by dirigibleman at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
My parents said they saw a segment on some news show a couple of days ago. They were asking Americans where NK was on a map of the world
It was on Kimmell
posted by Twain Device at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2017
It was on Kimmell
posted by Twain Device at 12:27 PM on August 10, 2017
I honestly can't find North Korea on an unlabeled map
But I'll bet you can narrow it down to "one of the prongy bits sticking off of China, which I can locate" at least, right?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
But I'll bet you can narrow it down to "one of the prongy bits sticking off of China, which I can locate" at least, right?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
My latest unreal moment this year is realizing I heartily agree -- perhaps for the first time ever -- with former R Senator Gordon Humphrey, who is calling for Trump's removal due to his "sickness of mind."
posted by bearwife at 12:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by bearwife at 12:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
My parents said they saw a segment on some news show a couple of days ago. They were asking Americans where NK was on a map of the world
It was on Kimmell yt
Thanks. Some other show must have shown it since they don't watch his show.
posted by Jalliah at 12:29 PM on August 10, 2017
But I'll bet you can narrow it down to "one of the prongy bits sticking off of China, which I can locate" at least, right?
Just think of it as Russia's Florida.
posted by agentofselection at 12:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Just think of it as Russia's Florida.
posted by agentofselection at 12:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
@ddale8
Trump three days ago: The fake media won't talk about how important the sanctions were
Trump today: The sanctions won't be that effective
Trump three days ago: The fake media won't talk about how important the sanctions were
Trump today: The sanctions won't be that effective
@realDonaldTrump: The Fake News Media will not talk about the importance of the United Nations Security Council's 15-0 vote in favor of sanctions on N. Korea!posted by chris24 at 12:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
@benyc: Trump says new NK sanctions passed unanimously by UNSC will "not be as effective as a lot of people think it can be, unfortunately."
But I'll bet you can narrow it down to "one of the prongy bits sticking off of China, which I can locate" at least, right?
As long as you promise that there are no follow-up questions and that you will not attempt to verify the veracity of my claim, then, yyessss?
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
As long as you promise that there are no follow-up questions and that you will not attempt to verify the veracity of my claim, then, yyessss?
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Apparently it's north of Sudbury Ontario, Canada just south of Georgian bay.
Now who can't read a map! Sudbury is north of Georgian Bay.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now who can't read a map! Sudbury is north of Georgian Bay.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Now who can't read a map! Sudbury is north of Georgian Bay.
Oh crap. lol. Brain fart. I live near Georgian bay. It's on my mind.. How embarassing is that.
Hudson's Bay is what I meant.
posted by Jalliah at 12:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh crap. lol. Brain fart. I live near Georgian bay. It's on my mind.. How embarassing is that.
Hudson's Bay is what I meant.
posted by Jalliah at 12:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Theres never been anything like whats happened to this country over the last four or five years.
1) Does he think there were no drug epidemics before 2012? Or that it's like "Its been Four Years Since Our Last Drug Epidemic?" It doesn't makes sense. Why only go back such a short time? It's not much to brag about.
Oh.
2) Crack.
Trump thinks declaring a national emergency is done the same way Michael Scott declares bankruptcy
Never not funny in these threads.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
1) Does he think there were no drug epidemics before 2012? Or that it's like "Its been Four Years Since Our Last Drug Epidemic?" It doesn't makes sense. Why only go back such a short time? It's not much to brag about.
Oh.
2) Crack.
Trump thinks declaring a national emergency is done the same way Michael Scott declares bankruptcy
Never not funny in these threads.
posted by Room 641-A at 12:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
North is South! Up is Down! The President of the United States is arguably more volatile and warmongery than the Supreme Leader of North Korea!
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Why only go back such a short time? It's not much to brag about.
It's so he can blame it on Obama.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
It's so he can blame it on Obama.
posted by Fleebnork at 12:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Has Trump taken credit yet for stopping the wave of clown attacks that terrorized the country last summer?
posted by thelonius at 12:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 12:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
Oh god, I'm still waiting for that shoe to drop. Damn clowns.
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
@Chrisgeidner (whose SCOTUS and legal reporting for Buzzfeed is top notch): Honestly, the McConnell, North Korea, and opioid comments are all intended to be distractions from both of the others, right?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
So Jeffrey Lord and Angelo Carusone from Media Matters got into a disagreement on Twitter and Lord wrote a predictably shitty column. When Carusone pointed out the error in the headline, Lord responded with:
@realJeffreyLord Replying to @GoAngelo
Sieg Heil!
Four hours later it's still up.
posted by chris24 at 12:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
@realJeffreyLord Replying to @GoAngelo
Sieg Heil!
Four hours later it's still up.
posted by chris24 at 12:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Sudbury is some 700km from Hudson's Bay. Not "just south" of it.
(Not that anyone would notice if Trump nuked Sudbury. It was once a "well-known fact" that NASA tested the moon buggy there because it's such a barren wasteland. Turns out that's just a half-truth, but still.)
posted by Sys Rq at 12:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
(Not that anyone would notice if Trump nuked Sudbury. It was once a "well-known fact" that NASA tested the moon buggy there because it's such a barren wasteland. Turns out that's just a half-truth, but still.)
posted by Sys Rq at 12:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seattle's local NPR affiliate KUOW has the Washington state Dem & GOP chairs on today. Susan Hutchison, the Republican, has been calmly and happily beaming about how great Trump is and dutifully backing every policy and farcical political position right down to his garbage voter fraud commission.
She's not even a part of his administration, doesn't have to worry about him firing her or signing her paycheck or anything like that, but you'd think she's filling in for Kellyanne Conway. I turned it off. It's really kinda blood-curdling.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
She's not even a part of his administration, doesn't have to worry about him firing her or signing her paycheck or anything like that, but you'd think she's filling in for Kellyanne Conway. I turned it off. It's really kinda blood-curdling.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Has Trump taken credit yet for stopping the wave of clown attacks that terrorized the country last summer?
The clowns no longer have need for guerrilla tactics because they're in charge now.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
The clowns no longer have need for guerrilla tactics because they're in charge now.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [38 favorites]
Sudbury is some 700km from Hudson's Bay. Not "just south" of it.
(Not that anyone would notice if Trump nuked Sudbury. It was once a "well-known fact" that NASA tested the moon buggy there because it's such a barren wasteland. Turns out that's just a half-truth, but still.)
I know that. I meant that they told me that the people said NK was north of Sudbury and south of Hudson Bay. Somewhere in that area.
posted by Jalliah at 12:46 PM on August 10, 2017
(Not that anyone would notice if Trump nuked Sudbury. It was once a "well-known fact" that NASA tested the moon buggy there because it's such a barren wasteland. Turns out that's just a half-truth, but still.)
I know that. I meant that they told me that the people said NK was north of Sudbury and south of Hudson Bay. Somewhere in that area.
posted by Jalliah at 12:46 PM on August 10, 2017
So...Trump's lawyer, John Dowd, is talking about filing a motion to suppress the results of the raid on Manafort's home. AS the article notes, this seems like an odd legal move.
posted by nubs at 12:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by nubs at 12:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
I agree with your analysis here almost 100%, You Can't Tip a Buick, except that I don't believe there are any real conflicts of interest when you look at the problem from a high enough level of abstraction. Rather than seeing those conflicts as intractable, it's possible to view them all as special cases of the same class of problem, namely the problem of selfhood. While it's true we all have different wants and needs that are highly contingent on personal history, identity, and other individually unique factors, at a high level, that's a problem we all have, so it makes a certain kind of sense to view that potential for conflict as universal and the highest role of government and public policy to play an active role in easing and bridging the conflicts. I'd argue the real difference between conservatives and liberals is that liberals want to believe that's one of the most legitimate uses of state power, social conflict resolution, while conservatives don't think the state can or should even attempt to help foster social cohesion and achieving more equitable and fair outcomes when conflicts arise. I don't believe there are intractable conflicts in nature, only in the idiosyncratic socially and culturally constructed versions of reality we choose to identify as our own. So I guess I do believe there's some transcendent POV, only it can never be held by any one person because it's an emergent phenomenon--specifically, the socially constructed piece of conceptual technology we call "society" or used to denote by terms like the commonwealth and public good.
posted by saulgoodman at 12:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by saulgoodman at 12:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Susan Hutchison, the Republican, has been calmly and happily beaming about how great Trump is and dutifully backing every policy and farcical political position right down to his garbage voter fraud commission.
Because it's never been about Trump. It's always been every Republican. They're behind him because they support his racist and punitive policies, not because they're afraid of his twitter account.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Because it's never been about Trump. It's always been every Republican. They're behind him because they support his racist and punitive policies, not because they're afraid of his twitter account.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
They had heroin when Trump was growing up too.
But it was beneath his notice then, given who was using it.
posted by phearlez at 12:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
But it was beneath his notice then, given who was using it.
posted by phearlez at 12:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Secondly, 'I'm saying officially' is...not how that works
I am constantly reminded of this scene these days.
posted by mikepop at 12:56 PM on August 10, 2017
I am constantly reminded of this scene these days.
posted by mikepop at 12:56 PM on August 10, 2017
Journey Are the Latest Proud American Institution That Donald Trump Threatens to Destroy
I had no idea that the keyboardist was married to Paula White. Egads. But the #ETTD (Everything Trump Touches Dies) rule is unfortunately strong.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
I had no idea that the keyboardist was married to Paula White. Egads. But the #ETTD (Everything Trump Touches Dies) rule is unfortunately strong.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 12:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Text of an email from Hilary's pastor that she received the day after the election. I like this bit:
You know one of my favorite sayings is "God doesn't close one door without opening another, but it can be hell in the hallway." My sister Hillary. You, our nation, our world is experiencing a black Friday. Our hope is that Sunday is coming. But it might well be hell for a while.
posted by emjaybee at 1:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [59 favorites]
You know one of my favorite sayings is "God doesn't close one door without opening another, but it can be hell in the hallway." My sister Hillary. You, our nation, our world is experiencing a black Friday. Our hope is that Sunday is coming. But it might well be hell for a while.
posted by emjaybee at 1:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [59 favorites]
Sudbury is some 700km from Hudson's Bay. Not "just south" of it.
As an aside from this NorOnt aside in the thread, you gotta be real fuckin' thick to think North Korea is tops 600 miles from the Upper Peninsula.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 1:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
As an aside from this NorOnt aside in the thread, you gotta be real fuckin' thick to think North Korea is tops 600 miles from the Upper Peninsula.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 1:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Fox anchor: Is media showing a double standard by expecting more from Trump than Kim Jong Un?
JON SCOTT (CO-HOST): Want to get your take on what sometimes seems to be a double standard among the press, and you saw some of this when the State Department spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, was taking questions. The media is asking whether President Trump should be using phrases like "fire and fury," but nobody seems to care all that much about the threats coming from Kim Jong Un. Is that a double standard or is it not?posted by tonycpsu at 1:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
nobody seems to care all that much about the threats coming from Kim Jong Un
It turns out you can put words in any order you want
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [35 favorites]
It turns out you can put words in any order you want
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [35 favorites]
In re Gorka and security clearance - is that even a factor? Since 45 can declassify anything he sees fit, however he sees fit, then all Gorka has to do is ask him to forward the good stuff. I suppose that means its then declassified in general, and Gorka could then forward it to Facebook or his mates in the International Brotherhood of Fascists or whoever, but that's not going to bother the Colander-In-Chief.
posted by Devonian at 1:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Devonian at 1:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
AS the article notes, this seems like an odd legal move.
Absolutely bizzaro move, as the article says. First, it's pretty much an admission that there was something to be found which reflects badly on your client (who was not the subject of the search). Second, since it's not even clear if you have the right to ask for this, absent an actual case against your client, it's a real desperation move. Even if it succeeds, it only delays things in the public sphere -- the legal wheels are still going to grind inexorably.
In theory, maybe you beat the slim chance, and it legally works kinda-sorta-maybe for a little while. As a matter of strategy and perception, it's a loser move.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Absolutely bizzaro move, as the article says. First, it's pretty much an admission that there was something to be found which reflects badly on your client (who was not the subject of the search). Second, since it's not even clear if you have the right to ask for this, absent an actual case against your client, it's a real desperation move. Even if it succeeds, it only delays things in the public sphere -- the legal wheels are still going to grind inexorably.
In theory, maybe you beat the slim chance, and it legally works kinda-sorta-maybe for a little while. As a matter of strategy and perception, it's a loser move.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
A double standard in the media.
You don't say! I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you, shocked.
posted by Dashy at 1:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
You don't say! I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you, shocked.
posted by Dashy at 1:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fox anchor: Is media showing a double standard by expecting more from Trump than Kim Jong Un?
ಠ_ಠ
My actual face right now.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [63 favorites]
ಠ_ಠ
My actual face right now.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [63 favorites]
The last time Susan Hutchison was in the news, it was for saying the Access Hollywood tape wasn't relevant because it dates from when Trump was a Democrat...
posted by janewman at 1:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by janewman at 1:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Things will happen to them they never thought possible"
Man, what's with these people and their autofellatio obsession?
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Man, what's with these people and their autofellatio obsession?
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
AS the article notes, this seems like an odd legal move.
Absolutely bizzaro move, as the article says.
Maybe it turns out that a guy who lies to his own lawyers, fails to pay bills, insists on people agreeing with things that are patently untrue, and routinely fires people for telling him something he doesn't want to hear can't get a good lawyer.
posted by Etrigan at 1:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [43 favorites]
Absolutely bizzaro move, as the article says.
Maybe it turns out that a guy who lies to his own lawyers, fails to pay bills, insists on people agreeing with things that are patently untrue, and routinely fires people for telling him something he doesn't want to hear can't get a good lawyer.
posted by Etrigan at 1:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [43 favorites]
Well, honestly, it does continue to surprise me when the media acts like they expect him to be any better or different despite all evidence to the contrary. Maybe Fox does have a point, though I'm not sure it's the one they intended.
posted by contraption at 1:13 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by contraption at 1:13 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
having seen this shit before, I can pretty much guarantee that the next phase is asking why liberals are de facto supporting Kim Jong Un by not wanting his entire country to be wiped out in a nuclear inferno, and then in a few months it will be stated as a given that Kim Jong Un is a beloved and respected figure among liberals
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 1:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
Fox anchor: Is media showing a double standard by expecting more from Trump than Kim Jong Un?
No better should be expected from the US than from a shitty weirdo dictatorship, eh, FOX?
Well, now, I guess, they've got a point.
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
No better should be expected from the US than from a shitty weirdo dictatorship, eh, FOX?
Well, now, I guess, they've got a point.
posted by Artw at 1:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [19 favorites]
zachlipton: And the State Department Spokeswoman is defending Tillerson by pointing out that he's "a Cabinet sec. He's fourth in line to the presidency."
Which brings me back to the earlier discussion about how so many US communities claimed to be near some ground zero for a nuke because of something important in their community, as some sort of community importance boosting. "Don't you dismiss the words of Ben Carson, he's 13th in line to be president!"
cjelli: [Trump on the opioid epidemic]: "And I have to say this in all fairness, this is a worldwide problem, not just a United States problem. This is happening worldwide. But this is a national emergency and we are drawing documents now to so attest."
Firstly, no: this isn't happening worldwide: America accounts for more than 80% of worldwide prescription opioid consumption
It's like we're always exceptional, except when it's being exceptionally bad at something, like providing health care.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Which brings me back to the earlier discussion about how so many US communities claimed to be near some ground zero for a nuke because of something important in their community, as some sort of community importance boosting. "Don't you dismiss the words of Ben Carson, he's 13th in line to be president!"
cjelli: [Trump on the opioid epidemic]: "And I have to say this in all fairness, this is a worldwide problem, not just a United States problem. This is happening worldwide. But this is a national emergency and we are drawing documents now to so attest."
Firstly, no: this isn't happening worldwide: America accounts for more than 80% of worldwide prescription opioid consumption
It's like we're always exceptional, except when it's being exceptionally bad at something, like providing health care.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
In theory, maybe you beat the slim chance, and it legally works kinda-sorta-maybe for a little while. As a matter of strategy and perception, it's a loser move.
I wonder if his lawyers are just this sort of dumb or it's part Trump demanding that they do something, anything to stop this, even if they tell him it's stupid and won't work.
posted by Jalliah at 1:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
wut?
According to @KellyO , Trump just now said he thanks Putin for kicking US diplomats out of Moscow, saying, `We want to reduce our payroll.'
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
According to @KellyO , Trump just now said he thanks Putin for kicking US diplomats out of Moscow, saying, `We want to reduce our payroll.'
posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
You'd think Trump would be smart and ditch the expensive lawyers and get a robot that simply repeats IGNORE THAT when anyone gets near possible evidence of wrongdoing. But it might not have the same clout as a formal legal demand stating "don't look at that thing!"
posted by filthy light thief at 1:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 1:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe it turns out that a guy who lies to his own lawyers, fails to pay bills, insists on people agreeing with things that are patently untrue, and routinely fires people for telling him something he doesn't want to hear can't get a good lawyer.
Well, now that you mention it...
Bloomberg: Trump’s Legal Team Is No Match for Mueller’s
Well, now that you mention it...
Bloomberg: Trump’s Legal Team Is No Match for Mueller’s
Trump’s efforts to enlist the services of a large firm have so far been rebuffed. White-collar experts at three high-powered firms, Sullivan & Cromwell, Steptoe & Johnson, and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, have turned him down, say two people familiar with the matter. Some firms had conflicts that prevented them from taking the job; others worried that Trump wouldn’t follow legal advice, potentially damaging their firms’ reputation, two people said.posted by chris24 at 1:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
US judge deals blow to Texas’ ‘sanctuary city’ law
A U.S. district judge in Austin has rejected an effort by Texas to have a law that would punish so-called sanctuary cities be declared constitutional ahead of the measure taking effect next month.The White House Is Now Describing Trump's Wall As A Fence (Eleanor Sheehan, Splinter)
The Republican-backed law is the first of its kind since Republican Donald Trump became president in January, promising to crack down on illegal immigration. Texas is the U.S. state with the longest border with Mexico.
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, appointed under Republican President George H.W. Bush, dismissed the case without prejudice late on Wednesday. The brief ruling did not give a reason.
Still, some Republicans are hopeful that if the White House can sell the border barrier as a “fence” instead of a wall, perhaps some Democrats will be more receptive. Technically, the House wall funding package would not finance a massive brick-and-mortar structure, as Trump promised on the campaign trail, but rather, double fencing and levies.posted by Room 641-A at 1:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
and then in a few months it will be stated as a given that Kim Jong Un is a beloved and respected figure among liberals
Two years later, after North Korean prisoners build an enormous Trump casino in Pyongyang, we will learn that Kim Jong Un is a trusted ally who deserves the right to purchase American ICBMs.
posted by Behemoth at 1:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Two years later, after North Korean prisoners build an enormous Trump casino in Pyongyang, we will learn that Kim Jong Un is a trusted ally who deserves the right to purchase American ICBMs.
posted by Behemoth at 1:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Talking Points Memo says Trump's lawyer John Dowd seems unusually concerned about the Fourth Amendment rights of Paul Manafort, who is not his client
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
An attorney for President Donald Trump called the July raid of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort a “gross abuse of the judicial process” and more like something “found and employed in Russia not America,” according to a report from Fox News Thursday.
JUST LIKE MR. MANAFORT HIMSELF... I'll be here all 2017, try the veal, folks.
posted by Behemoth at 1:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
JUST LIKE MR. MANAFORT HIMSELF... I'll be here all 2017, try the veal, folks.
posted by Behemoth at 1:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Trump just now said he thanks Putin for kicking US diplomats out of Moscow, saying, `We want to reduce our payroll.'
If everyone in the State Department resigns simultaneously, would that encourage Congress to fix this situation?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
If everyone in the State Department resigns simultaneously, would that encourage Congress to fix this situation?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
A moment ago, Trump was asked about his relationship with AG Sessions. "It is what it is," he said, and immediately pivoted to praising chief of staff Kelly on improvements at the border (?!).
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
He's now tripling down on his NK rhetoric.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
The full statement on Putin and diplomats:
On Putin expelling many U.S. diplomats from Russia? "I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll and as far as I'm concerned I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll. There's no real reason for them to go back. I greatly appreciate the fact that we've been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We're going to save a lot of money."
posted by chris24 at 1:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [40 favorites]
On Putin expelling many U.S. diplomats from Russia? "I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll and as far as I'm concerned I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll. There's no real reason for them to go back. I greatly appreciate the fact that we've been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We're going to save a lot of money."
posted by chris24 at 1:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [40 favorites]
Still, some Republicans are hopeful that if the White House can sell the border barrier as a “fence” instead of a wall, perhaps some Democrats will be more receptive
Maybe they should just build a moat and call it a day.
posted by Omon Ra at 1:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe they should just build a moat and call it a day.
posted by Omon Ra at 1:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'll stop liveblogging this presser and wait for the transcript to share, but this is some bonkers-grade trumpen-grievance and perpetual campaign stuff.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 1:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
yeah, this press conference is insane. Nobody knew not being a whiny narcissistic babyman could be so complicated.
posted by Justinian at 1:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
In my experience..., attempting to engage in process-based arguments with conservatives is a fool's game: if, for example, you make a states-rights appeal for drug legalization, or a local-rule based appeal for increased minimum wages, you'll generally find the conservative in question adjusting their ethical rules to yield their preferred output — or just telling you to shut your mouth — rather than adjusting their preferred output to accord with what their ethical rules generate.
Well articulated, You Can't Tip a Buick (as is the rest of your mini-essay). Conservatives are constantly moving their goalposts around to achieve their aim of crapping on the weak and enriching the wealthy.
Based on this,...the liberal position has to be understood as a specific strategy for determining how to help people — find a universal disinterested view from nowhere and then implement disinterested rules that maximize universal utility as perceived from the disinterested standpoint...
I recognize that, being aware that each side represents a mixture of individual views and of strategies, you're trying to capture tendencies and not stereotypes. While I think you're correct that liberals tend to stake out principles more seriously, I do believe there is a significant strain of "greatest-good" utilitarianism that allows them to modify their approach. Defending Nazi's right to march is seen as a part of defending a much broader segment's right to do the same. However, liberals have no trouble passing hate-crime laws that mete out additional punishment when crimes connected with Nazi-associated beliefs, for example—in essence punishing hate speech/thought. Most liberals are, as you say, generally supportive of market principles, but comfortable with and often advocate for a robust competing mixture of market-driven allocation of wealth and government-allocated services calibrated to deliver safety and security to the vast majority of the citizenry. I think your recommendation of broad-segment coalition-forming is very similar to classic liberal politics. For years, the working class was its core, and more recently women form a coalition. Liberals often err in too finely dividing without simultaneously looking for commonalities.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, and if so forgive me and feel free to straighten me out.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Well articulated, You Can't Tip a Buick (as is the rest of your mini-essay). Conservatives are constantly moving their goalposts around to achieve their aim of crapping on the weak and enriching the wealthy.
Based on this,...the liberal position has to be understood as a specific strategy for determining how to help people — find a universal disinterested view from nowhere and then implement disinterested rules that maximize universal utility as perceived from the disinterested standpoint...
I recognize that, being aware that each side represents a mixture of individual views and of strategies, you're trying to capture tendencies and not stereotypes. While I think you're correct that liberals tend to stake out principles more seriously, I do believe there is a significant strain of "greatest-good" utilitarianism that allows them to modify their approach. Defending Nazi's right to march is seen as a part of defending a much broader segment's right to do the same. However, liberals have no trouble passing hate-crime laws that mete out additional punishment when crimes connected with Nazi-associated beliefs, for example—in essence punishing hate speech/thought. Most liberals are, as you say, generally supportive of market principles, but comfortable with and often advocate for a robust competing mixture of market-driven allocation of wealth and government-allocated services calibrated to deliver safety and security to the vast majority of the citizenry. I think your recommendation of broad-segment coalition-forming is very similar to classic liberal politics. For years, the working class was its core, and more recently women form a coalition. Liberals often err in too finely dividing without simultaneously looking for commonalities.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you, and if so forgive me and feel free to straighten me out.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Please... Can we just get a Kickstarter going to pay Trump whatever he's owed by whoever made the bet with him in 2015 that he could do literally the craziest shit he could think of and still serve a term as President? The world can't take any more.
posted by Rykey at 1:52 PM on August 10, 2017
posted by Rykey at 1:52 PM on August 10, 2017
I greatly appreciate the fact that we've been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We're going to save a lot of money.
Holy shit. Putin spanks the US and our president's response is "Thank you SIR may I have another?"
posted by dnash at 1:56 PM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
Holy shit. Putin spanks the US and our president's response is "Thank you SIR may I have another?"
posted by dnash at 1:56 PM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
Maybe they should just build a moat and call it a day.
Yeah! Especially along the Texas border. It'll be like a nice big river. Grand, even.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:56 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
Yeah! Especially along the Texas border. It'll be like a nice big river. Grand, even.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 1:56 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
If Putin punched Trump and broke his nose, Trump would thank him for giving him that nose job he's been waiting for.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Holy shit. Putin spanks the US and our president's response is "Thank you SIR may I have another?"
This alleged piss tape... we still don't know who's doing the pissing, or what they're pissing on...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
This alleged piss tape... we still don't know who's doing the pissing, or what they're pissing on...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
If everyone in the State Department resigns simultaneously, would that encourage Congress to fix this situation?
Looking at how Rex has run things over there, are you sure this isn't the plan?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Looking at how Rex has run things over there, are you sure this isn't the plan?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Pretty cool that Putin gets to make hiring and firing decisions for campaign/administration officials and diplomats.
posted by chris24 at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [50 favorites]
Next press conference Trump is going to come in with a bandaged head and apologize for getting in the way of Putin's shotgun
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Every time I think we've heard the stupidest, most ridiculous, most over-the-top SURELY THIS comment from Trump, we find a brand new level.
'Sup, Tillerson, how's that nap now?
posted by joyceanmachine at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
'Sup, Tillerson, how's that nap now?
posted by joyceanmachine at 1:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
If Putin punched Trump and broke his nose, Trump would thank him for giving him that nose job he's been waiting for.
posted by Mental Wimp 1 minute ago [1 favorite +] [!]
And probably also note that he had been thirsty, and what a lot of people don't know is that human blood is even better than water getting you big league hydrated in the next very short period of time.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Mental Wimp 1 minute ago [1 favorite +] [!]
And probably also note that he had been thirsty, and what a lot of people don't know is that human blood is even better than water getting you big league hydrated in the next very short period of time.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Sending diplomats back to the US is not the same as firing them. It's all the same payroll, you innumerate thug.
posted by OmieWise at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [54 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [54 favorites]
If everyone in the State Department resigns simultaneously, would that encourage Congress to fix this situation?
They already did that.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
They already did that.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
CNN severs ties with Jeffrey Lord
posted by zachlipton at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [75 favorites]
"Nazi salutes are indefensible," a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. "Jeffrey Lord is no longer with the network."I am oddly comforted to know that, should North Korea attack us, Jeffrey Lord's is not going to be the last voice I hear.
posted by zachlipton at 2:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [75 favorites]
This might get lost in the wash of coverage of the billion bonkers things he just said, but look for his line about being "honored" by leaks done through the internecine White House warfare to curry his favor. I just ...
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
"lmao now we don't have to pay to maintain all those fuckin battleships" -Franklin Delano Roosevelt, December 7, 1941
posted by theodolite at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [106 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [106 favorites]
CNN severs ties with Jeffrey Lord
About fucking time.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
About fucking time.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
CNN does this thing where they hire fascists then are surprised when they act like fascists. Maybe just don't hire a fascist, y'all.
posted by emjaybee at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [61 favorites]
From chris24's link to the Bloomberg article by Tom Schoenberg and Shannon Pettypiece:
Trying to deal with Mueller without a high-powered legal operation “is like going to a knife fight with a stick of butter in your hand,” says Nicholas Allard, a former Washington attorney who’s now the dean of Brooklyn Law School. “The team should reflect the importance of what’s at stake, which is nothing less than the future of this presidency.”posted by joyceanmachine at 2:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Mental Wimp: "However, liberals have no trouble passing hate-crime laws that mete out additional punishment when crimes connected with Nazi-associated beliefs, for example—in essence punishing hate speech/thought. Most liberals are, as you say, generally supportive of market principles, but comfortable with and often advocate for a robust competing mixture of market-driven allocation of wealth and government-allocated services calibrated to deliver safety and security to the vast majority of the citizenry."
I think these statements' truth value depends significantly on what definition of "liberal" you subscribe to. In particular, these are not what I identify as solidly liberal positions.
posted by TypographicalError at 2:07 PM on August 10, 2017
I think these statements' truth value depends significantly on what definition of "liberal" you subscribe to. In particular, these are not what I identify as solidly liberal positions.
posted by TypographicalError at 2:07 PM on August 10, 2017
> While I think you're correct that liberals tend to stake out principles more seriously, I do believe there is a significant strain of "greatest-good" utilitarianism that allows them to modify their approach.
I don't really have time at this second to respond in depth, but the tendency I'm critiquing is the tendency to make claims about the knowability of the set of rules that yield maximum utility; the strategy of first pretending that one is primarily committed to the well-being of all rather than self-interest, and then arguing for a set of rules that yields that general well-being without regard for self-interest.
The thing I'm hinting at here is that since we have our particular experiences and interests, it's very hard — maybe impossible — for someone to hoist themselves out of self-interest in that way, and moreover, even if it is possible to bracket off self-interest in favor of a disinterested interpretation of the world, it is impossible to get everyone with their competing interests to agree to the universal applicability of that disinterested interpretation — in short, it's impossible to get everyone to agree that you really are an arbiter over politics rather than a participant in politics. Attempting to make this move is dangerous, since everyone who doesn't see you as a disinterested arbiter sees you as high-handed, condescending, and maybe ends up thinking you're trying to pull a fast one.
The bottom-up coalitional politics strategy I'm arguing for involves no claim whatsoever of anyone's status as a disinterested arbiter; I have my contingent interests rooted in my subject position, you have your contingent interests rooted in your subject position, we observe that our interests are in some way commensurable — I can achieve my aims while you achieve your aims — and so without any claim whatsoever to the universal goodness of the rules we make while pursuing our respective self-interests, we agree to publicly support each other in the pursuit of those respective self-interests. It's a material and contingent politics rather than one that makes universal claims to transcendent knowledge of any greater good whatsoever.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I don't really have time at this second to respond in depth, but the tendency I'm critiquing is the tendency to make claims about the knowability of the set of rules that yield maximum utility; the strategy of first pretending that one is primarily committed to the well-being of all rather than self-interest, and then arguing for a set of rules that yields that general well-being without regard for self-interest.
The thing I'm hinting at here is that since we have our particular experiences and interests, it's very hard — maybe impossible — for someone to hoist themselves out of self-interest in that way, and moreover, even if it is possible to bracket off self-interest in favor of a disinterested interpretation of the world, it is impossible to get everyone with their competing interests to agree to the universal applicability of that disinterested interpretation — in short, it's impossible to get everyone to agree that you really are an arbiter over politics rather than a participant in politics. Attempting to make this move is dangerous, since everyone who doesn't see you as a disinterested arbiter sees you as high-handed, condescending, and maybe ends up thinking you're trying to pull a fast one.
The bottom-up coalitional politics strategy I'm arguing for involves no claim whatsoever of anyone's status as a disinterested arbiter; I have my contingent interests rooted in my subject position, you have your contingent interests rooted in your subject position, we observe that our interests are in some way commensurable — I can achieve my aims while you achieve your aims — and so without any claim whatsoever to the universal goodness of the rules we make while pursuing our respective self-interests, we agree to publicly support each other in the pursuit of those respective self-interests. It's a material and contingent politics rather than one that makes universal claims to transcendent knowledge of any greater good whatsoever.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
CNN severs ties with Jeffrey Lord
They're also hyping an upcoming appearance by Bill O'Reilly, maybe they'll just hire him to fill the newly available Right-Wing Propagandist position.
posted by contraption at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
They're also hyping an upcoming appearance by Bill O'Reilly, maybe they'll just hire him to fill the newly available Right-Wing Propagandist position.
posted by contraption at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have a friend who works at CNN and dealt with Lord a lot. They fucking hated him there.
posted by chris24 at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 2:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Mental Wimp: However, liberals have no trouble passing hate-crime laws that mete out additional punishment when crimes connected with Nazi-associated beliefs, for example—in essence punishing hate speech/thought.
It's not the thoughts that are being punished. It's the aggravating circumstances, i.e. racists burning crosses isn't just littering and arson, it's spreading terror and sending a message to those whose lawns don't contain the burning cross.
posted by notsnot at 2:13 PM on August 10, 2017 [21 favorites]
It's not the thoughts that are being punished. It's the aggravating circumstances, i.e. racists burning crosses isn't just littering and arson, it's spreading terror and sending a message to those whose lawns don't contain the burning cross.
posted by notsnot at 2:13 PM on August 10, 2017 [21 favorites]
To some extent I agree, YCTAB, but we come back then to the question of what happens when a coalition of, say, theocrats, fascists and corporatists are able to support each other in the pursuit of their respective self-interests?
There has to be some sort of universal claim to a greater good or we're bound to a tyranny of the local majority. That claim can be bracketed temporarily, sure, but ultimately the goal has to be the creation of a society in which... well, people are generally able to lead full lives, however one articulates that.
I may be talking past you, but I don't think a politics that fully ignores or rejects the need for some kind of overarching -- dare I say it, metanarrative? is sustainable, and I think that's part of the reason that the US Left is eating itself at the moment.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
There has to be some sort of universal claim to a greater good or we're bound to a tyranny of the local majority. That claim can be bracketed temporarily, sure, but ultimately the goal has to be the creation of a society in which... well, people are generally able to lead full lives, however one articulates that.
I may be talking past you, but I don't think a politics that fully ignores or rejects the need for some kind of overarching -- dare I say it, metanarrative? is sustainable, and I think that's part of the reason that the US Left is eating itself at the moment.
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [11 favorites]
Faint of Butt, I see you favoriting both my comment and YCTAB's. stop breaking the binaries!
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 2:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
I want politics to be built around the achievement of commensurable contingent interests and an overarching aspirational metanarrative.
And for dessert, I would like cake and pie.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
And for dessert, I would like cake and pie.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
@yashar (of sued by Eric Bolling fame)
I'm told by two sources that two prominent CNN anchors made it clear to management that Lord's tweet was an inexcusable red line.
---
Hi Anderson! Hi Jake!
posted by chris24 at 2:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
I'm told by two sources that two prominent CNN anchors made it clear to management that Lord's tweet was an inexcusable red line.
---
Hi Anderson! Hi Jake!
posted by chris24 at 2:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [49 favorites]
I don't really have time at this second to respond in depth, but the tendency I'm critiquing is the tendency to make claims about the knowability of the set of rules that yield maximum utility; the strategy of first pretending that one is primarily committed to the well-being of all rather than self-interest, and then arguing for a set of rules that yields that general well-being without regard for self-interest.
Human beings are social animals -- practically herd animals -- and we are very very capable of putting the interests of the group above our own interests as individuals. We do it all the frickin' time. Soldiers join up in wartime knowing they might die. People take lower paychecks because they want to do something valuable for their community. Heck, Trump supporters are doing it when they vote for someone who will hurt them out of loyalty to their Republican tribe.
Civilization is only possible because human beings are so capable of putting the interests of the group above their own.
A major difference is that conservatives are people who tend to put the interests of their in-group first, and liberals are people who like to universalize and are more likely to see nearly the whole of humanity as part of their in-group. But both are putting the group first.
In the end, liberals and conservatives don't just have different material interests. As the graph here shows, They have different values.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
Human beings are social animals -- practically herd animals -- and we are very very capable of putting the interests of the group above our own interests as individuals. We do it all the frickin' time. Soldiers join up in wartime knowing they might die. People take lower paychecks because they want to do something valuable for their community. Heck, Trump supporters are doing it when they vote for someone who will hurt them out of loyalty to their Republican tribe.
Civilization is only possible because human beings are so capable of putting the interests of the group above their own.
A major difference is that conservatives are people who tend to put the interests of their in-group first, and liberals are people who like to universalize and are more likely to see nearly the whole of humanity as part of their in-group. But both are putting the group first.
In the end, liberals and conservatives don't just have different material interests. As the graph here shows, They have different values.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [16 favorites]
Foreign Policy: Here’s the Memo That Blew Up the NSC. In which Foreign Policy publishes the full seven-page Higgins memo, "POTUS & Political Warfare" that warns of attacks on the President because he is "an existential threat to cultural Marxist memes that dominate the prevailing cultural narrative" who threatens "deep state’ actors, globalists, bankers, Islamists, and establishment Republicans." It alleges that "the hard left is aligned with Islamist organizations" and concludes that "the defense of President Trump is the defense of America," which is pretty haunting when this is coming from an NSC staffer, the people who are supposed to be defending America.
If that's not bad enough, some other details in the FP article:
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [64 favorites]
If that's not bad enough, some other details in the FP article:
The controversy over the memo has its origins in a hunt for staffers believed to be providing information to right-wing blogger Mike Cernovich, who seemed to have uncanny insight into the inner workings of the NSC. Cernovich in the past few months has been conducting a wide-ranging campaign against the national security advisor.IT'S NOT WRONG PER SE? Everything about this is extremely wrong, per se. You don't think they would have impeached Obama if Ben Rhodes or someone was passing around a memo that declared the NSC had to defend the President politically to defend the country?
“McMaster was just very, very obsessed with this, with Cernovich,” a senior administration official told FP. “He had become this incredible specter.”
In July, the memo was discovered in Higgins’s email during what two sources described to Foreign Policy as a “routine security” audit of NSC staffers’ communications. Another source, however, characterized it as a McCarthy-type leak investigation targeting staffers suspected of communicating with Cernovich.
...
Trump Jr., at that time in the glare of media scrutiny around his meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the presidential campaign, gave the memo to his father, who gushed over it, according to sources.
In a comedy of errors, Trump later learned from Sean Hannity, the Fox News host and close friend of the president, that the memo’s author had been fired. Trump was “furious,” the senior administration official said. “He is still furious.”
...
“It’s not wrong per se,” said another official. “Actually, it’s not wrong at all. The not-wrong part is just, well, buried a bit I guess by some of the wackier parts.”
The memo calls out those pushing for rights “based on sex or ethnicity,” which is a “direct assault on the very idea of individual human rights and natural law around which the Constitution was framed.” It also says that “transgender acceptance” is “denying a person the right to declare the biological fact of one’s sex.”
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [64 favorites]
> To some extent I agree, YCTAB, but we come back then to the question of what happens when a coalition of, say, theocrats, fascists and corporatists are able to support each other in the pursuit of their respective self-interests?
They win, if there's enough of them. That's why we gotta fight.
> There has to be some sort of universal claim to a greater good or we're bound to a tyranny of the local majority. That claim can be bracketed temporarily, sure, but ultimately the goal has to be the creation of a society in which... well, people are generally able to lead full lives, however one articulates that.
We can't make rigorous universal claims to a greater good, and so we are bound to the tyranny of the local majority. Our task is to make that local majority as decent and as effective as possible.
(I mean we'd both like to be foundationalists, right, but we're living in an antifoundationalist universe).
> I may be talking past you, but I don't think a politics that fully ignores some kind of overarching -- dare I say it, metanarrative? is sustainable, and I think that's part of the reason that the US Left is eating itself at the moment.
The US left is not eating itself at the moment. This is the strongest the left here has been in my lifetime — of course, my lifetime started with the Reagan counterrevolution.
That said, though, I don't think anything is, in and of itself, sustainable, least of all a politics. And to the extent that things persist in this godforsaken universe, they persist because of material conditions rather than metanarrative. I'm not making a boring base/superstructure argument here, at least not directly; instead, I'm saying that what builds a coalition long-term are the benefits that obtain from joining it, rather than any narrative justification of that coalition's transcendent goodness.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
They win, if there's enough of them. That's why we gotta fight.
> There has to be some sort of universal claim to a greater good or we're bound to a tyranny of the local majority. That claim can be bracketed temporarily, sure, but ultimately the goal has to be the creation of a society in which... well, people are generally able to lead full lives, however one articulates that.
We can't make rigorous universal claims to a greater good, and so we are bound to the tyranny of the local majority. Our task is to make that local majority as decent and as effective as possible.
(I mean we'd both like to be foundationalists, right, but we're living in an antifoundationalist universe).
> I may be talking past you, but I don't think a politics that fully ignores some kind of overarching -- dare I say it, metanarrative? is sustainable, and I think that's part of the reason that the US Left is eating itself at the moment.
The US left is not eating itself at the moment. This is the strongest the left here has been in my lifetime — of course, my lifetime started with the Reagan counterrevolution.
That said, though, I don't think anything is, in and of itself, sustainable, least of all a politics. And to the extent that things persist in this godforsaken universe, they persist because of material conditions rather than metanarrative. I'm not making a boring base/superstructure argument here, at least not directly; instead, I'm saying that what builds a coalition long-term are the benefits that obtain from joining it, rather than any narrative justification of that coalition's transcendent goodness.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
> Civilization is only possible because human beings are so capable of putting the interests of the group above their own. [...]
A major difference is that conservatives are people who tend to put the interests of their in-group first, and liberals are people who like to universalize and are more likely to see nearly the whole of humanity as part of their in-group. But both are putting the group first.
Okay, but no one can see nearly all of humanity. If the foundation of your politics is the belief that you can see a way from your contingent subject position to the universal good, you're dangerously optimistic about your own ability to assess the greater good — and folks pick up on that, and don't respond well to it.
Essentially, when making universal claims, you are not so much putting your interests behind the interests of a group — which, yes, is a thing that humans do all the time — but instead staking out the position that you — little old you, contingent, blinkered you — can disinterestedly assess what the universal good is. It's less hubristic, and less dangerous, to instead build coalitions wherein all participants are consulted on what their self-interests as they see them are, and then collectively work together to find ways toward achieving those interests.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
A major difference is that conservatives are people who tend to put the interests of their in-group first, and liberals are people who like to universalize and are more likely to see nearly the whole of humanity as part of their in-group. But both are putting the group first.
Okay, but no one can see nearly all of humanity. If the foundation of your politics is the belief that you can see a way from your contingent subject position to the universal good, you're dangerously optimistic about your own ability to assess the greater good — and folks pick up on that, and don't respond well to it.
Essentially, when making universal claims, you are not so much putting your interests behind the interests of a group — which, yes, is a thing that humans do all the time — but instead staking out the position that you — little old you, contingent, blinkered you — can disinterestedly assess what the universal good is. It's less hubristic, and less dangerous, to instead build coalitions wherein all participants are consulted on what their self-interests as they see them are, and then collectively work together to find ways toward achieving those interests.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
> Technically, the House wall funding package would not finance a massive brick-and-mortar structure, as Trump promised on the campaign trail, but rather, double fencing and levies.
I think the real fence is going to turn out to be all of Trump's policies turning the U.S. into a place nobody will want to visit, much less emigrate to.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
I think the real fence is going to turn out to be all of Trump's policies turning the U.S. into a place nobody will want to visit, much less emigrate to.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
I have a friend who works at CNN and dealt with Lord a lot. They fucking hated him there.
I kinda wonder if they were waiting for a cause to fire him that couldn't be spun as partisan, or saw this one as such and jumped at the chance. (Granted, in this political climate, this will probably still be called partisan by people on the right.)
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I kinda wonder if they were waiting for a cause to fire him that couldn't be spun as partisan, or saw this one as such and jumped at the chance. (Granted, in this political climate, this will probably still be called partisan by people on the right.)
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
all participants are consulted on what their self-interests as they see them are, and then collectively work together to find ways toward achieving those interests.
That's what democracy is FOR. When people say "let's strengthen our democracy" this is exactly what they want to do.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
That's what democracy is FOR. When people say "let's strengthen our democracy" this is exactly what they want to do.
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
I've said this before, but it bears restating: when I favorite something it's a bookmark, when's someone favorites a comment of mine, it's an endorsement.
posted by OmieWise at 2:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [35 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 2:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [35 favorites]
"In conclusion, MefaFilter is a Land of Contrasts"
posted by mikelieman at 2:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 2:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Lord, like Trump, isn't the problem, he's the symptom.
In CNN's case, the problem is hiring Trump friendly sycophants to present Trump's talking points unchallenged for the ratings. It's related to their decisions to air hours of Trump rallies and empty podiums without critical commentary, for the ratings. Like Jeffery Zucker explicitly admitted.
CNN is the problem. Not for the reasons the right claims, but because they're only capable of practicing disaster porn voyeurism, not conducting what anyone could credibly call journalism.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [28 favorites]
In CNN's case, the problem is hiring Trump friendly sycophants to present Trump's talking points unchallenged for the ratings. It's related to their decisions to air hours of Trump rallies and empty podiums without critical commentary, for the ratings. Like Jeffery Zucker explicitly admitted.
CNN is the problem. Not for the reasons the right claims, but because they're only capable of practicing disaster porn voyeurism, not conducting what anyone could credibly call journalism.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [28 favorites]
I kinda wonder if they were waiting for a cause to fire him
CNN is probably torn between executives who want to have a balance of Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump opinions, and journalists who want to have a Diverse Range Of Non-Crazy Opinions, Because If You Want The Other Stuff Fox News Is A Couple Channels Up
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
CNN is probably torn between executives who want to have a balance of Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump opinions, and journalists who want to have a Diverse Range Of Non-Crazy Opinions, Because If You Want The Other Stuff Fox News Is A Couple Channels Up
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
The US left is not eating itself at the moment. This is the strongest the left here has been in my lifetime — of course, my lifetime started with the Reagan counterrevolution.
Now if we could just get the Sanders supporters and the Clinton supporters to stop attacking each other.
On Jeffery Lord, the story about his firing noted that, during the election, Lord was a counterweight against their other conservative supporters who dismissed Trump as having no chance. Now, it says, they have about a dozen other Trump-supporting voices. Considering what it means to support President Donald Trump, that is a serious issue, and I'm not surprised one of their pro-Trump guys got the axe for shaving that red line a little too thin.
posted by JHarris at 2:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Now if we could just get the Sanders supporters and the Clinton supporters to stop attacking each other.
On Jeffery Lord, the story about his firing noted that, during the election, Lord was a counterweight against their other conservative supporters who dismissed Trump as having no chance. Now, it says, they have about a dozen other Trump-supporting voices. Considering what it means to support President Donald Trump, that is a serious issue, and I'm not surprised one of their pro-Trump guys got the axe for shaving that red line a little too thin.
posted by JHarris at 2:42 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
This might get lost in the wash of coverage of the billion bonkers things he just said, but look for his line about being "honored" by leaks done through the internecine White House warfare to curry his favor. I just ...
@kylegriffin1
"Then you have the leaks where people want to love me, and they’re all fighting for love...Actually, I’m somewhat honored by them." (ABC)
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 2:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
@kylegriffin1
"Then you have the leaks where people want to love me, and they’re all fighting for love...Actually, I’m somewhat honored by them." (ABC)
VIDEO
posted by chris24 at 2:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
(Granted, in this political climate, this will probably still be called partisan by people on the right.)
Yeah, and now we're going to get treated to days of screeching from the Right about how Lord's free speech rights were violated. Awesome.
posted by holborne at 2:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, and now we're going to get treated to days of screeching from the Right about how Lord's free speech rights were violated. Awesome.
posted by holborne at 2:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
"Then you have the leaks where people want to love me, and they’re all fighting for love...Actually, I’m somewhat honored by them."
Are we sure those fake Time Magazine covers weren't enclosing fake Time Magazine issues?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Are we sure those fake Time Magazine covers weren't enclosing fake Time Magazine issues?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jeffrey Lord's first amendment rights have been trampled on, and anyone who says otherwise needs to be fired immediately
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
"Then you have the leaks where people want to love me, and they’re all fighting for love...Actually, I’m somewhat honored by them."
I know folks are making fun of his weird phrasing on this, but this is 100% how he saw his relationship with his father and how his children see their relationship with him.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 2:48 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
I know folks are making fun of his weird phrasing on this, but this is 100% how he saw his relationship with his father and how his children see their relationship with him.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 2:48 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
CNN is the problem. Not for the reasons the right claims, but because they're only capable of practicing disaster porn voyeurism, not conducting what anyone could credibly call journalism.
Vox has a couple of insightful videos on this phenomenon: The 'This is Fine' Bias in cable news and Comedians have figured out the trick to covering Trump. There's a number of other interesting pieces they have on the media and Trump, I have found, in their Strikethrough series.
posted by JHarris at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
Vox has a couple of insightful videos on this phenomenon: The 'This is Fine' Bias in cable news and Comedians have figured out the trick to covering Trump. There's a number of other interesting pieces they have on the media and Trump, I have found, in their Strikethrough series.
posted by JHarris at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
chris24: Trump immigration plan to cost 4.6 million jobs, Ivy League study finds
Huh, immigrants actually help the economy? Rather, they play a significant role in the economy?
So if they're not taking our jobs, perhaps we should instead look to 1) find better ways to help communities support new immigrants, and 2) develop better training for all who want to learn. If there's unemployment within our "local" workforce, yet the fact that there is a significant demand for immigrants with a range of skill sets, let's improve our support for immigrants (hey, Canada is a great example of a truly welcoming and supportive society, let's learn from our neighbors to the north!) and identify the reasons behind the local application* and skills gaps.
* There are lots of really tough, low-paid jobs that are filled by new immigrants, where the local work force just doesn't last, when there's actually unemployed or underemployed people. See:
- Wages rise on California farms. Americans still don’t want the job (L.A. Times, March 17, 2017)
- How an immigration raid threw a small Iowa town into economic crisis (Marketplace, August 3, 2017, looking back on the GWB immigration raids of 2008)
- In California's poultry plants, refugees fill the vacuum left after President Bush's immigration raid (L.A. Times, July 31, 2017)
These grueling jobs are ladders for many, especially when they're learning English and can't yet tell someone what their job was in their country of origin.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Huh, immigrants actually help the economy? Rather, they play a significant role in the economy?
So if they're not taking our jobs, perhaps we should instead look to 1) find better ways to help communities support new immigrants, and 2) develop better training for all who want to learn. If there's unemployment within our "local" workforce, yet the fact that there is a significant demand for immigrants with a range of skill sets, let's improve our support for immigrants (hey, Canada is a great example of a truly welcoming and supportive society, let's learn from our neighbors to the north!) and identify the reasons behind the local application* and skills gaps.
* There are lots of really tough, low-paid jobs that are filled by new immigrants, where the local work force just doesn't last, when there's actually unemployed or underemployed people. See:
- Wages rise on California farms. Americans still don’t want the job (L.A. Times, March 17, 2017)
- How an immigration raid threw a small Iowa town into economic crisis (Marketplace, August 3, 2017, looking back on the GWB immigration raids of 2008)
- In California's poultry plants, refugees fill the vacuum left after President Bush's immigration raid (L.A. Times, July 31, 2017)
These grueling jobs are ladders for many, especially when they're learning English and can't yet tell someone what their job was in their country of origin.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Jeffrey Lord's first amendment rights have been trampled on, and anyone who says otherwise needs to be fired immediately
@brianstelter (CNN)
I'm on the phone with @realJeffreyLord now. He says "I love CNN," but "I feel they are caving to bullies here."
---
Damn cultural marxists.
posted by chris24 at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
@brianstelter (CNN)
I'm on the phone with @realJeffreyLord now. He says "I love CNN," but "I feel they are caving to bullies here."
---
Damn cultural marxists.
posted by chris24 at 2:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Trump: "I Love LackeyLeaks!"
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
He says "I love CNN," but "I feel they are caving to bullies here."
This sounds like someone who is hoping to get his job back. This guy is living on the fucking moon.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:53 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
This sounds like someone who is hoping to get his job back. This guy is living on the fucking moon.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:53 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
This sounds like someone who is hoping to get his job back.
He's going to have trouble getting a job at any network.
@yashar
Per a Fox News spokeswoman, they are not hiring Jeffrey Lord. MSNBC/NBC spokesman has confirmed that they aren't hiring Lord either.
posted by chris24 at 2:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
He's going to have trouble getting a job at any network.
@yashar
Per a Fox News spokeswoman, they are not hiring Jeffrey Lord. MSNBC/NBC spokesman has confirmed that they aren't hiring Lord either.
posted by chris24 at 2:57 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
He can have a YouTube presence as World's Sleepiest Cryptofascist
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
it's spreading terror and sending a message
Yep, that's speech, beyond the littering, trespassing, and fire hazard.
posted by Mental Wimp at 3:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yep, that's speech, beyond the littering, trespassing, and fire hazard.
posted by Mental Wimp at 3:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
He can have a YouTube presence as World's Sleepiest Cryptofascist
Nothing cryptic about "sieg heil!". His youtube channel could be World's Smuggest Actual Fascist(s), co-hosted by Richard Spencer.
posted by dis_integration at 3:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Nothing cryptic about "sieg heil!". His youtube channel could be World's Smuggest Actual Fascist(s), co-hosted by Richard Spencer.
posted by dis_integration at 3:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jeffery Lord is easily replaceable with a placard reading "ACTUALLY WHAT TRUMP DID IS GOOD."
posted by Artw at 3:07 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:07 PM on August 10, 2017 [20 favorites]
Donald Trump was elected because a significant fraction of the American population wanted not to elect a competent leader but to make an outrageous and offensive statement expressing their general anger at society.
"People are upset. They're angry at the system and they see Trump — not so much that they agree with him — but they see him as the human Molotov cocktail that they get to toss into the system with Brexit and blow it up, send a message," Moore said.
And thus far what is the message beyond "oh my god look at what you've done, the place is a dumpster fire!" to those people? Some of 'em are gonna have to be brought along in the future.
The chance is here to actually change things - but it is gonna take someone far more clever than Moore, the 1994 regional Junior champion, or a whole lotta others I've seen to offer up a plan to lead out of the smoke from this fire and then be able to clear all the flammable material that is gonna keep feeding fires like this. Getting rid of THIS dumpster fire sure doesn't look like it is gonna solve the longer term fire hazard.
So far the only change I've seen offered up is 'The Commander in Chief can't start a nuke war.'. Perhaps I missed others. But what and where are the 'lets offer the molotov cocktail tossers a better path' happening?
posted by rough ashlar at 3:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
"People are upset. They're angry at the system and they see Trump — not so much that they agree with him — but they see him as the human Molotov cocktail that they get to toss into the system with Brexit and blow it up, send a message," Moore said.
And thus far what is the message beyond "oh my god look at what you've done, the place is a dumpster fire!" to those people? Some of 'em are gonna have to be brought along in the future.
The chance is here to actually change things - but it is gonna take someone far more clever than Moore, the 1994 regional Junior champion, or a whole lotta others I've seen to offer up a plan to lead out of the smoke from this fire and then be able to clear all the flammable material that is gonna keep feeding fires like this. Getting rid of THIS dumpster fire sure doesn't look like it is gonna solve the longer term fire hazard.
So far the only change I've seen offered up is 'The Commander in Chief can't start a nuke war.'. Perhaps I missed others. But what and where are the 'lets offer the molotov cocktail tossers a better path' happening?
posted by rough ashlar at 3:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Media Matters: Fox analyst and retired general Thomas McInerney dismisses that millions would die in nuclear strike because “they'll be mostly North Koreans”
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
The guy who writes "Sieg Heil" doesn't get work?
Here's the world's smallest violin: .
posted by Talez at 3:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Here's the world's smallest violin: .
posted by Talez at 3:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
I read enough of the Jeff Lord thread on Twitter to get the context & what he meant by it. He was playing a grownup's version of "I know you are but what am I?", calling Trump's opponents Nazis & fascists without any supporting evidence, repeatedly, in response to being called out on racism & fascism from the White House.
posted by scalefree at 3:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 3:12 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
CNN, Oliver Darcy: Exclusive: The chaos behind the scenes of Fox News' now-retracted Seth Rich story, in which Darcy does what Fox News won't and tries to figure out how this all went so wrong. Not answered: why do any of the people involved still have jobs?
Jeffrey Lewis, The Game Is Over and North Korea Has Won: "Donald Trump can whine all he wants, but we're now living in a world where American power is less relevant than ever:"
Rod Wheeler, a Fox News contributor and former detective hired to investigate Rich's death on behalf of the slain man's family, sued the network last week, claiming that quotes in the story attributed to him were fabricated, and that the whole effort had been a collaboration with the White House to advance a storyline aimed at discrediting allegations President Trump colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 election. (The White House has denied being involved with the story.)Reading this gives me a headache—it gets really weird once it gets into whether Wheeler had a romantic interest in Marina Marraco at WTTG when he handed her the story before Fox published, which then caused Fox's aggregators to scoop Fox's own reporting—, but it's a compelling description of where the Seth Rich story came from and why Fox published it.
But CNN's reporting into what happened behind the scenes at Fox News shows that Wheeler's own actions likely played a central role. In the day leading up to the article's publication, Wheeler went rogue. In doing so, he sent the network's editorial process into chaos, and as a result the article was rushed to the site without undergoing the kind of editorial scrutiny it should have received.
Jeffrey Lewis, The Game Is Over and North Korea Has Won: "Donald Trump can whine all he wants, but we're now living in a world where American power is less relevant than ever:"
The big question is where to go from here. Some of my colleagues still think the United States might persuade North Korea to abandon, or at least freeze, its nuclear and missile programs. I am not so sure. I suspect we might have to settle for trying to reduce tensions so that we live long enough to figure this problem out. But there is only one way to figure out who is right: Talk to the North Koreans.Politico: Trump thanks Putin for expelling U.S. diplomats:
The other options are basically terrible. There is no credible military option. North Korea has some unknown number of nuclear-armed missiles, maybe 60, including ones that can reach the United States; do you really think U.S. strikes could get all of them? That not a single one would survive to land on Seoul, Tokyo, or New York? Or that U.S. missile defenses would work better than designed, intercepting not most of the missiles aimed at the United States, but every last one of them? Are you willing to be your life on that?
On a good day, maybe we get most of the missiles. We save most of the cities, like Seoul and New York, but lose a few like Tokyo. Two out three ain’t bad, right?
I kid — but not really. Welcome to our new world. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
"THANK Putin?" another bewildered State Department official responded. "I don't have words that are printable to describe my reaction."posted by zachlipton at 3:13 PM on August 10, 2017 [64 favorites]
Jeffery Lord is easily replaceable with a placard reading "ACTUALLY WHAT TRUMP DID IS GOOD."
Paging Kellyanne -- Kellyanne, please report for duty -- bring your cue cards
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
“they'll be mostly North Koreans”
"it's okay to commit mass murder if you're racist"
posted by Sys Rq at 3:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [40 favorites]
"it's okay to commit mass murder if you're racist"
posted by Sys Rq at 3:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [40 favorites]
So far the only change I've seen offered up is 'The Commander in Chief can't start a nuke war.'. Perhaps I missed others. But what and where are the 'lets offer the molotov cocktail tossers a better path' happening?
Um, good-paying jobs, civil rights, access to decent and affordable health care, housing and higher education...
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:17 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Um, good-paying jobs, civil rights, access to decent and affordable health care, housing and higher education...
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:17 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday said President Trump doesn't need congressional approval for a military strike against North Korea, but he urged his colleagues to give it "as a last resort."Yeah. Good luck with that, Lindsey. Bush got everyone to fall for that last resort bullshit back in 2002. Half the people in the Senate now had a vote on it. Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.
"It would be very smart if the Congress could come together and tell the president 'you have our authorization to use military force ... as a last resort.' That would sent a signal to North Korea and China, that would probably do more good to avoid war than anything I could think of," Graham told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Stupid fucker. Any Democrat that dares to give a yes vote on any NK AUMF I will fund their god damned primary opponent.
posted by Talez at 3:19 PM on August 10, 2017 [51 favorites]
Um, good-paying jobs, civil rights, access to decent and affordable health care, housing and higher education...
Don't forget child care!
posted by zachlipton at 3:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Don't forget child care!
posted by zachlipton at 3:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Gorka backpedalling fast on his Tillerson comments. Blames the (I shit you not) 'fake news industrial complex who are forcing our chief diplomat into a position where they are demanding he makes the military case for action when that is not the mandate of the secretary of state'.
posted by PenDevil at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Delicious...
@grynbaum: Just talked to @realJeffreyLord. He was in his CNN town car on way from Harrisburg, PA to NYC when he got the call. The car turned around.
posted by zachlipton at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
@grynbaum: Just talked to @realJeffreyLord. He was in his CNN town car on way from Harrisburg, PA to NYC when he got the call. The car turned around.
posted by zachlipton at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [27 favorites]
Fox anchor: Is media showing a double standard by expecting more from Trump than Kim Jong Un?
No. It's the same standard. Kim Jung Un's fiery rhetoric, bad. DJT's fiery rhetoric, bad. No one anywhere (except maybe in NK) is praising Kim Jung Un's posture here. I was waiting for Chris Wallace to roll his eyes at this obvious sophistry, but he didn't...
posted by lumnar at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
No. It's the same standard. Kim Jung Un's fiery rhetoric, bad. DJT's fiery rhetoric, bad. No one anywhere (except maybe in NK) is praising Kim Jung Un's posture here. I was waiting for Chris Wallace to roll his eyes at this obvious sophistry, but he didn't...
posted by lumnar at 3:22 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
KELLY: "Mr President, we've decided to hold a special briefing regarding the military situation."
TRUMP: "Right."
KELLY: "I'm joined by the heads of the intelligence agencies and we're ready to report our findings."
TRUMP: "Okay."
KELLY: "Nuclear war is bad."
KELLY hands over a piece of paper with "NUCLEAR WAR IS BAD" printed on it. Several minutes pass.
KELLY: "Nuclear war is bad because lots of people die. When you die in a war, it hurts."
KELLY hands over a piece of paper with "NUCLEAR WAR MAKES LOTS OF PEOPLE DIE. DYING IN A NUCLEAR WAR HURTS YOUR BODY." printed on it. There is a frowny emoticon. Several minutes pass.
KELLY: "Pain is bad because it feels like the opposite of good."
TRUMP: "I'm bored."
TRUMP switches the Tivo on.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
TRUMP: "Right."
KELLY: "I'm joined by the heads of the intelligence agencies and we're ready to report our findings."
TRUMP: "Okay."
KELLY: "Nuclear war is bad."
KELLY hands over a piece of paper with "NUCLEAR WAR IS BAD" printed on it. Several minutes pass.
KELLY: "Nuclear war is bad because lots of people die. When you die in a war, it hurts."
KELLY hands over a piece of paper with "NUCLEAR WAR MAKES LOTS OF PEOPLE DIE. DYING IN A NUCLEAR WAR HURTS YOUR BODY." printed on it. There is a frowny emoticon. Several minutes pass.
KELLY: "Pain is bad because it feels like the opposite of good."
TRUMP: "I'm bored."
TRUMP switches the Tivo on.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
hahah I said 'plan', implying that there may be a plan hahahaha
There is a plan. There was a plan to invade Canada. Of course there is a plan.
No one says it is a good plan, a workable plan, or a plan that will not have failure modes we do not know of.
But there IS a plan. And like so many things - may you not suffer from their plan you had no part of. Or live in interesting times.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
There is a plan. There was a plan to invade Canada. Of course there is a plan.
No one says it is a good plan, a workable plan, or a plan that will not have failure modes we do not know of.
But there IS a plan. And like so many things - may you not suffer from their plan you had no part of. Or live in interesting times.
posted by rough ashlar at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Oh yeah, great idea. Give Trump Congressional authorization to launch nukes. What could go wrong?
posted by Autumnheart at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Autumnheart at 3:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Has the ACLU been in touch with Lord about representing him?
posted by Artw at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Trump doesn't need congressional authority to launch nukes.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
@grynbaum: Just talked to @realJeffreyLord. He was in his CNN town car on way from Harrisburg, PA to NYC when he got the call. The car turned around.
Real journalists would have dumped him on the shoulder.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Real journalists would have dumped him on the shoulder.
posted by FelliniBlank at 3:24 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
The extent to which I am cackling with glee today is unhealthy.
@kenvogel MANAFORT LEGAL SHAKEUP: Hiring new lawyer, per statement from spokesman: "As of today, @WilmerHale no longer represents Mr. Manafort.”
He says his former counsel at Miller & Chevalier will represent him now.
Also unhealthy: the fact that I put Spotify on a search for 99 Luftballoons and have just been listening to whatever plays for the last hour.
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
@kenvogel MANAFORT LEGAL SHAKEUP: Hiring new lawyer, per statement from spokesman: "As of today, @WilmerHale no longer represents Mr. Manafort.”
He says his former counsel at Miller & Chevalier will represent him now.
Also unhealthy: the fact that I put Spotify on a search for 99 Luftballoons and have just been listening to whatever plays for the last hour.
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
Just when I think I've seen him reach the bottom, he goes one step further. THANKING the Russian leader for expelling our diplomats (many of whom are surely gathering covert intelligence on our country's behalf)...it's unbelievable. It's just unbelievable.
It's...there really is no bottom with him, is there. Just no depth to which he will not sink. How? How can so-called patriots support him?
posted by darkstar at 3:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
It's...there really is no bottom with him, is there. Just no depth to which he will not sink. How? How can so-called patriots support him?
posted by darkstar at 3:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [15 favorites]
Jeffery Lord is easily replaceable with a placard attached to a balloon with a smiley face drawn on it and the placard reads "ACTUALLY WHAT TRUMP DID IS GOOD."
FTFY
posted by tilde at 3:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
I know that. I meant that they told me that the people said NK was north of Sudbury and south of Hudson Bay. Somewhere in that area.
that either means
the north koreans are in moosonee and need to run back to sasketoon
they tried, but they're stuck with their thumbs out by wawa
they were offended by the DNC offering them donuts but no coffee - yes, that's right folks, our liberal leaders are a bunch of heathens who think you dunk donuts in water
HOW COULD THEY???
posted by pyramid termite at 3:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
that either means
the north koreans are in moosonee and need to run back to sasketoon
they tried, but they're stuck with their thumbs out by wawa
they were offended by the DNC offering them donuts but no coffee - yes, that's right folks, our liberal leaders are a bunch of heathens who think you dunk donuts in water
HOW COULD THEY???
posted by pyramid termite at 3:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
If Americans Can Find North Korea on a Map, They’re More Likely to Prefer Diplomacy
"War is how Americans learn geography," same as it ever was...
posted by mostly vowels at 3:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
"War is how Americans learn geography," same as it ever was...
posted by mostly vowels at 3:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jeffrey Lewis, The Game Is Over and North Korea Has Won
Hmm, this contains a lot of speculation. NK is unlikely to have 60 nuclear ICBMs. Or any that can currently hit mainland US targets. The "game" metaphor also assumes states are ultimately rational actors. We know our own head of state with the launch codes is capable of taking hugely irrational risks. We have no idea if Kim is rational. And the possibility for intervening events and misunderstandings and political exigencies to drive actions with short term rationality is differentially balanced against the risk of millions dying and a global economic collapse at different social levels. Plenty of Americans are probably not viscerally horrified at a million Korean deaths, whereas they think 9/11 was Armageddon. We all know such people exist.
Dow was down 200+ points today.
posted by spitbull at 3:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Hmm, this contains a lot of speculation. NK is unlikely to have 60 nuclear ICBMs. Or any that can currently hit mainland US targets. The "game" metaphor also assumes states are ultimately rational actors. We know our own head of state with the launch codes is capable of taking hugely irrational risks. We have no idea if Kim is rational. And the possibility for intervening events and misunderstandings and political exigencies to drive actions with short term rationality is differentially balanced against the risk of millions dying and a global economic collapse at different social levels. Plenty of Americans are probably not viscerally horrified at a million Korean deaths, whereas they think 9/11 was Armageddon. We all know such people exist.
Dow was down 200+ points today.
posted by spitbull at 3:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
He added that passing a military authorization for North Korea would require Democrats to "take their hatred of Donald Trump and park it."
These fucking people will rationalize Trump's actions and make excuses for him and enable him until the end of the world, which they will have helped bring about. Fuck you, Lindsay Graham.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [50 favorites]
These fucking people will rationalize Trump's actions and make excuses for him and enable him until the end of the world, which they will have helped bring about. Fuck you, Lindsay Graham.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [50 favorites]
I can't help but read into Manafort getting a new lawyer at this point, mere weeks after a literal FBI raid on his home. Seems like a bad time for a legal team shakeup. Did he dump them or did they dump him? If they dumped him, it's def because he either won't follow their advice, lied to them, or because it would be unethical for them to continue to represent him for some reason.
posted by yasaman at 3:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 3:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I guess I am - finally - all out of evens, as the saying here goes, because between that “they'll be mostly North Koreans” comment on live TV and Lindsay Graham telling us we'll all need to take a chill pill when Republicans give Donald Fucking Trump the green light to drop the bomb on North Korea I'm inclined to side with my wife, who went on a stress-induced rant a couple of nights ago about how human beings are the fucking worst and we had our chance to run things and goddamn did we ever blow it so fuck it, bring on the fire.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
There is some speculation that Manafort is the dumpee, not the dumper. Mark Warren of the Weekly Standard says he has info to that effect.
posted by Superplin at 3:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Superplin at 3:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
> who went on a stress-induced rant a couple of nights ago about how human beings are the fucking worst and we had our chance to run things and goddamn did we ever blow it so fuck it, bring on the fire.
Something that's really weird about watching this season of Game of Thrones is how relatively optimistic a place Westeros seems compared to 2017 United States.
like basically DAENERYS TARGARYEN BURNS EVERYTHING WITH FIRE is my happy place right now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Something that's really weird about watching this season of Game of Thrones is how relatively optimistic a place Westeros seems compared to 2017 United States.
like basically DAENERYS TARGARYEN BURNS EVERYTHING WITH FIRE is my happy place right now.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 3:58 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Gizmodo on that bizarre-even-for-twenty-seventeen Havana Sonic Device story
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:07 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:07 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
like basically DAENERYS TARGARYEN BURNS EVERYTHING WITH FIRE is my happy place right now.
Daenerys is supposedly inspired by George W Bush.................. so yeah, those were better days
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Daenerys is supposedly inspired by George W Bush.................. so yeah, those were better days
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:09 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Official Mike Pence website. They couldn't call it Official if it isn't!
posted by scalefree at 4:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 4:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
A major difference is that conservatives are people who tend to put the interests of their in-group first, and liberals are people who like to universalize and are more likely to see nearly the whole of humanity as part of their in-group. But both are putting the group first.
I have been having a tedious discussion regarding Left Politics, and ended up saying that as I've aged I've gotten more and more ruthlessly pragmatic and less idealistic. I don't give a shit about any particular politicians beliefs or heart or soul or who gives them money. All I care about is if they are out to hurt or help me and mine.
But I realized that by "me and mine" I don't mean cis white women or rural Texans or almost any group I obviously belong to. I mean me and all the people I care about, which means me and my family and friends, but also all queer folks and all POC and all disabled and all poor folks and immigrants and ALL THE UNDERDOGS who would just like you to stop fucking hitting them, please. I will always stand with the freaks and the losers.
So yeah, I think the way liberals and conservatives define "tribe" is fundamentally different.
posted by threeturtles at 4:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
I have been having a tedious discussion regarding Left Politics, and ended up saying that as I've aged I've gotten more and more ruthlessly pragmatic and less idealistic. I don't give a shit about any particular politicians beliefs or heart or soul or who gives them money. All I care about is if they are out to hurt or help me and mine.
But I realized that by "me and mine" I don't mean cis white women or rural Texans or almost any group I obviously belong to. I mean me and all the people I care about, which means me and my family and friends, but also all queer folks and all POC and all disabled and all poor folks and immigrants and ALL THE UNDERDOGS who would just like you to stop fucking hitting them, please. I will always stand with the freaks and the losers.
So yeah, I think the way liberals and conservatives define "tribe" is fundamentally different.
posted by threeturtles at 4:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
I watched the 5th season of House of Cards, and it seemed so milquetoast in comparison to actual events.
posted by Autumnheart at 4:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 4:15 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
I thought the most recent season of Veep suffered for the same reason.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
The Book of Revelation and The Necronomicon are similarly lite reading these days.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [23 favorites]
At what point do other countries decide to act to prevent us from launching nukes?
posted by Autumnheart at 4:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 4:23 PM on August 10, 2017 [22 favorites]
At what point do other countries decide to act to prevent us from launching nukes?
I've been waiting for this for years.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:27 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've been waiting for this for years.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:27 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Daenerys is supposedly inspired by George W Bush
Wait, what?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Wait, what?
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
I've always kind of wanted to know what international sanctions feel like
Probably not good
posted by theodolite at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Probably not good
posted by theodolite at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday said President Trump doesn't need congressional approval for a military strike against North Korea
He does need authorization from the United Nations Security Council unless North Korea attacks the US.
Besides the authorization of the use of force by the Security Council as indicated above, Member States can use force when exercising their right to self-defence according to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Member States can exercise the right to self-defence only in the event of an “armed attack” and “until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security”. Otherwise, Article 2 (4) of the Charter states that all Members of the United Nations shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.A preemptive attack or an unauthorized attack would be illegal under international law.
The United Nations Charter, a treaty the United States has ratified, recognizes two justifications for using force on another country’s soil without its consent: the permission of the Security Council or a self-defense claim.Since according to Article VI of The Constitution "...all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land," I believe it would be illegal under US law as well.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
Given Trump's low regard for the UN, it might be better if the UNSC passed a resolution requiring the US to launch nukes preemptively.
posted by tonycpsu at 4:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 4:30 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
What's the opinion on whether lobbing an inaccurate missile in the general direction of Guam counts as an attack?
posted by 0xFCAF at 4:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by 0xFCAF at 4:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I just want to emphasize this bit about the Higgins memo:
posted by zachlipton at 4:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
Trump Jr., at that time in the glare of media scrutiny around his meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the presidential campaign, gave the memo to his father, who gushed over it, according to sources.Don Jr., who is supposed to be off running the family business, was getting NSC memos in the middle of the "adoption" meeting scandal? I mean, the content of the memo is a far more alarming situation, but this is not ok.
posted by zachlipton at 4:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
There is some speculation that Manafort is the dumpee, not the dumper. Mark Warren of the Weekly Standard says he has info to that effect.
White shoe Biglaw firms do NOT like to lose high profile cases in humiliating fashion, especially not if the client's assets are 100% dirty Russian mob money which will be seized and never go to paying what will undoubtedly be millions in legal bills. And being forever known as the firm that defended the Traitor President is not going to help make billables in 5 years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
White shoe Biglaw firms do NOT like to lose high profile cases in humiliating fashion, especially not if the client's assets are 100% dirty Russian mob money which will be seized and never go to paying what will undoubtedly be millions in legal bills. And being forever known as the firm that defended the Traitor President is not going to help make billables in 5 years.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Someone needs to sit the big egomaniac down and tell him that any old president could have used force, but all presidents have failed at negotiating a way out of the problem, blah blah Art of the Deal, blah blah you're so great you can do this when nobody else could. It's fucking stupid that that might be one of the few things that would work on him, but we live in stupid, stupid times.
posted by jason_steakums at 4:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 4:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Daenerys is supposedly inspired by George W Bush
Wait, what?
Not at first (I mean, the first book came out in 1996), but the way that she ruled Meereen can be seen as a commentary on the difficulties of a foreigner coming in to "liberate" a place and then deal with the resulting power vacuum and chaos. Dany's time ruling Meereen was in A Dance with Dragons, which was published in 2011 but largely written in the '00s.
posted by dhens at 4:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Wait, what?
Not at first (I mean, the first book came out in 1996), but the way that she ruled Meereen can be seen as a commentary on the difficulties of a foreigner coming in to "liberate" a place and then deal with the resulting power vacuum and chaos. Dany's time ruling Meereen was in A Dance with Dragons, which was published in 2011 but largely written in the '00s.
posted by dhens at 4:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Since according to Article VI of The Constitution "...all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land," I believe it would be illegal under US law as well.
Russia shooting down a passenger airliner was illegal too. Call me when trials start at the Hague. International law is a nice fairytale, but in practice its largely flowerly language backed up by nothing except geopolitical power, especially as applied to a first world country with a massive standing army.
The rest of the world could band together to sanction the US, and maybe they should now or in the future, but just because something is technically outlawed by international law doesn't mean it won't happen.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Russia shooting down a passenger airliner was illegal too. Call me when trials start at the Hague. International law is a nice fairytale, but in practice its largely flowerly language backed up by nothing except geopolitical power, especially as applied to a first world country with a massive standing army.
The rest of the world could band together to sanction the US, and maybe they should now or in the future, but just because something is technically outlawed by international law doesn't mean it won't happen.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
Daenerys is herself in no way inspired by W. The experiences in Mereen are partially inspired by Iraq. Moving on with our regularly scheduled Trumpian clusterfuck.
posted by Justinian at 4:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Sounds more like Daenerys would have been based on Paul Bremer. Which doesn't seem likely.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rc3spencer at 4:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Satan was partially inspired by Dick Cheney.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [56 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:45 PM on August 10, 2017 [56 favorites]
There's this little gem in the mark Warren twitter thread linked bun Superplin. NYCTaper comes in to call a woman's legal explanation "gibberish ", and she responds "@helenlig 11m
Yeah, law can be bit arcane at times.Good thing I love it, or I'd never have lasted all these years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender!"
I love NYC Taper's work, but fuck mansplaining.
posted by OmieWise at 4:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Yeah, law can be bit arcane at times.Good thing I love it, or I'd never have lasted all these years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender!"
I love NYC Taper's work, but fuck mansplaining.
posted by OmieWise at 4:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
@grynbaum: Just talked to @realJeffreyLord. He was in his CNN town car on way from Harrisburg, PA to NYC when he got the call. The car turned around.
He... what?
They gave him a company car? Or were they sending him a company car with a driver every day? For that transparent fucking hack?
Christ.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
He... what?
They gave him a company car? Or were they sending him a company car with a driver every day? For that transparent fucking hack?
Christ.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:46 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe CNN has a fleet of cars and people get to use one while on assignment?
posted by Autumnheart at 4:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Autumnheart at 4:50 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
@Ruthless_SG on twitter
Jeffrey Lord literally had to heil Hitler in order for CNN to fire him
posted by msalt at 4:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [48 favorites]
Jeffrey Lord literally had to heil Hitler in order for CNN to fire him
posted by msalt at 4:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [48 favorites]
Jeffrey Lord forgot to keep subtext as subtext.
posted by Justinian at 4:53 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:53 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Jeffrey Lord literally had to heil Hitler in order for CNN to fire him
As the kids like to say these days on such matters, 'The Bar is Low'.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:55 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
As the kids like to say these days on such matters, 'The Bar is Low'.
posted by rc3spencer at 4:55 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
He... what?
They gave him a company car? Or were they sending him a company car with a driver every day? For that transparent fucking hack?
They sent a limo driver for him and drove him back every day he was in the studio. All three hours each way.
posted by chris24 at 4:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
They gave him a company car? Or were they sending him a company car with a driver every day? For that transparent fucking hack?
They sent a limo driver for him and drove him back every day he was in the studio. All three hours each way.
posted by chris24 at 4:59 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Yeah, it's unfortunate that Lord Godwined himself. He should have been fired for being a talentless, unapologetic mouthpiece of Sauron on an alleged news network, not for accidentally tripping over the severed hand clutching CNN's long buried standards policy dead-man's switch.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Really the placard is going to be much cheaper. They can just pop it in a broom closet.
posted by Artw at 5:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 5:00 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Jeffrey Lord literally had to heil Hitler in order for CNN to fire him
He didn't literally heil Hitler. Seig Heil means "Hail Victory". And now if you'll excuse me I have to take a hot shower with steel wool to make myself clean again.
posted by Talez at 5:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
He didn't literally heil Hitler. Seig Heil means "Hail Victory". And now if you'll excuse me I have to take a hot shower with steel wool to make myself clean again.
posted by Talez at 5:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
It doesn't really make it better, but it does make me smile that Lord had a 6 hour daily commute to do his evil work. At least he suffered in some small way, although the 6 figure checks probably balanced that out.
In conclusion, this changes nothing, CNN is still the absolute worst and deserves much of the blame for getting Trump to the White House.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
In conclusion, this changes nothing, CNN is still the absolute worst and deserves much of the blame for getting Trump to the White House.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:04 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Gizmodo on that bizarre-even-for-twenty-seventeen Havana Sonic Device story
I'm surprised (not really) to find out in that story that the State Department spokesperson is former Fox & Friends host Heather Nauert. Trump doesn't even have to use the Tivo anymore. His favorite daily conspiracy stories are coming live from inside the House.
posted by JackFlash at 5:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm surprised (not really) to find out in that story that the State Department spokesperson is former Fox & Friends host Heather Nauert. Trump doesn't even have to use the Tivo anymore. His favorite daily conspiracy stories are coming live from inside the House.
posted by JackFlash at 5:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
It was either that or hire Tiffany.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 5:10 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
From Politico:
Manafort's case will now be handled by Miller and Chevalier, a boutique firm in Washington that specializes in complicated financial crimes among other issues, these people said.
posted by chris24 at 5:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
Manafort's case will now be handled by Miller and Chevalier, a boutique firm in Washington that specializes in complicated financial crimes among other issues, these people said.
posted by chris24 at 5:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [18 favorites]
Trump, answering a question about Manafort: I'm sure Paul Manafort makes money consulting for different countries--maybe he doesn't, I don't know about it.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 5:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
He didn't literally heil Hitler. Seig Heil means "Hail Victory".
Context is a hell of a thing
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Context is a hell of a thing
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Oh, I don't doubt Lord's defense - he probably really was calling some adverse "liberal" a Nazi.
It has Socialism right in the name donchya know! The "liberals are the real fascists" idea has been common currency for at least 10 years now, in conservative circles.
posted by thelonius at 5:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
It has Socialism right in the name donchya know! The "liberals are the real fascists" idea has been common currency for at least 10 years now, in conservative circles.
posted by thelonius at 5:35 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Two-parter from the Post:
Jonathan O'Connell: Trump D.C. hotel turns $2 million profit in four months
And for more on that, we turn to Jonathan O'Connell's other story, How the Trump hotel changed Washington’s culture of influence: "The hotel’s managers press conservative, Republican and Christian groups to do business where they can rub shoulders with Trump’s Cabinet."
Jonathan O'Connell: Trump D.C. hotel turns $2 million profit in four months
Donald Trump’s company turned a $1.97 million profit at its opulent Trump International Hotel so far in 2017, dramatically beating its expectations and giving the first hard numbers to critics who charge that Trump is profiting from his presidency.Despite an occupancy rate of just 42.3%, they've driven an average rate of $653/night, well over other five-star hotels, and are profiting off the fact that it's been a frequent stop for members of the Trump inner circle.
The Trump Organization had projected that it would lose $2.1 million during the first four months of 2017 as it established a new hotel and convention business in the nation’s capital, according to newly released federal documents.
Instead the hotel, with its namesake in the White House down the street, is already turning a hefty profit and charging more for its rooms than most or all of the city’s other hotels.
And for more on that, we turn to Jonathan O'Connell's other story, How the Trump hotel changed Washington’s culture of influence: "The hotel’s managers press conservative, Republican and Christian groups to do business where they can rub shoulders with Trump’s Cabinet."
This is nothing Washington has ever seen. For the first time in presidential history, a profit-making venture touts the name of a U.S. president in its gold signage. And every cup of coffee served, every fundraiser scheduled, every filet mignon ordered feeds the revenue of the Trump family’s private business.posted by zachlipton at 5:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [39 favorites]
In conversations with The Washington Post, the hotel’s management described its strategy to capitalize on the president’s popularity. It markets the hotel to Republican and conservative groups that embrace Trump’s politics but takes care not to solicit business from fringe groups that would embarrass the president. Trump supporters in red “Make America Great Again” caps get a chance to rub elbows with White House officials against an American flag backdrop at the Benjamin Bar, where a signature concoction of winter wheat vodka, oysters and caviar goes for $100.
...
The Post spent part of every day in May in the hotel’s bars, restaurants and lobby. What reporters saw ranged from events hosted by foreign groups with policy priorities to Republican glitterati — Rudolph W. Giuliani Rudolph W. Giuliani Lobbyist and former New York City mayor. Giuliani spoke to two reporters at the hotel that night and assured them he was not a candidate to replace Comey. posing for selfies at the bar the night Trump fired FBI Director James B. Comey; White House aide Omarosa Manigault conferring with the former producer of “The Apprentice”; former Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski Corey Lewandowski Former Trump campaign manager. Lewandowski stepped down from the lobbying firm he co-founded in early May. plopping into a black leather chair marked “Reserved”; then-press secretary Sean Spicer Sean Spicer Former White House press secretary. Spicer stepped aside from running the White House press briefing the day he was at the hotel, May 5, for Navy Reserve duty. scrolling through his phone on a plush blue sofa in the lobby.
He was calling someone a Nazi, but posting a tweet that consists solely of "Sieg Heil!" is not a super great look regardless of circumstances. It does feel kind of like a version of It's Not Racist Unless You Say The N-Word though.
posted by theodolite at 5:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 5:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Been thinking about this from old Hammy:
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an Angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust.
God, that play, written over 400 years ago, tears come to my eyes whenever I show it in class, which is embarrassing, but some of those lines are like the heavens opening up. When I think about the books that I've read that have just stopped my heart with their beauty, or the collection of the Best American Stories of 2016 I'm working through now, I mean, when I think of those things, on the one hand it's go humans go.
On the other hand, what is humanity. It is the fact that DJT and the things that brought him here will add to the suffering on this earth for no fucking good reason. No rule of God nor man has brought us to this point. This is no pinnacle of human achievement. This is nothing magnificent. This is like watching maggots on a corpse.
posted by angrycat at 5:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an Angel! In apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust.
God, that play, written over 400 years ago, tears come to my eyes whenever I show it in class, which is embarrassing, but some of those lines are like the heavens opening up. When I think about the books that I've read that have just stopped my heart with their beauty, or the collection of the Best American Stories of 2016 I'm working through now, I mean, when I think of those things, on the one hand it's go humans go.
On the other hand, what is humanity. It is the fact that DJT and the things that brought him here will add to the suffering on this earth for no fucking good reason. No rule of God nor man has brought us to this point. This is no pinnacle of human achievement. This is nothing magnificent. This is like watching maggots on a corpse.
posted by angrycat at 5:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [37 favorites]
How can so-called patriots support him?
Like many of you, I've struggled a lot with this. I don't think I have a real answer, but one thing that I've noticed with my children is that when they were young, they would see a character on tv or a super hero, and they'd say "That's me." I guess they identify with the character, and it's more fun to watch when you are in the show and not just watching the show, it must be a basic human thing to do.
This country is soaked, marinated in media, there is no difference between "real life," "social media" and "entertainment". A significant portion of the U.S. population looks at Trump and whispers to themselves "that's me".
Not the me they are in their real life, but the me they suppose they would/could be. Rich, powerful, respected, surrounded by beautiful women... Trump is like a super hero to a certain type of American. Anything he does is secondary to who he is, and by association who I (as the person who identifies with him) am. Because of the media fog many of us live in, old-fashioned concepts like truth, justice, and the American way are thrown to the side in favor of "success." My identity as a Trump supporter is primary, my ability to defeat the Super Villain "Killary" and her online minions a form of success itself. Reality is redefined twice a day to conform with what challenges are created by my/his enemies.
Or something like that. It's very weird.
posted by cell divide at 5:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Like many of you, I've struggled a lot with this. I don't think I have a real answer, but one thing that I've noticed with my children is that when they were young, they would see a character on tv or a super hero, and they'd say "That's me." I guess they identify with the character, and it's more fun to watch when you are in the show and not just watching the show, it must be a basic human thing to do.
This country is soaked, marinated in media, there is no difference between "real life," "social media" and "entertainment". A significant portion of the U.S. population looks at Trump and whispers to themselves "that's me".
Not the me they are in their real life, but the me they suppose they would/could be. Rich, powerful, respected, surrounded by beautiful women... Trump is like a super hero to a certain type of American. Anything he does is secondary to who he is, and by association who I (as the person who identifies with him) am. Because of the media fog many of us live in, old-fashioned concepts like truth, justice, and the American way are thrown to the side in favor of "success." My identity as a Trump supporter is primary, my ability to defeat the Super Villain "Killary" and her online minions a form of success itself. Reality is redefined twice a day to conform with what challenges are created by my/his enemies.
Or something like that. It's very weird.
posted by cell divide at 5:40 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Trump supporters in red “Make America Great Again” caps get a chance to rub elbows with White House officials
I would like to know if he's ordering or pressuring White House staff to do business there to profit off of access seekers. I mean of course he is, but I would like to know for sure.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I would like to know if he's ordering or pressuring White House staff to do business there to profit off of access seekers. I mean of course he is, but I would like to know for sure.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
winter wheat vodka, oysters and caviar
a perfectly American combo
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
a perfectly American combo
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 5:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
Daily Beast, Lachlan and Swin, Team Trump Shivs Paul Manafort: There’s ‘Plenty for Mueller to Work With’ covers the efforts of the Trump folks to pretend Manafort wasn't very important, and the usual set of complaints:
According to sources close to the president, many on Team Trump blame Manafort for special counsel Robert Mueller’s divergence from election interference and foray into the private finances of the president’s family, and political and business associates.posted by zachlipton at 6:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
Though Trump himself has engaged in a number of opaque foreign business deals, his aides believe it was Manafort’s work in Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere that set off the special counsel’s alarm bells—and got him digging into issues only tangentially related to alleged Russian election shenanigans.
The terms “shady” and “sketchy” come up most frequently when senior veterans of Trump’s campaign discuss the earlier work done by Manafort, the campaign’s former chairman. (This is the kind of work that has in decades past included Manafort’s lobbying for some of the worst human rights abusers, killers, and dictators of the Cold War era—work Manafort did with longtime Trump consigliere Roger Stone at their well-connected K Street lobbying firm Black, Manafort, Stone, and Kelly.)
...
“There is no trust between the president and Paul [Manafort],” another West Wing official said. “There never really was any to begin with, to tell you the truth.”
...
Multiple sources close to the president have said that there was a growing resentment from Team Trump toward Manafort because he tried to profit off of the access and influence that he claimed to still have on the Trump administration. Specifically, top Trump officials were especially annoyed when stories began appearing online starting in April about how Manafort had reportedly told Chinese interests that he could convince the Trump administration to go along with deals related to U.S. construction contracts.
“That really pissed people off,” a White House adviser told The Daily Beast.
...
Maloni, the Manafort spokesman, stressed to The Daily Beast that Manafort had voluntarily disclosed the Trump Jr. meeting to Senate investigators (as had been previously reported) before Mueller or his team ever asked about it.
Paul Manafort Was Once Sued by Fmr. Ukrainian Prime Minister for ‘Scheming’ and ‘Money Laundering (Rachel Stockman, Law Newz)
posted by Room 641-A at 6:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
In 2011, Tymoshenko filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York against Ukranian industrialist Dmytro Firtash, and others for allegedly running a U.S. based racketeering enterprise which stood to benefit financially from her prosecution. One of the named defendants in the lawsuit is none of other than Paul Manafort.This is exactly what William Browder testified about.
As part of the lawsuit, Tymoshenko alleged that Firtash, who runs a natural gas company called RoUkrEnrgo, “skimmed” money from a natural gas contract between Russia and Ukraine. She accused him (and the other defendants including Manafort) of laundering the money through bogus New York real estate transactions. (Emphasis mine.)
posted by Room 641-A at 6:14 PM on August 10, 2017 [46 favorites]
Multiple sources close to the president have said that there was a growing resentment from Team Trump toward Manafort because he tried to profit off of the access and influence that he claimed to still have on the Trump administration. Specifically, top Trump officials were especially annoyed when stories began appearing online starting in April about how Manafort had reportedly told Chinese interests that he could convince the Trump administration to go along with deals related to U.S. construction contracts.
That's so many levels of beautiful.
posted by ocschwar at 6:19 PM on August 10, 2017 [13 favorites]
What's the difference between Sebastian Gorka and the Hindenburg?
Either way someone is losing a trailer. No wait...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Either way someone is losing a trailer. No wait...
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 6:20 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Or something like that. It's very weird.
I'm sure the Masha Gessen pieces (and others; I'm partial to Jasmin Mujanovic) have been posted. This is the essence of reality in an autocracy. It replaces fealty to country with fealty to the state, and the leader. The rule of law, the principles of democracy, become secondary to the reality created by the leadership. It's both subtle and unsettling. Being off balance becomes normal. But you got the nature of it.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
I'm sure the Masha Gessen pieces (and others; I'm partial to Jasmin Mujanovic) have been posted. This is the essence of reality in an autocracy. It replaces fealty to country with fealty to the state, and the leader. The rule of law, the principles of democracy, become secondary to the reality created by the leadership. It's both subtle and unsettling. Being off balance becomes normal. But you got the nature of it.
posted by dhartung at 6:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
Politico, Josh Dawsey, Behind the Trump-McConnell feud
posted by zachlipton at 6:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
Trump watched clips of McConnell criticizing him on the news and wasn’t happy. In a terse but loud conversation Wednesday, the president made clear he wasn’t to blame for the Obamacare failure and was displeased with the criticism he’s gotten for it. McConnell didn’t give any ground, said people briefed on the phone call, and there are no immediate plans to speak again.I wonder if Trump has realized that Congress is the only thing with an approval rating lower than his. And since he doesn't understand the branches of government or the role of the legislature or the fact that midterm elections are a thing, he figures he can just beat up on Congress the same way he got popular by attacking other targets.
...
Increasingly, these people say, the president is prepared to cast himself as an outsider — and Congress as an “insider” Washington institution. He has reminded advisers his poll numbers are higher than Congress' and that he ran against Washington — and wants bills to sign — and will blast his own party if he doesn’t get them. Trump believes that his supporters will largely blame Congress instead of him, two people who have spoken to him said.
...
Meanwhile, McConnell’s advisers have been amazed at the president’s unwillingness to sell the health care bill publicly, his lack of policy knowledge, his seemingly unending appetite for chaos and his inability to control warring factions of aides, who complicate delicate negotiations by saying different things to different people.
The two men have talked from time to time on the phone, but the conversations have often been brief, and Trump often disregards McConnell’s advice. McConnell has told people after meeting with Trump in the White House that it is difficult to keep the president on topic and that he wanders around verbally in a way that McConnell — a man who does not see the purpose in unnecessary words — doesn’t understand.
posted by zachlipton at 6:31 PM on August 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
Increasingly, these people say, the president is prepared to cast himself as an outsider — and Congress as an “insider” Washington institution. He has reminded advisers his poll numbers are higher than Congress' and that he ran against Washington — and wants bills to sign — and will blast his own party if he doesn’t get them.
Trump splitting the party after they all lined up to kiss the ring would be just beautiful. You knew he was a snake, and you can't always get what you want, can't say he didn't warn you.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [48 favorites]
Trump splitting the party after they all lined up to kiss the ring would be just beautiful. You knew he was a snake, and you can't always get what you want, can't say he didn't warn you.
posted by jason_steakums at 6:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [48 favorites]
It's like Bizarro World Triangulation. Triangulation with a goatee. First as tragedy, the second as farce.
posted by notyou at 6:49 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by notyou at 6:49 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
'There is no trust between the president and Paul [Manafort],' another West Wing official said. 'There never really was any to begin with, to tell you the truth.'
And that's why Trump made him his campaign chairman and chief strategist.
the president made clear he wasn’t to blame for the Obamacare failure and was displeased with the criticism he’s gotten for it
"Nobody knows the system better than I do."
"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it."
"We will immediately repeal and replace ObamaCare - and nobody can do that like me."
posted by kirkaracha at 6:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [45 favorites]
McConnell — a man who does not see the purpose in unnecessary words
I'm pretty sure any word other than "job-killing" must seem like filler to him. Heck, "Democratic" is a three-syllable word as far as he's concerned. A master of concision, he.
posted by uosuaq at 6:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm pretty sure any word other than "job-killing" must seem like filler to him. Heck, "Democratic" is a three-syllable word as far as he's concerned. A master of concision, he.
posted by uosuaq at 6:52 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Turtles tend toward the taciturn.
posted by spitbull at 6:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 6:54 PM on August 10, 2017 [17 favorites]
Too true.
posted by ocschwar at 7:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ocschwar at 7:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Multiple sources close to the president have said that there was a growing resentment from Team Trump toward Manafort because he tried to profit off of the access and influence that he claimed to still have on the Trump administration.
My dude didn't realize that only people named Trump or married to them get a seat at the trough.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
My dude didn't realize that only people named Trump or married to them get a seat at the trough.
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:05 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump absolutely thinks he's McConnell's boss and doesn't understand why he can't just order him to do things.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:16 PM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:16 PM on August 10, 2017 [41 favorites]
My macabre prediction: Manafort, an obviously beefy heavy smoker and drinker, is dead before conviction but not before charges. He's a Ken Lay. Of course, the maddening thing is that to him, he's won. He's lived as a rich truly evil leach, and there have been no consequences.
posted by OmieWise at 7:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 7:18 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
The thought of McConnell's bottled up, sputtering rage over the impudence of Trump acting like his boss is DELIGHTFUL.
posted by jason_steakums at 7:19 PM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 7:19 PM on August 10, 2017 [34 favorites]
Re the word "trumpery," mentioned above, my old Webster's Unabridged has some potentially relevant definitions, both as a noun and as an adjective:
Trumpery...n...1 : obs. DECEIT, FRAUD...2...b : worthless nonsense...[a piece of propaganda ~ —Time]
Trumpery...adj...1 : of small worth or poor quality : tastelessly superficial...2 : FRAUDULENT...3 : worthy of contempt : DESPICABLE...
(the all caps are in the original)
posted by mabelstreet at 7:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
Trumpery...n...1 : obs. DECEIT, FRAUD...2...b : worthless nonsense...[a piece of propaganda ~ —Time]
Trumpery...adj...1 : of small worth or poor quality : tastelessly superficial...2 : FRAUDULENT...3 : worthy of contempt : DESPICABLE...
(the all caps are in the original)
posted by mabelstreet at 7:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
You're going to be so annoyed when I tell you who I've come up with.
posted by The World Famous at 22:26 on August 10 [+] [!]
It doesn't matter what i think?
posted by Cat_Examiner at 7:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by The World Famous at 22:26 on August 10 [+] [!]
It doesn't matter what i think?
posted by Cat_Examiner at 7:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
I stopped thinking at "Al Franken?"
posted by thebrokedown at 7:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by thebrokedown at 7:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
hey why not. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
posted by Jalliah at 7:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Jalliah at 7:36 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Meanwhile, McConnell’s advisers have been amazed at the president’s unwillingness to sell the health care bill publicly, his lack of policy knowledge, his seemingly unending appetite for chaos and his inability to control warring factions of aides
Amazed, huh? Those are some first-rate advisers right there.
posted by Rykey at 7:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Amazed, huh? Those are some first-rate advisers right there.
posted by Rykey at 7:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [14 favorites]
Eh, it could have been worse.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
You're going to be so annoyed when I tell you who I've come up with.
posted by The World Famous at 9:26 PM on August 10 [+] [!]
It couldn't be someone who plans chaos, could it?
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by The World Famous at 9:26 PM on August 10 [+] [!]
It couldn't be someone who plans chaos, could it?
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:39 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
He was calling someone a Nazi, but posting a tweet that consists solely of "Sieg Heil!" is not a super great look regardless of circumstances. It does feel kind of like a version of It's Not Racist Unless You Say The N-Word though.
It doesn't matter if you are fully clothed and not engaged in any illegal hanky panky when you turn the lights on at a brothel. You're the one they are going to kick out because you risk making everyone else look bad.
posted by srboisvert at 7:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
It doesn't matter if you are fully clothed and not engaged in any illegal hanky panky when you turn the lights on at a brothel. You're the one they are going to kick out because you risk making everyone else look bad.
posted by srboisvert at 7:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Kabbadi Champ-
"will not change their support for this evil unless and until they themselves suffer from radioactive fallout. hey, I fixed this for you.
posted by Oyéah at 7:46 PM on August 10, 2017
"will not change their support for this evil unless and until they themselves suffer from radioactive fallout. hey, I fixed this for you.
posted by Oyéah at 7:46 PM on August 10, 2017
(Not that anyone would notice if Trump nuked Sudbury. It was once a "well-known fact" that NASA tested the moon buggy there because it's such a barren wasteland. Turns out that's just a half-truth, but still.)
Many older Sudburians were conceived in the back seats of cars during slag pour watching dates. It's half a barren wasteland only because of decades of effort has been put into re-mediating some of the mining damage.
posted by srboisvert at 8:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Many older Sudburians were conceived in the back seats of cars during slag pour watching dates. It's half a barren wasteland only because of decades of effort has been put into re-mediating some of the mining damage.
posted by srboisvert at 8:03 PM on August 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Amazed, huh? Those are some first-rate advisers right there.
2 points:
1) Matt Yglesias tweeted that he's spoken with some of McConnell's advisors, and he doesn't think they are in the least surprised.
2). His advisers may be odious people, but they are also probably pretty good advisers. The man is Senate Majority Leader.
posted by OmieWise at 8:07 PM on August 10, 2017
2 points:
1) Matt Yglesias tweeted that he's spoken with some of McConnell's advisors, and he doesn't think they are in the least surprised.
2). His advisers may be odious people, but they are also probably pretty good advisers. The man is Senate Majority Leader.
posted by OmieWise at 8:07 PM on August 10, 2017
"It would be very smart if the Congress could come together and tell the president 'you have our authorization to use military force ... as a last resort.'
I think Congress already has accidentally given the president authorization for that. From the 2001 AUMF:
posted by ctmf at 8:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think Congress already has accidentally given the president authorization for that. From the 2001 AUMF:
the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons,So he just "determines" NK aided the terrorist attacks in some way. Done. Oh, you think he has to be correct or prove anything to anyone? Doesn't say that.
posted by ctmf at 8:08 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
Not that it matters. Once you've started a nuclear exchange, who gives a shit about Congress complaining? What are they going to do, impeach you? Get a court order to call back the missiles or something?
posted by ctmf at 8:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 8:11 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
"The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, hallelujah!"
posted by kirkaracha at 8:17 PM on August 10, 2017
posted by kirkaracha at 8:17 PM on August 10, 2017
Al Jazeera's AJ+ interviewed an undocumented woman named Minerva Cisneros Garcia recently, who is under threat of deportation since a court decision a few months ago and has taken refuge in the Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. I feel like she was mentioned in a previous U.S. politics thread. Their report says that the total number of churches nationwide offering sanctuary to undocumented people has exceeded 800 in number. (That actually kind of seems low? But I may not be up on the latest citizen-to-church ratio for the U.S.)
posted by XMLicious at 8:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 8:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [6 favorites]
Just thinking of the old outrage and derision at Obama for eating arugula, and spicy mustard.
Thinking of that in the Age of Trump.
posted by darkstar at 8:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Thinking of that in the Age of Trump.
posted by darkstar at 8:25 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Well, when you put it like that...
@JuddLegum:
1. TRUMP ATTACKED CONGRESS FOR IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND THANKED RUSSIA FOR IMPOSING SANCTION ON THE UNITED STATES
2. I'm trying very hard to believe that Putin doesn't have Trump over a barrel but, gosh, Trump is making it VERY tough
posted by chris24 at 8:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [65 favorites]
@JuddLegum:
1. TRUMP ATTACKED CONGRESS FOR IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND THANKED RUSSIA FOR IMPOSING SANCTION ON THE UNITED STATES
2. I'm trying very hard to believe that Putin doesn't have Trump over a barrel but, gosh, Trump is making it VERY tough
posted by chris24 at 8:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [65 favorites]
The Guardian: 'Maybe Putin is right': Republican Senate frontrunner on Russian leader
posted by runcifex at 8:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
In an interview with the Guardian’s Anywhere But Washington series, [former Alabama chief justice and candidate in Republican primary of Alabama senate special election, Roy] Moore also said that Ronald Reagan’s famous declaration about the Soviet Union being “the focus of evil in the modern world” might today be applied to the US.[real]
“You could say that about America, couldn’t you?” he said. “We promote a lot of bad things.” Asked for an example, he replied: “Same-sex marriage.”
When it was pointed out to Moore that his arguments on gay rights and morality were the same as those of the Russian leader, he replied: “Well, maybe Putin is right.” He added: “Maybe he’s more akin to me than I know.”
There is growing concern among Republican elites about the rising popularity of Putin among some conservatives [politico]. The party’s leaders remain steadfastly opposed to Putin, and recently forced Trump to reluctantly pass new sanctions against Russia. But the rank-and-file’s stance appears to be softening; polls suggest that Putin’s favorability ratings among Republicans have steadily increased in recent years. [gallup poll]
posted by runcifex at 8:28 PM on August 10, 2017 [42 favorites]
Get used to saying "President Scarborough"
Why can't we have downvotes? 'cause right here is prime downvote territory.
Also, isn't Scarborough tied to the mysterious death of a young female staffer?
posted by leotrotsky at 8:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
Also, isn't Scarborough tied to the mysterious death of a young female staffer?
That was Glenn Beck. He was rumoured to have raped and murdered a girl in 1990.
posted by Talez at 8:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
That was Glenn Beck. He was rumoured to have raped and murdered a girl in 1990.
posted by Talez at 8:32 PM on August 10, 2017 [7 favorites]
> Also, isn't Scarborough tied to the mysterious death of a young female staffer?
That rumor was all over like dailykos back in the day, but I could never tell if it was conspiracy chatter or something worthwhile.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
That rumor was all over like dailykos back in the day, but I could never tell if it was conspiracy chatter or something worthwhile.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
That was Glenn Beck. He was rumoured to have raped and murdered a girl in 1990.
I'm not kidding.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'm not kidding.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:33 PM on August 10, 2017 [5 favorites]
He's tied to the mysterious death of a young female staffer the same way that Hillary Clinton is tied to the death of Seth Rich.
posted by Justinian at 8:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:34 PM on August 10, 2017 [10 favorites]
He's tied to the mysterious death of a young female staffer the same way that Hillary Clinton is tied to the death of Seth Rich.
I think the proper analogy is to Clinton and Vince Foster, but sure. I doubt Scarborough had a role to play in that poor lady's untimely demise, but it would almost certainly be the thing that Trump wouldn't shut up about during any primary challenge.
posted by dis_integration at 8:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I think the proper analogy is to Clinton and Vince Foster, but sure. I doubt Scarborough had a role to play in that poor lady's untimely demise, but it would almost certainly be the thing that Trump wouldn't shut up about during any primary challenge.
posted by dis_integration at 8:37 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
In which case I would fully expect Scarborough to go full steam ahead on the child rape allegations about Trump.
This is really unsavory and none of it is going to happen.
posted by Justinian at 8:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is really unsavory and none of it is going to happen.
posted by Justinian at 8:38 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Given our pining for an alternative timeline, this might be of interest: “Women and Power – Germany's female politicians”, an English-language ~40min documentary that Deutsche Welle released earlier this week.
posted by XMLicious at 8:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 8:41 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
It appears that Missouri labor groups will be able to block the state’s new right-to-work law from taking effect Aug. 28.
They’ve collected more than 300,000 notarized signatures in the fight to force a statewide vote over the law in November 2018, state AFL-CIO president Mike Louis and other union leaders say. That’s more than three times the number needed. [St Louis Public Radio]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
They’ve collected more than 300,000 notarized signatures in the fight to force a statewide vote over the law in November 2018, state AFL-CIO president Mike Louis and other union leaders say. That’s more than three times the number needed. [St Louis Public Radio]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:47 PM on August 10, 2017 [47 favorites]
It replaces fealty to country with fealty to the state
The "country" is a mythical entity; that myth is useful to maintaining the rule of the state. There is no USA, other than in myth; there is only USG. This situation antecedes Trump.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
The "country" is a mythical entity; that myth is useful to maintaining the rule of the state. There is no USA, other than in myth; there is only USG. This situation antecedes Trump.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 8:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [4 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
** AL senate special -- Cygnal/L2 poll is the latest to show Roy Moore pulling ahead of Luther Strange for the GOP nod, 31-23, despite Trump's endorsement of Strange, and the strong backing of Mitch McConnell's PAC. This is certain to go to the top two runoff.
** 2018 House -- Congressional approval is at 14%.
** Odds & ends:
** AL senate special -- Cygnal/L2 poll is the latest to show Roy Moore pulling ahead of Luther Strange for the GOP nod, 31-23, despite Trump's endorsement of Strange, and the strong backing of Mitch McConnell's PAC. This is certain to go to the top two runoff.
** 2018 House -- Congressional approval is at 14%.
** Odds & ends:
-- Common Cause & the NAACP have already filed a lawsuit over the Indiana early voting issue.posted by Chrysostom at 9:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [30 favorites]
-- Interesting amicus brief in Gill vs Whitfort (the gerrymandering case before SCOTUS). It's strongly argues for court action against gerrymanders...and it's from the guy whom the GOP hired to help out with the Wisconsin gerrymander.
-- Piece from The Nation on the big crop of women Dem candidates for the VA House of Delegates. I'll have something on this next week, I hope.
Well, it's a message: Thor Harris is running for Governor of Texas
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:06 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Considering the anger and angst of 2017, Thor's got a winning message. Resonates more than the Democrats' "A Better Deal". Imagine: "Democrats 2018: Fuck This. Fuck ALL of This." on car bumpers everywhere.
posted by honestcoyote at 10:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by honestcoyote at 10:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Oh, just a programming note - I'm off to the beach with the family next week, so ELECTIONS NEWS items will be reduced/erratic.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:21 PM on August 10, 2017 [26 favorites]
Some good news from yesterday, and on a massive scale, to lighten spirits and help dispel the dread of the country slipping into fascism: New York City Throws Out 640,000 Outstanding Warrants! And Freed These People From Fear Of Arrest.
posted by darkstar at 10:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 10:26 PM on August 10, 2017 [24 favorites]
This is really unsavory and none of it is going to happen.
2017: Hold my wheat vodka, oysters, and caviar.
posted by riverlife at 10:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
2017: Hold my wheat vodka, oysters, and caviar.
posted by riverlife at 10:44 PM on August 10, 2017 [9 favorites]
Have a great time at the beach! If you find my glasses, memailme.
posted by notyou at 10:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:51 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm still reeling from the "Republicans wouldn't care if Trump delayed the 2020 election" and the fact that more and more people are becoming warmer to Putin. I'm scared shitless.
posted by gucci mane at 11:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 11:01 PM on August 10, 2017 [25 favorites]
Update: my meeting tonight offered both donuts and grapes. Results are still inconclusive whether the addition of grapes made the free food less "insulting” — “absolutely insulting." Will need to eat more donuts to confirm.
posted by zachlipton at 11:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:02 PM on August 10, 2017 [12 favorites]
And the men whispering in his ear actively desire a cataclysm.
Because no one will be standing around and saying 'hey, why are we here' and 'who is accountable' like SHOULD be happening with how the heck things got the way they are if the concern is survival.
Remember how fun was being poked at a President who was taking alot of vacations at his ranch and his occasional (in comparison) stupid statements? How about how there was an announcement of missing money in the largest spending part of the US budget? And all of a sudden one morning those things didn't seem to matter and humor was even declared dead?
An active disaster will allow more than a few bad actors to get away with what they want to do, so hell yea....some people ARE cheering for a cataclysm. Active disaster in people's lives slows up political organizing....mostly. You can afford to sing songs and carry signs every once in a while if you have a full belly on most days. Or you have a job that lets you have some slack-time to contact your reps and inform them about the goats they are applying a breeze to, or about the good job they are doing and should keep it up.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
Because no one will be standing around and saying 'hey, why are we here' and 'who is accountable' like SHOULD be happening with how the heck things got the way they are if the concern is survival.
Remember how fun was being poked at a President who was taking alot of vacations at his ranch and his occasional (in comparison) stupid statements? How about how there was an announcement of missing money in the largest spending part of the US budget? And all of a sudden one morning those things didn't seem to matter and humor was even declared dead?
An active disaster will allow more than a few bad actors to get away with what they want to do, so hell yea....some people ARE cheering for a cataclysm. Active disaster in people's lives slows up political organizing....mostly. You can afford to sing songs and carry signs every once in a while if you have a full belly on most days. Or you have a job that lets you have some slack-time to contact your reps and inform them about the goats they are applying a breeze to, or about the good job they are doing and should keep it up.
posted by rough ashlar at 11:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
ThinkProgress: "On Wednesday, Gorka lashed out at "at [New York Times reporter] Maggie Haberman and her acolytes in the fake news media, who immediately have a conniption fit" and brought up McVeigh. He added that "white men" and "white supremacists" are not "the problem."
It’s this constant, "Oh, it's the white man. It's the white supremacists. That's the problem." No, it isn’t, Maggie Haberman. Go to Sinjar. Go to the Middle East, and tell me what the real problem is today. Go to Manchester.posted by christopherious at 11:29 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
"Go to DC and look for the goateed Hungarian Nazi."
posted by notyou at 11:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by notyou at 11:43 PM on August 10, 2017 [8 favorites]
Go to Sinjar. Go to the Middle East, and tell me what the real problem is today. Go to Manchester.
Gorka is listing places where he isn't.
posted by saysthis at 12:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Gorka is listing places where he isn't.
posted by saysthis at 12:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Important update: more than one real problem can exist
posted by thelonius at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Uh, what's wrong with Manchester? I mean... I know it's Manchester and all but...?
posted by Justinian at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Go to Manchester.
From the UK, go fuck yourself.
posted by jaduncan at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [41 favorites]
From the UK, go fuck yourself.
posted by jaduncan at 1:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [41 favorites]
There was a Islamist terrorist bombing there. Gorka is attempting to capitalise on that, because heaven forfend we go on with our lives and not call a large part of the population of the country a problem. Because he is a racist, and, again, can go fuck himself rather than attempt to bloody his shirt in the service of racism with the blood of people much better than him.
posted by jaduncan at 1:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 1:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh, so nothings wrong with Manchester. Whew, I thought I was taking crazy pills for a minute.
posted by Justinian at 1:33 AM on August 11, 2017
posted by Justinian at 1:33 AM on August 11, 2017
Go to Sinjar. Go to the Middle East
...but don't go to Charleston.
posted by PenDevil at 1:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
...but don't go to Charleston.
posted by PenDevil at 1:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
> Uh, what's wrong with Manchester? I mean... I know it's Manchester and all but...?Same thing as "You look at what's happening last night in Sweden" but with less obvious, explicit fakehood.
[No, I didn't misspell "falsehood."]
posted by runcifex at 1:46 AM on August 11, 2017
Gorka knows damn well that people like him are the greatest threat to peace, as well as the life and liberty of people all around the world. He just knows better than to admit he's PROUD of it.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Well, for now. Sooner or later fascists usually start explicitly praising war as somehow leading to increased personal and national virility/masculinity*.
* Presented as the same thing, natch.
posted by jaduncan at 1:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
* Presented as the same thing, natch.
posted by jaduncan at 1:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
So it's going to be one of those days... Dear Leader is starting his day retweeting Fox & Friends.
The first confirming what I assume are classified drone attacks on terrorists in Somalia.
Then one threatening Republican Senators.
And then implying he wants McConnell out.
Wheeee!!! At least he's attacking Republicans and not North Korea.
Donald Trump retweeted:
@foxandfriends
FOX NEWS ALERT: 2 US drone strikes in Somalia target Al Qaeda and Al-Shabaab [video]
@foxandfriends
Senators learn the hard way about the fallout from turning on Trump
@foxandfriends
Trump fires new warning shot at McConnell, leaves door open on whether he should step down
posted by chris24 at 4:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
The first confirming what I assume are classified drone attacks on terrorists in Somalia.
Then one threatening Republican Senators.
And then implying he wants McConnell out.
Wheeee!!! At least he's attacking Republicans and not North Korea.
Donald Trump retweeted:
@foxandfriends
FOX NEWS ALERT: 2 US drone strikes in Somalia target Al Qaeda and Al-Shabaab [video]
@foxandfriends
Senators learn the hard way about the fallout from turning on Trump
@foxandfriends
Trump fires new warning shot at McConnell, leaves door open on whether he should step down
posted by chris24 at 4:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Welp, spoke too soon.
@realDonaldTrump
Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!
posted by chris24 at 4:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump
Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!
posted by chris24 at 4:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
So it's going to be one of those days
Following this:
Trump caught ‘liking’ bizarre tweet about rape, orgies and sex trafficking at his model agency (Sarah K. Burns, Raw Story)
Trump’s Labor nominee oversaw ‘sweetheart plea deal’ in billionaire’s underage sex case
That was the 13th tweet Trump has liked (before unliking.) The 12th was a tweet about human trafficking.
And has The Nation gone full-on bonkers?
A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Year’s DNC Hack (Patrick Lawrence, The Nation)
Former NSA experts say it wasn’t a hack at all, but a leak—an inside job by someone with access to the DNC’s system.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:44 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Following this:
Trump caught ‘liking’ bizarre tweet about rape, orgies and sex trafficking at his model agency (Sarah K. Burns, Raw Story)
At 11:44 p.m. EST Thursday evening, Trump clicked the “heart” on a tweet from a user who calls themselves Alexander Hamilton. The tweet, accused the president of rape and conducting orgies using the models at his former agency, Trump Model Management.led to this reminder of a Politco story from February:
Trump’s Labor nominee oversaw ‘sweetheart plea deal’ in billionaire’s underage sex case
That was the 13th tweet Trump has liked (before unliking.) The 12th was a tweet about human trafficking.
And has The Nation gone full-on bonkers?
A New Report Raises Big Questions About Last Year’s DNC Hack (Patrick Lawrence, The Nation)
Former NSA experts say it wasn’t a hack at all, but a leak—an inside job by someone with access to the DNC’s system.
posted by Room 641-A at 4:44 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Former NSA experts say it wasn’t a hack at all, but a leak—an inside job by someone with access to the DNC’s system.
Good thing Muller's way beyond that and onto the Trump real-estate as sinks for laundering stolen Russian money...
posted by mikelieman at 4:49 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Good thing Muller's way beyond that and onto the Trump real-estate as sinks for laundering stolen Russian money...
posted by mikelieman at 4:49 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!
It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."
posted by corb at 4:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."
posted by corb at 4:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
More articles from the same author of the DNC article. He seems to be a bit of a Trump supporter/apologist and RussiaGate denier.
Are We Witnessing a Coup Operation Against the Trump White House?
Our intelligence apparatus is doing far more than stoking paranoia about the Russian bogeyman—it’s threatening democracy.
Trump Takes a Running Whack at the Liberal Interventionists
He’s erratic and he’s no progressive, but at least he’s challenging the high priests of the foreign-policy establishment.
Trump, Russia, and the Return of Scapegoating, a Timeless American Tradition
Our bipartisan tendency to blame others for our own failures will be the cause of American decline.
The Perils of Russophobia
Anyone too young to remember HUAC and the destruction the Cold War wrought should study up. We are a few short steps away from both.
posted by chris24 at 4:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Are We Witnessing a Coup Operation Against the Trump White House?
Our intelligence apparatus is doing far more than stoking paranoia about the Russian bogeyman—it’s threatening democracy.
Trump Takes a Running Whack at the Liberal Interventionists
He’s erratic and he’s no progressive, but at least he’s challenging the high priests of the foreign-policy establishment.
Trump, Russia, and the Return of Scapegoating, a Timeless American Tradition
Our bipartisan tendency to blame others for our own failures will be the cause of American decline.
The Perils of Russophobia
Anyone too young to remember HUAC and the destruction the Cold War wrought should study up. We are a few short steps away from both.
posted by chris24 at 4:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
The leet hackers should stop bothering with unreleased TV shows and hack Fox and Friends' programming instead.
Preferably by inserting the program "Trump retweets Fox and Friends' stories about Trump" and take them to an infinite mutual recursion loop.
posted by runcifex at 4:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
Preferably by inserting the program "Trump retweets Fox and Friends' stories about Trump" and take them to an infinite mutual recursion loop.
posted by runcifex at 4:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
WTF, The Nation? Why? Why?
posted by Room 641-A at 4:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 4:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
The "country" is a mythical entity; that myth is useful to maintaining the rule of the state.
Everything described in words and socially constructed can be construed as "mythical." This is no more profound than that sovereign citizen nonsense. Language is just a mythical entity. Bicycles? Nah, no such thing, just a collection of parts that people conspire to pretend means something special. Nothing really exists except--well, what? Egos? Power?
Deconstruction can make any linguistic constructs look meaningless when taken too far. At some point, we stopped distinguishing between map and territory and started mistaking the limits and flaws in our map making abilities and the fact that our representations of reality are always in a certain sense inauthentic with the idea that reality itself is flawed and inauthentic, but the problem isn't and has never been reality, and deconstruction works not by revealing anything about reality, but only by exploiting the gaps and weaknesses in our imperfect systems and mechanisms for apprehending and representing reality symbolically. Unfortunately, the techniques of that sort of criticism have replaced less sweeping, nuanced forms of good faith argument and reasoning to such a degree there's hardly any constructive modes of critical engagement with ideas left that ever get popular traction. It's too ego satisfying and personally gratifying to destroy ideas and point vaguely toward the howling void while acting stoic and aloof about how little it all means when you really think about it.
tl;dr: Countries are not a myth. They're an idea. Maybe it's fine to say they're a bad idea, but overextending the idea of a myth or lie that broadly is ontological nihilism. It's no more a myth than any other collective human abstraction or concept. You might as well argue baseball teams and math are a myth. As things stand, they are real ideas and systems of organizing human populations the existence of which can't be denied without ignoring all kinds of practical realities and substituting only idiosyncratic personal belief.
posted by saulgoodman at 4:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
Everything described in words and socially constructed can be construed as "mythical." This is no more profound than that sovereign citizen nonsense. Language is just a mythical entity. Bicycles? Nah, no such thing, just a collection of parts that people conspire to pretend means something special. Nothing really exists except--well, what? Egos? Power?
Deconstruction can make any linguistic constructs look meaningless when taken too far. At some point, we stopped distinguishing between map and territory and started mistaking the limits and flaws in our map making abilities and the fact that our representations of reality are always in a certain sense inauthentic with the idea that reality itself is flawed and inauthentic, but the problem isn't and has never been reality, and deconstruction works not by revealing anything about reality, but only by exploiting the gaps and weaknesses in our imperfect systems and mechanisms for apprehending and representing reality symbolically. Unfortunately, the techniques of that sort of criticism have replaced less sweeping, nuanced forms of good faith argument and reasoning to such a degree there's hardly any constructive modes of critical engagement with ideas left that ever get popular traction. It's too ego satisfying and personally gratifying to destroy ideas and point vaguely toward the howling void while acting stoic and aloof about how little it all means when you really think about it.
tl;dr: Countries are not a myth. They're an idea. Maybe it's fine to say they're a bad idea, but overextending the idea of a myth or lie that broadly is ontological nihilism. It's no more a myth than any other collective human abstraction or concept. You might as well argue baseball teams and math are a myth. As things stand, they are real ideas and systems of organizing human populations the existence of which can't be denied without ignoring all kinds of practical realities and substituting only idiosyncratic personal belief.
posted by saulgoodman at 4:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
Shorter The Nation: Let's Hear This Pizzagate Stuff Out [fake, for now]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
Teach the controversy!
posted by OmieWise at 5:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by OmieWise at 5:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
*crosses The Nation off the list*
Which list? All of them.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Which list? All of them.
posted by Room 641-A at 5:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
The former NSA experts he quotes in the Nation are all political activists and/or whistleblowers with grudges against the NSA and/or Clinton/Obama (rightly or wrongly). Their pasts and its possible influence on any bias is unmentioned in the article.
---
William Edward Binney[3] is a former highly placed intelligence official with the United States National Security Agency (NSA)[4] turned whistleblower who resigned on October 31, 2001, after more than 30 years with the agency. He was a high-profile critic of his former employers during the George W. Bush administration.
Binney continued to speak out during Barack Obama's presidency about the NSA's data collection policies, and continues to give interviews in the media regarding his experiences and his views on interception of communication of American citizens by governmental agencies. In a legal case, Binney declared in an affidavit that the NSA is acting in deliberate violation of the U.S. Constitution.
---
Veteran National Security Agency official Kirk Wiebe helped develop the data processing system ThinThread, which he believed could have potentially prevented the 9/11 attacks. But the NSA sidelined ThinThread instead of the problem-plagued experimental program Trailblazer, which cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Wiebe was among the NSA officials to face retaliation for blowing the whistle on Trailblazer.
---
Edward Loomis worked as an NSA cryptologist from 1964 to 2001. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, Loomis unsuccessfully lobbied the agency to adopt a sophisticated data-collection program -- nicknamed "ThinThread" -- to monitor foreign Internet traffic going through the United States. Loomis, who later became the target of a Justice Department investigation into leaks of classified data, told FRONTLINE that had ThinThread been in place before 9/11, the attacks may have been averted.
---
Raymond McGovern (born August 25, 1939) is a veteran CIA officer turned political activist.[1] McGovern was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, and in the 1980s chaired National Intelligence Estimates and prepared the President's Daily Brief. He received the Intelligence Commendation Medal at his retirement, returning it in 2006 to protest the CIA's involvement in torture.[2] McGovern's post-retirement work includes commenting on intelligence issues and in 2003 co-founding Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.
During a 2011 speech at George Washington University (GW) by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, McGovern stood with his back turned during her remarks, blocking the view of some of the audience and media for about five minutes in "silent protest" of Clinton's foreign policy.[14][15] McGovern refused to cooperate when asked to leave by security, which lead to his arrest for disorderly conduct[14] and inclusion on the State Department's "be on the lookout" (BOLO) list, which authorizes law enforcement to stop and question him on sight.[15] The charges were subsequently dropped two weeks later. In 2014, McGovern's lawyer filed a lawsuit against the GW police department for allegedly using excessive force and also against the university and State Department for allegedly violating his right to peacefully protest.[15]
When asked on TVNZ whether Julian Assange was a hero or villain, he replied "hero,"[18] and has co-written an open letter of support for WikiLeaks and Assange.[19]
posted by chris24 at 5:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [17 favorites]
---
William Edward Binney[3] is a former highly placed intelligence official with the United States National Security Agency (NSA)[4] turned whistleblower who resigned on October 31, 2001, after more than 30 years with the agency. He was a high-profile critic of his former employers during the George W. Bush administration.
Binney continued to speak out during Barack Obama's presidency about the NSA's data collection policies, and continues to give interviews in the media regarding his experiences and his views on interception of communication of American citizens by governmental agencies. In a legal case, Binney declared in an affidavit that the NSA is acting in deliberate violation of the U.S. Constitution.
---
Veteran National Security Agency official Kirk Wiebe helped develop the data processing system ThinThread, which he believed could have potentially prevented the 9/11 attacks. But the NSA sidelined ThinThread instead of the problem-plagued experimental program Trailblazer, which cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Wiebe was among the NSA officials to face retaliation for blowing the whistle on Trailblazer.
---
Edward Loomis worked as an NSA cryptologist from 1964 to 2001. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, Loomis unsuccessfully lobbied the agency to adopt a sophisticated data-collection program -- nicknamed "ThinThread" -- to monitor foreign Internet traffic going through the United States. Loomis, who later became the target of a Justice Department investigation into leaks of classified data, told FRONTLINE that had ThinThread been in place before 9/11, the attacks may have been averted.
---
Raymond McGovern (born August 25, 1939) is a veteran CIA officer turned political activist.[1] McGovern was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, and in the 1980s chaired National Intelligence Estimates and prepared the President's Daily Brief. He received the Intelligence Commendation Medal at his retirement, returning it in 2006 to protest the CIA's involvement in torture.[2] McGovern's post-retirement work includes commenting on intelligence issues and in 2003 co-founding Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.
During a 2011 speech at George Washington University (GW) by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, McGovern stood with his back turned during her remarks, blocking the view of some of the audience and media for about five minutes in "silent protest" of Clinton's foreign policy.[14][15] McGovern refused to cooperate when asked to leave by security, which lead to his arrest for disorderly conduct[14] and inclusion on the State Department's "be on the lookout" (BOLO) list, which authorizes law enforcement to stop and question him on sight.[15] The charges were subsequently dropped two weeks later. In 2014, McGovern's lawyer filed a lawsuit against the GW police department for allegedly using excessive force and also against the university and State Department for allegedly violating his right to peacefully protest.[15]
When asked on TVNZ whether Julian Assange was a hero or villain, he replied "hero,"[18] and has co-written an open letter of support for WikiLeaks and Assange.[19]
posted by chris24 at 5:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [17 favorites]
Can somebody translate the following:
someone needs to put a drop noseband on him and tighten the martingale
This was said in a tweet about Gorka after he appeared on the BBC. I love the specificity of the suggestion.
posted by angrycat at 5:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
someone needs to put a drop noseband on him and tighten the martingale
This was said in a tweet about Gorka after he appeared on the BBC. I love the specificity of the suggestion.
posted by angrycat at 5:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can somebody translate the following:
someone needs to put a drop noseband on him and tighten the martingale
You're not familiar? In the UK this is perfectly vamblic parlance for banters around the morning scumpling-table.
edit: it's horse-related. gorka is horse.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:28 AM on August 11, 2017 [31 favorites]
someone needs to put a drop noseband on him and tighten the martingale
You're not familiar? In the UK this is perfectly vamblic parlance for banters around the morning scumpling-table.
edit: it's horse-related. gorka is horse.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:28 AM on August 11, 2017 [31 favorites]
These are types of dog collars. Nose band goes around muzzle and is used in conjunction with a dog leash, martingale is a type of collar rarely used because it tightens up the more the dog pulls.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
The former NSA experts he quotes in the Nation are all political activists and/or whistleblowers with grudges against the NSA and/or Clinton/Obama (rightly or wrongly). Their pasts and its possible influence on any bias is unmentioned in the article.
Let's see, heavily biased retired service members with a tenuous connection to the subject coming out of the woodwork to lend false credibility to a smear campaign... looks like the trailer for Swiftboat 2: Mission to Moscow dropped. I take it Sinclair will get distribution rights for the feature length version again.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
Let's see, heavily biased retired service members with a tenuous connection to the subject coming out of the woodwork to lend false credibility to a smear campaign... looks like the trailer for Swiftboat 2: Mission to Moscow dropped. I take it Sinclair will get distribution rights for the feature length version again.
posted by jason_steakums at 5:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
SebGor hold his head too high, someone needs to rein him in...
martingale:
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:33 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
martingale:
Also called standing martingale. part of the tack or harness of a horse, consisting of a strap that fastens to the girth, passes between the forelegs and through a loop in the neckstrap or hame, and fastens to the noseband: used to steady or hold down the horse's head.Source
posted by Mister Bijou at 5:33 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
The head is not the part of the horse I think of when I Gorka is speaking.
posted by cmfletcher at 5:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 5:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
Hey, remember when I said yesterday that the bullshit poll Trump tweeted about being more popular than Obama was an unscientific Twitter poll from a Twitter account (which is all it is, no website or anything else) catering to wingnuts.? Well, it gets better:
Trump's Favorite Twitter Pollster Is a Renamed Pizzagate Conspiracy Peddler
Trump's Favorite Twitter Pollster Is a Renamed Pizzagate Conspiracy Peddler
The Twitter account, now called @ProgressPolls, had an entirely different identity just two months ago. The account called was @Truth_Bombers until July 26th, when its new owners deleted almost 4,000 old tweets, some of which promoted the Pizzagate conspiracy theory that falsely claimed Hillary Clinton’s campaign ran a secret child sex ring, and also tweeted claims that Obama is Muslim.posted by chris24 at 5:39 AM on August 11, 2017 [26 favorites]
Pretty sure the DNC hack is the very well documented result of a spearphishing campaign.
The Perils of Russophobia
Oh, he's one of *those*.
posted by Artw at 5:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
The Perils of Russophobia
Oh, he's one of *those*.
posted by Artw at 5:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
@ARothWP
The day after Armageddon I look forward to the NYT tick tock saying the missile launch came as a surprise to the NSC and WH senior staff.
posted by chris24 at 6:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
The day after Armageddon I look forward to the NYT tick tock saying the missile launch came as a surprise to the NSC and WH senior staff.
posted by chris24 at 6:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
Friday morning gallows humor
@BvrlyTweetmaker Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
posted by chaoticgood at 6:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [36 favorites]
@BvrlyTweetmaker Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
posted by chaoticgood at 6:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [36 favorites]
Comedian Spray Paints Hate Tweets Outside Twitter Headquarters (Monica Uszerowicz, Hyperallergic)
After Twitter refused to delete numerous hate tweets, Shahak Shapira, a Berlin-based Jewish comedian and author, spray painted them outside the company’s German headquarters
After Twitter refused to delete numerous hate tweets, Shahak Shapira, a Berlin-based Jewish comedian and author, spray painted them outside the company’s German headquarters
Though Facebook removed about 80% of about 150 comments, after Shapira reported over 300 tweets, Twitter responded only nine times, always stating that the tweets violated nothing. On the rare occasion they did remove a comment Shapira reported, they’d fail to notify him. [...]posted by Room 641-A at 6:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
In-person hate speech carries the threat of physical danger; on the internet, it’s a different kind of insidious, quick like fire. The #HEYTWITTER hashtag has already picked up global supporters and will hopefully force Twitter to take quicker action against such comments
Friday morning gallows humor
@BvrlyTweetmaker Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
Tiger Gorka
posted by Jalliah at 6:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
Warning: may cause laughter to the point of emesis.
Migrant rescue ship sails to aid of stranded far-right activists - German NGO says its rescue vessel is sailing to help a group of anti-immigration activists after their ship got into trouble off the coast of Libya
Not doing the Nazi advisor name thing as my first pet was called Algernon Lacey, and associating a Biggles character with the Nazis goes against everything they got in their Sopwith Camels to defend.
ed: yes, yes, Camels were WWI...
posted by Buntix at 6:10 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
Migrant rescue ship sails to aid of stranded far-right activists - German NGO says its rescue vessel is sailing to help a group of anti-immigration activists after their ship got into trouble off the coast of Libya
Not doing the Nazi advisor name thing as my first pet was called Algernon Lacey, and associating a Biggles character with the Nazis goes against everything they got in their Sopwith Camels to defend.
ed: yes, yes, Camels were WWI...
posted by Buntix at 6:10 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
@BvrlyTweetmaker Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
Oh man, Fufa Goebbels almost sounds respectable.
posted by lydhre at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Oh man, Fufa Goebbels almost sounds respectable.
posted by lydhre at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'll take 'Things you should've thought of before voting for Trump' for $800, Alex.
@WSJ
Analysts are trying to work out what happens to markets in the event of an all-out nuclear war
WSJ: How Do You Price a Problem Like Korea?
posted by chris24 at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
@WSJ
Analysts are trying to work out what happens to markets in the event of an all-out nuclear war
WSJ: How Do You Price a Problem Like Korea?
posted by chris24 at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Veteran National Security Agency official Kirk Wiebe helped develop the data processing system ThinThread, which he believed could have potentially prevented the 9/11 attacks. But the NSA sidelined ThinThread instead of the problem-plagued experimental program Trailblazer, which cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Wiebe was among the NSA officials to face retaliation for blowing the whistle on Trailblazer.
I used to joke that around Season 02, Person of Interest became a documentary, but JFC..
posted by mikelieman at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
I used to joke that around Season 02, Person of Interest became a documentary, but JFC..
posted by mikelieman at 6:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
More effects of the purge and failure to fill government positions.
Four Top Cybersecurity Officials Are Leaving US Government
posted by xyzzy at 6:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [19 favorites]
Four Top Cybersecurity Officials Are Leaving US Government
Ann Dunkin, the CIO of the EPA under President Barack Obama who was asked to leave by Trump’s transition team and now holds the same title for Santa Clara County, California, told BuzzFeed News that four executives leaving in such a short time raised red flags.And Trump's take:
“There appears to be a concerted effort to remove the career CIOs who were there during the Obama administration,” Dunkin said. “During the last week we’ve seen four go? That smells.”
Trump, on the campaign trail, struggled to talk about cybersecurity, often referring to it as "the cyber" and saying in one debate that the "security aspect of cyber is very very tough, and maybe it's hardly doable." His executive order on cybersecurity, signed in May after several false starts, largely followed the recommendations made by Obama's staff just before his term finished.Also, my Trump Advisor Name is Jenny Mengele.
posted by xyzzy at 6:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [19 favorites]
In which Gen. Mattis doesn't even know what Twitter is
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:29 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:29 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
Since it seems to be gallows humor morning... (Oh, and Charlie Brown Goebbels here)
@KevinMKruse
Trump explains the mysteries behind Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Not just how the apocalypse came, but why no one wants to talk about it.
posted by chris24 at 6:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [42 favorites]
@KevinMKruse
Trump explains the mysteries behind Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Not just how the apocalypse came, but why no one wants to talk about it.
posted by chris24 at 6:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [42 favorites]
In which Gen. Mattis doesn't even know what Twitter is
Maybe the Mattis-will-save-us folk have a point.
posted by Artw at 6:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Maybe the Mattis-will-save-us folk have a point.
posted by Artw at 6:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
@BvrlyTweetmaker Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
Rimshot Himmler.
Sounds like a saucy drag queen.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
Rimshot Himmler.
Sounds like a saucy drag queen.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
Sweet. The Road tweet works for Endgame as well. Lumpy Speer here.
posted by rc3spencer at 6:38 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by rc3spencer at 6:38 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
In which Gen. Mattis doesn't even know what Twitter is
I read that differently than the reporter quoting it - more that he's not that up on the slang. I'm sure the entire DoD is now nightmarishly aware of Twitter, even if they weren't before.
posted by corb at 6:40 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
I read that differently than the reporter quoting it - more that he's not that up on the slang. I'm sure the entire DoD is now nightmarishly aware of Twitter, even if they weren't before.
posted by corb at 6:40 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Stubby Göring
> It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."
Yesterday I was thinking "Well, on the *plus* side I'd get out of this shitty work assignment..."
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
> It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."
Yesterday I was thinking "Well, on the *plus* side I'd get out of this shitty work assignment..."
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
I still feel depressed when I realize that people are seriously pinning their hopes for someone to restrain Trump from nuking the DPRK on a guy named "Mad Dog".
posted by sotonohito at 6:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 6:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Hi it's me, Taz Goring reporting for duty.
Mattis eagerly answering press questions!
That is the bar a Cabinet member has to clear in order to impress me.
Great.
posted by Tevin at 6:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mattis eagerly answering press questions!
That is the bar a Cabinet member has to clear in order to impress me.
Great.
posted by Tevin at 6:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm Goldie Goebbels.
Washington Post recap by David Wiegel of Republicans at town halls during the recess.
tl;dr: People are still fired up about health care.
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Washington Post recap by David Wiegel of Republicans at town halls during the recess.
tl;dr: People are still fired up about health care.
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
> In which Gen. Mattis doesn't even know what Twitter is
Would that we were all so fortunate.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Would that we were all so fortunate.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
surely this is the dumbest of all timelines
posted by entropicamericana at 6:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 6:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Your Trump advisor name is your first pet's name plus the last name of the first Nazi you can think of besides Hitler.
Buffy Goebbels
posted by wenestvedt at 6:48 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Buffy Goebbels
posted by wenestvedt at 6:48 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Free to bad home: one used gorka.
Sebastian Gorka, the West Wing's Phony Foreign-Policy Guru (Bob Dreyfuss, Roling Stone)
Sebastian Gorka, the West Wing's Phony Foreign-Policy Guru (Bob Dreyfuss, Roling Stone)
Early this year, his wife and partner, Katharine Cornell Gorka, took up a post at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she is now an adviser to the department's policy office. Almost as soon as they entered the Trump administration, the Gorkas absorbed withering incoming fire from national-security experts and in a series of exposés in LobeLog.com and The Forward, a progressive Jewish periodical. By late April, White House sources told The New York Times and The Washington Post that Gorka was on the way out. Yet so far – likely thanks to support from Bannon – both Gorkas have defiantly stayed in place. According to one insider, Gorka's dubious qualifications may have saved him. The White House tried to find him a job at another agency," says the source. But no luck: "Nobody wanted him." (Emphasis mine)posted by Room 641-A at 6:48 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
Some good news from yesterday, and on a massive scale, to lighten spirits and help dispel the dread of the country slipping into fascism: New York City Throws Out 640,000 Outstanding Warrants! And Freed These People From Fear Of Arrest.
Walter Peck from the EPA shut down the warrant containment grid.
Let's say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of freedom in the New York area. Based on this morning's sample, it would be a Twinkie... thirty-five feet long, weighing approximately six hundred pounds.
posted by XMLicious at 6:50 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
wife's is Peanuts Goebbels
I feel like this makes them sound excessively charming. Like Scooter Libby.
It should be more like, first name is the first Death-eater you can think of besides Lord Voldemort. Then you'd have names like Draco, Barty, Lucius, Bellatrix, Delores, Fenrir, Igor, Severus, Antonin, Peter, Quirinus, etc. That may, however, required greater familiarity with the canon of Ms. Rowling than is commonly seen. It'd work great as web-based name generator.
I'd be Barty Himmler, which seems to perfectly nail the combination of privilege, evil, and general incompetence that goes with this administration.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
I feel like this makes them sound excessively charming. Like Scooter Libby.
It should be more like, first name is the first Death-eater you can think of besides Lord Voldemort. Then you'd have names like Draco, Barty, Lucius, Bellatrix, Delores, Fenrir, Igor, Severus, Antonin, Peter, Quirinus, etc. That may, however, required greater familiarity with the canon of Ms. Rowling than is commonly seen. It'd work great as web-based name generator.
I'd be Barty Himmler, which seems to perfectly nail the combination of privilege, evil, and general incompetence that goes with this administration.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
tl;dr: People are still fired up about health care.
And liking and wanting to fix Obamacare.
@JesseFFerguson
NEW Kaiser Poll on health care
Approval of ACA (+13)
Approve-52
Disapprove-39
(Very Approve @ 30%- highest ever)
http://files.kff.org/attachment/Topline-Kaiser-Health-Tracking-Poll-August2017-The-Politics-of-ACA-Repeal-and-Replace-Efforts
@JesseFFerguson
NEW Kaiser Poll (cont.)
Health care blame
Trump should...
Make the law work - 78%
Make it fail so they can replace it - 17%
posted by chris24 at 6:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
And liking and wanting to fix Obamacare.
@JesseFFerguson
NEW Kaiser Poll on health care
Approval of ACA (+13)
Approve-52
Disapprove-39
(Very Approve @ 30%- highest ever)
http://files.kff.org/attachment/Topline-Kaiser-Health-Tracking-Poll-August2017-The-Politics-of-ACA-Repeal-and-Replace-Efforts
@JesseFFerguson
NEW Kaiser Poll (cont.)
Health care blame
Trump should...
Make the law work - 78%
Make it fail so they can replace it - 17%
posted by chris24 at 6:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
> I still feel depressed when I realize that people are seriously pinning their hopes for someone to restrain Trump from nuking the DPRK on a guy named "Mad Dog".
Mattis did not choose Mad Dog for himself and doesn't like it.
His real sign is CHAOS : Colonel Has Another Outstanding Suggestion. A bit dramatic, but not apocalyptic, at least.
I'm not saying that he's a great dude or that I would ever pin too many hopes on military leaders, but I don't think the "Mad Dog" moniker is an accurate way to describe him or predict what advice he might give.
posted by Tevin at 6:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Mattis did not choose Mad Dog for himself and doesn't like it.
His real sign is CHAOS : Colonel Has Another Outstanding Suggestion. A bit dramatic, but not apocalyptic, at least.
I'm not saying that he's a great dude or that I would ever pin too many hopes on military leaders, but I don't think the "Mad Dog" moniker is an accurate way to describe him or predict what advice he might give.
posted by Tevin at 6:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Coco Himmler. Okay then.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
I still feel depressed when I realize that people are seriously pinning their hopes for someone to restrain Trump from nuking the DPRK on a guy named "Mad Dog".
Like, why even give him the benefit of the doubt anymore? He's on exactly the same page as Trump! Neither he nor Kelly seems to be at all helpful, and in Mattis' case especially, they might even be egging him on.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Like, why even give him the benefit of the doubt anymore? He's on exactly the same page as Trump! Neither he nor Kelly seems to be at all helpful, and in Mattis' case especially, they might even be egging him on.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Zoe "Pickle" Goebbels Hess
Everybody seemed to be picking Goebbels so I went with the next one that popped in my head.
posted by cmfletcher at 6:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Everybody seemed to be picking Goebbels so I went with the next one that popped in my head.
posted by cmfletcher at 6:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mattis is probably the one that greenlit the high casualty mission to kill a child, so there's that.
posted by Artw at 6:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Artw at 6:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
That was funny, but we've probably got enough joke advisor names now, right?
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
Tabasco Speer.
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by AwkwardPause at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
For the sake of load times and the sanity of the mods, can we please not clog up the thread with Nazi pet names?
posted by rbellon at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by rbellon at 6:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [33 favorites]
Unless they're really funny.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:01 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:01 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."
posted by corb at 6:51 AM on 8/11
Yeah, I'm scheduled to fly out for a week, and I'm terrified that getting back is going to be some Tank Girl level adventures, only I'm way too old for that. I'm legit worried, like more worried than I was during the actual cold war.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by corb at 6:51 AM on 8/11
Yeah, I'm scheduled to fly out for a week, and I'm terrified that getting back is going to be some Tank Girl level adventures, only I'm way too old for that. I'm legit worried, like more worried than I was during the actual cold war.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Foxy Ribbentrop
posted by Melismata at 7:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 7:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
tippy riefenstahl.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [21 favorites]
It's interesting. I haven't been terribly worried, but I see people around me get increasingly panicked. I wonder if it's because I already have emergency plans or if I just know there's nothing I can do but sit and wait for the bombs to fall if they're going to fall and others aren't quite there yet.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 7:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
> For the sake of load times and the sanity of the mods, can we please not clog up the thread with Nazi pet names?
Everybody's just nervously marking time until it happens. I kind of feel like this these days. (SLYT The Wire)
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:16 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Everybody's just nervously marking time until it happens. I kind of feel like this these days. (SLYT The Wire)
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:16 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm sorry, Snuggles Heydrich sounds like a spectacularly unfunny drag queen, or a member of Marilyn Manson's house band.
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Missy Braun needs a new thread.
posted by HyperBlue at 7:21 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by HyperBlue at 7:21 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Taffy Braun, Missy's sister
posted by Elly Vortex at 7:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Elly Vortex at 7:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
This earlier essay by the British overt socialist (which is not a swear word in Britian), polemicist, intellectual-hater, semiotician, hermeneutician, Sam Kriss (many previouslies) is worth bringing out: Why won't you push the button?
(Double hermeneuticianeering: the context was about British election, not the recent Trump madness, but you've been warned. And this is not postapocalyptic slash fiction. This is "why don't you freak out" stuff.)
As usual he began by bashing right-wing mindless zombies:
The rest of the essay then suddenly entered the real, meaningfully disturbing realm. I'm not going to quote in full. But I think those parts are worth a read, and for reasons not fully intended by the author.
If you think postmodernism is bad, I have good news: Trump has obviated postmodernism.
posted by runcifex at 7:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
(Double hermeneuticianeering: the context was about British election, not the recent Trump madness, but you've been warned. And this is not postapocalyptic slash fiction. This is "why don't you freak out" stuff.)
As usual he began by bashing right-wing mindless zombies:
Nobody would accept a politician who threatened from the podium on live TV to personally burn one person to death, so why should we accept the idea of burning millions?Erh, not really sure how he could say this while Trump, middle of 5th Avenue, not losing voters, etc etc.
This seems to be a fairly popular decision; the thoughtless destruction of everything that exists plays well with the British public. More than that: it’s demanded; according to the eldritch nostrums that structure British political life, if you’re not willing to promise horrendous genocide with the breezy psychopathy of some ancient khagan drinking from the skulls of his enemies, you can’t be trusted to keep us safe. The appetite for murder is incalculable.(Not really fair to ancient khagans)
It’s striking how sharply the inhuman vastness of nuclear war contrasts with the pettiness and finitude and awfulness of the people who demand it. The first question on nuclear weapons came from one Adam Murgatroyd, who looks exactly how you’d expect, some simpering Tory ponce with his slicked-back hair and his practised raise of an eyebrow. ‘It’s disconcerting,’ he later told the press, ‘that we could potentially in six days’ time have a prime minister who wouldn’t be prepared to protect British lives over someone else’s life.’ Imagine the air poisoned, the soil dying, the biosphere eradicated, the grand flailing tragedy of humanity and its aspirations put to an abrupt stop, the families huddling their loved ones close as the shock wave hits, knowing they’re about to die – and all because some limp umbrella of a man wanted a leader who’d make the right kind of nationalistic hoots about defence. Now I am become Adam from the BBC studio audience, destroyer of worlds.And this is why I brought up this piece, my fellow Mefites. Or in British, hear, hear.
We should consider the questions of the atomic age in fear and trembling. Instead we get the blearing idiocy of common sense, always pointing us to the wrong and most monstrous answer. The process of thinking about the red button has become as automatic as the button itself.
The rest of the essay then suddenly entered the real, meaningfully disturbing realm. I'm not going to quote in full. But I think those parts are worth a read, and for reasons not fully intended by the author.
If you think postmodernism is bad, I have good news: Trump has obviated postmodernism.
posted by runcifex at 7:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Trump explains the mysteries behind Cormac McCarthy's The Road.
Not just how the apocalypse came, but why no one wants to talk about it.
"Once there was David Brooks in the streams in the mountains. You could see him standing in the amber current where the patterned edge of his tie wimpled softly in the flow. He smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and noble-savaging and stereotyping. In his writing was vermiculate bullshit that was a map of the world in its becoming."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
Not just how the apocalypse came, but why no one wants to talk about it.
"Once there was David Brooks in the streams in the mountains. You could see him standing in the amber current where the patterned edge of his tie wimpled softly in the flow. He smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and noble-savaging and stereotyping. In his writing was vermiculate bullshit that was a map of the world in its becoming."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump):
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders! [real, May 2014]
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [38 favorites]
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders! [real, May 2014]
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [38 favorites]
> It is surreal to be reading this while outside the country and thinking, "No, I have to come back, I have a kid and a dog, we should all perish together."Having lived within North Korea missile range for most of my life and entirety of my MeFi life, my thoughts are mostly like this, first as a constant background anxiety, and recently awakened: "I know things will go bad eventually -- for some unspecified values of bad and eventually, and in some way we're responsible. But the fuck, it's now! And, by Trump!"
posted by runcifex at 7:33 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
The rest of the world could band together to sanction the US,
Heck just stop using the US Dollar for trade and settlement.
The right cell phone app internationally with a bar code scanner "That product is X% American" defined however one wants and each consumer makes a choice would end profitability for some firms.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:35 AM on August 11, 2017
Heck just stop using the US Dollar for trade and settlement.
The right cell phone app internationally with a bar code scanner "That product is X% American" defined however one wants and each consumer makes a choice would end profitability for some firms.
posted by rough ashlar at 7:35 AM on August 11, 2017
and all because some limp umbrella of a man wanted a leader who’d make the right kind of nationalistic hoots about defence
I am reading Jo Walton's "Farthing" right now. It is a cozy murder mystery set in an alternate 1940s Britain which made peace with Hitler, among politicians who go to parties in big country houses and tsk tsk at the Nazis' overblown rhetoric... And then add "But you have to admit they have a point." They are all "simpering Tory ponces with his slicked-back hair" and all have a "practised raise of an eyebrow."
I keep thinking about the Wonder Woman movie (which I shall not spoil.) I keep thinking about the relationship between evil and cynicism. I keep thinking about generals and politicians who sit at their desks far from the front lines. I keep thinking about Scott frickin' Adams.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
I am reading Jo Walton's "Farthing" right now. It is a cozy murder mystery set in an alternate 1940s Britain which made peace with Hitler, among politicians who go to parties in big country houses and tsk tsk at the Nazis' overblown rhetoric... And then add "But you have to admit they have a point." They are all "simpering Tory ponces with his slicked-back hair" and all have a "practised raise of an eyebrow."
I keep thinking about the Wonder Woman movie (which I shall not spoil.) I keep thinking about the relationship between evil and cynicism. I keep thinking about generals and politicians who sit at their desks far from the front lines. I keep thinking about Scott frickin' Adams.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:37 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
Tabasco Speer
Sorry, the current Guy Fieri thread is down the hall.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Sorry, the current Guy Fieri thread is down the hall.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
With the wealth of his own tweet history condemning most of his present actions, I'm starting to think of Trump as an auto-Cassandra, doomed to tweet the future and to fail to understand that it applies to him.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [36 favorites]
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 7:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [36 favorites]
First pet is a common security question.
posted by SpaceBass at 7:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [50 favorites]
posted by SpaceBass at 7:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [50 favorites]
Mister Lochness Mengele is unconcerned about security questions.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm just gonna make "Goebbels" my answer to all security questions.
Name of High School? Goebbels.
What was the model of your first car? Goebbels.
What was your mother's maiden name? Goebbels.
posted by exlotuseater at 7:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
Name of High School? Goebbels.
What was the model of your first car? Goebbels.
What was your mother's maiden name? Goebbels.
posted by exlotuseater at 7:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
Is this what it feels like when someone tells you that the Nigerian Prince isn't real?
Because seeing those twitter games in a new (and terrible) light is giving me a novel feeling of something alright.
posted by Slackermagee at 7:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Because seeing those twitter games in a new (and terrible) light is giving me a novel feeling of something alright.
posted by Slackermagee at 7:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm just gonna make "Goebbels" my answer to all security questions.
Name of High School? Goebbels.
What was the model of your first car? Goebbels.
What was your mother's maiden name? Goebbels.
Stephen, is that you?
posted by chris24 at 7:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Name of High School? Goebbels.
What was the model of your first car? Goebbels.
What was your mother's maiden name? Goebbels.
Stephen, is that you?
posted by chris24 at 7:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
You shouldn't be answering security questions with the real answers. Random text string saved in your password manager would be best practices, but anything other than your real pet or real mother's maiden name is better than the actual answer.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
From that Gorka (he reminds me of Al the Toy Collector btw) interview on Radio 4 mentioned above, this tweet from Nicholas Soames piqued my curiosity: '...tighten the martingale...'
I've never been a horse type person, but I think a martingale would suit Al to a T
posted by Myeral at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2017
I've never been a horse type person, but I think a martingale would suit Al to a T
posted by Myeral at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2017
Oh gee, look at what the How Dare The Government Pick Winners dickheads are up to now:
Justice, a coal and real estate mogul elected governor last year as a Democrat, announced at a West Virginia rally alongside President Trump last week that he’s becoming a Republican. Justice has recently spent a “goodly amount of time" meeting one-on-one with Trump and has liked the feedback to his pro-coal proposal. The plan calls for the Department of Homeland Security to send $15 to eastern U.S. utilities for every ton of Appalachia coal they burn.
posted by Etrigan at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Justice, a coal and real estate mogul elected governor last year as a Democrat, announced at a West Virginia rally alongside President Trump last week that he’s becoming a Republican. Justice has recently spent a “goodly amount of time" meeting one-on-one with Trump and has liked the feedback to his pro-coal proposal. The plan calls for the Department of Homeland Security to send $15 to eastern U.S. utilities for every ton of Appalachia coal they burn.
posted by Etrigan at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Random text string saved in your password manager
Yeah, until your password manager says "sorry, we don't work anymore with your latest Windows update!"
posted by Melismata at 8:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Yeah, until your password manager says "sorry, we don't work anymore with your latest Windows update!"
posted by Melismata at 8:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is nothing Washington has ever seen. For the first time in presidential history, a profit-making venture touts the name of a U.S. president in its gold signage.
And imagine the Trump brand extending to forever if he had been mindful of it with his presidential behaviour?
He could be using Twitter to beat up on Congresskritters, the surging MAGA's going hither and yon from forum to forum to trash talk Congresskritter X.
But that is not the world we live in.
This is like watching maggots on a corpse.
When you are a mother and father fly those are your children. But you also can't tweet or have enough concern that they are your children.
That lack of tweeting is why it can't be "like".
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump):
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders! [real, May 2014]
Dear Congress Rep:
This Tweet shows The President is not qualified to have control of Nuclear weapons. (cite the military studies showing global cooling) His underlings as Commander in Chief say different.
posted by rough ashlar at 8:03 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
And imagine the Trump brand extending to forever if he had been mindful of it with his presidential behaviour?
He could be using Twitter to beat up on Congresskritters, the surging MAGA's going hither and yon from forum to forum to trash talk Congresskritter X.
But that is not the world we live in.
This is like watching maggots on a corpse.
When you are a mother and father fly those are your children. But you also can't tweet or have enough concern that they are your children.
That lack of tweeting is why it can't be "like".
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump):
The global warming we should be worried about is the global warming caused by NUCLEAR WEAPONS in the hands of crazy or incompetent leaders! [real, May 2014]
Dear Congress Rep:
This Tweet shows The President is not qualified to have control of Nuclear weapons. (cite the military studies showing global cooling) His underlings as Commander in Chief say different.
posted by rough ashlar at 8:03 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
> Hi it's me, Taz Goring reporting for duty.
ಠ_ಠ
posted by taz at 8:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [48 favorites]
ಠ_ಠ
posted by taz at 8:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [48 favorites]
It seems we have a solid candidate to run against Flake.
SINEMA AIMING FOR SENATE, STANTON PREPS FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEAT
@daveweigel
Sinema running against Flake is big. She's cautious and has crafted a record to run at the perfect moment.
posted by chris24 at 8:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
SINEMA AIMING FOR SENATE, STANTON PREPS FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEAT
Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema of Phoenix is planning a 2018 run for the U.S. Senate seat held by first-term Mesa Republican Jeff Flake, according to sources familiar with Sinema's plans.Per WaPo politics reporter Dave Weigel, she stands a good chance.
At the same time, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, another Democrat who's been undecided about his political future, is telling supporters he's preparing to run for Sinema's vacant seat next fall, according to sources familiar with Stanton's calls.
---
Sinema, a three-term congresswoman who's nursed a reputation as an independent, was the subject of "will she or won't she" speculation regarding a run for the Senate in 2016, when Sen. John McCain was up for re-election, and again this year.
Sinema has locked down her swing district and proved to be a prolific fund-raiser, with $3.2 million in cash on hand as of June 30, a solid base for a Senate run in Arizona. Sinema would face civil rights attorney and political newcomer Deedra Abboud in the Democratic primary.
@daveweigel
Sinema running against Flake is big. She's cautious and has crafted a record to run at the perfect moment.
posted by chris24 at 8:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
The Nation Article About the DNC Hack Is Too Incoherent to Even Debunk
posted by kirkaracha at 8:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
...this article is neither conclusive proof nor strong evidence. It’s the extremely long-winded product of a crank, and it’s been getting attention only because it appears in a respected left-wing publication like The Nation. Anyone hoping to read it for careful reporting and clear explanation is going to come away disappointed, however.Chloe von Ribbentrop
posted by kirkaracha at 8:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
Obama to reemerge in ‘delicate dance’ with Dems (Aimee Parnes, The Hill)
Former President Barack Obama will reemerge on the national scene this fall, though Democrats expect him to do so with caution.posted by Room 641-A at 8:08 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
One aide describes the beginning of a “delicate dance” that aims to put Obama in the Democratic fray but prevents him from remaining the face of the party.
Aides will huddle with Obama in the coming weeks to plot out what shape the former president's fall schedule will take. Advisers close to him say that while he will play an active role in helping his party rebuild, much of his work will be behind the scenes.
One thing which makes me optimistic about Mueller's investigation is thinking about David Fahrenthold. His reporting turned up a lot of financial improprieties, including several which would have been illegal if anyone had been enthusiastic about prosecuting (specifically, a lot of the tax-dodging Foundation shenanigans).
Now, Fahrenthold is good at what he does. He's talented, intrepid, dogged, and he writes all this stuff up coherently and compellingly. That having been said, he's just this guy when you get right down to it. He's a reporter, admittedly with an investigative focus, but he's not a lawyer or forensic accountant or anything like that. His investigative time is only a part of his job, with writing it up as anther major aspect. His most powerful investigatory tool was the FOIA and crowdsourced on-the-ground testimonials. With all that said, he turned up good dirt.
Now consider Mueller's team. He has not only lawyers and all manner of forensic investigators with a specialty in nosing out financial improprieties, but he also has an extremely good and fairly large team of such people and digging around in Trump's finances is literally the entirety of their job. They have subpoena power and can roll up any dirty lieutenants by offering them deals. So essentially they have more time, more energy, more talent (in this specific field), and better tools at their disposal. They are going to make Fahrenthold's deep dive look like a mere surface scratch, and there is doubtless a lot under the surface here to be dredged up.
posted by jackbishop at 8:08 AM on August 11, 2017 [55 favorites]
Now, Fahrenthold is good at what he does. He's talented, intrepid, dogged, and he writes all this stuff up coherently and compellingly. That having been said, he's just this guy when you get right down to it. He's a reporter, admittedly with an investigative focus, but he's not a lawyer or forensic accountant or anything like that. His investigative time is only a part of his job, with writing it up as anther major aspect. His most powerful investigatory tool was the FOIA and crowdsourced on-the-ground testimonials. With all that said, he turned up good dirt.
Now consider Mueller's team. He has not only lawyers and all manner of forensic investigators with a specialty in nosing out financial improprieties, but he also has an extremely good and fairly large team of such people and digging around in Trump's finances is literally the entirety of their job. They have subpoena power and can roll up any dirty lieutenants by offering them deals. So essentially they have more time, more energy, more talent (in this specific field), and better tools at their disposal. They are going to make Fahrenthold's deep dive look like a mere surface scratch, and there is doubtless a lot under the surface here to be dredged up.
posted by jackbishop at 8:08 AM on August 11, 2017 [55 favorites]
The plan calls for the Department of Homeland Security to send $15 to eastern U.S. utilities for every ton of Appalachia coal they burn.
The US already subsidizes coal to the tune of $8/ton. That would be an enormous increase and cost about $3.3 billion (Appalachia produces ~220 million tons per year, almost all of which is burnt to produce electricity). To say nothing of the insanity of funneling that money through DHS rather than the Department of the Interior.
posted by jedicus at 8:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
The US already subsidizes coal to the tune of $8/ton. That would be an enormous increase and cost about $3.3 billion (Appalachia produces ~220 million tons per year, almost all of which is burnt to produce electricity). To say nothing of the insanity of funneling that money through DHS rather than the Department of the Interior.
posted by jedicus at 8:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
@WSJNow that damn song is going to be in my head all day.
Analysts are trying to work out what happens to markets in the event of an all-out nuclear war
WSJ: How Do You Price a Problem Like Korea?
George Catel - appropriate I guess because George was a prolific ginger cat. It's raining kittens (and nazis).
Rubio is all in with Trump ...
Marco Rubio defends Trump's promise of 'fire and fury' for North Korea (WARNING AUTOPLAY)
By Dylan Stafford, CNN
Updated 12:19 PM ET, Thu August 10, 2017
Washington (CNN)Sen. Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate foreign affairs committee, defended President Donald Trump's stark warning to North Korea in a series of tweets Thursday morning.
"Attacks on @potus for statement on #NorthKoreaNukes are ridiculous. They act as if #NorthKorea would act different if he used nicer words," Rubio tweeted.
10 Aug
Marco Rubio ✔ @marcorubio
posted by tilde at 8:09 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
From Room 641-A's link, above:
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:12 AM on August 11, 2017 [55 favorites]
But advisers to the former president acknowledge he also doesn’t want to be “a foil” — as one top ally put it — for President Trump and the Republican leadership.I think that's reading the room exactly right. Must be maddening on so many levels for President Obama, though.
In recent months, Trump blamed Obama for doing “nothing” about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election. He also taunted him for never coming to a Boy Scout jamboree and went after his policies on everything from healthcare to Cuba and North Korea.
Obama has chosen to remain silent. And even during the recent healthcare fight over his signature legislation, for example, he sought to keep a low profile.
“He has to be careful,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. “At a moment when President Trump’s approval is falling so fast — including with his base — there is a risk for Obama taking center stage and triggering the energy that many Republicans currently lack.”
“He would be the target against which Trump would direct his fury,” added Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University. “From Trump’s perspective nothing better could happen.”
Jillson said that a light Obama footprint on the national stage could allow breathing room for future Democratic leaders to emerge.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:12 AM on August 11, 2017 [55 favorites]
They act as if #NorthKorea would act different if he used nicer words," Rubio tweeted.
Yes, you idiot. Different imagery than "fire and fury", "locked and loaded" and "an event the likes of which nobody has seen before" would probably provoke a different response.
posted by zarq at 8:13 AM on August 11, 2017 [63 favorites]
Yes, you idiot. Different imagery than "fire and fury", "locked and loaded" and "an event the likes of which nobody has seen before" would probably provoke a different response.
posted by zarq at 8:13 AM on August 11, 2017 [63 favorites]
The US already subsidizes coal to the tune of $8/ton. That would be an enormous increase and cost about $3.3 billion (Appalachia produces ~220 million tons per year, almost all of which is burnt to produce electricity). To say nothing of the insanity of funneling that money through DHS rather than the Department of the Interior.
Also, I recall that the actual number of coal miners in the US is really really low. I thought I saw 30,000 come up as the number during the election. To put that in some perspective, there are close to 4 million fast food workers in the US.
posted by OmieWise at 8:14 AM on August 11, 2017
Also, I recall that the actual number of coal miners in the US is really really low. I thought I saw 30,000 come up as the number during the election. To put that in some perspective, there are close to 4 million fast food workers in the US.
posted by OmieWise at 8:14 AM on August 11, 2017
@colindickey
As a Gen Xer I'll be completely unsurprised if a nuclear war is started by a Boomer and Millennial arguing over who's more important.
posted by chris24 at 8:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [107 favorites]
As a Gen Xer I'll be completely unsurprised if a nuclear war is started by a Boomer and Millennial arguing over who's more important.
posted by chris24 at 8:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [107 favorites]
Also, I recall that the actual number of coal miners in the US is really really low.
Indeed.
Arby's employs more people than the entire coal industry
posted by Twain Device at 8:16 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
Indeed.
Arby's employs more people than the entire coal industry
posted by Twain Device at 8:16 AM on August 11, 2017 [9 favorites]
Man, I hope no one suggests a $15/ton Arby's subsidy to Trump.
posted by Etrigan at 8:18 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:18 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
@ChelseaClinton 2h2 hours ago
Chelsea Clinton Retweeted Merriam-Webster
Can this please not be today's word?
Merriam-Webster word of the day - Pandemonium. [real]
Also, Kippy Riefenstahl.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Chelsea Clinton Retweeted Merriam-Webster
Can this please not be today's word?
Merriam-Webster word of the day - Pandemonium. [real]
Also, Kippy Riefenstahl.
posted by Sophie1 at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Jesus wept, that stupid Rubio tweet. Where the fuck are the fucking grown ups? Seriously, why are the GOP such inveterately bad people?
posted by OmieWise at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by OmieWise at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
Is anyone else reminded of Alfred Hitchcock in a cheesy (or Cheetoh-y) wig when they look at Trump? I hear the Funeral March of a Marionette run through my mind.
Gut efening. For tonight's tale of terror, I present. . .
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Gut efening. For tonight's tale of terror, I present. . .
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Orlando Spencer.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 8:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
SINEMA AIMING FOR SENATE, STANTON PREPS FOR CONGRESSIONAL SEAT
So on the one hand, Sinema is one of (or the, if you like nominate scores) least liberal / most conservative Democrat in the US House, so we'll probably be annoyed with her if she wins.
On the other hand, that seems like a decent fit for where Arizona is nowadays.
On Zaphod's third hand, replacing Flake (nominate 0.855) with Sinema (nominate -0.110) would be fuckin-a awesome.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
So on the one hand, Sinema is one of (or the, if you like nominate scores) least liberal / most conservative Democrat in the US House, so we'll probably be annoyed with her if she wins.
On the other hand, that seems like a decent fit for where Arizona is nowadays.
On Zaphod's third hand, replacing Flake (nominate 0.855) with Sinema (nominate -0.110) would be fuckin-a awesome.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
Maybe I'm just weird but the Nazi pet thing is really off-putting. Maybe call it done?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [29 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [29 favorites]
Where the fuck are the fucking grown ups?
Rubio's not saying we won't get our hair mussed
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:35 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Rubio's not saying we won't get our hair mussed
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:35 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Easy for Mr. Hair Helmet to say.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:42 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 8:42 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Jesus wept, that stupid Rubio tweet. Where the fuck are the fucking grown ups?
"True terror is to wake up one day and discover that your high school class is running the country." - Kurt Vonnegut. I would love hear Kurt's take on all this shit. Man saw his share of "fire and fury."
As for the "substance" of what Rubio had to say, well. There's a lot of ways to indicate your disapproval of what another country is doing and issue a warning without invoking the spectre of nuclear war. Trump has all the best words, right? He should use them. He's in the big leagues now. And when you play in the big leagues, you get a lot of criticism when you fuck up - ask any pro athlete.
posted by nubs at 8:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
"True terror is to wake up one day and discover that your high school class is running the country." - Kurt Vonnegut. I would love hear Kurt's take on all this shit. Man saw his share of "fire and fury."
As for the "substance" of what Rubio had to say, well. There's a lot of ways to indicate your disapproval of what another country is doing and issue a warning without invoking the spectre of nuclear war. Trump has all the best words, right? He should use them. He's in the big leagues now. And when you play in the big leagues, you get a lot of criticism when you fuck up - ask any pro athlete.
posted by nubs at 8:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
@perrybaconjr (538)
We now have Hatch, Flake, Heller. Cornyn, Corker all in last 24 hours praising McConnell. Trump may have strengthened support for Mitch.
@gdebenedetti (Politico) Retweeted Perry Bacon Jr.
The key here: four of them are up for re-election in 2018, suggesting they see little downside to publicly siding with McConnell over Trump.
posted by chris24 at 8:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
We now have Hatch, Flake, Heller. Cornyn, Corker all in last 24 hours praising McConnell. Trump may have strengthened support for Mitch.
@gdebenedetti (Politico) Retweeted Perry Bacon Jr.
The key here: four of them are up for re-election in 2018, suggesting they see little downside to publicly siding with McConnell over Trump.
posted by chris24 at 8:47 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
@jimhigdon: Y’all, Trump-Pence gear is 75% off due to “overwhelming demand.”
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [24 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [24 favorites]
@perrybaconjr (538)
We now have Hatch, Flake, Heller. Cornyn, Corker all in last 24 hours praising McConnell. Trump may have strengthened support for Mitch.
Flake and Heller are bought and paid for. If the orange flaming bag of gas wants their support he needs to write campaign checks like McConnell.
posted by Talez at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
We now have Hatch, Flake, Heller. Cornyn, Corker all in last 24 hours praising McConnell. Trump may have strengthened support for Mitch.
Flake and Heller are bought and paid for. If the orange flaming bag of gas wants their support he needs to write campaign checks like McConnell.
posted by Talez at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
We now have Hatch, Flake, Heller. Cornyn, Corker all in last 24 hours praising McConnell. Trump may have strengthened support for Mitch.
IIRC, they're looking for 67 votes in the Senate for an impeachment conviction? Odds are looking better and better that they hit the eject button on Trump before he irrecoverably screws up the 2018 races
posted by mikelieman at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
IIRC, they're looking for 67 votes in the Senate for an impeachment conviction? Odds are looking better and better that they hit the eject button on Trump before he irrecoverably screws up the 2018 races
posted by mikelieman at 8:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Where the fuck are the fucking grown ups?
Trump, McConnell and Ryan shut out any consideration of working with Democrats on anything, including avoiding nuclear war.
There are no Republican grown ups.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [28 favorites]
Trump, McConnell and Ryan shut out any consideration of working with Democrats on anything, including avoiding nuclear war.
There are no Republican grown ups.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [28 favorites]
Frisky Dönitz
posted by whuppy at 8:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by whuppy at 8:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
I'm actually having quite a hard time with all of this (I know this is by no means unique, and that I've got it better than many). My whole life I've struggled to see the good in Republicans. The flaws of the Democratic party are also stark, but I have felt, on the whole, like Democrats had a goal that included making the world a better place, even through the Clinton transformation. I have very much wanted to see Republicans in the same way, but with a different set of process recommendations, and in some cases a different set of definitions for what makes the world a better place. I've tried to work through the rhetoric and the proposed solutions by according some benefit of the doubt to the GOP, or at least individual Republicans. There are obviously many places where this breaks down. For instance, there is no way to read manufactured panic over "voter fraud" as anything other than a way to keep people of color from voting. For the most part, even as I've tried, this hasn't work. Most GOP policies and personalities can flip me into white hot rage pretty quickly.
But, through 40 years of being cognizant of politics and having an opinion, I've never doubted that the GOP wanted America to survive basically intact. Yes, they've worked hard to keep America a particular kind of place that aligns with their stated and hypocritical ideas of virtue, but they have been losing at that for years in a way that makes me happy. Still, they have believed in America.
I believe in America too. It's horribly imperfect, and I'm not one for American exceptionalism, but it's where I live and was raised, it's the country my Father spent his work life representing in the Foreign Service. It's where my children were born, and my wife, and where we will raise our kids. It's a place with a lot going for it in a crazy and fucked up world. It's worth working to make better, and, frankly, even with all of its current and historical flaws, it's a hell of a lot better on some axes already than are many other places.
It's been hard to see so many people vote based on racism. It's hard to see so much inanity and derision and rejection of even a modicum of sense in approaching the world (not the geo-political world, just the every day get up and function world). It's been depressing to realize how much concerted damage can be caused by what I would really like to see as a dead cat bounce for reactionary social thinking in the US. And of course I've been scared about things happening like what is happening with the DPRK. I've been scared since the election that things will get broken that will take a long long time to be put right, if they even can be (hello rising sea levels, my old friend...).
I haven't, until the past few months, been worried that the political party in control of over half the nation actually hates America, instead of just the values I hold dear. The responses to the Russian election meddling, the Trump et al collusion, the absolute lunacy of Trump as a daily force making the world more chaotic, has shown that people in the GOP, the vast majority of people, are either too venal to be trusted, or are actually militating for the chaos, actually want a different country, a not-America. I grew up in DC; I was 9 when Saint Ronnie was elected. I grew up in intense anxiety that I would die in nuclear hellfire. I've been pissed about it for years, not because the USSR was not our enemy, but because it was and the grown ups seemed to be doing everything in their power to escalate the situation. To now be told, by the same people who argue that they venerate Reagan, that Russia (run by a former USSR KGB operative), is actually ok because White Nationalism, feels like, frankly, a profound betrayal. To watch a bunch of white douchebags my age or older, who watched the Tom Clancy movies and had the same exposure to the anti-Russian propaganda I had, simply abandon their convictions in order to support someone who clearly wants to destroy America...I'm just having a really hard time feeling anything beyond incredibly hopeless and alienated.
I know none of this is either profound nor newsworthy, and I also recognize that my particular experience in this moment is related to the privileges I've enjoyed (White, cis, middle class, hetero), but it's still really painful.
posted by OmieWise at 8:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [91 favorites]
But, through 40 years of being cognizant of politics and having an opinion, I've never doubted that the GOP wanted America to survive basically intact. Yes, they've worked hard to keep America a particular kind of place that aligns with their stated and hypocritical ideas of virtue, but they have been losing at that for years in a way that makes me happy. Still, they have believed in America.
I believe in America too. It's horribly imperfect, and I'm not one for American exceptionalism, but it's where I live and was raised, it's the country my Father spent his work life representing in the Foreign Service. It's where my children were born, and my wife, and where we will raise our kids. It's a place with a lot going for it in a crazy and fucked up world. It's worth working to make better, and, frankly, even with all of its current and historical flaws, it's a hell of a lot better on some axes already than are many other places.
It's been hard to see so many people vote based on racism. It's hard to see so much inanity and derision and rejection of even a modicum of sense in approaching the world (not the geo-political world, just the every day get up and function world). It's been depressing to realize how much concerted damage can be caused by what I would really like to see as a dead cat bounce for reactionary social thinking in the US. And of course I've been scared about things happening like what is happening with the DPRK. I've been scared since the election that things will get broken that will take a long long time to be put right, if they even can be (hello rising sea levels, my old friend...).
I haven't, until the past few months, been worried that the political party in control of over half the nation actually hates America, instead of just the values I hold dear. The responses to the Russian election meddling, the Trump et al collusion, the absolute lunacy of Trump as a daily force making the world more chaotic, has shown that people in the GOP, the vast majority of people, are either too venal to be trusted, or are actually militating for the chaos, actually want a different country, a not-America. I grew up in DC; I was 9 when Saint Ronnie was elected. I grew up in intense anxiety that I would die in nuclear hellfire. I've been pissed about it for years, not because the USSR was not our enemy, but because it was and the grown ups seemed to be doing everything in their power to escalate the situation. To now be told, by the same people who argue that they venerate Reagan, that Russia (run by a former USSR KGB operative), is actually ok because White Nationalism, feels like, frankly, a profound betrayal. To watch a bunch of white douchebags my age or older, who watched the Tom Clancy movies and had the same exposure to the anti-Russian propaganda I had, simply abandon their convictions in order to support someone who clearly wants to destroy America...I'm just having a really hard time feeling anything beyond incredibly hopeless and alienated.
I know none of this is either profound nor newsworthy, and I also recognize that my particular experience in this moment is related to the privileges I've enjoyed (White, cis, middle class, hetero), but it's still really painful.
posted by OmieWise at 8:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [91 favorites]
he irrecoverably screws up the 2018 races
Lucky for them, it's probably already too late
posted by Existential Dread at 8:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Lucky for them, it's probably already too late
posted by Existential Dread at 8:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Who does Trump care about? Only his family. Surely there are some eligible members of the Trump and Kim dynasties who could be forced into arranged marriage and thereby bring peace between the kingdoms?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
Lucky for them, it's probably already too late
SHHHHHH!
posted by mikelieman at 8:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
SHHHHHH!
posted by mikelieman at 8:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Who does Trump care about? Only his family. Surely there are some eligible members of the Trump and Kim dynasties who could be forced into arranged marriage and thereby bring peace between the kingdoms?
Poor Tiffany, always getting the worst of it.
posted by chris24 at 8:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [39 favorites]
Poor Tiffany, always getting the worst of it.
posted by chris24 at 8:58 AM on August 11, 2017 [39 favorites]
Further thoughts: was at the gym this morning, which is absolutely the only place that I get exposed to cable news. CNN appears to be enjoying themselves immensely, with chyrons stating "Nuclear Crisis" and various correspondents breathlessly spouting gibberish about whatever. I'm sure Dear Leader is watching this coverage and enjoying himself immensely, feeling like a Big Important Boy doing Big Important Stuff. It's hard not to feel pretty fucked when there's an obviously symbiotic and profitable relationship between the news and the president amping up the tension to 11.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:01 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 9:01 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
Kim Jong Un is a bachelor, isn't he?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:03 AM on August 11, 2017
posted by murphy slaw at 9:03 AM on August 11, 2017
I haven't, until the past few months, been worried that the political party in control of over half the nation actually hates America, instead of just the values I hold dear. The responses to the Russian election meddling, the Trump et al collusion, the absolute lunacy of Trump as a daily force making the world more chaotic, has shown that people in the GOP, the vast majority of people, are either too venal to be trusted, or are actually militating for the chaos, actually want a different country, a not-America.
If it helps square that circle for you (and I also try to remind myself that the GOP as a thing, and most people, generally also want to make things better for the world) - I don't attribute the actions of the GOP leadership to GOP-ness. Instead, I attribute it to simple, straight-up greed, selfishness, and ignorance.
Like, Voldemort wasn't evil because magic made him that way - he was evil because he was a selfish, cruel, greedy jerk. The magic just was a way that let him manifest that jerkness.
Same too with the GOP leadership. They're using the GOP, and the country, to line their own pockets, get all the power for themselves, and screw the rest of us over. That's precisely why they got into the leadership of the GOP, because once they got on the inside they could set the rules so they wouldn't be kicked out of the party for being fuckcrumpets.
And the Dem leadership can be guilty of the same selfishness; it's just that in their case it translates more to compromising and general wishy-washyness instead of sturm und drang.
What will fix it is all of us lowly folk continuing to speak out, raise our damn voices, and vote out the people who are total shits.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
If it helps square that circle for you (and I also try to remind myself that the GOP as a thing, and most people, generally also want to make things better for the world) - I don't attribute the actions of the GOP leadership to GOP-ness. Instead, I attribute it to simple, straight-up greed, selfishness, and ignorance.
Like, Voldemort wasn't evil because magic made him that way - he was evil because he was a selfish, cruel, greedy jerk. The magic just was a way that let him manifest that jerkness.
Same too with the GOP leadership. They're using the GOP, and the country, to line their own pockets, get all the power for themselves, and screw the rest of us over. That's precisely why they got into the leadership of the GOP, because once they got on the inside they could set the rules so they wouldn't be kicked out of the party for being fuckcrumpets.
And the Dem leadership can be guilty of the same selfishness; it's just that in their case it translates more to compromising and general wishy-washyness instead of sturm und drang.
What will fix it is all of us lowly folk continuing to speak out, raise our damn voices, and vote out the people who are total shits.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
CNN is enjoying it. That's what they do. They are in no way a journalism organization. They're disaster porn and war cheerleaders. They're no less than a for-profit death cult.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [43 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [43 favorites]
Kim's wife is Ri Sol-ju
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:05 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
CNN is enjoying it. That's what they do. They are in no way a journalism organization. They're disaster porn and war cheerleaders. They're no less than a for-profit death cult.
CNN is Immortan Joe, and Trump is the War Boy crying "Witness me!"
yes, I did just rewatch Mad Max: Fury Road because I was in a post-apocalyptic kinda mood
posted by nubs at 9:08 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
CNN is Immortan Joe, and Trump is the War Boy crying "Witness me!"
yes, I did just rewatch Mad Max: Fury Road because I was in a post-apocalyptic kinda mood
posted by nubs at 9:08 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
If it helps square that circle for you (and I also try to remind myself that the GOP as a thing, and most people, generally also want to make things better for the world) - I don't attribute the actions of the GOP leadership to GOP-ness. Instead, I attribute it to simple, straight-up greed, selfishness, and ignorance.
Ehhhhh... those are as far as anyone can make out the core GOP values at this point though.
posted by Artw at 9:13 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Ehhhhh... those are as far as anyone can make out the core GOP values at this point though.
posted by Artw at 9:13 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Gorka's gotta be filthy dirty. Is he on Mueller's radar?
posted by Room 641-A at 9:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 9:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Surely there are some eligible members of the Trump and Kim dynasties who could be forced into arranged marriage and thereby bring peace between the kingdoms?
A Red Wedding, you say?
posted by Behemoth at 9:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
A Red Wedding, you say?
posted by Behemoth at 9:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
Indian Diplomat Offers a Brutal Assessment of Ivanka Trump.
"We regard Ivanka Trump the way we do half-wit Saudi princes."
posted by adamvasco at 9:17 AM on August 11, 2017 [75 favorites]
"We regard Ivanka Trump the way we do half-wit Saudi princes."
posted by adamvasco at 9:17 AM on August 11, 2017 [75 favorites]
Alex Nichols in The Outline: Things Are Bad, and David Frum Makes Them Worse
Frum’s magnum opus, the 2002 State of the Union address, [the "Axis of Evil" speech,] has more than a few elements in common with with Trump’s much-maligned speech in Warsaw last month. “The civilized world faces unprecedented dangers,” Bush read from the podium. “Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?” Trump asked. Both speeches singled out Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and a threat to the “civilized world” while either failing to mention Saudi Arabia or praising it as an ally. Both used women’s rights as a cudgel against the developing world amid Republican efforts to limit women’s rights at home. The day after Trump’s address, David Frum had the nerve to castigate his unintended protegé in The Atlantic, but not for preaching a colonialist narrative about civilized and uncivilized peoples that echoed Cecil Rhodes. Frum actually liked the speech, writing that “As presidential speeches go, Trump’s address in Warsaw was fair.” He continued: “[The Atlantic’s] Peter Beinart heard in Trump’s speech some nasty religious and ethnic exclusion. Yet the most troubling thing about the speech was the falsehood at its core; the problem is not with the speech, but with the speaker.” According to Frum, ethnonationalist rhetoric about “what we've inherited from our ancestors” and how the West must “celebrate our ancient heroes” is fine and dandy. We just need to get someone more respectable to say it.posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:17 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
If the policies Frum backed at the peak of his influence are so close to those of the current administration, why does he hold Trump in such contempt? The descriptions of Bush in The Right Man suggest a similar motive as other #NeverTrump conservatives — a non-negotiable commitment to good manners. Frum’s recollections show a particular reverence for Bush’s demeanor. Bush brought a certain evangelical stoicism to the Oval Office, as Frum painstakingly pointed out. No one in the administration drank, smoked, cursed or referred to Bush as anything other than “the president.” Frum wrote that he once made the mistake of using the word “damn” in a meeting, at which point the entire room went silent and shot him icy glares. On the dress code: “Women could wear brighter colors — but never higher than the knee.” Don’t tell Mike Pence! Frum even compared the Bush White House to The West Wing — a sacred text for “You, sir, Mr. Trump, are a disgrace to the office, sir!” types — but found President Jed Bartlet far less refined. “I seldom heard a voice raised in anger,” he wrote, “and never witnessed a single one of those finger-jabbing confrontations you see in movies.” They may have authorized a war that seems likely to outlive everyone involved in its creation, but at least they did it while using their indoor voice.
Surely there are some eligible members of the Trump and Kim dynasties who could be forced into arranged marriage and thereby bring peace between the kingdoms?
Yeah, when I think "There are two bloodlines that really need to intertwine and pound out some offspring..."
posted by delfin at 9:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yeah, when I think "There are two bloodlines that really need to intertwine and pound out some offspring..."
posted by delfin at 9:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
So Frum's issue with Trump is that he's the wrong kind of malleable dumbshit?
posted by rhizome at 9:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 9:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
Frum's issue with Trump is that he makes Republicans look like racist fools who watch FOX all day.
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Navy secretary on transgender troops: 'Any patriot' should be allowed to serve
The recently confirmed secretary of the Navy says he will follow any order the president gives on transgender troops, but that “any patriot” should be allowed to serve.posted by chris24 at 9:27 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
“We will process and take direction of a policy that is developed by the [Defense] secretary [with] direction from the president and march out smartly,” Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer told reporters Thursday night after visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
"On a fundamental basis, any patriot that wants to serve and meets all the requirements should be able to serve in our military"
Spencer was confirmed a week after President Trump tweeted that he plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
On Thursday, Trump said he thinks he’s “doing the military a great favor” by banning transgender troops.
“It’s been a very complicated issue for the military, it’s been a very confusing issue for the military, and I think I’m doing the military a great favor,” he said from his golf club in Bedminster, N.J.
Your terrifying nightmare fuel thread on American autocracy for the day.
posted by Artw at 9:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
So Frum's issue with Trump is that he's the wrong kind of malleable dumbshit?
Yes. It's hard to take his maundering about Trump's bellicosity toward North Korea seriously when he backed Bush's less obviously appalling bellicosity toward that country to the hilt. It's also hard to take it seriously when The Atlantic, where he works, publishes fearmongering covers like this, which chimes perfectly with President Brain Genious's current attitude.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:38 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes. It's hard to take his maundering about Trump's bellicosity toward North Korea seriously when he backed Bush's less obviously appalling bellicosity toward that country to the hilt. It's also hard to take it seriously when The Atlantic, where he works, publishes fearmongering covers like this, which chimes perfectly with President Brain Genious's current attitude.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:38 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Your terrifying nightmare fuel thread on American autocracy for the day.
Deeply troubling, to be sure; I take some comfort in the polling showing the rapid contraction of Trump's base, however. Cambridge Analytica's actual impact and abilities are unclear at this point. They may have impact, or they may have been mere window dressing.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:41 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Deeply troubling, to be sure; I take some comfort in the polling showing the rapid contraction of Trump's base, however. Cambridge Analytica's actual impact and abilities are unclear at this point. They may have impact, or they may have been mere window dressing.
posted by Existential Dread at 9:41 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
My Trump advisor name is Mandy Miller.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Y'all for real probably past time to give the security question / Nazi pet / etc stuff a rest.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
Genius.
‘Threatening nuclear war on Twitter feels like a service violation’
posted by Devonian at 9:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [79 favorites]
‘Threatening nuclear war on Twitter feels like a service violation’
posted by Devonian at 9:53 AM on August 11, 2017 [79 favorites]
IIRC, they're looking for 67 votes in the Senate for an impeachment conviction?
Assuming the 48 Dems plus Indies hold, that's just 19 Republicans needed to convict. By the time we get to that point, a lot of damning info will have come out, along with several convictions of top officials. 2018 elections may improve the numbers a bit, too.
If it's down to the last vote, does Mike Pence get to cast the tie-breaker to make himself President?
posted by msalt at 9:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Assuming the 48 Dems plus Indies hold, that's just 19 Republicans needed to convict. By the time we get to that point, a lot of damning info will have come out, along with several convictions of top officials. 2018 elections may improve the numbers a bit, too.
If it's down to the last vote, does Mike Pence get to cast the tie-breaker to make himself President?
posted by msalt at 9:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Navy secretary on transgender troops: 'Any patriot' should be allowed to serve
Note that the first two services to say "This isn't a problem" are the two with the most "men and women living together in cramped quarters" issues. If you can be on a fucking boat and not care about people's gender presentation, then it's not a problem.
posted by Etrigan at 10:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [29 favorites]
Note that the first two services to say "This isn't a problem" are the two with the most "men and women living together in cramped quarters" issues. If you can be on a fucking boat and not care about people's gender presentation, then it's not a problem.
posted by Etrigan at 10:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [29 favorites]
Hillary Clinton before the election warning about giving Donald Trump control of the military
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:02 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
(I have flagged that tweet, as per the article. )
posted by Devonian at 10:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 10:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
If it's down to the last vote, does Mike Pence get to cast the tie-breaker to make himself President?
You can't tie a 2/3 vote with 100 Senators.
posted by Etrigan at 10:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
You can't tie a 2/3 vote with 100 Senators.
posted by Etrigan at 10:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
If it's down to the last vote, does Mike Pence get to cast the tie-breaker to make himself President?
No, he only gets to vote for 50–50 ties. Source: “The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.” U.S. CONST. art. I, § 3, cl. 4.
posted by stopgap at 10:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
No, he only gets to vote for 50–50 ties. Source: “The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.” U.S. CONST. art. I, § 3, cl. 4.
posted by stopgap at 10:06 AM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
It'll be nice to have a number for the Trump Tax.
CBO To Study Impact Of Trump’s Threat To Cut Off Obamacare Payments
posted by chris24 at 10:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
CBO To Study Impact Of Trump’s Threat To Cut Off Obamacare Payments
posted by chris24 at 10:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
I didn't think so, but it's a fun thought experiment. Would make a great scene in a dramatic movie.
posted by msalt at 10:09 AM on August 11, 2017
posted by msalt at 10:09 AM on August 11, 2017
Kushner fined for late financial report (Anita Kumar & Ben Wieder, McClatchy)
to avoid federal charges to do peace.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Jared Kushner, who has spent months divesting pieces of his vast business empire to serve in the White House, was slapped with a fine by the Office of Government Ethics for late reporting of a financial transaction, according to a newly released document.It's only $200 but deliciously symbolic. Also, I just heard he's going back to the middle East
Another 17 White House staffers, including some of President Donald Trump’s top aides, filed their required personal financial disclosure statements late, according to data compiled by American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic opposition research group, and confirmed by McClatchy. [...]
Government watchdog groups say that, taken together, the multiple instances of tardiness signal that Trump’s administration hasn’t made ethics a priority, despite his pledge to “drain the swamp” of business as usual.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:14 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Can we not with the dubious conspiracy-theory tweetstorms? We have enough scary stuff from credible sources to keep us awake at night without bringing in conspiracy theorists on top of all this.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:20 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
Also, the Chief Justice presides over Presidential impeachment trials, not the VP.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 10:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 10:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Trump-Pence gear is 75% off due to “overwhelming demand.”
This is what happens when you let Rick Perry explain basic economics, I guess.
posted by jackbishop at 10:27 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
This is what happens when you let Rick Perry explain basic economics, I guess.
posted by jackbishop at 10:27 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
I'm resorting to binge reading as my comfort food, or blanket fortress, etc.
Lull
posted by runcifex at 10:27 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
Lull
The winds of hatred blowTheodore Roethke, November 1939
Cold, cold across the flesh
And chill the anxious heart;
Intricate phobias grow
From each malignant wish
To spoil collective life.
Now each man stands apart.
We watch opinion drift,
Think of our separate skins.
On well-upholstered bums
The generals cough and shift
Playing with painted pins.
The arbitrators wait;
The newsmen suck their thumbs.
The mind is quick to turn
Away from simple faith
To the cant and fury of
Fools who will never learn;
Reason embraces death,
While out of frightened eyes
Still stares the wish to love.
posted by runcifex at 10:27 AM on August 11, 2017 [15 favorites]
GOP strategist Ana Navarro says we should dispense with the notion the President knows what he's doing; the President has no idea what he's doing.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:29 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:29 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
GOP strategist Ana Navarro says we should dispense with the notion the President knows what he's doing; the President has no idea what he's doing.
You mean there are people who haven't figured that out by now?
posted by Melismata at 10:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
You mean there are people who haven't figured that out by now?
posted by Melismata at 10:32 AM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Malcolm Nance questions whether we're really "Locked and loaded".
posted by Gaz Errant at 10:33 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Gaz Errant at 10:33 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Malcolm Nance questions whether we're really "Locked and loaded".
I've no doubt his analysis is insightful and trenchant, but, um, duh. Donald says "locked and loaded" because "locked and loaded" is a badass tough guy phrase, not because it bears any relationship whatsoever to any actual happenings going on in the real world
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:39 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
I've no doubt his analysis is insightful and trenchant, but, um, duh. Donald says "locked and loaded" because "locked and loaded" is a badass tough guy phrase, not because it bears any relationship whatsoever to any actual happenings going on in the real world
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:39 AM on August 11, 2017 [20 favorites]
I haven't, until the past few months, been worried that the political party in control of over half the nation actually hates America, instead of just the values I hold dear.
For all the difference it makes, I think it's less a matter that they hate America and more like they're the dog that will vomit on food it cannot eat any more of rather than let another dog get it. To them, if America is actually going to become a place where we do not tolerate treating women and PoC as lesser and we enforce equal marriage etc etc then it's not their America so it may as well burn.
They love America so long as it is their America, and we fundamentally disagree about what the abstract principles are that make the idea of America wonderful. I really don't know where we go from there when no compromise is possible.
posted by phearlez at 10:44 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
For all the difference it makes, I think it's less a matter that they hate America and more like they're the dog that will vomit on food it cannot eat any more of rather than let another dog get it. To them, if America is actually going to become a place where we do not tolerate treating women and PoC as lesser and we enforce equal marriage etc etc then it's not their America so it may as well burn.
They love America so long as it is their America, and we fundamentally disagree about what the abstract principles are that make the idea of America wonderful. I really don't know where we go from there when no compromise is possible.
posted by phearlez at 10:44 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
do dogs actually do that
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:45 AM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
my dog would probably regard it as relish
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Only selfish, narcissist dogs do that.
posted by notyou at 10:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by notyou at 10:51 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
We should probably give the Nasty pet stuff a rest
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:52 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
I assume he's just going to tweet "ATTACK!!!!" and every branch of the military will get to independently figure out what that means.
posted by theodolite at 10:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [21 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 10:54 AM on August 11, 2017 [21 favorites]
We rolled 2d10 and nothing happened, Sir.
posted by flabdablet at 10:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 10:56 AM on August 11, 2017 [25 favorites]
Can we not with the dubious conspiracy-theory tweetstorms? We have enough scary stuff from credible sources to keep us awake at night without bringing in conspiracy theorists on top of all this.
Can this apply to Donald Trump's tweets, too?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:57 AM on August 11, 2017
Can this apply to Donald Trump's tweets, too?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:57 AM on August 11, 2017
nukevfefe
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:00 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
Navy Professors Say Trump’s Transgender Military Ban Would Cost $960 Million
A new report co-authored by current and retired professors at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey has projected the cost of discharging the military’s transgender troops at $960 million. The report was released in response to the recent announcement by President Trump, on Twitter, that the military would no longer “allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” citing what the president called the “tremendous medical costs” of providing adequate care.posted by chris24 at 11:04 AM on August 11, 2017 [52 favorites]
But the new report shows that discharging and replacing the estimated 12,800 transgender service members who are already serving would cost over 100 times more than providing medically necessary health care to the military’s transgender troops. “Fully implementing President Trump’s ban would cost $960 million in pursuit of saving $8.4 million per year,” the report concludes. The $8.4 million figure is the upper-bound estimate calculated by the RAND Corporation for providing health care to transgender troops each year.
“If President Trump is truly concerned about the financial costs of transgender service,” said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center and a co-author of the new report, “his announced ban has it exactly backwards. American taxpayers should ask the president, who is proud of his business savvy, why he’s spending a dollar to buy a dime.”
NRA TV host calls on North Korea to attack Sacramento
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
We rolled 2d10 and nothing happened, Sir.
Well, duh. It's a d20 + relevant ability modifier + proficiency modifier, come on guys. We've been over this.
posted by nubs at 11:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
Well, duh. It's a d20 + relevant ability modifier + proficiency modifier, come on guys. We've been over this.
posted by nubs at 11:07 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
‘Threatening nuclear war on Twitter feels like a service violation’
Entertaining, but this is far from the most overt threat of violence that Trump has made on Twitter. After the whole CNN wrestling GIF thing went unpunished, I realized there's not any tweet by him that Twitter will take action on.
posted by Brak at 11:10 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Entertaining, but this is far from the most overt threat of violence that Trump has made on Twitter. After the whole CNN wrestling GIF thing went unpunished, I realized there's not any tweet by him that Twitter will take action on.
posted by Brak at 11:10 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Can we not with the dubious conspiracy-theory tweetstorms? We have enough scary stuff from credible sources to keep us awake at night without bringing in conspiracy theorists on top of all this.
I for one appreciated that link.
posted by thelonius at 11:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
I for one appreciated that link.
posted by thelonius at 11:11 AM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Appeals Court Lifts Deportation Order For L.A. Father Detained By ICE (Julia Wick, LAist)
On Thursday afternoon, the country's top immigration appeals court vacated the deportation order for Romulo Avelica-Gonzalez, a Los Angeles father who was arrested by federal immigration authorities while dropping his daughters off at school in February. [...]We regard Ivanka Trump the way we do half-wit Saudi princes."
On Thursday, the board elected to throw out the final deportation order that had been in place for Avelica-Gonzalez, meaning his case will return to local immigration court—a process that could take years. Avelica-Gonzalez has been detained at the Adelanto Detention Facility in the high desert near Victorville since his February arrest. He will be eligible for release on bond at his next hearing on August 30.
The reason for the diplomat’s frank language about Ivanka Trump is that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently invited her to his country to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit this fall — and this is apparently controversial because she is seen as someone who owes her success to nepotism, not entrepreneurship.Ivanka Trump’s brick-and-mortar boutique play is as unorthodox as her dad’s presidency (Katarina Ang, Money-ish)
About two years after quietly closing her boutique in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, Ivanka Trump is opening another brick-and-mortar destination for her eponymous fashion line. The daughter of President Donald Trump is set to launch a new store this fall in Trump Tower, the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper that was her father’s longtime abode. (Emphasis mime)posted by Room 641-A at 11:13 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern/Slate: The Clarence Thomas Takeover
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
There’s a reason Clarence Thomas writes so many solo dissents and concurrences. The second-longest-tenured justice on the Supreme Court has spent more than 25 years staking out a right-wing worldview that can generously be described as idiosyncratic. Thomas’ Constitution is one that gives a president at war the powers of a king while depriving Congress of any meaningful ability to regulate the country. His opposition to the very existence of much of the federal regulatory state, too, has never quite found five votes on the court. No other justice, except perhaps Neil Gorsuch if he continues down his current path, would carry his conservative principles to such an extreme position with regard to presidential authority and congressional constraint.His former clerks seem to be all over Washington these days.
Now a judge who’s spent his career teetering off the right edge of the federal bench finds himself at the center of the table. Thomas was on hand at the inauguration to swear in Vice President Mike Pence, using the same Bible that Ronald Reagan used when he was sworn in for both of his terms as president. But Thomas is more than just the Trump administration’s philosophical hero. His once-fringy ideas are suddenly flourishing—not only on the high court, through his alliance with Gorsuch, but also in the executive branch.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:15 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
> Fully implementing President Trump’s ban would cost $960 million in pursuit of saving $8.4 million per year,” the report concludes. ... American taxpayers should ask the president, who is proud of his business savvy, why he’s spending a dollar to buy a dime.”
Spending a dollar to buy less than a penny per year, no?
(I see, I guess it's being treated in a 10 year budget window.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:17 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Spending a dollar to buy less than a penny per year, no?
(I see, I guess it's being treated in a 10 year budget window.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:17 AM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
and this is apparently controversial because she is seen as someone who owes her success to nepotism, not entrepreneurship.
NO WAY YOU'RE KIDDING
posted by Melismata at 11:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
NO WAY YOU'RE KIDDING
posted by Melismata at 11:22 AM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
do dogs actually do that
If a dog vomits on something it's eating, that's because it's sick, it's too full to continue eating, or just ate too fast. It would not vomit on food to prevent other dogs from eating it for one very simple reason:
Dog vomit is not a gustatory deterrent to other dogs.
Indeed, one of the main challenges when one of our dogs pukes a tummy full of half-digested kibble onto the carpet is keeping the other dogs from eating it. Dogs also eat each other's poop sometimes, and generally regard cat poop and rabbit poop as outright treats.
In sum, dogs are gross.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
If a dog vomits on something it's eating, that's because it's sick, it's too full to continue eating, or just ate too fast. It would not vomit on food to prevent other dogs from eating it for one very simple reason:
Dog vomit is not a gustatory deterrent to other dogs.
Indeed, one of the main challenges when one of our dogs pukes a tummy full of half-digested kibble onto the carpet is keeping the other dogs from eating it. Dogs also eat each other's poop sometimes, and generally regard cat poop and rabbit poop as outright treats.
In sum, dogs are gross.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:23 AM on August 11, 2017 [32 favorites]
The New Yorker had a man on the street interview with somebody from Guam, and this Guam guy was trying to be reassuring, but he freaked me out a little. He described himself as an Army brat who was familiar with all the activity at the military bases there. He was pointing to the lack of frenetic activity at the bases (absence of alarms and such) as proof that nothing was going to happen.
It reminded me of something I think on NPR where there was this study of people living by a fragile dam somewhere, and the people most in danger if the dam collapsed were the ones who were like, "Nah, it won't happen"
It's like, yo, in case you haven't noticed shit is fucking broken and I wouldn't rely on the soothing absence of drill alarms as your canary in the gold mine.
Also, The New Yorker reran a 1946 story of the survivors of Hiroshima, and while it's excellent writing I could feel my mind just go no no no no NOPE turn off the news in a way that reminded me of life immediately after 9/11.
posted by angrycat at 11:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
It reminded me of something I think on NPR where there was this study of people living by a fragile dam somewhere, and the people most in danger if the dam collapsed were the ones who were like, "Nah, it won't happen"
It's like, yo, in case you haven't noticed shit is fucking broken and I wouldn't rely on the soothing absence of drill alarms as your canary in the gold mine.
Also, The New Yorker reran a 1946 story of the survivors of Hiroshima, and while it's excellent writing I could feel my mind just go no no no no NOPE turn off the news in a way that reminded me of life immediately after 9/11.
posted by angrycat at 11:25 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Of course, Donald Trump isn't the first president to cause scandal and controversy. Three years ago this month, President Obama wore a tan suit, and everyone lost their fucking shit
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [33 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:30 AM on August 11, 2017 [33 favorites]
NRA TV host calls on North Korea to attack Sacramento
posted by octobersurprise at 11:31 AM on August 11, 2017
Grant Stinchfield, host of the National Rifle Association's news outlet NRATV, suggested telling North Korea that Sacramento, CA, has changed its name to Guam ...Too late, Grant! I've already told Kim Jong-un that "Guam" is English for "Kwik Kar!" He wants to send his Hwasong-14 in for an oil change. Know what I mean?
posted by octobersurprise at 11:31 AM on August 11, 2017
My doggo thinks that chicken poop is a delicacy they have made just for her. It's a really good thing she's cute.
posted by Sophie1 at 11:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophie1 at 11:31 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
guys, can we not with the bitch eating crappers stuff?
posted by pyramid termite at 11:39 AM on August 11, 2017 [40 favorites]
posted by pyramid termite at 11:39 AM on August 11, 2017 [40 favorites]
bitch eating crappers stuff
I HAVE NOTIFIED THE POLICE
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
I HAVE NOTIFIED THE POLICE
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:41 AM on August 11, 2017 [16 favorites]
The tan suit was just a distraction from the sane leadership.
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:42 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:42 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
Mitch McConnell-backed group 'very interested' in Kid Rock for Senate
In case you thought there were still reasonable Republicans, anywhere. There are not.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
In case you thought there were still reasonable Republicans, anywhere. There are not.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:43 AM on August 11, 2017 [14 favorites]
Mitch McConnell-backed group 'very interested' in Kid Rock for Senate
In case you thought there were still reasonable Republicans, anywhere. There are not.
I nominate Killer Mike to run against him. The seat will be awarded to the winner of the freestyle competition.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
In case you thought there were still reasonable Republicans, anywhere. There are not.
I nominate Killer Mike to run against him. The seat will be awarded to the winner of the freestyle competition.
posted by Existential Dread at 11:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [22 favorites]
2018 elections may improve the numbers a bit, too.
Not in the senate, alas. The numbers strongly favor GOP gains in 2018 even with a weakened Trump. We will be lucky to lose only a few more senate seats. A massive wave for dems might keep things close to where they are now.
posted by spitbull at 11:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not in the senate, alas. The numbers strongly favor GOP gains in 2018 even with a weakened Trump. We will be lucky to lose only a few more senate seats. A massive wave for dems might keep things close to where they are now.
posted by spitbull at 11:46 AM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
Rubio tweeted
And the little shit won't face his constituents. He no longer has an office in Tampa and when you call his office in DC you're lucky to get VM and then it's always full.
Serious question: how the hell are you supposed to communicate with your senator when he clearly wants nothing to do with you?
posted by photoslob at 11:49 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
And the little shit won't face his constituents. He no longer has an office in Tampa and when you call his office in DC you're lucky to get VM and then it's always full.
Serious question: how the hell are you supposed to communicate with your senator when he clearly wants nothing to do with you?
posted by photoslob at 11:49 AM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
NRA TV host calls on North Korea to attack Sacramento
From yesterday:
Dem Rep: NRA And Dana Loesch ‘Quickly Becoming Domestic Security Threats
From yesterday:
Dem Rep: NRA And Dana Loesch ‘Quickly Becoming Domestic Security Threats
On Thursday, NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch sent out a tweet storm explaining why the NRA didn’t stand up for Castile, saying it was because Castile was in the possession of “a controlled substance” and a firearm when he was pulled over.posted by Room 641-A at 11:49 AM on August 11, 2017 [10 favorites]
“Which is illegal. Stop lying,” she tweeted.
Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) retweeted Loesch’s statement, asking if Castile had been a white man, would the NRA have stayed silent on the matter.
“You’re the ones lying,” she said. [...]
Loesch immediately started retweeting her Twitter mentions of NRA members scoffing at Rice’s comments. She asked the congresswoman to explain how she and “millions of members” are domestic security threats and said she “never called for jihad, burned campus or private property
Anita Hill tried to warn us ya'll.
And as much as I fault Twitter for not cracking down on Nazis and general assholes, I don't know what I would do if my social media company became the sole favored communication vehicle of a deranged US president. What happens if they kick him off?
posted by emjaybee at 11:50 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
And as much as I fault Twitter for not cracking down on Nazis and general assholes, I don't know what I would do if my social media company became the sole favored communication vehicle of a deranged US president. What happens if they kick him off?
posted by emjaybee at 11:50 AM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
Mitch McConnell-backed group 'very interested' in Kid Rock for SenateI nominate Killer Mike to run against him.
In case you thought there were still reasonable Republicans, anywhere. There are not.
Nobody speaks, nobody gets choked works for me as debate rules.
posted by phearlez at 11:55 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
This seems like a not great omen, but *shrug* it's 2017...
World's oldest man, Auschwitz survivor Yisrael Kristal dies (BBC)
.
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
World's oldest man, Auschwitz survivor Yisrael Kristal dies (BBC)
.
posted by tivalasvegas at 11:57 AM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
We rolled 2d10 and nothing happened, Sir.
Well, duh. It's a d20 + relevant ability modifier + proficiency modifier, come on guys. We've been over this.
Yeah, but don't forget that circumstantial modifiers also apply, and Trump being Trump, well, you'd be lucky to wind up with a positive number at all.
posted by Gelatin at 11:58 AM on August 11, 2017
Well, duh. It's a d20 + relevant ability modifier + proficiency modifier, come on guys. We've been over this.
Yeah, but don't forget that circumstantial modifiers also apply, and Trump being Trump, well, you'd be lucky to wind up with a positive number at all.
posted by Gelatin at 11:58 AM on August 11, 2017
Wow. I actually just got through to Rubio's DC office by punching numbers until someone picked up the phone. The staffer that answered listened to me for all of 10 seconds and then immediately started arguing with me about North Korea and defending Rubio's Twitter comments. The guy actually quoted the president's "fire in fury line." That unfortunately got my blood boiling and I started yelling at him about how Rubio is ignoring his constituents and playing into Trump and Kim's school yard antics. His answer was that I was one of 20 million constituents. I responded that there's a lot of us in the Tampa Bay area that want to kick his butt out of office.
Ugh, fuck that guy. I'm going to have a beer.
posted by photoslob at 11:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [75 favorites]
Ugh, fuck that guy. I'm going to have a beer.
posted by photoslob at 11:59 AM on August 11, 2017 [75 favorites]
emjaybee: I don't know what I would do if my social media company became the sole favored communication vehicle of a deranged US president.
I have no doubt you would have kicked off all the harrassers, Nazis, gators, and assholes before Trumo ever had the chance to find his audience there. Putin would have never unleashed his bot army on a SMS where people exchanged cool links, talked about otters, and were generally nice to each other.
What happens if they kick him off?
🎉🎈🎊🎉🎉🎇🎆🎂😹💃🏾🕺🏽
posted by Room 641-A at 12:01 PM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
I have no doubt you would have kicked off all the harrassers, Nazis, gators, and assholes before Trumo ever had the chance to find his audience there. Putin would have never unleashed his bot army on a SMS where people exchanged cool links, talked about otters, and were generally nice to each other.
What happens if they kick him off?
🎉🎈🎊🎉🎉🎇🎆🎂😹💃🏾🕺🏽
posted by Room 641-A at 12:01 PM on August 11, 2017 [11 favorites]
UnivisionGizmodoJezebel: “What can you do as a congressman to help Georgia process these rape kits?” a woman asks in the video.
“There are grants available, and we’ll do everything we can to help,” [Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA)] replied, after some prodding. “Unless they’re a sanctuary city,” he laughed.
Shelton followed up on this response a few minutes later. “Were you serious about the sanctuary city remark, or was that just a joke? Like, you wouldn’t provide grants to test rape kits if it was a sanctuary city?”
“No, we do not, I voted for a bill that does not allow federal law enforcement grants to go to any sanctuary cities, I was very serious about that,” Carter replied.
“Do you feel like that serves your constituents?” Shelton asked.
“Yes, it does,” Carter said. “It does serve my constituents, because if you’re a sanctuary city, that means you are refusing to enforce our immigration laws here in the United States, and if you’re doing that then I don’t want to be sending you any federal grants to go to your city.”
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:09 PM on August 11, 2017 [28 favorites]
“There are grants available, and we’ll do everything we can to help,” [Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA)] replied, after some prodding. “Unless they’re a sanctuary city,” he laughed.
Shelton followed up on this response a few minutes later. “Were you serious about the sanctuary city remark, or was that just a joke? Like, you wouldn’t provide grants to test rape kits if it was a sanctuary city?”
“No, we do not, I voted for a bill that does not allow federal law enforcement grants to go to any sanctuary cities, I was very serious about that,” Carter replied.
“Do you feel like that serves your constituents?” Shelton asked.
“Yes, it does,” Carter said. “It does serve my constituents, because if you’re a sanctuary city, that means you are refusing to enforce our immigration laws here in the United States, and if you’re doing that then I don’t want to be sending you any federal grants to go to your city.”
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:09 PM on August 11, 2017 [28 favorites]
guys, can we not with the bitch eating crappers stuff? pyramid termite
This honestly deserves a standing ovation for the callback.
Also, Gala Eichmann
posted by Molesome at 12:12 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
This honestly deserves a standing ovation for the callback.
Also, Gala Eichmann
posted by Molesome at 12:12 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Wow. I actually just got through to Rubio's DC office by punching numbers until someone picked up the phone. The staffer that answered listened to me for all of 10 seconds and then immediately started arguing with me about North Korea and defending Rubio's Twitter comments. The guy actually quoted the president's "fire in fury line." That unfortunately got my blood boiling and I started yelling at him about how Rubio is ignoring his constituents and playing into Trump and Kim's school yard antics. His answer was that I was one of 20 million constituents. I responded that there's a lot of us in the Tampa Bay area that want to kick his butt out of office.
Holy Crap. I've been pretty consistently calling his Miami office to voice my opinions and while I always feel like the staffers are rolling their eyes at me at least they're polite and don't say things like that.
When I was a kid, my Mom called our congressperson* pretty much every day and once a staffer told her "You're the only person in the district who feels that way."
*I think it was Kasich, but it could have also been DeWine.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 12:16 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Holy Crap. I've been pretty consistently calling his Miami office to voice my opinions and while I always feel like the staffers are rolling their eyes at me at least they're polite and don't say things like that.
When I was a kid, my Mom called our congressperson* pretty much every day and once a staffer told her "You're the only person in the district who feels that way."
*I think it was Kasich, but it could have also been DeWine.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 12:16 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
“Do you feel like that serves your constituents?” Shelton asked.
Welp.
Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Republican | Buddy Carter | 210,243 | 100.00
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:17 PM on August 11, 2017
Welp.
Party | Candidate | Votes | %
Republican | Buddy Carter | 210,243 | 100.00
posted by tivalasvegas at 12:17 PM on August 11, 2017
[...] And the little shit won't face his constituents. He no longer has an office in Tampa and when you call his office in DC you're lucky to get VM and then it's always full.
[...] That unfortunately got my blood boiling and I started yelling at him about how Rubio is ignoring his constituents and playing into Trump and Kim's school yard antics. His answer was that I was one of 20 million constituents. I responded that there's a lot of us in the Tampa Bay area that want to kick his butt out of office.
I really wish we could identify some objective measure of how well elected officials acknowledge their constituents. Just the existence or number of town halls is a start, I guess, but we've seen a lot of variance even in town halls.
I just want to be able to say, look assholes. YOU HAD ONE JOB. Represent the people of your district or state. Representing them is impossible when you refuse to even acknowledge their existence, let alone their opinions. When you fail at that ONE JOB, or refuse to even make token gestures toward performing it, you need to be removed from office. Period.
It's not even a partisan thing, if a Democrat behaved this way, they'd have no more business being in office than a Republican.
edit: Dale Eichmann
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:18 PM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
[...] That unfortunately got my blood boiling and I started yelling at him about how Rubio is ignoring his constituents and playing into Trump and Kim's school yard antics. His answer was that I was one of 20 million constituents. I responded that there's a lot of us in the Tampa Bay area that want to kick his butt out of office.
I really wish we could identify some objective measure of how well elected officials acknowledge their constituents. Just the existence or number of town halls is a start, I guess, but we've seen a lot of variance even in town halls.
I just want to be able to say, look assholes. YOU HAD ONE JOB. Represent the people of your district or state. Representing them is impossible when you refuse to even acknowledge their existence, let alone their opinions. When you fail at that ONE JOB, or refuse to even make token gestures toward performing it, you need to be removed from office. Period.
It's not even a partisan thing, if a Democrat behaved this way, they'd have no more business being in office than a Republican.
edit: Dale Eichmann
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:18 PM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
Garbage Senator Marco Rubio and his garbage staff are the absolute worst at constituent services. Oh, and Spot Speer.
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:19 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 12:19 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
“Do you feel like that serves your constituents?” Shelton asked.
Welp.
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Buddy Carter 210,243 100.00
He already has a challenger for 2018 though:
Bryan County Democrat Lisa Ring announces run against Congressman Buddy Carter for the GA-1 District
posted by melissasaurus at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
Welp.
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Buddy Carter 210,243 100.00
He already has a challenger for 2018 though:
Bryan County Democrat Lisa Ring announces run against Congressman Buddy Carter for the GA-1 District
posted by melissasaurus at 12:22 PM on August 11, 2017 [12 favorites]
I know there's a lot of general MeFi pushback on the POTUS threads, but can I just mention how much I love you guys?
(I am completely sober)
posted by Sophie1 at 12:25 PM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
(I am completely sober)
posted by Sophie1 at 12:25 PM on August 11, 2017 [47 favorites]
Especially you, Burhanistan.
posted by Sophie1 at 12:30 PM on August 11, 2017 [31 favorites]
posted by Sophie1 at 12:30 PM on August 11, 2017 [31 favorites]
So in just a matter of hours, I'll be getting on the road to attend a two-day festival (in a small bayside town that thanks to rising sea levels might not be around all that much longer). My access to breaking news will be spotty at best. You good people will fill me in when I get back, right?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:32 PM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:32 PM on August 11, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just try to stop us.
posted by thebrokedown at 12:36 PM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 12:36 PM on August 11, 2017 [13 favorites]
While the insanity is at an ebb, I would like to once again thank the Mods for making this a unique venue -- a safe haven for all of us in the storm.
Thank you,
Mike
posted by mikelieman at 12:39 PM on August 11, 2017 [53 favorites]
Thank you,
Mike
posted by mikelieman at 12:39 PM on August 11, 2017 [53 favorites]
I just want to be able to say, look assholes. YOU HAD ONE JOB.
I just vented to a friend and he made the point that FL is gerrymandered all to hell so Rubio just doesn't care what 50% of us have to say. If Obama is really going to tackle gerrymandering it would be nice if he'd start because the 2018 midterms are going to be ugly if we don't do something right now.
Oh and once again, fuck that guy.
posted by photoslob at 12:40 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
I just vented to a friend and he made the point that FL is gerrymandered all to hell so Rubio just doesn't care what 50% of us have to say. If Obama is really going to tackle gerrymandering it would be nice if he'd start because the 2018 midterms are going to be ugly if we don't do something right now.
Oh and once again, fuck that guy.
posted by photoslob at 12:40 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Vox, Tara Golshan and Dylan Scott: Freedom Caucus leader is flirting with saving Obamacare. Meadows is talking to MacArthur about a deal to appropriate the CSR payments in exchange for greater state waiver authority for Obamacare, seemingly trying to come up with something that could appeal to the middle of both parties. The devil is in the details with the waivers. If they're expansive enough, it would allow states to gut everything, including protection for pre-existing conditions, mental health, etc...
Meanwhile, the rest of the Freedom Caucus is shopping a discharge petition to force a clean repeal bill onto the floor, bypassing Ryan, which amounts to basically walking up to their colleagues and saying "so you claim you're for repealing Obamacare; you'd better sign here if you really mean it."
KFYI Radio: Mailer shows President Trump's severed head
Ward is trying to primary Sen. Flake.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, the rest of the Freedom Caucus is shopping a discharge petition to force a clean repeal bill onto the floor, bypassing Ryan, which amounts to basically walking up to their colleagues and saying "so you claim you're for repealing Obamacare; you'd better sign here if you really mean it."
KFYI Radio: Mailer shows President Trump's severed head
A listener to the Mike Broomhead show sent us photos of a mailer he received from what seems to be the Dr. Kelli Ward for Senate Campaign. The outside of the mailer shows the photo of Kathy Griffin holding the fake severed head of President Trump.
Ward is trying to primary Sen. Flake.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
While the insanity is at an ebb
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:42 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:42 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
Wouldn't piss on Rubio if he were on fire, AND im not contesting that Florida is gerrymandered to hell and back, BUT im not sure how that would affect Rubio's responsiveness to his constituents (nominally every resident of florida regardless of address)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:42 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:42 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
I just vented to a friend and he made the point that FL is gerrymandered all to hell so Rubio just doesn't care what 50% of us have to say.
Rubio is a Senator. You can't gerrymander a Senate seat (well, other than just generally making non-Republicans unwelcome in Florida).
posted by Etrigan at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017 [19 favorites]
Rubio is a Senator. You can't gerrymander a Senate seat (well, other than just generally making non-Republicans unwelcome in Florida).
posted by Etrigan at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017 [19 favorites]
KFYI Radio: Mailer shows President Trump's severed head
I hope Barron doesn't get asked for money
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017
I hope Barron doesn't get asked for money
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017
Welp, y'all...since we're over 2700 comments and heading into Friday afternoon...
NEW THREAD --->
NEW THREAD --->
NEW THREAD --->
posted by darkstar at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
NEW THREAD --->
NEW THREAD --->
NEW THREAD --->
posted by darkstar at 12:43 PM on August 11, 2017 [18 favorites]
Garbage Senator Marco Rubio and his garbage staff are the absolute worst at constituent services.
Honestly nothing has surprised me since I was reminded he got his political start on the West Miami city council. I know I have made some comments about them before but can't remember exactly what. I spent a tremendous amount of my childhood there because my grandparents lived there and my grandfather managed to be a one-term councilmember when I was a wee lad. He was disgusted by the corruption (though it was, as I recall, fairly penny-ante stuff) and managed to make a number of enemies of the mayor and fellow members[1], to the point where one wrote in to the Miami Herald and, in a bit published under the letters to the editor, said something along the lines of looking forward to seeing my gramps in hell where this person had applied to be "chief fire-stoker." I guess publishing it didn't make the Herald as classless as this bozo but it struck me as not a big gap.
As formative influences go it seems to have taken root well in Rubio.
[1] One later moved on up to City of Miami politics where he made a name for himself.
posted by phearlez at 12:46 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Honestly nothing has surprised me since I was reminded he got his political start on the West Miami city council. I know I have made some comments about them before but can't remember exactly what. I spent a tremendous amount of my childhood there because my grandparents lived there and my grandfather managed to be a one-term councilmember when I was a wee lad. He was disgusted by the corruption (though it was, as I recall, fairly penny-ante stuff) and managed to make a number of enemies of the mayor and fellow members[1], to the point where one wrote in to the Miami Herald and, in a bit published under the letters to the editor, said something along the lines of looking forward to seeing my gramps in hell where this person had applied to be "chief fire-stoker." I guess publishing it didn't make the Herald as classless as this bozo but it struck me as not a big gap.
As formative influences go it seems to have taken root well in Rubio.
[1] One later moved on up to City of Miami politics where he made a name for himself.
posted by phearlez at 12:46 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
Apropos of everything in general and nothing in particular, I started reading Bill Browder's Red Notice this morning over breakfast and I was—astonished and at the same time not?—to discover that he's Earl Browder's grandson. I could only think, Wow, the writers are really digging deep for this season's subplots.
posted by octobersurprise at 12:51 PM on August 11, 2017
posted by octobersurprise at 12:51 PM on August 11, 2017
I was told there would be milk and cookies when I got here.
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:58 PM on August 11, 2017
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:58 PM on August 11, 2017
No, just donuts and water.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:08 PM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:08 PM on August 11, 2017 [8 favorites]
Nope, just frogurt...IN THE NEW THREAD.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:11 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:11 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪
it's friday so we have extra for everybody
also on preview
🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩
(but no water bc come on, donuts need coffee)
(also i could not find a good water bottle emoji)
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:12 PM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
it's friday so we have extra for everybody
also on preview
🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩☕🍩
(but no water bc come on, donuts need coffee)
(also i could not find a good water bottle emoji)
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:12 PM on August 11, 2017 [7 favorites]
octobersurprise: I started reading Bill Browder's Red Notice this morning over breakfast and I was—astonished and at the same time not?—to discover that he's Earl Browder's grandson. I could only think, Wow, the writers are really digging deep for this season's subplots.
I just finished it yesterday! I haven't read a novel in years that made me tear up like Red Notice did. Not only is is fascinatingly relevant, it is superbly written. Supposed that makes sense given it's basically the story of him telling the Magnitsky story over and over to anyone who would listen. Highly recommended.
posted by carsonb at 1:13 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
I just finished it yesterday! I haven't read a novel in years that made me tear up like Red Notice did. Not only is is fascinatingly relevant, it is superbly written. Supposed that makes sense given it's basically the story of him telling the Magnitsky story over and over to anyone who would listen. Highly recommended.
posted by carsonb at 1:13 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
(the frogurt is also cursed)
posted by entropicamericana at 1:24 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 1:24 PM on August 11, 2017 [4 favorites]
(that's bad)
posted by wabbittwax at 1:35 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by wabbittwax at 1:35 PM on August 11, 2017 [6 favorites]
The new thread makes me sad.
posted by zachlipton at 1:45 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 1:45 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
To keep the new thread 100% pet-and-Nazi-free, let me just say: Brandy Hoess.
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:36 PM on August 11, 2017
posted by FelliniBlank at 4:36 PM on August 11, 2017
Never pet a Nazi. It might follow you home.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:38 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:38 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
After you hear so many people naming the first Nazi that comes to mind, it’s really hard to put that aside and try to think of the first Nazi that comes to mind.
posted by box at 4:47 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 4:47 PM on August 11, 2017 [1 favorite]
You can't gerrymander a Senate seat
True, but you can vote suppress to your heart's content. At least, until a federal district court takes notice.
Alas, the average voter probably doesn't understand the difference.
posted by dhartung at 5:45 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
True, but you can vote suppress to your heart's content. At least, until a federal district court takes notice.
Alas, the average voter probably doesn't understand the difference.
posted by dhartung at 5:45 PM on August 11, 2017 [5 favorites]
In case you're wondering where Gen X stands in all this... there aren't a lot of us between the Boomers and Millenials... picture MIT guitar studies graduate Tom Morello putting together a supergroup with the front-men from Cypress Hill. And their videos feature Donald Trump and meat fresh from the grinder. If we raised you and you fail, it is our fault. We support you and include you. Also Juiceboxxx's "Guts And Tension" has me grabbing for the "Attack of the Killer B's" Public Enemy/Anthrax teamup.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:26 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:26 PM on August 11, 2017 [2 favorites]
There's something different about this terrorist attack that makes the President reluctant to describe it as a terrorist attack, but I can't quite put mein finger on it... 🤔
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:51 PM on August 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:51 PM on August 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
somebody here ordered the london symphony orchestra, possibly while hiiiiigh... cypress hill i'm looking in your direction....
posted by entropicamericana at 8:18 PM on August 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 8:18 PM on August 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
chris24: On Putin expelling many U.S. diplomats from Russia? "I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll and as far as I'm concerned I'm very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll. There's no real reason for them to go back. I greatly appreciate the fact that we've been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We're going to save a lot of money."
OmieWise: Sending diplomats back to the US is not the same as firing them. It's all the same payroll, you innumerate thug.
I just realized that Trump was happy ... because he didn't have to fire a bunch of people himself. Because Mr. You're Fired actually hates firing people and is conflict-adverse.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:34 AM on August 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
OmieWise: Sending diplomats back to the US is not the same as firing them. It's all the same payroll, you innumerate thug.
I just realized that Trump was happy ... because he didn't have to fire a bunch of people himself. Because Mr. You're Fired actually hates firing people and is conflict-adverse.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:34 AM on August 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
I must correct my mistake. Only B-Real from Cypress hill is involved. The other rapper is Chuck D, from Public Enemy, and he brought with him DJ Killer to scratch vinyl.
Serious, Living On The 110 is essential listening in our times.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on August 14, 2017
Serious, Living On The 110 is essential listening in our times.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:08 PM on August 14, 2017
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posted by mazola at 12:31 AM on August 4, 2017 [121 favorites]