Trump’s Russia Scandal Expands: Jeff Sessions Spoke Twice With Russian Ambassador During Trump’s Campaign

Politics • Views: 60,723

The headline says it all: Sessions spoke twice with Russian ambassador during Trump’s presidential campaign, Justice officials say.

I’m getting that good ol’ Watergate feeling again.

Then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Justice Department officials said, encounters he did not disclose when asked about possible contacts between members of President Trump’s campaign and representatives of Moscow during Sessions’s confirmation hearing to become attorney general.

One of the meetings was a private conversation between Sessions and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that took place in September in the senator’s office, at the height of what U.S. intelligence officials say was a Russian cyber campaign to upend the U.S. presidential race.

The previously undisclosed discussions could fuel new congressional calls for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russia’s alleged role in the 2016 presidential election. As attorney general, Sessions oversees the Justice Department and the FBI, which have been leading investigations into Russian meddling and any links to Trump’s associates. He has so far resisted calls to recuse himself.

UPDATE at 3/1/17 6:46:24 pm by Charles Johnson

Here’s video of Sessions blatantly lying to Congress about his contacts with Russia.

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235 comments
1
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:31:10pm

The whole administration is tainted.

2
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:32:23pm

re: #1 HappyWarrior

All of them Katie!

3
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:34:47pm

I’m watching again @ObserverArt!

They’ve got Engel in Moscow coming up.

4
bratwurst  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:34:59pm
5
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:35:05pm

We need a scorecard to figure out who among Trump’s cabinet and inner circle didn’t have contacts with the Russians.

Seems that every last person did, except maybe Carson and Chao. Maybe.

Tillerson? Yup
Sessions? Yup, and lied about it in confirmation hearing.
Ross? Yup.
Trump - all of them
Kushner? Yup
Manafort? Yup
Page? Yup
Flynn? Yup - and fired already. And more that I’ve already forgotten.

As I noted in the last thread below:

Did it just slip his fucking mind? Did he come down with the same amnesia that affects everyone in Trump’s circle - that they ignore reality, facts, or logic?

And the GOP continue enabling this corrupt administration at every opportunity because their own craven goals are this close to getting done.

But the growing pile of evidence is that everyone in the Trump admin from Trump on down is compromised. Every last one. There’s a shorter list of people who didn’t have ties to Russia than those who do.

And the GOP didn’t care - and still don’t care.

6
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:36:20pm

We’re back to drip, drip, drip right when 45 was feeling good about his junior high speech.

7
KGxvi  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:38:14pm

Im guessing we are going to hear that this meeting was conducted as a Senator and not a Trump stooge? So did he have any committee assignments that would make that excuse even marginally believable?

8
Charles Johnson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:39:13pm
9
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:39:36pm

re: #7 KGxvi

Im guessing we are going to hear that this meeting was conducted as a Senator and not a Trump stooge? So did he have any committee assignments that would make that excuse even marginally believable?

Committee on Armed Services
Subcommittee on Airland
Subcommittee on Seapower
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces (Chairman)
Committee on the Budget [135]
Committee on Environment and Public Works[135]
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts
Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs
Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees (Chairman)
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security
International Narcotics Control Caucus

10
FormerDirtDart  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:40:15pm
11
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:40:16pm

re: #7 KGxvi

Im guessing we are going to hear that this meeting was conducted as a Senator and not a Trump stooge? So did he have any committee assignments that would make that excuse even marginally believable?

Wiki says
Armed Services
Budget
Environment (ha)
Judiciary

So no.

Edit: Happy posted way more info.

12
KGxvi  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:42:31pm

re: #9 HappyWarrior

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security

That’s the only one that’s maybe possible. Of course, it then raises the inevitable question of: what did he know and when did he know it?

13
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:43:17pm

re: #12 KGxvi

That’s the only one that’s maybe possible. Of course, it then raises the inevitable question of: what did he know and when did he know it?

That was on the judiciary committee though but yep.

14
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:43:28pm

From the previous thread:

re: #565 Eric The Fruit Bat

IMHO, this will be a make-or-break chance at making live-action anime movies. If it works, there’s a whole vein at the ready for Hollywood to mine rather than constantly retreading remakes and the Marvel/DC franchieses. If it tanks, sayonara.

If you were going to pick one to start with, this is a pretty good choice.

15
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:43:41pm

re: #11 Stanley Sea

Wiki says
Armed Services
Budget
Environment (ha)
Judiciary

So no.

Edit: Happy posted way more info.

Yeah I got the sub committees in there. Agree with your assessment.

16
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:44:56pm

Here’s the video of Sessions denying **under oath** that he had communications with the Russians.

17
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:45:00pm

From the previous thread, then I’ll drop this line of discussion (just answering a question directed at me):

re: #568 Timothy Watson

So you’re volunteering to be the next Democratic nominee in your district?

Don’t tell me “it’s too hard”.

a) I am unelectable in my district and I know it (Erotic Romance Editor is not a big selling point to a lot of liberals, let alone conservatives)
b) Jane Kleeb is already going to run for my district. As such, I will support her campaign.

18
nines09  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:46:30pm

In his defense, he said he did not have 20 dollars in his pocket. It was two 10’s.

19
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:47:03pm

re: #16 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Boom

20
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:47:09pm

re: #5 lawhawk

Flynn? Yup - and fired already. And more that I’ve already forgotten.

And lied about to the FBI, a felony, and somehow a grand jury hasn’t been impaneled yet.

21
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:47:28pm

re: #16 The Vicious Babushka

Here’s the video of Sessions denying **under oath** that he had communications with the Russians.

[Embedded content]

I’m sure Jason Chaffetz will be requesting an FBI Investigation right away!!!
////

22
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:47:38pm
23
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:47:39pm

Tim, Gillespie’s apparently bitching about T-Mac vetoing a bill that Obenshaim sponsored (remember him, Herring beat him for AG) that would “investigate voter fraud.” Saw it because one of my wingnut high school friends “liked it.” I guess at least he’s not a Stewart fan.

24
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:48:19pm

re: #21 Blind Frog Belly White

I’m sure Jason Chaffetz will be requesting an FBI Investigation right away!!!
////

I’m pretty sure he’s busy investigating Cailou at the moment.

25
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:49:02pm

re: #1 HappyWarrior

The whole administration is tainted.

Follow the leader.

All institutions, businesses to organizations, are reflective of their leaders.

26
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:49:19pm

re: #25 ObserverArt

Follow the leader.

All institutions, businesses to organizations, are reflective of their leaders.

Yep this one especially.

27
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:50:26pm

re: #22 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

He volunteered the lie. He declared himself part of the campaign and then flatly denied what we now know to be true.

Under oath.

28
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:50:43pm

re: #5 lawhawk

We need a scorecard to figure out who among Trump’s cabinet and inner circle didn’t have contacts with the Russians.

Seems that every last person did, except maybe Carson and Chao. Maybe.

Tillerson? Yup
Sessions? Yup, and lied about it in confirmation hearing.
Ross? Yup.
Trump - all of them
Kushner? Yup
Manafort? Yup
Page? Yup
Flynn? Yup - and fired already. And more that I’ve already forgotten.

As I noted in the last thread below:

[Embedded content]

James Mattis? As far as I know he hasn’t had any contacts (but who knows), other than those that might have occurred in his official duties in the Marine Corps (and those would have been authorised). Mike Pompeo? (That would be awful if the CIA director were mixed up in this too.)

I still don’t see the House GOP doing a damn thing until they get what they want first (starve granny, vets, and deport everyone who isn’t as white as a sheet of paper and jail the rest).

29
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:51:12pm

Palin haz a sad because no publisher thought her memoirs were worth $65 million.
Or even a small fraction of that amount.

30
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:51:19pm

re: #17 Anymouse

From the previous thread, then I’ll drop this line of discussion (just answering a question directed at me):

a) I am unelectable in my district and I know it (Erotic Romance Editor is not a big selling point to a lot of liberals, let alone conservatives)
b) Jane Kleeb is already going to run for my district. As such, I will support her campaign.

a) sounds a lot like “it’s too hard” to me.

31
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:51:33pm

So, who brings charges of perjury? Does Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III charge himself?

32
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:52:13pm

re: #30 Timothy Watson

a) sounds a lot like “it’s too hard” to me.

See b)

33
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:52:22pm

Anybody know who #2 is a DOJ?

34
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:52:29pm

MSNBC was going to air a two hour dotted-line connecting special on Trump & Russia, then Jeff Sessions came along and bridged the gap all by himself.

Holy fucking shit. I can’t wait to see that orange asshole’s tweets in the morning.

35
Charles Johnson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:52:35pm

These fucking people.

36
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:52:50pm

re: #31 teleskiguy

So, who brings charges of perjury? Does Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III charge himself?

Now that he’s been nominated by the Senate, it’s up to Congress. This would be where impeachment is used.

37
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:53:57pm

re: #35 Charles Johnson

38
Charles Johnson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:54:05pm
39
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:54:17pm

re: #29 Backwoods_Sleuth

Palin haz a sad because no publisher thought her memoirs were worth $65 million.
Or even a small fraction of that amount.

[Embedded content]

The memoirs of a half term governor who was a complete flop when she was a VP candidate? Yeah Sarah, it’s shocking. Hell maybe you could have actually ran for President instead of grfiting.

40
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:54:49pm

re: #32 Anymouse

See b)

Okay what about state house of representatives or state senate?

41
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:54:53pm
42
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:55:06pm

re: #33 JordanRules

Anybody know who #2 is a DOJ?

I honestly have no idea. He’s nominated so few people.

43
KGxvi  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:55:18pm

re: #33 JordanRules

Anybody know who #2 is a DOJ?

The guy who replaced Yates as acting AG is now acting Deputy AG

44
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:55:40pm

re: #42 HappyWarrior

Right, it’s probably not filled. Possibly by design.

45
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:04pm

re: #43 KGxvi

Gracias!!

46
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:36pm
47
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:41pm

re: #23 HappyWarrior

Tim, Gillespie’s apparently bitching about T-Mac vetoing a bill that Obenshaim sponsored (remember him, Herring beat him for AG) that would “investigate voter fraud.” Saw it because one of my wingnut high school friends “liked it.” I guess at least he’s not a Stewart fan.

Gillespie is such a two-face piece of shit. He gets to act like he’s some kind of moderate when he’s been bitching about illegals and “sanctuary cities” for over a month.

48
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:49pm

Thanks Obama…you rock.

49
Ace Rothstein  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:14pm

re: #31 teleskiguy

So, who brings charges of perjury? Does Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III charge himself?

Kremlin.

50
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:30pm
51
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:41pm

re: #39 HappyWarrior

The memoirs of a half term governor who was a complete flop when she was a VP candidate? Yeah Sarah, it’s shocking. Hell maybe you could have actually ran for President instead of grfiting.

or finish her term as governor, even…

52
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:58pm

re: #47 Timothy Watson

Gillespie is such a two-face piece of shit. He gets to act like he’s some kind of moderate when he’s been bitching about illegals and “sanctuary cities” for over a month.

Yet loves to brag about his immigrant father. Eddie should know as an American of Irish descent how Irish immigrants were treated and people didn’t care whether they were “legal” or not when hurling abuse.

53
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:58pm

re: #48 darthstar

Thanks Obama…you rock.

[Embedded content]

I hope it’s a private email server, located somewhere in Siberia, that is periodically emailing out chunks of the intel.

54
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:38pm

re: #51 Backwoods_Sleuth

or finish her term as governor, even…

Yep.

55
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:53pm

re: #29 Backwoods_Sleuth

Palin haz a sad because no publisher thought her memoirs were worth $65 million.
Or even a small fraction of that amount.

[Embedded content]

I’m not a memoir guy, but I will buy his book.

56
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:54pm

re: #32 Anymouse

See b)

And if she’s low-energy and sad and only does events in the cities, then what?

57
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:59:01pm

Senator from Hawaii.

58
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:59:53pm

re: #57 teleskiguy

Senator from Hawaii.

[Embedded content]

Are we going to get tired of lying? //

59
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:00:04pm

re: #50 teleskiguy

[Embedded content]

Really, you gotta wonder how long Ryan et al. are gonna just try and sweep this under the rug. I know with each new revelation, they think ‘If we quash this one, nothing more will come out, and we can get back to fucking everyone who isn’t rich’, but at SOME POINT, there are just too many shoes falling.

60
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:00:50pm

re: #59 Blind Frog Belly White

It’s raining shoes.

61
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:00:56pm

re: #52 HappyWarrior

Yet loves to brag about his immigrant father. Eddie should know as an American of Irish descent how Irish immigrants were treated and people didn’t care whether they were “legal” or not when hurling abuse.

How many Irish immigrants spoke English when they immigrated? I saw somewhere 3/4 spoke Gaelic.

62
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:02pm

re: #59 Blind Frog Belly White

Really, you gotta wonder how long Ryan et al. are gonna just try and sweep this under the rug. I know with each new revelation, they think ‘If we quash this one, nothing more will come out, and we can get back to fucking everyone who isn’t rich’, but at SOME POINT, there are just too many shoes falling.

My hope is it eventually catches up with them and Ryan goes down with Trump. Nothing is impossible. Never thought Cantor would fall and he did.

63
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:40pm

re: #40 HappyWarrior

Okay what about state house of representatives or state senate?

$12,000 a year, and have to maintain a home in Lincoln four hundred miles away.

The Nebraska Unicameral exists for the wealthy. Unless something like Act Blue were to finance a place for me to live, I can’t afford it. Disabled vets really don’t get paid a lot of money.

Pimping Birth Control Work’s post here on Sally Hemings.
littlegreenfootballs.com

64
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:51pm

re: #61 Timothy Watson

How many Irish immigrants spoke English when they immigrated? I saw somewhere 3/4 spoke Gaelic.

My one third great grandmother lived in the U.S nearly 60 years and spoke nothing but Gaelic till the day she died. I have the obituary and the census records that prove it.

65
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:03:50pm
66
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:03:56pm
67
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:05pm

re: #63 Anymouse

$12,000 a year, and have to maintain a home in Lincoln four hundred miles away.

The Nebraska Unicameral exists for the wealthy. Unless something like Act Blue were to finance a place for me to live, I can’t afford it. Disabled vets really don’t get paid a lot of money.

Pimping Birth Control Work’s post here on Sally Hemings.
littlegreenfootballs.com

I forgot that Nebraska was unicameral honestly. I think you’re showing Timothy’s point. Running for office is a busy commitment. I’ve seen countless sacrificial limbs for office in my time here in VA-10. Some have campaigned harder than others but they ultimately faced an uphill battle no matter how much money they had.

68
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:27pm

re: #56 Timothy Watson

And if she’s low-energy and sad and only does events in the cities, then what?

NE-3 does not include cities (other than slivers of Lincoln, South Sioux City, and Omaha designed to gerrymander the other two districts).

The whole district is rural. Anyone campaigning for this House seat has to travel over the whole district and hit all the little villages and towns.

As for Jane Kleeb (organiser of Bold Nebraska and now the Nebraska Democratic Party chair), I don’t think “low-energy” is a descriptor that applies to her.

69
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:29pm
70
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:32pm

re: #59 Blind Frog Belly White

Really, you gotta wonder how long Ryan et al. are gonna just try and sweep this under the rug. I know with each new revelation, they think ‘If we quash this one, nothing more will come out, and we can get back to fucking everyone who isn’t rich’, but at SOME POINT, there are just too many shoes falling.

If Democrats could take Price’s seat, that would shake things big time. Speaking of which, Republicans are spending $1M to go after the Democrat, Jon Ossoff, including the time he dressed up as Han Solo.

71
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:48pm

re: #64 HappyWarrior

utKRHWrjRAP6zSvuRZu15eNu0u7JRh5OeYIUo/kFCcclgacXEJSMEITsLAjWINZWDKopFAYb1TdWqcZyq/m670nv0DHYKK8eL6WYnfJo0DEbyTSiQFHhpEFJnygb4FJzBhPvvBClXdhTLRhUg5sAqg==

72
bratwurst  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:04:58pm

Very OT…but you may not have very long if you’d care to see the recently unearthed footage of Zappa jamming with Pink Floyd in 1969. The video was just a legend until the PF box set was released. They have really SCRUBBED the internet of anything included in the box, so who knows how long this will be up.

The good news is that the box is being released as individual volumes at the end of this month, so gems like this (and the brilliant PF BBC sessions from 1970-71) will soon be available at a semi-decent price.

73
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:06:02pm

Also important to remember about Sessions: he was the one who pretty much wrote trump’s immigration policy for the campaign.

74
Ace Rothstein  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:06:54pm

re: #69 Backwoods_Sleuth

Hannity: Trump’s speech one for the ages.

75
Ace Rothstein  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:07:12pm

Obama is going to be a very active ex-President, and I’m going to love every minute of it.

76
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:07:32pm

re: #72 bratwurst

HOLY SHIT! That’s far out, man!

77
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:07:51pm

re: #71 Timothy Watson

[Embedded content]

el5sF7RVEi4IUHCsfvw98SvJWU+9pEL8domVknYbSqOZGitXP/6qYlIaqXE+k5WkZ4LHkdjcfM6EZV7o/RDsMn9SMdMblKf757rUMYqGsyVl3A0GvO/QIIkUgCuIQIhIJQtKO4hekniIzRCz/DDE63O+yQmngI6ejTMLH7Pig/mTs8n+xFOf5w71mA+CxALe2GtmzzR/z7e7IixyyHoggixAs3Ohbs+MJEBXI7NOSF2BmBSh7M5fKSX3zdLkOOSvvCukMMfhR/660AuoC1ejrTbFflmk/G+TTfgxM/sY2CA2xs4tXw/NgJe92DOzgNtPWCXKFdLi/wzcbd5/SbW5sQ==

78
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:09:34pm

re: #67 HappyWarrior

I forgot that Nebraska was unicameral honestly. I think you’re showing Timothy’s point. Running for office is a busy commitment. I’ve seen countless sacrificial limbs for office in my time here in VA-10. Some have campaigned harder than others but they ultimately faced an uphill battle no matter how much money they had.

For anything bigger than a city council in a small town, it does take a lot of commitment to run for office. (As for the Unicameral part, most people don’t know that NE and VI have unicameral legislatures, unless they live in NE or VI, not a big deal.) Even in my small town, my unpaid trustee position is a big suck for time (I don’t mind the time suck though or I wouldn’t have tossed my fedora in the ring twice).

For some seats it also takes a helluva lot of money I would imagine. (Despite the size of my district, I suspect it is much cheaper to hold campaign events here than say someone running to represent Manhattan or Los Angeles.)

79
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:09:59pm

Politics is ultimately a game of math. It’s about getting out your voters but also getting out people who sometimes go the other way or don’t get out at all. Most of those people for Democrats are in urban- not necessarily cities but urban areas. We have an urban base. That’s why our candidates go to the cities.

80
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:10:24pm

The hardest thing about studying a textbook on your own, in this case Abstract Algebra, is you don’t have answers or a description of the answers. You kind of just have to go “OK, I think that looks good.”

81
Kragar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:39pm
82
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:45pm

re: #77 HappyWarrior

[Embedded content]

gTJOnXZ7C1nI/GUnfQkjYrB3dIIbj6mK6fcVMZIRsnMuR71EqQANAnYQD7NNYSR5DDH7a7R3qRnnmcFE1kRFNSLlvOQZ2e/fSUw+ST3Q+987ZYrXQIG1rhMWQoaW5ap/8CerJmo7MVKtLTeauxSJO33rJWJJsawPrXX4yt3sSO3AMXPnnGRw8WarjYorbkuepiYkri/5NsYe59Ld5jeU/C84B3zig3/vvXOiaX5nT+Fyv0UM07cqMqeBSzLj7mmEMTMu1aIwMkj14DRmdtWQrxLDhn6k+CAkvMp5Na8rsq7CxSRvVgItxsvN92VGaTZx/Bm9Q4U5xDw=

83
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:12:35pm

re: #81 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Luckily, Obama saved most of them for Trump. Just another way Obama was being a nice guy.

84
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:12:47pm
85
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:13:48pm

re: #82 Timothy Watson

[Embedded content]

Ap/vySWRXQ3D9961jO4vOyWmXn/JywYMHJCfZPoFwFV+0JJ+Kqhg1UKtxpJH/fwzBWNzeyyGHaZ3u4AKQj1jLYXQwycPahLkwjZIG07t3qOq7Es21HzCqEAGjTQISidvesjmwblCDZZ+9brtphjNgtiJJsAYkXRd8bjYpg4iodDAgRYvsOSUqrpcsxUcilwn0nv/lvf4HhK0wYAwgbvl2rlkGfLX+ZfK+OkO4wu6k24=

86
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:14:24pm

re: #79 HappyWarrior

Politics is ultimately a game of math. It’s about getting out your voters but also getting out people who sometimes go the other way or don’t get out at all. Most of those people for Democrats are in urban- not necessarily cities but urban areas. We have an urban base. That’s why our candidates go to the cities.

It seems some people don’t understand basic economics when they talk political strategy.

If I have finite amount of resources, let’s say $1,000,000 and unlimited wants.

Do I spend that money on state that I estimate I have a 50% chance of winning or a state that I predict I have a 10% chance of winning?

87
FormerDirtDart  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:15:22pm

This doesn’t seem to be the “Hump Day” the Trum admin. was hoping for whe it decided to put off it’s new EO (of immediate nation security importance) on terror/refugees/7countries/not a ban to bask in the glow of the joint session address “success”

88
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:15:38pm

re: #84 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

This is a good example of when capitalism works. I also think it’s a great example of why we still need to buy newspaper subscriptions.

89
goddamnedfrank  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:15:39pm
90
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:15:44pm
91
ckkatz  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:15:56pm

OT but…

Heh, apparently Ron Johnson sent a letter to one of his constituents telling them to Cease and Desist trying to contact him, except in writing.

citizenactionwi.org

92
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:16:41pm

re: #78 Anymouse

For anything bigger than a city council in a small town, it does take a lot of commitment to run for office. (As for the Unicameral part, most people don’t know that NE and VI have unicameral legislatures, unless they live in NE or VI, not a big deal.) Even in my small town, my unpaid trustee position is a big suck for time (I don’t mind the time suck though or I wouldn’t have tossed my fedora in the ring twice).

For some seats it also takes a helluva lot of money I would imagine. (Despite the size of my district, I suspect it is much cheaper to hold campaign events here than say someone running to represent Manhattan or Los Angeles.)

Right, so you understand Timothy’s point then that running for office in a strongly Republican area would take a lot of resources to even come close to flipping. As I’ve argued before, the way we’ll win or compete in those areas is if people stop seeing the Democratic and liberal ideology as something foreign to them. When they see so and so who happens to be a liberal, not the liberal who happens to be son and so. I dunno how much money it takes but I have worked on local campaigns before. One of them was ran by a friend who had recently graduated from college and the candidate himself really wasn’t that much older than I am now.

93
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:16:52pm

re: #79 HappyWarrior

Politics is ultimately a game of math. It’s about getting out your voters but also getting out people who sometimes go the other way or don’t get out at all. Most of those people for Democrats are in urban- not necessarily cities but urban areas. We have an urban base. That’s why our candidates go to the cities.

It’s too bad there aren’t enough electoral votes in the cities to win elections. It really doesn’t matter if every last voter in Atlanta and Washington and New York and Los Angeles votes for the D candidate, the electoral college math overthrows their votes.

I’d be all in for overthrowing the Electoral College tomorrow, with the likely outcome that the votes in my state really wouldn’t matter (all you’d have to do is campaign in California, New York, and maybe throw in Ohio and Florida and that’s the election).

The reality though is the cities, by themselves, are not enough to win the necessary electoral votes.

94
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:17:13pm

re: #89 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

Way to go Foghorn!

95
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:17:49pm

re: #83 Belafon

Luckily, Obama saved most of them for Trump. Just another way Obama was being a nice guy.

LOL.

Just trying to help you with a smooth transition, Donald… .

96
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:19:00pm
97
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:19:21pm

re: #76 teleskiguy

HOLY SHIT! That’s far out, man!

Nice…I love a good spacey jam.

98
nines09  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:21:46pm

What a 24 hour period. Trump made potty and the media was so proud. Russian Trump ties spring up stronger, and Jeff Sessions perjures himself. Smell a tweet coming..

99
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:21:53pm

re: #96 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Yeah, I love the way the woman on the left is quietly making room for the woman on the right’s stuff… Oh, that wasn’t what they meant? Sorry.

100
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:22:04pm

re: #96 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Pretty rich shit given that many of those same conservatives are fine with stuff like that if it’s done in their religion’s name. If a woman wants to wear a hijab, who the hell am I to say she can’t wear it. Now if I were Muslim and had a daughter, I wouldn’t do it. And I’ve in fact known many Muslim women who do not wear the hijab.

101
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:22:58pm

re: #98 nines09

What a 24 hour period. Trump made potty and the media was so proud. Russian Trump ties spring up stronger, and Jeff Sessions perjures himself. Smell a tweet coming..

He supposedly was holding off doing another MuslimBan executive order because he liked all the positive media attention.

So, yeah, we can expect that executive order tomorrow now.

102
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:23:05pm
103
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:24:07pm

re: #101 Timothy Watson

He supposedly was holding off doing another MuslimBan executive order because he liked all the positive media attention.

So, yeah, we can expect that executive order tomorrow now.

If they have anything actually down on paper that their lawyers think stand a chance of being constitutional.

104
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:24:22pm
105
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:24:32pm

re: #102 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Wasn’t tehre just something where all 26 Senators on AFC said they in fact had no contact with the Russian ambassador?

106
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:25:00pm
107
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:25:12pm

re: #104 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

He should have never became Alabama’s AG and then Senator. He got rewarded for being a bigoted asshole.

108
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:25:31pm

re: #14 Belafon

If you were going to pick one to start with, this is a pretty good choice.

Yeppers….

109
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:26:03pm

re: #106 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

And as an American of Irish descent, I spit in the face of those like Trump who want to treat today’s immigrants the way our Irish ancestors were treated.

110
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:26:45pm

re: #100 HappyWarrior

Pretty rich shit given that many of those same conservatives are fine with stuff like that if it’s done in their religion’s name. If a woman wants to wear a hijab, who the hell am I to say she can’t wear it. Now if I were Muslim and had a daughter, I wouldn’t do it. And I’ve in fact known many Muslim women who do not wear the hijab.

I’ve only known a handful of Muslim women in my life, but none of them I knew wore either the hijab or the niqab. I’ve known about as many Catholic nuns, most of them wore habits (pretty similar to a niqab really), but those are somehow different to wingnuts.

111
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:27:56pm

Forget about demanding that Sessions recuse himself, he needs to be removed from office.

112
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:28:18pm
113
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:28:26pm

re: #110 Anymouse

I’ve only known a handful of Muslim women in my life, but none of them I knew wore either the hijab or the niqab. I’ve known about as many Catholic nun, most of those wore habits (pretty similar to a niqab really), but those are somehow different to wingnuts.

Yeah, none of them claim the nun’s habits are oppressive the way they do the niqab for Muslim women. As I said, if a woman wants to wear that, fine, I myself if I were Muslim would tell my wife and or daughters to wear what they like.

114
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:28:28pm

re: #103 calochortus

If they have anything actually down on paper that their lawyers think stand a chance of being constitutional.

Well, the last one wasn’t constitutional, and that didn’t stop them.

115
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:29:07pm

re: #106 Backwoods_Sleuth

Damnet Spicey! Too many unforced errors. What a dumbass.

116
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:29:28pm

re: #109 HappyWarrior

And as an American of Irish descent, I spit in the face of those like Trump who want to treat today’s immigrants the way our Irish ancestors were treated.

I have some Irish in me too, but it’s Irish Protestant. :)

117
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:30:07pm

re: #116 Timothy Watson

I have some Irish in me too, but it’s Irish Protestant. :)

I can forgive you for that. Lots of great Irish Protestants in history. My favorite poet for one.

118
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:30:44pm

re: #114 Anymouse

Well, the last one wasn’t constitutional, and that didn’t stop them.

And the next one will be blocked by the courts as unconstitutional as well, especially if the intent is the same as the original - a Muslim ban.

They’ve already said as much until now. So, even if they claim to have fixed whatever legal issues they think were in the original EO, the intent is the same, and that matters.

119
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:30:51pm
120
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:30:53pm

re: #113 HappyWarrior

Yeah, none of them claim the nun’s habits are oppressive the way they do the niqab for Muslim women. As I said, if a woman wants to wear that, fine, I myself if I were Muslim would tell my wife and or daughters to wear what they like.

If I tried to tell my wife what to wear, I would probably find myself wearing it after she forced me into it.

I don’t think I would really look good in most of her clothes.

121
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:32:26pm

re: #114 Anymouse

Well, the last one wasn’t constitutional, and that didn’t stop them.

Possibly some adult in the room doesn’t think it’s a good idea to keep rolling out highly questionable executive orders that will be stayed by the first court that gets to see them?

122
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:32:35pm

re: #116 Timothy Watson

I have some Irish in me too, but it’s Irish Protestant. :)

re: #117 HappyWarrior

I can forgive you for that. Lots of great Irish Protestants in history. My favorite poet for one.

I am guilty of cultural appropriation, since I play Irish folk music on the hammered dulcimer and was once part of a band named Irish Coffee, though I am Polish by descent.

123
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:10pm

re: #120 Anymouse

If I tried to tell my wife what to wear, I would probably find myself wearing it after she forced me into it.

I don’t think I would really look good in most of her clothes.

Let us be the judge of that, why don’t you?

124
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:14pm

re: #121 calochortus

Possibly some adult in the room doesn’t think it’s a good idea to keep rolling out highly questionable executive orders that will be stayed by the first court that gets to see them?

He goes on Sabbath Friday at sunset…

125
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:25pm

Slate: Donald Trump’s appropriation of Ryan Owens’ heroism and Carryn Owens’ grief was a disgrace.

As a former Army officer, the extended ovation rankled me for other reasons too. Trump’s salute was not presidential; it was the preening of a peacock, a martinet whose very language clashes with the unselfish country-first ethos of the service. As James Fallows points out, Trump’s public tribute also smacked of so many hollow “thank you for your service” spectacles. The intent or emotion behind these events may be sincere, but they can only be viewed against the backdrop of the American civil-military divide. Fewer than 1 percent of Americans serve in uniform; fewer still have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other theaters of war. The show thank-yous are surely better than the alternative, which met previous generations of veterans, but they also enable American society to avoid the truly hard questions about war.

It’s also impossible to excuse Trump for this spectacle given his own shameful history with respect to military service. Trump aggressively evaded service during the Vietnam War and then insultingly compared his dating experiences in New York City to combat. As a philanthropist, Trump largely ignored veterans causes and even avoided paying them during his campaign—until Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold hounded him into keeping his pledges. During his presidential campaign, Trump insulted prisoners of war, Gold Star families, Purple Heart recipients, and America’s generals. If ever there was a person who should act humbly around the military, it is Donald Trump.

126
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:42pm

Tweets be a flying

127
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:48pm
128
Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Kodos  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:50pm

re: #106 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Just wait for the announcements later this year from Spicer where Donald Trump makes official proclamations naming July 4 as Independence Day and December 25 as Christmas Day.

129
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:34:23pm
130
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:34:24pm

re: #122 Anymouse

I am guilty of cultural appropriation, since I play Irish folk music on the hammered dulcimer and was once part of a band named Irish Coffee, though I am Polish by descent.

No shame in that. I’m more Eastern European than I am anything else.

131
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:34:50pm
132
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:35:05pm

re: #122 Anymouse

I got married on St. Patrick’s day to a fine Jewish lass. :) And pretty much every year, we toast to each other over a pint of Guinness.

133
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:35:34pm

re: #131 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

I’d be happy to see Sessions end up in one of the same prisons he put a lot of taxpayer money into.

134
goddamnedfrank  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:36:19pm
135
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:36:30pm

re: #132 lawhawk

I got married on St. Patrick’s day to a fine Jewish lass. :) And pretty much every year, we toast to each other over a pint of Guinness.

If I recall you’re a Yankees fan, LH, when Yogi Berra was told there was a Jewish mayor of Dublin, his response- “Only in America.”

136
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:36:33pm

re: #133 HappyWarrior

I’d be happy to see Sessions end up in one of the same prisons he put a lot of taxpayer money into.

Or a nice privately run one.

137
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:37:02pm

re: #136 calochortus

Or a nice privately run one.

Yep that would do too.

138
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:37:47pm

And then we had the envelope delivered by Cohen to the WH

139
lawhawk  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:38:06pm

re: #135 HappyWarrior

Yup. That was Yogi! :)

140
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:38:13pm

re: #126 Stanley Sea

Tweets be a flying

[Embedded content]

It’s a twister! It’s a twister!

141
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:39:34pm

re: #140 darthstar

It’s a twister! It’s a twister!

142
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:40:18pm

re: #139 lawhawk

Yup. That was Yogi! :)

He’s missed. There was always a certain bit of wisdom in the Yogisms. When Yogi passed away, my parents and I shared our favorite Yogisms. The guy was a national treasure and one hell of a player too.

143
stpaulbear  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:40:27pm

re: #127 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

The postcard I sent to him worked!!
/

144
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:43:00pm
145
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:43:06pm

On an unrelated topic, Fox News has a remarkably dishonest article on coal production. It makes it sound like coal is booming suddenly under Trump and only here and there do they point out that there isn’t that much of an uptick in production and Trump isn’t a major factor.
Also, production may have been at its peak in 2008, but there was an unmentioned economic crash which might have had more to do with the decrease in production than the Obama presidency.

146
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:43:23pm

re: #132 lawhawk

I got married on St. Patrick’s day to a fine Jewish lass. :) And pretty much every year, we toast to each other over a pint of Guinness.

Ah, Guiness. I can’t get it here.

I can’t get Żywiec either, so there’s that.

Here in town I have a choice between Bud, Coors, and Corona. Since we didn’t get our promised taco trucks, I stick to Corona.

147
Skip Intro  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:43:51pm

148
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:17pm

re: #144 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

This makes things even more interesting.

149
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:30pm
150
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:35pm
151
prairiefire  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:47pm

re: #20 Timothy Watson

And lied about to the FBI, a felony, and somehow a grand jury hasn’t been impaneled yet.

It’s like peeling a banana.

152
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:45:02pm

re: #141 Stanley Sea

Sadly, by Friday this will be old news and everyone will have moved on to the next fake crisis…because this one is too fucking real.

153
Skip Intro  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:47:06pm

re: #152 darthstar

Sadly, by Friday this will be old news and everyone will have moved on to the next fake crisis…because this one is too fucking real.

So true. Time for Wikileaks to release more Hillary emails so the media has a story they can really run with.

154
Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Kodos  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:47:14pm

I have to say that I am very curious how far down the rabbit hole this one goes - in particular the part where it was revealed that one of the meetings between Sessions and Kislyak occurred in Sessions’ Senate office. Very bluntly - the big unanswered question now is whether Senate Republicans had knowlege of the meetings, and if true why they allowed him to perjure himself during the confirmation hearings and simply turned a blind eye to this criminal act.

155
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:48:06pm

re: #152 darthstar

Two words, pee tape.

156
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:48:12pm

re: #152 darthstar

Sadly, by Friday this will be old news and everyone will have moved on to the next fake crisis…because this one is too fucking real.

At this point, I’m pretty sure the GOP will keep bending over backwards until they break if that’s what it takes to maintain a grip on power despite the mounting evidence of collusion between elements of Trump’s campaign and Russia’s state apparatus.

My concern is that the media will continue to do the same. If the media is going to continue with this “everything’s fine, both parties are the same” magic balance fairy crap, stick a fork in anything resembling representative democracy in the future.

157
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:23pm

re: #155 teleskiguy

Two words, pee tape.

I don’t even want to imagine the Russians having one of those on Sessions.

158
electrotek  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:27pm

Perhaps right-wing Christians who preach abstinence-only programs can take a page or two from this endeavor spearheaded by Muslims?

159
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:49pm

re: #10 FormerDirtDart

“Sessions not recusing himself from DOJ probe into Trump/Russia ties looked bad *before* he was personally implicated”

He will never recuse himself voluntarily. He has to remain US AG in order to protect Trump and others like himself who met with Russian officials during Trump’s campaign and before he was sworn in. I have never liked Jeff Sessions. Call it a “southern thing” from a POC’s POV. He’s a sneaky, lying, little b*st*rd who would sell his own mama to the Russians to raise his political profile. Sessions has been a dirty b*st*rd for a long time. He’s not about to change now, and he’s not about to stop lying now, either, because so far, it has worked to his advantage, and he’s probably made lots of money in the process of being a total *sshat.

160
Skandal  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:50:23pm
161
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:50:35pm
162
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:51:40pm

re: #159 majii

“Sessions not recusing himself from DOJ probe into Trump/Russia ties looked bad *before* he was personally implicated”

He will never recuse himself voluntarily. He has to remain US AG in order to protect Trump and others like himself who met with Russian officials during Trump’s campaign and before he was sworn in. I have never liked Jeff Sessions. Call it a “southern thing” from a POC’s POV. He’s a sneaky, lying, little b*st*rd who would sell his own mama to the Russians to raise his political profile. Sessions has been a dirty b*st*rd for a long time. He’s not about to change now, and he’s not about to stop lying now, either, because so far, it has worked to his advantage, and he’s probably made lots of money in the process of being a total *sshat.

Tell us how you really feel. /s

163
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:51:44pm

re: #160 Skandal

[Embedded content]

I’d vote for him for President. I’m focused on local elections till 2019 but I like Franken a lot. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of good choices to choose from.

164
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:51:47pm

re: #156 Anymouse

At this point, I’m pretty sure the GOP will keep bending over backwards until they break if that’s what it takes to maintain a grip on power despite the mounting evidence of collusion between elements of Trump’s campaign and Russia’s state apparatus.

My concern is that the media will continue to do the same. If the media is going to continue with this “everything’s fine, both parties are the same” magic balance fairy crap, stick a fork in anything resembling representative democracy in the future.

The NYT and WaPo are having fun trying to be first, so we’ve got that going for us.

165
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:52:25pm

Back to my earlier, “It’s a twister! It’s a twister!”

166
BeachDem  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:53:36pm

re: #60 JordanRules

It’s raining shoes.

167
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:54:17pm
168
BeachDem  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:55:13pm

re: #65 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Lindsey will change his tune—right after he milks it for all the teevee time he can get.

169
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:55:39pm
170
Kragar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:56:55pm
171
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:57:30pm
172
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:57:40pm

re: #136 calochortus

Or a nice privately run one.

Better, actually-they’ll cut corners to meet their numbers and bottom line….

173
calochortus  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:58:24pm

re: #172 Eric The Fruit Bat

Better, actually-they’ll cut corners to meet their numbers and bottom line….

That was the idea.

174
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:58:51pm

re: #170 Kragar

All I see is the hot Natalie Dormer. Not entirely sure exactly what mood you’re trying to convey.

175
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:58:52pm

Pelosi also calling for Sessions to get the fuck out of town.

176
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:12pm

re: #39 HappyWarrior

Palin has always been jealous of anyone who performs better than she does in any area. Her entitlement mentality makes her think she should be given things [and money] simply because her name is Sarah Palin. I tweeted back to her: “Quality matters.” I have no idea whether she’ll “get” it, or not. PBO and former FL MO run rings around her when it comes to being intelligent persons with ideas that others might like to hear/read about. Palin is was a one-note wonder who repeated the same words/phrases over and over again. As Andy Warhol would have reminded her if he were still around, her 15 minutes of fame are ovah.

177
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:51pm

re: #175 darthstar

Pelosi also calling for Sessions to get the fuck out of town.

178
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:03:10pm

Wonder if they woke up the yam.

179
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:03:23pm
180
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:03:35pm

re: #177 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

And that’s leadership 101 in a nutshell. Good job Nancy.

181
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:04:08pm

And Trump was just getting used ot being treated “presidential.”

182
Skip Intro  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:04:28pm

re: #178 Stanley Sea

Wonder if they woke up the yam.

He’s probably talking to Putin, asking what he should do.

183
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:07:01pm

re: #66 lawhawk

We’ve known that there’s been a whole lot of lying coming from Trump and his surrogates for a long time now, and we care about it. OTOH, his supporters don’t care. They seem to see politics as a game of winners and losers and to think that anything is OK as long as they win. Nixon seemed to have thought the same thing, and look what that type of thinking got him. Trump isn’t one-fourth as smart as Nixon and his plumbers were. At least Nixon surrounded himself with smart individuals who knew how our government works. They were corrupt as hell, but they were some smart guys. I remember my political science teacher in college requiring us to read “All The President’s Men.”

184
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:09:32pm

re: #174 Belafon

All I see is the hot Natalie Dormer. Not entirely sure exactly what mood you’re trying to convey.

My guess is the mood similar to Obama’s response to Romney in the debate, “Please proceed.”

Similar to a warehouse full of fireworks blowing up all at once, but more relaxed.

185
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:09:58pm

Radley Balko, Washington Post: Trump’s speech was a broadside attack on the values of a free society

Blind support for law enforcement is no better than blanket criticism or distrust. It’s baffling to me how people with Trump’s or Sessions’s politics can understand the corruption of power and petty tyranny that infect bureaucracies, but advocate wholesale deference and reverence to the men and women to whom we give badges, guns and the power to terminate lives. Cops who risk their lives to save others deserve respect. Cops in general demand oversight. This is because (1) human beings are flawed, and (2) nothing exacerbates those flaws like giving one human being a gun plus power and authority over other human beings.

Back to Trump:

And we must support the victims of crime. I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American Victims. The office is called VOICE — Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement. We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.

This is the most appalling part of the speech. Singling out perpetrators of crimes by their immigration status is no less abhorrent than singling them out by their race — which, of course, is what Trump senior adviser Steve Bannon used to do with the “black crime” tag at Breitbart. This sort of isolation and dehumanization is what authoritarians do to disfavored groups. It has a long and sordid history. It would be appalling even if undocumented immigrants were more prone to violent crime. But of course they aren’t, so in addition to being unabashedly bigoted, it’s also just ignorant. It’s about as useful as opening an office for victims of crimes committed by left-handed people. Or billionaires.

Trump next singled out the father of a man killed by an undocumented immigrant. This too is an ugly appeal to emotion that isn’t backed by any data. Yes, there are awful stories like this one. There are also awful stories of people who are murdered by members of just about any group or class you can conjure up.

Trump’s tribute to Carryn Owens, the widow of U.S. Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, has also been much discussed. Some pundits have called it the best moment of his presidency. I thought it was cheap and exploitative. There’s been much speculation about whether Trump prematurely ordered the raid that ended Owens’s life. I don’t know enough about military operations to have an opinion on that. But most military experts say that the raid was badly botched. The Trump administration responded to those criticisms by saying that anyone who questioned the raid’s success was doing a disservice to Owens. That approach became problematic when Owens’s own father began publicly questioning the raid.

In the past week, Trump has put the blame for it on both the military and on the Obama administration. So it seems odd for him to have touted its success Tuesday night. Trump’s claim that the raid produced valuable intelligence has also been hotly disputed. In short, Trump deflected the growing criticism of his handling of the raid by inviting the widow of the soldier who died in it to his speech, where he got to indirectly revel in the ovation Congress gave for her husband. He did this even as Owens’s father was demanding answers. It wasn’t presidential; it was crass score-settling.

It’s worth noting that Trump also called for substantial new spending on infrastructure. That isn’t exactly typical of a Republican these days. I suspect this is what’s driving at least some of the praise for his speech. But this has always been part of Trump’s agenda. It wasn’t an overture to the other side, it was merely confirmation that Trump’s raw nationalism doesn’t fall neatly along partisan lines. The fact that some of his agenda happens to overlap with some priorities of Democrats doesn’t make Trump statesmanlike or presidential. Nor does it dilute the deceit, egotism and shameless fear-mongering that infected the rest of his speech.

This speech was a nightmare. That Trump managed to dress up the same populist resentment in language more familiar and palatable to Beltway types makes him more dangerous, not less.

186
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:11:13pm

All this shit will be classified before Trump gets five tweets out about it.

187
stpaulbear  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:11:49pm

re: #177 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

The postcard I sent to her worked!!
/

188
GlutenFreeJesus  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:12:09pm
189
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:13:26pm

re: #185 Eric The Fruit Bat

Radley Balko, Washington Post: Trump’s speech was a broadside attack on the values of a free society

I like Balko. Agree with his accessment here.

190
Kragar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:18:56pm

re: #174 Belafon

Its more or less a “Its your move, assholes” kind of mood

191
Skandal  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:19:10pm
192
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:19:31pm
193
Charles Johnson  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:19:34pm
194
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:24:56pm
195
Kragar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:26:16pm
197
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:29:36pm

re: #149 Stanley Sea

“Sessions has already gone from no contacts, to “just not strong recollection” of what was said, to “superficial comments.” Shifting quickly”

Since they claim to A-not believe anything the MSM reports, and B-call unfavorable news “fake news,” why are they responding so vigorously? Seems to me if they really believed A & B, they’d ignore all information about their ties to Russia.

198
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:30:42pm
199
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:31:31pm

Good thread for today

200
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:34:08pm
201
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:38:01pm

Even if nothing comes of this (and let’s face it, that’s a real possibility), this is what Trump’s in for for however long he lasts in office. Every time he claims some sort of triumph, there will be a story like this to stop him from gaining any momentum.

He made some very savvy enemies with long memories and a thick dossier against him. They will have their revenge, and nobody in his cult can stop them.

He should have known when to shut the fuck up.

202
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:38:46pm

re: #190 Kragar

Its more or less a “Its your move, assholes” kind of mood

If this were a chess game, and I was the “Republican player,” about this time I would be knocking over the king (Trump) and conceding the game.

203
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:40:03pm

The cover-up and ass saving has begun.

204
Dave In Austin  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:40:40pm

re: #200 darthstar

Notice the number of “Likes”

205
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:41:07pm

re: #66 lawhawk

206
prairiefire  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:43:35pm

Did that raid in Yemen really need to happen? Was the need for “a bloody shirt” to hoist on the standard the real need? A populist, warmongering rally cry? Was that the mission’s goal?

207
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:47:09pm

re: #197 majii

“Sessions has already gone from no contacts, to “just not strong recollection” of what was said, to “superficial comments.” Shifting quickly”

Since they claim to A-not believe anything the MSM reports, and B-call unfavorable news “fake news,” why are they responding so vigorously? Seems to me if they really believed A & B, they’d ignore all information about their ties to Russia.

That’s been the tell all along. They go to great lengths to defend themselves against charges that they maintain are false. Guilty people do that.

208
retired cynic  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:48:26pm

Terry Gross interviewed the editor of the New Yorker, David Remnick, today, about their new article on the Trump-Putin connection. Their take is apparently that Putin was definitely trying to mess with the election, to cause trouble for Hillary Clinton, because he blamed her for messing with Russia. They think he had no idea Trump could possibly win, and that the Russians were just as flummoxed as we were, and they are not sure how to handle him. So, they are just backing off. Good interview.

209
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:48:50pm
210
Dave In Austin  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:49:19pm
211
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:50:43pm

re: #201 makeitstop

“He should have known when to shut the fuck up.”

Someone in the WH must have taken his phone. Based on his usual Twitter habit, there’s no way he’d not respond to these allegations if he had his phone in his possession. I’d like to be a fly on the wall of the room he’s currently in in the WH. I can well imagine that aides and staffers are doing all they can to stay out of his way, and Bannon is sitting there with a shot glass filled to the brim. Trump can thank his Nazi-inspired/affiliated partners in the WH for all of this information about his ties to Russia coming out into the public sphere. They probably told him during the campaign and before he was sworn in that it would “help” him as president. There’s nothing I dislike more than having an American politician whose loyalties lie with other nations and their leaders and not with the U.S. and its citizens. There were quite a few on the right who called PBO a Manchurian president, but they didn’t know what the hell they were talking about. The closest to having a Manchurian president in the WH is the one we have there today.

212
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:51:17pm

re: #206 prairiefire

Did that raid in Yemen really need to happen? Was the need for “a bloody shirt” to hoist on the standard the real need? A populist, warmongering rally cry? Was that the mission’s goal?

It’s sure beginning to look like it.

And don’t forget hoisting a Gold Star Wife up as well. (spit)

The thought that Trump would have ordered a raid that got a Navy SEAL killed, left a grieving widow, killed a bunch of civilians unrelated to the raid, gained no useful intelligence, destroyed a $20 million aircraft, all to divert attention from the steady drumbeat of the Russia allegations, and the GOP throwing in with all that, turns my stomach.

213
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:53:57pm
214
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:54:22pm

re: #212 Anymouse

It’s sure beginning to look like it.

And don’t forget hoisting a Gold Star Wife up as well. (spit)

The thought that Trump would have ordered a raid that got a Navy SEAL killed, left a grieving widow, killed a bunch of civilians unrelated to the raid, gained no useful intelligence, destroyed a $20 million aircraft, all to divert attention from the steady drumbeat of the Russia allegations, and the GOP throwing in with all that, turns my stomach.

I thought the value of the plane was more like 70 mil.

215
retired cynic  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:54:25pm

re: #212 Anymouse

My stomach has been turning regularly since the night of the election.

216
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:56:22pm

re: #212 Anymouse

“The thought that Trump would have ordered a raid that got a Navy SEAL killed, left a grieving widow, killed a bunch of civilians unrelated to the raid, gained no useful intelligence, destroyed a $20 million aircraft, all to divert attention from the steady drumbeat of the Russia allegations, and the GOP throwing in with all that, turns my stomach.”

I agree. Just think, a few short months ago many on the right were soooo concerned about the loss of four members of our military in Benghazi, but today, they’re acting like their lips are sealed with super glue. There’s nothing I hate more than selective opposition. I hated that we lost four military members and an ambassador in Benghazi, and I also hate we lost Mr. Owens. It makes me sick to witness the hypocrisy—hypocrisy based solely on the party affiliation of the POTUS.

217
Kragar  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:58:27pm
218
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:58:48pm

re: #212 Anymouse

It’s sure beginning to look like it.

And don’t forget hoisting a Gold Star Wife up as well. (spit)

The thought that Trump would have ordered a raid that got a Navy SEAL killed, left a grieving widow, killed a bunch of civilians unrelated to the raid, gained no useful intelligence, destroyed a $20 million aircraft, all to divert attention from the steady drumbeat of the Russia allegations, and the GOP throwing in with all that, turns my stomach.

He wanted a reality tv win. WaPo has a story of the decision to go for the raid in detail here:

219
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:59:38pm
220
GlutenFreeJesus  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:59:50pm

Remember when Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch bumped into one another on an airplane?

Good times.

221
retired cynic  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:00:42pm

re: #218 Stanley Sea

I think WaPo is ahead by a story.

222
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:02:30pm

re: #170 Kragar

I spy Natalie Dormer.

223
majii  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:02:44pm

re: #220 GlutenFreeJesus

“Remember when Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch bumped into one another on an airplane?”
“Good times.”

I guess in the minds of some on the right, Pres. Clinton was masquerading as a foreign agent. That has to be it! That meeting Pres. Clinton had with Ms.Lynch was just like the ones members of Team Trump had with Russian and Ukrainian politicians.

224
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:04:27pm

re: #222 wheat-dogg

Apparently others did as well, before I finished cathing up on the thread.

225
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:06:43pm

re: #213 Stanley Sea

….using a personal Gmail account…..

A little Federal record keeping violation, maybe?

227
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:10:29pm

re: #91 ckkatz

OT but…

Heh, apparently Ron Johnson sent a letter to one of his constituents telling them to Cease and Desist trying to contact him, except in writing.

citizenactionwi.org

Paging the ACLU.

228
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:12:18pm

Keeping the rubes rubed.

229
teleskiguy  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:12:25pm

The sharing economy with transportation is a resounding success.

230
Eric The Fruit Bat  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:12:47pm

re: #226 Single-handed sailor

I beat ya to it….

231
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:15:49pm

re: #214 makeitstop

I thought the value of the plane was more like 70 mil.

nytimes.com

$75 Million. I must have been using conservative math. /s

That doesn’t include all the expenses involved of getting the raiders there, flying the aircraft involved, the support costs from the Navy, &c.

This was one expensive cock-up. The Gods of War are fickle, and sometimes things don’t go the way you want.

Another person wrote here what Mr. Trump could have said when the news started coming in of how the raid went sideways: I ordered a raid in Yemen for (purpose). Due to poor intel and possibly a tip off to the enemy, the raiders were ambushed and a Navy SEAL was killed. I weighed the options and believed the mission would succeed based on everything we knew at the time. I was wrong and it did not.

It’s the “I was wrong” part that he would never get past. Instead it was everyone’s fault but his.

232
fern01  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:20:55pm

re: #182 Skip Intro

He’s probably talking to Putin, asking what he should do.

That should be soooo funny - but it might well be true.

233
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:23:32pm

re: #167 Anymouse

234
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:33:52pm

re: #226 Single-handed sailor

[Embedded content]

Video

I knew all that stuff, Can I be president now?

235
meteor  Mar 2, 2017 • 8:54:14am

Please let him go to jail. I will have cake.


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