Countdown to Trump Freakout: New York Times Publishes Op-Ed by Anonymous Administration Member: “Unstable, Half-Baked, Ill-Informed, Reckless”

Politics • Views: 33,708

This op-ed by an anonymous member of the Trump administration is guaranteed to make steam shoot out of our so-called president’s ears: I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.

From the White House to executive branch departments and agencies, senior officials will privately admit their daily disbelief at the commander in chief’s comments and actions. Most are working to insulate their operations from his whims.

Meetings with him veer off topic and off the rails, he engages in repetitive rants, and his impulsiveness results in half-baked, ill-informed and occasionally reckless decisions that have to be walked back.

“There is literally no telling whether he might change his mind from one minute to the next,” a top official complained to me recently, exasperated by an Oval Office meeting at which the president flip-flopped on a major policy decision he’d made only a week earlier.

[…]

Given the instability many witnessed, there were early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment, which would start a complex process for removing the president. But no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis.

You might ask, if Trump is really that dangerously unhinged and erratic, why don’t these “resisters” quit their jobs and go public? After all, this loose cannon actually has the ability to launch a nuclear war.

Well, it’s because Trump is also letting them force their far right agenda on the American people, of course.

Don’t get me wrong. There are bright spots that the near-ceaseless negative coverage of the administration fails to capture: effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more.

So whoever this is, he’s not really a whistleblower. He’s more of an enabler.

UPDATE at 9/5/18 2:33:03 pm by Charles Johnson

The predicted freakout has now begun:

Jump to bottom

372 comments
1
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:29:55pm

2
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:30:46pm
3
plansbandc  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:30:46pm

And this, along with many many other reasons, is why Rick Wilson is not our friend.

4
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:31:27pm

Noted: The NYT refers to the author as a he.

That means Chao, Haley, and even Conway are off the list.

My best guess is Coats.

5
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:32:44pm

this is not commentary
i like and i just happen to be playing it right now

YouTube

6
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:34:36pm

re: #3 plansbandc

7
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:35:17pm

re: #4 lawhawk

Noted: The NYT refers to the author as a he.

It’s the royal he.

8
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:36:41pm

I think this is a bunch of ass covering bullshit.

9
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:36:46pm

I think it’s Lighthizer, mostly because nobody really knows who he is and man will I fucking look smart if I’m right.

10
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:37:33pm
11
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:39:43pm

I think the best chance of something good coming out of this op-ed is that Trump may end up doing something unacceptable in public about it (although it seems impossible to imagine what would count as unacceptable for his supporters and enablers).

Trump’s blood pressure ought to be getting a good workout, which is another way this could benefit the nation.

Other that that, fuck the author of the op-ed with a rusty farm implement sideways. This kind of movement conservative party over country shit is exactly what got us Trump in the first place.

The GOP will not deviate from Trumpism until at least Gingrich and all his works are thoroughly repudiated.

12
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:40:03pm

re: #9 goddamnedfrank

I think it’s Lighthizer, mostly because nobody really knows who he is and man will I fucking look smart if I’m right.

He’s the one busy renegotiating NAFTA and trying to tell Trump that it’ll be something other than NAFTA without actually changing the name.

13
Interesting Times  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:41:11pm

Succinct:

14
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:41:12pm

Also lost in today’s news deluge:

15
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:43:02pm
16
Scottish Dragon  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:43:41pm

17
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:45:22pm

re: #16 Scottish Dragon

The kid is the most mature person in the White House.

18
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:45:55pm

re: #15 Charles Johnson

Even less of an option than impeachment, but the pressure that it could potentially impose on the WH to get Trump to step down might be where the power lies in the 25A option.

That anyone in Trumpworld is supposedly thinking of the 25A tells you how bad it truly is.

And it’s 100x worse than even that.

19
Scottish Dragon  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:47:00pm
20
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:47:09pm

Bus, meet Junior

21
Patricia Kayden  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:49:25pm

re: #2 Kragar

So we’re supposed to be comforted by the fact that Trump’s bizarre behavior and lack of self control has been somewhat placed in check by others? We didn’t have this problem when President Obama was in the White House. Nor when President Clinton was in the White House. This is not normal.

22
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:49:48pm

Former congressman David Jolly on Nicole Wallace’s show said the person that wrote this NYT Op-ed needs to sign their name to it and step out and let America know who you are. He said you’d be doing it for the country, for your family and for yourself.

If not, it will be ignored in time and amount to nothing.

Aside: I wonder if the pieces from the Woodward book coming out emboldened this person to write this article?

23
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:50:06pm

Well damn.
That’s someone Trump can’t fire

24
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:51:05pm
25
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:51:41pm

re: #6 Kragar

The guy who lied slightly less than Trump, with the slightly less shady business practices.

At least he fucks wholesomely? Or at least discreetly?

Also, NeverTrumpers are the new “George W Bush? Who? My quantum waveform collapsed for eight years and have no idea how this all happened.”

I’ve said over and over, their objections to Trump are aesthetic. They’re invested in thinking of themselves as Men of Dignity and Taste—that’s the core of their various chauvinisms—and don’t want to admit that they’re the carnival barker in a tux outside the cooch tent.

26
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:51:56pm

re: #23 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Well damn.
That’s someone Trump can’t fire

[Embedded content]

Pence’s speechwriter? Yeah, they can be fired.

27
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:52:13pm

re: #23 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Well damn.
That’s someone Trump can’t fire

What’s in the picture?

28
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:54:46pm

re: #13 Interesting Times

Succinct:

[covering your ass isn’t the hero’s journey you seem to think it is]

Now covering Trump’s ass…that could be a hero’s journey.

29
lawhawk  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:55:28pm

re: #23 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Downie’s pinned tweet is an instaclassic:

30
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:55:33pm
31
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:55:38pm

re: #10 Kragar

“Yeah, we genetically engineered smarter sharks that enjoy killing but credit where it’s due we work really hard to keep the carnage contained.”

32
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:57:00pm

re: #27 Belafon

What’s in the picture?

33
BigPapa  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:58:28pm

I thought Lodestar was a beer. Huh.

34
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 1:59:23pm

yeah, this thought also occurred to me:

35
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:00:45pm

Damn…David Jolly is really on it today. He just said this unknown author is trying to state his Republican bonafides and act like they are doing the right thing. They are not.

Nicole then asked if this was better than nothing and Jolly said (paraphrased) “No…what are you gonna do tell you children in the future you wrote an anonymous article and didn’t have the guts to sign your name to it.”

Ouch!

36
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:01:29pm

re: #32 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

[Embedded content]

Actually, I was thinking about using a machine learning program to identify the writer. Don’t need to now.

37
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:01:30pm

“Sure, we built the Frankenstein monster and animated it, but we’ve been really good about only robbing the trails of bodies it leaves in its wake rather than fucking them.”

38
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:01:35pm
39
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:02:19pm

re: #33 BigPapa

I thought it was one of those forgettable redundant X-men.

40
BigPapa  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:02:21pm

Laura Looney gets some:

41
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:02:45pm

re: #34 Backwoods_Sleuth

yeah, this thought also occurred to me:

The constitutional crisis would be the GOP in Congress failing to act.

42
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:03:31pm

re: #26 lawhawk

Pence’s speechwriter? Yeah, they can be fired.

The plot, it thickens in this thread…

43
Lidane  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:03:32pm

re: #4 lawhawk

Noted: The NYT refers to the author as a he.

That means Chao, Haley, and even Conway are off the list.

My best guess is Coats.

I would break something laughing if it was Perry. Or Pompeo.

44
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:03:50pm

re: #35 ObserverArt

Damn…David Jolly is really on it today. He just said this unknown author is trying to state his Republican bonafides and act like they are doing the right thing. They are not.

Nicole then asked if this was better than nothing and Jolly said (paraphrased) “No…what are you gonna do tell you children in the future you wrote an anonymous article and didn’t have the guts to sign your name to it.”

Ouch!

45
austin_blue  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:06:06pm

re: #4 lawhawk

Noted: The NYT refers to the author as a he.

That means Chao, Haley, and even Conway are off the list.

My best guess is Coats.

Let’s push the meme that it’s Miller and Zinke.

46
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:07:32pm

re: #35 ObserverArt

Damn…David Jolly is really on it today. He just said this unknown author is trying to state his Republican bonafides and act like they are doing the right thing. They are not.

Nicole then asked if this was better than nothing and Jolly said (paraphrased) “No…what are you gonna do tell you children in the future you wrote an anonymous article and didn’t have the guts to sign your name to it.”

Ouch!

in that future, everyone’s gonna claim it was them

47
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:07:42pm
48
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:08:23pm

re: #38 Backwoods_Sleuth

Group of sheriffs await Pres Trump in the East Room for photo op and meeting.

h/t eric clapton

in my White Room….

49
I Would Prefer Not To  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:08:53pm

Look at the Schmuck on that horse.

Old Yiddish punchline, but it fits.

50
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:09:40pm
51
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:10:58pm

oh.
ok…

52
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:11:36pm

re: #49 I Would Prefer Not To

Look at the Schmuck on that horse.

[Embedded content]

Old Yiddish punchline, but it fits.

looks like a putz to me

53
Lidane  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:12:22pm

Interesting thread. Not sure I agree, but it makes some sense:

54
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:12:34pm

re: #50 Backwoods_Sleuth

The other side keeps attacking because they can’t run on their record,

the R’s do all the things they do to game the system because they cannot run on their record

55
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:13:20pm
56
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:13:23pm
57
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:13:23pm

Oh Al Gore’s Internet, thank you for being you!

58
Sir John Barron  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:13:37pm

re: #47 Backwoods_Sleuth

It’s like one of those X-Men movies where the one mutant can shift-shape or become whoever he/she wants to look like. Sometime next month Gen Kelly will shift shape into….Hillary Rodham Clinton who will admit to writing the op-ed and of being in the WH this whole time. That’s why “Judge Jeanine” couldn’t find her.
/

59
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:15:58pm
60
Sir John Barron  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:16:31pm

re: #59 Charles Johnson

(DJT looks in mirror)

61
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:20:16pm
62
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:20:26pm

I do wish they’d identify themselves.

63
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:20:35pm

Jeff Sessions, with help from Pence’s speechwriter.

64
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:20:54pm
65
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:22:20pm

re: #64 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

In a way I agree too because this individual will most certainly be continuing to tell Trump that he’s doing the right thing.

66
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:22:21pm
67
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:22:37pm
68
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:23:00pm

i just reread this part:

President Trump is facing a test to his presidency unlike any faced by a modern American leader.

It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.

The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.

this is not a test, this is not a dilemma
this is merely stating how it is:
the president is out of touch and you are working around him to get what you want

you may be invalidating him
you may be neutralizing him
you’re not booting him out
how is this a threat to him?

69
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:24:10pm

re: #66 Charles Johnson

I’m pretty sure you apply for a job in this administration by literally licking a boot.

70
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:24:16pm
71
dangerman  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:24:20pm

re: #64 Charles Johnson

If “the failing New York Times” has an anonymous editorial it’s “gutless,” Trump says.

The President* of the United States

what a classy guy

72
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:24:24pm

re: #59 Charles Johnson

probably somebody who’s failing and is “here for all the wrong reasons,” Trump says.

Oh, my god! It’s TRUMP HIMSELF!!!

73
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:24:37pm
74
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:25:03pm
75
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:25:19pm

re: #69 The Ghost of a Flea

Like that’s the whole process.

Enter a room and there’s a manky Wellington sitting on a plastic table in front of on of those one-way mirrored windows.

76
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:26:13pm
77
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:27:50pm
78
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:28:06pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Three million more voted for HRC but please brag some more about your victory.

79
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:28:44pm

The writer seems to think that this piece of writing has some importance.

That idea is totally undercut by the anonymity.

80
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:29:03pm

re: #77 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

His cult is the real problem. They’d go with him to death camps. They’re that hateful.

81
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:30:12pm

Donald Trump’s pettiness and incontinence is exactly what his followers want for themselves.

They want that license. DeSadian nihilism for the chewing tobacco set.

82
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:30:12pm
83
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:30:16pm
84
Khal Wimpo (the extinguisher of tiki torches)  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:30:42pm

Got CL’d in the last thread about the Mustard Pizza Hellmouth.

re: #366 sagehen

Are you sure?

‘Cause if you replace every plank and nail in a boat, it’s still a boat.

Not if you replace the planks with live ferrets and the nails with stale Twinkies.

Which is pretty much what this pizza-esque abomination is doing.

85
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:32:47pm

re: #83 Blind Frog Belly White

[Embedded content]

That’s the thing. They all and this includes so called Never Trumpers like Sasse and Flake but neither of them are willing to give up their party’s power or policies to get rid of Trump.

86
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:32:54pm

re: #84 Khal Wimpo (the extinguisher of tiki torches)

Got CL’d in the last thread about the Mustard Pizza Hellmouth.

Pizza was finished when they started using tomato sause instead of olive oil.

87
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:33:29pm

re: #42 JordanRules

The plot, it thickens in this thread…

[Embedded content]

Great! I hope it is Pence.

Trump can ask for him to resign and then the Mueller report comes out forcing Trump out one way or another.

Both gone! Ryan retires.

Hey, I can dream…

88
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:34:57pm

re: #87 ObserverArt

Imagine this Senate trying to approve a new VP.

Speaking of approving…

89
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:35:06pm

I’m thinking it’s someone who is a lifelong Republican insider type. Coates was a good pick.

90
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:35:43pm

re: #88 Belafon

Imagine this Senate trying to approve a new VP.

Speaking of approving…

They don’t have anyone like Ford waiting in the wings.

91
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:35:59pm

“We are heroically exploiting a lunatic to get what we want…you’re welcome.”

92
Flying Squirrel Girl  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:36:45pm

OT:

Our internet went down in the office. One of my co-workers asked, “I wonder if this is related to the weather?”

Another co-worker responded, “It’s probably Russia. They’re responsible for everything apparently.”

GTFOH

93
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:37:36pm
94
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:38:04pm
95
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:38:58pm
96
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:40:23pm

re: #92 Flying Squirrel Girl

OT:

Our internet went down in the office. One of my co-workers asked, “I wonder if this is related to the weather?”

Another co-worker responded, “It’s probably Russia. They’re responsible for everything apparently.”

GTFOH

“No, no. Russia’s only responsible for Trump. China, on the other hand, is installing their own version of the internet.”

97
Rocky-in-Connecticut  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:42:00pm

re: #11 EPR-radar

the only thing Trump can do to lose the support of his 36% Deplorable is to abandon his overall White Power agenda.

That is literally the only thing.

98
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:43:52pm

Interesting list of observations and characterizations from Joyce.

99
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:44:32pm

re: #94 JordanRules

[Embedded content]

JFC. Desperate enough Cruz campaign?

100
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:45:14pm

re: #98 JordanRules

Interesting list of observations and characterizations from Joyce.

[Embedded content]

Dunno but that really sounds like Coats to me.

101
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:46:05pm

“Yes, Trump is unstable and unreasonable, but not to worry, we’re steering him in ways that fulfill our agenda. Rest easy, America, as we’re sure we can keep him under control!”

FFS

102
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:46:45pm

re: #101 Targetpractice

“Yes, Trump is unstable and unreasonable, but not to worry, we’re steering him in ways that fulfill our agenda. Rest easy, America, as we’re sure we can keep him under control!”

FFS

Bunch of Von Papens.

103
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:49:19pm

Republicans: the evil unelected “deep state” is trying to interfere with the actions of a duly-elected president

also Republicans: it’s a good thing there a cabal of officials around the president using indirect methods and subterfuge to keep him from acting out too much. Heroic, even.

It is always projection.

104
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:50:53pm
105
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:54:05pm

re: #103 The Ghost of a Flea

Republicans: the evil unelected “deep state” is trying to interfere with the actions of a duly-elected president

also Republicans: it’s a good thing there a cabal of officials around the president using indirect methods and subterfuge to keep him from acting out too much. Heroic, even.

It is always projection.

The whole party needs to find itself in permanent minority status.

106
electrotek  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:56:46pm

More audible video:

Facebook Video

107
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 2:59:36pm

re: #106 electrotek

More audible video:

[Embedded content]

What audio…It has none???

108
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:00:02pm
109
electrotek  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:00:30pm

re: #107 ObserverArt

What audio…It has none???

Make sure you enable audio on the bottom right screen where the speaker and x is.

110
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:00:42pm

good grief, he is pathetic

111
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:01:07pm

re: #108 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Rick still makes me chuckle even if he’s delusional as hell about Romney being the solution.

112
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:01:49pm

re: #110 Backwoods_Sleuth

good grief, he is pathetic

[Embedded content]

Grow the fuck up, you piece of shit and learn how to deal with criticism without acting like a toddler. And they’re obviously not failing. The only thing failing is you.

113
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:02:09pm

In Cincinnati.

lordt, some drivers are really stupid

114
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:02:33pm

I hope Wilson and the few relatively sane GOPers left know that Trump will and should be used against their party for years.

115
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:03:20pm

If the NY Times, CNN, MSNBC, CBS stopped covering The Cantaloupe With Arms altogether, their ratings would probably GO UP.

116
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:03:42pm

re: #113 Backwoods_Sleuth

In Cincinnati.

lordt, some drivers are really stupid

[Embedded content]

“Yeah, I’m driving in a low-slung sedan in a flash flood, but damnit, I need to get to the store!”

117
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:05:14pm

as if we didn’t already know this

118
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:06:02pm
119
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:08:18pm

re: #109 electrotek

Make sure you enable audio on the bottom right screen where the speaker and x is.

My damn speaker connection to an extension got bumped and disconnected. Oops!

120
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:09:33pm

re: #114 HappyWarrior

Trump will fail and they will immediately attempt to appease his bloc while maintaining a purely symbolic distance from Trumpian rhetoric.

Same thing they’ve done each time “conservatism” has catastrophically failed and/or someone has been caught doing something monstrous.

Never forget…the last Republican administration tricked the nation into a war and got away with it. None of what’s going on is actually new.

121
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:10:08pm

The op-ed is a lot like the quotes from Woodward’s book, namely not much of a shock to those of us who’ve been following the perpetually burning dumpster fire that is this administration. But what it really reveals is that one of the political parties of this nation realized a good while back that they had nominated and elected a complete loon to the White House…and decided that was okay so long as they could control him to push through their agenda.

I wonder if this “resistance” within the White House realizes that by tipping their hand today, they’ve made it more likely he’ll do something that they have no ability to stop?

122
Ace Rothstein  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:11:15pm

As far as I’m concerned, sign your fucking name on it, and do something about it…PENCE!

123
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:11:31pm
124
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:13:57pm

Because the piece is an op-ed and this administration is full of liars it seems even more important to have the author’s name so we can all weigh how credible we think they are.

Since there aren’t a lot of specifics to confirm or facts to check what type of vetting would be done here other than confirming it is actually the person?

As we’ve noted, the overall themes in the piece have been set forth and damn near confirmed by consensus in previous, sourced works.

This looks more and more like empty bullshit the longer the light hits it. And unfortunately the NYTs history and horrible lapses in judgement and editorial direction do not offset any of the concerns. It kinda makes this look worse.

125
Ace Rothstein  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:14:31pm

re: #124 JordanRules

It’ll leak by Friday afternoon.

126
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:15:36pm

re: #113 Backwoods_Sleuth

I confess to having done something similarly stupid.

Once.

127
piratedan  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:16:02pm

so apparently we’re living thru an apparent “soft coup” being in place and you can’t tell me that this is not known to the leadership of the House GOP and Senate and in fact why we’re in such a hurry to get “justice” Kavanagh confirmed…..

128
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:16:20pm

re: #126 Blind Frog Belly White

I confess to having done something similarly stupid.

Once.

Once is all it takes. Well, for most people.

129
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:16:40pm
130
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:18:08pm

re: #125 Ace Rothstein

It’ll leak by Friday afternoon.

Earlier I bet.

But the NYT really put this bullshit out there like they were doing something.

131
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:18:35pm
132
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:19:03pm

re: #130 JordanRules

Earlier I bet.

But the NYT really put this bullshit out there like they were doing something.

I’ll say leaks by Thursday evening, with confirmation on Friday

133
Teddy's Person  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:20:39pm

re: #131 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Oh look, Trump tweeted his to do list for tomorrow.

134
Ace Rothstein  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:20:40pm

re: #131 Charles Johnson

He doesn’t even know what the word means.

135
Hecuba's daughter  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:22:01pm

re: #122 Ace Rothstein

As far as I’m concerned, sign your fucking name on it, and do something about it…PENCE!

Doubt it’s Pence given the author’s clear hostility to Putin; after all, Pence was selected by Manafort, Putin’s man on the campaign. As was suggested above, it is quite likely “lodestar” was put in to throw us off.

Coats does seem like the most likely source; neither Mattis nor Kelly would care about tax reform or deregulation, though they might add that because of conversations with various cabinet members.

136
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:22:41pm
137
Barefoot Grin  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:23:22pm

re: #95 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Oh look, Chuck Todd has a panel with Hugh Hewitt on it.

Man, he’s really taking it to Fox News!

138
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:23:27pm
139
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:23:31pm

re: #134 Ace Rothstein

He doesn’t even know what the word means.

Sure he does, it’s that thing Democrats do just by breathing. Ben Shapiro told him so.

140
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:23:32pm

L’Etat ain’t you, sweetpea.

141
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:24:52pm

re: #124 JordanRules

It’s fucking kayfabe. Literally nobody in the administration can be trusted to do the right thing, and they continually have pushed people forward to pretend to be #resistance, who turned out to be Ivanka, or Bannon.

At the very least, this person stated positions are completely in line with Trump policies that have been attempted or successfully executed, so they are actively working to hurt America regardless of how they feel about Trump.

But most likely answer, it’s a ruse.

142
Barefoot Grin  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:25:11pm

Amusing aside: in NPR report on today’s tech hearing the reporter once called Facebook “Faceberg.”

143
Unshaken Defiance  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:25:17pm
144
Jay C  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:25:54pm

re: #140 Blind Frog Belly White

[Embedded content]

L’Etat ain’t you, sweetpea.

And AFAIK, “lese-majeste” appears nowhere in the US Code….

145
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:26:54pm

re: #127 piratedan

so apparently we’re living thru an apparent “soft coup” being in place and you can’t tell me that this is not known to the leadership of the House GOP and Senate and in fact why we’re in such a hurry to get “justice” Kavanagh confirmed…..

Brings up a couple more thoughts I had about the op-ed.

It’s obvious to other countries how vulnerable we are. We all know this regime is a nat’l security nightmare. Woodward book brings that up hot and heavy again with the added credibility that his specific bio brings as well as the general credibility of the very serious insider white male.

This piece attempts to say….”don’t worry we’re still minding the store here. Do you hear that enemies, there’s a group of us in here still being America!!!!”

Then you add the John McCain mentions and you’re really broadcasting a foreign policy message to a few factions while trying to grab the hero mantle and keep the tax breaks.

146
KGxvi  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:27:33pm

re: #34 Backwoods_Sleuth

no one wanted to precipitate a constitutional crisis by [checking notes] invoking a clause in the constitution

Here’s how the 25th Amendment option becomes a constitutional crisis:

Cabinet sends letter to Congress, Trump immediately sends counter letter saying he is not incapable of handling his duties, then before the Cabinet can send second letter triggering Congressional review of the situation, Trump fires the entire Cabinet.

Now, in a rational world, such actions would immediately lead to impeachment and removal. But given the cowardliness of the Congressional GOP they’d just issue some mealymouthed statements about cabinet members serving at the pleasure of the president and how there really isn’t anything they can do.

147
jaunte  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:29:29pm

re: #144 Jay C

And AFAIK, “lese-majeste” appears nowhere in the US Code….

This White House has the least majesty ever.

148
jaunte  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:30:25pm
149
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:30:47pm
150
jaunte  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:31:05pm
151
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:32:14pm
152
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:32:49pm

re: #144 Jay C

And AFAIK, “lese-majeste” appears nowhere in the US Code….

Not yet anyway.

153
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:34:31pm
154
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:37:01pm

re: #141 Bass Reeves

Shit is so crazy that I am legitimately pondering both soft coup and kayfabe scenarios.

Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

155
KGxvi  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:37:17pm

re: #151 Kragar

I think it’s possible to hold all of these positions:

1. Trump’s domestic policy is good
2. Trump’s foreign policy is bad
3. Trump is a personal embarrassment to the office
4. Trump is not a smart person

If you believe, as a healthy portion of the population does, in a significant portion of Trump’s agenda, it’s not entirely illogical landing point.

It’s wrong because his lack of intellectual curiosity and behavior should be more than enough to disqualify him before you even get to the merits of his policies (most of which are very bad no good terrible).

156
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:38:39pm
157
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:39:51pm

re: #154 JordanRules

Shit is so crazy that I am legitimately pondering both soft coup and kayfabe scenarios.

Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Kayfabe soft coup?

158
Unshaken Defiance  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:40:16pm

We can judge this “he” staffer all we want. I get it, deservedly so.
But I keep coming back to the bottom line so powerfully shared by this article and the excerpts from Fear. The nation is effectively rudderless. Enemies are enabled and friends are hurting from hits sent by us. Climate, trade, Iran deal. How long before enemies and friends unite against us?

159
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:40:57pm

re: #155 KGxvi

I think you’re missing the 25th Amendment territory stuff in this calculation, which they admit to in the piece. That’s a seperate category from the embarrassment part. Dubya could check that box.

With that, you get closer to Quisling.

160
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:41:16pm

re: #156 Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis

[Embedded content]

Romney more than any Republican nominee is responsible for why Trump was viable.

161
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:41:30pm

A “resistance” where your only goal is to prevent the guy in charge from doing shit that would get him thrown from office, but do nothing or even encourage those actions that you jointly support.

I’m pretty sure the term for that is “collaborator.”

162
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:41:36pm

re: #157 TedStriker

Kayfabe soft coup?

I do love a good hybrid!

163
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:42:19pm

re: #161 Targetpractice

A “resistance” where your only goal is to prevent the guy in charge from doing shit that would get him thrown from office, but do nothing or even encourage those actions that you jointly support.

I’m pretty sure the term for that is “collaborator.”

As I said, this person is a Von Papen.

164
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:43:45pm

re: #150 jaunte

In keeping with stuff I keep repeating on here: the op-ed piece is a representation of how we’ve got a political/cultural group for whom most Americans don’t count. It’s a piece filled with self-justification, but it’s underlying premise is that this implicit, obfuscated system in which a cabal checks and diverts an unfit executive is a perfectly acceptable system because it achieves partisan objectives.

Really think about it.

Underneath the fear and sanctimony is a calculation that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and the principles of this republic. But this shouldn’t be shocking, since it’s completely in line with previous manifestations of contempt for democracy and equal franchise.

It’s also a great representation of why the problem extends beyond Trumpism: US “conservatism” has as its base premise that it cannot be failed and that all critique is actually bias or stupidity. This opinion piece reflects that: says the writer, we are protecting you from misrule, but also exploiting misrule to achieve our objectives.

165
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:44:58pm

re: #164 The Ghost of a Flea

In keeping with stuff I keep repeating on here: the op-ed piece is a representation of how we’ve got a political/cultural group for whom most Americans don’t count. It’s a piece filled with self-justification, but it’s underlying premise is that this implicit, obfuscated system in which a cabal checks and diverts an unfit executive is a perfectly acceptable system because it achieves partisan objectives.

Really think about it.

Underneath the fear and sanctimony is a calculation that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and the principles of this republic. But this shouldn’t be shocking, since it’s completely in line with previous manifestations of contempt for democracy and equal franchise.

It’s also a great representation of why the problem extends beyond Trumpism: US “conservatism” has as its base premise that it cannot be failed and that all critique is actually bias or stupidity. This opinion piece reflects that: says the writer, we are protecting you from misrule, but also exploiting misrule to achieve our objectives.

Nailed it.

166
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:45:06pm
167
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:48:18pm

re: #161 Targetpractice

A “resistance” where your only goal is to prevent the guy in charge from doing shit that would get him thrown from office, but do nothing or even encourage those actions that you jointly support.

I’m pretty sure the term for that is “collaborator.”

Complicit opportunists, all.

168
Skip Intro  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:48:24pm

re: #156 Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis

For a second I thought that was Nixon. Tired eyes, I guess.

169
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:48:55pm

See ? ? ?
Those algae blooms all the LIBTARDS! have been complaining about? They are actually a BRILLIANT, reduced regulation, business friendly crime reduction policy fostered by the Florida republican administration of Gov, Rick Scott.

170
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:49:36pm

I mean, you’re right, its not. I still don’t trust *you* to judge when it is or isn’t.

171
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:50:19pm

re: #132 Kragar

I’ll say leaks by Thursday evening, with confirmation on Friday

Whoever wrote it is getting hammered by everyone to sign your name to it.

That’s as about as big a public call-out I can remember in USA politics.

They are in a hell of a spot. No coming forward and this dies immediately. The only way to do what they may have intended is to step up.

172
KGxvi  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:51:06pm

re: #160 HappyWarrior

Romney more than any Republican nominee is responsible for why Trump was viable.

How so?

For all his faults as a candidate/nominee, Romney always struck me as a well meaning guy.

173
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:51:16pm
174
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:52:37pm
175
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:53:01pm
176
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:53:04pm

re: #171 ObserverArt

Whoever wrote it is getting hammered by everyone to sign your name to it.

That’s as about as big a public call-out I can remember in USA politics.

They are in a hell of a spot. No coming forward and this dies immediately. The only way to do what they may have intended is to step up.

The question then may be ‘what is their real intention’. I’m still not sure.

177
KGxvi  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:54:23pm

re: #175 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

“small, tactical, and temporary” would be a great name for a book about the Trump presidency when this nightmare is finally over.

178
The Ghost of a Flea  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:55:09pm

Further parsing:

The author criticizes Trump for not cleaving to GOP platform positions, but somehow feels that Trump’s election is a mandate for implementation of GOP positions, which justifies enabling Trump as a figurehead.

I don’t think this is a cunning ruse; the language and base assumptions are of one substance with non-Trumpian, nonetheless-wingnut solipsism and arrogance.

179
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Sep 5, 2018 • 3:56:17pm

re: #177 KGxvi

“small, tactical, and temporary” would be a great name for a book about the Trump presidency when this nightmare is finally over.

I have edited #175, you should refresh it to be disappointed, but not surprised

180
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:00:28pm

Jump in the comments for more hilarity.

181
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:01:22pm

re: #176 JordanRules

The question then may be ‘what is their real intention’. I’m still not sure.

I don’t know either this is all rather strange.

That is why I wrote ‘may have intended’ because it is unclear what they are trying to do.

Hey wait…

It’s Trump!

He wants to take credit the same time he wants out.

182
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:01:33pm
183
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:01:39pm

re: #170 JordanRules

[Embedded content]

I mean, you’re right, its not. I still don’t trust *you* to judge when it is or isn’t.

Lindsey Graham could come out and say the sky is blue, and I’d be out there with a spectrometer to verify the light frequencies.

184
piratedan  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:02:38pm

re: #170 JordanRules

he’s wrong, what Trump and Graham have done, in accepting outside financial assistance and coordinating campaigns with foreign entities is in fact treason. They’ve also violated campaign finance laws and performed obstruction of justice and perjury… and in this day and age, just being white, old, Republican and elected shouldn’t give you carte blanche to ignore our laws.

185
Jack Burton  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:03:01pm

re: #123 Kragar

He’s seriously Governor William J. Le Petomane.

186
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:03:28pm

re: #160 HappyWarrior

Romney more than any Republican nominee is responsible for why Trump was viable.

I thought we decided the other day that McCain was with the pick of Palin.

187
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:04:45pm

re: #184 piratedan

he’s wrong, what Trump and Graham have done, in accepting outside financial assistance and coordinating campaigns with foreign entities is in fact treason. They’ve also violated campaign finance laws and performed obstruction of justice and perjury… and in this day and age, just being white, old, Republican and elected shouldn’t give you carte blanche to ignore our laws.

He’s talking about that weird tweet from Trump that said Treason and is presumably about the masked op-eder.

I agree about the other stuff.

188
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:05:04pm

re: #166 JordanRules

Trump’s getting ratioed in that tweet.

189
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:09:23pm
190
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:09:48pm

191
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:10:30pm

re: #182 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

Treason isn’t refusing to kiss Trump’s ass, you little dumbshit.

192
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:11:22pm

re: #190 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

[Embedded content]

The photo gave me a shock when it popped up in the Master Spy. The words made me smile, when I got to them.

193
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:11:39pm

re: #186 Belafon

I thought we decided the other day that McCain was with the pick of Palin.

I think it’s Romney personally for bringing in people like Kobach and the racist dog whistles.

194
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:15:41pm

Mr. 47% always does Romney in for me…along with (paraphrased) “you didn’t bake those cookies, you bought them at a store like 7-11 or something didn’t you?”

The guy is out of touch with everything. He’s an arrogant assclown that looks down on everybody…even dogs.

195
wheat-dogg  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:16:37pm

re: #40 BigPapa

Here’s a better video.

196
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:16:41pm

I’m gonna call the op-ed what it is: Damage control. Woodward’s book excerpts hit like a bomb in the White House ranks, as they likely expected it to drop after the mid-terms when the damage would be limited to Donny’s reelection chances and would coincide with the release of Mueller’s report. But they dropped just two months from the midterms, time enough to damage the GOP’s chances by hurting any Republican associated with the man (not as if his endorsement is not already toxic itself).

Denying the book’s contents wouldn’t be very successful because of Woodward’s reputation and the odds of his having the receipts to support his claims. And Donny isn’t going to help himself by staying quiet, he’s only going to provoke Woodward into releasing those receipts. So a plan formed: Spin the whole thing as a “positive,” the chaos and sabotage not as the work of frightened underlings but of an organized “resistance” whose mission is to “protect” America by being the real power behind the throne.

Why isn’t this “resistance” helping the Dems in limiting executive power/reach or even removing him from office? “Well…you know…it would cause a ‘constitutional crisis’,” which is really them admitting that running him out of office would piss off their base something fierce and get them nothing in return from the opposition. So instead we’re supposed to trust this cabal to look out for us, that that paternalistic instinct in modern conservatism will steer this nation into better times while keeping the Mad King in check.

197
Barefoot Grin  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:18:29pm

re: #196 Targetpractice

I’m gonna call the op-ed what it is: Damage control. Woodward’s book excerpts hit like a bomb in the White House ranks, as they likely expected it to drop after the mid-terms when the damage would be limited to Donny’s reelection chances and would coincide with the release of Mueller’s report. But they dropped just two months from the midterms, time enough to damage the GOP’s chances by hurting any Republican associated with the man (not as if his endorsement is not already toxic itself).

Denying the book’s contents wouldn’t be very successful because of Woodward’s reputation and the odds of his having the receipts to support his claims. And Donny isn’t going to help himself by staying quiet, he’s only going to provoke Woodward into releasing those receipts. So a plan formed: Spin the whole thing as a “positive,” the chaos and sabotage not as the work of frightened underlings but of an organized “resistance” whose mission is to “protect” America by being the real power behind the throne.

Why isn’t this “resistance” helping the Dems in limiting executive power/reach or even removing him from office? “Well…you know…it would cause a ‘constitutional crisis’,” which is really them admitting that running him out of office would piss off their base something fierce and get them nothing in return from the opposition. So instead we’re supposed to trust this cabal to look out for us, that that paternalistic instinct in modern conservatism will steer this nation into better times while keeping the Mad King in check.

Mr. Legum seems to agree:

198
freetoken  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:18:43pm

re: #193 HappyWarrior

Given that Romney is one of the cofounders of Bain, who later bought Clear Channel, Romney has dirty hands in the furthering of hate radio.

To me that is worse than McCain’s foibles.

199
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:20:00pm

re: #182 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

At least nut took the small number of people defending Trump’s bizarre “Treason?” tweet as a clear sign that Twitter is rigged against Conservatives. These people with persecution complexes need less propaganda, and more psychiatric care.

200
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:21:08pm

re: #193 HappyWarrior

I think it’s Romney personally for bringing in people like Kobach and the racist dog whistles.

McCain and Palin campaign did all that too.
I think people really get it twisted now because that one clip of McCain defending Obama being used so much around his death.

All that anti-American, foreigner, maybe Muslim shit was part of the talking points for surrogates. I remember the hilarity of pointing out to people that McCain was actually born in Panama.

201
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:21:11pm
202
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:22:02pm

re: #201 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

This is disgusting. These people are cowards and traitors.

203
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:22:41pm

re: #201 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Shorter statement: “I got my tax cuts, so I don’t give a fuck.”

204
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:23:35pm

re: #200 JordanRules

McCain and Palin campaign did all that too.
I think people really get it twisted now because that one clip of McCain defending Obama being used so much around his death.

All that anti-American, foreigner, maybe Muslim shit was part of the talking points for surrogates. I remember the hilarity of pointing out to people that McCain was actually born in Panama.

True true

205
BigPapa  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:24:33pm

Yah, I was wondering if this OpEd was a Double Agent leak, a la the Tax release to Maddow.

206
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:25:38pm

re: #198 freetoken

Given that Romney is one of the cofounders of Bain, who later bought Clear Channel, Romney has dirty hands in the furthering of hate radio.

To me that is worse than McCain’s foibles.

That’s a good point that I never thought of but yes. I was pretty much thinking of how Romney happily had Trump and other racists campaign for him and he mainlined Kobach.

207
ObserverArt  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:25:44pm

I can tell elections are getting closer.

Richard Cordray running for Governor of Ohio, is really bombing Mike DeWine with some tough commercials, while DeWine is getting called out for his commercials being a stretch of facts.

I think Cordray is able to outspend DeWine…which says a lot in Ohio where Republican money usually figures in heavily.

In other words…it is getting heated and muddy. I think Labor Day was the trigger point.

208
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:26:24pm

re: #201 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

This is why your party should never be trusted with any sort of power again, Bob. Presidencies aren’t supposed to work this way.

209
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:28:29pm

What this op-ed also is is the confirmation of what many “serious” conservatives assured themselves would be the reality of a Trump presidency, namely that his worst impulses would be kept in check by his advisors and thus he’d become “presidential” by letting them run the show.

But since that never really happened, they’re prepared to settle for his underlings taking control away from him so he can be free to scream and rant to anybody who will listen.

210
wheat-dogg  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:28:57pm

I do so enjoy waking up here in the UTC+8 time zone and reading about the latest fuck-up in US politics.

///

211
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:29:16pm

re: #209 Targetpractice

What this op-ed also is is the confirmation of what many “serious” conservatives assured themselves would be the reality of a Trump presidency, namely that his worst impulses would be kept in check by his advisors and thus he’d become “presidential” by letting them run the show.

But since that never really happened, they’re prepared to settle for his underlings taking control away from him so he can be free to scream and rant to anybody who will listen.

They really remind me of the German conservatives who thought they’d control Hitler. Bunch of naive morons.

212
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:30:32pm

If you want to argue that McCain paved the way for Trump, I won’t argue. Just a different perspective. The bigger point is that the GOP establishment is directly responsible for why Trump has been able to flourish in right wing circles due to their own actions and cowardice.

213
Jay C  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:30:35pm

re: #208 HappyWarrior

This is why your party should never be trusted with any sort of power again, Bob. Presidencies aren’t supposed to work this way.

Also: isn’t Corker retiring after this term?
As usual: pseudo-tough-talk from those with little (electorally) to lose - see one Flake, Sen. Jeff - but little actual pushback (still less much overt opposition) as long as partisan objectives are met.
Putz.

214
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:30:54pm
215
stpaulbear  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:31:12pm

re: #22 ObserverArt

Former congressman David Jolly on Nicole Wallace’s show said the person that wrote this NYT Op-ed needs to sign their name to it and step out and let America know who you are. He said you’d be doing it for the country, for your family and for yourself.

If not, it will be ignored in time and amount to nothing.

Aside: I wonder if the pieces from the Woodward book coming out emboldened this person to write this article?

I’m wondering if the NYT hasn’t known about this guy and his story for a long time and just published it now because the WaPo beat them to the punch and they now want a piece of it.

216
Hecuba's daughter  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:32:01pm

re: #194 ObserverArt

Mr. 47% always does Romney in for me…along with (paraphrased) “you didn’t bake those cookies, you bought them at a store like 7-11 or something didn’t you?”

The guy is out of touch with everything. He’s an arrogant assclown that looks down on everybody…even dogs.

His father was a good guy — but Mitt was an intolerable weasel and coward; he provided only 2 years of tax returns. He also was the one to suggest that young people who wanted to start a business should borrow money from their parents. And he ran away from his signature health care program. He was willing to work for the Trump administration but was rejected. Clearly he had rethought his opposition to Putin.

Trump himself thought that the tax returns doomed Romney’s candidacy; clearly he wasn’t going to make that mistake and no one in the MSM or the party forced him to provide that information. His loyal base didn’t care but there may have been others who would have noticed.

217
wheat-dogg  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:33:22pm

re: #211 HappyWarrior

They really remind me of the German conservatives who thought they’d control Hitler. Bunch of naive morons.

Were Trump clever enough and less impulsive/erratic, he could orchestrate an executive coup d’etat, as Hitler did, and end up the Fearless Leader his supporters imagine him to be. Left to his own devices, he’d ruin the country within a year.

But Trump is not that clever, and even if he were, his lack of discipline and self-control thwarts his own agenda. Still, the threat remains. He’s bonkers and needs to be sent to some retirement home where he can play golf and rant at the TV all day.

218
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:34:40pm

re: #217 wheat-dogg

Were Trump clever enough and less impulsive/erratic, he could orchestrate an executive coup d’etat, as Hitler did, and end up the Fearless Leader his supporters imagine him to be. Left to his own devices, he’d ruin the country within a year.

But Trump is not that clever, and even if he were, his lack of discipline and self-control thwarts his own agenda. Still, the threat remains. He’s bonkers and needs to be sent to some retirement home where he can play golf and rant at the TV all day.

A lot of our saving graces thankfully have been that Trump is an idiot.

219
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:35:02pm

re: #212 HappyWarrior

If you want to argue that McCain paved the way for Trump, I won’t argue. Just a different perspective. The bigger point is that the GOP establishment is directly responsible for why Trump has been able to flourish in right wing circles due to their own actions and cowardice.

I’m not that big on finding *the* starting point. It’s fun to debate here. And I think we should take note of points of progress and regression of course.

One thing that really has given me pause though was McCain dying because it was such a stark reminder about how important one’s VP choice can be. That heartbeat away shit is so real. His choice (regardless how he got there) was so bad that he knew it would haunt him, and all of us really.

220
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:35:08pm
221
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:35:48pm

re: #213 Jay C

Also: isn’t Corker retiring after this term?
As usual: pseudo-tough-talk from those with little (electorally) to lose - see one Flake, Sen. Jeff - but little actual pushback (still less much overt opposition) as long as partisan objectives are met.
Putz.

Yep both Corker and Flake are stepping down because they know damn well they’d get primaried by a Trump kisser and they think this is somehow dignified. If those two were as courageous as they thought they were, they’d do anything to stop Trump’s agenda including opposing his SCOTUS picks but nope.

222
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:36:40pm

re: #219 JordanRules

I’m not that big on finding *the* starting point. It’s fun to debate here. And I think we should take note of points of progress and regression of course.

One thing that really has given me pause though was McCain dying because it was such a stark reminder about how important one’s VP choice can be. That heartbeat away shit is so real. His choice (regardless how he got there) was so bad that he knew it would haunt him, and all of us really.

You’re so right about the VP pick. It really is a big deal to a presidential nominee and McCain blew it big time whereas Obama hit it out of the park.

223
I Would Prefer Not To  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:37:38pm

Borowitz nails it

Nation Stunned That There Is Someone in White House Capable of Writing an Editorial

“Based on the mastery of language that we see here, it’s not Sarah Huckabee Sanders, John Kelly, Stephen Miller, or Kellyanne Conway, and it’s definitely not Jared,” he said.

224
BeachDem  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:39:02pm

re: #176 JordanRules

The question then may be ‘what is their real intention’. I’m still not sure.

I’m not sure either, but I will say it is someone sanctimonious and egotistical. That doesn’t really narrow it down that much with that bunch—they all think they’re all that and a bag of chips.

Of names I’ve seen suggested:

I doubt it’s Pence—not Jesusy enough (and McCain used the word lodestar himself—“I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day,” he said.)

Nikki Haley is too far from the action and not bright enough to have written it.
(see also, Ben and Rick)

Don’t really know who I think it is, but I do know, I don’t find anything admirable about either the letter nor the actions it describes.

225
SteveMcGriftFlynnComey... ...corruptemoligate RN  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:39:58pm

I bet Kelly makes everyone take polygraph tests

226
Archangelus  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:40:59pm
227
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:42:13pm

re: #226 Archangelus

[Embedded content]

Not just no but hell no. The only real difference between Trump and Mitt is on trade. Oh and Mitt isn’t totally ignorant.

228
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:43:15pm
229
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:43:36pm

re: #209 Targetpractice

More from Chris aligning with your thoughts…

230
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:44:52pm

re: #229 JordanRules

More from Chris aligning with your thoughts…

[Embedded content]

“We tried our best to control the beast! You can’t blame us because he slipped his chains and did something monumentally stupid (which we totally opposed, fyi)!”

231
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:45:10pm

re: #227 HappyWarrior

Not just no but hell no. The only real difference between Trump and Mitt is on trade. Oh and Mitt isn’t totally ignorant.

Trade, experience, less likely to launch nuclear weapons.

232
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:47:43pm

At once! AT ONCE FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!! I COMMAND THEE AS THY RULER, THY KING!!!!

233
wheat-dogg  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:48:48pm

re: #232 The Vicious Babushka

At once! AT ONCE FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!! I COMMAND THEE AS THY RULER, THY KING!!!!

[Embedded content]

Kneel before Zod!

234
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:49:07pm
235
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:49:13pm

Really, what has the GOP ever really objected to in the past 2 years besides those policies/proposals that hurt the party as a whole rather than Trump alone? And even when they have objected, they’ve done so in the most self-serving manner: Letting the “crisis” get to the point where they could use the pressure of deadlines/impending doom to arm-twist the DNC into concessions or complete capitulation. They don’t oppose Trump’s worst impulses because they find anything wrong with them, they oppose because it’s what the polls tell them is the “right” thing to do.

236
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:49:38pm

re: #232 The Vicious Babushka

At once! AT ONCE FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!! I COMMAND THEE AS THY RULER, THY KING!!!!

[Embedded content]

“Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?!”

237
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:49:59pm

re: #232 The Vicious Babushka

At once! AT ONCE FOR IMMEDIATE EXECUTION!! I COMMAND THEE AS THY RULER, THY KING!!!!

[Embedded content]

238
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:52:19pm
239
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:52:25pm
240
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:53:44pm

So he thinks the whole thing is a joke, thinks it’s the “failing” NYT trying to get at him…which is why they should immediately name the “anonymous” staffer for the purposes of “national security.”

Obviously he’s not letting this op-ed concern him.///////

241
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:54:00pm
242
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:54:31pm

re: #240 Targetpractice

So he thinks the whole thing is a joke, thinks it’s the “failing” NYT trying to get at him…which is why they should immediately name the “anonymous” staffer for the purposes of “national security.”

Obviously he’s not letting this op-ed concern him.///////

He’s fucking mentally unstable. Hillary warned us but too many fucking people in this country had to be sexist assholes.

243
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:55:07pm

re: #241 Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis

[Embedded content]

Or someone who just stands their hands across arms when asked to comment about John McCain. This person is a coward but Trump is the biggest coward of all.

244
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:55:18pm

Shoot your shot Ben!

245
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:55:41pm
246
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:56:05pm
247
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:57:32pm

We have the President” of the United States demanding, in the name of “national security,” that a newspaper turn over the identity of an “anonymous source” whose only crime seems to be revealing that the President* is a half-wit who’s really not in control of anything.

We’re not quite a banana republic yet, but you can certainly see it from here.

248
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:58:30pm
249
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:59:17pm
250
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 4:59:51pm

The op-ed writer is looking at 10 years imprisonment: 1 year for insulting Trump and 9 years for revealing state secrets.

251
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:00:02pm

re: #247 Targetpractice

We have the President” of the United States demanding, in the name of “national security,” that a newspaper turn over the identity of an “anonymous source” whose only crime seems to be revealing that the President* is a half-wit who’s really not in control of anything.

We’re not quite a banana republic yet, but you can certainly see it from here.

Banana adjacent.

252
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:00:04pm
253
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:00:16pm

re: #249 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

He’s got something dribbling from his chin.

//

254
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:01:04pm
255
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:01:28pm

re: #249 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

That would be you until about a year ago. What changed Linds? Did they get you on tape doing something naughty that you don’t want your constituents knowing about? And you disrespect your friend McCain’s legacy every day that you suck up to Trump.

256
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:01:34pm
257
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:02:20pm

re: #249 gocart mozart

Oh Lindsey. We KNOW there is something wrong with Trump.

258
makeitstop  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:04:36pm

re: #250 Targetpractice

The op-ed writer is looking at 10 years imprisonment: 1 year for insulting Trump and 9 years for revealing state secrets.

Upding for repurposing an old Russia joke.

And nearly a downding because it’s now relevant to this country.

259
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:04:46pm

Really what the hell did happen to Graham? Is it blackmail? is it knowing that he’s done politically in SC if he goes against Trump? Or is it because he’s a Republican partisan true and true and knows he’ll get most of what he wants out of Trump and realizes that protesting is foolish with those goals in mind.Either way, more proof that the Never Trump right is full of hollow individuals.

260
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:06:18pm
261
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:06:38pm

re: #259 HappyWarrior

Really what the hell did happen to Graham? Is it blackmail? is it knowing that he’s done politically in SC if he goes against Trump? Or is it because he’s a Republican partisan true and true and knows he’ll get most of what he wants out of Trump and realizes that protesting is foolish with those goals in mind.Either way, more proof that the Never Trump right is full of hollow individuals.

I’m sorry, nothing happened to Graham. Just because he talked shit on The Daily Show once doesn’t change his fucking voting record.

262
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:07:13pm

re: #260 Blind Frog Belly White

[Embedded content]

They’er going to do a Trump Amnesia too. Stalin would be impressed.

263
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:07:15pm

re: #251 wrenchwench

Banana adjacent.

Banana republic-curious.

264
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:07:33pm
265
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:07:54pm

re: #261 Bass Reeves

I’m sorry, nothing happened to Graham. Just because he talked shit on The Daily Show once doesn’t change his fucking voting record.

Nah, I think your assessment is right. This is a Denny Green situation, he is who we thought he was.

266
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:08:36pm
267
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:10:05pm

re: #250 Targetpractice

The op-ed writer is looking at 10 years imprisonment: 1 year for insulting Trump and 9 years for revealing state secrets.

Old Soviet joke.

268
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:10:49pm

re: #267 The Vicious Babushka

Old Soviet joke.

Worse part is, it works here too…now.

269
I Would Prefer Not To  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:10:58pm

CYA. Cover your ass. That’s why it was written. The writer wants a career after the trump admin is gone. They want to be a loyal Republican AND save of democracy. It’s like a vegetarian that wants to eat steak and still claim they are a vegetarian. Fuck them. I will forgive anyone that worked in the trump admin the day after never.

270
wrenchwench  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:11:45pm

re: #266 goddamnedfrank

[This part of the NYT op-ed might be the most important because someone inside the White House could well remember saying this and will then know who the anonymous official is. However that person can’t come forward without outing their own frustration with Trump’s unstable psyche]

A group of cowards in the White House drew straws for who gets to write it.

271
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:11:49pm
272
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:12:10pm

re: #269 I Would Prefer Not To

CYA. Cover your ass. That’s why it was written. The writer wants a career after the trump admin is gone. They want to be a loyal Republican AND save of democracy. It’s like a vegetarian that wants to eat steak and still claim they are a vegetarian. Fuck them. I will forgive anyone that worked in the trump admin the day after never.

Yep, that’s exactly what this is. Fucking self-serving bs. Fuck team GOP. Loyalty to party above all else is why we’re in this mess in the first place and the writer of this piece is so full of himself that he doesn’t know or care because hey tax cuts and right wing judges, libtards!

273
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:12:54pm

I swear to Beyoncé this walking Peter Principle is going to make me throw my chanclas!!!!

274
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:13:09pm

re: #270 wrenchwench

A group of cowards in the White House drew straws for who gets to write it.

I guess that was the real pact that Tillerson, Mattis, and Mnuuchin had. Who can be the be the biggest coward.

275
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:13:13pm
276
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:14:02pm
277
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:14:03pm
TURN HIM OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT AT ONCE!

Maybe they can sell him to the Turks, as Flynn planned for that dissident.

278
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:14:11pm

re: #273 JordanRules

I swear to Beyoncé this walking Peter Principle is going to make me throw my chanclas!!!!

[Embedded content]

Hi, Chuck, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. She debated him. Hell she even was our only choice against him. She warned us repeatedly what he was. But you were too busy focused on an email trivality.

279
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:14:50pm

re: #276 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

I haven’t known the answer to that since Obama left office.

280
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:15:08pm

So if the Nixon informant was “Deep Throat” can we call this person “Deep Shit”?

281
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:15:42pm

re: #277 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

Maybe they can sell him to the Turks, as Flynn planned for that dissident.

I snorked.

282
PhillyPretzel  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:16:17pm

Charles I just signed in as usual and I am still seeing ads all over the place. Is there a glitch somewhere?

283
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:16:36pm

re: #280 The Vicious Babushka

So if the Nixon informant was “Deep Throat” can we call this person “Deep Shit”?

“Sore Throat”

284
Unshaken Defiance  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:16:57pm

re: #280 The Vicious Babushka

So if the Nixon informant was “Deep Throat” can we call this person “Deep Shit”?

I wish we could but the name is taken by way of where we are…

285
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:17:35pm

re: #273 JordanRules

I swear to Beyoncé this walking Peter Principle is going to make me throw my chanclas!!!!

[Embedded content]

I’d say every Democrat and liberal in the nation gave better warnings vs. Trump than Jeb Bush did, up to and including Hillary Clinton.

But only Republican opinions count for Chuck Todd, as always.

286
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:17:54pm

I explained the anonymous op-ed to my wife especially the part about the person trying to be here a hero, and she quoted Dumbledore: Personally, there’s no time for heroes.

Edited, but I think you all got it.

287
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:19:46pm

This op-ed does explain a few mysteries, like how it is that Trump hasn’t launched US nukes at various things that have irritated him, like North Korea, Canada and the state of California.

288
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:19:53pm

re: #285 EPR-radar

I’d say every Democrat and liberal in the nation gave better warnings vs. Trump than Jeb Bush did, up to and including Hillary Clinton.

But only Republican opinions count for Chuck Todd, as always.

She did by far a better job than Bernie. Bernie would have just treated Trump like any other greedy Republican douche- true but not why Trump was and is a danger.

289
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:20:26pm

re: #286 Belafon

I explained the anonymous op-ed to my wife especially the part about the person trying to be here, and she quoted Dumbledore: Personally, there’s no time for heroes.

I love it, and I would further emphasize that it’s really not time to be looking for heroes whose stated policy preferences still want you to die.

290
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:20:36pm

re: #287 EPR-radar

This op-ed does explain a few mysteries, like how it is that Trump hasn’t launched US nukes at various things that have irritated him, like North Korea, Canada and the state of California.

Or the WaPo building

291
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:22:11pm

re: #288 HappyWarrior

She did by far a better job than Bernie. Bernie would have just treated Trump like any other greedy Republican douche- true but not why Trump was and is a danger.

Two things are true of Trump:

1) He is a festering malignancy uniquely dangerous to democracy in America, and

2) He is the perfectly natural result of the ongoing degeneration of the Republican Party. He is their next Reagan, and for the foreseeable future all major GOP candidates will try to be Trump, one way or another.

292
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:24:32pm

re: #291 EPR-radar

Two things are true of Trump:

1) He is a festering malignancy uniquely dangerous to democracy in America, and

2) He is the perfectly natural result of the ongoing degeneration of the Republican Party. He is their next Reagan, and for the foreseeable future all major GOP candidates will try to be Trump, one way or another.

Yes. I’ve been thinking about number two a lot and it worries the hell out of me going forward. Trump losing would have made that situation less likely but his electoral success has created a new GOP that will mirror him in the worst ways.

293
plansbandc  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:24:59pm

Every bit of his unhinged behavior was on display throughout the campaign. The books confirm everything we already knew. Not nearly enough people cared then, when we could have prevented him from tearing apart the country. The people in power do not care at all. So here we are.

When he nukes someone, will they use the 25th? Will there be anything left?

294
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:26:44pm
295
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:27:25pm

If Ted Lieu was in the Senate he might do it.

296
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:27:29pm

re: #294 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

TFW Humpty Dumpty realizes his “supporters” only agreed to build his stupid wall so they could shove him off of it.

297
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:28:54pm
298
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:30:38pm

Did we get a pic of Dory today?

299
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:31:09pm

I’ve watched for a long time, as Republicans keep choosing someone even worse than the last. It is quite honestly a frightening trend with no end in sight. Trump is not at all the pinnacle with regards to just how shitty a person they will pick. Seeing all these younger sociopath conservatives on Twitter etc. doesn’t bode well for any of us, as at least one of them is bound to run for president someday.

300
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:31:20pm

It’s getting spicy!!!!!!

301
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:32:15pm

re: #298 Bass Reeves

Did we get a pic of Dory today?

Thank you for remembering part of my self-care. I don’t believe we have.

302
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:32:35pm

re: #295 JordanRules

Kav’s reply: I don’t speak in hypotheticals.

303
Skip Intro  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:33:11pm

re: #252 Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis

Waiting for the second part of the tweet where he threatens to send everybody in the country “to the cornfield” if no one fesses up.

304
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:34:02pm

re: #303 Skip Intro

That was actually aired a few nights ago here and I kept picturing it as a White House documentary.

305
Skip Intro  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:34:24pm

re: #302 GlutenFreeJesus

Kav’s reply: I don’t speak in hypotheticals.

“Ask me about my relationship with Jesus”.

306
Eclectic Cyborg  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:35:12pm

What the FUCKING FUCK is it going to take before someone with the power to go after Trump takes action?

Like, seriously. America is falling apart. SOMEBODY FUCKING DO SOMETHING.

I hope the GOP gets crushed in the midterms. I want my country back.

307
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:38:55pm

re: #306 Eclectic Cyborg

You’re assuming those with the power to go after him don’t want America to fall apart.

308
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:38:57pm
309
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:39:14pm

re: #298 Bass Reeves

Did we get a pic of Dory today?

Nothing really new, but there’s this outtake from the ‘Invisible Dory’ photo shoot….

Plus a Dory Story - yesterday, Dory discovered Jalapeno Sky Raisins. No, she didn’t EAT a bee, but she did step on one. According to Mrs. FBW, she squealed and rolled around frantically, biting at her foot. Mrs. FBW and The Younger Boy were too panicked to do more than pick her up and bring her inside, where The Older Boy, with the sang froid he inherited from me, was able to find and extract the stinger.

Her paw swelled up a little, and she walked off it a bit for a while, but it barely slowed her down. But she did NOT pounce on the bee she saw in the grass this morning.

310
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:41:15pm

If anyone tries to say that we had a similar issue with Reagan, here’s the difference: Reagan didn’t hate people in general, and he knew he was declining. Trump will deny it until he’s sedated one day.

311
PhillyPretzel  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:42:11pm

re: #310 Belafon

And even then he will still deny it.

312
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:42:26pm

re: #306 Eclectic Cyborg

What the FUCKING FUCK is it going to take before someone with the power to go after Trump takes action?

Like, seriously. America is falling apart. SOMEBODY FUCKING DO SOMETHING.

I hope the GOP gets crushed in the midterms. I want my country back.

Honestly? It will boil down to one of a very few things:

* Trump fires a wide swath of Republicans that are popular within the establishment, making other Republicans fear for their power;
* Trump nukes somebody and happens to blow up a factory/business that is owned by a major GOP benefactor;
* A right-wing Trump-humper assassinates one or more Republican senators and/or congresscritters, claiming that they are holding back the Dear Leader from doing his God-given job.

Honestly, if it isn’t a direct impact to the GOP’s ability to maintain power, they won’t care. He wasn’t wrong when he said he could shoot somebody in broad daylight and they’d still love him.

313
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:43:17pm

re: #308 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

Kelly: “I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I’d rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!”

/

314
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:43:43pm

re: #312 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Not even any of that will do it.

315
Eclectic Cyborg  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:44:01pm

re: #310 Belafon

If anyone tries to say that we had a similar issue with Reagan, here’s the difference: Reagan didn’t hate people in general, and he knew he was declining. Trump will deny it until he’s sedated one day.

We have a lower age limit on the Presidency. Perhaps an upper one would have been a good idea as well?

316
HappyWarrior  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:44:04pm

re: #313 Targetpractice

Kelly: “I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I’d rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!”

/

Always love a Thing reference.

317
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:44:39pm

re: #314 GlutenFreeJesus

Not even any of that will do it.

I dunno. If he does something that materially affects the political balance of power, I think they might act. They are far more concerned with their ability to implement their demented agenda than they are with reality.

318
Unshaken Defiance  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:44:47pm

re: #306 Eclectic Cyborg

I want my country back.

THIS THIS THIS

319
BeachDem  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:44:53pm

re: #300 JordanRules

[Embedded content]

It’s getting spicy!!!!!!

Listen to certain cable news precincts, and the shock value of running an anonymous op-ed becomes clear. “An extraordinary thing just happened,” MSNBC’s Chuck Todd said at the top of his daily show. He called the piece “unprecedented.”

So what? Like most anonymous quotes and tracts, this one is a PR stunt. Mr. Senior Administration Official gets to use the distributive power of the New York Times to recast an entire class of federal appointees. No longer are they enablers of a foolish and capricious president. They are now the country’s most precious and valued patriots. In an appearance on Wednesday afternoon, the president pronounced it all a “gutless” exercise. No argument here.

From that article—bolding, mine. (Bullshit, Chuck Todd’s and the whole stupid op ed.)

320
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:45:04pm

I’m just going to assume that every time Moron Don tweets from now on, it’s because the grownups in the White House don’t want him bothering them while they’re running the country.

321
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:45:06pm

re: #312 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Honestly? It will boil down to one of a very few things:

* Trump fires a wide swath of Republicans that are popular within the establishment, making other Republicans fear for their power;
* Trump nukes somebody and happens to blow up a factory/business that is owned by a major GOP benefactor;
* A right-wing Trump-humper assassinates one or more Republican senators and/or congresscritters, claiming that they are holding back the Dear Leader from doing his God-given job.

Honestly, if it isn’t a direct impact to the GOP’s ability to maintain power, they won’t care. He wasn’t wrong when he said he could shoot somebody in broad daylight and they’d still love him.

A real blue wave vs. the GOP in this year’s midterms would also do it.

322
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:45:08pm

NycMJJ8xkNdNpSGl5w+OFw+HkbIfR2sc6fOg5xmZ6ojdsYQqrL32NNuezSKFZj30qyPkQThTeDItVb/Ea9zsFS0INpeco2PC/qOEuAe942peh/FmEaFJ909EajXZBsbLArIcPNdhqYg2CsfsjwVvWkOeHAEe5X3m60YytYZgGQWALPAKrUMGvu6BNO770uVsLLgMPcLpPoqloPyEmNDXwy43DIpzl3gTAsMkZScOG7KxSLVBov6Zsk84VBQ/1tyeI4rxC7hcXROe1l4YGVDqsDth3aH7W5P+1G+6NeeXk+SNfMf6KQKaX+JZ6+OP1ZtO

323
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:46:44pm

re: #321 EPR-radar

A real blue wave vs. the GOP in this year’s midterms would also do it.

Honestly, I dunno if that’ll do it. I sure as hell hope it will.

324
Eclectic Cyborg  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:47:17pm

Realize the NYT op-ed is effectively saying that we have not an elected President running the country but a group of unelected, unnamed aides and bureaucrats doing so.

Now think about how fucking scary that is.

325
PhillyPretzel  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:47:28pm

re: #322 Charles Johnson

fKXO6gBWlaVkCVTOjgPzJk1Dn1NcyE+trEIKUZWohzZsgLoPSrgl0/wWO8MTP6T/CNL3BqXJhmdU09tmUyQvCEuEyQQvYlVn5V0HNoqtY/IamR7VxGrELJLavjxzNpMaYQ2d2XypJ3WWUd3vR9qs6X4yFCq5VornDkTRhHnkj3fm0sWmcTlDgdfmLvhDEKI6

326
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:48:54pm

re: #320 Kragar

327
Targetpractice  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:49:17pm

re: #319 BeachDem

Listen to certain cable news precincts, and the shock value of running an anonymous op-ed becomes clear. “An extraordinary thing just happened,” MSNBC’s Chuck Todd said at the top of his daily show. He called the piece “unprecedented.”

So what? Like most anonymous quotes and tracts, this one is a PR stunt. Mr. Senior Administration Official gets to use the distributive power of the New York Times to recast an entire class of federal appointees. No longer are they enablers of a foolish and capricious president. They are now the country’s most precious and valued patriots. In an appearance on Wednesday afternoon, the president pronounced it all a “gutless” exercise. No argument here.

From that article—bolding, mine. (Bullshit, Chuck Todd’s and the whole stupid op ed.)

WaPo reaching the point we did hours ago, that this was a CYA effort on the part of the White House staff who have looked to their post-Trump futures and seen nothing but a massive black emptiness. Recasting themselves not as feckless morons or willing enablers, but brave patriots who risked their careers and possibly more to stop the worst of Donny’s impulses.

328
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:49:34pm

re: #324 Eclectic Cyborg

Realize the NYT op-ed is effectively saying that we have not an elected President running the country but a group of unelected, unnamed aides and bureaucrats doing so.

Now think about how fucking scary that is.

And I’d bet most of the rest of the world gets this. What comes next? Who fucking knows?!?!

329
GlutenFreeJesus  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:50:04pm

re: #321 EPR-radar

For now, it would help. But in 2-3 years when he’s gone, back to everyone being complacent again. Rinse. Repeat.

330
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:50:24pm

idmbsMzVnQzBMhs7NAmaq3ExoE+Y0QKoRa5xtMCfcfFyvQ0Owoxle9Xap69D3Cjj15CmfwauaAOKQd4VqY3po0aWcF4W7NE8bsVhTIfNEArIAL5EP2MUfJRBHc1kP+zQHSln+7xbCChdhZ/Ycr2JEtqJ5F6zKjTwl3iuID/u4hkQrr/JBSKSr2R6uA/XQB0Y+wFMXzeQNzzclDJ5SUMu66fJpE2Rv7pxt4j90BrbKiRfhDMHCtles6fvEwR7REgeD1q9whJBR1wGHHMvQFTfDziIPC+CBCwXdwN+l2tUBfM=

331
Patricia Kayden  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:50:34pm

re: #250 Targetpractice

The op-ed writer is looking at 10 years imprisonment: 1 year for insulting Trump and 9 years for revealing state secrets.

I can’t tell whether or not you are joking.

332
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:50:46pm

re: #306 Eclectic Cyborg

What the FUCKING FUCK is it going to take before someone with the power to go after Trump takes action?

Like, seriously. America is falling apart. SOMEBODY FUCKING DO SOMETHING.

I hope the GOP gets crushed in the midterms. I want my country back.

I only hope we still recognize it.

333
Kragar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:51:02pm
334
PhillyPretzel  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:51:40pm

re: #330 Charles Johnson

Okay. As I said I will pay it this Friday. That is when I get paid.

335
austin_blue  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:52:09pm

re: #247 Targetpractice

We have the President” of the United States demanding, in the name of “national security,” that a newspaper turn over the identity of an “anonymous source” whose only crime seems to be revealing that the President* is a half-wit who’s really not in control of anything.

We’re not quite a banana republic yet, but you can certainly see it from here.

The United States Of Chiquita.

336
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:52:19pm

re: #333 Kragar

I can never not upding a Spaceballs reference.

337
freetoken  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:52:51pm

re: #324 Eclectic Cyborg

Realize the NYT op-ed is effectively saying that we have not an elected President running the country but a group of unelected, unnamed aides and bureaucrats doing so.

Now think about how fucking scary that is.

It could be called a meritocracy…. if those unnamed aides actually had any merit.

338
Joe Bacon 🌹  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:53:37pm

re: #131 Charles Johnson

339
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:55:25pm

re: #337 freetoken

It could be called a meritocracy…. if those unnamed aides actually had any merit.

Usually, we call it “nepotism”.

340
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:56:19pm

re: #310 Belafon

If anyone tries to say that we had a similar issue with Reagan, here’s the difference: Reagan didn’t hate people in general, and he knew he was declining. Trump will deny it until he’s sedated one day.

Iran-Contra, pushing crack into the ghettos, smashing mental health care in the country, union busting, trickle-down economics, exploding deficit.

Yeah, Trump has a smidge more to do to get as bad as (obvious edit) Reagan.

341
EPR-radar  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:56:26pm

re: #327 Targetpractice

WaPo reaching the point we did hours ago, that this was a CYA effort on the part of the White House staff who have looked to their post-Trump futures and seen nothing but a massive black emptiness. Recasting themselves not as feckless morons or willing enablers, but brave patriots who risked their careers and possibly more to stop the worst of Donny’s impulses.

I hope that redcaps become aware of the absolute contempt the (R) establishment has for them, their votes, and their issues, as shown by this op-ed, and start voting accordingly.

Of course I’m kidding. Nobody with that level of awareness could be a redcap in the first place.

342
A Cranky One  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:56:30pm

re: #292 HappyWarrior

Yes. I’ve been thinking about number two a lot and it worries the hell out of me going forward. Trump losing would have made that situation less likely but his electoral success has created a new GOP that will mirror him in the worst ways.

Yes, the country is in deep number two.

344
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 5:59:23pm

re: #333 Kragar

Trump right now, wondering who #lodestar might be… pic.twitter.com

— Kragar (@Kragar_LGF) September 6, 2018

What we really need now is Lone Starr…

345
austin_blue  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:00:32pm

re: #309 Blind Frog Belly White

Nothing really new, but there’s this outtake from the ‘Invisible Dory’ photo shoot….

[Embedded content]

Plus a Dory Story - yesterday, Dory discovered Jalapeno Sky Raisins. No, she didn’t EAT a bee, but she did step on one. According to Mrs. FBW, she squealed and rolled around frantically, biting at her foot. Mrs. FBW and The Younger Boy were too panicked to do more than pick her up and bring her inside, where The Older Boy, with the sang froid he inherited from me, was able to find and extract the stinger.

Her paw swelled up a little, and she walked off it a bit for a while, but it barely slowed her down. But she did NOT pounce on the bee she saw in the grass this morning.

Dory looks like that old cartoon character Dondi.

346
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:03:01pm

re: #326 GlutenFreeJesus

[Embedded content]

Liking the twitter name/avatar.

347
Bass Reeves  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:03:51pm

re: #309 Blind Frog Belly White

Thanks for the pic and the story!

348
The Vicious Babushka  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:03:52pm

What “Anonymous Trump Official” is the same as Q?

349
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:04:32pm

re: #329 GlutenFreeJesus

For now, it would help. But in 2-3 years when he’s gone, back to everyone being complacent again. Rinse. Repeat.

I think, after this election, it might be a little bit longer. I think some of the people who have won office this time are going to shake things up for a bit.

350
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:05:30pm

re: #332 Blind Frog Belly White

I only hope we still recognize it.

It’s more about what we can do to fix it.

351
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:06:03pm

re: #345 austin_blue

Dory looks like that old cartoon character Dondi.

Better than Little Orphan Annie, I suppose.
//

352
teleskiguy  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:06:05pm

re: #344 TedStriker

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

353
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:06:37pm
354
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:09:04pm

re: #340 Bass Reeves

Iran-Contra, pushing crack into the ghettos, smashing mental health care in the country, union busting, trickle-down economics, exploding deficit.

Yeah, Trump has a smidge more to do to get as bad as Trump.

And the point of this was what, considering my point wasn’t about which would be a worse president?

355
Joe Bacon 🌹  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:10:30pm

re: #246 Backwoods_Sleuth

356
goddamnedfrank  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:11:25pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Either Pence wrote it or someone is setting him up.

357
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:11:34pm
358
TedStriker  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:11:53pm

re: #352 teleskiguy

I see your Schwartz is as big as mine.

*looks down, then back up*

359
JordanRules  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:12:01pm
360
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:13:30pm

re: #357 Backwoods_Sleuth

one of those sheriffs is from Brown County, Ohio, across the river from me.

361
teleskiguy  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:14:49pm

Bob Woodward: Insiders Call The White House ‘Crazytown’

362
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:16:51pm

re: #251 wrenchwench

Banana adjacent.

Not a banana republic, but a plantain plutocracy.

363
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:17:10pm

learned something new today:

364
austin_blue  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:18:28pm

Look, there are Constitutional mechanisms for limiting the power of a President or removing him/her. You can invoke Article 25 and put a caretaker in charge, or you can impeach.

That’s it. Those are your options.

What you CAN’T do is what this Op/Ed writer has said “he” and his co-conspirators have done, which is basically deciding to hamstring the guy in the Oval without letting him know or telling him why.

This is outside of Constitutional norms. This an admission that they have independently decided to create a Constitutional Crisis from inside the White House.

That’s is. Full stop.

This is a Palace Coup and should be the only thing that is being talked about. Who are they? Who outside of the WH supports this? This is an unelected group (unless Pence is in on it) who have subverted our Government.

Historians can bark about the situation after Wilson had his big ass stroke, but this isn’t about a health issue per se. Trump is exactly who and what he was when elected. He hasn’t changed a bit. He has done exactly what he said he was going to do. And these people have done their best to de-fang him.

This is what is unprecedented. This is all that should be discussed. Republicans have attempted to decapitate the vested power within the Republican White House.

365
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:18:31pm
366
Belafon  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:20:58pm

re: #356 goddamnedfrank

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Either Pence wrote it or someone is setting him up.

[Embedded content]

What if it’s everyone but Trump, and Pence going “Include lodestar! It’ll really mess him up.”

367
gocart mozart  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:21:49pm
368
Barefoot Grin  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:24:38pm

I thought I remembered one of Ivanka’s (anonymous) friends quoting her as saying “I don’t care, he’ll be dead in 10 years anyway” a few months ago.

369
Blind Frog Belly White  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:24:44pm

re: #366 Belafon

What if it’s everyone but Trump, and Pence going “Include lodestar! It’ll really mess him up.”

Somebody who was in the Obama Administration tweeted that one should be cautious about using verbal characteristics to try and figure out who wrote this, because someone had leaked something and whoever wrote it used one or more words or phrases to make people think it was him.

370
Backwoods_Sleuth  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:25:47pm
371
Joe Bacon 🌹  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:33:52pm

372
Charles Johnson  Sep 5, 2018 • 6:50:16pm

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