The Bob Cesca Podcast: Silent Night, Holy Crap

Politics • Views: 28,648

MP3 Audio

Today’s program from our podcasting affiliate, The Bob Cesca Show, powered by Seth Okin Attorney at Law:

Silent Night, Holy Crap — NSFW! Buzz Burbank from Buzz Burbank News and Comment is here; The Crisis in Iran; Trump didn’t know who Soleimani was in 2015; Trump’s madman theory; Pentagon officials gave Trump some choices, he chose the crazy one; Trump loses Tucker Carlson and Rand Paul; Esper contradicts Trump; Trump and Endless Wars; Nikki Haley will always be a Red Hat; Mike Flynn’s sentencing; Moscow Mitch and witnesses; Bolton and Rudy want to testify; With music by Rigorous Proof and Suburban Gypsies; and more!

Jump to bottom

225 comments
1
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:32:43pm
2
Teukka  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:42:39pm

re: #1 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

[Embedded content]

3
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:43:19pm

Surprise, surprise

4
William Lewis  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:46:46pm

re: #2 Teukka

[Embedded content]

Because it’s in Tehran, I wonder if there was an itchy trigger finger near the Iranian HQ?

5
i(m)p(each)sos  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:47:35pm

Unpopular opinion time:

If the Orangeanus can in fact be voted out of power in 10 months’ time, his successor is going to have the monumental task of rebuilding America’s diplomatic connection to the rest of the world.

I believe there will be a reservoir of good will awaiting that next president from a world grateful to be rid of this administration and eager to return to some semblance of normalcy.

But it’s still going to be a massive task, for which a deep reservoir of experience in foreign relations and diplomacy will be a massive asset.

Here’s the unpopular part, I suspect: in light of this week’s international shitshow, how do you convince me as a Democratic primary voter that anyone other than Joe Biden has the right skill set for that huge and hugely delicate task?

It sure as shit isn’t Bernie’s strong suit. I love Warren, but her forte is domestic economic policy. Does it help Buttigieg, given his military experience and language skills? Or does this reinforce the idea he’s too young and inexperienced for this huge job?

And of course the crying shame is THIS is exactly where Hillary would have been perfect.

If only.

6
Hecuba's daughter  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:49:12pm

re: #3 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Surprise, surprise

[Embedded content]

That’s a relief that Trump signed a request any normal president would have done without thinking.

7
Teukka  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:50:23pm

re: #4 William Lewis

Because it’s in Tehran, I wonder if there was an itchy trigger finger near the Iranian HQ?

That, or…

8
Hecuba's daughter  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:51:13pm

re: #4 William Lewis

Because it’s in Tehran, I wonder if there was an itchy trigger finger near the Iranian HQ?

Boeing must be praying that it wasn’t due to a mechanical defect.

9
Ace Rothstein  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:51:51pm

re: #3 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Is he sending them paper towels?

10
Teukka  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:51:55pm

re: #7 Teukka

That, or…

[Embedded content]

Addendum:

11
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:52:08pm

The true Republican base, the degenerate hinterland elite, will stop at nothing, literally nothing, to maintain their fading privilege and dominance. They must join their pre-revolutionary French predecessors.

Facebook Post

12
A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:56:29pm

re: #5 i(m)p(each)sos

Unpopular opinion time:

If the Orangeanus can in fact be voted out of power in 10 months’ time, his successor is going to have the monumental task of rebuilding America’s diplomatic connection to the rest of the world.

I believe there will be a reservoir of good will awaiting that next president from a world grateful to be rid of this administration and eager to return to some semblance of normalcy.

But it’s still going to be a massive task, for which a deep reservoir of experience in foreign relations and diplomacy will be a massive asset.

Here’s the unpopular part, I suspect: in light of this week’s international shitshow, how do you convince me as a Democratic primary voter that anyone other than Joe Biden has the right skill set for that huge and hugely delicate task?

It sure as shit isn’t Bernie’s strong suit. I love Warren, but her forte is domestic economic policy. Does it help Buttigieg, given his military experience and language skills? Or does this reinforce the idea he’s too young and inexperienced for this huge job?

And of course the crying shame is THIS is exactly where Hillary would have been perfect.

If only.

Either Warren or Buttigieg would have the sense to put someone in charge of foreign policy who could do the job (Hillary has previous experience…), and I’m sure Warren, at least, is aware of her own deficiencies.

13
Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 7, 2020 • 8:58:39pm

re: #2 Teukka

[Embedded content]

Bad engine fire leading to catastrophic failure is my guess.

I wonder if something has gone awry in the Probability Fields of human events, that every little bit of crazy triggers Big Crazy immediately thereafter. King Piggy nearly starts a war, followed immediately by a plane crash and an earthquake? You can only take so many “this is the worst timeline” posts before you start to wonder if maybe the Aether has gone past its sell-by date.

I remember an article years ago about an automated probability-measuring experiment that saw a strange spike in generated results right around mid-morning EST on 9/11/01. We’ve only become more connected since… Maybe things seem insane because our socialized digital attention is MAKING things insane.

…All the more reason to throw Piggy’s phone in the river.

14
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:00:11pm
15
Ace-o-aces  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:01:02pm
16
William Lewis  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:01:25pm

re: #5 i(m)p(each)sos

It’s a situation where I prefer Warren for president and Buttigieg as vp since he could bring his own strengths to bear while leaving her in charge with strengths he doesn’t have.

17
i(m)p(each)sos  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:05:12pm

re: #12 A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!

Either Warren or Buttigieg would have the sense to put someone in charge of foreign policy who could do the job (Hillary has previous experience…), and I’m sure Warren, at least, is aware of her own deficiencies.

Oh, no doubt, and I’d trust either of them (or Klobuchar, or hell, even Steyer or Bloomberg) to pick competent and smart people for that. (Bernie, not so much. Tulsi, not at all.)

But: calming the world is going to be a huge job that the next president shouldn’t and can’t completely delegate, even to a really solid SoS and/or VP.

The world of 2021 (if we last that long) is going to want the new president, him- or herself, out front as the healer-in-chief. We used to have a guy who was really good at that, dammit. And for all of Biden’s flaws, which are many and which are deeply worrisome, my gut is telling me he’s going to get a bump as people look to him as being the guy best prepared to take on that particular role.

18
i(m)p(each)sos  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:07:56pm

re: #17 i(m)p(each)sos

And cards on the table, if I were going to the polls today, I don’t know that I wouldn’t vote for Biden myself.

But I’m in New York, it’s a long way to April, and I expect that as usual, the race will have been decided before it gets here.

19
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:10:31pm

re: #11 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

The true Republican base, the degenerate hinterland elite, will stop at nothing, literally nothing, to maintain their fading privilege and dominance. They must join their pre-revolutionary French predecessors.

[Embedded content]

Because thinking someone should not have been killed also means you are 100% loyal to them and in favor of everything they did.

//

20
Hecuba's daughter  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:15:27pm

re: #16 William Lewis

It’s a situation where I prefer Warren for president and Buttigieg as vp since he could bring his own strengths to bear while leaving her in charge with strengths he doesn’t have.

In these turbulent times, Buttigieg is too young and inexperienced to be vice-president to a president who, herself, lacks FP experience.

21
ckkatz  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:15:31pm

The Iranian statement is kind of interesting.

Assuming that what they say is true. (Something that is not neccesarily the case.)

They are implying that they have achieved their strategic goal of bum-rushing us out of Iraq.

I suspect that they did a cost-benefit analysis and concluded that going further than this is probably not worth the cost of a war.

I also suspect that their proxies are going to be encouraging us to keep on ‘moving along’.

And most of their messaging seems to have been more directed at the Iraqis than at us.

Since we have been propping up a lot of the Iraqi independents, our leaving is going to encourage those folks to either make a deal with the Iranians and their proxies or leave. That will likely screw Iraq over for another generation.

And of course, I suspect that the IRGC are currently concocting some clandestine actions aimed at us.

22
William Lewis  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:22:52pm

re: #17 i(m)p(each)sos

I’d vote for Biden if i had to- iow he becomes the nominee, but I have almost as many reservations about him as Bernie and Tulsi.

23
mmmirele  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:23:08pm

I can’t even get the refrain

FUCK YOU DONNY

out of my head.

FUCK YOU DONNY.

24
Renaissance_Man  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:24:25pm

re: #17 i(m)p(each)sos

Oh, no doubt, and I’d trust either of them (or Klobuchar, or hell, even Steyer or Bloomberg) to pick competent and smart people for that. (Bernie, not so much. Tulsi, not at all.)

But: calming the world is going to be a huge job that the next president shouldn’t and can’t completely delegate, even to a really solid SoS and/or VP.

The world of 2021 (if we last that long) is going to want the new president, him- or herself, out front as the healer-in-chief. We used to have a guy who was really good at that, dammit. And for all of Biden’s flaws, which are many and which are deeply worrisome, my gut is telling me he’s going to get a bump as people look to him as being the guy best prepared to take on that particular role.

A few thoughts:

1) I don’t necessarily see that Joe Biden has any particular strength that puts him head and shoulders above Elizabeth Warren. He has served on many diplomatic delegations and done good things in this regard, but just because foreign policy is his only real strength doesn’t mean he’s all that much stronger than a rational, well-spoken Senator like Warren. The other ‘frontrunners’, ie. Sanders and Buttigieg, would make terrible presidents and are only frontrunners because the US media really, really wants a white man as President.

2) Arguably, it really doesn’t matter who America puts forward as a candidate, because in the eyes of the world, how do you trust America ever again? How do you make any deal with President Biden knowing that Americans are just itching to make Donald Trump Jr King as soon as possible?

3) If it is possible at all to repair America’s image in the next generation or so, it would be with nations who value rational, honest actors, and it is not lost on these nations that America is stating clearly that it is ruled by and on behalf of white men only. Sending out another white man is not going to have the same calming effect that it would have on Americans. Even India, one of the most misogynistic and patriarchal cultures on earth, has had a woman Prime Minister. Americans may feel better when white men rule them as God intended, but foreign diplomats may not respond the same way.

25
Belafon  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:27:41pm

re: #22 William Lewis

I’d vote for Biden if i had to- iow he becomes the nominee, but I have almost as many reservations about him as Bernie and Tulsi.

Um, no.

Biden isn’t my first choice, but he is nowhere near the two you mentioned.

As for candidates, to tell you the truth, I think a good qualification for a candidate to handle our current foreign mess is to not think they can fix it. They do have to recognize that it will be a complicated problem, and that, because of Trump, the US will not have the standing to make the requests it could before.

26
Belafon  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:30:36pm

re: #24 Renaissance_Man

Arguably, it really doesn’t matter who America puts forward as a candidate, because in the eyes of the world, how do you trust America ever again? How do you make any deal with President Biden knowing that Americans are just itching to make Donald Trump Jr King as soon as possible?

I say that it won’t take electing a Democrat next election that will help us, but electing a Democrat after that. As for what to do in the short term, the next president shouldn’t run around saying “I can fix this” but should just ask “What can we do to help?”

27
A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:33:27pm

re: #17 i(m)p(each)sos

Oh, no doubt, and I’d trust either of them (or Klobuchar, or hell, even Steyer or Bloomberg) to pick competent and smart people for that. (Bernie, not so much. Tulsi, not at all.)

But: calming the world is going to be a huge job that the next president shouldn’t and can’t completely delegate, even to a really solid SoS and/or VP.

The world of 2021 (if we last that long) is going to want the new president, him- or herself, out front as the healer-in-chief. We used to have a guy who was really good at that, dammit. And for all of Biden’s flaws, which are many and which are deeply worrisome, my gut is telling me he’s going to get a bump as people look to him as being the guy best prepared to take on that particular role.

Oh, I agree, but I think either of the other two — particularly Warren — would be up to it. She’s capable of taking advice.

28
GlutenFreeJesus  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:34:23pm

Nobody can fix the mess we are in now. Everyone the world over is thinking “why sacrifice anything for America when they could just vote in another trump-like candidate in the future?”.

29
IngisKahn  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:36:18pm

Step one to regaining the trust of the world is to dismantle the Republican party.

30
A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:41:26pm

re: #29 IngisKahn

Step one to regaining the trust of the world is to dismantle the Republican party.

Impeach, convict and remove DT. Failing that, get a solid Democratic majority and make clear that we’re working on the aberration. It will take time.

31
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:44:09pm

re: #4 William Lewis

Because it’s in Tehran, I wonder if there was an itchy trigger finger near the Iranian HQ?

Maybe, but right near the airport where you know planes are coming and going?

32
IngisKahn  Jan 7, 2020 • 9:54:52pm

No action is possible with a Republican senate. What I think we need to focus on is making voting fair: end gerrymandering and value a person’s vote over land area. No chance of that happening without complete Democratic control though (and a back bone…). It will indeed take time rebuild trust, so let’s make sure we won’t break it again anytime soon.

I initially thought that the next president would have it easy - just undo everything the monster did. It’s much too late for that now.

33
BeachDem  Jan 7, 2020 • 10:19:28pm

I still plan on someday doing my complete Nikki Haley retrospective, but in the meantime, Evan Hurst has her pretty much pegged:

A lot of people say Nikki Haley sold her soul to Donald Trump, but that would imply the pre-existence of a soul, to which we reply OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR, ASSERTS FACTS NOT IN EVIDENCE…

Anyway, Haley was on “Hannity” last night, being a lying, craven asshole, because that’s who she is…

Anyway, our point is go fuck yourself, Nikki Haley, wait did we say that already? Oh well, bless her heart.

wonkette.com

34
Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 7, 2020 • 10:22:19pm

re: #21 ckkatz

The Iranian statement is kind of interesting.

Assuming that what they say is true. (Something that is not neccesarily the case.)

They are implying that they have achieved their strategic goal of bum-rushing us out of Iraq.

I suspect that they did a cost-benefit analysis and concluded that going further than this is probably not worth the cost of a war.

I also suspect that their proxies are going to be encouraging us to keep on ‘moving along’.

And most of their messaging seems to have been more directed at the Iraqis than at us.

Since we have been propping up a lot of the Iraqi independents, our leaving is going to encourage those folks to either make a deal with the Iranians and their proxies or leave. That will likely screw Iraq over for another generation.

And of course, I suspect that the IRGC are currently concocting some clandestine actions aimed at us.

It is kind of an unexpected nuance - “We’re going to blow up this one thing and then stop, and if you don’t respond, we won’t go further.” Is there precedent for something like this? Besides that one scene in “By Dawn’s Early Light” where the Soviet leader communicates an intention to exchange equivalent casualties and call it a war?

Thinking over this situation on the weekend, I followed this logic:

1. The Iranians HAVE to respond, or they look weak.
2. They can’t hit back too hard, because anything they do can and will be used to start something they know they can’t win.
3. They have to hit back in an obvious, official way (not something “sneaky” like a terrorist bombing).
4. Any counter-strike should be flavored to marginalize Trump and make him look bad if possible.
5. If possible, a counter-strike should further larger goals - Make Iran look tough, screw up U.S. planning, gain territory, et cetera.

My thought was, if I was them, I’d lay low for a few days and then attack the nearest Trump property mid-week sometime. You KNOW that just like any authoritarian government worth their military budget, they made attack plans against every Trump property they could look up in January 2017, as an exercise, if for no other reason. (“What if we have to fuck with this guy?”).

35
plansbandc  Jan 7, 2020 • 10:36:38pm

In twitter timeout for my Maggie tweet. Pretty amazing it’s my first time in twitter jail. It was worth it.

36
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 10:37:00pm
37
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 10:43:21pm
38
Ace-o-aces  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:12:18pm
39
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:18:40pm
40
VegasGolfer  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:21:18pm

Gonna lose 50k in my stocks before I can get out. Hope that’s worth it for some kids death in trumps war

41
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:22:53pm

re: #40 VegasGolfer

Gonna lose 50k in my stocks before I can get out. Hope that’s worth it for some kids death in trumps war

That’s the nice thing about ETFs.

42
ckkatz  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:40:17pm

re: #34 Pawn of the Oppressor

It is kind of an unexpected nuance - “We’re going to blow up this one thing and then stop, and if you don’t respond, we won’t go further.” Is there precedent for something like this? Besides that one scene in “By Dawn’s Early Light” where the Soviet leader communicates an intention to exchange equivalent casualties and call it a war?

Thinking over this situation on the weekend, I followed this logic:

1. The Iranians HAVE to respond, or they look weak.
2. They can’t hit back too hard, because anything they do can and will be used to start something they know they can’t win.
3. They have to hit back in an obvious, official way (not something “sneaky” like a terrorist bombing).
4. Any counter-strike should be flavored to marginalize Trump and make him look bad if possible.
5. If possible, a counter-strike should further larger goals - Make Iran look tough, screw up U.S. planning, gain territory, et cetera.

My thought was, if I was them, I’d lay low for a few days and then attack the nearest Trump property mid-week sometime. You KNOW that just like any authoritarian government worth their military budget, they made attack plans against every Trump property they could look up in January 2017, as an exercise, if for no other reason. (“What if we have to fuck with this guy?”).

Similar to my understanding except, I’m thinking that they might wait 6-12 months before doing anything major. And likely try to make it clandestine and deniable. Plus, it takes to time to set these things up.

It seems to me that the big questions are

1. Whether they do it before or after the election season.

2. Who they do it to. Generally IRGC isn’t too squeamish about mass-killing the uninvolved as they are particularly interested in the message of mayhem.

43
Dread Pirate  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:44:55pm
44
ckkatz  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:47:26pm

re: #39 Dread Pirate

[Embedded content]

Seeing these kind of stories, I keep getting reminded of PopeHat’s tweet about her:

45
ckkatz  Jan 7, 2020 • 11:51:37pm

re: #37 Dread Pirate

Nicely done! Except for Trump’s hand being too big.

46
Dread Pirate  Jan 8, 2020 • 12:05:07am
47
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 12:20:03am

So I wake up in Europe here and see all sorts of shit happening while I was asleep. And then, Trump says he’ll speak about it tomorrow, which is somewhat relieving, because given his usual impulsiveness, it’d probably be some incoherent ranting if he’d spoken right away.

I guess we’ll just all have to wait for his morning dump Tweet.

48
Dread Pirate  Jan 8, 2020 • 12:31:39am

If I woke up in Europe I’d be alarmed, because I went to sleep in California.

49
Patricia Kayden  Jan 8, 2020 • 12:49:34am

No we won’t shut up.

50
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 12:57:18am

re: #49 Patricia Kayden

Yep.

And the worst part of it is whether we de-escalate or end up in a full-blown war - now that Iran has fired off a few rounds to save face - seems to depend on whether Trump wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and/or gets whipped up into a war-fever frenzy while watching Fox & Friends tomorrow morning.

51
Teukka  Jan 8, 2020 • 1:07:10am

Morning musics:

Two Steps From Hell - Enigmatic Soul (Invincible)

52
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 1:24:34am

Looks like Duncan Hunter (CA - 50th District) has submitted his resignation, effective 13 January. No word yet on whether his seat will remain vacant until the November elections or whether there will be a special election to fill the seat.

latimes.com

53
Dread Pirate  Jan 8, 2020 • 1:39:05am
54
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 1:44:05am

re: #53 Dread Pirate

55
Patricia Kayden  Jan 8, 2020 • 2:05:37am

re: #35 plansbandc

In twitter timeout for my Maggie tweet. Pretty amazing it’s my first time in twitter jail. It was worth it.

What did you say? I bet it wasn’t anything as bad as what White Supremacists and Neo Nazis get away with on Twitter all the dang time.

56
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 3:06:47am

re: #49 Patricia Kayden

No we won’t shut up.

[Embedded content]

He told us to shut up when he was a teenager agitating for war in Iraq. We have a right to speak out. Shapiro is a little coward who gets off by other people fighting wars he would shit his pants if he had to do basic training and leave the coddled existence he has.

57
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 3:34:59am

re: #56 HappyWarrior

He told us to shut up when he was a teenager agitating for war in Iraq. We have a right to speak out. Shapiro is a little coward who gets off by other people fighting wars he would shit his pants if he had to do basic training and leave the coddled existence he has.

Americans have been put in harms way by a clueless blowhard.

58
Patricia Kayden  Jan 8, 2020 • 3:36:35am

re: #50 Dr Lizardo

Apparently Lindsay was on Fox Noise last night trying to whip up a full blown war. His Democratic opponent needs to crush him in November.

59
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 3:47:59am

re: #58 Patricia Kayden

Apparently Lindsay was on Fox Noise last night trying to whip up a full blown war. His Democratic opponent needs to crush him in November.

Not a surprise. It’s coming up on wakey-wakey time for Lil’ Donnie, so I guess we’ll hear something from his Twitter account while he’s taking his morning Big Mac McDump.

60
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 4:00:28am

I think Iran is not about to attack the US directly or target US civilians, that would only play into DT’s tiny hands.

So far, attacking US bases in Iraq (no reported casualties) is an entirely measured response.

61
sagehen  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:03:41am

re: #5 i(m)p(each)sos

Unpopular opinion time:

If the Orangeanus can in fact be voted out of power in 10 months’ time, his successor is going to have the monumental task of rebuilding America’s diplomatic connection to the rest of the world.

I believe there will be a reservoir of good will awaiting that next president from a world grateful to be rid of this administration and eager to return to some semblance of normalcy.

But it’s still going to be a massive task, for which a deep reservoir of experience in foreign relations and diplomacy will be a massive asset.

Here’s the unpopular part, I suspect: in light of this week’s international shitshow, how do you convince me as a Democratic primary voter that anyone other than Joe Biden has the right skill set for that huge and hugely delicate task?

I can be more unpopular than that:

my first choice of the remaining candidates is Amy Klobuchar. My 2nd choice is Bloomberg. Have Biden be ambassador to the UN (and Elizabeth Warren head up the SEC.)

62
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:16:22am

we just bought this cat bed / cave

obviously a cat might be reluctant to jump right in to something strange

but of course:

and not just in the box, but under the paper.
like, you know, a cave.

63
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:23:05am

re: #61 sagehen

I can be more unpopular than that:

my first choice of the remaining candidates is Amy Klobuchar. My 2nd choice is Bloomberg. Have Biden be ambassador to the UN (and Elizabeth Warren head up the SEC.)

I do not want to have to vote for Biden. I like him and Warren but would prefer to see them in the Cabinet as Sec’y of State and head of SEC respectively.

64
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:23:35am
Ukraine’s embassy in Iran has appeared to delete a statement suggesting technical problems were to blame for the crash of a passenger jet near Tehran on Wednesday morning.

That statement appeared to back up earlier assertions by Iranian officials that a faulty engine had led to the accident.

“According to preliminary information,” the statement had read, “the plane crashed as a result of a technical failure of the engine. The possibility of a terrorist attack or missile strike are currently ruled out.”

But by 10am local time, that page was no longer accessible from the embassy’s site, with no additional information given about the details of the crash.

Also, from the same story:

Iranian authorities were quick to blame technical problems for the crash. Qassem Biniaz, a spokesman for Iran’s Road and Transportation Ministry, said the pilot “lost control of the plane” after a fire broke out in one of its engines.

Modern aircraft engines are designed to withstand the failure of an engine, even if it catches fire. What seems to be unusual in this case is that after a normal climb, the plane stopped sending all data at around 8000 feet. That would seem to suggest a catastrophic incident of some sort.

Clues will likely be contained in the plane’s flight recorders, which were recovered shortly after the crash. Iran’s civil aviation authorities said they would not follow normal practice of sending the boxes to US-plane manufacturer Boeing, but declined to say who would be responsible for analysing the data.

At a hastily arranged press conference on Wednesday morning, Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) discounted the possibility of technical problems. There was “nothing wrong” with the aircraft, UIA’s president Yevgen ​Dykhne insisted. The plane was three years old and had only two days previously undergone a scheduled technical check.

independent.co.uk

And it’s being mentioned elsewhere that Iranian authorities aren’t planning on handing over the FDR and the CVR to Boeing - and it goes without saying that’s probably gonna fuel suspicions that it might’ve been an accidental shootdown by Iranian air defense.

65
sagehen  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:27:43am

re: #64 Dr Lizardo

Also, from the same story:

independent.co.uk

And it’s being mentioned elsewhere that Iranian authorities aren’t planning on handing over the FDR and the CVR to Boeing - and it goes without saying that’s probably gonna fuel suspicions that it might’ve been an accidental shootdown by Iranian air defense.

Except that Iran has totally understandable reasons, this week especially, for not being particularly trusting that the NTSB or Boeing would issue an honest report. Does the EU have a qualified agency could take lead on this one?

66
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:28:21am
67
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:30:03am

Welp, hope things settle down before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Apparently, they have pretty good relations with Iran, but it does seem like it would be a target-rich environment for Iranian proxies.

68
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:32:29am

re: #65 sagehen

Except that Iran has totally understandable reasons, this week especially, for not being particularly trusting that the NTSB or Boeing would issue an honest report. Does the EU have a qualified agency could take lead on this one?

Yeah, that’s a good point. ENCASIA (ec.europa.eu) is responsible for investigating aviation accidents/incidents here in the EU.

69
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:39:47am

From electoral-vote.com and the unintended consequences re Florida’s reenfranchising felons.

Recall that after the referendum passed overwhelmingly, the Rs quickly rammed through a new law that said that felons could not regain their voting rights until they had paid off any debts remaining from their trials

…in response to political pressure and the threat of a court challenge, the law was modified to allow courts to cancel the fines. And four counties—Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Hillsborough—have decided to take full advantage, and are running “rocket docket” sessions where felons’ debts are expunged with great rapidity…

The somewhat ironic result, then: Democratic felons appear regaining their voting rights at a far brisker pace than Republican felons, as the state’s Republican counties have held firm on the disenfranchisement, and have not taken steps to return people to the voter rolls. …

70
jeffreyw  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:39:52am

Good morning!

71
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:42:16am
72
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:43:53am

Lots of deep thinkers out in public spaces this morning advocating arming someone else to solve the problem.

73
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:45:58am
President Trump has sought to demonstrate strong and decisive leadership in the targeted killing of Iran’s top general, but he has overseen a chaotic and mistake-prone public response since the operation — raising questions over the administration’s preparation to anticipate and deal with the consequences,” the Washington Post reports

Shorter:. Trump et al ignorant and clueless how to run the admin

74
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:48:26am

re: #71 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Rubio wants us to think Trump is a serious thinker. Too bad there’s no evidence of that and Trump is who Rubio wanted to make Obama out to be. Rubio is a pathetic hack.

75
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:48:58am

re: #69 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

From electoral-vote.com and the unintended consequences re Florida’s reenfranchising felons.

Recall that after the referendum passed overwhelmingly, the Rs quickly rammed through a new law that said that felons could not regain their voting rights until they had paid off any debts remaining from their trials

in other words, a poll tax

76
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:57:23am

re: #65 sagehen

Except that Iran has totally understandable reasons, this week especially, for not being particularly trusting that the NTSB or Boeing would issue an honest report. Does the EU have a qualified agency could take lead on this one?

The NTSB has been the world authority for a while now.

77
jeffreyw  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:57:35am

re: #62 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

we just bought this cat bed / cave

[Embedded content]

and not just in the box, but under the paper.
like, you know, a cave.

78
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:57:55am

re: #6 Hecuba’s daughter

That’s a relief that Trump signed a request any normal president would have done without thinking.

..news..

79
Teddy's Person  Jan 8, 2020 • 5:58:58am

re: #74 HappyWarrior

Rubio wants us to think Trump is a serious thinker. Too bad there’s no evidence of that and Trump is who Rubio wanted to make Obama out to be. Rubio is a pathetic hack.

Not only no evidence, but Trump himself has repeatedly said he makes decisions based on instinct. He dismisses any suggesting that he need to inform himself when making decisions. Why is Marco not trusting his supreme leader’s infallible instincts?

edited for typo

80
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:00:09am

re: #17 i(m)p(each)sos

Oh, no doubt, and I’d trust either of them (or Klobuchar, or hell, even Steyer or Bloomberg) to pick competent and smart people for that. (Bernie, not so much. Tulsi, not at all.)

But: calming the world is going to be a huge job that the next president shouldn’t and can’t completely delegate, even to a really solid SoS and/or VP.

The world of 2021 (if we last that long) is going to want the new president, him- or herself, out front as the healer-in-chief. We used to have a guy who was really good at that, dammit. And for all of Biden’s flaws, which are many and which are deeply worrisome, my gut is telling me he’s going to get a bump as people look to him as being the guy best prepared to take on that particular role.

Doesn’t biden also have the benefit of personally knowing many foreign leaders?

81
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:01:09am

re: #21 ckkatz

The Iranian statement is kind of interesting.

Assuming that what they say is true. (Something that is not neccesarily the case.)

They are implying that they have achieved their strategic goal of bum-rushing us out of Iraq.

I suspect that they did a cost-benefit analysis and concluded that going further than this is probably not worth the cost of a war.

I also suspect that their proxies are going to be encouraging us to keep on ‘moving along’.

And most of their messaging seems to have been more directed at the Iraqis than at us.

Since we have been propping up a lot of the Iraqi independents, our leaving is going to encourage those folks to either make a deal with the Iranians and their proxies or leave. That will likely screw Iraq over for another generation.

And of course, I suspect that the IRGC are currently concocting some clandestine actions aimed at us.

Bft

82
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:01:38am

re: #79 Teddy’s Person

Not only no evidence, but Trump himself has repeatedly said he makes decisions based on instinct. He dismisses any suggesting that he need to inform himself when making decisions. Why is Marco not trusting his supreme leader’s infallible instincts?

edited for typo

Rubio is a gaslighting punk.

83
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:02:06am

re: #80 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

Doesn’t biden also have the benefit of personally knowing many foreign leaders?

I think so.

84
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:03:11am

re: #24 Renaissance_Man

A few thoughts:

1) I don’t necessarily see that Joe Biden has any particular strength that puts him head and shoulders above Elizabeth Warren. He has served on many diplomatic delegations and done good things in this regard, but just because foreign policy is his only real strength doesn’t mean he’s all that much stronger than a rational, well-spoken Senator like Warren. The other ‘frontrunners’, ie. Sanders and Buttigieg, would make terrible presidents and are only frontrunners because the US media really, really wants a white man as President.

2) Arguably, it really doesn’t matter who America puts forward as a candidate, because in the eyes of the world, how do you trust America ever again? How do you make any deal with President Biden knowing that Americans are just itching to make Donald Trump Jr King as soon as possible?

3) If it is possible at all to repair America’s image in the next generation or so, it would be with nations who value rational, honest actors, and it is not lost on these nations that America is stating clearly that it is ruled by and on behalf of white men only. Sending out another white man is not going to have the same calming effect that it would have on Americans. Even India, one of the most misogynistic and patriarchal cultures on earth, has had a woman Prime Minister. Americans may feel better when white men rule them as God intended, but foreign diplomats may not respond the same way.

+1 esp your 2&3

85
Sherlock Hound  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:03:34am

It’s 9 AM EST. Do we know where our President is?

86
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:04:10am

It’s really insane to be seeing in 2020 the same dishonest arguments conservatives were making about Vietnam in 1966 .

87
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:06:03am

Found this at Balloon Juice, and thought it should be spread around…..

88
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:07:49am

re: #87 Jay C

Found this at Balloon Juice, and thought it should be spread around…..

I was just about to post that.

89
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:09:08am

re: #43 Dread Pirate

[Embedded content]

Um who obstructed the houses investigation?
Who ordered people not to testify
Who refused to turn over a single piece of paper?

‘Complete control’ my ass.

90
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:09:46am

Speaking of memories of 1966:

91
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:12:18am

re: #85 Sherlock Hound

It’s 9 AM EST. Do we know where our President is?

He’s busy thinking, writing, and evaluating his measured response to the attack from Iran.

……

I think that bolt of lightning outside was meant for me.

92
Dr Lizardo  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:14:07am

re: #85 Sherlock Hound

It’s 9 AM EST. Do we know where our President is?

Watching Fox & Friends?

93
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:15:15am

re: #77 jeffreyw

[Embedded content]

Is the cat named Jonah?

94
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:16:48am

95
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:17:05am

re: #90 jaunte

Speaking of memories of 1966:

We used to talk about it when I was a middle school kid, back in the early 1980s. I had definitely hoped that we were over that when the Berlin Wall fell.

96
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:17:36am

re: #86 jaunte

[Embedded content]

It’s really insane to be seeing in 2020 the same dishonest arguments conservatives were making about Vietnam in 1966 .

The r’s exploit black/white argumentation better than anyone

97
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:19:10am

Showing just how stupid Evangelicals are to fall for bullshit…

Prophetic minister Kathy DeGraw recalls a time when she went to a conference, and the leaders were praying healing over the congregation. She needed healing for her teeth, and she received it. “I knew I needed a dental miracle because I was struggling with a root issue,” DeGraw says.

“And I physically reached my arm up into the spiritual realm. I grabbed it. I slapped my mouth, and I said, ‘That’s mine. I’m receiving that one.’ And I felt the Spirit of God come on me so much that my husband and I ended up having dessert at a restaurant after the conference, and I was still intoxicated by the presence of the Lord.”

DeGraw last appeared on JMG when she warned that “Satanists and witches” take power over your children when they eat cursed Halloween candy. Prior to that, we heard her warning about demons in backyard swimming pools.

joemygod.com

98
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:21:14am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area.

Good news first: Trump somehow was convinced to sign a disaster declaration to speed aid to Puerto Rico following the series of quakes that have rocked the island. Millions of Americans are still without power this morning as power is slowly getting restored to the island. NY has sent teams of experts to help get the grid restored.

Now the bad:
Trump’s gambit that Iran wouldn’t respond clearly failed. Iran did respond with missile strikes against a pair of bases in Iraq that house US forces. What’s curious is that reports indicate the Iranians apparently tipped off Iraq that the missiles were going to be coming, which means that Iran has no quarrel with Iraq - this was a message to Trump. The targeting also is interesting since it is proof that the Iranian missiles are accurate enough to not hit the forces there. Unlike the first 2 gulf wars where Iraq was firing scuds without having much luck or skill to hit targets, the Iranians have better sensors on those weapons to be able to provide targeting data that avoided collateral damage inside Iraq or to hit US forces directly at those bases.

It was a warning, and I doubt any in Trumpworld will recognize the peril here - this isn’t going to be a cakewalk. Iran has more sophisticated weapons than Iraq, they have a much larger military, a much larger country, and the US has Iranian blood on its hands, just as surely as Suleimani had American blood on his. Trump’s escalations wont bring Iran to heel.

Just the opposite - and this is where we get the ugly:

Iran will go nuclear. This is no longer a question of if, but when. Iran sees how North Korea has played Trump and gotten both time and space to build nukes and missiles so that they can deter US action and blackmail their neighbors. Iran will do the same, and there’s nothing Trump can offer that would bring them back into a JCPOA structure or other denuclearization deal. We are less safe because of it - and that should be worrying to everyone, because if Iran gets nukes, Saudi Arabia and other Sunni led countries will seek nukes as well. Israel’s ambiguous nuclear stance is well known, but everyone concedes Israel has nukes. Iran’s first use would likely be to deter the Saudis and other Sunni-dominated countries in the region, not Israel.

But the sum total here is that nuclear proliferation will be a huge thing going forward and Trump is directly to blame for that. Ever since taking office, he’s undermined nonproliferation efforts, including abrogating the JCPOA, talking about using nukes against our enemies, and even talked of rolling back treaties with Russia.

99
Teddy's Person  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:25:24am

re: #97 Joe Bacon 🌹

Showing just how stupid Evangelicals are to fall for bullshit…

Prophetic minister Kathy DeGraw recalls a time when she went to a conference, and the leaders were praying healing over the congregation. She needed healing for her teeth, and she received it. “I knew I needed a dental miracle because I was struggling with a root issue,” DeGraw says.

“And I physically reached my arm up into the spiritual realm. I grabbed it. I slapped my mouth, and I said, ‘That’s mine. I’m receiving that one.’ And I felt the Spirit of God come on me so much that my husband and I ended up having dessert at a restaurant after the conference, and I was still intoxicated by the presence of the Lord.”

DeGraw last appeared on JMG when she warned that “Satanists and witches” take power over your children when they eat cursed Halloween candy. Prior to that, we heard her warning about demons in backyard swimming pools.

joemygod.com

Damn, I just spent a boat load of money fixing some dental issues. I wish I had known I could have snatched “dental healing” out of the air. FOR FREE //

100
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:25:34am

re: #97 Joe Bacon 🌹

Showing just how stupid Evangelicals are to fall for bullshit…

Prophetic minister Kathy DeGraw recalls a time when she went to a conference, and the leaders were praying healing over the congregation. She needed healing for her teeth, and she received it. “I knew I needed a dental miracle because I was struggling with a root issue,” DeGraw says.

“And I physically reached my arm up into the spiritual realm. I grabbed it. I slapped my mouth, and I said, ‘That’s mine. I’m receiving that one.’ And I felt the Spirit of God come on me so much that my husband and I ended up having dessert at a restaurant after the conference, and I was still intoxicated by the presence of the Lord.”

DeGraw last appeared on JMG when she warned that “Satanists and witches” take power over your children when they eat cursed Halloween candy. Prior to that, we heard her warning about demons in backyard swimming pools.

joemygod.com

If I had kids I’d be damned sure they only ate noncursed Halloween candy

101
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:25:49am

re: #97 Joe Bacon 🌹

Showing just how stupid Evangelicals are to fall for bullshit…

Prophetic minister Kathy DeGraw recalls a time when she went to a conference, and the leaders were praying healing over the congregation. She needed healing for her teeth, and she received it. “I knew I needed a dental miracle because I was struggling with a root issue,” DeGraw says.

“And I physically reached my arm up into the spiritual realm. I grabbed it. I slapped my mouth, and I said, ‘That’s mine. I’m receiving that one.’ And I felt the Spirit of God come on me so much that my husband and I ended up having dessert at a restaurant after the conference, and I was still intoxicated by the presence of the Lord.”

DeGraw last appeared on JMG when she warned that “Satanists and witches” take power over your children when they eat cursed Halloween candy. Prior to that, we heard her warning about demons in backyard swimming pools.

joemygod.com

Oh, and crackpot

102
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:25:56am
103
jeffreyw  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:26:07am

re: #93 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

That’s Bitsy kitteh, she’s in the fish thing that Mrs J made from a pattern she got somewhere online.

104
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:28:07am

re: #99 Teddy’s Person

Damn, I just spent a boat load of money fixing some dental issues. I wish I had known I could have snatched “dental healing” out of the air. FOR FREE //

Ya gotta be on the right plan

105
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:30:25am

re: #97 Joe Bacon 🌹

Showing just how stupid Evangelicals are to fall for bullshit…

Prophetic minister Kathy DeGraw recalls a time when she went to a conference, and the leaders were praying healing over the congregation. She needed healing for her teeth, and she received it. “I knew I needed a dental miracle because I was struggling with a root issue,” DeGraw says.

“And I physically reached my arm up into the spiritual realm. I grabbed it. I slapped my mouth, and I said, ‘That’s mine. I’m receiving that one.’ And I felt the Spirit of God come on me so much that my husband and I ended up having dessert at a restaurant after the conference, and I was still intoxicated by the presence of the Lord.”

DeGraw last appeared on JMG when she warned that “Satanists and witches” take power over your children when they eat cursed Halloween candy. Prior to that, we heard her warning about demons in backyard swimming pools.

joemygod.com

Well, since demons are supposed to hate salt, I’m glad we have a salt-based chlorinator for our pool!
We won’t need to ask our pool-service guys to send an exorcist over…

106
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:31:41am

re: #102 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Why do all these idiots think if Iran hasn’t done anything *yet* it’s all over and a win for the president?

107
Targetpractice  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:32:09am

You can imagine my total lack of surprise that wingnuts are looking at restraint on Iran’s part and interpreting it as weakness and fear.

108
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:34:08am
109
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:34:45am

re: #108 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Cruz is a hack.

110
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:34:53am
111
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:36:33am

re: #107 Targetpractice

You can imagine my total lack of surprise that wingnuts are looking at restraint on Iran’s part and interpreting it as weakness and fear.

Iran knows that attacking US civilians would only play to Trump’s advantage. Now they have struck back, they can even claim some military casualties to their own people if they want, but basically they are letting the US military know that they are about to get evicted from Iraq.

112
Targetpractice  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:36:42am

re: #110 jaunte

[Embedded content]

And what’s more, we’d been planning this attack for a long period of time, yet nobody thought to take any precautions against reprisal attacks upon our own forces in the country right next door.

113
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:38:33am

if you had asked all these r’s two weeks ago about a hypothetical strike on iran and their response, you might have gotten a wide variety of views, stances and opinions

once the anointed one has acted, it’s amazing how fast they all coalesce around the same single narrative

he can absolutely do no wrong

114
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:40:09am

re: #107 Targetpractice

You can imagine my total lack of surprise that wingnuts are looking at restraint on Iran’s part and interpreting it as weakness and fear.

It was so obvious that that was the outcome that even I stated it last night. Conservatives in the US will back Trump, and the rest of the world will laugh.

115
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:42:30am

re: #114 Belafon

It was so obvious that that was the outcome that even I stated it last night. Conservatives in the US will back Trump, and the rest of the world will laugh.

Iran’s measured response makes Trump look all the more pathetic imo.

116
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:43:27am

This mornings Congressional briefing by the Trump admin

117
Targetpractice  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:43:58am

re: #114 Belafon

It was so obvious that that was the outcome that even I stated it last night. Conservatives in the US will back Trump, and the rest of the world will laugh.

Which makes it all the more likely that he’ll blow past a reasonable response and go straight to escalation.

118
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:44:45am

Tuck be like all confused

“Seems like about 20 minutes ago, we were denouncing these people as the ‘deep state’ and pledging never to trust them again without verification. Now, for some reason, we do trust them — implicitly and completely.”

— Fox News host Tucker Carlson, quoted by the New York Times.

119
sagehen  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:45:37am

re: #98 lawhawk

and that should be worrying to everyone, because if Iran gets nukes, Saudi Arabia and other Sunni led countries will seek nukes as well. Israel’s ambiguous nuclear stance is well known, but everyone concedes Israel has nukes. Iran’s first use would likely be to deter the Saudis and other Sunni-dominated countries in the region, not Israel.

Of course Israel has nukes. A whole country full of Einsteins and Oppenheimers? They’ve probably had them since even before Russia and China.

And no other nuclear power is going to lob theirs at Israel, as long as “The Sampson Option” is widely believed to be on their menu.

120
Ace Rothstein  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:46:16am

re: #85 Sherlock Hound

It’s 9 AM EST. Do we know where our President is?

On the toilet.

121
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:46:18am

re: #117 Targetpractice

Which makes it all the more likely that he’ll blow past a reasonable response and go straight to escalation.

Hell no
He’s gonna claim Victory!!!! and go home

122
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:48:03am

re: #121 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

I don’t think this is why they call them {miss}iles.

BTW when was the last time US bases were attacked from a foe that admittedly has the moral and legal high ground on us? I say never.
Edit-Since our conquest of indigenous lands.

123
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:48:11am

re: #118 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

Also confusing:

pledging never to trust them again without verification

Assuming he meant our national intelligence services, who would he look to to verify their information? An entirely separate political intelligence service, or some rando Q-anon?

124
HappyWarrior  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:50:04am

re: #118 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

Tuck be like all confused

“Seems like about 20 minutes ago, we were denouncing these people as the ‘deep state’ and pledging never to trust them again without verification. Now, for some reason, we do trust them — implicitly and completely.”

— Fox News host Tucker Carlson, quoted by the New York Times.

Gee Tucker maybe it’s because Trump only cares about himself. Ever think about that when you weren’t looking perpetually constipated?

125
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:50:51am

re: #103 jeffreyw

That’s Bitsy kitteh, she’s in the fish thing that Mrs J made from a pattern she got somewhere online.

and we have success. monster just walk in all by hisself

126
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:51:37am

re: #122 Rightwingconspirator

I don’t think this is why they call them {miss}iles.

BTW when was the last time US bases were attacked from a foe that admittedly has the moral and legal high ground on us? I say never.

The 19th Century when indigenous Americans were defending themselves.

127
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:53:52am

re: #126 NO SMOCKING GUN!

The 19th Century when indigenous Americans were defending themselves.

Great point.

128
NO SMOCKING GUN!  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:55:08am

This article explains how within a couple of years all abortion clinics across vast areas of the country will be shut down, even if Roe v. Wade is not officially reversed. Rich and poor women alike will still have the right to travel thousands of miles to blue states where abortion clinics still operate. vox.com

129
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:55:28am

re: #119 sagehen

I would posit that Iran’s nuclear ambitions aren’t to deter or counter Israel’s nuclear weapons, but the Saudi and Sunni military advantage (size/scope). Shi’a are a global and regional minority among Muslims, and that is a large part of why there are ongoing regional conflicts, including in Yemen (a proxy war between Saudis and Iran). If Iran has nukes, they’d be able to threaten the Saudis. It’s also likely that a nuclear Iran would lead to a nuclear Saudi Arabia as there’s speculation that Saudis might get nukes from Pakistan in some kind of deal. Of course, the Pakistanis also aided the Iranians in their centrifuge designs, so the Pakistanis aren’t above playing both sides when they are able to profit from it.

130
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:56:33am

re: #124 HappyWarrior

Gee Tucker maybe it’s because Trump only cares about himself. Ever think about that when you weren’t looking perpetually constipated?

“As long as they confirm my bias I will trust them unconditionally.”

But actually this comment seems spot on

Trump hasn’t been denouncing the intelligence agencies as “the deep state” because he didn’t believe what they were saying about Russia and Ukraine.

He was denouncing them because he knows the intelligence agencies were telling the truth and revealing something damaging to Trump - attempting to undermine their credibility was/is his only way to defend himself against haven’t been caught in the act

131
jeffreyw  Jan 8, 2020 • 6:57:58am

re: #125 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

and we have success. monster just walk in all by hisself

[Embedded content]

Monsters need caves, and treasures to guard.

132
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:04:19am

So whether you and your braintrust think so or not…

“There is a growing belief among some Trump administration officials that Iran’s missiles intentionally missed areas populated by Americans when they targeted two Iraqi bases housing US troops early Wednesday local time,” CNN reports.

“These officials floated the notion that Iran could have directed their missiles to hit areas that are populated by Americans, but intentionally did not.”

133
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:07:44am

re: #113 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

if you had asked all these r’s two weeks ago about a hypothetical strike on iran and their response, you might have gotten a wide variety of views, stances and opinions

once the anointed one has acted, it’s amazing how fast they all coalesce around the same single narrative

he can absolutely do no wrong

Yeah, almost makes one think there might be some sort of manipulation of public opinion going on for domestic political reasons…

But that would be too cynical, right….?
///

134
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:07:58am

Some bozo posted this

U.S. officials had advance warning of Iran’s missile assault.-
yea- we pay big bucks for those satellites.

The Iranians are going to have up their game and figure out a way to be stealthy if they want to fire off missiles without US knowing in advance

As if advanced warning means we moved the Iraqi bases out of the way. //

135
retired cynic  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:11:37am

re: #77 jeffreyw

[Embedded content]

Question: where did you get that big fishy, JeffreyW? I have a kitty that could use something like that.

136
Michele: Out of the closet, Into the fire  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:12:20am

Some early morning humor.

137
jeffreyw  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:15:38am

re: #135 retired cynic

Question: where did you get that big fishy, JeffreyW? I have a kitty that could use something like that.

Do you know someone who can sew?

138
plansbandc  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:22:07am

re: #125 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

Great pic! Looks like something out of “Where The Wild Things Are”.

139
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:25:17am

“…a new Morning Consult/Politico survey finds fewer than 3 in 10 registered voters can identify the Islamic republic on an unlabeled map.”

A dangerously ignorant country with the ability to destroy the world.

140
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:26:23am

“Greenland had it coming!”

141
retired cynic  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:26:36am

re: #137 jeffreyw

Yep! Thank you!

142
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:26:50am

re: #85 Sherlock Hound

It’s 9 AM EST. Do we know where our President is?

Let’s ask the Three Stooges at FAUX and FIENDS!

143
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:28:57am

re: #113 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

he can absolutely do no wrong

This is what is terrifying and how a country ends up with a dictator/king/accepted oligarchy.

144
retired cynic  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:35:40am

So I sent a letter to my Rep LaHood (R, of course). Response, in part:

Thank you for contacting me regarding pro-choice policies. Your views are important to me as I work to effectively represent you and Illinois’ 18th Congressional District.

As a strong practicing Catholic and the father of three boys with my wife, I firmly believe that we must protect the sanctity of life, and in Congress I will continue to vote to protect life.

I responded: Your religion may inform your opinion, but it should NOT inform the law for those of us (the majority), who do not follow your religion. grrrrrr

145
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:36:09am

re: #139 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A dangerously ignorant country with the ability to destroy the world.

Let me guess…assholes were pointing out alleged No Go Zones in the US…

146
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:37:07am

re: #145 Joe Bacon 🌹

I really don’t get all the islands in mid-Atlantic.

147
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:37:52am

re: #145 Joe Bacon 🌹

Let me guess…assholes were pointing out alleged No Go Zones in the US…

That looks like Jade Helm territory.

148
jaunte  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:38:23am

There’s an Iraan in Texas, but it was named for Ira and Ann Yates.

149
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:39:14am

re: #139 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A dangerously ignorant country with the ability to destroy the world.

I see a few folk put Iran in Lubbock or maybe Abilene. Different gang of mullahs, people.

150
sagehen  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:45:59am

re: #144 retired cynic

As a strong practicing Catholic and the father of three boys with my wife, I firmly believe that we must protect the sanctity of life, and in Congress I will continue to vote to protect life.

I’ll bet if he was the father of daughters, they would have a different view.

151
b.d. (Lock Him Up!)  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:53:11am

re: #139 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A dangerously ignorant country with the ability to destroy the world.

We asked 300 self-identified morons and trolls if they could find Iran on a map…

152
retired cynic  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:58:02am

re: #150 sagehen

I’ll bet if he was the father of daughters, they would have a different view.

I got back “this is an untended mailbox” response.

153
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 7:59:59am

re: #134 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

Some bozo posted this

U.S. officials had advance warning of Iran’s missile assault.-
yea- we pay big bucks for those satellites.

The Iranians are going to have up their game and figure out a way to be stealthy if they want to fire off missiles without US knowing in advance

As if advanced warning means we moved the Iraqi bases out of the way. //

Or would have more time to anything more than log off, pack up, head for the bomb shelter and wait for the big BOOM!!.

I’ve seen it posited that the missiles used in yesterday’s attack were the Fateh-110, or a variant: medium-range (300 km, 187 mi), truck-launched, delivering a 650 kg (1430 lb) warhead, supposedly within “3 meters” accuracy. Since this missile is mobile, it’s likely the Iranians would just deploy a few out in the desert/hills/wherever within range of the target base, and fire them off on command. Which, depending on the distance - the Fateh-110 is said to travel at “Mach 3.5” - would give a target (even assuming immediate notification of launch) what? 10 minutes warning? If that.

Jeez, I’m not even an armchair general (LTC at best), and I can figure out that that “advance notice” comment is BS.

154
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:00:28am

re: #144 retired cynic

So I sent a letter to my Rep LaHood (R, of course). Response, in part:

I responded: Your religion may inform your opinion, but it should NOT inform the law for those of us (the majority), who do not follow your religion. grrrrrr

He has three boys with his wife.

Wonder how many abortions his mistresses had?

155
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:00:47am

This address to the Nation is going to be batshit insane, isn’t it?

156
Ace Rothstein  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:01:17am

If Republicans were pro-life, they wouldn’t have kicked 750,000 people off of food assistance a week before Christmas.

157
Ace Rothstein  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:01:26am

re: #155 Eclectic Cyborg

Yes.

158
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:01:29am

re: #153 Jay C

Iran supposedly tipped off the Iraqis that the missiles were going to be flying…

159
retired cynic  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:02:16am

re: #154 Joe Bacon 🌹

He has three boys with his wife.

Wonder how many abortions his mistresses had?

Who knows? He may be very tall, but he tends to keep his head down, for a politician.

160
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:04:22am

re: #158 lawhawk

Iran supposedly tipped off the Iraqis that the missiles were going to be flying…

Seems to be par for the course these days: didn’t Trump leak target info to the Syrians/Russians when he fired off that missile barrage in ‘17 that he was bragging about so much? Just to make sure there were no “unfortunate” casualties….?

161
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:04:50am

re: #156 Ace Rothstein

If Republicans were pro-life, they wouldn’t have kicked 750,000 people off of food assistance a week before Christmas.

They’re not pro-life, they’re pro rich white Christian

162
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:08:43am

re: #158 lawhawk

Iran supposedly tipped off the Iraqis that the missiles were going to be flying…

I read that the bases are Iraqi bases that host US troops with many more Iraqis than Americans. That might also explain some of the diffidence.

163
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:12:32am

And the orange fucker is late as usual I see.

164
PhillyPretzel  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:13:32am

re: #163 Eclectic Cyborg

He is trying to make himself be the important person that he is not.

165
HRH Stanley Sea  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:17:29am

Good read

166
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:19:28am
167
makeitstop  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:21:41am

Reminder: Impeachment is not going away.

168
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:25:17am

re: #167 makeitstop

Reminder: Impeachment is not going away.

Then neither is the Iran crisis…

169
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:26:30am

re: #167 makeitstop

Reminder: Impeachment is not going away.

[Embedded content]

I half expect him in this address to demand the Democrats cease Impeachment proceedings immediately so he can focus all of his energy on this crisis.

170
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:26:49am

26 minutes late and counting…

171
Sherlock Hound  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:26:50am

As always, French Twitter speaks for me:
“The whole world is waiting for a man who’s a quarter-hour late… These Americans truly have never been educated…”

Une demi-heure maintenant…

172
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:29:17am

He sounds like he is having a hard time breathing.

173
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:32:05am

I take it he was late because his meds hadn’t kicked in? He sounds drugged.

174
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:32:29am

Is he doing the Norma Desmond thing and asking Mr. deMille for his close-up?

175
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:33:37am

Oh geez the olde cash to terrorists thing

176
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:33:58am

“very defective JCPOA”

177
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:34:32am

“I need all the countries I pissed off to help save my ass at this point”

178
A Three Hour Tour  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:35:11am

My God, he sounds robotic in his delivery.

179
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:36:49am

“Our missiles are BIG.” How humiliating.

180
Ace Rothstein  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:37:03am

re: #175 Rightwingconspirator

IT WAS THEIR FUCKING MONEY. It was money used to buy airplanes that was frozen by the Carter administration when our embassy was seized. After 35 years and lawsuits during multiple administrations, it was ordered released and to be paid back with interest. The Obama administration negotiated the amount down and Iran agreed. Period.

181
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:37:15am

re: #174 Joe Bacon 🌹

Is he doing the Norma Desmond thing and asking Mr. deMille for his close-up?

If he does get a close-up it had better be straight on because, as usual, the makeup on the sides of his face is a disaster.

182
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:38:33am

re: #178 A Three Hour Tour

My God, he sounds robotic in his delivery.

That’s how you can tell he is sticking to the teleprompter.

183
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:38:41am

re: #178 A Three Hour Tour

My God, he sounds robotic in his delivery.

I was sort of joking about the meds kicking in in my previous post, but I’m beginning to think maybe that was the problem. Robotic delivery, slurred speech, getting lost in the middle of words. We’re all going to die, aren’t we?

184
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:39:40am

re: #183 calochortus

I was sort of joking about the meds kicking in in my previous post, but I’m beginning to think maybe that was the problem. Robotic delivery, slurred speech, getting lost in the middle of words. We’re all going to die, aren’t we?

Eventually, but I pray all of us Lizards manage to outlive the orange bastard.

185
PhillyPretzel  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:39:43am

re: #183 calochortus

I hope not. I would still like to see him tried at least in the House.

186
Sherlock Hound  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:41:05am

I’m betting they were revising through the very last minute up til the speech went into the teleprompter!

187
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:41:53am

Aw shit. His head didn’t do the Scanners thing…

188
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:42:23am

re: #185 PhillyPretzel

I hope not. I would still like to see him tried at least in the House.

The last bit was (mostly) in jest. Yes, I want him to be held accountable. And held up to ridicule, while we’re at it.

189
Rightwingconspirator  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:45:53am

Bully has got to bully, right? Blame Obama lol. We had relative peace and a deal. The good news is no massive attack in response to the MISSiles. I don’t know what to make of that. If these missiles are guided and precise, runways and the taxiways, etc are big targets. If they are not a whole base is a small target.

Internal Iranian claims of major casualties are disconcerting. Are these people as gullible as republicans?

They say the missiles used were this model.

Qiam-1: The Qiam-1 is an enhanced variant of the Shahab-2 SRBM modified between 2010 and 2014 with warhead and frame changes that suggest heightened accuracy and ability to evade BMD systems. Notably, the Qiam-1 lacks planar fins, which although useful for in-flight stability, indicates a smaller Radar Cross Section (RCS) for challenging detection and likely improvements from its predecessor’s INS. The missile is equipped with a triconic RV whose shape provides just enough increased drag upon re-entry to create a larger shockwave and buffer against the high heats of supersonic flight while adding stability. The shape of the RV mitigates some of the instability introduced by removing the planar fins and makes a more aerodynamic frame with lower mass for increased speeds.

190
Dr. Matt  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:46:42am

Has Donnie threatened to nuke the planet yet?

191
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:47:57am

Press Corpse doing their usual asskissing?

192
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:49:21am

re: #190 Dr. Matt

Has Donnie threatened to nuke the planet yet?

Nope, and he’s done with his “remarks.”
A couple random, unenforceable threats (Iran will never get nukes, etc.) and he didn’t take questions.

Freepers tend to think he looked tired, sort of happy with his statements and now claiming Dems are disappointed there won’t be a war. Last night Freepers were calling for the destruction of Iran. They can certainly turn on a dime.

193
Dr. Matt  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:51:27am

re: #192 calochortus

Freepers tend to think he looked tired….

He was up all night watch fox and re-reruns of his klan rallies.

194
A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:52:49am

So, I’m off to South America and the Galapagos shortly. I hope the world is still here when I get back. And wish I could unplug for the duration, but no.

I don’t know what kind of bandwidth I’ll have, but I might be able to post a bit.

And while I think of it, has anyone heard anything about wheatdogg?

195
PhillyPretzel  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:54:01am

re: #194 A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!

Enjoy your trip. I have not heard anything about WheatDogg.

196
calochortus  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:56:01am

I’d best get moving. Mr. C. and I are going to take a little hike this morning and I probably shouldn’t be in my jammies when we do.

Laterz, all.

197
Jay C  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:56:15am

re: #165 Stanley Sea

Good read

[Embedded content]

Quite. Except that Sargent skips over one factor which (IMHO) lies in back of all the stuff he notes as lying at the back of this (Mal)Administration’s “inchoate” Iran policy.

Which is wasn’t just “hatred of Obama” or simpleminded notions of “strength” that led Trump to junk the Iran nuclear deal (though those were certainly factors), but that there was (still is) an influential faction of foreign-policy “experts” (think John Bolton) who firmly believe that there is positive political gain to be made in keeping Iran as the Axis-Of-Evil Designated Devil of world politics; that simplistic/cartoonish as that approach may be, it is still a good sell at home.

1. It provides all of those “low-information” citizens with a convenient villain (Islamist, terrorist, expansionist, “Death-To-America”-chanting, stonings-and-beheadings dictatorship, etc.) to blame for almost anything.

2. It lets the US look “right” by lining up with Israel (who view Iran as their principle threat) , and our “allies” in Saudi Arabia (who also view Iran as their major regional rival, ergo threat).

3. Maintaining the official position of Iran As International Boogeyman provides a convenient deflection for a whole range of foreign-policy criticism: as we’ve already seen, GOP assholes are already trotting out the old wheeze of “pro-Iran?” as a poke at any critics of Trump’s irresponsible warmongering.

BTW, I’m not trying to whitewash the Iranian regime: “good guys” they’re not: but it’s a good bet that more “control”/influence over their actions would be achieved (as the Obama Admin tried) by a policy of engagement, rather than knee-jerk hostility. Which seemed to be working, so it’s no wonder Trump was against it…

198
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:56:59am

re: #192 calochortus

Nope, and he’s done with his “remarks.”
A couple random, unenforceable threats (Iran will never get nukes, etc.) and he didn’t take questions.

Freepers tend to think he looked tired, sort of happy with his statements and now claiming Dems are disappointed there won’t be a war. Last night Freepers were calling for the destruction of Iran. They can certainly turn on a dime.

re: #113 Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)

he can absolutely do no wrong

199
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:58:18am

re: #194 A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!

So, I’m off to South America and the Galapagos shortly. I hope the world is still here when I get back. And wish I could unplug for the duration, but no.

I don’t know what kind of bandwidth I’ll have, but I might be able to post a bit.

And while I think of it, has anyone heard anything about wheatdogg?

we did a natgeo cruise to the galapagos in 2009. it was fascinating

200
Dangerman (misuser of the sarc tag)  Jan 8, 2020 • 8:59:33am

re: #197 Jay C

Quite. Except that Sargent skips over one factor which (IMHO) lies in back of all the stuff he notes as lying at the back of this (Mal)Administration’s “inchoate” Iran policy.

Which is wasn’t just “hatred of Obama” or simpleminded notions of “strength” that led Trump to junk the Iran nuclear deal (though those were certainly factors), but that there was (still is) an influential faction of foreign-policy “experts” (think John Bolton) who firmly believe that there is positive political gain to be made in keeping Iran as the Axis-Of-Evil Designated Devil of world politics; that simplistic/cartoonish as that approach may be, it is still a good sell at home.

1. It provides all of those “low-information” citizens with a convenient villain (Islamist, terrorist, expansionist, “Death-To-America”-chanting, stonings-and-beheadings dictatorship, etc.) to blame for almost anything.

2. It lets the US look “right” by lining up with Israel (who view Iran as their principle threat) , and our “allies” in Saudi Arabia (who also view Iran as their major regional rival, ergo threat).

3. Maintaining the official position of Iran As International Boogeyman provides a convenient deflection for a whole range of foreign-policy criticism: as we’ve already seen, GOP assholes are already trotting out the old wheeze of “pro-Iran?” as a poke at any critics of Trump’s irresponsible warmongering.

BTW, I’m not trying to whitewash the Iranian regime: “good guys” they’re not: but it’s a good bet that more “control”/influence over their actions would be achieved (as the Obama Admin tried) by a policy of engagement, rather than knee-jerk hostility. Which seemed to be working, so it’s no wonder Trump was against it…

essentially why the abortion issue can’t be settled

201
HRH Stanley Sea  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:09:19am

re: #194 A hollow voice says, Guilty, guilty, guilty!

So, I’m off to South America and the Galapagos shortly. I hope the world is still here when I get back. And wish I could unplug for the duration, but no.

I don’t know what kind of bandwidth I’ll have, but I might be able to post a bit.

And while I think of it, has anyone heard anything about wheatdogg?

LHOIep+CdQH5qTTPy/dmoyJaUet3yFuPgQ/2kRlsI3zDw5drSfheOqgaT1RBG+7Bwk5GZxrbflA3MlEkavbMoTmuc3suJK555HcfL4J6if8UGSTjsfDMPP1PTRsNjJBAeai/7VrtBsI5SOkxslpba9wYdYm59SWK

202
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:23:15am
In the middle of the speech, Trump talked about how “big, powerful, lethal and fast” American missiles are, and indicated that there was a new generation of hypersonic missiles on the way—which is genuine news, and amounts to the unveiling of a top-secret weapons system. Russia has been publicly demonstrating hypersonic technology purposely designed to thwart missile defense systems. But until this speech, the United States had not made any announcement that it intended to deploy similar technology.

dailykos.com

203
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:26:49am

re: #202 Belafon

I’d say that’s typical Trump hyperbole and bulkshit. The US is probably working on new class of missiles, but Russia and others are using hypersonic missiles as a way to overcome US missile defense at a lower cost and to balance playing field against stealth.

Move and countermove.

204
Charles Johnson  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:34:47am
205
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:36:58am
206
makeitstop  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:41:41am
207
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:42:19am

re: #206 makeitstop

[Embedded content]

208
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:42:48am

re: #192 calochortus

Nope, and he’s done with his “remarks.”
A couple random, unenforceable threats (Iran will never get nukes, etc.) and he didn’t take questions.

Freepers tend to think he looked tired, sort of happy with his statements and now claiming Dems are disappointed there won’t be a war. Last night Freepers were calling for the destruction of Iran. They can certainly turn on a dime.

It’s really past time to stop thinking of the Trump base as ignorant and deluded but basically well-intentioned people who only need to be educated to the realities of the modern world. Ignorant and delusional they often are (“we have all the guns”) but well intentioned they are not. Over the last 60 years the Republican Party has found myriad ways to identify, catalog, and mobilize rank evil, from bigotry and greed to flat out sadism. Trump is the logical outcome of this process. They don’t love him in spite of his manifest character flaws but because of them. He is one of them, or what they would like to be.
Now, everyone here pretty well understands this, but influential elements of the Democratic Party do not. Buttigieg and, more importantly, Joe Biden are examples. How to handle it is a matter for political strategists with more knowledge than I have, but recognizing the reality is a mandatory starting point.

209
Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:44:02am

I’ve taken Aderrall before for my ADD. It doesn’t cause me to slur words, but it does suck away my energy and leave me in a kind of zombie-esque state. Still, I could easily get up and deliver a strong speech under its effects if I had to.

210
lawhawk  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:45:22am

Trump is 1. His base is 1. They all got their warfighting degrees at Trump U.

211
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:46:51am

Lots of true believers in the comments of that Scott Adams’ tweet I posted above, but also lots of, “right on, man; and I love what you’ve been doing with Garfield lately.” LOL

212
Dr. Matt  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:47:58am

How many CNN and MSNBC libruls are now claiming that Donnie has pivoted to CiC?

213
PhillyPretzel  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:49:04am

re: #211 Barefoot Grin

It is a good thing that I gave up the comics pages. I would not like to see Garfield supporting DT.

214
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:50:34am

re: #213 PhillyPretzel

It is a good thing that I gave up the comics pages. I would not like to see Garfield supporting DT.

To be fair, other commenters complimented him on his work on Ziggy, too.

215
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:51:56am

re: #207 Barefoot Grin

Since I didn’t watch the speech, I can’t comment, but this…?

216
makeitstop  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:52:51am

Wanna hear something really annoying?

I could only get about 10 seconds in and had to turn it off.

He’s really not well.

217
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:53:30am

re: #215 Colère Tueur de Lapin

One of President Trump’s finest moments since he was inaugurated.

By Trump standards, it was one his more sane presentations and it did bring us a bit of relief…

218
Belafon  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:54:22am

re: #217 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

By Trump standards, it was one his more sane presentations and it did bring us a bit of relief…

It is a really low bar.

219
Teddy's Person  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:55:34am

re: #215 Colère Tueur de Lapin

Since I didn’t watch the speech, I can’t comment, but this…?

[Embedded content]

To be fair, Trump could take a dump in the Rose Garden, and poor Jim would tweet the same thing. Bless his heart.

220
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:55:36am

re: #218 Belafon

It is a really low bar.

as in “bar is buried 20 ft deep”?

221
Barefoot Grin  Jan 8, 2020 • 9:58:27am

re: #215 Colère Tueur de Lapin

Since I didn’t watch the speech, I can’t comment, but this…?

[Embedded content]

Mostly that, scarily. I mean, all he has to do is do that stupid head-tilt from side to side and he becomes the Great Statesman to these people.

222
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jan 8, 2020 • 10:01:19am

I fully expect his supporters to fall all over each other for a chance to publicly to fawn over his statesmanlike demeanor.

223
Sherlock Hound  Jan 8, 2020 • 10:08:18am

re: #210 lawhawk

7) “It’s all about the drooonnnnz! Obama! Democrats! Republicans! If you don’t agree with me right now, you’re FASCIST! And Walmart is bad! No, I don’t care if you’re disabled! If you aren’t marching, you’re not a real activist!”

224
William Lewis  Jan 8, 2020 • 10:09:32am

re: #205 Barefoot Grin

He was probably told to by Boss Putin so that Putin can say “see, we need our programs to counter the Americanskis” to the nations near him. Not that he needs to but it helps his propaganda.

The Pentagon would need to keep anything really important secret from him since the Russians will know seconds later.

225
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Jan 8, 2020 • 10:26:01am

re: #224 William Lewis

The Pentagon would need to keep anything really important secret from him since the Russians will know seconds later.

While the second part of that phrase is definitely true, is the first part happening?


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Once Praised, the Settlement to Help Sickened BP Oil Spill Workers Leaves Most With Nearly Nothing When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired ...
Cheechako
Yesterday
Views: 71 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
4 days ago
Views: 169 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1