What stupid shit has Trump done today?

[Supine]

The look on his face after, and the way he pulls his jacket

Needs more

 

[CRI]

 

[elbows]

Havent quite figured out if this is the right Trump thread for the following but anyway, oh joy, the FBI are interested in Kushner

President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, is under FBI scrutiny as part of the Russia investigation, US media report.

Investigators believe Mr Kushner, 36, has significant information relevant to their inquiry, US officials told NBC News.

Kushner 'under FBI scrutiny' in Russia investigation - US sources - BBC News

 

[coley]

I'm just going to leave this here:

Brilliant

 

[coley]

You could just imagine a pair of handcuffs on those wrists.

And she always seems to look petrified. Not just her face - her whole stance.

Buggerinhell, probably get roasted for me 'HO' but let's be honest, why would a highly educated, beautiful woman marry an uneducated, mysiginostic, frankly ugly, boorish ( let's not mention the small hands innuendo)
Arsehole!!??

I ask mesel that question everytime I wake up next to 'wor lass'

 

[Raheem]

Pope clearly not bothered by lack of fancy headgear on other women.

Just for the nerd points, the headgear is not part of the normal protocol, which is just that women are supposed to wear black, unless they are Catholic royalty, when they should wear white. Apparently, wearing a veil was normal prior to Vatican II. Not sure what message they are trying to send out, or to who, but it's unlikely to have pleased their hosts.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On TAC Trump Hectors NATO Allies, But Praises the Saudis

...
It is unfortunate that an administration that won’t say anything critical about despotic clients is so ready to share its complaints about our democratic allies. There is nothing wrong with disagreements with other governments, including disagreements in public. Disagreement is inevitable, and interests diverge from time to time. However, to engage in servile bootlicking when dealing with Gulf despots and then turn around and make a point of finding fault with genuine allies shows a very warped set of priorities indeed. It also shows a complete misunderstanding of which relationships are more important to the U.S. Our European allies matter far more than the Saudis et al., and if we are going to flatter and applaud anyone it should be our real allies and not reckless clients that implicate us in their war crimes. Trump has done exactly the opposite on his first foreign trip, and that is just one of several reasons why the trip will be justifiably viewed as a failure.

Interesting contrast that and it's perhaps deliberate on Trump's part.

Put yourself in Trump's very expensive shoes. KSA has paid for its protection and praised him. What have all these Europeans offered as tribute?

The fact that NATO soldiers went to Afghanistan after 9-11 in what was often described as an "alliance commitment" Trump seems to be aware of. A long, unsuitable mission very far from NATO's Russia-centric purpose. ISAF is sometimes referred to by US soldiers as I See Americans Fighting but some did get killed.

He probably also knows by now that a lot of those shiny Toyotas that the Taliban ride were paid for by Saudi donors and that the Saudi Ulema isn't exactly spotless when it come to inspiring the sort of sectarian violence IS indulge in.

But that's not Trump's transactional focus. Trump's never been picky about who he rents to. He's the victim here, it's like one of his properties has been squatted. These uppity European bums haven't been paying their rent and worse some of them have been rude about him behind his back. He's not so much President as the really pissed new Proprietor of an empire.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On Naked Capitalism The White House Flouts Ethics Rules

...
The letter, also questioning whether Mr. Mnuchin’s appointment of Mr. Noreika was “circumventing” the confirmation process and avoiding certain ethics requirements, called the episode an “apparent political power grab.” “You have chosen to replace the current head with an acting head who is unvetted, has obvious conflicts of interest, and lacks the experience to run an agency that employs almost 4,000 individuals and oversees over 2,000 national banks, both large and small,” they wrote.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Senator Chris Van Hollen, said: “Mr. Noreika is an unvetted attorney who lacks the experience to serve as an independent Wall Street watchdog”… “His work in the private sector creates an unprecedented series of conflicts of interest— further underscoring the need for anyone serving as comptroller to go through the Senate confirmation process.”

According to an analysis of government records by the New York Times in collaboration with ProPublica, it certainly appears that this administration is, in fact, filling its key positions with a small army of former lobbyists and corporate consultants whose intentions are to roll back government regulations at the agencies they once sought to influence. The Times continues with new details to our previous reporting on Trump’s weakening of ethics rules and former lobbyists working on regulations they opposed on behalf of private clients just months ago.
...

Trump administration trending from swampy to sewer dwelling.

 

[bimble]

Absolute and utter crap, he's doing the very opposite - arguing for consistent politics based on principles rather than an moronic empty anti-Trumpism at which NATO/the FBI/whatever switch between being good or bad based on the latest actions of Trump.

No this is nonsense, nobody is doing it. Nobody is saying that Israel or the FBI is 'woke' all of a sudden, apart from J Ed, sarcastically.

 

[Dandred]

Buggerinhell, probably get roasted for me 'HO' but let's be honest, why would a highly educated, beautiful woman marry an uneducated, mysiginostic, frankly ugly, boorish ( let's not mention the small hands innuendo)
Arsehole!!??

I ask mesel that question everytime I wake up next to 'wor lass'

Might be something to do with his money.

 

[2hats]

Some memories are priceless...

 

[2hats]

Someone’s been training for the event…

 

[CRI]

On TAC Trump Hectors NATO Allies, But Praises the Saudis
Interesting contrast that and it's perhaps deliberate on Trump's part.

Put yourself in Trump's very expensive shoes. KSA has paid for its protection and praised him. What have all these Europeans offered as tribute?

The fact that NATO soldiers went to Afghanistan after 9-11 in what was often described as an "alliance commitment" Trump seems to be aware of. A long, unsuitable mission very far from NATO's Russia-centric purpose. ISAF is sometimes referred to by US soldiers as I See Americans Fighting but some did get killed.

He probably also knows by now that a lot of those shiny Toyotas that the Taliban ride were paid for by Saudi donors and that the Saudi Ulema isn't exactly spotless when it come to inspiring the sort of sectarian violence IS indulge in.

But that's not Trump's transactional focus. Trump's never been picky about who he rents to. He's the victim here, it's like one of his properties has been squatted. These uppity European bums haven't been paying their rent and worse some of them have been rude about him behind his back. He's not so much President as the really pissed new Proprietor of an empire.

This absolutely! Well put. Scary, but I'm sure this is how he sees it.

It's probably been explained to him like that by those behind him, pushing an agenda he personally doesn't understand. So many are saying 'but, he probably doesn't even understand what article 5 is,' without realising that itself is an indication of just how fucked we all are.

 

[redsquirrel]

No this is nonsense, nobody is doing it. Nobody is saying that Israel or the FBI is 'woke' all of a sudden, apart from J Ed, sarcastically.

First, even if that was the case it does not make your accusation to J Ed true. He wasn't engaging in any my enemy's enemy stuff.

Second, your claim that people aren't switching positions based on anti-Trumpism is totally false.

Less than a month ago you had people not only dismissing any criticism of Obama taking $400,000 from wall street bankers but calling, either implicitly or explicitly, those who did criticise St Obama racists. Or there was the occasion when posters, including a supposed pacifist, attacked Trump for arguing for cuts to the military. Two examples just of the top of my head, I can find lots more if needed.

 

[CRI]

Trump Shove on Montenegro's Leader Sparks Balkan Media Rebuke

Hardly surprising.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On Politico Trump still hasn't given allied leaders what they want

Well that photographer caught the moment. Is he just finding his spot?

Trump often seems really uncomfortable in what's an plainly absurd role for him. May looks truly miserable. Tsipras looks to be enjoying the chaos. Orban may have glimpsed something cancerous.

Merkel probably didn't make it better by appearing in public just before these meetings delighted by a very smug Obama. These people know how to twist the knife.

Link. A mediocre President who at times was critical of Merkel's dysfunctional economic response to the 08 crisis and her prioritisation of German domestic politics over wider leadership. But he still has his uses.

Merkel is no fool. Like Trump she has a nose for what will please the arrogant vanity of her voters. Running as a strong and stable contrast to the preposterous Trump and his now obviously phoney version of nationalist "populism" is just the tonic her ageing brand needed. Don't expect The Donald to take that as anything other than personal.

 

[MightyTibberton]

Trump in Brussels: 'The Germans Are Bad, Very Bad' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - International

Bad Germans now.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

 

[CrabbedOne]

Trump in Brussels: 'The Germans Are Bad, Very Bad' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - International

Bad Germans now.

...
According to a report in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, many EU officials were appalled by how little the Americans appeared to know about trade policy. The guests from Washington seemed not to be aware that EU member states only negotiate trade treaties as a bloc. According to the paper, Trump's chief economic advisor, Gary Cohn, claimed during meetings, for example, that different customs tariffs are in place between the U.S. and Germany than between the U.S. and Belgium.
...

Cohn severance package at Goldman Sachs amounted to $285 million. Some say he was on track to be CEO. He's probably not a stupid man. Now he can't get the basics of EU trade policy right and is talking like some bumbling British politician who hasn't done his homework.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

From t'other day

 

[bimble]

From t'other day

That sword jigging by trump and co is quite a thing to watch. Melania's smile actually looks genuine there, maybe because she's trying not to laugh.

 

[CrabbedOne]

That sword jigging by trump and co is quite a thing to watch. Melania's smile actually looks genuine there, maybe because she's trying not to laugh.

"Never give sword to man a can't dance." -- Confucius, The Analects

 

[MightyTibberton]

Have you done the Israel press conference one, yet? Sorry I don't know how to share this in any other form - I'm almost tempted to say it might be faked in some way it looks so odd, but it's been shared by legitimate accounts...

 

[MightyTibberton]

I wonder if he'll demand cash from the G7 too?

Seems possible he'll announce quitting the Paris Climate Agreement soon.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On Bloomberg The Donald vs. Das Auto

...
Similarly, many American vehicles sold in Germany are built there by Ford and General Motors Co's Opel brand. So a more pertinent question might be to ask GM's CEO Mary Barra why she's having to retreat from Europe by selling Opel.

GM has suffered about $9 billion in losses in Europe in just seven years. So an American manufacturer has had unfettered access to Germany's car market, and failed. As the German foreign minister says, U.S. carmakers should "build better cars".

Trump's own buying choices have reflected this reality. His timing is also odd. Volkswagen AG's U.S. sales plummeted 8 percent last year after the dieselgate scandal. BMW AG is doing even worse. Its U.S. sales fell 10 percent last year, as consumers stopped buying sedans and started buying trucks and SUVs.

Plus BMW is a net exporter of cars from the U.S. If Trump were consistent, he would be a BMW fan. Mercedes and VW remain net importers to the U.S., according to Barclays, but both are investing heavily in American production.

Which brings me to my final point. You can't have a big trade surplus unless you're a net exporter of capital. Years of wage restraint, coupled with an aging society, have led to a huge surplus of German savings, some of which flow to the U.S.

Rather than targeting German autos with tariffs, Trump would have a far stronger case in urging the miserly Germans to cut taxes and boost investment. That might encourage more domestic purchases of U.S. goods.

There are limits, though. Even if you gave Germans a raise, it's doubtful many would rush out to buy a Ford, Jeep or Buick. Like trade deficits, buying habits die hard.

So unfair.

Good point about the miserly Germans running their anally retentive surplus but at least re-investing in technology on their production lines and keeping high levels of skilled industrial employment.

Trump's heart may even be in the right place here batting for US manufacturers but does he actually have a hope of helping them when they've been badly managed and basically failing for decades? Trump the genius business man instead of bleating about how nasty the world is to poor old America might sit down with US car makers, who have been repeatedly bailed out by Uncle Sam, and ask them why they are making so many flabby SUVs that you can only sell in a country where gas is dirt cheap and credit is real easy. But he's a real estate guy with no real concept of how a technology based business works.

 

[CRI]

Republican Greg Gianforte wins Montana special congressional election

Yep, the candidate for Montana's only seat in the US House, who beat up the reporter asking him about Trumpcare (that from the account of two Fox news reporters, and an audio tape) still won. Of course some votes would have already been cast as postal votes before the incident, but still, there were plenty Montanans who weren't bothered by the attack, or worse, applauded it.

He's got some messy financial ties with Russian companies, too, y'know, despite US Sanctions, but hey, that's becoming almost mandatory for Republicans these days, or so it seems.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Republican Greg Gianforte wins Montana special congressional election

Yep, the candidate for Montana's only seat in the US House, who beat up the reporter asking him about Trumpcare (that from the account of two Fox news reporters, and an audio tape) still won. Of course some votes would have already been cast as postal votes before the incident, but still, there were plenty Montanans who weren't bothered by the attack, or worse, applauded it.

He's got some messy financial ties with Russian companies, too, y'know, despite US Sanctions, but hey, that's becoming almost mandatory for Republicans these days, or so it seems.

I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that the reason we have corrupt politicians is because we have a corrupt population. Everyone has become too willing to embrace lies because its expedient to believe them, or they just plain like the lies better. Its a recipe for disaster, but try telling that to a people who'd rather not hear it.

 

[J Ed]

Another example of a Berniecrat Democrat receiving no support from party infrastructure. These people prefer Trump to neoliberalism without Charter schools.

 

[MightyTibberton]

I read earlier that the Democrats were outspent 8/1 by the Republicans.

 

[CrabbedOne]

In Rolling Stone The Democrats' Battle for Montana

...
The Montana seat is an obvious case where an investment in a hot congressional race today could make the defense of Tester's Senate seat an easier lift in 2018. On May 3rd, the DCCC opened its wallet in earnest, pouring another $400,000 into the Quist race. The DNC sent a staffer to Montana to work on digital strategy, and the national party is also paying for a social-media campaign targeting likely voters with reminders to return their absentee ballots.

That's not to say that Montana is suddenly a fair fight. Compared to national Republicans and their Super PAC allies, the Democrats are weeks late and millions short. And the GOP continues to escalate – deploying Vice President Pence to stump with Gianforte in Billings. But the May 25th election no longer smells like Kansas. With the party's support, and a grassroots war chest that has swelled to nearly $4 million, Quist has closed the gap to single digits in the polls.

After suffering the GOP's opening volley, Quist has come out blazing on television. The NRA's attacks, hitting him as a gun grabber, have stung – because they played off a rare misstep by the political novice. In an interview with a Bozeman reporter, Quist floated the idea of a registry for assault weapons. As he later explains to the Montana Sportsmen Alliance, he was thinking of military rifles – actual machine guns – not realizing that owners of such weapons already have to be registered. (This nuance is lost on the NRA, which grades Quist with an F.) Quist says he's an "old school" marksman who grew up in the tradition of "bringing meat home to the table." In fact, he tells the hunters' group, "I've got guns that are much older than the number of years Gianforte has been in the state." To make the point, Quist holds up between his thumb and forefinger a brass shell casing of a round he recently fired.
...

Piece does point out the Dems are very divided and on how to use campaign funds. The activist base wanting to go all out in seats where they may not have a great chance of winning but that might build up momentum and funding. The party machinery wanting to keep it's power dry for the Midterms in 2018. I can't say what's more likely to lead to them taking back Congress so they can launch an impeachment of Trump to hobble him further but the former probably feels real good to young folks fuming at Trump.

But what was Quist thinking using a NRA flag phrase "assault weapons" in cowboy country and then back tracking? The activist based may go for that but that was just going to turn out all the gun nuts against him. Toying with this black rifle shit isn't worth the trouble.