What stupid shit has Trump done today?

[CRI]

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.

You may be right. I remember thinking toward the end of Carter's presidency that Americans genuinely don't like "honest" politicians. He wasn't perfect, but you got the sense he actually cared and wanted to do what was right for the nation, for the people. But, people lapped up Reagan's greed, slick lies and links with the "moral majority," and it's been on a downwards trajectory since.

It's not that facts don't matter, else those in control wouldn't try so damned hard to conceal them. But, it's just that much easier to get people to do what you want them to do (or not do) by telling them what they want to hear. I think the Democratic Party's mistake was to assume voters would see through the Trump / GOP lies and be appalled. I'm sure most Trump voters knew damned well they were being lied to, but they didn't care, so long as it made them feel good. Most are still happy as pigs in shit, blissfully and willfully ignorant of the damage Trump / GOP policies are causing/will cause. I don't think they'll be swayed, even if they suffer. It's about faith, and probably pretty easy to swap faith in God for faith in Trump/GOP.

 

[CRI]

In Rolling Stone The Democrats' Battle for Montana
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.

I worked with a guy from Montana 30 years ago, and got the impression even then that Democrats weren't exactly popular round those parts. I wasn't surprised the dude got in, and in the current climate, wasn't surprised that physically assaulting a reporter didn't do his campaign much harm.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

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.

Is he the guy that said people shouldn't really retire because Noah was 600 when he built the ark?

Edit: Yep.. Noah From The Bible Didn't Retire, So This Likely GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Doesn't See Why You Should | HuffPost

 

[CRI]

Is he the guy that said people shouldn't really retire because Noah was 600 when he built the ark?

Edit: Yep.. Noah From The Bible Didn't Retire, So This Likely GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Doesn't See Why You Should | HuffPost

Probably thinks Lot was an excellent role model for fathers. Trump seems to think so.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

Probably thinks Lot was an excellent role model for fathers. Trump seems to think so.

I would take such an attitude with a pinch of salt

 

[LiamO]

Gotta love the Pope...

 

[CRI]

The Lesser Part of Valor
Preston Brooks, Greg Gianforte, and the American tradition of disguising cowardice as bravery.

Interesting piece giving some historical context to why bullying by leaders has always been lauded by some.

 

[coley]

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.

What is this "woke" business?

 

[redsquirrel]

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.

Lovely. Liberal anti-humanism. And utter ahistorical crap.

 

[coley]

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.

Brexit has really pissed you off, hasn't it?

 

[coley]

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.

You haven't got a "corrupt population" rather a 'dumbed down' one, something not unique in America, it's everywhere, and it's down to those sections of the media controlled by the corporate right wing Neoliberals
The danger is that politicians who have some sense of decency know they will be steamrollered into oblivion if they try to buck these organisations.
A constant torrent of clickbait will always beat sober (but boring) analysis of current affairs.

 

[coley]

Lovely. Liberal anti-humanism. And utter ahistorical crap.

Really? And how do you explain how a large proportion of the US population is denying reality?

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Flogging a dead horse I know, but this is well done

 

[coley]

You may be right. I remember thinking toward the end of Carter's presidency that Americans genuinely don't like "honest" politicians. He wasn't perfect, but you got the sense he actually cared and wanted to do what was right for the nation, for the people. But, people lapped up Reagan's greed, slick lies and links with the "moral majority," and it's been on a downwards trajectory since.

It's not that facts don't matter, else those in control wouldn't try so damned hard to conceal them. But, it's just that much easier to get people to do what you want them to do (or not do) by telling them what they want to hear. I think the Democratic Party's mistake was to assume voters would see through the Trump / GOP lies and be appalled. I'm sure most Trump voters knew damned well they were being lied to, but they didn't care, so long as it made them feel good. Most are still happy as pigs in shit, blissfully and willfully ignorant of the damage Trump / GOP policies are causing/will cause. I don't think they'll be swayed, even if they suffer. It's about faith, and probably pretty easy to swap faith in God for faith in Trump/GOP.

Mebbes TTT and his ' inner circle' isn't as stupid as most think? And how he's seen how Putin and his tame oglirchs have taken over Russia with a toxic brand of nationalism, homophobia and the threat of the 'West'
And how the population of Russia, despite the privatations they are being forced to endure, still give him massive support, now Putin managed that by making life extremely difficult for his political opponents, but in order to do that, he emasculated the opposition media, some sort of pattern emerging?
The difference is, Russia never got the chance to develop the kind of affluent, slightly left of centre society found in America and most European countries which normally would shove the likes TTT and MLP back under the stones from where they had been lurking.
However looking at TTTs victory and the surges of popular success of his European surrogates it would seem the centre left is fighting a holding action at best.
In short, the fact TTT and the GOP can increasingly get away with anything is fucking deeply worrying.

 

[petee]

However looking at TTTs victory

he lost. never forget that.

 

[MightyTibberton]

Kushner, reportedly says the Washington Post, tried to set up a secret "back channel" communication between the White House and the Kremlin. Even better, they were going to do it all using Russian infrastructure!

I can't imagine why on earth that isn't completely reasonable and not at all shady behaviour for an incoming American president.

 

[MightyTibberton]

Gianforte is also a "young earth creationist" who once gave a huge donation to one of those loopy museums that says Moses rode dinosaurs or something like that.

 

[ohmyliver]

apparently, the 'back channel' was to discuss the Syrian War with Russia. Which is of course why Kushner (and Flynn who is strongly rumoured to be present at that meeting) didn't tell anyone about it. *strokes chin*. Interestingly enough the selling off of the stake of the Rostov company happened 120 hours after this meeting.

Also Reuters are reporting that he had other undisclosed meetings with Kislyak
Exclusive: Trump son-in-law had undisclosed contacts with Russian envoy - sources

There's also this GOP strategist admits he colluded with Russian hackers to hurt Hillary Clinton, Democrats the strategist has links to Team Trump's Roger Stone.

I think we might be starting to move on to the 'fire' bit of the Trump Russia thingy, after all these months of smoke.

 

[editor]

It's a clusterfuck on a fuckup on a WTF.

 

[J Ed]

Gotta love the Pope...

I love this new trend of substituting actual political analysis with out of context pictures and short videos of world leaders which are then used to infer whatever comforting thing we want them to.

OMG, the muscular centre has a new champion. Trudeau is going to stand up to Trump! He is going to tell him to stop his attacks on indigenous communities which the Canadian government had up until that point had fanatically supported.

OMG, Trudeau has embraced Trump and has now joined the alt-right!! He pledges to work towards a North American Muslim ban.

 

[J Ed]

he lost. never forget that.

No he didn't.

 

[CrabbedOne]

apparently, the 'back channel' was to discuss the Syrian War with Russia. Which is of course why Kushner (and Flynn who is strongly rumoured to be present at that meeting) didn't tell anyone about it. *strokes chin*. Interestingly enough the selling off of the stake of the Rostov company happened 120 hours after this meeting.

Also Reuters are reporting that he had other undisclosed meetings with Kislyak
Exclusive: Trump son-in-law had undisclosed contacts with Russian envoy - sources

There's also this GOP strategist admits he colluded with Russian hackers to hurt Hillary Clinton, Democrats the strategist has links to Team Trump's Roger Stone.

I think we might be starting to move on to the 'fire' bit of the Trump Russia thingy, after all these months of smoke.

Wealthy heirs of real estate empires often borrow lots of money in order to expand what daddy built.

As a young man Trump set up his own shop with a big loan from daddy and used his father's extensive, very corrupt, network in NYC to build it up. Despite this massive silver spoon Trump's a pretty poor credit risk as he messed up really badly in the NJ casino business.

Whizz kid Jared also isn't in great shape. While his father was in prison for dodgy doings in NJ young Kushner took a massive punt on NYC property just before the real estate crash leaving dad's empire heavily over leveraged.

And where does dictatorship dark money like to hide: prestige real estate in places like NYC. Kleptocratic oligarchs from Russia, China, the Gulfies are all busily stashing away their loot there.

Neither man appears to have abandoned their interest in their family businesses just because they've unexpectedly ended up preoccupied with a temporary sideline based in the Whitehouse. You start digging into these guys affairs during impeachment hearings and there's inevitably somewhat compromising relationships they've acquired at home and abroad. It may be all just the usual real estate guy money grubbing but dragged out into the light of day it is going to look disreputable and whiff of "high crimes and misdemeanors" i.e. abuse of office.

For instance on Bloomberg Kushners' Blackstone Connection Put on Display in Saudi Arabia or The Kushner Project Touted in China Is in Trouble at Home.

 

[CRI]

It's a clusterfuck on a fuckup on a WTF.

Inside in a shitstorm.

 

[CRI]

You haven't got a "corrupt population" rather a 'dumbed down' one, something not unique in America, it's everywhere, and it's down to those sections of the media controlled by the corporate right wing Neoliberals
The danger is that politicians who have some sense of decency know they will be steamrollered into oblivion if they try to buck these organisations.
A constant torrent of clickbait will always beat sober (but boring) analysis of current affairs.

On reflection, I think 'accepted corruption' has always been a feature in America, whether it's Mayor Daley's Chicago Machine, KKK influence in Southern states, bootlegging during prohibition, or small town small time corruption.

For example, it was an open secret that the Deputy police chief near where I grew up was 'connected with' a series of arson attacks. He was eventually charged, evidence was overwhelming, but he had 100 character witnesses, came from a respected family and the jury acquitted.

Media collusion in and effective promotion of corruption is a newer thing. Before they'd just have ignored it as not newsworthy. During the campaign an even now, mainstream media outlets have actively rationalised and defended the corruption of Trump, his family, administration and GOP legislators.

In theory, the internet should have opened up opportunities for Americans previously limited by the insular, highly localised, news content fed by the big three TV stations. But, evidence seems to show that particularly Trump voters are self-selecting what they access - stuff that confirms what they're already inclined to believe. They aren't even curious about anything else.

 

[CRI]

Mebbes TTT and his ' inner circle' isn't as stupid as most think? And how he's seen how Putin and his tame oglirchs have taken over Russia with a toxic brand of nationalism, homophobia and the threat of the 'West'
And how the population of Russia, despite the privatations they are being forced to endure, still give him massive support, now Putin managed that by making life extremely difficult for his political opponents, but in order to do that, he emasculated the opposition media, some sort of pattern emerging?
The difference is, Russia never got the chance to develop the kind of affluent, slightly left of centre society found in America and most European countries which normally would shove the likes TTT and MLP back under the stones from where they had been lurking.
However looking at TTTs victory and the surges of popular success of his European surrogates it would seem the centre left is fighting a holding action at best.
In short, the fact TTT and the GOP can increasingly get away with anything is fucking deeply worrying.

There are certainly parallels, and as you say, the American people generally are showing willingness, or perhaps resignation, to accept an authoritarian system. Elsewhere in the world, I'd expect rioting in the street by this stage. I genuinely think there are many who still can't believe what's happening and feel paralysed by it with no idea what to do. They still cling to the myth of American exceptionalism . Dangerous.

 

[CRI]

File this under "In Trump's America. . . "

Witnesses: Man Cut the Throats of Two MAX Passengers Who Tried to Stop Anti-Muslim Bullying of Women on Northeast Portland Train

The attack occurred in the Hollywood District. "He said, 'Get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here.'"

 

[maomao]

File this under "In Trump's America. . . "

Witnesses: Man Cut the Throats of Two MAX Passengers Who Tried to Stop Anti-Muslim Bullying of Women on Northeast Portland Train

The attack occurred in the Hollywood District. "He said, 'Get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here.'"

Cause there were no racist murders in Saint Obama' s America.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On The Hill State Dept. lifts limit on refugee admissions

...
Jennifer Smith, a department official, reportedly notified refugee groups of the decision Thursday in an email stating that they could begin bringing refugees to the U.S. “unconstrained by the weekly quotas that were in place.”

Many of the organizations that received the email are private agencies that help guide individuals hoping to enter the country through the two-year U.S. application process.

The number of refugees entering the U.S. could double as a result of the lifted restrictions, refugee advocates told the newspaper. The leap could go from 830 a week for the first three weeks of May to over 1,500 a week by next month.

While the lifted restriction occurred on the same day that a Richmond, Va.-based federal appeals court handed down a ruling that blocked President Trump’s travel ban targeting six-majority Muslim countries, the decision is not related to the ruling, the Times said.

Congress passed a spending bill last fall that tightly constrained the budget for the State Department’s refugee resettlement program. The spending bill passed earlier this month, however, does not impose any limits on refugee admissions.
...

Huh? Is Trump even in the loop on this?

 

[CrabbedOne]

On The Hill Five takeaways from the Montana special election

...
The Trump brand still works in red districts

Purple-state Republicans are openly worrying about how much Trump will deflate their support at the polls, especially as Democrats turn attacks on Trump into a part of their midterm strategy.

But in red states, associating with Trump is still a boon.

The president remains popular in states he overwhelmingly won in 2016 despite low national approval numbers. Gianforte’s success in Montana further proves that Trump can be part of the House GOP’s playbook.

The White House’s brand played a huge part of Gianforte’s bid, with the candidate appearing on the stump with Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President Pence. Both Pence and President Trump recorded robocalls on Gianforte’s behalf in the final week.
...

The Red State's still love Trump no matter how swampy it gets in DC.

 

[CrabbedOne]

On The Hill Boehner: Tax reform is 'just a bunch of happy talk'

...
Boehner said he “never envisioned” Trump in the Oval Office, and while he said Trump “did what he could” with healthcare, his presidency still faces big problems.
“Everything else he’s done has been a complete disaster,” Boehner said. “He’s still learning how to be president.”

The former Speaker also hit back at some House Democrats’ calls for Trump’s impeachment.

“Talk of impeachment is the best way to rile up Trump supporters,” he said. “Remember, impeachment is not a legal process; it’s a political process.”

Boehner reportedly called Trump earlier this month when he was considering vetoing the government spending bill passed by Congress. Boehner told the commander in chief that he should avoid a shutdown and be thankful that the deal included an increase in military spending, according to Axios.

Boehner can see Trump's impeachment coming and that's the best way for the GOP to play it. All aboard the outrage bus.