Trump

[Digby]

I think it makes a big difference. About 3 million more voters went for the Libertarian candidate in 2016 than the Greens, even with the cunningly named bottom half of the Green ticket (Baraka), and if they are concerned about a possible Democratic win then some of that 3 million is one of the only blocks of voters available to Trump with any great number that might boost his numbers from the last election. So as well as trying to ensure a high turnout for their side the Dems need as many moderate Republicans to vote their way or to not vote, and ramming home that Trump is corrupt would be big, even bigger if they can make it he's un-American in his lack of morals. Tricky one, the economy is growing which should help Trump, but it's not helping everyone, if Trump can get on the front foot about the economy he'll start to get a lot of free positive media coverage, if he's on the defensive then that's a problem in politics even before Trump is not quick on his feet

I don't really like any of the Dem candidates, too old or too unknown. Actually just listening to him Buttigieg is a quick thinker bar bringing chips and salsa to a bbq/cookout, but he's way down on name recognition and support among black and latino voters (see food choices)

Still Buttigieg is better than Biden, at the same even Pete got into trouble for his food choices Biden managed to say he doesn't consider drunk driving a felony, and that was just glossed over. And whilst I like Warren and Sanders (more so Warren for me) they're both too old, as is Bloomberg

I guess the being so close to their funeral is less an issue if that fat old man they're running against has died like Elvis on the khazi after yet another cheeseburger

[Digby]

An idiot tweeted

"Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game and a fantastic comeback, under immense pressure. You represented the Great State of Kansas, and in fact, the entire USA, so very well."

Worth noting as there are two Kansas cities and the Super Bowl winning side isn't in Kansas but rather Missouri. A swing and a miss from the fat lad, and I tend to think I do prefer his confusion as to where the Chiefs hail from to his also stating that for as long as he's President that Iowa is staying where it is, I'm sure we're all familiar with the plans from all other Presidents and Presidential candidates to move Iowa

[Mikey Brown]

I won't bore you with more videos of Trump being literally unable to speak, we've all seen it, but it does still amaze me how Pence manages to keep a straight face as he repeatedly jumbles his words, uses incorrect ones or simply invents new ones.

I'm just curious if/when his brain explodes and he collapses on stage whether anybody will actually say anything about it? Will you just have half the country declaring that he's doing a bit, trolling the libs etc. while he dies on the floor? It'll be fascinating to see how far his deterioration gets before certain people acknowledge it.

[morepork]

It doesn't matter to people who are convinced that white christians are a persecuted minority. He can openly mock the disabled, brag about sexual harassment, and on and on so long as he paints all non-white immigrants as potential criminals. When I say "he" I mean the bigots pulling his strings and telling him what to say, because he lacks the ability to articulate. You pat him on the head and tell him he is a smart little soldier, his belief in inherited wealth being a positive genetic trait will carry him through the fog of details he will never be able to comprehend. The white christians care for nothing but their own special little safe space that is insulated from science, education, and especially people that don't look and sound like them.

What a pack of complete thundercunts. There are so many of them here that I can't help but brace for another term of this remedial ideology in the place of actual leadership. I am so fucking over this shit.

[Mikey Brown]

It doesn't matter to people who are convinced that white christians are a persecuted minority. He can openly mock the disabled, brag about sexual harassment, and on and on so long as he paints all non-white immigrants as potential criminals. When I say "he" I mean the bigots pulling his strings and telling him what to say, because he lacks the ability to articulate. You pat him on the head and tell him he is a smart little soldier, his belief in inherited wealth being a positive genetic trait will carry him through the fog of details he will never be able to comprehend. The white christians care for nothing but their own special little safe space that is insulated from science, education, and especially people that don't look and sound like them.

What a pack of complete thundercunts. There are so many of them here that I can't help but brace for another term of this remedial ideology in the place of actual leadership. I am so fucking over this shit.

I was actually meaning to ask you why it is you're based there (may have asked before but forgotten) but then I saw this so I don't need to.

[Digby]

Morepork perhaps wanted to live in a Stanktuary city, which are as most things in the US are, in Kansas

[morepork]

Moved for career, got hooked by the diversity and good parts of Americana, don't have any real family back home so basically uprooted. I've seen the whole transition from dynamic talented vibrant environment, through to tea party anti-logic, up to todays empowerment of poor set upon white people wot wear assault rifles in public. I'm pretty sure there are some civil rights veterans shaking their heads right now and thinking, "not again".

[Digby]

Vindman proved wrong in his assertion that 'here right matters'. Congrats to Moscow Mitch and his friends for shouting down such foolish thoughts

[Digby]

Team Trump continues the good fight to deny discovery attempts by two plaintiffs making sexual assault cases, the main aim being to halt Trump being required to give up time to submit to a DNA test as it'd be too burdensome, and in fairness we must all know taking 5-10 seconds to have someone run a swab around the inside of your mouth is burdensome in the extreme. I did like the line from Team Trump that all such cases be put on hold as the President is immune from any such suits whilst in office, and that “Courts are required to give deference to the president of the United States.”

Being Trump the idiot has already participated in some cases whilst President, so convincing a Judge he can volunteer to partake of some cases and then just decline the ones he doesn't want to be involved in is surely going to prove tricky, unless it's one of the utterly unqualified idiots Trump has appointed to the bench.

[morepork]

Anything to shut him up, even for one day. It's constant whining and pleading for recognition.


While he acts the little bitch online, his son in law, the only man with a face more slappable than Quade Cooper's, Jared Kushner, is finding out that this diplomacy thing may be a tad more complicated than he may have anticipated. Although his plan is considered by himself to be better than previous attempts because it has, as he states, "180 pages and maps", the genius of turning Palestine into a glorified real estate Ponzi scheme with restricted movement of goods and services courtesy of the IDF, has been revealed as a paper-thinly veiled annexing exercise. The Kush has spent the last week slagging off not only Palestinian leadership, but what he perceives as cultural shortcomings that limit their ability to understand the genius of The Plan. But The Kush now has cold feet and no Plan B in the face of global outrage and mockery of his Deal of the Century. He is urging Israel to back off taking over Palestinian land until after their election to shield Benny Nettybaws from corruption charges, much like his orange mate in the USandA. Hardliners in Israel are not impressed with The Kush's about face in a stiff breeze and now he appears frozen in the headlights when the time for actual diplomating has arrived.

What a fucking farce. Perfectly sums up the competence of the US government today.

[morepork]

Well it took a while, but Mike Bloomberg's enthusiastic support for policies targeting minorities for assumed criminal behavior whilst mayor of NYC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51466036

Hopefully this results in him doing the Big Fuckoffski. Rich old twat.

[Digby]

Trump corrupts the DoJ over Roger Stone, and Barr happily goes along for the ride

[morepork]

What next? Dawn raids in retaliation for perceived slights on twitter? How long until the DOJ starts going after journalists? The vaunted checks and balances appear to have fallen on their arse.

[Digby]

Well it took a while, but Mike Bloomberg's enthusiastic support for policies targeting minorities for assumed criminal behavior whilst mayor of NYC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51466036

Hopefully this results in him doing the Big Fuckoffski. Rich old twat.

Among the lead candidates, supposing we discount Biden and why wouldn't we, Bloomberg has the highest approval ratings in the African American community. This is in no way related to which candidate can afford name recognition

[Digby]

Trump pardons Blagojevich in a move that's just... weird.

A political consultant, Brennan Hart, from Trump's 2016 election campaign noted "He's not saying it's OK," referring to the president's attitude towards Blagojevich's offences. "He's saying, it's been long enough."

Tremendous news for all those in jail for utterly nonsensical reasons under the three strikes and out policy, I'm sure we'll see action soon, tomorrow even!

[morepork]

It appears that white collar crime does indeed pay.

[morepork]

Bloomberg makes an utter arse clown out of himself.

[Digby]

Could cost him $200 million to correct, he might even miss it.

[Sandydragon]

Its certainly helping Saunders have a real crack this time. His core vote is fairly solid and he must be gaining support as the pack leader at the moment.

Sadly, he probably has very little chance against Trump who will bang the anti-socialist drum very loudly and will influence many voters in the process.

[Banquo]

Its certainly helping Saunders have a real crack this time. His core vote is fairly solid and he must be gaining support as the pack leader at the moment.

Sadly, he probably has very little chance against Trump who will bang the anti-socialist drum very loudly and will influence many voters in the process.

Warren seems to be on the up and up now.

[Digby]

Finally, justice4Milken

And handled so deftly by Trump, not even a whiff of corruption

[Digby]

Actually tbf the crap around Milken for all it stinks is still small potatoes in just this last week. If it was a swamp before heaven knows what it is now

[Son of Mathonwy]

I love this tradition of presidential pardons. Hilarious for a country that claims to believe in justice.

[Digby]

And firing staff for speaking truth to power, it's the American way

[paddy no 11]

Gwan Bernie

Only candidate not going to get bullied by trump, hopefully the Democrats don't fuck him over again