Trump

[Eugene Wrayburn]

What if, and hear me out now...president Tiny Hands orders pre-emptive strikes against NK?

China and Russia would be pissed no doubt, but would they retaliate?

The pro-Trump brigade in the US would be whooping "U-S-A!, U-S-A!" with great aplomb and maybe many other Americans would be satisfied that Trump has dealt with something that previous presidents have lacked the balls to do.

Problem solved, or WW3?

2020 in the bag and #AIGA (America Is Great Again).

They probably wouldn't retaliate militarily - at least not at mainland USA. There's every chance they'd do so economically.

They could just stop buying treasury bills and/or ask for their money back

Exactly.

[Sandydragon]

What if, and hear me out now...president Tiny Hands orders pre-emptive strikes against NK?

China and Russia would be pissed no doubt, but would they retaliate?

The pro-Trump brigade in the US would be whooping "U-S-A!, U-S-A!" with great aplomb and maybe many other Americans would be satisfied that Trump has dealt with something that previous presidents have lacked the balls to do.

Problem solved, or WW3?

2020 in the bag and #AIGA (America Is Great Again).

They probably wouldn't retaliate militarily - at least not at mainland USA. There's every chance they'd do so economically.

A limited strik at NK nuclear facilities and weapons probably wouldn't draw a military response. Diplomatically and economically there would be retaliation but the US is still a long way harped of Russia and China militarily and they know it.

Anything wider though and I suspect other powers would be drawn in. China won't to,erase the NK regime collapsing and reunification. If Kim is humiliated then they will act.

[Sandydragon]

The initial concern would be what would NK do to SK in retaliation and would that be enough to trigger something wider?

[Digby]

They probably wouldn't retaliate militarily - at least not at mainland USA. There's every chance they'd do so economically.

They could just stop buying treasury bills and/or ask for their money back

Exactly.

Trump mayn't care of course. As above he's seemingly miles out of his depth when it comes to passing a budget, as he continues to ape those annoying senior management types who just assume the minions can and will resolve all technical issues leaving him free to float and inspire as the whimsy takes him, and then absent of any direction or funding being applied fly of the handle that things aren't perfect and work is left outstanding as the shit hits the fan

It's one of the problems actually with high level executive office that it takes considerable effort to focus on all the detail and such effort is excruciatingly boring, it's an area where even someone reasonably dedicated like Cameron (ignoring whether one likes him or not) falls down, Bush Jnr was poor at it too and simply dumped much of the work onto Cheney, Trump though makes the idea of giving high office to a dilettante like Boris seem a reasonable shout (not that I'd actually back Boris for high office)

[morepork]

We are likely about to see the privatisation of infrastructure fall spectacularly on its arse due to a complete lack of leadership. The WH is absent some serious numbers in key public service positions and a lot of the corporate partnerships will be waiting anxiously on their welfare checks and caviar food stamps....see health for an acute example. As for North Korea, we have all seen that all it takes to keep Trump occupied in his play pen is a 30 minute sit down with a cartoon of contemporary geopolitical history delivered by someone face to face and a tremendous piece of chocolate cake. He can play the big man on twitter all he likes but he caves the fuck in every single time it comes to face to face diplomacy. Where was his outrage over North Korea at the G20? This is his business acumen in action folks, and its a model of utter incompetence.

[morepork]

From a source not exactly renowned for liberal sympathies, but pretty good presentation of life imitating satire:

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/4 ... g-salesman

[WaspInWales]

The Mooch has been sacked!

What a shame. He was good fun.

Does this mean Spicer will be doing an about turn?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[belgarion]

The Mooch has been sacked!

What a shame. He was good fun.

Does this mean Spicer will be doing an about turn?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Jesus, how long was he there, a week? The way this is going little hands is going to have nobody left to hire

PS anyone else think he thinks the WH is just like 'The Apprentice' & people actually just want him to keep saying 'You're fired'

[Vengeful Glutton]

[Sandydragon]

The Mooch has been sacked!

What a shame. He was good fun.

Does this mean Spicer will be doing an about turn?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Just when you think there can be no more surprises!!!

[Mikey Brown]

I managed to watch about a minute of that. Seems legit that JK Rowling got that one wrong, but what a fucking spastic that guy is. I feel like I've seen him before, and he always seems to be spewing the same weird sort of shit. Does he intentionally talk that way? I guess he thinks it makes his words sound somewhat emphatic?

[WaspInWales]

I managed to watch about a minute of that. Seems legit that JK Rowling got that one wrong, but what a fucking spastic that guy is. I feel like I've seen him before, and he always seems to be spewing the same weird sort of shit. Does he intentionally talk that way? I guess he thinks it makes his words sound somewhat emphatic?

He's the poster boy for Infowars.

All his online content is pretty much the same. The only thing that changes is whomever is on the receiving end of it.

He's another internet genius who has all the answers and has woken up to the real world thanks to his red pill moment. Thankfully most people see him for what he is, but he still has plenty of followers.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Digby]

Mooch really screwed the pooch

[kk67]

They could just stop buying treasury bills and/or ask for their money back

Exactly.

Trump mayn't care of course. As above he's seemingly miles out of his depth when it comes to passing a budget, as he continues to ape those annoying senior management types who just assume the minions can and will resolve all technical issues leaving him free to float and inspire as the whimsy takes him, and then absent of any direction or funding being applied fly of the handle that things aren't perfect and work is left outstanding as the shit hits the fan

It's one of the problems actually with high level executive office that it takes considerable effort to focus on all the detail and such effort is excruciatingly boring, it's an area where even someone reasonably dedicated like Cameron (ignoring whether one likes him or not) falls down, Bush Jnr was poor at it too and simply dumped much of the work onto Cheney, Trump though makes the idea of giving high office to a dilettante like Boris seem a reasonable shout (not that I'd actually back Boris for high office)

Agreed.
Ideally the world would have decent bureaucrats that love their jobs and are altruistic. These are the people we should be electing. People like Ken Livingstone. Not guys like Jacob Rees-Mogg, Hunt, Gove, Rudd, Gervais-Bastard III from Feck-wit-on-the-wold. These are greedy knuts that will lead us all to annihilation on account of their familial psychopathic desire for money and power..
Liam Fox and Boris.......oh how history will laugh at us.

[Digby]

Exactly.

Trump mayn't care of course. As above he's seemingly miles out of his depth when it comes to passing a budget, as he continues to ape those annoying senior management types who just assume the minions can and will resolve all technical issues leaving him free to float and inspire as the whimsy takes him, and then absent of any direction or funding being applied fly of the handle that things aren't perfect and work is left outstanding as the shit hits the fan

It's one of the problems actually with high level executive office that it takes considerable effort to focus on all the detail and such effort is excruciatingly boring, it's an area where even someone reasonably dedicated like Cameron (ignoring whether one likes him or not) falls down, Bush Jnr was poor at it too and simply dumped much of the work onto Cheney, Trump though makes the idea of giving high office to a dilettante like Boris seem a reasonable shout (not that I'd actually back Boris for high office)

Agreed.
Ideally the world would have decent bureaucrats that love their jobs and are altruistic. These are the people we should be electing. People like Ken Livingstone. Not guys like Jacob Rees-Mogg, Hunt, Gove, Rudd, Gervais-Bastard III from Feck-wit-on-the-wold. These are greedy knuts that will lead us all to annihilation on account of their familial psychopathic desire for money and power..

Ken does come with the downside of being bat shit crazy, and seemingly worsening in his dotage. Although when actually placed in charge of something he has been much better than when he's been a talking head.

[morepork]

Incredible. Trump is cut from the same cloth. Why is the orange fuckwit still there? I'd give the new chief os staff 1-2 months before he goes west, and yes, Trump does seem to think the government is his own personal reality TV fiefdom. How easily is this guy swayed by uninformed bullshit?

Vengeful Glutton, you have an incredibly weak forward defensive stroke. Sort yourself out. There are only so many monumentally incompetent fuckups that can deflect an accurate seam ball in the absence of a straight bat.

Piers Morgan confirms his unassailable prescience once again:

Screen Shot 2017-07-31 at 5.39.31 PM.png

[kk67]

Trump mayn't care of course. As above he's seemingly miles out of his depth when it comes to passing a budget, as he continues to ape those annoying senior management types who just assume the minions can and will resolve all technical issues leaving him free to float and inspire as the whimsy takes him, and then absent of any direction or funding being applied fly of the handle that things aren't perfect and work is left outstanding as the shit hits the fan

It's one of the problems actually with high level executive office that it takes considerable effort to focus on all the detail and such effort is excruciatingly boring, it's an area where even someone reasonably dedicated like Cameron (ignoring whether one likes him or not) falls down, Bush Jnr was poor at it too and simply dumped much of the work onto Cheney, Trump though makes the idea of giving high office to a dilettante like Boris seem a reasonable shout (not that I'd actually back Boris for high office)

Agreed.
Ideally the world would have decent bureaucrats that love their jobs and are altruistic. These are the people we should be electing. People like Ken Livingstone. Not guys like Jacob Rees-Mogg, Hunt, Gove, Rudd, Gervais-Bastard III from Feck-wit-on-the-wold. These are greedy knuts that will lead us all to annihilation on account of their familial psychopathic desire for money and power..

Ken does come with the downside of being bat shit crazy, and seemingly worsening in his dotage. Although when actually placed in charge of something he has been much better than when he's been a talking head.

Mebbe' so,.....but he wouldn't be actively selling the NHS to the highest/lowest bidder.

[Digby]

Trump did say he'd create jobs, and many jobs are being created in his Whitehouse

[morepork]

Trump did say he'd create jobs, and many jobs are being created in his Whitehouse

Problem is that only his family are allowed to hang onto them.

[Digby]

Trump did say he'd create jobs, and many jobs are being created in his Whitehouse

Problem is that only his family are allowed to hang onto them.

And when the moment comes would he not throw them under the bus?

[belgarion]

Trump did say he'd create jobs, and many jobs are being created in his Whitehouse

Problem is that only his family are allowed to hang onto them.

And when the moment comes would he not throw them under the bus?

'course he would & drive the bus himself

[Sandydragon]

He'd probably try to fuck his daughter first.

Yeah, but women love that approach. Apparently.

Some speculation that the Moochs departure was down to the new COS. That makes sense, I'd be surprised at Kelly tolerating those antics.

[Stom]

Shame. I liked that we had a cartoon mafioso in the White House comms.

Hey numbskull, you don't get on the wrong side of the Mooch and live to tell the tale, capiche.

[Sandydragon]

Shame. I liked that we had a cartoon mafioso in the White House comms.

Hey numbskull, you don't get on the wrong side of the Mooch and live to tell the tale, capiche.

I'd have paid good money to see him try the hard man act with some of the retired generals who currently reside in the White House.

I wonder if the appointment of Franks will bring some professionalism to the WH? He might not be tied into the Republican Party as much, but if he can get the place looking presidential it would be a start.

Obviously a major problem with that plan is the fact that the president isn't presidential.

[Digby]

No point saying you couldn't make it up, when perhaps they're demented enough to have done just that -

One hopes it isn't true, it'd be an awful thing to have done to the family of the deceased if it is true.