Trump

[Vengeful Glutton]

"1938 A cautionary tale about the dangers of children going off on misadventures

2016 A racist cartoon"

[ ]

A few sexist ones out there too lads. Check out the ankles on the red head.

[Vengeful Glutton]

[morepork]

You should probably read up on the origins of the Republican party and the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

[Sandydragon]

The problemwith your nalysis Sandy is that qite a lot of these statues wrre put up in the 60s as a deliberate fuck you to people who were just getting their rights. Having been erected with that intent there isn't an earthly reason for it. And even if it's an older statue, so fucking what? There's no airbrushing of history going on. The black communities of the USA are all too aware of the history of slavery and the war that half the country fought to keep it and live every day with the fact that they are still not equal citizens to their white counterparts. How far do you want to take this airbrushing argument? Do you think that Germany should have kept all its buildings laden with swastikas for fear of airbrushing history? Or were they right to erase symbols which every day spoke of oppression and caused offence?

I can take your argument to the other extreme. Plenty of people get offended by historical monuments, should we tear down Nelsons column over a possible upset to the French or anyone upset by British imperialism? Of course not. I'd rather build some statues to slaves in the south to balance things out. But unlike someone like Hitler (apologies) , lee doesn't have a huge ethical burden to overcome and would have been s hero to those defending their states, who didn't own slaves.

Seriously, if you don't get that Lee and others fighting for the right to keep slaves are in exactly the same moral pit as Hitler in characterising certain races as sub-human, then there's bugger all point in continuing. I'm out.

If that's all the academic rigour you can muster then probably just as well. Comparing Lee and Hitler is farcical.

[Digby]

If the Robert E Lee monument should be pulled down owing to connections to slavery should the UVA campus situated there similarly be pulled down seeing as it was built by slaves? Monticello, the nearby Jefferson owned/designed plantation home was also built by slaves, and of course slaves would be behind much of the grand works or America, and indeed Greece, or Rome, or The Great Wall of China, the Pyramids...

If people are outraged by slavery there's more than enough to be getting on with in terms of trying to deliver a successful boycott of the Qatar World Cup given their extensive use of slavery in building the infrastructure, and still more important in the ongoing efforts to remove slavery and especially child slavery from 'normal' factory and agricultural jobs, and still more important again to end sexual slavery.

Why someone would choose to be so upset by one statue on an entire set of grounds built by slaves does seem rather to be putting the cart ahead of the horse. And for the USA at least if they're going to start pulling down monuments that cause offence to those who were part of their history of slavery then what in the name of all are they going to do about every building, road and so on built on native american land? Pull down everything, give all the land back, and hope the Native Americans give them a few reservations to live on?

[kk67]

The main reason for tearing down Nelson's column would have to be that it is aesthetically a really terrible piece of art. It's monumentally shit.
Seriously,....WTF is it..?.

[Digby]

Finally some movement on the budget, though this is simply Trump saying he'll shut the government down if he can't have the money for his absurd wall. And really that will not be Trump shutting anything down but simply throwing his toys out of the pram, and leaving the budget to fester.

Trump isn't the first to try and hijack budget approvals by adding on an issue that isn't exactly budget related, but this is one of the crazier ideas even before his actual promise was Mexico would pay for it. Actually I don't know which is crazier, the idea Mexico was ever going to pay for it, or threatening the budget over this issue, the man's as mentally stable as an inflated weeble in a gale

[canta_brian]

The main reason for tearing down Nelson's column would have to be that it is aesthetically a really terrible piece of art. It's monumentally shit.
Seriously,....WTF is it..?.

I think the clue is in the name.

[morepork]

He is a complete fucking mutant. It's like watching a home schooled 12 year old in action. Just a mangled amalgam of incoherent mental flash cards from different universes. He is absolutely desperate to be adored and respected, but lacks the requisite qualities. First and foremost being he is as thick as a short stick in a bucket of pig shit. Astounding state of affairs.

[kk67]

Meh,....isn't it an inevitable conclusion to the cult of personality politics..?. Smarmy, rich, white guys getting carte blanche to pursue profit seems a less than astounding state of affairs to me.

[Digby]

One of Trump's advisers, and Trump may care to distance himself from these comments, has given an interview wherein he starts off with the OJ Simpson defence, in that it'd be best not to impeach Trump as it'd lead to violence and maybe civil war and then goes on to add anyone voting to impeach is a risk of being killed:

"Try to impeach him, just try it. You will have a spasm of violence in this country, an insurrection like you’ve never seen," he told entertainment website, TMZ. "The people will not stand for impeachment. A politician that votes for it would be endangering their own life."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 11691.html

In the main it'd perhaps be better if Presidents weren't asked to comment on the comments of lunatics, but given the stated threat to life Trump might maybe care to act like a President, even if only for a few moments.

[morepork]

Roger Stone is a repugnant piece of shit. One of the original architects of the filth we see dominating the politics of today. There is a netflix documentary about him that is worth checking out.


Meanwhile, The Trumpsters attempts at grammar on twitter are just adorable.

[Sandydragon]

The term impeachment has surrounded Trump to a degree since he was elected. But is there a feeling that its becoming more likely? He certainly seems to have lost the confidence of the Republican party hierarchy and the attempt to make the White House more presidential by employing a chief of staff who isn't mental doesn't seem to be containing the Trump insanity.

Part of me wonders if he is setting himself up to quit the job.

[kk67]

Part of me wonders if he is setting himself up to quit the job.

I agree it looks like that....but we're way beyond that level of self-identification. He isn't that self-aware.
You think Mussolini was ready to retire to a pastoral life in Tuscany..?. Hitler a farmer in Argentina, Saadam a spiritualist healer in.....oh, hang on.

[Digby]

He's pardoned Sheriff Joe Arpaio under cover of a natural disaster, claiming Arapaio's life and career "exemplify selfless public service"

There's a hell of a list of things that Sheriff Joe stands accused of, hardly even limited to his illegal actions on immigration. Normally the WH tends to be very cautious in the vetting before allowing a President to expose himself in such fashion

[morepork]

Cunty McCuntburger makes another concession to his racist base.

[WaspInWales]

Gorka is the latest Trump adviser to get his P45.

[Digby]

Firing Gorka is a good decision, though no sane person would've hired him to begin with. He's just an angry prick with no solutions, which might be why Trump likes him

[Mellsblue]

My Week: Donald Trump*

Monday
“Husband,” warns Melania, as we stand on the stage outside the White House to see the total eclipse, “do not look at sun.”

She forgets I have fantastic eyes. Very strong. The strongest. And two of them. Which is more than some people. And they both work! Stevie Wonder? Great guy, good friend. But the eyes? So sad. Unless that’s Lionel Richie. Either way, that’s never been my problem. Far from it. Perhaps I see too much? My physician said that if everybody had eyes like me, there would be no blindness in America. Fact. Bigly. Fact.

A little later she helps me walk down the stairs as I blink again and again and vaguely wonder how I’m going to read the teleprompter tonight for my Afghanistan speech.

“Oh husband,” she says. “If only had listened!”

“Mistakes,” I say, grimly, “were many on many sides, many sides.”

Melania asks if I mean by both me and the sun.

“Mainly the sun,” I say.


Tuesday
The family have come to see me in the Oval Office. Eric and Donald Jr are also both blinking a lot and stumbling into furniture. Ivanka and Jared can both still see perfectly. Jared says this is because they’re intellectuals.

I’m really busy, anyway. I’ve got a rally tonight in Arizona so I’m fine-tuning my speech. Jared says I should remind people about the wall. Donald Jr agrees and says he was watching Game of Thrones last night, and walls are definitely very important.

“Otherwise the White Walkers will come,” says Eric, gravely.

“But they sound like our kinda guys?” I say, trying to keep up.

“They have an army of wights,” says Donald Jr.

“Well, exactly,” I say.

Then he says we’re more Targaryen, and Ivanka says, “ugh”. Then Jared says, personally, he’s more Team Littlefinger.

“Buddy,” I say, pointing at him, “you’d better be.”


Wednesday
That was a great rally. Amazing crowd. The biggest! And I did remind them about the wall. Donald J Trump, I said, would be prepared to shut down the rest of my government in order to get it built. And suddenly, all sorts of new people seem to be in favour of it. Strange!

Obviously I condemned the White Walkers. I have disavowed their reanimation of the unburnt dead many times, many times. But Antifa? Just as bad. Terrible people. They attack our history! They pull down our statues! They block our sun. I saw! In fact, I still can. Although it’s getting better.

Will the Fake News Media report that? No. Such bad people. So dishonest. Probably they won’t even report me saying this. They’ll write a diary of my week, and leave out Wednesday altogether. These actual words will not be in your newspaper! You’ll see. Blank!


Thursday
Steve Bannon calls. I’ve cut him loose, but we’re still close. He’s gone back to Breitbart. Says it suits him. Only eating a couple of breakfast doughnuts, barely drinking meths at all. Real health kick. Anyway, he’s giving me a heads-up on a looming story about the wife of our Treasury Secretary.

“Steve McLovin?” I say.

“Yes,” says Bannon. “Wait. Is that his name? Doesn’t sound right.”

“Pretty sure,” I say.

“Whatever,” says Bannon. Then he says it’s a social media fuss.

Apparently she’s gone online and viciously attacked an ordinary American, straying way beyond normal conventions of decency, humility or respect for office.

“And this is a story why?” I ask, totally mystified.

“Actually,” says Bannon, “I don’t get it, either.”


Friday
Having breakfast with Melania when Ivanka and Jared drop by and say we need to talk about my Twitter feed.

“What, again?” I say.

Ivanka says it’s just that they’ve noticed I’ve retweeted this meme about “the Best Eclipse Ever!” which shows me eclipsing Barack Obama. And they’re worried it makes me look foolish, partly because the moon is smaller and less powerful, but also because the sun always comes back.

“It does?” I say, going over to the window.

“I just don’t understand how he’s your father,” says Jared.

“Quick!” shouts Melania. “Somebody make a pinhole camera!”

“Ow,” I say.
*according to Hugo Rifkind

[Digby]

It's a nice story, but does Trump really breakfast that much with his wife?

[Sandydragon]

Firing Gorka is a good decision, though no sane person would've hired him to begin with. He's just an angry prick with no solutions, which might be why Trump likes him

Sums up most populists.

[morepork]

Firing Gorka is a good decision, though no sane person would've hired him to begin with. He's just an angry prick with no solutions, which might be why Trump likes him

Sums up most racists.

[Coco]

My Week: Donald Trump*

Monday
“Husband,” warns Melania, as we stand on the stage outside the White House to see the total eclipse, “do not look at sun.”

She forgets I have fantastic eyes. Very strong. The strongest. And two of them. Which is more than some people. And they both work! Stevie Wonder? Great guy, good friend. But the eyes? So sad. Unless that’s Lionel Richie. Either way, that’s never been my problem. Far from it. Perhaps I see too much? My physician said that if everybody had eyes like me, there would be no blindness in America. Fact. Bigly. Fact.

A little later she helps me walk down the stairs as I blink again and again and vaguely wonder how I’m going to read the teleprompter tonight for my Afghanistan speech.

“Oh husband,” she says. “If only had listened!”

“Mistakes,” I say, grimly, “were many on many sides, many sides.”

Melania asks if I mean by both me and the sun.

“Mainly the sun,” I say.


Tuesday
The family have come to see me in the Oval Office. Eric and Donald Jr are also both blinking a lot and stumbling into furniture. Ivanka and Jared can both still see perfectly. Jared says this is because they’re intellectuals.

I’m really busy, anyway. I’ve got a rally tonight in Arizona so I’m fine-tuning my speech. Jared says I should remind people about the wall. Donald Jr agrees and says he was watching Game of Thrones last night, and walls are definitely very important.

“Otherwise the White Walkers will come,” says Eric, gravely.

“But they sound like our kinda guys?” I say, trying to keep up.

“They have an army of wights,” says Donald Jr.

“Well, exactly,” I say.

Then he says we’re more Targaryen, and Ivanka says, “ugh”. Then Jared says, personally, he’s more Team Littlefinger.

“Buddy,” I say, pointing at him, “you’d better be.”


Wednesday
That was a great rally. Amazing crowd. The biggest! And I did remind them about the wall. Donald J Trump, I said, would be prepared to shut down the rest of my government in order to get it built. And suddenly, all sorts of new people seem to be in favour of it. Strange!

Obviously I condemned the White Walkers. I have disavowed their reanimation of the unburnt dead many times, many times. But Antifa? Just as bad. Terrible people. They attack our history! They pull down our statues! They block our sun. I saw! In fact, I still can. Although it’s getting better.

Will the Fake News Media report that? No. Such bad people. So dishonest. Probably they won’t even report me saying this. They’ll write a diary of my week, and leave out Wednesday altogether. These actual words will not be in your newspaper! You’ll see. Blank!


Thursday
Steve Bannon calls. I’ve cut him loose, but we’re still close. He’s gone back to Breitbart. Says it suits him. Only eating a couple of breakfast doughnuts, barely drinking meths at all. Real health kick. Anyway, he’s giving me a heads-up on a looming story about the wife of our Treasury Secretary.

“Steve McLovin?” I say.

“Yes,” says Bannon. “Wait. Is that his name? Doesn’t sound right.”

“Pretty sure,” I say.

“Whatever,” says Bannon. Then he says it’s a social media fuss.

Apparently she’s gone online and viciously attacked an ordinary American, straying way beyond normal conventions of decency, humility or respect for office.

“And this is a story why?” I ask, totally mystified.

“Actually,” says Bannon, “I don’t get it, either.”


Friday
Having breakfast with Melania when Ivanka and Jared drop by and say we need to talk about my Twitter feed.

“What, again?” I say.

Ivanka says it’s just that they’ve noticed I’ve retweeted this meme about “the Best Eclipse Ever!” which shows me eclipsing Barack Obama. And they’re worried it makes me look foolish, partly because the moon is smaller and less powerful, but also because the sun always comes back.

“It does?” I say, going over to the window.

“I just don’t understand how he’s your father,” says Jared.

“Quick!” shouts Melania. “Somebody make a pinhole camera!”

“Ow,” I say.
*according to Hugo Rifkind

Loved this. Invisible rep to you.

[kk67]

Firing Gorka is a good decision, though no sane person would've hired him to begin with. He's just an angry prick with no solutions, which might be why Trump likes him

Political epiphany.

[WaspInWales]

Firing Gorka is a good decision, though no sane person would've hired him to begin with. He's just an angry prick with no solutions, which might be why Trump likes him

Political epiphany.

It's just another case of the WH seemingly sorting its shit out on the inside in order to make it look like they're moderating, but in reality the Mooch, Spicer, Bannon and Gorka will continue the Trump agenda from the outside.

Shrewd move to make Gen. Kelly the WH chief of staff.

Governance starts to 'look' a little more 'professional', but the wheels are still being turned. The focus is well and truly on the media.