Trump

[Sandydragon]

I think the USA isn't wholly without merit should it claim it picks up an unfair % of military spending. But it's just possible the solution to that is for the USA to spend less, and Trump is trying to spend more, a lot more.

It's a valid point, and one made by previous us administrations. Trump does seem to misunderstand the nature of the contributions to NATO though.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Sweet jesus, what an imbecile:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 50636.html

If that's even vaguely true then he's a fuckwit of the highest order. I had heard that he was a pisspoor businessman but negotiation like that is beyond shite.

[Digby]

I think the USA isn't wholly without merit should it claim it picks up an unfair % of military spending. But it's just possible the solution to that is for the USA to spend less, and Trump is trying to spend more, a lot more.

It's a valid point, and one made by previous us administrations. Trump does seem to misunderstand the nature of the contributions to NATO though.

There's a reasonable chance he'd struggle with Roger Red Hat

[morepork]

Sweet jesus, what an imbecile:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 50636.html

If that's even vaguely true then he's a fuckwit of the highest order. I had heard that he was a pisspoor businessman but negotiation like that is beyond shite.

The Whitehouse is denying it, but Mr. Blobby has been tweeting and commenting during interviews that he believes Germany "owes" the US for "protection". He seems to think NATO is a protection racquet run by wise guys in the US, or that the US somehow puts money directly into the German defense budget. This issue is being overshadowed by his Health care bill cluster fuck, but given his sulk when he met Merkel, I'd say he at least floated the "invoice" concept verbally and likely was corrected in front of his peers.


I knew very little of this guy before he got elected. I am stunned at how thick and incompetent he actually is though. We have this fat orange man in the White House that cannot string together two consequetive cogent sentences, goes golfing every weekend and has planted family members in positions of political and diplomatic influence. I really think he thought that getting elected was the only milestone he would have to meet, and then he could then just bulshit his way through the times he wasn't playing golf. How does a creature like that survive in the world? What manner of pampering and insulation must be needed for this ameoba to cope with the rigours of executive brain function? It's fascinating frmo an academic perspective.

[Lizard]

The thing is, he could have bullshitted his way through a lot of it by hiring smart, experienced people and having them do all the heavy lifting.

[morepork]

[Sandydragon]

The thing is, he could have bullshitted his way through a lot of it by hiring smart, experienced people and having them do all the heavy lifting.

I think he has in some respects and they do. I suspect the issue is that he cant keep on script/ concentrate for more than 15 seconds.

[canta_brian]

Posted advisedly as I am not sure it all stands up to scrutiny (see the fact checks at the bottom) but the trump Russia thing seems to be gathering some pace. Check Point 16 for a brief synopsis.
http://m.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/23/1 ... p-Sessions

[Sandydragon]

Posted advisedly as I am not sure it all stands up to scrutiny (see the fact checks at the bottom) but the trump Russia thing seems to be gathering some pace. Check Point 16 for a brief synopsis.
http://m.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/23/1 ... p-Sessions

Its interesting. Some of the detail is misleading, as the fact checker points out. Yet much could easily be correct. The denials from the White House that side meetings took place are peculiar. More work to be done yet.

[canta_brian]

That's kind of how I read it. I have American friends who think this could be the start of the end of support amongst moderate republicans. Could start to erode republican congressional support. I can't imagine too many republican congresspeople would lose their seats for trump.

[Sandydragon]

That's kind of how I read it. I have American friends who think this could be the start of the end of support amongst moderate republicans. Could start to erode republican congressional support. I can't imagine too many republican congresspeople would lose their seats for trump.

No. At some point they will either consider the welfare of their constituents or their own career and decide that a one term president isn't worth the aggro. Its still difficult to say what has really gone on and much of the evidence presented is often questionable. But if the FBI can get to the bottom of it, I suspect that we will find some wrong doing by someone within Trumps team, even if its not as bad as first though. Whether that is enough to tie in the president is another matter. I wonder what the current odds are on impeachment?

[canta_brian]

That's kind of how I read it. I have American friends who think this could be the start of the end of support amongst moderate republicans. Could start to erode republican congressional support. I can't imagine too many republican congresspeople would lose their seats for trump.

No. At some point they will either consider the welfare of their constituents or their own career and decide that a one term president isn't worth the aggro. Its still difficult to say what has really gone on and much of the evidence presented is often questionable. But if the FBI can get to the bottom of it, I suspect that we will find some wrong doing by someone within Trumps team, even if its not as bad as first though. Whether that is enough to tie in the president is another matter. I wonder what the current odds are on impeachment?

11/10 with paddy power. Incidentally you can only get 500/1 on him painting the white house gold. wasn't Leicester winning the premiership (soccer) 5000/1!?

[Digby]

There does remain a problem for Trump in that he's not really a Republican, either of the moderate (sane) bent or over in the corner with the evangelicals and/or tea party loons. Trump is much more a national socialist, and other than his seeming belief that rich people shouldn't have to pay taxes that's a bad fit for a Republican congress

[Sandydragon]

There does remain a problem for Trump in that he's not really a Republican, either of the moderate (sane) bent or over in the corner with the evangelicals and/or tea party loons. Trump is much more a national socialist, and other than his seeming belief that rich people shouldn't have to pay taxes that's a bad fit for a Republican congress

Indeed. And thus he doesnt have that background of support that most long term party members have in the top positions.

[morepork]

He is being told by the corporate warlords surrounding him that government is just one big business, and that it should be left to the whim of the free market.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39403746

"Mr Kushner told the newspaper that the "government should be run like a great American company".

"Our hope is that we can achieve successes and efficiencies for our customers, who are the citizens," he added.

Trumpet lacks the intelligence to understand the distinction between economy and "business". The warlords will plunder the public coffers and spit the people out. Trump and his inbred minions are basing their efforts on nothing more than talk back radio anecdote. Shitting hell.

[Digby]

Donald would love to get back to you all on the issues but he's busy drooling at his golf course. Little wonder he wants to go there so often

[J Dory]

http://nypost.com/video/trump-says-he-c ... a-mistake/

[morepork]

Thick cunt lacks self awareness shocker. It's Fox News Vs. Comedy Central at the moment. Instead of doing this the meeja should be grilling him on the anticipated impact of health cuts on an increasingly aging population, the statistical significance of the impact of environmental deregulation of health and sustainability, and the long term consequences of restricting opportunities for access to education (you know, actual knowledge). Does this orange cock actually plan these policies on the basis of decades of data or is an affected cartoon serious face more important? I hate this shit so much. Educators, doctors, scientists, engineers, artists, students, legal minds, and everyone on the ground is rallying over here, but still the focus is on this fuckball's social media efforts. How hard is it to point out fatal flaws with facts? Fuck you Fox News, and fuck you ignorance. Jesus titty fucking christ.

[canta_brian]

Apparently Ivanka Trump is now "assistant to the president".

Good to know we have experts advising the Trump. Heaven forbid he surrounds himself with people who only know his own experiences and opinions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39438769

[WaspInWales]

She's more first lady than the first lady.

[morepork]

He is still trying to threaten people and institutions via twitter. He is also about to start a nation wide advertising campaign to boost support for him.

How does this guy manage to dress himself in the morning???

[kk67]

She's more first lady than the first lady.

Sat here trying to think how first lady was a euphemism, then I realised you actually meant it.
I don't know much about the Daughter but I'm happy to accept she's more qualified than her Mother.

[Donny osmond]

In what should be the final straw breaking the back of those hoofwanking bunglecunts who claimed, with much pomposity, to just know that Trump would be better than Clinton because he's less inclined to intervention, today he has declared Somlia a warzone and lifted Obama's civilian protection rules for air strikes and commando raids.

Aye lads, finger on the frickin pulse there.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/w ... WC2h?amp=1

[kk67]

Somalia is a warzone. Isn't it..?.
Combine drought and civil war and I'm pretty sure that constitutes a warzone.

[WaspInWales]

Somalia is a warzone. Isn't it..?.
Combine drought and civil war and I'm pretty sure that constitutes a warzone.

I think Donny's point was mainly about Trump lifting of the civilian protection rules in the event of air strikes and raids.