Trump Admin Meltdown Thread Part III - A Democratic House

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 12:38 am

This thread is wonderous...

Post by **brian** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 12:40 am

Not seeing too many people saying Pelosi needs to be replaced any more.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:23 am

I’ll interrupt the Pelosi love fest to point out that while memes are cool, this story from earlier this week is a lot more significant for 2020 and beyond.

Post by **brian** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 10:58 am

M4A isn't happening without a Dem in the White House and 51 votes at a minimum in the Senate so that's putting the cart way before the horse. Also, it's hardly surprising that some of the oldest members are a little skittish, but Pelosi might not even be Speaker in the next Congress even with another Dem majority, so it's largely insignificant. I think the midterms and the broad support for M4A, a higher minimum wage and a "wealth tax" increase from pretty much every candidate for president shows the support from rank and file will come. At best, it was always gonna take the better part of a decade anyway. And that's before you factor in any kind of significant reform might very well be blocked by an activist right-wing Supreme Court.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 11:18 am

While it’s true that any significant legislative efforts will likely need to wait until 2021, it would be nice to see the most powerful national Democrat supporting those efforts instead of pushing back on them or mocking them.

That’s why I’m less than enthused about Pelosi regardless of how many memes I see of her clapping or putting on sunglasses.

Post by **brian** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 11:23 am

Her job isn't to push her opinion on the legislative agenda, it's to push the party's consensus legislative agenda and wrangle what has always been an unruly faction at best. She's stood out of the way and let there be hearings and a bill for a Green New Deal in this Congress even though it'll never happen until at least 2021. She's not been obstructionist regardless of her personal feelings and that's about all you can ask.

Post by **brian** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 11:26 am

I'm there with you in theory. If the Dems control all three chambers in 2021 and she's putting the brakes on any major legislation then I'll be there with torches and pitchforks myself.

For now, her job is to troll Trump, pressure the WH with investigations, put forward meaningful legislation that the country wildly supports like HR 1 that the GOP will block and stay out of the way for the Dem primaries. She's doing all of those beautifully so far.

ETA: One other point that I'll make about Pelosi -- and I don't think it's a failing of her as much as it is every Democratic pol in her age cohort -- is that she still remembers a time when actual bi-partisanship was possible. In reality, it's not as long ago as a lot of people think. Even with the consistent rightward lurch of the GOP, there were bi-partisan agreements on a lot of things as recently as the 90s.

So she's still thinking in terms of legislation that theoretically might be able to passed in this Congress and signed by this president like some kind of cap and trade to curb global warming. (I think even that's probably pretty pie in the sky with Trump and perhaps she truthfully does as well, but she can't come right out and say it's pointless to try to do anything.)

So I tend to not worry as much because the ideas and the energy and the groundbreaking legislation is going to come from the generations behind her and I think she's smart enough to know that and go along when the time comes.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:10 am

So the same company that helped Trump cover up his stories was blackmailing the same person who Trump has repeatedly publicly attacked. And Saudi Arabia may have been involved in the hacking of Bezos's phone.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:28 am

brian - I agree with a lot of what you're saying in the last 2 posts, howevuh...

I was up on the Hill in the 90s (as I've annoyingly stated a bunch of times) and shit was going super sideways the minute Gingrich and Co. set up shop. She has operated in that toxic environment for over 20 years now. As you've pointed out, she's no fool. She knows exactly what's going on and what is feasible politically.

The fact of the matter is that she is part of the Dem Party that is very much beholden to corporate/wall street money and she is de facto part of the upper class. She is straight up not with any kind of progressive agenda.

I agree with you that it's not all that important, right now, that she lines up behind what's coming... But it's a problem that is emblematic of the struggle facing the party over the next 4-8 years. The old guard is not going to go quietly and they currently hold a lot of power positions (not just elected) that is going to make 2020 VERY difficult to navigate.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:53 am

EdRomero wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:10 am So the same company that helped Trump cover up his stories was blackmailing the same person who Trump has repeatedly publicly attacked. And Saudi Arabia may have been involved in the hacking of Bezos's phone.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 10:14 am

You know, sometimes you just have to tip your cap and move on to the next item on the agenda.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 12:50 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:28 am brian - I agree with a lot of what you're saying in the last 2 posts, howevuh...

I was up on the Hill in the 90s (as I've annoyingly stated a bunch of times) and shit was going super sideways the minute Gingrich and Co. set up shop. She has operated in that toxic environment for over 20 years now. As you've pointed out, she's no fool. She knows exactly what's going on and what is feasible politically.

The fact of the matter is that she is part of the Dem Party that is very much beholden to corporate/wall street money and she is de facto part of the upper class. She is straight up not with any kind of progressive agenda.

Isn’t Pelosi married to a finance or real estate tycoon who’s worth like $200 million? She’s not just a de facto part of the upper class, she’s a full fledged member by any definition.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:25 pm

Trump has openly attacked Bezos/Amazon over this feud previously, so I doubt evidence of this being done subversively will move the needle like it should.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:08 am

WTF?!

We've seen this before, but seriously, WTF? Is he angling for a job at the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce?

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:46 pm

Pruitt wrote: ↑Sat Feb 09, 2019 7:08 am WTF?!

We've seen this before, but seriously, WTF? Is he angling for a job at the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce?

This type of Tweet about Trump would butter him up, and get him to give away the keys to the country. I think Trump is so fucking stupid, he thinks a Tweet like this will get Kim to give in to whatever Trump asks. Either that, or they passed a note like a couple of middle school girls, saying I'll tweet nice about you if you tweet nice about me. Whatever the reasoning, it's fucking disgusting that the President is pandering to the worst oppressive regime in modern history, and sounding like a child in doing it.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:27 am

My brain hurts.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:28 pm

Gunpowder wrote: ↑Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:25 pm Trump has openly attacked Bezos/Amazon over this feud previously, so I doubt evidence of this being done subversively will move the needle like it should.

Turns out it wasn’t done by the Trump Administration or Saudi Arabia:

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:35 pm

Don't cut that string too quick; he's (confirmed) friends with Roger Stone and Carter Page.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:38 pm

Malcolm Nance was on Real Time this past Friday and was like "Something this specific is more likely to be someone with access to a phone for 5 minutes than a targeted and coordinated international attack."

Then that news dropped and I was like "Yeah, Malcolm Nance knows his shit."

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:58 pm

Johnnie wrote: ↑Mon Feb 11, 2019 8:38 pm Malcolm Nance was on Real Time this past Friday and was like "Something this specific is more likely to be someone with access to a phone for 5 minutes than a targeted and coordinated international attack."

Then that news dropped and I was like "Yeah, Malcolm Nance knows his shit."

Malcolm Nance is probably my favorite guest on all the pundit shows. He gets straight to the point, doesn't pull punches, and has a great sense of humor. It killed me hearing Nance laughing in the background while Eric Idol made wildly inappropriate jokes about Trump. I'm quite sure I heard epic douchebag and Trump cum guler Jack Kingston laughing a couple times, too. I have two Nance books queued up that I need to get to.

Side note on that episode, Natasha Bertrand is so cute, and she is one of the best at explaining the crimes of Trump.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:02 am

Yeah, he's the best. That dude is seriously accomplished across many different areas. And he looks even better when placed next to a chucklefuck like Jack Kingston. I'm just wanted to throw shit when Jack was speaking.

"Let me break this down to you in NASCAR terms..."

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:30 am

Duelling rallies in El Paso

Trump says he got 35,000 and that O'Rourke got 300.

Apparently they both drew 10,000

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 10:10 am

Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:30 am Duelling rallies in El Paso

Trump says he got 35,000 and that O'Rourke got 300.

Apparently they both drew 10,000

I saw a tweet this morning that said the fire marshal said Trump's rally was in a building with max capacity of 6,500.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 10:14 am

DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 12, 2019 10:10 am
Pruitt wrote: ↑Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:30 am Duelling rallies in El Paso

Trump says he got 35,000 and that O'Rourke got 300.

Apparently they both drew 10,000
I saw a tweet this morning that said the fire marshal said Trump's rally was in a building with max capacity of 6,500.

I think there were a few thousand idiots outside watching on a screen.

BBC Cameraman Attacked at the Rally

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Tue Feb 12, 2019 10:17 am

And of course a cameraman was attacked during Trump's rally.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:41 am

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:20 pm

President Trump installed a room-sized golf simulator at White House

The expansion of "Executive Time" has been explained...

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:52 pm

Pruitt wrote: ↑Wed Feb 13, 2019 1:20 pm President Trump installed a room-sized golf simulator at White House

The expansion of "Executive Time" has been explained...

Those golf simulators are great. Been using them during the last couple of winters and played one last weekend. In fact, I need to call a course this afternoon to try to reserve some simulator time for this weekend.

Post by **brian** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 5:05 pm

Looks like Trump might get primaried after all. I'd be shocked if he didn't -- if not by Weld by some other moderate Republican with no future prospects in the MAGA Party.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:30 pm

Weld? Maybe Michael Dukakis should make another run. If it's ever possible to have a sane, moderate Republican president again, the current Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, would be a good choice.

Post by **brian** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 6:37 pm

Nevada’s former Governor Brian Sandoval as well.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Wed Feb 13, 2019 11:27 pm

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 8:14 am

Good to see that at least one Congresswoman is outraged that Trump’s choice to spearhead our Venezuela policy is a war criminal who backed right-wing death squads in Central America throughout the 1980s.

I feel embarrassed that I was unfamiliar with El Mozote until reading about it because Rep. Omar brought it up.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 4:59 pm

I guess the Democrats are still stewing about her thoughts on Israel to give this dude's appointment a second thought.

The Chapo Trap House guys had a podcast with Jon Schwarz, the guy who wrote this piece for The Intercept , about this topic.

I guess I'll have to listen.

Johnnie · Post by **Johnnie** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:06 pm

Also...

Puerto Rico, not an emergency. This nonexistent threat from Mexico? Emergency.

Fucking hell, when will Congress at least try to impeach this piece of shit.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:52 pm

I have to imagine this upsets the Rs more than the Ds.

Post by **brian** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:05 pm

mister d wrote: ↑Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:52 pm I have to imagine this upsets the Rs more than the Ds.

For sure. Next Dem president will almost be forced by the base to declare global warming a national emergency (which it is of course) and divert defense spending to combat it.

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:38 pm

I was figuring he was waiting for the next indictment before declaring a national emergency.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 8:35 pm

Unfortunately, I think he’s spot on.