The Swamp

EdRomero wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 6:48 pm Is it too much to hope that Kelly and Mattis leaving is a sign that rmore repubs will turn on Trump? Those 2 were supposed to be the respectable adults, in the White House.

You'd hope so. You'd think so. That does not appear to be the case. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 6:19 pm Raise your hand if you forgot Rick Perry was in this administration.

So....anything happening in the news today?

What a bizarre day, even by Trumpian standards. Half the GOP and RW pundits are furious with Trump because they think he is caving on the Wall, while half the GOP RW pundits are pissed at him for refusing to sign the Senate budget or deal with the House on the CR Bill. Usually he gets a pass from the Right when he takes both sides of an issue, now he is getting killed by half the party for both options. Then, he is getting killed across the board for this Syria shit. Some very big name Always Trumpers with extremely harsh criticism. It means nothing, but that is a crack we haven't really seen yet.

God, how sad is that if you can scarsely remember any criticism of Trump on Fox? It’s mind boggling.

brian wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:42 pm God, how sad is that if you can scarsely remember any criticism of Trump on Fox? It’s mind boggling.

Other than Shep Smith and occasionally Chris Wallace. Shep attacks Trump almost every day.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:24 pm Then, he is getting killed across the board for this Syria shit. Some very big name Always Trumpers with extremely harsh criticism. It means nothing, but that is a crack we haven't really seen yet.

With all the ridiculous shit Trump has done, it would be surreal if the catalyst for his political downfall is ending US involvement in a disastrous war where our presence has been counterproductive at best.

Joe K wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 11:20 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:24 pm Then, he is getting killed across the board for this Syria shit. Some very big name Always Trumpers with extremely harsh criticism. It means nothing, but that is a crack we haven't really seen yet.

With all the ridiculous shit Trump has done, it would be surreal if the catalyst for his political downfall is ending US involvement in a disastrous war where our presence has been counterproductive at best.

I was thinking the same thing. Raytheon can get Trump “fired” faster than Congress.

Joe K wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 11:20 pm

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu Dec 20, 2018 9:24 pm Then, he is getting killed across the board for this Syria shit. Some very big name Always Trumpers with extremely harsh criticism. It means nothing, but that is a crack we haven't really seen yet.

With all the ridiculous shit Trump has done, it would be surreal if the catalyst for his political downfall is ending US involvement in a disastrous war where our presence has been counterproductive at best.

I cant keep up. So Mathis quit because the US is pulling out of Syria?

Yes - probably the last straw for him.

Trump's on a twitter rampage this morning.

Yeah I'm glad he got out of Syria and that seems to be the thing that everyone is crushing him on. Whatever, world. As long as we save like $2 mil in making food stamps more difficult.

When Trump said "coyotes" you know he actually thinks it's the canine that will be less likely to get in and not the smugglers.

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Dec 21, 2018 8:53 am When Trump said "coyotes" you know he actually thinks it's the canine that will be less likely to get in and not the smugglers.

Walls do work against coyotes

Is Trump getting slammed on banning bump stocks too?
It's not enough?

Hey! Is America finally going to start swearing on TV? That'd be cool.

(Chris Hayes's flustered look pisses me off. Get the fuck over yourself.)

I am mostly immune to all things trumpian but seeing him use the phrase nuclear option gives me great pause. Is there anyway a second term does not include war.

This is pretty close to where I am on Syria:



It’s disheartening to see prominent Dems rushing to praise Mattis and criticize withdrawal from Syria, when reduction of the US military presence in the Middle East is much needed.

Joe K wrote: ↑Fri Dec 21, 2018 10:49 am This is pretty close to where I am on Syria:



It’s disheartening to see prominent Dems rushing to praise Mattis and criticize withdrawal from Syria, when reduction of the US military presence in the Middle East is much needed.

I think gun control is the same too. The NRA and Republicans are mad today. Just keep quiet and let them eat each other.

It's gonna take 10 fucking years (no joke, no hyperbole) to unwrap all of the fucking scams and grifts and cons in this administration.

And Twitter is already in full effect...

Based on the length of a 2018 Tahoe, those gaps are about 9.5 inches wide. Which means a shitload of people can easily slide through with no resistance.

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:04 pm Based on the length of a 2018 Tahoe, those gaps are about 9.5 inches wide. Which means a shitload of people can easily slide through with no resistance.

Spending $25B on a wall that an average-sized human can squeeze through is pretty on-brand for the United States government.

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Dec 21, 2018 6:04 pm Based on the length of a 2018 Tahoe, those gaps are about 9.5 inches wide. Which means a shitload of people can easily slide through with no resistance.

The Craven Cottage of walls!

Buddy's having a breakdown in the White House this evening. No other explanation for this photo...



Could those papers be blank?

Trump lies even when he should know the lie is easily disproven.

So apparently this farm bill includes making hemp federally legal. And I was reading that this extends to CBD oil?

So am I guns be able to do this shit now? I read that CBD oil works wonders for anxiety and doesn't get you high.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Dec 22, 2018 12:01 am So apparently this farm bill includes making hemp federally legal. And I was reading that this extends to CBD oil?

So am I guns be able to do this shit now? I read that CBD oil works wonders for anxiety and doesn't get you high.

CBD oil has done wonders for my dad. He has really bad arthritis and he just rubs it on his hands and joints. He has been relatively pain free since he started. And our good friend battling cancer is starting to use it to relieve some of the symptoms from chemo.

Frank Rich Pulls No Punches

I have never wavered from my oft-stated convictions that (a) Trump will not finish out his term, and (b), the end will be triggered by a presidential meltdown that forces the Vichy Republicans in Washington to mount an insurrection — if only to save their own asses, not the country.

Jesus Fucking Christ. This guy is fucking disgusting.

I never really felt this way until the events of the last week or so, but after this 12 days of clusterfuck Christmas, I think it's probably 50/50 Trump finishes out his term (I'm including the not zero chance of him dropping dead from a stroke while rage-tweeting on the john).

I'll be interested to see what his approval numbers are after the new year, especially if the shutdown lasts through into that week, which seems likely. I get the feeling like a lot of Trump supporters (not the hardcore racist ones, but the ones who support him essentially to own the libs) are just tired of the whole thing, like a movie they liked at first but which never seems to end.

Under an assumption he doesn't finish out his term, I'd probably have to handicap the reasons why thusly:

Resignation: -150

Removal under the 25th amendment: +400

Impeachment: +800

Death: +2500

Hear me out on this. Resignation is the most likely scenario for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is it is probably the most realistic involving some kind of quid pro quo with Pence in exchange for a presidential pardon for his federal crimes. Trump isn't likely to just get tired of the job and quit, but if the path forward looks untenable and he's getting good advice and actually chooses to act on it, stepping down might be the smartest move to keep him out of prison or at least out of courtrooms every day while he waits for the sweet release of death.

I don't see the Senate actually scraping together the required votes to convict him in the Senate, but removal under the 25th Amendment, especially with a whole trove of new Cabinet members might be theoretically possible, especially if the economy REALLY starts to tank and faith in the stability of the US government falls even further internationally than it has already. (This will probably be preceded by some trial balloons in the media about Trump's mental health. You'll notice these because it'll be coming from the Capitol beat reporters from "serious" media outlets like the Washington Post and NYT.)

In a way, picking Pence as his running mate was an unusually smart move for Trump. If he had chosen someone more Machavellian like some previous VPs (LBJ, Agnew, Nixon) there would be a serious danger of the VP using the 25th amendment as a way to shore up power around himself and use it essentially as a coup against Trump once he inevitably started to tank the American economy as he's doing now. In some respects, it's surprising it took this long.

If there is a moment where Pence becomes president I'm hoping it is after January 21st because then he couldn't serve 2 elected terms.

I shudder to think of what his Christmas Eve tweets would have been like if he drank.

As it is, they are horrifying.



Etc., etc...

Is Saudi A even reading his tweets?

"Are you still a believer in Santa? Because at seven it's marginal, right?"

Trump just had to find a way to stay in our minds on Christmas.

First time I’ve identified with him.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:12 pm First time I’ve identified with him.

Yeah, if he wasn't such a monster it would have been kind of endearing.

mister d wrote: ↑Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:12 pm First time I’ve identified with him.

What about that time he stroked Hagelin’s hair when the Pens visited the WH?