The biggest qualitative difference between 'the GOP-at-large' and 'Trump's GOP' is the willingness of the latter group to just say what they're thinking instead of couching it in more socially-acceptable finery.
― Trockasturm Hoar The Ramming Battle Ceraton (Old Lunch), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:26 (six years ago) link
some people think "Trump is what the GOP has been for 20 years but in louder clothes" and some people, including me, think Trump represents a qualitatively different level of awfulness and that it would be a damn good thing for both the GOP and the country for Republicans to reject it.
why can't it be "Trump is the culmination of thirty-seven years of GOP awfulness"? Don't regard him as an outlier.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:33 (six years ago) link
I can't get over that Conway tweet.
Kellyanne Conway's husband.
― grawlix (unperson), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:34 (six years ago) link
I do regard him as an outlier, but "reasonable people may differ" as they say in liberal wimp school
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:34 (six years ago) link
he is def not an outlier, just a more openly ghoulish embodiment of the same reprehensible shit as always (including the more evil motherfuckers across the aisle)
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3f/2e/f8/3f2ef840c648d84efb7e05d6e22cd224.jpg
― El Tomboto, Monday, 5 June 2017 16:41 (six years ago) link
As others have notes, he's just a continuation, but he says the loud parts quiet and the quiet parts loud.
― Bio-Digital Jezza (kingfish), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:41 (six years ago) link
he's a comment section troll come to life. it's kind of awesome how perfectly he behaves and communicates like your standard discus 'conservative' dickhead, or it would be, if it weren't so absolutely horrifying
― reggie (qualmsley), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:46 (six years ago) link
He's also, personally, a very deranged and fucked up individual who seems to thrive on spreading fear and chaos.
― Treeship, Monday, 5 June 2017 16:46 (six years ago) link
I wonder if the plan to privatize air traffic control and get away from ground based radar was run by the Pentagon or DHS. I know the answer but still.
― El Tomboto, Monday, 5 June 2017 16:56 (six years ago) link
he is genuinely one of the dumbest people around, every time i've ever seen him try to convey anything resembling gravity he comes off like someone who's bad at telling a ghost story and is trying to amp it up by talking more slowly. or something. i really do think the most damaging thing about his presidency will ultimately be the fact that the rest of the world now thinks we're not only assholes, but stupid assholes.
― nomar, Monday, 5 June 2017 16:56 (six years ago) link
https://psmag.com/social-justice/what-will-liberals-do-if-trump-isnt-impeached
Compared to the erratic bully-in-chief, a portion of Americans (and an alarming number of reporters) would like nothing more than a tall no-nonsense rule-lover with a gun. These folks need to snap out of it. The FBI is one of the most regressive institutions in America, though it is little worse than three of Comey's other former employers: bomb-maker Lockheed Martin, Connecticut hedge fund behemoth Bridgewater, and the George W. Bush Department of Justice. When liberals and other centrists start salivating for a guy with that kind of resume, we are very far misled as a polity.Trump must go, but we can't pluck a petal and expect the plant to wither. Whether impeachment or the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, (natural) death or bureaucratic coup, none of the options suggested or implied so far addresses the deep corruption and absurd dysfunction that now characterize the federal government. We are ruled by the worst among us, as is abundantly clear from any video of our leaders interacting with their constituents. The security services are no solution, but that's where liberal fantasies about the system fixing itself have come to rest. If, however, Trump proves resilient, and nothing in their book works, are the proceduralists prepared to pull the real emergency switch? Our Constitutional tradition has one restart button, and it doesn't belong to any branch of the government.
Trump must go, but we can't pluck a petal and expect the plant to wither. Whether impeachment or the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, (natural) death or bureaucratic coup, none of the options suggested or implied so far addresses the deep corruption and absurd dysfunction that now characterize the federal government. We are ruled by the worst among us, as is abundantly clear from any video of our leaders interacting with their constituents. The security services are no solution, but that's where liberal fantasies about the system fixing itself have come to rest. If, however, Trump proves resilient, and nothing in their book works, are the proceduralists prepared to pull the real emergency switch? Our Constitutional tradition has one restart button, and it doesn't belong to any branch of the government.
― 𝔠𝔞𝔢𝔨 (caek), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:58 (six years ago) link
xpost "The call is totally, totally coming from inside the house. It's true. Sad!"
― Trockasturm Hoar The Ramming Battle Ceraton (Old Lunch), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:59 (six years ago) link
the fact that there are many liberals who respect Comey (or any FBI head) is completely disgusting
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 16:59 (six years ago) link
iberals and other centrists start salivating for a guy
Bullshit. Who are the liberals salivating over the long arms and droopy mien of James Comey? Names. Lumping libs with "centrists" is a tired trick.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:01 (six years ago) link
xp: TBF, the 30% Trump budget cuts to the IC are win/win for the ideological Left, regardless of weather they're done or not, or they result in successful terrorist attacks or not.
― it's just locker room treason (Sanpaku), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:03 (six years ago) link
Meantime, problems problems
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-06-05/kushners-hunting-hard-for-a-loan-to-pay-back-chinese-investors
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:05 (six years ago) link
i really do think the most damaging thing about his presidency will ultimately be the fact that the rest of the world now thinks we're not only assholes, but stupid assholes.
I'm saying nothing.
― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:05 (six years ago) link
"now"
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:06 (six years ago) link
how quickly we forget the Iraq War.
He's not exactly the first stupid US president - he's probably the 4th in my lifetime.
― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:06 (six years ago) link
right, because giving more money to the IC is definitely a good counter-terrorism strategy
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:08 (six years ago) link
oh and I'm late to this but the meme that got reposted earlier is dumb and bad and patronizing as hell. for many/most leftists, Sanders *is* a compromise candidate.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:10 (six years ago) link
One could argue Reagan and W were savants of sorts, with Alzheimer's and dyslexia impairments. With DJT, we're dealing with 70 yr of little exertion + frontotemporal dementia + malignant narcissism + a nihilist Chief Strategist.
― it's just locker room treason (Sanpaku), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:11 (six years ago) link
Billy Blythe was smart, and how much good did it do us?
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:12 (six years ago) link
George Conway sure is having fun this morning
Very good analysis. https://t.co/7GJxPrfnLS— George Conway (@gtconway3d) June 5, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:21 (six years ago) link
not to get all 5D chess but maybe they figure "attacking judges for striking down the ban" is better politics than actually doing the ban10:37 AM - 5 Jun 2017
this is feeling more and more like the case, though this seems like a bannon move, not trump
― jason waterfalls (gbx), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:24 (six years ago) link
Re said strategy:
1/My speculation 4 months ago on possible logic behind Trump's otherwise obviously self-defeating tweets re courts. https://t.co/KVrkVPlltH pic.twitter.com/pM684SlZUi— Jack Goldsmith (@jacklgoldsmith) June 5, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:25 (six years ago) link
"now"― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, June 5, 2017 6:06 PM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalinkhow quickly we forget the Iraq War.― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, June 5, 2017 6:06 PM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, June 5, 2017 6:06 PM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
well true, but i feel like this is a new level of craven self destructive stupidity that is stupid even by the american standard of stupid.
― nomar, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:25 (six years ago) link
“We shouldn’t start down the road of psychoanalyzing what people meant on the campaign trail,” acting solicitor general Jeffrey B. Wall told judges at a recent court hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
So, instead of "psychoanalyzing" Trump, how about the court just reads his statements for what they plainly and directly say and mean? That's plenty good enough for me.
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:29 (six years ago) link
Legal wonkery Twitter thread from same Lawfare guy, worth a read
1/ Trump’s actions since January, & especially in last month, take us so far beyond normal that it’s hard to have any faith in Exec branch.— Jack Goldsmith (@jacklgoldsmith) June 5, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:31 (six years ago) link
Cosigning Lord Alfred, and going a bit further, I think neither liberals NOR centrists are really salivating over Comey.
It's more like "any weapon available." No one cares about his majestic height, or about the hardness of his weapon.
I just want the Orange Person thwarted and harmed; personally I don't give a shit whether the means is Comey or Clooney; Russia or Rhode Island.
― godley and creamsicle (Ye Mad Puffin), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:41 (six years ago) link
the hardness of his weapon.
well, except Mrs. Comey
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:44 (six years ago) link
I follow that logic for sure, I guess my skepticism comes with the idea that liberals are going to keep fighting injustice once/when Trump is out, like I didn't see word one about drone strikes or the Saudis or the criminalizing of dissent on my FB timeline during the Obama years because he didn't bring Shame To The Office or whatever. Like by all means get Trump out but for the love of god don't stop anywhere near there. xp
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:46 (six years ago) link
ILX too peniscentric today.
― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:46 (six years ago) link
the hardness of his weapon. like I didn't see word one about drone strikes or the Saudis or the criminalizing of dissent on my FB timeline during the Obama years because he didn't bring Shame To The Office or whatever
Again, to each his own. My wall consists of liberals, all of whom mentioned and bemoaned this repeatedly.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:48 (six years ago) link
Conway, per screenshot, basically now calling out others for not being good counselors to the king
George Conway notes that a true friend criticizes you when you're harming yourself. pic.twitter.com/0O3pmefr3o— Josh Barro (@jbarro) June 5, 2017
But per Haberman (series of posts worth reading):
This incredible @sbg1 scoop gets at key point of this WH - plenty of ppl tell Trump "no." He often doesn't listen https://t.co/FVoqPOK8E6— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 5, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:49 (six years ago) link
OK, but there's still absolutely no comparing the culture of dissent of now vs then. xp
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:50 (six years ago) link
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, June 5, 2017 12:29 PM (nineteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Well, that's hardly fair, as it's been well-established that we aren't meant to take the words he says literally, either. Look into his heart.
― Trockasturm Hoar The Ramming Battle Ceraton (Old Lunch), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:51 (six years ago) link
* insert obvious comment here *
― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:52 (six years ago) link
there's absolutely no comparing the culture of now vs then either.
― evol j, Monday, 5 June 2017 17:52 (six years ago) link
huh?
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 17:53 (six years ago) link
evol, you might wanna tell that to Teen Vogue
http://www.teenvogue.com/story/obamas-drone-warfare-is-something-we-need-to-talk-about
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Monday, 5 June 2017 18:01 (six years ago) link
I'm with Alfred here, only with the caveat that there were a significant number of black progressives who were posting opinions along the lines of "I hate drones but it is INCREDIBLY suspect the way many of y'all are criticizing their use here" followed up by non-black progressives saying "Awesome, we agree we hate drones!"
― PJD PDJ DPJ (DJP), Monday, 5 June 2017 18:02 (six years ago) link
Didn't Obama ramp up their use significantly vs. 43? Why would it be suspect to criticize the president over it?
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 5 June 2017 18:05 (six years ago) link
it's entirely valid to criticize him over it. I just hope purity tests and circular firing squads don't give us another four years of DJT in 2020. at this point I'm thinking it's more likely he dies before 2024 than someone actually defeats him in an election.
― evol j, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:08 (six years ago) link
Michael Bloomberg (I detest him, but):
"Hillary said, 'Vote for me because I'm a woman and the other guy's bad,'" Bloomberg said, adding that too many Democrats have visions of 2020 while they're still figuring out the right message.
"They'll step on each other and reelect Donald Trump," he said, giving Trump "a 55% chance" of getting reelected.
http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-bloomberg-trump-gets-reelected-2017-5
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Monday, 5 June 2017 18:10 (six years ago) link
must've missed all the "vote for me because I'm a woman" campaign ads
― frogbs, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
tbf there were a jillion 'and the other guy's bad' ads
― officer sonny bonds, lytton pd (mayor jingleberries), Monday, 5 June 2017 18:15 (six years ago) link
meanwhile Trump got nothing but praise for ragging on Hillary, idgi
― frogbs, Monday, 5 June 2017 18:16 (six years ago) link