Trump, June 2017: From [Covfefe] with Love

gotcha thanks

White House line as of the last few days has been, suspiciously, "collusion isn't illegal"

Yet another "that makes me smart" defense would satisfy Trump diehards, who'd stay in his camp just because they believe in him enough to follow him off the end of a pier. But strong evidence proving collusion during the campaign would be heavily politically damaging, even if he succeeds in convincing the public that illegality of it is unclear. He's operating in a different environment under different rules than he is used to. But then, he has no real agenda other than being POTUS and tweeting a lot, so the Republican Congress might just try to ride it out by looking saddened and tut-tutting, but not impeaching him, and hoping the mid-terms aren't a bloodbath.

Hey, we're all just passengers on Spaceship Earth. What's wrong with trying to get along with our fellow passengers? And why didn't Obama put a stop to it? Sad!

J. is for Justice

oh, duh. thank you. was still working on my coffee during that post.

I dunno how I feel about this plan.

seems highly dubious. the simple fact of BCRA being as slapdash and destructive as it is indicates the GOP only cares about racking up wins. I also don't see the upside for Collins and Cassidy at this stage of the game -- working with Dems opens them up to the same attacks as simply voting the bill down, which is why I think in the end they'll do neither.

i have limitless confidence in any Dem plan failing

There is no plan for Senate Democrats that puts any power in their hands apart from the power to point vigorously at the worst provisions of McConnell's bill and say loudly over and over again "22 million losing coverage to finance massive tax cuts for the rich", on the chance that voters are listening and would grasp what the bill does. All else is effectively out of their hands.

like when you don't have both houses, whadya want, a Che Guevara uprising

Trump claims Obama "colluded" w/ Russia now.

just like when a 10 year old kid who doesn't understand a word you just said to him repeats it:

"I'm not 'exagemerating' you are!!!!"

go nucular, not nuclear

xp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaVWRetR4jg

apparently Trump's getting legal advice from

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/362060137/Pee-wee_Twitter_Profile.png

What does he think "colluded" means?

he hasn't consulted urban dictionary yet

He's basically illiterate.

xxp "colluded" is the past tense of "covfefe"

He's basically speaking to an illiterate audience.

That well known humor

Sean says Trump "was joking" (!!!) when he asked Russian to hack Hillary's emails during the campaign.

— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) June 26, 2017

he started a joke

trump tweeting "9-O" instead of "9-0" is somehow more upsetting than it should be

Messaging!

Charleston, WV, looks to the sky and asks: "Who's Senator Heller?" Probably not the reaction organizers were seeking. It's @SenCapito, guys. pic.twitter.com/0omJAanKdX

— Rob Byers (@RobByersWV) June 26, 2017

How can the Republicans justify denying healthcare to the many for the sake of tax cuts for the few? Nietzsche has a thought. pic.twitter.com/HtJnTXmK6T

— corey robin (@CoreyRobin) June 26, 2017

22 million more uninsured.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/26/15862002/tax-cuts-ahca-republican-health-plan

i had no logical basis for this but I was honestly expecting the numbers to be a lot better for the GOP. still horrific, but something like 10 or maybe 15 million uninsured that they could spin as a big improvement. this is an out-and-out catastrophe.

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One process takeaway: By reducing deficits by $321b, MccConnell has $200b to dole out goodies to moderates and still meet budget rules

Per CBO, 4 million people would lose *employer-provided* coverage next year under BCRA.

— Joshua Holland (@JoshuaHol) June 26, 2017

i appreciate the CBO cranking this out really quick before mcconnell rushes the vote

they couldn't vote on it until it was scored, right?

nm, i see your point.

I honestly thought it would be a lot worse. The lack of any kind of individual mandate seemed destined to add a few millions to the uninsured rolls.

icymi, last Thursday

It was a beautiful day to catch up with Bono. pic.twitter.com/7eKxhURPFb

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 23, 2017

Fifteen million more uninsured next year, Jesus Christ.

In the naaaaame of love (between a man and a woman)
What more in the name of love? (between a married man and a woman)
In the name of love (between a man and a woman)
What more in the name of love? (and only a man and woman)

don't see how they spin this except for continuing to shit on the CBO.

tax cuts to the top 400 americans would pay for Medicaid for 750,000 people. 1875 lazy moochers for every *job creator*. let the prosperity and freedom flow!

15 million would lose coverage next year, hardly sounds like a good strategy for re-election

never fear, they'll be just fine. they cheated and totally got away with it in 2016; they can cut some more voter rolls in 2018 :)

4 million losing employer coverage is p significant - that's actually really terrible

how many will have shittier insurance?

I didn't check the "Shittier Insurance" section of the CBO

This guy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-has-questioned-trump-campaign-adviser-carter-page-at-length-in-russia-probe/2017/06/26/1a271dcc-5aa5-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.7c1c09f09067

Over a series of five meetings in March, totaling about 10 hours of questioning, Page repeatedly denied wrongdoing when asked about allegations that he may have acted as a kind of go-between for Russia and the Trump campaign, according to a person familiar with Page’s account.

Page confirmed Monday that the interviews occurred, calling them “extensive discussions.” He declined to say if he’s spoken to investigators since the March interviews.

He said the FBI agents “acknowledged that I’m a loyal American veteran but indicated that their management was concerned that I did not believe the conclusions” of a Jan 6. U.S. intelligence report describing Russian government interference in the U.S. election. “Our frank and open conversations gave me confidence that there are still logical, honest individuals at the Bureau who respect civil rights and the Constitution,’’ he said.

what is this man wearing pic.twitter.com/WZ2hpRel1S

— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) June 26, 2017

Separately

Ron Johnson says McConnell would be setting himself up for failure if he schedules a Senate vote on the motion to proceed on BCRA tomorrow

— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) June 26, 2017

And of course everyone's fave

Cruz says he needs more in the bill to drive down premiums. Reporters ask if he'll vote to proceed tomorrow. He's quiet as elevator closes.

— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) June 26, 2017

why couldn't it have closed on his head

Rand Paul won't vote to proceed tomorrow. Ron Johnson, Rand Paul and Dean Heller. That's three.

B(efore)C(hrist)RA is a cute acronym, mitch!

how would people lose employer coverage under this? that I don't get.