Trump, May 2017: 100 days of [unintelligible]

They have since FDR (Carter the exception).

Charles Sykes on libtears: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/opinion/sunday/if-liberals-hate-him-then-trump-must-be-doing-something-right.html

What may have begun as a policy or a tactic in opposition has long since become a reflex. But there is an obvious price to be paid for essentially becoming a party devoted to trolling. In the long run, it’s hard to see how a party dedicated to liberal tears can remain a movement based on ideas or centered on principles.

Conservatives will care less about governing and more about scoring “wins” — and inflicting losses on the left — no matter how hollow the victories or flawed the policies. Ultimately, though, this will end badly because it is a moral and intellectual dead end, and very likely a political one as well.

The issue isn't whether there are tapes or not. The problem is the president tried to publicly blackmail the fbi director he just fired without cause--a man scheduled to testify in front of congress very soon about a criminal investigation involving the president's campaign.

Don't presidents often record their conversations?

― Treeship, Friday, May 12, 2017 2:04 PM (one minute ago)

Trump outsourced this to Putin.

Ultimately, though, this will end badly because it is a moral and intellectual dead end, and very likely a political one as well.

strange conclusion, considering that they're succeeding more wildly than ever before

The problem is the president tried to publicly blackmail the fbi director he just fired without cause--a man scheduled to testify in front of congress very soon about a criminal investigation involving the president's campaign.

not really a problem since the party in power dgaf. still, sure let's have some more hearings, keep the Senate distracted and bogged down w this etc

They sure were effective at erasing W from their history.

― between the tall buildings are snow-coated alleys (Ye Mad Puffin), Friday, May 12, 2017 6:38 PM (forty-seven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I feel like the Tea Party was a stealth rebranding in order to move past the fucking smoldering crater that W left in his wake.

strange conclusion, considering that they're succeeding more wildly than ever before

― Οὖτις

so much win! nobody has won like them since the king of the molossians.

I feel like the Tea Party was a stealth rebranding in order to move past the fucking smoldering crater that W left in his wake.

it was! We should probably start taking bets on what they'll call themselves once Trump is hounded from office as a disgrace... maybe the True Patriots, or Red Blooded Americans

I feel like the Tea Party was a stealth rebranding in order to move past the fucking smoldering crater that W left in his wake.

― officer sonny bonds, lytton pd (mayor jingleberries), Friday, May 12, 2017 3:32 PM

otm. Bush is spoken of with derision -- conservatives regard him as a two-term Carter.

their own eager-beaver complicity in his two terms neatly elided

compartmentalized, you might say

Even the establishment GOP got through two national conventions in which W was barely mentioned; I may be misremembering but he didn't even appear, right? As if his 8-year reign and "two" successful elections were but a footnote.

yeah he didn't speak at either convention

caught that idiot morning joe the other day and he spat out "lifelong Democrat" when referring to Trump more than once. get ready to hear this 94/7 when that mother fucker's out

the nyt piece linked to by tipsy is accurate:

the conservative news media is now less pro-Trump than it is anti-anti-Trump. The distinction is important, because anti-anti-Trumpism has become the new safe space for the right.... Rather than defend President Trump’s specific actions, his conservative champions change the subject to (1) the biased “fake news” media, (2) over-the-top liberals, (3) hypocrites on the left, (4) anyone else victimizing Mr. Trump or his supporters and (5) whataboutism, as in “What about Obama?” “What about Clinton?”... conservative politics is now less about ideas or accomplishments than it is about making the right enemies cry out in anguish.

get the fuck away from the term "safe space," Sykes.

But he's OTM regardless. Watching FOX News, the line this week has been (a) "media hysteria" (coming from FOX) (b) hypocrisy

it's definitely a more defensive posture, but it is not a less effective one

defending trump is a form of exhibitionistic self-abasement. the explanation for his stubborn support is that 35% of the country is into that sort of thing.

i don't judge them. i just wish this erotic energy was channeled into something less socially catastrophic.

Ryan was already kinda there a year ago, with his weary eyerolls and "I'm not hear to defend Trump or to talk about (insert latest outrage); I'm here to focus on what's important to the American people (which is cutting taxes and making life harder for people of color."

um hear = here

Yeah but all that time most everyone figured they could shrug it off after November. Then Trump won.

Sean Duffy's gross wife was on Fox this morning supportive of getting rid of the WH press conference because the only good questions come from the yokels on Spicer's skype-a-conservative-outlet machine

Trump is right that the press conferences serve no purpose

The Crunchy Conservative is ready to impeach: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/trump-blackmail-comey/

has ryan been photographed with trump yet?

Well, of course

Trump to Fox on whether he asked Comey for loyalty pledge: "I didnt, but I don’t think it would be a bad question to ask"

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) May 12, 2017

caught that idiot morning joe the other day and he spat out "lifelong Democrat" when referring to Trump more than once. get ready to hear this 94/7 when that mother fucker's out

― constitutional crises they fly at u face (will), Friday, May 12, 2017 4:01 PM (thirty-four minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

ha otm

Trump solves Rubix cubes by repainting the sides

Meanwhile, this could mean anything

#Breaking: James Comey declines to testify before Senate committee https://t.co/xtVTFqTrCH pic.twitter.com/K7KbrWXIXN

— POLITICO (@politico) May 12, 2017

This would have been the Intelligence Committee, closed session.

bummer

well he got caught in a bunch of lies last time, he's probably not eager to go back and do even worse

they'll probably subpoena him

xxp

I was a bit surprised to hear he'd be testifying. I had thought he declined a few days ago, so not shocked by this.

Trump is right that the press conferences serve no purpose

but THE NARRATIVE

Aw fuck, I wanted a nothing-to-lose Comey to spill all the beans. Like Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons.

"Since the court has seen fit to condemn me - God knoweth how - I will now speak my mind. I submit that it was not for the supremacy that you have sought my blood, but because I would not bend to the marriage!"

what the fuck is wrong with that loser

he should be indignant

he'd get asked a zillion questions that he wouldn't be able to give an answer to

Ah but remember, closed session.

Comey may very well be reassessing things and taking some time, i doubt he's cowed by Trump or unwilling to go forward. also if he has allies in the FBI, they may be in touch with him and things might be moving along behind the scenes. i don't know...

And nomar's post matches this:

Source w/firsthand knowledge tells me Comey turned down Senate invite to testify b/c "wants to lay low for a while & take some time off"

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 12, 2017

Meanwhile

Source: Rosenstein told lawmakers and staff he plans to allow FBI investigation to move forward, uninhibited by pressures from White House

— Steve Brusk (@stevebruskCNN) May 12, 2017

ah, closed session

who knows then

w made it so, so easy for the republican base to abandon him: he _compromised_.

And we got more Holt interview!

More of my interview with Pres Trump tonight. Still angry Comey failed to charge Hillary Clinton. @NBCNightlyNews

— Lester Holt (@LesterHoltNBC) May 12, 2017

did ye never get this sorted lads

We've been busy, keep getting distracted.

it's on our to do list