Trump, May 2017: 100 days of [unintelligible]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_pH39rUAAACu3Y.jpg:large

or

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C_l3korUMAEZaTN.jpg:large

These are really the best as always, though it's a shame they've never been able to squeeze in AK and HI.

And some Mike Allen fun

https://www.axios.com/top-republicans-demoralized-and-dumbfounded-but-publicly-defend-trump-2405906415.html

aka back to October 2016.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2016/countycartrb1024.png

^ 2016 Presidential election as a Splatoon match

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b4/Metallica_-_Load_cover.jpg

For pure righteous catharsis:

http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/05/11/tom-macarthur-town-hall-angry-man-calls-him-single-greatest-threat-his-family

right-teous

I'd seen that being shared, but I finally watched it an hour ago and it gave me life.

So is there anything to stop Comey from testifying in public?

Nothing at all stops Comey from issuing a public statement any time he feels like it, but a statement is not testimony. Any public appearance before a congressional committee to testify under oath would require approval from the committee chair, and such an invitation is subject to numerous political considerations.

November 7th is the next uniform election date in Texas. It's an odd year (and how) so that's when Cornyn's Senate seat would likely be voted on. Not sure who the Dems would run... one of the Castro brothers, Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte? Whoever it is will get soundly beaten by the Republican candidate.

― erry red flag (f. hazel), Friday, May 12, 2017 11:21 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

This is going to be massively interesting. I can already hear Abbot licking his chops because this puts Texas Dems in a very awkward position. One of their best prospects, Beto O'Rourke, has already registered candidacy for '18 against Cruz. The Castros have both said they wouldn't challenge him, possibly because they've each been mooted as possibly contenders to unseat Cornyn when he came up for reelection in 2020. Davis and Ven de Putte are possibilities, I guess, but whomever it ends up being will end up having to scramble to put together what will unfortunately be a losing campaign.

Oh, and in other Cornyn news...

http://www.khou.com/news/local/tsu-cancels-speech-by-gop-sen-john-cornyn-amid-outcry/439207227

God, I hope.

http://www.salon.com/2017/05/13/dead-man-lying/

Conveniently omits the fact that nixon faced Dem majorities in both houses of congress

Lucian K. Truscott IV, who wrote that Salon piece, is getting way ahead of the facts and makes up stuff, e.g. "everyone knows Trump is guilty of obstruction of justice", to which he stupidly adds that 'all that is lacking is evidence'.

Everyone knows Trump is a dickhole, all that's missing is a law making being a dickhole illegal.

"there'd be no ILXOR.COM"....etc etc

"this is the end for Trump" is the new "the GOP is finished"

things that yer liable
to read from the libruls
it ain't necessarily so

The standard issue cartoon of a wealthy person is a white-moustached man in a top hat and tails, such as adorns the Monopoly game box. I may need your guidance, morbs, on what cartoon figure you think represents 'the libruls'.

"the President cannot imagine that Russia is pleased." pic.twitter.com/qpo4idM6Mg

— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) May 14, 2017

whoa hueg

lucian truscott otm

The President has his finger on the pulse of Russian displeasure

But does Russioan displeasure have its finger on the President?

But does Russioan displeasure have its finger on in the President?

Fixed.

I think Russia's displeasure is mostly about how the president has yet to permit the third finger

"finger"

David Roberts finally typed up his twttier thread and expanded into a proper form(this is the Theory of Mind one):

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/12/15621140/interpret-trump

It's pretty good.

"twitter thread expanded upon" -> Vox link is a great way to get me to never read something

the man whose twitter thread expanded

Vox link is a great way to get me to never read something

You remember how Matt Christman said Turnip was effectively an exposed nerve and nothing else? This agrees with and expands upon that.

Is McCabe's turning down of further resources suspect after Comey had apparently sought them?
After the February NY Times undermining story I'd hate to find out he was a stooge to the WH just trying to appear tough.

Also wondered if Schiff was in a position where he could be fired by the President. Though that would probably make guilt look too obvious even for the orange one. Hasn't stopped him before though.

Adam Schiff? The President cannot fire an elected member of congress. Barack Obama would've canned Mitch McConnell long ago if that were possible.

Also wondered if Schiff was in a position where he could be fired by the President.

Lol

That is removed from the Committee on Intelligence or forced out of it. Presumably coercion is a crime in itself.
Maybe it was those puppy eyes of his but I just wondered if he was vulnerable. Seems to be doing an ok job despite adversity.

Again, he can't be forced out. I'd imagine even GOP colleagues would mind.

I need to find out more about the election to and deselection from that committee. Would like to know how an obstructive member would be removed etc.

@DougHenwood
This is some low-rent shit: “Republican governors to meet at Trump National Doral resort near Miami”

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/05/republican-governors-to-meet-at-trump-national-doral-resort-near-miami.html

I think Nancy Pelosi is the one who can 'fire' Schiff.

Note the meeting rooms: Ivanka A, B, C.

Yes, congressional caucus leaders make committee assignments. Even so, appointments are made for the duration of congressional sessions,and seniority is v important so I'm not sure a leader can just unilaterally remove a member, much less a ranking member, from a committee in the middle of a session.

tl, dr: no one's firing schiff

Yet more Mike Allen fun

https://www.axios.com/scoop-trump-irked-at-cabinet-and-staff-mulls-sweeping-shake-up-2407137307.html

But with a wise caveat

One note of caution: Trump often talks about firing people when things go south and does not follow through on it. So it's possible these conversations are his way of venting, and seeking reassurance.

Which I believe more than anything else.

Yes, congressional caucus leaders make committee assignments. Even so, appointments are made for the duration of congressional sessions,and seniority is v important so I'm not sure a leader can just unilaterally remove a member, much less a ranking member, from a committee in the middle of a session.

tl, dr: no one's firing schiff

― Οὖτις, 14. maj 2017 16:43 (twenty-eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I thought I remembered Boehner doing this to one of the Freedom Caucus guys, and I seems to be Tim Huelskamp from Kansas who got removed from the Agriculture Committee and then lost renomination a few years later. Just a funny little anecdote.

But no, no one is firing Schiff.

that's a repbulican acting to remove another republican from a committee. Democrats don't have any reason to remove Schiff, the most senior democrat on the committee.

Of course, a limiting factor on Schiff's influence is the fact that Devin Nunes and committee republicans have final say over the direction they want to take in terms of investigations.

we'll see what happens with these rumors

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/has-a-sealed-indictment-been-issued-against-president-trump/

am seeing a lot of "well she was right once about X"

taking a shotgun blast approach to accusations does not equal journalism

— ಠ_ಠ (@MikeIsaac) May 14, 2017

FISC can't issue indictments—only a grand jury can. The House has the power of impeachment, which has nothing to do w any indictment. https://t.co/P7OWhsjoRy

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) May 14, 2017

am seeing a lot of "well she was right once about X"

taking a shotgun blast approach to accusations does not equal journalism

— ಠ_ಠ (@MikeIsaac) May 14, 2017

Mensch's blog today is impressive in that it packed more basic civics errors into two paragraphs than I saw when teaching 9th grade history.

— Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) May 14, 2017

I have issued a FISA warrant to cover my bar tab

— Stefan Becket (@becket) May 14, 2017

Tom DeLonge is on the case, everyone