Trump, May 2017: 100 days of [unintelligible]

I think it is entirely plausible that there could have been some undue collaboration ahead of the election and that parts of Trump's outlook are more convenient for Russia than Clinton's would have been. It is also pretty clear that Trump is a moron who admires political strongmen.

I also think that a proportion of the people coming up with foreign policy on Trump's behalf appear to be fairly hostile to Russia and that the US and Russia will remain mutually antagonistic for the foreseeable future.

The 'Trump always does what Russia wants!' stuff is annoying - partly because it is factually incorrect and partly because it reduces a lot of the complex and still very opaque nature of the relationship to a cartoon binary.

Putin is such a lovable fellow, there's plenty on the (far) left who like him too.

― Punnet of the Grapes (Tom D.), Friday, May 26, 2017 8:46 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

(citation needed)

― A is for (Aimless), Friday, May 26, 2017 8:47 PM (one hour ago)

salon, counterpunch, the nation and a bunch of other left-wing publications have published some pretty unambiguously pro-putin stuff in the past. here's a pretty odious example:

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-perils-of-russophobia/

There are also pro-Trump leftists.

He hasn't been able to do shit for Russia yet because he has been under a constant cloud of investigation into his relationship with the Russians! Had this stuff been somehow brushed aside who knows what he or his people might have tried to do his first few months. Or years. But now he can't get away with it.

― Josh in Chicago

would love to live in a world where whether or not trump could "get away with" something was a genuine consideration

parts of Trump's outlook are more convenient for Russia than Clinton's would have been.

This underplays their differences, I think.

As for cartoon binaries, that is the fuel of US politics at the electoral level. Every issue, foreign or domestic, is eventually forced into a cartoon binary for the consumption of voters. The real cartoon binary at work here is the image of Trump as super-shrewd billionaire deal-maker who knows how to put Americans back to work and back on top in the world versus Trump as a childish, empty-headed, greedy, carrot-topped buffoon who pays Russian prostitutes to piss on him.

Of these two cartoons, the second, while overblown, seems much the more realistic.

Marketwatch.com editorial: It's time to plan an escape route for you and your money from Trumpland

There are two great dangers when managing your own money and, indeed, the rest of your affairs. The first is reacting too much to recent events. The other is reacting too little.

And when it comes to what’s now happening in this country, the second danger is every bit as risky as the first.

To cut to the chase, it is becoming increasingly clear that Americans should be taking reasonable steps to diversify their investments outside the U.S., including holding assets in currencies other than dollars, and where possible to acquire a second passport.

Yes, I’m serious. Jewish-, Irish- and Italian-Americans, for example, should be checking out whether they qualify automatically for dual citizenship. Others should be looking into their options too. It is always a good thing to be diversified globally and to have the option of leaving the country and living and working elsewhere. But right now it is more important than usual.

It is no longer a certainty that America will remain a stable country governed by an impartial rule of law. You could argue it no longer is.

I am not saying that a further breakdown is guaranteed or even likely, but I am saying it is possible. Maybe things will end happily, but maybe not. What we are witnessing today is exactly how it has happened historically. It goes in steps. Countries do not leap from civilization to barbarism in a single bound. You do not wake up one morning to discover mobs burning books in the streets. The decline happens by degrees. Each step enables the next.
...
When you travel abroad these days, it’s like a cloud lifts. Stepping outside Trumpland, even for a few days, reminds you of what life is like in the normal world. You and your family should have that option as a matter of right.

That seems...extreme.

Also I kinda love how the subtext is "Yay for all you people with enough assets and connections! Sucks for the rest."

that showed up on one of the 5,000 other trump threads earlier today. arends is... not wrong, exactly, but also is clearly losing his shit. i guess i sympathize.

''Twas ever thus

''Twas ever thus

Also I kinda love how the subtext is "Yay for all you people with enough assets and connections! Sucks for the rest."

You were expecting him to promote airlifting poor people to Canada?

It would have been an enjoyable surprise.

Good points from a friend re: Montana, some of which have been mentioned here - https://www.facebook.com/mary.greenfield.313/posts/10213671814653880

(full disclosure: I used to be a Montana voter)

Hmmm...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-ambassador-told-moscow-that-kushner-wanted-secret-communications-channel-with-kremlin/2017/05/26/520a14b4-422d-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html?utm_term=.78c793780c1c

Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports.

Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, then President-elect Trump’s son-in-law and confidant, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser.

The White House disclosed the fact of the meeting only in March, playing down its significance. But people familiar with the matter say the FBI now considers the encounter, as well as another meeting Kushner had with a Russian banker, to be of investigative interest.

The next two paragraphs also of interest:

Kislyak reportedly was taken aback by the suggestion of allowing an American to use Russian communications gear at its embassy or consulate — a proposal that would have carried security risks for Moscow as well as the Trump team.

Neither the meeting nor the communications of Americans involved were under U.S. surveillance, officials said.

That seems...extreme.

The 'social mood' in areas that voted for Trump is very restless and dissatisfied, and probably ready to pitch the rule of law overboard, if it came with a promise of radically improving their situation. When the rule of law weakens and disappears, it is upon the premise that legalities are what stand between you and getting what you want and need, and that what will replace the rule of law is "whatever I say, goes". This is always the glowing temptation and it appeals most to the petty bourgeois, who often feel like whatever they say ought to be, should have the force of law.

Never read the comments, I know, but the comments on Arends MarketWatch piece are a whole new level of depressing. It's nothing but "libtard, Trumpville, fake news, concentration camps, democRATs, MarxiCrats (lol0, the Fifth Column Media, Liberal Leakers, roughing up reporters is nbd". Pretty sure there won't be any form of 'discussion' left in four years time, the way things are going, because this certainly isn't the way forward.

Good luck USA etc.

Also via WaPo

It's double-scoop time at WaPo —> @costareports reports Senate Intel Comm has asked Trump camp for ALL docs & emails https://t.co/STHJ5EZSWa

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) May 26, 2017

The Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race, has asked President Trump’s political organization to gather and produce all documents, emails and phone records going back to his campaign’s launch in June 2015, according to two people briefed on the request.

The letter from the Senate arrived at Trump’s campaign committee last week and was addressed to the group’s treasurer. Since then, some former staffers have been notified and asked to cooperate, the people said. They were not authorized to speak publicly.

Dozens of former staffers are expected to be contacted in the coming days to make sure they are aware of the request, the people added.

The letter was signed by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the Senate committee’s chairman, and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the committee’s ranking Democrat.

Important to note: Senate request isn't just to preserve documents. It's a demand for camp to produce docs on all things Russia-related.

— Robert Costa (@costareports) May 26, 2017

And hmmm

Among other things https://t.co/ZmBeICiUuS pic.twitter.com/TvEyf21w4j

— Mark Berman (@markberman) May 26, 2017

also had advice on how to make risotto

some cloak and dagger shit surrounding that anonymous letter..

this too

Greg Miller says on MSNBC the anonymous letter came to Ellen Nakashima and appeared to have come from someone inside the transition.

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) May 27, 2017

commenters to that tweet are suggesting its Christie and that would blow my damn mind

The letters are coming from inside the transition team!

Meantime, a little anecdote

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/05/26/white-house-correspondent-bolts-sputnik-over-the-obvious/

And elsewhere

White House Backs Down on Keeping Ethics Waivers Secret https://t.co/GRVuMmy4Vu

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) May 27, 2017

until trump gets on a helicopter and kushner is in handcuffs I won't believe anything will ever come of this

More fun!

Also BREAKING tonight: Russian oligarch + ex-Manafort client offered Congress testimony in exchange for immunity. https://t.co/rgSK4mr3hA

— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) May 27, 2017

until... I won't believe anything will ever come of this

Things have already come of it. His credibility among members of Congress is now very low, even with members of his own party. Energy and attention go to whatever is being talked about in DC and whatever the press pushes forward, and these issues have eaten up all manner of energy and attention. Leaking is becoming an easier choice for bureaucrats in every dept of government, as new leaks seem to arise almost hourly and are having demonstrable effects.

These are not impeachment, but they do matter.

Boy, he really didn't think he'd win, did he?

We got more!

Reuters FLAG: Jared Kushner had at least 3 previously undisclosed contacts with Kislyak, per *seven* sources https://t.co/HknUqSNbZv

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 27, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, had at least three previously undisclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, seven current and former U.S. officials told Reuters.

Those contacts included two phone calls between April and November last year, two of the sources said. By early this year, Kushner had become a focus of the FBI investigation into whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, said two other sources - one current and one former law enforcement official.

Kushner initially had come to the attention of FBI investigators last year as they began scrutinizing former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s connections with Russian officials, the two sources said.

While the FBI is investigating Kushner’s contacts with Russia, he is not currently a target of that investigation, the current law enforcement official said.

Wait, did Tillerson just go rogue?

State Department quietly lifts refugee limit, which could nearly double number of people admitted. @GardinerHarris https://t.co/67nocHN7c8

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) May 27, 2017

“Did you set up a covert Kremlin comm channel last week?”
“No.”
“Did you /try/ to set up a covert Kremlin comm channel last week?”
“Yes.” pic.twitter.com/4jqz9tvkNy

— Kenn White (@kennwhite) May 27, 2017

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-worried-should-jared-kushner-be

Given these previous reports, yesterday’s news that the F.B.I. is interested in Kushner is not surprising. “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings,” Kushner’s lawyer, Jamie Gorelick, said in a statement. “He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry.”

The second half of the statement suggests that Kushner has not yet been contacted by the F.B.I., a fact confirmed to me by the White House. Defenders of Kushner seized upon this detail as somehow exculpatory, noting that Flynn had been interviewed by the F.B.I. in January. But this might not mean much. In fact, it could actually be a bad sign. “The fact that Kushner hasn’t been contacted now, let’s assume it’s true,” the source close to Comey said. “It’s either meaningless with respect to culpability or, pointing to the riskier side, the more likely that he’s implicated, because the people you’re really suspicious of you don’t really interview until later.”

people you’re really suspicious of you don’t really interview until later

otm. you want to ask them a multitude of questions and then confront them with a multitude of statements from other sources or with other evidence that contradicts their account. Although, presumably Kushner's lawyer would sit in and would shut it down immediately if Kushner started incriminating himself.

but thx for the link Elvis, the LA Times map is great and does indicate regions in the Bay that are pretty close to me (sparsely populated and rural - but duh) that went for Trump

I used to live in Dana Rohrabacher's district - not rural at all, just desperately reactionary.

xp

someone on my facebook said that the senate should really investigate whether anyone on the trump team has ties to the u.s.

i laughed.

Hmm, about that.

“He came here to learn — he came here to get smarter,” said Cohn. pic.twitter.com/QGK5A72WE6

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) May 27, 2017

How much money does the DNC have? Because the facebook post posted upthread scolded the DNC for not matching the '6 million' that the RNC had spent (which is not entirely true, but whatever). But with over 400 congressional seats, at 5 million a seat in a '50 state strategy', that's 2 billion dollars. And then there's senate races, which are usually more expensive. How does the DNC fundraise for that, when on top of that, they're supposed to not take rich people's money anymore?

To sharivari's point, I don't think Putin's endgame it purpose is necessarily a set of pro Russian policies, though I'm sure he thought here and there he's get some concessions no other admin in history would have given him.. He's just destabilizing a regime, sowing political chaos. Whether Trump stumbles on as a zombie pariah president or gets impeached and Pence or Ryan become insanely unpopular one term presidents, we've already diminished our standing in the world, caused unnecessary rifts in the NATO alliance, etc etc. Proven the US election process is able to be compromised by foreign intervention.

He wins no matter the outcome.

Yes. He's getting almost exactly what he wants. But nobody wins if we go to war. Here is a link to a terrifying article

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/04/18/trumps-madman-theory-isnt-strategic-unpredictability-its-just-crazy/

Also, we've already seen that Trump is nothing if not impressionable. If you're dealing with an idiot who often embraces what he was last told, then of course the Russians would want to have sympathetic people around him. And really, per Putin, it's not like the guy has some sort of grand Bond villain plan. He mostly hated Clinton (mission accomplished) and wants sanctions lifted. I mean, it's not like anyone did anything concrete when he invaded Crimea and started messing around in Ukraine, Montenegro, etc.. Then again, when it's being reported that Trump's son in law literally suggested a secret communication channel to Russia via their proprietary privacy methods, who the fuck knows what is going on.

Also worth keeping in mind, as discussed somewhere on the news somewhere, all these clarifications and policy polishes from the White House, they have not been coming from Trump but from various people around him playing clean up. Who knows what he really thinks, and whether they are doing that to clarify or redirect. Maybe he does want to loosen ties to NATO or stop sanctions and the people around him are covering for him with practical corrections. It was noted on the news how unusual it was that he took essentially no questions on this trip. They have him on some sort of lockdown.

That said, he will hit the ground stumbling when he comes back. I bet he's been saving all this good stuff for the USA, and like a real coward will resume talking trash when he's safe at home.

Is this the longest he has gone without golf in his entire presidency? Poor guy.

McMaster basically jumped on a grenade that may or may not ever go off, but he has to stay on or else every other person in the military could wind up dead.

By the way, there is so much going on that certain stories are starting to give me deja vu. Like, the secret Kushner backchannel to Russia? I thought I read about that weeks ago.

Heh otm

Has he got any golf courses on mainland Europe? Surprised he doesn't hop over to Scotland if not. Just to check on his property like.
call it the Eastern Whitehouse or something.

the white hoose surely