US Politics, February 2018: Our country was founded by geniuses, but it’s being run by idiots

Pure Herbert Kornfeld

Are we up to like two dozen newsworthy moments from the Trump admin today? This is just...so fucking exhausting.

He's not smart, but inducing resistance fatigue is turning out to be a solid strategic choice.

Parody version Glenn doesn’t change that much.

There are going to be lots of people wildly mischaracterizing the WL story. So before you believe any of it, read just this passage I’ve highlighted. Do not read the rest. And so what if WikiLeaks wanted GOP to win? I never said otherwise. You can’t prove it. pic.twitter.com/nT9mxrEkqm

— Glem Greenwald (@gggreenwald) February 14, 2018

But they've also got definitive proof that Russia wasn't the source of the leaks by such a trusted source as Dana Rohrabacher, so, y'know, game over: https://theintercept.com/2018/02/14/dana-rohrabacher-trump-russia-wikileaks-julian-assange/

Story on McGahn is worth a read

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-is-frustrated-with-the-white-house-counsel-who-walks-a-fine-line-over-his-bosss-demands/2018/02/14/eca8b59e-101c-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html

McGahn has frequently been at odds with the other White House attorneys, particularly Ty Cobb, who has been assigned to deal with the Russia investigation. Late last year, for example, McGahn thought Cobb should try to limit the questions he and his team would face from Mueller and protect the White House by asserting attorney-client privilege, according to people McGahn talked to at the time.

But Cobb, who has said he is eager to show the White House is cooperating, said all aides would answer questions freely. McGahn spent two days with the special counsel’s office in December and later told associates he was “thrown to the wolves,” according to people who have spoken to him. Seven other lawyers also spoke to Mueller.

McGahn has told others that Cobb is not a careful lawyer and is not carefully reviewing documents or preparing people to testify. In private conversations, McGahn has questioned whether Cobb leaked stories to the news media that could imperil McGahn’s standing in the White House. Cobb declined to comment.

Then there’s this insanity.

This story is unbelievable and a must read. The White House Counsel himself and others don’t have permanent high level clearances? Unforgivable. Never saw anything like this in 2 difft Administrations where I worked on these sensitive natl security matters https://t.co/IYChaGCI9T

— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) February 15, 2018

what a complete shit show

Just imagine how much worse things could be if Trump actually knew what he was doing.

When was the last time this asshole even had a press conference?

read that as "his asshole had a press conference"

When was the last time this asshole even had a press conference?

― Josh in Chicago,

You pine for one?

his asshole has a press conference every time he opens his mouth

should be noted that it is very common for the security clearance process to take FOREVER in the federal government. i know that the process should be very different for a run of the mill federal employee vs top white officials, but fwiw i worked in the govt for almost a full year before being notified that they had finally completed my security clearance. later on i needed to bump up my clearance level to a higher level, and when i left the govt they were about 9 months into the process and still not finished.

of course, i always figured the reason that it was taking so long for my own clearance was because they (reasonably) gave priority those people that actually had important positions...

Well, it took those guys forever to read all your ILE posts iirc

i always figured they just tasked tombot with doing it to give them a head start

You pine for one?

Yeah! Because every time he's done one he's made things even worse for himself.

https://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/photo_albums/tommy-lee-jones/large/20-jones-jfk.jpg?1384968217

trump himself would never get a security clearance if he weren't president, of course

he wouldn't even be authorized to make an arrest on Carmen Sandiego

He couldn’t even be a backup singer in rockapella

um that's not much of a dig, it is VERY difficult to break into rockapella, they are pros, where in the world are your MANNERS

This figures:

Administration aides tell me that advisors have recommended he say something, but he has opted not to https://t.co/DJp1biO5x7

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 15, 2018

I felt bad as soon as I submitted that post

more champagne?

Trump opted not to, because he has no clue how to act or what to say that would be of any use to anyone connected to the shootings and he vaguely realizes this.

Is it too cynical to think that he can’t say anything because he can’t lump the shooter (a white male, presumably disaffected, ie his base) into the group of Bad People (people from other countries) that he likes to blame things on?

no

he's such a fucking simpleton, the world is one big binary

he's a big stinky fecalith with hair

Obama's tasteful, sober statements of powerlessness in the aftermath of the bloodbaths didn't really achieve a net gain.

it made me feel like an adult was in charge though

just not in charge of changing anything

That's Change You'll Believe In!

just not in charge of changing anything

― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius),

cuz you think presidents "change anything"

What powers do you think the constitution grants the president to prevent gun violence?

Why doesn't he just issue an executive order to outlaw gun violence? Done!

I DON'T, bub(s)!

(eschews opportunity to mention 'collateral' blowing apart of foreign children, a bipartisan position)

(obv totally unrelated to domestic massacres performed at close range)

let's just replace all automatic weapons with muskets. has Old White Dude appeal and will cut casualties at least 75%.

or Nerf guns

What do FBI agents look for in background investigations? CARLA F. BAD:

Character
Associates
Reputation
Loyalty
Ability
Finances
Bias
Alcohol
Drugs

Apply that test to anyone you're wondering about who doesn't have a clearance and you'll have your answer.

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) February 15, 2018

p sure Carla F. Bad was an old ilm poster, or maybe someone that sent me a spam email once

Pretty sure alcohol is only included so it can help spell bad

Oh no they ask you about a half-dozen follow up questions if you admit to drinking.

Like the sedition questions, I figure there’s a story that this one time an interviewee broke down like Denzel at the end of Flight, “OK, OK, I’m drunk and plotting to overthrow the government right now!” so it can’t hurt to try

like my primary care physician xp

FBI checklist based on the '60s TV series The FBI

*suddenly remembers Drunkenly Animate thread*

https://frinkiac.com/meme/S04E11/646411.jpg?b64lines=IEkgRE8gRU5KT1kgQQogU05JRlRFUiBPRiBQT1JUIEFUCiBDSFJJU1RNQVMu

Leading Candidate For A Red Texas US Senate Seat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWHKUW77Eps