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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#267051: Jan 14th 2019 at 2:13:07 PM

[up]. Trump is finacially tied to all sorts of shady figures, including Oligarchs beholden to Putin. A lot of the projects his company has completed since 1998, have funding from Russia tied sources, and lots of Russian money goes through his projects.

And don’t forgot about Trump Tower Moscow. He has business interests in Russia, which is why he’s sucking up to them so much

Edited by megaeliz on Jan 14th 2019 at 5:21:09 AM

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#267052: Jan 14th 2019 at 2:19:04 PM

My own dark horse theory is that Trump, once he's entrenched enough to have to be moved out of Shutdown state, will not budge. Ever. And unless the Turtle can do the impossible it'll continue until the GO Pers in the Senate start getting worried enough about their re-elections in 2020 and then the daggers come out for the Turtle Soup.

Obviously this is not how is definitely going down, just a theory. And it would obviously be a slow burn.

That or the Mueller Report is such a big bombshell it forces the Turtle to cut his losses with Trump radically.

Edited by 3of4 on Jan 14th 2019 at 11:19:37 AM

"You can reply to this Message!"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#267053: Jan 14th 2019 at 2:29:02 PM

I have yet to see a crime which Mitch has an associate accused of that would have him prefer to cut ties versus double down.

He continued to support Roy Moore up until the end.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#267054: Jan 14th 2019 at 2:35:52 PM

See my impression was that Evil Turtle's approach to Moore was "Let Alabama decide" which is code for "If Moore winds then it's allright and not my fault that a child rapist was elected, if he loses then it's not my fault and maybe Jones will switch parties and we certainly can run a better candidate against him in 2020 if he doesn't".

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#267055: Jan 14th 2019 at 2:58:08 PM

From what I recall, Mitch initially paid lip service to the idea of Moore being a bad candidate who should be replaced, but eventually went back on that.

SilentColossus (Don’t ask)
#267056: Jan 14th 2019 at 3:19:53 PM

They seemed all right criticizing Moore when they felt like they had the election in the bag, only to go back on that when they realized Jones was actually going to win.

Hence the RNC cutting off funding for Moore, only to start funding him again later.

Edited by SilentColossus on Jan 14th 2019 at 3:21:49 AM

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#267057: Jan 14th 2019 at 3:24:25 PM

And that, right there, is part of the reason why Republicans in general should be considered to be as bad as Trump, if not more so. Certainly the latter as far as Mitch is concerned.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#267058: Jan 14th 2019 at 3:27:06 PM

I don’t see Turtle changing his mind on this, the only way I see the shutdown ending is the Republican senators replacing Mitch as senate majority leader, either via an internal vote or a number of them switching to caucusing with the Dems.

The second requires fewer senators but requires them to make a much bigger turn.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#267059: Jan 14th 2019 at 3:58:44 PM

Rumor mill is saying Kirsten Gillibrand is going to announce her intention to run for president by the end of the week.

Edited by Parable on Jan 14th 2019 at 3:59:16 AM

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#267060: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:07:12 PM

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2019/01/14/day-725/

    Day 725: Big fat hoax 
1/ The FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump had been working on behalf of Russia after he fired Comey in May 2017. Law enforcement officials became concerned that if Trump had fired Comey to stop the Russia investigation, his behavior would have constituted a threat to national security. Counterintelligence agents were also investigating why Trump was acting in ways that seemed to benefit Russia. No evidence has publicly emerged – yet – that Trump was secretly taking direction from Russian government officials. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the report "absurd" and claimed that, compared to Obama, "Trump has actually been tough on Russia." (New York Times / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/11/politics/nyt-russia-trump-investigation/index.html

[Opinion] What if the obstruction was the collusion? "We might be in a position to revisit the relationship between the 'collusion' and obstruction components of the Mueller investigation. Specifically, I now believe they are far more integrated with one another than I previously understood." (Lawfare)

https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-if-obstruction-was-collusion-new-york-timess-latest-bombshell

2/ Trump concealed details about his conversations with Putin from administration officials. On at least one occasion in 2017, Trump confiscated the notes from his interpreter and told the interpreter not to discuss the details of his Putin conversation with other administration officials. As a result, there is no record of Trump's face-to-face interactions with Putin at five locations from the past two years. U.S. officials only learned about Trump's actions when a White House adviser and a senior State Department official requested additional information about the meeting beyond what Rex Tillerson had provided. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-concealed-details-of-his-face-to-face-encounters-with-putin-from-senior-officials-in-administration/2019/01/12/65f6686c-1434-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html

Lawyers for the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees are discussing subpoenaing the interpreters who were present when Trump spoke privately with Putin. Lawyers are not actively drafting subpoenas, but instead reviewing the best way forward and deciding which committee would submit a request, should they decide to make it. (ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-lawyers-meeting-monday-evaluate-subpoenaing-trump-putins/story?id=60348411

3/ Fox News asked Trump if he is a Russian agent – he refused to directly answer. Instead, he called the question from Jeanine Pirro "the most insulting thing I've ever been asked." When asked about concealing the details of his private meetings with Putin, Trump replied: "We had a great conversation." Later, Trump said he "never worked for Russia" and called the report that the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation "a whole big fat hoax" while labeling the FBI officials "known scoundrels" and "dirty cops." (New York Times / CNBC / Associated Press / Wall Street Journal / CNN / Washington Post)

https://apnews.com/f246dec6e3f7402cb0fc6d6c420e442c

4/ Trump's nominee for attorney general said that "it is vitally important" that Robert Mueller be allowed to complete his Russia investigation. "On my watch, Bob will be allowed to complete his work," William Barr will tell senators at his confirmation hearing, and that Congress and the public should "be informed of the results of the special counsel's work." Barr added that his "goal will be to provide as much transparency as I can consistent with the law." (Associated Press / CNN / New York Times / The Guardian)

https://apnews.com/181415fe1f054d899dafc5deb0d98f2e

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general. Opponents argued that Whitaker was not constitutionally appointed for the position because he had not been subject to Senate confirmation, and that Trump did not have the legal authority to appoint Whitaker. (NBC News / Washington Post / CNBC)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/supreme-court-rejects-challenge-matt-whitaker-s-appointment-acting-attorney-n958341

5/ The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed off on a plan by Alexander Torshin and Maria Butina to infiltrate the NRA and the American conservative movement. A U.S. intelligence report says Torshin, a Russian central bank official, courted NRA leaders for years and briefed the Kremlin on his efforts, recommending that they participate in the project. The report notes that the Kremlin was fine with Torshin and Butina's courtship of the NRA because those relationships would be valuable if a Republican was elected president in 2016. (Daily Beast)

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kremlin-blessed-russias-nra-operation-us-intel-report-says

6/ Trump rejected Lindsey Graham's proposal to reopen the government as the shutdown entered its 24th day. Graham proposed that Trump agree to reopen the government for about three weeks, and if no deal were made in that time, Trump could then declare a national emergency to obtain funding for a border wall without congressional action. Last week, Trump floated the ideal of declaring a national emergency to direct the military to start construction of the wall, but today he claimed "I'm not looking to call a national emergency. This is so simple you shouldn't have to." (New York Times / Washington Post / Politico)

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/14/trump-on-declaring-national-emergency-im-not-looking-to-do-that-1098886

Trump is "not going to budge even 1 inch" on the shutdown, according to a person close to Trump. Democrats, meanwhile, are unlikely to give ground to Trump as the record-setting partial government shutdown drags on. (CNN / CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/14/democrats-unlikely-to-cave-on-trump-border-wall-amid-government-shutdown.html

Trump to Mick Mulvaney: "You just fucked it all up, Mick." Trump cut off and lashed out at his acting chief of staff after he attempted to negotiate with Democrats for more than $1.3 billion in border wall funding. (Axios / CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/13/politics/trump-mulvaney-meeting/index.html

Despite the shutdown, the Trump administration is continuing work on opening up more Arctic lands in Alaska to oil drilling. The Bureau of Land Management has moved ahead with a series of public meetings to expand oil development in the 22-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (NPR)

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/11/684472912/despite-shutdown-trump-administration-continued-effort-to-expand-alaska-oil-dril

poll/ 53% of Americans blame Trump and the Republicans for the shutdown. 42% say they support a wall – up from 34% last January – while 54% oppose the idea – down from 63% a year ago. (Washington Post / ABC News)

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-gop-blamed-shutdown-crisis-fewer-oppose-wall/story?id=60337670

Six surveys taken since the partial government closure began tell a consistent story that more than half of Americans believe Trump and his party are responsible for the shutdown. (Bloomberg)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-14/trump-took-responsibility-for-shutdown-and-voters-give-it-to-him

poll/ 63% of voters support the Democrat's plan to reopen parts of the government that don't involve border security. Every party, gender, education, age and racial group supports the plan except Republicans, who are opposed 52 - 39%. (Quinnipiac)

https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2592

poll/ 69% of Americans do not want Trump to designate the border a national emergency site. 31% of respondents said they wanted such a declaration. (The Hill)

https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/425220-president-trumps-base-is-the-only-group-that-wants-him-to

poll/ 37% of Americans approve of the job Trump is doing as president while 57% disapprove. 52% say the current situation at the border between the U.S. and Mexico is not a crisis. (CNN)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/13/politics/cnn-poll-shutdown-trump/index.html

Notables.
Trump sold about $35 million worth of real estate in 2018 while serving as president. Although he offloaded the daily management of his assets to his sons, he maintained ownership of his businesses. More than half of the $35 million came from a single real estate deal involving a federally subsidized housing complex in Brooklyn, which Trump and his business partners offloaded for roughly $900 million. Trump held a 4% stake in the property and pulled in $20 million after subtracting the $370 million in debt owed on housing complex. (Forbes)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2019/01/11/trump-sold-35m-of-real-estate-in-2018/#176f3c9f45b5

A federal judge in California blocked Trump administration rules that would allow more employers to avoid providing women with no-cost birth control in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Judge Haywood Gilliam issued a preliminary injunction to prevent the rules from taking effect as scheduled today. The injunction limited the scope of the ruling to the plaintiffs, preventing the rules from going into effect nationwide. (Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/6bf623038da94f6ba74d71761f0cf665?utm_medium=AP&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter

Trump's nominee to replace Brett Kavanaugh on the federal bench questioned whether victims of date rape were partly responsible if they'd been drinking. Neomi Rao currently serves as Trump's deregulatory czar as administrator of the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. (Mother Jones)

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/trumps-nominee-to-replace-kavanaugh-questioned-date-rape-discrimination-and-climate-change/

Trump threatened to "devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds" following the U.S. troop withdrawal in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu blasted Trump's "threatening language" saying that his country was "not going to be scared or frightened off," adding: "You will not get anywhere by threatening Turkey's economy." (CNBC / Washington Post / New York Times)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/14/trump-threatens-to-devastate-turkey-economically-if-it-attacks-kurds.html

Trump's National Security Council asked the Pentagon to provide the White House with military options to strike Iran last year. The request, made at National Security Advisor John Bolton's direction, alarmed Pentagon and State Department officials, including then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The Pentagon offered some general options, including a cross-border airstrike on an Iranian military facility that would have been mostly symbolic. (Wall Street Journal / New York Times / CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/13/white-house-asked-pentagon-for-military-plans-to-strike-iran.html

Also, don't know how long it's been the case but if you do a google search for "Russian agent", the first page's worth of image results are pictures of Trump.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#267061: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:09:54 PM

Amusingly enough it's the same thing if you Google idiot

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Demongodofchaos2 Face me now, bitch! from In a Cultivation World (Ancient one) Relationship Status: 700 wives and 300 concubines
Face me now, bitch!
#267062: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:11:55 PM

While Trumps base is still holding out, His popularity polls have been going down bit by bit since the shutdown started

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/?ex_cid=rrpromo

You can see from around the middle of december 2018 onward. It could fluctuate back up after the shutdown ends, but the longer it goes on, that chance seems to be dwindling more and more.

Watch Symphogear
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#267063: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:33:12 PM

Five thirty eight have pointed out that he’s lost about a point of approval raiting so far, that’s a relatively solid drop rate, if this keeps going his raiting could drop seriously.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#267064: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:34:33 PM

As a feminist, I trust [Gillibrand] significantly more to seriously advance female empowerment then Sanders or Biden.
Part of me feels like this is a Water Is Wet kind of statement. Like, shouldn't you be able to trust virtually any female Democrat to do more for feminist issues than a couple of old white guys?note 
Or are people going to die because of Trump?
They are, they have been, and it will continue until the 2/3 of Americans who don't have their heads up their asses vote him and the GOP out.
I can only hope that people who voted for Trump are also feeling the effects and don't blame the Democrats, you know the people who actually are trying to help them.
Hahahaha. That's less likely than my winning the lottery.
No surprise, Bernie doesn't know when to quit.
There are occasions when this is a positive trait. The second primary election in a row isn't one of them.
I'm much more worried about [Sanders] running, splitting the vote, and then leading to Bloomberg getting elected.
I mean ... at least he's still a Democrat, right?
White House aides and advisers said they were still unsure how the president planned to end the government shutdown.
Planned? Trump??

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#267065: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:36:14 PM

I'm pretty sure his "plan" is "Either those losers give me what I want, or the shutdown stays. Quitting is for losers!".

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#267066: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:38:08 PM

I mean, I thought Trump's plan was pretty clear; he plans to continue to throw a tantrum until he gets his way, which he expects to work because that's how things have worked for most of his life.

Imca (Veteran)
#267067: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:44:12 PM

If he was genuinely a Russian agent there's a hell of a lot more that he could be doing that would be far more damaging that he isn't.

This argument is based on a faulty understanding of what an intelegence asset is, admitantly one that is very easy to get from holywood.

Most assets are not people who are actively working for you, ones who's alliance aligns with you and you alone.... those are a Hollywood trope.

The reality is that most assets are just stratigic friendships that you give a gentle push and let them do things that benifit you on there own.... this is both safer for you, and the asset who is actual valuable to your work.

And under that, the reality of the situation is there is little doubt Trump is a Russian asset.

The question is if he has done any thing illegal about it or not.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#267068: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:47:10 PM

Trump is undeniably a Russian asset but not a Russian agent is what I was getting at.

Oh really when?
Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#267069: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:53:43 PM

He's a useful idiot basically,he's not under direct employ but they can take full advantage of him

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#267070: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:54:14 PM

Steve King has been kicked off the Judiciary and Agricultural Committees.

Imca (Veteran)
#267071: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:55:10 PM

If your saying he is not a full fledged (whatever the KGB is now) agent then I agree

But the other tropers point was that it was full on malice at this point and not just will full ignorange, that he is compromised and the Russians have him working for them, which is also true.

It's just that how "working for them" is diffrent.

Edited by Imca on Jan 14th 2019 at 5:02:33 AM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#267072: Jan 14th 2019 at 4:56:11 PM

You could say he's been..toppled

-applies sunglasses-

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
MrHellboy The Shadow from A world of my own Since: Dec, 2017 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
The Shadow
#267073: Jan 14th 2019 at 5:04:22 PM

Evidently, a "bi-partisan committee" is being formed to figure a way out of this shutdown, led by Joe "I'm actually a Republican in sheep's clothing" Manchin and Cory "I'm up in 2020 and I really need a win" Gardner:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/01/the-senate-is-giving-up-on-trump-to-end-the-shutdown

Yeah, I really see this making something happen /s

The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#267075: Jan 14th 2019 at 5:07:12 PM

Part of what I do like about the shutdown (in the "the house's West Wing hasn't burned down yet" manner) is the fact it's doing a nice job to solidify DEMOCRAT feelings in a way that I think is good. A lot of people have been solidly anti-Trump but have had the view Pence would be worse or the view the Republicans are still adults in the room riding herd.

The longer this continues, the full scope of how dangerous Trump is and how completely utterly servile and uncaring the entire GOP is as well as how far they're behind him will become crystal clear.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.

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