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MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#189351: May 16th 2017 at 2:40:30 PM

Too bad the US can't do an annulment with Trump.

Pretend his presidency was illegitimate or never existed just like annulments do with marriages.

edited 16th May '17 3:40:55 PM by MadSkillz

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#189352: May 16th 2017 at 2:44:53 PM

https://nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/politics/james-comey-trump-flynn-russia-investigation.html

Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation

First part of article:

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting.

“I hope you can let this go,” the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo.

The existence of Mr. Trump’s request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia.

Mr. Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with the president immediately after the meeting, which took place the day after Mr. Flynn resigned, according to two people who read the memo. The memo was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the president’s improper efforts to influence a continuing investigation. An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.

Mr. Comey shared the existence of the memo with senior F.B.I. officials and close associates. The New York Times has not viewed a copy of the memo, which is unclassified, but one of Mr. Comey’s associates read parts of the memo to a Times reporter.

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#189353: May 16th 2017 at 2:47:55 PM

@Ambar But we kill babies.

I know. Millions of them. It's the American Holocaust, or so the crazy girl in my Facebook feed tells me. I don't know about you Mad, but I think there's nothing better then coming home after a hard day of subverting democracy by letting black people vote then kicking pack in an easy chair, and drinking some wine from the gilded skull of one of the infants I've murdered.

On a more serious note, as crazy as I find some of the anti-abortion people to be, if that was the main reason Republicans hated Obama, I think I'd find them more tolerable. It's at least possible to pretend that opposition to abortion comes from something other than hatred of women. It's not possible to pretend "he's a Muslim from Kenya" came from anything other than pathological xenophobia.

To bad the US can't do an annulment with Trump.

Pretend his presidency was illegitimate or never existed just like annulments do with marriages.

This would be so tempting. And yet it might be dangerous. We pretend Trump never happened, and before you know it, we end up unprepared to defend ourselves from Trump 2.0. It's a pleasant thought though.

megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#189354: May 16th 2017 at 2:49:06 PM

I've been reading Kennedy's New Frontier Speech, and it still rings true today, now more than ever.

There may be those who wish to hear more—more promises to this group or that—more harsh rhetoric about the men in the Kremlin—more assurances of a golden future, where taxes are always low and subsidies ever high. But my promises are in the platform you have adopted—our ends will not be won by rhetoric and we can have faith in the future only if we have faith in ourselves...

Under any circumstances, however, the victory we seek in November will not be easy. We all know that in our hearts. We recognize the power of the forces that will be aligned against us. We know they will invoke the name of Abraham Lincoln on behalf of their candidate—despite the fact that the political career of their candidate has often seemed to show charity toward none and malice for all.

It's short, but definitely worth a read. There's a lot here that can apply to our current situation, and maybe even learn something from.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25966

edited 16th May '17 3:05:49 PM by megaeliz

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#189355: May 16th 2017 at 2:51:20 PM

Well, it's clearly obstruction of justice. He still wont get impeached, not yet. But maybe we can get our independent investigation.

Upon second thought, I'm not so sure. There is the idea that by impeaching him, the Republicans can end the scandals, and it's not like President Pence would make it harder to get legislation through. I'm starting to wonder if impeachment isnt the better option, since the Russian investigation could cause a scandal that would impact the Republicans. I'm open to thoughts on this.

edited 16th May '17 3:02:32 PM by DeMarquis

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#189357: May 16th 2017 at 3:16:28 PM

https://twitter.com/Sam_Frizell/status/864597389474222081

Burr says the "burden is on the New York Times" to produce the memos, not on Comey. Says there may be an effort to undermine the president.


From WTF Just Happened Today's Twitter posts

Trump's aides "fear" leaving him alone in meetings.

https://t.co/u66MnwOvpI


5/ Gingrich urged Trump to shut down White House press room.

https://t.co/GVYKgC6dbI

edited 16th May '17 3:36:47 PM by sgamer82

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189358: May 16th 2017 at 3:40:01 PM

@ironballs: TBH we don't know for sure the agent is dead, just that people who are experts have said it is likely. It depends on what the agent was doing; if he was an asset for intel on ISIS, I'm not sure why Russia would target him. If he was indeed an Isrellei, someone remind me what the relationship between Russia and Israel is like?

Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#189359: May 16th 2017 at 3:42:58 PM

On a more serious note, as crazy as I find some of the anti-abortion people to be, if that was the main reason Republicans hated Obama, I think I'd find them more tolerable. It's at least possible to pretend that opposition to abortion comes from something other than hatred of women. It's not possible to pretend "he's a Muslim from Kenya" came from anything other than pathological xenophobia.

Sorry, but not every person who opposes abortion is a republican misogynistic fundamentalist. For some people, including me, it comes from the value of life which is potentially destroyed and wanting women to ponder the other existing options before taking a drastic action as that. Were it the males or both getting pregnant in our species I would have the exact same position (not pretending anything here).

I obviously know what the general view of the subject here is, but creating a strawman just to attack the opposing viewpoint more easily is disingenious.

edited 16th May '17 3:48:39 PM by Grafite

Life is unfair...
AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#189360: May 16th 2017 at 3:48:48 PM

[up]Congratulations on responding to something that nobody said. Did you even read what you were responding to there? I said that even the craziest members of the anti-abortion lobby have positions that are more palatable than those of the racist whackos who insisted Obama was a Muslim.

I was specifically referencing the extremists, made it clear I was referencing the extremists, and then said that even then, I'd take that particular group of extremists over a different and crazier groups of extremists. You responded by...accusing me of calling you, personally, an extremist.

Since it's a subject that frequently results in bans I'm not going to touch the rest of your post. I'll simply finish by saying this—you can't accuse me of setting up a strawman while attacking something I didn't say.

edited 16th May '17 3:51:24 PM by AmbarSonofDeshar

Elle Since: Jan, 2001
#189361: May 16th 2017 at 3:49:58 PM

[up][up]IIRC the actual abortion pro/con debate is a banned topic in this forum but I will point to Tim Kaine, (D): personally pro-life but politically pro-choice, will push alternatives like adoption where he can.

edited 16th May '17 3:50:25 PM by Elle

LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#189362: May 16th 2017 at 3:50:30 PM

[up][up][up]Not to prolong a possible abortion debate, but rhetoric like that is one of the things I have a problem with on the pro-choice side (as well as the pro-life side).

When you ask real-life people about the question, there responses are usually not so clear whatever their ultimate stance is. It's why you get things like a lot of women being pro-choice but saying they'd never personally get an abortion, or just the general "I don't morally agree with abortion, but still think it should be legal" stance that is also common.

edited 16th May '17 3:51:04 PM by LSBK

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#189363: May 16th 2017 at 3:52:34 PM

Looks like Ann Coulter is turning in Trump:

Ann Coulter was one of President Donald Trump's most outspoken supporters during the 2016 election, but so far she's been underwhelmed by his presidency.

In an interview with The Daily Caller on Sunday, Coulter said she still has hope in Trump, but she is ready to jump ship if things don't change.

"I’m not very happy with what has happened so far," Coulter said. "I guess we have to try to push him to keep his promises. But this isn’t North Korea, and if he doesn’t keep his promises, I’m out. This is why we voted for him. I think everyone who voted for him knew his personality was grotesque, it was the issues."

She explained that Trump ran as a master negotiator who would drain the Washington, D.C., swamp, but she hasn't seen him follow through on enough of his campaign promises.

"My fingers are still crossed. It’s not like I’m out yet, but boy, things don’t look good," Coulter said.

She added that she won't apologize for supporting Trump during the election, because he said all the right things on the campaign trail and because there was no better option.

She said she is afraid now that "the Trump-haters were right," which she said would be a "nightmare."

"I got to tell you when I wrote 'Adios America,' I thought there was a ten percent chance of saving the country," Coulter said. "On the evening of November 8, I thought, 'Wow, we have a 90 percent chance now. This is a chance that comes a long once every thousand years. We can save America now.'"

"And now, I don’t know, I’m someplace between ten percent and 90 percent."

Lol wut

AmbarSonofDeshar Since: Jan, 2010
#189364: May 16th 2017 at 3:54:29 PM

[up]You'd think Coulter would have recognized a fellow grifter when she saw one. Either she's a complete idiot (which isn't exactly unlikely) or she actually believes the nonsense she says (which is a frankly terrifying possibility).

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#189365: May 16th 2017 at 3:55:16 PM

[up][up]There was a better option. It was the one that wasn't Trump.

edited 16th May '17 3:55:24 PM by danime91

CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#189366: May 16th 2017 at 3:56:45 PM

@ The Arizona guy who wants to end compulsory schooling, because "education should be a privilege." With all due respect—that is none—[expletive redacted]
And good ol' Gingrich, utterly lacking in self-awareness as par usual...whatever image of the USA, foreigners have for the next 4-8 years we brought on ourselves...

Some where speculating about this already but Just for Fun: McConnell: I recommended Merrick Garland for FBI director

“I have spoken with the president about it. I recommended Merrick Garland,” Mc Connell told Bloomberg Politics’ Kevin Cirilli.

“Yeah, it may surprise people, but he has a deep background in criminal law,” he continued. “He was the prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case. And I think it would make it clear that President Trump will continue the tradition at the FBI of having an apolitical professional.”

A source familiar with Garland’s thinking said he’s not interested in the FBI director post. “He loves his job and isn’t interested in leaving the judiciary,” said the source, who asked not to be named.

Aides to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had privately prodded associates of Garland — who had stayed mum as speculation swirled about Trump naming him to the FBI — to make clear publicly that he wasn't interested in the position, according to one source familiar with the interaction.

While Republicans have framed Garland as a figure who could get bipartisan support in the Senate, nominating Garland would give the president an opening to appoint someone to the D.C. Circuit, the most powerful court aside from the Supreme Court. There are currently seven Democratic and four Republican appointees on the court.

Mc Connell didn’t address the court vacancy that would open up but insisted “it would be good to have Democratic support” on a new FBI director nominee.

“And I think if he picks someone with a deep background in law enforcement who has no history of political involvement, a genuine expert — and the reason I mention Garland, he’s an example of that — it will serve him well, serve the country well and lead to, I think, a more bipartisan approach,” he said.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#189367: May 16th 2017 at 3:57:44 PM

@Ambar: Looking through your post again and nothing suggests you were talking about the extremist or crazy faction. You said you found "anti-abortion people" to be crazy and then referenced opposition to abortion (again general) as only by people who hate women. I can't see how a troper could extrapolate from your post that you were only talking about a subset of the group.

@Elle: Tim Kaine, I think he is a good example of a reasonable position from a Democrat on the topic.

edited 16th May '17 3:59:30 PM by Grafite

Life is unfair...
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#189368: May 16th 2017 at 3:57:53 PM

OK, odds that the white house will nominate Jared Kushner as Director of the FBI.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Grafite Since: Apr, 2016 Relationship Status: Less than three
#189370: May 16th 2017 at 4:00:19 PM

[up][up] Is there a time limit for how long it takes until a new director of the FBI is appointed?

Life is unfair...
CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#189371: May 16th 2017 at 4:03:24 PM

There is none. Trump never has to nominate one. (And the Senate never has to confirm one).

[up][up][up]And I'll put a zeni on Bernie Madoff myself

edited 16th May '17 4:08:28 PM by CenturyEye

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#189372: May 16th 2017 at 4:08:07 PM

I'm not sure a special prosecutor would be ideal, as the type of special prosecutor from Watergate has had its powers stuarorily neutered to the bone since the late 90s after Bill's impeachment. You'd be better off asking for a special council or committee has no such restrictions.

New Survey coming this weekend!
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#189373: May 16th 2017 at 4:25:07 PM

FoxNews can't seem to get any Republicans to come on air and defend Trump.

edited 16th May '17 4:25:55 PM by tclittle

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#189375: May 16th 2017 at 4:27:34 PM

Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) is saying he is readying his subpoena pen if the Comey memo exists and he sees it.

edited 16th May '17 4:27:59 PM by tclittle

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."

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