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

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#240326: Apr 29th 2018 at 8:38:00 PM

About trump and hilary: that is because trumpers think Hilary is the real gulty party here, the extreme corrupt media politician who manage to get away with everything, acording to them Comey were to soft on her and now we are crazy seen she didnt win and try to sabotage Trump.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#240327: Apr 29th 2018 at 8:41:56 PM

I just think it's slightly pathetic to bring up Hillary Clinton at this point. She lost. She shouldn't be relevant to the discussion any more. Were Obama and Bush, or any of their followers, still bitching about John McCain or Al Gore at this point in their tenures?

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#240328: Apr 29th 2018 at 8:47:48 PM

[up]People are still bitching about obama and the only reason we dont bring Bush is because Trump out dumb him in EVERYTHING.

Really, Bush save himself for being the liberal target pratice now that Trump is here.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#240329: Apr 29th 2018 at 8:57:48 PM

I'm honestly not sure how much of it is just looking good by comparison and how much is legitimate improvement, but GWB has actually at least made an effort to stay out of the public eye and improve himself as a person, if not his politics.

It's been fun.
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#240330: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:03:06 PM

I think that is a fair point to make.

Do not obey in advance.
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240331: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:08:36 PM

No Collusion! WITCH HUNT!

Russians followed up on Trump Tower meeting after election, Democrats say

(CNN) The Russian oligarch and Russian lawyer who were key players in the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting reached out to Trump's team after Donald Trump was elected President to try to lobby on the Russian sanctions they sought to overturn, according to Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, told CNN's Jim Sciutto on Friday that Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya reached out to the Trump family after the election with a request to follow up on efforts to repeal the Magnitsky Act, the 2012 Russian sanctions the US enacted over human rights abuses.

Veselnitskaya was the Russian lawyer at the center of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, where Donald Trump Jr. expected to receive damaging information on Hillary Clinton but instead Veselnitskaya focused on the repeal of the sanctions.

"Clearly, there's an expectation there on the Russian side that they may now have success with the Magnitsky Act, given that the prior meeting and communications dealt with the offer of help," Schiff said. "It certainly seems like the Russians were ready for payback."

In addition, another effort to reach out to Trump's team after the election came from Aras Agalarov, the Azerbaijani-Russian oligarch who also has ties to the Trump Tower meeting. Agalarov, along with his pop-star son, Emin Agalarov, also worked with Trump to bring the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant to Moscow.

The outreach from the Russians after the 2016 election was one of the new details that stemmed from the release of the Republican report on the Russia investigation, as well as a lengthy Democratic dissent that disputed the Republican conclusion there was no evidence of collusion between Trump's team and Russia.

In the dissent, Democrats cite a November 28, 2016, email from publicist Rob Goldstone to Trump's assistant, Rhona Graff, which said that "Aras Agalarov has asked me to pass on this document in the hope it can be passed on to the appropriate team."

"Later that day, Graff forwarded to Steve Bannon the email with Agalarov's document regarding the Magnitsky Act as an attachment, explaining, 'The PE [President Elect] knows Aras well. Rob is his rep in the US and sent this on. Not sure how to proceed, if at all.'"

Trump's team has denied there was any follow up after the Trump Tower meeting.

It's not clear that there was any response from the Trump team to the request from Veselnitskaya, or Agalarov. The Trump administration has not moved to roll back the Russian sanctions, and, in fact, new sanctions against Russia have been enacted.

CNN has previously reported additional outreach that came after the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, in which Goldstone sent emails to Trump's team in the weeks following that meeting. But the overtures from Veselnitskaya and Agalarov are the first indication that the same Russians were still pushing to change the sanctions law after Trump was elected.

While the Democratic report released Friday does not mention Veselnitskaya's post-election outreach, a committee source said that she approached the Trump team following the election before the appeal from Aras Agalarov.

In the lead-up to the Trump Tower meeting, Goldstone told Trump Jr. that Veselnitskaya had damaging information about Clinton that he claimed came from the Russian government. At the meeting, however, Trump Jr. said she did not provide damaging information, and instead focused on the repeal of the sanctions law.

edited 29th Apr '18 9:09:40 PM by megaeliz

Raptorslash Since: Oct, 2010
#240332: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:15:16 PM

It's part of their narrative that Trump defeated "Crooked Hillary", and Trump will never let that go. That, and she's a convenient target for him to go after because she's a "loser" and he can relive the campaign by bashing her.

Imca (Veteran)
#240333: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:38:31 PM

What disturbs me about those pools, is that trumps approval gap closes by 3% if you restrict it just to registered voters. ._.;

Raptorslash Since: Oct, 2010
#240334: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:51:57 PM

Now I'm curious how Trump maintains those numbers despite gross incompetence and unprofessional behavior. Racism, propaganda, and his cult following is my guess.

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#240335: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:55:43 PM

Its simple really. Republicans fall in line, no matter how bad the party gets.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#240336: Apr 29th 2018 at 9:58:06 PM

A couple of stories from News & Guts. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but a different perspective maybe.

Enough Is Enough; The Case For Ending The WHCA Dinner

A few thoughts on the White House Correspondent's Association event last night:

When journalists have an event to celebrate themselves, and their work, they invite criticism and ridicule. And playing into the hand of Donald Trump, we give this White House an opening as wide as the Grand Canyon to mock us in front of the rest of the country. My fellow journalists, you can argue it, but it's the truth and you know it.

Here's what Politico writes is the purpose of the event:

At its core, the dinner is supposed to be a celebration of the First Amendment, an opportunity to laud the young journalists who have won the association's scholarships, and a place to applaud the current journalists whose work illuminates the public's understanding of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave."

OK, sure, it's for a worthy cause but that's not why people attend. It's all about being seen, sitting with the right people at the right tables. Having the "A" guest on your arm, someone you'll probably have to objectively report on. How's that going to work?

Once again for the umpteenth year, a comedian has crossed the line and there will be a weeks of collective naval gazing by some in the Washington press corps who think they should, for some reason, apologize for the entertainer's behavior. After the actions of this White House? Seriously? First, she's a comedian and it's her job to make fun of people. Second, take a peek at Donald Trump's twitter account. To allow the White House to claim the high road on ANY issue shows the ridiculousness of this event. The faux outrage from conservatives is laughable.

Let's do everyone a favor and make next years event about the future of journalism. Lose the celebrities, the politicians and business leaders. Or just cancel the event. The New York Times stopped going years ago. There are less painful ways to raise money for aspiring journalists.

Ahead Of Midterms, GOP Establishment Worried Of Trump Unhinged

In another freewheeling, off-the-cuff, hour-long diatribe, Donald Trump last night reinforced why the Republican establishment is mortified he will almost single-handily lose the majority for them in Congress this fall.

Despite polling that shows the House all but lost and the Senate in play, Trump is doubling down, refusing to concede the perils of his ways.

From the New York Times:

  • President Trump is privately rejecting the growing consensus among Republican leaders that they may lose the House and possibly the Senate in November, leaving party officials and the president's advisers nervous that he does not grasp the gravity of the threat they face in the midterm elections.
  • Over dinner with the president and other Republican congressional leaders this month, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, phrased his advice for the president in the form of a reminder: Mr. Trump should never forget his central role in the 2018 campaign, Mr. McConnell said, explaining that Republicans' prospects are linked to what he says and does and underscoring that their one-seat advantage in the Senate was in jeopardy.
  • If Mr. McConnell's warning was not clear enough, Marc Short, the White House's legislative liaison, used the dinner to offer an even starker assessment. The G.O.P.'s House majority is all but doomed, he said.
  • But Mr. Trump was not moved. That's not going to happen.

But last night in Michigan, he sounded like he was moved, telling the crowd Republicans need to maintain control of the House of he'll face impeachment.

"We have to keep the House because if we listen to Maxine Waters, she's going around saying 'We will impeach him.'"

Waters has called on Trump to resign.

From The Hill: A Quinnipiac Poll released last week shows that if Democrats win the House, more than 70 percent of their supporters want to begin impeachment proceedings.

Watashiwa Since: Dec, 2009
#240337: Apr 29th 2018 at 10:16:37 PM

Y'know what I agree. If the people attending the White House Roast get upset over hearing truth be told to power, the event is a failure. It's not a celebration, it's an auriga. "Remember you are mortal".

And remember that the 4th Estate can't friends with the Executive.

Raptorslash Since: Oct, 2010
#240338: Apr 29th 2018 at 10:23:15 PM

It's been clear for a while that Trump can't take a joke if it's aimed at him. He couldn't take Obama making a joke about him at the last dinner and he couldn't take being made fun of now.

And his people are the ones painting us as a bunch of snowflakes who scream and cry and demand safe spaces whenever we're upset.

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#240339: Apr 29th 2018 at 11:06:27 PM

I would argue that a president too egotistical to take a joke at his expense is one needs events like this the most. Like, sure, he doesn't want to listen to the truth, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be told the truth, it means that that more effort needs to put into making him listen.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#240340: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:07:07 AM

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Heck, the Trump horse is more likely to piss in the water out of spite.

Disgusted, but not surprised
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: You spin me right round, baby
#240341: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:10:55 AM

[up]Was that a reference to the alleged pee tape? If so, [lol]

Trump actually got roasted once by Comedy Central. I have no idea what was in the roast, but how could he have gotten so thin-skinned in subsequent years?

edited 30th Apr '18 4:05:47 AM by BearyScary

Do not obey in advance.
Ingonyama Since: Jan, 2001
#240342: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:13:44 AM

@ 240211 Raptorslash: That mention of Mount Rushmore reminds me, I don't have the article since my roommate saw it on his Tumblr, but there was an interview with a Republican politician from South Dakota who told of a meeting he and a bunch of other South Dakotan reps were at with Trump, and the idiot actually said he does want his face on Mount Rushmore. Everyone took it as a joke (though only one person laughed), but Trump insisted he was quite serious about it.

I don't know if this story is true, but I could believe it. The ego of this man...and yet so fragile, as proven by his reaction to that WHCD roasting and every other joke or criticism since then.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#240343: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:32:35 AM

[up] Of course he wants his face on Rushmore. The guy is all about making monuments to himself. That's probably why he really wants a border wall.

[up][up] Yes.

edited 30th Apr '18 12:33:23 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#240344: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:38:19 AM

So how long before he abandons subtlety and just installs a gold-plated statue of himself on the south lawn?

edited 30th Apr '18 12:39:03 AM by Deadbeatloser22

"Yup. That tasted purple."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#240345: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:43:21 AM

He's already got those damn gold curtains...

Yes, it's an incredibly petty thing. But I think said curtains are just a perfect visual metaphor for what Trump is doing to our country.

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#240346: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:45:35 AM

[up]. Personally, I thought a golden toilet would be a better metaphor, but that works too.

[down] the Museum where it was actually offered to give it to Trump as a "long term loan", outraging Fox News.

edited 30th Apr '18 12:59:12 AM by megaeliz

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#240347: Apr 30th 2018 at 12:50:44 AM

It was that or a giant gold penis. But that wouldn't serve his narcissism.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
TheWildWestPyro from Seattle, WA Since: Sep, 2012 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#240348: Apr 30th 2018 at 1:08:01 AM

For one horrifying moment I thought Trump was going to remake the entire White House in the shape of his head.

edited 30th Apr '18 1:08:07 AM by TheWildWestPyro

Deadbeatloser22 from Disappeared by Space Magic (Great Old One) Relationship Status: Tsundere'ing
#240349: Apr 30th 2018 at 1:36:38 AM

After what he did in Vegas I wouldn't put it past him to try and emblazon his name in giant neon letters on the Washington Memorial though.

"Yup. That tasted purple."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#240350: Apr 30th 2018 at 2:52:05 AM

Whoever ends up succeeding Trump will have to have the whole WH fumigated. Metaphorically and maybe literally.

edited 30th Apr '18 2:52:29 AM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised

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