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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2016 / Open Thread: They Call Him “Mr. Popular”

Open Thread: They Call Him “Mr. Popular”

by Anne Laurie|  September 8, 20167:01 pm| 155 Comments

This post is in: Election 2016, Hail to the Hairpiece, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republicans in Disarray!

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The major aftershock from last night's forum appears to be that intel officials are super-pissed off at Trump. https://t.co/Z0hJJSzEav

— Daniel Drezner (@dandrezner) September 8, 2016

Granted that mid-level professionals in every industry tend to regard the ever-changing “suits” at the top of their hierarchies as seagulls (fly in/squawk&shit/disappear):

As U.S. officials cast doubt on Donald Trump’s claim he read the “body language” of intelligence officials at a recent briefing, NBC News has learned exclusive details of what unfolded in the room — one of Trump’s advisers repeatedly interrupted the briefers until Chris Christie intervened, sources with knowledge of the briefing said…

Timothy Barrett, a spokesman for the Director of National Intelligence, declined to comment Thursday on Trump’s characterization.

However, a U.S. official pointed out that intelligence officers don’t give policy advice, so it would be inaccurate to say that Obama failed to follow the advice of the intelligence community. A second U.S. official said analysts are trained not to allow their body language to betray their thinking.

Meanwhile, four people with knowledge of the matter told NBC News that one of the advisers Trump brought to the briefing, retired general Mike Flynn, repeatedly interrupted the briefing with pointed questions.

Two sources said Christie, the New Jersey governor and Trump adviser, verbally restrained Flynn — one saying Christie said, “Shut up,” the other reporting he said, “Calm down.” Two other sources said Christie touched Flynn’s arm in an effort get him to calm down and let the officials continue. Requests for comment from Flynn and Christie were not immediately returned…

There were fewer than 10 people in the room at Trump’s briefing, and all the briefers were career intelligence officials, including both military officers and civilians, U.S. officials told NBC News. A former senior intelligence official said the briefing team is always the same for both presidential candidates. None were political appointees, and none were among the team that briefs President Obama daily. The names of the briefers have not been made public…

Current and former U.S. intelligence officials who asked that their names not be disclosed told NBC News that many members of the current intelligence community — leadership rank and file — were angered by Trump’s comments Wednesday night, and the possibility that he may have disclosed details of his intelligence briefing or attempted to politicize it.

Former CIA and NSA director Mike Hayden, who opposes Trump, told NBC News that in almost four decades in intelligence “I have never seen anything like this before.”

“A political candidate has used professional intelligence officers briefing him in a totally non-political setting as props to buttress an argument for his political campaign,” said Hayden. “And his political point was actually imputed to them, not even something they allegedly said. The `I can read body language’ line was quite remarkable. … I am confident Director Clapper sent senior professionals to this meeting and so I am equally confident that no such body language ever existed. It’s simply not what we do.” …

Shorter: “Shut the fuck up, Donny.”

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Reader Interactions

155Comments

  1. 1.

    Tim C.

    September 8, 2016 at 7:04 pm

    But… Hillary coughed, emails. I mean that, she literally coughed Emails out of Benghazi!

    ETA: And they made stormclouds!

  2. 2.

    debbie

    September 8, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    I’m glad they’ve spoken up. I’d like to see a Clinton ad on Trump’s excellent reading of body language (women, disabled reporter, etc.).

  3. 3.

    eemom

    September 8, 2016 at 7:12 pm

    But….but….the race is TIGHTENING. It’s a fucking cliffhanger! The emmessemm SAYS SO!!

  4. 4.

    Major Major Major Major

    September 8, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    I can’t recall a race in which the security briefings even merited a second thought, but then again, I’m young by blog commenter standards.

  5. 5.

    Van Buren

    September 8, 2016 at 7:15 pm

    @Tim C.: Even if there was nothing wrong with her coughing the optics were bad and now it’s out there and it would be irresponsible not to speculate about it.

  6. 6.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 7:17 pm

    I found this at Sam Wang’s joint. It is an app that will show competitive house races within up to 100 miles of your address. Check it out. Places to work on getting out the vote.

  7. 7.

    ThresherK (GPad)

    September 8, 2016 at 7:18 pm

    My rotating banner ad is for NFIB Massachusetts. Cos if ya can’t enjoy their booze, beefsteak and broads tonite, and vote against them tomorrow…(goes the saying).

    The MA part is because Spousal ThresherK and I are on Cape Cod. So at least there’s that.

  8. 8.

    Mike in NC

    September 8, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    We can pretty much assume that whatever was told to Trump in that briefing has been relayed to Putin already.

  9. 9.

    scav

    September 8, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    Isn’t he already getting rid of the Generals, all the rubble? He’ll decide to get rid of all the rubbled Intelligence officials too, make a clean sweep, he don’t need them. He’s the leader. With vision. Big hands. But big intelligence, all the intelligence bigly, he’s got it already. Everyone says so. Everything will be sorted in days, no rubble left. Use the rubble to build the wall. Mexico will pay for it, but we’ll have all the oil money too. Victory, Spoils. All the Victories, all the Spoils. You’ll be so spoiled you’ll be tired of spoiling. Everything spoiled. Absolutely. Believe me.

  10. 10.

    hovercraft

    September 8, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    Paul Ryan refused to comment on the Donald’s latest “words”, Obama and Hillary are right, every rethug should be asked at every appearance what they think about Donnie’s lack of discipline.

  11. 11.

    Peale

    September 8, 2016 at 7:24 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: I don’t either. But then I don’t remember how far back the intelligence briefing practice has gone. I don’t think we’ve had a candidate who’s boast “I know something you don’t know” after they had received one. But then I don’t recall ever having a candidate who could plausobly be accused of surrounding himself with foreign agents. Henry Wallace maybe?

  12. 12.

    Peale

    September 8, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    @scav: yep. I really can’t see why Russia would prefer him. I mean, I will make no comment on the state of the general class we currently have, but I’m pretty sure they’d like to have as many of them as possible forced out and replaced by nincompoops.

  13. 13.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    @efgoldman:

    So he and his advisors are clueless evil assholes.

    Or, as I started saying, awhile back, about the Rethug “leader”ship: Crazy/Stupid/Evil — pick three

  14. 14.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    @efgoldman:

    and I’m old by any standards.

    Even Methuselah’s standard?

  15. 15.

    redshirt

    September 8, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    I’m surprised “Shut the fuck up, Donny” hasn’t been a more popular catchphrase this election. Thanks, Anne, for helping it be so.

  16. 16.

    lamh36

    September 8, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    Good evening.

    Long day at work, but I’ve got a three day weekend coming up. Gonna be heading to DFW Saturday for a short trip to see the new baby Layla.

    Next week I think, Niecy Zoe might actually be meeting baby Layla, if my other sisters are able to drive up there.

    Speaking of Zoe, she’s got two new top teeth to go along with her first bottom two teeth. Low and behold, looks like I’ve got another gap-toothed twin in the family!

    Say Hey Zoe!

  17. 17.

    Keith P.

    September 8, 2016 at 7:28 pm

    So I’ve got these two ferals living in my back yard (or kind of living there…one shows up regularly for food, and another shows up to fight for the food periodically). It just dawned on me the last couple of days that the two cats have the same fur (white and black/white) as two indoor/outdoor cats I had that disappeared about 6 years ago. These ferals have much bigger muscles and rounder, bigger heads. I can’t find a pic of the black/white one to compare the patterns, and I need to get a look at the white one to see if it’s odd-eyed, but there’s no way they’re the same cats, right? Even going feral, a cat’s head wouldn’t go all Barry Bonds?

  18. 18.

    Brachiator

    September 8, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    @efgoldman: Trump is his own special flavor of political venality. And wasn’t his man Flynn a paid for Russian advisor?

  19. 19.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:30 pm

    @Peale:

    replaced by nincompoops.

    “And on the Third Day, Trump created new Generals in his own image, and he saw that it was good the BEST EVER”

  20. 20.

    sinnedbackward

    September 8, 2016 at 7:31 pm

    How in the world did NBC find four separate sources, if only nine or fewer were in the room? Chrisco, sure, but not any of the briefers I would have thought.

  21. 21.

    Lizzy L

    September 8, 2016 at 7:31 pm

    This is OT but related: Donald Trump claims that in 2002, a delegation (his word) from the White House came to him to ask his advice (!!!) on whether the U.S. should invade Iraq, and he told them no, because it would de-stabilize the Middle East.

    I do not believe this for a minute. Why would George W. Bush’s administration go to Donald Trump for advice about foreign policy???? Surely it can be checked and verified. I wonder if there are any working investigative reporters out there who could chase this claim down. If the press is finally starting to call Trump out for his lies, this is a big one.

  22. 22.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:31 pm

    @lamh36:

    I’d say you need to include a “Extreme cuteness ahead” trigger warning, but we already know about Zoe.

    One beautiful kid, Auntie.

  23. 23.

    tamiasmin

    September 8, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    That Flynn’s a beauty. Imagine being told by Chris Christie to calm down.

  24. 24.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    @Lizzy L: No way in hell the Bush admin was seeking advice from anyone on invading Iraq.

  25. 25.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    @efgoldman: Good thoughts focused on you both.

  26. 26.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    @Lizzy L:

    This is OT but related:

    One of the great mysteries of life is: can you be OT in an OT? Magic 8 Ball says “NFW”

  27. 27.

    PPCLI

    September 8, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    I haven’t looked at all the coverage, but in what I have seen exhibits a remarkable lacuna. Even when they mention that Trump spoke of a murderous, dictatorial thug as preferable to a democratically elected president in a relatively scandal-free administration, they fail to note that less than three weeks ago, Trump’s campaign manager was a stooge of a Putin stooge. (And so by the transitive law of stoogiosity…) There is evidence that this Putin stooge stooge was getting shopping bags of cash from the Putin stooge, for heaven’s sake. And that was the guy pulling Trumps strings to weaken the Republican platform with reference to the Ukraine.

    How is this not appearing no later than the fourth sentence of every Trump-Putin story???

    Journalists: Face the fact that Trump is not only a Putin mark, but less than three weeks ago he was even a Putin stooge stooge stooge!

  28. 28.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Best wishes, let’s hope it’s nothing serious.

  29. 29.

    schrodinger's cat

    September 8, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    @efgoldman: Keeping my paws crossed for you and mrs efg. Keep us updated when you know more.

  30. 30.

    PPCLI

    September 8, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    @Lizzy L: Well, the first question a student in a high-school journalism class would ask after hearing Trump say this would be: “And, um, who was in this delegation?”

  31. 31.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    @PPCLI:

    but less than three weeks ago he was even a Putin stooge stooge stooge!

    Did he also make a trip to Uz-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?

  32. 32.

    debbie

    September 8, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Hoping for the best for mrs efg.

  33. 33.

    Schlemazel

    September 8, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    @Keith P.:
    Feral cats rarley live to be 6 years old, could this be a decedent? That would explain the bulkier form also

  34. 34.

    John Revolta

    September 8, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    Christ, it’s not bad enough that Trump is getting these briefings, but Chris fucking Christie is in on them too?!!?!?

    And best of all- HE’S the voice of reason in there!! Yowzah.

  35. 35.

    Lizzy L

    September 8, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    @efgoldman: Hoping for good news and if not good news, swift treatment and complete recovery!!

  36. 36.

    NorthLeft12

    September 8, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    My wife and I were talking about this. We were trying to imagine the reaction of the poor schlubs who got stuck with “briefing” Deadbeat Donald. To hear what he had to say about Obama and what the briefers told him………yikes. I am sure Thursday morning was spent explaining to the boss, and his boss, and probably his boss, that no I said no such thing about President Obama, and yes I am very happy in my present job, except for the part where I have to spend time with a full time liar and idiot.

    Just effing crazy. I was about to say unbelievable, but that ship has sailed a long time ago.

  37. 37.

    Major Major Major Major

    September 8, 2016 at 7:41 pm

    @Keith P.:

    Even going feral, a cat’s head wouldn’t go all Barry Bonds?

    Well now I’m picturing a cat juicing and it’s hilarious.

  38. 38.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    @efgoldman: Good wishes for you both.

  39. 39.

    Jeffro

    September 8, 2016 at 7:47 pm

    @Lizzy L:

    This is OT but related: Donald Trump claims that in 2002, a delegation (his word) from the White House came to him to ask his advice (!!!) on whether the U.S. should invade Iraq, and he told them no, because it would de-stabilize the Middle East.

    I do not believe this for a minute. Why would George W. Bush’s administration go to Donald Trump for advice about foreign policy????

    They wouldn’t, and so we shouldn’t ponder it for a nanosecond – that’s more than it deserves. At this point the default for anything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth should be, “Prove it – you’re a complete liar. Sources, dates, evidence.” As I mentioned in an earlier thread, he’s also claiming that he not just could, but would, have stopped Bin Laden before 9/11.

    He is The Superman.

  40. 40.

    hovercraft

    September 8, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    @Lizzy L:
    They came up to the penthouse disguised as beauty pageant contestants, it was a covert meeting.

  41. 41.

    gogol's wife

    September 8, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Oh, I hope everything is fine.

  42. 42.

    Peale

    September 8, 2016 at 7:50 pm

    @Lizzy L: well that would blow the roof off the conventional liberal wisdom that the Bush administration had plan action on Iraq before even September 11. Apparently, they were divided?

  43. 43.

    Lizzy L

    September 8, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    @Jeffro: It was a rhetorical question.

  44. 44.

    TaMara (HFG)

    September 8, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    @lamh36: My day needed that cuteness. Thanks!

  45. 45.

    Iowa Old Lady

    September 8, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    @efgoldman: We’ll be watching for your update. In the meantime, take care.

  46. 46.

    PPCLI

    September 8, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    @efgoldman: Best wishes and thoughts heading to the two of you from here.

  47. 47.

    hovercraft

    September 8, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    President Cheney was omnipotent, he needed no advice.

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Well, I will not save my pixels. My very best wishes to Mrs. EFG and hopes that it is Nothing. If it is Something, I hope it’s minor and easily fixable. You, dear man, are probably going to worry more than she will, so please take care of yourself. And let us know as soon as there’s anything to report. Big hugs to you both.

  49. 49.

    Jeffro

    September 8, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    @Lizzy L: Ah, got it. Thanks.

  50. 50.

    germy

    September 8, 2016 at 7:58 pm

    John Fugelsang ‏@JohnFugelsang 3h3 hours ago
    #LaueringTheBar The bar got lowered so much Cheney tripped over it in the underground bunker.

  51. 51.

    Trentrunner

    September 8, 2016 at 7:58 pm

    Anyone know of any snap/instapolls for the CiC forum last night?

    All I’m seeing are questionable polls in Trump’s Twitter feed that show Trump having won it by yuge margins.

  52. 52.

    hovercraft

    September 8, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    @efgoldman:
    Thinking positive thoughts.

    NBC heading into the forum, he was right where RMoney was last time. As Col. Jack Jacobs pointed out, the military tends to be very conservative when it comes to national defense and fiscal issues, which is why they’ve always skewed republican.

  53. 53.

    joel hanes

    September 8, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    Flashback to W’s first security briefing as POTUS

  54. 54.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    @Jeffro:

    Donald Trump claims that in 2002, a delegation (his word) from the White House came to him to ask his advice (!!!) on whether the U.S. should invade Iraq, and he told them no, because it would de-stabilize the Middle East.

    Was that before or after he told Howard Stern in 2002 that, yeah, he probably would invade Iraq?

    #alsorhetoricalquestion

  55. 55.

    oklahomo

    September 8, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    @Tim C.: It’s like the butterfly effect. Every time Hillary coughs, she spawns a Zika-mosquito filled hurricane.

  56. 56.

    germy

    September 8, 2016 at 8:00 pm

    John Fugelsang ‏@JohnFugelsang 23h23 hours ago

    My drinking game word for #NBCNewsForum was Trump saying ‘plan.’
    My meth game was Trump not explaining any plan.
    Spiders on my ceiling

  57. 57.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    So… This happened.

  58. 58.

    Peale

    September 8, 2016 at 8:02 pm

    @hovercraft: yes. So conservatves about fiscal issues, as long as we spend like drunken sailors on defense.

  59. 59.

    Cat48

    September 8, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    Obama fired Flynn so that might be why he was jumping around. They didnt agree on much which I found out by googling. Flynn wants to work with Putin but Obama tried, not productive. Putin killed a group of Kurds working with us

  60. 60.

    Mandalay

    September 8, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    @Brachiator:

    And wasn’t his man Flynn a paid for Russian advisor?

    He was. And he was also fired by Obama.

    He craves attention and respect even more than Trump, and deserves it even less. He’s a worthless, self-serving piece of piece of shit.

  61. 61.

    JPL

    September 8, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    @efgoldman: We are thinking about you and Mrs efg.

  62. 62.

    germy

    September 8, 2016 at 8:04 pm

    @Peale:

    So conservatves about fiscal issues, as long as we spend like drunken sailors on defense.

    And the more we spend, the more paranoid we get. Like a man who fills his house with weapons, and then lays awake all night waiting for burglars: “They’re coming! Where are they?!”

  63. 63.

    Gin & Tonic

    September 8, 2016 at 8:05 pm

    Since this is an open thread – while I am not what you’d call the “target demo” and haven’t watched any previous episodes, I’ve watched Viceland’s current Gaycation with Ellen Page and Ian Daniel. In episode 1 of the new season they travel to Ukraine, a country I know, and explore the difficulties and challenges of being gay there. It is a well-balanced and sensitive treatment of a painful issue and at the same time good coverage of the last 2.5 years of revolution and war. Highly recommended. Vice has done a lot of good work in Ukraine and Russia over the last few years, but I was really unaware of how they’d raised the bar on their productions.

  64. 64.

    germy

    September 8, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Did you see this recent article about politics in Ukraine? Two former journalists are trying to clean things up.

  65. 65.

    Seth Owen

    September 8, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    @tamiasmin: seriously! When Christie is the voice of calmness and reason in the room … . Well, the mind boggles.

  66. 66.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    September 8, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Good thoughts to the missus!

  67. 67.

    hovercraft

    September 8, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    @Peale:
    Isn’t that the mark of a conservative, cut spending on you and increase it on me. Several in the pre forum interviews said that was what they liked about Trump, that he is “tough” and will increase the defense budget. Today I saw a gold star mother who had been undecided, her son died in Iraq, three members of his unit who made it back home have since committed suicide, and she is now with Trump because he knew the number of suicides per day.
    Sigh.

  68. 68.

    Miss Bianca

    September 8, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: My God, O2, why? WHY?? Why you do this to us?? No trigger warning or NUFFINK.

  69. 69.

    Old Broad In California

    September 8, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    @efgoldman: Hoping for good news for you and Mrs. efg.
    @lamh36: That sweet baby girl made a lousy day a whole lot better for me.

  70. 70.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    September 8, 2016 at 8:16 pm

    On a personal note, when I talk about my RWNJ brother in Las Vegas, you should picture John Goodman in The Big Lebowski. There’s even a physical resemblance.

    Speaking of, he is scheduling another motorcycle trip to South America in January, so I’ll be going out to dog- and mom-sit for three weeks. Looking forward to it.

  71. 71.

    Renie

    September 8, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    Don’t know if it’s already been mentioned but there’s a full page ad in NYT today listing all the military guys who support Trump. Sad to see anyone in our military who believes this idiot is qualified; I guess they hate Hillary alot.

  72. 72.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    @Miss Bianca: Twitter did it to me.

  73. 73.

    The Dangerman

    September 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    I wonder if future briefings will come with the professional equivalent of “you don’t fucking talk about anything you hear in here or see in here or we’re gonna perp walk your ass, you got it, Motherfucker?” (that would be the Samuel L. Jackson version).

    ETA: Best wishes, EFG!

  74. 74.

    haroldo

    September 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    @efgoldman: My best wishes and good health to your wife, Mr. EF.

  75. 75.

    Feathers

    September 8, 2016 at 8:19 pm

    When I read that article, my immediate guess was that whatever Trump was reading was the briefer’s disgust with Flynn. Second guess was that Flynn told Trump about the body language signaling Obama hatred.

    This really is the sort of thing that the media needs to put into context. I grew up in DC, I’ve heard rumors about what roles various kids I babysat for have played in the War on Terror, but you never, ever, ever go saying anything that could be tied to a specific person. This level of secrecy is both good and bad. It lets people have intel jobs, but still live normal lives. It also can let all sorts of wild rumors run wild, because “a friend of a friend” is also the way the truth gets spread.

  76. 76.

    quakerinabasement

    September 8, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    Chris Christie stepping in and saying you’re being a rude, overbearing jackass is kind of like Stephen Hawking telling you you’re nerdy.

  77. 77.

    Mary G

    September 8, 2016 at 8:20 pm

    The NYT public editor responded to my complaint about the changing stories about the town hall last night, not very helpfully:

    We’ve had a several inquiries about this. The reason for two different stories is that one writer was assigned to the print edition and one was assigned to the web edition. This is done routinely in big newsrooms with the resources to do it — it enables the web story to be updated more quickly and constantly through the night without the author worrying about print deadlines. Then, at the end of the night, the print story replaces the web story, usually because the print story is considered to be the more finished product, since its author had more time to focus on it.

    I can say only that to the degree that the two versions differ on content and emphasis, it reflects the news judgment of the writer.

    I hope that at least helps some.

    Liz

  78. 78.

    Gin & Tonic

    September 8, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    @germy: Yes, I’ve read that piece. Of course I’ve known about both of them for some time, and I’ve met Leshchenko. I’ve also used them as examples in some postings here, when the group laments the parlous state of journalism in the US – there are plenty of journalists in plenty of countries (not just former Soviet-bloc, either) who are doing courageous and valiant work.

  79. 79.

    Mnemosyne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:22 pm

    @lamh36:

    Ded from the cute, as always with Miss Zoe. And, of course, I approve the t-shirt as well. ?

    @efgoldman:

    I’ll think good thoughts for both of you. Don’t forget to update us if/when you can.

  80. 80.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    So… This happened.

    WTF. You have a few too many Leinies?

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    @Miss Bianca:
    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Twitter did it to me.

    It’s really making the rounds. I saw it on FB a short time ago.

  82. 82.

    gogol's wife

    September 8, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    @Mary G:

    She’s totally worthless. She began her tenure by complaining that the Times was too liberal. I haven’t bothered to read her since that.

  83. 83.

    Tenar Darell

    September 8, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    @lamh36: Okay, I’m ded. When they bury me just put “killed by cuteness.” Adorable nieces FTW! :-)

  84. 84.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    @lamh36: Thanks for sharing the cuteness.

  85. 85.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    September 8, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    “Why I’ll Never Date a Feminist”? Judging by the picture, that guy will never have to worry about dating at all.

    I see a Laotian mail-order bride in his future. Maybe.

  86. 86.

    RoonieRoo

    September 8, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    @Keith P.: If a male cat is not neutered they get a giant head once they mature. It’s how you recognize an intact male cat or rather one that was not neutered before it went though cat puberty.

  87. 87.

    MomSense

    September 8, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Sending my very best to you and Mrs.Efg.

  88. 88.

    ChrisGrrr

    September 8, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    @Mike in NC: Yup, and I thought the subject matter would be way too hush-hush to have advisors in the room too.

    Blessings to Mrs EG and our comment colleague.

  89. 89.

    Patricia Kayden

    September 8, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    @lamh36: Cute! Such pinchable cheeks.

    @efgoldman: Sending best wishes for your wife tonight.

  90. 90.

    frosty

    September 8, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    @efgoldman: Since pixels are cheap, I’m not gonna save ’em. My best wishes to mrs efg as well.

  91. 91.

    debbie

    September 8, 2016 at 8:30 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Scrolling around to find out which St. Joseph, I learned that it’s the most popular article at the moment. Loved the comments.

  92. 92.

    JPL

    September 8, 2016 at 8:31 pm

    @Mary G: Did that answer your question? I’m guessing no…………..

  93. 93.

    Mnemosyne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:31 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You know, sometimes a guy with looks like that can overcome a woman’s initial revulsion by having a winning personality. If he’s funny, smart, and compassionate, he could find a woman to date him even though he’s no George Clooney.

    He obviously decided not to go that route.

  94. 94.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 8:31 pm

    @Felonius Monk: I am not Dave Hon. I was just introducing Mr. Hon’s viewpoint to the blog so all the feminists can know what they are losing due to their beliefs. Because I care.

  95. 95.

    p.a.

    September 8, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    fingers crossed, positive vibes for mrs efg & family.

  96. 96.

    Gin & Tonic

    September 8, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    @efgoldman: I know you won’t see this, but best wishes to you and the missus.

  97. 97.

    Mnemosyne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    @Miss Bianca:

    I can’t decide if that guy reeks more of sour grapes or Axe cologne.

    Probably both.

  98. 98.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    Meanwhile, back on the Hillary news beat, you will be astonished to learn that Media Doesn’t Ask Clinton About Emails. Seriously, that’s the headline.

    h/t Digby

  99. 99.

    raven

    September 8, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    Jesus, the song is bad enough without it being butchered by the songer.

  100. 100.

    p.a.

    September 8, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I guess his opportunities have been reduced more-than-marginally now that Schlafly is gone.

  101. 101.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    @lamh36:

    Zoe is, as always, even more adorable than she was the last time.

    I expect we can count on many, equally cute, pictures of little Layla during the course of the weekend?

  102. 102.

    Denali

    September 8, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Thought are with you and Mrs. Efg.

  103. 103.

    sigaba

    September 8, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    @Peale:

    I can’t recall a race in which the security briefings even merited a second thought, but then again, I’m young by blog commenter standards.

    There’s a legend that Nixon wanted to accuse Kennedy of breaching national security during the first debate, because Kennedy disclosed details about the US missile gap that weren’t supposed to be public knowledge. But in that case Kennedy was supposed to have heard this information in closed session of a senate committee, not the nominee briefings.

  104. 104.

    Feathers

    September 8, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Oh, yeah. All those women refused to date you and/or dumped your as because they are “more loyal to their gender.” Keep telling yourself that, bub.

  105. 105.

    ThresherK

    September 8, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    @efgoldman: “Save our pixels”? You should know this community better by now. Hoping for the least worst for you and yours.

  106. 106.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: There was never any doubt in my mind that you are not Dave Hon.

    I now understand the public service that you’ve provided. We all thank you, I think. But that dude is one sad pile of shit.

  107. 107.

    Emma

    September 8, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I might find a way to shoot you for sending me there without warning.

  108. 108.

    Mnemosyne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    To be fair, it is pretty astonishing that they didn’t ask because they’ve been frickin’ obsessed with the goddamned things for months.

  109. 109.

    Anoniminous

    September 8, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Vice is the only news organization I spend any time on. They actually report … news.

    (gadzooks)

  110. 110.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 8:53 pm

    @raven: I left a comment for you in the early morning post with a link to the obit of Robert Timberg — don’t know if you saw it or not.

  111. 111.

    Patricia Kayden

    September 8, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: The comment section is hilarious. He shouldn’t have included his photo as that appears to be the target for many commenters. He won’t have any problems sticking to his promise not to date any feminists.

  112. 112.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 8:55 pm

    @Felonius Monk:

    We all thank you, I think.

    I don’t think that Miss Bianca and Emma feel that way.

  113. 113.

    Miss Bianca

    September 8, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: *Don’t* tell me this is your idea of “paying it forward”.

  114. 114.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    You know, there has been so much pushback on Matt Lauer for the past 24 hours — much of it highly critical of his devoting the first third of the HRC segment to emails — that I wonder whether some of the rest of the press corpse are a bit scared off today. Still seems like an odd headline and lede, but when even Andrea Fucking Mitchell Greenspan opts to ask a different question, you have to think there’s something in the air.

  115. 115.

    Ella in New Mexico

    September 8, 2016 at 8:58 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    We can pretty much assume that whatever was told to Trump in that briefing has been relayed to Putin already

    I am betting I that built in disinformation that is innocuous yet can be traced back to those briefed might be a intelligence SOP? We have ears everywhere-we’d be able to know if A Trumpster passed any info plus the dummy info on in like two seconds.

  116. 116.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    @Miss Bianca: Nah, I was being horrible.

  117. 117.

    Gin & Tonic

    September 8, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    @Ella in New Mexico: James Jesus Angleton would approve this message.

  118. 118.

    raven

    September 8, 2016 at 9:01 pm

    @Felonius Monk: No I didn’t but thank you.

  119. 119.

    Miss Bianca

    September 8, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: LOL! “Your candour, Mr. Bingley, must disarm reproof.”

    Besides, it does fit right in with AL’s headline theme, don’t it? I bet “Mr. Popular” is what *all* the girls called him in high school!

  120. 120.

    Felonius Monk

    September 8, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I don’t think that Miss Bianca and Emma feel that way.

    Probably not. Still, exposing chauvinists is Gods’ work, even if not immediately appreciated.

  121. 121.

    Splitting Image

    September 8, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    @Mary G:

    We’ve had a several inquiries about this. The reason for two different stories is that one writer was assigned to the print edition and one was assigned to the web edition. This is done routinely in big newsrooms with the resources to do it — it enables the web story to be updated more quickly and constantly through the night without the author worrying about print deadlines. Then, at the end of the night, the print story replaces the web story, usually because the print story is considered to be the more finished product, since its author had more time to focus on it.

    So in other words, the Times assigns one writer to come up with something fast, and another writer to take his time. The logic for doing this is that the writer who has to come up with something fast doesn’t have to worry about print deadlines, and the writer who takes his time is considered to have produced the more finished product, even though he doesn’t have to update it as the story evolves.

    Have I got that right?

    And I presume that the Times’ decision to remove one story rather than leaving them both on the website is accounted for by the chronic shortage of pixels on the internet since Obama became President, right?

  122. 122.

    Iowa Old Lady

    September 8, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    I hadn’t seen this news before though apparently I’m late to the party.

    David Fahrenthold
    ✔ ‎@Fahrenthold

    This is the 5th time a charity told me they didn’t get $ that @realDonaldTrump’s Fdn told the IRS it had given them. https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold/status/773966495609188352 …

    2:35 PM – 8 Sep 2016

    I don’t know what to make of that. Is the money going somewhere else?

  123. 123.

    schrodinger's cat

    September 8, 2016 at 9:13 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I don’t think he needs to worry about dating feminists or anyone else for that matter.

  124. 124.

    Peale

    September 8, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    @Ella in New Mexico: I would assume that even a loudmouth creep like Flynn knows that as the former head of the defense intelligence agency. But who knows?

  125. 125.

    Iowa Old Lady

    September 8, 2016 at 9:17 pm

    I have a comment in moderation quoting a tweet from David Fahrenthold to the effect that so far he’s found five charities who say the never got the donation the Trump Foundation told the IRS it gave them.

  126. 126.

    Ella in New Mexico

    September 8, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    LOL paranoia, maybe, but it’d be a healthy paranoia.

  127. 127.

    amk

    September 8, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    @Mary G: shorter nyt – we don’t have a fucking editorial oversight policy, ok? we just let the kids run around and wreck the house.

  128. 128.

    geg6

    September 8, 2016 at 9:27 pm

    @efgoldman:

    I know you won’t see this until later, but my best vibes are headed your and, especially, her way.

  129. 129.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    Richard M. Nixon ‏@dick_nixon 5m5 minutes ago

    The fellow who wrote he won’t go on a date with a women’s libber? His first language is not English, correct?
    1 retweet 6 likes

    If you’ve lost Nixon…

  130. 130.

    raven

    September 8, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    Savannah lost another icon and hearts are heavy among the widespread community The Lady Chablis embraced and entertained for so many years.

    The Lady Chablis, made famous in John Berendt’s best-selling book, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” passed away Thursday morning at Candler Hospital at the age of 59.

  131. 131.

    Omnes Omnibus

    September 8, 2016 at 9:41 pm

    @raven: Damn. Awfully young.

  132. 132.

    randy khan

    September 8, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    @Seth Owen:

    I’m not sure I believe that I’m saying something sort of nice about Christie, but he’s a two-term governor and used to be a U.S. Attorney (where I’m sure he got some access to classified information). He actually probably appreciates the seriousness of the briefing much more than Trump and gets that a briefing isn’t a place to show off, unlike Flynn.

  133. 133.

    LAC

    September 8, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    @lamh36: she is soooo cute!!

  134. 134.

    Brachiator

    September 8, 2016 at 9:54 pm

    @Mandalay:

    He craves attention and respect even more than Trump, and deserves it even less. He’s a worthless, self-serving piece of piece of shit.

    Trump always prattles about surrounding himself with the best people, and yet he invariably ends up selecting scum and shitgibibbons to be his yes men and attack dogs.

  135. 135.

    Uncle Cosmo

    September 8, 2016 at 10:01 pm

    @efgoldman: Thinking positive thoughts for her & the both of you, ef.

  136. 136.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Twitter did it to me

    .

    LOLGOP? Saw it there a few hours ago. Reminded me of Dean Chambers.

  137. 137.

    Eric U.

    September 8, 2016 at 10:05 pm

    @randy khan: Flynn must have really lost it since he retired. Can’t imagine a general acting that way

  138. 138.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    @Iowa Old Lady:

    I have a comment in moderation quoting a tweet from David Fahrenthold to the effect that so far he’s found five charities who say the never got the donation the Trump Foundation told the IRS it gave them.

    Too bad Fahrenthold is such a shitty reporter. Imagine! Questioning the veracity of Mr. Trump in any way, shape, or form! De noive o’ dat guy!

  139. 139.

    laura

    September 8, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    @lamh36: Layla? Isn’t she the lovely new, sweet babe in your family?
    What a happy trip and enjoy the new, sweet promise to the future that babies bring.

  140. 140.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 10:09 pm

    @Eric U.:

    Um, it sounds like he was retired. As in: “their fleet of Lockheed Electras was retired.”

  141. 141.

    SFAW

    September 8, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I saw that lede from The Hill in my inbox, went over there to see if The Hill had suddenly become non-wingnutty.

    I don’t often use the term “cesspool” to refer to things outside of the waste-disposal realm, but the comment section at The Hill is about three outhouses below a cesspool. If only evolution worked faster …

  142. 142.

    Shana

    September 8, 2016 at 10:23 pm

    @Iowa Old Lady: The money is either going into Donald’s pocket or staying where it was, which may be the same thing.

  143. 143.

    SiubhanDuinne

    September 8, 2016 at 10:33 pm

    @raven:

    Two very sad losses today from two very different kinds of entertainment. The Lady Chablis, and also one of today’s greatest operatic tenors, Johan Botha. He was one of my personal favorites, and I’m just devastated at his young (59) passing from cancer.

    FUCK CANCER.

    Link is NYT, in case you don’t want to squander your free reads.

  144. 144.

    randy khan

    September 8, 2016 at 10:38 pm

    @Eric U.:

    My assumption, given recent behavior, is that Flynn is the kind of general who liked to show off how smart he was.

  145. 145.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2016 at 10:40 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: ugh!

  146. 146.

    Ruckus

    September 8, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    @Mnemosyne:
    Bad decision on his part. Of course it may have been an unconscious decision, seeing as how it would seem to be mindlessly stupid. Then again he wrote about it so……..

  147. 147.

    Ruckus

    September 8, 2016 at 11:10 pm

    @efgoldman:
    Good thoughts for the Mrs and for you as well.

  148. 148.

    Aleta

    September 8, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    @efgoldman: Sending good thoughts out to you two tonight.

  149. 149.

    hugely

    September 8, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    @Felonius Monk: huh timberg was in my dads annapolis class. he wrote that nightgales song book right?

  150. 150.

    Aleta

    September 8, 2016 at 11:25 pm

    @Keith P.: How old were the ones who disappeared? There are some cats who mature slowly and don’t reach full size until 2 1/2- even 3 years old. So if yours were lost at 1-2, and then it took time for them to make their way home, it could be. Probably coincidence, but.

  151. 151.

    CaseyL

    September 9, 2016 at 12:20 am

    @efgoldman: Sending best wishes to you both, and hopes that whatever it is, is not serious, and quickly recovered from.

  152. 152.

    Taylor

    September 9, 2016 at 5:15 am

    @sigaba:

    There’s a legend that Nixon wanted to accuse Kennedy of breaching national security during the first debate, because Kennedy disclosed details about the US missile gap that weren’t supposed to be public knowledge. But in that case Kennedy was supposed to have heard this information in closed session of a senate committee, not the nominee briefings.

    Nixon wanted to call Kennedy’s BS on the missile gap, because K knew very well from confidential intelligence briefings that there was no such thing.

  153. 153.

    Applejinx

    September 9, 2016 at 6:14 am

    @randy khan: No, I’ll buy that. Christie’s a corrupt, vindictive sonofabitch, but he’s a working (as in functioning) politician. He’s hanging around with sub-politicians and has to be pretty embarrassed, which is very much his cross to bear.

    Seppuku would be more honorable. He’d need a very long sword.

  154. 154.

    VOR

    September 9, 2016 at 9:46 am

    @Taylor: Nixon. The guy who later scuttled the 1968 Vietnam peace talks by promising Thieu a better deal once he was President.

  155. 155.

    rikyrah

    September 9, 2016 at 11:44 pm

    @lamh36:
    Zoe is adorable ???

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