Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

In my day, never was longer.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Excellent Links / Wednesday Evening Open Thread: “What the Bleep Happened At The Trump News Conference?”

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: “What the Bleep Happened At The Trump News Conference?”

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Political satirists may be best positioned to explain the President-Asterisk’s actions over the next days and months. Alexandra Petri, at the Washington Post:

…[Trump] has decided that his official position on the kinds of conflicts of interest that might arise if he kept running his business while president is that If The President Does It, It Is No Conflict. Thus, any steps he takes to take his business out of his hands are from the simple, self-sacrificing kindness of his heart. Why, just the other day, someone offered him $2 billion to do a deal in Dubai! Two billion dollars! And would you believe it: He didn’t take it. His point is, we should be grateful. As he repeatedly stressed, he doesn’t have to do this! This whole president thing — it’s really a big pain, and he doesn’t have to do it at all! (In fact, I wish he wouldn’t.)…

He had no comment on The Horrid Unsourced Thing We Aren’t Supposed To Write About, other than that (a) he knows that there are tiny, tiny cameras in every single hotel room when you go abroad and always conducts himself accordingly (does this raise more questions than it answers?) (b) the aide in question never went to Prague and (c) he is a noted germaphobe, not the Greek God Zeus. He could not believe that BuzzFeed would publish such a thing.

If, like a FAR LARGER PERCENTAGE OF AMERICA than anticipated, I were the sort of person who believed in conspiracy theories, I would speculate that this bizarre and lascivious leak were all an elaborate scheme to allow him to shut down one whole news outlet right off the bat, but — I do not actually think this. (Still, might as well start a conspiracy theory that doesn’t result in people showing up with guns to pizza places. Run with it, Reddit!)…

He reiterated his hope that he would get along with Russia, although he is no fool like Hillary Clinton and will definitely not hand Russia a plastic button like a chump. Not Trump! He will just constantly praise Vladimir Putin, shrug at the idea that Russia might have dirt on him or want to influence the election in any way, like a smart person who knows how the world works. Sure, Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee, but then again SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND THINGS also do hacking, and besides, it was the DNC’s fault for wearing such a revealing server…

***********
Apart from the endless #FacePalm, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

Reader Interactions

168Comments

  4. 4.

    Corner Stone

    The performance today by Trump at his “presser” was truly mind boggling. It was like a 4 year old was asked about their favorite candy, and then someone asked them to share it with another child.

  5. 5.

    cynthia ackerman

    Channeling Adam Silverman, none of what happened at that appearance this morning is good for anyone.

    It was not a news conference as we have known such to date. It was not a mutually respectful exchange of anythimg.

    It was a shameful, disastrous subversion of polity.

    And it will only get worse.

  7. 7.

    Corner Stone

    I wonder if Trump’s calling CNN “fake news” will make Zucker redouble their efforts to pacify Trump and cause them to be the new uber Fox News.

  9. 9.

    greennotGreen

    A mentally balanced PEOTUS would have simply stated that he knew that Russia had nothing with which to provide undue pressure on him, and he would conduct foreign policy wrt Russia according to the best interests of the United States.

    Of course, he probably knows they DO have something on him. This is the same person who bragged about grabbing women “by the pu$sy” while wearing a mic. Dude, the gun is always loaded; the mic is always hot.

  12. 12.

    Corner Stone

    It is simply fucking fascinating watching the “mainstream media” hound BuzzFeed to death instead of ever actually challenging Trump about any of the things he passed out as fact over the last 18 months.

  14. 14.

    Miss Bianca

    @hilts: well, that didn’t take long, did it? The Vichy Press, proudly serving their corporate/political overlords.

  16. 16.

    Mary G

    Trump only hires the best people (warning, Politico link):

    The ex-wife of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, appeared in disguise on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as a victim of domestic violence, after having accused him multiple times of physically assaulting her in the 1980s, according to two friends of hers and a spokesman for the former couple.

    Perhaps they should have let the ethics investigations go on before they named people, though I sure Republicans won’t find this disqualifying.

  18. 18.

    cynthia ackerman

    @schrodingers_cat:

    No, and that’s really scary. Mostly because you and I see it, but way too many of our friends and neighbors think that a show of strength is orgasmic.

  19. 19.

    p.a.

    A few years back there was a loon with a youtube page advocating an hereditary Catholic monarchy for America. This atheist may be ready to sign off on it now. For the good of the nation.

  20. 20.

    greennotGreen

    @Corner Stone: That’s another problem with Trump’s presser today and any in the future: since about 75% of what he says are lies, precious little real information is conveyed.

  22. 22.

    mai naem mobile

    There was the part where he was talking about how he figured out the leak was from the IC and not anybody else,especially his excellent kkklassy people. Jeezus, it was like he had one of those SuperDuperSekret Club up on his treehouse as a third grader and he was going to find out who stole the two packets of hot chocolate and three baby kitkats by leaving silver nitrate on the decoy tootsie roll. He’s as good a detective as Inspektor Darrel Clouseau Issa.

  23. 23.

    Calouste

    @Miss Bianca: With the information that was out there already, the number of people who could possibly have done it could most likely be counted on the fingers of one hand. I’m not surprised it is coming out, and most likely Mr. Steele neither.

  24. 24.

    pattonbt

    I just wish people could disabuse themselves of the notion that anything is going to come of any of this stuff with Trump. He’s here to stay for four years and no one or no thing is going to kick him out. The media is not going to call out Trump. The Republicans are not going to call out Trump. Trump is going to Trump for four years. The larger public may get tired of his antics in four years, but not enough to oust him before then.

    The best case scenario (which sucks hard) is things get so f’d up in the next 18 months that the house and or senate flip and at least we can have gridlock. But the bull is in the china shop and he only knows how to do one thing – rampage. And the spectators love (encourage?) the carnage. We haven’t had “drama” for 8 years, now we will get drama overload.

    I imagine we’ll have scandals galore, but then Trump will get to Trump (on his own) with “You’re Fired!” and everyone will eat it up. And as long as he also takes the odd pot shots at the R’s in congress, he’ll get enough cover that “see he’s an outsider!” BS.

  30. 30.

    West of the Cascades

    @pattonbt: I don’t know … even people who ogle traffic accidents and train wrecks will barf at the sight of too much blood.

  31. 31.

    Mike in NC

    Trump’s press conferences will be few and far between, and basically be used as infomercials to advance his business interests.

    He will also happily charge people for his autograph.

  32. 32.

    Mothra

    @pattonbt: I think the notion he will last 4 years is questionable. He was insane today. The GOP can’t possibly think they’ve got a handle on him. He freaked out 90% of the room. He’s too corrupt and his team is unseasoned for this to be sustainable. IMO.

  33. 33.

    PGE

    Two things…first, true or not, this has given me the name I’ll be using for evangelicals who voted for this monster knowing what he is: Golden Shower Christians.Second, this is a man so insecure about his, uh, endowment that he bragged about it in an f’ing televised debate. Also someone who would and could brazen his way past almost anything the Russians have on him.Which leads me to the conclusion that the kompomat that is making him dance to Putin’s tune is film that shows just how small his thing is. He would do anything to keep that secret

  34. 34.

    Calouste

    @pattonbt:

    The media is not going to call out Trump.

    Well…, it seems like the shitgibbon is going to hold a grudge against anyone who ever writes anything negative about him. Today it was Buzzfeed and CNN. It won’t be long before he only has Breitbart, the National Enquirer, and the New York Times left.

  35. 35.

    Mary G

    @pattonbt: I don’t agree. I think it’s up to us to keep the pressure on and like President Obama said last night, We the People are what make up America and if enough of us march and call and write on blogs and talk to friends and strangers in a respectful way, we can limit the damage Trump does to the country and maximize the damage he does to his party.

    The latest pep talk I found on twitter: The Powder Keg of an Unpopular President:

    So, what can you do?
    Remind them.
    Remind them every day for four years that 48% of us do not support the PEOTUS, do not like the PEOTUS, and are just itching to use every single thing he does against him and against the Congress and against every single member of the party that supports him.
    They won the Presidency. They own Trump’s unpopularity. Until they learn to stand up and fight him, they own every bad thing he does from now until we run this motherfucker and his cavalcade of kleptocrats back to the gilded palaces they call home.

  36. 36.

    lamh36

    Do yourselves a favor and find a way to watch the episode of Black-ish that aired tonight.

    It’s about the election…funny and smart…

    You won’t be disappointed.

  37. 37.

    cynthia ackerman

    @efgoldman:

    I too lived through that moment.

    This is different.

    The Pustule Elect has no self-aware sense of tactics, only pride.

  38. 38.

    Joyce H

    You know, it just occurred to me that of all the lies Trump has told, no one has yet questioned the claim that he’s a ‘germophobe’. But you know what? Sure, he doesn’t like to shake people’s hands and maybe he has a hand sanitizer habit- but we have multiple sources to tell us that he’s got no problem in the world with grabbing random women and sticking his tongue down their throats. A germophobe would NOT do that.

  40. 40.

    Corner Stone

    This is one of those times where I get to check myself. Some of the people I have been skimming on twitter are out and out asshole Republicans. But they disagree with Trump and so I have been giving them the occasional eyeball.
    This Buzzfeed shenanny has reaffirmed that, once again, the enemy of my enemy is not anywhere near to being my “friend”. They soiled themselves in hounding HRC using stolen irrelevant email bullshit to cloud the water. But now the unsubstantiated Buzzfeed report is The Bridge on the River Kwai for their unsullied gospel clean white robes.
    This is too fucking rich. Oh, the hurt! The feels! The indignity! How could they!?

  41. 41.

    debit

    @Mothra: Personally, I think he’s going to stroke out. Seriously, seeing pictures from today he looks like he’s aged ten years in the last couple of months and he hasn’t even taken office yet.

  43. 43.

    Jeffro

    @Corner Stone:

    I wonder if Trump’s calling CNN “fake news” will make Zucker redouble their efforts to pacify Trump and cause them to be the new uber Fox News.

    If it helps you decide which way they’re likely to go, the CNN website had “TRUMP SETS THE TONE” as its header immediately after the news conference. I mean that’s technically correct and yet still so very wrong.

    CNN’s just the TV version of the National Enquirer these past few years – whatever sensationalist nonsense gets eyeballs, that’s what they’re going with. (Although in truth, that’s the old Enquirer – the new one is just a sleazy print version of Breitbart). Anyway, CNN: plane crashes, shootings, Trump pressers, emailz.

  44. 44.

    debit

    @Joyce H:

    Sure, he doesn’t like to shake people’s hands and maybe he has a hand sanitizer habit- but we have multiple sources to tell us that he’s got no problem in the world with grabbing random women and sticking his tongue down their throats. A germophobe would NOT do that.

    Or eat at KFC. I’m not kidding. Have you looked inside the kitchen at one?

  46. 46.

    dmsilev

    Since this is an open thread, I feel the need to, I guess, vent at life’s ups and downs, and today was a hell of a down in my family. Both of my parents are now in the hospital, my dad being prepped for a first round of chemo starting tomorrow and my mom who got hit by a car while she was walking home after visiting him this afternoon. Car wasn’t moving very fast and there don’t appear to be any bones broken, but still. Today really sucked.

    I’m on a plane at the crack of dawn tomorrow headed their way.

  48. 48.

    Adam L Silverman

    @hilts: Whoever leaked his name is a terrible person. I’ve seen reports that Steele has now fled and gone into hiding out of fear for his life. Given who he’s now wrong footed and how that individual deals with people who do that to him, it is probably a good idea. But Steele’s life as he knows it is now over. Hopefully MI6 takes care of its own.

  50. 50.

    JPL

    @debit: Would it be wrong of me to hope so.

    How are you doing? You know that some of us think you are a saint for giving Walter a heaven on earth.

  52. 52.

    hilts

    @schrodingers_cat:

    This pantload elect is in a class all by himself when it comes to ignorance and dishonesty.

    Would be nice if someone could leak the contents of this asswipe’s tax returns so we could actually find out his financial ties to Russia and China.

  56. 56.

    Corner Stone

    @hilts:

    This pantload elect is in a class all by himself

    Sorry, but if the word “no” is not a prefix to the word “class” then there is absolutely zero application to be implemented in any statement regarding Trump.

  57. 57.

    hilts

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I agree with your assessment and I’ve never felt more apprehension about the start of a new presidential administration. Trump is a malignant cancer in our body politic and I can’t believe that there’s no scandal on the horizon that can force this scumbag to resign.

  58. 58.

    Jeffro

    Here’s more spineless not-journalism from CNN: an opinion piece from one Timothy Stanley…Trump nailed it

    How did President-elect Donald Trump’s first press conference go? He nailed it. It was strange, abusive, occasionally misleading. But he nailed it.

    And while the media will complain that he tried to silence individual reporters — which he did — the reality is that the conference was about as raw and detailed as you’re likely to get from a president-elect. He gave us a dozen headlines from just one encounter. This is the Trump paradox: Trump and the press hate each other yet they feed off each other.

    We actually learned a lot. Trump’s two legislative priorities are building the wall and repealing and replacing Obamacare. What he’ll replace Obamacare with remains a mystery — but at least we know what’s coming. Trump also said that he’ll name his Supreme Court nominee within two weeks of his inauguration.

    In addition, he compared the behavior of some within the intelligence community to Nazis and suggested that the very mention of Senator Lindsey Graham makes him laugh. He even pledged to sack his sons should they underperform while running his businesses. And, perhaps most importantly of all, he signaled that no amount of speculation on his relationship with Vladimir Putin will shift his position towards Russia. Russia was probably guilty of hacking, he concluded, but that will cease once Trump is in charge.

    This was presumably not the press conference that he wanted to give. The night before, Buzzfeed published some unverified, lurid claims about Trump’s time in Russia that have clearly got under his skin. For some unclear reason he has decided that CNN — which did not publish allegations that it could not independently verify — is also guilty of trying to undermine him, and he shouted down questions from CNN’s Jim Acosta.

    It was unfair, bullying behavior. But calling out the press is not entirely unheard of. Obama scolded reporters for doing things he didn’t approve of; Nixon obsessed about the hostile liberal press. What’s different about Trump is how happy he is to personalize his battles, to roll up his sleeves and jump into the fight while on live TV.

    This is the essence of CNN right now: Trump is “…strange…abusive…occasionally misleading…unfair…bullying” and compares his own intelligence agencies to Nazis, but since he’s willing to “personalize his battles, to roll up his sleeves and jump into the fight while on live TV”, we’re a-gonna say he “nailed it”. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!? “He gave us a dozen headlines from just one encounter”. All your eyeballs are belong to us!

  59. 59.

    Elmo

    @dmsilev: Ahhhhh, crap. Damn and crap. That really, massively sucks, and my heart goes out to you. Glad your mom isn’t too badly hurt, but still. Hang in there.

  60. 60.

    lamh36

    @Mike in NC: The creator and the writers are top notch. The young cast are all stellar (the young actress who plays Dianne is hilarious). The mature cast is fantastic.

    It’s really the best sitcom on the free nets, IMHO.

    It really is a great show

  61. 61.

    debit

    @JPL: I’m doing okay. I had 24 solid hours of crying, and will no doubt cry again, but right now I’m focused on just keeping Walter happy and comfortable. It’s really sweet of you to say, but I don’t feel like a saint. I think anyone with a pet they love would do the best they can for them. I just really had hoped for more time for him.

  62. 62.

    Hal

    An old high school friend posted once again on facebook, about how awful it is that people want Trump to fail as president. Trump, Obama; doesn’t matter, you should want the president to succeed.

    I want to ask him; what part of Trump’s agenda should I be rooting for? The wall, the registry, the tax cut for the super rich? How about the expansion of Putin’s influence right to the heart of our democracy?

    What kills me, and I realize this is only facebook and one instance, but this horse shit comment got over 50 likes. This is why I have very few fond memories of people I went to high school with.

  63. 63.

    Jeffro

    @hilts:

    there’s no scandal on the horizon that can force this scumbag to resign

    He will never, ever resign. The only way to win this war is to beat on MoCs until they feel the pain of covering for everything this traitor does and drop the match.

  64. 64.

    JPL

    @debit: Walter’s goofy pictures at Christmas told me all I need to know. He thinks you are a saint. Dogs adapt quickly to their surroundings, and you did good. Thank you.

  66. 66.

    lamh36

    Gawd…I’m such a science nerd, even for sciences I haven’t thought about since college…

    I sitting here watching a PBS show about Uranium…lol

    Is it weird I miss science class learning?

    URANIUM: TWISTING THE DRAGON’S TAIL
    The history and mysteries of uranium are explored, including its cosmic origins; its use in medicine; and its use in warfare.

  67. 67.

    Corner Stone

    Anyone who wants to read abject supplication should look up the twitter feed of @Acosta.
    His entire feed is simply repeating things Trump says. No checks, no pushback. CNN and Jim Acosta get every dirty and vile thing that happens to them in a Trump admin.

  68. 68.

    Adam L Silverman

    @dmsilev: Sorry to read that. We’ll keep good thoughts and please let the gang here know if anyone can do anything. As in leverage any of us that might be in proximity to where you’re heading in case you all need anything.

  69. 69.

    dmsilev

    @Hal: “I hope he fails” – Rush Limbaugh, talking about Barack Obama either in late 2008 or early 2009. Somehow, it’s only Republican Presidents who deserve a chance to have a go at things. Funny that.

  70. 70.

    hilts

    @Corner Stone:

    The English language does not give me the capability to adequately describe the unique and unprecedented nature of Donald Trump’s scumbaggery.

  74. 74.

    Lizzy L

    @dmsilev: Ah, that sucks. Glad to know that your mother didn’t break any bones. Best wishes for both of them and for you. Safe journey!

  75. 75.

    Adam L Silverman

    @hilts: There will be something. There’s always something. The way the world actually works haven’t been suspended just because of what is going on. Events that were going to happen will still happen. Putin is going to do what Putin thinks is best for him. As will ISIL and Xi in China. And our allies. All of this will eventually make itself felt.

  76. 76.

    FlyingToaster

    @debit: How you know the Orange Shitgibbon isn’t normal? He’s never worked at an entry-level job.

    I’ve worked fast-food, shorter-order cook, retail sales, cataloger for a science library, temp data-entry, gazillions of volunteer gigs from pounding nails to shoveling to sanding and painting, and 20+ years in programming educational software. And I learned oodles in basic cookery from PBS, and home maintenance the same.

    That moron has no idea how anything works. Everything has to be done by a serf. Egads!

  77. 77.

    dmsilev

    @Jeffro: @Adam L Silverman: Thanks. My parents have good medical coverage, so they’re getting the care they need, but then there’s all the little things like making sure the dog is walked and fed, etc. etc. We’ll get through it, but it’s going to be hard for a while. Parents are in Boston, so NoVa would be a bit of a commute….

  78. 78.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @debit: He’s a lucky dog and we can all see how happy he is with you. We know you’ll keep him comfortable, and that it breaks your heart (ours too) that your time together can’t be longer.

  80. 80.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debit: Cut yourself some slack, because Walter would. You’ve done good for him and by him. He may not understand it the way a human would, but he does know he’s loved and taken care of and treated well. You and John did that. And don’t you forget it. The rest of us haven’t and we won’t let you. Don’t make me come up there!!!

  81. 81.

    Timurid

    @JPL:

    The elites are all in on Trump. As horribly flawed as the Donald is, he has something to offer that no other Republican can. He wants to be a dictator. Romney, Kasich, Rubio, Jeb, etc… have political beliefs and goals that are problematic to varying degrees, but they all want to be President, not King. They still respect rules and institutions. Trump has no such reservations. Confronted by the dwindling white majority, growing inequality and a growing labor surplus, the elites realize that democracy will soon be unsustainable. For them, at least. Trump is their chance at autocracy, and they don’t know when or if their next chance is coming. So now they’re pushing in all their chips and holding their breaths…

  84. 84.

    Mary G

    @dmsilev: That’s awful. I hope they will both be OK. Your presence will help; glad you are able to go. Will send you all thought and prayers.

  85. 85.

    NotMax

    Okay, one more (it’s like eating potato chips).

    What’s the Yellow Punchinello’s favorite TV show?

    Whiz Kids.

    (Bonus because it dealt with young hackers.)

  90. 90.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @dmsilev: Yikes, hope your mom’s injuries aren’t too bad and dad’s treatment goes well.

    My wife informed me that it’s doubtful that the kid will be joining us for my b-day dinner on Friday(a week and change ahead of time due to other attendees schedules), since her sister is in the hospital after going into labor last night. The kid will have to take care of her niece while her sis and BIL are welcoming the new addition to the family.

  92. 92.

    GregB

    @Adam L Silverman:

    This.

    I remember when things were unraveling on Bush and there were people fretting about Rove’s genius at winning he day with the media.

    I knew that hubris was going to deliver a serious smack and then again.

    Trump can’t keep the plates spinning forever. No one ever can.

  95. 95.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Mothra:

    I think the notion he will last 4 years is questionable. He was insane today. The GOP can’t possibly think they’ve got a handle on him. He freaked out 90% of the room. He’s too corrupt and his team is unseasoned for this to be sustainable. IMO.

    More telling now everyone knows how to troll Trump and how flustered he gets, more he likely to stomp out and resign, or just hold up in Trump Tower and not come out or something.

  98. 98.

    Adam L Silverman

    @GregB: What I find interesting about your comment is that a former Boss, who’s an old Russia/Soviet hand, told me he preferred the Russian expression of “keeping all your plates spinning” rather than “keeping all your balls in the air”. So the Russian expression, whether intentional or not, is well played. Well played indeed.

  100. 100.

    Jerzy Russian

    @Hal: I am in that same boat. I established a minimal Facebook account years ago. I was never sure what I was supposed to do there. I eventually became “friends” mostly with acquaintances from high school. Most of them are idiots, it turns out.

  103. 103.

    Jerzy Russian

    @Jeffro: Oh, Sweet Jesus. I was going to ask you “he can’t really be that dumb, can he?”, but as we have seen, it turns out he can really be that dumb.

    Speaking of Trump firing his sons if they do a shitty job, isn’t the point of this to “get rid” of his business so that there is not the appearance of a conflict of interest? If he really got rid of the business, then he can’t fire anyone.

  107. 107.

    lamh36

    So wait…the US began researching how to make the uranium “atomic” bomb because of one scientist who convinced Albert Einstein and Pres Roosevelt that Germany had already done so…come to find out…Germany wasn’t even close…

    I never knew that.

  108. 108.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Jerzy Russian: When I walked off my high school grounds following graduation was the last moment I had any contact with the school or any of my fellow students. That was mumble-mumble years ago. I suppose not having a Facebook account helps somewhat.

  111. 111.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Jerzy Russian: I have turned down tons of of friend requests. I have about 75 FB friends – most of whom are actual friends, past and/or present. I have a few family obligation friends and some of them are muted. My FB feed is quite non-toxic.

  112. 112.

    Adam L Silverman

    @lamh36: Look up Lise Meitner. Fortunately for everyone she had to flee into exile or the Germans would have. And look up Mo Brooks too. He was assigned by the OSS to assassinate the top NAZI scientist working on the project if it became clear that they’d reached break out or even knew how to.

  115. 115.

    Bobby D

    Wow! James Clapper just issued an official statement from DNI expressing “profound dismay” Trump about the kompromat. This feels like it’s spiraling out of control quickly. Will he even get inaugurated? Is GOP plan to let him get sworn in first, then remove him so there is no challenge to Pence’s legitimacy, Imagine if Trump is removed before swearing in and technically how would that work for Pence assuming the office.

    Public should demand a new election.

  117. 117.

    Retr2327

    @greennotGreen: I remember being taught in information theory that if the info is only 50% reliable, no information is conveyed. So at 75% unreliable, I would assume information is actively being destroyed. . .

  120. 120.

    Mary G

    Another good article on Buzzfeed: Inside The Alt-Right’s Campaign To Smear Trump Protesters As Anarchists.

    A sign saying “Rape Melania” held up at an anti-Trump rally was the work of the alt-right guy behind the inaugural “Deplorable Ball.”

    Furthermore, as shown by a series of Posobiec’s text messages obtained by BuzzFeed News and confirmed by a source who collaborated with Posobiec, the sign was the culmination of a disinformation campaign by Posobiec and others intended to paint the anti-Trump rallies as violent and out of control.In a phone call with BuzzFeed News, Posobiec denied that the texts were sent by him and said that it was likely they had been photoshopped. He also denied having any involvement in the campaign.
    BuzzFeed News reviewed the texts on a source’s iPhone in Signal, the secure texting app, and the Signal messages allegedly from Posobiec came from the same phone number on which BuzzFeed News talked to Posobiec.

    They were going to go with “Fuck Melania Trump,” but said it was “to subtle,” and went with rape instead. The guy also says he kept yelling “Assassinate Trump” until someone repeated it, and he videotaped them.

    Where is the NYT on stories like these?

  123. 123.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Mary G:

    Where is the NYT on stories like these?

    They can’t cover that and HRC’s emails, now can they? What is a paper of record to do? Such a dilemma….

  126. 126.

    jonas

    @PGE: this has given me the name I’ll be using for evangelicals who voted for this monster knowing what he is: Golden Shower Christians.

    Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Jr., and others have already explained: they don’t give a shit if he’s running a pedophile sex ring out of the White House. As long as he appoints a SC justice who will vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, they’ll take zombie Hitler in the Oval Office. It’s all they care about. And punching down on browns and immigrants is just gravy.

  128. 128.

    Lizzy L

    DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
    WASHINGTON, DC 20511

    January 11, 2017

    DNI Clapper Statement on Conversation with President-elect Trump

    This evening, I had the opportunity to speak with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss recent media reports about our briefing last Friday. I expressed my profound dismay at the leaks that have been appearing in the press, and we both agreed that they are extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security.

    We also discussed the private security company document, which was widely circulated in recent months among the media, members of Congress and Congressional staff even before the IC became aware of it. I emphasized that this document is not a U.S. Intelligence Community product and that I do not believe the leaks came from within the IC. The IC has not made any judgment that the information in this document is reliable, and we did not rely upon it in any way for our conclusions. However, part of our obligation is to ensure that policymakers are provided with the fullest possible picture of any matters that might affect national security.

    President-elect Trump again affirmed his appreciation for all the men and women serving in the Intelligence Community, and I assured him that the IC stands ready to serve his Administration and the American people.

    James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

  130. 130.

    Mary G

    @lamh36: Just making sure you know about this contest:

    Don’t Be Sad About #ValentinesDay, Be @idriselba’s Datehttps://t.co/Y1nGOKZnPz— Culturess (@CulturessFS) January 12, 2017

    Idris Elba needs a Valentine and he thinks you’re just his type. No, this isn’t a dream. Pinch yourself if you don’t believe us. You (and a guest, if that’s your thing) will join Idris for a candlelit meal at one of his favorite restaurants, where you’ll enjoy delicious conversation and great food. You can talk about anything you want to: movies, music, your deepest desires. Idris is a great listener. He’s also a great talker. He’s pretty much great at everything. I mean, have you seen Luther? We’re just over here pretending not to be bitter. Flights and hotel included.

  131. 131.

    lamh36

    @Adam L Silverman: yep they mentioned her..

    Now they are talking about the “Radium Girls”…worked with paint made with radium ore…one of the ways they were told to keep their brushes sharp was to wet the tip with their saliva!!!

    They were essentially swallowing radium!

    It’s so interested for a clinical lab stand point, because is wasn’t so long ago that in the lab pippetting was done BY MOUTH!

    So I can’t even imagine doing anything like those ladies did…

  132. 132.

    Aleta

    @debit: I’ll always be grateful to you for assisting Walter’s story to a place of grace and happiness. It’s humbling to realize that someone simple like Walter could have so much influence (in rescues and actions to come, I believe), and that you widened his influence. Earlier this week was the 3rd anniversary of the day I brought the soul dog here back home to stay, after his eunich-ification day at the vet. I doubt he’d be here without all the stories on BJ that worked up my courage to intervene in his prior situation. I like to think of all the good to come that Walter + you will inspire. Sending live love.

  141. 141.

    MomSense

    @lamh36:

    My son just wrote a report on Rosalind Franklin. She did much of the research on the molecular structure of DNA (the dudes took the credit) and died a horrible death from cancer. She used X-ray diffraction for her research. The sexism she received from her colleagues was horrendous.

  145. 145.

    lamh36

    And now the doc is on Chernobyl…

    ETA: Dude is actually walking through the hospital where the first responders were taken and died…the hospital was abandoned along with the gear from the firemen…still off the charts radiation…

    he got afraid and got out there quick…the chick, his guide, from Chernobyl was all gungho though…

  148. 148.

    Mary G

    @lamh36: I figured, but I wanted to be sure. I donated too, and if I win you will be my guest, because none of my friends love Idris the way I do. We can dream!

  152. 152.

    lamh36

    @Mary G: If I win and don’t die instantly…my sister has already said if I don’t take her she will no longer let me see Zoe…lol

  154. 154.

    Jay Noble

    @lamh36: If you can find it watch the documentary “Radium City” (I believe that’s the name) about the Radium Girls. Chilling

  161. 161.

    Elie

    @debit:
    My fantasy is that like The Godfather, Trump will wake up with Putins head in his bed. I think there will be many shoes to yet drop on the Russian situation. I don’t think that western democracies are cool with his expanded role. That might play out in a number of ways. Trump might end up collateral damage

  165. 165.

    hovercraft

    @dmsilev: I’m so sorry for your families travails, when it rains it really pours. I hope they both have speedy and full recoveries.

  166. 166.

    Ian

    @PGE:

    I’ll be using for evangelicals who voted for this monster knowing what he is: Golden Shower Christians

    How can you expect them to know this when the media received the information but refused to publish it? And anyways, they were just being good sheep and doing what their pastor told them. It is their thing.

  167. 167.

    glory b

    @lamh36: And the actress who plays the older daughter, Yara Shahidi (she’s half African American and half Iranian) is a budding social justice warrior who has guest edited at Teen Vogue.

  168. 168.

    Original Lee

    @lamh36: When you get a chance, go see the play, “Radium Girls.” They explain in the play that at first, the girls have handkerchiefs that they use for the brushes, but at some point the higher-ups decided they were wasting too much paint that way and made them switch to licking the brushes. The play is excellent.

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