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American History and Black History Cannot Be Separated

This blog will pay for itself.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

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

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

We still have time to mess this up!

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

After roe, women are no longer free.

This fight is for everything.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

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

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

You cannot shame the shameless.

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

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself.

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Reader Interactions

167Comments

  1. 1.

    raven

    A US Secret Service laptop with Trump Tower floor plans and other sensitive material was taken from an agent’s vehicle in New York, US media report.
    Authorities said the laptop was taken on Thursday morning and contains sensitive information.
    The computer has details on the criminal inquiry into former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of private email, according to ABC News.
    Police are looking at surveillance footage to identify a suspect.

  4. 4.

    Mart

    I see a mouse and I jump up on a chair. This guy sees a gator and taps its tail? I must of spent too much time in the big city.

  5. 5.

    trollhattan

    Am beginning to think we elected one of the mean girls.

    Just to recap: Photographers asked Trump and Merkel to shake hands. Merkel leans in and quietly asks, “Do you want to have a handshake?” Trump continues to sit with his hands clasped between his knees. Like we’ve said before, Trump does not forget.

  6. 6.

    Roger Moore

    @raven:
    Did they bother to encrypt the fucker, or are they too incompetent to manage that? And how soon can we expect the most damaging information on Hillary to wind up on Wikileaks?

  12. 12.

    Chris

    I should send this to my FSU relatives and see if it jump-stars some choice comments about Gator cowardice.

  16. 16.

    Another Scott

    @trollhattan: I’m no expert on body language, and had the sound off, but his repeated tapping his hands together and the grimace indicate to me that he hates sitting there and wants everyone (including Angela) gone.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  20. 20.

    Roger Moore

    @germy:
    Doesn’t tell you anything. The encryption still isn’t turned on by default. You’d hope government IT would do that before issuing the computers, but I have no confidence in anyone in government IT except for Soonergrunt.

  21. 21.

    hovercraft

    I swear these people just can’t be parodied.

    White House Cites Parody Article (Not) Supportive Of Trump’s Proposed Budget

    By Matt Shuham PublishedMarch 17, 2017, 2:13 PM EDT

    The White House cited a parody article published in the Washington Post as support for President Donald Trump’s proposed budget.

    The article, “Trump’s budget makes perfect sense and will fix America, and I will tell you why,” was penned by the Post’s Alexandra Petri for her “ComPost” column.

    “This budget will make America a lean, mean fighting machine with bulging, rippling muscles and not an ounce of fat,” Petri wrote in the article. “America has been weak and soft for too long. BUT HOW WILL I SURVIVE ON THIS BUDGET? you may be wondering. I AM A HUMAN CHILD, NOT A COSTLY FIGHTER JET. You may not survive, but that is because you are SOFT and WEAK, something this budget is designed to eliminate.”

    Petri then ran down a list of agencies that would be affected by Trump’s budget draft.

    “There will be no LABOR in the future,” she wrote of proposed cuts to the Department of Labor. “Labor is what women do, I think. All fetuses will burst out of wombs brandishing an Uzi on each arm. (Also, we will cut the funding to the people who would have explained that this is not how birth or labor works.)”

    The White House included the article at the bottom of its “1600 Daily” newsletter. (Here’s an archived copy.)

    Petri seemed to delight in the mistake on her Twitter account, reposting the musician Jenks Miller, who wrote, “You all may need to be more clear about what’s actually a parody during this administration,” and responding in her own right to the mix-up:

  22. 22.

    Betty Cracker

    Regarding Merkel, at least Trump won’t menace her with a dog like Putin did since Trump doesn’t have a pet, not even a hairless cat to stroke while contemplating extortion schemes. Still, poor Merkel. I bet she misses PBO damn near as much as we do!

  24. 24.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @GregB:

    Trump just admitted he was a traitor.

    What on earth did he say now? Assume this was during the joint presser with Chancellor Markel. Haven’t been watching/listening, but will catch it later or at least read the transcript.

  26. 26.

    Chris

    @Betty Cracker:

    Sorry. I don’t really care, but the FSU relatives are the liberal ones, and the Florida Gators ones are the conservative ones, so my biases run in that direction.

  27. 27.

    Another Scott

    @SiubhanDuinne: If she coughs up the $200k to join, I’m sure he’d be happy to have her!! Maybe Sessions could be her waiter instead of the greeter this time?!

    :-/

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  33. 33.

    hovercraft

    @Betty Cracker:

    at least Trump won’t menace her with a dog like Putin did since Trump doesn’t have a pet

    Yes he does, he has a vicious jackal named Bannon, he is plenty menacing and mean.

  36. 36.

    Betty Cracker

    @Chris: Just a reflexive response. I’ve only got one FSU fan relative, and he’s a raving wingnut ass, but there are both libs and cons among the many more Gators among us!

  37. 37.

    trollhattan

    @Betty Cracker:
    Heard this a.m. that Merkel and Obama had a friendly, if keen “prep” rivalry and would try to outdo one another in their knowledge of the topics at hand. I can well imagine Roosevelt and Churchill having a similar relationship.

    We seem to have ditched that whole notion.

  40. 40.

    Yarrow

    @GregB:

    Trump just admitted he was a traitor.

    I heard it too! I saw the clip that didn’t include the question. I’m guessing it was “trader” but sounded like “traitor” when he said it. Heh.

  41. 41.

    hovercraft

    @trollhattan:
    I bet Twitler can beat her if the contest is who knows more about what’s trending on Twitter, that’s a topic at hand, no?

  46. 46.

    Pogonip

    @trollhattan: I remember reading he has a germ phobia, not big on handshaking. I myself would like to see it replaced with bowing or wai-ing, anything where you keep your hands to yourself.

    I wai’d at my aunt once; she looked confused; I said “Did I do it wrong?” She said “You’re American, not expected to know how to do it at all!” ?

  48. 48.

    hovercraft

    @SiubhanDuinne:
    She’s one of regular characters, can’t wait for her new takes on her interactions with Twitler.
    Oh crap, just checked it came back last week, HBO, for anyone interested.

  49. 49.

    randy khan

    @Roger Moore:

    I think all of the damaging information on Clinton already has been leaked. That was the job the New York FBI office took on, and they never shirk.

  51. 51.

    Roger Moore

    @Pogonip:

    I remember reading he has a germ phobia, not big on handshaking. I myself would like to see it replaced with bowing or wai-ing, anything where you keep your hands to yourself.

    How about a good American fist bump? It isn’t completely keeping your hands to yourself, but there’s a lot less skin contact- and less chance for competitive hand crushing- than a traditional handshake.

  52. 52.

    randy khan

    @trollhattan:

    Heard this a.m. that Merkel and Obama had a friendly, if keen “prep” rivalry and would try to outdo one another in their knowledge of the topics at hand. I can well imagine Roosevelt and Churchill having a similar relationship.

    So what’s Merkel doing with the time she’s saving now?

  53. 53.

    The Moar You Know

    A US Secret Service laptop with Trump Tower floor plans and other sensitive material was taken from an agent’s vehicle in New York, US media report.

    It happens.

    Authorities said the laptop was taken on Thursday morning and contains sensitive information.

    It was encrypted as per NIST 800, right? RIGHT? NIST 800 is MANDATORY for government computers. I’ve been busting my balls for two years to get my workplace compliant. Exceptions are not allowed for anything that does or could have sensitive info on it.

    The computer has details on the criminal inquiry into former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of private email, according to ABC News.

    Whoa. Hold the phone. Why would a Secret Service laptop have any information at all on a non-Secret Service criminal investigation? Of anyone, never mind a former Secretary of State? This is not plausible, not at all.

    I can see the false flag from here, guys. Get ready for Wikileaks to dump a whole bunch of “Clinton investigation” material that was supposedly gleaned from this laptop.

  54. 54.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Pogonip: He has shaken hands with others. With other people he has that weird attack handshake where after a couple of shakes he yanks hard on the hand and pulls the other person off balance. Trudeau managed to anticipate the move and block it.

  56. 56.

    pamelabrown53

    @trollhattan: #5.

    OMG. Trump’s blatant disrespect of Merkel should be a huge story. That was an amazing piece of video. My belief is that the Bannon faction thinks Trump’s disdain for Merkel will strengthen the white supremacy nationalism political parties in Germany.

  58. 58.

    Mike J

    Brent Goff‏ Verified account @brentgofftv
    US reporters shocked when this German reporter asked #Trump: “Why do keep saying things you know are not true?”

  60. 60.

    bystander

    @randy khan: If there had been anything actually damaging about Clinton, we would have heard about it long before now.

    Trump is a complete embarrassment to America. I’m watching Idiocracy. Besides the scarily prescient nature of the film, I’m struck by how much more likeable President Camacho is than Twitler. Sad.

  64. 64.

    Josie

    @hovercraft: I read her article. You could tell from the very beginning it was tongue in cheek. They should have known from reading the first couple of sentences. Reading comprehension fail on their part.

  66. 66.

    Roger Moore

    @The Moar You Know:

    Why would a Secret Service laptop have any information at all on a non-Secret Service criminal investigation? Of anyone, never mind a former Secretary of State?

    That former Secretary of State is also a former first lady and entitled to security managed by the Secret Service. That might explain why somebody who’s apparently involved in the protection side of the business- hence the Trump Tower plans- would also have stuff related to Hillary Clinton. I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s the only remotely plausible explanation I can think of.

    Get ready for Wikileaks to dump a whole bunch of “Clinton investigation” material that was supposedly gleaned from this laptop.

    Maybe also some fabricated stuff about wiretaps in Trump Tower, also, too.

  70. 70.

    pamelabrown53

    @Mike J: #58.
    It’s frightening that US reporters should be shocked at what is obvious. Hopefully, some will be “shocked” into asking the same types of questions when they see their foreign counterparts stepping up to the plate.
    Who here thinks I’m overly optimistic?

  72. 72.

    hovercraft

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym:
    Maybe they told him to tone it down after they saw the Trudeau block and so now he’s pouting?
    Short Finger Donny doesn’t like being told no.
    @Mike J:
    Just wait till he ventures overseas, he controls the questions from the US press, but his host gets to pick from their media, how much you want to bet they pick people they know will make him squirm. Hell the most uncomfortable I’ve seen him with an interviewer was Letterman, he’s just not used to being challenged.

  76. 76.

    Major Major Major Major

    @pamelabrown53: They’ll only start asking the same types of questions if their colleagues (and them!) report on the question as a good question and the person who did the asking (or the people who are legitimately inspired by the asking) are rewarded with prestige and money.

    Which is all possible, I suppose. But the WH press isn’t going to suddenly start asking tough questions (when they’re called on at all) just because they see somebody else doing it.

  80. 80.

    cain

    @Spanky:

    @Mike J: “US reporters shocked at German reporter demonstrating journalistic integrity.”

    The man is going to have to avoid countries like Germany. Never know when these pesky journalists are going to show up and ask him questions.

  84. 84.

    The Moar You Know

    I myself would like to see it replaced with bowing or wai-ing, anything where you keep your hands to yourself.

    @Pogonip: You’re not the only one. I had a social thing recently with a guy who declared “oh, I’m a hugger!”. He came up to me and I just stood there, arms crossed. He said “C’mon, give me a hug!” and I just stood there, looked him right in the eye, and said “I don’t do that shit.” He flipped out, because he’s a manipulative asshole doing the same thing with his “hugs” that Trump does with his handshakes. And I don’t take well to that dominance bullshit.

  85. 85.

    Mike J

    Regarding the missing laptop, BBC hed is,

    BBC News (World)‏Verified account @BBCWorld 1 hour ago
    US Secret Service laptop ‘stolen’

    Quote marks in original.

    Looks like the most important thing on the laptop is the rotation of the secret service hard pins.

  87. 87.

    Yarrow

    @Mike J:

    Brent Goff‏ Verified account @brentgofftv
    US reporters shocked when this German reporter asked #Trump: “Why do keep saying things you know are not true?”

    That is awesome. I love that our allies are sick of his shit. Show our poor excuse for reporters, journalists and media how it’s supposed to be done.

  88. 88.

    TenguPhule

    @The Moar You Know:

    He flipped out, because he’s a manipulative asshole doing the same thing with his “hugs” that Trump does with his handshakes.

    But it puts you in the perfect position to knee him in the crotch.

  89. 89.

    Roger Moore

    @Major Major Major Major:

    I’m sure he’ll be a war criminal by the time he leaves the White House, so this would be a good policy for him in general going forward.

    He’ll also be a common criminal in the US, so he’s going to need to look for a country without a US extradition treaty. I hear Russia is a good place…

  91. 91.

    hovercraft

    @Mike J:
    While foreign journalists ask real questions CNN has this headline.

    Donald Trump’s words are catching up to his presidency

    The “reporter is apparently just noticing that all the bullshit Twitler spouted last year was bullshit and now that he’s president, he’s getting real push back based on his own words, from the courts, foreign leaders and even republicans scared of what following him will do to them. Maybe if there had been more stories about him being a lying full of shit liar, instead of about the size of his rallies and the stupid nicknames he had for everyone voters wouldn’t have thought he was more honest than Hillary.

  92. 92.

    petesh

    Back to the OP: Doesn’t the PGA have rules about removing natural obstacles? Stroke penalty?

  93. 93.

    hovercraft

    @Humboldtblue:
    Twitler better get used to it, the snubs and tweaks will be continuous, just look at Trudeau inviting Lucretia to a Broadway opening this week about Canada’s compassion and empathy, no hidden meaning there right? And how can anyone be offended by the Taoiseach was just showing his respect and admiration for America by reciting from the words on the Statue of Liberty, why the glare?

  94. 94.

    Yarrow

    @petesh: He didn’t remove the obstacle. He touched the alligator’s tail and the alligator decided to remove itself.

    @Roger Moore: Question: If Donald Trump leaves office as a criminal but doesn’t end up in prison does he receive Secret Service protection? What if he escapes to Russia?

  97. 97.

    Kay

    WSJ reporting exclusively that Trump has chosen Kellyanne Conway’s husband to run the Justice Department’s civil division.

    The gross nepotism and self-dealing never ends with these people . There is a story A DAY like this and they’re only 3 months in.

    It’s like they’re running some half-assed disreputable family business out of the White House.

  99. 99.

    Yarrow

    @Kay:

    It’s like they’re running some half-assed disreputable family business out of the White House.

    It’s not like that. It is that. Along with committing treason.

  100. 100.

    TenguPhule

    @Kay:

    It’s like they’re running some half-assed disreputable family business out of the White House.

    There’s no like about this. They are.

  102. 102.

    ThresherK

    No Mnemosyne? That’s understandable, because she is best summoned to a thread by having two different people type the words “pre Code“.

    It’s like some sort of Bat Signal for old-school movie fans.

  103. 103.

    The Moar You Know

    But it puts you in the perfect position to knee him in the crotch.

    @TenguPhule: It would; but to get there you have to play the little game. And I’m not only not interested, I find that kind of proximity to people I don’t know utterly revolting.

    If I were a woman he’d have tried to force it and then ended up calling me a man-hating lesbian within one minute and been saying shit about my mental state all night. Since I’m a big guy who looks ex-military (I’m not) he shut the fuck up and backed off. The upshot of my evening was that I felt even sorrier for women than I normally do, because this is exactly the shit they have to put up with all the time and they can’t say no without being called bitches or worse.

  104. 104.

    Spanky

    @Kay:

    It’s like they’re running some half-assed disreputable family business out of the White House.

    “Like” ?!? That’s exactly what it is. They’re stripping the assets and screwing the employees – us citizens.

  106. 106.

    Bruuuuce

    @Kay: The only question is whether the family running their business is one of the Families here in the NYC area to whom El Presidente fell into debt via his construction and casinos, or whether it’s his Russian banksters.

  107. 107.

    kindness

    I don’t know but I suspect that gator is big enough to make some sweet steaks & a killer pair of boots. Of course I’ve never tanned leather in my life but…..

  109. 109.

    Chris

    @Yarrow:

    It’s really funny to watch American conservative politicians who think they live in a maelstrom of “unfair” “fake news” “liberal media” persecution making contact with the world outside the U.S, and catching a whiff of what an actually confrontational media is like.

  111. 111.

    hovercraft

    ‘Merica !!

    Kids on winning robotics team told, ‘Go back to Mexico’
    USA Today Network Suzette Hackney, The Indianapolis Star Published 12:10 p.m. ET March 17, 2017 | Updated 60 minutes ago

    INDIANAPOLIS — The day should have been one of glory and celebration for five fourth-graders.

    The Pleasant Run Elementary students had just won a robotics challenge at Plainfield High School, and the students — new to bot competition this year — were one step closer to the Vex IQ State Championship.

    Then racism got in the way.

    For the record, their race or ethnicity shouldn’t be a part of this story. But it is.

    The team is made up of 9- and 10-year-olds. Two are African American and three are Latino.

    As the group, called the Pleasant Run PantherBots, and their parents left the challenge last month in Plainfield, Ind., competing students from other Indianapolis-area schools and their parents were waiting for them in the parking lot.

    “Go back to Mexico!” two or three kids screamed at their brown-skin peers and their parents.

    This verbal attack had spilled over from the gymnasium. While the children were competing, one or two parents disparaged the Pleasant Run kids with racist comments — and loud enough for the Pleasant Run families to hear.

    “They were pointing at us and saying that ‘Oh my God, they are champions of the city all because they are Mexican. They are Mexican, and they are ruining our country,’ ” Diocelina Herrera, the mother of PantherBot Angel Herrera-Sanchez, heard a woman say.

    If you allow racism and hate to dictate these things, minority students from the east side of the city, poor kids from a Title I school, aren’t supposed to be smart. They aren’t supposed to be talented. They aren’t supposed to be technologically savvy.

    And they definitely aren’t supposed to be able to best white students from surrounding communities.

    “For the most part, the robotics world is kind of a white world,” said Lisa Hopper, the team’s coach and a Pleasant Run second-grade teacher. “They’re just not used to seeing a team like our kids.

    “And they see us and they think we’re not going to be competition. Then we’re in first place the whole day, and they can’t take it,” she said…………

  113. 113.

    lollipopguild

    @ThresherK: So you are saying that “pre code” is a secret password like “sedagive” or is it more like “put the candle back!”?

  117. 117.

    Spanky

    More on the laptop, per CNN:

    The officials said the laptop, which was highly encrypted and contained floor plans and evacuation protocol for Trump Tower, cannot be traced or erased by officials remotely, leaving the information at risk of being discovered.

    The agent described the incident as a compromise of national security, according to one of the officials.

    Also stolen were the agent’s lapel assignment pins that gave her access to security details that protected Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, the pope and the United Nations General Assembly.

    The laptop and pins were in a backpack that was taken from the car, which was parked in the agent’s driveway.

    The backpack has since been found, but not the laptop.

    No word about butheremails.

  119. 119.

    TenguPhule

    @Yarrow:

    If Donald Trump leaves office as a criminal but doesn’t end up in prison does he receive Secret Service protection? What if he escapes to Russia?

    1. Sadly, probably yes.

    2. If he flees arrest, no. And then its open bounty season on his head. Just his head.

  123. 123.

    TenguPhule

    @Spanky: Deepstate has had enough of Frump. If Frump doesn’t take the hint, pre-emptive pest control will commence.

  125. 125.

    Spanky

    Hey! You guys are getting lax. This is the first I’ve heard of this item:

    (CNN)
    The accused White House fence jumper was on the White House south grounds for 15 minutes or more before he was caught Friday, a Secret Service source with knowledge of the matter told CNN Friday, and officials are investigating multiple failures that allowed it to happen.

    The source says Jonathan Tran set off several alarms, but was able to avoid other sensors. The source said “the response to the alarm was lacking, and found (the suspect) vulnerabilities in the system.”

    Secret Service officials are conducting a formal Mission Assurance Review to the incident. They say the 26-year-old California man carrying a backpack jumped multiple fences at the White House complex and set off multiple alarm sensors before he was discovered just steps from a main door to the mansion.

    How can I rely on Balloon Juice for all my breaking news if no one posts stuff?

  127. 127.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Saw a snippet from the Trump-Merkel presser and at one point he said of the United States “We’re a very strong company.” Yes, he caught himself and corrected it to “strong country,” but it’s a telling little verbal slip, I think.

  128. 128.

    Spanky

    @hovercraft:

    Man fondling himself in front of kids at playground had to be pulled away, cops say

    Leading one to wonder what he was “pulled away” by.

  130. 130.

    ThresherK

    @lollipopguild: Well, for certain people. I would include NotMax in that group too. And a couple others whose nyms slip me at the moment.

    @Yarrow: I remember the mention of that happening, but still Disney World must have wifi.

  135. 135.

    Mike J

    @Yarrow: Secret service protection extends ten years after leaving office, and Trump is already 70.

    It used to be lifetime protection, but Republicans didn’t like Bill Clinton.

  137. 137.

    OGLiberal

    This story makes me uncomfortable..like really..the comments make me want to leave the country…and I’m not Jewish:

    http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2017/03/nj_town_bans_dorms_as_orthodox_jewish_population_g.html

    I’m from NJ and we have our share of winguts, depsite being reliably blue. So I read that Lakewood (not far from me but far enough that I have virtually no contact with their community) is very Orthodox Jewish (59%) and was the #1 Trump supporting town in NJ in 2016. So was it a bunch of Muslim hating Jewish folks voting for him or was it a bunch of native white folks pissed that those dude with the weird hats and curly hair were invading their town while the Jewish folks either didn’t vote or couldn’t (not citizens) vote? Don’t think the demo voting data drills down deep enough to tell me that.

  139. 139.

    Yarrow

    @ThresherK: She’s posted a few times from there. But she’s with two nieces so I’m sure she’s pretty busy. Hopefully her knee isn’t keeping her from having a good time.

  140. 140.

    pamelabrown53

    @Major Major Major Major: #76.
    You’re right in that I can’t remember WHPC “smart” questions, Only inane, republican framed ones.
    Still, I harbor a hope that something will spark a modicum of pride in their profession.

  141. 141.

    Yarrow

    @Mike J: Sure. But that doesn’t really address my question. Does Secret Service protection extend to convicted criminal presidents? What about former presidents who have fled the country to, say, Russia? Does the SS have to follow along and provide protection? How would all that work?

  143. 143.

    hovercraft

    @Mike J:
    They were forced to basically push it back up to lifetime, all the livings still have it, I’m pretty sure. I could be wrong but I remember reading that somewhere.

  147. 147.

    Roger Moore

    @Yarrow:

    Question: If Donald Trump leaves office as a criminal but doesn’t end up in prison does he receive Secret Service protection? What if he escapes to Russia?

    I don’t think the law as currently written has anticipated anything like that, so there wouldn’t be any exception for those cases. If he were convicted of something, he might wind up serving his term under house arrest with the Secret Service protection helping to keep him there. And former presidents can waive their right to Secret Service protection if they choose; it would seem an obvious choice for a former president hiding out in a non-extradition country to avoid prosecution. In practice, Congress would probably write some kind of exception into the law when faced with a case like that.

  149. 149.

    Yarrow

    @ThresherK: One early comment she said it was cold for Florida–highs in the low 60’s. Haven’t seen a comment for a day or so. I hope it warmed up for them.

    @Roger Moore: I can’t imagine Trump waiving his right to anything he gets via the presidency. Congress is going to have to get creative because he’s not going to leave the White House willingly. And he’ll demand every perk.

  150. 150.

    Mike J

    @Roger Moore: Keep in mind that Secret Service agents are sworn law enforcement, so while they might protect him, they would also be obligated to arrest him and bring him in. All cops are legally obligated to protect the people in their custody, so there’s no contradiction with protecting and arresting him.

  151. 151.

    The Moar You Know

    Secret service protection extends ten years after leaving office, and Trump is already 70.

    It used to be lifetime protection, but Republicans didn’t like Bill Clinton.

    @Mike J: Back to lifetime protection again. Someone realized that W. was going to live a lot longer than 10 years after leaving office, and the propaganda value of wacking him would be immense. Think Obama signed the revision.

    ETA: yup, signed Jan 2013 by President Obama.

  152. 152.

    PaulW

    As a Floridian, the little ones are fast but they’re easier to kick.

    As long as you stay to their tailside, they can’t turn fast enough to bite you, so they go with the other option of Fight/Flight and run for the nearest body of water.

    Now, once you get to the 14-footers, you don’t mess with those. they may not be as maneuverable but their tails are deadly.

  153. 153.

    SWMBO

    @The Moar You Know: Does Darth Cheney get SS protection? I know current Vice Presidents get SS protection because they are next in line but do former VPs? Also does Paulie Blue Eyes get SS protection since he’s third in line?

  154. 154.

    SWMBO

    @PaulW: When we moved here in the late 70s, there was a news cast about a family who had a gator invade their sun room. It was after their dog and toddler. They called the cops and tried to shoot the gator. The bullet bounced off the hide and could have killed someone. They had to get a game warden out with ropes to tie it up (duct tape the mouth shut) and have people on each side pulling to keep the tail from whipping their feet out from under them. The sun porch was destroyed and they eventually got the gator out but it was nearly gator 1 people 0.

    And yes, it was about 14-15 feet long.

  155. 155.

    Mike J

    @SWMBO: They only lifted it on President and first lady. President’s children get protection until they’re 16, which seems too short to me.

  156. 156.

    Roger Moore

    @Yarrow:

    I can’t imagine Trump waiving his right to anything he gets via the presidency.

    He’d have to be insanely stupid to want protection provided by a government he’s actively trying to flee. Even if he had his own guards to protect him from the Secret Service arresting him and bringing him home to face justice, what would stop them from providing information to, say, Seal Team 6, or just assassinating him?

    ETA: @Mike J:
    This was rather what I had in mind when saying a former president who was on the lam might want to decline his Secret Service protection.

  161. 161.

    Ohio Mom

    @OGLiberal: Orthodox Jews are hard core right wingers, and they vote.

    There is the belief that Republicans are “better for Israel.” They love the idea of “school choice” because they’d like to have someone else foot the bill for their private schools. They probably appreciate the right wing’s sexism.

    One irony is that the ultra-Orthodox unabashedly avail themselves of the welfare state. How else do you think they can afford a dozen kids per family?

  162. 162.

    Mnemosyne

    Yikes! So far, no one has been eaten by an alligator, but we go home tomorrow, so there’s still time. ?

  163. 163.

    prob50

    @The Moar You Know:

    You’re not the only one. I had a social thing recently with a guy who declared “oh, I’m a hugger!”. He came up to me and I just stood there, arms crossed.

    Not a hugger either, except for with my niece and nephew who grew up with their grandma and turned out to be really good & nice people after my brother’s marriage fell apart. Grandma was a fantastic influence and was into hugging. They probably really needed it, too.

  164. 164.

    sukabi

    @Roger Moore: there shouldn’t have been anything regarding the FBI investigation of Clinton’s emails on any Secret Service laptop as they weren’t involved in the “investigations”.

  166. 166.

    Tehanu

    @schrodingers_cat:

    These people were always with us. Because of T they are emboldened to behave this way in public.

    I was a kid when they integrated Little Rock High School and I’ll never forget seeing the screaming, cursing white mothers, faces distorted by hate and rage, on the news. Fairly sure those were the mothers and grandmothers of the ones screaming today.

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