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Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

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Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

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Usually wrong but never in doubt

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I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

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Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

Not rolling over. fuck you, make me.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

In after Baud. Damn.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / Late Night Open Thread: #SyriaFireWorks Another Noisy Trump Failure

Late Night Open Thread: #SyriaFireWorks Another Noisy Trump Failure

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“Rally ’round the pirate flag, boyz!… Boys?”

Not even the dependably Repub-loyalist Anne Applebaum!

… Look again at what just happened: A president who has told us he believes military intervention happens when “poll numbers are in tailspin” has just intervened while his poll numbers are in a tailspin. A president who is famous for his abrupt pivots from one opinion to another has abruptly pivoted from one opinion to another. A president with no strategic vision makes a gesture that is not part of any strategic vision, instead taking a military decision based on pictures he saw on cable television. Why is any of that new?…

Though it’s no fun to end the party, I am afraid that this time, the neophiliacs have nothing to celebrate. It’s time to go back to the original story: a dysfunctional White House, a president who is mixing his business interests with politics, and a campaign whose relationship to Russian trolls and hackers has yet to be elucidated. Let’s get to the bottom of those stories before we move on to a new one.

Reader Interactions

45Comments

  2. 2.

    Mnemosyne

    My recovering Republican brother’s reaction to the Syria bombing was basically, At least the dipshit finally did something right.

    But, then, he hated Trump enough to vote for the Hillbeast, even in deep-blue California where he could have made a protest vote.

  3. 3.

    efgoldman

    Spicer says US goal is to “destabilize Syria – destabilize the conflict there”

    Asshole. If the fucking place was any less stable it would fall off into the ocean.
    I understand that the stupidity and incompetence of these assholes is probably what will save us, but holy fuck!

  4. 4.

    Yarrow

    But, hey, Russia is our ally now, so we’ve got that going for us.

    Sean Spicer just called Russia an "ally." "working with allies, including Russia…" pic.twitter.com/7zZTp8kGrM— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) April 10, 2017

    Spicey’s eyes are darting around while he says that. He doesn’t look like he believes what he’s saying.

  6. 6.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @efgoldman: apparently Spicey outdid himself today, established a new “red line” over barrel bombs, announced that we would be working with our “ally” Russia to resolve the Syrian situation. I couldn’t keep up with the tweets

  7. 7.

    JCJ

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Hope you are enjoying BKK. I wish I was there to help as a tour guide. My mother in law lives close to your hotel on Sukhumvit 23, and when I am there I stay in a condo not far from the next stop on the BTS (Phrom Phong)

  8. 8.

    Suzanne

    Destabilize? DESTABILIZE!? It’s already pretty fucking unstable.

    To quote Awesomely Luvvie, “LORT.”

  9. 9.

    efgoldman

    @Yarrow:

    He doesn’t look like he believes what he’s saying.

    He never looks like he believes what he’s saying; he’s actually an unskilled, terrible liar. Compare him to his boss, or to Granny Starver. or Yertle McTurtle, or Grandpa Walnuts. They all lie with a straight face, no darting eyes, no sweaty brow. Either they think they’re not lying, or they’ve perfected the art. Which, doesn’t matter.

  10. 10.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I knew there was at least one more

    Tim Mak‏Verified account @ timkmak 11h11 hours ago
    Sean Spicer claims “20 percent of their fixed wing aircraft from their entire air force was taken out.” This is not true.

    It was 20% of their Seventh Wing of their Air Force (whatever that is). IIRC Rachel Maddow said Mattis repeated this at some point today.

  15. 15.

    JCJ

    @Major Major Major Major: I have need to BKK maybe 25 or so times. Mostly when I am there we visit my wife’s family and do a little sight seeing.

    I have never gone there at this time of year – way too hot. Not that it is ever cool. December and January is the best time to go as it is not as hot. Northern Thailand is really pleasant at that time.

  16. 16.

    joel hanes

    Sean Kent‏ @seankent
    Who won the Pulitzer for making people think Hillary’s emails were more dangerous than electing a fascist?
    4:01 PM – 10 Apr 2017

  17. 17.

    NotMax

    staff pushed for it to make him feel better

    Something along the lines of : “They’re like flying erect dicks, only bigger and shinier and they go BOOM!”

  20. 20.

    David Spikes

    Report that the Chinese are massing troops on NK border. If true, what, if anything, does it mean?

  21. 21.

    Brachiator

    There is so much about the Syria airstrikes reaction that is revolting. The WaPo story notes that in 2013, Obama went to Congress to get approval for military action. And yet idiot conservatives wail that Obama was a dictator defying all those white Republicans trying to restrain him.

    Now I hear praise that Trump is a Caesar Reborn because he keeps the enemy off guard by not tipping his hand to anyone, and by deliberately not bothering to seek Congressional approval for his actions.

    I am also revolted by the refusal to own up to what it means to have Russia as an ally. Previous news reports credibly claimed that Syria and Russian air attacks targeted hospitals. But Americans didn’t care. There were no pictures and the US was not involved. The de facto foreign policy supports regimes that commit atrocities.

  23. 23.

    John Revolta

    @efgoldman: “The most important thing in show business is sincerity. Once you learn to fake that, you’ve got it made.”- Groucho

    Well, they say politics is show business for ugly people………….

  24. 24.

    Brachiator

    @David Spikes:

    Report that the Chinese are massing troops on NK border. If true, what, if anything, does it mean?

    Idiot pundits were slobbering over Trump for the bold message he was sending by sending US naval elements to North Korea.

    Well, the Chinese know how to send a message, too.

  25. 25.

    Millard Filmore

    @JCJ:

    December and January is the best time to go as it is not as hot.

    My ex-wife said there are three seasons in Bangkok. Hot, Really Hot, and Rainy Hot. April is in the Really Hot season.

  29. 29.

    Bess

    @NotMax: Sorry, that’s not at all large when it comes to Buddha statues. Here’s the Wat Traimit image. Solid gold. Those are regular sized doors on each side which should give some perspective.

    i.ytimg.com/vi/aF3nIxdlIH4/hqdefault.jpg

    There are Buddha images in Thailand, Myanmar and other countries which are multiple stories tall.

  30. 30.

    scav

    @Major Major Major Major: The toes on the left are what I’m able to recognize. The two toeprints per toe must be a special attribute of enormous Bhuddahood (not to mention the perfect equality of toes — no sizeism allowed). Can’t decide if the footprints are even more bizarrely divine or possibly just sandals.

  31. 31.

    NotMax

    @Bess

    The gold one is about the same size as the one in Lahaina.

    Note that it is always said statue “of its kind.” Presumably referring to being made of copper and bronze.

    The multiple story ones you mention are generally carved from stone, aren’t they?

  32. 32.

    patrick II

    @efgoldman:

    Ryan lies like crazy too. But he can’t wipe that smirk off of his face. The greatest lying press secretary though was Ari Fleischer, Spicer should look at tapes to see how a pro does it.

  33. 33.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    @David Spikes:

    Report that the Chinese are massing troops on NK border. If true, what, if anything, does it mean?

    That they like Korean take-out

  36. 36.

    qwerty42

    Note to Raven (Yeah, I’m the guy who recognized him on Sunday morning): If you are still having problems with the UGA Listserver, send mail to “[email protected]” … it will find me. At least until the end of the month.

    Really, should have provided that the first time.

    BTW, I’ll probably badger you with questions like “did you get an error message?” … I dunno. Actually, I will need to check the list log for the day you had the problem. Then I can badger you.

  37. 37.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Yarrow: Spicer lies every single time he conducts a presser. I’m surprised his eyes haven’t adjusted to his constant lying by now. I guess by June, he’ll have it down pat.

  38. 38.

    qwerty42

    @Patricia Kayden: David Frum tweeted this over a week ago, but …

    The Spicer show is so fascinating precisely because he remembers when he used to have a conscience, and the memory troubles him.
    — David Frum (@davidfrum)

    Kellyanne Conway doesn’t bear this moral burden, so she’s much smoother.

  39. 39.

    low-tech cyclist

    Damn. If a dummy like Anne Appplebaum can see through this shit, what’s the excuse of the rest of the press corpse?

  40. 40.

    TenguPhule

    @David Spikes:

    If true, what, if anything, does it mean?

    Hopefully its just a precaution and the North Koreans will not try to flee north into China.

  42. 42.

    Lurking Canadian

    @Goku: Can we skip ahead to the part where he gets repeatedly stabbed on the steps of the Senate?

  43. 43.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Spicer says US goal is to “destabilize Syria – destabilize the conflict there”

    Seriously, why I can’t get a job telling the American people hilariously stupid shit like this.

  44. 44.

    Glidwrith

    @Lurking Canadian: Hey, there. I lurk a lot but saw you were dreading Monday. Hopefully by your presence the news wasn’t what you thought it would be? Luck to you.

  45. 45.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    You know, that “destabilize the conflict there” has to be a quote from Trump, it’s exactly the kind of dumbass thing a salesmen trying to bullshit everyone he’s the expert would say.

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