Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Bark louder, little dog.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

We’re not going back!

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

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

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Joe Biden can go out like FDR, not by dying in office, but by crushing the fascists.

The gop couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

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

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

The revolution will be supervised.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Hail to the Hairpiece / It’s Scoop O’Clock

It’s Scoop O’Clock

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And it looks like little Donald won’t get what he wants for his birthday.

The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

Tonight’s Washington Post:

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.

It was pretty much inevitable, if you’ve read his tweets or listened to James Comey’s testimony or watched Preet Bharara’s tweets.

Five people briefed on the requests, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers’ recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators as early as this week. The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy and it’s unclear how many others have been questioned by the FBI.

I love the way the reporters tell us exactly how many sources they have for these stories.

Reader Interactions

303Comments

  6. 6.

    lollipopguild

    I love how president carrot like to “hint” what he may do if one of his serfs does something naughty.

  7. 7.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    Well, yesterday, Sessions spun his nonsense and a few news stories I saw this morning suggested that maybe the Russian investigation was essentially kaput…

    So glad to see it’s not. I wonder if the IC will ramp up the leaks again to make certain the Trumptastrophe continues to unfurl.

  11. 11.

    Major Major Major Major

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read all day, and I’ve been debugging javascript.

  13. 13.

    dmsilev

    Christ, this quote:

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    Yes, I’m sure that “encouraging” a prosecutor to “focus” on exonerating you will do wonders in clearing the air of suspicions that you’re trying to stymie an investigation.

  14. 14.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Baud: Vichy Times grades R presidents and candidates for president like they are in kindergarten, and D presidents and presidential candidates like they are taking PhD comps.

  15. 15.

    Cheryl Rofer

    Some small encouraging signs:

    “It would be a disaster,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) “There’s no reason to fire Mueller. What’s he done to be fired?”

    Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the notion firing Mueller, would “certainly be an extraordinarily unwise move.”

  16. 16.

    Corner Stone

    said Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Rogers’ recently departed deputy, Richard Ledgett, agreed to be interviewed by Mueller’s investigators as early as this week.

    I would pay money to see that asshole Adm Rogers try to tell Mueller he doesn’t feel it’s appropriate.
    “Fuck your feelings. Now spill.”

  17. 17.

    Joyce H

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    Boy, he stays true to type, doesn’t he? Trump always, ALWAYS, judges everyone by himself – in this instance, assuming that everyone is more interested in simply HAVING the job than they are in actually DOING the work the job requires and doing it well.

  19. 19.

    TenguPhule

    @Mustang Bobby:

    Let’s see him try to fire Mueller now. I actually hope he tries.

    Trump: “HOLD MY FUCKING BEER!”

    Just because one can predict the fireworks doesn’t mean one necessarily wants to see them up close and personal.

  20. 20.

    JPL

    Before an article is released, they normally give the White House adequate time to respond. Trump’s statement on unity was good, certainly not like Obama, but passable. I wonder if he was actually thinking of something else.

  21. 21.

    TenguPhule

    @Corner Stone:

    I would pay money to see that asshole Adm Rogers try to tell Mueller he doesn’t feel it’s appropriate.
    “Fuck your feelings. Now spill.”

    “On the advice of counsel, I plead the Fifth amendment….”

  22. 22.

    efgoldman

    @Major Major Major Major:

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position

    Stupid ass can’t even spell “ambiguity”, let alone have any goddamned idea at all what it means.
    He’s just caught between his natural tendency to fire Mueller, and his lawyers screaming NNNNOOOOOooooooooooo…..

  24. 24.

    Corner Stone

    @dmsilev: To be fair, after that 15 minute tongue bath of his ass by the cabinet the other day, why wouldn’t he think he can coax or intimidate anyone into an uncomfortable position?
    And no, I do not mean the back of a Volkswagen.

  25. 25.

    TenguPhule

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    “It would be a disaster,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) “There’s no reason to fire Mueller. What’s he done to be fired?”

    Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the notion firing Mueller, would “certainly be an extraordinarily unwise move.”

    And when it does happen they will all frown and look concerned and then FALL BACK INTO LINE LIKE GOOD LITTLE FASCIST SHITBAGS.

    Pardon my French.

  26. 26.

    TenguPhule

    @Major Major Major Major:

    That’s the dumbest thing I’ve read all day, and I’ve been debugging javascript.

    Surely the “we must have silencers on guns to allow us to stop using earplugs at the firing range” is still today’s winner and reigning champion?

  27. 27.

    JPL

    @TenguPhule: It’s time for unity, and because of that I asked deputy attorney general Rosenstein to close down the special prosecutors office.
    djt

  30. 30.

    Quinerly

    Bonus! Everybody can be and will be questioned about conversations…including Eric, Don Jr, and Ivanka…there is no parent-child privilege. Lawyer up kiddos!

  31. 31.

    chopper

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    riiiiiiiight.

  32. 32.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    @amk: without clicking it on, I would bet the garbage was either written by Hedda Hopper or Robin Leach Maggie Haberman or Glen Thrush

  34. 34.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    Pretend autocrat. That’s what Trump is playing at. Sorry El Presidente, that ain’t gonna happen

  36. 36.

    MCA1

    @TenguPhule: Yep. Someone, please name the last time Collins, Graham, McMaverick, or any of the other usual Very Concerned Brigade of Republican Senators actually ACTED on their concerns when they were directed at a Republican. They won’t do jack if Cheatolini (alternate spelling intended) pressures Rosenstein (who, if I recall, is the only one who can actually remove him) to fire Mueller.

  39. 39.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @JPL: Even if Scalise did die, firing the special counsel investigating him would stink so bad, only imminent nuclear war could bury it in the news

  40. 40.

    TenguPhule

    @Quinerly:

    and Ivanka…there is no parent-child privilege.

    Spousal Privilege. Because we all know why the other one was hanging out in NY all this time.

  42. 42.

    Peale

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: I’d like the outcome to be ten or so odd members of the administration on trial, with a note that Trump was surpringly unaware of the goings on of those around him. Hopelessly naive and easily swindled. No wonder he’s been bankrupt so many times.

  43. 43.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @MCA1: Does McCain or anybody refer to him as a “Maverick”. He’s anything but. I hope history remembers him for the small and insignificant man he is. Ditto Collins and Lady Lindsey

  44. 44.

    Kay

    what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    I love how Trump thought this – as long as he himself wasn’t implicated in the Russia thing everything will be peachy!

    How did he think that was gonna go? He HIRED all these people. They work or worked for him. He thought it wouldn’t matter how many of them colluded or coordinated, as long as his fingerprints weren’t on it? Even if it includes his son in law?

    It’s really a wacky way to think- it’s child-like. His administration would be imploding and he’d be insisting “I had nothing to do with it!” He’s the godammned boss. These are HIS people. What was he planning on saying? “I had no idea what was going on in my campaign or my administration”? Then he;s not the boss.

  45. 45.

    Quinerly

    @TenguPhule:
    Purposely left out Melania for just that reason. Kiddos wanted to be involved in day to day workings of government. Any convos with kids and Jared are game.

  46. 46.

    efgoldman

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    Even if Scalise did die, firing the special counsel investigating you would stink so bad, only imminent nuclear war could bury it in the news

    Different dynamic depending how long it takes. If he dies in the next day or two, it’s still fresh news and a big deal. If he lingers for a few weeks, it’s old news and more or less a footnote.

  47. 47.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Peale: And Trump couldn’t pull off what Raygun did. None of the charm. Or even smarts and Reagan was stupid

  48. 48.

    debbie

    Mr. Clever got exactly the present he deserves.

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Should Mueller be fired, I hope these GOP Senators are forced to respond to these current quotes.

  49. 49.

    Corner Stone

    @Kay:

    His administration would be imploding and he’d be insisting “I had nothing to do with it!” He’s the godammned boss. These are HIS people. What was he planning on saying? “I had no idea what was going on in my campaign or my administration”? Then he;s not the boss.

    The Ronald Reagan/Chris Christie/Mob Boss Defense.

  50. 50.

    dmsilev

    @Kay: Trump heard the story of Harry Truman’s “the buck stops here” sign and thought it referred to a bank account.

  51. 51.

    efgoldman

    @Kay:

    It’s really a wacky way to think- it’s child-like.

    Spoiled rotten four year old toddler acts like a spoiled rotten four year old toddler. Hold the presses!

  54. 54.

    JPL

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: Trump’s support didn’t fall that much after he fired Comey. I just don’t see repubs running away at this time. They want to rid us of medicare, medicaid, health care, social security and that will enable big tax cuts for the rich.

  55. 55.

    Peale

    @Kay: yep. That’s why I laugh at yesterday’s GOP party line that the investigator is no longer needed because he won’t get Trump on collusion. As if that’s the only reason to investigate.

  56. 56.

    TriassicSands

    Imagine the satisfaction if you got the chance to testify against Donald Trump in an obstruction of justice trial.

    That said, it would only be a small fraction of the satisfaction if the jury came in with a guilty verdict.

    Which would only be a tiny fraction of the satisfaction if the judge sentenced him to prison.

    Which would be almost imperceptible when compared with the satisfaction you would get from knowing you helped put Trump behind bars.

    Mr. Comey may yet get the last laugh.

  58. 58.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    @dmsilev: he reportedly ransacked the oval office looking for the buck, but only found a snow globe with the name “queens”.

  59. 59.

    PPCLI

    @Corner Stone: I would double that amount, if Mueller would wear one of those “Fuck Your Feelings” t-shirts the Trumpies so love through the under-oath interview.

  61. 61.

    TenguPhule

    what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    What the public desires most, a blanket public execution.

    /Yes, after a proper trial and conviction, that should go without saying.

  64. 64.

    Adam L Silverman

    I’ve purposefully been offline most of the day. Anything exciting happen?

  65. 65.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @JPL: That’s why the public has to put pressure on them to act to hold Trump accountable. The president is not a king. He or she is supposed to be held to the same laws all of us are

  67. 67.

    debbie

    @JPL:

    The local Fox affiliate runs FB polls during the broadcast and the results are usually typical RWNJ. Last night, though, they asked if Trump should fire Mueller, and 79% said no. I think this could be what finally costs Trump his base.

  68. 68.

    Spanky

    @Corner Stone: I actually think that Coats & Rogers thing was a bit of kabuki to enable them to get to Mueller relatively unscathed. I didn’t think the there was nearly enough pushback as there could have/should have been.

  72. 72.

    JMG

    Mueller will be fired by Friday. The Republicans in Congress will say that as long as they are under threat, one-party rule is essential for the safety of white people. Chuck Todd will say, “I wouldn’t have phrased it that way, but…”

  73. 73.

    TriassicSands

    Did anyone ever hear about anyone in the media or in the Senate ever asking Sessions or Rosenstein why, if Comey’s handling of the HRC email affair was the reason he was fired, it took Trump more than 4 months to get around to firing him? Wouldn’t his poor performance have been obvious on January 20?

    I know that Trump fired Comey because of the Russia investigation and his failure to get Comey to kneel and swear allegiance to the emperor, but Rosenstein and Sessions based their memoranda on the Clinton case. So why not recommend in February that Comey be canned? Or March? Or April? Sessions was sworn in on February 9.

    Did anyone ever ask that question?

  75. 75.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Nope, nothing like that.

    Today was my last day of antibiotics, which, while doing an admirable job knocking out the sinus infection, has provided me with a wide panoply of side effects. So I did some work and then basically spent the rest of the day wiped out because of being light headed and achy as a result of the side effects.

    And I’m fully up to speed on what is going on.

  77. 77.

    Quinerly

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Not much unless you count the big piece in the VT Digger about Jane Sanders and her daughter. They are from VT. They have connections. The FBI is involved.?

  78. 78.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Adam L Silverman: We reached a TBogg unit on Trump’s Statement thread. Pretty uneventful aside from a single Wilmer troll towards the end. It was pretty great that everyone defended Wilmer from possible RW smear tactics.

  79. 79.

    JPL

    @Radiumgirl: from Jim Acosta’s twitter feed

    Kasowitz spox hits FBI for POTUS obstruct story:“The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal”

    no denial. I bet his chocolate cake is good tonight though. In fact it will be the greatest cake ever.

  81. 81.

    Corner Stone

    @Spanky:

    that Coats & Rogers thing

    That first album was lights out. They kind of hit the sophomore slump but then made up for it with the live album, “Coats & Rogers Sing”.

  84. 84.

    Radiumgirl

    Here’s what the Newt had to say:

    Tuesday morning on Good Morning America, Newt Gingrich blasted Mueller and his still-forming team. “These are bad people,” Newt Gingrich told George Stephanopoulos. “I’m very dubious of the team.”

    From the Wired story.

    Why oh why does anybody even bother to interview that dude?

  85. 85.

    Roger Moore

    @Peale:

    I’d like the outcome to be ten or so odd members of the administration on trial

    I’m hoping for a large chunk of the Republican Congressional leadership in the dock with them. Yertle is in over his shell in this mess.

  87. 87.

    Corner Stone

    @JPL:

    I bet his chocolate cake is good tonight though. In fact it will be the greatest cake ever.

    He’s going to flip open his bathrobe, schmear it all over his naked body and then wildly chase Barron all over the WH grounds.
    “Don’t think you can hide from me, you little fuck! Who do you think paid for those boobs of mommie’s you love to cuddle with so much?!”

  89. 89.

    Kay

    @Peale:

    he won’t get Trump

    The…Trump Administration. Or is he just sort of a mascot? He can’t claim both things- he can’t be uber-male bully-boss and also just a flighty celebrity who doesn’t really run anything. It’s his. That’s why we call it The Trump Administration. If they’re all getting indicted around him he won’t emerge untouched. He’s the dope who hired his son in law. He made sure he’d be closely tied to whatever Kushner does or did.

  91. 91.

    Adam L Silverman

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: I’ll probably write something about this tomorrow, but you can’t really blame Senator Sanders for this – not that people won’t try. I’ve never seen him ever call for violence and you’d have to be several deviations off of standard to take his call for revolution as anything but a peaceful one through existing political, social, and economic systems and institutions.

  92. 92.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Radiumgirl:

    Tuesday morning on Good Morning America, Newt Gingrich blasted Mueller and his still-forming team. “These are bad people,” Newt Gingrich told George Stephanopoulos. “I’m very dubious of the team.”

    He’s dubious of them and thinks they’re bad people because they’re attacking the Chief of the Tribe. Chief Trump must be obeyed without question. To question him is treason in Newt’s beautiful mind

  93. 93.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: More or less. I’m sure I’ll still make an error and someone will be along to correct me. Seems to be how things work around here.

  94. 94.

    Spanky

    @Adam L Silverman: If it’s a hydroquinalone, the reported side effects include blowing out your achilles, but on me it started messing with my knee cartilage. “Makes sense”, says the doctor, “they’re both made of the same stuff”.

    Be careful when you start working out again.

  97. 97.

    Jeffro

    @Radiumgirl: yeah, that goes for any & all of the wingers…if they’re just going to recite talking points (and stupid/offensive ones at that) then why have them on at all?

    Or am I just not hip to how talk TV works?

  98. 98.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Spanky: Levoquin. I haven’t been in the gym since three days before I started it and I’m going to wait at least 48 hours, if not all the way through Monday, before I go back to the gym. I will probably start walking the dogs again tomorrow. Between this and the monsoons, they’re feeling a wee bit stir crazy.

  101. 101.

    Timurid

    @TenguPhule:

    The subtext to those statements: “Relax. Let him do his worst. It won’t matter. He could find out you killed JFK and we still wouldn’t impeach you.”

  103. 103.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Adam L Silverman: I certainly don’t blame him. He may be guilty of some character flaws but an advocate of mass murder he is not. Funny how NR didn’t show up. Looking forward to your piece tomorrow

  104. 104.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I’ve never seen him ever call for violence and you’d have to be several deviations off of standard to take his call for revolution as anything but a peaceful one through existing political, social, and economic systems and institutions.

    Republican statement doing just that at 7 on the hour then,

  105. 105.

    raven

    @Adam L Silverman: I tried that when I trashed my calf in April. I still get instep cramps all the time at night. I had my “wellness” checkup today and she said to try this.

  108. 108.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Major Major Major Major: This is the first time I’ve had bad side effects when taking it. Usually I get one of these a year. Occasionally two. Normally the Levoquin knocks it out without any issues or side effects.

  112. 112.

    TriassicSands

    Once again we have a public figure acting as though there is no record of past statements.

    Gingrich on May 17:

    Robert Mueller is superb choice to be special counsel. His reputation is impeccable for honesty and integrity. Media should now calm down

    Now, on June 14, Gingrich is claiming that this man with a reputation for impeccable honesty and integrity is hiring “bad people” to investigate the Trump administration. How does someone go so bad so quickly? (I’m talking about Mueller, not Gingrich, who has a reputation for having a gigantic head and not being a very good husband.)

  122. 122.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @TenguPhule: Wasn’t the story that he hired the prostitutes to urinate on the bed that the Obamas had slept in once in Russia? If that’s true, illegal it may not be, but it’s creepy as all fuck

  128. 128.

    Kristine

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    I read that, and laughed. Admitting that you’re holding the man’s job over his head to get the result you want–T***p really thinks that’s okay. Wondering what the leakers think–do they believe they’re helping, or hurting?

    He’s so unfit, so bone-dead stupid. I wake up, realize he’s still POTUS, and feel as though I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole.

  129. 129.

    TenguPhule

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: Yes and considering that the person who got the report had to go into hiding while every other part of that report has turned out to be true, more or less,
    Trump’s denial seems to be worth less then the oaths he swears by.

  130. 130.

    seaboogie

    @Kay: I think the pressure of “acting *Presidential* after the shooting (tweet assuredly not his own) and the Special Counsel heat (on dear leader’s birthday) will result in quite a tweet-storm in the early am.

  131. 131.

    TenguPhule

    @Kay:

    He can’t claim both things- he can’t be uber-male bully-boss and also just a flighty celebrity who doesn’t really run anything.

    Wanna bet? And double or nothing that the media will let him get away with it?

  133. 133.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mnemosyne: I have been taking a very high grade one every day. Additionally the protein powder I use also has additional probiotics included in the mix.

  134. 134.

    grammypat

    @raven: I’ve gotten out of bed, hobbled to the fridge, rubbed mustard on my skin, and the cramps have subsided before I can get back into bed.

  135. 135.

    MisterForkbeard

    Gotta love that they’re investigating something Trump has already admitted to. I guess that means it just makes it easier?

    @dmsilev: This was exactly my reaction when I first saw that quote. Isn’t being deliberately vague but floating rumors about firing your investigator in order to change his priorities into clearing you *yet another* example of obstruction?

  136. 136.

    JPL

    @Doug R: Who cares? The republicans don’t care. Trump said that he could shoot someone of fifth ave, and it wouldn’t change things, he appears to be right.

  140. 140.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @TenguPhule: I remember listening to Ghost from True Capitalist Radio (probably a character he plays) saying the Dossier was fake. Given Trump’s denial of it, and the confirmation of everything else in it, the peeing on the bed probably happebed

  141. 141.

    Spanky

    @Major Major Major Major: I don’t know about specific sensitivity. It’s known to rip the shit out of a good fraction of users.

    Unless you meant sensitive to the Trump family. There are so many threads flying around this post that it’s hard to keep track.

  142. 142.

    different-church-lady

    I’m so old I can remember when we couldn’t vote for someone who would bring scandal and investigation to the White House.

  145. 145.

    Roger Moore

    @JPL:

    Trump’s support didn’t fall that much after he fired Comey. I just don’t see repubs running away at this time.

    No, but they’re walking away. He’s been losing something like 1% approval per month, which is going to get him in real trouble if it keeps up. Even more dangerous, though less obvious from the headline numbers, is that the intensity of his remaining support is declining. His “somewhat approve” numbers have been relatively stable, with the loss of support coming from the “strongly approve”. This is likely from some strong supporters becoming waverers and waverers giving up, but it means that he’s losing the kind of diehard support that he’d desperately need if something really unpleasant surfaces in the course of the investigations.

  146. 146.

    Mike J

    The best part of the story that trump is personally under investigation was his lawyer’s reaction. He didn’t deny it, he instead started yelling about leaks, verifying the the story is true.

  147. 147.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @TenguPhule: Getting dark for a second: If he were about to be removed from office, what would stop him from starting a global nuclear war out of spite?

  149. 149.

    jl

    @TenguPhule:

    ” Wanna bet? And double or nothing that the media will let him get away with it? ”

    That was a standard defense against charge of white collar crime by the Masters-of-the-Universe, Rich-as-God banksters and financial crooks after the Great Recession: ” I’m a fricken super genius who deserves billions, but my company is just so big I got no clue, and I never could figure out how them damn ‘options’ worked anyway. “

  151. 151.

    TenguPhule

    @Roger Moore:

    Even more dangerous, though less obvious from the headline numbers, is that the intensity of his remaining support is declining.

    Unfortunately, the rest are simply doubling down. They’ve left reality and are in bizzaro land.

  152. 152.

    Spanky

    @grammypat:

    @raven: I’ve gotten out of bed, hobbled to the fridge, rubbed mustard on my skin, and the cramps have subsided before I can get back into bed.

    And the control group – me – has lain in bed doing nothing other than stretching my instep, and the cramp subsides within a minute. Far shorter than a trip to the fridge.

    Of course, it’s a big house.

  155. 155.

    Corner Stone

    @grammypat: But it’s just vinegar (or I guess water) and ground mustard seed. have you tried just rubbing vinegar on the area?

  157. 157.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Roger Moore: Its good to hear. But I really do fear a more competent Trump-like pol trying this again and succeeding.

  163. 163.

    TenguPhule

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    If he were about to be removed from office, what would stop him from starting a global nuclear war out of spite?

    I’d like to think the Football carrier finds his courage and punches Trump in the mouth before fleeing.

  164. 164.

    grammypat

    @Corner Stone: No, but I think the combination may have something to do with it. I can’t remember where I first heard about this, but I tried it and it works for me

  165. 165.

    jl

    @Roger Moore: Commenter hovercraft made a joke in a comment yesterday that prompted me to go look for where he is losing support. Well, you know it has to be mostly from white dudes, since who else supports him?

    But the drop in white dude support is pretty across the board, and big. In military, rural areas, suburbs. Trump has been steadily losing support from every demo that I could find data on, and that still supports him. Net approval in military has gone from +6 to -9, and about same in rural areas, IIRC.

  167. 167.

    JPL

    @amk: There’s questions on whether or not a president can be charged with a crime while in office. Obstruction of justice is an impeachable offense though.

  169. 169.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    Does anybody know how to contact David? I tried emailing “Richard Mayhew” about doing a post on the Ohio Drug Price Standards Intiative. Haven’t gotten a response from him

  170. 170.

    TenguPhule

    This is the Future that Paul Ryan and Donald Trump want for America.

    The changes came quickly. The state limited eligibility for welfare and instilled a lifetime ban on welfare recipients who broke certain rules. It dramatically lowered taxes, by reducing the number of income tax brackets in the state from three to two and slashing rates on both. It also exempted small-business income from taxation entirely — creating what analysts described as a pernicious loophole when individuals started representing themselves as small businesses to qualify.

    Yet the fast growth that the state’s tax cuts were supposed to generate never appeared. In each of the past five years, the pace of economic expansion in Kansas has been below that of the country as a whole.

    Its still not too late to have Arthur Laffer burned at the stake for high crimes against the state.

  172. 172.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud: Ha ha no.

    1) FC will say FU to passing it because it doesn’t piss off liberals

    2) Paul Ryan doesn’t give a shit if its not about tax cuts.

  174. 174.

    Redshift

    @Roger Moore:

    This is likely from some strong supporters becoming waverers and waverers giving up, but it means that he’s losing the kind of diehard support that he’d desperately need if something really unpleasant surfaces in the course of the investigations.

    And that other Republicans need to come out and vote in midterms and special elections, which they’ll be less likely to do.

    For example, I read that in last year’s presidential primaries in Virginia, Republicans were 57% of those participating. In this week’s gubernatorial primary, it was 60% Dems.

  175. 175.

    Roger Moore

    @amk:

    The only question does the law care?

    Unfortunately not true. The law is just a piece of paper without people dedicated to enforcing it. As long as the Republicans in Congress don’t want to impeach him, Trump himself is pretty well protected. Of course that applies only to him and Pence; everyone else in the administration can be prosecuted without needing to be impeached and convicted by Congress first. The big worry for Trump is that investigation, indictment, and conviction of people around him will convince the Republicans in Congress that they’re better off without him.

  176. 176.

    jl

    @Radiumgirl: Might drive off some of the hard core reactionaries, that probably want to make being sick and poor a quasi-criminal offense. They’re the ones who’ll be pissed, since the current House bill is still not paupercidal enough for them, and then this is the thanks they get. But not the rank-and-file and the moderates will go along. Ryan will forge ahead, since one of his frat rat kegger dreams is finally within reach.

  178. 178.

    Roger Moore

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:
    I’m not sure how plausible an idea a more competent version of Trump really is. A lot of what made him so attractive to the base is exactly what’s tripping him up trying to govern competently now. And don’t forget that the Russia thing is also tightly tied in to why he was able to steal the election.

  179. 179.

    jl

    @Baud: You should know not to pry into the special occult wisdom of a fellow commenter. Nay, it is forbidden. Behold, one Mark of Indiscretion is tallied against you.

  185. 185.

    Baud

    @jl: I just want to know if he’s heard something I missed or if he’s only assuming failure.

  189. 189.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Roger Moore: I guess someone who pretends to be an idiot and takes advantage of the ignorance of Americans. We’re just as susceptible to fascism as anybody else. And the gridlock that has paralysed Washington for the last 20 years is reminiscent of the Weimar Republic’s parliament. We even have street battles now

  191. 191.

    Kathleen

    @raven: I have not used that product but I have suffered terribly from leg cramps during and after runs and I swear by a product called Hyland’s Leg Cramps. I’ve bought them online but have noticed that Kroger sells them as well.

  196. 196.

    jl

    @Baud: I remove your Mark of Indiscretion, for I am gracious and merciful, and you are young and callow, clearly did not understand.

  198. 198.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud: To date not one piece of genuine bipartisan legislature has come out of the House. While past performance doesn’t always predict future results, given how much Paul Ryan is already covering for Trump, its not exactly soothsaying to predict that Ryan is going to let it die in the House.

  200. 200.

    Roger Moore

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    Why can’t the President or VP be charged with crimes?

    The standard understanding of the impeachment stuff in the Constitution is that impeachment is the only way of going after the President and VP; they can only be tried in an ordinary court after they’ve been successfully thrown out of office.

  203. 203.

    JPL

    The NYTimes is trying to catch up with the Washington Post breaking news.. lol

    Pointing to an obstruction inquiry of President Trump, Robert Mueller is said to seek talks with 3 current or ex-intelligence officials

  206. 206.

    efgoldman

    @Radiumgirl:

    when you ask pols to take a risk for you, they expect you not to throw them under the bus.

    Look, Rubes has been on the good side about Coral Carbuncle from the beginning, but dropping a casual unthinking word is his whole history. Doesn’t mean he won’t sign whatever the assholes put in front of him, and Yertle McTurtle knows it damned well.

  207. 207.

    ? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?

    @Adam L Silverman: Huh. Trump can be the first Pres to be charged! A truly historic presidency!

    There also should be a way to remove a president that doesn’t involve Congress or the Cabinet. Not sure what that be. Probably would have unforseen consequences

  212. 212.

    Kathleen

    @raven: Hope you get relief. Leg cramps are the absolute worst. Also, do you drink electrolyte water? I’ve noticed the older I’ve become the more easily I get dehydrated even though I drink pretty much water. A nurse practitioner said orange juice was best source but I buy Nuun tablets and drop one in a glass of water after every workout. When I ran marathons I drank it on training runs and it really helped. Gatorade and PowerAde have fructose and lots of chemicals and can make me sick.

  214. 214.

    Redshift

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: Apparently, one of the bits of outrage-bait in the wingnut bubble is that some of the investigators Mueller had hired have donated to Democrats! So like with journalists, that means they’re hopelessly biased and out to get him.

    I’ve also read speculation that this is what Trump saw that made him want to fire Mueller.

  215. 215.

    Jeffro

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Other than occasionally checking emails? I don’t go out onto the Internet, I don’t monitor social media, and I don’t watch 24/7 cable news

    That just sounds…weird…getting your work done and interacting with people in the real world and all.

    I’m going to give it a try for a few hours tomorrow.

  219. 219.

    Jeffro

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    Getting dark for a second: If he were about to be removed from office, what would stop him from starting a global nuclear war out of spite?

    Officially? Nothing.

    Unofficially? Probably something called the “Mattis Protocols”, or “Code Mango”

  221. 221.

    Morzer

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-wapo-obstruction-blockbuster-and-the-world-of-hurt-to-come

    But here’s the thing about the Trump world. I don’t have subpoena power. And we’ve yet to assign a reporting crew to the Trump entourage beat full time. But even with my own limited reporting, it is quite clear to me that there are numerous people in Trump’s entourage (or ‘crew’, if you will) including Trump himself whose history and ways of doing business would not survive first contact with real legal scrutiny. It sounds like Mueller sees all of that within his purview, in all likelihood because the far-flung business deealings of Trump and his top associates are the membrane across which collusion and quid pro quos could have been conducted.

    As I said, a basic perusal of business in the Trump world makes clear that serious legal scrutiny would turn up no end of problems. Just consider what was from a financial perspective, a tiny island in the Trump archipelago of mischief, The Trump Foundation which David Fahrenthold did so much with. Almost every rock Fahrenthold overturned exposed some self-dealing, at least legal violations and often real wrongdoing and as much as anything a wild level of sloppiness and indifference to doing business like even semi-honest people. From one perspective it’s hard to say Trump knowingly broke the law with the Foundation since the whole conduct of the Foundation seemed to be carried on as though none of the relevant laws even existed. Again, the Foundation was just a sideline for Trump. It’s not where he made his big money and ran off from his biggest obligations. That’s how they do business.

    If Mueller is taking a serious prosecutor’s lens to Trump’s financial world and the financial worlds of Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Mike Flynn and numerous others, there’s going to be a world of hurt for a lot of people. And that is if no meaningful level of 2016 election collusion even happened.

    And I don’t think that’s true.

    I am going to repeat my contention that Trump’s undoing will be the dirty Russian money he used to save himself. The attempts to obstruct justice, save Flynn, remove Comey etc all flow from that central fact. I think we may be crossing the inflection point beyond which the GOP loses more from Trump than they gain by keeping him around – and the line goes ever more rapidly down into utter disaster for them. I suspect they want Trump to fire Mueller desperately, so that they can “legitimately” take him down and install Pence. What I don’t know is whether Pence will be able to squirm away from his associations with Trumpworld. I suspect he can.

  223. 223.

    Immanentize

    @grammypat: The mustard works just like biofreeze or bengay. It stimulates the surface nerves which block out the other (pain or cramp) nerve reactions. Same theory, just a lot cheaper and somewhat less effective.

  224. 224.

    randy khan

    @dmsilev:

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    Translation: The President hopes that this somewhat more indirect effort at obstruction of justice will be successful.

  225. 225.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    Steve Scalise needed blood transfusions. Hopefully the gave him the white blood.

  226. 226.

    efgoldman

    @Roger Moore:

    The big worry for Trump is that investigation, indictment, and conviction of people around him will convince the Republicans in Congress that they’re better off without him.

    The other big worry is the New York AG’s grand jury, quietly beavering away without leaks or political pressure.
    There’s nothing anybody in DC can do about state indictments/convictions. Even if SCOTUS rules (as it probably would) that the president can’t be tried on state charges while in office(*), an actual criminal indictment hanging over him would be a hell of a difficult thing for even this congress to overlook.

    (*)But SCOTUS has ruled that the president is liable to be deposed and can be sued in civil matters from before he took office. It’s not a big stretch to extend it to criminal matters, like, say, money laundering for the Russian mob.

  227. 227.

    Morzer

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position

    He is confident that as long as he continues to waver between two scoops or three no-one will notice the ice cream dripping down his several chins.

  230. 230.

    Morzer

    @Jeffro:

    Start with five minutes. Pace yourself. Practice meaningless remarks about the weather for your first run.

  232. 232.

    efgoldman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    The VP can be charged, and VP’s have been charged in the past.

    If Agnew hadn’t agreed to resign as part of his plea deal, he likely would have been impeached, removed from office, and then tried for the actual crimes. Technically (I think) he wasn’t actually charged until he wasn’t serving VP any more.

  234. 234.

    hovercraft

    OT
    So I came home tonight went down into the finished basement and discovered that apparently my kitchen sink is blocked, but apart from draining a little sluggishly, it gave no indication of how bad the blockage was, instead my first indication of a major problem, was when I stepped onto the carpet downstairs and it squished. After much cursing and detective work, we have determined that the kitchen blockage is manifesting itself by overflowing the basement bathroom sink. Yay! So the plumber said he’ll be here first thing tomorrow, in the meantime just don’t use the sink. Because if he hadn’t said that, I totally would!
    new carpet : (

    On a positive note, my present isn’t as bad as Twitler’s! SAD!

  235. 235.

    D58826

    Rachel is describing the hospital report on Cong. Scalise – broken bones, organ injuries and a lot of blood lose. Several procedures have been performed and many more will be required. AK47’s can do a lot of damage. I hope he has medical insurance and no one tries to take it away from him or starts looking for pre-existing conditions.

    Snark aside, I watched all of the GOOPers talk about what a wonderful man he is,. and how wonderful the other victims are. But the 23 million people who will lose medical coverage under Trumpcare just don’t measure up to Saint Scalise.

  237. 237.

    efgoldman

    @TenguPhule:

    To date not one piece of genuine bipartisan legislature has come out of the House.

    Didn’t they name a few post offices?

  240. 240.

    TenguPhule

    @Morzer:

    Practice meaningless remarks about the weather for your first run.

    He’s trying to get back into real life, not speed dating.

  241. 241.

    Lizzy L

    I’m guessing that Trump really really wants to fire Mueller, and is barely persuaded by his staff’s insistence that It Would Be A Bad Thing To Do. Staff is trying very very hard to distract him; this is helped by Melania and Barron having moved into the White House. However, if at some point (possibly late Friday night, while watching Fox) Trump decides that Mueller won’t be “fair” to him, I can’t see what stops him phoning Rosenstein and insisting that he fire Mueller. At this point I would expect Rosenstein to resign.

    And — off we go.

  242. 242.

    Kirk

    @Adam L Silverman: I used to get one or two sinus infections a year for a couple of decades. I don’t any more, not since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP.

    no, unfair. I have had two sinus infections since then. Both occurring in conjunction with an inability to use the machine.

    Just food for thought.

  244. 244.

    randy khan

    @Mike J:

    Trump’s lawyer has a reputation as a real bulldog, but I’m beginning to wonder if he’s actually any good, or just really obnoxious and aggressive. That will work in a lot of situations, but sometimes a bit of subtlety is required, and he just doesn’t seem to have any at all.

    And – speaking from experience – when you have to deal with those bullying types and you don’t react at all to the bullying, they generally have no idea what to do next.

  247. 247.

    randy khan

    @TenguPhule:

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    If he were about to be removed from office, what would stop him from starting a global nuclear war out of spite?

    I’d like to think the Football carrier finds his courage and punches Trump in the mouth before fleeing.

    That would be impressive. More seriously, I would guess that the officer carrying the football would have been given a refresher course on refusing unlawful orders somewhere along the way, and an order that violated U.S. nuclear strike doctrine would look pretty suspicious from the start.

  248. 248.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    @JPL: I’m sure he’ll come around if they pass a tax cut for billionaires while taking away healthcare

  249. 249.

    jl

    @Morzer: I think it’s all really unknown at this point, and we don’t know how closely the GOP machine is plugged in to the dirt. Remember that the first evidence of any real collusion with Russians directly related to 2016 election that was reported did not involve one of the Trumpsters but rather a Florida GOP political consultant.

    It may be that any collusion with Russian/Putin hacking was all done by the flunkies, and Trump is digging in because he is a complete fool, or simply afraid of unsavory things he tried to keep at a distance that may somehow lead to him. The GOP brass may be afraid of unsavory things they tried to keep a distance from but may lead to them. That is why I doubt Trump’s unpopularity will bother them until they see it as an existential threat to their power, that is, they see unavoidably catastrophic elections coming up.

    As far as I know, the only solid public evidence we have of foreign influence among the Trumpsters is Flynn. Seems to me he will be up on charges unless Trump pardons him. But that escapade of corruption may begin and end with Flynn. But, I don’t follow these things as closely as others here do.

  250. 250.

    Bobby Thomson

    @JPL: Scalise is a white supremacist who pals around with David Duke. He’s entitled to the same humane treatment a POW would get and that’s about all the consideration he gets from me.

  251. 251.

    Amanda in the South Bay

    @Roger Moore: I also seeing a Tweet by Yglesias saying that his core numbers keep up because the number of self identified GOPers in polls is decreasing (they’re leaning indie), allowing his “base” to appear stronger than it is.

  252. 252.

    Corner Stone

    Man. I never realized what a complete sado-masochist dominance display the Disney movie Man From Snowy River was.

  254. 254.

    Barbara

    @Kristine: No, what is funny is that Mueller would sooner be fired or more likely would quit rather than be put in a position of not doing this job correctly. He probably took a huge pay cut and could go back to his previous job any time — unless he compromised himself in the investigation. Trump really has no clue about the concept of public service.

  256. 256.

    TenguPhule

    @Bobby Thomson:

    He’s entitled to the same humane treatment a POW would get

    We’ve waived the Geneva conventions since 1/20/17, remember. POWS don’t get humane treatment anymore.

  258. 258.

    Corner Stone

    @randy khan:

    More seriously, I would guess that the officer carrying the football would have been given a refresher course on refusing unlawful orders somewhere along the way, and an order that violated U.S. nuclear strike doctrine would look pretty suspicious from the start.

    I am obviously not part of launch command. But somehow I do not think they get to ask the POTUS to spell out their decision making strategy to them before they hand over the case.
    It’s either FU or we’re all F’d.

  261. 261.

    Jeffro

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: @Morzer: @Adam L Silverman:

    It was a little jarring seeing these three pieces of advice all next to each other, even though only the first two were for me.

    Go slow…(OR DON’T!)…talk about the weather, and eat bananas. Pretty much the Balloon Juice random advice generator right there!

    Actually, Alain the Site Fixer, as long as you’re working up interesting widgets and weekend countdown clocks and what not, why don’t you put something up that randomly kicks out a combo of a gardening tip or cooking recipe, a bit of political snark, and a pet picture upon request. “Balloon Juice Digest”? “Balloon Juice To Go”? Delivered daily to your inbox!

    Nah…actually coming here is the half the fun. ;)

  262. 262.

    Morzer

    @jl:

    I think the evidence for dirty Russian money pouring into Trump’s business (and continuing to pour into it!) is pretty solid. Virtually all his trusted cronies have connections to that money and a remarkable number of them are linked to shenanigans involving communications of one sort or another with Russia. Trump is clearly enraged and desperate to shut the investigation down, which suggests very strongly that there are all sorts of dangers lurking in it for him. His attempt to extricate Flynn says to me that Flynn is the most obvious danger point, because I don’t believe Trump cares about Flynn outside such concerns. The Russian attempt to interfere in the elections seems increasingly clear (and alarming) but I don’t think that’s going to be what breaks Trump. I don’t think there’s any way to prove collusion to hack the election between him and the Russians beyond the level of a nod and a wink, maybe. I think it all comes back to dirty money, attempts to hide Trump’s real financial status – and that’s what got the obstruction of justice rolling in the first place.

  263. 263.

    danielx

    The president was pleased by the ambiguity of his position on Mr. Mueller, and thinks the possibility of being fired will focus the veteran prosecutor on delivering what the president desires most: a blanket public exoneration.

    Delusion, thy name is Donald.

    If Mueller is fired he becomes a hero, and it seems very unlikely he would miss any meals or end up walking around with holes in his shoes in consequence. At this point being fired by Donald Trump would be a favorable point on anybody’s resume, a point which lord shortfingers seems to have overlooked.

    @randy khan:

    Trump’s lawyer has a reputation as a real bulldog, but I’m beginning to wonder if he’s actually any good, or just really obnoxious and aggressive.

    What other kind of attorney would Trump employ? He appears to want underlings and representatives who are almost as assholish as he is, and no other kind.

  264. 264.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Morzer: The New York Times brings up money laundering.

    A former senior official said Mr. Mueller’s investigation was looking at money laundering by Trump associates. The suspicion is that any cooperation with Russian officials would most likely have been done in exchange for some kind of financial payoff, and that there would have been an effort to hide the payoffs, most likely by routing them through offshore banking centers.

    It has seemed obvious to me for some time that Trump’s real estate deals, like that one in Florida with the Russian oligarch in which sums of money far beyond the value of the property changed hands with nobody really living in the place, are ripe for money laundering. News reports over the past few days say that most Trump properties that have been sold recently have gone to thoroughly masked corporations.

    Mueller has been hiring people expert in fraud and funny money, people who know how to track the money down.

  266. 266.

    Steve in the ATL

    @TenguPhule:

    Bitcoins aren’t money. You can’t pay taxes with it.

    The development office at my high school accepts donations in Bitcoin!

  267. 267.

    efgoldman

    @D58826:

    I watched all of the GOOPers talk about what a wonderful man he is,. and how wonderful the other victims are.

    Even Scott Pelley….
    The first 15 minutes of CBS tonite made me physically queasy. Apparently the RWNJ baseball team is all people somewhere between the pope and actual sainthood. Nobody deserves to get shot, but holy sheeyit. These assholes give hypocrisy a whole new level.
    And these gun humpers are such fucking cowards, besides. What happened to the six year olds and teachers at Newtown who should have rushed the shooter? How big is these congresscritters’ laundry bill today? Do they all keep fresh underwear in their offices?
    If even one of the assholes says one phrase about controlling arms sales I might cut them some slack.
    Might.
    Maybe.
    Some.
    But probably not.

    Fuckem

  268. 268.

    Morzer

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Right – and Trump always refused to release any documents that could reveal the real state (and source) of his finances. If Mueller really starts getting somewhere, I believe we are going to get an unparalleled ride through the life of a 1% fraudster whose rapacious cruelty and corruption will make Bernie Madoff look like a timid amateur.

  269. 269.

    efgoldman

    @randy khan:

    Trump’s lawyer has a reputation as a real bulldog, but I’m beginning to wonder if he’s actually any good

    He’s a civil litigation guy. Defending against a criminal investigation, with a prosecutor who’s not intimidated or slowed by being buried in motions (unlike the contractors that try to sue) and also has unlimited resources is an entirely different kettle of law books.

  270. 270.

    Brachiator

    @Quinerly: Isn’t Downey married to reality show producer Mark Burnett? Not sure if he would want to put his career on hold because if his wife being named ambassador. Spicer is not big enough to merit an appointment. King or Collins would be better choices. Oddly enough, because of BREXIT and the UK coalition government, Ireland becomes more important with respect to American foreign policy.

  272. 272.

    efgoldman

    @randy khan:

    More seriously, I would guess that the officer carrying the football would have been given a refresher course on refusing unlawful orders

    There was a story at the time that Kissinger or Haig or somebody had in effect installed a cut out between Tricksie Dicksie and “the order” going down the line.

  273. 273.

    randy khan

    @Roger Moore:

    @? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:

    Why can’t the President or VP be charged with crimes?

    The standard understanding of the impeachment stuff in the Constitution is that impeachment is the only way of going after the President and VP; they can only be tried in an ordinary court after they’ve been successfully thrown out of office.

    There was some analysis years ago that the President can’t be tried while in office, but I’m not so sure about the Vice President. It’s not definitive, of course, but Spiro Agnew made a plea deal and resigned.

  274. 274.

    Morzer

    @efgoldman:

    What happened to the six year olds and teachers at Newtown who should have rushed the shooter?

    Alive and well and gratefully mining rose pink Himalayan sea salt in an Ivanka Trump facility. Or so Alex Jones and Megan McArdle assure me.

  278. 278.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Morzer: I think that’s about it. And don’t forget Ivanka’s building deals in Azerbaijan and Jared’s 666 building. Plus Manafort and others own big-time real estate in the US and business deals in countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

    @efgoldman and @RogerMoore: This is something I think about a lot. Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science at Stevens Institute of Technology has dug deep into the whole question of who gives the orders for nuclear war. His conclusion, in a three-post series, is that the president alone does the deed. No okay from the Secretary of Defense. Just the president and the football. On that Nixon story, Wellerstein hasn’t been able to find confirmation. (This is from one of those three posts – the other two are linked in the post.) He is one of the most careful people I know, so I think his account is the most reliable.

    There is an anecdote that is often repeated that states that Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger supposedly altered, on some level, the nuclear command authority during Watergate — telling his staff that he had veto power over any nuclear commands by Nixon. It is not something that has been historically substantiated, and, even if true, would technically have been un-Constitutional. It doesn’t mean it isn’t possible — but I find the whole thing, again, fairly dubious, and it certainly was not in line with the official regulations. There are instances (Stanislav Petrov, for example) of officers in nuclear situations not following regulations in an effort to avoid escalation. But they are by definition ad hoc, not to be relied upon.

  279. 279.

    Brachiator

    @danielx:

    .. At this point being fired by Donald Trump would be a favorable point on anybody’s resume, a point which lord shortfingers seems to have overlooked.

    The Village is a strange place. At this point, the Republicans and their media friends are committed to defaming anyone who crosses Trump. Reputations will be shredded even if people behave honorably.

  280. 280.

    randy khan

    @Corner Stone:

    They don’t get to ask POTUS, of course, but if, for instance, he wanted to order a first strike on Beijing when there wasn’t some obvious threat, it certainly would raise a question about whether the order was lawful.

    I’m not an expert on this, but I do seem to recall some analyses about whether the military would carry out even a lawful, justified retaliatory strike (and, in particular, whether individual missile officers would do it) that was, shall we say, inconclusive. Ordering a nuclear strike is kind of like ordering the end of the world; it would take a lot of resolve on the part of the chain of command, which might be difficult to achieve if the Administration were in extremis.

  281. 281.

    Steve in the ATL

    @sukabi:

    if that’s what Drumpf thinks, he’s delusional^10

    I was told there would be no math on this blog

  283. 283.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Cheryl Rofer: If I were the officer in charge of the football group, I would be thinking very hard about my responsibilties and Stanislav Petrov. I have been assured by friends who know the military that all involved will obey orders, but there were a couple of times, like with Petrov, that someone who would have to turn the key thought no, I think we should not destroy the world just now.

  285. 285.

    randy khan

    @efgoldman:

    He’s a civil litigation guy. Defending against a criminal investigation, with a prosecutor who’s not intimidated or slowed by being buried in motions (unlike the contractors that try to sue) and also has unlimited resources is an entirely different kettle of law books.

    His failure to figure that out also is a sign that he’s not that good. Really good people know what they don’t know and aren’t shy about involving experts.

  286. 286.

    Brachiator

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    .It has seemed obvious to me for some time that Trump’s real estate deals, like that one in Florida with the Russian oligarch in which sums of money far beyond the value of the property changed hands with nobody really living in the place, are ripe for money laundering.

    Yep. It’s possible that some of the financial misdeeds were amateurishly simple and hiding in plain sight. Maybe Trump was simply counting on the power of the office of President to give him protection from discovery. It’s like Russian politicians who don’t hide the fabulous properties they own. They use simple fear and intimidation, and basic corruption to keep anyone from even talking about their thievery.

  287. 287.

    Morzer

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    I suspect that Kushner’s switch from being a fairly standard issue Democratic donor to Trumpian Republican began when his inherited empire started creaking at the seams under his brilliant leadership and he couldn’t find clean money to bail him out. I also don’t believe the myth of innocent little liberal Ivanka for one minute. I don’t think it’s credible that she doesn’t have a pretty shrewd idea of just where Daddy’s money comes from. She’s clearly got more than one painted toe in those murky waters in her own business dealings.

  288. 288.

    Morzer

    @randy khan:

    It looks like the experts don’t want anything to do with Trump, which is pretty suggestive in itself. Those people tend to know far more than the public ever sees – and they obviously don’t think Trump is someone to associate with.

  289. 289.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Morzer: I wouldn’t take him as a client. A client who won’t take my advice is something I can do without.

  291. 291.

    JoeSo

    @TenguPhule: Why you sound like a wonderful human being.
    That Jennifer Rubin piece has a hilarious ending. She thinks if Trump is gotten rid of and the Dems take back the Gov, the Republicans will reform into the center-right party of yesteryear. For reasons that escape me, most if not all the Repubs are willing to fight and die at the Battle of Trump Hill, but their corruption existed long before he came around. Whatever comes after their defeat will definitely not be a center-right movement. That card was taken off the table years ago.

  292. 292.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Kay:

    It’s really a wacky way to think- it’s child-like. His administration would be imploding and he’d be insisting “I had nothing to do with it!” He’s the godammned boss. These are HIS people. What was he planning on saying? “I had no idea what was going on in my campaign or my administration”? Then he;s not the boss.

    Ineed, nothing screams alpha male like one’s own staff was committing treason right under one’s nose. Do the elite in this country understand anything about leadership in any real sense they produces such worthless sacks of shit like Trump here?

  293. 293.

    Beautifulplummage

    @raven: I started waking up with calf cramps. I now soak my feet in epsom salts several times a week. The Mg is absorbed through the skin.

  296. 296.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Radiumgirl: Looks like Newt missed his calling as a courtier to some inbreed European noble family like Hapsburgs.

  298. 298.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @JPL:

    Who cares? The republicans don’t care. Trump said that he could shoot someone of fifth ave, and it wouldn’t change things, he appears to be right.

    It’s interesting how Trump’s support polls the same with self identified Republican voters while at the same time the number of them has declined.

  299. 299.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques: Not that interesting. Same thing happened with the Tea Party – people who didn’t want to be associated with “Republicans” left and then advocated the exact same shit.

    All it means is that Trump’s approval is going down, not that he’s changing minds about Republicans or Republican policies. :(

  300. 300.

    Beautifulplummage

    @Corner Stone: Yes! You get soft, lovely feet and fewer cramps. You can also soak a cloth in the salts and apply to other body areas. The lipid nutritionist I see recommended this instead of oral Mg supplements and it works for me. YMMV

  301. 301.

    Chet Murthy

    @raven: I used to get leg (thigh, calf, instep) cramps LIKE CRAZY. Always (it seems) at 3am, lying in bed. Excruciating, esp. b/c I couldn’t exactly get out of bed to walk it out or anything. For going on 20yr now.

    I’ve been taking a potassium pill daily near-religiously for a year at least. No more leg cramps.

  302. 302.

    H.E.Wolf

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques:
    A brief drive-by to thank you for the non-gendered (and highly accurate) epithets in your comment(s) tonight. :-)
    Truly – it’s much appreciated. And your description of Newton Leroy Gingrich is spot-on!

  303. 303.

    Pittsburgh Mike

    @Morzer: I’m going to agree with you. Not only obstruction of justice, but OoJ to hide financial crimes. There’s no way that little Donnie doesn’t realize that he’s been money laundering for the Russian mob for 15 years or more. And that all that has to happen is someone has to turn over a few rocks and the ugliness will be visible — he’s way too stupid to have hidden this well.

    Way back a little after 9/11, we got a great deal at the Trump SoHo, back before I would have cut off my ear rather than given Trump a nickel. When we checked in, the staff there told us that Trump didn’t actually own the hotel, it was really financed completely with Russian money. So, you can see how well kept a secret Russian financing was.

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