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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Hail to the Hairpiece / Friday Evening Open Thread: The ‘Russian Hotel Tape’ Is Real (But Donald Trump Is Fake)

Friday Evening Open Thread: The ‘Russian Hotel Tape’ Is Real (But Donald Trump Is Fake)

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Thanks so much for your contributions, GOP…
***********

Apart from all the [facepalm]s, what’s on the agenda for the evening, or the weekend?

Reader Interactions

314Comments

  11. 11.

    mai naem mobile

    Watching Dolt 45 right now. He’s such a fucking assholic moron. Dumbass doesn’t know you can’t just take away a senators chairmanship because you feel like it. Also,he’s so ugly and his mannerisms are so bigly piggly. I just cannot stand this guy. His voice is also ugly. His asshole mouth really looks like an asshole. Gawd can we just fast forward past this moron.

  14. 14.

    tobie

    @Quinerly: I haven’t heard him today–can only stomach so much–but I think what was so shocking yesterday was not only that he thanked Putin (3x) but did so for “letting them go.” Putin hires and fires for our embassies now.

  15. 15.

    Hunter Gathers

    This made me laugh harder than I have in months:

    2014: Donald Trump places a comically low bid for the team. Everyone laughs and mocks him, and the fan base prays that the Pegulas get the team. They do. But if Trump had made a decent bid and bought the team, I doubt he would’ve run for president. I also contend that nothing would be different for the Bills. Trump 100% would have hired Rex and then fired him. This organization would still be a terrible garbage heap, but by taking the Trump bullet we could have spared the country the same fate. Now Trump is turning the US into the Buffalo Bills of countries: a horribly mismanaged shithole full of rock-dumb racist drunks screaming “We Need To Go Back To The Good Old Days” while fingering the nearest unwiped asshole and vomiting on the family in front of them. Fuck Trump and fuck this stupid team.

  23. 23.

    Quinerly

    @tobie:
    I’m awaiting on the arrival of a houseguest who will be here on an extended stay. Made the mistake of turning on tv just as Trump was speaking. I’m with Cheryl…they need to stop him from speaking. He sounds more stupid by the day. Cracking under pressure?

  25. 25.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Quinerly: I think his words were “will not rule out a military option.” He thinks that being unpredictable is a great strategy, so he wants to keep all options on the table rhetorically. Or he has no idea what to do and calls that unpredictablity.

  28. 28.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Quinerly: I’m feeling like I will not make it through four years of Trump. The emotional jolts from his disregard of other people devastate me. That’s the statement about trans people in the military and yesterday’s about how he didn’t want diplomats in Russia anyway. My job has involved thinking about nuclear war, so I’m somewhat inured to that. The pure cruelty toward others is more than I can take.

  29. 29.

    Another Scott

    Trump is horrible. He won’t get any better. He needs to go.

    In other news (via LOLGOP on Twitter):

    Mike Elk‏ @MikeElk

    EXCLUSIVE: Nissan promoted hundreds of temps to dilute union strength right before the union election

    http://paydayreport.com/nissan-promoted-hundred-of-temps-to-swing-vote-littler-mendelson-did-union-busting-job-uaw-prez-talks-embezzlement-scandal/ …

    1:34 PM – 11 Aug 2017

    We have to fight them every single day if we want to have a decent future.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  30. 30.

    debbie

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    He thinks that being unpredictable is a great strategy, so he wants to keep all options on the table rhetorically.

    Which is what you do when you’re trying to take over another company. I blame every single idiot who has ever stated the country should be run like a business.

  32. 32.

    Yutsano

    @jibeaux: I’m coming to the conclusion it’s not the pee tape. The Russians are his bankers. Putin via Deutsche Bank literally owns him. Even Dolt45 is smart enough to know to never piss off the dealer.

  33. 33.

    tobie

    @jibeaux: Good to see you back. I still remember your comments about Harry Enten talking like someone from the 1940s from way back when. Jonathan Mann’s “Harry Enten is looking for a girlfriend” song has become something of a staple in my house when we’re doing mindless work.

  35. 35.

    zhena gogolia

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    I told my husband about what he said about the diplomats. I said, “How do you think that makes people in the State Department feel . . .” and he said, “all over the world.” He looked so depressed. It is unutterably depressing that this pig gets to make so many good people feel so bad.

  36. 36.

    eclare

    @Cheryl Rofer: He enjoys being cruel, relishes in it. I can’t believe in 71 years on this rock no one has ever, ever called him out on being a bully. I so hope one day Navy Seal Team Six member Kristin Beck finds herself on an elevator with him.

  37. 37.

    germy

    “Thanks so much for your contributions, GOP…”

    Ian Millhiser ✔ @imillhiser

    Imagine thinking it’s okay to give Trump nukes because you wanted to make sure Scalia’s seat was filled by the most arrogant man in America.

  40. 40.

    randy khan

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    @mai naem mobile:

    Dumbass doesn’t know you can’t just take away a senators chairmanship because you feel like it.

    Trump can’t but the Turtle could.

    Even the Turtle needs something that looks like a good reason to his caucus. Messing with committee chair seats for petty reasons is the kind of thing that makes Senators uncooperative.

  42. 42.

    randy khan

    Since it’s an open thread, and we’re on our way into the weekend, I thought I might post about something Barbara Cook’s friends did in her last days:

    Her friends sang her out

    It’s really a lovely story, and so fitting.

  44. 44.

    jl

    @Major Major Major Major: Yeah. Should be a warning if the link is just a video of Trump talking.. What does it even mean?
    I thought there would be some text with informed guess by sane person who might have some understanding of what that nutcase is raving about.

  45. 45.

    Gelfling 545

    I know they say he doesn’t drink but it’s hard for me to believe that anyone could talk like this when sober.

  46. 46.

    Mary G

    I have never said this about any human being before, and I am ashamed for thinking it, but the president needs a good ass-whupping, administered by some women from the military, wrestling, roller derby, whatever. I rarely let myself feel rage, but boy, I do now.

  49. 49.

    aimai

    @Yutsano: Piss off? Really?

    Why can’t it be both, by the way? I am sure that the Russians are Trumps bankers, but I’m sure they also supplied him with girls because why not?

  50. 50.

    debbie

    @germy:

    I think Trump’s bought himself even more trouble. We may not like him, but the majority of GOP Senators sure do. They’re going to rally around McConnell if Trump keeps this up.

  61. 61.

    eclare

    @debbie: Yep, 100 people each thinking himself or herself is a king or queen in The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body. Please proceed, president.

  64. 64.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Quinerly:

    There’s no way he makes it through this term. I just don’t see it.

    I have said publicly, I think it’s far more likely that he’ll leave in a straitjacket or on a gurney than via indictment/impeachment. This job ages and stresses and wears out the youngest and fittest of men. I can’t imagine the havoc it’s wreaking on an out-of-shape 71-year-old.

  67. 67.

    Shana

    @randy khan: Oh how beautiful. Hubby and I saw her cabaret/concert a couple of times when we were newly married and have always treasured the experience of hearing her. Truly one of the greats and thank you for sharing that.

  69. 69.

    JPL

    @randy khan: That was such a lovely story, and thank you for sharing it.

    Serious question.. I haven’t been online for a few hours.. Are we going to invade Venezuela?

  71. 71.

    MomSense

    @Quinerly:

    The pundits said war made him look presidential. It’s all he’s got.

    I hope Mueller’s staff is working around the clock to bring this asshole down before he breaks the world. Maybe we should start ordering pizzas and sending them to Mueller’s office to keep them happy – unless that would be some kind of violation that would cause damage.

  75. 75.

    Baud

    @JPL: My guess is no. The one coherent thing Trump said during the campaign is that Bush blew it in Iraq. I think he is too scared to invade. But no guarantees with him.

  77. 77.

    bemused

    “Leaks where people want to love me”. He has to be the neediest person on the planet. He has no idea how much he reveals about himself every time he opens his mouth. He’s an ego flasher.

  78. 78.

    randy khan

    @MomSense:

    Honestly, I don’t know if that would play out the same way it did for GW Bush, particularly if you’re talking about invading Venezuela, a country that most people think of as insignificant and certainly no threat to the U.S.

  79. 79.

    debbie

    @Baud:

    I respectfully disagree. I think he’s in a locker room sword fight against his predecesors and wants to be the guy who wages the most wars.

  82. 82.

    The Dangerman

    @Baud:

    Our role is distraction.

    I assume you mean from the Russia investigation; I got bad news for Trump, the hammer (and sickle) of the Russia thing will eventually drop on his maladministration, if not him personally. Ain’t enough dog wagging going to prevent it.

  84. 84.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @randy khan:

    Beautiful.

    Listened, as usual, to Fresh Air this afternoon. Today’s program featured long excerpts from a recent (2016?) Terry Gross interview with Barbara Cook, and a much earlier one from, I think, the early 1990s.

    She was a wonderful entertainer, who battled and prevailed over a lot of fleshly temptations (food addiction, alcoholism). I wish her peace.

  88. 88.

    Roger Moore

    @debbie:
    I think the biggest thing is that he’s a bully. Bullies always love to make threats but are much happier letting somebody else carry them out. Well, now he has the whole damn government, including the world’s foremost military, to carry out his threats for him. This is not a healthy thing.

  90. 90.

    Mnemosyne

    @randy khan:

    I didn’t recognize her name, but when they talked about the various performances she did for PBS, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen at least a few of them. Thanks for sharing.

  93. 93.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @debbie: I respectfully disagree. I think he’s in a locker room sword fight against his predecesors and wants to be the guy who wages the most wars.

    Watching a tweety-less tweety show (Katie Tur filling in) I get the impression he’s trying to climb down, but he’s a dim-witted goon engaged in dominance politics. Anything is possible with him. If Mattis and McMaster do manage to scare him off of a new Korean War, he may feel the need to find another target to try to dominate

  95. 95.

    Caphilldcne

    @Cheryl Rofer: I am moving offices and just came across the Roll Call magazine covering the 2008 Obama win. I kept it cause I never got the headline post or times (throwing away everything so that was a big decision). Also made me indescribably sad.

  96. 96.

    debbie

    @Baud:

    Ha! Actually, I showed more than a little disrespect to a number of co-workers this week. It was all well-deserved, but I feel a need to decompress. Don’t worry, I’m sure it won’t last much longer.

  98. 98.

    Kay

    How much money did the Trump Family make off the US Presidency today?

    We need one of those running totals. A display. How humiliating for the Trump hires, that they have to appear at the family golf course with the Trump branding behind them. They’re like the wait staff. Well, the wait staff are more honorable. At least they’re not pretending to do public service.

    Will the next President promote his or her family business using the United States Presidential seal? How do you go up when you’re at rock bottom?

  101. 101.

    germy

    @Kay: CBS News is doing a story on his hotel and rents right now.

    Juliana Goldman is connecting the dots.

  102. 102.

    lamh36

    @germy: WHY DA FUQ was Omarosa even at the Black Journo Meeting anyway. …da bish…NEVER answers questions about her bullshit Trump support, just fake outrage and talking over folks. Whoever invited her, has to answer for it. Heffa, sold her soul for that white man’s silver…and I hope she’s rotting from the inside out…BITCH!

  103. 103.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Yarrow:

    They never let up. And the WV Gov, who would appoint Manchin’s replacement, is now a Republican.

    JUST IN: Joe Manchin is a possible pick to lead the energy department, sources say https://t.co/hbKC2zrByG pic.twitter.com/qtbn1eK9GW— Bloomberg (@business) August 11, 2017

    What, what? I can’t keep up. Why is Joe Manchin being considered to lead Energy? What happened to whatsisname, um, Rick Perry?

  104. 104.

    Baud

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I hate to give him any benefit of that doubt, but since Jong Un is just as crazy as Trump, the critical thing now is protecting Guam and elsewhere. If Mattis and McMaster can do that, then their presence in the administration will be worthwhile.

  107. 107.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @germy:

    “Ask about my story, I’m not going to stand here and defend every single word or decision,” she said after standing up from her chair, according to video of the event.

    Omarosa had previously taken issue with the negative attention around her NABJ appearance, and said that she was on the panel to discuss loved ones she had lost to violence.

    “I am here @NABJ to talk about my father and brother’s murders. Do you have any decency?” she told MSNBC host Joy-Ann Reid on Twitter Friday.

    Omarosa did say that some Trump comments, his saying that police should not “be too nice,” were inappropriate, according to the Washington Post.

    Gordon maintained that it was appropriate to ask questions about her work in the White House, though later said that the event was reaching “the point of diminished returns.”

    Omarosa ended up walking off the stage before the end of the panel, according to Buzzfeed.

    “I’ll see y’all at the White House Christmas party in December,” Gordon reportedly said as she left.

    She’s the one who has no decency. Fuck that piece of shit.

  108. 108.

    Kay

    Has Trump demeaned any federal employees today? On top of all his other faults he’s a lousy boss. Mean spirited. Nasty.

    No wonder there are so many leaks. It must be pure pleasure to release the embarrassing stuff he does every day.

  109. 109.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @germy: That’s one of things I’m afraid of. I haven’t followed the situation there closely, but if the D listers and morons around him who remember Grenada and Panama and think those were great successes, and “hey, it’s down there too!”, I’m afraid it could get very ugly.

    Mattis is said to carry a huge grudge against Iran. And he’s supposed to be the smart one.

  110. 110.

    Mike J

    @SiubhanDuinne: Goodhair to DHS to replace Kelly, Manchin to Energy is the plan. Manchin won’t do it, but people will panic in the meantime.

    I actually called this back when Kelly was named. Seems like it was years ago.

  111. 111.

    JPL

    @debbie: From the link

    He added: “This is our neighbor. You know, we are all over the world and we have troops all over the world in places that are very, very far away. Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering, and they are dying. We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option if necessary.”

    Well I guess it’s possible.

  112. 112.

    Mnemosyne

    @Baud:

    The ironic part is that Trump and Kim are crazy in the exact same way: they’re both pampered princelings who had their positions handed to them on a silver platter because of who their parents were. Neither of them has ever had anyone tell them “no,” and they’ve both always had huge amounts of power over almost everyone around them because of their wealth and family connections.

    This will not end well.

  113. 113.

    Kay

    I guess his plan is to threaten one or another country every day. He already has no credibility. By the middle of next week no one will pay attention to the threats either. “I will use military action!” Yeah, whatever, clown. Go hit a golf ball.

  114. 114.

    Quinerly

    @Yarrow:
    It’s a mystery to me why Manchin would want it. Bloomberg piece up. Yes, I know he’s got a tough reelection fight in 2018. But, really….jumping on a sinking ship and not being able to pick your staff.

  116. 116.

    debbie

    @Kay:

    Apparently pretty well. I heard a report today that members of some medical association sent a group letter requesting that their conference, scheduled at a Trump hotel, be moved because of the damage he was doing to AMA. The association turned down the request. So there’s a nice chunk of change in Trump’s future.

  118. 118.

    trollhattan

    @The Dangerman:
    You see that Hugh Hewitt McMaster interview where he’s basically begging him to “do a Panama” with Venezuela? (among several other bad countries) Fvcking chilling how badly that tub of goo wants us to get our war on.

  119. 119.

    eclare

    @Mnemosyne: And they both seem to have daddy issues. CNN had a visual earlier today of statements by Trump listed next to statements by Kim, and noted how similar the language was.

  120. 120.

    lamh36

    @? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: FUQ her…she can rot in that hell on earth that is the WH…

    As a community, Black folks tend to forgive and give folks another chance at redemption, esp public persons who have to navigate in a world that is not always fair to black and brown folk…but that BISH…if she was on fire in a room of 100 Black folks…I’d bet you 99.99999% of those folk wouldn’t spit on her azz to try to put her out!

  122. 122.

    bemused

    @debbie:

    He expects his staff and everyone else to treat him like his family does. Obsequious and fawning.

    I don’t know if comment in this thread or below but I too am amazed Trump hasn’t gotten punched out at least once in his adult life.

  124. 124.

    Mnemosyne

    @eclare:

    Yep. They both had abusive fathers who told them they were shit, but still better than everyone else. People don’t usually get to that level of toxic narcissism without some really bad parenting.

  125. 125.

    Patricia Kayden

    @lamh36: She’s not a Black journalist so her presence at the NABJ conference is puzzling given that she works for an anti-Black regime.

  126. 126.

    Quinerly

    @Cheryl Rofer:
    Quite frankly, I’m on overload at the end of the evening. Exhausted and drained. Actually thinking of talking to a professional/therapist. First time that I’ve admitted it.

  127. 127.

    Sloane Ranger

    @Major Major Major Major: This. What’s to stop Trump sacking him almost as soon as he’s started the job, leaving him in the worst of all possible worlds?*

    * Apart from Trumps cowardice in actually firing anyone?

  128. 128.

    trollhattan

    @debbie:
    Maduro seems headed for a military coup or civil war. Do not want, as it may not be contained within Venezuela’s borders if it occurs.

  129. 129.

    lamh36

    @Patricia Kayden: She was there as a Trump token…and she KNEW what the subject was and that she’d be asked about the WH policy.

    @Russian_Starr
    At the heart of the issue (and hostility) were questions about Omarosa’s purpose in sharing a panel with victims of police abuse.

    @Russian_Starr
    It is our understanding that Omarosa was there to share the WH POV on police brutality. That, in itself, was flawed idea.

    @dextermullins
    General feeling from #NABJ17 – Omarosa panel was a disaster waiting to happen, should never have been invited. Members feel disrespected

  131. 131.

    gene108

    @mai naem mobile:

    What gets me are restaurants that have these placemats that have all 45 presidents on them.

    Ugh…having his ugly fucking face near my food is disgusting

  132. 132.

    MomSense

    @Quinerly:

    Good for you! I did and I started taking medication for depression. It doesn’t make you immune to the stress but it really does help.

  133. 133.

    TenguPhule

    Has anyone mentioned that Trump is not ruling out military intervention in Venezuela?

    Because of course he wants to fight wars on 12 fronts at once.

  137. 137.

    Kay

    @debbie:

    It’s disgusting how they set up that signage in Trump Family commercial ventures. “The White House” at their gross country clubs. If you were an actual career public servant why would you go along with that? “Sure! I’ll stand in front of this club house and promote your brand!”

    Jesus. Have some small shred of self respect. Draw a line for how far you’re willing to go to prop up this criminal enterprise. Is it worth it? Trading 30 years of work at a government salary for a year with these people? He’s a horrible boss anyway. He treats people terribly. I look at them and I think “really? Is this how you pictured your life ending up? Selling Donald Trump’s country club memberships?”

    They didn’t take those jobs for money. They don’t make that much. Why associate yourself with this? Why volunteer to roll around in shit? They’re not even getting a cut of what the Trumps are making.

  138. 138.

    TenguPhule

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    He thinks that being unpredictable is a great strategy, so he wants to keep all options on the table rhetorically.

    The problem with being unpredictable is that everyone immediately tries to predict the stupidest, most dangerous thing you might do and inevitably tend to get it wrong.

  140. 140.

    Seth Owen

    @trollhattan: All civil wars have the potential to have negative effects on their neighbors. Let’s see if we are willing to take in the inevitable refugees. Riiiight.

    I don’t see how we actually have any military options in Venezuela. None.

  141. 141.

    TenguPhule

    @eclare:

    I can’t believe in 71 years on this rock no one has ever, ever called him out on being a bully.

    I can’t believe he’s survived 71 years while being this much of an asshole.

  142. 142.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mike J:

    I actually called this back when Kelly was named. Seems like it was years ago.

    Know what you mean. It was, what, two weeks ago?

    Trump is doing crazy things to my sense of time, and I don’t even have the pleasure of being high while it happens.

  143. 143.

    lamh36

    ok…open thread…something a bit lighter…that you old BJ folks can tell ur kids ya seen so they’ll consider ya cool…LOL

    Finally, the Jay-Z All Black “Friends” video for “Moonlight” is on YouTube.
    JAY-Z – Moonlight https://youtu.be/FCSh48OlvMo via @YouTube

  144. 144.

    TenguPhule

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    This job ages and stresses and wears out the youngest and fittest of men. I can’t imagine the havoc it’s wreaking on an out-of-shape 71-year-old.

    Of course that would presume he actually tried to do the job.

    Can’t stress out when the fucking lardass doesn’t bother to work at all.

  145. 145.

    hovercraft

    @Mary G:

    I have never said this about any human being before, and I am ashamed for thinking it, but the president needs a good ass-whupping, administered by some women from the military, wrestling, roller derby, whatever. I rarely let myself feel rage, but boy, I do now.

    This is one of the most frightening things about Twittler, he’s changing who we are. He makes me think and feel things I never thought I was capable of. I thought I was a better person than this, but he really makes me wish real harm on him and his supporters. Hatred is corrosive, and as much as I’ve disliked people, I’ve never loathed a human being the way I loath this person.

  149. 149.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    The one coherent thing Trump said during the campaign is that Bush blew it in Iraq. I think he is too scared to invade. But no guarantees with him.

    Trump: “I will succeed where Bush Failed! Biggest Invasions ever!! Loot, Rape and Torture like the world has never seen!”

  150. 150.

    LurkerNoLonger

    @tobie:

    I think what was so shocking yesterday was not only that he thanked Putin (3x) but did so for “letting them go.”

    According to The Possum Queen he was being sarcastic. That wasn’t sarcasm. Me saying, “I’m so glad Donald Trump got elected.” is sarcasm.

  152. 152.

    Mnemosyne

    @Quinerly:

    You need to maintain your health, including your mental health. Believe me, you’re probably one of the few people on here who doesn’t already see a shrink (heck, I have two, since only an MD can prescribe my ADHD medicine ?).

  153. 153.

    TenguPhule

    @Kay:

    How do you go up when you’re at rock bottom?

    Problem is, we’re not there yet.

    Plenty of sewage to sink through yet.

  154. 154.

    danielx

    The jokes, they write themselves.

    @SiubhanDuinne: Also too, a seventeen day golfing vacation does not fit the image of a man striving mightily to navigate the ship of state and wearing his fingers to the bone.

  158. 158.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @TenguPhule:

    Trump: “I will succeed where Bush Failed! Biggest Invasions ever!! Loot, Rape and Torture like the world has never seen!”

    No pillage, no plunder? I am disappoint.

  159. 159.

    MomSense

    @hovercraft:

    Exactly this. I was watching a guardian video interview with a bunch of trumpets and I hated them. I felt such contempt it startled me. I don’t want to turn into a monster.

  162. 162.

    hovercraft

    @germy:
    I’m shocked!
    Why she would have expected anything different is beyond me. She works for and with racists and she thought black journalists would welcome her? She’s as dumb and delusional as her boss.

  164. 164.

    TenguPhule

    @Kay:

    He already has no credibility. By the middle of next week no one will pay attention to the threats either. “I will use military action!” Yeah, whatever, clown. Go hit a golf ball.

    Bullies tend to doubledown once the talking doesn’t get them the desired attention. Just saying.

  167. 167.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @TenguPhule:

    Trump: “I will succeed where Bush Failed! Biggest Invasions ever!! Loot, Rape and Torture like the world has never seen!”

    Looks like Trump is going to try to emulate the Imperial Japanese. He’ll fuck it up worse than they ever did.

  168. 168.

    Steeplejack

    @Seth Owen:

    I don’t see how we actually have any military options in Venezuela.

    I don’t see what in the “Venezuela situation” requires us to have any military options.

  170. 170.

    Mike in NC

    So Trump is saber-rattling both North Korea and Venezula. Maybe he thinks they share a border.

  171. 171.

    Fair Economist

    I saw Barbara Cook about 13 years ago, IIRC, and she was excellent – absolutely amazing when you consider she was over 70 at the time. She had this great mix of singing and talking about theatre – I remember her talking about one song she absolutely loved which got cut from a production because it didn’t advance the plot enough. There was also one funny bit where she mentioned debuting “Glitter and Be Gay” (arguably the last famous opera aria ever written) and the audience started cheering, because it sounded like she was setting up to sing it. But she just laughed and said “Oh, I could NEVER sing that now!”

  174. 174.

    TenguPhule

    @trollhattan:

    Maduro seems headed for a military coup or civil war.

    Its a sign of how bad things are that a military coup there would probably be an improvement to the situation.

  175. 175.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @trollhattan: You see that Hugh Hewitt McMaster interview where he’s basically begging him to “do a Panama” with Venezuela?

    Oy. I didn’t even know that was part of the ‘winger vocabulary

  176. 176.

    TenguPhule

    @Seth Owen:

    I don’t see how we actually have any military options in Venezuela. None.

    That’s because you’re not stupid or crazy.

  177. 177.

    TenguPhule

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    No pillage, no plunder? I am disappoint.

    That would be for the soldiers and you know Trump would never ever give them a cut of the proceeds.

  182. 182.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Joy Reid‏Verified account @ JoyAnnReid 36m36 minutes ag
    Only someone who hasn’t spent ten seconds thinking about military service would make the kinds of statements Trump has about military force.

    Joy Reid‏Verified account @ JoyAnnReid 2h2 hours ago
    Why are people clapping at the Trump press conference? WHO CLAPS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE???

    Who indeed? Seems a question worth reporting on, if you’re a reporter. At a press conference. I guess in the past this has been reported as being Kellyanne (who as a mother of four knows something about toddler management, I guess) et al.

  184. 184.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    Maybe. But suggests courage that Trump has never exhibited.

    The problem with his chickenheart is that he’s afraid of different things at different times depending on his audience.

    Fear of ridicule can prompt actions that you’d expect fear of being decisive would prohibit. That’s why I don’t understand why everyone seems so relieved that he’s such a physical coward. In my opinion, that makes him more dangerous with all the power at his beck and call, not less.

  185. 185.

    Arm The Homeless

    @ArchTeryx:

    Man in the Highchair

    These fucking cretins are going to get people killed, all the while screaming, “triggered!!“

  186. 186.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Mnemosyne: Perhaps this is why your campaign failed. ? Didn’t you ever see The President’s Analyst?

    and the sequel: The President’s Analyst is Missing!

  189. 189.

    hovercraft

    @Kay:

    No wonder there are so many leaks. It must be pure pleasure to release the embarrassing stuff he does every day.

    This is why no matter how much Twitler whines and the Malevolent Keebler Elf digs, they will never plug all the leaks. Unhappy people with little power will take every opportunity to stick it to the person making them miserable. There’s a reason you don’t piss off the lowly waiter till after you’re done eating, just sayin.

  194. 194.

    TenguPhule

    @hovercraft:

    There’s a reason you don’t piss off the lowly waiter till after you’re done eating, just sayin.

    Wise people avoid pissing off their waiters at all.

  195. 195.

    Chris

    Apart from all the [facepalm]s, what’s on the agenda for the evening, or the weekend?

    Flipping through channels, finding an episode of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and tuning in just in time to catch a reference to the Punic Wars.

    Even by Hollywood standards, that show has to have been the gold standard for History/Mythology Kitchen Sink. Punic Wars, Trojan War, Gilgamesh, Julius Caesar, Jesus Christ, all in the same time frame.

  198. 198.

    debbie

    @trollhattan:

    Maduro doesn’t seem to have the support he needs to get the power he wants. I’m not sure he’s noticed how pissed off Venezuelans are.

  199. 199.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    I’ve said nothing is certain with him.

    One thing is certain with Trump, he will not do the right thing.

  200. 200.

    TenguPhule

    @debbie:

    Maduro doesn’t seem to have the support he needs to get the power he wants.

    He’s got a lock on the military and is literally rewriting the country’s constitution. He’ll reign just as long as he can keep most of the military forces on his side and not a second later.

    Markets are already predicting a coup within 2 years.

  204. 204.

    TenguPhule

    @Baud:

    True. But we’re in the minority here.

    I expect Trump to convert many of the commentors to our side in due time.

    Because we have cookies. (Chocolate chip and gingerbread)

  205. 205.

    Chris

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    @Quinerly: I think his words were “will not rule out a military option.” He thinks that being unpredictable is a great strategy, so he wants to keep all options on the table rhetorically. Or he has no idea what to do and calls that unpredictablity.

    Very much the latter, IMHO. The whole “madman theory of power” always seemed to me like something that was dreamed up after the fact to justify people who can’t stop themselves from being regular assholes and want people to think there’s anything more to it than that.

  208. 208.

    Roger Moore

    @Mike J:

    Goodhair to DHS to replace Kelly, Manchin to Energy is the plan.

    How scary is it that Rick Fucking Perry is one of the most competent, least frightening people in Trump’s cabinet?

  209. 209.

    Sloane Ranger

    @TenguPhule: I think someone told him about Nixon’s Madman theory and he thought it sounded cool.

    What he doesn’t realise is that for it to have any chance of working you need,

    – to know the character/personality/motivation of your target

    – understand the room for manoeuvre they have within the social, political, economic situation within their country, and

    – work with someone who can credibly claim to be able to influence the ‘madman if only the other person would just toss him a bone.

    Maybe this worked for Nixon/Kissinger, opinions differ but both of them had extensive foreign policy knowledge and experience. It will not work for Trump who has neither and who lacks a Kissinger substitute.

  215. 215.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    Even the liberal Bill Kristol:

    Bill Kristol‏ @BillKristol

    In dealing with Trump, Congressional Republicans were given the choice between war and dishonor. They chose dishonor and they now have war.

    6:04 PM – 9 Aug 2017

    772 replies 12,332 retweets 29,487 likes

  219. 219.

    TenguPhule

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:

    Bill Kristol‏ @BillKristol

    In dealing with Trump, Congressional Republicans were given the choice between war and dishonor. They chose dishonor and they now have war.

    Bloody Bill Kristol is right for once.

    I can’t believe I just fucking typed that.

    The world really has gone mad.

  220. 220.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @TenguPhule:
    Depends. Bullies mostly operate in safe conditions. Donald Trump is the most chickenshit of all in that regard. Lazy and terrified of conflict even when he holds almost all the cards. Trump will keep hurting you as long as A) it requires no effort and attention beyond ranting, and B) he faces no push back at all. Military action would get him a great deal of push back. He is scared of being yelled at.

  222. 222.

    TenguPhule

    @Major Major Major Major:

    how can you tell you’re a sociopath?

    The ability to not blink an eye while contemplating crushing one’s enemies, driving them before you and savoring the lamentations of their women is usually the first clue.

  225. 225.

    Baud

    Ha! Chris Hayes is actually playing a clip of Clinton/Kaine warning us about Trump. First time I’ve seen a media outlet point out that Hillary was right.

  227. 227.

    hovercraft

    @TenguPhule:
    We’re talking about Twitler here, wise and him don’t exist in the same hemisphere.
    For normal people who feel they have to piss off the waiter, they know to bide their time, or walk out.

  228. 228.

    Mnemosyne

    @different-church-lady:

    That’s always the fatal flaw of conservatives and libertarians — they don’t realize until it’s too late that if everyone acts the same selfish way they do, they get screwed, too.

  232. 232.

    JPL

    We could wake up in the morning and discover that Trump moved troops on the northern border. Canada might not be safe haven.

  235. 235.

    Mnemosyne

    @Baud:

    Chris Hayes is actually playing a clip of Clinton/Kaine warning us about Trump. First time I’ve seen a media outlet point out that Hillary was right.

    I hope other parts of the media pick up on that and remind us all that Hillary told us this shit was going to happen, and we didn’t listen. ?

  243. 243.

    TenguPhule

    @JPL:

    We could wake up in the morning and discover that Trump moved troops on the northern border. Canada might not be safe haven.

    My money would be on the Mounties.

    They always get their man.

  246. 246.

    TenguPhule

    @Mnemosyne:

    I hope other parts of the media pick up on that and remind us all that Hillary told us this shit was going to happen, and we didn’t listen.

    Who is this we, Keemosabie?

  254. 254.

    TenguPhule

    @frosty:

    “I’m not paranoid! They’re all spies!!”

    Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the conspiracies aren’t true.

  256. 256.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Donald seems to think that the US Military is his personal GI Joe set to play with.

  258. 258.

    Chris

    @TenguPhule:

    He’s got a lock on the military and is literally rewriting the country’s constitution. He’ll reign just as long as he can keep most of the military forces on his side and not a second later.

    So what started out as a socialist experiment is turning into the caudillo cliche that used to be the norm in that region.

    Sad. Certainly not unprecedented, but sad.

  259. 259.

    jl

    @debbie:

    ” I’m not sure [Maduo]’s noticed how pissed off Venezuelans are. ”

    The idiot Trump has a plan to solve that problem.

  260. 260.

    jl

    @Villago Delenda Est: Nothing solves civil wars like a foreign invasion! That always wraps things up real quick. Known by the best people to always produce a neat clean solution, in no time.

    Edit: probably is actually true that it produces ‘high energy’ situations. Trump loves ‘high energy’.

  261. 261.

    TenguPhule

    “Nobody loves a peaceful solution more than Trump,” Trump told reporters late in the day, after a meeting at his Bedminster, N.J., golf club with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

    But, Trump said, “we could also have a bad solution.” Asked by a reporter whether he was “thinking of war” with North Korea, Trump said enigmatically, “I think you know the answer to that.”

    Via Wapo.

    This is fucking nuts.

    WE DON”T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU”RE THINKING DRUMPH!!! THAT’S THE WHOLE FUCKING PROBLEM!!!

  262. 262.

    TenguPhule

    @jl:

    Nothing solves civil wars like a foreign invasion!

    This is actually true.

    Everyone tends to rally against the hated invaders.

  266. 266.

    TenguPhule

    @Roger Moore:

    Except for the side that invited them in.

    In this case, nobody is inviting Trump in. Much like charities, he simply goes in uninvited and makes a big mess.

  267. 267.

    TenguPhule

    @hovercraft:

    I was thinking RISK, but that involves strategery, so I guess GI Joe works :(

    RISK involves starting from Australia and working outwards. Only a complete idiot would try to go from both ends of South America and Asia at the same time……..oh.

  269. 269.

    TenguPhule

    “Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the kingdom of idiots would fight a war on twelve fronts.”

    As always, B5 comes to the rescue.

  271. 271.

    jl

    @TenguPhule: There may have been some snark in my comment. Yes, it does tend to unite country against the invaders. But there will be some who will try to use the invaders to gain advantage (and destroy themselves with most of the rest of the population).
    What it is guaranteed to create is create a horrid mess.

    The problem with Trump administration is that opportunities will arise over 4 years for a toxic fool, pathological liar, and well-established moron to create a catastrophe.
    We may be seeing that happen with North Korea.

  272. 272.

    efgoldman

    @Gravenstone:

    Not that Trump is considering anything along those lines.

    Hell, he wouldn’t even formally declare disaster areas, which would have sent aid to fire areas in the West and flood areas in the South. Even if he could find Venezuela on a map (I’m doubtful) why would he send anything at all to a country where they don’t speak English and a lot of the people are brown.

  275. 275.

    Chris

    @jl:

    I speculate that a U.S. invasion would pretty much destroy any credibility the Venezuelan opposition might have, as they’d be rejected as stooges of an occupying power for at least a generation.

  276. 276.

    jl

    @efgoldman: Someone told him Venezuela has oil (stuff we can swipe). So, whatever the hell it is or where, the idea will eat at him now. We invade to ‘help’ them, we get the oil. Navy needs to put in a big order for U-Haul boxes to pack it up and cart it off.

  278. 278.

    Peale

    @jl: yep. I’ve also felt gored that when it comes time to renegotiate NAFTA on terms completely favorable to us, and find funding for the wall, Trump will float grabbing oil rigs in the gulf.

  280. 280.

    Peale

    @Steeplejack: oh. If it wouldn’t make things worse for 10s of millions of people, and kill tens of thousands, I’d love to do it, just to watch Hillary Haters contort themselves to death calling us hypocrites, screaming about her warmongering humanitarian interventionist impulses, while they strain hard enough to blame the deep state that they end up on permanent trusses. I’m sure they’ll roll out the Guatemalan Coup and Libya before God strikes them dead.

  281. 281.

    rikyrah

    Mueller’s Targets Face Financial Strain

    Paul Manafort owns many homes. Mike Flynn is a right wing superstar. But the Russia probe is gobbling up their cash at an alarming rate.
    08.11.17 6:40 PM ET

    Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort parted ways with WilmerHale, the law firm defending him, earlier this week. That was largely because Bob Mueller’s 16-lawyer Russia probe—which is targeting him—has shifted its focus and is drilling down on tax issues, which aren’t WilmerHale’s specialty. But the parting of ways with WilmerHale was also in part because Manafort’s finances are increasingly strained, according to sources familiar with the situation.

    “Paul Manafort’s resolve is limitless, but his resources are not,” said a person close to Manafort.

  282. 282.

    geg6

    @gene108:

    I would tell those mother fuckers to take those placemats and stick them up their asses. And then tell them I wouldn’t eat there on a million dollar bet unless they got rid of the fucking placemats forever. Did a similar thing at my tire store over the incessant FOX News on the tvs there. FOX News is no longer on a continuous loop there. Other people have thanked me for it.

  284. 284.

    jl

    @mai naem mobile:

    ” bigly piggly ”

    Thanks. I’ll use that one. I’ll refer to Trump as ‘bigly pigly’ with my Trumpster kin and see how long it takes them to figure it out.

    Edit: Could we make ‘bigly pigly’ official Balloon-Juice usage for Trump? That would be cool. Every front poster has to use that for his name in the title. BJ blog has a house style manual, right?

  286. 286.

    Ruckus

    @mai naem mobile:
    If his mouth looks like an asshole, what does that say about that dead ferret he wears on his head?

    Also. Annie, I wish you’d stop putting his picture on the front page. At least make it below the fold so that I don’t have to look at it. He’s a sight for no eyes and mine still work. Much rather not burn out my retinas any earlier than old age is already doing. Besides I don’t need any reminders that he’s still in office, I haven’t heard a week long party going on with wild sex in the streets, which I’m sure will happen the day he’s gone.

  294. 294.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Usually sociopaths know, and don’t mind. They consider the rest of us deluded. It can get pretty cartoon villain with the ‘people who love are easily controlled’ stuff. There’s a big difference between being incapable of empathy, and merely not using it.

    As for Venezuela, Trump just sees another opportunity to talk about how tough he is.

  295. 295.

    rikyrah

    Kyle Griffin‏Verified account @kylegriffin1

    Mueller’s probe is moving with unusual speed and assertiveness, per half a dozen legal experts following the case.

  296. 296.

    Groucho48

    @Quinerly:

    The thinking seems to be…Offer Manchin whatever he wants…DoE, then a lifetime cushy job in the wingnut welfare circuit or whatever and replace him with a Republican Senator who will vote to destroy Obamacare. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were making the same kind of offer to two or three other Dem Senators.

  297. 297.

    efgoldman

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Guam is a state of mind.

    25-ish years ago, a then-governor of Guam lived on our street for a couple of years while he was taking courses at the Kennedy School. His daughter and ours were the same age, and became friends and schoolmates.

  298. 298.

    Another Scott

    @JPL: Remember what he said about Iraq?

    NYMag:

    While addressing the CIA on Saturday, President Donald Trump took a break from lambasting the media to remind everyone that he thinks the U.S. should have stolen Iraq’s oil. He also suggested that the U.S. might get another chance to violate international law.

    “Now I said it for economic reasons,” Trump said while introducing Representative Mike Pompeo, his pick to lead the agency. “But if you think about it, Mike, if we kept the oil, you probably wouldn’t have ISIS because that’s where they made their money in the first place, so we should have kept the oil. But, okay, maybe we’ll have another chance.”

    Venezuela has 302B barrels of oil in proven reserves. Iraq has 149B.

    Trump thinks that big powers can do whatever they want, and he thinks by yelling loudly enough that the USA will continue to be the biggest. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he does something militarily in Venezuela with hopes of him and Rexxon getting to “keep the oil”.

    :-(

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  299. 299.

    Matt McIrvin

    @jl: Usually, what happens is that the foreign invaders are allied with some side or other in the civil war, so it’s more like an escalation than a solution.

  300. 300.

    Matt McIrvin

    @gene108: I just saw those placemats for the first time, at a Chinese restaurant in Portland, Maine… but they were old placemats and only went up to Obama.

  301. 301.

    Quinerly

    @Groucho48:
    I just don’t see what it gets Manchin. He’s a conservative Democrat but has been loyal to the party. And, yes, he probably will lose his seat in 2018 but that’s next year. Going to work for Trump gets him nothing. Maybe Cole or someone else from West Virginia will weigh in.

  303. 303.

    zhena gogolia

    @Ruckus:

    I hate and detest fireworks, but on that day I’m going to set up a regular (whatever that family is) show in my front yard.

    Grucci

  306. 306.

    germy

    @fuckwit:

    shrub wanted to buy the Texas rangers and then become baseball commissioner. Imagine that alternate reality

    Reagan was originally cast for the lead in Casablanca. If he’d appeared in the film and his hollywood career was less shitty, maybe he would have been too distracted to jump into politics?

  311. 311.

    satby

    @Baud: @TenguPhule:

    how can you tell you’re a sociopath?

    The ability to not blink an eye while contemplating crushing one’s enemies, driving them before you and savoring the lamentations of their women is usually the first clue.

    oh hell, you guys have found me out.
    Come sit by me. I have ice cream to go with the cookies.

  313. 313.

    Gretchen

    @Quinerly: Go for the shrink. Actually, you probably want to start with a therapist unless you think you need a prescription. Psychiatrists are more oriented that way, while therapists – social workers, psychologists, etc are more oriented to listen to you for an hour. I hear they’re pretty booked up these days since everyone is experiencing the stress. I think Mnemosyne is correct that a lot of people here have been and found it helpful. Including me.

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