Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

The choice is between normal and crazy.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Republicans can’t even be trusted with their own money.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Consistently wrong since 2002

I was promised a recession.

There’s always a light at the end of the frog.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

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

Cole, when it comes to calico cats, restraint is overrated.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

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

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

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / It Might Be Breaking News: Bannon On His Way Out?

It Might Be Breaking News: Bannon On His Way Out?

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The New York Times may have breaking news. Or they may not… Basically we’ve achieved Schroedinger’s Bannon.

The NY Times reporting is unclear on exactly what will happen and when.

President Trump has told senior aides that he has decided to remove Stephen K. Bannon, the embattled White House chief strategist who helped Mr. Trump win the 2016 election, according to two administration officials briefed on the discussion.

The president and senior White House officials were debating when and how to dismiss Mr. Bannon. The two administration officials cautioned that Mr. Trump is known to be averse to confrontation within his inner circle, and could decide to keep on Mr. Bannon for some time.

As of Friday morning, the two men were still discussing Mr. Bannon’s future, the officials said. A person close to Mr. Bannon insisted the parting of ways was his idea, and that he had submitted his resignation to the president on Aug. 7, to be announced at the start of this week, but it was delayed in the wake of the racial unrest in Charlottesville, Va.

Expect the Mandrill Mentality, the Rage Furby, Lt. JG Clearance Suspended Posobiec, the Breitbrats, and a variety of neo-NAZIs, white nationalists, white supremacists, and the Mercers to proceed directly to frothing at the mouth. It is also important to realize that Bannon wasn’t the actual driver of the problems within the administration, he was merely one of the enablers of it. It is unclear what happens to the allies he helped to install on the White House staff, so those folks may be hanging around for a little while or not.

Updated at 1:30 PM EDT

Reader Interactions

325Comments

  4. 4.

    The Moar You Know

    I have serious doubts. It would be nice if I were wrong, for once.

    But hey, the Trump team is finally doing something right: you do this on a Friday. It’s tradition!

  8. 8.

    Quinerly

    MSNBC “Bannon out after chaotic White House tenure.” Supposedly he gave his resignation 8/7. Stayed on a few days because of Charlottesville.

  9. 9.

    cervantes

    Note however, that Bannon wants to get out of Afghanistan, whereas Mattis and the NSC want to escalate. That decision is being made today, purportedly, at a Camp David retreat. So in that respect, this does not bode well.

  11. 11.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Why are we even in Afghanistan at this point? Did no one learn anything from Vietnam? Admittedly, we no longer have Vietnam vets in the active military, but still…

  12. 12.

    Cermet

    One fact is that Bannon was a cool head on the Korea issue and opposed to any military action at all. He felt diplomacy was the correct approach – that for me, was a critical issue for us and causes me to worry about his removal. A war killing tens to hundreds of thousands scares me more than his sick ideology … . Maybe next year and it would only have been good news.

  13. 13.

    Ridnik Chrome

    So the Orange Clown administration is having its Night of the Long Knives. Good. Hope Sessions is next.

  17. 17.

    Petorado

    The American Prospect interview looked like Bannon was pulling a Mooch in order to give Trump a public reason to fire him. The Trump White House must be seriously off the rails if someone who wants to destroy the government doesn’t even want to be there. Time for Bannon to go on the Pro Cirrhosis Tour.

  26. 26.

    ARoomWithAMoose

    “… he had submitted his resignation to the president on Aug. 7…” Pretty sure all the senior political appointees in the White House all presubmit a letter of resignation when they accept the job.

    That tells me the Orange One was finally convinced to axe him a week ago… Which explains that weirdo rambling call with the American Prospect…

  27. 27.

    germy

    Trump fired him because Bannon was taking credit for Trump's election. That he was fascist scum matters not to the Trumpfürher— Pat Bagley (@Patbagley) August 18, 2017

  28. 28.

    Gravenstone

    Yeah, this is going to go ugly – in spades. Bannon is backed by big money (Mercers) and low people in lower places (Nazis, et al).

  29. 29.

    MattF

    One characteristic of cults is the shuffle of people in the inner circle. The Leader’s will is supreme, but shifting, and a source of deep fascination among the initiates.

  31. 31.

    ET

    I am really, really hoping its true. Gorka and Miller are still there, but having Bannon gone is still good.

    This is the Mitt-ster weighing in:

    I will dispense for now from discussion of the moral character of the president’s Charlottesville statements. Whether he intended to or not, what he communicated caused racists to rejoice, minorities to weep, and the vast heart of America to mourn. His apologists strain to explain that he didn’t mean what we heard. But what we heard is now the reality, and unless it is addressed by the president as such, with unprecedented candor and strength, there may commence an unraveling of our national fabric.

    The leaders of our branches of military service have spoken immediately and forcefully, repudiating the implications of the president’s words. Why? In part because the morale and commitment of our forces–made up and sustained by men and women of all races–could be in the balance. Our allies around the world are stunned and our enemies celebrate; America’s ability to help secure a peaceful and prosperous world is diminished. And who would want to come to the aid of a country they perceive as racist if ever the need were to arise, as it did after 9/11?

    MORE

    Not that Trump care about him and it is the Mitt-ster but still more people speaking (even if softly) is better than silence.

  32. 32.

    Ridnik Chrome

    @Adam L Silverman:

    The problem with self proclaimed strategic geniuses is that they rarely are.

    They’re like Joe Brody in “The Big Sleep”. Half-smart guys. Too full of themselves to see the holes in their plans.

  34. 34.

    JPL

    This was on Politico

    GEORGE SIFAKIS, director of the Office of Public Liaison, is leaving the White House, according to multiple administration sources. A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Sources familiar with situation said White House started looking for candidates to replace him in early August. Sifakis is a close ally and personal friend of former chief of staff Reince Priebus.

  35. 35.

    Mike in DC

    Were Gorka and Michael Anton brought in by Bannon? I think Stephen Miller probably stays a while, unfortunately.

  36. 36.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cervantes: @schrodingers_cat: Mattis and McMaster don’t want to escalate. I’m going to explain this again so you don’t have to go looking for my front page post on this. What they want to do is have an additional 5,000 to 5,500 personnel sent to augment NATO Training Mission Afghanistan (NTM-A) in order to be able to push Military Training Teams (MiTTs) and Afghan National Police Training Teams (NiPITTs) to the brigades (Afghan Army) and brigade equivalents (Afghan National Police) in order to increase those elements and echelons effectiveness and capabilities. Right now we don’t have enough personnel to do this. Essentially this is a modified for Afghanistan version of the policy and strategy put into place by President Obama for getting the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi National Police squared away for the fight against ISIS, which has yielded great results over the past two years.

    It is unclear, however, whether this will work in Afghanistan. It is not Iraq. The problems are different. The socio-cultural and socio-political dynamics are very different. But we need to be clear what we’re talking about. Mattis and McMaster are not talking about dumping a corps, 2 divisions, four brigade combat teams, and a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) on Afghanistan. They are talking about 5,500 more trainers to work by, with, and through the Afghan National Security Forces.

  37. 37.

    Ridnik Chrome

    @Petorado:

    Time for Bannon to go on the Pro Cirrhosis Tour.

    Too bad Chris Hitchens isn’t around anymore. Him and Bannon could be tour-mates.

  38. 38.

    trollhattan

    BBC saying Bannon-be-gone.

    US President Donald Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon has left his post.

    “He’s gone,” a source close to the White House aide confirmed to the BBC.

    His exit follows a review of his position by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Mr Bannon, a right-wing nationalist and former head of Breitbart.com, was seen as having shaped Mr Trump’s election campaign. But he had competed for influence in the West Wing with rival advisers and the Trump family, according to US media.

  40. 40.

    C. Isaac

    @ET:

    When Mitt effing Romney is coming from a more morally righteous position than POTUS…

    Jesus Christ, when did it come to this?

  44. 44.

    Aleta

    Ivanka’s been tarnished; soon comes an insider’s story telling how she and J blew their magic dust into DJ’s ear. Meanwhile Bannon remains “a good friend” and (when he finally does go) just happens to stumble into a better job.

  47. 47.

    Quinerly

    Boy, it’s been a wild ride these last few weeks since Corner Stone abandoned us. Especially on Fridays.?

  49. 49.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mike in DC: Gorka and one of his other former Breitbrats. It is unclear who hired Anton – Flynn or Bannon or Flynn at Bannon’s request. Miller is considered a Bannon protege, but he has, apparently, ingratiated himself with Jared and Ivanka to protect himself.

  50. 50.

    Adam L Silverman

    From Gabriel Sherman:

  51. 51.

    nonynony

    @Petorado:

    The American Prospect interview looked like Bannon was pulling a Mooch in order to give Trump a public reason to fire him. The Trump White House must be seriously off the rails if someone who wants to destroy the government doesn’t even want to be there.

    He didn’t need to have Trump fire him – he could have resigned at any time with the excuse that he needed to get back to focusing on growing his “media empire”.

    The Prospect interview has a number of different possible explanations. He could have been trying to burnish his cred as a voice in sanity in the Trump administration before getting thrown out (I’ve seen a lot of people who should know better talking up some of the ideas in that interview), he could be in his self-perceived role as a bringer of chaos – taking one more shot at keeping Team Trump maximally destabilized as he leaves.

    Or he could have just been drunk off his ass. I just don’t buy the “getting Trump to fire him” angle – it doesn’t make any real sense.

  53. 53.

    vhh

    @Betty Cracker: Under the bus with him. Just as the ghostwriter of the Art of the Deal has said—Trump’s inner circle is ALWAYS in turmoil, with hirings and firings on time scales of a few months.

  54. 54.

    Rob

    Good lord I find this out just when I was on a roll with work today. At least this is good news, unlike yesterday afternoon’s Barcelona events.

  58. 58.

    MJS

    @C. Isaac: When Trump doesn’t apologize (or, in unlikely event that he does, turns around the next day and disavows his apology), what is Mitt prepared to do? Follow this up with a demand for Republican Reps and Senators to begin the process of Trump’s removal from office? Begin to similarly excoriate Republican Reps and Senators who won’t do so? Hardly. This is just so much grandstanding. Although I can’t open the link, I doubt that Mitt also acknowledged his complicity in this shit-show by buddying up to Trump in 2012.

  60. 60.

    Ella in New Mexico

    I’m not believing the narrative that Trump’s angry at Bannon for hogging the spotlight and wants him out. I’m not believing the narrative that Bannon basically tried to threaten the WH with what he’s willing to do if he is pushed out. I’m not believing he’s really “out” and won’t be a continuing unofficial advisor and mouthpiece for Trump. Not believing anything in the media today until it’s been beaten to death by triplicate verification.

    This is a ruthless and relentless regime that took power in the nation’s highest office. Does anyone think they go down voluntarily?

    Nothing is as it seems, I’m very sure.

  62. 62.

    Elizabelle

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    Jesus. That’s meth-strength projection there. “Democrat White House.” Unless they use “Democrat” as their generic “enemies” tag.

    Frightening people.

  64. 64.

    Quinerly

    @SatanicPanic:
    Poof and he was gone. Some think he went on a trip with his son but it has been quite awhile…basically all summer. Maybe he’s cheating on us with another blog….it would be irresponsible not to speculate.?

  72. 72.

    hovercraft

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Why are we even in Afghanistan at this point? Did no one learn anything from Vietnam?

    Vietnam? No need to look that far, all we have to do is look at what Alexander The Great, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, went through in Afghanistan. No outside force can “win” there, it was always a fools errand.

  73. 73.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I’ll believe in a civil war among the racist right when I see it, but….

    Ann Coulter‏Verified account AnnCoulter
    If @ realDonaldTrump didn’t like the media giving Steve Bannon all credit, instead of firing him, he should’ve hired 10 more like him.

    My own guess, Bannon et al will devote themselves to trying to turn trump against people like Cohn and Dina Powell (the globalist Goldman Sachs Democrats) which might well happen, the Generals, which could happen, and JaVanka, which won’t happen.

    (and the response to this that led me to Coulterland:

    pourmecoffee‏Verified account @ pourmecoffee
    Would you rather fight one horse-sized Steve Bannon or a hundred duck-sized Stephen Millers?

    thank you, Coffee-person for getting out of the boat)

  75. 75.

    JMG

    A comment from a poster using a nom de plume on another sports-related board I frequent. “Nothing is a better indication of how this White House functions than Trump spending two weeks trying to figure out how to get rid of a guy who already quit.”

  77. 77.

    Calouste

    @Adam L Silverman: Falange did a pretty good job screwing up the UK with Brexit. Of course, then he ran away from it with a speed that gave him a serious claim as the successor of Usain Bolt.

  79. 79.

    hueyplong

    Breitbart vs. Trump in a war of extermination?

    Looks like I’ll be calling my doctor in about 4 hours.

  80. 80.

    Seth Owen

    @ET: This is why I think Romney would have been an ‘acceptable’ president if he’d won.

    Oh, we would have hated his policies, but he would have easily rose to his responsibilities when faced with national tragedies and values, just like Reagan did. This is what makes Trump so wholly unfit to be president. He just doesn’t get the job at all.

  82. 82.

    hilts

    @Bruuuuce:

    One Nazi out…

    And Donald Trump left to go. Hopefully, Tony Schwartz is correct and Trump will quit because he won’t be able to withstand the pressure of this job.

  83. 83.

    bluehill

    Bannon has some views about income inequality and foreign policy that I’m sympathetic to. Too bad he’s a nazi.

    Bannon, who talks to people you wouldn’t expect him to talk to all the time, isn’t on some quixotic mission to make new friends. He’s playing for — or at least fantasizing about — a major realignment of American politics. He’s been saying the same thing for years to anyone who will listen: that trade and manufacturing are the core issues for working Americans, who also want their sons and daughters back from foreign wars; and that a president who can deliver that will “get 60% of the white vote, and 40% of the black and Hispanic vote and we’ll govern for 50 years,” as he told Michael Wolff in the heady days of mid-November.

  85. 85.

    SatanicPanic

    I gotta admit, sometimes I get complacent because things are so awful, sometimes I get complacent because these people are such idiots. Not sure which produces a harder impulse to fight.

  86. 86.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Cheryl Rofer: One node in the many linking the President, the various neo-nationalist/neo-fascist parties and movements in Europe, and Putin.

  87. 87.

    Calouste

    @JMG: And of course not realizing that firing Bannon in the aftermath of Charlottesville would have been received as a positive.

  88. 88.

    cdmarine

    This would be a popcorn moment if I weren’t so busy preparing for the coming hunger games.

  89. 89.

    Major Major Major Major

    @bluehill:

    Bannon has some views about income inequality and foreign policy that I’m sympathetic to.

    Actual white populism like this (and what trump falsely campaigned on) is very threatening to democratic electoral futures, so I’m glad that they’re full-blown white supremacists and unable to make common cause with the dirtbag left, which is otherwise a pretty natural coalition.

  90. 90.

    The Moar You Know

    #WAR

    — Joel B. Pollak (@joelpollak) August 18, 2017

    @Cheryl Rofer: More like “two white guys in fat suits playing at Sumo wrestling”, but hey, drama it up, guys.

    Or he could have just been drunk off his ass.

    @nonynony: The obvious explanation is usually the correct one.

  91. 91.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I’ve had MSNBC on for fifteen minutes and I haven’t heard one person rapturize about Gen St George Kelly having slain a dragon with a toothpick and dental floss.

    Whither Chuck Todd? Whither Jon Meecham? Tweety? You out there? “This is the general showing the internet guy who’s boss! Don’t mess with the generals! HA!”

  94. 94.

    MJS

    @bluehill: And you take him at his word? Isn’t this the same guy who wants to dismantle the “administrative state” or some such nonsense? Who, exactly, is going to deliver income equality if not the government?

  95. 95.

    Actually, I'm relieved that the "titans of industry" were resigning en masse

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Thank you for the clarification. IYO, are there 5500 suitable trainers ready to deploy? What are the qualifications for a “trainer”?
    I wish we could make this work, with all the blood and treasure for so many years just to have the Taliban step right in to power as if the last 15 years didn’t happen. Still….if the structural makeup of Afghanistan is such that nothing of real relevance can be accomplished and sustained, is there a time to cry UNCLE?

  97. 97.

    PeakVT

    I’m so glad that Trumpolini is turning on everyone close to him. It’s what they all deserve.

  98. 98.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @sukabi:

    Bannon going ugly? He was born ugly, that’s the only way he can go.

    The only place left for Bannon now is a corpse or a Fallout style ghoul.

  99. 99.

    Amir Khalid

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Ann Coulter‏Verified account AnnCoulter
    If @ realDonaldTrump didn’t like the media giving Steve Bannon all credit, instead of firing him, he should’ve hired 10 more like him.

    I couldn’t begin to imagine the level of White House chaos that 11 Steve Bannons could bring about.

  101. 101.

    Elie

    This leaves the corporatists and the generals “in charge” — (if anyone is). I am not comfortable to say the least, even though I despised Bannon’s alt right influence. I am more concerned that the generals have been accepted too readily by the media and others as “saviors” and a “controlling force” on the administration’s mayhem. I want generals far from direct power. I also don’t want them teamed up with the corporatists. Bannon was not a corporatist.

  104. 104.

    MJS

    @Amir Khalid: Is it just me, or does Coulter’s tweet make no sense at all? I know it’s Coulter, but if the issue is someone other than Trump getting all the credit, wouldn’t 11 people getting all the credit, even if they had to divide it among themselves, be worse for Trump?

  105. 105.

    Adam L Silverman

    @schrodingers_cat: Stabilization. That’s what they’re trying for. No more, no less. Enough stability that Afghanistan doesn’t disintegrate if NATO pulls out. Enough stability so that it isn’t over run by the Taliban or Pakistan. Enough stability that it doesn’t become the birthplace of another al Qaeda. As far as I can tell that’s what the objective is.

  110. 110.

    Mike in NC

    The new book sealed Bannon’s fate. Everybody knew that he was Trump’s Rasputin, and that just ate away at the short-fingered vulgarian’s ego. Whatever. A good Friday news dump and I’m declaring that Happy Hour has been moved up to 2 PM EST.

  111. 111.

    Betty Cracker

    @schrodingers_cat: IMO, after the SEALs waxed bin Laden, PBO should have declared victory and left Afghanistan. Any locals who helped us should have been invited to immigrate to the U.S., and all spending on Afghanistan from that moment forward should have been for non-lethal aid.

  113. 113.

    Timurid

    I still think this is bad news:

    -MSM/Village get a gold-plated Pivot.
    -Trump gets to play victim/hero (especially if Bannon/Breitbart/alt-righters stab him in the back).
    -Trump consolidates power in West Wing

    Bannon was a ball and chain for this adminstration. The best place for him (for us) was right where he was. Canning him is a smart move by Trump. We don’t want Trump to make good (tactical, not moral) choices. We want him to fail. We want him to burn out quickly, to the point where even the GOP has to admit defeat. What’s happening today just gives the GOP and the media their hearts’ desire… to kick that can as hard and far down the road as possible. But delaying a reckoning for Trump is just going to make the final crash more spectacular, costly and tragic.

  115. 115.

    FlipYrWhig

    @bluehill: How the fuck does he expect to get 40% of the black and Hispanic vote while running media outlets and politicians who constantly railing about welfare, lawlessness, and militancy?

  118. 118.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Betty Cracker: There is an old Hindi movie from the 1950s about an immigrant from Kabul in Calcutta, whose home has been ravaged by war, who yearns to go home, based on a story written by Tagore in the late 19th century. This was when Britain and Russia were playing their so called Great Game. How little a passage of over a 100 years has changed the situation on the ground for the poor Afghans.

  119. 119.

    SatanicPanic

    @Timurid:

    -Trump consolidates power in West Wing

    I dunno how this even works. in one sense he always had the most power. in another he’s a moron. I’m not trying to start a fight here, but I feel like this sort of statement is a category error.

  121. 121.

    nonynony

    @Major Major Major Major:

    so I’m glad that they’re full-blown white supremacists and unable to make common cause with the dirtbag left, which is otherwise a pretty natural coalition.

    There’s a reason that the Nazis used the word social ism in their name. I think there are plenty of guys on the dirtbag left who would be ready to make common cause with white supremacists if white supremacy in this country weren’t tied to conservative politics in this country for the last century or so.

  126. 126.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Actually, I’m relieved that the "titans of industry" were resigning en masse: My understanding from the Special Operations Command Commanding General’s testimony to Congress is that we don’t have them in Special Forces. This is the type of job that is traditionally for the Green Berets, but over the past 16 years or so the other Special Forces elements (SEALs, Rangers, Air Commandos, etc) have picked up capability for doing this because they’ve had to – the Green Berets weren’t always available for the mission. That said, we’re pretty much, based on the testimony I heard, out of operational slack with Special Forces right now. This means we go with Conventional forces. And in this case it will likely be Conventional Army. We have enough bodies. Some have experience doing this type of work from prior deployments, some won’t. The Conventional Army thinks this is such an important capability that it has decided to formalize a training program for military trainers as part of the Armor School at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Benning. That is just being stood up, so these folks would likely get whatever training their command puts together for them to get them out the door. I’ve done some of that training. Specifically I designed the culture for theater strategic operations for Army Central’s Military Engagement Teams (METS) certification course and oversaw them getting it. I adapted it for the 4th BCT/101 ABN DIV for their last rotation to Afghanistan. When I demobilized from my term appointment at USAWC that went away. So I really don’t know what may or may not be available. But there will be enough Conventional Army personnel to undertake the mission.

  127. 127.

    JPL

    @daveweigel has this tweet up

    Marc Short left the Koch donor network, Freedom Partners, to become WH leg affairs director.

    What he didn’t mention is that Short is a Pence supporter, also. Pence seems to be taking over more of the responsibilities of the president. Pence has been making trade deals while in South America and gave public comments on the bombing in Barcelona. We know Trump will only be at Camp David for a short time, and it will be interesting to see how long Pence stays there.

  128. 128.

    Timurid

    I wonder if Trump’s show of support for white extremists this week was meant at least in part to shield him from the backlash of the Bannon firing.

  129. 129.

    Elie

    Let me be clear: nothing is ultimately going to make this administration “successful”. It and to some extent we — are headed for a crackup — and I see the momentum for that increasing. We have no idea how and when. This guy is so destructive, that it will be an important goal to keep him from destroying any more of our government and the presidency than he already has. His henchmen are doing their level best to destroy and/or cripple our regulations and the function of our major agencies. They are fucking thieves, and are loading their pockets with our riches as well. Nope, the worst is still ahead, but the circle is closing in….

  130. 130.

    randy khan

    @Ridnik Chrome:

    IIRC, the President can name anyone in the Justice Department who’s in a job that requires Senate confirmation to be acting AG, so it wouldn’t have to be Rosenstein.

  131. 131.

    Gravenstone

    @Timurid: Dude, you seem to think that EVERY FUCKING THING is “bad news”. Take the small positives where we can. Internecine warfare within the White House is now fully blown.

  133. 133.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Ridnik Chrome: He would be. And Senator Grassley has made it clear he won’t schedule a hearing for a new AG nominee. He has stated that his committee’s calendar is full.

  134. 134.

    MJS

    @Timurid: I disagree. Trump stupidly confirmed his agreement with white nationalists,Nazis, etc on Tuesday. Bannon leaving can’t unring that bell. Only a full throated apology from Trump can change that, which ain’t happening. Trump managed to smear Bannon shit all over himself before firing him. Classic Trump.

  135. 135.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Gravenstone: Bannon introduced him to the two members of Congress (Bachman and some other nut) that got him his start. Then introduced him to Sessions where he moved to. He and Bannon developed and implemented Sessions’ strategy for stopping the Senate originated and passed immigration reform bill in the House.

  136. 136.

    Amir Khalid

    @MJS:
    I think Coulter reckons that Bannon gets all the credit because he gits’er done, and so Trump should be seeking out people who can git’er done. Which is a strange premise, because all we’ve ever seen Bannon do in the White House is sow chaos. I think if Trump’s problem is that he doesn’t want his staff getting the credit for doing things, the logical next step is to hire only incompetents who can’t get anything done.

  138. 138.

    Major Major Major Major

    @nonynony: And there are plenty of white supremacists who would be happy to ally with them if redistributive policies hadn’t been so closely linked to minorities in this country. Context and identity are more important than actual policy, in this case. Otherwise they’d get together and usher in a Herrenvolk utopia (for white men).

  139. 139.

    aimai

    @nonynony: I think Bannon assumed that because Trump hates to feel pushed around that he, Bannon, was safest at the moment that the most people were clamoring for his head. Plus I think he was bored and considers himself an intellectual–such a person has literally no one in the white house to talk to. He called Bob K because there is no point bragging you are the smartest person around to an empty room, or (unless you are trump) to a room full of sycophants. He needed outside contact and hoped to get that from Bob. Also he was probably bored and high.

    I think Trump fired him because 1) he couldn’t stand the notion of Bannon taking credit for running the country and 2) he made a convenient scapegoat to throw to the press/republicans. But I don’t think Trump has worked out a good plan for handling the fall out. Trump is not a long range thinker so he will probably look around for someone to cut a “deal” with Bannon. If I were Trump I’d be thinking I could approacch the Mercers and do a deal with them to get Bannon to stand down.

  140. 140.

    bluehill

    @MJS: No, I don’t agree with the means he’s advocating. He’s good at tapping into understandable frustrations and channeling them in bad ways. But, I get the frustration that the U.S. government is not working for most people and it needs to change. I don’t think we need less government or no government just better government. A start would be to change the incentives of elected politicians, which was already skewed prior to citizens united and another would be for more people to vote. Of course, that’s easy to say, but if there are people out there that think their vote won’t make a difference, this election proved them wrong.

  144. 144.

    Ohio Mom

    @Quinerly: That’s what I remember, Corner Stone alerted us he would be gone on vacation (which I thought very considerate of him), and that was it. Hope he is safe and well wherever he is (waves).

    On another note, I just came home from a morning of errands and again, there is big news to catch up on.

    Clearly, it is too much to ask for a whole day without anything happening as a result of Trump but how about half a day? I’ll be out most of the afternoon too and I’d like nothing new to read when I get home.

  145. 145.

    Jeffro

    Quinerly:

    MSNBC reporting that Bannon met with Mercer (and I assume Mercer’s money) this week.

    One way to look at this development is that Bannon…and more importantly, the Mercers (and even more importantly, Rebekah Mercer)…have decided that Trumpov is simply too stupid, impulsive, and incapable of following through on what it would take to implement their worldview at this point. So, withdraw now, let Trumpov take himself down, and jump back in on Trumpov 2.0, whomever they consider that to be. (Cotton would be my guess)

  148. 148.

    lgerard

    I am hoping that when the sun goes black on Monday all the Nazis and wingnuts go insane like in that Asimov story Nightfall

  149. 149.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Timurid: The President’s been in a secure facility for meetings all morning. He’s going to have all the coverage waiting in his twitter feed. And as research yesterday indicated, this is what his twitter feed looks like:

    There won’t be a pivot. There will be a twitter meltdown either later today or over the weekend.

  150. 150.

    Yarrow

    @Quinerly:

    MSNBC reporting that Bannon met with Mercer (and I assume Mercer’s money) this week.

    That does not bode well for Trump.

  151. 151.

    Yarrow

    @Adam L Silverman:

    And Senator Grassley has made it clear he won’t schedule a hearing for a new AG nominee. He has stated that his committee’s calendar is full.

    I’m sure space on the calendar could be freed if necessary.

  153. 153.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    ah, Steve Kornacki brings the General Kelly Strong coverage

    @Adam L Silverman: if I had my glasses on, could I see the “strong” and “tough” and maybe “rough” in there, or are they just implied?
    It’s tempting to make a Denny’s placemat type word search out of that: 1) Big League 2) Terrific 2) Believe Me
    ETA: his own handle in there means he follows or retweets people who retweet him, right? Tweetsturbation?

    (Oh my god, Hugh Hewitt reporting from Planet Trumpscolon
    ETA: Station Kellystaint))

  154. 154.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Major Major Major Major:
    An alliance like that is much harder to sell on the right than the left. Herrenvolk utopias tend to not end up very socialist after all. When you follow a philosophy of hate, policies that help people, even yourself, always start with a black mark against them.

  158. 158.

    Quinerly

    @Ohio Mom:
    It’s my own form of Balloon Juice Tourettes. Can’t help blurting it out once in awhile. I was reminded earlier in the week by a commenter that my Tourettes was under control.? I guess not.

  162. 162.

    sukabi

    @Timurid: the flaw in your theory is Drumpf. You’re assigning to him traits that he does not have, and can’t acquire.

    You’re assigning white house chaos to Bannon and while he is responsible for some in the grand scheme of things his contribution was small compared to drumpfs’.

    If Drumpf was 1/10th the businessman/manager he claims to be none of the chaos/stupidity of the last 8 months would have been public fodder. The folks “leaking” wouldn’t have lasted a week, and Drumpf wouldn’t be rage tweeting at 3 am.

  163. 163.

    different-church-lady

    @Timurid:

    -Trump consolidates power in West Wing

    [THROWS GLASS OF WATER IN YOUR FACE]

    OK, now deep breath: the POTUS already has all the power in the West Wing. By definition.

  164. 164.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Quinerly: Here you go:
    https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/us/politics/trump-dinner-top-donors-tax-reform.html?referer=

    The invited donors and their families have combined to donate millions of dollars to committees supporting Mr. Trump’s campaign and inauguration, and Mr. Trump’s team hopes they will contribute millions more to groups pushing his legislative agenda. They included the New York investor Robert Mercer, the Kentucky coal executive Joseph W. Craft and the Wisconsin roofing magnate Diane Hendricks, according to people familiar with the dinner.

    Mr. Mercer’s presence was noteworthy, since the White House confirmed Friday that Mr. Trump’s chief strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, had been ousted. Mr. Mercer has long funded the political and business activities of Mr. Bannon, who was brought onto Mr. Trump’s campaign at the recommendation of Mr. Mercer’s daughter, Rebekah Mercer.

    Other donors also were invited to Thursday’s dinner but did not attend, including Paul Singer, the New York hedge fund billionaire.

    He declined the invitation weeks ago because he was going to be on vacation, according to one of the people familiar with the planning of the event.

  167. 167.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Stan: The strategy is not the same as in Vietnam. It is similar, but it isn’t the same. It has also born fruit in Iraq. But Afghanistan is not Iraq. Recognizing that and being able to utilize what we know about the differences in the formation of strategy and policy have always been the problem.

  168. 168.

    NoraLenderbee

    dirtbag friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against asswipe. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    Oh please oh please.
    BTW my FoxReplace inserts “sweaty dirtbag” in place of Bannon’s name, and “asswipe” for trump. Makes me laugh.

  169. 169.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yarrow: Grassley has made it very clear he is not going to consider a nomination for a new AG. AG Sessions is a member in good standing of the Senate club. Senators don’t take it well when one of their colleagues is treated poorly.

  170. 170.

    bluehill

    @Jeffro:

    One way to look at this development is that Bannon…and more importantly, the Mercers (and even more importantly, Rebekah Mercer)…have decided that Trumpov is simply too stupid, impulsive, and incapable of following through on what it would take to implement their worldview at this point. So, withdraw now, let Trumpov take himself down, and jump back in on Trumpov 2.0, whomever they consider that to be. (Cotton would be my guess)

    That’s my big fear. The Mercers, Bannon, et. al. aren’t going away. They actually got Trump elected, which they probably didn’t expect. We lucked out that Trump is inept, but he’s just the prototype. The next version will be smarter and more disciplined. They’ll denounce the neo-nazis but still support policies favored by the alt-right.

    Mitt Romney’s plea for Trump to apologize is I’m not sure what because let’s say he’s does. What then? Trump hasn’t really changed his mind. Does it just give repubs cover to proceed with all the crappy stuff they’ve been working on? Some commentator raised this point that the problem with Trump’s racist views is that he revealed them in public. If he hadn’t, would the repubs really care?

  174. 174.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    David AtkinsVerified account @ DavidOAtkins
    Everyone in DC knows that Trump’s racist talking points are coming from Miller, not Bannon. No one is fooled.

    Matthew Yglesias‏Verified account @ mattyglesias 35s35 seconds ago
    Trump had racist talking points about the Central Park 5 when Miller was in preschool

  175. 175.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Major Major Major Major: The problems cannot be solved or resolved by simply changing staff. The issue here is not that the President is not a politician. Nor is it that he has no political experience. Nor is it that he is incurious or poorly informed prior to taking office. If it was these things, individually or in combination, then you could fix it with personnel and process.

  178. 178.

    different-church-lady

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    HOT RACIST ON RACIST ACTION!

  179. 179.

    different-church-lady

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    HOT RACIST ON RACIST ACTION!

  180. 180.

    Adam L Silverman

    Not to go completely off topic, but I suddenly have a craving for a Cuban sandwich.

  181. 181.

    different-church-lady

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

  182. 182.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @bluehill:

    They actually got Trump elected

    They did not get Trump nominated, and Trump’s election required one Hell of a lot more than just those rich guys. The screaming batshit idiot base nominated Trump. Nobody else wanted him until it was clear he was what they were going to get.

    The next version will be smarter and more disciplined.

    Very unlikely. Again, Trump is not the choice of the rich, he’s the choice of the howling donkeys. They want incompetence.

    They’ll denounce the neo-nazis but still support policies favored by the alt-right.

    Those are called ‘establishment Republicans’, and they lost the primary handily. Polite racism got them a black president. They are not going back in the closet.

    Does it just give repubs cover to proceed with all the crappy stuff they’ve been working on?

    They already had cover. They’ve gotten jack shit done. It does not get better for Republicans from here.

    If he hadn’t, would the repubs really care?

    No, because they have shared and been following these policies for decades. Trump is not new except for how loud he is.

  186. 186.

    Shalimar

    Wow. So Trump doesn’t have the guts to tell Bannon personally that his resignation is being accepted. That is pretty slimy, letting him know by leakex news report that he will eventually be gone when the president gets around to it. Not as slimy as Bannon himself, but pretty bad.

  189. 189.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jeffro: Other than I don’t feel like going out in a thunderstorm to get one. If I go to Publix one more time this week I’m going to get my own parking space. Of course there’s also the small farmers market (it is in a permanent storefront) equidistant in the other direction.

  190. 190.

    Mnemosyne

    @bluehill:

    Bannon is yet another of the long list of white dudes who won’t be happy until white dudes like him are economically on top again. He longs for the days of the New Deal when the plum positions and assistance were reserved for white men and everyone else got the leftovers.

    Never mistake his wistful white supremacist nostalgia for anything else. He only wants that economic program if he can give all of the best bits to white men.

  191. 191.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @different-church-lady:
    Your point is well made, but I would argue that they want incompetence in effect, even if not by name. They want the Your Racist Uncle stereotype. They want someone like themselves. That includes being a head-up-their-ass dumbfuck who follows their mean-spirited whims rather than calculatedly restraining themselves.

  193. 193.

    Yarrow

    @Adam L Silverman: Just saying that if for some reason Pence became President and wanted “a new administration to show a new start for the American people” then I’m sure Grassley could find time on the calendar.

  194. 194.

    Quinerly

    @Adam L Silverman: The news got me to forget about Baud’s running mate’s surgery. Poco’s surgeon said if she didn’t call by 1:00, then no surprises and pick up at 3:30pm. Test results next week…so that’s a bit of a worry. Where you getting that Cuban?

  195. 195.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Joy Reid‏Verified account @ JoyAnnReid 21m21 minutes ago
    Hearing Rebekah Mercer fought for Bannon’s job to the bitter end. Keep in mind: she’s also put $ into Kellyanne’s polling co and Breitbart

    I despise KAC, but I think she’s smart enough to keep her head down, as in never upstage trump, and flatter him enough so that she’ll be there as long as she wants to be. Also, alas, too smart to leave her fingerprints on anything indictable.

  196. 196.

    Mnemosyne

    @FlipYrWhig:

    He thinks people only care about money. He thinks that if Black and Hispanic people have better jobs, they’ll forget all about that “social justice” stuff they’re always whining about.

  201. 201.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yarrow: That’s a different story. But if Pence should become president I would expect that there would be a lot of changeover anyway. I suspect Mattis and McMaster would likely stay. Not sure about Kelly. I would expect that should this happen that Pence would bring his own team in to run the various cabinet positions. The bizarre loyalty test process that the President’s loyalists have put in place for vetting appointments would go, especially on the foreign policy side. And this is to be expected. New president, new administration, new personnel.

  202. 202.

    The Moar You Know

    Not to go completely off topic, but I suddenly have a craving for a Cuban sandwich.

    @Adam L Silverman: I’ve had many. Always dissatisfied. I should like them but don’t. The last one was in a grocery store/deli in Olympia, Washington, and I’m never having one again unless it’s from there as this was, finally, sheer perfection.

  203. 203.

    Jeffro

    @Adam L Silverman: Your stomach doesn’t care if you get a little wet in the process! (But if the farmers’ market has a bbq stand, go with that).

    @Mnemosyne: Yes indeed. I have no doubt that trillion dollars he wanted to “throw into infrastructure and see what sticks” was primarily going to stick to well-off folks’ wallets, with a few white guys hired on as cover.

  205. 205.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Quinerly: At least the surgery went well. One victory at a time.

    I haven’t yet. Kind of hard to drive to the market and comment at the same time. Alain has not gotten the speech to comment interface up and running yet.//

    Whether I do or not remains to be seen. If the light thunderstorm turns into full on monsoon or the monsoon/thunderstorm hybrids we’ve been having, then I’m unlikely to go anywhere unless it’s an emergency.

  206. 206.

    Yarrow

    @Adam L Silverman: Yes. But Sessions being in place is what’s protecting Mueller from being fired. Given how tied to the Russians Pence is, wouldn’t surprise me if he wanted to put in an AG that would fire Mueller. Not sure how well that would sit with Americans in general and Congress in particular.

  207. 207.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Adam L Silverman: My theory about Cohn et al is that they’re half-waiting for President Pence to get past all this nonsense and get to the serious business of tax cuts and deregulation, and per the rumors I’ve heard on MSNBC over the last couple days, naming Cohn to the Fed. I would expect Sessions and Koback to stay on.

  211. 211.

    Adam L Silverman

    @different-church-lady: No idea. From what I can gather from talking to Alain about it as we get these clusters of either specific people or just random groups of regular commenters who wind up in moderation, spam, and/or trash all of a sudden is that there is some sort of problem in WP’s code for comments. I don’t really know if there’s a real way to fix things other than to make everyone have to register to comment, which I don’t think would go over well.

  212. 212.

    gvg

    I thought one of the reasons trump wouldn’t fire Bannon is that then Bannon would be able to talk to Mueller and trump couldn’t claim executive privilege and such? Actually I now realize it implies he can’t fire anyone.

  216. 216.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @schrodingers_cat: I hope Chuck brings in some reasoned, seasoned voices like David Brooks, Ruth Marcus and the rotting corpse of David Broder to give us some perspective on this.

    @Adam L Silverman: cause he’s a rock-headed stupe?

  220. 220.

    Quinerly

    Hugh Hewitt is telling me the GOP is now on the road to uniting behind and with Trump. Pence will be the “glue.”

  221. 221.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jeffro: They don’t, but I had BBQ last week. And the hole in the wall BBQ open only FRI-TUES, is just around the corner from the market. What I’d kill for though is someone down here who did the Texas style beef ribs.

  222. 222.

    tobie

    @Mnemosyne: Amen. I can’t stand populism of any sort and in this country it invariably ends up being the veneer for white grievance politics.

  223. 223.

    Elie

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Yum!

    Having just returned from Cuba, I was disappointed that that particular sandwich is hard to come by. Although the Cubans raise and consume a lot of pork, the quality is not easy to find — particularly the ham, pickles, good cheese part. There are two kinds of cheese in Cuba and both are mild and indistinguishable from each other. Bread is good, however. A good Cuban sandwich is wonderful!

  225. 225.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yarrow: I don’t think Pence would want to open that can of worms. I’m also not sure we’re going to get the opportunity to see that play out.

  226. 226.

    Jeffro

    So…this commission that Kal Penn was on, the arts one that resigned en masse today with its letter to the president*?

    Supposedly each paragraph’s first letter ends up spelling out “R-E-S-I-S-T”(!)

    Any confirmation on this?

    And isn’t that a great way to keep Twitler occupied for weeks? He’s going to be looking at the start of every document that comes his way, desperately trying to spell out whatever words the first letters of each paragraph spell! LOL

  231. 231.

    tobie

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’ve heard the rumor too that Cohn is waiting to be appointment Fed chair. Given his Goldman Sachs pedigree it doesn’t surprise me in the least that he puts his personal ambition before the welfare of the country. If he had any integrity, he would have quit on Tuesday.

  232. 232.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Elie: My understanding is that the sandwich is actually a Florida creation. The exile communities in both Tampa (Ybor City) and Miami both claim creation rights. There are some variations. A lot of the Tampa sandwiches came with genoa salami on them, which is actually my preference as that’s how I remember them from when I was a kid. And then you have the media niche, which is essentially a Cuban sandwich on egg bread (challah).

  236. 236.

    Shalimar

    @bluehill: Trump already came as close as he is capable of to apologizing, on Monday. It lasted for a day before he couldn’t accept being told what to do any longer.

  238. 238.

    smintheus

    Republican voters will stick with Trump no matter what and make any excuses necessary for all of his behavior because Trump has (R) next to his name. Bannon will be no more successful than anyone else has been at driving a wedge between Trump and the Republican electorate.

    Bannon would have a much easier time convincing Republicans to break with the U.S. and side with Russia than to say a single word against their Twitler.

  240. 240.

    Adam L Silverman

    @tobie: My view, based solely on observing how the President operates, is that Cohn will not get the appointment because he wants it.

  241. 241.

    Adam L Silverman

    @The Moar You Know: Sorry bout that.

    We do issue a complimentary shootin arn upon arrival for your personal use while here. It’s in the state constitution or something.//

  242. 242.

    Sloegin

    Remember that Gorka was ‘out’ and then somehow he never left. I’m pretty sure Schrodinger’s Nazi corollary is in effect.

  243. 243.

    burnspbesq

    @Ella in New Mexico:

    This is a ruthless and relentless regime that took power in the nation’s highest office.

    That’s how they view themselves. The reality is that they are (with apologies to Jimmy Breslin) the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

  246. 246.

    Shalimar

    @different-church-lady: Everyone is non-white. This is going to be my hobbyhorse for the rest of my life. There is no such place as White that anyone comes from. Celebrate the cultures of the places your ancestors are actually from. White is a meaningless word only racists should use.

  247. 247.

    randy khan

    @Calouste:

    It’s also in the Politico story, so I’d say it’s a safe bet the group made a point of telling people about it.

    It’s a little too cute for me, to be honest.

  249. 249.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Sloegin: The President likes Gorka because of his TV performances. Based on the reporting he had given instructions to find him a suitable position (as in matching the rank/seniority of his White House appointment) at an appropriate agency. This would have required the equivalent to an SES 2 political appointment. The reporting indicates that every department, agency, and/or office he was recommended to (DOD, DHS where his wife has an appointment, the IC agencies, etc) all said no because he is not actually qualified, nor can he get a clearance. Which makes me wonder whether his wife’s clearance will be finalized. If he can’t be cleared, then his relationship to her should negatively impact her final clearance status.

  250. 250.

    The Moar You Know

    We do issue a complimentary shootin arn upon arrival for your personal use while here. It’s in the state constitution or something.

    @Adam L Silverman: A good one (Kimber, Ruger, Glock) or a shit one (Kel-Tec, or perhaps the WalMart of guns, Hi-Point)? If I gotta stand my ground I don’t want to miss.

    I know their government likes to go cheap on stuff. I assume I gotta get my own ammo, that’s customary with free guns.

  252. 252.

    Adam L Silverman

    @eclare: And he despises perceived weakness. That Cohn allowed it to be reported that he was very disturbed by the President’s remarks about Charlottesville, but wasn’t resigning because he wants to be appointed Fed chair. When it comes time for the President to make that appointment someone will remind the President of this.

  253. 253.

    cain

    @Cermet:

    One fact is that Bannon was a cool head on the Korea issue and opposed to any military action at all. He felt diplomacy was the correct approach – that for me, was a critical issue for us and causes me to worry about his removal. A war killing tens to hundreds of thousands scares me more than his sick ideology … . Maybe next year and it would only have been good news.

    It sure would, and you know how many times we will try to fight it, our service men and women will pay the price. He will override his generals and do all kinds of bullshit. It will be a shit show, and maybe for once all those assholes in the military and fbi will realize what a shit show Trump is but by that time we will have to deal with the death and dishonor that we have caused. :(

  254. 254.

    The Moar You Know

    Celebrate the cultures of the places your ancestors are actually from.

    @Shalimar: How many generations back we talkin? The Scotland/Germany thing I’m totally down with. The Alabama/Nebraska thing, not so much.

  257. 257.

    Eric U.

    @Rob: I am trying to finish a project here. No deadline, but I just want to be done with it. Hard to do any coding when you are checking twitter every 5 minutes

  258. 258.

    Shalimar

    @Yarrow: Mueller has dozens of subordinates now. He has been under threat of termination from the start. Firing him does not immediately dissolve his office. If he’s half as careful as his reputation, he has indictments prepared for immediate filing if he is ever fired, with lots of juicy details on what the investigation has discovered so far.

  259. 259.

    Brachiator

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    I would absolutely love to see this happen. Absolutely love it.

    And a tip of the hat to foul mouth lout Scaramucci, who had Bannon’s number and was ready to dial it had he stayed on. He may have been the most honorable snake in that nest of White House vipers.

    The best thing that could happen for the country would be for Breitbart and other right wing propaganda outlets to start attacking Trump. Let’s see if the Tangerine Terror fights back.

    …

  261. 261.

    Brachiator

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    I would absolutely love to see this happen. Absolutely love it.

    And a tip of the hat to foul mouth lout Scaramucci, who had Bannon’s number and was ready to dial it had he stayed on. He may have been the most honorable snake in that nest of White House vipers.

    The best thing that could happen for the country would be for Breitbart and other right wing propaganda outlets to start attacking Trump. Let’s see if the Tangerine Terror fights back.

  264. 264.

    ET

    Anyone who thought he wasn’t going back to Breitbart hasn’t been paying attention. In some respects did he ever really leave?

  268. 268.

    Brachiator

    Bannon friend says Breitbart ramping up for war against Trump. “It’s now a Democrat White House,” source says.

    I would absolutely love to see this happen. Absolutely love it.

    And a tip of the hat to foul mouth lout Scaramucci, who had Bannon’s number and was ready to dial it had he stayed on. He may have been the most honorable snake in that nest of White House vipers.

    The best thing that could happen for the country would be for Breitbart and other right wing propaganda outlets to start attacking Trump. Let’s see if the Tangerine Terror fights back.

    ETA. Comment seems to have been eaten.

  270. 270.

    Yarrow

    @Shalimar: @Adam L Silverman: Corner Stone has been gone a long time. I hope he’s okay.

    @Shalimar: Yes, I expect he planned for his eventual firing from day one. I do think some kind of deal has been made or something to keep Sessions in place so Mueller can’t be fired. We know Sessions has plenty of Russian connections he “forgot about” so he’s likely up to his eyeballs in Russian collusion as well. Maybe he did a deal with Mueller.

  271. 271.

    smintheus

    Had unkind thoughts today about a nurse practitioner at a local emergency care center, where I went with symptoms of what seems a stress fracture…including excruciating pain on the top of my foot. She ignored virtually all the actual symptoms and diagnosed it preposterously as plantar fasciitis. Also advised me to roll my (probably fractured) foot on a frozen water bottle.

    “That doesn’t fit most of my symptoms.”

    “But we see a lot of plantar fasciitis.”

    She struck me as a classic Trump voter: Don’t confuse me with the facts, I’m going with what little I think I know.

  273. 273.

    Hoodie

    Bannon wanted out on his terms, which is why he leaked to Kuttner. He saw the corporatists and bankers taking over, as there was no way he was going to prevail over Jarvanka. He used the kuttner link as a way to burnish his populist cred. That leak was also a way of getting some daylight between him and Trump ‘s C’ville disaster, e.g. “See, I want the same thing as you lefties, those guys in Charlottesville are clowns.” He was overjoyed because Charlottesville disaster also killed off Jared’s corporate boards. Now the GOP is stuck with a radioactive president that they’re scared to get rid of and they’re mired in a position where they won’t be able to enact their tax cut wet dreams or do anything about international issues like North Korea, where he also handily torpedoed Trump. Remember, Bannon despises establishment GOP as much as or more than dems. When he realized that Trump was not the vehicle for his dreams of a realignment, the next best thing us sabotage of the GOP establishment.o

  274. 274.

    p.a.

    There once was a Nazi named Bannon
    Who helped elect Donnie of Mammon
    But when Stevie took credit in public
    It was more than Donnie could stomach
    So Steve was gone as if shot from a cannon.

    Rough draft while working on the cybex at the Y. Not really happy w last line.
    Would love to work in Stalingrad or Zhukov…

  276. 276.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Yarrow: Depending on the meaning of hiking the Appalachian Trail he may have pulled a muscle or he may have pulled a muscle.//

  278. 278.

    different-church-lady

    @Eric U.: My SO texted me the BBC report of Bannon’s ouster (which I already knew about). My reply was, “Well, there goes anything I was planning to accomplish today.”

  279. 279.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Elie: I recently just had one of the better Cubanos I’ve enjoyed, from a Mexican food truck in New York. (Hey, weren’t we promised one of those on every corner?)

  281. 281.

    ET

    HAR. Even though many were Obama holdovers. From CNN:

    The remaining 16 members of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities resigned in protest on Friday,

    Guess that makes way for Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, and Chuck Norris.

  282. 282.

    Lyrebird

    Sorry to come late to the thread without finishing enjoying the comments.

    @Adam L Silverman: A while ago, I think just after the Russian-hacked election, you offered the image of “holding the line”…

    Since I’m also pretty sure the Bannon exit is closer to a deck chair move than a change of course, and since it seems like there are at least thirty* different pressing human rights and basic world peace concerns that the Republican Trump administration is treating like a set of punching bags,

    ..have you got any other inspiring analogies to offer?

    A tall order I know!

    *e.g. BLM, Charlottesville, kids of parents getting snatched away over nothing by ICE, DPRK, Venezuela, trans troops, retired troops, health care infrastructure, DAPL, and you know I could go on…

    ETA and yeah of course Syria Afgh. Iraq

    ETA: I just mean that’s one squiggly and overlapping line!

  283. 283.

    Yarrow

    @smintheus: That’s terrible. Did you finally get your foot looked at properly? Plantar fasciitis isn’t going make the top of your foot hurt unless it’s somehow referred pain. Seems like a nurse practitioner would know at least that much.

  284. 284.

    Elie

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Thanks for the deep info. I did not know any of that but it makes sense. Wherever it originated, its a wonderful thing in its glory…. would like to try all the versions of it!

  286. 286.

    bluehill

    @Frankensteinbeck: I agree that the repubs didn’t want Trump. He was a wild card that they hoped to control and IMO if Trump had one little bit of self-control and discipline they would have been able to repeal Ocare and then gotten tax cuts done. Fortunately, he doesn’t and they weren’t.

    I think Trump’s incompetence is all the more reason why the Mercers will try to find someone who can tap into the same impulses but that can actually get something done. They not only had the ear of the Trump but they had their people in key positions around him and majorities in Congress. I don’t know if they can find that person, but I don’t think they’ll give up. As we’ve seen with others in Trump’s administration, there are competent people willing to sell their soul to be in power.

  289. 289.

    Mike in NC

    Before the Bannon story broke the media was following a possible clash between the KKK and counter-demonstrators in Durham, NC. Will have to check for an update.

  291. 291.

    gene108

    @bluehill:

    the Mercers will try to find someone who can tap into the same impulses but that can actually get something done.

    Unless that person starts using the N-Word again, there isn’t anyone else, who can tap into the impulses Trump has.

    He jumped to the top of Republican polls right after his kick-off speech about building a wall and calling Mexicans rapists. He was the straight up racist the Republican base craved.

    Trump also broke with Republicans regarding entitlements, which played well with the Republican base, even though Trump’s onboard with gutting them now.

    Basically, you’ll need a more shameless liar and a more openly racist person. I’m not sure that’s possible to find in someone you want to be able to govern somewhat competently.

  292. 292.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Lyrebird: Do the things you can do to make things even a little bit better. Successful efforts, even if small, build momentum like pebbles rolling down hill turning into a rock slide. This includes demonstrating in words and deeds that going back to a smaller, meaner, less inclusive America is unacceptable.

    And make sure to give yourself some time off. You’re no good to anyone if you burn yourself out.

  293. 293.

    Bill Arnold

    @Hoodie:

    When he realized that Trump was not the vehicle for his dreams of a realignment, the next best thing us sabotage of the GOP establishment.

    Interesting take. Do you believe this? I’m not sure that it was so premeditated (he’s only 15-25% as good at working the chaos as he thinks he is, I think :-), but certainly it could have been. (Not entirely sure why anyone, including the Mercers, trusts him.)

  295. 295.

    Brachiator

    @gene108:

    Basically, you’ll need a more shameless liar and a more openly racist person. I’m not sure that’s possible to find in someone you want to be able to govern somewhat competently.

    There are tons of people who would be happy to be the next Trump. And the Mercers and their I’ll are not interested in competent government. They just want a pliable patsy.

  296. 296.

    cain

    @Elizabelle:
    Gosh, it must suck for Republicans to realize that without any election that they’ve moved from a Republican to a Democratic administration simply be removing one person.

  297. 297.

    feebog

    @Sloegin:

    Remember that Gorka was ‘out’ and then somehow he never left. I’m pretty sure Schrodinger’s Nazi corollary is in effect.

    If Kelly had anything to do with Bannon getting the old heave ho, Gorka will be next.

  298. 298.

    smintheus

    @Yarrow: I have an appointment to see an orthopedist on Monday, but it seemed wise to get an Xray done immediately. I didn’t expect much expertise at this center, and they really didn’t disappoint in that regard. The nurse made zero sense. I haven’t even been doing anything that could give rise to plantar fasciitis.

  301. 301.

    cain

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    Bannon is a hardcore racist. He thinks the lesser races are dumb and easily manipulable.

    Surely he must think that is true of whites too? I mean, that’s who he’s scamming right now, isn’t it?

  302. 302.

    Boatboy_srq

    I do love the not-so-subtle point that Bannon made back there about how in the US in 2017 there are only Democrats and fascists.

  303. 303.

    les

    @FlipYrWhig:

    How the fuck does he expect to get 40% of the black and Hispanic vote while running media outlets and politicians who constantly railing about welfare, lawlessness, and militancy?

    In Bannon’s version of the US, that 40% is about 32 people.

  304. 304.

    patrick II

    I have heard a couple of Breitbart guys on TV lately denying they are the voice of the Alt-right. It seemed strange to me. And then I heard what Bannon said about the white nationalists being fools, and I wonder where they are going with this. Can they just switch lanes? And what lane is he switching to?

  305. 305.

    Lyrebird

    @Adam L Silverman:

    going back to a smaller, meaner, less inclusive America is unacceptable

    Hear, hear!

    I doubt we’re done with stochastic violence (see also long post you wrote a week or two ago), but at least we’ve seen heads of military branches pipe up for trans troops and arch conservatives (eg Hatch) finally speaking up against totalitarian whites terrorizing others.

    Gotta keep rolling…

    And thanks for the pebble image, too.

  310. 310.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @patrick II:

    I have heard a couple of Breitbart guys on TV lately denying they are the voice of the Alt-right. It seemed strange to me. And then I heard what Bannon said about the white nationalists being fools, and I wonder where they are going with this. Can they just switch lanes? And what lane is he switching to?

    Trolls gota troll. Getting people angry is the only thing they truely belive, so likely they are just trolling the racists.

  311. 311.

    Mnemosyne

    @patrick II:

    They’re trying to join up with the Sanders dead-enders, the ones who will insist until their dying breath that the corrupt DNC prevented their hero from getting the nomination.

    There’s always been a lot of crossover because a fair number of those dead-enders are former Ron Paul fans, but that’s who Bannon is going to try and consolidate. White (mostly) male butthurt.

  313. 313.

    What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

    If Bannon goes after Trump it’s going to be real People’s Front of Judea vs. Judean People’s Front stuff. Seriously though, from that American Prospect interview Bannon sounded like he was giving better advice to Trump than any other advisor…if it weren’t for the fact that he’s a white supremacist, which is unforgivable IMO and what I’m about to say doesn’t signal any level of approval of him, he sounds like a populist liberal.

  314. 314.

    WaterGirl

    @Yarrow: I don’t think so. I think that was the equivalent of saying he can’t go out that night because he’s washing his hair. No matter what is on his calendar, his calendar will be “full” and he won’t move that forward.

  317. 317.

    Applejinx

    Reporting from the dirtbag left: we hate Bannon. No sympathies for Bannon at all. We joke about Gorka prevailing at the doomsday Stratego game of 2017 politics, but it’s not because we like him. It’s black humor.

    We are PISSED at Charlottesville. You should be on the streets with us, holding the line against actual literal Nazis side by side with the DSA. Don’t use Heather’s picture as your twitter avatar unless you were on the streets beside her as the Dodge Charger rammed the line of cars.

    There’s not going to be some sort of alliance between dirtbag left and white nationalists. We hate, hate, hate Nazis. Antifa is people putting their bodies on the line against what is increasingly obviously an armed, murderous uprising, just like you always said. It turned out to be true. Nobody on the hard left is going to ally with Nazis, or white supremacists. We hate them.

    We also figure juggalos are going to be more useful allies than you guys (or if you like ‘centrists’), but feel free to show up and face down Nazis alongside us while the police do nothing, if you’d like to prove that assumption wrong.

  318. 318.

    Adria McDowell (formerly LurkerExtraordinaire)

    @Applejinx: If you didn’t vote for the one person who could stop Trump and his enabling of Nazis/white supremacists/the KKK, then don’t get all holy because you are out in the streets when you* could have prevented this at the ballot box.

    *Not you, specifically, Applejinx, but those who held purity in a higher regard than the very real repercussions Trump’s election has for POC/women/LGBT/religious minorities.

  319. 319.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Applejinx:

    You should be on the streets with us, holding the line against actual literal Nazis side by side with the DSA.

    You’re seriously trying to claim protesting against Nazis for the ‘true left’ and that normal democrats didn’t do this? Or did I miss something?

  322. 322.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Adria McDowell (formerly LurkerExtraordinaire): If Applejinx is going to try and seriously claim that ‘Democrats’ didn’t protest this stuff, he can go fuck himself. With something unpleasantly sharp. Maybe I misunderstood.

    I am completely sympathetic to his rejection of the idea that the far left/Antifa/DSA would ally with the alt-right in any real kind of way. They can and did regurgitate alt-right purity propaganda about Hillary, but that’s not remotely the same thing.

  325. 325.

    Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]

    Although this thread is getting really long in the tooth (+300) I ran across this article that’s heartbreaking but important.

    Title: How Trump ruined my relationship with my white mother.

    The writer is Hapa (half white-half black).

    He had a really powerful sentence at the end. “Blood is not thicker than freedom, and it’s not thicker than safety. Sometimes blood is just that, blood.”

    Link to the article here

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