NEW: The White House has brushed off a bipartisan House inquiry into the use of private email by senior officials. https://t.co/8FcdbWlzsG
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 16, 2017
… In a terse letter to Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) — leaders of the House oversight committee — President Donald Trump’s congressional liaison Marc Short declined to indicate whether any administration officials had used personal email accounts or messaging services, despite reports suggesting such communications were common in the West Wing.
“The White House and covered employees endeavor to comply with all relevant laws,” Short wrote in a two-page reply delivered late last week and obtained Monday by POLITICO.
Short’s statement comes despite recent revelations that several senior aides to President Donald Trump routinely used private email addresses and personal devices for government business. Among the current and former aides who POLITICO found at least occasionally relied on private email addresses were Jared Kushner, Steve Bannon, Gary Cohn and Reince Priebus.
In a similarly brief letter, Short also declined to provide records in response to a separate inquiry by Gowdy and Cummings into the use of costly private air travel by top administration officials.
The White House’s limited responses set up a potential confrontation with Gowdy, a hard-nosed prosecutor with subpoena power and a track record that includes sharp criticism of Hillary Clinton’s use of private email as secretary of state. Cummings said last week that he hoped the committee would subpoena any information that the White House declined to provide, as have other Democrats…
Anybody want to bet that Witchfinder Gowdy will take more than a token interest in Lawyer Short’s curt dismissal of his mighty prosecutorial powers?
At least now we know why so many high-ranking Repubs have suddenly started wringing their pale plump hands over the reckless, out-of-control Trump cartel’s totally unprecedented “takeover” of the GOP — suddenly it’s in the Party’s interests to pretend they had nothing to do with this gang of thieves and con artists. Shocked! they are shocked! that there might be gambling going on in their personal branded casino!…
Heather Pence
Great tune. I have a fondness for the Concrete Blonde version as well…
debbie
Oh, let’s just bag him on his lie that no previous president had called the families of servicemembers killed in battle. If that won’t work, tack on the fact that he lied that he’d written letters right away, but they hadn’t been mailed out yet. (Like someone forget to buy stamps.)
Baud
Even that dodge is a lie.
Bobby Thomson
Lock them up!
Bobby Thomson
By the way, hand wringing is cheap. Congressional Republicans won’t do jack shit. Eighty percent approval with Republicans.
dmsilev
@debbie: Even by the standards of Trump and his mouthpieces, that lie was appalling in its brazenness.
JPL
They are all hypocrites. It is not okay if you are republican, so get over it.
Manyakitty
Seriously, fuck these guys. They all need to just go to prison forever. Maybe we can lock them all inside Maralago and tell them global warming is a Chinese hoax while they drown.
Kay
Well, luckily the NYTimes has an ethical duty to pursue it for the next 16 months, or be shown to be absolute fucking clowns.
They can put the 2016 email team back on the field. Go get ’em.
Unless…no one really gives a shit about email security and that was all trumped up to give them something to say for 16 months instead of talking about boring old health insurance, which they all have so who cares!
lamh36
There is a segment of this country…who needs to handle their shit…this 47 vs 49% split in approval for Chump by White people willing to go on the record…THIS is why Chump and it’s admin gets away with ALLLLL the shit they are getting away with. Am I to believe that a majority of the 47% who approve of Chump also watch Fox News? Cause I don’t know bout ya’ll, but I don’t believe it’s so…
NotMax
Ah, open thread.
Floriduh woman running for Congress.
Popcorn futures looking to be a solid bet for investment.
Baud
@Kay:
I’m going with clowns. Garbage clowns.
NotMax
@debbie
“Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln. None of them telephoned the families. Not once.”
Baud
@lamh36: I agree.
Bobby Thomson
@Kay: the people at the Times are too god damned stupid to know they are hypocrites.
SiubhanDuinne
@NotMax:
From the story at your link:
Another political son-in-law named Jared/Jarrod in a highly-placed advisory position for the top of this (mal)administration. Hmmmmm….
NorthLeft12
Really? You are counting on “hard-nosed prosecutor” Trey Gowdy to take down the White House? Please. The concept is completely laughable.
I can see that squinty faced creep patiently explaining to the media that the situations are completely different and that he still regrets not nailing Sec. Clinton to the wall. Hate those guys.
JPL
@lamh36: It’s skewed because non-college educated whites still have a positive feeling about the asshole.
NotMax
@SiubhanDuinne
Birds of a feather.
Cuckoos.
lamh36
@Baud: the question that I think some folks don’t want to think about, is WHAT is it about Chump that is enough for these folks to be fine saying that he is doing well enough to be approved? It cannot all be “misinformation”…
I suspect many folks have the same suspicion that I do about what is making folks comfortable or willing to give a benefit of the doubt to Chump even with ALLLLL the ineptitude & sleaziness & downright dishonest and meaness…but the discomfort in thinking about the people they know & love & interact with daily are willing to give the ok to the disaster that is Chump
Gravenstone
@Baud: No. Their argument is that few, if any of the laws are applicable to (this particular) White House staff.
Baud
@lamh36: I agree again. The fact is, conservatives dominate white culture and society, and many non-conservative whites are unable on unwilling to stand up to them effectively.
kindness
Take the MSM as an example. For instance:
How many times has an MSM article discussed Trump’s people using private address’/servers vs how many pieces were written at this point in time after Hillary’s use of her own server came out?
Not a fair question really. The mention of Hillary’s stuff snowballed in the press during the campaign.
Gravenstone
@sylvania: Aren’t you dead yet? Get moving, you’re wasting precious air actual humans need.
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
@Bobby Thomson:
80% percent approval in a shrinking minority.
hellslittlestangel
@debbie: I shudder to imagine a letter he might have written: “I am very, very, VERY sorry for the death of your son, who is from a state that I won by a huge margin — and by the way, nobody thought I could win it at all! I hope you take comfort in knowing that if Crooked Hillary had won, your son would be much more dead. Much MUCH more dead, and it would be bad and sick and, frankly, just awful. Please accept this MAGA hat for just $40 as a token of my very very deep compassion, like no one has ever felt before, certainly no other president. Thank you and have a good time.”
khead
@JPL:
Don’t kid yourself. It’s not just white folks without a degree skewing that number.
lamh36
Isn’t this AGAINST Vatican wishes?
The Senate confirms Callista Gingrich as Vatican ambassador
https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/920065398774681606
boatboy_srq
Translation: the spawn aren’t covered by the requirements, and the laws [which, after all, are for The Little People] aren’t relevant.
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
@lamh36:
It is pretty disturbing. Especially that woman in Texas refusing to acknowledge climate change had a hand in Harvey and basically saying nothing could persuade her to stop believing in Trump. Those people are a clear and present danger to American democracy. Call me crazy, but Trump supporters like her, don’t have what it takes to live in a free society and I’d deport people like her if I was in charge (but not really. It would serve them right tho). They don’t deserve to live here because they don’t understand what freedom really is; that it’s for everyone, not just people who look like them.
khead
I can’t wait for Trump to take on Popovich and the NBA. Because I’m pretty sure it’s coming.
gkoutnik
Leonard Cohen died the day before all his songs came true.
danielx
Right. Torquemada Junior will be all over this, just like Jason Chaffetz.
hilts
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reacts to the latest bullshit uttered by our Knuckledragging Sphincter-In-Chief:
h/t https://www.yahoo.com/sports/gregg-popovich-president-trump-soulless-coward-225829012.html
Thank you Pops!
Fuck Trump and Fuck the NY Yankees
Baud
This is all a distraction from how the administration treated Chad.
JPL
@khead: I have to go back and look but it’s possible that over 65 still likes him. I had lunch with someone last week and asked how she felt about the budget cutting 450 billion from medicare, and she said they wouldn’t do that. My answer was I’m not sure where you get your news, but you had better find another source.
Mike in NC
@hellslittlestangel: Just add “Warm Condolences” at the end.
JPL
@Mike in NC: That son would be deader.
khead
I’d like to offer an over/under date for when (not if) Trump lashes out at Pop and the NBA at Christmas. Then I’d like to take the under for $100, Alex.
lamh36
Anyway back to news that made me happy today.
Black Panther official poster and trailer dropped today!
Black Panther Official Full Trailer (the last one was a “teaser” trailer). They already had me with the casting and just having a film…but they got me again with the GIL SCOTT HERON sample in this one!
The Poster: ‘Black Panther’ Official Poster
I was ALREADY getting hype for Thor:Ragnorak, but my excitement for Ragnorak does not even compare to my excitement over Black Panther. I’m already planning my outfit, and I might even be preparing my email requesting the day off…lol
Anyone else can’t wait to enter Wakanda
debbie
@lamh36:
As someone said, many people voted with their middle finger. They are watching and enjoying the expressions of rage felt by the majority of people. Trump hasn’t accomplished the things he wants to that will hurt them directly. When that day comes, they will turn on a dime. In the meantime, they’re passing their own popcorn.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Chad, is that the dude from the 2000 election? He’s a real asshole.
debbie
@hellslittlestangel:
Five bucks says he’ll crib from an Obama letter.
?BillinGlendaleCA
On a personal note, if you left a comment over at the OTR thread today after about 4am PDT; I’ve replied to your comment(after I woke up).
Baud
@debbie: I just hope he remembers to change the names.
debbie
@Mike in NC:
Enjoy!
debbie
@Baud:
I can’t even imagine.
lamh36
@khead:
someone said Trump ain’t ready for the NBA cause unlike with the NFL…the NBA players have more leeway to speak up and out about social issues
condorcet runner-up
@NotMax: So her alien had a room at the Holiday Inn Paramus?
Peale
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: that plus 20 years might get you a congress seat in rural Indiana.
lamh36
Redshift
@debbie:
He’s too lazy to even do that. Kelly will get some staffer to write them, and get Trump to sign them (or authorize an auto pen) by telling him it will make the story go away. I doubt he’ll ever make the calls; he’d never be able to fake that much empathy.
Another Scott
Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico… GovExec:
And Donnie’s tweeting about whether he’s going to run against HRC in 2020.
Grrr….
Cheers,
Scott.
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
@lamh36:
My favorite part from that article. “Russia is our friend”. Traitors.
schrodingers_cat
My outrage meter is borked. Nothing T does surprises me. Nothing.
Baud
@? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?:
Granny Clampett?
khead
@lamh36:
Whoever said that has it backwards. It’s actually easier for Trump to take on the NBA because it has a larger percentage of black players than the NFL and is already considered to be way too “urban” – “uppity” even! – by his base. The NBA can’t cut players with impunity like the NFL because the contracts are guaranteed. His base loves that shit. See also Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The NBA went through the anthem thing 20 years ago – which is one of the reasons the NBA is considered to be “urban” now.
schrodingers_cat
T is treating PR like a colony. He and his minions want to bring back the 19th century. He probably fancies himself as Queen Victoria. He does have the weight to throw around for starters.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’m almost too tired to pick this battle, but 22 Democrats should be ashamed of themselves
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Nah, she moved to Beverly. Hills, that is…
Bobby Thomson
@debbie:
Fixed.
Jeffro
@lamh36: We are PSYCHED here at Casa ‘Fro for both THOR and BLACK PANTHER!
I love how Trumpov said, near the end of his presser today, that Hillz lost because of (paraphrasing) her support of things like ‘taking a knee’. He’s technically right, in the reverse: aside from Russian meddling, Trump campaign treason, James Comey, and the Electoral College, the reason he won was because of how he demagogued racial issues.
Speaking of that presser: I read the WaPo transcript and I marvel at the mentality that would accept this clown in the Oval Office in exchange for YUGE tax cuts. What a deranged loon. Press him for details on anything, anything at all, White House press corpse! He’ll fold in a millisecond.
mai naem mobile
I saw a tweet earlier from some Trumpkin that declared that John McCain was not a POW because h atayed,wait for it,at the Hanoi Hilton. This moron thinks that’s there was a Hilton Hotel in Hanoi. My head hurts.
I also was watching CNBC last week with a British reporter who had a long interview with Jane Fonda covering a variety of topics .Anyhow, in the fluff talk with the host of the show,they talked about how Fonda looked great and was going string at 80 etc and the Brit reporter made a comment about Jane Fonda being called Hanoi Jane. The freaking host had no clue about this and admitted it. I don’t get it. How do you become a news host and not know about Hanoi Jane? Think what you want about her but Jane Fonda is an American icon.
khead
@khead:
In case I wasn’t clear, I meant to say that Trump’s base LOVES that NFL players can be cut on any given Monday. NBA players have guaranteed money. His base hates that.
Bobby Thomson
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m suprised to see Tester in the Nays. So he can stick his neck out, but Murray, Reed, Murphy, Whitehouse, Franken, and Schumer can’t?
Peale
@mai naem mobile: it’s…ugh…I wonder why he thinks the right wing hasflipped out at any sign of her for the past 50 years.
Mary G
@lamh36: That Black Panther trailer is everything! That movie has summer blockbuster written all over it; they’re releasing it in February?
raven
Here’s an album of dog parade pictures.
Peale
@Bobby Thomson: or whomever the next president is. Obama was too busy ignoring New Orleans, invading Iraq, and wrecking the economy.
Baud
Haha. Rachel is talking about online trolls paid by Russia.
SiubhanDuinne
@raven:
Those are wonderful! I really think next year I’m going to have to come over to Athens and watch this great event in person!
As you know, I posted the photo of Bohdi and Lil Bit as “Driving Miss Daisy” on my FB wall, and got several gratifying reactions. So clever and cute.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Bobby Thomson: I which of the nays were Catholic. I’m as lapsed as one can be and I find myself vaguely insulted by this. And as an American, embarrassed
japa21
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I don’t know about that. If she takes Newt with her, getting both of them out pf the country is pretty nice. Specially since they are going to a place where the leader is really pissed off at Trump.
Barbara
@debbie:
I suspect that’s true for many of his voters, because their animating impulse is resentment, and seeing people they hate get angry after finding their car has been vandalized or some similar insult feels really good. But I also suspect that the number who have peeled off and no longer find the tantrums amusing exceeds his margin of victory.
Someone made the comment at WaPo today that in his response to the question about contacting the families of the men who were killed in Niger, Trump used the word “I” 18 times. He couldn’t even manage a simple statement of respect or sorrow. There is something broken in him.
raven
@SiubhanDuinne: The only “issue” is, even with 125 varmints, is that is really quick. The after event was well attended and lots of fun but the parade itself was over in about 20 minutes. I think it’s good that the route is only a few blocks since it could be pretty warm but it flies by. That said there’s other stuff to do over here.
debbie
@raven:
I love Thing One and Thing Two!
Major Major Major Major
@mai naem mobile:
I was there in April! It’s right by the opera house. ?
dmsilev
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Maybe they voted Yes in the hopes that she’d take Newt out of the country with her.
rikyrah
‘A Soulless Coward’: Coach Gregg Popovich Responds to Trump
In an exclusive here at The Nation, the Spurs coach speaks about Trump’s latest outrage.
Coach Pop called me up after hearing the President’s remarks explaining why he hadn’t mentioned the four US soldiers killed in an ambush in Niger. Trump said, “President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls, a lot of them didn’t make calls. I like to call when it’s appropriate, when I think I’m able to do it.”
Maybe it was bald-faced nature of this lie. Maybe it is Pop’s own history in the military, but the Coach clearly had to vent. He said, “I want to say something and please just let me talk and please make sure this is on the record.”
Here is what he expressed:
“I’ve been amazed and disappointed by so much of what this President had said, and his approach to running this country, which seems to be one of just a never ending divisiveness. But his comments today about those who have lost loved ones in times of war and his lies that previous presidents Obama and Bush never contacted their families, is so beyond the pale, I almost don’t have the words.”
At this point, Coach Pop paused, and I thought for a moment that perhaps he didn’t have the words and the conversation would end. Then he took a breath and said:
“This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others. This has of course been a common practice of his, but to do it in this manner–and to lie about how previous Presidents responded to the deaths of soldiers–is as low as it gets. We have a pathological liar in the White House: unfit intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically to hold this office and the whole world knows it, especially those around him every day. The people who work with this President should be ashamed because they know it better than anyone just how unfit he is, and yet they choose to do nothing about it. This is their shame most of all.”
Then he said, “Bye, Dave.” And that was it. Should be one hell of an NBA season.
Major Major Major Major
@debbie: @raven: omg thanks! I love the Robin.
raven
@debbie: Did you catch the spaghetti and meatballs?
debbie
@Barbara:
I heard the tape and am so used to his narcissism, I didn’t even notice all the I, I, I. Shame on me.
debbie
@raven:
No, I had to go back. Very cute. Is that Husky a Venus Fly Trap?
chris
@Baud: Like these?
raven
@debbie: Yea, that’s our whacky neighbor. . . .I guess most of them are our whack neighbors!!!!
Mnemosyne
@Barbara:
Given that he lost the popular vote, that number exceeded his margin of victory on November 9th.
I think Debbie’s right — Trumpkins know that they’re in the minority and they’re enjoying having power over the majority. They get to be the elite now.
Patricia Kayden
@lamh36: I’d love to meet that 5% of Blacks who approve of the racist Clown in the White House. Trump has been clear about his support of White Supremacists so I get why they like him.
Major Major Major Major
@Mnemosyne: a nonzero number of people who voted for Trump now regret it and if they could do it again would vote for Clinton. Probably more than 3% which is all it would have taken.
Patricia Kayden
@debbie: What Trump did on Friday with his Executive Order will hurt his supporters in red states the most.
debbie
@raven:
Ha! It looks like a great event and lots of fun. Your bride should be very proud!
debbie
@Patricia Kayden:
Agreed, if it’s ever implemented. I think the many pending lawsuits will keep that from happening, though.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Major Major Major Major: to say nothing of Stein, Johnson, and non-voters, including those who left it blank
different-church-lady
@Patricia Kayden: And they’ll love him for it.
Major Major Major Major
@Patricia Kayden: the silver lining is that polls suggest voters are ready to blame the republicans for all their healthcare woes, deserved or not (mostly deserved).
rikyrah
John Harwood
✔
@JohnJHarwood
Gallup on Trump job performance by race; white 47% approve 49% disapprove; black 5% approve 88% disapprove; Hisp 17% approve 77% disapprove
2:52 PM – Oct 16, 2017
J R in WV
@lamh36:
“Isn’t this AGAINST Vatican wishes?
The Senate confirms Callista Gingrich as Vatican ambassador”
They could refuse to accept her as an ambassador, which would be swell of Pope Frank. I think more of Pope Frank than of any leader of the RC church since… well, since Jesus, really. That would be the cherry on top of dessert, to just send her home.
Duane
@lamh36: The people who still support Trump have dug in their heels. No amount of evidence will change their minds, because to do so would mean admitting being wrong about everything, for all their lifes.
WaterGirl
@J R in WV: I guess I am going to head to bed early. Tonight you are saying everything I want to say, only better.
Pete Downunder
@J R in WV:
Ambrose Bierce defined an ambassador as one who is given a job on the condition they leave the country.
lamh36
@Mary G: I believer Avengers: Infinity Wars is the summer flagship for Marvel
chopper
he’s a fucking republican, so lolz.
J R in WV
@rikyrah:
I am not a big NBA fan, but that sounds like I gotta be a Spurs fan. Calling Trump a “Soulless coward” is better than I could have done.
San Antonio, Mexico, right? ;-) ‘Cause I have trouble rooting for a Texas team…
chopper
@lamh36:
that’s actually a big deal. trump is underwater (or at least even) with white people. race wise, that’s all he’s got.
burnspbesq
@khead:
Wait until Trump finds out that Pop is the coach of the national team.
J R in WV
@WaterGirl:
Well thanks!
I try, but really, today, coach Popovich of the NBA Spurs won the innertubes with Trump the “Soulless Coward!” Totally the best, wish I had said it thing anyone said so far this week!
Ksmiami
@Mnemosyne: but tyranny by a minority of the ppl never succeeded in the long run. We need to get these fuckers out and denazify the country
TenguPhule
@Ksmiami:
The market can stay irrational longer then you can stay solvent.