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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Dolt 45 / Pretty Please Let This Happen

Pretty Please Let This Happen

by John Cole|  February 7, 20182:21 pm| 193 Comments

This post is in: Dolt 45, Readership Capture

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OMG:

President Donald Trump’s lawyers have aimed to hit the brakes on a potential sit-down with Robert Mueller, but Trump remains eager to speak with the special counsel, according to his allies.

One person familiar with Trump’s thinking said — in addition to believing he is entirely innocent — part of what’s fueling the President’s willingness to participate is his belief that he has experience with lawsuits and testifying under oath from his time in the real estate business.

“He thinks he can work this,” this person said. “He doesn’t realize how high the stakes are.”
Once you’re there, there’s no turning back, this person said. “You can’t get up and walk away. It’s not that easy.”

“He’s basically saying that I’m wide open as a book. I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong and I’m willing to say so under oath,” former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci told CNN’s Jake Tapper Tuesday. “So again, I still think that that is on the table.”

This would be amazing.

BTW- I am stuffing these god damned calendar envelopes and I hate all of you. Also we have had rain, snow, freezing rain, more snow, and I am just sitting here waiting for tree limbs to start breaking and my cable and internet to go out. I’m salty as fuck today so maybe that is what I need. I had nightmares three times last night and then when I woke up this morning I stepped in a litter coated cat turd (aka kitty roca) that one of the dogs (fuck you Thurston) had eaten half of and then just left in the middle of my god damned bedroom floor.

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Previous Post: « The Senate Reaches A Two Year Budget Deal. Can They Jam The House?
Next Post: Because I Love You All SOOOOOO Much »

Reader Interactions

193Comments

  1. 1.

    FMBJO

    February 7, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    May the gods shine on the rest of your day.

  2. 2.

    cervantes

    February 7, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    I know he’s delusional, but could he possibly believe that he is entirely innocent? That’s hard to square with how he acts like he’s guilty all the time, plus the fact the he is, you know, guilty.

  3. 3.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 2:26 pm

    aka kitty roca

    I’m just grateful I’m not the only person who uses that term.

  4. 4.

    Tim C.

    February 7, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    Related: I just got an Email from my congressperson, Earl Blumenauer (OR-3, Portlandia) With the heading “Tick-Tock”

    He forgot the Motherf***er, but I’m okay with that.

  5. 5.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    @cervantes:
    The list of “yeses” stretches over the horizon. Little Lord Fauntleroy believes whatever shit spews from his piehole, even when he doesn’t comprehend the actual spoken words’ meaning. Of course he thinks he can bamboozle Mueller and company.

    Bring. It. On.

  6. 6.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 2:32 pm

    @cervantes:

    I know he’s delusional, but could he possibly believe that he is entirely innocent?

    I think he believes he can lie and bamboozle his way out of it, which in his mind is no different from being innocent. I also think he’ll fire Mueller ASAP if he believes the interview went badly.

  7. 7.

    guachi

    February 7, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    I’m all in favor of Trump being interviewed. Even better if they made it pay-per-view.

  8. 8.

    Downpuppy

    February 7, 2018 at 2:33 pm

    If they make it a Live! TV! Spectacular! Trump might actually go for it.

  9. 9.

    Betty Cracker

    February 7, 2018 at 2:34 pm

    Jesus can’t possibly love us THAT much!

  10. 10.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 2:36 pm

    Trump thinks that being president means never to have to say you’re sorry. He thinks it’s a get out jail free card.

    John, Nine inches of heavy snow fell before X-Mas, and I still have limbs and trees all over. I do think it will be cleared though in another month. The yard waste pickup has limits on what they will take, which slows me down. Fortunately, I was not home and a son stayed at my house to take care of the mutt. He already put me on notice that no dog sitting during the winter months.

  11. 11.

    sigaba

    February 7, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    @cervantes:

    I know he’s delusional, but could he possibly believe that he is entirely innocent?

    “A man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But a man who tells half-lies, has forgotten where he’s put it.” — Dryden in Lawrence of Arabia.

  12. 12.

    cain

    February 7, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    @Tim C.:
    Always good to see another Portlandian. BTW what do you think of the crazy ass guy running for Governor? Jeezus.

  13. 13.

    Cheryl Rofer

    February 7, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    It’s worked well for Carter Page…

  14. 14.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 2:37 pm

    @guachi: If it were world wide viewing, that could help with the deficit.

  15. 15.

    The Simp in the Suit

    February 7, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    I’m salty as fuck today so maybe that is what I need.

    What, you need more salt in your diet or you need a fuck? One is unlikely, the other is just too much sharing, John.

    ;)

  16. 16.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    @Roger Moore:
    “bamboozle” Drink!

    Lordy, it’s early.

  17. 17.

    cain

    February 7, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    I think he believes he can lie and bamboozle his way out of it, which in his mind is no different from being innocent. I also think he’ll fire Mueller ASAP if he believes the interview went badly.

    This. Mueller will need to be very careful when interviewing Trump that he doesn’t show any reaction that would prejudice Trump against him. In fact, smiling, joking and fawning is exactly what needs to happen and then Bam!

  18. 18.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    Politico is saying that John Kelly knew that Rob Porter had a restraining order on him, and still called him a man of integrity.
    This is sad.

  19. 19.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    Mueller ought to double-down and call for video. Along with his ego, trump thinks nothing is real unless it happens on TeeVee. “Everyone can see me be vindicated!” or ” “VINDICATED!” Totally! “

  20. 20.

    James E. Powell

    February 7, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    @cervantes:

    I know he’s delusional, but could he possibly believe that he is entirely innocent?

    I don’t know what he believes, but I know that he knows this is still a nation filled with hateful bigots who are deeply invested in him as their Great Leader who pisses off the liberals, blacks, immigrants, feminists, etc. Their loyalty will never fade.

    He can do the interview in public and admit to the truth of every allegation against him, but if he says, “I had to do these things. I had to save the country from Hillary Clinton!” 40% of the nation would strongly agree that he did nothing wrong.

  21. 21.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    @The Simp in the Suit:

    What, you need more salt in your diet or you need a fuck?

    Maybe he need a jumbo bag of salted dicks.

  22. 22.

    Citizen Alan

    February 7, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    @cervantes:

    IIRC, Leona Helmsley thought she was innocent in the sense that the laws she broke only applied to “little people.” I can imagine shitgibbon thinking the same.

  23. 23.

    Patricia Kayden

    February 7, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    I also think he’ll fire Mueller ASAP if he believes the interview went badly.

    He can’t fire Mueller. He’d have to fire Mueller’s boss and replace him with someone who would fire Mueller. Plus, firing Mueller won’t stop the investigation from going forward in N.Y. by the NY Attorney General. It would also look bad and be unconstitutional. Trump isn’t going to win this war.

  24. 24.

    GregB

    February 7, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Lordy, I hope there’ll be tapes.

    By the way, who knew that hair ruffled Trump looked like Darth Vader when his helmet is off?

  25. 25.

    Tim C.

    February 7, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    @cain: Which one? I haven’t been following the race to lose to Kate Brown.

  26. 26.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Trump could even say you can’t handle the truth.

  27. 27.

    rikyrah

    February 7, 2018 at 2:47 pm

    Afternoon, Cole.

    Thank you

  28. 28.

    mapaghimagsik

    February 7, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    Someone is very confident in the Republicans providing cover

  29. 29.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 2:48 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:
    I didn’t say firing Mueller would be a good idea, just that I believe Trump will do it if he thinks the interview went badly.

    ETA: And since when has the law stopped Trump from doing as he pleases? He will fire Mueller when he decides to fire him and leave fancy details about whether he has the power to do so for the courts.

  30. 30.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 2:49 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    I think he believes he can lie and bamboozle his way out of it

    Her clearly doesn’t understand….
    Well, he clearly doesn’t understand any fucking thing.
    But specifically he very clearly doesn’t understand that this is a FEDERAL CRIMINAL proceeding, not a civil case.
    He can’t outspend or intimidate the opposition, nor bury them in motions, nor delay them to death, nor offer them pennies on the dollar. I’m sure his attorneys are at least smart enough to have tried to explain that, although from what I’ve seen of them they’re not the sharpest bulbs in the legal drawer either.

  31. 31.

    Patricia Kayden

    February 7, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: From what I’ve heard, Mueller will be audiotaping the interview if Trump goes voluntarily. If Trump has to be subpoenaed, he’d be in front of a grand jury so I assume the proceedings will also be recorded. I’m glad that Trump is so dumb that he thinks he can lie his huge orange head off in front of Mueller. He must not understand that Mueller has all the ducks in a row and will have zero problems catching him in multiple lies. Trump’s hubris will be his downfall.

  32. 32.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: Plus, firing Mueller won’t stop the investigation from going forward in N.Y. by the NY Attorney General.

    IANAL, or a politician, or a New Yorker, but I keep wondering about that story about Junior and the Princess having been investigated and possibly almost indicted over the trump building near… Soho? but closer to one of the big tunnels and all its traffic? Again, not a NYer. Anyway, what I wonder is if the reason that story faded was cause Schneiderman took over the files and doesn’t want to draw more attention to it. Yet.

  33. 33.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    @Roger Moore: @efgoldman: also, he lied and bamboozled his way into the White House and didn’t even really want to.

  34. 34.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 2:52 pm

    @Roger Moore: There is also the fact that even after Saturday Night Massacre Redux that Mueller can’t just be fired at will. He’s under civil service protection. If Dolt45 tries that Mueller goes right to court and presses that issue and keeps on working. And “cause” can’t just be made up out of nowhere. The disciplines have to be documented as well. So yeah, the “firing” can’t even really happen.

  35. 35.

    Frankensteinbeck

    February 7, 2018 at 2:52 pm

    @cervantes:
    A narcissist’s concept of the truth is bizarre and inconsistent. They don’t merely lie, they restructure reality in their heads moment by moment. If they’re as stupid and/or senile as Trump visibly is, those restructures are fragmented and contradictory. I’m hesitantly going with the ‘he thinks he can brilliantly talk his way out of this and that counts as innocent.’

    @Roger Moore:

    I also think he’ll fire Mueller ASAP if he believes the interview went badly.

    Absolutely nothing, NOTHING, will make Trump decide to fire Mueller. Why? Because he decided to fire Mueller long ago, and never changed his mind. Whatever the reason is he hasn’t, it’s not lack of desire. Some block will have to be removed.

  36. 36.

    Kay

    February 7, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    With this Rob Porter thing I’m struck, yet again, at what assholes Trump Administration people are.

    They seem to hire for “mean-spirited”. It’s unbelievable. They’re all so nasty.

    Reflects the man at the top, don’t you think? Imagine what it’s like working there. Like a nest of vipers.

  37. 37.

    ET

    February 7, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    We love you John Cole.

  38. 38.

    Kelly

    February 7, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Send that snow out to the Oregon Cascades. Currently the SNOTEL folks have us at 38% normal snowpack in my Willamette drainage.

  39. 39.

    Amir Khalid

    February 7, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    I too want this to happen. As I understand it, it’s up to Mueller if he wants Trump to talk to him; he has the power of subpoena over Trump if he wants to use it, and POTUS has no more right than anyone else to refuse to comply. His team has spent the best part of a year gathering evidence and testimony, and will be ready to catch the slightest material contradiction between what it knows and what Trump says. Trump is foolish enough to think himself innocent and overconfident enough to fall into an obvious perjury trap everyone else can see.

    We might not see Trump indicted until Mueller and his team have rock-solid, seven-ways-to-Sunday. But I’m confident they’ll have that at some point. Der Müller Gottes mahlt langsam, doch er mahlt außerordentlich klein.*

    *To save my fellow jackals the trouble of going to Google Translate: Tick tock, mofo.

  40. 40.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    February 7, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    I haven’t gotten my God damned calendar yet. What’s the fucking hold up here?

  41. 41.

    zhena gogolia

    February 7, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    @cain:

    The chances that Mueller is going to smile, joke, and fawn are close to zero, I’d say.

  42. 42.

    Sister Golden Bear

    February 7, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    Oh please, oh please, oh please! (bounces like a golden retriever)

    Or to put it more more soberly: Please proceed…

  43. 43.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    With all the snow we’re having, I was surprised and gratified to see our letter carrier walking up our street. I went out and swept the porch so it wouldn’t be too slippery.

    She left four pieces of mail in our box. Two of them belong to our next door neighbor. I’ll run over later and give it to them.

    But now I’m wondering if some of my mail is sitting in some other neighbor’s mailbox.

    Last week I got a toll bill with a penalty. The penalty is because I didn’t pay it the first time. But what most likely happened is it was left in someone else’s mailbox and then tossed in the garbage. Because I pay all my bills.

    Assholes.

  44. 44.

    zhena gogolia

    February 7, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    John, I am so grateful to you for stuffing those envelopes. I am looking forward to the BJ calendar with eager anticipation.

  45. 45.

    glory b

    February 7, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: A DC grand jury would consist of probably 50% Black folks! And Trump doesn’t get to have a lawyer there!

    I’m praying to black Jesus (as on Black-ish) for this to happen!

  46. 46.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 3:04 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    Der Müller Gottes mahlt langsam, doch er mahlt außerordentlich klein.*

    Your actions in that place have been observed.

  47. 47.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    @glory b:

    A DC grand jury would consist of probably 50% Black folks! And Trump doesn’t get to have a lawyer there!

    He already complained about that (under an assumed name). Said it looked like a Black Lives Matter rally.

  48. 48.

    kindness

    February 7, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    Sounds like John needs to put his litter box up higher (than Thurston can reach).

    That is a kitty tree of a different flavor.

  49. 49.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    @Kay: John Kelly his biggest defended knew about his restraining order.

  50. 50.

    david

    February 7, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    Is today the day Quincy Jones became President?

  51. 51.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:06 pm

    @david: He had some interesting things to say about 45.

  52. 52.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 3:07 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    The chances that Mueller is going to smile, joke, and fawn are close to zero, I’d say.

    I wouldn’t put it past him. My impression is that the way to get Trump to open up is to suck up to him, praise him, and ask him to keep expounding on the point. IMO, the best thing to do would be to keep the interview going on long enough that you can circle back to the same point a couple of times and see if you can get him to contradict the explanation he gave earlier. Telling two completely different stories in the same interview would be hard to ignore as perjury.

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne

    February 7, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    @cervantes:

    could he possibly believe that he is entirely innocent?

    Of course he does. That’s the narcissist in him. Everything he does is Good and Right, and anyone who tries to tell him otherwise is an enemy who must be destroyed.

    The fact that he believes he can clear all of this up by double-talking his way out of the jam just like he has with every other jam in his life doesn’t make him factually innocent, though.

  54. 54.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    What worries me is this being tax time, I’m getting Important Tax Documents mailed to me.

    I worry they’re being mis-delivered to people on my street who don’t bother returning mis-delivered mail.

    (continuing my anxiety post 43.)

  55. 55.

    p.a.

    February 7, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    @guachi: I’ve never done ppv in my life but I would totally pay to see trump’s testimony in real time. Who should do play-by-play, and who should do color?

  56. 56.

    AnotherBruce

    February 7, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    This is na ga happen. He always talks big, and then cowers when push comes to shove. He will make some excuse. At bottom he’s too cowardly to do this.

  57. 57.

    jl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    @germy: Can you estimate things to within 19% accuracy whether you have all the documents or not? I think that is important cut-point for whether you need to sweat about hassle and penalties or not.

  58. 58.

    Amir Khalid

    February 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:
    As I recall, Trump tried to pull that trigger.last June, but then White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit if he did. So he’s been made aware that firing Mueller is a very very bad idea. Trying to bullshit Mueller’s people instead is also a very very bad idea; but Trump has confidence beyond reason in his mad bullshitting skillz, and I don’t think it’s in anyone’s power to convince him otherwise.

  59. 59.

    Gravenstone

    February 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    @cain: Unlikely Mueller is even present, except maybe as a silent observer for a few minutes. That’s been reported to be how he (rarely) participates in these meetings. Much better to stick Trump in with a couple of the female investigators on Mueller’s team. He won’t know which end is up once it becomes clear that they will accept no part of his bullshit.

  60. 60.

    CaseyL

    February 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    Well, when the tree limbs fall and you lose TV and internet, you’ll just have more time for envelop-stuffing!

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    @efgoldman: I keep thinking the same thing. Trump has never come up against a problem that money or intimidation or taking someone to court can’t fix. Trump has never in his life come up against an immovable force that he cannot control. I look forward to the day when Trump finds out that the reality of the charges that Mueller can document trumps anything Trump can say or do.

  62. 62.

    jl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    Is Trump planning to threaten to bankrupt Mueller with a landslide of BS lawsuits? That would be fun.

  63. 63.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: I dare say it’s closer to hundreds of lies.

  64. 64.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    “I wanted to sit down with Mueller and answer all questions under oath. Because I have nothing to hide and this is nothing but a politically motivated witch hunt. Which is why my lawyers advised me not to participate. I’m disappointed because I really wanted to clear the air, but I have to take my lawyers’ advice.”

    (I predict this will be a future tweet)

  65. 65.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Trump’s hubris will be his downfall.

    Mueller, like any smart lawyer, is setting a big honking perjury trap. Tell the truth? Wham! Obstruction! Lie? Wham! Perjury! Or the similar charge of lying to federal investigators.
    His lawyers will probably have to drug him and tie him down

  66. 66.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    @jl: I wish I was that organized.

  67. 67.

    Tata

    February 7, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    The attitude of the Orange Menace might be something else, too. My mother, new to being a mental patient and in denial about her bipolar diagnosis, now runs around giving advice about recovering from cranial surgery, cancer and Alzheimer’s because, she says, “I know about brain stuff.”

  68. 68.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    @germy:

    But now I’m wondering if some of my mail is sitting in some other neighbor’s mailbox.

    We live at # 32 on a pretty short street.
    Every week we get mail for # 32 on the dead-end side street a few yards away. Important stuff, too. (And vice versa).
    Our next door neighbor and we also get each others’ mail.
    Neither snow nor rain….
    Borking the PO pension sure did help efficiency, hm?

  69. 69.

    joel hanes

    February 7, 2018 at 3:21 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Trump isn’t going to win this war.

    May be true, but in the short term, that only matters if Trump can
    first perceive it, and second admit it to himself.
    In my estimate, he’s not up to that, so he will proceed as if his victory was a foregone conclusion, and seek ways to neutralize his enemies to shorten the time that he has to deal with this stuff.

  70. 70.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    @germy: Don’t risk it. See if they can be made available online or e-mailed to you. You can always explain it as mailbox security if they push back on you.

    @jl: Didn’t they try that already and get laughed out of court?

  71. 71.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:22 pm

    @germy: I got 3 of my neighbor’s bills last week – 2 were insurance and one was a medical bill. I went next door, knocked and when they didn’t come to the door I said fuck it put them in their mailbox. It’s not that hard.

  72. 72.

    joel hanes

    February 7, 2018 at 3:23 pm

    @efgoldman:

    I’m sure his attorneys are at least smart enough to have tried to explain that

    but they have a headstrong fool for a client

  73. 73.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 3:24 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    I am so grateful to you for stuffing those envelopes.

    Can’t believe he hasn’t got at least one paper cut yet. THEN we’ll hear the complaining.
    Anf thg tupng loke rhis.

  74. 74.

    different-church-lady

    February 7, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    Considering Trump’s ability to contradict himself within the confines of a single sentence, I think the odds of avoiding perjury are next to non-existent.

  75. 75.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:26 pm

    @efgoldman: You’re fortunate you have considerate neighbors.

    I’ve got some nice neighbors. But more than a few assholes as well.

  76. 76.

    trnc

    February 7, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    I had nightmares three times last night and then when I woke up this morning I stepped in a litter coated cat turd

    You think you have it bad? I dream of having a litter coating on the ones I step on almost weekly. And yes, I tend to the litter box twice daily and change it weekly or sooner.

    FU cats (“It took me three hours to figure out that ‘F.U.’ was Felix Unger!”)

  77. 77.

    jl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    @Yutsano:Interesting question is what kind of people Mueller send? Two pretty women good at feigning submission and flattery who will beguile Trump into over the top BS? Or two people who will freak out Trump? Good cop/bad cop? Blandly obliging blank slate men and/or women who will give Trump no lizard brain clues on how to act or what is working on them?

    I hope it’s taped and we all get to watch some day. (Unless Trump wins everything and we have to watch it on annual Trump Day as part of the celebration of how he beat the Deep State. Then I won’t watch it and risk going to jail, or being publicly declared a treasonous dummy loser.

  78. 78.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    @germy: I delivered the 3 bills to my neighbor how had KKK on his license plate until the year that the State of Illinois went through all their records to catch the stuff they had let through that wasn’t appropriate.

    Still, it’s the mall, and it must be delivered.

  79. 79.

    Kay

    February 7, 2018 at 3:29 pm

    @JPL:

    John Kelly his biggest defended knew about his restraining order.

    He’s another one. Incapable of getting thru a paragraph without saying something nasty about someone.

    Is this really necessary? He really feels he should opine on laziness? They’re just nasty people. Everything they say is an insult to a person or a group of people. They seem to go out of their way to be assholes.

    Just answer the question on DACA, asshole. Keep your opinions to yourself.

  80. 80.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    @germy:

    You’re fortunate you have considerate neighbors.

    There aren’t more than 18-20 houses in the whole neighborhood. It helps

  81. 81.

    Mike in DC

    February 7, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    The prosecutors will keep it light and friendly as they walk Trump into the abattoir.

  82. 82.

    joel hanes

    February 7, 2018 at 3:31 pm

    @germy:

    She left four pieces of mail in our box. Two of them belong to our next door neighbor.

    I’ve been in that situation. What worked for me was to give the letter carrier some recognition.

    Unsolicited advice:
    Just before tomorrow’s mail is due, make a cup of hot chocolate and one of coffee, watch for the carrier, meet them when they come to the door, offer choice of hot beverage and maybe a cookie. Then give her the mis-delivered pieces, and politely express fears about tax documents. Don’t complain about last month’s bill. Express appreciation for the difficulty of being a letter carrier in these days when Congress attacks the Post Office on a regular basis and makes sure they’re underfunded. Thank her for carrying your mail.

    As I said, something like that worked for me.

  83. 83.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 3:31 pm

    @Kay: This Rob Porter guy does not seem all that bright.

  84. 84.

    Phylllis

    February 7, 2018 at 3:33 pm

    @Tata: My mother’s favorite statement about that is “back when I had the bi-polar…”

  85. 85.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    @joel hanes: I’ve done that in the past with a different letter carrier. I even mentioned that my father was a letter carrier for thirty years, and I appreciate the hard work.

    But it seems ever few months we get a different carrier. Currently we have about three different carriers who appear randomly. I can’t make out any regular schedule with them.

  86. 86.

    different-church-lady

    February 7, 2018 at 3:35 pm

    {ZOT!}

    INSANITY DEFENSE!

  87. 87.

    Kay

    February 7, 2018 at 3:37 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    I saw where he said he took the photos himself. Hmm, I thought. Then I thought “oh, I don’t even want to hear this bullshit” :)

    He looks mean, but they all do.

  88. 88.

    Amir Khalid

    February 7, 2018 at 3:38 pm

    @Corner Stone:
    None of them do, even the ones whose pre-Trump résumés read like those of bright people. He has that effect on people.

  89. 89.

    AnotherBruce

    February 7, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    @germy: Yes, I think that’s in the ballpark as to what will likely happen.

  90. 90.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    February 7, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    I’m really torn on this. His ego is going to tell him to go and talk his way out of everything, since he’s, like, totes innocent, and everything he does is so ethical and wonderful and awesome, and this would give him a shot at telling people how wonderful and awesome he is, and, after all, he’s so bigly smart and charming he can win anybody over and talk rings around them without breaking a sweat.

    At the same time, he’s desperately, pathologically insecure, hence the need to always talk himself up so much, so at least a tiny shred of his mind [sic] knows he’s a huge–sorry, yooooooge–failure and fraud, and that little voice way back in the back of his head is going to be nagging, nagging, nagging at him to bail on this. I can’t make my mind up which way he’s going to go.

    And then there are the lawyers, telling him he shouldn’t do this, that it’s too big a gamble, he might not pull it off, and his inborn anger at anybody telling him what to do or shoving him around around is going to kick in, so there’s that. I don’t bet on anything, but even if I did, this is one I’d keep a long way away from. I don’t know if there’s any way to guess what’s going to come of this.

    I’d say that sooner or later he’s going to talk to Mueller, because there’s no way to avoid it forever. Somebody’s going to make him. But whether he goes in under his own steam or gets dragged in, that’s the real question here.

  91. 91.

    ruemara

    February 7, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    I sincerely believe that when Biden in his CNN interview yesterday said, “I would advise DJT to not speak with Mueller”, he was goading that bloated windbag into stuffing his own foot so far down his throat, his podiatrist will have to get a second degree in proctology.

  92. 92.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    @Corner Stone:
    He bares some resemblance to Hannity–always the mark of high achievement–and based on the shiner on his ex-wife, can punch from either side. So naturally perfect for this WH.

  93. 93.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:43 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Still, it’s the mall, and it must be delivered.

    I wish you were my neighbor!

  94. 94.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 3:44 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    He’d have to fire Mueller’s boss and replace him with someone who would fire Mueller. Plus, firing Mueller won’t stop the investigation from going forward in N.Y. by the NY Attorney General. It would also look bad and be unconstitutional.

    None of these are disincentives to Trump doing something stupid.

  95. 95.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    If Mueller is bright, he’ll have a scale hidden underneath Trump’s chair and his second question to him will be “What is your weight?”

  96. 96.

    Aleta

    February 7, 2018 at 3:46 pm

    Is there any question about whether he can be subpoenaed if he refuses Mueller’s invite?
    If he is subpoenaed, would he have to go before the g. jury without a lawyer?
    In that case, wouldn’t his lawyers prefer that he go to an interview with them?
    (Do his lawyers want him to refuse all cooperation that requires appearances in person?)

  97. 97.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 7, 2018 at 3:48 pm

    @efgoldman: can he file moral bankruptcy?

  98. 98.

    Kay

    February 7, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    Mueller looks tall. Stand next to him and when Trump says 6’3″ say “Gotcha! Liar”

  99. 99.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    @Amir Khalid: It’s like there’s some anti-intelligence field that comes into effect once you start working for him. You stay in proximity enough to be in his brain sucking vibe and BOOM your brainpower just ceases.

    WAY OT: I was doing a passport authentication in my office yesterday and I came across a visa from Malaysia. It was interesting how it was all in English and not one word of Bahasa Melayu on it.

  100. 100.

    Miss Bianca

    February 7, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I would take it as a sign from Heaven that Jesus is, in fact, my own personal savior if He allows this scenario to unfold.

    Televised live for the public. Yeah, I drive a hard bargain for my personal salvation.

  101. 101.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 3:52 pm

    @Aleta: I am not a lawyer but I have been doing some reading.

    Is there any question about whether he can be subpoenaed if he refuses Mueller’s invite?
    No.

    If he is subpoenaed, would he have to go before the g. jury without a lawyer?
    I believe yes from what I have read, but there is speculation that Trump is playing chicken with Mueller, hoping he won’t subpoena him because Trump could try to protest that in court and (he theorizes) Mueller might not want to risk that the court would rule against him. My opinion is that if you don’t use the option because you’re afraid that the courts might rule against you, then you really have eliminated that option yourself.

    In that case, wouldn’t his lawyers prefer that he go to an interview with them?
    Opinion: his lawyers seem pretty sleepy to me, keeping a client who lies all the fucking time. I think they are afraid to tell Trump NO, which means they have no integrity.

    (Do his lawyers want him to refuse all cooperation that requires appearances in person?)
    One of his lawyers wants him to cooperate and testify. The others do not.

    edit: I am headed out to take my dog for an x-ray. By the time I get back, will I have 10 people telling me I’m wrong? :-)

  102. 102.

    germy

    February 7, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    @Miss Bianca:

    Televised live for the public.

    They should do it like the Elvis Comeback Special.

    Round stage with handheld cameras circling the action like panthers.

  103. 103.

    Spanky

    February 7, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    Not entirely OT:

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took the rare step Wednesday of giving a marathon speech supporting Democrats’ attempts to legalize the status of young immigrant “dreamers,” in a bid to pressure Republicans to act.

    Pelosi (D-Calif.) began talking shortly after 10 a.m., using her right as minority leader to speak for as long as she wants. She began by saying that she would lead opposition to a broad two-year budget agreement that includes several Democratic priorities but does not address immigration — the topic that has prolonged the spending debate for several months.

    “I have no intention of yielding back,” Pelosi said at 3:41 p.m. Eastern as she neared the six-hour mark of her ongoing remarks.

  104. 104.

    Aleta

    February 7, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    @WaterGirl: thanks. Have a great walk.

  105. 105.

    Another Scott

    February 7, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    @Yutsano: The Trumpists have been arguing from the beginning that Mueller is exceeding his mandate (which was to investigate):

    (i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals
    associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and

    (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and

    (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a).

    Investigating Money Laundering isn’t part of his job!!11 Investigating Obstruction of Justice isn’t part of his Job!!11

    etc.

    Presumably if Mueller is worried about those arguments, then he’s compartmentalizing the Money Laundering stuff (to be able to hand it off to the NYAG). But since it’s all interconnected and nebulous, by design, I really don’t think Mueller has much to worry about.

    I don’t think those argument hold any water, but lawyers can (and do) argue about anything, so…

    tl;dr – If Trump decides to fire Mueller, the argument will almost certainly be based on the above reasoning.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  106. 106.

    Amir Khalid

    February 7, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    @Aleta:
    It was established with Bill Clinton that POTUS can be subpoenaed. Of course they can subpoena Trump too. I think the lawyers are trying to delay or limit the damage Trump is doing to himself, which seems like the best they can do with this pigheaded fool of a client.

  107. 107.

    rikyrah

    February 7, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    @JPL:
    Porter beat on not one, but TWO wives.

    Uh huh
    Uh huh

  108. 108.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    @Kay:

    I saw where he said he took the photos himself.

    Beyond the heinousness of beating his wives, that was the part where I scratched my head and said, “Say what, now? You took the pictures of your wife after a beating but the context is not at all what the reporting says it is?”
    What was it? She was carrying laundry and tripped forward face first into a door knob? And you wanted to memorialize that? On several different occasions across two different women?

  109. 109.

    MisterForkbeard

    February 7, 2018 at 4:01 pm

    @rikyrah: And the FBI have known since his initial background check, too. Which presumably got reported up the ladder.

  110. 110.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    @Steve in the ATL:

    can he file moral bankruptcy?

    I bow to your superior knowledge as an actual lawyer (so you say – on the intartoobz we’re all 6’2″ and blond) who, I assume in your line of work, works only for 100% ethical business concerns that only have their peons</strike employees' interests at heart.

  111. 111.

    MomSense

    February 7, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    I’m surprised this Salon article isn’t getting more attention.

    How Republicans Rigged Congress

  112. 112.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    @Corner Stone: The White House knew, but didn’t know there were pictures. That sickens me. It’s okay as long as there’s no proof.

  113. 113.

    Aleta

    February 7, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    If Trump were to appear in court, (for refusing a subpoena or something) can his lawyers be questioned by the judge about their actions and advice to him? If they lie about anything, would they be disbarred?

  114. 114.

    Amir Khalid

    February 7, 2018 at 4:06 pm

    @Yutsano:
    Well, it’s a document that has to be read and understood by officials abroad who don’t understand Bahasa Malaysia. So it’s not a great idea to stand on national pride and put everything in Malay.

    (The debate over whether the national language should be called Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Malaysia is decades old. I don’t think it will ever be resolved.)

  115. 115.

    Leto

    February 7, 2018 at 4:07 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Trump’s hubris will be his downfall.

    And your faith in Mueller will be yours. /s

    (Sorry, had to make the obvious Return of the Jedi joke/reference here. I agree that his hubris will do him in, but I just couldn’t pass that up.)

  116. 116.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 4:08 pm

    @Spanky:

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took the rare step Wednesday of giving a marathon speech supporting Democrats’ attempts to legalize the status of young immigrant “dreamers,” in a bid to pressure Republicans to act.

    Pelosi (D-Calif.) began talking shortly after 10 a.m., using her right as minority leader to speak for as long as she wants. She began by saying that she would lead opposition to a broad two-year budget agreement that includes several Democratic priorities but does not address immigration — the topic that has prolonged the spending debate for several months.

    When Nancy Smash thinks this isn’t a good idea….maybe we should listen to her?

  117. 117.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    @efgoldman: Crap missed edit window.

  118. 118.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 7, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    @Aleta: generally that is protected by the attorney/client privilege. There are different rules for roles such as White House counsel, but I will defer to Immanentize and others on such matters.

  119. 119.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    It was established with Bill Clinton that POTUS can be subpoenaed.

    Sadly, the current SC has proven that prior precedents may be ignored if they get in the way of what Republicans want. If Trump fights, it will probably drag on for months without being resolved.

  120. 120.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    @trollhattan:

    can punch from either side

    My guess is he caught them turning around as they were trying to walk away from him. I’m doubtful he’s got the chops to be able to jab with both hands.

  121. 121.

    JAFD

    February 7, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    When I was in college (decades ago) got a summer job as replacement mail carrier (took Civil Service exam for it then – If you know a young’n who could use the $$$ – and the exercise and the sun – tell them to check in soon with their local post office about this.)

    Anyway, was delivering on street where numbers went by 6 – second house #12, then #18, #24… But was #40 after #36 – and I found a minute later that the Important Stuf #42 Was Expecting had gone into the porch of Folks Who Were Down The Shore Till September… ‘Twas a mess and a half.

    Please, gentlefolk, have Nice Big Conspicuous House Numbers on your abode, and convince your neighbors to do the same.

  122. 122.

    efgoldman

    February 7, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I am not a lawyer but I have been doing some reading.

    My assumption right along is that he (his lawyers) will challenge every one of Mueller’s actions in court if they have standing, the same as Tricksie Dicksie did. Unfortunately for Hair Furor ther4e are those pesky previous decisions against Tricksie and Clinton .I believe someone reminded me the thje other night that the major SCOTUS against Nixon was unanimous, too.

  123. 123.

    Mary G

    February 7, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    @TenguPhule: Nancy SMASH! isn’t just giving a four-hour marathon speech advocating for the Dreamers, she’s doing it in four-inch stiletto heels. She may be old in years, but she’s still tough as nails.

  124. 124.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 4:18 pm

    How Republicans Rigged Congress

    @MomSense: Dem voters let them, for Obama’s crime of not giving a free pony to everyone and settling for the ACA.

    That the Republicans had a plan in place for this just means they were smart.

  125. 125.

    terraformer

    February 7, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    He only ever wanted the title, not the job.

  126. 126.

    Ohio Mom

    February 7, 2018 at 4:19 pm

    @germy: When I met commentator Devoevo (did I spell that correctly, apologies if I didn’t) at the Cincinnati meet-up, she said most mail carriers are part-time, as she is. That is why there is a revolving cast of carriers on your route.

    On the subject of mail, if I were you Cole (I know he’s not reading and this is pointless),
    I’d trade those kids in your neighborhood an afternoon of envelope stuffing for some fresh homemade ice cream. Isn’t it a snow day and aren’t they bored?

  127. 127.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    If Trump were to appear in court, (for refusing a subpoena or something) can his lawyers be questioned by the judge about their actions and advice to him?

    @Aleta: No. Attorney-client privilege. And that’s a pretty absolute privilege.

  128. 128.

    Gravenstone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    @TenguPhule: Ever hear of the term “leverage” there, sport? She’s holding a knife to Ryan’s throat to make it clear that he has to provide the same deal to her as McConnell gave to Schumer, before she’ll release her caucus to bail his moronic ass out and pass the budget resolution.

  129. 129.

    Percysowner

    February 7, 2018 at 4:26 pm

    @Spanky:

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took the rare step Wednesday of giving a marathon speech supporting Democrats’ attempts to legalize the status of young immigrant “dreamers,” in a bid to pressure Republicans to act.

    Pelosi (D-Calif.) began talking shortly after 10 a.m., using her right as minority leader to speak for as long as she wants. She began by saying that she would lead opposition to a broad two-year budget agreement that includes several Democratic priorities but does not address immigration — the topic that has prolonged the spending debate for several months.

    “I have no intention of yielding back,” Pelosi said at 3:41 p.m. Eastern as she neared the six-hour mark of her ongoing remarks.

    Nancy Smash is a hero and has such a polite way to say EFF you!

  130. 130.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    She’s holding a knife to Ryan’s throat to make it clear that he has to provide the same deal to her as McConnell gave to Schumer, before she’ll release her caucus to bail his moronic ass out and pass the budget resolution.

    @Gravenstone: Ryan has a no-brainer of a choice: walk away or trash the pedophile rule and get the government working.

    His definition of a no-brainer will differ from ours: he will walk away and let the government shut down.

  131. 131.

    Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady)

    February 7, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    If you want me to be a believer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders has to go to jail

  132. 132.

    bemused

    February 7, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    @Kay:

    Makes me wonder how he treats his own wife.

  133. 133.

    The Dangerman

    February 7, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    @James E. Powell:

    40% of the nation would strongly agree that he did nothing wrong.

    40% of the nation would vote for Charles Manson (doesn’t matter that he’s dead) if he’s on the R line; doesn’t matter who the D’s would run, Hillary or Mother Theresa, they’re voting for Charlie. That’s a large part of the problem. I think it’s called epistemic closure (diametrically opposite to what probably happened with Trump in Russia, which would be open pissing).

  134. 134.

    aimai

    February 7, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    @TenguPhule: Fuck off you moron. You don’t know how to understand grownup negotiations.

  135. 135.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    @Amir Khalid: True. That’s why passports are usually either bilingual or trilingual, depending on the issuing authority. I just found it interesting they didn’t take the bilingual route on the stamp.

    Then again it was pretty wordy.

  136. 136.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    @Gravenstone:

    She’s holding a knife to Ryan’s throat to make it clear that he has to provide the same deal to her as McConnell gave to Schumer, before she’ll release her caucus to bail his moronic ass out and pass the budget resolution.

    And if Ryan doesn’t play ball? He’ll start scapegoating the D’s again and say they want to shutdown the govt for illegal aliens. They are pulling in something completely different than a budget.

  137. 137.

    Villago Delenda Est

    February 7, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    @Roger Moore: Laying a perjury trap for Donald would probably not be beyond the skillset of a first year law student, forget about someone with decades of experience like Mueller.

  138. 138.

    MisterForkbeard

    February 7, 2018 at 4:33 pm

    @Leto: Was gonna say – disagree entirely with the content of your message, but the quote was spot fucking on. I wouldn’t have resisted using it either. :)

  139. 139.

    schrodingers_cat

    February 7, 2018 at 4:35 pm

    @bemused: He is probably having an affair with that Nielsen woman who heads the DHS now. She was his handpicked secretary for DHS, his deputy both at the DHS when he was the secretary and at the WH.

  140. 140.

    Skepticat

    February 7, 2018 at 4:36 pm

    I’ll trade you this for Thurston’s leavings. My outside cat just deposited the (verrrry long but broken) tail, about two inches of attached pelt, one paw, the head, part of the liver, and the stomach of a pretty large cane rat on the doormat, and I managed to squish part of the stomach as I went out.

  141. 141.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 4:37 pm

    @Mary G: Once again: she’s a nonna. Don’t EVER fuck with a nonna.

  142. 142.

    danielx

    February 7, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    Trump truly believes that he is smarter than anybody else, therefore outwitting Mueller probably wouldn’t even require much heavy lifting on his part. As far as his lawyers are concerned, he’s has never listened to advice from anyone and he isn’t about to start now. His way has always worked for him, right up to and including gaining the Oval Office. None of his past misdeeds have resulted in any truly serious consequences for him or his family; he’s never been incarcerated nor even had his lifestyle impacted to any serious degree. You know, like having to prepare his own meals, drive himself instead of having a chauffeur nor yet in all probability wiping his own ass.

    From his standpoint, why would he change now?

    Edit: the blog proprietor appears to be in fine form today.

  143. 143.

    schrodingers_cat

    February 7, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    Nancy Pelosi is still talking, holding the floor for DACA.

  144. 144.

    guachi

    February 7, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    And if Ryan doesn’t play ball? He’ll start scapegoating the D’s again and say they want to shutdown the govt for illegal aliens. They are pulling in something completely different than a budget.

    Maybe. But the only way a budget doesn’t pass the house is if 20+ Republicans don’t vote for it.

  145. 145.

    Fair Economist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:39 pm

    @Spanky:

    House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took the rare step Wednesday of giving a marathon speech [6 hours so far] supporting Democrats’ attempts to legalize the status of young immigrant “dreamers,” in a bid to pressure Republicans to act.

    Prepare for an onslaught of “caving” accusations.

  146. 146.

    Gin & Tonic

    February 7, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    One for CS, I guess: actress Diane Neal (ADA Casey Novak on SVU) is running for Congress in NY-19. This is the Hudson Valley, used to be Nan Hayworth’s CD until it was re-drawn. In 2016 this was where Zephyr Teachout lost to Republican John Faso.

    Our Diane, while apparently registered as a D, wants to run as an independent. As she says so profoundly:“I’m a little Libertarian, I’m a lot liberal, mostly progressive, but I have this amazing ability to be able to take really complicated policy and break it down into edible soundbites, which is something most progressive liberals cannot do.” In other words, an asshole.

  147. 147.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 7, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: maybe she should replace Snowden as Stein’s VP choice in 2020

  148. 148.

    bemused

    February 7, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I forgot about the handpicked deputy. Nothing would surprise me about Kelly or anyone in the WH. No one there is normal.
    Hope Hicks sure can pick them. Porter and before that Corey Lewandowski.

  149. 149.

    rikyrah

    February 7, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    @glory b:

    I’m praying to black Jesus (as on Black-ish) for this to happen!

    BWA HA AH AH HA HA HA HA HAH A

  150. 150.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:45 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: I never liked her character.

    And Nan Hayworth is bugfuck nuts so that doesn’t speak real well of what’s left of the CD that once elected her.

  151. 151.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 4:46 pm

    @Gravenstone: Leverage would be doing it quietly. Doing it openly on the floor is throwing a gauntlet into his face. This looks more like a challenge against the whole deal.

  152. 152.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    @aimai: Who pissed in your oats today?

  153. 153.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    I wouldn’t vote for him, but credit where due

    Frank Thorp V @ frankthorp
    GOP SenJohnKennedy:
    Q: Do you think a military parade is a good idea?
    KENNEDY: “No.”
    Q: Why not?
    KENNEDY: “I think confidence is silent and insecurity is loud.”

  154. 154.

    Shana

    February 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm

    @WaterGirl: Until we dropped our landline we would get occasional calls for a doctors office with a similar number. After the first few I kept a note by the phone with the correct number so I could redirect people, and was know to call people who’d left messages on our machine directing them to the correct number. It’s not that hard.

  155. 155.

    Fair Economist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    And if Ryan doesn’t play ball? He’ll start scapegoating the D’s again and say they want to shutdown the govt for illegal aliens. They are pulling in something completely different than a budget.

    It’s a different game in the House, because Ryan probably can’t pass it on his own and the Democrats don’t have to refuse a vote. McConnell could just say “all I ask is a vote”. Ryan doesn’t have that option.

  156. 156.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    @bemused:

    Hope Hicks sure can pick them. Porter and before that Corey Lewandowski.

    Shouldn’t she have moved away from leaning towards “mean, lying assholes” by this stage in her life? Or maybe these were the only guys she could find that would be ok with sharing her with Trump.*

    *Of course, she can be with anyone she chooses. This WH just brings out the worst in me.

  157. 157.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:50 pm

    @Fair Economist:

    It’s a different game in the House, because Ryan probably can’t pass it on his own and the Democrats don’t have to refuse a vote.

    Which is why IMO it will never see the House floor for a vote.

  158. 158.

    No Drought No More

    February 7, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    I’d pony up beaucoup bucks to watch what would surely be be the most lucrative pay-per-view event ever televised, if that’s what it took to watch the Trumpster lay down the law to Mueller’s people. I’d even agree that the money thus raised go straight into Trumps’ bank account, if Mueller’s team signed off on it.

    In early 1945 an army lawyer for the duration named Henry Clawson investigated the Pearl Harbor attack on direct orders from Secretary of War Henry Stimson. Of one army officer he interviewed he wrote (I paraphrase): “I had never before witnessed an individual commit professional suicide” (unaware as the officer was that Clawson knew the answers to the questions he asked).

  159. 159.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    @Shana: when I first got my current cell phone number, I came out of a movie and there was a voicemail from a local parole officer rescheduling a meeting. I was not on parole at the time. Good thing for caller ID or somebody might’ve gotten arrested because of a wrong number.

  160. 160.

    bemused

    February 7, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    This WH brings out the worst in everyone.

  161. 161.

    Fair Economist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:54 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    Which is why IMO it will never see the House floor for a vote.

    In that case it’s Ryan who takes the blame for the shutdown, since he won’t even bring it to the floor.

  162. 162.

    Chet

    February 7, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    What is Trump’s record in lawsuits and other court proceedings that have reached their natural
    Conclusion? I know he uses lawsuits as a strategy to skip out on contracts, but those end up settled rather than victories for him.

    This is not gonna get settled.

  163. 163.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    So Russians have penetrated state voting systems in 2016.

    According to NBC reporting.

  164. 164.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    February 7, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    let no one accuse me of rick-rolling (trump-rolling?)

    Trump’s hair, with musicale accompaniment.

    I find this stuff by looking at twitter on Safari. Would trump find this on his phone, or would someone have to ‘at’ him with it? cause I really want him to know this is out there.

  165. 165.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    In that case it’s Ryan who takes the blame for the shutdown, since he won’t even bring it to the floor.

    @Fair Economist: New to American politics?

    Rhetorical, I’ve seen you here forever. But you know damn well the GOP and the media will frame this as “Dems shutdown government to protect murdering illegal aliens”.

    The GOP/media marriage from hell is perhaps the biggest problem America faces and I’m damned if I have any idea how to even address fixing it.

  166. 166.

    Corner Stone

    February 7, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    @Fair Economist: As Adam stated in the previous thread, the Senate is trying to jam the House. But Ryan knows his vote count. I seriously doubt it sees the light of day, no matter what Nancy does on the floor or demands from Ryan.

  167. 167.

    jc

    February 7, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    Republicans have convinced themselves that when they cheat it’s not really cheating, see … because they’re entitled. They *always* deserve a mulligan, because they endlessly tell themselves that only *they* are the Real Americans. So whatever horse-shit they feed the public is justified.

  168. 168.

    tobie

    February 7, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    @Corner Stone: There’s a reason the Republicans fell in line. The 2016 election was stolen.

  169. 169.

    GregB

    February 7, 2018 at 5:04 pm

    Word is Hope Hicks has left Rob Porter for Harvey Weinstein.

  170. 170.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    @Corner Stone: According to CNN she helped draft his statement. He needs help, but instead it appears that she is going to coddle him. That won’t end well.

  171. 171.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    Oh FFS!

    Scott Pruitt ““So I think there’s assumptions made that because the climate is warming, that that necessarily is a bad thing. Do we really know what the ideal surface temperature should be in the year 2100, in the year 2018? That’s fairly arrogant for us to think that we know exactly what it should be in 2100.”

    /headdesk

  172. 172.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    Another day in paradise (in this example, Kern County, CA standing in for paradise).

    A California baker can refuse service to same-sex couples over her religious objections and right to free speech, a Superior Court judge has ruled.

    A bakery owner’s lawyers argued that making the cakes violates her Christian beliefs and free religious expression. The judge ruled the act of making cakes is protected as artistic expression and does not violate a state anti-discrimination law. A similar case in Colorado is awaiting a US Supreme Court decision.

    “A wedding cake is not just a cake in a Free Speech analysis. It is an artistic expression by the person making it that is to be used traditionally as a centerpiece in the celebration of a marriage,” Kern County Superior Court Judge David Lampe wrote.

    Tastries Bakery owner Cathy Miller said she was “very happy to serve everything from my cases to anybody”, but she could not “be a part of a celebration that goes against my lord and saviour”.

    If my Lord and Savior promises to smite the Cathy Millers, I wonder how that works itself out?

  173. 173.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 5:11 pm

    @TenguPhule:
    I’ve noticed conservatives like to play the ‘arrogant” card. Yeah, it’s arrogant to treat drinking water if mother nature decided to put coliforms and intestinal parasites in it. Doesn’t mother nature know best, arrogant hippies?!?

  174. 174.

    Fair Economist

    February 7, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    Pelosi is pretty incredible. 7 hours of improvised speech (longest speech ever given in the House) and she’s still going, doing good stuff from the Gospel of Matthew right now. What was this about being bad in front of a camera?

  175. 175.

    tobie

    February 7, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Hey, where’s a donation drive here when we need one? Can we have a BJ “Proud of Nancy” fund that would go to the DCCC? She so deserves it today! I so want to see the gavel back in Madam Speaker Pelosi’s hands.

  176. 176.

    lamh36

    February 7, 2018 at 5:15 pm

    So @MSNBC and #ChuckTodd finally talking about Nancy Pelosi, but of course shapes as “Pelosi making history, and are the Republicans loving it?”. Yeah cause that is THE story FUQ the importance of her defending DACA & Dreamers

    so the narrative he wants to set is its that the midterms is a “contest between 2 boogie men…” Trump be Pelosi?????? FUQ U Chuckles

    I think she’ll stay until she makes it past the evening news mark

    LIVE: House Minority Leader Pelosi’s speech on DACA and Dreamers nears 7-hour mark
    https://twitter.com/nbcnews/status/961357099795124224

  177. 177.

    JPL

    February 7, 2018 at 5:17 pm

    CNN is not releasing the name, but a former girlfriend of Rob Porter has come forward.

  178. 178.

    Gravenstone

    February 7, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Registering as a Dem magically takes away her ability to parse and rephrase complex subjects? Fascinating.

  179. 179.

    Brachiator

    February 7, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    Scott Pruitt ““So I think there’s assumptions made that because the climate is warming, that that necessarily is a bad thing. Do we really know what the ideal surface temperature should be in the year 2100, in the year 2018? That’s fairly arrogant for us to think that we know exactly what it should be in 2100.”

    Good thing this Pruitt guy isn’t in charge of a federal agency responsible for protecting the environment and such.

    Oh, wait…

    Well, at least he has a deep science background.. Wait. Oh, shit.

  180. 180.

    Yutsano

    February 7, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    @lamh36:

    FUQ U Chuckles

    Forever and ever even after that ratty little goatee rots off his face in the ground.

  181. 181.

    The Moar You Know

    February 7, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Another day in paradise (in this example, Kern County, CA standing in for paradise)

    @trollhattan: The distance between Bakersfield (seat of Kern County) and Los Angeles is only 118 miles. Three hours and you could be on the beach in Malibu. The cultural difference is greater than that between Los Angeles and Riyadh, as is so frequently the case when talking about Coastal California as opposed to Inland California. Can’t remember where I read this, but I have read that it’s the county in which Hispanics are most likely to die at the hands of the police.

    That a ruling like this came out of Kern is no shock at all. It’s one of those “shithole” places. Worse will follow at some point, certainly. Since this appears to be state court, it will be tossed very quickly.

  182. 182.

    Steve in the ATL

    February 7, 2018 at 5:35 pm

    @lamh36: are you back home or did you get discovered in LA?

  183. 183.

    TenguPhule

    February 7, 2018 at 5:38 pm

    @Fair Economist:

    What was this about being bad in front of a camera?

    She’s not so good when it comes to being interviewed on Camera. This isn’t new, it was obvious during the Bush reign of error.

  184. 184.

    Sis

    February 7, 2018 at 5:41 pm

    John – I just had a feline behaviorist in because one of my kitties doesn’t get along with the other two, and she gave me some great advice that has kept my dog out of the litter box since her visit: Use a plastic storage tote, like the ones that are used to store Christmas decorations that you’d buy at Target or Big Lots, as a litter box. You can use a utility knife or anything else that would work to carve out a little indentation at the top of one of the sides – low enough so that Steve has no problem getting in, but high enough that the dogs can’t, well, you know. (Ugh.) She also said that the box should be transparent so that a kitty can see what’s approaching. Apparently, that’s how they feel most secure. It’s kept my little eight-pound canine guy out of there, and the cats love it. The feline behaviorist recommended this as a solution to a different problem, but it still worked in curbing a certain bad habit.

  185. 185.

    Mnemosyne

    February 7, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    @The Moar You Know:

    IIRC, it was the clerk of Kern County who shut down their marriage bureau entirely rather than issue marriage licenses to gay couples when the CA Supremes first decided that banning same-sex marriage was against the CA state constitution.

  186. 186.

    Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady)

    February 7, 2018 at 5:47 pm

    According to a piece on Kos, Nunes is on the Hewitt show speculating about whether his committee should call John Roberts in to testify about FISA proceedings. If these people didn’t have power, they’d be entertaining as hell.

  187. 187.

    trollhattan

    February 7, 2018 at 5:54 pm

    @The Moar You Know:
    He’s a local lad with a BA from CSU Bakersfield, appointed by Arnold, so no huge surprise. Yeah, this will go upstairs on appeal.

  188. 188.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 6:16 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Kern County, CA standing in for paradise

    That sounds like an implausible substitution. Also, this ruling is going to get reversed so hard on appeal it won’t be funny.

  189. 189.

    MisterForkbeard

    February 7, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady): Why would John Roberts be involved, anyway? He’s not a FISC judge, and I’m not even sure they’re under his supervision, are they?

  190. 190.

    WaterGirl

    February 7, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    @MisterForkbeard: They think everything is a corporation and that John Roberts must be CEO of all the judges.

  191. 191.

    Roger Moore

    February 7, 2018 at 7:13 pm

    @MisterForkbeard:
    As I understand it, the Chief Justice selects which federal judges will serve on FISC, so all the ones currently serving were his choices.

  192. 192.

    Skepticat

    February 7, 2018 at 9:45 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist

    KENNEDY: “I think confidence is silent and insecurity is loud.”

    Could we please have this be one of the things projected on Trump Tower and wherever else possible at night?

  193. 193.

    J R in WV

    February 7, 2018 at 11:17 pm

    This thread may be closed, but I’m still going to have my say on dogs and cats in the night-time. I never get out of bed without a light. You can step into anything out here where we live… well, not a cane rat, that sounds like FL or LA to me, or Gulf Coast in general. We have rats, but noe cane rats.

    I have found dead things and excreted things by stepping on them, and it’s terrible. You can’t walk around without spreading it.

    I keep a headlamp on the bedstead that comes on with a red light, which doesn’t kill your night vision, and slippers where I can put them on before I touch the floor. Another way you can go is to shut the bedroom door a bedtime, with everyone on the side of that door they want to be. We kind of got in the bad habit of letting the dogs in and out when they woke us up. I’ve started putting a stop to that too. Since the night when they wanted out to fight with a skunk!!!

    It’s hard, but if you yell No and GO TO BED at them they will eventually give it up and go to sleep. I don’t really know a way to keep a 65 lb Lab Mix country dog from getting to the kitty treats. I just don’t let her lick my face any more, which makes her sad, so sad. Just no way!

    And I’m proud of Nancy Pelosi, what a hard working person!! You all know age doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong, you have to be to put up with getting old. I try to stay active, in order to be able to go to the store and the doctor’s office, where he will see me on an hour’s notice, or two, any day he’s not visiting grandkids in CA.

    Thanks, John G Cole, for doing all you do!!

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