Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Giving up is unforgivable.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

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

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

Republicans do not trust women.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Dolt 45 / Preznit “I Am Turkee” Open Thread: Further Proof There Is Nothing Trump Can’t Fvck Up

Preznit “I Am Turkee” Open Thread: Further Proof There Is Nothing Trump Can’t Fvck Up

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143Comments

  1. 1.

    Mary G

    Those troops are way too clean and well shaven to be actual combat troops. Also, too, it looks like the black woman in front is bending her knees to get out from under that hand on her shoulder. The soldier behind Twitler’s head looks like rikyah’s “LIPS PURSED.” Doubt he gets any more military approval out of this.

  2. 2.

    Matt in SF

    Hi all. I know I’m way off topic here. Also, I’m not sure I’ve ever contributed to the conversation before, though I’ve been an avid listener for years. Enough so that I feel like I can beg your indulgence when I’m feeling sad.

    My kitty Roo got hit and killed by a car outside our house last night. Roo was an extremely vocal and social 7-year-old tortoiseshell. Her conversational skills were legendary, matched only by her vole-hunting. She’d engage in minutes-long banter, responding to each human-uttered phrase with distinct phrase of her own. Roo had a habit of going into nearby yards, houses and businesses, and the neighbors grew to know her very well. (Better than they knew us or each other, I believe.) She would run up to anyone walking by and talk so much that neighbors sometimes assumed that she was lost or in distress. My wife had to field several phone call a week about her until she added a second name tag saying “everything is ok. Please call only in emergencies.”

    We were aware of the risk of letting her outside and in recent years had been trying to keep her in, but she was an escape artist of the highest degree. Yesterday she slipped out between the legs of a departing grandma.

    I hate to bring this sadness to you all, but this place feels like the only one where I’d want to post a pet obituary. I know that you have all been through this many times, and that you understand the profound value of furry lives. In the chaos of the world, it’s the people like Roo who keep us centered, and my family is going to be sad for a long time.

  3. 3.

    Mike in NC

    @Mary G: There is no combat taking place in Iraq. He appeared at some air base with support troops to pretend he was at one of his deplorable rallies. Told several blatant lies and once again came off as a mob boss looking for protection money from our allies.

  4. 4.

    Viva BrisVegas

    “We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven’t even heard about. Frankly, it’s ridiculous.”

    That would include Mali and Yemen.

  5. 5.

    A Ghost To Most

    Shit Hitler also claimed the troops hadn’t had a raise in 10 years (truth: every year since 1983)

  6. 6.

    JPL

    Earlier I mentioned that he would talk about the Wall, Comey and the Dems. So far I have not seen it reported that he talked about Comey, so only two out of three.

  7. 7.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    from the same thread (and already posted in the thread below)

    Ali Rogin
    Then 2) He said he raised the military’s pay by ten percent. FACT: It was raised 2.8% in 2018 and another 2.6% in the current NDAA.
    “You haven’t gotten [a raise] in more than ten years. More than ten years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one.”
    “You had plenty of people that came up and said, you know, we can make it smaller. …I said no. Make it ten percent. Make it more than ten percent. Because it’s been a long time.”

    he invented people who wanted the troops to get a smaller raise than the one he was lying about. Jethrene should be asked about nothing else next time she lumbers up to the podium

  8. 8.

    Brachiator

    What @realDonaldTrump, commander in chief, said visiting troops in Iraq. Military families will also hear his views. “We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven’t even heard about. Frankly, it’s ridiculous.”

    Jesus. Once again, this proves why Trump is so beloved by his supporters. He is as stupid as they are.

    It’s as though the country elected Homer Simpson’s dull cousin to be its president.

  10. 10.

    Jeffro

    He also apparently blew a SEAL team’s cover by posting a video of them on Twitter…you know, the kind of thing that would get a Democratic president drawn and quartered before sunrise tomorrow.

    Somebody please do the right thing here. I used to want him humiliated and thrown in jail forever…now, I will settle for the second or third best options…

  12. 12.

    Jeffro

    @MomSense: Think of all the wedding gift and baby shower gifts you’re going to not have to send? Also, perhaps you will be that much closer to your sibling (father or mother of the niece) if he/she is not a Trumper his/her self?

    Trying to stay positive here…=)

  13. 13.

    Raven

    In Afghanistan, about 8,400 US troops, most of which are US Army soldiers, are authorized to take part in Resolute Support, which aims to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces and institutions in their fight against the Taliban and other terrorist networks.

    A new report, however, recently revealed that there are actually about 12,000 US troops in the country. The Pentagon then said on Aug. 30 that about 11,000 US troops are in Afghanistan.

    In Iraq, about 4,000 to 6,000 soldiers are taking part in Operation Inherent Resolve, which aims to eliminate the Islamic State. Only 5,262 US troops are authorized to be in Iraq, but the actual numbers have been larger for a while as commanders leverage what they call temporary — or “nonenduring” — assignments like the one involving the 82nd Airborne in Mosul.

    In Syria, 500 US special forces and 250 Rangers are working in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The Pentagon is also mulling sending an additional 1,000 US service members to the war-torn country.

    A new BuzzFeed News report, however, also said that there are really about 2,000 US forces in Syria — about 850 (including US Marines) then previously thought.

    In Kuwait, about 15,000 soldiers are spread among Camp Arifjan, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, and Ali Al Salem Air Base. About 3,800 soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team also deployed there late last year.

    In Poland, about 3,500 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team are stationed as part of Atlantic Resolve, which seeks to halt Russian aggression. These soldiers will help train local forces and provide security, eventually fanning out to other countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary to do the same.

    In Ukraine, approximately 250 Oklahoma National Guardsmen are training Ukrainian forces in support of Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

    In Somalia, about 40 US soldiers from the 101st Airborne division are assisting the central government in training its forces and fighting the terrorist group al-Shabab.

  15. 15.

    Mike in NC

    Fat Bastard on TV right now wearing a green flight jacket that must have been custom made to fit his grotesque body. Otherwise he’s photographed in the usual baggy blue suit and red necktie extending several inches below the belt, all topped off by the giant black overcoat which he must think hides his flab (it doesn’t).

  21. 21.

    Baud

    “If they want us to do the fighting, they also have to pay a price and sometimes that’s also a monetary price so we’re not the suckers of the world

    Trump steaks troops.

    @MomSense:

    I’m very sorry.

  24. 24.

    oatler.

    “You don’t trust him, do you?”
    “I know who he is… and I know who he’s always been.”
    Ian McShane as Mr Wednesday.

  26. 26.

    Bill Arnold

    Related, if DJ Trump really cared about borders, he wouldn’t have defunded Homeland Security. Including the Coast Guard.
    Despite Government Shutdown, Homeland Security Border Patrol Remains on the Job. And Unpaid

    About 53,000 TSA employees, 54,000 Customs and Border Protection agents and officers, and 42,000 Coast Guard members and staff must work without pay,

    He just cares about a win, a number > 0 that he can brag about. (Pelosi was a little early with the Emperor’s New Wall rhetoric IMO, but she is good at this so could be wrong.)
    (And people have voiced un-evidenced suspicions about kickbacks from a wall vendor, but that remains to be investigated.)

  28. 28.

    catclub

    I wonder if Erdogan told him that if he does not drop the Kurds, he will never get another project in Turkey.
    Hence the cut’n run.

  29. 29.

    satby

    @Matt in SF: it’s so tragic to lose one before it’s time! Deepest condolences on the loss of Roo. She had a happy life with you and a longer one than many get. You tried to keep her safe, she had other ideas, don’t punish yourself.

  32. 32.

    Paul in KY

    If you took James K. Polk and made him twice as much a fuckup & combined him with Edward II & threw in some Caligula, I think that would still be a better Pres that what we have now. Feel sorry for all the hard working Federal employees laboring right now, and the poor people in the detention camps and anyone who has to come in contact with that loathsome fuck.

    Hope all the Juicers have a peaceful New Year!

  35. 35.

    Brachiator

    Really? From Newsweek

    President Donald Trump and the White House communications team revealed that a U.S. Navy SEAL team was deployed to Iraq after the president secretly traveled to the region to meet with American forces serving in a combat zone for the first time since being elected to office.

    While the commander-in-chief can declassify information, usually the presence of a special operations unit, to include, showing their faces would not be revealed to the American public, especially while the U.S. service members were still deployed. Current and former Defense Department officials told Newsweek that the information is almost always classified and is a violation of operational security.

  36. 36.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    MSNBC just played a clip of trump bragging about how smart he is now and how “we” are winning thanks to him. The applause struck me as delayed and very tepid.

  37. 37.

    MazeDancer

    When do we start the BJ Federal Employees Support Fund?

    Just saw Soonergrunt’s tweets about having a few months in savings.

    If shutdown still happening Jan 5th, shouldn’t we gear up?

  38. 38.

    Jay Noble

    @Bill Arnold: From what we’ve seen and heard in the past from the Border patrol, I’m guessing those are the Goverment employees Trump says are in favor of the shutdown.

  41. 41.

    laura

    @Matt in SF: I’m so sorry that your beloved moggie is gone. I hope that you are able to get a new furry companion and love a cat again when your heart has room.

  43. 43.

    Mary G

    @Matt in SF: I am so sorry you lost dear Roo. She sounds like quite the character. I have never lost a cat outside, but if they want to go outside, they will get outside. My Shiloh knows how to pop out window screens, open doors with lever handles, shoot by people so fast they will swear he did not get by them, and on and on. I hope you are not beating yourself up. She enjoyed her wide acquaintance, and had much love, and that’s all they really need. It sucks happening on Christmas.

  45. 45.

    Gravie

    @Matt in SF: We lost our beloved kitty to lymphoma earlier this year. Still hurts. So sorry about your Roo. She sounds like an engaging and wonderful friend.

  46. 46.

    plato

    ATTENTION JOURNALISTS:
    If Trump is secretly en route to visit troops, ask if he will be returning to DC or FL.
    The trip will be cover to get to Mar-a-Lago NYE party where tickets were sold guaranteeing access to the president.
    He would be using the troops as a distraction.
    — Bill Prady (@billprady) December 26, 2018

  47. 47.

    Sherparick

    @Matt in SF: So sorry for your loss. The very same thing happened to our tortoiseshell cat, Marie, eleven months ago. She was very similar to your Roo.

    On Halloween two young tomcat kittens who had apparently been dumped followed a group of trick or treaters to our house. They are a handful, but they do help us heal.

  49. 49.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @Paul in KY: James K Polk a fcukup? The map of the United States sans Alaska and Hawaii is the result of Polk. Granted it was for slavery’s expansion and he stomped Mexico to get it. Polk was a bastard, but bone spurs isn’t fit to crawl under the man’s table.

  50. 50.

    Baud

    @Brachiator:

    President Donald Trump and the White House communications team revealed that a U.S. Navy SEAL team was deployed to Iraq after the president secretly traveled to the region to meet with American forces serving in a combat zone for the first time since being elected to office.

    It’s ok because he did it live and not through a private email server.

    And because he’s a Republican.

  52. 52.

    Jim, Foolish LIteralist

    Christopher C. Cuomo @ ChrisCuomo
    Good move for potus – seeing troops in Iraq after Xmas. Yes, this potus has waited longest to do so, but he did it. And it means a lot to troops. Keep it positive and abt them – potus will get warranted positive coverage.

    I sometimes think Mario was a clumsy sort who dropped his sons on their heads more than once> And I sometimes think the old man flat out used the kids’ noggins to practice dribbling.

  54. 54.

    Bumper

    So sorry about Roo. Losing pets is so difficult.

    We are saying goodbye to my namesake tonight. Tomorrow we visit the vet. It’s been 13 years since Santa brought him to our 6 year old. He’s been a very good dog and we will miss him.

  57. 57.

    A Ghost To Most

    @Matt in SF: Sorry for the loss of a fine cat. Our cats go outside, and we accept the risk. Keeping our two inside would be a prison to them. Be glad your cat had a chance to live a full life.

  63. 63.

    Miss Bianca

    @Matt in SF: oh, torties are the best and they seem to be fearless to a fault, so they burn thru’ their 9 lives early. Still grieving my fearless Lefty Kitty, who disappeared earlier this year, probably lost to hawk or coyote. So sorry to hear of your loss.

  64. 64.

    MagdaInBlack

    @Matt in SF:
    I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my 13 y/o Siamese little buddy 2 weeks ago. They sure do steal our hearts, and they sure do leave a hole when they go, don’t they. ?

  65. 65.

    Jay

    @Bill Arnold:

    “As if to enshrine Congressman Serrano’s long-gone comments and offer a new lesson in American “public diplomacy,” this program of increasingly murky detentions at sea was dubbed Operation Martillo, or Operation Hammer. Under it, by the fall of 2017, the numbers of detainees had leapt more than 300% to 700 that year. Meanwhile, some of the detained, on release, have reported unjust, often brutal treatment, in both physical and legal terms. Physically, some were shackled for significant periods to the decks of Coast Guard ships, kept there in chains exposed to the wind, rain, and sun, while forced to defecate into buckets.

    Legally, they suffered as well. As the New York Times reported, they were “not read Miranda rights, not appointed lawyers, not allowed to contact their consulate or their families.” Nor were they brought before a judge in the timely fashion that the law demands. “

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176510/tomgram%3A_karen_greenberg%2C_on_board_the_uss_detention/

  69. 69.

    Jim, Foolish LIteralist

    @Mr Stagger Lee: and, according to twitter tweeted out a picture of Navy SEALS, whose identity I gather is supposed to be secret

    Norm Eisen @ NormEisen
    On the other hand,Trump managed on one short trip to lie about the troops’ pay increase, to lead them to violate the rule against political activity by signing his campaign gear, & to expose the identity of Navy SEALs, perhaps endangering their lives. I’d say its a wash at best.

    ‘signing campaign gear”? He was signing MAGA hats?

  74. 74.

    MazeDancer

    @Matt in SF:

    You did right by your girl. You knew how to talk to her. And – speaking from personal experience – some cats cannot be kept inside.

    So very sorry for your loss.

  75. 75.

    scott alloway

    @Matt in SF: I offer my deepest sympathy. It always hurts, no matter how they leave us. From my first pet, Lonnie, in 1961, to our cat, Pippin, in 2008, there is a hole that never quite gets filled. But the memory of our pets slowly fills that hole and makes us smile at the oddest times. That day will come, when you least expect it.

  77. 77.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mary G: They are Soldiers at al Assad Air Base. I see at least one Army Medical patch. Al Assad Air Base is the central and major base in Western Iraq. It has a large Combat Army Surgical Hospital (CASH), can land C130s, if I’m remembering correctly – I never went to al Assad, just what I was told – it also has both a very large swimming pool and a Cinabun.

  82. 82.

    hueyplong

    @Paul in KY, @Mr Stagger Lee May Trump have Polk’s single term and Edward II’s termination.

  83. 83.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jeffro: He did. I guarantee they’re on their way home right now. Whatever they were there for will now be delayed until they can get a replacement team out of isolation prep and on station in Anbar.

    Sarah Huckabee Sanders and whoever else was with her from the White House Press Office should be terminated immediately. I would argue they should also be charged and prosecuted for the unauthorized release of Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information from a Special Access Program (TS/SCI SAP).

  85. 85.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Raven: That won’t include Special Operations units – Green Berets, SeALs, Operational Detachments-Delta. Those deployments are all classified.

  86. 86.

    Miss Bianca

    @Adam L Silverman: I can’t fucking believe the shit this maladministration gets away with, whether because general fecklessness just is the default GOP MO, or because the Tsunami of Wrong is just so fast-moving, ubiquitous, and overwhelming.

  87. 87.

    Zelma

    @Matt in SF:

    Roo lived the kind of life she wanted. She sounds like a special cat. My sympathy My advice? Get another cat. He/she will not be Roo but will be special

  89. 89.

    Jim, Foolish LIteralist

    so… apparently he’s yapping at Rahmstein

    Denizcan Grimes @ MrFilmkritik
    Trump talking about how dangerous it was for him to fly to Iraq on Air Force One and his fears for Melania’s safety is hilarious.

    When Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State she traveled to conflict zones all the time and never complained.

    I wonder how much was left in the inauguration slush fund to slush over to Melanie to get her to go

  91. 91.

    Matt in SF

    Thanks, all, for the condolences. It’s a small, personal loss in the grand scheme of things, but it still hurts. Your compassion really helps.

  92. 92.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Sarah Huckabee Sanders and whoever else was with her from the White House Press Office should be terminated immediately. I would argue they should also be charged and prosecuted for the unauthorized release of Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information from a Special Access Program (TS/SCI SAP).

    Yeah, that won’t happen. IOKIYAR.

  93. 93.

    Jeffro

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Sarah Huckabee Sanders and whoever else was with her from the White House Press Office should be terminated immediately. I would argue they should also be charged and prosecuted for the unauthorized release of Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information from a Special Access Program (TS/SCI SAP).

    When I say “I’m down with this”, please understand, I am SO. DOWN. with this that I’m willing to drive the Downmobile straight to DC and pay for parking while I wait for her to be loaded up and taken to Down Court.

    I wasn’t kidding when I said that this kind of insanity – this particular version, where opsec is compromised by JOKUS – is the thing that Republicans would have immediately moved to draw and quarter a Democratic POTUS and the entirety of his/her staff. Here’s hoping that our national snooze media takes up the issue and asks all sorts of GOP pols what they’d do were it Obama, or Clinton, who had pulled this crap.

    Fingers crossed that everything drops on Jan 4th and we get on with the difficult but necessary resolution here…

  94. 94.

    Adam L Silverman

    @plato: He’s going back to DC. But this will be the excuse he uses to go to Mar a Lago for the attendance by those who bought tickets only New Year’s Eve party while the government is shutdown. The justification will be that he went to visit troops in a war zone, so he’s allowed to go to a party being thrown to enrich himself and provide those who bought tickets access to the president of the United States.

  95. 95.

    J R in WV

    @Matt in SF:

    So sorry for your loss. We have a big ol’ torty who is as affectionate as she can be, because she’s always hungry and on a diet 24/7/365.

  99. 99.

    Beautifulplumage

    @Matt in SF: Matt, so sorry your family is going through this loss at the holidays. Sounds like Roo was a gem. Will give Miss Pearl extra skritches tonight in his honor.

  100. 100.

    patrick II

    We are in countries most people haven’t even heard about.

    He mistakes “most people” with himself.(And Palin).

  101. 101.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Miss Bianca: Combination of that, the fact that almost everyone working for him is incompetent and, quite often, none too bright, and he’s a Republican. If a Democratic administration had done this, with a GOP majority Congress, despite it being a lame duck Congress and despite it being the day after Christmas, Congress would be back in session tomorrow and, I suspect, they’d be hearing articles of impeachment in the House.

  106. 106.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    They’re swarming Twitter to crow about Trump abandoning the Middle East (unlike that warmongerer Killary) and swearing they won’t vote for any Democrat who doesn’t pledge to fully legalize weed. Because that’s the fuckin’ top priority right now: legalizing weed. ?

    Gah. I probably need to put the intertubes down for the day. People are pissing me off.

  107. 107.

    Mnemosyne

    @Matt in SF:

    I’m so sorry. Try not to blame yourself too much — when a cat is that stubborn, there’s only so much you can do to protect them.

  108. 108.

    Miss Bianca

    @Adam L Silverman: and this, beyond the damage to the SEAL team and our general national security, is what I find so infuriating: the sheer hypocrisy of our natuonal political system, where Republicans can do no wrong and Democrats can do no right.

  109. 109.

    Ohio Mom

    @Matt in SF: Sorry to hear about Roo. I’m not a pet owner but it’s impossible to be a Balloon Juicer and not learn to appreciate how central a cat or a dog can be to someone, and what a great sorrow it is to lose a four-footed soul mate. I hope Roo’s memory will be a comfort to you.

    Maybe the one good that can come out of this is that you’ll leave lurkerdom and be a regular commentator?

  110. 110.

    plato

    The way the media minions are fluffing the totus thug’s ‘visiting the troops’ event is as if the draft dodger is actually fighting in a war. It’s the least fucking thing the unfit thug can and should do as prez. The bars are invisible at this point being deeply sunk for this thug.

  111. 111.

    Steve in the ATL

    Haven’t read through the comments, but in case no one has mentioned it already: Donald trump is a fucking moron.

  114. 114.

    Aleta

    @Matt in SF: Very very sorry. I had a conversing cat too (you never got the last word) and miss him so much. I hope the pain lessens over time; my sincere sympathy.

  115. 115.

    Ruckus

    @Raven:
    Those are not the only countries where military is stationed in the ME.
    I know of one who is there with his entire NG company. Not saying where he is, don’t know if I should or can. But it’s not among the countries listed.

  118. 118.

    J R in WV

    @Matt in SF:

    Also, open thread, so not off topic at all. We always have time and desire to hear about fur babies, and sympathy for those who have lost one recently.

    Our vets are always glad to see Punkin, our tortie, because she is unusually affectionate for torties, according to them. Most of our torties have been sweethearts, though, perhaps because we’re pretty affectionate too.

    Again, sorry for your loss! Take care!

  119. 119.

    VOR

    Sorry for your loss of Roo. They leave footprints on our heart. I have a 16 year old mama cat who keeps getting skinnier and skinnier. I suspect her time is running short. I am dreading that day.

  121. 121.

    satby

    @Bumper: aww, so sorry you have to say goodbye to Bumper. It’s the last loving gift we can give them, sparing them suffering. Condolences. It’s hard.

  122. 122.

    evodevo

    @Jim, Foolish LIteralist: If I remember correctly, much political hay was made of Hillary’s offhand remark about flying into a potentially dangerous zone in Bosnia or some such. I wonder if our beloved MSM will make as much of a fuss over Stumpy’s remarks lol

  124. 124.

    AnotherBruce

    @Matt in SF: It’s hard to lose our furry friends. We give them food and shelter. They give us love. Give it some time. When you need a new kitty, it will appear.

  125. 125.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    @Matt in SF: I’m so sorry to read of your loss. Roo sounds like a wonderful kitty. They leave such big paw prints on our hearts.

  126. 126.

    Mary

    @Matt in SF: Oh, I am so sorry about little Roo. My heart goes out to you. I have been there myself and there are just no words … You and little Roo will be in my heart. I send you and your family my sincerest condolences. Mary Catherine

  128. 128.

    Bill Arnold

    @Jay:

    …this program of increasingly murky detentions at sea was dubbed Operation Martillo, or Operation Hammer. Under it, by the fall of 2017, the numbers of detainees had leapt more than 300% to 700 that year.

    Did not know that, very sad to read about it (Karen Greenberg piece). Point remains though; DJT, if he had any genuine interest in what DHS does (and he claims to, and is continually prodded to Stephen Miller and others), he would be reluctant to defund DHS at all. He doesn’t care; he wants his win, or rather to avoid a loss. (Also, the Coast Guard operation is nasty but (from the description and there are probably exceptions) about accused drug smugglers, not refugees.)

  130. 130.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mnemosyne: I would argue that it might actually be an improvement if marijuana was legalized and the majority of the country would partake. Also, snack food profits would go up.

  134. 134.

    Chetan Murthy

    I don’t give two flying fucks for his safety, and would be dancing a jig if somehow he came to an ill end at the hands of ISIS, but sheeite, he took his *wife* to Iraq? Really? really? REALLY? Goddamn, she better have a fucking great prenup, and lawyers working on impounding down EVERY damn asset. Shit. Just blows my mind.

  136. 136.

    Chetan Murthy

    @M31: Not that I don’t think that guy’s a hero (I do), but …. he’s done enough. The rest is up to us.

    ETA: And I think that, regardless of what his actual politics are, what he’s actually done elsewhere. Maybe he’s an ISIS member: doesn’t matter, that one time, he expressed his dissatisfaction in a peaceful (yeah yeah, it’s a fucking shoe) manner, and I gotta applaud that.

  137. 137.

    Ruckus

    @Mary G:
    This is probably a rather large base with a fair amount of amenities. No one on this base is going to be running around looking like they haven’t showered in 2 or 3 weeks or wearing a ratty uniform. IOW life probably isn’t all that different than a base in the US with the exception that one may not be able to go outside the parameter except on patrol. My friend is at a base like that right now. We’ve had a few video conferences with him.

  138. 138.

    Ruckus

    @Steve in the ATL:
    At the very least he’s a moron.
    But the list is fuller than that.
    Moron.
    Racist
    Misogynist
    Liar
    Cheap Fuck
    ……..
    The tally of things that people on just this blog can do is rather large. Individual 1 can’t do any of them. He’s just not capable. Add into that the things that he’s supposed to be good and so very much isn’t, like making a profit, not going bankrupt…….

  139. 139.

    sylvainsylvain

    Just a quick note…I’m a federal employee. I’m off till the first anyway, so no big deal so far. My boss texted me today and said they were running payroll today, so it looks like I’ll get paid on Monday. Which is good. I also got an email today with instructions on filing for unemployment. Which is not good.

    Something else that’s interesting: I’ve been getting jacked around for over a year re: insurance/benefits. The Wise and Powerful leaders in my particular Bureau have determined we can finish our month’s worth of work by the 20th of every month, both to save money (which became important after the sequester) and to make themselves more attractive to the private sector. Which means it’s been difficult to qualify for said bennies. But now everybody on my team has qualified, plus I’m getting a raise, supposedly above the COLA we usually get. I’m being told it’s because we’re hiring a lot in preparation for 2020, when we’re our busiest, and they’ve realized they can’t hire new people and pay them more than the people that’ve been there for years, without risking having them jump to the private sector themselves.

    And I’m sorry to hear about Roo. My tortie Miss Possum is the smartest cat I’ve ever had, and I’d be heartbroken if I lost her. She spent her first 6 months scrounging around construction sites before she came to live w us, and she’s been perfectly content to lay around and tell me how I’m doing it wrong, whatever it may be, ever since. My thoughts are with you tonight.

    Good luck to all you jackals out there tonight. Rain & 50 mph winds here.

  141. 141.

    SG

    @Matt in SF: I am so very sorry for your loss of Roo. I’m still mourning the loss of my dear Harry almost 18 months ago. I hope that soon it will be the good things you remember most of all, not the loss.

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