Well, in the latest round of government by tantrum, the Orange Disaster Area fired SecState Rex Tillerson today, apparently without bothering to tell Tillerson first. Mike Pompeo is tapped to come over from the CIA to be the new Secretary of State.
Why? Well, we know Tillerson thinks his (former) boss is a 'fucking moron' (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2017/10/now_we_know_why_rex_tillerson_called_donald_trump_a_moron.html). And they disagree on what Russia is up to (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43388723).
And probably a bit of a smokescreen (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/porn-stars-lawyer-trump-team-ultimatum-money-back/story?id=53704128), too.
You couldn't get this published as fictionâ€"no one would believe it. But here it is and here we are.
Tillerson says UK spy poisoning clearly came from Russia (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/amp/tillerson-says-u-k-spy-poisoning-clearly-came-russia-n856056)
Hmmmm...
Quote from: Hydra009 on March 13, 2018, 11:41:40 AM
Tillerson says UK spy poisoning clearly came from Russia (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/amp/tillerson-says-u-k-spy-poisoning-clearly-came-russia-n856056)
Hmmmm...
What's going to be interesting about Pompeo's nomination is that so far he's been hawkish on Russia. We'll see how long he lasts if he says anything about Tsar Vladimir. And if he
does roll over and play nice on Russia, then getting him out of the CIA may actually be a good thing, relatively speaking. Shows how low the bar has to be set for this White House to get 'good'...
Meanwhile, the nominee to take over at the CIA is closely linked to the operation of CIA 'black sites' and torture programs during the '00s (https://theintercept.com/2017/02/02/trumps-cia-chief-selects-major-torture-operative-to-be-agencys-deputy-director/).
The target has shifted from N Korea to Iran. Bibi has ordered it. All the Russia stuff is distraction for the sheeple.
The new woman head of the CIA, will claim she killed Osama with her bare hands. Nobody can check, no corpse.
But there's no chaos in the White house, nothing but high energy...
I have to admit, I never cared much for Tillerson, but damn!
I see that Chump's personal assistant has also been fired! But he was hired by the campaign for 2020.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-fires-his-personal-assistant-john-mcentee-then-trump-campaign-hires-him/
I've done so many face palms since Chump got in office that I'm in danger of beating myself to death!
One more terrible human being removed from the government, with 3 worse waiting to fill his space (and 6 more waiting to fill what ever vacancy they leave).
I want to be happy about this, but I just cant.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 13, 2018, 01:20:58 PM
But there's no chaos in the White house, nothing but high energy...
I have to admit, I never cared much for Tillerson, but damn!
Most people thought that Tillerson was "more of the same" kind of swamp creature. It seems if you aren't CIA, or DoD or Goldman-Sachs, you won't last long in this administration.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 13, 2018, 03:24:28 PM
I see that Chump's personal assistant has also been fired! But he was hired by the campaign for 2020.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-fires-his-personal-assistant-john-mcentee-then-trump-campaign-hires-him/
He was caught with his hand in the till-erson. Yes, supposedly financial trickery tripped him up.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 13, 2018, 05:44:59 PM
I've done so many face palms since Chump got in office that I'm in danger of beating myself to death!
Not stopping you ... just saying ;-)
Quote from: Shiranu on March 13, 2018, 06:21:09 PM
One more terrible human being removed from the government, with 3 worse waiting to fill his space (and 6 more waiting to fill what ever vacancy they leave).
I want to be happy about this, but I just cant.
If we really saw things as they are ... all the grifting by all the folks near power and money .. I think most people would off themselves. They keep it from the public, best they can, for our own safety. Remember the scifi movie a few years ago, where everyone was committing suicide randomly? Maybe that should have been a story where people finally got past all the propaganda.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 13, 2018, 01:20:58 PM
But there's no chaos in the White house, nothing but high energy...
"A well oiled machine," I think Trump called it.
Quote from: SGOS on March 13, 2018, 08:52:54 PM
"A well oiled machine," I think Trump called it.
Hey, sometimes you need new tires every week because the last ones couldn't dodge that big pothole in that construction zone. Or that same pothole the next week. Or new brakes every month because the last one didn't stop the car from hitting that tree a quarter-second after they were pushed. Cars are so unreliable...
I know a few people that still think Trump isda shit. They say “liberals are waiting for him to screw upâ€. I kinda think that happened 13 months ago.
Insane people saying Trump is going to go down in history as one the best presidents ever. Course not many of them pay attention to anything Trump does.
BTW that well oiled machine just keeps going. Just last week Trump was bragging about election night like it was a few days ago.... kinda like grandpa bragging about something that happened 20 years ago
Quote from: fencerider on March 15, 2018, 12:21:43 AM
I know a few people that still think Trump isda shit. They say “liberals are waiting for him to screw upâ€. I kinda think that happened 13 months ago.
Insane people saying Trump is going to go down in history as one the best presidents ever. Course not many of them pay attention to anything Trump does.
BTW that well oiled machine just keeps going. Just last week Trump was bragging about election night like it was a few days ago.... kinda like grandpa bragging about something that happened 20 years ago
We aren't "waiting" for Trump to screw up, he did that every day in office.
What we are waiting for is either some anti-Rasputin to weird him into reality, or the 2018 elections to either neutralize him or remove him.
Quote from: Cavebear on March 15, 2018, 01:01:25 AM
We aren't "waiting" for Trump to screw up, he did that every day in office.
What we are waiting for is either some anti-Rasputin to weird him into reality, or the 2018 elections to either neutralize him or remove him.
D party will have to get some balls. Maybe y'all should take up bowling?
Quote from: Cavebear on March 15, 2018, 01:01:25 AM
We aren't "waiting" for Trump to screw up, he did that every day in office.
What we are waiting for is either some anti-Rasputin to weird him into reality, or the 2018 elections to either neutralize him or remove him.
Neutralization is the best bet since Pence is a wanna-be Christian ayatollah. Removal won't improve anything. Also, the Orange Disaster Area is too scattershot to get anything done; Pence is an experienced politician and can get his theocratic intentions enacted. He did it in Indiana.
Tillerson Fired Over Rogue Bid to Save Iran Nuke Deal (http://freebeacon.com/national-security/tillerson-fired-rogue-bid-save-iran-nuke-deal/?utm_source=Freedom+Mail&utm_campaign=b06293c0c9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b5e6e0e9ea-b06293c0c9-45615197)
QuoteThe abrupt firing Tuesday of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson follows months of infighting between the State Department and White House over efforts by Tillerson to save the Iran nuclear deal and ignore President Donald Trump's demands that the agreement be fixed or completely scrapped by the United States, according to multiple sources with knowledge
In the weeks leading up to Tillerson's departure, he had been spearheading efforts to convince European allies to agree to a range of fixes to the nuclear deal that would address Iran's ongoing ballistic missile program and continued nuclear research.
While Trump had prescribed a range of fixes that he viewed as tightening the deal's flaws, Tillerson recently caved to European pressure to walk back these demands and appease Tehran while preserving the deal, according to these sources. The Free Beacon first disclosed this tension last week in a wide-ranging report.
White House allies warned Tillerson's senior staff for weeks that efforts to save the nuclear deal and balk on Trump's key demands regarding the deal could cost Tillerson his job, a warning that became reality Tuesday when Trump fired Tillerson by tweet.
In describing the White house cabinet, a guest on NPR yesterday described Tillerson and another guy who I can't remember as the two adults in the room.
Quote from: SGOS on March 15, 2018, 12:30:50 PM
In describing the White house cabinet, a guest on NPR yesterday described Tillerson and another guy who I can't remember as the two adults in the room.
Having worked in a day care center, I guarantee you that two adultsâ€"now apparently only oneâ€"are not enough to handle that many children.
Quote from: trdsf on March 15, 2018, 12:47:15 PM
Having worked in a day care center, I guarantee you that two adultsâ€"now apparently only oneâ€"are not enough to handle that many children.
The longer Trump is President, the fewer real adults there will be around him. He is eliminating them as fast as he can. Possibly the most interesting and useful benefit of his Presidency is the people he will cause to be considered unworthy of any future office.
I didn't think much of Tillerson, but it sure shows what happens if you aren't heartbeat to heartbeat with Trump!
Quote from: Cavebear on March 15, 2018, 01:19:03 PM
The longer Trump is President, the fewer real adults there will be around him. He is eliminating them as fast as he can. Possibly the most interesting and useful benefit of his Presidency is the people he will cause to be considered unworthy of any future office.
I am sure Gen Kelley et al will be amused that you imagine them in diapers ;-)
Trump started by proclaiming he would get the best of the best working for him. He got a few A level people, but mostly B level, and left a LOT of jobs unfilled mostly because no qualified experts wanted to work for a "moron". He can't even suggest a qualified Ambassador to S Korea after a year in office and on the brink of top level discussions with N Korea.
As he removes the few A level experts, he finds he can't even get the B level experts to apply for jobs in his balloon pit. He is getting into the Cs now, and they are deciding they have "other commitments".
Pretty soon, the Trump Administration will be made up entirely of Fox News talking heads and a few family members he can't tell to "go away"...
Quote from: fencerider on March 15, 2018, 12:21:43 AM
Insane people saying Trump is going to go down in history as one the best presidents ever. Course not many of them pay attention to anything Trump does.
What policies has the trump administration pushed for and passed that you think are antithetical to trump supporters values?
Quote from: Gilgamesh on March 17, 2018, 02:43:40 AM
What policies has the trump administration pushed for and passed that you think are antithetical to trump supporters values?
None. They love him and agree with everything he does. On the other hand, his supporters these days are among a distinct minority of Americans as he goes spiraling out of control. Trump's approval rating goes down every time he posts. The more people learn about him, the less they like him.
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 02:36:45 AM
Trump started by proclaiming he would get the best of the best working for him. He got a few A level people, but mostly B level, and left a LOT of jobs unfilled mostly because no qualified experts wanted to work for a "moron". He can't even suggest a qualified Ambassador to S Korea after a year in office and on the brink of top level discussions with N Korea.
As he removes the few A level experts, he finds he can't even get the B level experts to apply for jobs in his balloon pit. He is getting into the Cs now, and they are deciding they have "other commitments".
Pretty soon, the Trump Administration will be made up entirely of Fox News talking heads and a few family members he can't tell to "go away"...
We had that with JFK, and he gave us Sec Def McNamara. Another guy who thought government should be run like a corporation. But it was in the LBJ administration that McNamara really shown ;-(
No, other than implementing a Goldman-Sachs/DoD take over ... I don't see any competence in the vetting.
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 02:48:24 AM
None. They love him and agree with everything he does. On the other hand, his supporters these days are among a distinct minority of Americans as he goes spiraling out of control. Trump's approval rating goes down every time he posts. The more people learn about him, the less they like him.
it is very hard herding cats. Dogs are much easier, sheep even more so. Democracy as a popularity contest, is so ancient Athens. A bad idea 2500 years ago.
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 02:48:24 AM
None. They love him and agree with everything he does. On the other hand, his supporters these days are among a distinct minority of Americans as he goes spiraling out of control. Trump's approval rating goes down every time he posts. The more people learn about him, the less they like him.
I wasn't asking you.
What I took from his post, is that he believes if trump supporters paid more attention - perhaps were more self-aware - that they would be able to see certain trump policies are antithetical to their own ideals. I am asking him what he thinks these certain policies are.
Quote from: Gilgamesh on March 17, 2018, 04:30:15 AM
I wasn't asking you.
What I took from his post, is that he believes if trump supporters paid more attention - perhaps were more self-aware - that they would be able to see certain trump policies are antithetical to their own ideals. I am asking him what he thinks these certain policies are.
Does it matter now? - Hillary
Trump supporters aren't a coherent party. The Tea Party was an internal Republican movement neutered by the usual RNC suspects. Status quo usually wins. Just as Occupy and Bernie were neutered by the usual DNC suspects. All your candidates belong to us now - CIA
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 04:36:49 AM
Trump supporters aren't a coherent party. The Tea Party was an internal Republican movement neutered by the usual RNC suspects. Status quo usually wins. Just as Occupy and Bernie were neutered by the usual DNC suspects. All your candidates belong to us now - CIA
The DNC probably gave Hillary a nudge, but there was a mindset among voters ever since Al Gore was defeated, that Hillary would someday be president. The media helped to promote the mindset during the 16 years she was out of the Whitehouse. Commentators would at best talk about other scenarios on rare occasion. Except during primary run offs, where they needed to promote an air of competitive tension. After losing a close race to Obama and so graciously supporting him, she was automatically assumed to be the next president after Obama got out of the way.
The assumption was the same for RNC and right wing media, who promoted the mindset that Hillary was sent from Hell to take over America and increase her wealth and power even though she killed that guy during Bill's tenure and wanted to promote the Clinton Foundation, an enterprise as vast and self serving as the Trump Empire.
The left was set to install her without any more help from the DNC. Bernie was never going to win the primary, anyway. The DNC did put a couple other clowns in the primary to give the impression there was an actual race and the nomination was still open, but the clowns were nobodies, and most people can't even remember their names or where they came from. They were just shadows that filled empty chairs during the debates.
Quote from: Gilgamesh on March 17, 2018, 04:30:15 AM
I wasn't asking you.
What I took from his post, is that he believes if trump supporters paid more attention - perhaps were more self-aware - that they would be able to see certain trump policies are antithetical to their own ideals. I am asking him what he thinks these certain policies are.
Every public post is free for others to reply to. You don't get to choose who replies. If you want to limit replies, use the messages function and have a wonderful private debate.
Meanwhile, it isn't actually Trump's policies per se, that some people object to. It is the random. seemingly irrational and non-thoughtful way he arrives at them. A child with a dart and a brought board of random decisions could easily match Trump's decisions.
People are jumping ship around him almost every day. Some stay until they are firing by Tweet. Some stay until they get perp-walked out of the White House gates. Some are probably just hiding under their desks. But the whole White House staff seems to be falling apart daily and that is NOT good!
More "promotions" on the way:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/trump-decides-to-remove-national-security-adviser-and-others-may-follow/2018/03/15/fea2ebae-285c-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html
This churn in the WH may be a feature, not a bug. Maybe the point isn't to remove people, as much as it is a chance to give supporters a temporary prestige job at the WH. It used to be that most ambassador appointments were for this purpose, but perhaps there are simply too many grifters to satisfy in 4 or 8 years. They can't all get money stuffed in their Cayman Island bank accounts.
When I was little, my mother used to watch a daytime TV program, Queen For a Day, where the contestant with the biggest sob story would be crowned, Queen, and take home prizes, like washing machines and/or refrigerators. Getting a temporary gig in the Whitehouse reminded me of that, except the sob story comes after you get fired. You would think Trump could at least give them a casino on the way out.
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:30:10 AM
When I was little, my mother used to watch a daytime TV program, Queen For a Day, where the contestant with the biggest sob story would be crowned, Queen, and take home prizes, like washing machines and/or refrigerators. Getting a temporary gig in the Whitehouse reminded me of that, except the sob story comes after you get fired. You would think Trump could at least give them a casino on the way out.
Yes, they should also be given a partially filled booklet of S&H green stamps ... to get more home gadgets in the future!
BTW - Bannon was never a good hire ... he slipped thru the cracks ... and egotistically martyred himself. Attention whore.
Quote from: Gilgamesh on March 17, 2018, 02:43:40 AM
What policies has the trump administration pushed for and passed that you think are antithetical to trump supporters values?
There are two ways to look at this question, but first I will point out that “100% of Trump supporters like his policy => Trump will go down in history as one of the best presidents†is a false argument.
Trump has passed a tax policy that will add $1-2 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. Soon to come will be cuts to medicare and social security which Trump said he wasn’t going to touch... that is just to start.
If you mean that Trump is actually doing what republicans want that is another issue.
1. Trump is destroying religious freedom by blocking muslims from entering the US., and supporting vindictive behavior of Christians against non-Christians in the US. I guess that means that republicans don’t really believe in religious freedom.
2. Trump is getting rid of hard fought environmental rules that protect peoples’ health. I guess that means the republican party doesn’t care if you are healthy or sick as long as somebody is making money.
3. Tillerson destroyed the state department with Trump’s blessing. I guesss that means republicans dont care how much danger is increased to our national security as long as we can save a buck.
should I go on? Trump is a loser, and a liar (even a former chairman of the RNC Michael Steele calls him a liar). If you think a loser like Trump is going to be given credit as a great president you’re smoking some good stuff.
I listened to Bernie Sanders every Friday for many years on Thom Hartmann's program, called Brunch With Bernie (https://www.thomhartmann.com/people/bernie-sanders). Unfortunately, the vast majority of American voters did not ever listen to it, having not ever heard of it, so they had never heard of Bernie until he ran for president.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 17, 2018, 01:49:31 PM
I listened to Bernie Sanders every Friday for many years on Thom Hartmann's program, called Brunch With Bernie (https://www.thomhartmann.com/people/bernie-sanders). Unfortunately, the vast majority of American voters did not ever listen to it, having not ever heard of it, so they had never heard of Bernie until he ran for president.
Feel the Burnie? Oo ... gay-ish.
Placing Trump in the presidency of the U.S.A. amounts to a coup by the Russian state. America is doomed if he stays in the office. Russia will destroy this nation through the use of domestic enemies.
QuoteRachel Maddow points out the concerning proximity between criticism of Russia and the job peril of Rex Tillerson and H.R. McMaster. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent discusses the circumstances of Rex Tillerson's firing in contrast with the story the White House is trying to push about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg2d4nMPL3U
If someone who's been fired by Trump tells Mueller something that damages Trump, he can claim they're just trying to hurt him because they're disgruntled for having been fired. Isn't that special...
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 17, 2018, 04:31:55 PM
If someone who's been fired by Trump tells Mueller something that damages Trump, he can claim they're just trying to hurt him because they're disgruntled for having been fired. Isn't that special...
Except, of course, for his long-standing patterns of both self-serving obvious lies and savagely turning on former allies.
Quote from: SGOS on March 17, 2018, 11:30:10 AM
When I was little, my mother used to watch a daytime TV program, Queen For a Day, where the contestant with the biggest sob story would be crowned, Queen, and take home prizes, like washing machines and/or refrigerators. Getting a temporary gig in the Whitehouse reminded me of that, except the sob story comes after you get fired. You would think Trump could at least give them a casino on the way out.
I remeber that show. The sob stories were touching. The crappiest life got an appliance. LOL! I would be embarrassed to watch it now, but back in the day, there were only the 3 channels and there wasn't much choice. Today, I would almost send them a refrigerator just to shut them up.
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 17, 2018, 04:31:55 PM
If someone who's been fired by Trump tells Mueller something that damages Trump, he can claim they're just trying to hurt him because they're disgruntled for having been fired. Isn't that special...
Inevitably, when the shit hits the fan, it hits a lot of people in the same room.
Yes, the Russians are super-men ... not those German guys. Americans are under-menschen (but translate that German to Russian).
Quote from: Cavebear on March 17, 2018, 09:57:24 PM
I remeber that show. The sob stories were touching. The crappiest life got an appliance. LOL! I would be embarrassed to watch it now, but back in the day, there were only the 3 channels and there wasn't much choice. Today, I would almost send them a refrigerator just to shut them up.
I don't think I was in school yet, so I watched anything my mother liked. Women crying while they told their stories... and the prizes. Ooh! Free prizes, and big ones too, which must be worth a lot more than little prizes. But I was easily entertained at that time of my life, and I was with my mother, so it was fun.
Quote from: SGOS on March 18, 2018, 06:34:30 AM
I don't think I was in school yet, so I watched anything my mother liked. Women crying while they told their stories... and the prizes. Ooh! Free prizes, and big ones too, which must be worth a lot more than little prizes. But I was easily entertained at that time of my life, and I was with my mother, so it was fun.
I liked to watch Galloping Gourmet with my mom, when she wasn't watching a golf tournament.
Quote from: Baruch on March 17, 2018, 11:34:52 PM
Yes, the Russians are super-men
Of course the are - just ask ensign Chekov. :-)
Quote from: Unbeliever on March 18, 2018, 05:13:39 PM
Of course the are - just ask ensign Chekov. :-)
Yes Chekov's pronouncements about Russians inventing everything were amusing, and he sometimes he winked at himself in the movies saying those things, but I thought then it represented the end of the Cold War. Little did I know what to to come in the present...