Donald Trump

Thoughts_Arrive

Jason P said:

I just saw a picture of Barron Trump ... dude is going to be playing center in the NBA if he keeps growing.  He is at least 6'4" at 13 years old.  

His dad will think he'll be the greatest ever

josevolution

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Jason P said:

I just saw a picture of Barron Trump ... dude is going to be playing center in the NBA if he keeps growing.  He is at least 6'4" at 13 years old.  

His dad will think he'll be the greatest ever

Not will , I’m sure he’s already telling everyone he is ! 

mickeyrat

ummmmm , the opening paragraph follows the link....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/in-aftermath-of-ukraine-crisis-a-climate-of-mistrust-and-threats/2019/12/24/03831e3e-2359-11ea-a153-dce4b94e4249_story.html

The new Russia adviser at the White House — the third in just six months — has no meaningful background on the subject. The only expert on Ukraine has never spoken with President Trump, only been mocked by him publicly.

OnWis97

josevolution said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Jason P said:

I just saw a picture of Barron Trump ... dude is going to be playing center in the NBA if he keeps growing.  He is at least 6'4" at 13 years old.  

His dad will think he'll be the greatest ever

Not will , I’m sure he’s already telling everyone he is ! 

Assuming he remembers that Barron exists.

Lerxst1992

Thoughts_Arrive said:

Lerxst1992 said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Even in Australia he has fans, geez. I’m near his beloved hometown and although NY is a blue state, trump has plenty of fans here, including my in laws. Can’t wait til they get here tomorrow.

Was watching Krakow 030718 earlier and two young ladies cleverly requested Green Disease by writing it on their foreheads. Ed then went into a rant about how terrible a person trump is and how embarrassed they are by him as our president. Bless his soul. Ed, not Don.

Plenty of fans here.

One guy I know has a MAGA red hat. 

It's pretty frustrating that my brother in law thinks I am a right winger. He's known me for 22 fking years. I'm trying to work out why. Perhaps because we are both from the same ethnic background which is conservative so he assumes I'm conservative. He loves Trump because he has boosted the US economy, created jobs and because black and Latino people love him.

Trump loving in laws here complaining...again... about how much medical bills cost.

I’m like... uh you can literally move to any other country (or stay here and literally vote for any other party that you usually vote for) and those bills go away forever. 

Drinking so much wine putting Ed’s in concert wino to shame.

The Juggler

https://amp.axios.com/republican-party-2020-election-wipeout-house-senate-trump-3ca4a371-cdfb-4213-9ff0-2cf058aa7537.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100&__twitter_impression=true

Mike Allen, Alayna Treene

Oct 29, 2019

The GOP's nightmare scenario

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A growing number of Republicans are privately warning of increasing fears of a total wipeout in 2020: House, Senate, and White House.

Why it matters: All of this is unfolding while the economy still looks strong, and before public impeachment proceedings have officially begun.

• House Republicans in swing districts are retiring at a very fast pace, especially in the suburbs of Texas and elsewhere. (Republicans talk grimly of the "Texodus.") Rep. Greg Walden — the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the only Republican in Oregon's congressional delegation — yesterday shocked the party by becoming the 19th GOP House member to not seek re-election.
• The Republican Senate majority, once considered relatively safe, suddenly looks in serious jeopardy. Democrats are raising more money, and polling better, than Republican incumbents in battleground after battleground.
• President Trump trails every major Democratic candidate nationally and in swing states — and his favorable ratings remain well under 50%.

The biggest recent change is Republicans' increasingly precarious hold on the Senate.

• National Journal's Josh Kraushaar writes in his "Against the Grain" column that "the pathway for a narrow Democratic takeover of the upper chamber is looking clearer than ever": "If Trump doesn’t win a second term, Democrats only need to net three seats to win back the majority."

Scott Reed, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior political strategist, tells me that third-quarter fundraising reports showing three Republican senators being out-raised by Democratic challengers (in Arizona, Iowa and Maine) "are a three-alarm fire."

• "The party was shaken by that," Reed said. "We're all worried."
• The well-funded Chamber started TV ads in Arizona last week, launches an ad today in Maine, and will add a third state next week.
• That's the earliest the group has ever gone on the air: Ads typically begin after Thanksgiving or New Year's.
• "We have to spend early because the climate stinks," Reed said. "All these incumbent senators have terrible job approvals and terrible favorables."
• But Reed thinks Trump has a better than 50-50 chance of hanging on: "He's still wildly popular in the middle of the country."

Between the lines: Across the board, struggling Republican Senate campaigns are more concerned about lousy fundraising than they are with poor polling.

• Republican strategists and campaign staffers said that with the polarization of the Trump era, key House and Senate races will depend even more than usual on the presidential race.

What to watch: Senate races look so tight that control could be decided by a January 2021 runoff in Georgia.

mickeyrat

wheres the current analysis.....

Jearlpam0925

The Juggler said:

https://amp.axios.com/republican-party-2020-election-wipeout-house-senate-trump-3ca4a371-cdfb-4213-9ff0-2cf058aa7537.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100&__twitter_impression=true

Mike Allen, Alayna Treene

Oct 29, 2019

The GOP's nightmare scenario

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A growing number of Republicans are privately warning of increasing fears of a total wipeout in 2020: House, Senate, and White House.

Why it matters: All of this is unfolding while the economy still looks strong, and before public impeachment proceedings have officially begun.

• House Republicans in swing districts are retiring at a very fast pace, especially in the suburbs of Texas and elsewhere. (Republicans talk grimly of the "Texodus.") Rep. Greg Walden — the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the only Republican in Oregon's congressional delegation — yesterday shocked the party by becoming the 19th GOP House member to not seek re-election.
• The Republican Senate majority, once considered relatively safe, suddenly looks in serious jeopardy. Democrats are raising more money, and polling better, than Republican incumbents in battleground after battleground.
• President Trump trails every major Democratic candidate nationally and in swing states — and his favorable ratings remain well under 50%.

The biggest recent change is Republicans' increasingly precarious hold on the Senate.

• National Journal's Josh Kraushaar writes in his "Against the Grain" column that "the pathway for a narrow Democratic takeover of the upper chamber is looking clearer than ever": "If Trump doesn’t win a second term, Democrats only need to net three seats to win back the majority."

Scott Reed, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior political strategist, tells me that third-quarter fundraising reports showing three Republican senators being out-raised by Democratic challengers (in Arizona, Iowa and Maine) "are a three-alarm fire."

• "The party was shaken by that," Reed said. "We're all worried."
• The well-funded Chamber started TV ads in Arizona last week, launches an ad today in Maine, and will add a third state next week.
• That's the earliest the group has ever gone on the air: Ads typically begin after Thanksgiving or New Year's.
• "We have to spend early because the climate stinks," Reed said. "All these incumbent senators have terrible job approvals and terrible favorables."
• But Reed thinks Trump has a better than 50-50 chance of hanging on: "He's still wildly popular in the middle of the country."

Between the lines: Across the board, struggling Republican Senate campaigns are more concerned about lousy fundraising than they are with poor polling.

• Republican strategists and campaign staffers said that with the polarization of the Trump era, key House and Senate races will depend even more than usual on the presidential race.

What to watch: Senate races look so tight that control could be decided by a January 2021 runoff in Georgia.

One can only hope.

Abe Froman

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Trump came up at my family Christmas for a very brief moment. My uncle who is a huge conservative said about trump: “well he’s just a fucking asshole. Trying to implement some of the right things but goes about it in the worst ways”. 

I hope this is a good sign. I didn’t comment as I wanted the subject to move on (and it did) so I don’t know what the “right things” are that he was referring to but I was very happy to hear him start right off with the asshole remark. 

OnWis97

Abe Froman said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Trump came up at my family Christmas for a very brief moment. My uncle who is a huge conservative said about trump: “well he’s just a fucking asshole. Trying to implement some of the right things but goes about it in the worst ways”. 

I hope this is a good sign. I didn’t comment as I wanted the subject to move on (and it did) so I don’t know what the “right things” are that he was referring to but I was very happy to hear him start right off with the asshole remark. 

I don't know your uncle...and one man may dodge the statistics...but statistically, he's probably voting for Trump.  Just wait until he (and those like him) have to weigh him against a "socialist."

mrussel1

OnWis97 said:

Abe Froman said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Trump came up at my family Christmas for a very brief moment. My uncle who is a huge conservative said about trump: “well he’s just a fucking asshole. Trying to implement some of the right things but goes about it in the worst ways”. 

I hope this is a good sign. I didn’t comment as I wanted the subject to move on (and it did) so I don’t know what the “right things” are that he was referring to but I was very happy to hear him start right off with the asshole remark. 

I don't know your uncle...and one man may dodge the statistics...but statistically, he's probably voting for Trump.  Just wait until he (and those like him) have to weigh him against a "socialist."

My brother in law is a colonel and teaches at the Naval Academy.  He's a lifelong Republican but hates Trump with every ounce of his being.  I hadn't seen him in two years because he was in Cuba for his last stint, but I was surprised at Christmas that he said he was supporting Pete.  He really likes him.  He's a pretty hard core Catholic, so was surprised that he's overlooking that Pete is gay.  I have hope...

gimmesometruth27

Abe Froman said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Trump came up at my family Christmas for a very brief moment. My uncle who is a huge conservative said about trump: “well he’s just a fucking asshole. Trying to implement some of the right things but goes about it in the worst ways”. 

I hope this is a good sign. I didn’t comment as I wanted the subject to move on (and it did) so I don’t know what the “right things” are that he was referring to but I was very happy to hear him start right off with the asshole remark. 

i work in medical sales. i work with a lot of assholes every single day. assholes can recognize assholishness in other assholes. they almost seem to respect it. 

i imagine they compliment each other behind their backs by calling each other assholes the way i compliment someone behind their back by saying "oh man that dude is such a nice guy."

Thoughts_Arrive

It's sad that people like my brother in law judge success only on the economy and jobs.
What about humanity? Decency? 

Abe Froman

OnWis97 said:

Abe Froman said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

My brother in law started talking about how great Trump is after asking what I think of him. Not today, not on Christmas day. I replied with he sucks. No point in arguing over it.

Trump came up at my family Christmas for a very brief moment. My uncle who is a huge conservative said about trump: “well he’s just a fucking asshole. Trying to implement some of the right things but goes about it in the worst ways”. 

I hope this is a good sign. I didn’t comment as I wanted the subject to move on (and it did) so I don’t know what the “right things” are that he was referring to but I was very happy to hear him start right off with the asshole remark. 

I don't know your uncle...and one man may dodge the statistics...but statistically, he's probably voting for Trump.  Just wait until he (and those like him) have to weigh him against a "socialist."

Oh I’m pretty sure he will still vote republican but at least he voluntarily acknowledged Trump sucks. It’s a start. 

josevolution

https://apple.news/AXIly66NwRn2-iCE_-tkU9Q
i bet he won’t care that a large portion on congregation consist of illegals, fucking religious zealots are thee worst humans ..

Bentleyspop

But but but OBAMA!!!

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1212431937979265032?s=19

josevolution

Bentleyspop said:

But but but OBAMA!!!

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1212431937979265032?s=19

Hardest smartest most transparent president in our history 😂

Thoughts_Arrive

my son Baron, he's 10 feet tall, tremendous. Believe me. Greater than Trump tower.

riotgrl

Do any of you follow Heather Cox Richardson?  She is a political historian at Boston College.  She writes a daily blog that puts the days news in perspective and offers an insightful view of current events through the lens of history.  You can find her on Facebook and at her blog: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/  Here is today's message if interested:

If yesterday was about looking backward and taking stock, today is about moving forward.

The biggest story today, by far, is that yesterday, on December 31, supporters of what appear to be an Iranian-backed militia laid siege to the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. The immediate cause was the US airstrikes that killed 25 in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed a US military contractor. But the larger protest was anger at American presence in the region. It was significant that the embassy is not simply a building, it is a 104-acre area, and the protesters had to push past Iraqi soldiers to take up their positions, which suggested to observers that the Iraqi soldiers agreed with the protesters.

The protest highlighted the increasing tension in Iraq between Americans, who retain about 5000 troops in Iraq, and Iran, which controls the Iraqi militias. Tensions with Iran ratcheted up when in 2018 Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its development of nuclear technology.

The siege conjured up memories of the 1979 seizure of the Iranian embassy by Islamic militants, as yesterday's protesters echoed their calls of “Death to America” and embassy staff hunkered down in a safe room inside the compound. It also invited comparisons to the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, as American officials were blindsided by the attack. Nervous about those comparisons, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham repeatedly noted that there would be “no Benghazis” on Trump’s watch.

In one of history's little twists, Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on whose watch this has happened, was on the House Select Committee on Benghazi when it investigated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the sixth time in the House (and, for the sixth time, found no wrongdoing). This was the investigation Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) now House Minority Leader, told Fox News personality Sean Hannity was intended simply to keep Benghazi in front of voters to hurt Clinton before the 2016 election. (It has recently been revealed that McCarthy took Russian money from indicted political operative Lev Parnas.) And now, Pompeo and Trump have their own incident.

The larger crisis is that it is falling into Trump’s lap to deal with the fallout of a war that began in 2003 and has cost more than a trillion dollars, and which seems to have accomplished very little except to strengthen the hand of Iran in the area. And it is happening at a time when he is facing an impeachment trial and is more and more erratic.

Today, unexpectedly, the protesters ended their siege out of deference to Iraqi leaders, they claimed. “You have won a victory,” one of the leaders told the militias. “You have delivered your message. We will take our fight to expel U.S. troops from our land to parliament, and if we don’t succeed, we will return."

Also on the table today is that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that he will no longer be bound by his self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests since talks between him and Trump have not resulted in an end to the sanctions crippling his country. Kim appears to be jockeying for a better position at home and against Trump, who is weakened by impeachment and his growing unpopularity.

Both of these issues illustrate the problem of trying to engage in international relations without the steady hand of professional diplomats and without allies. Both of these situations are critical, and Trump is now facing them without a strong diplomatic corps and without the support of our former allies.

The other big today story is that last night Chief Justice John Roberts released the annual report on the federal judiciary.

Roberts is in a touchy position right now. As the head of the Supreme Court, he is responsible for the health and well-being of the entire judicial system, and he cannot be unaware of the disdain Americans have conceived for Chief Justices who used the court to achieve unpopular political decisions. Roger Taney, for example (whose name is pronounced “Tawney,” for unfathomable reasons), led the court in the years before the Civil War, and has been consigned to the dustbin of history for his role in deciding the 1857 Dred Scott decision in such a way that it gave elite slaveholders control of the newly acquired American West while both denying the humanity of African Americans and the rights of poor white men. Chief Justice Melville Fuller, who presided over a slew of horrid decisions at the turn of the last century, including the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that rubberstamped “separate but equal” justifying segregation, was such an embarrassment that virtually no one even remembers him: we call his court the “Lochner Era court” rather than the “Melville Fuller court.”

Roberts was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush and presided over Shelby County v. Holder (2013), which gutted the Voting Rights Act, as well as Citizens United v Federal Election Commission (2010), which said that the government cannot restrict the amount of money corporations can invest in political speech. He is a firm believer in a small federal government and the power of corporations, but he is also an intelligent man who cares about his legacy.

Roberts will preside over the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, and he has already exchanged words with Trump over the independence of the judiciary: Trump has tried throughout his administration to sow distrust of judges appointed by Democrats, while Roberts has countered that judges must be impartial.

So Roberts’s introduction to the annual report was not idle. He began by attacking the use of propaganda and mob rule and went on to defend the independence of the judiciary. He went out of his way to praise Judge Merrick Garland-- although not by name--, President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court whom Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in an unprecedented attack on the presidency, refused to consider.

But most interesting to me in his report was that when Roberts talked at great length about the role of the courts to educate Americans about the rule of law, his primary example was the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision outlawing segregation. That case is pivotal in American history not only because of its role in desegregation, but because it sparked an outpouring of scholarship suggesting that society changes not because of social trends or economic or politics, but because of court decisions. In the wake of Brown v. Board, the great historian C. Vann Woodward argued that segregation itself came only after Jim Crow laws, and that popular acceptance of civil rights would come only after legal desegregation.

Roberts seemed to me to be saying that the job of reclaiming democracy and the rule of law belonged to the courts now—a major declaration at a time when Trump has a number of court cases pending, as well, of course, as his impeachment trial. I absolutely could be reading too much into Roberts’s declaration, but it seemed to me significant.

What exactly Roberts means by the rule of law, though, remains to be seen.

Kind of a rocky start to 2020, but I'm guessing it's going to be a rocky year.

tbergs

President Trump's allies on Capitol Hill rushed to praise the operation, saying the killing sent a strong message to Iran and could be a strong deterrent to Iranian proxies in Iraq. 

"Wow - the price of killing and injuring Americans has just gone up drastically. Major blow to Iranian regime that has American blood on its hands. Soleimani was one of the most ruthless and vicious members of the Ayatollah's regime. He had American blood on his hands," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a prominent foreign policy hawk who often speaks with the White House, said in a series of tweets. 

"The defensive actions the U.S. has taken against #Iran & its proxies are consistent with clear warnings they have received. They chose to ignore these warnings because they believed @POTUS was constrained from acting by our domestic political divisions. They badly miscalculated," added Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

"Qassem Soleimani masterminded Iran's reign of terror for decades, including the deaths of hundreds of Americans. Tonight, he got what he richly deserved, and all those American soldiers who died by his hand also got what they deserved: justice. America is safer now after Soleimani's demise," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) echoed.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/476612-congress-reacts-to-us-assassination-of-iranian-general