Imagine hearing a billionaire celebrity ranting about how persecuted he is and thinking he is in it to fight for you...

[Edited on August 23, 2017 at 9:15 AM. Reason : Also he LOVES the media. Craves it. Needs it. Would be lost without it.]

8/23/2017 9:14:57 AM

From his performance last night, it really seems like he's trying to start a civil war. Almost the entire speech was filled with angry divisiveness.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2017/08/22/roberts-trumps-phoenix-speech-astonishing-no-really/592618001/ (Warning, opinion piece from liberal USA Today/Local Arizona media)

Quote :

"So, in Washington, we're taking power out of the hands of donors and special interests, and putting that power back into the hands of the people that voted for us, OK? For us."

[Edited on August 23, 2017 at 9:38 AM. Reason : After beginning the speech with asking the county to come together]

[Edited on August 23, 2017 at 9:40 AM. Reason : ]

8/23/2017 9:18:36 AM

The Dems have made the center of their message about identity politics for a long time but that is ALL Trump has. Certainly there is a fringe out there who cares only about "saying Christmas"'or energy deregulation but the majority of his base is only fired up by white grievance identity politics.

8/23/2017 9:30:19 AM

Here's another fine example of his "Extreme Vetting" (something he claims to have invented)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/23/the-strange-story-of-that-blacks-for-trump-guy-standing-behind-potus-at-his-phoenix-rally/

Quote :

"The radical fringe activist from Miami once belonged to a violent black supremacist religious cult, and he runs a handful of amateur, unintelligible conspiracy websites. He has called Barack Obama “The Beast” and Hillary Clinton a Ku Klux Klan member. Oprah Winfrey, he says, is the devil. Most curiously, in the 1990s, he was charged, then acquitted, with conspiracy to commit two murders."

8/23/2017 9:43:03 AM

How do you convince a womanizer to escalate war in a certain country?

Easy -- you show him old pics of women in miniskirts from said country, to make him believe that escalating the war could lead to a return of women in miniskirts.

https://twitter.com/JamilSmith/status/899969778231660545/photo/1




https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/its-a-hard-problem-inside-trumps-decision-to-send-more-troops-to-afghanistan/2017/08/21/14dcb126-868b-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html

H.R. McMaster Showed Trump Photo Of Afghan Women In Miniskirts To Escalate War
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hr-mccaster-donald-trump-afghanistan_us_599c6105e4b06a788a2c2026

8/23/2017 11:35:11 AM

That photo just shows you that a society must always guard against certain kinds of shit.

50 years ago women walking freely, dressed as they wish, smiling. Today they have to cover head to toe or risk being stoned to death. That pic looks like a photo that could have been taken in the USA in the 1970s.

8/23/2017 5:11:28 PM

I guess this expected -- Trump's Twitter Bot/sycophant accounts passing off pics of other much larger gatherings as Trump's Phoenix rally pics.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-supporter-phoenix-rally-crowd-size-photos-fake-half-empty-room-us-president-a7907801.html

Quote :

"Donald Trump supporters have been sharing fake photos of huge crowds at the US President's Phoenix rally on social media, following claims the event failed to draw big numbers. Images showing thousands of people lining the streets in Arizona were widely shared by Republicans and the leader's core base. But the photos were quickly debunked as fake. They actually showed an aerial view of crowds that had turned out for a championship parade for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. "

https://twitter.com/mattmfm/status/900158567461900288/photo/1






*********************************************************************

Is he even sane?

Here Are The Wildest Moments From Trump’s Wild Arizona Rally
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-arizona-rally_us_599cf690e4b0a296083adeee



He is just like Baghdad Bob, as far as being a complete and utter joke.

And really, how old is he? Why does he talk like a neurotic preteen?


[Edited on August 24, 2017 at 4:49 AM. Reason : ]

8/24/2017 4:28:44 AM

What a LOSER!!!!

8/24/2017 8:42:03 AM

THey had to be pretty selective to only focus on 10:

http://www.npr.org/2017/08/23/545504933/fact-check-10-statements-from-trumps-phoenix-speech

8/24/2017 12:00:52 PM

^^ The majority of those are probably bots, but the intent of social media manipulation is to disorient the general public with relentless propaganda:

Quote :

"In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and nothing was true... The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness."

- Hannah Arendt, Origins of Totalitarianism



The social media engineering is not designed to fool those of us who see right through the repeated claims of "fake news," and bogus attendance numbers. It is designed to reassure his base that everything is fine, and that people who tell the truth are not to be trusted, and are in fact the enemy.

8/24/2017 1:50:01 PM

What will it take to invoke the 25th?

8/24/2017 1:53:42 PM

Quote :

"Section 1 codified the "Tyler Precedent" regarding when a President is removed from office, dies, or resigns"

Quote :

"Section 3 provides that when the President transmits a written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, stating that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the Presidency, and until the President sends another written declaration to the aforementioned officers declaring himself able to resume discharging those powers and duties, the Vice President discharges those powers and duties as Acting President."

Quote :

"Section 4 is the only part of the amendment that has never been invoked.[25] It allows the Vice President, together with a "majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide", to declare the President "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" by submitting a written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. As with Section 3, the Vice President would become Acting President. Section 4 is meant to be invoked should the President's incapacitation prevent him from discharging his duties, but he is unable or unwilling to provide the written declaration called for by Section 3. The President may resume exercising the Presidential duties by sending a written declaration to the President pro tempore and the Speaker of the House."

8/24/2017 2:21:52 PM

Also Hurricane Harvey is going to be a real test for the Trump regime in terms of disaster response. Hang on for that.

8/24/2017 2:33:21 PM

I have to say, I'm really enjoying his ribbing of McConnell and other congressional Republicans over the failed ACA repeal. The best part is they can't really fire back at him effectively because he's absolutely right, they simply were unable to deliver something they promised for the better part of a decade.

8/24/2017 3:46:39 PM

"THERE ARE FIVE LIGHTS."

8/24/2017 6:01:07 PM

So how do you guys think he goes out? Does the Russia probe reveal high treason? 25th amendment? Does he resign at some point? Or my biggest fear, he actually manages to win re-election due to the fact that no one in the Republican Party (that matters) has a fucking backbone?

8/24/2017 6:29:13 PM

25th amendment is my least favorite option.

8/24/2017 6:59:50 PM

^same

I'd say money laundering charges force him to resign.

8/24/2017 7:09:05 PM

If he's forced out, his supporters will only get more riled up and then I think we might actually see another civil war. It will have to be such solid evidence that he has no choice but to step away on his own...or something so terrible that no one can continue to defend him (though I'm amazed how anyone still does at this point already).

8/24/2017 8:39:10 PM

I don't think he will seek re-election.

I think he's already ready to bounce.

8/24/2017 9:03:19 PM

I don’t think we’re at risk for a civil war. The Neonazis are clearly empowered but I don’t think there’s enough of them nor the average person is angry enough to join them.

Most people don’t vote, they’re not going to join a bunch of racist idiots. The remaining people defending trump, with some exception, are clinging to his weak condemnation of Nazis— they clearly want to be hearing that aspect of the message.

A younger version of Bernie Sanders would clean up politically right now. There’s no confident voices defending our legacy and history of immigration— no democrats are really saying things like even Reagan did about being the shining city. Democrats need to reframe abortion from being about roe v wade to being about birth control, family panning, new family assistance, etc.. Democrats need to make full throated defenses of progressive taxation, they need to point out how inequality was much less worse before Reagan’s banking deregulation and the embrace of trickle down economics.

People voted for obama because he promised change and framed himself as an innovator, trump supporters were really hoping to get someone to bring new bold ideas after “draining the swamp”.

Seems like people are itching for transformative action, not incremental gains. We should shoot for the moon with universal healthcare, free college and trade school for kids with the grades, and we need to start testing UBI for workers displaced with automation.

8/24/2017 9:16:33 PM

Quote :

"So how do you guys think he goes out?"

He sure as hell isn't going to be impeached, and I doubt he'll be forced to resign unless some really crazy shit comes out. Think about what's already came out. Not nearly enough to even start the conversation.

Quote :

"If he's forced out, his supporters will only get more riled up and then I think we might actually see another civil war."

Dumb talk.

Quote :

"A younger version of Bernie Sanders would clean up politically right now."

Old Bernie Sanders should have cleaned up but the DNC fucked him, and he didn't do his campaign any favors by personally dictating strategy instead of relying on the experience of his team.

Quote :

"We should shoot for the moon with universal healthcare, free college and trade school for kids with the grades"

Those ideas have already been floated and failed, with much better congressional support than the Democrats have now. I like the "new" plan to let people buy into Medicaid, but that won't make it through the gerrymandered house in the next decade + imo.

8/24/2017 10:29:22 PM

Quote :

"and he didn't do his campaign any favors by personally dictating strategy instead of relying on the experience of his team."

who on his team was experienced?

Symone Sanders is younger than nearly everyone on this board

8/25/2017 12:25:16 AM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/08/25/trump-i-pass-a-lot-of-bills-also-the-democrats-wont-let-me-pass-bills/?utm_term=.7a48606afd1b

8/25/2017 2:07:40 PM

Quote :

"who on his team was experienced? Symone Sanders is younger than nearly everyone on this board"

She was the press secretary (until June 2016)...not quite a strategist. Tad Devine would a much more obvious pick.

8/25/2017 2:15:45 PM

Quote :

"I don’t think we’re at risk for a civil war. The Neonazis are clearly empowered but I don’t think there’s enough of them nor the average person is angry enough to join them. "

Not all out war, but my nightmare scenario is that we'll see those who care the most about their superiority as the white race violently take to the streets and force the military to act.

8/25/2017 2:36:15 PM

Lol, this fucking guy.

Pardons racial profiling, contempt of court sherrif and signs transgender military EO during a Cat 4 landing to try and bury the anger.

[Edited on August 25, 2017 at 8:21 PM. Reason : Law and order candidate!]

8/25/2017 8:12:32 PM

Usually presidents don't start pardoning people they think are unfairly convicted until their last few months as president.

So I guess Trump is keeping with tradition.

8/25/2017 8:26:47 PM

I mean it's blatant quid pro quo corruption. As flagrant as it gets. Why would any of his buddies not just tell Mueller to fuck off now and ignore subpoenas. They know he will pardon them.

Of course it's his absolute constitutional right just like it is for me to call him a dick.

[Edited on August 25, 2017 at 8:33 PM. Reason : X]

8/25/2017 8:32:25 PM

Gorka resigned tonight
Bannon already gone
Only Miller left in the axis of underling evil.

8/25/2017 8:46:39 PM

So for all of us who believes that Trump is truly a moron and in over his head, I really hope we're wrong with the upcoming weekend and Harvey. I mean, I get that there are a lot of folks under him that will be calling the shots, but he really needs to be together for this mess.

Cause it's going to be catastrophic regardless of who is in charge. They're going to need leadership over there in Texas.

8/25/2017 8:50:56 PM

Are there Trump properties in Texas? That could be the deciding factor here.



Friendly reminder: Trump hosed NC
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-hurricane-matthew-relief-north-carolina-607803

[Edited on August 25, 2017 at 9:19 PM. Reason : Link]

8/25/2017 9:05:11 PM

^^^^

It’s congress’ constitutional right to impeach him for corruption

Forget Mueller— what message does it send to racists across the country? ICE has already been flirting with atrocities in handling deportation under trump, trump is going to end daca, now trump just pardoned a sheriff known for racism against Latinos. People’s lives are at risk— racist cops have been given the message that their racism is okay. Neo Nazi terrorist have seen that they won’t be condemned— they’ve been told that their violence is justified.

Trump is causing damage to the country, he’s inciting racism, he’s emboldening racists.

If bypassing the DOJ to issue a pardon to your racist friend isn’t worthy of impeachment then our constitution is broken. The president isn’t supposed to be able to allow violent hateful people to run rampant.

8/25/2017 9:18:25 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/proposed-budget-for-commerce-would-cut-funds-for-noaa/2017/03/15/6c93d864-09ad-11e7-93dc-00f9bdd74ed1_story.html?utm_term=.3c264e6fcb34

8/26/2017 1:09:47 AM

Guy is gonna be in court until he's six feet under now that he has admitted guilt. Small victories.

[Edited on August 26, 2017 at 7:08 PM. Reason : though I'm sure conservative $$$$ is pouring in]

8/26/2017 7:08:09 PM

glad to see he's still gloating about his win during a catastrophic event

8/27/2017 3:00:20 PM

His tweets and comments are totally devoid of empathy. He is honestly the most sociopathic person I can think of. It surprises me still..

Not that "thoughts and prayers" help but damn...

8/27/2017 3:06:26 PM

the president doesnt really have anything to do with hurricane recovery. sure its on his watch, but thats it

8/27/2017 4:55:26 PM

Are you a robot? Did anyone say it's his job fix everything or was there more nuance to what you responded to than you're able to process?

8/27/2017 6:32:31 PM

Quote :

"but he really needs to be together for this mess. Cause it's going to be catastrophic regardless of who is in charge. They're going to need leadership over there in Texas."

he doesnt need to be "together" in any way. they need their local leaders, governor and fema.

i get that you are saying trump controls fema but thats all in place already

8/27/2017 7:22:44 PM

Quote :

"HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. Spirit of the people is incredible.Thanks!"

there is no defense for this

8/27/2017 7:30:07 PM

Does he think he's actually god or

8/27/2017 8:58:49 PM

Doesn't he mean, "Floods are unpresidented"?

8/27/2017 9:35:57 PM

Quote :

"they need their local leaders, governor and fema"

Funny how both US senators from Texas and 23 US representatives from Texas voted against federal aid after Hurricane Sandy.

"I won’t abandon Texas the way Ted Cruz did New York."
— Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.

8/28/2017 5:30:54 PM

Quote :

"I won’t abandon Texas the way Ted Cruz did New York."

And because of this Republicans will continue using that tactic.

8/28/2017 5:32:28 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/politics/trump-phoenix-rally/index.html

8/29/2017 12:57:07 PM

I can't believe this asshole. Why didn't he evacuate the city of Houston before the storm?

8/29/2017 2:41:00 PM

wat?

8/29/2017 2:47:10 PM

He's arguing against some strawman he concocted. Nothing really to see.

Quote :

"And because of this Republicans will continue using that tactic"

What does this mean? It was a GOP congressman who called out Cruz.

[Edited on August 29, 2017 at 3:09 PM. Reason : X]

8/29/2017 3:08:14 PM

He doesn't understand that the rest of the people are well aware it's not Don's "job" to clean up or prevent any of the issues related to the hurricane. In his mind, if anyone points out anything he's done wrong, like trying to tout someone's book or bragging about his electoral victory instead of, say, encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross we are all really saying, "This is all his fault and it's his job and he's responsible for all of it".

That about right Earl?

8/29/2017 3:10:43 PM