You hate to say it, but these terror attacks are good news for Trump. Fifteen tweets, all about how he is STRONG and the Dems are WEAK. (Extra bonus: he gets to suggest that Chuck Schumer is somehow personally responsible for the attack.) And he gets to change the focus away from the Mueller investigation. But here's the fact: this guy was a lone wolf actor who was radicalized AFTER he entered the U.S. Trump's "extreme vetting" wouldn't necessarily have blocked him
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-immediately-blames-chuck-schumer-for-new-york-city-attack-68a61305013d/
Echoing Fox News, Trump immediately blames Chuck Schumer for New York City attack . . . "I guess it's not too soon to politicize a tragedy," Schumer responded.
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/following-new-york-attack-trump-flunks-another-leadership-test
Following New York attack, Trump flunks another leadership test
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/unlike-vegas-trump-is-politicizing-the-new-york-city-attack-and-getting-it-wrong/
Trump is politicizing the New York City attack — and getting it wrong
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/go-ahead-and-politicize-tragedies-its-ok/
If there’s anything that gets me about today’s ragetweets from the White House, it’s the certain fact that before this morning President Trump had never heard of the Diversity Visa Lottery or cared about it. But it’s nothing more than a program that ensures every region of the world has access to at least a few visas. It was created nearly three decades ago by Ted Kennedy—long before 9/11—and was passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities. . . . That list of countries changed over the years to include many in the Middle East and central Asia. Four years ago Chuck Schumer tried to kill the program as part of a bipartisan immigration plan, but after passing the Senate it failed in the Republican-controlled House.
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/sarah-huckabee-sanders-stumbles-trying-to-spin-trumps-terror-hypocrisy/
Sarah Huckabee Sanders stumbles trying to spin Trump’s terror hypocrisy
New York vs. Las Vegas
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711597/-Trump-on-terrorism-White-man-with-gun-Thoughts-and-prayers-Muslim-with-a-truck-This-is-war
Trump on terrorism: White man with gun? Thoughts and prayers. Muslim with a truck? This is war!
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-describes-nyc-attacker-as-animal-1c817da0641a
In stark contrast to description of white killers as ‘sick,’ Trump labels NYC attacker as ‘animal’
More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/president-has-yet-to-call-mayor-or-gov-of-new-york
President Has Yet to Call Mayor or Gov of New York
This guy, Sam Clovis, who we mainly knew as the non-scientist Trump wanted to make the head of the USDA science department, turns out to be a central figure in the Russia story -- and was George Papadopoulos's immediate supervisor
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/why-did-clovis-say-russia-was-a-principal-focus-of-the-campaign
“Based on a conversation that took place on or about March 6, 2016, with [Sam Clovis] Papadopolous understood that a principal foreign policy focus of the Campaign was an improved U.S. relationship with Russia.” . . . This exchange happens a few weeks before Trump hires Paul Manafort. But he’d been pitching himself for a job with Trump in February. It’s around the time Mike Flynn is going from being a sometimes informal advisor to a clear member of the campaign team. Flynn was clearly interested in closer ties with Russia. He’d visited Moscow for that 10th Anniversary conference for RT, where he sat as a guest of honor of Vladimir Putin. Of course, as I and many others have noted, Trump himself had deep financial ties to investors and purchasers in the countries of the former Soviet Union as well.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711536/-Trump-s-next-big-confirmation-disaster-the-polite-pro-Russia-science-denier-from-Iowa
The Washington Post's Rosalind S. Helderman and Tom Hamburger reported Monday night that Clovis was one of those anonymous campaign officials cited in former Trump aide George Papadopoulos's plea deal. Clovis was the one named as a “campaign supervisor,” and he both praised Papadopoulos's efforts to broker a meeting with the Russians as “great work” and later urged Papadopoulos to make the trip rather than Trump. . . . But wait, Clovis wasn't just a Trump campaign middle manager who inherited Papadopoulos. He was steering the foreign policy ship that also included Walid Phares, Carter Page, Joe Schmitz, and ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. TPM's Josh Marshall writes:
For a long time we did not know on what basis the five had been chosen or who had done the choosing. But as the Russia probe heated up, it became clear that the person who chose the group was Sam Clovis. We now know that two of those five men immediately began trying to establish contacts between the Trump campaign and the government of Russia or spies working on behalf of Russia. Two of five. That’s a hell of a batting average.
What did Trump say when Papadopoulos suggested he meet with Putin?
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/11/01/trumps-defense-is-that-sessions-perjured-himself/
More: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711627/-Donald-Trump-knew-George-Papadopoulos-was-trying-to-arrange-a-meeting-with-Russian-leaders
Donald Trump knew George Papadopoulos was trying to arrange a meeting with Russian leaders
Yes, I think I would call someone who used three passports and fake names to travel a potential flight risk
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/manafort-has-3-u-s-passports-and-used-fake-name-to-travel.html
More: https://www.thedailybeast.com/mueller-reveals-new-manafort-link-to-organized-crime
Mueller Reveals New Manafort Link to Organized Crime
If you've been watching the news analyses on Trump-Russia that include experts in espionage, they make the case over and over that what we saw was classic Russian spycraft: use cutouts ("the Professor" or "the Lawyer") to make initial approaches and assess interest. Find weak, corrupt, and/or not-very-bright contacts and exploit their vulnerabilities and ambitions. Use oblique offers of assistance that still give you deniability, but hold out the promise of Something More. And if one angle of approach doesn't work out, try another -- keep probing for soft spots. Does any of this sound familiar?
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/11/1/16577518/trump-russia-manafort-papadopoulos-mueller-hack
Trump's shady and inept campaign team was a perfect target for Putin's spies
This is encouraging
https://www.vox.com/2017/8/29/16211784/trump-pardon-mueller-constitution-russia
10 legal experts on why Trump can’t pardon his way out of the Russia investigation
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/1/16585934/mueller-trump-fired
Why it's much harder for Trump to fire Robert Mueller than it was to fire James Comey
More: https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/the-many-pieces-of-evidence-suggesting-trump-obstructed-justice_partner/
The many pieces of evidence suggesting Trump obstructed justice
Here's a significant tell that there is more, and worse, to come: people in the White House are seriously concerned about impeachment
https://politicalwire.com/2017/11/01/white-house-aides-now-worried-impeachment/
According to a source, advisers in the West Wing are on edge and doing whatever they can not to be ensnared. One person close to Dina Powell and Gary Cohn said they’re making sure to leave rooms if the subject of Russia comes up.”
“The consensus among the advisers I spoke to is that Trump faces few good options to thwart Mueller. For one, firing Mueller would cross a red line, analogous to Nixon’s firing of Archibald Cox during Watergate, pushing establishment Republicans to entertain the possibility of impeachment.” “Trump, meanwhile, has reacted to the deteriorating situation by lashing out on Twitter and venting in private to friends. He’s frustrated that the investigation seems to have no end in sight.
More: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/the-west-wing-trump-is-apoplectic-as-allies-fear-impeachment
Trump, meanwhile, has reacted to the deteriorating situation by lashing out on Twitter and venting in private to friends. He’s frustrated that the investigation seems to have no end in sight. “Trump wants to be critical of Mueller,” one person who’s been briefed on Trump’s thinking says. “He thinks it’s unfair criticism. Clinton hasn’t gotten anything like this. And what about Tony Podesta? Trump is like, When is that going to end?” According to two sources, Trump has complained to advisers about his legal team for letting the Mueller probe progress this far. Speaking to Steve Bannon on Tuesday, Trump blamed Jared Kushner for his role in decisions, specifically the firings of Mike Flynn and James Comey, that led to Mueller’s appointment, according to a source briefed on the call. When Roger Stone recently told Trump that Kushner was giving him bad political advice, Trump agreed, according to someone familiar with the conversation. “Jared is the worst political adviser in the White House in modern history,” Nunberg said. . . .
In a series of phone calls with Trump on Monday and Tuesday, Bannon told the president to shake up the legal team by installing an aggressive lawyer above Cobb . . . Bannon’s sense of urgency is being fueled by his belief that Trump’s hold on power is slipping. The collapse of Obamacare repeal, and the dimming chances that tax reform will pass soon—many Trump allies are deeply pessimistic about its prospects—have created the political climate for establishment Republicans to turn on Trump. Two weeks ago, according to a source, Bannon did a spitball analysis of the Cabinet to see which members would remain loyal to Trump in the event the 25th Amendment were invoked, thereby triggering a vote to remove the president from office. Bannon recently told people he’s not sure if Trump would survive such a vote.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-claims-he-is-not-angry-at-anybody-about-russia-indictments
“I’m actually not angry at anybody,” Trump told the New York Times. “I’m not under investigation, as you know.” . . . “I just got fantastic poll numbers,” the President claimed, though his job approval is at an all-time low, according to Gallup. “I’m really enjoying it.”
[NB: He just says stuff. It's obviously, absurdly not true. I have never seen a public figure with such a total disregard for the truth. But for a disturbingly large segment of the population, if he says it, that MAKES it true.]
Sorry to disappoint you, but it appears that Trump has not been entirely truthful about his tax plan. I know, its rather shocking . . . but I thought you should know
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/01/president-trumps-tax-cut-not-the-biggest-in-u-s-history/?utm_term=.eb605c66b5a6
President Trump’s tax cut: Not ‘the biggest’ in U.S. history
More: https://thinkprogress.org/trump-tried-to-explain-his-tax-plan-it-was-a-disaster-39b49dce5eca/
Trump tried to explain his tax plan. It was a disaster.
By the way, Trump is insisting it be called the "Cut Cut Cut Act." Yes you read that right, and no it's not a joke -- or, more precisely, it IS a joke, but it's true
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-tax-bill-name-cut-cut-cut-act
More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/trump-granchildren-apparently-tapped-to-name-tax-bill/
Trump Grandchildren Apparently Tapped to Name Tax Bill
Why would you work for this guy?
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/trump-tax-reform-mnuchin-cohn-244419
“Key administration officials, including Secretary Mnuchin and Gary Cohn, will be staying back from the trip to Asia to remain vigilant and making sure the tax cuts pass,” the president told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “So if I have any problems, I will be blaming Mnuchin and Cohn. Believe me, they’ll be hearing from me.”
Yep
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/1/16571484/republican-tax-reform-strategy
Republicans are following the same strategy on taxes that doomed Obamacare repeal
Sound familiar? https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/tax-reform-plan-republican-infighting-244418
GOP in disarray ahead of tax plan rollout . . . House Republicans are scrambling to release their tax bill on Thursday after being forced to postpone the roll-out because of resistance from GOP lawmakers from Democratic states. Tensions are running “very high,” said a source familiar with the 11th-hour talks. Figuring out how to pay for final changes to accommodate Republican holdouts is just one of several issues still bedeviling House Ways and Means Committee members. In fact, Republican tax writers could be heard speaking in raised voices during a more than two-hour meeting at the Capitol Tuesday night. Sources say there is some unhappiness among rank-and-file members who feel the plan has been written largely by party leaders without their input. . . .
Oh my
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/wapo-republican-tax-plan-will-be-temporary/
This is going to be a helluva tax bill that Republicans plan to unveil on Thursday. In addition to the motley collection of spit and duct tape already holding it together, House leaders have tossed in yet another last-minute switcheroo . . . [read on!]
Trump attacks the Federal justice system as a "laughingstock," a "joke"
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/trump-calls-swifter-justice-says-system
Yea verily, the Thug-in-Chief spoke once again and spewed forth his opinion on the justice system, at least as it applies to people accused of committing terrorist attacks. "We have to get much tougher. We have to get much smarter. And we have to get much less politically correct. We're so politically correct that we're afraid to do anything," he sneered. "That's not only our country, that's other countries too that are having very similar problems." Repeating himself, he said again, "We have to get tough. We have to get smart. We have to do what's right to protect our citizens. We will never waiver in the defense of our beloved country. Ever. We'll never, ever forget the beautiful lives that have been taken from us." "[Yesterday's attack] was a horrible event. We have to stop it. We have to stop it cold," Trump vowed, going on to say, "We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now." . . . "They'll go through court for years. At the end, who knows what happens. We need quick justice, and we need strong justice," he snarled. "Much quicker and much stronger than we have right now." For emphasis, he added this: "Because what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughingstock."
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/11/1/16593138/trump-new-york-city-attack-courts
This is verifiably false pretty much from top to bottom. . . .
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/we-need-a-new-word-for-the-trump-white-house/
Donald Trump blasted the way the civilian justice system treats terror suspects: “What we have right now is a joke and it’s a laughingstock.” . . . Three hours later, a reporter asked press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about this. Her answer: “That’s not what he said. He said the process has people calling us a joke and calling us a laughingstock.” Trump’s comments were broadcast on national TV. They’re on tape. They’re on YouTube. But only a few hours later, the White House blandly denied he ever said it. Is there even a word for this?
[NB: One solution, stop covering Colonel Sanders live on all the networks and enabling what has become a mendacious exercise in spin management, not in fact a press briefing at all.]
Now Trump wants to send the truck driver . . . to Gitmo (which I guess he equates with "quick justice . . . strong justice"
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711656/-Trump-calls-U-S-justice-system-a-joke-and-calls-for-sending-truck-driving-terrorist-to-Gitmo
More: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/02/trump-new-york-attacker-death-penalty-244445
Trump says New York City attacker 'should get death penalty'
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/us/politics/trump-new-york-terror-attack.html
With a Twitter message just before midnight, President Trump introduced a surprise complication that may come to haunt prosecutors in a trial against the suspect charged with mowing down passers-by in New York’s deadliest terrorist attack since the World Trade Center was destroyed. “NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room,” Mr. Trump wrote late Wednesday, referring to a report from the F.B.I. about the suspect’s expressed admiration for the Islamic State extremist group. “He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!” Presidents are typically advised never to publicly weigh in on pending criminal cases. Such comments can be used by defense attorneys to argue that their clients cannot get a fair trial — especially when the head of the executive branch that will prosecute a case advocates the ultimate punishment before a judge has heard a single shred of evidence at trial. . . .
Because Trump chose to weigh in on the Confederate statue issue, he has forced his administration into an unnecessary debate over the Civil War . . . and slavery. John Kelley foolishly offered the opinion that the Civil War could have been avoided with "compromise," which raises the excellent question of how one could have compromised over the issue of slavery. Then, naturally, the press wants to know what exactly the administration's position IS on slavery. They have done all this to themselves
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/31/1711417/--No-White-House-rejects-notion-that-John-Kelly-s-yearning-for-compromise-on-slavery-was-offensive
'No'—White House won't admit that John Kelly's yearning for 'compromise' on slavery was offensive
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/white-house-disgusting-absurd-suggest-admin-supports-slavery
On Tuesday, as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walked out of the press briefing room amid shouted questions from reporters, one ignored inquiry stood out above the rest. “Does this administration think that slavery was wrong?” [read on]
Trump doesn't want people to know that this is an open enrollment period for Obamacare. So Obama tells them
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/obama-throws-shade-trump-while-promoting
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-aca-open-enrollment-period-little-different-under-trump
Another poll!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711303/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up-Worst-president-in-memory-say-the-polls-maybe-ever
[PublicPolicyPolling] Trump's approval is down a net 7 points from a month ago. Had been -11 at 42/53, now -18 at 38/56. . . . 49% of voters already say they think Trump is the worst President in American History, 43% disagree
Here's the thing about Trump: he's all about the Brand. A large part of his business is just putting the Trump label on other people's products. The brand needs protecting, and a large part of his preoccupations as President is with protecting that brand. It's why he cares so much about media coverage. It's why he demands personal loyalty from others, but never, ever expends himself to protect them. It's why he talks constantly about being a winner, being intelligent, being strong, being the MOST productive president, ever. It's why everything with him has to be the biggest, the best. It's why he brags constantly about his massive election success (80,000 votes in three states), and HATES talking about the popular vote total. It's why he is most upset about the Russia story: because it suggests that his victory wasn't legitimate. He loves executive orders and signing ceremonies because he gets to write an oversized "Trump" signature on them -- which he has to make sure everyone sees
Problem is, it's not working. The Trump brand is in the toilet: https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/trumps-business-brand-is-being-hurt-by-his-presidency/
[NB: Yes, it's about his narcissism, his insecurity, his need for affirmation. That's well established. But it's also a business/marketing issue.]
Those wiped election servers in Georgia look more and more suspicious
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/georgia-attorney-general-quits-after-server-wiped
Bernie Sanders, after running to be the Democratic candidate for president, refused to call himself a "Democrat." Now he's refusing to back Democratic candidates in closely contested races
https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-sits-out-a-tight-race-in-virginia-after-his-candidate-falls-short
It's a real question now
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/11/are-facebook-twitter-and-google-american-companies/544670/?utm_source=feed
Are Facebook, Twitter, and Google American Companies?
Here are some of the Russian-designed ads from Facebook. Can you tell?
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/russia-linked-facebook-ads-targeted-muslims-black-lives-matter-immigrants
Michael Flynn's role: https://www.thedailybeast.com/michael-flynn-followed-russian-troll-accounts-pushed-their-messages-in-days-before-election
Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn followed five Twitter accounts based out of the Russian-backed “troll factory” in St. Petersburg—and pushed their messages at least three times in the month before the 2016 election. . . .
[NB: Did he KNOW this was being peddled by the Russians?]
Twitter lets Donald Jr. have it over his moronic, mean-spirited Halloween/socialism comments
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/unlike-vegas-trump-is-politicizing-the-new-york-city-attack-and-getting-it-wrong/
Trump is politicizing the New York City attack — and getting it wrong
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/go-ahead-and-politicize-tragedies-its-ok/
If there’s anything that gets me about today’s ragetweets from the White House, it’s the certain fact that before this morning President Trump had never heard of the Diversity Visa Lottery or cared about it. But it’s nothing more than a program that ensures every region of the world has access to at least a few visas. It was created nearly three decades ago by Ted Kennedy—long before 9/11—and was passed by overwhelming bipartisan majorities. . . . That list of countries changed over the years to include many in the Middle East and central Asia. Four years ago Chuck Schumer tried to kill the program as part of a bipartisan immigration plan, but after passing the Senate it failed in the Republican-controlled House.
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/sarah-huckabee-sanders-stumbles-trying-to-spin-trumps-terror-hypocrisy/
Sarah Huckabee Sanders stumbles trying to spin Trump’s terror hypocrisy
New York vs. Las Vegas
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711597/-Trump-on-terrorism-White-man-with-gun-Thoughts-and-prayers-Muslim-with-a-truck-This-is-war
Trump on terrorism: White man with gun? Thoughts and prayers. Muslim with a truck? This is war!
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-describes-nyc-attacker-as-animal-1c817da0641a
In stark contrast to description of white killers as ‘sick,’ Trump labels NYC attacker as ‘animal’
More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/president-has-yet-to-call-mayor-or-gov-of-new-york
President Has Yet to Call Mayor or Gov of New York
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/why-did-clovis-say-russia-was-a-principal-focus-of-the-campaign
“Based on a conversation that took place on or about March 6, 2016, with [Sam Clovis] Papadopolous understood that a principal foreign policy focus of the Campaign was an improved U.S. relationship with Russia.” . . . This exchange happens a few weeks before Trump hires Paul Manafort. But he’d been pitching himself for a job with Trump in February. It’s around the time Mike Flynn is going from being a sometimes informal advisor to a clear member of the campaign team. Flynn was clearly interested in closer ties with Russia. He’d visited Moscow for that 10th Anniversary conference for RT, where he sat as a guest of honor of Vladimir Putin. Of course, as I and many others have noted, Trump himself had deep financial ties to investors and purchasers in the countries of the former Soviet Union as well.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711536/-Trump-s-next-big-confirmation-disaster-the-polite-pro-Russia-science-denier-from-Iowa
The Washington Post's Rosalind S. Helderman and Tom Hamburger reported Monday night that Clovis was one of those anonymous campaign officials cited in former Trump aide George Papadopoulos's plea deal. Clovis was the one named as a “campaign supervisor,” and he both praised Papadopoulos's efforts to broker a meeting with the Russians as “great work” and later urged Papadopoulos to make the trip rather than Trump. . . . But wait, Clovis wasn't just a Trump campaign middle manager who inherited Papadopoulos. He was steering the foreign policy ship that also included Walid Phares, Carter Page, Joe Schmitz, and ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg. TPM's Josh Marshall writes:
For a long time we did not know on what basis the five had been chosen or who had done the choosing. But as the Russia probe heated up, it became clear that the person who chose the group was Sam Clovis. We now know that two of those five men immediately began trying to establish contacts between the Trump campaign and the government of Russia or spies working on behalf of Russia. Two of five. That’s a hell of a batting average.
What did Trump say when Papadopoulos suggested he meet with Putin?
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/11/01/trumps-defense-is-that-sessions-perjured-himself/
More: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711627/-Donald-Trump-knew-George-Papadopoulos-was-trying-to-arrange-a-meeting-with-Russian-leaders
Donald Trump knew George Papadopoulos was trying to arrange a meeting with Russian leaders
Yes, I think I would call someone who used three passports and fake names to travel a potential flight risk
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/manafort-has-3-u-s-passports-and-used-fake-name-to-travel.html
More: https://www.thedailybeast.com/mueller-reveals-new-manafort-link-to-organized-crime
Mueller Reveals New Manafort Link to Organized Crime
If you've been watching the news analyses on Trump-Russia that include experts in espionage, they make the case over and over that what we saw was classic Russian spycraft: use cutouts ("the Professor" or "the Lawyer") to make initial approaches and assess interest. Find weak, corrupt, and/or not-very-bright contacts and exploit their vulnerabilities and ambitions. Use oblique offers of assistance that still give you deniability, but hold out the promise of Something More. And if one angle of approach doesn't work out, try another -- keep probing for soft spots. Does any of this sound familiar?
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/11/1/16577518/trump-russia-manafort-papadopoulos-mueller-hack
Trump's shady and inept campaign team was a perfect target for Putin's spies
This is encouraging
https://www.vox.com/2017/8/29/16211784/trump-pardon-mueller-constitution-russia
10 legal experts on why Trump can’t pardon his way out of the Russia investigation
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/1/16585934/mueller-trump-fired
Why it's much harder for Trump to fire Robert Mueller than it was to fire James Comey
More: https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/the-many-pieces-of-evidence-suggesting-trump-obstructed-justice_partner/
The many pieces of evidence suggesting Trump obstructed justice
Here's a significant tell that there is more, and worse, to come: people in the White House are seriously concerned about impeachment
https://politicalwire.com/2017/11/01/white-house-aides-now-worried-impeachment/
According to a source, advisers in the West Wing are on edge and doing whatever they can not to be ensnared. One person close to Dina Powell and Gary Cohn said they’re making sure to leave rooms if the subject of Russia comes up.”
“The consensus among the advisers I spoke to is that Trump faces few good options to thwart Mueller. For one, firing Mueller would cross a red line, analogous to Nixon’s firing of Archibald Cox during Watergate, pushing establishment Republicans to entertain the possibility of impeachment.” “Trump, meanwhile, has reacted to the deteriorating situation by lashing out on Twitter and venting in private to friends. He’s frustrated that the investigation seems to have no end in sight.
More: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/the-west-wing-trump-is-apoplectic-as-allies-fear-impeachment
Trump, meanwhile, has reacted to the deteriorating situation by lashing out on Twitter and venting in private to friends. He’s frustrated that the investigation seems to have no end in sight. “Trump wants to be critical of Mueller,” one person who’s been briefed on Trump’s thinking says. “He thinks it’s unfair criticism. Clinton hasn’t gotten anything like this. And what about Tony Podesta? Trump is like, When is that going to end?” According to two sources, Trump has complained to advisers about his legal team for letting the Mueller probe progress this far. Speaking to Steve Bannon on Tuesday, Trump blamed Jared Kushner for his role in decisions, specifically the firings of Mike Flynn and James Comey, that led to Mueller’s appointment, according to a source briefed on the call. When Roger Stone recently told Trump that Kushner was giving him bad political advice, Trump agreed, according to someone familiar with the conversation. “Jared is the worst political adviser in the White House in modern history,” Nunberg said. . . .
In a series of phone calls with Trump on Monday and Tuesday, Bannon told the president to shake up the legal team by installing an aggressive lawyer above Cobb . . . Bannon’s sense of urgency is being fueled by his belief that Trump’s hold on power is slipping. The collapse of Obamacare repeal, and the dimming chances that tax reform will pass soon—many Trump allies are deeply pessimistic about its prospects—have created the political climate for establishment Republicans to turn on Trump. Two weeks ago, according to a source, Bannon did a spitball analysis of the Cabinet to see which members would remain loyal to Trump in the event the 25th Amendment were invoked, thereby triggering a vote to remove the president from office. Bannon recently told people he’s not sure if Trump would survive such a vote.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-claims-he-is-not-angry-at-anybody-about-russia-indictments
“I’m actually not angry at anybody,” Trump told the New York Times. “I’m not under investigation, as you know.” . . . “I just got fantastic poll numbers,” the President claimed, though his job approval is at an all-time low, according to Gallup. “I’m really enjoying it.”
[NB: He just says stuff. It's obviously, absurdly not true. I have never seen a public figure with such a total disregard for the truth. But for a disturbingly large segment of the population, if he says it, that MAKES it true.]
Sorry to disappoint you, but it appears that Trump has not been entirely truthful about his tax plan. I know, its rather shocking . . . but I thought you should know
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/11/01/president-trumps-tax-cut-not-the-biggest-in-u-s-history/?utm_term=.eb605c66b5a6
President Trump’s tax cut: Not ‘the biggest’ in U.S. history
More: https://thinkprogress.org/trump-tried-to-explain-his-tax-plan-it-was-a-disaster-39b49dce5eca/
Trump tried to explain his tax plan. It was a disaster.
By the way, Trump is insisting it be called the "Cut Cut Cut Act." Yes you read that right, and no it's not a joke -- or, more precisely, it IS a joke, but it's true
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-tax-bill-name-cut-cut-cut-act
More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/trump-granchildren-apparently-tapped-to-name-tax-bill/
Trump Grandchildren Apparently Tapped to Name Tax Bill
Why would you work for this guy?
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/trump-tax-reform-mnuchin-cohn-244419
“Key administration officials, including Secretary Mnuchin and Gary Cohn, will be staying back from the trip to Asia to remain vigilant and making sure the tax cuts pass,” the president told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “So if I have any problems, I will be blaming Mnuchin and Cohn. Believe me, they’ll be hearing from me.”
Yep
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/1/16571484/republican-tax-reform-strategy
Republicans are following the same strategy on taxes that doomed Obamacare repeal
Sound familiar? https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/01/tax-reform-plan-republican-infighting-244418
GOP in disarray ahead of tax plan rollout . . . House Republicans are scrambling to release their tax bill on Thursday after being forced to postpone the roll-out because of resistance from GOP lawmakers from Democratic states. Tensions are running “very high,” said a source familiar with the 11th-hour talks. Figuring out how to pay for final changes to accommodate Republican holdouts is just one of several issues still bedeviling House Ways and Means Committee members. In fact, Republican tax writers could be heard speaking in raised voices during a more than two-hour meeting at the Capitol Tuesday night. Sources say there is some unhappiness among rank-and-file members who feel the plan has been written largely by party leaders without their input. . . .
Oh my
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/wapo-republican-tax-plan-will-be-temporary/
This is going to be a helluva tax bill that Republicans plan to unveil on Thursday. In addition to the motley collection of spit and duct tape already holding it together, House leaders have tossed in yet another last-minute switcheroo . . . [read on!]
Trump attacks the Federal justice system as a "laughingstock," a "joke"
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/trump-calls-swifter-justice-says-system
Yea verily, the Thug-in-Chief spoke once again and spewed forth his opinion on the justice system, at least as it applies to people accused of committing terrorist attacks. "We have to get much tougher. We have to get much smarter. And we have to get much less politically correct. We're so politically correct that we're afraid to do anything," he sneered. "That's not only our country, that's other countries too that are having very similar problems." Repeating himself, he said again, "We have to get tough. We have to get smart. We have to do what's right to protect our citizens. We will never waiver in the defense of our beloved country. Ever. We'll never, ever forget the beautiful lives that have been taken from us." "[Yesterday's attack] was a horrible event. We have to stop it. We have to stop it cold," Trump vowed, going on to say, "We also have to come up with punishment that's far quicker and far greater than the punishment these animals are getting right now." . . . "They'll go through court for years. At the end, who knows what happens. We need quick justice, and we need strong justice," he snarled. "Much quicker and much stronger than we have right now." For emphasis, he added this: "Because what we have right now is a joke, and it's a laughingstock."
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/11/1/16593138/trump-new-york-city-attack-courts
This is verifiably false pretty much from top to bottom. . . .
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/11/we-need-a-new-word-for-the-trump-white-house/
Donald Trump blasted the way the civilian justice system treats terror suspects: “What we have right now is a joke and it’s a laughingstock.” . . . Three hours later, a reporter asked press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about this. Her answer: “That’s not what he said. He said the process has people calling us a joke and calling us a laughingstock.” Trump’s comments were broadcast on national TV. They’re on tape. They’re on YouTube. But only a few hours later, the White House blandly denied he ever said it. Is there even a word for this?
[NB: One solution, stop covering Colonel Sanders live on all the networks and enabling what has become a mendacious exercise in spin management, not in fact a press briefing at all.]
Now Trump wants to send the truck driver . . . to Gitmo (which I guess he equates with "quick justice . . . strong justice"
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711656/-Trump-calls-U-S-justice-system-a-joke-and-calls-for-sending-truck-driving-terrorist-to-Gitmo
More: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/02/trump-new-york-attacker-death-penalty-244445
Trump says New York City attacker 'should get death penalty'
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/us/politics/trump-new-york-terror-attack.html
With a Twitter message just before midnight, President Trump introduced a surprise complication that may come to haunt prosecutors in a trial against the suspect charged with mowing down passers-by in New York’s deadliest terrorist attack since the World Trade Center was destroyed. “NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room,” Mr. Trump wrote late Wednesday, referring to a report from the F.B.I. about the suspect’s expressed admiration for the Islamic State extremist group. “He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!” Presidents are typically advised never to publicly weigh in on pending criminal cases. Such comments can be used by defense attorneys to argue that their clients cannot get a fair trial — especially when the head of the executive branch that will prosecute a case advocates the ultimate punishment before a judge has heard a single shred of evidence at trial. . . .
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/31/1711417/--No-White-House-rejects-notion-that-John-Kelly-s-yearning-for-compromise-on-slavery-was-offensive
'No'—White House won't admit that John Kelly's yearning for 'compromise' on slavery was offensive
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/white-house-disgusting-absurd-suggest-admin-supports-slavery
On Tuesday, as White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walked out of the press briefing room amid shouted questions from reporters, one ignored inquiry stood out above the rest. “Does this administration think that slavery was wrong?” [read on]
Trump doesn't want people to know that this is an open enrollment period for Obamacare. So Obama tells them
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/obama-throws-shade-trump-while-promoting
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-aca-open-enrollment-period-little-different-under-trump
Another poll!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/1/1711303/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Round-up-Worst-president-in-memory-say-the-polls-maybe-ever
[PublicPolicyPolling] Trump's approval is down a net 7 points from a month ago. Had been -11 at 42/53, now -18 at 38/56. . . . 49% of voters already say they think Trump is the worst President in American History, 43% disagree
Problem is, it's not working. The Trump brand is in the toilet: https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/trumps-business-brand-is-being-hurt-by-his-presidency/
[NB: Yes, it's about his narcissism, his insecurity, his need for affirmation. That's well established. But it's also a business/marketing issue.]
Those wiped election servers in Georgia look more and more suspicious
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/georgia-attorney-general-quits-after-server-wiped
Bernie Sanders, after running to be the Democratic candidate for president, refused to call himself a "Democrat." Now he's refusing to back Democratic candidates in closely contested races
https://www.thedailybeast.com/bernie-sanders-sits-out-a-tight-race-in-virginia-after-his-candidate-falls-short
It's a real question now
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/11/are-facebook-twitter-and-google-american-companies/544670/?utm_source=feed
Are Facebook, Twitter, and Google American Companies?
Here are some of the Russian-designed ads from Facebook. Can you tell?
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/russia-linked-facebook-ads-targeted-muslims-black-lives-matter-immigrants
Michael Flynn's role: https://www.thedailybeast.com/michael-flynn-followed-russian-troll-accounts-pushed-their-messages-in-days-before-election
Former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn followed five Twitter accounts based out of the Russian-backed “troll factory” in St. Petersburg—and pushed their messages at least three times in the month before the 2016 election. . . .
[NB: Did he KNOW this was being peddled by the Russians?]
Twitter lets Donald Jr. have it over his moronic, mean-spirited Halloween/socialism comments
https://www.salon.com/2017/11/01/donald-trump-jr-jokes-about-halloween-socialism-and-twitter-lets-him-have-it/
Donnie isn't happy about it: http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/don-jr-has-sadz-about-twitters-response
The right-wing media is happiest when a Dem is in power. They cut their eyeteeth under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, fabricating outrageous conspiracies, scandals, and abuses of power. Their paranoid world view needs an enemy. They miss all that now, so they have to keep treating Hillary AS IF she was still in power: Lewandowski talks about the "Clinton Administration," Sean Hannity calls her "President Clinton," before he corrects himself. They really miss the good old days
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/hillary-clinton-it-appears-they-dont-know-im-not-president
Hillary Clinton: ‘It appears they don’t know I’m not president’
More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/mission-accomplished.html
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-portrait-happy-697317
And here's his new one . . . eek!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/fashion/trump-official-portrait.html
P.S. It's badly photoshopped: https://twitter.com/SarahBurris/status/925707587189985280/photo/1
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