Politics - Episode 9: The Lurking Fear

[smjjames]

Heh, CNN source says Kelly ain't done with the streamlining effort.

[Wrath of Dagon]

An interesting article on Bannon leaving: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/08/18/bannon-exits-white-house-will-former-adviser-wage-war-on-trumps-team-from-outside.html

 

The Washington Post’s Robert Costa reports that Bannon has told associates in recent days that after he leaves, the Trump White House will be “Democrats, bankers and hawks.”

[HoonDing]

That final interview of Bannon's was actually quite sensible.

[Hurlshort]

WoD, I'm curious who you think is in the right here (if the quote is accurate.) Bannon or Trump?

 

I'd probably agree with Bannon myself in this scenario. I'm not sure I'd word it the same way, but the Trump White House does seem to be completely disconnected to the Republican party at this point.

[smjjames]

Not completely disconnected from the Republican party, there's still Pence and some other Cabinet members. But in terms of the rest of the WH staff and Trump burning political capital, yeah, they've pretty much severed themselves from the Republican party.

[redneckdevil]

I was under the impression that Trump had to do what Bernie did and that's run Dem or Rep to have an actual chance of winning. Bernie wasn't democrat and Trump isn't republican in actuality, just ran under that party in name? Isn't that why both parties were so eagered to get rid them during the election?

Edited August 18, 2017 by redneckdevil

[smjjames]

I was under the impression that Trump had to do what Bernie did and that's run Dem or Rep to have an actual chance of winning. Bernie wasn't democrat and Trump isn't republican in actuality, just ran under that party in name? Isn't that why both parties were so eagered to get rid them during the election?

 

Correct.

[Gorgon]

I take it this was a signal to the republicans that he is willing to play ball.

[smjjames]

I take it this was a signal to the republicans that he is willing to play ball.

 

More like he bullied them into playing ball with him. Did have to make a few compromises like an establishment based VP. Though he did have some initial second thoughts and was like "Can I change my mind? Is it too late to change my mind?".

[Guard Dog]

I was under the impression that Trump had to do what Bernie did and that's run Dem or Rep to have an actual chance of winning. Bernie wasn't democrat and Trump isn't republican in actuality, just ran under that party in name? Isn't that why both parties were so eagered to get rid them during the election?

 

I think that sums it up perfectly

[Blarghagh]

How will Prietprat blow now with Bannon gone?

This was hilarious to me because Prietpraat is dutch for prattle, drivel, claptrap, hogwash, gobbledegook, poppy****. Etc.

[BruceVC]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-18/bannon-says-he-s-going-to-war-for-trump-after-white-house-exit

 

So Bannon is going to war for Trump.....he mean he hasnt already been?

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

 

How will Prietprat blow now with Bannon gone?

This was hilarious to me because Prietpraat is dutch for prattle, drivel, claptrap, hogwash, gobbledegook, poppy****. Etc.

It's unfair to hogwash to compare it to Right-Wing Gawker.

[Raithe]

On a certain area of current political thinking...

 

 

You appear to believe that the only two positions a person can hold on immigration are ‘let them all in’ and ‘kick them all out.’ You refuse to accept that there are shades of grey between the two absolutes, or that someone can have concerns about immigration without being a raving racist. This is fundamentally absurd.

The majority of UKIP supporters - or at least the ones I have met - believe in a fundamental reformation of immigration policy so that we accept and keep immigrants who can and will benefit Britain - and, more importantly, don’t pose a threat to the UK. You may feel that this is unreasonable. I do not.

In the unlikely event of a UKIP getting a majority in parliament, I don't believe that everyone who cannot trace their families back to pre-Norman Conquest England will be kicked out. I do not believe, even, that there will be a mass purge of everyone whose grandparents arrived after WW2. I do not believe, in short, that my wife - who poses no threat - will be threatened with deportation. If I am wrong, I will leave the UK with her.

The problem with your approach to politics is that you do not appear to believe that anyone who disagrees with you might have a legitimate reason to disagree. Instead, you assume that they are motivated by evil - and, because you think they are evil, you try to shut them down. This is not conductive to peace, freedom and human development.

As far as I am concerned, there are certain acts which are beyond the pale - regardless of who does them or why. Attacking your political enemies, mindless vandalism, shutting down campuses, forcing speakers to be disinvited, emotional bullying and blackmail ... they are all fascist acts. They speak of minds that are unable to comprehend the fact that people can and do disagree. Like I said, both fascism and communism are effectively identical. Once they get into power, they stamp on everyone who disagrees with them.

You may offer me a choice between Nazis and ANTIFA. I say that that is a false choice. I don’t have to commit to either extreme. I prefer to stay with the rational people. I believe in the rule of law, law that applies to everyone. I’m not interested in excuses. People who commit violence in the name of [political or religious cause] should be taken off the streets.

I don’t agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. And I will also defend someone else’s right to disagree with you. This is not a zero-sum game. Our society needs different viewpoints to survive. It’s as simple as that. Trying to understand - even to explain - why someone might hold a political view you or I find repulsive is not the same as endorsing it. The fact that far too many people believe it does explains a great deal about our current problems.

I do look forward to seeing how you assert that the above is somehow a defence of fascism

[smjjames]

Is that from one of those survey things that determine whether you are A, B, C, (and so on down the alphabet) and are mostly for fun? It kind of reads like the results from one that is politically based.

[redneckdevil]

I just found out that Jeff Durham was number 1 comedian in the ME. That ****er has huge balls doing his bit in Israel lol.

Edited August 21, 2017 by redneckdevil

[redneckdevil]

 

I just found out that Jeff Durham is number 1 comedian in the ME. That ****er has huge balls doing his bit in Israel lol.

He still is? Fluffy said that a couple years ago.

I'm behind, dunno if still is

[Raithe]

PoliticalWire - Secret Service has blown its budget protecting Trump

 

 

 “The Secret Service can no longer afford to pay hundreds of agents it needs to carry out an expanded protective mission – in large part due to the sheer size of President Trump’s family and efforts necessary to secure their multiple residences up and down the East Coast.”

 

“Secret Service Director Randolph ‘Tex’ Alles said more than 1,000 agents have already hit the federally mandated caps for salary and overtime allowances that were meant to last the entire year. The agency has faced a crushing workload since the height of the contentious election season, and it has not relented in the first seven months of the administration. Agents must protect Trump – who has traveled almost every weekend to his properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia – and his adult children whose business trips and vacations have taken them across the country and overseas.”

[Malcador]

Should outsource that to Blackwater.

[smjjames]

Donald Trump will have to stop travelling around then, either that or ask Congress to pay up.

[Hurlshort]

I am a bit surprised, and this isn't just for Trump, that there isn't more oversight and approval needed for travel when it comes to people under the Secret Service umbrella. For example, a business trip that doesn't involve state business should probably be at least partially covered by the business itself, and there should be some sort of cap when it comes to vacation travel, or at least a percentage that is put up by the private party. 

 

I do remember what a hullabaloo was raised over Obama's Hawaii trip. Funny how those sources are probably all pretty quiet now. 

[smjjames]

Obama travelled a heck of a lot less, so, the cost to the Secret Service never became an actual problem.

[Wrath of Dagon]

WoD, I'm curious who you think is in the right here (if the quote is accurate.) Bannon or Trump?

 

I'd probably agree with Bannon myself in this scenario. I'm not sure I'd word it the same way, but the Trump White House does seem to be completely disconnected to the Republican party at this point.

It's not really a question of right, since Trump can have whoever he wants working for him. The problem is Bannon represents what Trump ran on, and now Trump has almost no one who stands for those things in the White House, which is very disconcerting for those who voted for him.

[Gromnir]

 

our President, staring at the eclipse with naked eyes. an aide in the blue room is heard shouting, "don't look!"  the President then dons appropriate safety glasses.

 

...

 

the funny thing is, the 20-30% who admit they will agree with trump regardless o' what he actually says, will somehow see the above image as proof o' trump toughness or independence or something similar.

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Agiel]

I know your stance on Seinfeld, but I can't help but note that like George Costanza the Donald is probably the type that stares at Denise Richards' cleavage for too long as well.

 

 

“Looking at the sun is like looking at cleavage! You don’t stare at it, it’s too risky! You get a sense of it then you look away!”

Edited August 21, 2017 by Agiel