Donald Trump

bendertherobot

He's banned the Nps from tweeting now (well about facts anyway)

bianchimoon

bendertherobot wrote:

He's banned the Nps from tweeting now (well about facts anyway)

Kellyanne conway on meet the press, "our press secretary wasn't lying about the size of the crowd, he was just giving 'alternative facts'" :roll:
Even the press won't call a lie, a lie anymore, they are' falsehoods', it really is a surreal alternative political america that is evolving, there doesn't seem to be a functioning democratic party. Only the press can hold him to account, how long till he wears them down or gets them on message?

bianchimoon

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—A man who was described as “visibly deranged” eluded the Secret Service on Saturday and gave a five-minute press conference at the White House.

The man, who somehow obtained White House credentials in order to bypass security, unloaded a delusional and paranoid rant that left a room full of experienced reporters shaken.

“We were all very, very scared,” Tracy Klugian, a reporter who witnessed the incident, said. “The things he was shouting made absolutely no sense, and he seemed to just get angrier and angrier.”

After a stream-of-consciousness tirade in which he accused the reporters of being part of a far-reaching conspiracy to distort reality, the man abruptly walked off “before he could do any real harm,” a Secret Service spokesman said.
Reporters who left the White House called the incident the scariest five minutes of their lives and said that they were grateful it did not escalate further.

“We were all terrified that, at some point, he was going to ask us if we had any questions,” Harland Dorrinson, a reporter, said. “None of us wanted to say anything that would set him off.”

The New Yorker

Mikey23

Methinks this guy is a gift that is going to keep on giving...

bendertherobot

I miss cj cregg

bianchimoon

Just announced he won't release his tax returns... ever

briantrumpet

bianchimoon wrote:

Just announced he won't release his tax returns... ever

I'm really wondering how far he can push all these challenges to the norms of how things are done - it's almost like some child who just keeps on pushing an pushing to see how naughty he can be and get away with it. I think he needs to be satirised as a five-year-old, though his grasp of English is somewhat underdeveloped for that age.

rick_chasey

briantrumpet wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

Just announced he won't release his tax returns... ever

I'm really wondering how far he can push all these challenges to the norms of how things are done - it's almost like some child who just keeps on pushing an pushing to see how naughty he can be and get away with it. I think he needs to be satirised as a five-year-old, though his grasp of English is somewhat underdeveloped for that age.

It's broadly in the hand of the party, and as long as he keeps signing off on what other Republicans want, they'll tolerate it.

America aren't the good guys anymore. His key advisor is deliberately advocating and agitating to break up the EU.

The days of Kennedy standing in Berlin claiming he's a vanilla cream filled doughnut (whilst trying to say he's a Berliner) out of solidarity are over.

If ever there was a time for unity in Europe, with a belligerent Russia one one side and an former ally leaving Europe in the lurch, now is that time.

bianchimoon

Rick Chasey wrote:

briantrumpet wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

Just announced he won't release his tax returns... ever

If ever there was a time for unity in Europe, with a belligerent Russia one one side and an former ally leaving Europe in the lurch, now is that time.

without a doubt, as a businessman he hates the collective power of europe, break it up, have lots of smaller nations battling each other, discordant, fighting for their own slice of the cake to the detriment of all others. The only winners in this will be the US, Russia and China, we are the victims of gogglebox politics, perpetual lap dogs to be, begging for favours and deals, an embarrassment, trying to dine in for life on long lost, long forgotten dubious glories of the past.

surrey_commuter

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

bendertherobot

Bill submitted to the House for US to withdraw from United Nations. Will it have support?

pinno

Tangled Metal wrote:

Someone mentioned cost of football matches versus cost of policing the marches. Interesting but not relevant because the football clubs contribute to police costs. Did any of the march organizers pay for police costs?

Ah, you would have to compare the total cost per annum (minus contributions) of policing football matches against the total cost of policing protests to make any reasonable comparison.
You should be more disgruntled that we as tax payers cover football policing costs just because two groups of people may be intent on violence when a lot of protests (particularly this one) are peaceful and often the intent is not disruption.

imposter2.0

Rick Chasey wrote:

If ever there was a time for unity in Europe, with a belligerent Russia one one side and an former ally leaving Europe in the lurch, now is that time.

Yes, but....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divide_and_rule

cycleclinic

The problem is trump supporters dont get there news or world view from mainstream press. Trump if he is not impeached assinated or voted out in 4 years time he might wear down the press. This is how an autocrat installs himself. He might embolden the press it depends on how the public reacts and how revenues are effected.

Read plato he wrote about what is happening a long time ago because in poltics there is nothing new. Trump has happened before and he will happen again.

A summary of the of his work on the five regimes is here.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato's_five_regimes

He is a gift to satire and i hope he comes unstuck.

rjsterry

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

TM was avoiding the question, rather than lying. As full of it as Boris is, I think that's rather unfair to compare him to Trump. For Trump it's beyond bending the truth here and there. He has clearly decided that what is factually true is irrelevant; the inauguration press conference was almost as though he was testing how far the default deference to the office of president would override what people could see with their own eyes.

Pross

I thought that once in office he would moderate his tone but he actually seems to have decided he has a mandate to do whatever he wants. I can imagine him starting a war just so he cements his place in history.

bompington

So much being said about Trump that it's hard to know where to start... never mind what it will all achieve. Still, a couple of thing I've seen tonight worth sharing:

Saw this on FB, not familiar with the author

And, as ever, insight from contrarian Brendan O'Neill

It happened because you banned super-size sodas. And smoking in parks. And offensive ideas on campus. Because you branded people who oppose gay marriage ‘homophobic’, and people unsure about immigration ‘racist’.

Because you treated owning a gun and never having eaten quinoa as signifiers of fascism. Because you thought correcting people’s attitudes was more important than finding them jobs. Because you turned ‘white man’ from a description into an insult. Because you used slurs like ‘denier’ and ‘dangerous’ against anyone who doesn’t share your eco-pieties.


Because you treated dissent as hate speech and criticism of Obama as extremism. Because you talked more about gender-neutral toilets than about home repossessions. Because you beatified Caitlyn Jenner. Because you policed people’s language, rubbished their parenting skills, took the piss out of their beliefs.

Because you cried when someone mocked the Koran but laughed when they mocked the Bible. Because you said criticising Islam is Islamophobia. Because you kept telling people, ‘You can’t think that, you can’t say that, you can’t do that.’

Because you turned politics from something done by and for people to something done to them, for their own good. Because you treated people like trash. And people don’t like being treated like trash. Trump happened because of you.

mamba80

....and this is the guy who says T May is MY Maggie...... i ve a feeling May is likely to be his lap poodle and she ll be told to force the BBC to wind their criticism in .... he has already called them out.

His lies makes Putin seem a bastion of honesty, no wonder the Russians wanted him to win, chaos and confusion reigns.

Sad times indeed.

surrey_commuter

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

TM was avoiding the question, rather than lying. As full of it as Boris is, I think that's rather unfair to compare him to Trump. For Trump it's beyond bending the truth here and there. He has clearly decided that what is factually true is irrelevant; the inauguration press conference was almost as though he was testing how far the default deference to the office of president would override what people could see with their own eyes.

But May is conforming to the political norm so get away with it. Surely the outcome is the same? She to all intents and purposes is denying knowing Trident is faulty whereas Trump would have said it is a perfect American missile and people should stop doing down American workers.

rjsterry

bompington wrote:

So much being said about Trump that it's hard to know where to start... never mind what it will all achieve. Still, a couple of thing I've seen tonight worth sharing:

Saw this on FB, not familiar with the author

And, as ever, insight from contrarian Brendan O'Neill

It happened because you banned super-size sodas. And smoking in parks. And offensive ideas on campus. Because you branded people who oppose gay marriage ‘homophobic’, and people unsure about immigration ‘racist’.

Because you treated owning a gun and never having eaten quinoa as signifiers of fascism. Because you thought correcting people’s attitudes was more important than finding them jobs. Because you turned ‘white man’ from a description into an insult. Because you used slurs like ‘denier’ and ‘dangerous’ against anyone who doesn’t share your eco-pieties.


Because you treated dissent as hate speech and criticism of Obama as extremism. Because you talked more about gender-neutral toilets than about home repossessions. Because you beatified Caitlyn Jenner. Because you policed people’s language, rubbished their parenting skills, took the wee-wee out of their beliefs.

Because you cried when someone mocked the Koran but laughed when they mocked the Bible. Because you said criticising Islam is Islamophobia. Because you kept telling people, ‘You can’t think that, you can’t say that, you can’t do that.’

Because you turned politics from something done by and for people to something done to them, for their own good. Because you treated people like trash. And people don’t like being treated like trash. Trump happened because of you.

The first I'd agree with and has been pointed out by various people. Orwell wrote about it in 1984.

On the latter: it's funny, but I thought it was us liberal snowflakes who were supposed to be the whiny ones. All the stuff about not being allowed to say what you think just sounds like some many teenager who's been told to tidy his room. That's not to say that the Democrats don't bear some of the responsibility for assuming this constituency can be ignored.

rjsterry

Surrey Commuter wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

TM was avoiding the question, rather than lying. As full of it as Boris is, I think that's rather unfair to compare him to Trump. For Trump it's beyond bending the truth here and there. He has clearly decided that what is factually true is irrelevant; the inauguration press conference was almost as though he was testing how far the default deference to the office of president would override what people could see with their own eyes.

But May is conforming to the political norm so get away with it. Surely the outcome is the same? She to all intents and purposes is denying knowing Trident is faulty whereas Trump would have said it is a perfect American missile and people should stop doing down American workers.

She's certainly not very good at the dark art of not answering the question. She'd have been better off just saying that it's not something she can discuss in any meaningful detail on a Sunday morning politics show.

bobmcstuff

Ballysmate wrote:

Being as I'm stupid, please explain what possible difference attending a march in London for example could make to the incumbent POTUS?
As I said, they do it just to show their right on credentials, no more.

Don't need to be coy on my account.

Think it's remarkably narrow minded to suggest you shouldn't be allowed to express an opinion unless you happen to be directly affected by whatever it is you're expressing an opinion about.

One might suggest the protesters were sending a message on behalf of women everywhere. Or to show support for the ones in the States who are affected.

Of course I'm sure you're right and some/many of them were just doing it for appearances sakes - but that's true of lots of things.

rolf_f

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

TM was avoiding the question, rather than lying. As full of it as Boris is, I think that's rather unfair to compare him to Trump. For Trump it's beyond bending the truth here and there. He has clearly decided that what is factually true is irrelevant; the inauguration press conference was almost as though he was testing how far the default deference to the office of president would override what people could see with their own eyes.

But May is conforming to the political norm so get away with it. Surely the outcome is the same? She to all intents and purposes is denying knowing Trident is faulty whereas Trump would have said it is a perfect American missile and people should stop doing down American workers.

She's certainly not very good at the dark art of not answering the question. She'd have been better off just saying that it's not something she can discuss in any meaningful detail on a Sunday morning politics show.

Maybe - but she wasn't being asked to discuss anything in any meaningful detail - just whether or not she knew about it. Yes or no answer. If the answer was 'no' then she would have said it so therefore we can safely and easily conclude that she did know. So she was an idiot to refuse to answer (except of course that the same mentality that worked for Brexit will work for May and many will probably, for some strange reason, be able to conclude that she didn't know....)

Trump ought not to worry too much about BBC reporting. During Brexit it showed itself to be inadequately critical of false information though of course so far we don't seem to be prepared to lie about things that can be disproved in seconds by a couple of photos.

surrey_commuter

Rolf F wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Would we all be happier if he studied May's performance on Trident and taught himself how politicians should lie.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is an unhinged a-hole but is he any more of a liar than Boris?

TM was avoiding the question, rather than lying. As full of it as Boris is, I think that's rather unfair to compare him to Trump. For Trump it's beyond bending the truth here and there. He has clearly decided that what is factually true is irrelevant; the inauguration press conference was almost as though he was testing how far the default deference to the office of president would override what people could see with their own eyes.

But May is conforming to the political norm so get away with it. Surely the outcome is the same? She to all intents and purposes is denying knowing Trident is faulty whereas Trump would have said it is a perfect American missile and people should stop doing down American workers.

She's certainly not very good at the dark art of not answering the question. She'd have been better off just saying that it's not something she can discuss in any meaningful detail on a Sunday morning politics show.

Maybe - but she wasn't being asked to discuss anything in any meaningful detail - just whether or not she knew about it. Yes or no answer. If the answer was 'no' then she would have said it so therefore we can safely and easily conclude that she did know. So she was an idiot to refuse to answer (except of course that the same mentality that worked for Brexit will work for May and many will probably, for some strange reason, be able to conclude that she didn't know....)

Trump ought not to worry too much about BBC reporting. During Brexit it showed itself to be inadequately critical of false information though of course so far we don't seem to be prepared to lie about things that can be disproved in seconds by a couple of photos.

We are very comfortable with the weaselly lie but shudder at the outright or blatant lie or calling somebody a liar

kingstongraham

rjsterry wrote:

On the latter: it's funny, but I thought it was us liberal snowflakes who were supposed to be the whiny ones. All the stuff about not being allowed to say what you think just sounds like some many teenager who's been told to tidy his room. That's not to say that the Democrats don't bear some of the responsibility for assuming this constituency can be ignored.

I think the part of that which is correct are the priorities: "Because you thought correcting people’s attitudes was more important than finding them jobs."

Both sides of that equation are likely to annoy people.

rick_chasey

It's about intent isn't it?

kingstongraham

Rolf F wrote:

Maybe - but she wasn't being asked to discuss anything in any meaningful detail - just whether or not she knew about it. Yes or no answer. If the answer was 'no' then she would have said it so therefore we can safely and easily conclude that she did know. So she was an idiot to refuse to answer (except of course that the same mentality that worked for Brexit will work for May and many will probably, for some strange reason, be able to conclude that she didn't know....)

It's a no-win situation - if she knew about it and kept it secret, then it doesn't look good. If she wasn't told about it, it doesn't look good.

Therefore, say it is a national security matter that can't be discussed, and hope it goes away.

Pross

Why is Piers Morgan so infatuated with Trump? He was interviewing one of the women who organised Saturday's protest this morning and giving her a really hard time then talking all over her when she tried to answer. I thought she well and truly put him in his place by staying calm and pointing out that he was acting exactly the same way Trump does with people who don't agree with him. I know Morgan is a knob and always has been but he seems worse than ever in this, there's not even a hint of showing impartiality.

bendertherobot

Generally with Piers the answer is always cos he is a coq. I mean, whatever your view on Clarkson, he decked Piers.

rolf_f

KingstonGraham wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Maybe - but she wasn't being asked to discuss anything in any meaningful detail - just whether or not she knew about it. Yes or no answer. If the answer was 'no' then she would have said it so therefore we can safely and easily conclude that she did know. So she was an idiot to refuse to answer (except of course that the same mentality that worked for Brexit will work for May and many will probably, for some strange reason, be able to conclude that she didn't know....)

It's a no-win situation - if she knew about it and kept it secret, then it doesn't look good. If she wasn't told about it, it doesn't look good.

Therefore, say it is a national security matter that can't be discussed, and hope it goes away.

Not so bad if she didn't know - lots happening at the time and not her fault. If nobody told her then she can blame someone else. But of course we know that she did know and did keep it secret.

But yes - why not say it is a national security issue? Honesty would be nice though

AM - "TM - did you know about the failure"
TM - "Yes, but we chose to keep it quiet to avoid embarrassing publicity and we hoped you'd never find out".