What can I say? I'm feeling calmer and some renewed hope for humanity.
What can I say? I'm feeling calmer and some renewed hope for humanity.
One can only hope:))
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller named special prosecutor for Russia investigation
http://www.latimes.com/politics/wash...htmlstory.html
Now the only question is what will finish first - the investigation? Or Trump's term in office?
The Comey drama is all political theater.
The President's leak of sensitive informations about ISIS shenanigans potentially puts a foreign operative in danger and potentially affects our ability to get more of the sensitive information. That is, if he did this thing.
It will be a long road to hoe before they can make a strong case for obstruction of justice. If it does come to an impeachment vote there may be a lot of Republicans who would like to see him out of the way since he seems to be impeding their agenda on some tax and health care reform. I'm not even sure that Sessions will be exempt since he recommenced Comey's firing after recusing himself from the investigation. It is heartening to hear that Mueller will become special prosecutor. As far as I can tell he is non-political and well respected by both parties. It wasn't the crimes, but the cover up that got Nixon.
I don't know how much of this is theater, but hopefully we will find out soon and move on. If it was Hillary or Obama the conservatives would be screaming bloody murder.
I think it's all ridiculous at this point. As much as I do not like Trump as Commander-in-Chief (he was definitely entertaining in Celebrity Apprentice) he has a point that the media is a lynch mob.
If he has obstructed justice, I hope it will all come out. I'm almost feeling bad for him at this point--I'm sure he's realizing he had no idea what he was in for when he descended that multi-story escalator at Trump Tower to announce his run for the presidency.
The people who disliked Trump but voted for him because they liked Pence must be quivering with anticipation.
There is a renewed fervor in and excitement for a big neighborhood wide Impeachment Block Party in the 85006. I only hope this happens - it would be such a positive event for both the country and the 85006. So many people are talking of Impeachment and the Block Party with such excitement! I truly can't see any reason Trump should remain in office after giving Russia classified information and after attempting to get Comey off the investigation trail. Impeachment for the win, and wait 'till the neighborhood tries out my Moroccan Chicken Tagine. I'm determined to turn this sorry period of American history into something positive.....Rob
Exactly. The vast majority of us have no power to direct outcomes. That said, Mr. Trump often seems to be his own worst enemy and I doubt he will learn from these scandals, and I see him following the same trajectory towards new and improved scandals as time goes on. The question is: Where does America as a nation get off this quickening-of-pace-train-wreck? RobQuote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
PS I came back to add that I was at Food City this morning (the Hispanic grocery store down the street from me) and the lead cashier there told me that the family from Nicaragua that moved in next door to the former crack house six houses down from me told her that the Trump supporters there took down their Trump signs and Trump bumper stickers sometime the last 24 hours. Gives me some hope!
As long as he doesn't go down with him. I wonder what the odds are for a Ryan presidency? Assuming he's the Speaker that long. It will be interesting if this investigation ends up overshadowing the 2018 election cycle.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
The investigation by the special prosecutor will take a long time. There are a lot of dots that appear to be connected between trump people and russia. Figuring it all out (assuming that there actually is something to figure out, which appears likely but is certainly not a given) will take much effort. Possibly until after the midterms next year. Depending on what, if anything is found, we may end up with a watergate scenario where the VP has to resign and then the P. In my perfect world the VP and P have to leave simultaneously. After the democrats have taken over the house and selected a new speaker...
As for the press, I personally feel like they've been doing what they've been doing because of a sense that the government people who should be doing the investigation were doing anything. Hopefully now that we have a legitimate special investigator the freakout will calm down. Although heaven knows that trump doesn't seem to have the Nixonian temperament to sit back and stew quietly as this whole process progresses so who knows what sort of fireworks will pop up on a day to day basis.
If nothing else this investigation is certainly going to be interesting! Apparently there are even republicans that think trump was on putin's payroll.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world...=.98289d27dd97
Something I find so exciting about all of this tawdry affair is that now the GOP will be busy fending off wolves to try to survive politically and there won't be much energy left over to kill innocent people (via decimation of Medicare and Medicaid) so that the wealthy can become even more so. And even better, the winds may very well blow cold for the GOP for some time as people bail on the party in the name of sanity and survival. I will say however the Dems need to get their act together better - but if they can pull that off (?), perhaps they can take back the House or the Senate or both and then block the GOP at every step of the way much as Obama endured. Lives depend on this.....Rob
The thing i'm happiest about with the announcement of the soecial investigator is that i have confidence that the truth will come out, whatever that truth may be. When the republican political operatives were in charge of all the investigations i had no such confidence. If it turns out there's no 'there there' i will accept that despite my loathing for trump. And if there is a there there the country will be better off once this is over
While it does potentially put operatives in danger (I don't know if the operation has ended), it isn't a leak, but a declassification.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buI8aO7nRDM
I guess the question is whether classifying what he did as a leak or a declassification matters beyond dry legal matters internally in the US. At the end of the day if what he did means that our allies will be reluctant to share intelligence with us then it also means that 45 may ultimately be responsible for lots of dead americans at some point in the future. I happen to remember the last president that didn't think intelligence mattered and almost 3,000 americans died because of his casual attitude about intelligence.
I agree that the technical definition of "classified" does not matter. It was (likely) wrong to release this info publicly, if that is what the Prez did. Flapping his mouth in this way is consistent with my image of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
It might be a long time before impeachment proceedings can happen, but it would not surprise me if Trump steps down well before all that. I get the feeling he doesn't like his job and he pretty much hinted at that in an interview. He doesn't smile or joke much. I have wondered what motivates people to become president and it's probably not simple, but I suspect Trump's overriding motivation was to feed his ego and prove he could do it. Now that he's there and had an chance to stretch his muscles it's not working out very well.
Back after the election there was an article where Vegas was giving 4 to 1 odds that he would not make it four years. Maybe a bit of fake news, but since then the scandals have mounted, some of his own party is turning against him, and other than executive orders he really hasn't accomplished anything.
Don't worry Rob. Going the Special Prosecutor route should mean fewer endless congressional committees up until impeachment proceedings (if any). There should be plenty of time for slaughtering the innocent.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
He doesn't smile or joke much because he has (as far as I've been able to tell), absolutely no sense of humor--a characteristic I watch for and avoid, when possible.
The media are doing their jobs, finally.
I agree he didn't want the job. Maybe the Russians coerced him into running, and greased his skids for their own reasons. Between the Russians and the righties micromanaging his proclamations and appointments, it's no wonder he doesn't get much sleep.
well, humor is hghly subjective.Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
I think the Prez jokes around often and even though his jokes often fall flat, he is a comic in his own mind. Sometimes he makes me laugh. The most recent time was all of the hoopla about his first 100 days and he said something like "hey lets rate the media on Their first 100 day.s" A small quip, but funny.
actually, I have been thinking about this, and I would use as a yardstick Trump's jokes to gauge an objective Point of View from someone else. If smeone like you never finds any of his intended jokes funny, then i know that you will never be objective about Trump issues.
No, I'll never be objective about Trump. But I've honestly never heard him say anything remotely humorous--and I used to watch The Apprentice, so I've had enough exposure to him. That comment about the press sounds like his usual whiny, self-centered complaints about the media being unfair! to poor little Donny.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I was no fan of GW Bush, but I caught glimpses of his sense of humor, though perhaps they were scripted. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
That's a common trait of a narcissist.Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
Yep.....I agree with that. He's too serious about defending his own reality to have any room for humor. And some of his attempts at humor end up causing problems.
I think American political humor (and maybe American humor in general) has been in decline since at least the turn of the century. All the TV clowns except maybe Fallon seem to have joined "the resistance". I feel like if I'm not being scolded, I'm being lectured to by a substitute social studies teacher.
Same for the pols. I don't think I've laughed at a debate since Cheney/Lieberman in 2000.
One can only hope that this scandal keeps the Repubs occupied as Rob mentioned so they can stay away from the ACA, Medicare, Medicaid, SS, etc. I think the less that gets done the better at this point. Maybe he will have a breakdown and run out of the WH screaming:D
I wonder if he will eventually move out of the country to one of his towers somewhere else.
Better yet, I wish he'd encounter a time warp and end out in a galaxy long, long ago and far, far away.......RobQuote:
Originally Posted by CathyA
Quote:
Originally Posted by CathyA
So your wanting to fund NASA more for manned expeditions?Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
As now, as a president, he is entitled to lifetime healthcare and Secret Service protections.
Too Much Stuff - I didn't mean this line literally so no worries about NASA funding - my line was meant as a combo of sarcasm and 85006 humor. That's all. And as to my Star Wars reference, RIP Carrie Fischer. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff
Given what they can apparently get away with, I expect he'd rather have Turkish government bodyguards.Quote:
Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff
Minor side note: Secret Service protection was changed two decades ago to 10 years after leaving office but the legislation was then repealed by President Obama during his second term.Quote:
Originally Posted by ToomuchStuff
What are the specific elements of the crime of "obstruction of justice"?
Makes sense--he reportedly got more death threats than any previous president on record. You know--the Jeff Sessions/Steve Bannon crowd.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
We'll be paying through the nose from now on for Trump--one way or the other.
Maybe I'm just too slow to grasp the lofty concepts here, but it would seem to me that trying to cut short an FBI investigation into a massive money-laundering operation involving your cabinet members/general minions (and ultimately you yourself) would constitute clear conflict of interest. Not to mention firing a lot of government personnel who were working on related issues--like Preet Bharara.
I agree with ApatheticNoMore that even if Trump is impeached (and I'm convinced there are several charges that could be brought), we won't be much better off, because he brought a whole squadron of flying monkeys in with him. The eventual cleanup (if we're still here) will be massive.
You gotta be careful about who's reporting this sort of thing, according to the Secret Service the number of threats against Obama were comparable to the previous two Presidents, Clinton and Bush.Quote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
I don't know about lofty concepts unless you mean that accusations require proof to support a desired outcome. Right now there doesn't seem to be much of that available.Quote:
Maybe I'm just too slow to grasp the lofty concepts here, but it would seem to me that trying to cut short an FBI investigation into a massive money-laundering operation involving your cabinet members/general minions (and ultimately you yourself) would constitute clear conflict of interest. Not to mention firing a lot of government personnel who were working on related issues--like Preet Bharara.
True. And it will likely be a while before the Mueller investigation goes through everything and figures out what has actually occurred. In the meantime it's recently come to light that Paul Ryan made clear last June that he views the Republicans in the house as a mafia style family whose most important task is protecting Trump, so impeachment proceedings seem pretty unlikely until after 2018, regardless of Mueller's investigation results, and even then only if Democrats take over the house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan