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Or we could have had a President who was not trustworthy on national security.
Carl Bernstein for CNN:
One person familiar with almost all the conversations with the leaders of Russia, Turkey, Canada, Australia and western Europe described the calls cumulatively as ‘abominations’ so grievous to US national security interests that if members of Congress heard from witnesses to the actual conversations or read the texts and contemporaneous notes, even many senior Republican members would no longer be able to retain confidence in the President.
Yup, that Hillary sure was dangerous, with her private email server that never got hacked and her three emails that were classified retroactively.
The insidious effect of the conversations comes from Trump’s tone, his raging outbursts at allies while fawning over authoritarian strongmen, his ignorance of history and lack of preparation as much as it does from the troubling substance, according to the sources. While in office, then- Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats expressed worry to subordinates that Trump’s telephone discussions were undermining the coherent conduct of foreign relations and American objectives around the globe, one of CNN’s sources said. And in recent weeks, former chief of staff Kelly has mentioned the damaging impact of the President’s calls on US national security to several individuals in private.
It’s a great thing that we have such a terrific negotiator with Drumpf in charge. Four outstanding years as Secretary of State clearly taught Hillary nothing about relating to people. Besides, der Drumpfenfuhrer has all the best words.
Next to Erdogan, no foreign leader initiated more calls with Trump than Macron, the sources said, with the French President often trying to convince Trump to change course on environmental and security policy matters — including climate change and US withdrawal from the Iranian multilateral nuclear accord.
Macron usually got “nowhere” on substantive matters, while Trump became irritated at the French President’s stream of requests and subjected him to self-serving harangues and lectures that were described by one source as personalized verbal “whippings,” especially about France and other countries not meeting NATO spending targets, their liberal immigration policies or their trade imbalances with the US.
But his most vicious attacks, said the sources, were aimed at women heads of state. In conversations with both May and Merkel, the President demeaned and denigrated them in diatribes described as “near-sadistic” by one of the sources and confirmed by others. “Some of the things he said to Angela Merkel are just unbelievable: he called her ‘stupid,’ and accused her of being in the pocket of the Russians … He’s toughest [in the phone calls] with those he looks at as weaklings and weakest with the ones he ought to be tough with.”
I feel so much safer knowing that big, strong man is in charge, instead of that female who, let’s face it, does possess a vajayjay – a sure sign of untrustworthiness, especially when trying to deal with foreign adversaries.
In his phone exchanges with Putin, the sources reported, the President talked mostly about himself, frequently in over-the-top, self-aggrandizing terms: touting his “unprecedented” success in building the US economy; asserting in derisive language how much smarter and “stronger” he is than “the imbeciles” and “weaklings” who came before him in the presidency (especially Obama); reveling in his experience running the Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow, and obsequiously courting Putin’s admiration and approval. Putin “just outplays” him, said a high-level administration official — comparing the Russian leader to a chess grandmaster and Trump to an occasional player of checkers. While Putin “destabilizes the West,” said this source, the President of the United States “sits there and thinks he can build himself up enough as a businessman and tough guy that Putin will respect him.” (At times, the Putin-Trump conversations sounded like “two guys in a steam bath,” a source added.)
There’s so much more to read, and I recommend you do so. But honestly, Widdershins, I’m done.
Tawk amongst yerselves!
Y’all, there’s been some drama in Kentucky. Yesterday there was a primary between a Justice Dem-backed candidate and Amy McGrath, the moderate fave who was starting to make headway over #MoscowMitch. As of the moment I’m posting, the race is too close to call. And, the expectation is that it won’t be called till June 30, due to the high preponderance of mail-in ballots.
Democratic enthusiasm for McGrath was high when she first entered the Senate race last year, and she raised $2.5 million in her first 24 hours. That enthusiasm quickly cooled when she said in an interview with The Courier-Journal, that “I probably would have voted “ to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who’s widely loathed by Democrats. She later tweeted that “upon further reflection and further understanding of his record, I would have voted no.”
McGrath continued her fundraising prowess, and as of June 3rd, had raised over $41 million, according to the most recent fundraising filings. She had to dip into that money for ads to fight off a late surge from Booker, who supports Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and Universal Basic Income and campaigned against inequality and racial injustice.
I don’t much care who is picked in the primary, as long as they are the right person to at least credibly challenge McConnell. Although Booker sounds like a Sanders ratfcker, I did see a different take from an allegedly native Kentuckian on the Tweet Machine. So who the h knows.
I think it would be absolutely delicious if #MoscowMitch loses his seat. But, when we take the Senate, I wonder if he’ll resign and write a book? I can see it now, “Life from the Turtle’s Nest: A Career in the Senate.” It will end up in the Koch Brothers’ warehouse with Kellyanne’s, Jared’s and Ivanka’s sad oeuvres.
Tawk amongst yerselves, Widdershins!
- In: 2020 Election | Civil Rights | Equality | Gay Rights | gun violence | Human Rights | SCOTUS
- 40 Comments
Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the right of LGBTQ workers to equal protection under the law. THIS Supreme Court! The decision was 6-3. The usual assholes dissented: Alito, Kavanaugh and Thomas. (I hear Kavanaugh was seen crying into a beer afterwards, whereas Thomas had his usual Coke.)
This would be enough amazingly and shockingly good news for one day in this hellscape of a year. But wait, there’s more!
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joined the court’s liberals in the 6-to-3 ruling. They said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “because of sex,” includes gay and transgender employees.
The decision was a surprise, and not the only one of the day. Even though the court’s conservative majority has been strengthened, it announced Monday that it was turning down a batch of challenges from gun rights groups eager to expand Second Amendment rights. And it rejected the Trump administration’s request to review California’s attempts to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants.
Between this, and Suddenly Swing State Ohio set to send out absentee mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters for the November election, and the fact that Joe Biden took in over $80M last month (the biggest haul ever), well…it feels like the avalanche of sh*t that happens every day in 2020 just paused, briefly, for a shining sh*t-free moment.
Tawk amongst yerselves!
Like all of us, I expect, I am going through a lot of emotions these days. It’s overwhelming what’s happening in our country. I described it to colleagues yesterday as a roller-coaster ride, a horror show, and a source of hope and pride all at the same time. I’m thrilled to see all the protests all over the country, even as I worry about Covid-19 and the spiking that’s already happened from the premature re-opening.
What I didn’t say was, where have you all been before now?
Where were you all in 2015 when Trump rode down that escalator and proclaimed Mexicans to be rapists? Did you stand up for Mexicans?
Where were you all in the spring of 2016 when the Mango Moron and Bernie were both weaponizing misogyny against Hillary? Did you stand up for women?
Where were you on November 8, 2016? Did you manage to vote for Hillary, or were you too pure? Did you sit it out? Did you claim that “both parties are the same” or believe that “we should give him a chance?”
Where were you all when the racist rapist stole the election? Were you at the Women’s March standing up for America? Or did you think Drumpf would “bring the Revolution?”
And where have you been during this three-and-a-half-year nightmare?
In my opinion, they ALL should have been on the streets a long goddamn time ago. They should have stood up for Hillary and they should have stood up for all the women Drumpf assaulted and they should have stood up for Mexicans and they should have stood up for the black and brown people that were offended and terrified by Drumpf’s racist dogwhistles throughout the campaign. They should have been in the streets when Drumpf threw paper towels at Puerto Rico or proclaimed white supremacists “very fine people” or described largely African countries as “shithole countries”?
Yes, it certainly took them a long time to put their feet on the street. But I have to say, it is good to see them all now.
Tawk amongst yerselves!
Activist Tuesday: Hang In There
Posted on: June 2, 2020
Everything is horrible, so here are some inspirational quotes.
Also, Democratic donations are increasing like crazy.
Tawk amongst yerselves. We will survive and we will vote in November!
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