Caroline Kennedy --- 2020

[j44ke]

I'm a bit late to this thread and see that it has gone a bit OT.

Back to the original post I have to say stop thinking about 2020. Mid terms are in 2018 and we need to get to work.

Democrats have 10 senate seats up for re-election in 2018, so they will at best be on the defensive to retain those seats and at worst they will be trying to minimize their losses. There are no real opportunities to reclaim seats that are currently occupied by Republicans. So they will need to get their message out clearly and succinctly and try to follow Senator Heitkamp's (ND) success with reaching working class voters.

And based on this last weekend, NOW is also super important. I think Friday afternoons, the traditional time for Presidents to try to squeak through controversial agendas, will be interesting for a while.

I doubt Bannon will go anywhere. He was just elevated to NSA and two generals were demoted to "need to know". Others will leave but not Bannon.

[guido]

Bannon appears to be the power behind the throne... (or at least the hand in the orange sock puppet)

[davids]

I like this, a lot: A Clarifying Moment in American History

"Some Americans can fight abuses of power and disastrous policies directly—in courts, in congressional offices, in the press. But all can dedicate themselves to restoring the qualities upon which this republic, like all republics depends: on reverence for the truth; on a sober patriotism grounded in duty, moderation, respect for law, commitment to tradition, knowledge of our history, and open-mindedness. These are all the opposites of the qualities exhibited by this president and his advisers."

So let's keep this conversation going, with reverence for the truth and open-mindedness.

[lumpy]

I've seen enough encouraging comments from Cory Booker (junior senator from NJ) over the past year to at least consider that he's capable of being "presidential". Other than that, I got nuttin'

...which, obviously, is the problem for many of us.

He was at Dulles Saturday night trying to get detained people access to their lawyers. Goes a long long way in my book.

[Cookietruck]

He was at Dulles Saturday night trying to get detained people access to their lawyers. Goes a long long way in my book.

this is one thing i've been thinking about, is trump (bannon) crazy enough to defy or ignore the courts when they start having problems with all of their executive orders?
at this point, i'm wondering if they are testing their boundaries for what they can get away with.

[Corso]

Apologies! I made an assumption and, well, you know that cliche...

It’s all good. At least we agree on Bannon! And we both choose to live in the Commonwealth. God only knows why I stay here...

[guido]

this is one thing i've been thinking about, is trump (bannon) crazy enough to defy or ignore the courts when they start having problems with all of their executive orders?
at this point, i'm wondering if they are testing their boundaries for what they can get away with.

Partly limits testing. Partly pissing off the left to curry favor with the base. Partly to distract from getting called out over whining how small his crowds were. Wheels within wheels... Bannon is a very crafty chess player. Several steps above the level that Rove was playing at. Democrats need to be really careful how they react to the administrations tactics...

[davids]

It’s all good. At least we agree on Bannon! And we both choose to live in the Commonwealth. God only knows why I stay here...

Because life is nice where we live!

[spopepro]

Partly limits testing. Partly pissing off the left to curry favor with the base. Partly to distract from getting called out over whining how small his crowds were. Wheels within wheels... Bannon is a very crafty chess player. Several steps above the level that Rove was playing at. Democrats need to be really careful how they react to the administrations tactics...

This is something else though... if you listen to remarks from the Republicans in the Senate and House, they are pretty bent that no one even gave them a heads up. The latest events haven't been about parties... I worry the test is of something far deeper structurally.

[Matthew J]

Do you believe Mexico is actually putting that money to fight the drug war?

Given the number of US enforcement agents in Mexico monitoring and contributing to the anti-drug effort, would be very surprised if not.

Would you rather see that Mexican money go to help develop some social programs in Detroit?

I would.

This goes to another issue altogether. If drugs were legal, there would be no need for interdiction programs. As long as the US in its wisdom proscribes heroin, cocaine, and marijuana on the federal level, drug enforcement is a necessity. By all accounts, enforcement is better and less expensive when Mexico joins the effort.

[colker]

... Bannon is a very crafty chess player..

The way they are playing at foreign relations, trade, international joint ventures against organized crime i would say Bannon is a lousy, unimformed player. Trump is already burning a lot of important bridges.

[guido]

The way they are playing at foreign relations, trade, international joint ventures against organized crime i would say Bannon is a lousy, unimformed player. Trump is already burning a lot of important bridges.

That is assuming the goals they have are normal legitimate goals of a functioning government. These guys are playing a different game. I don't think they have any intention of maintaining any shred of old style foreign relations, trade, etc. function as "normal". He is burning the two way bridges and building one-way bridges where he cares to. This is for an entirely internal audience, the rest of the world can go hang for all they care. Very, very dangerous but quite intentional.

[colker]

That is assuming the goals they have are normal legitimate goals of a functioning government. These guys are playing a different game. I don't think they have any intention of maintaining any shred of old style foreign relations, trade, etc. function as "normal". He is burning the two way bridges and building one-way bridges where he cares to. This is for an entirely internal audience, the rest of the world can go hang for all they care. Very, very dangerous but quite intentional.

It may work as a reality tv show or internet reality. I hope congress and federal judges draw a line.

[vertical_doug]

That is assuming the goals they have are normal legitimate goals of a functioning government. These guys are playing a different game. I don't think they have any intention of maintaining any shred of old style foreign relations, trade, etc. function as "normal". He is burning the two way bridges and building one-way bridges where he cares to. This is for an entirely internal audience, the rest of the world can go hang for all they care. Very, very dangerous but quite intentional.

Yes, play to the base and only the base. That is the strategy.
Here is an interesting read from medium on how a minority can rule a majority.
The Most Intolerant Wins: The Dictatorship of the Small Minority

Some of it is a hash, but it is worth a read. Besides, he wrote this last August. He is also the guy who wrote about black swans back in 2010 and before that Fooled by Randomness 2001.,



DeVos’ Code Words for Creationism Offshoot Raise Concerns About ‘Junk Science’ - ProPublica

Propublica is usually pretty good and this is on Betsy.

Tomorrow Trump will announce is SCOTUS. Can't wait to be gaslit!

[Scott G.]

Tomorrow Trump will announce is SCOTUS. Can't wait to be gaslit!

Grover Norquist

Since Roger B. Taney is still dead.

[BSUdude]

I'm a bit late to the party, but...

How does spending billions on a wall help the national deficit?

Why do we propose spending billions on a wall when citizens in Flint still don't have drinkable water?

How does supporting an oil pipeline easement across US land by a Canadian company fit with "America First"?

The motivations of this administration are so transparent it hardly even merits argument. They don't give a shit about citizens, just about their global corporate cronies. Everything else (ACA, walls, immigration, etc) is just to make Trump voters think he's actually doing something for them. I will say Trump seems to be such a narcissist that it's been entertaining to watch his administration's reactions to massive demonstrations of the people voicing their dislike.

He's gonna treat the US like an Atlantic City Casino--bleed it dry, leave it for dead.

[spopepro]

Yes, play to the base and only the base. That is the strategy.
Here is an interesting read from medium on how a minority can rule a majority.
The Most Intolerant Wins: The Dictatorship of the Small Minority

Some of it is a hash, but it is worth a read. Besides, he wrote this last August. He is also the guy who wrote about black swans back in 2010 and before that Fooled by Randomness 2001.,



DeVos’ Code Words for Creationism Offshoot Raise Concerns About ‘Junk Science’ - ProPublica

Propublica is usually pretty good and this is on Betsy.

Tomorrow Trump will announce is SCOTUS. Can't wait to be gaslit!

Along with those articles, Yonatan Zunger (a fellow physicist, now at google) has a habit of following these things compulsively, has the memory to make connections, and the academic background to link facts, and has posted this collection of how the last few things that have happened all play towards a particularly scary narrative.

[dogrange]

As far as the other: I agree Bannon is bad for the administration.

But then again, I found Eric Holder just horrible at doing his job. And he had it 5 and a half years.

Hey man, I disagree with you on almost anything you say about Trump doing anything good (so far), but I'm with you on these statements. Just trying to find some common ground!

[j44ke]

Shouldn't matter whether Bannon is God himself or a golden retriever, Trump is President. None of this happens if Trump doesn't sign off on it. It is the signing off on these things without consulting legal authorities or vetting procedures with affected departments (NYTimes describes the head of Homeland Security getting the briefing from his department while on the plane to Washington at the same time that Trump is signing the immigration ban) that will cause anyone with an ounce of credibility and self-respect (obviously a big variable) in the administration to start jumping ship. If they aren't being consulted, why are they there? Who wants to ride a train wreck into the wall if you don't at least get a shot at pulling the emergency brake?

The only way Bannon will go is if there is an ultimatum presented by the Republicans in Congress, and who is going to do that? McConnell? His wife works for Trump. McCain? No one listens to McCain any longer. Ryan? He's scared to death of doing anything that might create a sense that he actually has a personality.

This is the landscape for the next four years.

[colker]

This is the landscape for the next four years.

Unless there is an impeachment. It has happenned before and life moved on.