President Donald Trump: The Thread

[StrangeSox]

I would be glad that Russia was not behind wikileaks. Means we are still mostly just capable of suicide as a country.

 

But, it's not just wikileaks. It is more likely that a FISA warrant would be granted around the several advisors that came onto Trump's campaign, like Manafort, Page, Flynn, that had recent and significant ties to politicians and oligarchs in Russia's sphere of influence.

 

That Josh Marshall article "Innocent Explanation #2" gets into this, but the investigation in the money and connections between those advisors would very likely lead to an investigation in the investments and connections for Trump himself.

 

Would that show illegal stuff? No idea.

 

But remember when people just shouted "quid pro quo" around hillary. If people gave to her charity "probably for quid pro quo!". Bill on the plane "Quid pro quo!". Everything was a quid pro quo, if not at that point, it had the potential to forever.

 

Trump, somehow, has worse vulnerabilities to stuff like that. He also has a wide net that he likely may not even know all of the connections which could be embarrassing. I mean, at the very least, it's hard to imagine a global real estate developer whose organization did not run into organized crime at some point.

 

There's also the fact that first his campaign and now his administration keeps getting caught blatantly lying about their contacts with Russia.

[StrangeSox]

Bradd Jaffy‏ @BraddJaffy 2h2 hours ago

Trump had no idea whether the claims he was making were true when he made them, WH sources tell @stephenfhayes http://tws.io/2mWUKOm March 6, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Doesn't matter though, Trump said it and now millions of MAGA-Americans take it as the truth.

 

 

Bradd Jaffy ✔ @BraddJaffy

NBC's Pete Williams on Trump's claim that Obama ordered him wiretapped: “Everyone we've talked to thinks it's not true.” pic.twitter.com/tdVgFEEybV

March 6, 2017 8:14 AM - 6 Mar 2017

 

White House spox Sarah Huckabee Sanders is also getting torn apart on the morning shows today

 

Khary Penebaker ✔ @kharyp

Watch how many times George Stephanopoulos checks Sarah Huckabee Sanders after she attempts lie after lie March 6, 2017 4:58 AM - 6 Mar 2017

[StrangeSox]

"There's no way this doesn't blow up in Trump's face and sink him for good" says increasingly nervous man for the seven-millionth time

[bmags]

There's also the fact that first his campaign and now his administration keeps getting caught blatantly lying about their contacts with Russia.

 

Right, but for the "why are they lying", I'd bet against collusion.

 

Sessions was the strangest. I think another element is just Trump only believes in dominance politics, not truth. So if someone says something that could be hurtful, just lie and say they are a liar and play victim.

 

But - that may only last until someone actually gets Scooter Libby'd.

[Steve9347]

"There's no way this doesn't blow up in Trump's face and sink him for good" says increasingly nervous man for the seven-millionth time

Ha. Yes.

[StrangeSox]

New muslim ban signed Iraq isn't on the list, which really seems to undermine the whole "keep out ISIS!" justification they tried.

 

The new ban doesn't include green card holders, and it cuts the annual refugee cap in half.

 

e: they exempt Iraq because reasons (probably Mattis wanted this so Iraqis who help the US weren't screwed like they were with the original ban), but still cite this as a justification:

 

(h) Recent history shows that some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States. They have included not just persons who came here legally on visas but also individuals who first entered the country as refugees. For example, in January 2013, two Iraqi nationals admitted to the United States as refugees in 2009 were sentenced to 40 years and to life in prison, respectively, for multiple terrorism-related offenses.

 

e2: and we're going to get government-compiled lists of all of the "honor killings" happening in this country!

 

More worrying is this part:

 

Sec. 11. Transparency and Data Collection. (a) To be more transparent with the American people and to implement more effectively policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, consistent with applicable law and national security, collect and make publicly available the following information:

(i) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation with or provision of material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national-security-related reasons;

(ii) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and who have engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States;

(iii) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including so-called "honor killings," in the United States by foreign nationals; and

(iv) any other information relevant to public safety and security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, including information on the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with major offenses.

 

This is a vaguely defined "immigrant crimes!" list.

Edited March 6, 2017 by StrangeSox

[Quin]

"The first one was ruled illegal, so I'll do a second one that's slightly different."

[NorthSideSox72]

Looks like they addressed the two major legal issues with the first one: existing visa holders (which are now exempt), and the religious test (now removed). And they have a phase-in to make it go smoother in implementation. So this one is probably much more likely to pass court muster.

 

[BigSqwert]

Looks like they addressed the two major legal issues with the first one: existing visa holders (which are now exempt), and the religious test (now removed). And they have a phase-in to make it go smoother in implementation. So this one is probably much more likely to pass court muster.

 

Really well thought out plan. Pakistan is excluded (wife of the San Bernardino attacker) as is Saudi Arabia (most of the 9/11 assailants).

[NorthSideSox72]

Really well thought out plan. Pakistan is excluded (wife of the San Bernardino attacker) as is Saudi Arabia (most of the 9/11 assailants).

Well, how useful or intelligent the effort is, is another matter. It likely does nothing to decrease risk of terror, but screws over an array of people and uses a lot of political capital, so it's still pretty stupid. But perhaps it's at least not blatantly illegal. Progress, lol.

 

 

[Dick Allen]

Really well thought out plan. Pakistan is excluded (wife of the San Bernardino attacker) as is Saudi Arabia (most of the 9/11 assailants).

The terrorists are pouring in.

[bmags]

The amazing thing about the first one is it was almost hard to make an order that would exceed the Executive branches powers, but they managed to. The problem is they opened themselves up to discriminatory intent, which wouldn't go away. I think it is a much longer shot to get any reversals/stays here.

[pettie4sox]

What's the point of this immigration ban?

[BigSqwert]

What's the point of this immigration ban?

I'm still trying to figure that out.

[LittleHurt05]

What's the point of this immigration ban?

 

To single out and humiliate all Muslims who don't have business interests with the Trump family.

[CrimsonWeltall]

What's the point of this immigration ban?

 

Make his base feel safe from the scary Muslims who are constantly attacking rural America

[NorthSideSox72]

To single out and humiliate all Muslims who don't have business interests with the Trump family.

Partly this, but honestly I think it is mostly just that Trump's whole campaign was based on fear. Fear of the "other". Thus he had to make certain risks seem REALLY BAD, including this. And being the narcissist he is, he is more than happy to swing a bat and look tough regardless of A) if it actually makes a difference in safety or B) if it ruins people's lives.

 

[Dick Allen]

Partly this, but honestly I think it is mostly just that Trump's whole campaign was based on fear. Fear of the "other". Thus he had to make certain risks seem REALLY BAD, including this. And being the narcissist he is, he is more than happy to swing a bat and look tough regardless of A) if it actually makes a difference in safety or B) if it ruins people's lives.

And it's also foolproof. It will be a success no matter what. No one from these countries has harmed a US citizen on American soil in over 40 years. If it makes it to 44, Trump was the one who kept everyone safe.

 

 

It will be interesting to see what the majority of republican politicians do once Obamacare is gone and tax cuts approved. They can't continue to accept the constant nonsense.

[LittleHurt05]

And it's also foolproof. It will be a success no matter what. No one from these countries has harmed a US citizen on American soil in over 40 years. If it makes it to 44, Trump was the one who kept everyone safe.

 

 

It will be interesting to see what the majority of republican politicians do once Obamacare is gone and tax cuts approved. They can't continue to accept the constant nonsense.

 

I think you mean killed, not harmed, because there were a couple attacks from Somalian refugees last year.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Minnesota_mall_stabbing

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Ohio_Sta...iversity_attack

[RockRaines]

I'm still trying to figure that out.

It encourages his base that he's doing what he said he would do, and thats keep out all the brown people.

[StrangeSox]

Rather than the paranoid ramblings of a crazy old man, here's a f***ed up thing that's actually happened:

 

edit: state dept. says it's not them

 

A State Department official told the Daily News that there is no such U.S. State Department procedure for reviewing "travel privileges" and that anyone with a valid U.S. passport can enter and leave the U.S.

 

Advocacy groups vow to fight Trump's new travel ban

The official said that it is up to other countries, such as Canada, to admit U.S. citizens or not.

 

A request for comment to the Canadian Foreign Ministry was trasnferred to the country's border agency.

 

Gold Star father cancels speech in Toronto, reportedly after being told his 'travel privileges' were under review

 

Gold Star father Khizr Khan has canceled a scheduled speech in Toronto after being told his "travel privileges are being reviewed," according to the event organizer.

 

Khan, who has lived in the U.S. since 1980 and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was scheduled to speak Tuesday at a luncheon hosted by the Toronto-based organization Ramsay Talks.

 

The two-hour event was slated to include a presentation and question-and-answer session on "what we can do about the appalling turn of events in Washington -- so that we don’t all end up sacrificing everything," according to the organizer.

 

In a statement posted on Facebook, Khan said he was not told why his travel status was under review.

 

"This turn of events is not just of deep concern to me but to all my fellow Americans who cherish our freedom to travel abroad," he said, according to the statement. "I have not been given any reason as to why. I am grateful for your support and look forward to visiting Toronto in the near future."

Edited March 6, 2017 by StrangeSox

[bmags]

I knew that would be false. Seemed like the promoter wanting publicity.

[StrangeSox]

This thing for sure happened though, Trump sending campaign fundraiser emails promoting today's EO

[caulfield12]

Ben Carson perhaps not on the same wavelength on travel ban?

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/06/politics/ben...very/index.html

 

 

Washington (CNN)Ben Carson appeared to liken slaves to immigrants who choose to come to the United States while addressing employees at the Department of Housing and Urban Development Monday.

 

Carson, who was confirmed to lead the department earlier this month, heralded the work ethic of immigrants before implying slaves who came to the United States worked harder than others.

 

"There were other immigrants who came in the bottom of slave ships, who worked even longer, even harder, for less, but they too had a dream that one day their sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, great grandsons, great granddaughters might pursue prosperity and happiness in this land," said Carson, who is black.

 

"And do you know of all the nations in the world, this one, the United States of America, is the only one big enough and great enough to allow all those people to realize their dream. And this is our opportunity to enhance that dream," he added.

 

Earlier in the remarks, Carson said: "That's what America is about, a land of dreams and opportunity."

 

HUD spokesman Brian Sullivan attempted to clarify Carson's statement, saying, "Nobody here believes he was equating voluntary immigration with involuntary servitude.

[BigSqwert]

We're a couple months into this presidency and so far it's controversy after controversy, gaffes, investigations, embarrassing interviews and numerous flat out lies from the President and members of his staff, as well as an alarming number of senior positions requiring Senate confirmation that have yet to be filled. Has there ever been a start to a presidential term that has been remotely as disastrous?