Boy I wish I wrote this: Remember when Republicans feared the bungling diplomacy of a vain, inexperienced president and vowed to stop him before he destroyed our security? In 2014, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned that President Barack Obama was “inflexibly clinging to campaign promises.” If the novice president expected Congress to “stand idly by and do nothing … Read More
Cohen Will Probably Flip
The man who once boasted that he would never turn on Trump seems likely to turn on Trump. Lawyers representing Michael Cohen in a federal criminal investigation into his financial dealings may soon jump ship, ABC News reported Wednesday. “A source representing this matter” told ABC that Stephen Ryan and Todd Harrison of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP are expected to end … Read More
Cart Before The Horse
Wow. Trump seems to think North Korea is no longer a threat and that it is a done deal. In reality, Trump returned to America from the Singapore meeting having secured only a vague promise, not unlike others the North Koreans have broken in the past, about working toward the goal of denuclearization. Yet North Korea has just as many … Read More
Yeah, We Got Hoodwinked In Singapore
Kristof: It sure looks as if President Trump was hoodwinked in Singapore. Trump made a huge concession — the suspension of military exercises with South Korea. That’s on top of the broader concession of the summit meeting itself, security guarantees he gave North Korea and the legitimacy that the summit provides his counterpart, Kim Jong-un. Within North Korea, the “very … Read More
Russia And The NRA
McClatchy: Several prominent Russians, some in President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle or high in the Russian Orthodox Church, now have been identified as having contact with National Rifle Association officials during the 2016 U.S. election campaign, according to photographs and an NRA source. The contacts have emerged amid a deepening Justice Department investigation into whether Russian banker and lifetime NRA member … Read More
Trump In Singapore
Fox & Friends accidentally said this about the Singapore summit: “regardless of what happens in that meeting between the two dictators.” This gaffe is probably the most honest thing ever said in the program’s history. pic.twitter.com/eooBanu9b2 — Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 10, 2018 In the simplest form of nuclear weapon, two portions of uranium are hurled together to reach “critical … Read More
Weekly List 82
This week started with Trump pushing yet another norm, saying he could pardon himself. This comes after a string of recent pardons, and Trump bragging to reporters that he is considering 3,000 more—crowning himself the arbiter of what is fair, not the judicial branch. In two moves that alarmed legal experts, Sessions’ Justice Department sided with a frivolous lawsuit instead … Read More
Breaking: Mueller Hands Down More Indictments And Adds Charges To Manafort
In the so-called witch hunt, this press release from Special Counsel Bob Mueller: Mueller is seeking forfeiture of Manafort’s real estate and bank accounts too pic.twitter.com/w7AXRdlTNy — ryan teague beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) June 8, 2018 You really have to wonder about a guy who engages in witness tampering while in home confinement. Stupid and arrogant. He’s so guilty and so compromised … Read More
Trump To Head To Hostile G7 Summit
I am heading for Canada and the G-7 for talks that will mostly center on the long time unfair trade practiced against the United States. From there I go to Singapore and talks with North Korea on Denuclearization. Won’t be talking about the Russian Witch Hunt Hoax for a while! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2018 Looking forward … Read More
Going After The Leakers: DOJ Gets Its First Scalp
Federal prosecutors announced they were indicting James Wolfe, the former security director for the Senate Intelligence Committee, of lying to FBI agents in December 2017 about his contacts with three reporters, including through his use of encrypted messaging applications. According to the indictment, Wolfe made false statements to the FBI about providing two reporters with non-public information related to the … Read More
Rudy Lies; Melania Denies
A few days ago, at a business conference in Israel. Trump’s TV “lawyer” Rudy Giuliani told reporters that Melania Trump does not believe her husband had an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Giulini made a series of sexist remarks attempting to discredit Daniels‘ character because of her profession. While doing so, the former mayor of New York City asserted that Mrs. … Read More
Another Celebrity Suicide: Anthony Bourdain [Update: Charles Krauthammer]
Days after Kate Spade takes her life, TV travelling chef Anthony Bourdain is reported to have died in France, while working on an episode of his CNN show, “Parts Unknown.” Bourdain was found unresponsive in his hotel room by a close friend, chef Eric Ripert. The cause of his death was suicide. Bourdain was 61. UPDATE: Since we’re on depressing news, Charles Krauthammer, a … Read More
“It’s About Attitude”
When asked this morning about his efforts to prepare for the upcoming “summit” with North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump gave an answer that was not at all reassuring. I think I’m very well prepared. I don’t think I have to prepare very much. It’s about attitude. Translation: His staff has been unable to prepare him, because as usual … Read More
United Nations Human Rights Office Tells Trump Administration To Stop Separating Children From Parents At Border
This is how low we have sunk as a nation. So much for that Nobel Peace Prize. CNN: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday called on the Trump administration to end a policy that could lead to the separation of families detained on the US southern border. Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani expressed “deep concern” … Read More
RIP Kate Spade
The fashion accessory icon was found dead in her apartment of apparent suicide (hanging). She was 55.