28 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. The FBI has issued a CAT-5 Trumpstink alert, with probable firings of special counsels and serious impeachment proceedings.  In the event, secondary shillstink  warnings are in effect throughout the Internet.  Citizens are warned that the Trump crime family's  administration's only saving grace is its sheer stupidity.

   Stay upwind, my friends.   

   Log in to Reply

   1. 

      Log in to Reply

2. The Senate Republicans moves on to Plan D…..

   Remember Plan A? The brain fart generated by Mitch McConnell and blessed by his committee of 12 and 1/2 white men. Or Plan B which was McConnell's revised version of Plan A which died Monday night when Mike Lee and Jerry Moran simultaneously stabbed it? Or Plan C, the idea of repeal but don't replace right away which died Tuesday morning?

   Well, now there is Plan D which Yertle wheeled out. It consists of opening debate and letting anyone offer any amendment to the bill.

   https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/republicans-push-to-overturn-health-law-is-back-from-the-dead.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fpolitics&action=click&contentCollection=politics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront 

   This is the legislative equivalent of throwing shit against the wall and hoping something sticks. 

   Log in to Reply

   1. Actually, it's a way to get the bill as-is on to the floor for debate. This might find him enough votes to at least get to a motion to proceed.

      Log in to Reply

3. Something we can all agree on:

   Conservatives and libertarians warn of AG Sessions overreach on asset forfeiture.

   Fox News wrote:

   Candidates running on the Libertarian ticket in the midterm elections are likely to make Trump’s record on criminal justice reform and the Sessions selection an issue, in a bid to peel off voters from across the political spectrum.

   “Our candidates will make [asset forfeiture] an issue for Republicans and Democrats on the state and federal level in 2018. We will make them answer to voters on these issues,” Sarwark warned.

   Who knew that the black Democrat would be a better guardian of your civil liberties than the white businessman? (hint: we did).

   Log in to Reply

   1. well, by Session's standard, we should start civil asset forfeiture proceedings against him for lying to congress…then move on to the rest of the trump crooks…take it all…

      Log in to Reply

      1. If only….

         Log in to Reply

4. Dr. Douchetool and Dr. Douchetool . . . 

   http://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/opinion/republican-healthcare-trump-surgeon.html

   It’s a dark and stormy night, and the hospital corridor is eerily illuminated by lightning flashes as Dr. Trump and Dr. McConnell enter a patient’s room and approach the bed of a young woman, Janet.

   “We have the best health care plan ever for you!” Dr. Trump says exultantly, to a thunderclap outside. “Tremendous! I’m the best! I take care of everybody.” He uses his stethoscope to listen to Janet’s heart, and frowns slightly.

   “Er, doctor?” Janet says. “I think my heart is on my left side, not the right.”

   “Let me double-check,” Dr. Trump replies, and he hurriedly moves the stethoscope over. “Who knew health could be so complicated?”

   He looks into Janet’s eyes, holds her hand in his own, and says in a silky voice, “Beautiful Janet, you’re in such great shape.”

    

    

    

    

    

   Log in to Reply

   1. Combine this with the NY Times interview answer where Trump apparently believes health insurance is like whole-life life insurance, where your parents start investing $12/mo. and poof! you wind up with health care when you're 70.

      Scary.

      Oh, and that last line you quote from Kristof is creepy.

      Log in to Reply

5. Note to TwoScoops: perhaps you shouldn't play poker with a guy who has subpoena power?

   Mueller expands probe to Trump business transactions 

   Agents are also interested in dealings with the Bank of Cyprus, where Wilbur Rossserved as vice chairman before he became commerce secretary. The are also examining the efforts of Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and White House aide, to secure financing for some of his family’s real estate properties. The information was provided by someone familiar with the developing inquiry but not authorized to speak publicly.

   Log in to Reply

   1. So with Trump's latest critique of Sessions in the NYT

      and Mueller's stated intent to look into Trump's finances, which Trump said would be "out of line"

      Here's a couple of scenarios. Tell me how realistic / unrealistic they are:

      1. Sessions, feeling pressure to fire Mueller, and unwilling to risk disbarment or other censure for ethics violations, resigns.

      Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein either then fires Mueller, complying with Trump's wishes, or refuses to. If he refuses, Trump probably fires him.

      Here's the part I don't know – would the AG spot then bump down to the next in line? Or would the process start over – Trump nominates someone, that person has to be confirmed, etc. It seems to me that either way, all this tactic does is buy time. And maybe get Mueller fired, which takes the heat off Trump family finances for a while.

      Scenario 2: Sessions refuses to resign, but fires Mueller. Disbarment proceedings initiated against the Attorney General of the United States. The heat is off Trump, and on Sessions. A win for Trump.

      Scenario 3: Sessions refuses to resign, will not fire Mueller. Mueller continues with investigation, pulls all the dirt together, presents it, and eventually either articles of impeachment orAmendment 25 proceedings are initiated by Congress and VP Pence.

      GOP is happy as the National Embarrassment is gone.

      Pence continues on with the Trump agenda.

      Log in to Reply

      1. In the Nixon precedent, both the AG and deputy resigned.  Solicitor General Robert Bork wanted to resign but ruckelshaus and Richardson said somebody needed to mind the store.  My guess is when trump starts firing, the night janitor is left as acting attorney general.  He's bound to be an improvement over beauregard.

         Log in to Reply

      2. If the AG resigns, the duties fall on the acting AG – Rosenstein, at least until Trump appoints a temporary replacement (I think he can do that), or until he nominates a full-time replacement who is approved by the Senate…

         Log in to Reply

         1. The line of people who Trump would have to fire (before getting to the janitor) includes: AG Sessions (assuming he un-recuses himself), Deputy AG Rosenstein (who is supposedly the person with actual authority to fire Mueller), Associate AG Rachel Brand, and Acting Assistant AG for National Security Dana Boente (who was previously in charge of the US District for Eastern Virginia's grand jury investigating Trump's Russian problems).

            Chances are the only person on this list at all interested in firing Mueller might be AG Sessions. Beyond that, he really would have to go looking at least as far as Nixon did. DoJ executive janitor is not out of the question.

            Log in to Reply

            1. I was puzzled by your statement that the Acting Assistant AG for National Security was in the line of succession since individuals acting in a position are not in the line of succession (and the Asst AG for NS is not in the line of succession either).

               As it turns out, Boente is fourth in the line of succession, but not because he is an Acting Assistant AG. He is actually still the US Attorney for the ED of Virginia, which places him fourth in line. He is also an Obama appointee, which might make it more likely that he would not fire Mueller if Sessions, Rosenburg, and Brand refused.

               However, Trump can, by issuing a new EO, change the line of succession. No doubt there is a US Attorney somewhere that Trump can rely on. My guess is that if he issues a new EO, prepare for fireworks.

               Also, the US Attorneys for the ND of Illinois and the WD of Missouri are acting, so the line of succession appears to end with Boente.

               Log in to Reply

      3. The line of succession is established by Executive Order. Currently, the succession is:

         1. Attorney General
         2. Deputy Attorney General
         3. Associate Attorney General
         4. United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
         5. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
         6. United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

         Log in to Reply

   2. He's already hinted that he'll fire Mueller if he starts snooping around the empire.

      Log in to Reply

      1. Well I guess he'd better start figuring out how to fire him, then, 'cause Mueller's already looking in to interesting Trump real estate deals (with the Russians).

         Log in to Reply

6. We must not let Senator Bennet off the hook for his very sure and public support of a Public Health Insurance Option:

   Senator Michael Bennet led the fight to, in his words, "save the public option." Bennet said adding a public option will make health reform "far more effective" in providing "real choices for working families"who need health insurance. Bennet concluded, "we need to take the final step to include a public option."

   Bennet's primary challenger for his Senate seat, Andrew Romanoff, has already called on the Senate to "allow an up-or-down vote on the public option." The only question that remains is if Michael Bennet really meant to "save the public option," or if it was all for cheap political points.

   If was a few years ago, but applies more than ever today.

   Log in to Reply

7. As if we needed more evidence that Trump is a clueless buffoon:

   Trump Doesn’t Seem To Know What Health Insurance Is, How It Works Or What It Costs

   The president suggested it costs $12 a year.

   He's been watching life insurance ads on cable TV and all that Propecia he's taking has completely addled his brain.

   “So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan.” 

   Yeah, right a whole life policy might have a cash value at 70.  Absolutely nothing to do with health insurance.  No wonder he's confused and wonders why health insurance is so hard…

   Spin that Gerbils!  Gerbils?

   Log in to Reply

   1. $12.00 per year — that is an awesome health policy!!  Can I get one from Trump University Underwriters???

      . . . Seriously though, you have to excuse Donnie TwoScoops for not know how much health insurance costs — his employer ( . . . it says here, a "Mr. V. Putin" . . . ), probably pays his entire premium???

       

       

      Log in to Reply

      1. Sure Trump will sell you a policy.  Pay $12 a year for 50 years, plus a balloon payment of $100,000 at the end, and you'll have a wonderful $50,000 cash value insurance policy!

         Log in to Reply

      2. I think maybe he is imagining the "Gerber Life Plan" as health insurance….

         makes as much sense as any explanation, I reckon.

         Log in to Reply

8. I just saw this on Yahoo….

   A lawyer, a spy, a mob boss, and a money launderer walk into a bar….the bartender says, "You must be here to talk about adoption."

   Log in to Reply

9. According to WAPO Trump is asking his legal advisors whether he can pardon his family, his staff, and himself.  WTF????

   Any legal eagles out that want to take a crack at the last one.

   Also makes one wonder why he's asking.

   Log in to Reply

   1. His tiny fingers are gonna' be awfully sore from all that writing his name . . .

      Mr. Tillerson was the only American official  to join Mr. Trump at a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at the Group of 20 summit meeting in Germany this month.

       

      http://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/us/politics/exxon-mobil-fined-russia-tillerson-sanctions.html

      Everyone — everyone — involved with this White House is working their own private get-rich(er)-quick(er) scheme.

       

      Log in to Reply

   2. To answer your questions, in reverse order:

      We know why he's asking.

      Yes, the pardon power is unlimited when it comes to federal crimes. (Doesn't apply to state crimes.) So friends, family and self would be okay.

      The recipient does not need to be convicted of anything. Do you remember, President Nixon?

      My only question: What took him so long to get around to this? (I expected it sooner.) 

      Log in to Reply

      1. There is considerable doubt that he can pardon himself. That's a bridge that even Nixon didn't try to cross. But I think he can count on Pence to deliver. An interesting question is whether Pence would be willing to pardon him for offenses committed prior to his inauguration. Ford's pardon of Nixon, for example, only covered offenses committed during Nixon's presidency.

         Log in to Reply