Patterico's Pontifications

1/9/2018

Why Is “Sloppy Steve” Bannon Out at Breitbart?

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:00 pm



So we know that Steve Bannon is out at Breitbart, and consequently at SiriusXM as well. Allahpundit at Hot Air says: “We knew that it could happen but no one, I think, thought that it would happen.” Regular readers of mine know that “no one” might be a bit of an overstatement. Who, oh who, could have predicted that this would actually happen, and soon? From my post on Friday:

Rebekah Mercer’s opinion matters a lot. Remember, Robert Mercer sold his shares in Breitbart News to Rebekah in November. It’s reasonable to conclude that she has considerable say over management decisions.

And she mad.

What might happen next in a situation like that?

It does not take much imagination to conjure up the following scenario:

Rebekah Mercer calls up Larry Solov and perhaps one or more other members of the Breitbart board. She says to them: Either Bannon goes, or you do. Or the sweet, sweet money dries up.

And that’s a hard argument to resist.

I, for one, would not be at all surprised to see a story to that effect breaking in the next 24 hours or so.

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It took a few more days than I expected, but the result was never in doubt. As you have no doubt guessed by now, this was more than intuition on my part. Sources told me Friday that this was a done deal. Initially the ouster seemed imminent, but it soon became apparent that it was taking a little longer. I heard on Sunday that the board had been meeting for days while Bannon remained in D.C. The expectation was that Bannon would soon be “eased out” — just not as quickly as initially thought.

The reason, as I suggested Friday, was Rebekah Mercer. Bannon’s apologies to Trump (such as they were), were ineffective, I was told, especially since he had been on thin ice since the Roy Moore debacle. Bannon and the Mercers had not spoken since the Alabama election, and then the quotes from the Wolff book hit the papers. That was all she wrote. It was just a matter of time. This has since been confirmed by a Wall Street Journal reporter:

The New York Times is reporting the same thing:

Mr. Bannon’s departure, which was initiated by an estranged financial patron and Breitbart investor, Rebekah Mercer, came as Mr. Bannon remained unable to quell the furor over remarks attributed to him in a new book in which he questions President Trump’s mental fitness and disparages his son Donald Trump Jr.

. . . .

His situation at Breitbart grew untenable, said one person close to the situation, in part because Ms. Mercer, whose family finances conservative causes with their hedge fund wealth, became concerned that she could face legal exposure. She feared that some of the website’s cheerleading coverage of populist conservative campaigns — like the Senate race in Alabama — could be construed as corporate contributions to those candidates, which are barred under federal election law.

That’s a silly concern, of course — if it is the real concern at all. But there is little doubt that the Mercers, and Rebekah in particular, were the reason that Bannon had to go.

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[Cross-posted at RedState and The Jury Talks Back.]

60 Responses to “Why Is “Sloppy Steve” Bannon Out at Breitbart?”

  1. I have not heard a nice thing said of Bannon by any conservative pundit.

    AZ Bob (f60c80)

  2. Simple, he no longer served the purpose, he could have made a critique at how the administration had slighted working class interests, but whose really interested in that.

    narciso (d1f714)

  3. Now mercer was forced to step down, allegedly his funding of veritas wee revealed, oddly steyer never suffers any consequences for his many projects but adelson faces a mutiny and Conrad black had his entire empire stolen from him.

    narciso (d1f714)

  4. 1.I have not heard a nice thing said of Bannon by any conservative pundit.

    Never will. He neutered the modern conservative movement w/Trump. Now outlived his usefulness.

    But the thing about a hired gun is they do get hired when there’s dirty work to get done.

    Bannon’s a survivor; He’ll nurse his wounds, reload, hook up w/another benefactor and be back in the mix for November. Do hope he gets a haircut and a new suit by then.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  5. Steyers an interesting one, because he made his money at Goldman in Indonesian coal, much of it donated to democratic candidates, a little like goldfinger nuking ft. Knox.

    narciso (d1f714)

  6. Another Bannon Post.

    Meanwhile……

    “Implementing a different page of the La Jolla playbook, a number of California municipal governments recently filed civil tort claims against ExxonMobil and 17 other Texas- based energy companies. In those lawsuits, each of the municipalities warned that imminent sea level rise presented a substantial threat to its jurisdiction and laid blame for this purported injury at the feet of energy companies.

    One of the lawsuits, from San Mateo, claims: “[T]here is a 93% chance that the County experiences a devastating three-foot flood before the year 2050, and a 50% chance that such a flood occurs before 2030. Average sea level rise along the County’s shores are expected to rise by almost three feet by the year 2100, causing multiple, predictable impacts, and exacerbating the impacts of extreme events.”

    Notwithstanding their claims of imminent, allegedly near-certain harm, none of the municipalities disclosed to investors such risks in their respective bond offerings, which collectively netted over $8 billion for these local governments over the last 27 years. To the contrary, some of the disclosures affirmatively denied any ability to measure those risks; the others virtually ignored them. At least two municipal governments [one of them San Mateo] reassured investors that they were “unable to predict whether sea-level rise or other impacts of climate change or flooding from a major storm will occur, when they may occur, and if any such events occur, whether they will have a material adverse effect on the business operations or financial condition of the County and the local economy”

    http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/01/climate-change-california-hypocrisy-turned-up-to-11.php

    Read it all. Truly breathtaking double-dealing.

    harkin (8256c3)

  7. Everyone who helped inflict Trump on us deserves a similar fate.

    So far:

    Flynn
    Manafort
    Bannon
    Scaramucci
    Priebus
    Sessions
    Milo
    Christie

    It’s a start.

    Dave (445e97)

  8. We’ve from skydragons tomlich news monster, perhaps krakens
    in the Mediterranean. Can one count on the koch bros, the Colin foundation is kaput, Susie bell is still actives though

    narciso (d1f714)

  9. @7. It’s Season One.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  10. And she mad.

    Conservatives always are– one way or another.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  11. Why bother with so many disparate papers just call it ‘truth’ and be done with it. The differences between the times on both coasts and the post are negligible.

    narciso (d1f714)

  12. California, by its own admission enacted into law by its own population, contains chemicals which cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm. Those chemicals are carried by the wind and water to every part of the United States, making the State of California a public nuisance and giving rise to a cause of action to have it abated.

    nk (dbc370)

  13. Bannon Banned. “…and we was banished from woolworth’s. I don’t know Everett, was it jest that one or the whole chain?”

    Tillman (a95660)

  14. Always?

    Always.

    Ed from SFV (3400a5)

  15. “Everyone who helped inflict Trump on us…”

    The voters ‘inflicted’ Trump on you.

    Because they despise you.

    Perhaps you should wonder why they despise you.

    Fred Z (05d938)

  16. Congratulations Patterico, you called it.
    Love to see Bannon b-slap that punk Karl Rove on a new show on Fox called “Beat the snot out of a rino”. Rove worked for a manic who killed thousands of American soldiers. BOOOsh.

    mg (8cbc69)

  17. The voters ‘inflicted’ Trump on you.

    Correction: a minority of voters. Most of us rejected Trump. Millions more voters rejected Trump than actually wanted him in office, and he didn’t have the support of most of his own party, either.

    Because they despise you.

    Sounds like they have issues. I love my people and want my country to be happy. I hate the idea that a president would be a symbol of domination over half my people. I don’t want to rub it in if my views win the day.

    Hillary and Trump were both candidates that were all about opposing the other side, even though the candidates are similar in a lot of ways from my perspective. The very things that upset a patriotic critic of Trump, for example that he tells lies quite a lot, might actually make a Trump fan happy. This is perverse.

    Dustin (ba94b2)

  18. Dustin is on to something. Notwithstanding content, Trump speaks like a Dem politician.

    AZ Bob (f60c80)

  19. Of course when Dustin speaks for the voiceless millons in the royal we he is refering to his collection of crotch crickets.

    Doesn’t seem fair that they should be given voice seeing as they don’t vote or participate in public polling.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  20. @ papertiger, 1/10/2018 @ 12:09 am

    Of course when Dustin speaks for the voiceless millons in the royal we he is refering to his collection of crotch crickets.

    Doesn’t seem fair that they should be given voice seeing as they don’t vote or participate in public polling.

    If you look at his comment, Dustin is quite clearly talking about people who actually voted:

    Most of us rejected Trump. Millions more voters rejected Trump than actually wanted him in office…

    So enough with the Bulverism. The statement is one that purports to be factual, so the only relevant question is: is he right?

    Results from the 2016 election, popular vote:
    Clinton — 65,853,516
    Trump — 62,984,825
    Johnson — 4,489,221
    Others — 3,341,675

    Votes for all other candidates, less votes for Trump — 10,699,587

    Which is, indeed, millions. 10.7 of them, to be more precise.

    Demosthenes (09f714)

  21. Trump’s immigration negotiations are making Jeb Bush happy. That’s not what Trump promised.

    DRJ (15874d)

  22. I think that papertiger will keep Bun Burn company in my blocking script from here on.

    nk (dbc370)

  23. And Carlson Tucker should shut up about the Cubs.

    nk (dbc370)

  24. The Trump administration’s incompetence results in an injunction against the cancellation of DACA.

    The judge relies, in part, on Trump’s idiotic tweets to show that the cancellation violated the Administrative Procedures Act.

    Dave (445e97)

  25. Well, California Federal District Court judges are nothing more than the alter egos of Barbara Feinstein and Dianne Boxer, so that’s more properly called pretext rather reliance. But I don’t foreclose the possibility that this is one case Trump would throw and then blame the court. In fact, I consider it a strong probability.

    Dream, dream, dream
    If you want a green card
    All you have to do is dream

    nk (dbc370)

  26. rather *than* reliance

    nk (dbc370)

  27. This is pulling Schlict out of one’s arse:
    http://deadspin.com/maryland-attorney-general-wisconsins-stay-in-a-trump-h-1821930042

    urbanleftbehind (1d75fb)

  28. Leftwing judge who was previously smacked down by higher court doubles down on DACA and concerned Dave takes it seriously and blames Trump. Where have we seen that before?

    The left doesn’t care about rules. Period.

    NJRob (b00189)

  29. The whole state, why is deadspin not dead, daca is not a law its a status created with a pen and a phone

    narciso (d1f714)

  30. Which means every agency knows his name now

    http://iotwreport.com/identity-of-cia-official-found-on-weiners-laptop-by-fbi

    narciso (d1f714)

  31. Hey, happy, did you at least get some good seafood recipes out of mg? http://www.yahoo.com/news/transgender-rights-advocate-found-stabbed-000940425.html

    urbanleftbehind (1d75fb)

  32. urbanleftbehind- I have no idea what you are talking about, bur I know you will understand this. Fu## You.

    mg (8cbc69)

  33. MG- I overslept and was wondering why, think of it as a well being check.

    Also, why rise to that level of indignation when it’s another poster with the history of transphobia – classic Law and order mistake.

    urbanleftbehind (1d75fb)

  34. Yes you want electorates defined by the antifracking divining in California and new York good luck with that.

    narciso (d1f714)

  35. You know the Groucho Marx quip that he wouldn’t want to belong to a club that would have him as member? Well, these sickos should really, really be wary of guys who would marry them, cause they’re liable to be sicker than them.

    nk (dbc370)

  36. Transphobia, what is that a new series with Jeffrey tambor,
    no its more in the way of pity for deluded souls, deemed eligible for military service!

    narciso (d1f714)

  37. I think it’s interesting that, although we’re not supposed to believe anything Wolff says, Rebekah Mercer evidently believed the Bannon quotes were accurate. And she knows Bannon well.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  38. Bannon was already headed South after being identified and dismissed as the serial ‘leaker’ in Trump’s White House, then he bungled the Alabama election to replace Sessions, which made him decidedly unwelcome in most GOP circles. Then, when he was named as the source of so many negative comments about Trump’s mental fitness in Fire and Fury the fat lady took center stage.

    ropelight (c051a9)

  39. That first part may be so, the second part does concern how diligent the gop is at torpedoing their own, they vouched for Menendez whole on trial. Giving Wolff so much rope was not smart.

    Meanwhile on to the real news

    narciso (21eb6d)

  40. Trump believes Wolff quotes Bannon accurately. Rebekah Mercer believes that Breitbart’s readers will choose Trump over Bannon, which is the ultimatum Trump laid down, and she does not want to lose them.

    nk (dbc370)

  41. Trump and Bannon did seem to be drifting apart on policies, ropelight. After all, Bannon opposed crony capitalism and establishment political earmarks like the Bridge to Nowhere, but Trump thinks earmarks are smart policies. Bannon also wanted to curb immigration abuses, not promote bipartisan amnesty like Trump (and Rubio and Jeb before him).

    DRJ (15874d)

  42. And yet, bannon did his cause harm in that respect, this is why he is ultimately out.

    Unlike say Cromwell he didn’t act out of principle but more like felt

    narciso (21eb6d)

  43. Fat Joe Rocks/Poor Biggie/KRS One/Multiple other names is still regularly shouting at the world from moderation.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  44. nk (dbc370) — 1/10/2018 @ 5:24 am

    lol.

    felipe (5b25e2)

  45. Now one should ask is Ben Smith anymore reliable then when he was at politico.

    narciso (21eb6d)

  46. Isn’t this a perfect description of our legislative economy? Politicians and their staffers do favors for rich people. That translates to giving gifts to rich people, gifts that only governemnt can give such as favorable laws and regulations, litigation positions, and choices not to prosecute. Politicians and staff do not see themselves as self-interested, and do not have enforceable expectations of a return. The rich do not see themselves as doing anything wrong. They don’t make a promise of any return of the gift, and there is nothing to force them to do so.

    https://www.emptywheel.net/2018/01/08/the-political-gift-economy/

    Admiral Ben Bunsen Burner (a70717)

  47. Trumpets laugh at emoluements and corruption..

    Admiral Ben Bunsen Burner (a70717)

  48. As long as DDH (not a wrestler though it might sound like that) is still around that corner of CA, its all good.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  49. #43, DRJ, interesting you mentioned the Bridge to Nowhere in relation to Trump’s remarks yesterday. I recall a brisk series of comments here when earmark abuse was at issue and the expensive bridge ($392 Million) became synonymous with shady back room deals.

    Back then, 2005, I defended the proposed bridge linking the city of Ketchikan to Gavina Island where Ketchikan’s International Airport is located, and where about 50 Alaskins then resided.

    Then, as now, the island has only ferry service with the mainland. The bridge would have opened the island for development and recreation. It would have spurred tourism and launched significant commercial air freight operations, possibility triggering an economic boost for the entire region.

    Yet, the cost seemed prohibitive at the time, and funding via earmark raised suspicions of a boondoggle in the making.

    So, the project died the death of a thousand insults, but there are, and were, valid reasons to build that bridge. Yes, the price is high, but the concept is sound and deserves a fair hearing.

    ropelight (c051a9)

  50. I wonder how many Hail Mary’s, Act of Contritions and Our Father’s Padre Donohue would give me for believing in Bannon, Miller and team Javanka?

    mg (8cbc69)

  51. Except Obama and Biden were very enthused in funding, in the place of Katrina funding.

    narciso (d1f714)

  52. SUCH A DEAL!

    Admiral Ben Bunsen Burner (a70717)

  53. He’s da best danged Presidunce in da whole danged Air Force!

    Admiral Ben Bunsen Burner (a70717)

  54. Three point nine cents on teh Dollar! from the 35cent Party.

    Huzzzzzaaaaaahhhhhh

    Admiral Ben Bunsen Burner (a70717)

  55. Rebekah Mercer evidently believed the Bannon quotes were accurate. And she knows Bannon well.

    But then, evidently “she mad.” Or is it that she just ‘mad.’

    “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going take this anymore!” — Howard Beale [Peter Finch] ‘Network’ 1976

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  56. Interesting how ‘Sloppy Steve’ seeks to compare himself to Oliver Cromwell. Seems he’s ended up more like Ernst Rohm in this storyline.

    DCSCA (797bc0)


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