Patterico's Pontifications

5/4/2018

Trump Superfans on Twitter: Stormy Daniels Edition

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:02 am



Yesterday, Trump superfan Kurt Schlichter tweeted words of praise for Donald Trump’s adultery with Stormy Daniels. That might sound odd until you see the reason he was pleased by the adultery: it upsets Trump critics:

I posted a tweet of my own which stripped down Kurt’s tweet to its essentials:

Please note: Kurt — whom I like in real life — is not saying that he is amused by the fact that the adultery upsets critics. He is saying that he is getting to the point where he is “actively glad” that Trump committed adultery with Stormy Daniels. He takes special care to describe Daniels, and Trump’s treatment of her, in the most degrading fashion possible.

Kurt’s choices in that tweet — to actively praise the adultery itself, and to describe Daniels in the most demeaning way he could — are an evident attempt to upset Trump’s critics even more. And, in the end, isn’t that what conservatism is really all about?

I realize that it’s impolite to point out when a Trump superfan is saying something a little crazy. Because I am hard, you will not like me.

And Kurt’s fans didn’t. Their responses ran the gamut. Some (quite a few, actually) mocked me for having been fired.

Many were thrilled that I had been supposedly “triggered”:

(The crying laughing emoji is a big thing with Trump superfans.)

Some missed the fact that we were discussing adultery, and described Trump’s squalid encounter with Daniels as simply “getting laid”:

A great many engaged in the most blatant whataboutism imaginable, invoking Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy or even FDR out of nowhere:

And many people simply asserted that one’s morality is utterly irrelevant to the job of being President, and gave the “we already knew this” defense:

I’m not coming close to giving you all the tweets. I’m running out of time.

Keep in mind that I didn’t start the discussion. Schlichter did, by praising, in gross terms, Trump’s adultery — adultery committed shortly after Trump’s wife had given birth to their son. All I did was 1) observe that Kurt had praised Trump’s adultery, and 2) note Kurt’s honesty in admitting why he found Trump’s immoral and despicable behavior to be something that makes him “glad.” And when Schlichter retweeted my observation, that sent the hordes to my timeline.

And that’s when the blocking began.

I’ve said this a million times before but I’ll say it again. When I talk about Trumpers, or Trumpalos, or Trump superfans, I’m not talking about those of you who despise Trump’s worst traits but voted for him as a lesser of two evils and are happy to see that he is at least accomplishing some conservative goals.

I’m talking about the kind of cretins who flooded my timeline yesterday. The people whose tweets I just embedded? Those are the Trumpalos.

They are the cretins of the right. They exist. They rationalize immorality. They laugh at people who think adultery is wrong. They engage in the most transparently partisan, laughable, and cruel arguments they can find.

Just putting that on the record. It was a remarkable enough episode that I wanted to memorialize it.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]

263 Responses to “Trump Superfans on Twitter: Stormy Daniels Edition”

  1. Ding.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  2. When I encounter those MAGAts, I tell then to take the quiz to see what kind of Trumpalo they are. Some are Trumpons, a few are Trumputas but most are just Trumpendejos.

    Xrlq (9fb4f6)

  3. SMDH This is why we can’t have nice things, America. Two sides of the same coin: Obama apologists and Trump humpers.

    Gryph (08c844)

  4. And why do you have to qualify this with “Kurt — who I like in real life –“? If it were me on the receiving end of this bullhocky, any respect I’d have had for Schlichter as a friend would disappear REALLY fast.

    Gryph (08c844)

  5. Since you like Kurt Schlichter in real life, I’ll keep my opinion of him to myself and only correct him on the details:
    Trump used Stormy like a wad of used Kleenex, already used by 1,000 teenagers before him, and paid $130,000 for it just for starters. And then he claims to be a germophobe and a good businessman.

    nk (dbc370)

  6. 5. You’re a better person than I, nk. I’ll say it proud and out-loud: Kurt Schlichter is emblematic of everything that is wrong with the modern conservative movement.

    Gryph (08c844)

  7. There’s no reason to praise adultery. It’s sinful behavior.

    It isn’t criminal behavior anymore as we’ve decided morality, specifically Christian morals, have no place in leftist society.

    It isn’t a reason to remove the President from office either and has nothing to do with the false accusation of Russian collusion which went no where.

    NJRob (76913d)

  8. 7. It would have been a damn good reason not to elect him in the first place.

    Gryph (08c844)

  9. Are we allowed to call pro or anti supporters putas and pendejos now?

    I know xrlq has been gone for ages, but I thought we at least pretended not to curse at each other. Guess that’s changed with all the knob polishing remarks lately.

    NJRob (76913d)

  10. 9. Get over yourself Rob. That’s already been litigated (pun intended). You know where the door is if you need to show yourself out.

    Gryph (08c844)

  11. 8.

    It was in the primaries, but more moral people lost. People decided we needed a fighter, more Churchill than Chamberlin.

    And I’m only equating the combative nature, not the leadership ability.

    NJRob (76913d)

  12. Gryph,

    you’ve been here for 5 minutes. I’ve been here for 7 years. Your opinion is meaningless to me.

    NJRob (76913d)

  13. 11. You’re splitting hairs then. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both absolutely and utterly unfit for high office. You can blame the party machines behind the primary or the electorate at large, but either way it does not speak well of “We the People.”

    Gryph (08c844)

  14. 12. Great. Then you can put that blocking script on your bookmark bar and not have to see my comments anymore. I’m nowhere near done pointing out what a bunch of spineless bootlicking knob polishing douchebags Trump hupmers are.

    Gryph (08c844)

  15. Yeah. I’m pretty sure I know which former poster you are. A leftist in conservative clothing.

    NJRob (76913d)

  16. 15. Nope. As long as I’ve been commenting on blogs, I have used the same name. Never been a sockpuppet in any way shape or form. I have commented under Gryph, Gryphon, or some variation thereof on HotAir since its inception (until it went to Facebook) and Ace of Spades until I decided fairly recently that Ace was too milquetoast for my taste.

    Wanna write me off as a leftist sockpuppet? Go ahead. That says a lot more about your intellectual laziness than it says anything about me. The one thing I can not say here or anyplace else is, “I will not be ignored.” Because whether you want to do that or not is a choice only you can make.

    Gryph (08c844)

  17. here’s a nice look at what a useless ass-pansy lil babby roob roob has become

    this part was new to me:

    We are now deeper into the 2018 election. And Florida Democrat Senator Bill Nelson is up for reelection – and very vulnerably so.

    Republicans have an excellent candidate – popular sitting governor Rick Scott – and an excellent opportunity to pick up a seat in a very swing (and trending poorly) state.

    And where is our sitting GOP Senator on all of this?

    Rubio: ‘I Don’t Campaign Against Bill Nelson’

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  18. I know you say you get more traffic talking about Trump, but…I’m trying to avoid ever again having to even think about Trump without his clothes on.

    So I didn’t read the article, I just thought I’d plead for some brain-bleach and mind floss.

    Dianna (b7aa4f)

  19. A federal judge on Friday sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s criminal case in Virginia against President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and openly questioned whether Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial powers by bringing it.

    finally some pushback against herr mueller from our spineless laughingstock justice system

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  20. Yeah, after extreme right-wing talk radio (and other media) has convinced a certain segment of America that all liberals are horrible, puppy torturing, devil worshiping slime, then the end justifies the means in doing everything in one’s power to harm those people. In such a world view, infidelity becomes nothing.

    Tillman (a95660)

  21. I must admit Gryph has really improved the quality of discourse here at Patterico. But commies and other leftists always bring their own type of vulgarity to any conversation. That’s why they always seem t resort to murdering people. I can imagine the spittle hitting the computer screen as Gryph types his next hate filled rant against Republicans.

    Patterico has succeeded I attracting several new leftists with the #neverTrump meme. I guess any future discussions of how to further thee Republican brand or the conservative cause will be thundered over by Trump hate, which after all is much more important than trying to win elections for our side.

    All of the democrats in Pennsylvania are running ads saying all the same thing: 1. they are anti Trump, 2. they are anti NRA, 3. they want to ban assault weapons (and they think every semi-automatic rifle is one), 4. they want to fix glow ball warming and 5. our schools need more money cause…teachers.

    Now if you believe who Trump f*****d a decade ago is more important than defeating these pigs just keep on going. I don’t. We are in the throws of a civil war foe a Constitutional Republic or a socialist kleptocracy and you guys are fighting a “mean girls” slap fight about Trump. Ya know who is on your side? Abortionists, communists, fascists, anti white racists, anti Semites, gun grabbers, pro illegal alien groups, pro unlimited immigration groups, the ACLU, the SPLC, BLM, NAMBLA, Black Panthers, Hillary and whole host of other leftists. So don’t tell us you’re conservative when you are siding with that group of slime.

    You have deserted the army because you don’t like the general. But you’re still deserters.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  22. Twitter… the Temple of Narcissus…

    Vanity… everything is vanity.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  23. “You have deserted the army because you don’t like the general.”

    That’s it. It’s this fascist, lock-step, authoritarian attitude that brought us headlong into the bogus war in Iraq. That kind of attitude is what’s scary.

    Tillman (a95660)

  24. Another life lesson learned:

    Don’t make eye contact on the F train.
    Don’t cut wet grass.
    Don’t shovel wet snow.
    Don’t be an Ivan Boesky.
    Don’t use Twitter.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  25. When you get right down to it, this is just “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

    The whole Trump phenomenon has its roots in the growing hatred and wrath of “angry white men” towards those that dismissed them as “angry white men.” The high-school graduates (and drop-outs) who would have had gainful work in manufacturing or construction, had those markets not been displaced. Or, as they saw it, sold out by other Americans who put money before country.

    That Trump is not a reasoning, reflective person isn’t surprising considering the emotional underpinnings of his support. “Eff them and eff them good!” rather than “the best and the brightest.”

    Kevin M (752a26)

  26. 17… too bad… Rubio seems to be the only guy in Congress who understands how serious the problem of China’s ongoing theft of our intellectual property and technology is.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  27. And I’m not sure that is wrong.

    BTW, we’ve been binge-watching “The West Wing” here, and — even after discounting the hopeless liberalism — the contrasts between Presidents Bartlet and Trump are stark.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  28. 25. Kevin’s got it right. When he’s right, he’s right.

    Tillman (a95660)

  29. C’mon, Patrick, the “Obama phone” line was a little funny. But that said, Schlicter’s tweet was inexcusable.
    2. Xlrq, I took the quiz and this was the answer.

    You are either a liberal, a moderate, a third party voter or a Nevertrumper. Unless your views have changed radically since November 8, 2016, you probably did not vote for Donald J. Trump, and were a total retard if you did.. You weren’t supposed to take this quiz. Go away, troll!

    Classic.

    Paul Montagu (e6130e)

  30. Hoagie… you sweet talkin’ bastard. You make too much sense, a pity it is not seen by these anti-Trump Gimpinistas with their scotomas and full frontal lobotomies.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  31. I understand the spite angle, and it’s kind of fun to troll by saying “NEW RULES!”

    But come on. I can’t believe Kurt wouldn’t prefer that Trump had the sex life of Mitt Romney. I sure would.

    I can simultaneously be amused (or some similar emotion) at former Bill Clinton apologists’ raging about the Stormy affair hypocritically, AND believe that Trump apologists (who were Clinton critics, if old enough) are also hypocrites.

    Can we agree that it’s better for a President not to engage, or to HAVE engaged, in extramarital affairs? Is that really too much to ask?

    Mitch (341ca0)

  32. Spanky’s changing his hanky panky with Skanky story again. At this point he should come out and say:

    “Just pick one lie for me – whatever gets me in the least trouble, I want that one. Which is it? Just tell me. Please!”

    Tillman (a95660)

  33. NJRob, shorter Gryph seems like a familiar leftist because they almost invariably all sing from the same humnal. This one differs only slightly in his aggressively rude attention seeking and baffoonish chest pounding.

    He’s a one-trick pony, he won’t be around very long, sucking up to Patterico and spewing #NeverTrump nonsense has a limited shelf life.

    his type lacks stamina.

    ropelight (929b9e)

  34. This remains the best explanation of the Trump phenomenon:

    Charles Murray: Trump’s America February 2016

    While the new upper class was seceding from the mainstream, a new lower class was emerging from within the white working class, and it has played a key role in creating the environment in which Trumpism has flourished.

    Work and marriage have been central to American civic culture since the founding, and this held true for the white working class into the 1960s. Almost all of the adult men were working or looking for work, and almost all of them were married.

    Then things started to change. For white working-class men in their 30s and 40s—what should be the prime decades for working and raising a family—participation in the labor force dropped from 96% in 1968 to 79% in 2015. Over that same period, the portion of these men who were married dropped from 86% to 52%. (The numbers for nonwhite working-class males show declines as well, though not as steep and not as continuous.)

    These are stunning changes, and they are visible across the country. In today’s average white working-class neighborhood, about one out of five men in the prime of life isn’t even looking for work; they are living off girlfriends, siblings or parents, on disability, or else subsisting on off-the-books or criminal income. Almost half aren’t married, with all the collateral social problems that go with large numbers of unattached males.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  35. Pay attention to how the FEC deals with this stuff. They’ve already made it known what constitutes a violation. All this breathless punditry and Twitter mincing is fit for Sideshow Bob, at best.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  36. “I’m not talking about those of you who despise Trump’s worst traits but voted for him as a lesser of two evils and are happy to see that he is at least accomplishing some conservative goals.” Thanks! I’m sorry you are being dissed, P.

    gp (0c542c)

  37. 33… no schiff, Sherlock.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  38. Make that 34… Kevin M.’s comment. This has been discussed for the last 2 and 1/2 years, if not longer.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  39. “This is as honest an explanation for why Trump fans applaud his immoral behavior as I have seen. Immoral and despicable behavior by Trump is a positive good, as long as it upsets Trump critics.”

    Um. The affair is unpleasant business. Saying “I told you so” over the affair, is also unpleasant business. I didn’t elect you or anyone to be moral police and sexual scolds. The focus on shaming Trump’s voters instead of figuring out what the party is doing wrong to get Trump, or better yet, working with Trump to accomplish conservative goals is a curious fixation. Life consists of many difficult choices. Serious people make those choices, and learn to live with them. Children, egotists, and the mentally ill continue pretending that other choices still exist, or that the choice didn’t have to be made.

    No, I’m not actually surprised that a billionaire on his third wife would have sex with a porn star. Um, is anyone really? Seriously, it is not even an argument.

    Ask you self these questions – how utterly hopeless and desperate must evangelicals be to support such a man? How did they get so desperate? Was it our failure over the last 20 years that brought about this situation? What are we doing to rectify that situation? You are fixated on being right long after right and wrong no longer matter. We must play the crappy hand life has dealt us.

    You miss the point of Kurt’s comment entirely – he and the rest of us are sick of your pointless moral preening. We are sick of your ruffled feathers. Sick of your wounded ego. “…just because it provokes liberal tears and Fredocon frenzies.” is the operative phrase. he is sick of you and your ilk, and anything that happens to make you more unhappy, is just fine with him.

    A Fredocon is a “Fredo conservative”, named after the dumb brother Fredo in the Godfather, the guy who went around saying “This ain’t the way I wanted it! I can handle things. I’m smart. Not like everybody says, like dumb. I’m smart!” That is what he considers you at this point. A person who isn’t as smart as he thinks he is, walking around, complaining about the sorry hand life dealt him. No one likes that guy, and certainly, no one respects that guy. And yeah, a lot of people actively wish bad things on such a person.

    Cassandra (a815b9)

  40. Of course, this all depends on perception. Which is never easy to predict.

    #whiteandgold.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  41. #32, Tillman’s no different. Hate on steroids, true believers in a disgraced creed.

    ropelight (929b9e)

  42. This has been discussed for the last 2 and 1/2 years, if not longer.

    And yet we have yet another post on the subject of “what are they thinking?!?”

    Kevin M (752a26)

  43. ropelight is right, of course. Tillman’s “Trump” is Bernie, or perhaps Al Sharpton.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  44. I’m actively glad there’s a judge with common sense:

    A federal judge on Friday harshly rebuked Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team during a hearing for ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort – suggesting they lied about the scope of the investigation, are seeking “unfettered power” and are more interested in bringing down the president.

    harkin (32652f)

  45. tasty lunch option today for no monies

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  46. “the best explanation of the Trump phenomenon” … would be the backlash over the BLM mythology shamelessly pushed by the Dems, media and academia. The BLM hands-up-don’t-shoot lies emboldened many black people to defiantly resist routine police work, and led to hundreds of deaths and millions in property damage in increased crime and riots. The BLM leadership is a trio of Marxist crackpots, with all the requisite gender-bending postmodernist argle-bargle. Bernie backed down from those loundmouths, and then the Democrat party featured the BLM at their convention, and that’s ALL it took to sink them.

    gp (0c542c)

  47. BTW, calling Trump’s fans “cretins” is not going to assuage their anger at the system. That the system works for you and me does not mean that they are wrong.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  48. I think what Shlichter was expressing was the mirror image of this:

    I enjoy making the most extreme Trumpalos cry and wail and gnash their teeth. Your overdone outrage makes me smile. Your tears of anger taste delicious to me.

    the Bas (3bcea0)

  49. You have deserted the army because you don’t like the general.

    He’s merely a Captain with a very close friend; a genuine bosom buddy:

    ‘Giuliani is a social moderate running in a party dominated by Christian conservatives; he supports gay rights and gun control, and hopes to be his party’s first pro-choice presidential nominee since Gerald Ford more than [40] years ago. His tenure at [NY] city hall—in which he donned fishnet stockings to dance alongside the [Radio City] Rockettes and sauntered for the press corps as a pink-chiffon-clad Marilyn Monroe—is a case study in why no New York City mayor has gone on to higher office since 1868.’ -source, The Real Rudy Giuliani: A Profile – Newsweek

    http://www.newsweek.com/real-rudy-giuliani-profile-95415

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  50. That’s it. It’s this fascist, lock-step, authoritarian attitude that brought us headlong into the bogus war in Iraq. That kind of attitude is what’s scary.
    Tillman (a95660) — 5/4/2018 @ 9:32 am

    It’s not an attitude you f*****g moron, it’s a simile. Grow up. You’re the a-hole with an attitude. Idiot! You are really a leftist!

    BTW, since Gryph has imposed a new level of vulgar and contemptuous language I feel free to join in.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  51. I was sad at the firings – think it was a mistake from the long term view. That said – you brought the snark from the twitters you cite on yourself with your obsession in magnifying all things – even the smallest – bad about Trump while effectively ignoring the Left. It appears you have adopted the 70’s European Left’s motto – “No enemies on the left”. Take a stroll through the last two weeks or so of posts here – – just about 100% anti-Trump, no matter what else is going on in the world. Don’t be surprised that you take incoming fire when you paint a target on yourself, set your hair on fire and yell “Here – over here – I hate Trump and all things about him”. Hopefully you will take to heart the very sound advice contained here: http://thefederalist.com/2018/05/01/time-right-realize-left-much-greater-threat-trumpism/

    Bill Saracino (78f41f)

  52. The electorate, sick of being lectured about how evil they and their ancestors are, sick of being ordered what pronouns to use and what bathrooms to provide, sick of being told that LE is irredeemably racist, sick of the violent crime that plagues our cities, sick of attacks on free speech, sick of seeing HRC skate on _substantial_ crime (though perhaps not as damnable as adultery,) could not support the Dems in 2016.

    Of course, the pendulum will swing back, like it always does. The parties will alternate their poses. The mantle of “working-man’s party” will shift back and forth. The banner of “morality” will be swapped between them. It happens about twice per generation.

    gp (0c542c)

  53. Mr. Gryph doesn’t have a very good appreciate of how much America has benefited from President Trump’s leadership.

    But I do.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  54. “fascist, lock-step, authoritarian attitude that brought us headlong into the bogus war in Iraq.”

    A stunningly evil Pearl-Harbor-scale attack on 9/11, followed by the nation-paralyzing anthrax attack, followed by the Muhammad/Malvo sniper spree. Those are the things that angered America to the point of lashing out at Iraq. As I remember it, the launch of the Iraq War was popular, even among such noted authoritarian fascists as HRC and Al Gore.

    Yes, now most of us wish it hadn’t happened, even though we _did_ find many rusty CW weapons scattered about Iraq. But don’t pretend that it was a war-mongering fascist who launched it; it was a team effort, born of the intense anger and thirst for retaliation shared by most Americans at the time.

    gp (0c542c)

  55. lol the trashy mil-skank doctor that worked with Tester and Isakson to slime Admiral Party Boi has resigned in disgrace

    Vice President Pence’s doctor has resigned amid controversy over President Trump’s failed nomination of Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to serve as Veterans Affairs secretary.

    Dr. Jennifer Peña was a physician in the White House Medical Unit, which Jackson led prior to his nomination. Multiple news reports said she was one of the people who accused Jackson of misconduct, allegations that eventually sunk his nomination.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  56. Trump changed course today on Giuliani’s alternative facts. We might want to ask ourselves… if Rudy had it so wrong, why did Trump tell him that he did a good job afterward? And why was his twitter finger not correcting the story for a day and a half?

    When your supporters are OK with fiction, this is what you get. Let’s call them “alternative alternative facts”.

    noel (b4d580)

  57. gp @52, you sure got that right. I discovered this blog via Dana from The First Street Journal. I read it for a while and determined it was a good conservative blog to participate in. And it was. Then Trump was elected president and they can’t do anything but ridicule Trump. Hell man, there are so many problems out there and the left is doing their part to make them worse. We don’t have time to argue Trump’s sex life when the left wants to make “hate speech” laws, regulate what can be on the internet, confiscate our firearms, actively teach homosexuality and transgenderism in grade school and so many more horrific leftist ideas. We need to consolidate and fight not abandon the cause because Trump.

    Regardless of what idiots like Tillman say we need to pull together and fight the left. Time will take care of Trump and nothing you say here will change that. You’ve lost focus on what we need to be doing as conservatives to attract more people because you’re distracted with Trump. Let Trump distract the democrats, socialists, communists and leftists of all stripe but don’t go along with them. It’s way more important than any one man even Trump.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  58. Trump’s lawyers look like a bunch of drunks playing Russian Roulette.

    noel (b4d580)

  59. Ya know, noel you’re nothing more than a rumor mill. Every time you run across a derogatory snippet about Trump you can’t wait to dash over here and repeat it. No corroboration, no vetting, no substantiation just “somebody said” nonsense. You’re like a teenage girl. How come you never run over out of breath to bring us something like:

    Remember when the left said that President Donald Trump’s tax reform would not work because the companies would give those breaks to shareholders instead of reinvesting in the company?

    Well, Bloomberg released data that shows capex (capital expenditure) has won out. It shows that the 130 companies in the S&P 500 have increased capital spending by 39%, which is the fastest rate in seven years. Returns to shareholders has only grown by 16%.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  60. “I discovered this blog … and determined it was a good conservative blog to participate in.”

    It IS a good blog, and it IS conservative. We have a lot of detailed spirited back-and-forth, and I appreciate that they put up with me. You can’t get this kind of commenting engagement at AoSHQ, for example. So thanks to P.

    “we need to pull together and fight the left.”

    That is the number-one priority of our era. The first amendment is in real danger; right now that scares me more than the threat to the 2A. This may not be the blog that _leads_ that fight, but it’s really really good.

    gp (0c542c)

  61. xrlq,

    1) Good to see you here again
    2) the problem with that quiz is that it loads the answers. I have other answers to most of them

    1. Yes, it was racist but illegal immigration is a big problem — it puts too much stress on infrastructure and the economy
    2. The wall would be a good idea and the US should pay for it. A better idea would be to enforce immigration laws, deport people, and turn them away at the border.
    3. He should only release his returns if he can redact other people’s information (K-1s and such). Anyone listed in those returns would be harassed.
    4. —
    5. —
    6. No, but Obama’s policy of not attacking terrorists if others might be put at risk is designed to fail.
    7. Depends on what you mean by “attending”. If you are talking about people who traveled to be there, there were fare more locals at Obama’s inauguration than Trump’s.
    8. Libel law allows some things it shouldn’t, particularly wrt semi-public figures. It needs reform.
    9. Wikileaks, which published much of it, denies it was the Russians. I’d like to see some evidence, considering how the IC sided with Hillary during the campaign
    10. Trump sure is a tempting target for false claims, so “believe the women” doesn’t work either.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  62. “Obama’s policy of not attacking terrorists if others might be put at risk”

    ?? I guess that’s one thing I won’t fault BHO for. He really did drone a _lot_ of jihadis, and deserves thanks for that. Don’t doubt that there was plenty of collateral damage.

    So be it. We haven’t inflicted even one percent of the wrath that the jihadis deserve yet. That won’t happen til they nuke 2 or 4 US cities with truck bombs, and we probably won’t have to wait too long for that to happen.

    gp (0c542c)

  63. “Ya know, noel you’re nothing more than a rumor mill” says Hoagie.

    Really? Why don’t you try rebutting my statements for once instead of always telling me “what I am”. Liberal, Leftist, Socialist, Hillary Lover, Teenage girl, Rumor Monger, etc. etc. blah blah. Always wrong, by the way. And you know it, don’t you, Rev.

    Please stop getting all of your news from the Fox and Friends propaganda machine. Too much of that and all reality begins to look like a “rumor”.

    P.S. The Rudy story is making headlines everywhere. It’s not a “snippet”. I watched Trump say it live.

    Oh,that’s right. It’s not on Fox yet… so you are in the dark.

    noel (b4d580)

  64. Hate on steroids

    The only people I hate are the extremists, on either side, who cause all the over-the-top hate to begin with.

    For example, I’ve distanced myself from people who were going around spreading the conspiracy that Bush had a part in 9/11. What hateful, dangerous rhetoric that is.

    Tillman (a95660)

  65. Talk about poor judgement; Trump didn’t wear a condom.

    AZ Bob (9a6ada)

  66. “Please stop getting all of your news from the Fox and Friends” That’s gotta be my favorite lefty put-down.

    gp (0c542c)

  67. …our trashy-assed navy SEALS

    hf, that’s going over the line. You’re disparaging our Navy Seals now? You’re sickening.

    Tillman (a95660)

  68. We have a President that is afraid to answer questions from anyone but Fox and Friends. I don’t blame you all for looking for him there.

    noel (b4d580)

  69. I am a little jealous of those Navy Seals myself.

    noel (b4d580)

  70. “We have a President that is afraid to answer questions from anyone but Fox and Friends. ”

    Hm, I see a video of him answering press questions on April 30. Found that in 5 seconds.

    Stop getting all your news from Samantha Bee, Seth Myers and Steven Colbert.

    gp (0c542c)

  71. I did not say he never answered other reporter’s questions. Just that I believe that he is afraid to do so.

    And you haven’t noticed all of the appearances on Fox?

    noel (b4d580)

  72. Yes, now most of us wish it hadn’t happened

    Well, if I knew that the war plan would be derailed by Turkey and that the Iraqi Republican Guard would be able to retreat to their strongholds in Akbar, then yeah. But hindsight is so 20/15.

    If anything, we still owe Turkey a good effing over for that. Sometime when the revenge is cold.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  73. I guess that’s one thing I won’t fault BHO for. He really did drone a _lot_ of jihadis, and deserves thanks for that. Don’t doubt that there was plenty of collateral damage.

    He “fought” ISIS for years and all they did was gain territory. Trump came ion and smashed them flat. Reason: Trump changed the rules of engagement. Obama’s rules pretty much avoided ANY collateral damage even though ISIS killers were walking collateral damage.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  74. And you haven’t noticed all of the appearances on Fox?

    So, noel, you see all the other networks as neutral arbiters of Truth, and Fox is the crazy outlier?

    Kevin M (752a26)

  75. IntercoursetheEU

    Fri, 05/04/2018 – 11:43 Permalink

    Attention Hookers: Special Counsel urgently needs your stories. We pay top dollar. Big tits, role-play, and lying required. Television experience preferred. No drug screening. No background check. Transportation included. Call 1-800-George-Soros or contact the Law Offices of Wray, Mueller, and Rosenstein, LLC.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  76. “And you haven’t noticed all of the appearances on Fox?”

    I don’t watch TV. I don’t watch Fox. I confess to browsing foxnews.com for a minute or two daily. I give the same attention to HuffPo.

    Yes, I’m even a college graduate, although my knuckles are ragged from all the dragging.

    I don’t _like_ Trump. Nobody _likes_ Trump. Nobody _likes_ adultery.

    Fine. Now where do you go with that? What’s your plan? Impeach him?

    gp (0c542c)

  77. Since you like Kurt Schlichter in real life, I’ll keep my opinion of him to myself and only correct him on the details:
    Trump used Stormy like a wad of used Kleenex, already used by 1,000 teenagers before him, and paid $130,000 for it just for starters. And then he claims to be a germophobe and a good businessman.

    nk (dbc370) — 5/4/2018 @ 8:24 am

    Ladies of means used to employ wet nurses to stand in, seems like fair is fair.

    Pinandpuller (2f95b3)

  78. “He “fought” ISIS for years and all they did was gain territory. Trump came ion and smashed them flat. Reason: Trump changed the rules of engagement. Obama’s rules pretty much avoided ANY collateral damage even though ISIS killers were walking collateral damage.”

    I stand corrected.

    gp (0c542c)

  79. I never considered that war rationing would have affected FDR’s relationships.

    Pinandpuller (2f95b3)

  80. Twitter delenda est.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  81. Yeah, after extreme right-wing talk radio (and other media) has convinced a certain segment of America that all liberals are horrible, puppy torturing, devil worshiping slime, then the end justifies the means in doing everything in one’s power to harm those people. In such a world view, infidelity becomes nothing.

    Tillman (a95660) — 5/4/2018 @ 9:18 am

    Well, PETA does kill puppies and kitties. And that whole macabre dinner with whatshisname was some sick stuff. And the dedication to Rules for Radicals was to Satan. But you’re right, that’s maybe 25% liberals max.

    Pinandpuller (2f95b3)

  82. “I did not say he never answered other reporter’s questions. Just that I believe that he is afraid to do so.”

    Aren’t YOU afraid to answer reporters’ questions? No, really. How much confidence do you have that they are interested in objectivity, and will get your story accurate?

    Haven’t you ever noticed, when you read a “news” story in your field of expertise (STEM, in my case,) it’s usually got glaring errors in it?

    Have you ever emailed a reporter about errors in their story and noticed how little regard they have for feedback, or maybe even LIED, as one has with me?

    Did you see the video of those news anchormen doing the DESPICABLE “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” display a couple years ago?

    Remember when the TV news DESPICABLY edited Zimmerman’s 911 call to say “He looks black.”

    Remember when Katie Couric’s crew edited a video to make a group of gun-owners look like dunces?

    WTF is wrong with you?

    gp (0c542c)

  83. Remember when the TV news DESPICABLY edited Zimmerman’s 911 call to say “He looks black.”

    specifically that was NBC Comcast

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  84. These are stunning changes, and they are visible across the country. In today’s average white working-class neighborhood, about one out of five men in the prime of life isn’t even looking for work; they are living off girlfriends, siblings or parents, on disability, or else subsisting on off-the-books or criminal income. Almost half aren’t married, with all the collateral social problems that go with large numbers of unattached males.

    Kevin M (752a26) — 5/4/2018 @ 9:49 am

    I’d say mr nk’s matriarchy had a cunning plan and it’s turned them into a bunch of bitter old maids so who can blame men for checking out or becoming man hoors.

    Pinandpuller (2f95b3)

  85. “…..after extreme right-wing talk radio (and other media) has convinced a certain segment of America that all liberals are horrible, puppy torturing…..”

    Never heard about the puppy torturers, most liberals I know value puppies much more than second trimester fetuses.

    harkin (32652f)

  86. Few years back, NYT “science” reporter did a story about some stupid science-fair project by a girl. She put piezos in floor tiles. This revolutionary idea was going to light the world with footprint-power. She had some ridiculous claim that each tile was putting out 5 watts (IIRC) per step.

    I went to the kid’s website, saw that she was getting a couple microwatts per step. I wrote to her first, and asked her about the discrepancy. Kid didn’t reply, but within ten minutes erased all relevant data from her site. So I contacted the “science” reporter, who had zero interest in correcting the green-fairy-castle horsesh!t she wrote in the NYT. No correction.

    I’ve got two dozen stories like this.

    gp (0c542c)

  87. @79 gp

    Incorrect.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/maps-of-isis-territory-2014-2017-10

    ISIS territory reached its height in 2014, when the group controlled several major cities in Syria and Iraq.
    By 2017, ISIS has lost control of its major strongholds, and now the terrorist group occupies only a small enclave in the desert.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  88. No, Kevin M, I know that many of the mainstream media are more liberal than the average American. True. But Fox has been throwing up propaganda for Trump like I have never seen anywhere, ever before. I am sure it’s happened but I cannot recall it. That’s my opinion and you can think otherwise…. fine.

    But, despite the continuous accusations from a few of you, I am a Republican and center-right. And I am an equal opportunity hater. I hate lies. Hate them. From you. From President Donald Trump. From anybody.

    noel (b4d580)

  89. “ISIS territory reached its height in 2014, when the group controlled several major cities in Syria and Iraq.
    By 2017, ISIS has lost control of its major strongholds, and now the terrorist group occupies only a small enclave in the desert.”

    OK OK. I stand by my original claim that BHO droned a lot of jihadis, and an appreciable but probably unknown number of bystanders were killed.

    gp (0c542c)

  90. Trump used Stormy like a wad of used Kleenex, already used by 1,000 teenagers before him, and paid $130,000 for it just for starters. And then he claims to be a germophobe and a good businessman.

    nk (dbc370) — 5/4/2018 @ 8:24 am

    aND WHAT HAS THAT TO DO WITH A UNITED kOREA, LOWER UNEMLOYMENT, MORE BLACKS AND HISPANICS EMPLOYED THAN SINCE THEY BEGAN COUNTING, LOWER TAXES, THOUSANDS OF SUPERFLOUS REGULATIONS GUTTED, AND INCRESE IN ENERGY PRODUCTION AND ANYTHING ELSE.?

    Live with the caps my finger hit caps lock while I was typing, sorry.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  91. ” I hate lies. Hate them. ”

    So where do you go with that? Who is this non-liar you want to replace Trump with?

    gp (0c542c)

  92. “Yeah, after extreme right-wing talk radio (and other media) has convinced a certain segment of America that all liberals are horrible, puppy torturing, devil worshiping slime, then the end justifies the means in doing everything in one’s power to harm those people. In such a world view, infidelity becomes nothing.”
    Tillman (a95660) — 5/4/2018 @ 9:18 am

    Amen. I have friends and neighbors who are liberals and many others who are conservative. They are all fine folks.

    noel (b4d580)

  93. 66.Talk about poor judgement; Trump didn’t wear a condom.
    AZ Bob (9a6ada) — 5/4/2018 @ 11:12 am

    Just because he doesn’t wear one with you doesn’t mean he didn’t with her.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  94. Trump, in my opinion, lies at a record pace. I did not want him to win the Primary. Second to last on my list. I don’t think he is going anywhere soon but if you cannot point out… and fight lies, you are a part of the problem. Corrupted politicians can lead a country to third-world status. Trust is essential in a great Democracy.

    No. I didn’t like it when Bill Clinton or Richard Nixon did it either.

    noel (b4d580)

  95. US District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III suggested that the reason prosecutors are going after Manafort is to try to get him to flip on President Donald Trump.

    “I don’t see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate,” Ellis said to prosecutors. “You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort’s bank fraud. … What you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment.””

    http://www.businessinsider.com/judge-ts-ellis-mueller-manafort-flip-trump-russia-2018-5

    harkin (32652f)

  96. Yeah, after extreme right-wing talk radio (and other media) has convinced a certain segment of America that all liberals are horrible, puppy torturing, devil worshiping slime, then the end justifies the means in doing everything in one’s power to harm those people. In such a world view, infidelity becomes nothing.”
    Tillman (a95660) — 5/4/2018 @ 9:18 am

    First of all Tillman, there is no such thing as “extreme right wing radio”. What you mistake for extreme only appears that way because you’re so far to the left Stalin is a conservative. Secondly, I listen to Rush when I’m in the car and he’s on as well as many other what you would call “extreme right wingers” (cause they believe in the Constitution not Rules for Radicals) and I have never, ever heard any of them call all liberals “horrible, puppy torturing, devil worshipping slime. Ever! I have however, heard leftist call us conservatives racists, homophobes, Nazis, haters, deniers, Trumpers and for extra credit “extreme right wingers”. I’ve even seen leftist go out and shoot at Republican Congressmen while they play softball. I’ve never seen conservatives riot and burn cars or smash businesses nor have I ever witnessed a conservative creating an entire entitlement group, supported by government grants based on a complete lie like “Hands up, don’t shoot”. Have you? What you know about the extreme right (which is about 18,000 people in America) you could tattoo on your dick.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  97. Our local news “reporters” here in the sh!thole rust belt often elide race from police suspect descriptions. Because they are wiser and better than us, and know that we are so cretinous that we will launch a full-out race war if the truth about local crime gets out. They are our moral guardians.

    I finally emailed one of those a-holes, showed him a side-by-side comparison of a police blotter description, and his half-assed censored transliteration of it. First he tells me “That is not police text.”

    After I point his snooty nose at the official police website, he says “Our policy is to exclude race from vague descriptions.” So a description like “W/M 200lbs 6ft” becomes “Police are looking for a male, weighing 200lbs and six feet tall.” He spends ten minutes probably, turning a so-called vague description into an EVEN VAGUER description.

    And notice how he deflects, citing “our policy” as the reply, when it is the frickin _policy_ I’m questioning.

    Yeah, go ahead and trust reporters.

    gp (0c542c)

  98. “…just because it provokes liberal tears and Fredocon frenzies.” is the operative phrase. he is sick of you and your ilk, and anything that happens to make you more unhappy, is just fine with him.

    Thanks for explaining to me the origin of the term “Fredocon” — along with a bunch of things I also already knew. Your sneering condescension is as welcome as it always was.

    The operative phrase in your comment is the part I have bolded. “Anything” that upsets Trump critics is fine with him — better than “fine,” actually; he praises it. Including immoral behavior by the President of the United States.

    It’s precisely what I said in my tweet. Trump’s adultery is seen by Kurt, and by you, as a positive good — so long as it upsets his critics.

    He is NOT saying that “liberal tears and Fredocon frenzies” are an amusing *side effect* of an otherwise regrettable act on Trump’s part.

    No: he is positively *praising* Trump’s adultery –because for him, the damage from the poor moral example set by it, and the harm to Trump’s wife and son, are all outweighed by his personal pleasure in seeing Trump critics be angered.

    Therefore he — and by supporting this, you — would rather that Trump committed adultery than that he didn’t. Simply because it makes critics angry.

    That is, I submit, an indefensible position — one that raises concerns about just how bad Trump’s behavior could be while still being justified in your mind by the extent to which it rattled his critics. But it is your position — ably mocked by the tweet faux-quoting Edmund Burke.

    If people want to say his adultery is irrelevant to the job, that is different. Query whether the people saying this are rank hypocrites who criticize the same behavior in people like Bill Clinton — but absent such likely hypocrisy, it is not an insane position, even if I disagree with it.

    But saying you’re “glad” Trump cheated on his wife, as Kurt said, cheered on by Cassandra, is an ideology that elevates “owning the libs and NeverTrumpers” over literally every other moral consideration. It is a fascist and disgusting mindset. And it’s *your* mindset, Cassandra.

    Patterico (05d44b)

  99. ” if you cannot point out… and fight lies”

    OK fine, you are calling out the liars and fighting the good fight. So where is this non-lying candidate you are backing for 2020? There’s probably plenty of honest news reporters you trust that you could nominate.

    gp (0c542c)

  100. I think what Shlichter was expressing was the mirror image of this:

    I enjoy making the most extreme Trumpalos cry and wail and gnash their teeth. Your overdone outrage makes me smile. Your tears of anger taste delicious to me.

    Totally!

    … but with one minor difference.

    I create Trumper tears by *criticizing* immoral behavior.

    Kurt aggravates Trump critics by *praising* it.

    Otherwise, you nailed it!

    Patterico (05d44b)

  101. Apparently Patterico (and some of his acolytes) have never heard of hyperbole.

    mockmook (dc8da9)

  102. Kentucky Derby Horse or Ad Agency Name? This Challenge Is Harder Than It Sounds

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  103. Trump said Giuliani is a great guy, but he;’s nbew to this, and he’ll get his facts straight.

    What Trump didn’t mention is that Giulaini talked to him before going on Hannity and Trump didn’t have his facts straight either!

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  104. you know who tends to have his facts straight is that Mr. narciso

    i do so terribly miss him

    you remember Mr. narciso

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  105. @102

    Supporting adultery to own the libs

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  106. OT: Notice how you don’t hear much about the inclusivity-bridge collapse in Florida lately?

    gp (0c542c)

  107. Oh, thank god Patterico is here to save me from the devil (Trump) otherwise I would go down the road to supporting lying and adultery.

    Oh, lordy, I am so incapable of moral discernment on my own!!!

    mockmook (dc8da9)

  108. Clinton was impeached for lying (perjury) and obstruction, I believe. It used to be a big deal to Republicans…. pre-Trump.

    noel (b4d580)

  109. I don’t think he is going anywhere soon but if you cannot point out… and fight lies, you are a part of the problem.

    You’re welcome to point out all the friggin’ lies you want noel, but when it becomes an all encompassing obsession you have a psychological problem. I would also expect, if lies are that so damn important to you, that you would be capable of pointing out…and fighting those perpetrated by other people too. Unfortunately on that point you are moot.

    Corrupted politicians can lead a country to third-world status. Trust is essential in a great Democracy.

    I don’t know where you’ve been by politicians have always been the best lawyers money can buy. They still are. Truth is essential between family and friends but if you expect it in government you’re an idiot. I need only say “If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor”. We don’t have a “great Democracy” yet noel, although the left in its effort to throw away the Constitution may get us there. You will rue that day.

    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402)

  110. mockmook? Is that a reference to Hillary’s guy? Really?

    noel (b4d580)

  111. Haha. Rev.Hoagie, you got me rolling. Trump lies over and over and you complain that I notice over and over. Obsession? Funny.

    noel (b4d580)

  112. The New York Times has a story today about Giuliani’s statement.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/us/politics/trump-michael-cohen-stormy-daniels-giuliani.html

    Mr. Giuliani said that he had spoken with the president before and after his interview on Fox News, and that Mr. Trump and other lawyers on the team were aware of what he would say. On Thursday, Mr. Trump said that he paid a monthly retainer to Mr. Cohen, suggesting, as Mr. Giuliani had, that the payment to Ms. Clifford was not a campaign contribution…

    ….Mr. Giuliani said that he was “not clear that” Mr. Trump was aware of the payment to Ms. Clifford at the time it was made, and he said that his understanding was that the president did not learn about the payment to her until recently.

    “I don’t think he did” know “until now,” Mr. Giuliani said…

    …According to a person close to the president, Mr. Trump reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment, a determination made in recent weeks by the president’s lawyers after examining banking records. The lawyers determined that campaign funds had not been used for the payment, the person said.

    The lawyers also concluded that the funds did not come from a third party or the Trump Organization, the person said. While the disclosure may be embarrassing for the president, his lawyers believe the payment did not violate campaign finance laws, the person said.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  113. Hmm…I’m beginning to see a pattern amongst the Trump humpers here. All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic, and yet they dare not level that accusation against Patterico. Very curious…

    Gryph (08c844)

  114. You can’t be a “deserter” from a personality cult you’ve never joined.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  115. “All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic”

    Gryph. I was thinking the same thing earlier today.

    noel (b4d580)

  116. “Supporting adultery to own the libs”

    I’ve been trying to understand scripture. I respect Christianity, but haven’t found faith yet.

    Is there a ranking system for sin? Where does adultery rank? In my scant knowledge of scripture, adultery seems to rank somewhere near sodomy among things that displease God.

    Yet sodomy is celebrated in the USA now. It’s taught to elementary school kids. It is the subject of pop culture disproportionate to its actual occurrence. To denounce sodomy is to invite condemnation of bigotry.

    But here we are condemning adultery as the worst sin. And dare I suggest, preening about it.

    With all respect, what is the sin ranking system? Is it situational or absolute? Can one commit a lesser-ranking sin to prevent a greater-ranking sin? I honestly don’t know the morality of this.

    gp (0c542c)

  117. All of this stuff was probably done by people emloyed by the Trump Organization who did double duty managing some personal funds of Donald Trump. Trump apparently believes he has some controls or checks and balances against embezzlement, and after all, once he was elected ppresident and especially afer January 2017 he was more diconnected than ever from his financial affairs.

    It is reported that Michael Cohen told people in the Trump organziation that he believed he was owed money.

    It’s not clear at all to me that he was reimbursed for the Stormy Daniels settlement. The money going to Michael Cohen seems to have been a fixed amount each month. It could be like a minimum credit card payment if the amoiunt owed is low: The only effect of owing more is that it takes longer to pay back.

    Who did the accounting?

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  118. Now we know the tribe matters more than principles. I guess it also doesn’t matter how the tribe spends our money:

    DRJ (15874d)

  119. DRJ (15874d)

  120. 102. Apparently Patterico (and some of his acolytes) have never heard of hyperbole.

    What I’ve learned in my 15 years of blog-commenting is that the more a person uses hyperbole, the less the fella is interested in a good-faith conversation.

    Paul Montagu (e6130e)

  121. Link:

    Who needs Google alerts? President Donald Trump reportedly spent $27,000 of taxpayer money to keep tabs on stories written about him following Stormy Daniels’ lawsuit against him.

    DRJ (15874d)

  122. ” if you cannot point out… and fight lies”

    Where do you go with that? Since you won’t name any non-liar candidates to replace Trump, I guess your plan is to unseat every President when he is caught lying. Henceforth, no president will serve a full term. Since campaign promises inevitably contain lies, no president can even be elected. Otherwise, how can you truly “fight” the lies?

    gp (0c542c)

  123. Signing off. Thank you! PS: Kurt Schlichter is an awesome polemicist.

    gp (0c542c)

  124. All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic”

    Gryph. I was thinking the same thing earlier today.

    noel (b4d580) — 5/4/2018 @ 12:34 pm

    What… that he’s a knob polisher or a leftist?

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  125. @117 gp

    I’m not Christian, so it’s not a “sin” thing for me, but rather betrayal of a trust. “Sodomy”, as long as it’s between consenting adults, I couldn’t care less about.

    Believe it or not, but I was sufficiently disgusted with Bill Clinton that I voted for Bush in 2000.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  126. It’s painful to watch Rudy Guiliani beclown himself. It was bad enough watching him as a political supporter of Trump, but now, as Trump’s new top lawyer, the tough-talking former U.S. Attorney for SDNY and big gun brought in to counter Mueller and his team, it’s just pathetic.

    Many years ago when I was a BigLaw lawyer, one of my younger associates, a young man very focused on office politics and status, tried to improve his own partnership chances by introducing to the firm a family friend of his, a very distinguished and highly respected retiring judge who’d served on both trial and appellate court benches but wanted to re-enter private practice. The firm took a chance and made this judge “of counsel” with appropriate fanfare and press releases. The associate who’d sponsored her also had the biggest case on his docket coming up for trial, but he claimed (contrived, I believe) to have a scheduling conflict, on the basis of which he asked me to take the case over, and — because the clients were also family friends of his, and of the newly of-counsel ex-judge’s — to bring the ex-judge along to “co-first-chair” the case.

    It was a bizarre and surreal trial in several respects. One humorous aspect of the trial arose from the fact that one of the two lead lawyers on the other side was himself a recently retired judge. At least a half dozen times during the trial, someone — a bailiff, a witness, someone — would say aloud, trying to get the trial judge’s attention, “Excuse me, Judge, but ….” At which point the trial judge, my co-counsel, and our opposing counsel would all reflexively and simultaneously answer, “Yes?” It became a running gag that cracked the jury up every time it happened.

    But it turned out that my new colleague and nominal co-first chair had grown very, very rusty in the practice of trial advocacy during all the years the ex-judge had been on the bench, merely watching advocates instead of being one. We were on the defense side, but our client was a closely held company whose owner was there with us at the defense counsel’s table, and we’d correctly predicted that he’d be called as a witness “adversely” — that is, called as a hostile witness — during the plaintiff’s case in chief, long before it was our turn to present evidence. Since the ex-judge was, as I said, a family friend of the client, the ex-judge had done our client’s witness prep and was to do his re-direct examination after the other side finished their cross-examination. But the ex-judge didn’t do a good job of witness prep, and didn’t do even a minimally effective job of objecting and otherwise protecting him while he was being crossed. Over the weekend, before our chance to re-direct on the following Monday, the client came to me privately and said, “I dearly love Judge ____, and I’m sure Judge ___ was great on the bench and is very smart. But we’re getting killed here. You’ve got to take this case over. Please!”

    Which I did, of course, as best I could. (A lot of damage had already been done, and the young associate who’d brought both the ex-judge and this client to the firm in the first place turned out to have done a spectacularly poor job of preparing the case before abandoning it to me to try.)

    Our “big gun,” in short, had shot off most of our own toes and completely missed the other side. That’s what I was thinking of last night and this morning, observing the igniting clouds of explosive gas issuing forth from Rudy, only to immolate both him and his clients when ignited by the tiniest little spark.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  127. “All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic, and yet they dare not level that accusation against Patterico.“

    Some have an inordinate fear of the 8th grade mean gurl treatment. Others don’t think he’s a leftwing fever swamper.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  128. ha guess what

    turns out stormy the blackmailing hooker’s lawyer is a complete jerk

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  129. Giuliani is an expert on jerks.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  130. OK Rev.Hoagie, you can add your fantasies about Trump critics to the list of whacky conspiracy theories that you believe. Don’t stop now.

    Calling everyone who criticizes Trump a liberal, leftist etc. is pretty lame, don’t you think? Kind of lazy too. But I suppose it saves the time it takes to actually defend yourself.

    noel (b4d580)

  131. Telling it like it is…

    “US District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III suggested that the reason prosecutors are going after Manafort is to try to get him to flip on President Donald Trump.

    “I don’t see what relation this indictment has with what the special counsel is authorized to investigate,” Ellis said to prosecutors. “You don’t really care about Mr. Manafort’s bank fraud. … What you really care about is what information Mr. Manafort could give you that would reflect on Mr. Trump or lead to his prosecution or impeachment.”

    http://www.businessinsider.com/judge-ts-ellis-mueller-manafort-flip-trump-russia-2018-5

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  132. I still don’t know that it is indeed a fact that any money sent to Michael Cohen was specifically to reimburse him for the $130,000 because nothing I read indicates to me that that’s been established. Everybody is assuming.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  133. “A federal judge on Friday sharply criticized Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s criminal case in Virginia against President Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and openly questioned whether Mueller exceeded his prosecutorial powers by bringing it.

    “I don’t see what relationship this indictment has with anything the special counsel is authorized to investigate,” U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in the Eastern District of Virginia said.

    At tense hearing at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, the judge said Mueller should not have “unfettered power” in his Russia probe and that the charges against Manafort did not arise from the investigation into Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.”

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-manafort/u-s-judge-questions-special-counsels-powers-in-manafort-case-idUSKBN1I51WE

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  134. Nazi bastard.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  135. teen wolf reboot

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  136. There’s another possible violation of law the New York Times reported.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/us/politics/giuliani-trump-michael-cohen-stormy-daniels.html

    After he moved into the White House, the president began paying Mr. Cohen $35,000 a month, Mr. Giuliani said, in part as reimbursement for a $130,000 payment that Mr. Cohen made to a pornographic film actress to keep her from going public about an affair she said she had with Mr. Trump. The president confirmed he made payments to Mr. Cohen in a series of Twitter posts on Thursday morning.

    The explosive revelation, which Mr. Giuliani said was intended to prove that Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen violated no campaign finance laws, prompted frustration and disbelief among the president’s other legal and political advisers, some of whom said they feared the gambit could backfire.

    Legally, the failure to disclose the payments could be a violation of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which requires that federal officials, including Mr. Trump, report any liabilities of more than $10,000 during the preceding year. Mr. Trump’s last disclosure report, which he signed and filed in June, mentions no debt to Mr. Cohen.

    Now, first of all, that law wasn’t written to cover this kind of situation. Wasn’t it written to cover outright loans, and in any case people who couldn’t afford to pay the money back right away? Second, if Cohen never billed him, or contacted him, how could he know he owed money? Cohen is reported to have told people in the trump Organization but not Trump and it’s not clear they agreed. Thirdly, maybe it wasn’t a legal debt.

    Fourth, by June he should have paid it back if payments are assigned first to that. Fifth, then what if somebody has a personal injury case against himself – is that a debt that needs to be reported? What if it’s unclear if insurance would cover the full amount?

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  137. 135. Colonel Haiku (23a40e) — 5/4/2018 @ 1:07 pm

    and that the charges against Manafort did not arise from the investigation into Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.”

    I don’t think the judge is right.

    The whole point is that could explain why Manafort might have been someone Russia thought would be a spy for them. Of course that assumes Russia got him the job somehow.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  138. A funny exchange. But what is the point? Want to post some nasty tweets at Trump supports by Erickson, Podhertz, Kristol, et al. Remember how nasty the Never-trumpers were when they thought Trump was going to lose?

    Its like when well know controversial people like Erickson complain “I’ve received insulting Emails/twitter insults/etc” – like what controversial public figure hasn’t?

    Coulter could match Erick Erickson death threat to death threat and raise him X10. Same with Palin. Or Hannity.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  139. When are we going to get some mano y mano beat downs?

    I’d love to see a David French vs. Hannity rumble – switchblades optional.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  140. You miss the point of Kurt’s comment entirely – he and the rest of us are sick of your pointless moral preening. We are sick of your ruffled feathers. Sick of your wounded ego. “…just because it provokes liberal tears and Fredocon frenzies.” is the operative phrase. he is sick of you and your ilk, and anything that happens to make you more unhappy, is just fine with him.

    So , what? You’re sick of an individual, who pays for his own blog, writing whatever he is compelled to write when he wants to write it? Why on earth should anyone care about your opinion – especially the proprietor of the blog? Who cares what you think. If you are sick of Patterico, then don’t come here, or start your own blog. But even better, present sound and substantive arguments to the contrary without the condescension and silly arrogance.

    There are a number of Trump supporters hear that disagree with Pat and Rico, but don’t feel compelled to have to insult him or be condescending. A contrary opinion accompanied by an obvious respect for the person with whom you disagree, goes along way. If that’s really your goal, that is.

    Dana (023079)

  141. Re; Giuliani the lawyer: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/us/politics/giuliani-trump-michael-cohen-stormy-daniels.html

    The abrupt disclosure — which even caught Mr. Hannity, a confidant of the president’s, by surprise — set off a flurry of calls between Mr. Trump’s lawyers as they sought to determine whether Mr. Giuliani meant to reveal the president’s reimbursement. Witnesses and lawyers around Washington scoured transcripts, watched television clips and called each other in an effort to grasp the consequences of what Mr. Giuliani had said.

    The president’s other lawyers ultimately determined that Mr. Giuliani had consulted with Mr. Trump, people close to them said, but were left speechless about why he decided to make the disclosure in such a high-profile way and without any strategy to handle the fallout.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  142. Apologies for typos. Dictating comments. Get your decoder rings out.

    Dana (023079)

  143. If that’s really your goal, that is.

    You and I both know that’s not her goal, Dana. She, and others like her, just wants to complain. They’re not here to change minds, they’re here to hurl insults.

    Eventually, their guy will be out of office, and someone of another party will be in control. And once again, rather than seek to change minds, they will complain.

    Chuck Bartowski (bc1c71)

  144. Yesterday I love this comment:

    It’s funny how many Trump defenders were screaming about Clinton during the “it depends on what the definition of is is” saga and even during Hillary’s recent campaign that it wasn’t the sex that was the problem, it was the lies. Now that Trump has possibly been caught in several lies regarding the Stormy Daniels saga, neither the lies nor the sex matter to the same people. This is dishonest and sycophantic behavior.

    I feel like it fits at this post as well .

    This is what trouble and so frustrating about this season of Trump: sane and rational people on right, just a few short years ago, would have been critical of a Democrat like Trump in the White House, with his immorality, lies, bad character, shady business practices, etc. , there would’ve been no end to the outcry. But now, because someone who is basically a Democrat that has an R after his name, is in the White House, and doing some of the things people want, everything else no longer matters.

    Dana (023079)

  145. Good post, i enjoyed reading it and i think it does a great job on illustrating a point you’ve been making for a while.

    I think tribalism and powerlessness have a place in this also.

    I think many of the early trump supporters were and are frustrated at the lack of power they felt they personally or their ‘tribe’ should have. They’re not highly focused on policy so much as power. So demonstrating power by upsetting outsiders is an end in and of itself. I think many late trump supporters now consider themselves part of the group and thus behave the same way.

    I also think there are a lot of con artists trying to make a buck selling outrage. In 4 or 8 years when trump is gone they’ll be the ones telling us that he was never a true Conservative and they only went along because they had no other choice. .

    And yes, there’s plenty of examples of the left acting in much the same way. I don’t think that justifies anything.

    Time123 (353edd)

  146. 128. It’s pretty obvious that Giuliani’s mentally lost a step, Beldar, and you can see the difference between today and his 2008 run for president. Nevertheless, I still think Rudy has a better grasp of the facts than his boss, that Trump repaid Cohen $35k per month to cover the Tricksy Toenails business.

    Paul Montagu (e6130e)

  147. Google Alerts are wonderful, DRJ. When I take on a new client, part of my intake routine is to spend some time on Google and other search engines seeing what’s out there already, and I set up a Google Alert to let me know of new things as they roll in.

    I’ve got one almost-client — someone who tried to hire me, but whom I was obliged to drop after the first emergency hearing I won for her, when she broke her solemn promises of payment — whose Google Alert has let me track her continuing Pachinko-ball descent into hell (or, actually, federal prison). I was lucky to only have to write off about $10k worth of billable time, which in the tally of people she’s scammed doesn’t even put me in the top 50.

    Due to my Google Alert on my own name, I know, for example, that I share a name with a very successful high school basketball coach at a Detroit Catholic school. He’s getting a lot more press than I am, but he deserves it.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  148. her toenail fungus is completely separate from her other funguses

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  149. @ Paul Montagu (#148): It’s possible that private Rudy is more effective than public Rudy. If public Rudy is mostly posturing right now to make Trump happy, and botching it, that’s bad. If private Rudy is telling Trump, “Don’t worry, you can plead the Fifth and wrap yourself in Executive Privilege and refuse to testify — trust me, Nixon was a total p*ssy and I can win this thing in the SCOTUS — then heaven help our Republic.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  150. @117 gp

    Some denominations categorize sins. But inherent in most Christian teaching is that Man has a sin nature so the actual manifestation is irrelevant. Our sin nature separates us from God. And most sins have natural consequences.

    All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

    There is none righteous, no not one.

    Our righteousness is as dirty rags.

    Pinandpuller (80ea13)

  151. OMG some lady at Aldi said she’s a Shaman here to build a sustainable organic farm for I presume a Wiccan. She said the Wiccan stiffed her and the police have been brought in and the lady tried witchcraft on her but you can’t do that on a Shaman, doesn’t everyone know that?

    Pinandpuller (80ea13)

  152. The New York times referred today to a Wall Street Journal story that ran four days before the election (Friday, November 4, 2016)

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-enquirer-shielded-donald-trump-from-playboy-models-affair-allegation-1478309380

    National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model’s Affair Allegation

    Tabloid owner American Media agreed to pay $150,000 for story from 1998 Playmate of the Year, but hasn’t published her account

    Buried deep in the story is this:

    Mr. Davidson also represented Stephanie Clifford, a former adult-film star whose professional name is Stormy Daniels and who was in discussions with ABC’s “Good Morning America” in recent months to publicly disclose what she said was a past relationship with Mr. Trump, according to people familiar with the talks. Ms. Clifford cut off contact with the network without telling her story. She didn’t respond to requests for comment.

    An ABC spokesperson declined to comment on Ms. McDougal or Ms. Clifford.

    The Trump spokeswoman, Ms. Hicks, said it was “absolutely, unequivocally” untrue that Ms. Clifford had a relationship with Mr. Trump.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  153. Now, was the AMI payment an illegal corporate campaign contribution?

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  154. Terms of Entrapment: Trump Should Demand Hillary’s Deal

    While Mueller and Team Trump negotiate the terms of entrapment, Team Trump should consider demanding from Mueller the same deal Hillary Clinton got, including the writing of an exoneration memo before the interview. The interview should be on the Friday of a holiday weekend – Hillary’s was on July 2. There should be no notes taken and no recordings or transcripts made. The interview should not be under oath, and Mueller should not attend, as Comey did not attend Hillary’s.

    Trump should insist on an interview limited to just two hours and at which staff members past and current can be present, like Mike Flynn, Carter Page, and Paul Manafort. They should be given immunity deals, as were the likes of Cheryl Mills at Hillary’s interview. His interviewer should be as pro-Trump as Peter Strzok, who conducted Hillary’s interview, was pro-Clinton. He should be allowed to say, “I don’t recall” or its equivalent 39 times, as Hillary did. Prior to the interview, Mueller should have a press conference listing the charges against Trump and then exonerate him, explaining why no reasonable prosecutor, which Mueller is not, would take the case. At least this time, this would be a true statement – Mueller pursues Trump without a crime, in violation of the special counsel statute. Comey acted as a Hillary staffer, ignoring the most obvious and real crimes, such a mishandling classified information and destroying evidence under subpoena.“

    https://www.americanthinker.com

    Anything less is a double standard.

    harkin (32652f)

  155. Actually the WSJ story appeared November 5, 2016, print edition (as ‘Tabloid Shielded Trump.’ )

    November 4 was when it was posted online.

    Here isd a USA TODAY story withioyt apaywall:

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/05/national-enquirer-donald-trump-karen-mcdougal-melania-trump/93340860/

    Here is aTwotter report:

    https://twitter.com/i/moments/794952069992120321?lang=en

    AMI claimed it was actually buying LKaren McDougal’s fitness columns (except it never ran any)

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  156. https://twitter.com/rebeccaballhaus/status/794717606964031488

    Rebecca Ballhaus‏Verified account @rebeccaballhaus [Note: WSJ reporter}

    Ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal & porn star Stormy Daniels alleged affairs w/Trump while he was married to Melania:

    6:46 PM – 4 Nov 2016

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  157. harken @156, quoting:

    “While Mueller and Team Trump negotiate the terms of entrapment, Team Trump should consider demanding from Mueller the same deal Hillary Clinton got, including the writing of an exoneration memo before the interview

    That was not proper.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  158. 66.Talk about poor judgement; Trump didn’t wear a condom.
    AZ Bob (9a6ada) — 5/4/2018 @ 11:12 am

    Just because he doesn’t wear one with you doesn’t mean he didn’t with her.
    Rev.Hoagie (1b0402) — 5/4/2018 @ 12:03 pm

    All we have to go on is Stormy’s interview with Anderson Cooper:

    Anderson Cooper: You work in an industry where condom use is– is an issue. Did– did he use a condom?

    Stormy Daniels: No.

    Anderson Cooper: Did you ask him to?

    Stormy Daniels: No. I honestly didn’t say anything.

    AZ Bob (9a6ada)

  159. This is what trouble and so frustrating about this season of Trump: sane and rational people on right, just a few short years ago, would have been critical of a Democrat like Trump in the White House, with his immorality, lies, bad character, shady business practices, etc. , there would’ve been no end to the outcry. But now, because someone who is basically a Democrat that has an R after his name, is in the White House, and doing some of the things people want, everything else no longer matters.
    Dana (023079) — 5/4/2018 @ 1:29 pm

    Bull crap! None of us believe you shouldn’t be critical of Trump or any politician. We just don’t believe a supposedly conservative blog should spend 18 months b!tching like spoiled children about the guy. Unless you are going to throw him out of office and put St James in his place. You have NO SOLUTION except wait till the next election. All you’re doing is giving the left (you know, the actual immoral monsters who like partial birth abortion) more ammunition.

    This is what conservative blogs should be promoting. Not hate for Trump. Cause God knows this won’t see the light of day in the Lame stream media.

    Nation’s jobless rate drops under 4 percent for first time since 2000

    The nation’s unemployment rate fell to the lowest level since late 2000, as the Labor Department reported Friday that businesses added 164,000 jobs in April, bringing the jobless rate down to 3.9 percent, and setting a new record low for unemployment among African-Americans.

    The unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in April, an 18-year low… A more encompassing measure of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time positions for economic reasons fell to 7.8 percent, the lowest since July 2001. Unemployment for blacks fell to a fresh record-low of 6.6 percent, down 0.3 percent.

    That’s the real uneployment rate. And the record for black unemployment is even more striking.

    Black unemployment fell to 6.6 percent in April, the lowest in data dating back to 1972, while the jobless rate among Hispanics dipped to 4.8 percent, matching the lowest on record, Labor Department figures showed Friday.

    That’s quite a racist administration. And a good financial overview.

    U.S. stocks logged their biggest advance in a week as investors reacted to an April U.S. jobs report that showed an 18-year low in the unemployment rate.

    The S&P 500 Index moved higher, led by technology and consumer shares. The dollar resumed its climb and Treasuries fell Treasuries as the market also assessed the impact of America’s trade talks with China.

    If this were Obama, you know what the coverage would look like. Instead all the media wants to talk about is Stormy Daniels.

    Rev.Hoagie (51bde3)

  160. Fox has been throwing up propaganda for Trump like I have never seen anywhere, ever before.

    I don’t watch Hannity, so I’ll take your word for it. I lament the death of straight news. Give me CNN and Headline News, circa 1990.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  161. Here’s where I differ from our host: I don’t think Trump lies. I thing he believes he’s telling the truth. Even when you show him tape of what he said yesterday, he denies it and believes his denial.

    This may be more of a problem than otherwise.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  162. 126. No one interested in serious debate *could* ever confuse me for someone who polishes Trump’s knob, Trump humper.

    Gryph (08c844)

  163. 163. You could probably say the very same thing about any of a number of garden-variety politicians. To say that Trump is somehow different strikes me as…disingenuous.

    Gryph (08c844)

  164. You can’t fight City Hall: Giuliani’s most practical legacy as der Gauleiter of Noo Yawk was spooking the dudes who’d squirt crud on your windshield, squeegee it off and demand $ as you sat stalled in rush hour traffic exiting the Lincoln and Holland tunnels into Manhattan.

    ‘Giuliani explained [in his book ‘Leadership’] that his method of removing the squeegee men from the street involved arresting them. Patrolmen who first made the arrests saw that the squeegee men were released immediately, because according to the New York penal code at the time, cleaning someone’s windshield was not illegal. Giuliani told the officers that if they saw any more squeegee men they should simply arrest them for jaywalking.’ – source, wikipedia

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  165. No, Gryph, it’s not the same thing. Trump’s short-term memory is broken. It happens.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  166. I lament the death of straight news.

    Catch Newsy. It’s refreshingly matter-of-fact bland.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  167. Just get all of these folks new pearls to clutch, silk hankies and couches to faint on while the rest of us attend to business.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  168. Teh Never Trump PajamaMan bunch…

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  169. @ harkin, who wrote (#156):

    Anything less [than Trump getting the same terms for being interviewed that the FBI gave Hillary Clinton in the investigation of her email server] is a double standard.

    There is not a double standard. There is a standard. What the Lynch DoJ and in particular, the US Attorney for the EDNY (her successor there, for she was EDNY’s US Attorney until she replaced Eric Holder as Obama’s AG), violated the standard.

    She wasn’t entitled to that. I hope, and I think from the IG’s doings so far that I have reasonable grounds to hope, that the special and ridiculously improper treatment Hillary got will be revealed in all its inglorious detail in due course. It’s a story in which the most powerful proof of Lynch and her minions’ culpability is the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which is even harder to doubt than DNA on a blue dress.

    But none of that entitles Trump to that same set of special, above-the-law rules.

    When a high public official is connected in any way — witness, subject, target — to felony criminal investigations and/or prosecutions, that’s when it is more important than ever to go exactly by the book.

    James Comey lost sight of that principle. That’s why he became a weasel. He thought because high public officials were at the center of what he was doing, that means that he, James Jesus-Come-Again Comey, should start coloring outside the lines with the biggest, boldest marker he could handle.

    There are opponents of the Rule of Law among both Republicans and Democrats. Stand with the Rule of Law, friends and neighbors.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  170. Too much time on their hands, too much ego to feed.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  171. Says the guy who just posted 3 times in a row.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  172. With those kinds of people, whether it’s a philanderer like Trump or a punchboard like Stormy, wearing a condom is like carrying an umbrella in a hurricane. Trump could have given Stormy any number of diseases and infestations just by being in the same room with her, and Stormy likewise to him.

    nk (dbc370)

  173. “It’s funny how many Trump defenders were screaming about Clinton during the “it depends on what the definition of is is” saga and even during Hillary’s recent campaign that it wasn’t the sex that was the problem, it was the lies. Now that Trump has possibly been caught in several lies regarding the Stormy Daniels saga, neither the lies nor the sex matter to the same people. This is dishonest and sycophantic behavior.“

    Was it the is-is, teh sex, or the lying under oath that got Clinton? I recall it was the lying under oath.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  174. I got lost in my own subordinate clauses in #171. Trying the sentence again:

    What the Lynch DoJ and in particular, the US Attorney for the EDNY (Lynch’s hand-picked successor there, for she was EDNY’s US Attorney until she replaced Eric Holder as Obama’s AG), in their conduct of the Clinton emails investigation violated the standard.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  175. DID. What Lynch DID in her conduct.

    Some sentences can’t be resurrected, but should be allowed to die.

    Beldar (fa637a)

  176. My work day – which began at 5am Pacific – is done, Cthulhu. What’s your excuse?

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  177. My excuse is that I’m not spamming a forum complaining about how my opponents have too much time on their hands.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  178. This is what we’re up against if the left wins:

    Eric Swalwell (D-CA), but who on this staff wrote this rather great piece of comedy regarding military-style rifles. He wants to ban them, buy them back, and prosecute anyone who doesn’t abide by his proposed law (via USA Today):

    Reinstating the federal assault weapons ban that was in effect from 1994 to 2004 would prohibit manufacture and sales, but it would not affect weapons already possessed. This would leave millions of assault weapons in our communities for decades to come.

    Instead, we should ban possession of military-style semiautomatic assault weapons, we should buy back such weapons from all who choose to abide by the law, and we should criminally prosecute any who choose to defy it by keeping their weapons. The ban would not apply to law enforcement agencies or shooting clubs.

    Australia got it right. After a man used military-style weapons to kill 35 people in April 1996, that nation adopted strict new measures and bought back 643,726 newly illegal rifles and shotguns at market value. The cost — an estimated $230 million in U.S. dollars at the time — was funded by a temporary 0.2% tax levy on national health insurance.

    The democrats are now out of the closet for gun confiscation and that will start a war. Please stop worrying about who Trump screwed and concentrate on the task at hand!

    Rev.Hoagie (51bde3)

  179. Sure the procedur3e with Clinton was broken, and should nopt be repeated. Still, it’s just strange how all those breaks fell Hillary’s way.

    Except the ones called Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

    I’m gonna say there was more collusion in allowing Clinton to run in 2016 than there was in any other aspect of the campaign. And yet, we investigate ghosts while ignoring the donkey in the middle of the room.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  180. 167. Riiiight. Okaaaay…

    Gryph (08c844)

  181. You can’t distinguish an observation from a complaint, Cthulhu?

    Okay, then…

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  182. how can you have too much time there’s so many different things to do Mr. thulhu

    there’s a bewildering array of things

    here are one for example

    what the hell’s this all about?

    Talk to a Residential Advisor

    smells like scientology to me

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  183. I think it’s a New York thing. The way Trump lies and then lies about his lies.

    I saw a video sting of a crooked New York car mechanic. They were showing him the video of him punching the holes in the hoses and cutting the belts for which he then charged to replace, and he was denying that he did it. “La dee da, you got a video. It don’t mean nothing. I didn’t do it.”

    nk (dbc370)

  184. I think it’s a New York thing. The way Trump lies and then lies about his lies.

    He doesn’t lie he’s colorful.

    I love him so much and what’s more I *trust* him.

    IMMMMMMMMMplicitly.

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  185. > You miss the point of Kurt’s comment entirely – he and the rest of us are sick of your pointless moral preening. We are sick of your ruffled feathers. Sick of your wounded ego. “…just because it provokes liberal tears and Fredocon frenzies.” is the operative phrase. he is sick of you and your ilk, and anything that happens to make you more unhappy, is just fine with him.

    Your hatred of me is so great that you will turn a blind eye to behavior that damages the country, just because I don’t like it, and my dislike automatically makes it a good thing in your eyes.

    That’s a fairly reprehensible attitude, in my view.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  186. GP: I have a problem with adultery in that it’s a betrayal of the trust of your spouse. I’ll distinguish this from open relationships, in which there is no betrayal of trust — because the betrayal of trust is the problem for me, nothing more.

    This is one of the reasons neither Newsom nor Villaraigosa will get my vote in the primary.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  187. Happyfeet at 186: see, that’s the thing that baffles me the most about the whole Trump phenomenon. The man tells easily falsifiable lies at every opportunity, about basically everything he ever talks about. On what basis would anyone trust him about *anything*?

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  188. because he rings true

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  189. “Just get all of these folks new pearls to clutch, silk hankies and couches to faint on while the rest of us attend to business.”
    Colonel Haiku (23a40e) — 5/4/2018 @ 3:31 pm

    OK, isn’t it your job to advance Mr. Bone Spurs while dishing the dirt on POW’s like Sen. McCain. Yea. Lets hear about how you represent the butch brigade.

    noel (b4d580)

  190. Sorry. President Bone Spurs.

    noel (b4d580)

  191. McCain is a cowardly fart-stain on the uniform

    a complete disgrace

    because he served?

    america is less than she might have been

    and the idea that his dirty corpse will defile a national cemetery is truly nauseating

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  192. 180
    Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Trump; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Trump to all that trust in him.

    Kishnevi (78c1a3)

  193. You’re just jealous because he married a gorgeous blonde whose father owned a liquor distributorship. You know many American males dream of that? Lots. You know how many have achieved it? Fewer than have walked on the Moon.

    nk (dbc370)

  194. Mr. Kishnevi he’s a true blue American and he gets up every day and gets out there doing everything he can to put a little cachet back in the good old US of A

    did you see the jobs numbers today?

    that’s a measure of how much he cares about us

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  195. i’m not jealous Mr. nk honest-to-pickles I’m sincerely contemptuous of him

    he rubs me the wrong way

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  196. How’s the labor participation rate looking?

    Davethulhu (7e7722)

  197. How’s the labor participation rate looking?

    wti is 29 cents from cracking $70

    and it’s early May

    and that Iran deal looks like it’s not even something anti-semitic panty-boi Jim Mattis can save

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  198. Patterico (05d44b) — 5/4/2018 @ 12:18 pm

    Patterico, I thought I formulated a fairly thoughtful explanation of what Kurt was saying that actually differs from your own misinterpretation. Fact is you are fixated on one and only one explanation for people who disagree with you regarding Trump, a) they love Trump, b) they are idiots c) you are a bold and brave truth teller. It never seems to occur to you the a) not necessarily b) not necessarily, and c) not necessarily.

    “sneering condensation” is your term for someone explaining the obvious, that your interpretation of what people are upset about with you may be something other than excessive and unnatural Trump love. You say you get it, when obviously you still don’t.

    Let me try again. I don’t think Kurt actually is okay with with Trump’s bad behavior. But he is going to say he is to make the veins in your forehead bulge dangerously. He praises it BECAUSE praising it pisses you off. Like telling Fredo “Sure sure, your are super smart. Now make me a sandwich.” Do you want a sandwich? Maybe, maybe not. What you want is to show Fredo how impotent and silly he is acting.

    “Trump’s adultery is seen by Kurt, and by you, as a positive good — so long as it upsets his critics.” Nope – I didn’t actually praise Trumps behavior, I explained Kurt’s. Big difference. In fact, I don’t believe in praising Trumps bad behavior just to make guys like you have a rage stroke. I endorse ignoring it as long as it does not interfere with conservative goals. I’ve actually said that a dozen different ways in a dozen different posts. Again, you are over simplifying the positions of people who disagree with you.

    I also explained why some people, who would otherwise be appalled by such behavior, are not raising the red flag (which is NOT the same as approving of it). I think that that fact reflects poorly on all conservatives and is directly related to our past failures. Note the use of the word “our”. That is You and Me, mister. And if you don’t think you and I have failed, may I present Exhibit A – Donald Trump President of the United States.

    Anyway, you obviously still don’t get it, and are furious whenever I try to explain it to you. Which is really a curious response, don’t you think? I mean, I get us not agreeing, I don’t get the obvious hostility directed by you toward me. It’s been a bit weird from the start.

    Anyhow, my posting here is obvious interfering with your digestion. So I’ll knock it off for a few weeks.

    Have a great weekend! And hang in there.

    Cassandra (a815b9)

  199. Let’s go after Trump for banging Stormy while this miscarriage goes unexplained, unexplored, uninvestigated and unprosecuted. Bad mouthing Trump is much more important because virtue!
    https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-laUFzyA11Rw/WuutaVxUpyI/AAAAAAABc-4/ts6DaY258A45OAEVDEDdTM4U9CgbiQ2lwCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2B1%2B1_mblr_p86boc1pcl1urmckio1_1280.jpg

    Rev.Hoagie (51bde3)

  200. 200. OMG…Now you’re spinning for Trump AND Schlichter? Words fail me…

    Gryph (08c844)

  201. So, I just got an offer from the NRCC. If I send money to defend Trump’s majority, I might get a free trip to the Trump Winery. Normally this would be tempting — I just love all things Trump — but having just observed my 30th anniversay of continuous sobriety, I’ll regretfully pass.

    Kevin M (752a26)

  202. Some (quite a few, actually) for having been fired.

    Just like those dirty b@stards, kicking a man when he’s down.

    Listen Patrick, I know you and the family unit will probably be thrown out on the street any day now, after losing that RedState gig. I just wanted to say – because I’m sure you’re too proud to ask for a handout – that you’re all welcome to hitch a ride down to OC and crash out in my living room until you get back on your feet again. Seriously man, I mean it.

    I know you’ve been through hell this past week, but remember it’s always darkest just before the dawn.

    As a great man once said, ”Si, se puede!”

    Dave (2add51)

  203. 186. Stockholm syndome, much?

    Gryph (08c844)

  204. Sycophant
    noun
    A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important to gain an advantage.

    Synonyms: yes-man, bootlicker, brown-noser, toady, stooge, lickspittle, flatterer, flunky, lackey, doormat, cringer, suck-up, suck

    Gryph (08c844)

  205. “I hope, and I think from the IG’s doings so far that I have reasonable grounds to hope, that the special and ridiculously improper treatment Hillary got will be revealed in all its inglorious detail in due course.”

    That’s where we differ, I have no hope as long as the MSM/5th estate/career govt. workers are firmly in the Democrats’ pockets.

    The same goes for everything that went down under Chairman Zero, from the complete fraud to take over health insurance, the IRS abuses etc. to the Iran pallets of cash and the Paris Accord to bilk the US Treasury.

    If you think I’m happy that Trump has every right to ask for Hillary-style preferential treatment, I’m not. But if you think this country can long endure when one side gets every break possible while the other side is under investigation based on lies paid for by the same witch who got a pass, you’re wrong there too.

    harkin (32652f)

  206. I was thinking the same thing, Cassandra but that is giving our resident leftists free run. I believe somewhere deep inside Patterico knows our unwillingness to throw Trump under the bus is because we realize he’s the vastly imperfect being fighting far worse vastly imperfect beings. IOW, right now he’s all we got. He’s in office and being pissed off 24/7 ain’t solving anything.

    Rev.Hoagie (51bde3)

  207. hf, I’d like to put you in McCain’s jet on the Forrestal deck when another plane’s live bomb dropped and exploded, setting the whole deck on fire and killing 134 men. I bet you’d run faster and scream louder.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_USS_Forrestal_fire

    Kevin M (752a26)

  208. aphrael–

    I know the lies he tells about recent events. Does he lie in the long term? Is it lies or faulty memory?

    Kevin M (752a26)

  209. Shortly after Flynn’s meeting with the FBI agents, two senior officials from the Department of Justice met with White House Counsel Don McGahn in late Jan to discuss “the discrepancies between the transcripts of General Flynn’s calls and his statements to the FBI,” the report says.

    get that?

    says between *transcripts* and *statements*

    cause the Slut BI don’t do transcripts

    the slutty men and women of the FBI just make “notes”

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  210. hf, I’d like to put you in McCain’s jet on the Forrestal deck when another plane’s live bomb dropped and exploded, setting the whole deck on fire and killing 134 men. I bet you’d run faster and scream louder.

    no way jose that’s not happening

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  211. You’re just jealous because he married a gorgeous blonde whose father owned a liquor distributorship. You know many American males dream of that? Lots. You know how many have achieved it? Fewer than have walked on the Moon.

    nk (dbc370) — 5/4/2018 @ 4:58 pm

    As many as have become an “own goal” Ace.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  212. Also – regarding Trump getting the Hillary preferred client treatment:

    Just suppose the feds DID give him the exact same treatment on a holiday weekend Friday. As the howls of protest, indignation and outrage rose to a fever pitch, the Feds could just say “well, we wanted to treat both 2016 candidates exactly the same way.”

    This would be news to probably 80% of the people who defended Hillary and could actually lead to progress and enlightenment, kinda like Kanye quoting Thomas Sowell.

    harkin (32652f)

  213. I’ll regretfully pass.

    Kevin M (752a26) — 5/4/2018 @ 5:28 pm

    Binary election, dude. Refusing to hand your last cent over to Trump is functionally identical to giving everything you own to Schumer, Pelosi, Planned Parenthood and Antifa.

    Why do you hate America?

    Dave (2add51)

  214. You’re just jealous because he married a gorgeous blonde whose father owned a liquor distributorship. You know many American males dream of that? Lots. You know how many have achieved it? Fewer than have walked on the Moon.

    nk (dbc370) — 5/4/2018 @ 4:58 pm

    You think they will have an open bar at the wake?

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  215. “Some denominations categorize sins. But inherent in most Christian teaching is that Man has a sin nature so the actual manifestation is irrelevant. Our sin nature separates us from God. And most sins have natural consequences.
    All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
    There is none righteous, no not one.
    Our righteousness is as dirty rags.”

    Man has a sinful nature, yes, of that we have no doubt. But how, logically, does that imply the actual manifestation is irrelevant?

    None are saved but thru Christ. That’s the sine qua non whether I’m a mere liar, or a genocidal maniac. Christ will save the mass-murderer as surely as he’ll save the gossip.

    But isn’t there some finer structure, some granularity, some continuum? I’m a wretched sinner, but I think I’m better in some ways than Pol Pot. Not that I expect more salvation or less damnation, but my body count objectively isn’t as high as Pot’s on the ledger.

    Or is that simply a mortal conceit, to think that I understand sin as well as God does? As with Job, who the heck am I to question Him?

    This stuff is not easy to figure out. Yet I think it’s fundamental to the big argument we’re having today.

    gp (0c542c)

  216. 186. Stockholm syndome, much?

    Gryph (08c844) — 5/4/2018 @ 5:30 pm

    What do street rapes and hand grenades have to do with anything?

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  217. Hoagie,

    I think I’m going to take a week off come Sunday. Swc and Narciso should be back around then and it will limit the fodder the anti’s can use.

    Plus, it feels like we are just getting nastier treatment lately.

    NJRob (9d9100)

  218. I am sorry you had to encounter the dregs of society when you made a simple observation on Twitter, Patterico. Twitter seems to have deteriorated into a mudpit, where a number of people love jumping and splashing in the mud. They revel in how many mudbaths they can give to others standing nearby whenever they splash in the mud themselves. It’s not actually about the people standing nearby – it’s just what they do for their own pleasure. That’s who they are. It’s just in a pig’s nature to find pleasure rolling in the mud and slinging it on everyone and everything around them. Pigs will be pigs. Most people (including people who disagree with you) can clearly see who is the man making an observation here, and who are the pigs reveling in their slime and filth. Decent people don’t rejoice in seeing others lose their jobs; pigs do. Decent people don’t make a mockery of morality; pigs do. When there is a pig in the White House, it’s only natural that all the pigs in society will feel emboldened and show pride in their piggishness by trying to drown the country in mud as if they owned it. All we can do is make an effort to keep our own houses and selves clean. Don’t let it get to you – you’re doing the right thing, and history will vindicate you. 🙂

    LJ (f4f289)

  219. Since this dispute hinges on the sin of adultery, has anybody cited John 8:7 yet?
    Why the zealous rush to stone _this_ particular adulterer?
    As cited above, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

    gp (0c542c)

  220. I don’t know where we’re going here, but I’m enjoying the ride. I am immensely gratified to find a responsible judge giving voice to his revulsion over the production engineered by James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, and Robert Mueller.

    stormy has really huge tits

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  221. “stormy has really huge tits” Not very attractive, right? I wonder if her films include sodomy, or dramatic themes approving of adultery? Not something I shall research.

    gp (0c542c)

  222. she gets paid extra if she takes it up the pooper

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  223. “she gets paid extra” Are you sure?

    gp (0c542c)

  224. But isn’t there some finer structure, some granularity, some continuum? I’m a wretched sinner, but I think I’m better in some ways than Pol Pot. Not that I expect more salvation or less damnation, but my body count objectively isn’t as high as Pot’s on the ledger.

    Or is that simply a mortal conceit, to think that I understand sin as well as God does? As with Job, who the heck am I to question Him?

    This stuff is not easy to figure out. Yet I think it’s fundamental to the big argument we’re having today.

    gp (0c542c) — 5/4/2018 @ 5:52 pm

    His grace suffices. Your works are an outward manifestation of your faith. Works and sins aren’t like up votes and down votes imo. Jesus used the parable about the workers getting hired during different parts of the day but getting the same pay to illustrate that it doesn’t really matter when you come into the Kingdom.

    Your actions on this Earth as a follower or not usually have consequences, although sometimes they are hard to see.

    I can’t say what may happen in the next life. I trust that accounts will be paid but I have no idea about the currency.

    I think it’s an all access pass or nothing though. The original disciples already argued about who had seniority.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  225. Stormy Daniels Edition Condition is more like it…

    “John Kerry’s bid to save one of his most significant accomplishments as secretary of state took him to New York on a Sunday afternoon two weeks ago, where, more than a year after he left office, he engaged in some unusual shadow diplomacy with a top-ranking Iranian official.

    He sat down at the United Nations with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to discuss ways of preserving the pact limiting Iran’s nuclear weapons program. It was the second time in about two months that the two had met to strategize over salvaging a deal they spent years negotiating during the Obama administration, according to a person briefed on the meetings.

    With the Iran deal facing its gravest threat since it was signed in 2015, Kerry has been on an aggressive yet stealthy mission to preserve it, using his deep lists of contacts gleaned during his time as the top US diplomat to try to apply pressure on the Trump administration from the outside. President Trump, who has consistently criticized the pact and campaigned in 2016 on scuttling it, faces a May 12 deadline to decide whether to continue abiding by its terms.

    Kerry also met last month with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and he’s been on the phone with top European Union official Federica Mogherini, according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reveal the private meetings. Kerry has also met with French President Emmanuel Macron in both Paris and New York, conversing over the details of sanctions and regional nuclear threats in both French and English.”

    https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/05/04/kerry-quietly-seeking-salvage-iran-deal-helped-craft/2fTkGON7xvaNbO0YbHECUL/story.html

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  226. P&P thanks!

    gp (0c542c)

  227. Cavuto knows how you feel, Patterico.

    DRJ (15874d)

  228. hot & horny Lisa Page has resigned in disgrace from the Slut BI 🙁

    this used to be my playground

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  229. DRJ:

    Hilarious. I was just watching that video as you posted that, and I posted about it and then came here to read your comment. GMTAASSDM (and sometimes so does mine) (what a terrible acronym).

    Patterico (115b1f)

  230. 206… per·i·ne·um: ˌperəˈnēəm
    noun: ANATOMY
    definition: the area between the anus and the scrotum or vulva

    Synonyms: trundle, tickling Gomez, krinkely tart, gryph, gryphon, snarse, bonch, bung knuckle

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  231. 185.I think it’s a New York thing. The way Trump lies and then lies about his lies.

    There are eight million stories in the Naked City.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  232. that’s like thousands of stories

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  233. Hmm…I’m beginning to see a pattern amongst the Trump humpers here. All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic

    It has to do with being a known quantity. They mostly don’t say it about me, and they mostly don’t say it about conservatives here who sound like me but have been here for a while — but they say it about every conservative here who sounds like me, and is relatively new.

    It’s like the people in the Twitter “conversation” that is the subject of the post. Dozens of people assumed I was a leftist. Apparently they are unused to conservatives criticizing Trump’s immorality these days?

    Patterico (115b1f)

  234. Don’t forget ‘taint’.

    harkin (32652f)

  235. Happyfeet at 186: see, that’s the thing that baffles me the most about the whole Trump phenomenon. The man tells easily falsifiable lies at every opportunity, about basically everything he ever talks about. On what basis would anyone trust him about *anything*?

    Don’t make me read happyfeet comments. The simple answer is because these people who believe Trump’s stupid lies are followers, not leaders. Like the people who followed the fascists, they have surrendered all their judgment to The Leader.

    Apparently there are a lot of these people. I am as astounded as you are. I feel far more kinship with you, aphrael, regardless of any political differences we might have, than I do with people who say they trust a pathological and very bad liar like Trump. I feel I have literally nothing in common with such people.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  236. My son tried to tell me that Santa Claus is fake too, and we still enjoy him, but Santa can’t feed his family nine months of the year either.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  237. “Hmm…I’m beginning to see a pattern amongst the Trump humpers here. All the knob polishers assume that I am “leftist” because I am a Trump critic”

    Being a stooge for the Left does not make one a leftist.

    harkin (32652f)

  238. Your hatred of me is so great that you will turn a blind eye to behavior that damages the country, just because I don’t like it, and my dislike automatically makes it a good thing in your eyes.

    That’s a fairly reprehensible attitude, in my view.

    Yup. That sums up the point of my post.

    Except some don’t “turn a blind eye” to the bad behavior. Increasingly, they actively applaud it.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  239. hot & horny Lisa Page has resigned in disgrace from the Slut BI 🙁

    this used to be my playground

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 5/4/2018 @ 6:24 pm

    So she can be Comey’s lawyer now, too.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  240. i feel ken’s ship cause it’s a freedom ship and President Trump’s the captain

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  241. So she can be Comey’s lawyer now, too.

    that would be funny if it was a joke Mr. puller

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  242. 66.Talk about poor judgement; Trump didn’t wear a condom.
    AZ Bob (9a6ada) — 5/4/2018 @ 11:12 am

    Just because he doesn’t wear one with you doesn’t mean he didn’t with her.

    Hoagie:

    What the hell has gotten into you? AZ Bob is a former colleague of mine at the DA’s office. He’s also kind of a Trump fan and lines up with your ideology more than mine does, these days. So why on Earth would you insult him like that? Combination of lazy skimming and copying Trump’s tactics of being an asshole to good people?

    Patterico (115b1f)

  243. condoms are good prophylactics for funguses

    just wanted to leave that here for the stormy fanbois

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  244. Kevin M – fair point that it could be faulty memory, although on stuff like the claim that turnout was bigger for his inaugural than Obama’s, that seems pretty unlikely to be the issue — it seems far more likely to me that it’s either a lie or an inability to tell fact from delusion.

    I’m not sure it matters, though. I mean, sure, on a *moral* level, it’s far less repulsive if he’s deluded or suffering from memory failure than if he is lying, and so it matters in that sense; but I don’t know how to trust him if any of the three are true.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  245. i got a check this week from LADWP for like $80 cause of

    i guess they were screwing everybody and someone sued

    then i got a separate letter saying they were closing my account

    i thought that was adorable

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  246. 236… how could I, harkin. But I did.

    Colonel Haiku (23a40e)

  247. I am sorry you had to encounter the dregs of society when you made a simple observation on Twitter, Patterico. Twitter seems to have deteriorated into a mudpit, where a number of people love jumping and splashing in the mud. They revel in how many mudbaths they can give to others standing nearby whenever they splash in the mud themselves. It’s not actually about the people standing nearby – it’s just what they do for their own pleasure. That’s who they are. It’s just in a pig’s nature to find pleasure rolling in the mud and slinging it on everyone and everything around them. Pigs will be pigs. Most people (including people who disagree with you) can clearly see who is the man making an observation here, and who are the pigs reveling in their slime and filth. Decent people don’t rejoice in seeing others lose their jobs; pigs do. Decent people don’t make a mockery of morality; pigs do. When there is a pig in the White House, it’s only natural that all the pigs in society will feel emboldened and show pride in their piggishness by trying to drown the country in mud as if they owned it. All we can do is make an effort to keep our own houses and selves clean. Don’t let it get to you – you’re doing the right thing, and history will vindicate you. 🙂

    LJ,

    I appreciate your comment as always.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  248. 229. DRJ–and so, Cavuto goes Colbert: mines seven minutes of Trump material for his show.

    Are we not entertained?!

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  249. Passenger Erika Gorman tweeted about the incident, saying the flight attendant was so out of control that she went to the cockpit to report her behavior to the plane’s pilot.

    Erika sounds like a vile skudge what needs to have her twatter privileges revoked

    i’m hearing the flight attendant involved was maybe diabetic and having a thing

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  250. So she can be Comey’s lawyer now, too.

    that would be funny if it was a joke Mr. puller

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 5/4/2018 @ 6:42 pm

    He likes leakers.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  251. “Rockefeller had competed against Goldwater in the primaries, labeling his followers kooks and declining to mask his contempt for their movement… Rockefeller [was called] a ‘wife swopper.’ Goldwater fans asked… “Do you want a Leader or a Lover in the White House?”

    Sound familiar, Trumpsters?

    History rhymes. What goes around comes around. It’s you party now.

    Welcome to 1964.

    http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/05/never_goldwater_the_failed_attempt_to_wrest_the_1964_nominatio_from.html

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  252. condoms are good prophylactics for funguses

    just wanted to leave that here for the stormy fanbois

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 5/4/2018 @ 6:45 pm

    You should look into something called a finger cot. There was this chiropractor who had a vision. He took the bulb off a sphygmomanometer and used it to inflate finger cots inside people’s sinus cavites for the purpose of increasing space for people with sinus problems.

    Looks like they actually have toe caps as well, mr happyfeet.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  253. P&P thanks!

    gp (0c542c) — 5/4/2018 @ 6:14 pm

    Happy to talk with you about any and all things.

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  254. “Rockefeller had competed against Goldwater in the primaries, labeling his followers kooks and declining to mask his contempt for their movement… Rockefeller [was called] a ‘wife swopper.’ Goldwater fans asked… “Do you want a Leader or a Lover in the White House?”

    Sound familiar, Trumpsters?

    History rhymes. What goes around comes around. It’s you party now.

    Welcome to 1964

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 5/4/2018 @ 7:49 pm

    Which one of them grew up to be president, Mr Grandpa Snowbird DCSCA?

    Pinandpuller (5688d2)

  255. Missed the point. It’s using dem rules now. And how much fun it is using their rules. Stormy is only one event.
    What the author’s actual view of this or some other situation is not the point. The point is…use their rules against them, as Alinsky said. Makes them nuts. Fun.

    Richard Aubrey (10ef71)

  256. 257. Using the Dems’ rules against them is fine. Excusing immoral behavior along the way with absolutely no benefit whatsoever to personal freedom or constitutional government is not okay with me.

    Gryph (08c844)

  257. @256. They threw a party, PP. Guess you weren’t invited.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  258. I just read Amy Chua’s new book on political tribes. What you see in this twitter storm is described in spades in that book. Polarization occurs and critical thinking turns off. And it applies just as much on the Left as on the Right. She goes into the basic psychology of why we do this and what was missed by the “coastal elites” who considered the possibility of Trump getting elected to be unthinkable.

    Absolutely fascinating book. BTW, I’m one of those that voted for DJT because I considered HRC as a more known, and worse quantity.

    Here’s a C-Span interview about the book.
    https://www.c-span.org/video/?441632-3/qa-amy-chua

    doug (5151d7)

  259. 256. Neither of them did, Dumbass. But Goldwater came closer than Rockefeller did — a lesson Trump and his supporters didn’t learn.

    Gryph (08c844)

  260. graph Doesn’t matter what’s okay with you. Although it might be nice to have your contemporaneous records of your outrage wrt Obama and Clinton.
    Still, point is, we’re using Clinton Rules now and the absolute failure of the Trump supporters to cave due to the left’s sudden attack of blue-nose prudery is…making them nuts. We’re supposed to surrender.
    Great fun. Now, suppose a dem gets into a position of power. The repubs now have the moral license to sic a completely bogus special prosecutor on him to chase him forever and ruin any of his associates they may want to pressure to memorize testimony the feebs have ginned up.
    You are are going to LOVE it.
    Or we will.
    Point is, yet again, it was your idea. Don’t forget that. Remember, you presumed you’d always have the levers of power. We tried to tell you, but would you listen. It was like reading the Book of Jeremiah.

    Richard Aubrey (cb440f)

  261. 256. Neither of them did, Dumbass. But Goldwater came closer than Rockefeller did — a lesson Trump and his supporters didn’t learn.

    Gryph (08c844) — 5/6/2018 @ 3:09 pm

    It’s a shame you aren’t getting the recognition you deserve for raising the level of discourse around here.

    Pinandpuller (011436)


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