Create a trade crisis.....fix it with a deal that's basically the same....profit

When McCain said "I believe 'X' because 'Y'", I may have disagreed with him on policy, but almost always believed he was being truthful on 'X' and 'Y'. This used to matter.

Wasn't real sure where to make this comment; and since it doesn't deserve a thread of its own, I'll just plunk it down here.

Catching up on a few of the hashtag threads on twitter and /sigh/

I can't remember large groups of people, both left and right, who competed to make such vainglorious, disrespectful, imaginative and disgusting tweets about a death. Social media has literally devolved people to their ID.

Wasnt McCain actually disliked by many in the military becasue he was known as a snitch?

posted by Spock

Wasnt McCain actually disliked by many in the military becasue he was known as a snitch?

If you go by unsubstantiated rumors that have been debunked, sure. Since we're talking you, that's probably enough, though.

None of his service mates are among his ushers or pall bearers, but there are a number of liberals.

Beyond that, and with respect to the hypocrites in the media, isn’t it amazing how McCain is now their darling (for the sole reason of their common hatred of Trump), when in fact they portrayed him as a racist, a slug for leaving his first wife after her car accident, an opportunist, a womanizer having an affair etc..etc… just 10 short years ago. 

My, my ………….how soon we forget

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2018/08/27/new-york-times-salutes-late-jo

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html

posted by QuakerOats

None of his service mates are among his ushers or pall bearers, but there are a number of liberals.

 

Beyond that, and with respect to the hypocrites in the media, isn’t it amazing how McCain is now their darling (for the sole reason of their common hatred of Trump), when in fact they portrayed him as a racist, a slug for leaving his first wife after her car accident, an opportunist, a womanizer having an affair etc..etc… just 10 short years ago. 

 

My, my ………….how soon we forget

I don't think anybody is questioning the hypocrisy of the media with regard to this.

Now, was it that he disliked Trump that motivated it?  Maybe.  Could it have been more that Trump didn't appear to like him, or maybe his deciding vote on the healthcare vote earlier this year?  Certainly possible.

As far as his service mates being his ushers, if we try to imply anything from that, we're making unsubstantiated assumptions.

Merely pointing out that a lot of liberals and rino’s are involved, no service mates.

Also pointing out media hypocrisy which has now reached unfathomable levels. 

All the news that fit to print (as long as it fits our narrative).  How they can even begin to question Trump is now pure folly.

posted by QuakerOats

Also pointing out media hypocrisy which has now reached unfathomable levels.

You apparently had more faith in media than I did.  This wasn't just not unfathomable to me.  It was inevitable given the increased polarization over the last 15-20 years.

This thread is gone "butt ass" (to steal an expression from 50-Cent).  You can use your keyboard to access any source of news/opinion you want.  It is so easy to go out and find those headlines you agree with.  I have never met one person who takes their cues on current events from the results of one Google search.  Trump has you guys completely and utterly consumed by this.  

His servicemen aren’t pallbearers?! He must be a DESERTER!

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-cancels-scheduled-pay-raises-most-federal-employees-n905151

Step 1: Trillion dollar tax cut
Step 2: Can't give employees raises, we have a budget to balance
Step 3: :USA:

About time we starve government.

posted by Commander of Awesome

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-cancels-scheduled-pay-raises-most-federal-employees-n905151

Step 1: Trillion dollar tax cut
Step 2: Can't give employees raises, we have a budget to balance
Step 3: :USA:

They don't need it.  This is one step and now is the time to make actual significant cuts to the executive branch and yes that includes significant cuts to the DoD. 

posted by like_that

They don't need it.  This is one step and now is the time to make actual significant cuts to the executive branch and yes that includes significant cuts to the DoD. 

Yeah, when you include pension and other benefits, most are making significantly more than the counterparts in the private sector.  Article in WaPo said a study showed they make 3% more PAY, and of course the benefits embarrass most private sector packages (47% higher on average).

That ain't right.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2018/08/31/leak-city-trumps-off-the-record-comments-throw-wrench-into-canada-trade-talks/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c926392bab03

This is a really interesting story to me, because I think it illustrates how Trump manipulates image and negotiation.  Scott Adams (Farside cartoonist) has said gets people to move and accept a position by starting out pretty extreme.  I don't think Trump is that smart, but I'm starting to see the pattern Scott Adams talks about.

Back to this latest leak, I don't think it came from Bloomberg - not the hill to die on when as far as dumb things Trump says goes, this is quite tame.  It's also unusual in that Trump didn't deny it or spin it, but embraced it (which is practically a first).

I think Trump is behind this leak (he's been known to leak on himself, no pun intended).  It's another "the media is out to get me" story.  Or he's playing the game Scott Adams talks about with Canada.  Or just typical Trump bravado.  Probably all of the above.

On a related note, what an unbelievable ego.  Trying to impress a journalist with some off-the-record bravado?  Even in a one-on-one setting, he still has to project the image of smartest in the room and master negotiator?

posted by gut

Yeah, when you include pension and other benefits, most are making significantly more than the counterparts in the private sector.  Article in WaPo said a study showed they make 3% more PAY, and of course the benefits embarrass most private sector packages (47% higher on average).

That ain't right.

Saw someone mention something along these lines earlier today to support the notion that government care would be better coverage and cheaper "because it's covered by taxes."

I realized that one of the good things about communication over the Internet is that you can't smack someone in the heat of the moment for saying something stupid.

Surely, even those of reasonable intelligence who support a single-payer system have to believe that the disparity between public and private sector benefits is not evidence of publicly funded benefits being a superior system.

Wooo boy, some portions of the new Woodward book is coming out. They do not make Trump look good. Seems like the chaos of the first year being reported was pretty damn close. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodwards-new-book-reveals-a-nervous-breakdown-of-trumps-presidency/2018/09/04/b27a389e-ac60-11e8-a8d7-0f63ab8b1370_story.html?utm_term=.f6212eccf236

For those that would say, well it is Woodward and it is all fake and bs, Woodward's books are known to be pretty damn accurate, both during the Bush and Obama years. People talk in DC. Always have and always will. 

posted by ptown_trojans_1

They do not make Trump look good. 

To be fair, Trump doesn't make Trump look good.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

Wooo boy, some portions of the new Woodward book is coming out. They do not make Trump look good. Seems like the chaos of the first year being reported was pretty damn close. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-woodwards-new-book-reveals-a-nervous-breakdown-of-trumps-presidency/2018/09/04/b27a389e-ac60-11e8-a8d7-0f63ab8b1370_story.html?utm_term=.f6212eccf236

For those that would say, well it is Woodward and it is all fake and bs, Woodward's books are known to be pretty damn accurate, both during the Bush and Obama years. People talk in DC. Always have and always will. 

What did you expect?

posted by QuakerOats

 

What did you expect?

I don't know, maybe for the current Chief of Staff to not say the following about the President, "He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” 

posted by O-Trap

To be fair, Trump doesn't make Trump look good.

True. Still, this one it will be hard to scream fake news and it is all lies. 

posted by ptown_trojans_1

I don't know, maybe for the current Chief of Staff to not say the following about the President, "He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” 

And yet, he is still there. Amazing.

posted by QuakerOats

 

And yet, he is still there. Amazing.

 

...ly terrible.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

I don't know, maybe for the current Chief of Staff to not say the following about the President, "He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” 

I lol'd at Trump's remarks about Rudy G., telling him his defense of him sucked and he was a baby getting his diaper changed out there or whatever.

Which is true. As a defense attorney, Rudy SUCKS. Dude's only real accomplishment is making the dude look guilty of something, regardless of whether he is or not. TRUTH ISN'T TRUTH!!!!!!