Donald Trump

[Marc]

18 minutes ago, Peter said:

I think the President thought he was going to win. I saw a true look of horror on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s face when he realized he had failed and I am sure he convinced President Trump he would win. Stop sounding like a “true believer” Marc; I can’t tell if you are putting us on or not. You almost seem like a “mole” or a “troll” spying on Objectivism.

Cicero spoke, in “Imperium”: Sometimes, if you find yourself stuck in politics, the thing to do is start a fight – start a fight, even if you do not know how you are going to win it, because it is only when a fight is on, and everything is in motion, that you can hope to see your way through. end quote

I agree that Trump is willing to brawl. As you have said, he now needs to build. Local Delmarva talk radio and on the national scene, Rush Limbaugh, have convincingly made the case that this defeat was a good thing. The Republicans passed a repeal years ago, which was expected to be vetoed by Obama. They could have used that as a basis for a replacement, or Rand Paul’s repeal . . .  but they did not. Maybe they will now.

Nathaniel Branden wrote: If you choose to move through life blindly, you have good reason to be anxious. end quote

I am tired of spin, blind faith, and a lack of principles here on Objectivist Living, though I am also dubious of the true believers of O’land and Randian government or nothing will do. I remember folks had JFK on their walls of their living rooms as late as the early seventies but he was not painted with a halo or a crown over his head. As of now, I don’t think anyone should have a portrait of President Trump on the walls of their living room or as wall paper on their computers.

Trump’s lack of understanding for those few brave men of principle was shown in his tweet and his ignorance of limited government and the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution is very unfortunate . . . as is your backing him to the hilt.

Peter     

Yeah , Im a mole or a spy - thats the attitude . Come up to Toronto and burn me like this is Salem , and Im a witch for God sake . 

The look you saw on Ryans face was the same look that one sees when he played a game that backfired . I am not a Ryan fan in the least , and the look you saw means what ? A look ? It was the look of dead man walking ( in a political sense ) , where he just realized that he got got .

Ryan is the same dude who did an end around on Mr. President and got got . Once, ok , twice , you're done . 

The President played the 538 , and you too . Thats all . Trump is a freaking genius , give it up already Pete ! 

Spying on Objectivism , for God sake ? Anne Heller quoted my collection in her book on Rand and other authors are requesting the same . I knew Barbara and Nathaniel and Bob Hessen and etc . What exactly is my goal via this deep cover ?

I am a true believer , and I don't really care if you can tell or not what my intentions are , my man . 

Hillary is quoting to " resist , insist , persist  and enlist . A lovely rhyme to teach grade 5 students how to not be a poet but why don't you go join that crusade , and stop tryna insult me .

If you were actually a student of Objectivism then stop putting words in my mouth with ridiculous assumptions , bruh .

#thirdtermTrump

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

4 hours ago, Peter said:

I am tired of spin, blind faith, and a lack of principles here on Objectivist Living...

Peter,

What lack of principles?

Letting everyone speak for himself or herself?

That's principle No. 1.

I hope you are not wishing for groupthink imposed by peer pressure with lip service given to independent thought. There are other O-Land sites devoted to that.

I don't think you are wishing for that... I think you're just venting... 

Here on OL, people are mostly working through their thinking. When they strive to convince others, it has to be by rational persuasion, not by imposition. 

That's another principle that will never change. Under any circumstance.

A political disagreement is not lack of principles. It's a political disagreement.

Michael

 

EDIT: btw - Both you and Marc are wonderful people. As are all OL regulars. I can't say for sure, but I suspect this also applies to all OL readers, too.  

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Incidentally, Evelyn Farkas, one of Obama's peeps, stepped in deep doo doo on MSNBC. 

She admitted the Obama folks were practically spying on President Trump and spoke about her fears of not getting enough intel before Trump was sworn in.

You have to go to about 4:50 for the start of her confession. Before that, it was all a big Trump bash about his taxes and so on.

Here's a Fox News article from today about it:

Former Obama official discloses rush to get intelligence on Trump team

The article gives part of the transcript:

Quote

Evelyn Farkas, deputy assistant secretary of defense under Obama, made the disclosure March 2 while on the air with MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski.

“I was urging my former colleagues and, frankly speaking, the people on the Hill, it was more actually aimed at telling the Hill people, get as much information as you can, get as much intelligence as you can, before President Obama leaves the administration,” Farkas, who is now a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said. 

“Because I had a fear that somehow that information would disappear with the senior [Obama] people who left, so it would be hidden away in the bureaucracy ... that the Trump folks – if they found out how we knew what we knew about their ... the Trump staff dealing with Russians – that they would try to compromise those sources and methods, meaning we no longer have access to that intelligence.” 

. . .

"So I became very worried because not enough was coming out into the open and I knew that there was more. We have very good intelligence on Russia," she said. "So then I had talked to some of my former colleagues and I knew that they were trying to also help get information to the Hill."

This happened on March 2 and is just now getting a lot more exposure.

That's the effect of massive amounts of bullshit in the press. It takes time to get to the good stuff.

Michael

[william.scherk]

A voice-only rendering for those who recall radio ...

On 3/29/2017 at 0:16 PM, Marc said:

He is The King , Mr. Trump . 

Kinda has a ring to it, Honi Soit and all that: "His Majesty's Government," "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," "Royal Prerogative," "The Crown," and so on.

But it muffs over federalism, republicanism, constitutionalism.  In which case, those who oppose a government are given constitutional room, and the Executive-Crown-King has to make a deal with the reality of representative democracy.

Thinking of essences of a Randian democracy, however, perhaps the voluntary management structure of the minarchy could have a sole, all-powerful executive. Which would make Crown Court subordinate to Majesty. The Administrator would administrate all things. "Only I can fix it."

This is what they are probably going to get in Turkey after the referendum passes on April 16. A strong-president system will remove significant constitutional checks on authoritarianism, and allow a majestic Erdogan much more power to shape the country to his will. He is already prepping for another referendum on rupture with pro-EU accession policies. Ho hum.

 

This The Hill headline is probably "fake news" (however much I hate the flabby term), in that the President is merely reiterating his wishes¹. The chances of major changes to defamation law regimes in the USA are arguable. (In Turkey you can be jailed for "insulting the President," among other things**)

Trump threatens to 'change libel laws' to go after NY Times

My take is that a robust, American-style "disloyal opposition" and an American-style adversarial media, and even an American-style "culture war" (underway) serves the President well, in the end -- when measured against deep American values of freedom of expression.

I always  imagine a strong-executive regime as deepening the problem of government accountability. If Parliaments were just a rubber stamp (as in say, Belarus, Syria) then a full layer of accountability would be removed.  If the judiciary were placed under Turkish-style control, if the King instructed a High Court, what kind of corruption is possible if power falls into the wrong hands?

Today, according to the mainstream media, Trump has said he will go after the members of the Freedom Caucus who helped prevent a vote on AHCA.  He wants legislators, perhaps, to be accountable not to the district voters whom they represent in the House -- but to his vision. It takes a kind of balance to actually do the work of shepherding independently-elected members of Congress to do The Plan.

So, I would say "be careful what we wish for."  Let's not bury institutions we will need in the future when the pendulum swings again and another Democrat is in the White House.  Three terms of Trump is one thing, of King quite another.

** an interesting side-note on Turkey and Trump is the recent revelation that General Flynn was a paid lobbyist for Turkey ... and a disputed story suggests he explored how Turkey's extradition request for Fethullah Gulen could be honoured, while a Trump advisor. Oh, and he 'retroactively' registered as a foreign-state advocate ... 

In other words, when this little flap erupted back in November, 2016, it wasn't known Flynn was on a Turkish payroll:

BREITBART said:

Turkish Media Lights Up with Gen. Michael Flynn's Call to Extradite ...

www.breitbart.com/national.../11/.../turkish-media-gen-mike-flynn-gulen-extradition/

Nov 11, 2016 - Turkish media picked up an opinion piece by key Trump foreign policy adviser Gen. Mike Flynn calling for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen.

Oops.

CNBC said:

Flynn Attended Intel Briefings While Taking Money To Lobby for Turkey

www.cnbc.com/.../flynn-attended-intel-briefings-while-taking-money-to-lobby-for-tu...

Mar 11, 2017 - Flynn was being paid more than half a million dollars to lobby on behalf of ... Price Floyd, a spokesman for Flynn, said the retired general would ...

Note 1:

The failing @nytimes has disgraced the media world. Gotten me wrong for two solid years. Change libel laws? https://t.co/QIqLgvYLLi

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 30, 2017

 

Edited April 1, 2017 by william.scherk
Ooops. Tweet tweet. KWSS.

[Peter]

William wrote about Marc’s words: Kinda has a ring to it, Honi Soit and all that: "His Majesty's Government," "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," "Royal Prerogative," "The Crown," and so on . . . . (and)  Today, according to the mainstream media, Trump has said he will go after the members of the Freedom Caucus who helped prevent a vote on AHCA.  end quote

Perhaps I was pissed and venting Michael but I like William’s James Bond-ian sounding phrase "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," I think Marc is on his way to having Trump annex Canada. How many states would we need to break it into? Six? And a few gambling casinos like on our Indian Reservations. Of course Quebec would remain a province of France even though the French think their accents are archaic. I just think it odd for a Canadian OR an Objectivist to swear allegiance to King Trump.

Sean Spicer is was talking about “Political Reality” as regards Syria and other areas. What worries me is that the Democrats will stop being rabid, anti-Trump-ers and form a coalition on any policies they agree with. That will marginalize the Freedom Caucus, the Tea Party and the type of Republicans I vote for. Trump may have several policies in mind that until now would be considered against American interests, freedom, and Constitutional Government. If the Democrats decide to emulate Tip O’Neill, with Pelosi as the House leader, and Schumer as the Senate leader and just a few of them back Trump proposals that are also Democrat ideas/proposals . . . they will pass and that is not good.

A better *spin*? I see two Senate Democrats may vote for Neil Gorsuch as Supreme Court Justice. I remember when the Southern Democrats came over to the Republican side, creating a new majority, so maybe the gaseous coalition of Hillary, Pelosi, Schumer, Sanders, and Das Progressive (neo communists) could be deflated by a very canny President Trump.

The topic at the VA today when I went to give a blood sample, was, “I wonder what the heck General Flynn did that requires immunity to tell us?” The personnel at the VA Clinic won’t discuss politics but I am sure they are pleased with President Trump. The big TV in the waiting room that can only be changed by the VA guy behind the glass, was turned to CBS.

Peter

[william.scherk]

Of constitutional ruin.

On 3/30/2017 at 11:10 AM, william.scherk said:

If the judiciary were placed under Turkish-style control, if the King instructed a High Court, what kind of corruption is possible if power falls into the wrong hands?

 In Venezuela, Supreme Court Takes Over Congress

Spoiler

Full coverage

Venezuela bonds crash as political standoff escalates CNBC - ‎5 hours ago‎ National guard officers raise batons as anti-government student demonstrators stand in front of them during a protest against the Supreme Court's decision to seize the powers of the opposition-led Congress in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, March 31, 2017.   'Geopolitical Irrelevance' Renders Venezuela Crisis Moot In Crisis-Clad Latin America Forbes - ‎6 hours ago‎ Venezuela is arguably the only real failed state in Latin America, but its geopolitical irrelevance have made its crisis a moot point. The country is imploding. And even when its friends in the region scold and berate, things just keep getting worse ...   Ranks of Political Prisoners Grow as Democracy Ebbs in Venezuela New York Times - ‎1 hour ago‎ Venezuela this week took its biggest plunge yet toward the one-man rule of Mr. Maduro as his loyalists on the Supreme Court gutted the country's opposition-controlled legislature, seizing the powers of the only body seen as a counter to the president's ...   Venezuela's top prosecutor rebukes Supreme Court power grab Washington Post - ‎7 hours ago‎ CARACAS, Venezuela — Security forces violently repressed protests that broke out in Venezuela's capital on Friday after the Supreme Court gutted the opposition-controlled Congress of its last vestiges of power, drawing widespread condemnation from ...   Venezuela's Maduro vows to fix court row within hours Reuters - ‎1 hour ago‎ In a rare show of dissent from a senior official, Venezuela's powerful attorney general Luisa Ortega, long an ally of Maduro, rebuked the court earlier on Friday. "It constitutes a rupture of the constitutional order," the 59-year-old said in a speech ...   Venezuela's top prosecutor rebukes Supreme Court power grab as protests continue Los Angeles Times - ‎7 hours ago‎ Domestic and international condemnation of court rulings that bolstered the power of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro grew Friday, with protesters facing off against security forces and the nation's top prosecutor assailing the court's ...   Venezuela's AG Breaks Ranks With Maduro, Criticizes Court's Congressional Takeover Foreign Policy (blog) - ‎4 hours ago‎ “It constitutes a rupture of the constitutional order,” said Luisa Ortega, Venezuela's attorney general and a longstanding ally of the ruling party, speaking of the government's takeover of congress, its most baldfaced grasp yet at wrecking what ...   Venezuelan attorney general breaks with Maduro, slams court ruling CNN - ‎4 hours ago‎ (CNN) Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz on Friday strongly criticized a ruling by the country's Supreme Court to take over the National Assembly's legislative powers, essentially dissolving it. "It constitutes a rupture of the ...   Venezuelan Political Crisis Grows After High Court Dissolves Congress NPR - ‎Mar 30, 2017‎ The Supreme Court of Venezuela has taken over the functions of the country's National Assembly in what critics at home and abroad say is a move by President Nicolas Maduro to establish "a dictatorship." The high court, dominated by Maduro loyalists, ...   Venezuela chief prosecutor rebukes court power grab amid reports of violence Miami Herald - ‎7 hours ago‎ Venezuela's Supreme Court decision this week to effectively dissolve congress may have been a ruling too far — even for staunch government supporters. On Friday, Venezuela's chief prosecutor, Luisa Ortega, said the court ruling was an affront to the ...   Venezuela's President Chastised by His Top Prosecutor New York Times - ‎6 hours ago‎ IQUITOS, Peru — Venezuela's attorney general on Friday condemned the decision by the country's Supreme Court to seize power from the National Assembly as “a rupture in the constitutional order” — a rare rebuke of President Nicolás Maduro from a top ...   Venezuela 'coup': Alarm grows as court takes power BBC News - ‎14 hours ago‎ There have been demonstrations in Venezuela after the Supreme Court took over legislative powers from the National Assembly. Critics say the development takes the country closer to one-man rule under President Nicolas Maduro. The Organisation of ...   Venezuela's Descent Into Dictatorship New York Times - ‎15 minutes ago‎ A ruling this week by Venezuela's Supreme Court stripping the nation's legislative branch of all authority — and vesting that power in the court itself — moves a country already beset by violence and economic scarcity one step closer to outright ...   Police crack down on protests after 'power grab' Aljazeera.com - ‎5 hours ago‎ Security forces violently repressed protests that broke out in Venezuela's capital on Friday after the Supreme Court gutted the opposition-controlled Congress of its last vestiges of power. The move on Thursday drew widespread condemnation from foreign ...   Venezuela Crisis Explained: Government Accused of Staging 'Self-Inflicted Coup' Newsweek - ‎10 hours ago‎ Opposition protesters began to take to the streets in Venezuela Thursday after the Supreme Court, comprised of loyalists of President Nicolás Maduro, seized legislative powers from the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The Supreme Court had ...   Venezuela in Crisis as Bonds Sink, Maduro Ally Pushes Back Bloomberg - ‎1 hour ago‎ Venezuela lurched closer to full-blown crisis Friday when the nation's top prosecutor, a long-time ally of the ruling socialist party, labeled unconstitutional the Supreme Court's move to usurp the power of the opposition-led National Assembly. Small ...   US State Department, Lawmakers Condemn Venezuela Power Grab NBCNews.com - ‎Mar 30, 2017‎ Venezuela's democracy was seen as quickly unraveling Thursday as President Nicholas Maduro's government took control of the Latin American country's congress. The power grab came late Wednesday after loyalists on Venezuela's Supreme Court ...   Venezuela's court move breaks law, Maduro ally says BBC News - ‎9 hours ago‎ Venezuela's chief prosecutor, an ally of President Nicolas Maduro, has said the decision by the Supreme Court to take over legislative powers from the National Assembly violates the law. Luisa Ortega is the first high-ranking official to criticise the ...   Venezuela's Supreme Court shuts down parliament in what opponents say is slide towards dictatorship Telegraph.co.uk - ‎3 hours ago‎ On Wednesday those efforts were halted – the reason given being the assembly's failure to sign off key economic policies, such as authorising Venezuela's state-run oil company to form joint ventures with private companies, including Russia's Rosneft.   Venezuela Muzzles Legislature, Moving Closer to One-Man Rule New York Times - ‎Mar 30, 2017‎ IQUITOS, Peru — Venezuela took its strongest step yet toward one-man rule under the leftist President Nicolás Maduro as his loyalists on the Supreme Court seized power from the National Assembly in a ruling late Wednesday night. The ruling effectively ...   Venezuela president Maduro denies 'constitutional breakdown' amid crisis Deutsche Welle - ‎51 minutes ago‎ Venezuela president Maduro denies 'constitutional breakdown' amid crisis. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has defended a Supreme Court ruling granting itself legislative powers but said he is open to dialogue with the opposition. The chief ...   Venezuela knocks over its democracy. The region pushes back. Christian Science Monitor - ‎5 hours ago‎ But the crumbling of Venezuela's democracy isn't a challenge confined to those living there. Problems caused by drug-trafficking and Venezuela's increasingly dysfunctional economy are beginning to spill over into neighboring countries. And despite the ...   Venezuela court effectively shuts down congress as opposition cries 'coup' Miami Herald - ‎Mar 30, 2017‎ In a move rejected throughout the region and decried as a “coup” by the opposition, Venezuela's Supreme Court effectively shut down congress, saying it would assume all legislative functions amid its contention that legislators are operating outside of ...   Venezuela rejects coup accusations Jamaica Observer - ‎8 hours ago‎ CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela on Friday rejected accusations that a Supreme Court move to seize the powers of the opposition-majority legislature amounted to a coup, lashing out at its critics as "imperialists." International condemnation ...   Maduro attacked from own camp over Venezuela power grab Jamaica Observer - ‎7 hours ago‎ CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela's attorney general surprisingly broke ranks with President Nicolas Maduro on Friday, condemning recent Supreme Court rulings that consolidated the socialist president's power as a "rupture of constitutional order.".   Venezuela court move may facilitate Russian investment, spook other oil majors Reuters - ‎9 hours ago‎ The sight of Venezuela's National Assembly president tearing up a Supreme Court ruling and warning foreign firms against making deals with the leftist government will no doubt resonate in international boardrooms. The ruling ripped up by Congress head ...   Venezuelan president accused of coup after court strips lawmakers of power Chicago Tribune - ‎Mar 30, 2017‎ Outraged opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro denounced him as a full-fledged dictator Thursday, after his allies on the supreme court stripped the country's parliament of its power. Maduro has essentially ruled Venezuela by decree since ...   Venezuela careers towards dictatorship after Supreme Court seizes power from opposition-led Congress The Independent - ‎18 hours ago‎ Venezuela slid closer toward dictatorship after the country's Supreme Court gutted the only opposition-run institution — the Congress — seizing its powers and declaring the elected body invalid. The court's ruling late on Wednesday night was, in the ...   Venezuela's crumbling façade of democracy Human Rights Watch - ‎6 hours ago‎ On March 29, the Venezuelan Supreme Court effectively shut down Congress, the only key government institution that remained independent of executive control, making the incredible announcement that it would assume all legislative powers itself or ...   Venezuela 'coup' slammed across the world Deutsche Welle - ‎10 hours ago‎ A series of international powers have condemned a major power grab in Venezuela as an undemocratic coup d'etat. The Supreme Court stripped the opposition-controlled congress of all legislative power.

 

[Peter]

Thanks for the exposition - constipation, William.

Mommy? What is Vannazala?

It’s called “Venezuela” pumpkin. It’s a banana republic verging on fascism. They have such a poor understanding of history and philosophy they are constantly . . . constantly . . . looking for a fascist big daddy and dictator to tell them what to do.

Should I care Mommy?

Not really. Until their IQ’s rise above 60 they will always be dumb shits.

Ha ha! Mommy, you said the “s” word.    

Have mercy, William. Someone I know is currently in Panama. Thank Zeus we have him (Noriega) in a federal penitentiary. I took them to BWI yesterday. Traffic was pretty good and I used a Garmen device to navigate.

“Take a left at Eisenhower 500 feet ahead. Now turn right on Firestone.”

Thank you Siri.

When I finally got back on Route 50 I turned it off. But I missed her voice. I think those Siri and Cortana devices will enable old shut-ins to feel in touch with the world.

Peter

[Marc]

6 hours ago, Peter said:

William wrote about Marc’s words: Kinda has a ring to it, Honi Soit and all that: "His Majesty's Government," "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," "Royal Prerogative," "The Crown," and so on . . . . (and)  Today, according to the mainstream media, Trump has said he will go after the members of the Freedom Caucus who helped prevent a vote on AHCA.  end quote

Perhaps I was pissed and venting Michael but I like William’s James Bond-ian sounding phrase "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition," I think Marc is on his way to having Trump annex Canada. How many states would we need to break it into? Six? And a few gambling casinos like on our Indian Reservations. Of course Quebec would remain a province of France even though the French think their accents are archaic. I just think it odd for a Canadian OR an Objectivist to swear allegiance to King Trump.

Sean Spicer is was talking about “Political Reality” as regards Syria and other areas. What worries me is that the Democrats will stop being rabid, anti-Trump-ers and form a coalition on any policies they agree with. That will marginalize the Freedom Caucus, the Tea Party and the type of Republicans I vote for. Trump may have several policies in mind that until now would be considered against American interests, freedom, and Constitutional Government. If the Democrats decide to emulate Tip O’Neill, with Pelosi as the House leader, and Schumer as the Senate leader and just a few of them back Trump proposals that are also Democrat ideas/proposals . . . they will pass and that is not good.

A better *spin*? I see two Senate Democrats may vote for Neil Gorsuch as Supreme Court Justice. I remember when the Southern Democrats came over to the Republican side, creating a new majority, so maybe the gaseous coalition of Hillary, Pelosi, Schumer, Sanders, and Das Progressive (neo communists) could be deflated by a very canny President Trump.

The topic at the VA today when I went to give a blood sample, was, “I wonder what the heck General Flynn did that requires immunity to tell us?” The personnel at the VA Clinic won’t discuss politics but I am sure they are pleased with President Trump. The big TV in the waiting room that can only be changed by the VA guy behind the glass, was turned to CBS.

Peter

I do agree that we would have a state for Quebec , Ontario , Western Canada , and 4 Eastern Provinces , then the Indian Reservations and the Northern Provinces and Territories , so yes 6 new States . 

The only problem that I see would be that Ontario alone would probably be the only Republican State so this dream may need to be put on hold ( kind of like a DC Statehood thing ) until at least the next 4 terms go Republin , or shall I say Trumpublican .

In all seriousness , Peter - Trump won the election and considering the balance of power currently is Republican/Trump and even the Governors are mostly Republican as well , and thank God the Supreme Court as well , I used the term " King " , more as a humorous term although he does have tremendous power , even without his Republican supporters totally .

It is for this reason that this revolution continues . Its the establishment against the people and ridiculous power mongers like this group of somewhat over the hill politicians who understand very clearly what this game is about . They know its over , they are just clinging to power .

I do think that President Donald Trump is brilliant , and I think he sacrificed the Health Care Act to win the game . 

Time will show you , what we see already .

 

 

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

12 hours ago, william.scherk said:

Of constitutional ruin.

Of socialist constitutional ruin.

   

Michael

[william.scherk]

14 hours ago, william.scherk said:

On 3/30/2017 at 11:10 AM, william.scherk said:

If the judiciary were placed under Turkish-style control, if the King instructed a High Court, what kind of corruption is possible if power falls into the wrong hands?

 In Venezuela, Supreme Court Takes Over Congress

Venezuela seeks to cool protests as court reverses Congress annulment

Quote

 

Venezuela's pro-government Supreme Court on Saturday revoked its controversial annulment of the opposition-led Congress amid international condemnation and protests against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Unprecedented pressure from other Latin American nations and dissent within its own ranks appear to have been the catalyst for the judicial reversal.

"This controversy is over," Maduro said just after midnight to a specially convened state security committee that ordered the top court to reconsider.

 

 

[william.scherk]

Is the weekly Presidential address better with music?

 

[Brant Gaede]

Hail to the Chief!

--Chief

brant

[Brant Gaede]

1 hour ago, william.scherk said:

Is the weekly Presidential address better with music?

 

Too slick for my taste. It's a commercial.

--Brant

damn the music--ugh!

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

President Trump and Rand Paul just played golf together.

I wonder what they talked about, hmmmmm?

Michael

[BaalChatzaf]

9 hours ago, Michael Stuart Kelly said:

President Trump and Rand Paul just played golf together.

I wonder what they talked about, hmmmmm?

Michael

Which club was best to use....

[Peter]

10 hours ago, Michael Stuart Kelly said:

President Trump and Rand Paul just played golf together.

I wonder what they talked about, hmmmmm?

Michael

_{From NPR about the failure of Trumpcare: The Freedom Caucus members all won big and they all have essentially very, very safe seats,' said Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Governance Studies program, who has done research on congressional primaries. 'And they would have faced hell if they hadn't voted against this because their primary electorates are driving this, and they are very conservative.}

[Peter]

Which club was best to use? To hit each other with? Can two alien species read each other’s expressions and tone of voice when it is spoken over the universal translator? Sounds like a friendly Vulcan duel until loss of consciousness is achieved. Whoever’s pair of pointy ears are located higher above the green, wins. I think I prefer an iron to a wooden mallet.

Seriously, I hope some good comes out of this meeting. If Trump declares the Freedom Caucus “his enemies” he is making a big mistake. He is making a foe, if only temporarily, of me and a lot of other (right / libertarian / conservative) Republicans. Just what are The President’s political leaning’s, and Paul Ryan’s too? Moderate Democrat for Trump and moderate Republican for Speaker Ryan? Did either of them get elected to be that? I don’t think so.

OK. Maybe Trump’s tweets about the Freedom Caucus are being ironic and are part of a “grand bargain” but he better watch out. If he does begin forming a coalition with the Democrats the excrement will hit the fan.

Peter 

[Marc]

5 minutes ago, Peter said:

Which club was best to use? To hit each other with? Can two alien species read each other’s expressions and tone of voice when it is spoken over the universal translator? Sounds like a friendly Vulcan duel until loss of consciousness is achieved. Whoever’s pair of pointy ears are located higher above the green, wins. I think I prefer an iron to a wooden mallet.

Seriously, I hope some good comes out of this meeting. If Trump declares the Freedom Caucus “his enemies” he is making a big mistake. He is making a foe, if only temporarily, of me and a lot of other (right / libertarian / conservative) Republicans. Just what are The President’s political leaning’s, and Paul Ryan’s too? Moderate Democrat for Trump and moderate Republican for Speaker Ryan? Did either of them get elected to be that? I don’t think so.

OK. Maybe Trump’s tweets about the Freedom Caucus are being ironic and are part of a “grand bargain” but he better watch out. If he does begin forming a coalition with the Democrats the excrement will hit the fan.

Peter 

Reminds me about a girl , or in this case a group of women/ girls who really wanna be one way but think the guy is gonna chase him/them but he does not chase em , he walks over to another dance .

Then the girls chase buddy and he is like nah , Im good bae .

See, Rand Paul and the rest of them are realizing that Mr. President don't blink .

Plenty of Reagan Democrats ready to dance and more than just dance .

 

Trump won the election . he is Mr. President and those boys are just boyz in the hood right now ,

Trust me Peter , you will fall in love with Trump before 18 months . 

[Peter]

Marc insists, “Trust me Peter, you will fall in love with Trump before 18 months.’ 

I don’t think so. The next “democrat light” position he advances, connives with Democrats for, or tries to sell might jump the Freedom Caucus numbers to 50 or 60 members, and then the next time . . .

Think of it this way. What possible position that lessens Americans’ freedom, circumvents The Constitution, or is done with the support of Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer, but not the House of Representative’s Freedom Caucus or the support of perhaps ten Republican Senators will not cause a political war? “We got trouble. Right here in River City.”

Now I could start dreaming about a holographic Melania. “Peter? Do you like my nightie?”

Peter    

[BaalChatzaf]

1 minute ago, Peter said:

 

Now I could start dreaming about a holographic Melania. “Peter? Do you like my nightie?”

Peter    

That is advancing whacking material to a brand new level.   Come to think of it, Sarah Palin would be a plausible fantasy...

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Negotiating deals is always ugly and dicey and not what it seems.

When it is not, it is called an agreement.

Michael

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

2 hours ago, Michael Stuart Kelly said:

Negotiating deals is always ugly and dicey and not what it seems.

When it is not, it is called an agreement.

I forgot to mention, when the stakes are this high, this game is not for pussies.

Michael

[Marc]

18 hours ago, Peter said:

Marc insists, “Trust me Peter, you will fall in love with Trump before 18 months.’ 

I don’t think so. The next “democrat light” position he advances, connives with Democrats for, or tries to sell might jump the Freedom Caucus numbers to 50 or 60 members, and then the next time . . .

Think of it this way. What possible position that lessens Americans’ freedom, circumvents The Constitution, or is done with the support of Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer, but not the House of Representative’s Freedom Caucus or the support of perhaps ten Republican Senators will not cause a political war? “We got trouble. Right here in River City.”

Now I could start dreaming about a holographic Melania. “Peter? Do you like my nightie?”

Peter    

Or Susan Rice , dreaming about all those juicy calls to listen to 

[Marc]

11 hours ago, Michael Stuart Kelly said:

I forgot to mention, when the stakes are this high, this game is not for pussies.

Michael

Sir , this is not a locker room , and you are not running for President lol ! 

[Peter]

1 hour ago, Marc said:

Or Susan Rice , dreaming about all those juicy calls to listen to 

Rush is saying that unless it is an internal criminal investigation the “White House” does not look for dirt. The CIA and the NSA do. The Department of Justice does. Susan Rice at Bahama Obama’s request should not be snooping to harm the opposition candidate running for President. If Flynn had been doing that at the same time the White House gestapo and propaganda wing would have frog marched him to Gitmo. Rice apparently ordered the investigations October, 2015, three months after Trump came down the escalator to announce his candidacy, and only after his popularity was evident. Rice’s main aide was coordinating with the CIA.   

Peter