During the election last year, there was often so much bad news that I would just jam everything into one political post with bullet points for each individual Baby Fists-related catastrophe. I might need to go back to that, because there is so much, you guys. Many believe that this is “the Trump strategy,” meaning that our president behaves like a temperamental toddler on a sugar high, someone who can’t concentrate on one thing for more than a few minutes, which is why there are like 20 different disasters at any given time. If it’s a concerted PR strategy, I get it – we can’t “concentrate” on one disaster at a time, and the whole vibe of “these people are absolutely bonkers” can’t be pinned down to one particular f–kup. So here are some stories making the rounds right now.
Baby Fists hates Sean Spicer & Melissa McCarthy. Apparently, Trump watches Spicer’s daily briefings and then calls Spicer in to critique him personally. Trump also is still watching SNL, and Trump hated that Melissa McCarthy played Spicer. Politico reports: “More than being lampooned as a press secretary who makes up facts, it was Spicer’s portrayal by a woman that was most problematic in the president’s eyes, according to sources close to him.” Why is that a big deal? One donor says, “Trump doesn’t like his people to look weak.” Because a woman in Spicer-drag = weak. Now Rosie O’Donnell says she’s up for playing Spicer for SNL in case Melissa doesn’t want to do it anymore.
Our allies hate Emperor Baby Fists. This is not shocking. I’m just surprised by how long it took for America’s allies to turn away from this orange fascist. Australia is over it, a leading German newspaper has called on Europe to actively work against Trump, Canada keeps poking at us and now the British Parliament has banned Baby Fists from speaking there if and when he visits.
The Bowling Green Massacre. Kellyanne Conway made the “Bowling Green Massacre” reference last week on Hardball, and she was soundly mocked online for it. She later said she made a slip of the tongue and she meant to say “Bowling Green terrorists.” Interestingly enough though, Conway made the same “slip” when speaking to Cosmopolitan days before the Hardball appearance, when she said the same words: “Bowling Green Massacre.” It’s not a slip. It’s this administration’s Alt-History of Terrorism.
The next attack. If and when there is a terrorist attack against Americans, Donald Trump already knows who to blame: the judge who temporarily banned his Muslim Ban. The NY Mag had a good piece about the dangerous blame game Trump is pre-emptively playing.
Impeachment. The word is cropping up more and more among congressmen, journalists and print media. Time Magazine has a piece about the case of impeachment. Rep. Maxine Waters is saying it now too. Come on, let’s do it. Let’s make February the month we impeach a fascist! It can be the Valentine’s Day gift to ourselves. Please???
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Trump and Bannon wish for a terrorist attack so that they can be proven “right”.
I know. At this point I gotta believe they are actively provoking one. Sick.
This. An attack works well for them on many levels.
There was an attack on a mosque in Quebec last week, which they’ve chosen to ignore because the terrorist was white, right wing and the victims were Muslims.
@Becky- Oh, they didn’t ignore it at first. Fox News was reporting that the mosque attack was committed by a Moroccan Muslim immigrant. They chose to ignore it once it came to light the terrorist was a white male Canadian Trump supporter and it didn’t fit their narrative.
Yes, Esmom! I’ve been thinking that since the very first report that revealed he had said that!
It’s so perverse, the way Trump masks his need to dominate and dictate by playing the role of America’s savior — *the only one who can save us,* as he so often claimed on the campaign trail — a role which, by the way, is exactly the one that abusive husbands play…until you cross them, call them on their lies, or forget to be worshipful.
Then they turn on you. Lie to you. Restrict you. Issue orders. And finally, they batter you.
Donald Trump is now America’s abusive husband.
Since they currently have no real attack to work with, Trump is making them up. He says that they are happening all over and the media is just choosing not to report them. In a speech, he commented of the supposed attacks “And in many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it. They have their reasons and you understand that.”
Even if we get rid of Trump, the suspicion that he is instilling of the press is going to be a problem for a very long time.
@ Ladidahbaby: and I’ll add gaslighting to your list, if I may.
@bleu_moon, don’t forget to add the fact that the man who called 911 was Moroccan and did the right thing.
Absolutely, Juls–that’s an important one. Can’t believe I didn’t think to include it!
Yep. They’ll use that to round up the portion of the base that is starting to get wise to the real program and solidify their support for the next 4 years.
Putting on my tin foil hat … I am very worried this ban is part of a larger plot to subjugate the judiciary. I feel like a Wag the Dog terrorist attack is imminent.
The comment about the judge was chilling. Have the public be suspicious of a group of people(Muslim ban) and then raise the spectre of a terrorist attack. Just scary stuff
I hope Congress wakes up soon. The attack of a judge (nominated by a Republican president and received confirmation from both parties) is unacceptable. Repubs are you going to take this? That means he’s questioning your choices!
They seriously do, and i dont put it past them to orchestrate one. I know some of his supporters will go down with the sinking ship out of pride, belief and defensiveness, but what about the ones who regret their vote? Really quiet on that side of the bench.
I agree. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I wouldn’t put it past them to actually plan and execute an attack to make their case. They will stop at nothing to stoke fear and get people to follow them.
Citizens who support this ban and this administration doesn’t seem to get that Isis appeals to Muslims who feel disenfranchised and terrorized themselves, so this ban just promotes more extremism. I’d be pretty pissed at this country too if I felt my family was torn apart and harmed because of our religion.
Kimbers, I tnink this is true. Trump and his band of vindictive pricks are capable of this, and he will then blame the judge who ruled against him. An egomanical dictator isn’t going to allow any criticism—-that’s one of the traits of a narcissist. Criticism enrages them. This is the same behavior as declaring the election rigged •if he lost.• And now, it was rigged because he lost the popular vote. He will bitch about that for years to come.
Also, your point about some of his supporters going down with the ship is a good one. I believe that the extreme supporters/worshippers of Trump will not admit they were wrong, because they share many negative and ugly personality traits with their orange idol. They are so misguided that they will insist that Rump is right, and is just trying to save America, even as he tries to rip its principles to shreds.
“Remember the Maine!”. Do you, Celebitchy history buffs?
It was an American ship in Havana Harbour that exploded and sank in 1898. The “attack” on the Maine was America’s excuse to get involved in the Spanish American War as Americans were told the explosion was caused by a Spanish land mine hitting the ship. The captain of the USS Maine later said the explosion was caused by a fire in the ship’s coal bin. But hey, when a government wants to get their foot into a war, why let the truth get in the way?!
Would Trump and his sidekick Bannon do this to America? IN A HEARTBEAT.
Then they can use the “rally around the President” and it’s “unpatriotic to offer any dissent when we’re under attack.” Remember post – 9/11? Besides, an attack is a great way to instantly legitimize a questionable presidency. The apartment bombings in 1999 worked for Putin, right? Bonus, frighten the populace into giving up their civil liberties for the sake of “safety” and giving the government a great deal more power.
Sounds about right. Terrifying. I spend last night fantasizing about moving to New Zealand. Although I’m not sure I’d be keen to join all the American billionaires who seem to be buying property there to ride out an apocalypse.
Dictators use that all the time. Some dictators are using Trump as an excuse to promote the “let’s unite, let’s stand together, let’s support our leader against this threat” rhetoric in their countries.
I’ve often been baffled by the idea that we’re not supposed to criticize a war when troops are on the ground. That’s the best time to do it! Support the troops by bringing them home from a stupid war, minimizing the chances of them coming home dead or crippled or brain-injured and also minimizing post-traumatic stress and other issues due to what they are ordered to do.
Any dictator loves it when people are silenced this way by self-censorship. Any dictator loves it when people say nice things about him. The real test of freedom is what happens when you need to loudly say “NO” to your government rather than blindly going along with every damn fool thing they decide to do.
People understand this for many domestic issues and would never buy the argument that they should shut up when a really bad decision has been made, while they tend to actually believe the government has the wisdom and knowledge to make good decisions in foreign policy. But the same gang of idiots who make bad domestic decisions are making bad foreign policy decisions. If they can make big mistakes in their native country, why should we assume they magically become all-wise and all-knowing about foreign affairs, including war?
Remember (or look up) the Reichstag fire.
Also the apartment bombings in Russia in 1999 which Putin may have orchestrated.
God help us.
Exactly!
Yep. If a terrorist attack occurs, the trail will likely lead right to the White House. Despite all his screaming about extreme vetting (one or two years of vetting doesn’t seem extreme enough to him?), Trump and in particular Bannon will simply ignore intelligence reports until something does happen. Although Bannon is evil enough to more be more actively involved, just as I strongly suspect he is involved in some way with those people in black clothing and face coverings who are violent during otherwise peaceful protests.
And if anything happens to any of those judges – the blame lies with Trump, who is painting targets on their backs for his more deranged heavily armed “Second Amendment people”.
Bannon wants a global theocracy. He proudly proclaims himself a Leninist who wants to destroy America’s democracy. He’s dangerous – not just to the US but the world.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bannon-explained-his-worldview-well-before-it-became-official-us-policy/2017/01/31/2f4102ac-e7ca-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html
Thank you CB for this accurate collation of events and for assessing that what we see as “cluster fK” is a strategy. For example- THE ONE THING an autocracy could do right was to mobilize the military. HOWEVER The military debacle in South Yemen- trump’s first attempt to show off military organization against Al Quida- went HORRIBLY WRONG. Just this past Sunday Feb 5th I believe. Allegedly Trump sent orders for the attack -over a dinner conversation- and did not examine the specifics in The Situation Room where he would have more accurate briefings. So the CLUSTERFU*S and the tweets subterfuge way more important issues with this deeply troubled administration!
Exactly. They want an attack so they can declare martial law and control the country the way they REALLY want to.
And why are the disastrous facts of the Yemeni raid just now being covered by the main stream press? We knew last week that a US military person was killed, but it’s just this week that the fact that at least 15 civilians were also killed is just now coming to light?
Of course he was rattled by Melissa’s performance, because it was flaw. Less. And yes, keep saying that word, impeachment. Say it loud, say it clear, say it often.
I just want to say, again, thank you for writing these stories, CB and Kaiser and co. You’re fighting the good fight. I was honestly pretty disturbed by the very give-Trump-the-benefit-of-the-doubt vibe of a some of the comment threads yesterday, plus the fact that there was a lot of vitriol directed at the writers for “making everything about Trump.” I just want to say thank you, you’re doing a great job, and we appreciate this work you’re doing.
She’s so good. Also, we know he likes people to ‘look the part’, and reinforces stereotypical gender norms in his business.
Melissa playing Spicer rubs him all the wrong ways.
They should have had a lady play Bannon, and have Bannon boss hm around like a mommy.
That would chafe him something fierce.
I’m less connected than usual, and didn’t see that flavour of comment, but eff that noise.
No benefit of doubt, this man has shown us what he is, not for the first time, but by every action – again and again and again. Burying your head in the sand of false positivity serves no one.
Everything you said! I wonder if Rosie would be interested in playing Bannon? That would surely push the Orange Zit over the edge. Make it happen, SNL!
(sorry paranormalgirl, I didn’t see you below)
YES! Rosie as Bannon would make his head explode!
I want Rosie O’D. to play Bannon. She would be perfect as all three (Spicer, Trump, Bannon), but we need a Bannon in SNL’s hilarious attempt to drive the lunatic Orange Maroon over the edge.
For continuity, Rosie could make her entrance in the usual Grim Reaper outfit and then take it off after pushing Trump out of the President’s chair. The Orange Maroon will have a fit, both because a woman is playing his bff Bannon and because he goes more nuts than usual when people say Bannon is the real power behind the throne.
I read that Rosie DOES want to plan Bannon, not Spicer. She’d be terrific!
Kathy Bates would also be great as Bannon, but I’m willing to wait for the Trump presidency to get the American Crime Story adaptation it deserves for that. Jessica Lange could play KellyAnne Conway, Sarah Paulson as Melania with Denis O’Hare as Sean Spicer.
Laura Benanti did a great Melania for Stephen Colbert.
We NEED Rosie O’Donnell to have a recurring role in an SNL trump skit so he’ll eventually stroke out from it. What if she played Melania? Something! Anything!
THIS!!!!!
Rosie O’Donnell needs to play Bannon.
Melania! GIngerCrush you are a genius! He would have a heart attack and become dead.
Rosie O’Donnell playing Melania…that made me laugh out loud more than I’ve done in a long time. Yes, The Donald would stroke out on that one.
I said yesterday that I think Rosie should play Donald one week if Alec can’t.
I think a man should play Melania. Will Forte available?
O’Donnell for Bannon and have a dude play Melania. Watch him implode.
What role could Michael Shannon play? I’m certain he’d be up for it.
@Gingercrush. That would be a disaster waiting to happen. Rosie O’Donell to play Melania Trump? Oh, this is so wrong. Wrong on all levels, do you really want President Orangutan to go on a tirade?
If the answer is Yes. Then you are a woman to my heart. I would love it….
@SusanneToo
Michael Shannon could play lying weasel Reince Preibus?
Wouldn’t want Rosie to play Melania. That would just be setting her up for shots at her face, body, etc. Bannon gets my vote!
No, President Tweeter doesn’t really care about Melania and it would be perceived as just mean rather than funny. Melania isn’t the one trying to become dictator.
Everyone do your part
https://impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org
I tweeted to Rosie and SNL to have Rosie as bannon, Melissa as spicer, Alec as trump. Someone else suggested Owen Wilson as kellyanne. All on the same show? trump would explode!
Owen as KA — Hilarious, but he seems too likeable to capture her level of decaying deplorableness.
omg I NEED to see my dear sweet Owen Wilson as KellyAnne. He kind of looks like her, but way prettier.
Owen Wilson as Kellyanne. 🙂
I like all of this except Owen Wilson as KA. I love Kate McKinnon’s Kellyanne. I’m hoping for a “Remember Bowling Green” skit this week.
Kate McKinnon is better and prettier than Kellyanne deserves. Kellyanne deserves to be portrayed by Denis Leary.
She should be played by Christopher Walken.
@Eugenia, and Denis would be up for it. He has already commented on his resemblance to her.
Owen would be perfect for the Bowling Green Massacre woman! Do it, do it, do it!!! The regular playing her now is being too kindly and subdued, brilliant though she usually is. Owen will be able to take it up a notch.
Wtfrack give him a chance…..ya then he started signing orders willy nilly( bc he knows nothing about the constitution or this country) while that war monger pulling the strings is whispering crap in his ear trying to position himself closer to a better seat behind the scenes in administration.
It’s like watching game of thrones before my eyes the way these thirsty people obviously position themselves and distract the public with bullshit. The only way for them to scare the masses and gain the control they desire is fear. Currently everyone is fearful, but hella angry at the administration. They need to eliminate the anger, but keep the fear so the people blindly look to them for guidance. Attack the sure fire solution for that happen.
Sidebar: anyone else traveling notice an obscene amount of military machinery being transported through the pnw? Bogo sale?
pnw? Pacific Northwest?
Where exactly?
I think “give him a chance” lost its validity after he took the oath and delivered that fear-mongering inaugural address. But his flurry of Executive Orders starting the day of inauguration clinched it. Didn’t even bother with “casual vetting” to see if it all was legal or might have unintended consequences by running it past real people with real experience in the areas. Heck, he didn’t even bother reading them.
I love Shambles…what she said…over and over and over.
*hugz*
I could see Kathy Bates play Bannon.
Yes! Kathy Bates would be perfect!
What Shambles said. These Celebitchy reports hit all the high notes, include interesting outside sources, and are spot on! Thank you!
If I were advising Sean Spicer, I would tell him to bring supersoakers for everybody to his next press conference and have a good ol’ water fight. Would be a lot better than what he’s been doing and would boost his reputation (for me, at least).
I really hope he’s looking for another job, though. I don’t think his heart will hold out under the stress of working for Trump.
I have the feeling he will fire Spicer soon.
I think so too.
Also, what he tweeted about that judge is so freaking dangerous and irresponsible.
“Dangerous and irresponsible.” That is Trump in a nutshell and the sooner he and his evil cabal are out, the better.
And he tweeted more about the judge this morning, ignoring that two other judges upheld it. And he’s tweeting about Iran. And how he has never done any business in Russia.
@lightpurple: Thanks for setting me straight on the facts yesterday. I don’t even care about him……taking out my frustrations on a football player is pathetic. The real villain is our president. Sorry….
@Nancy. All good. Let’s keep up the resistance. Today’s goal: Block DeVoes!
Eff DeVos!
The Brady thread from yesterday was a bit ridiculous. I mean, I get it: everybody hates a dominant franchise. I hated the Yankees forever and I’d definitely hate the Pats if I didn’t live in New England. But to scapegoat Brady for Trump’s misdeeds is really, REALLY reaching and I expect far better from the rational people here at Celebitchy. Calling the Pats “Trump’s Team” simply because Trump is obsessed with them isn’t fair to those of us who live in New England and voted for HRC. That would be like me calling The Jets “Trump’s Team” simply because Trump is besties with Woody Johnson and hired him to be the Ambassador to the UK.
Also, anyone who’s still claiming Joe Montana is GOAT is either blinded by hate or doesn’t know much about football. My BF is an avid Pats hater (and football lover) and HATES Brady with every fiber of his being but even he will admit that what he accomplished with the help of his team on Sunday night was incredible and he’s the first to say that objectively, Brady will likely go down as GOAT.
Ok now that I got that out of the way, Ramona’s comments from the Trump thread yesterday detailing how a terrorist attack would greatly benefit this administration freaked me out. I’ve been thinking that they’re trying to provoke an attack but even the thought of Trump using that to secure a second term is enough to make me scream. The way Ramona laid it out, a terrorist attack would be a win for this administration and that reality is absolutely bone-chilling to me.
Kitten,
I’m sorry the Brady threads yesterday were unfair to you.
To me, it did feel like more than football because of Tom Brady’s MAGA hat and friendship with Trump. Plus the fact that I’ve lived in metro Atlanta for my entire life, so it was pretty personal. I wanted to see the Birds win so badly. So when the Pats came back and snatched it up in literally the last two minutes of the game, it did bring back echos of Hillary’s shocking loss. Echoes of, “what just f*cking happened, that was so quick, omg what? Can we go back and redo that?” It did feel a little symbolic.
That said, it was a great football game. I think the Falcons played great football, and I think the Pats played great football. There were some extremely gracious winners here (looking at you, LightPurple), and that made me tear up. I think it still matters a lot that the Falcons got to where they did, and I hope they continue to play great football and come right back and crush it.
The point is, I did feel like the game was symbolic in many ways and it hurt a little extra for that. But I can still separate that from politics in that I don’t blame Brady or the Pats for Donald Trump. I think it escalated really quickly yesterday, but I think both sides essentially had a valid point. One can feel like the game was a little bigger than football and also not discredit the Patriots for their great game. Point is, I feel like sports talk sometimes heats things up but in the end I hope we can all still be buds.
As to yesterday’s thread, nobody knows how Brady voted. The pictures he posted yesterday of a multi-racial, multi-religion (YOUK! Brother in law former Red Sox Kevin Y is Jewish) family is not Trump’s idea of America. The great Devin McCourty announced yesterday he will skip the visit to Trump’s White House. There is a damned snowstorm going on here and, despite it, more people attending the rally than Trump’s inauguration. The Providence rally tonight might even draw more. Atlanta has a great team with a good future ahead. Ok. We move on. RESIST! Block DeVoes. Support our judiciary. Let Paul Ryan know we’re watching him too.
Lightpurple….you get a double post from me today. You’re a peacemaker and I so admire that. I think Ms. Shambles said it best “it felt symbolic” of the election. But it wasn’t, it was a football game and Brady is the GOAT. I know it’s true because my heroes, the Cavs players all posted it! But my heart does go out to the Falcons for playing their hearts out as well. @Kitten: Congrats, had to be mixed emotions with your BF not in with Tom. In the words of a wise lady…RESIST!
And DeVos is in, thanks to a tie breaker from Pence. F*ck.
PENCE!!! Gah. Dude f*cked us all, not surprisingly.
@Shamby-I totally get it and you didn’t owe me further explanation. That being said, I really appreciate that you took the time to do so. FWIW, McCourty and Bennett turned down the White House invitation, so just a reminder that the Patriots are more than just Tom Brady and Bill Belichick 😉
http://people.com/sports/devin-mccourty-becomes-second-patriots-player-to-decline-white-house-visit-with-president-trump/
@Nancy- It does suck that he hates the Pats (like really REALLY hates them lol) but at least he likes the Celtics 😉
Me too. That is one job only a fool would want. Kellyanne? Spicer is only his mouthpiece and does what he is told. Supposedly he was well liked before this position, maybe he can redeem himself and resign.
KellyAnne is on her way out too – that Bowling Green lie is bitting her on the ass big time. They’ve both been caught and very publicly called out/ridiculed for straight out lying and rightly so.
Its only a matter of time before he starts turning on those who put him in the WH.
Agreed with DU. Some new sources, such as CNN, refuse to book her because she has a credibility issue.
Also let’s keep calling Steve Bannon President Bannon to rattle The Donald. The bigly bully doesn’t like that Bannon is getting more press then him, especially the Time Cover. 🍼 Bannon can join the February 2017 exits. 🤝
If Spicer isn’t out soon, I have to believe he’ll quit. He’s terrible, in that he’s just not very good at this job at all. I can believe people sold their soul to the Trump Administration (all the republicans are doing it!) in order to get ahead, but…who would want him for any job after this? Same with KAC.
You guys I was being sarcastic about Kellyanne as a replacement. She thinks she is not replaceable, ala trump. Remember what she said, all she had to do was put on her pantyhose and heels to get an interview. It’s like living in a SNL sketch only with dire consequences.
He really started off on the wrong foot on the Saturday of the Women’s March when he appeared in that ridiculous over-sized suit and started ranting at the reporters and not taking questions. He looked unhinged that Saturday. SMH
Digital Unicorn- She can’t get away with “misspoke”, and not just because she is recorded as saying it at least two other times. When she talked about the fictional Bowling Green Massacre, she definitely referred to killing of soldiers. This means she was meaning a real massacre.
She said something about getting it from a briefing, which raises a whole series of other questions about who is briefing them and their credibility. I wonder if it’s one of Mike Flynn’s many fantasies?
That’s what’s being reported.
I feel the same about Bannon, mainly because Trump hates when his masculinity/power is threatened in any way. He is probably secretly freaking out that Bannon is getting “credit” for the EOs. If it happens, it would be the one good decision he’ll make in his presidency.
This is the not-so-little tidbit that is mostly ignored. If the leader does not adequately understand what he’s signing, is that not cause for pushing him to step down?
Apparently, trump didn’t even read the EO putting bannon on the NSC:
http://twitter.com/keitholbermann/status/828421739994611712
Bannon, who once compared himself to Thomas Cromwell, will fall out of favor with King Trump–just like Cromwell did.
Trump tweeted yesterday that he is the one calling the shots. He knows what people are saying. He’s also annoyed that Bannon in on the cover of Time, since Trump like to be the only one to brag about being on that magazine’s cover.
Finally, people are tweeting this Bannon quote to Trump from Bannon’s Vanity Fair interview in July:
[Bannon] expressed a wariness about the political genuineness of the Trump campaign persona. Trump is a “blunt instrument for us,” he told me earlier this summer. “I don’t know whether he really gets it or not.”
So yeah, while I don’t think Bannon is close to be fired, I also think Trump has a wariness about him now.
Signing EOs without reading them should be grounds for impeachment. Along with almost everything else he has done.
I agree Bannon is probably going to go eventually too – the more people give him credit for the actions, the more Trump’s ego will want to push him down. I think Spicer will be the first to go (and for that he’ll probably be thankful!), then Preibus or Conjob, and then Bannon.
Can’t happen soon enough. Trump needs to get rid of Bannon and hopefully put in someone less Nazi-ish instead – if any are around. Love that people are tweeting at donald about PRES. Bannon. thin-skinned BabyFists, how can you let Bannon steal the presidency from you like this?
Oh and the fact that donnie doesn’t read his EOs – so not surprising as i’m sure that’s how he’s operated his whole life. What is surprising is that he’s not even being fully briefed about what he’s signing.
I hope the press keeps putting it out there that Bannon is the true President. That will drive Orangino over the edge and he will fire him. Not reading what he is signing is just so wrong and should be impeachable.
@Jenns. That’s interesting. Especially because Cromwell was executed for treason
@Kitten: So we torch every Celeb who supports Trump but you want to give Brady a pass because you’re a Pats fan? F-ck Brady!
I don’t give a flying f*ck whether you or anyone else gives Brady a “pass” or not, dude. I get it: you want to hate the guy and Trump is just the perfect reason.
So hate away, but don’t act like you know that he voted for Trump. His wife said they didn’t and I’m more prone to believe her than some random internet stranger with a hate-on for Brady.
For starters i don’t even follow football, so I’m not some embittered opposition supporter looking for an excuse to hate Brady. But Brady has had several opportunities to disavow Trump but has decided to put his self interest ahead of standing up for Trump’s victims. F-ck Brady!
Damn straight @Kitten, preach! No one knows how TB voted. If Gisele said they didn’t I’ll take her word.
There is sooo much jealousy around Brady it’s impossible to tease out real irritation from all the envy. I guarantee you there are other NFL QBs or players who likely voted for Trump, but they didn’t win big this week so no spotlight on them.
The Pats win brought much needed joy to our friends and fam, all of whom despise Cheeto and are actively working and donating $ to counter his policies. No one should be as silly as to associate support for a local sports team with socio-political collusion. For gawd’s sake.
@Marley: Not cool. @Kitten: Oooooh nooooo, the Celtics are right behind the Cavs. Last year was the first championship I ever had witness to! For that matter, the whole city. So since you guys won the SB, let’s just let the Cavs slide into the playoffs again! Even if it has to be against Curry, who last year spit his mouthpiece at a fan and got thrown out, it was great, a kiddie tantrum. May’s a long way off…..later chick
@Nancy, In the NBA, it is difficult to miss making the playoffs. The Celtics are playing very well. It they are probably two great players away from the Finals. They played a great game Sunday but also gave Paul Pierce a chance to have his final moment on the parquet. Thanks, Paul! The Cavs are probably safe in the East this year.
@Marley, did you see Brady’s ballot? Because, otherwise, he never said he supported Trump. My brother has one of those hats. He “won” it as a joke gift in his office’s Yankee Swap. He sticks pins in it. Kitten is right; yesterday’s thread was insane
Ugh. Thanks guys.
If Trump is impeached, who takes over, though?
Mike Pence Marvolo Riddle
Your comment is great.
Rhiley, thanks for getting it 😉
Perfection! LOL
We all remember how Tom Riddle turned out
I F*cking absolutely lost it like tears on my face crying at this comment
Me and my Boo Been Calling him Palpatine cause well…
Pence……there is just no good alternative. My America, scares me
I really really can’t stand Pence – and I think his views on so many things are just – wrong, impractical, and anti-human. BUT I feel like with Pence at the ‘throne’ so to speak, there would at least be better relations with the allies and a whole lot less twitter ranting.
Erinn, agreed. I also think the resistance can mobilize against him more effectively than they can with Trump, who is constantly throwing everyone off balance.
If, and it’s a big if, Pence dumps Bannon, he will be a run-of-the-mill Republican and will focus on cutting taxes and giving hand-outs to the energy industry.
I prefer Pence for a different reason. I 100% disagree with him ideologically but at least he has ideology. Trump is an empty container for every crafty ideologue to fill and thats infinitely more destabilizing and dangerous. Pence is also a politician and therefore responsive, even if only superficially, to pesky things like opinion polls and nationwide protests. I believe thats miles better than a delusional narcissist who will never believe that his presidency is under threat from his deep unpopularity.
Yeah, if we can get Trump and Bannon out, we’re basically just stuck with four years of an ultra-conservative presidency. I think we can handle that. Pence at least has a modicum of respect for the systems of our government, so he can be checked and balanced. And we’ve already shown that the resistance is alive and not shutting up, so I think we could successfully fight back against any ass backward policy he proposes. At least we won’t be in a constant state of turmoil and anxiety. Just make Pence 46 and get it over with already.
What Shambles said. Also, I used to think Donald Trump was just a figurehead of this new, openly racist and terrible movement, and now that it’s gotten rolling to this extent, anyone could step in and take his place. Now I’m not so sure. I don’t know if milquetoast Pence is going to get anyone to come to a rally, or have every dumb-dumb on Facebook trolling every comment section to repeat the same wrong talking points. Also, Mike Pence isn’t in the tank for Russia and Saudi Arabia and who knows what else, and there is probably nothing on his tax return that would surprise anyone. Pence probably has some degree of respect for the traditions of American politics that Trump doesn’t have.
I am no fan of Pence and his antiquitated, misogynistic views, but I will take him over Bannon any day. He is a fundamentalist but not the alt right. I want the alt right out of the White House. Sure, there will be a war on women and gays under Pence, but I don’t think there will be threat of a nuclear war. Don’t get me wrong, war on women and gays is not good, but we can fight that. We know that fight. But with nuclear war we stand no chance. In 2 years, we can take back Congress and 2 years later we can elect a Democratic president. Four years of trump is too much of a gamble to our democracy, our republic.
Yup, what everyone else said. Presumably Pence isn’t financially beholden to Russia either.
Now lemme ask ya’ll this: Would Pence not be Implicated to the Gills in whatever the f*ck the Twitter F*ckboy in Chief is In?? I Mean fore reals? Even Priebus?? and Ryan.. How can we sit and say that the Vichy Republican Leadership guys are innocent , unknowing Parties to all the Kleptocratic moves. the Russia and all other shady calls??, actually the whole shebang, even the fact that in good conscience they are letting this man cook and sign EO that they know good and well he isn’t reading let alone understanding, do they not get to be investigated, castigated and swiftly removed and punished too??!!
Pence’s politics are abhorrent. But he’s not seriously mentally ill like Trump. I think there’s a much better chance of keeping Pence in check, getting him to “play politics” and negotiate and choose his battles (leave LGBTQ rights and abortion rights alone, for example). Especially since I don’t think the mid-term elections are going to go great for Republicans. Trump is a loose cannon being advised by the inept and other loose cannons who are utterly morally bankrupt. So while the choice is between two evils, Pence is the lesser by virtue of being a relatively sane and seasoned politician.
But hey, maybe we can take him out with Trump. What did Pence know and when did he know it? Did he enable treason? If we ended up with Paul Ryan all the same points apply to him as Pence. The name of the game is survival with minimal damage done until 2020.
@QQ, I strongly suspect Mitch McConnell is beholden to Putin in someway. But not Pence. Pence is just along for the ride because nobody else would get in the car. His own party was planning to oppose his Indiana re-election so there is no great love for him within the GOP. With Trump gone, Ryan would be in charge; Pence would follow party lines; and they’ll put forth more traditional GOP candidates in 2020
Pence would be the new president. I don’t like him but I think he would be less dangerous than Trump/Bannon.
Pence. Which is awful. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – as terrible as Pence is, he’s a better option than Trump. Pence is not some raging psycho who will tweet us into a nuclear war with Australia.
Trump must go. He is the biggest threat to the world right now.
I agree there is no one more awful and unstable than Trump, he has to go, there is no way he can stay on, with the way he is going, anyone would be better than him even the smarmy Paul Ryan.
Vice President Mike Pence. Who is actually more terrifying than Trump underneath his thin veneer of civility.
No. There is no one worse than Trump. People have to stop saying this. The idea that he can’t be impeached because Pence is worse is total BS.
That’s what I did think- that Pence was more dangerous because, compared to Trump, he looks sane and reasonable (and he has some worse ideas, especially with regard to LGBTQ issues). This may have been the Republicans’ endgame all along. However, I’m finally on board with it somewhat. I think we could have Pence for four years, vote him out, and still have a country that we can fix. I am not at all confident that Trump will leave us with anything. Seriously, how can we get rid of the guy?
As a gay woman, I used to think this too, but no more. I don’t think Pence with threaten the judiciary. Sure he has backassward views but I also think he would work with Congress and not write EO after EO. And he seems to have a lot of self control. I don’t see him threatening the judiciary the way trump has. That is extremely dangerous.
Any conservative republican candidate was going to be a nightmare for many issues. They would repeal the ACA. Give massive tax cuts to the rich. Nominate conservative judges. Gut the EPA regulations. Let big business rule. Ect, ect, ect.
But unlike Trump, they would defend Russia. They wouldn’t alienate our allies. And they wouldn’t be a threat to the world stability.
If Pence could do away with Trump’s Rasputin Bannon, then he would actually be the better option. Pence is horrible in so many ways but I think at this point the priority must be getting white supremacists out of White House. Appalling that it came to this.
That is the problem, the Vice President will ascend. VP Pence is even scarier because he is solidly as far right as they come. Most Republicans don’t even like him.
How is a far right politician scarier than a man who is totally unhinged?
Again, this is what makes me rage. Because if you think Pence is worse than Trump, then you are not paying attention at all. And I say this as someone who hates everything Pence stands for.
No, Pence won’t be worse than Trump. Pence understands how government works and doesn’t interpret protests as treason. He has made it clear that protest is expected in a democracy – look at his response to the Hamilton incident in contrast to Trump’s reaction. He is civil and won’t start WWIII on a whim. He won’t blame judges for terrorist attacks. He will read Executive Orders before he signs them and he will consult with others first. He will bounce Bannon out on his ear. Yes, he has some atrocious ideas that caused a lot of harm in Indiana. He is a theocrat who will keep Devos in the cabinet and he has no qualms about trashing the ACA. He will need to be opposed on many issues. But he’s sane and normal, and that is a huge difference.
Pence has no charisma. Or celebrity. He does not have Trump’s gift of gab or Bannon’s insane focus on world domination. We can beat him easier.
EXACTLY! Even if he were to be more radical than Trump, he lacks the ‘celebrity’ status, and most of the people who support Trump would not get as emotionally invested with him.
Yes. This. No one is going to rally around Pence. The Reps will fall very hard…that’s my dream anyway!
Bingo. He’s far less likely to win another term.
I don’t think SS would be a bad White House Press Secretary, he just needs a good boss. It’s Trump who makes him lie etc. and no – I don’t have sympathy for him, nobody forced him to work for wannabe dictator Trump.
It’s hard to do your job if your boss is constantly making unreasonable demands. I hope Sean Spicer is deliberately tanking his job so he can leave. At one point he handled media for the RNC and he was recommended to this job by Rence Priebus. I bet both are regretting hitching themselves to the crazy train.
Are we sure that Trump would go if he was impeached? Maybe he would try to declare Martial Law instead
I keep trying to imagine that scenario and I can never successfully imagine him leaving gracefully. The Martial Law option sounds a lot more likely, but it would be him and Bannon against everybody else so I’m not sure that they could manage it. I’m sure that he would do as much damage as he could to the country on his way out though.
I suspect the black-swathed violent “protesters” showing up at nonviolent protests are testing the waters for triggering martial law. At some level, I think Bannon is entangled with them. It’s so Nazi-ish, look at both German and Italian history for the use of violence to suspend rights. Here, it would be very hard to get support for martial law due to massive peaceful protests. Toss in some violence and call it “rioting” – people will be fine with it and blame the real protesters without asking any bothersome questions.
One of the worst parts about this is politicians in other parts of the world think if people are stupid enough to vote for him they’ll vote for their nut job policies there too. In Australia we have our own 2 now vying to be the most offensive and stupid in Cory Bernadi and Pauline Hanson. God I feel like we could all end up the same if America doesn’t get rid of him.
Oh my god, is Pauline Hanson still around? When I worked with loads of Aussies years ago, I paid more attention to politics in Aus & she was a despicable racist idiot even then. How is she still going strong about 15 years later?
Gah. You’re right though: Trump/Bannon give all the other fascist nutjobs worldwide hope.
She’s around and her popularity is soaring. Very depressing times.
Yep, France’s LePen and TheWeirdWigOne in The Netherlands come to mind………..
I feel the same as you, Brunswickstoval. Hanson and Bernadi…what a pair, huh? I’m surprised they’re not a double act already…
Not only is Pauline Hanson still going strong, Pip, but gaining momentum and traction in the wake of tRump’s ascendancy. It’s as if tRump’s given permission for all these despicable whatever-phones to vociferously spew their hateful rants.
Here’s the latest from Pedestrian Daily, on Bernardi, who has already started blasting his Aust Conservatives:
“In a proud continuation of one of Australia’s finest traditions, Cory Bernardi is giving it a red hot go. Turgid with confidence after seeing Trump’s momentum first-hand while in the States visiting the UN, Bernardi has taken the plunge and split from the Liberal Party in the hopes of inspiring a Trump-esque movement with his new party, the Australian Conservatives.
Given that Trump inspired support with his (extremely weird) charisma and bizarre idiosyncracies that clearly distinguished him from the establishment, it seems Bernardi might have a hard time inspiring the same sort of groundswell, considering he has the charisma of a brick and is by all appearances just another career, establishment politician. But he’s sure giving it a try.”
Hopefully, this breaks him, and he pulls Hanson down with him, but she’s a pretty wily old boiler.
and Canada has Kevin O’Leary from Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank running for the Conservative leadership. And he’s so much like Trump. He embellishes his wealth, he’s blunt and rude and he has so little self-awareness because he doesn’t care to and no governing experience but thinks he can save everyone.
ITA – Trump’s presidency seems to legitimize / normalize right-wing nutjobs in other countries. LePen, Wilders, Farage, Strache, Petry were quite enthusiastic when Trump won – with good reason.
Bizzare times.
There were people asking Rosie to do a Bannon impersonation. She tweeted back that she would be willing to do it if they asked her. Can you imagine his emotions explosion. Now they are saying people are being Mean to them. They are like any Bully.. can dish it out but can’t take it. Beside SNL has lampooned Presidents forever. And none of them whined the way he does. Obviously it hurt his feelings. Good.. because that is all he cares about. Howard Stern said that Trump needs to be loved/liked; especially by Hollywood. And the fact that they are not embracing him is getting to him. Wait for his first White House event and no celebrities show.
They floated out the idea of her doing Trump, too.
Now that we know that Trump equates cross gender casting with weakness, Rosie should by all means stay far far away from the Bannon impersonations.
We saw from Trumps tweets that he is upset by the implication that Bannon is really in charge. We must keep up that line of attack. The Reaper should keep playing him and if not him then a traditionally masuline type. I’m sure Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson) would do it. And he should be depicted as a hateful but deliberate and domineering type with Alec playing Trump as a buffoon.
The Reaper should really start making “blunt tool” jokes. Trump ought to enjoy those.
No, cross-gender casting makes Trump’s head explode so they should definitely do more of it. Mockery of corrupt and evil officials and their actions is an essential tool in nonviolent resistance. It was used effectively back in pre-Revolutionary days as well. Don’t underestimate its importance.
Trump lives in Opposite Land. If he says something is “weak” or “overrated”, it’s actually bugging the hell out of him. If it were really weak, he could totally ignore it.
I am so excited at the prospect of Rosie doing Bannon. She would do an awesome Trump but we already have one in Baldwin. I want to see an awesome Bannon. That demon isn’t cutting it. I want Rosie.
They need a face to him. I don’t care about the “demon”. They need a character that people associate with him.
Where is John Belushi when you need him?
Oh behave. Like there’s a strategy?!
I think heads are going to start rolling in this administration. Hopefully not literally, but with him I guess you never now.
How do you feel Canada keeps “poking at” America? I’m a Canadian and yes, our Prime Minister absolutely tweeted pro refugee messages in response to the ban. Is that poking at Americans or just trying to reassure refugees and Canadians alike. Honest question.
Ahaha, shh, no. Keep them distracted from the privacy hedge we’re growing 😉
I was going to comment on the same thing, though. If by poking you mean making the news sites get rid of the incorrect information regarding the mosque shooting that they posted, I hope we keep poking away.
Trudeau isn’t a perfect politician, but I do think he cares about our country. And after spending so many years under Harper (who occasionally did some good as well despite being an idiot for the most part) – and living on the east coast where we seemed to be ignored in favor of ‘berta, it’s a nice change. No politician will be loved by everyone – and nobody should stop questioning their government. But when it comes to making sure the people living in our country feel safe, and respected – I’m going to have to say Trudeau is making a difference.
I like Trudeau, but he has to up his game plan. With the Conservatives looking at electing a new leader with reality show host Kevin Olearly and Kellie Leitch(sp) who is fond of some of Trump’s policies. What is happening in the US could happen here. Let’s hope not
Yeah let’s just hope you guys don’t have any oil spills with that Kinder Morgan project that Trudeau approved. At least Trudeau put into place a fairly stringent overview process, unlike Trump who seems hell-bent on approving pipelines while simultaneously cutting regulations and safety measures that were enacted under Obama.
Also, while I like Trudeau a lot, I think the widespread deification of him this early on is a little bit dangerous. Don’t set yourself up to be disappointed, like a lot of us did with Obama. Not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, just being realistic. Maybe he’ll be the first perfect leader the world has ever seen. Who knows.
I tried to edit..
ETA: Sorry if my comment came across as bitter. You guys have what appears to be an amazing progressive leader while our country has the worst president we have ever foisted upon the rest of the world. Don’t let Kitten’s bitterness take away from your enjoyment of Trudeau, Canadian friends. 😉
iT’S OK kITTEN. fOR THE LAST 8 YEARS i’VE BEEN VERY JEALOUS WATCHING THE us GET oBAMA WHILE WE WERE STUCK WITH hARPER.
oops caps lock was on and I m too lazy to retype it.
We can share Trudeau, there’s enough goodwill to go around 🙂
I wonder what was meant too…
As an American I feel like Canada has been reassuring in this crazy awful time. Especially that Trudeau stated that Canada would accept refugees that the US is now denying entry.
That alone has helped so much because all I can do as an American is march in the streets, call reps, and donate to the ACLU. And meanwhile so many were turned away and it just makes me weep thinking of them returning to the shores of dangerous countries after all they have been through.
Trudeau is totally my pinup dream-boy “president.” I am writing Mrs. America Trudeau on everything.
The thought of those refugees having to return to terror and hopelessness kept me awake all last weekend. The defeat those people must have felt was probably the last straw for a lot of them. It makes my stomach hurt so much and my head hurt, too. There is no punishment good enough. How was this allowed to happen? (rhetorical)
Both, it is both.
Trudeau is sending a clear message to all of us- global and at home. He (Canadians) are running Canada, and no other government will influence us.
It’s a good “poke”. Not a bad one, not at all. There are many ways to deal with trump- head on, petitions, marches, and by using positive messages to get the point across. Because Trudeau has to work closely with the US government, he is choosing support for the marches, and clear messages about the values we hold dear, as Canadians.
Foreign leaders are in an untenable position and Trudeau is holding his own.
As an American, I’m all for Trudeau poking at us.
Of course Trump was most offended by Spicer being played by a woman. Because women=weakness. That’s a Trump bingo square right there.
Yes, and an overweight woman at that. A “3 out of 10”. Fat women are supposed to be mocked by men, not the other way round!
Today is #ResistTrumpTuesday
It’s every Tuesday.
Indivisible Guide’s list of events:
https://www.indivisibleguide.com/show-up
Several Republican Senators are still unsure about the DeVos nomination. Call them this morning! They vote today!
Lightpurple, do you think they will listen to non-constituents? Genuinely asking.
Yes. Thank you. Especially, Pat Toomey. Bombard him with calls and emails…
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pat-toomey-betsy-devos_us_58927b1ee4b0af07cb6b7d0a?
Melissa was fantastic. But Rosie? No. Absolutely not.
My concern about Rosie is that it will appear to be purposeful vengeance casting. That has never happened in SNL political figure casting choices, at least to my recollection, and shouldn’t start now.
I agree. Beyond MM’s performance, the primary reason why MM was effective was because it came completely out of left field. I honestly don’t remember if she engaged in any political discussions before and can’t say if she supported anyone publicly.
Rosie, on the other hand, have a longstanding beef with Trump and Republicans, and frankly, that could detract from the performance. It kinda detracts from Baldwin’s Trump, IMO.
They have a longstanding feud and she herself doesn’t always have accurate information or behave appropriately and it becomes all about Rosie. The best thing she could actually do is ignore him, which also drives him crazy
That’s just an argument for Rosie playing Bannon rather than Trump. She would make a great Bannon.
It’s going to be hard to find anybody competent for the job who hasn’t expressed strong feelings about Trump eventually… Really, we can’t let that be a casting criterion. The actors don’t write their dialog all by themselves, so the SNL writers have the most control over a skit.
One of the things that scares me about the judge standing up to him abut the travel ban (which is something I should be really happy about, and I’m mad that it is being diluted) is that when you’re dealing with one personality that refuses to be told no (45) and one personality that is itching to start some kind of conflict leading to war (Bannon) , you have the perfect set up for someone to either ignore intel regarding terrorist activity or just flat out create an incident in order to bring about the resolution they were pushing for. I really do believe that they are capable of doing this in order to say “See, I told you so! I’M RIGHT”. And people are just dumb enough to fall for it.
It hasn’t even been a month, and I’m already tired of winning.
Bannon wants his own Reichstag Fire. That’s what the next terror attack will be and even if they have info on it they will let it happen so they can declare Martial Law and the people will side with him because that’s how Americans reacted after 9/11. Letting W pass the Patriot Act only this time it will be far worse.
Trump wants to do what Erdogan did in Turkey, stage a coupe and get rid of judges, attornies, generals, police men and political oppenens who are in his way.
The USA is unlike any other country. I say this as a non-american.
The Muslim-ban would have been tolerated in many other places, but thank god, most Americans are more actively involved in what happens in their country.
Movements like Black Lives Matter, you wouldn’t see that anywhere else. Things are as bad and/or worse in other parts of the world, but people lost the will to fight and became indifferent.
The Mango Mussolini really is obsessed with anything degrading his Cheetocescu reputation, isn’t he?
They are laughingstocks.
http://twitter.com/p1bell/status/827823114851610625
LOL! I think I’ll borrow Cheetocescu, daisyfly.
I think the big baby’s brand is already taking a hit.
Never thought I’d say this but thank God for John Bercow putting his foot down as the Speaker of the House of Commons and preventing the Orange Maniac from addressing the house. The right wing press have totally got their knickers in a twist over it, “He doesn’t speak for the country” looks like the main argument and I haven’t had time to read through it all let alone absorb it but he’s done it on the basis sexism, racism and misogyny – well somebody’s got to. Teresa May aka Neville Chamberlain is an effing poodle.
Reporting is SO bad, too. He didn’t just up and say it for no reason. He was responding to a motion signed by dozens of MPs. As he is required to do. And it IS his responsibility to vet who is and who isn’t allowed to speak in Westminster Hall and both Houses. It’s called a check and balance. The clear settled view of the vast majority in the country (see the respective petition numbers) is that the government issued a state visit invitation inappropriately. We have institutions in this country to prevent government becoming dictatorship and doing what the heck it likes. And this is one of them in action.
Sick to the back teeth of people who say Brexit was all about the primacy and sovereignty of UK institutions over European institutions and then shriek like idiots whenever one of those institutions does its duty and asserts itself.
Same as Trump’s EOs are testing American institutional resilience. I will not let fascists get away with undermining institutional resilience here.
Rant over. Apologies. (Also, too much work. Shouldn’t be commenting.)
“Sick to the back teeth of people who say Brexit was all about the primacy and sovereignty of UK institutions over European institutions and then shriek like idiots whenever one of those institutions does its duty and asserts itself.”
Sick too!! They want a dictatorship, not democracy.
Those complaining they want their country back, decrying democracy, when the UK upper chamber is made of 500 unelected members, the irony.
The only mention I can find that Bercow was speaking on behalf of MPs is on the BBC, “A petition to withdraw the invitation”:
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/38884604
What happened, Becky, was an Early Day Motion was signed by about a third of MPs – 150? 160? Can’t remember. The EDM called on the parliamentary authorities to withhold permission for Trump to address Parliament from Westminster Hall should the state visit go ahead. Post the EDM, one of the Labour MPs put in a Point of Order, which required the Speaker to respond.
Nobody expected him to respond quite so vehemently, however!
I know EDMs and Points of Order are total parliamentary geekery and only nerds like me pay attention to them, but this is all proper parliamentary procedure. Bercow didn’t stand up and ban Trump just because he felt like it. MPs used parliamentary methods to require him to take a position. He took a stronger one that anyone expected but he HAD to take a position, he didn’t just decide to.
“but he HAD to take a position, he didn’t just decide to.”
Spot-on!
Sixer, thanks for the clarification. The press have exaggerated his statement then, when his position is non-political, he will speak on behalf of MPs.
I wasn’t watching the live events from Parliament yesterday, but have been taking a look today.
If he’d as vehemently come out with the opposite position and said he would be happy to issue a speaking invitation to the Orange One, we might have hated it but it would have been the equally acceptable result of a proper parliamentary process, you know?
I wish the British public would just understand that democracy does not equal “things I agree with”.
What annoys me, Becky, is that there are acres and acres of print and TV being dedicated to this with commentators galore and not one of them has even bothered looking at Hansard to see what actually happened. Even the BBC, where the researchers briefing the newsreaders/moderators haven’t done this bloody basic bit of background.
It’s embarrassing!
I read last night that Bercow was one of three that could make that decision. I thought it would be a majority deciding, but Bercow’s word is law because he is Speaker of the House? Am I wrong about three of them deciding?
Am royal getting fed up with the effed up bias reporting of our media – they twist the facts to suit their editor in chiefs/owner/publishers political views (see the Daily Fail who EinC is a fascist) and the stupid sheep like it up. With Mr Google people have a WEALTH of information at their fingers tips but do they utilise it – no! People who scream that they were lied to over Brexit were too wilfully ignorant and lazy to have even voted in the first place. But i guess if its not 143 characters or in their facebook feed they are not interested.
Thou the press ripping into Farage over living with a younger woman (albeit maybe innocently) has perked me up – esp when his wife came out and stuck her knife in (she said they had been separated for years). I loathe that man and I hope he just goes away – he’s like and STD.
@ Lady D – there are 3 “key-holders” but it requires a consensus between the 3, not a majority rule.
Basically, the issue here is Trump addressing Parliament in Westminster Hall. The Hall is not where either House normally sits, it’s a special room used for important ceremonial occasions: Addresses to the Crown, lyings-in-state (it’s where the Queen Mum’s coffin was displayed before her funeral) and Obama’s speech to Parliament.
Responsibility for the Hall is held by the Speaker of the House of Commons (Berclaw), the Lord Speaker (Fowler) and the Lord Chamberlain (on behalf of the Queen). If any one of the three says no, you can’t use it, then it’s a no.
Lord Fowler could still invite Trump to talk to Parliament another room in Westminster Palace, (say the House of Lords) because the responsibility for that room just lies with him and the Lord Chamberlain.
This would be seen as according Trump significantly less of an honour than Obama received, so there’s a possibility it might be done as a compromise. More likely it would piss off both sides – Trump would be offended at being offered a “lesser” venue and the anti-Trump public who signed the petition would still be annoyed that he was invited to speak at all.
And here’s The Conversation on it this morning:
http://theconversation.com/loving-the-bercow-bite-why-commons-speaker-is-right-to-stand-up-against-donald-trump-72602?
I watched his speech and applauded. I don’t understand all the inner workings of your government so I read these posts with great interest.
He should not be invited to speak anywhere. I hope he doesn’t come to Canada 🙁
For your sake I hope you can avoid him as well….
Ours isn’t that different to yours, Kay. Parliamentary cabinet system. So, although the executive is drawn from the parliament, parliament overall (elected members and appointed officials) have some say over what government can do – as various essential checks and balances on the power of the executive.
Speaker of the House of Commons is a really important role. In the order of precedence, the Speaker ranks only behind the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor and a few of the archbishops. He is something like the 6th most important commoner in the country. So the idea that he is getting above his station is ludicrous.
“Never thought I’d say this but thank God for John Bercow putting his foot down as the Speaker of the House of Commons and preventing the Orange Maniac from addressing the house. ”
Same!!
I listened to the whole thing and I nearly applauded him at home. Damnit, yes!
Mayoodle probably had a fit of rage last night.
Clearly, British papers are full of racists, misogynists and sexists frothing at the mouth in the comments today.
And… Sixer, I’m ranting over!
I’m disgusted at some Labour MPs too, what the heck the Labour party has become!!
We need compulsory civics education in this country. Badly. How can you tell people a recent vote of yours was entirely about parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of specifically British law a) without any understanding of parliament or the UK legal system and b) then complain when the very institutions you voted to protect do the jobs they are constitutionally required to do?
Nobody in Britain has the faintest idea of how their democracy works. This, I have learned.
Yes!
“Nobody in Britain has the faintest idea of how their democracy works.”
When I was supposed to naturalise, I studied for (and passed) the Life in the UK test. The test is about British government institutions too and how they work. My husband, despite being educated, failed them….
Many British commenters, everywhere, have completely displayed a lack of understanding for their government institutions and laws, included immigration laws, with many others thinking that after 5 years EU citizens have an automatic right to remain. Which is complete BOLLOCKS (this added to the other big LIE that being married to a Brit gives a right to reside – NO).
The 5 years lie is also paraded on the gov uk website and when you enter the forms the lie gets unmasked…….
I’m pretty sure that a lot of mess and chaos will ensue in any regard from March onwards.
True, I didn’t learn anything about the workings of Govt and Parliament at school, unless it was 2nd hand through history studies. Everything else I’ve learned is through reading/watching news and current affairs.
Teaching that subject would help, but unfortunately it’s the over 50’s who won’t get it, and something like 60% of the voters in that age group voted Leave, and probably get their information from the tabloid press.
I did Government & Politics at A level and we covered the UK and US systems as the government part. So the only formal education I got on it was from an elective choice at age 16. Everything else I know about the minutiae of it all just comes from being a political geek.
I agree it’s too late to do much about it for the people voting now but we really should start educating our kids.
If I’m not mistaken, Scotland requires Modern Studies, which covers a lot of this stuff and is taught from 11 years old and onwards, so it wouldn’t be particularly difficult to import it to England and Wales.
The Labour Party has become a massive joke – May was right when she said the Corbyn can only lead a protest, thats all he seems interested in doing. He certainly has no interest in actually forming or leading an opposition. Guess he too busy whinging on twitter about being unable to get a seat with for him and his court on a not so busy Virgin train. His own ‘supporters’ in the party are turning on him – the unions have distanced themselves and its only a matter of time before he’s kicked out.
UK electorate have become complacent and too used to being spoon fed everything. They have no interest in learning how our parliament/democracy works. People say to me that we should dump first past the post and I always say what with – it then transpires that they have no idea how first past the post actually works,
He has to be impeached. I mean with the amount of protesting going on around the world?! How can they not find a way!
Paul Ryan is not looking for a way. He is quite happy with everything Trump has done.
We have another way, right?
No, not that one. Sheesh.
Isn’t there some provision if the President can be declared incompetent? The 25th Amendment, I think? Or am I desperately grasping at straws?
The problem is I think the VP and the Cabinet are the ones who have to make that decision, and Trump’s crazy cabinet isn’t going to go for it if they have any other option
The cabinet members are in the dark, quite literally, if you believe the sources who spoke to NYTimes.
Ok. What I don’t understand: Trump put up a security measure (the 90/120 day ban) that exists only to be triggered in case of extreme danger/attack etc. Right?
But there was no such thing, no incident that could have justified such a measure.
Why is he not impeached on these grounds? Or am I missing something here? He accused a judge of treason and fired her but says America is also a “killer”. Isn’t this enough to block him?
Asking honestly albeit probably a bit naïvely.
To be impeached, the House of Representatives has to vote on impeachment. Paul Ryan is very happy with everything Trump has done.
I do not understand American constitution so thanks for the answer. Easier than looking up 😉
However, I had failed to read about Paul Ryan and now that I have… boy are Americans (and the rest of the world) in trouble. 😱
Well I’m “rattled” too..
About conflicts of interest
About refusing to reject Putin
About the coarse words with Mexico and Australia
About the Muslim “Ban” ( YOUR WORDS )
About President Bannon
About Lies from KAC and Sean SS Spicer
About false claims of voter fraud and inauguration crowd sizes
About ISIL recruiting in the US
About People of Color being swept under the rug
About Pence and Women’s rights
About the LGBTQ community being silenced
About civil liberties disappearing
About a Reichstag Fire event
About Adolf Twitler watching news and tweeting
About the Judicial Branch being squashed
About a dictatorship forming under our noses
About the transition ( what exactly were you all DOING between 11/9 and 1/20? )
About sanctuary cities being defunded
About the deplorable cabinet picks
About the Supreme Court nominee
About easing Dodd-Frank
About the fools who still support Emperor Zero
About war
About the environment
About climate change and humanity’s direct involvement in it
About oil reserves
About fracking
About the forests being depleted
About a new Civil War
About Stephen Miller
About the WH Gang of Goblins
About the press being able to continue doing their job
About failed Black-Ops events and saying it’s a success “by any measure”
About NATO
About the European Union
About easing sanctions on Russia
About the ACA and those who will be left vulnerable if it is repealed (and not replaced)
About broken promises
The list is endless 🙁
Sadly all of this!!
Applause to you for creating such a true and intense list. I agree and please forgive me for being superficial for a moment as I would like to add that red hats and tic tacs are now making me sick.
If a woman playing Spicer truly freaked Trump out, then SNL should find a woman to play Trump. He’d stroke out.
And a man to play Melania.
I love the idea of a man playing Melania. There is something manish about her anyway. She didn’t look so manish in the nude photos but later as she aged.
I hear Arnie’s available to play her:)
@Lady D – He could certainly sound like her. Patrick Swayze played a drag queen to perfection in a movie, so why not?
From what I’ve read, yes, there are multiple grounds for impeachment. However, to do this, they need a House of Reps majority and Senates 2/3 majority vote. Considering the republicans are the majority in both, right now it’s unlikely to pass and I guess no one wants to risk his wrath.
But aren’t a majority of Republicans against Trump?
If they are they have a strange way of showing it.
Unfortunately, a majority of Republicans are not against Trump because they want to get their conservative agenda passed. They cannot wait to dismantle the social programs.
Not a constitutional expert, but from other comments I’ve read, if Congress get fed up of him they can impeach him.
IMO it’s only a matter of time before that happens.
From what I’ve seen Republicans are cowardly and put their own best interests and the party over country. It would take a lot of guts to impeach Trump and few of these men have spines.
Women’s March Organizers Are Planning A ‘Day Without A Woman’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/womens-march-organizers-are-planning-a-day-without-a-woman_us_5898ba2fe4b09bd304bc9f5f
Brilliant!
I am just so pleased to see how Trump, Kellyanne, Spicer and Bannon are being exposed as lying autocrats.
http://twitter.com/ridim_luv/status/827765536897515520
Hope this brings a smile to your face, fellow resisters. It’s President Obama kite surfing.(Please come back, please come back, this is all a collective bad dream, right?)
http://www.today.com/news/surf-s-obama-kitesurfs-goofs-splashy-new-vacation-video-t107876
OMG … so needed that smile!!!! Loved it. Stick it out to the end and it will for a sweet moment wipe away the horrid image of the Trump scowl.
If so-called president Trump has a heart, he is deflecting and actually rattled about innocent people being killed on his watch, including children, during a recent raid. I suspect it was another rash decision without the proper advisers in the room.
He’s 70 years old. I just can’t think of any examples indicating that he has a heart. Selfishness, vindictiveness, callousness are hallmarks of his life. He’s as lacking in a heart as dick cheney is, imo.
http://www.potusstaff.com/r/p/s/d/o/j/immigration-appeal-brief.pdf
From RoguePotus twitter account
Don’t know if it’s already out there
He would be, his skin is thinner than rice paper…
He’s a bully – he can dish it out but can’t take it. He’s inept – focused on comedy sketches instead of running the country. He’s a liar – therefore cannot handle the truth. Melissa McCarthy and Alec Baldwin were genius!
Oh yes. Let’s impeach the radioactive cheeto.
Then we have Pence.
Which is probably the plan anyway.
🙁
Either way, we are screwed.
Bring on the asteroid impact please.
Impreach him and you end up with Pence. What a horrible choice. Lunatic narcissistic cheeto colored ignorant fascist or lunatic misogynistic religious theocracy advocate, thank you to the uneducated people that Trump loves.
Please God yes.
Donald Trump looked miserable this weekend.
I know, did you see photos of him and Melania at their “formal” Super Bowl party? Pathetic.
Yes, here’s the happy couple.
http://twitter.com/chris_meloni/status/828832007409004544
Contact your Senator and all the Republican Senators tomorrow about blocking Pruitt’s confirmation.
http://dailykos.com/stories/1630893
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/us/politics/scott-pruitt-is-seen-cutting-the-epa-with-a-scalpel-not-a-cleaver.html?referer=http://www.google.com/m?q=pruitt+confirmation&client=ms-opera-mini-android&channel=new&_r=0
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/
Impeachment, yes! Make my day!
Denials this morning about Russia on Twitter… He’s insisting there’s no connection. The cheeto doth protest too much, I think. Someone get on this!!
Pence confirmed DeVos.
That clueless harridan is going to kill education.
Those poor, poor children. I will never forgive the republicans for this.
“Whenever you hear a politician carry on about what a mess the schools are, be aware that you are looking at the culprit.”
~Molly Ivins
Get ready for lawsuits demanding creationism be taught in the public schools. And for complaints that textbooks/teachers give too much emphasis to the slaughter of Native Americans, the enslavement of African Americans and the internment of Japanese Americans among other things. And none of it will be opposed by the DOE.
Get ready for even more resources to be drained from public schools and even less access to an equal education for students with special needs.
It’s incredibly sad that only two Republicans were willing to put our students ahead of party. It’s time for people to step up at the local level to fight Devos’s agenda to essentially dismantle public education.
Pence just confirmed Betsy with his tie breaking vote.
He’s no better than trump, not at all. His crazy is just on the inside, and he lets loose on policy, not twitter.
do not kid yourself or normalize ny of this- pence is just as dangerous, if not more so, because he IS a politician.
I’m sick to my stomach.
The past 3 weeks have felt like 3 years. Our country, constitution and democracy have been destroyed. We all thought that the Republicans were going to fall apart…it’s the Democrats who better, quickly, reexamine themselves and get their shit together.
DeVos will be the worst thing for public education. She has no clue, not one.
On a shear petty note, do you have any more pictures of the Orange One with his double chin showing? The one from Sun was priceless.
Here are some funny photoshops:
http://www.thewrap.com/donald-trump-chin-mocked-in-hilarious-internet-memes-photos/
Or, if you want unphotoshopped Mr. turkeyneck:
http://theslot.jezebel.com/donald-trump-would-hate-for-you-to-click-and-share-thes-1789264755
He beats McConnell hands down.
Oh.. in that yellow shirt you can see his man-boobs….MOOBS!
Pence voting for DeVos is no surprise! He is just as disgusting & has no moral compass like the rest of them. I am in complete awe and admire you guys down to your senators who staged the sit in fighting for the future of the children across America. Please don’t give up. Continue the good fight!!
I want them to all go down from Trump, KAC, Bannon, to Kushner, Ivanka, Miller, Ryan, Pence, Flynn & Priebus. I want those idiots who voted for this administration to regret the day they voted for these fools. The adminstration deserves to be humiliated & disgraced. Sorry I’m super pi**ed about DeVos.
Just imagine them as a bunch of pins and keep aiming to knock them down. One after another after another. In any and every way possible. We will never forget. We will never forgive. RESIST!
With the DeVos confirmation, I am wondering who bought the Republican party. There must be a lot of bigley campaign money sources pulling the strings.
http://www.salon.com/2017/02/07/secret-money-fueling-pro-betsy-devos-ad-campaigns_partner/
Also, to anyone interested, please sign this if you care about animals:
http://bit.ly/2liq6ht
Well, she’s a billionaire who has thrown money at the Republicans for yours. Today her bribes bore fruit – being named Education Secretary who is against improving public schooling! Not to mention that she never attended a public school in her life and is pro-conversion therapy. I feel so bad for the teachers and students, They deserves soooo much better than this totally unqualified person SMDH.
Hopefully the ACLU and educational groups can legally stop any DeVos moves. The DOJ needs to beef up their legal staff. Too bad there is a hiring freeze. *cough*
Is he aware he has a vagina on his neck?
wow. Maxine Waters talking impeachment. Stunning revelation.
Impeach him and we still have Pence and Bannon.
Bannon is in an appointed position – thus he could be removed by Pence if Pence assumed the Presidency. All cabinet members can also be replaced under a new President.
In 1973 Gerald Ford, a longtime House Representative who was serving as House Minority Leader at the time, was appointed by President Nixon to fill the vacant Vice-Presidential office. (Vice President Spiro Agnew had resigned due to an imminent criminal indictment.) Ford was approved for the office by Congress and had served for only 10 months when President Nixon resigned. Within a year, President Ford had changed out most of Nixon’s cabinet appointees.
A new Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller was appointed by Ford. One month into office, in a highly controversial move, Gerald Ford granted a full pardon to Richard Nixon for any and all crimes committed in relation to the Watergate matter.
Ford served the remaining 3 years of Nixon’s second term and was then defeated by Jimmy Carter when he ran for election. Many felt he lost the election due to his pardon of Nixon.
———–
To play Melania Trump on SNL = Caitlyn Jenner
Yes, most sane leaders can’t stand Trump. Putin loves him and African dictators adore him. I just listened to a group of Kenyan men extolling his virtues whilst disparaging “weak” Obama. Some people love the rule of the fist. They crave it. It is worth reasserting that Trump however, has tiny fists. Wormtongue Bannon on the other hand….
This rather long but easy-to-read article on “Normalization”, written by a well known expert on Adolph Hitler’s rise to power, is something that we best all read at this time:
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/normalization-lesson-munich-post
BWAhahahah This is awesome bc that MM/Spicer skit was HILARIOUS and spot on. Also enjoyed Baldwin and the riff on Grim Reaper/Bannon. Well played. Well played.
I stopped watching SNL years ago, but have recently tuned in the past election year, etc just so I can laugh and look forward to what they are bringing.
Baldwin can be a jackass in real life- but he is a damn good comedic actor and I have enjoyed quite a bit of his work in movies and television over the years. His other brothers, not so much. Alec has the most versatility, IMO.
No, rosie was up to play Bannon. Not spicer.