It's a bigly Trump thread. Another beauty. But you don't need to know what's in it. I don't have to tell you. So there.

[amispartacus]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2855213-You-can-read-this-thread-anywhere-Even-in-a-Florida-resort-Its-a-secure-thread-Trump-cont

There was a press conference. It was interesting.

In other news I thought you all might be interested in this Buzzfeed story on the likely pick for next UK head of the supreme court and the Daily Mails views on her.

Here’s Why Tabloid Newspapers Will Lose The Plot If This Woman Becomes Head Of The Supreme Court
www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/heres-why-tabloid-newspapers-will-lose-the-plot-if-this-woma?utm_term=.eypqbZyg3a#.tvO2jaWl74

here BBC article about trolling the pope. The article discusses the possible involvement of a very right wing American cardinal (who is also a Trump supporter)

pence is a right-wing snake but he isn't completely nuts. I can see him as selling himself as some sort of moderate safe pair of hands in comparison to trump though, which shows you how screwed up the world has become

Maybe this has been the Tea Party's strategy all along.

Indeed helza very presidential even! But he is a whole other ball game isn't he...

He brought up Trump's name a couple of times but not much. To me it was a damage repair exercise. He has now mentioned more commitment from other NATO members but only touched on that, the rest was platitudes really

Not sure if this has been posted, but here's an Op Ed on Patriot Barbie from the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/opinion/the-downfall-of-kellyanne-conway.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

That Judge sounds great!

Maybe this has been the Tea Party's strategy all along

It's a risky one though. As was mentioned up thread if the Russian stuff gets substantiated it would probably hit Pence too. Also I just can't see Trump going quietly. I think he will be the sort to take the whole ship down with him.

Good analysis of Trump and Russia.
www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/so-just-what-is-the-deal-with-trump-and-russia/news-story/96b19d2f4e65acb4b9577ad62e32c1e1

That Australian article is behind a paywall. Can you give the general gist of the piece?

Rewatched Revenge of the Sith.

The senate ruler gains more executive powers and has control of an army after a seperatist war started (that he helped in the start of). The Senate gives him more powers and he doesn't relinquish power after his time is up.

Discussion about that - and Anakin suggesting that it's good to have a leader with more powers as it stops discussion that is time wasting.

The 'good' guys aren't sure if they are on the right side:

I wonder if Trump has seen that.

This is appalling. English footballer denied entry to USA.

www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/18/dwight-yorke-felt-like-criminal-denied-entry-usa

Just saying

extranewsfeed.com/how-donald-trump-stole-his-strategy-from-star-wars-d8b8590f996#.9nec2hxh1

Dh keeps telling me about Trump stuff he has seen on line and i keep having to tell him we had it on our thread days ago

Here is the conclusion.

. As the resignation of Flynn and the recent CNN, New York Times and Washington Post reports have shown, some members of US intelligence are presently sufficiently alarmed about the relations between Trump and Putin that they are openly, under con­ditions of anonymity, willing to leak details of their domestic and overseas communications interceptions to the mainstream American media. To my knowledge, in the history of US intelligence such a situation is unprecedented.

At least three investigations into the Trump team’s relations with the Russians have been established. On October 15, 2016, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court granted a warrant sought by a number of US intelligence services that allows them to investigate the exchanges between two Russian banks and three American citizens involved in the Trump election campaign — Manafort, Page and the Republican activist Roger Stone.

The FBI is conducting a separate inquiry into the Steele dossier. In addition, an investigation into Russian interference in the presidential election has been established by a committee of the US Senate.

If, between them, these inquiries conclude that Trump’s team colluded with Russia in the hacking and the publication of the DNC emails and, even more, if it can be proved that it helped fund the operation, an impeachment hearing of the recently inaug­urated US President seems the only constitutional course.

Star Wars strategy

Energize a Group Long Thought Dead
Create a Fight That Doesn’t Exist
Have an Army of Surrogates Do Your Fighting for You
Cast Yourself as the Victim
Get Your Enemy to Create an Army for You, Then Turn the Army Against That Same Enemy
Take Advantage of Clueless “Protectors”
Take Advantage of Not So Smart People in Your Opponent’s Wake
Strike Your Opponents with a Shot in the Back from Someone They Trust
Even When You Lose, You’ve Actually Won
Sadness Produces Hope

It’s pretty clear that we, the people, are poor Padme Amidala. We had faith that things would turn out well. We stood up and spoke up for our beliefs. And we watched one of the ugliest battles ever.

And in the end, even the victors have to be a little saddened about how it all went down. Hopefully, like Padme, out of our sadness can be born a little bit of hope. A new hope. Even if it doesn’t happen until the next episode

Until then, we need to be less like the lady in the Michaels lobby, and more like Yoda.
Less fear. Less anger. Less hate. Let’s not try. Let’s just do

Thanks for that article conclusion, Saffron.

Meanwhile, a nice question

www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/nyregion/unf-news-kyle-mazza.html

“Mr. President,” a reporter began, “Melania Trump announced the reopening of the White House Visitors Office. And she does a lot of great work for the country as well. Can you tell us a little bit about what first lady Melania Trump does for the country?”

Mr. Trump lowered his combative tone. “Now, that’s what I call a nice question,” he said. “That is very — who are you with?”

The answer — UNF News — barely registered with Mr. Trump.

“Good,” the president said. “I’m going to start watching, all right?”

The question, which was mocked a little on social media, will most likely end up as a footnote about Mr. Trump’s dealings with the news media. But Mr. Mazza’s unlikely path to the White House is a strange tale befitting these strange times.

UNF News, Mr. Mazza said in an interview on Friday, was his “own news station that I started when I was 8 years old.”

If Mr. Trump were to start paying attention to UNF News, it would be a start: The network has neither advertisers nor subscribers.

Across I love bawbag. I usually use it with " fucking numpty" as a prefix. I think us "Scotch" people are very good at sweary words.
We named a big storm Hurricane Bawbag a few years ago.

Are they allowing anyone in the press room now?

Hmmm. That could be handy.

Didn't Trump add Ivanka to the answer about Melania?

I was last night when BBC radio had Ann Coulter on & she called John McCain a deluded narcissist. I guess if Kelly Anne decides "Fuck this" the administration will get Coulter in to Spin.

Wonder if The Emperor has his eye on this keepsake? It's being sold in the US...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39012572

BBC World News take on the first 28 days: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38986349

ami like your star wars strategy, and the judge looks brilliant,bigly!

This is appalling. English footballer denied entry to USA.

I read that article elsewhere yesterday and it concluded that it was more likely Yorke was denied entry to the US because of the restrictions Obama put on people who had visited certain countries in the two years (in Yorke's case it was Iran).

Not saying that's right either, just surprised the Guardian article didn't mention the restrictions that were already in place before Trump's Muslim ban.

just surprised the Guardian article didn't mention the restrictions that were already in place before Trump's Muslim ban.

But... But...

Trump had said the US had open borders. Not enough screening.
And at the same time he's only doing what Obama already had.
Funny that.