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Trump: yes, we have no Steve Bannon

975 replies

PerkingFaintly · 25/08/2017 15:08

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

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lionheart · 27/08/2017 15:04

I watched a documentary about this a short while ago. It is staggering how quickly the situation has deteriorated cozie.

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 15:13

The piece was quite frightening.

PerkingFaintly · 27/08/2017 15:21

badbadhusky, I wouldn't suggest that reshaping the constitution is something the Bannonites/Mercerites are specifically engineering.

More that Bannon is very public about wanting to break as many things as possible - in the hope things will fall in his mob's favour. Which they very likely will, because if you're extremely rich and powerful you're in a better position to benefit from disaster opportunism, and to use the disruption to remove any regulations which redistribute power away from the ultra-rich, ultra-connected to the ordinary people.

So my guess is they may not have knowingly engineered it, but they wouldn't be upset if one of the things that got broken was the constitution.

Bannon's behaviour has several times reminded me of a bit in War and Peace during the Battle of Borodino, when General Kutuzov doesn't give orders but simply acknowledges the decisions his front line commanders have made. Come the victory, he's given credit for the lot.

In Kutuzov's case, this is described as the actions of a good general who has put in the groundwork for his army. But I see Bannon doing it opportunistically. Whether a disruption is of his initiating (the Muslim ban followed by the airport protests), or directly harms him (him being fired) he simply claims the whole shebang is part of his cunning plan.

He's not someone worth believing all the time.

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cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 15:25

Personally, I think that Bannon is Yesterday's Man.

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 15:32

Much will depend on Robert Mercer - and I just don't know if he'll continue bankrolling bigly enough in possible opposition to Murdoch and the Javanka nexus.

PerkingFaintly · 27/08/2017 15:38

Oh I agree. Mercer's the money. Bannon's just another tool who might get dropped.

(I've been umming and ahhing about referring to "Bannonism", because although he's the face of the Mercer mob and does have his own little agendas, he would be pitiful without their money.)

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TheNorthWestPawsage · 27/08/2017 16:02

Just the cup of Joe I needed today Smile

'We Are Living Through a Battle for the Soul of This Nation'
The former Vice President calls on Americans to do what President Trump has not.
www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/538128/

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:05

There's such a lot of money at stake. And Murdoch is like an old 'gator sunning himself on the bank. In other circumstances, I reckon he'd just allow the power plays for his organisation to play out but if Mercer started to get.........uppity, then I think that would rouse his ire in a personal way.

Mercer is an unknown quantity to me. I know he wants things but - how badly?

TheNorthWestPawsage · 27/08/2017 16:05

Police have finally arrested Dan Borden, the white supremacist we identified as assaulting Deandre Harris. He was in Ohio.
twitter.com/shaunking/status/901560701797507072

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:07

Well done, Joe Biden. Smile

badbadhusky · 27/08/2017 16:11

Thanks for humouring my half-baked conspiracy theory with a considered response, perking Grin

AcrossthePond55 · 27/08/2017 16:13

Not right yet, cozie. The Dems know that if a CC is called, that it opens the Constitution wide for any changes, not just the ones they'd prefer. I don't think they'd take that chance whilst there's a GOP majority in Congress, no matter how 'disaffected' some of the GOP legislators appear to be acting. I think the Dems would have to have a supermajority in both houses before they'd push for a CC.

Now on the other hand, the GOP may be more likely to call for a CC with the double purpose of 'declawing' Scrotus (which would, in essence, make him a relatively powerless figure head) and also furthering their own agenda to stay in power and shape national policy. Reducing the 'power' of the executive branch will throw the balance of powers out of whack and tip it towards the legislative branch. I think that serves the GOP regardless of who is in the WH.

MsHooliesCardigan · 27/08/2017 16:17

cozie That Venezuela piece is shocking. It reminds me of Turkey in how quickly things can change. Scary times Sad

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:22

I take the points, Across. (I give it about a year to 18 months.)

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 27/08/2017 16:36

Sarah Kendzior
Sarah Kendzior @sarahkendzior
Fourth largest city in the US is underwater, creating a humanitarian and economic crisis, and Trump is giving insults and false assurances
I'm less worried about Trump's insults than his refusal to acknowledge his own weaknesses, which may lead to denial of resources in Houston
Much as he invents fake threats, Trump denies real ones and creates fake triumphs. If Harvey makes him "look bad", he may deny people help
If Harvey badly hurts the US economy which it likely will Trump will not have a plan to help, because he won't confront the problem
He will take the natural disaster personally, insisting all is well or changing the subject to his pet causes. He's already doing this.
You have to remember he has no empathy; people are disposable to him. He has no loyalty to US; he's openly rooted for its economic collapse.
He is unlikely to address Harvey and aftermath beyond his own reputation and disaster capitalism profit schemes. Very dangerous for the US.
Trump reversed an exec order on flood protection in August. No logical rationale for it. Sadism and pettiness. mobile.twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/901166894073425921

Harvey is not merely a matter of the next few days. Effects will last for months. Major shocks to citizens, infrastructure, economy.
People will need help for a long time. They will also need money. The person in charge spent the entire Secret Service budget on golf trips.
Americans are usually good at rallying in a crisis like this. Charities overflow; lines to donate blood are long. But we need leadership too
We don't have the leadership we need to handle the direct hit to Texas or broader US aftershocks. This is going to be a very difficult time.
Americans, look out for each other. Look out for Texas. Be generous and helpful. And hold the leaders that fail you accountable.

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 27/08/2017 16:40

TED
TED @EpicureanDeal
The Secretary of State of the United States of America just stated on national TV that the President does not speak for the nation.

Margarita Noriega
Margarita Noriega @margarita
An unforgettable moment.

mobile.twitter.com/margarita/status/901816452558319617/video/1

OnTheDarkSideOfTheSpoon · 27/08/2017 16:44

A bit more detail here:

www.politico.com/story/2017/08/27/tillerson-trump-fox-charlottesville-gorka-242073

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 27/08/2017 16:45

I just watched Tillerson Pain. Quite shocking and very interesting. Chris Wallace was clearly taken aback. Grin

badbadhusky · 27/08/2017 16:49

Interesting that Tillerson made that statement on Fox.

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:50

Goodness.

Roussette · 27/08/2017 16:53

I read somewhere Pain that it will take years to repair damage after Harvey.

And yet Trump is tweeting insults to others, going on yet again about the Wall and Mexico paying, tweets about pulling out of Trade Agreements with Canada and Mexico and giving false assurances about the hurrican. He is also sounding extremely excited that it's the biggest Hurricane ever!!! Experts have never seen anything like it!! Biggest in 500 years!! (his exclamation marks, not mine). In amongst that he's tweeting a book by Sheriff Clarke, another crony of his with a dubious past like Arpaio.

Does the man have NO filter? No common sense? Thousands stranded, people dying and this is what he does.

Lweji · 27/08/2017 16:54

Regarding Venezuela, they have half a million immigrants from Portugal, including their offspring, who, presumably have Portuguese passports or are entitled to it.

An unusual number is already returning with barely anything, particularly as they can't take money out of the country.
Many are asking relatives to send medicine.

We may end up with the equivalent of a refugee problem ourselves, in a country of barely 10 million.

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:55

I think he made a massive mistake in tweeting that book recommendation. Massive.

cozietoesie · 27/08/2017 16:57

I forgot about the close ties between Portugal and Brazil, Lweji.

MsHooliesCardigan · 27/08/2017 16:58

m.youtube.com/watch?v=LGbkTsgpA40

I'm not a great fan of Melania - I think she knew what she was getting into to some extent but I think this shows a really scary side of 45.