Trump talk: HOW MUCH for that inauguration?

[PerkingFaintly]

We can start whole new threads for less than $26,000,000.

This one only cost 23p I found down the back of the sofa:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3171217-Trump-Talk-or-Lift-every-voice-and-sing?pg=1

Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
Melania Trump has parted ways with adviser Stephanie Winston Wolkoff after news broke about Wolkoff’s firm reaping $26,000,000 in payments to help plan Trump’s inauguration, NYT reports.
www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/us/politics/melania-trump-inauguration-adviser.html

Andrew Desiderio
@desiderioDC
More sanctions confusion >> Mnuchin has been telling Congress new sanctions are coming based on Russian oligarchs report. But lawmakers have no guidance on this & it's not mandated.

Meanwhile, defense & intel sector sanctions haven't been implemented.

Democrats Demand Rex Tillerson Explain Why He’s Not Spending Money to Stop Russian Meddling
$120 million was given to State to counter election meddling. Not a dime has been spent. Now, lawmakers want answers.

www.thedailybeast.com/democrats-demand-rex-tillerson-explain-why-hes-not-spending-money-to-stop-russian-meddling

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/09/google-facebook-first-amendment-protections

Nick Lakhonin
@RusEmbUSApress
‘@statedeptspox, Twitter seems to be more reliable & quicker communication channel (under your gov control) on urgent issues. We are ready to share copies of our “formal invitations” via DM. Provided you start following @RusEmbUSA.
.
Let our ministers meet!

Olga_Lautman NYC ..
@olgaNYC1211
More Olga_Lautman NYC .. Retweeted Nick Lakhonin
I’m so confused why the Kremlin feels the need to prove that they sent an invitation for Lavrov to meet w Tillerson in Africa..

Day 2 of this strange story appearing in the Russian news

I have never seen anything like this. With all the important news around the world this need to intimidate the State Dept is really something. Why this need to prove that the Lavrov invitation was sent? Why the need for the State Dept to deny ever receiving an invitation?

twitter.com/olgaNYC1211/status/971979267121627136

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sally-yates-acting-attorney-general-fired-donald-trump-muslim-ban-nominated-john-f-kennedy-courage-a7558711.html

'Democrat politician Jackie Speier has announced she has nominated Ms Yates for the Profile in Courage Award, which is presented in memory of former President John F Kennedy. The prize is described as “the nation’s most prestigious award for public servants.”'

And a sad/infuriating read. What might have been

'Stand down': How the Obama team blew the response to Russian meddling

www.yahoo.com/news/stand-obama-team-blew-response-russian-meddling-100024634.html

“If we got into a tit-for-tat on cyber with the Russians, it would not be to our advantage,” a participant later remarked. “They could do more to damage us in a cyberwar or have a greater impact.” In one of the meetings, Clapper said he was worried that Russia might respond with cyberattacks against America’s critical infrastructure — and possibly shut down the electrical grid.

Thanks for the link to the "Russian Roulette" book excerpt Pain. A case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I watched last night's BBC doc on Putin (almost from behind the couch!) A much smarter version of Trump - self-serving, vain, greedy, amoral and untrustworthy... oh, and criminal. No wonder they get on!

Sam Coates Times
@SamCoatesTimes
Who was Sergei Skripal and what did he do as a secret agent - the incredible full story by Ben Macintyre in today’s Times, with jaw dropping detail

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/de7842e6-23e0-11e8-8ccc-a83211a65142

Nick Cohen
Nick Cohen
@NickCohen4
Now is the moment when Russia Today presenters must justify their fees. George Galloway, Jose Mourinho, Alex Salmond your adopted country needs you

www.inquisitr.com/4819278/five-days-after-trump-lawyer-paid-adult-film-star-130k-trump-org-billed-trump-campaign-129999-72/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+google/yDYq+(The+Inquisitr+-+News)

Five days after a lawyer for Donald Trump’s lawyer paid $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels allegedly in exchange for her silence about a year-long affair with Trump, the company owned by Donald Trump billed his campaign a series of transactions that added up to exactly $129,999.72 — just 28 cents short of the payment made to Daniels.

I am feeling despondent today, he’s still there, despite all the gaffs gurgles and Whitehouse shenanigans. He’s going to be there the whole term isn’t he?

Maybe.

(Remember to take your 'despondency break' at regular intervals. Then you can get back to persisting. )

Mini the GOP have to be persuaded that Trump is no longer useful - the mid terms in November will be the turning point if the Dems succeed in getting the voters out in force. Then hopefully he'll be a lame duck.

I still believe it'll be the money and women that bring him down though!

Tacky is as tacky does

You guys, the United Mine Workers (@mineworkers) have endorsed #PA18 Democrat @ConorLambPA over Rick Saccone.

This is amazing.

The tide is turning, and the #BlueWave2018🌊 is just getting started.

#SaturdayMorning
#AMJoy
twitter.com/aynrandpaulryan/status/972472462003748864?s=21

As the government and WH get emptier, Stephen comes to the rescue.

The ruthless vetting process:
"Have you been declared bankrupt in the last 7 years?"

www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/03/trump-russia-nra-connection-maria-butina-alexander-torshin-guns/

northwest the kochs have already condemned trump’s tariffs so perhaps they will realise they can’t control him and move to dump him (though who they work to replace him isn’t exactly a comforting thought)

I think I proffered Pence Palin in an early thread?

Pence is definitely up next! I’m just hoping he’s brought down by mueller, though there hasn’t been any indication of him being connected to the investigation, but I’ve still got my fingers crossed.

But if pence does end up being taken out of the running please please let this happen, whoever the koch’s put their money behind will be problematic.

Pence will get it. He's hungry for it.

Unless he’s wearing a fetching orange outfit (I know, I know, but it’s good to have dreams)

Manu Raju
@mkraju
Sessions this AM: “I don’t” think it was mistake to recuse from Russia probe. “I think that’s what I had to do,” citing a reg “that says if you participate in a campaign it explicitly says that you can’t investigate the campaign of which you were apart. Pretty reasonable thing.”

Sarah Kendzior
@sarahkendzior
I guess Sessions doesn't recall the part where he ignored his own recusal and then probably committed perjury

Thanks cosie and northwest you’ve cheered me up.

IMO Pence is being kept as far away as possible from this maelstrom of shit and lies. The GOP has a vested interest in keeping him 'clean' and they're going to work very hard at keeping him that way. He's their 'best hope' for the future and they know it, so does he. That's why he keeps pretty quiet and says very little about any of the allegations and, if you will notice, very rarely (if ever) comes to the defense of any of the accused. If he does, it's couched in terms that allow for plausible deniability. The GOP wants to keep Scrotus where he is, for now. But they want Pence in ready reserve for either an impeachment or for the next election. Trump may expect to run for reelection in 2020, but it's quite possible that he won't have the backing of his party.

President Pence- not an idea that fills me with joy