We stand at a tipping point: do we fire up the popcorn maker or start digging a fallout shelter in the garden? (Trump cont)

[boatyardblues]

Old thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3207431-When-a-nation-s-children-marched-and-their-President-ignored-them-Trump-cont

I’m all out of inspiration for the rest of this opening post. Send the St Bernard with the brandy please.

I think he'd be re-elected - if I recall his numbers it would be a really big ask for any opponent to defeat him. I doubt he'd hand over the baton with such good grace as Pelosi, though.

Bigly place marking

I think ('think') he has until 1 June to decide, though?

I bet Krugman is celebrating.
Oh, yeah mobile.twitter.com/paulkrugman

If it's true, he won't be alone.

Krugman has never had much time for Ryan, but his farewell tweets are especially scathing. Just a few of them from the last hour:

Ryan was an obvious phony from the beginning -- obvious to everyone except his constituency, the media

And he's been a major enabler of Trump's corruption and contempt for rule of law. Now, it seems, he wants out. Let the record say that his was a dishonorable discharge

His real goal was to eviscerate the social safety net, under the pretense of doing it in the name of fiscal responsibility. In particular, his signature proposal was to voucherize, privatize, and defund Medicare. But that's not happening

And meanwhile, as Speaker, his main achievement, if you can call it that, has been as enabler of corruption and contempt for rule of law. It's unclear whether the end game will be Democratic takeover of the House or autocracy, American style. But either way, what a legacy

There's a sort of political 'De mortuis nil nisi bonum' which generally comes into play but I'm hard pushed to imagine that it will this time. (And the critics will include the GOP.)

There is very little good to say about him politically.

Well done Boaty. ( blatant place marking)

Did you all note that at yesterday's presser, a reporter (April Ryan, I think) asked whether 45 had considered 'stepping down' ? (Or some such words.) Huckleberry poo-poo'd the notion of course - but the question was asked.

I worry that Ryan may have a post given to him by Trump

I don't think she'd take it.

Trumps tweets seem a bit confused today -

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and “smart!” You shouldn’t be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
4h
Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Stop the arms race?

As ever, he's being played. That's the result.

And just to show that there truly is an old tweet for every occasion -

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Why do we keep broadcasting when we are going to attack Syria. Why can't we just be quiet and, if we attack at all, catch them by surprise?
5:45 am · 29 Aug 2013

mobile.twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/372943068267573249

And now for a dose of 'Randy Thrust'. (You need to watch it to pick that up.)

Not what you expect to hear while picking up your Cocopops.
Unnamed R. congressman lets go on T. in Safeway:
www.themaven.net/theresurgent/api/amp/theresurgent/erick-erickson/a-congressman-s-profanity-laced-tirade-in-a-safeway-grocery-store-SeHI2l5bIECGQn4gmnzGaw?mc_cid=10d8170a1d&mc_eid=3cc50e048e&full=1&__twitter_impression=true

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/11/kremlin-us-strike-against-syria-heighten-instability

www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/10/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-congress-analysis

www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/10/scott-pruitt-epa-death-threats-review

Question is, what does Mueller have on Paul Ryan, based on timing after the raids.

I think he's up to his neck in doodoo as well, isn't he? Go quietly and you might get tennis prison, Paul....

'A former senior Republican politician, who for many years was “unalterably opposed” to the legalisation of cannabis, is to join the advisory board of a marijuana company.'

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/john-boehner-marijuana-republican-speaker-legalisation-acreage-holdings-opposition-a8299991.html

'My thinking on cannabis has evolved.'

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/robert-mueller-trump-fbi-dana-boente-russia-investigation-obstruction-justice-a8299186.html

'Meetings suggests special counsel has gone to some lengths to corroborate James Comey‘s account of White House affairs.'

Not a sign of anything and there is a scientific explanation.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/geese-dead-fall-sky-us-freak-event-lightning-strike-idaho-a8299371.html

'Scores of dead geese rained down from the sky during a “freak event” in the US.

The birds were migrating north over Idaho when the entire flock was struck by lightning, wildlife experts say.'

And just to show that there truly is an old tweet for every occasion

There should be a name for it.

Reverse governing? (from reverse psychology)