Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy; it is democracy. Trump no. 94.

[TheClaws]

Quote from Walter Cronkite.

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3345873-Trump-has-a-Pecker-problem-and-there-is-a-blue-pill-to-make-it-grow-bigger-midterms-Trump-threads-contd

If you separate this from the politics and personality of any individual president
Yes, but you are handing this facility to this president.

'FEMA to test 'Presidential Alert' system next week.
Experts expressed little concern that the wireless emergency alerts could be used for political purposes.'
Next Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will do its first test of a system that allows the president to send a message to most U.S. cellphones.
... Experts didn't appear to be too concerned that Trump, known to use his smartphone to blast opponents, berate subordinates and take shots at the news media on Twitter, could abuse WEA.
"If you separate this from the politics and personality of any individual president then this is a great idea and an amazing use of technology to reach everybody if they’re in harms way," said Karen North, director of the Annenberg Digital Social Media program at the University of Southern California.
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna909816?__twitter_impression=true

Raging and depressed at the same time after reading this.

Our System Is Too Broken to Assess the Sexual Assault Claim Against Kavanaugh

No wonder the accuser wants to stay silent.
slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-assault-accusation-confirmation-hearing.html

Every cell phone?! Are they mad?

'Why even moderate Democrats are moving left and changing what it means to be centrist'
amp.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article218401330.html?__twitter_impression=true

"(...) most indications point to a Democratic Party that is realizing that bipartisan governing is simply impossible in our polarized age, and there’s no reason to waste your energy trying to make it happen. The potential 2020 presidential candidates all seem to be not just embracing an extremely progressive policy agenda but demonstrating an eagerness to confront the GOP."

"They’re responding to what the Democratic base wants, but it would be a mistake to interpret it as simply “moving left,” i.e. just about ideology. It’s about that, but it’s more than that. The experience of the last ten years has been searing for liberals in a way that I think many people don’t fully appreciate."

"If you don’t realize how enraged the Democratic base is, you’re missing what may be the most important force in American politics right now. And if they should take power in the 2020 elections, I’m pretty sure that when it comes time to start following through on these big ideas, President Warren or President Gillibrand or whoever it is will say, “This is my policy. I’m happy to tell Republicans why I think it’s good for the country. If they want to join us, that’s great. But I’m not going to change my proposal in order to satisfy them when I’m 99 percent sure they’re going to vote against it in the end no matter what. And if they don’t like it? Tough luck.”"

"If that happens, Democratic voters will say, “That’s exactly why we elected you.” And I don’t think even Barack Obama will object."

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/09/14/democrats-are-angry-and-tired-of-compromise/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.06d30953fdf0

Fingers crossed.

But surely the Dems will listen to 'minority groups'?

I suppose it depends on the minority group. White nationalists probably won't be a priority.

The text to everyone next Thursday is not going down well...

People are saying they are going to block him on their phones, that they do not want him texting and people are incensed about it, not surprised! Also this..

"To avoid the FEMA phone call: "If your phone is turned on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in alerts, the phone should be capable of receiving the message. SO.....Thursday Sept. 20, at 2:18 p.m. ET. EVERYONE TURN OFF CELL PHONES!"

'The bruising midterm primaries are over. What have we learned about the 'blue wave'?
Seven months of dozens of contests — and some surprising results — have revealed much about what each party has going for it (and doesn't).'
www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna909396?cid=eml_mrd_20180914&__twitter_impression=true

mobile.twitter.com/tweakyourpc/status/1041000942022344704/photo/1

Thanks for those, mimi.

Which witch?

'Mike Pence has a whole new Trump-Russia problem'
www.palmerreport.com/analysis/mike-pence-problem-whole-new/12653/

'How a Ukrainian Hairdresser Became a Front for Paul Manafort'
One of the people who did business with a company opened under Mr. Kaseyev’s stolen identity didn’t mean anything to him. But the name certainly caught the eye of investigators in the United States: Paul J. Manafort.
Mr. Manafort, who worked for a decade as a political consultant in Ukraine before becoming chairman of the Trump campaign in 2016, made a deal worth hundreds of thousands of dollars with the shell company under the hairdresser’s name. It was called Neocom Systems Limited, according to a Ukrainian lawmaker.
www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/world/europe/ukraine-paul-manafort.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Jonathan Martin
@jmartNYT
NEW: The Republican finger-pointing is underway:
Hill Republicans & their establishment allies blame the Trump show. But senior WH aides fire back by pointing to all the open seats they must defend - Including that of one Paul D. Ryan

'The Economy Is Humming, but Trump Is Tweeting. Republicans Are Worried.'
www.nytimes.com/2018/09/15/us/politics/trump-republicans-midterms.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fpolitics&action=click&contentCollection=politics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

'Arkansas Just Kicked 4,000 Low-Income People Off Of Medicaid Due To A Policy Trump Pushed.
Under the state’s new work requirements system, for every one new person working, volunteering, or training, another 50 people lost their health insurance at the beginning of September.'
“Personal responsibility is important. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure those who qualify for the program keep their coverage, but it is equally important that we make sure those who no longer qualify are removed,” said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson in a written statement.
www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/paulmcleod/arkansas-4000-people-off-medicaid-work-requirements?__twitter_impression=true

Double impeachment would be fun.
Who'd be the next in line?

So far this weekend Trump has been golfing. That is all.

I imagine his handlers have him out on the course as much as possible to keep him away from screens.

TVs and his own.

Actually, I meant not been golfing which means his handlers have failed on that score.

Unless they have simply locked his phone and changed the password.

I hope there are tapes of these last couple of days.

www.politico.com/story/2018/09/14/donald-trump-hurricane-florence-brett-kavanaugh-manafort-825300

The Associated Press
‏
Verified account

@AP

'BREAKING: Authorities say U.S. Border Patrol agent in Texas is suspected of having killed four women and abducting a fifth.'

lweji next in line is the Speaker, who is currently Paul Ryan but could be a Dem if they win both houses in the midterms.

🤞

Or - could be a Republican. (I grant you that the chances of that are slim.)