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

God
@TheTweetOfGod
I wrote it.
mobile.twitter.com/TheTweetOfGod/status/1037542349981642754

If at first you don't succeed:
www.rawstory.com/2018/09/lightning-literally-struck-white-house/amp/?p=1345398&__twitter_impression=true

The op-ed is an attempt to take out an insurance policy for the GOP and conservatism if and when things get much much worse. It's a very public hedge meant to preserve the reputation of the GOP's entire political and governing class.

twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1037478283531706371

The op-ed is an attempt to take out an insurance policy for the GOP and conservatism if and when things get much much worse. It's a very public hedge meant to preserve the reputation of the GOP's entire political and governing class

Everyone should beware the unintended consequences of this op ed, whatever the supposed motive. There are always unintended consequences. The Oaf and his cult will not go quietly.

Meanwhile, SCOTUS and the lower federal courts are being stacked with lifetime appointments of mainly young/ish, conservative, white men. The legacy of this illegitimate administration will be long and dangerous.

www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2013/11/lifetime_appointments_don_t_make_sense_anymore.html

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/05/bob-woodward-fear-donald-trump-steve-bannon

This man is a creep and a liar, as revealed in his first words when accepting the nomination from Trumpty. He has been a political operative his whole adult life.

'Brett Kavanaugh Proves Elusive During Second Day In Supreme Court Hot Seat.
The Trump nominee proved adept at ducking and dodging senators’ questions about abortion, health care and presidential power.'
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-senate-hearing_us_5b909044e4b0cf7b003c4d3a

'Brett Kavanaugh Flip-Flops On Importance Of Judicial Independence From The President.
The Supreme Court nominee praised U.S. v. Nixon as "one of the greatest moments in judicial history." But he hasn't always felt that way.'
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brett-kavanaugh-flip-flop-supreme-court-confirmation-hearings_us_5b8fe55fe4b0cf7b003b9a3b

'Kavanaugh Won’t Say If He'll Uphold Obamacare Pre-Existing Conditions Protections.
“I can’t give assurances on a specific hypothetical,” President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee said..
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kavanaugh-obamacare-protections_us_5b902744e4b0162f472963d6

Can I just say, and I know I’ve said it before, but god bless The West Wing for teaching me about American politics because I don’t think I’d understand half of what was going on right now if it wasn’t for that show!

On a related note I did see this on Facebook and immediately covet it.

I still want to be CJ when I grow up.

Imagine "West Wing - The Trump years".

We'd need Sue Townsend for it, so no chance. :(

That mention of Bannon, lion, reminds me it is clutch of Bannon familiars who are now appearing as Trump surrogates (apart from Poxy, mainly on CNN, in its desperation to demonstrate 'fairness). Michael Caputo has been particularly active recently. His appearance on Anderson Cooper 360° yesterday was particularly instructive of their approach.(I can't find a clip at the moment)

'Bannon said his new group is aimed at stoking the "populist-nationalist movement" that put Trump into office, and includes booking, messaging and rapid-response operations that regularly brief friendly cable-news pundits.

"The war room is up and running," Bannon bragged, saying Citizens of the American Republican will focus on the triumvirate of ideas, communication and action.
"When I got involved [with the Trump presidential campaign] in August 2016, Trump was down 12, 14, 16 points. Democrats thought I was a clown. They never took him seriously. We caught them napping. We can do it again." '
www.axios.com/trump-at-war-steve-bannon-2018-midterm-elections-43ab32b3-3944-4f52-8bf7-ceaf18a15c4e.html

Found the Caputo appearance with Cooper yesterday. About 16 mins in:

Hear, hear, CaveMum, and it was such an enjoyable primer, too

And yet again Republicans reveal what they're planning (indeed have already done), by accusing other people of it.

Comments at
twitter.com/Taniel/status/1037544963104550912
referring to original article here:

Heartland Bank president: Democrats seeking to ‘fix’ future elections
www.dispatch.com/news/20180905/heartland-bank-president-democrats-seeking-to-fix-future-elections
Nationally, the Democrats are focussed on winning the Secretary of State posts in swing states so that they can have a DIRECT INFLUENCE on that state's 2020 elections. This is at minimum a deliberate attack on our voting process and bordering criminal intent to 'fix' future elections.

Although to be fair, apparently the Dem candidate Kathleen Clyde is planning to impact the presidential election... by improving election transparency and voter registration.

I suppose that is "fixing" an election – just not the way some Republicans do it.

'How Soon Will the NYT’s Trump Resistance Writer Be Outed?
I can’t recall anything as crazy as that Times op-ed. You can bet reporters will track him down.'
www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/05/new-york-times-oped-white-house-shafer-219640

'With anonymous op-ed, it’s Times vs. Times'
www.politico.com/story/2018/09/05/trump-anonymous-new-york-times-oped-809111

TRUMPOLOGY:

www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2018/09/06/trump-alone-301738

'Trump Has No Fear: ‘Makes Nixon Look Like a Cream Puff’
Trump might be in the greatest peril of his presidency, but there’s one thing he has going for him: He likes testing his survival skills.'
www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/05/donald-trump-nixon-presidency-219639

Hissy fit:
'Exclusive: Trump's nightmare: "The snakes are everywhere"
www.axios.com/trump-administration-white-house-leaks-a5a82efa-d6c8-4209-b616-80f1422eb36c.html

Somebody loves me:
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims “unwavering faith in President Trump.” Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!
mobile.twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1037656324010663937

just not the way some Republicans do it
A bit old, but a good example, Perking :
‘One person, one vote’ under attack in Georgia'
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/one-person-one-vote-under-attack-georgia

Unfortunately ..............

He's being played again by Kim. (Possibly, with some advice.)

Kim's principal aim is regime survival - and what he's doing right now is getting 45's eye off him. He knows full well what 45 may see as his options without such a friendly pat.

'Democratic senators ask DOJ to examine Giuliani’s foreign work'
www.politico.com/story/2018/09/06/rudy-giuliani-foreign-work-democrats-809127

Ho Hum.

Can they actually turn Kavanaugh down, and what would happen if they did?

Good idea. Won't happen.
www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/05/forget-the-woodward-book-heres-what-would-really-drive-trump-nuts-219638

Susan Collins 🙈🙉:
Kaitlan Collins
@kaitlancollins
Kavanaugh proposed deleting the line, writing: “I am not sure that all legal scholars refer to Roe as the settled law of the land at the Supreme Court level since Court can always overrule its precedent, and three current Justices on the Court would do so”
Judge Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Leaked Documents From Kavanaugh’s Time in White House Discuss Abortion and Affirmative Action
nytimes.com
mobile.twitter.com/kaitlancollins/status/1037699030132908033