Democrats win the House, and he’s already fired Sessions: Trump thread 87

[TheClaws]

We start this new thread on a brighter note: the mid-terms were a win for the Democrats, securing the House of Representatives and further seats in the Senate. This means more scrutiny for POTUS and the GOP, and bargaining power.

He’s still a feckless, vain bully, oddly admired by some varieties of Christians - enjoy the cartoon by Mike Luckovich.

www.rollcall.com/news/politics/the-blue-wave-was-propelled-by-black-voters-survey-finds

She was just making sure to fill the "I do what I accuse others of doing" Trump Bingo card.

I'll just mention the use of an unsecure phone too.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/20/trump-asylum-ban-blocked-federal-judge-us-mexico-border

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/19/voter-intimidation-republicans-democrats-midterm-elections

www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-donald-j-trump-standing-saudi-arabia/?utm_source=twitter

This statement is essentially Saudi propaganda coming out of the mouth of the president of the United States. I've never seen anything like it.
www.politico.com/f/?id=00000167-323c-de33-a177-b67ed42f0000&nname=playbook-pm&nid=0000015a-dd3e-d536-a37b-dd7fd8af0000&nrid=0000014e-f0f6-dd93-ad7f-f8f7c3940001&nlid=964328

twitter.com/joshrogin/status/1064962711002513408

Gumpendorf, I don't understand why people see Trump as a 'strong leader' when he seems to be under the thumb of both Putin and the Saudi crown prince.

As you say, it's not just that he doesn't stand up to them, they also seem to brief him on what to say.

merry, it's because the people who see Scrotus as a 'strong leader' are either politicians with their own agendas or absolute idiots. Both are very loud and make good 'sound bites' on TV, simply because they sound so stupid. The problem is that those 'sound bites' also make good TV in other countries so some people hear them and think 'all Americans are stupid and love Trump'. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone in the US with a modicum of sense understands that he's absolutely unqualified to hold any public position, let alone POTUS.

acrossthepond, that wasn't a reflection on Americans - I'm actually talking about Brits who think Brexit could be sorted if only we had a leader like Trump!

www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-accused-of-torturing-women-activists-in-widening-crackdown-on-dissent-1542743107

Swamp.

www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/conservative-nonprofit-with-obscure-roots-and-undisclosed-funders-paid-matthew-whitaker-12-million/2018/11/20/25ff987e-e9db-11e8-bd89-eecf3b178206_story.html?utm_term=.30ef1bc8ad37

Have a thought for poor Mrs Moon.

(The boom)

In the (unfortunately named) 'Blue House'.

www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/us/politics/president-trump-justice-department.html

Thanks, lion.

merry I don't know - it bemuses me too.

I think one reason is because the complexity of the world confuses many people. They like black/white, right/wrong binary choices and therefore gravitate to those who give simple answers because (to them) that makes them decisive (and strong). They don't understand people like Obama who are intelligent and see nuance. They reject them as weak (and elitist).

Trump Wanted to Order Justice Dept. to Prosecute Comey and Clinton
www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/us/politics/president-trump-justice-department.html

Watch President Obama hilariously explain how politics is the same at every level — from local to global ‘it’s the same people’ twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1064998821229322240/video/1

Reuters Top News
‏
Verified account

@Reuters

'President Trump submitted written answers to questions from Special Counsel Mueller - Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.'

Dr Seuss and Obama.

That statement from Trump re: Khashoggi is astonishing. Disregarding the use of exclamation marks and the general high school essay tone (as an English teacher, I’d give it a generous C+), it jumps from topic to topic. Some may be relevant, maybe not, how are we to know? We know the arms deals are, certainly. 45 is sold out.

Narcissism, but the dangerous kind. I used to find this funny - now, not, so much.

Caroline Orr @RVAwonk
2h2 hours ago
More
Asked who he thinks should be Time's Person of the Year, Trump says: "Can you imagine anyone other than Trump?"

Caroline Orr @RVAwonk
26m26 minutes ago
More
Re. Trump's expressed desire to prosecute Comey & Hillary Clinton: In Dec. 2017, Trump asserted that he has an “absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department.”

Worse, this claim has been echoed & bolstered by his allies & supporters.
www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/us/politics/trump-interview-mueller-russia-china-north-korea.html …

Yes. Yes I can.

Next?

Useful.

www.lawfareblog.com/litigation-documents-related-mueller-investigation