EPTUS Politics Mega-thread - Page 6865
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Read the rules in the OP before posting, please. In order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a re-read to refresh your memory! The vast majority of you are contributing in a healthy way, keep it up! NOTE: When providing a source, explain why you feel it is relevant and what purpose it adds to the discussion if it's not obvious. Also take note that unsubstantiated tweets/posts meant only to rekindle old arguments can result in a mod action. | ||
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biology]major
United States2253 Posts
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zlefin
United States7689 Posts
On February 14 2017 11:12 biology]major wrote: Most of Trump's advisers seem crazy, I think Kushner and Ivanka are probably the most normal. Hope Flynn gets kicked. concur. I get the feeling that's one of the reasons people don't seem as concerned about nepotism as they would otherwise be, as the kids seem to be saner and more sensible than many of the others. | ||
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TheTenthDoc
United States9561 Posts
Plus Trump's campaign showed quite clearly that he's willing to jettison baggage ASAP as long as it wasn't his idea. | ||
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Plansix
United States60190 Posts
Or its Muslims on surfboards that also are ninjas. If we are going to make an all American Muslim surf team, I might be back on-board with Flynn's policies. | ||
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Bigtony
United States1606 Posts
On February 14 2017 11:30 zlefin wrote: concur. I get the feeling that's one of the reasons people don't seem as concerned about nepotism as they would otherwise be, as the kids seem to be saner and more sensible than many of the others. Not being insane doesn't take away all of the bad things about nepotism. | ||
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Doodsmack
United States7224 Posts
The F.B.I. has been examining Mr. Flynn’s phone calls as he has come under growing questions about his interactions with Russian officials and his management of the National Security Council. In addition, the Army has been investigating whether Mr. Flynn received money from the Russian government during a trip he took to Moscow in 2015, according to two defense officials. Such a payment might violate the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits former military officers from receiving money from a foreign government without consent from Congress. The defense officials said there was no record that Mr. Flynn, a retired three-star Army general, filed the required paperwork for the trip. The New York Times | ||
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zlefin
United States7689 Posts
On February 14 2017 12:23 Bigtony wrote: Not being insane doesn't take away all of the bad things about nepotism. indeed it does not. I'm merely speculating on the reason so many seem to be accepting of it. also maybe because they're mostly in "advisory" positions nominally. rather than formal positions. | ||
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Plansix
United States60190 Posts
On February 14 2017 12:23 Bigtony wrote: Not being insane doesn't take away all of the bad things about nepotism. We are not spoiled for better options right now. | ||
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ChristianS
United States3304 Posts
I don't see how he could frame the Flynn stuff as a win. If Flynn becomes untouchable and he has to drop him already, it's too soon for him to act like he extracted what he needed from Flynn and then kicked him to the curb; the guy just barely got approved. Lefty conspiracy theorists might think Flynn is a fall guy who was supposed to negotiate the Russia stuff and then go down so nobody else in the administration is responsible; that's a narrative where Trump might be a winner, but he can hardly embrace that story without casting doubt on the legitimacy of his whole administration. The only path I see where Trump can "win" is to defend Flynn and shout down any evidence against him. If I had to predict (always a risky venture) I'd guess that's what happens, even if accepting the loss and tactical retreat might be a better strategy for him. | ||
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zlefin
United States7689 Posts
the story only needs to be partially plausible, and to fit in his own mind, and for enough of the followers to buy it. the critics he can discount easily enough. maybe claim flynn was working a con on the russians and now it's ruined? attacking the underlying law, claiming that as the incoming administration it's fine for them to negotiate? | ||
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mikedebo
Canada4341 Posts
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/13/justin-trudeau-becomes-latest-world-leader-brave-trumps-awkward/ For those in the US: what kinds of things did you take away from the press conference with Trudeau, if anything? It got tons of coverage here, obviously, and I'm always interested to hear about the on-the-ground impression that Americans have of Canadian relations + events. | ||
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{CC}StealthBlue
United States41117 Posts
Donald Trump’s administration was warned by the justice department about national security adviser Michael Flynn’s communications with Russia, the Associated Press has reported, adding to questions about the senior aide’s future. Hours after the White House said the president was “evaluating” allegations that Flynn lied about secret communications with Russia and misled the vice-president, Mike Pence, sources familiar with the situation were cited by the Associated Press as saying the Trump administration was aware “for weeks” of a justice department warning that Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail. The Washington Post first reported on the DoJ’s warning, which came in late December from then acting attorney general Sally Yates. Yates was fired by Trump in January after she refused to defend his travel ban. According to the Post, Yates’s concerns that Flynn lied about the nature of his communications with Russia were shared by James Clapper, the outgoing director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, then the director of the CIA. The allegations come as Trump’s administration faces widespread calls from Democrats to fire Flynn from his post. Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said on Monday that the president was “evaluating the situation”. “He is speaking to Vice-president Pence relative to the conversation he had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security,” Spicer told reporters at the White House. Spicer also made clear to reporters that “the statement is what the president’s current thinking is”. But the noncommittal update appeared to conflict with remarks made moments earlier by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. “General Flynn has the full confidence of the president,” she told reporters. Source | ||
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zlefin
United States7689 Posts
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Karis Vas Ryaar
United States4396 Posts
On February 14 2017 13:02 mikedebo wrote: Meanwhile, while you all are tackling issues that underlie how democracy works, our prime minister is being praised for how well he prepared to shake hands with President Trump lol http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/13/justin-trudeau-becomes-latest-world-leader-brave-trumps-awkward/ For those in the US: what kinds of things did you take away from the press conference with Trudeau, if anything? It got tons of coverage here, obviously, and I'm always interested to hear about the on-the-ground impression that Americans have of Canadian relations + events. I see it as just Trudeau being smart. he doesn't want to antagonize Trump being as they are super close neighbors and stuff. I didn't follow it too much but it seemed to go exactly how I expected it too. not too noteworthy. Play nice be open to talking about NAFTA etc. | ||
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{CC}StealthBlue
United States41117 Posts
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LegalLord
United States13779 Posts
On February 14 2017 13:09 {CC}StealthBlue wrote: Flynn has resigned. Beat me to it. Oh well, problem solved. | ||
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{CC}StealthBlue
United States41117 Posts
Jesus fucking Christ. This is a train wreck. | ||
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{CC}StealthBlue
United States41117 Posts
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mikedebo
Canada4341 Posts
On February 14 2017 13:04 zlefin wrote: there was a press conference with trudeau? i follow this thread and I didn't notice, at least not to remember much about it. Haha, I guess that answers my question. Some Canadian coverage of the event: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-meets-trump-in-washington/article33995808/ | ||
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Introvert
United States5001 Posts
On February 14 2017 13:14 mikedebo wrote: Haha, I guess that answers my question. Some Canadian coverage of the event: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-meets-trump-in-washington/article33995808/ So long as Trump isn't yelling at close allies I think we're making progress. | ||
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