President Trump

[bogey5]

Lost in much of this is the false premise that Trump starts with, $5 Billion will not build "the wall" That total didn't just go to the wall but more agents, detention centres, etc. It would at best add hundreds of miles to the wall but not complete the project so the debate would go on for years to keep adjusted the budget to get more of the wall built. A few more miles of wall is not going to change the illegal immigration situation. The first thousand miles of the wall did little or nothing to stop the flow. Estimates range from $12-25 billion for the complete border wall. Even if approved several issues of domain need to be resolved, land owners, municipalities and states would have major issues with where the wall was planned and would fight in court to stall building approvals.
But Trump knows if he doesn't get approval to "build the wall" in this budget then he will likely go into re-election with little or no progress on a key campaign promise to his base. If congress approves the $5 billion, construction on the wall will begin and Trump will be able to say he's building his wall even though it's not nearly what he actually promised.

he's the grievance billionaire/president. some suggest he needs the fight more than he needs a wall.

[Bellyhungry]

Fox News turning on Trump?

Like critters abandoning ship when they know it is gonna sink?

[Benz]

As expected, yesterday's unexpected revelation about Paul Manafort's Madrid meeting with a Russian intel operative to share confidential polling information is beginning to gain some attention.

What makes this situation even more remarkable is how it was revealed by Manafort's own defense team. That is, apparently they used a 'free' version of Adobe Acrobat to apply redactions to a court filing that contained sensitive information. However, the 'free' version redactions are easily un-redacted, which was exactly what happened. If they had used the 'pro' version, none of this information would have been made public, at least not now.

I am reminded of how the Watergate burglars were discovered during their break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters. They entered the building through a locked door in an underground garage. After picking the lock on the door, they put tape over the lock so that it would remain 'unlocked'. Later that evening, a security guard checked the door and noticed the tape, which caused the guard to call police and report a possible break-in in progress. The police came, found the burglars, arrested them, and the rest is history. If the burglars had not taped the door, then it's quite possible that they never would have been discovered and the entire Watergate Scandal never would have happened.

[WWFS]

As expected, yesterday's unexpected revelation about Paul Manafort's Madrid meeting with a Russian intel operative to share confidential polling information is beginning to gain some attention.

What makes this situation even more remarkable is how it was revealed by Manafort's own defense team. That is, apparently they used a 'free' version of Adobe Acrobat to apply redactions to a court filing that contained sensitive information. However, the 'free' version redactions are easily un-redacted, which was exactly what happened. If they had used the 'pro' version, none of this information would have been made public, at least not now.

I am reminded of how the Watergate burglars were discovered during their break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters. They entered the building through a locked door in an underground garage. After picking the lock on the door, they put tape over the lock so that it would remain 'unlocked'. Later that evening, a security guard checked the door and noticed the tape, which caused the guard to call police and report a possible break-in in progress. The police came, found the burglars, arrested them, and the rest is history. If the burglars had not taped the door, then it's quite possible that they never would have been discovered and the entire Watergate Scandal never would have happened.

To me, the question is what did the Trump campaign get in return for the data? I'm probably wrong, but I find it hard to believe that simply sharing their proprietary data with Russians would be a criminal act.

Did the Russians offer to use the data in an anti-Hillary blitz? Did they offer to "enhance" the data by integrating it with data they had? Did Manafort act on his own in an attempt to ingratiate himself with people he owed money to?

I remember after Trump became the presumptive nominee, the RNC complained vigorously that the Trump campaign refused to share their voter and polling data with the RNC. I always found that to be very odd.

[Benz]

Apparently Trump walked out of this afternoon's meeting with Schumer and Pelosi after Pelosi said "no" to funding Trump's border wall.

Trump is truly acting as if he 'owns' this shutdown, and that he doesn't care about collateral damage to federal employees, their dependents, and to those who depend on providing goods and services to those employees. He is digging in.

[mpare]

Just the reaction that one might expect from a narcissistic bully.

...

Trump is truly acting as if he 'owns' this shutdown, and that he doesn't care about collateral damage to federal employees, their dependents, and to those who depend on providing goods and services to those employees. He is digging in.

[WWFS]

Just the reaction that one might expect from a narcissistic bully.

I'm sure it was easy for Trump to walk out and leave the lives of 800,000 government employees in turmoil, as he's completely lacking an empathy gene.

I would also suspect that Pelosi and Schumer weren't surprised by the move. Based on Trump's history in real estate, it seems like it's his SOP.

[bogey5]

Maybe the silver lining is parents all over america can point at trump and tell their kids "see anybody can be president."

[ManFromMoffat]

Apparently Trump walked out of this afternoon's meeting with Schumer and Pelosi after Pelosi said "no" to funding Trump's border wall.

Trump is truly acting as if he 'owns' this shutdown, and that he doesn't care about collateral damage to federal employees, their dependents, and to those who depend on providing goods and services to those employees. He is digging in.

It could be Rump's downfall (at least with this battle) or it could be the Dem's Achilles' heel.

[ManFromMoffat]

The gov throw SOL Coast Guard employees a life preserver. Problem is it may be made out of concrete.

Coast Guard families told they can have garage sales to cope with government shutdown

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2019/01/09/coast-guard-families-told-they-can-have-garage-sales-cope-with-government-shutdown/?utm_term=.7b7931271c8d

[Benz]

Maybe the silver lining is parents all over america can point at trump and tell their kids "see anybody can be president."

[ManFromMoffat]

Never, ever ...

https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1083169537263054849

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_vide...SaU.mp4?tag=11

[ManFromMoffat]

... and many of of them no doubt have rich, Corinthian leather ...

https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1083061110264217600

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1083060238599757824/vid/1280x720/75nELRB1OVFj4D7Y.mp4?tag=9

[Ignatius Reilly]

... and many of of them no doubt have rich, Corinthian leather ...

https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/1083061110264217600

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_vide...4D7Y.mp4?tag=9

I read some pushback on the notion of the migrants having such powerful, advanced vehicles.

Mostly it was along the lines of "where are destitute migrants fleeing their homeland coming up with the money for high-end vehicles?.

It's obviously a complete lie from start to finish, but that's hardly news.

I really look forward to the day when our leaders actually try to do and say the right things. Left/right should be a philosophical, moral and financial difference of approach, not a licence to deceive.

[Bellyhungry]

Never, ever ...

https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1083169537263054849

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_vide...SaU.mp4?tag=11

And then there is this 'Walter Trump' con man character from 1958 something:

https://twitter.com/_AlexHirsch/status/1083140191362048000

I am starting to believe in time travel now...