It’s morons, all the way down. The ABC News scoop, via TPM:
The White House had no idea that Sam Clovis testified before the grand jury in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, ABC News reported late Thursday.
ABC News reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the probe, that the White House learned Clovis had met with the grand jury from media reports rather than from Clovis himself.
Clovis was a co-chair on President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and served as the supervisor to George Papadopoulos, a former adviser on the campaign. Court documents unsealed on Monday revealed that Papadopoulos pleaded guilty earlier in October to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian nationals.
“The White House was surprised to learn Mr. Clovis had been contacted by the Special Counsel’s office as part of their separate probe of Mr. Papadopoulos’ activities,” an unnamed White House source familiar with the probe told ABC News.
So, in addition to a generally chaotic administration, the effort to control the administration’s response to the Mueller investigation is also a raging dumpster fire that can be seen from space. May it consume them all.
Open thread!
Baud
So say we all.
Doug R
Nelson has you covered.
Adam L Silverman
They shouldn’t have heard it until/unless Mueller was willing to allow the information to come out. It means that while Clovis may not be immediately in Mueller’s cross hairs, that he took to heart the warning not to tell anyone about his summons and appearance.
Major Major Major Major
Alright! That clean thread smell.
I think I had too much tea this afternoon, or else I’m just generally ready for the day to be over super hard. Either way, woohoo, I finally get to leave the office!
We didn’t have very much to do today again. I managed to get 750 or so words done on my novel. Plus lots of bothering y’all. Tonight is installing a new TV and then some Stranger Things! A good day all in all, I guess.
Feebog
That’s why it’s described as “secret Grand Jury proceedings”.
Davebo
@Adam L Silverman: I seriously doubt anyone told him not to tell anyone about his summons and appearance and if they did that wouldn’t be enforceable.
Adam L Silverman
Speaking of idiots missing a village:
Baud
@Feebog: Secret means it’s not open to the public. I don’t think witnesses have automatic gag orders.
Ruckus
We all need to remember that, first, I don’t think they expected to win, second sinularly or collectively, they are fucklng morons
Cheryl Rofer
And here’s a report of Carter Page’s testimony to the House Intel Committee. A little more trouble for Sessions and more of Page’s crazy, it looks like.
There will be a transcript – they say in 3 days. I don’t know if I can read through 6 hours of Page.
Raoul
The photo at the TPM story is so perfect.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Holy shit: Newsweek’s cover is a hilarious (photo)
zhena gogolia
@Adam L Silverman:
He’s the only guy from the whole administration I can stand to watch. He’s so goofy he’s kind of amusing.
Adam L Silverman
@Davebo: Who said that?
Davebo
@David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch:
Wow!
Davebo
@Adam L Silverman: I must have misunderstood the point you were making about him taking to heart the warning not to tell anyone about his summons and appearance.
Did you mean a warning from his lawyer(s)?
Betty Cracker
@Baud: Here’s what the ABC report says:
@Raoul: Isn’t it though?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Clovis is a piece of shit, but he is a USAFA grad. His asshole would have puckered up on the “keep your mouth shut” bit.
Amaranthine RBG
@Adam L Silverman:
Federal Rules of Crim. Procedure :
6(e)…
(2) Secrecy.
(A) No obligation of secrecy may be imposed on any person except in accordance with Rule 6(e)(2)(B).
(B) Unless these rules provide otherwise, the following persons must not disclose a matter occurring before the grand jury:
(i) a grand juror;
(ii) an interpreter;
(iii) a court reporter;
(iv) an operator of a recording device;
(v) a person who transcribes recorded testimony;
(vi) an attorney for the government; or
(vii) a person to whom disclosure is made under Rule 6(e)(3)(A)(ii) or (iii)
–https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcrmp/rule_6#
LurkerNoLonger
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: Clovis is a piece of shit but he is a USAFA grad.
Did he train to be an aircraft carrier?
TenguPhule
@Adam L Silverman: To be fair, that committee is being run and led by traitors and morons. He may have figured his odds are pretty good compared to facing Mueller.
jk
OT
h/t https://www.buzzfeed.com/briannasacks/gothamist-dnainfo-laist-and-other-local-news-sites-have?utm_term=.fyKmmxb5V2#.vdKYYvAMgw
Adam L Silverman
@Davebo: I was being a smartass in response to your informed reply. Didn’t mean to confuse you.
Adam L Silverman
@Amaranthine RBG: I was being a smartass in my reply to Davebo.
It’s a tough comment thread. It’s like the Hinkley jury in here…
Cheryl Rofer
SatanicPanic
@Cheryl Rofer: DEEP STATE
Major Major Major Major
@Cheryl Rofer: oooooh somebody got fiiiiiired
different-church-lady
@Cheryl Rofer: Maybe someday they’ll take some steps to prevent Trump from happening again.
Heh, I crack myself up…
Patricia Kayden
I contacted Senator Warren to explain how disappointed I was with her decision to throw Secretary Clinton under the bus today on CNN. I’m flabbergasted that at such a crucial point in time, she’s decided that relitigating the Democratic primaries is a good idea. I hope she doesn’t dream about running for President. I’m done with her.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@Adam L Silverman: Who the hell is his legal counsel? Oswald Bates?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD): Norman Bates.
Roger Moore
@Cheryl Rofer:
They’re doing a dry run for the coup.
Felony Govt (formerly Old Broad in California)
@Patricia Kayden: I did the same. I’m stunned that she would think shooting her mouth off that way would be a good idea at this time.
Mike J
@Baud:
And even if there are gag orders, there are ways around them. Make it a standing practice to tell your assistant, “I didn’t receive a subpoena or testify in front of a grand jury yesterday” first thing every morning. Then stop when it is no longer true. EFF
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Norman Bates isn’t a fucking idiot.
rikyrah
Does Attorney General White Citizens Council feel that bus approaching?
Kyle GriffinVerified account @kylegriffin1
Carter Page reportedly testified today that he told Jeff Sessions he was traveling to Russia during the election.
https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/926231515448651777
Corner Stone
@rikyrah: Who’s Carter Page? Sounds like a bit player on a daytime Soap Show.
zhena gogolia
@Corner Stone:
You watch MSNBC 24/7 and you don’t know who Carter Page is?
Patricia Kayden
@Felony Govt (formerly Old Broad in California): I hope her foolishness doesn’t dampen voter turnout for the Democratic Candidates next Tuesday. I’m fuming.
Corner Stone
@jk: Confiscate his wealth and put him into manual labor work for 10 years.
LAO
@Adam L Silverman: a grand jury witness is free to tell whoever they wish that the testified and the substance of that testimony. I wonder why Clovis kept mum. Hmm.
John Revolta
@Cheryl Rofer: Did Trump hire Rose Mary Woods? Wouldn’t surprise me.
Citizen_X
@LurkerNoLonger:
Zeppelin ballast.
LAO
@Davebo: I should of kept reading the thread, you bet me to it by a mile.
Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)
@Citizen_X: now I want a personal blimp
Mnemosyne
@Citizen_X:
They have a Led Zeppelin-themed hotel in San Francisco. I only know this because that’s what Hotwire recommended for me. ?
kindness
That is so funny about them not knowing Clovis testified. I swear, if this administration was older do you know how many Deep Throats there would be out there?
lollipopguild
@Adam L Silverman: I have been on a few comment threads where I surprised that there were no blood stains on the thread. Or dead bodies.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
plenty of action on our circular firing squad today
rikyrah
HawaiiDelilah @HawaiiDelilah
GOP talking points on tax bill say $450k is “low- and middle-income” from @owillis
zhena gogolia
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
God, so many people in this country really do deserve Trump. But I don’t.
rikyrah
Callie BeusmanVerified account @cal_beu
ICE has prevented Rosa Maria from going to two post-operative follow-up appointments, according to the ACLU
Corner Stone
@rikyrah: 90%+ of my neighbors are going to be surprised to find out they are street urchins.
Corner Stone
@zhena gogolia: I’m sorry but I don’t keep up with boy bands. Is he romantically linked to someone I should know?
zhena gogolia
@Corner Stone:
You’re spoofing me, right?
schrodingers_cat
@Roger Moore: Who is? Russians or some flunkehs?
Gin & Tonic
@zhena gogolia: Duh.
Brachiator
How can this be? The New York Times assured us that Trump regularly calls them via the hot line to tell them that everything is okeydoke and all square.
This is almost the gang that couldn’t graft straight, if they didn’t get so much protection from the GOP leadership.
Roger Moore
@schrodingers_cat:
I guess we’ll all find out when the time comes.
Joe Miller
Vitally important article here. VITALLY important:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/2/16588964/america-epistemic-crisis
Gravenstone
@zhena gogolia: Suspect CS is channeling the “minor figure, no one of importance ” dance Trump has taken to of late.
TenguPhule
@schrodingers_cat:
All of em, Katie.
Amaranthine RBG
@Adam L Silverman: I generally appreciate all forms of smart-assery but his one sailed over my head …
MazeDancer
And in further wack-a-doodle, those who may have had a few WTF moments about Donna Brazille (and Elizabeth Warren with Jake Tapper) trashing Dems today, an intrepid tweeter has noticed that Ms. Brazille may have confused two Joint Fund Raising Agreements (JFA).
Here is a thread, with documents, on how the 2015 JFA is not what Donna says it is. And how she may be confusing it with the 2016 JFA signed after the primaries.
Don’t know what is true. Other than no matter what, today was not the day, this week – Virginia election FFS – for Donna and Elizabeth to stage a Dem attack.
Doug R
@Cheryl Rofer: 11 minute suspension, eh?
Duane
Paul Ryan said today that Trump’s tax plan would provide a family of four a $1200 tax break. Enough to pay the phone bill or buy gas for a year.
Or, in Ryan’s case, four bottles of wine.
TenguPhule
@Duane:
FTFY.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Warren walks back a bit, becomes less than coherent, IMHO
rikyrah
Keith BoykinVerified account @keithboykin
Keith Boykin Retweeted Wall Street Journal
Unlike Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke, Powell has no degree in economics. He would be the first Fed chairman in 40 years without it.
rikyrah
The RootVerified account @TheRoot
Coffee shop in gentrified Bed-Stuy refused to give Halloween candy to black children https://trib.al/agw4Xy0
https://twitter.com/TheRoot/status/926248934405804033
rikyrah
Jennifer Epstein
✔
@jeneps
Why are a former Sanders aide and a Republican strategist discussing the Democratic primary on CNN without a Clinton surrogate?
3:51 PM – Nov 2, 2017
Betty Cracker
Keeee-rist, now Trump is running with the DNC rigged thing on Twitter and is bellowing about the DOJ getting involved. Heckuva job, Ms. Brazille!
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Exactly accurate description. She stepped in it big time.
Steeplejack
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
WTF?!
Baud
@Betty Cracker: Brazzile and Warren should retweet him if they stand by their views.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Steeplejack: Gillespie got Northam all tangled up talking about ‘sanctuary cities’, DFA is going after Northam. That’s Jim Dean’s (brother of Howard) isn’t it?
TenguPhule
This is why I’m so pessimistic.
Crowing about no legislation is all well and good.
But they’re setting up for the next wave of corrupt activist judges.
If the courts fail, it all comes crashing down.
Brachiator
@Joe Miller:
Kinda old news, but well written. It also downplays or omits a key point. Yes, gerrymandering helps create safe districts, but the Congressional Republicans fear the big moneymen more than they care about the base. The tax plan will hammer the idiot base. The GOP knows this, and they know that they don’t have to care.
mike in dc
@MazeDancer: If this is the case, then it was massively irresponsible of Brazile to put that misinformation out there, because it will never completely go away.
different-church-lady
Don’t you just love it when Democrats November-Suprise themselves?
Gin & Tonic
@Baud: Backpedaling never works.
Bill Arnold
@rikyrah:
Is she seriously asking this? (Apparently, from context in her feed.) Has she not noticed that CNN is Fox-lite?
TenguPhule
@Gin & Tonic:
That’s because the party always looks forward, never back.
Baud
@mike in dc: We’re already well beyond massively irresponsible.
TenguPhule
@different-church-lady:
Every time I get my hopes up, the Democrats find a way to crush them.
TenguPhule
@Baud:
Should we set up a pool as to her being in Russia’s pocket?
At this point it would be irresponsible not to speculate.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@TenguPhule: I’m voting for useful idiot.
Somebody needs to get Brazile in front of a camera to explain what the fuck she thought she was doing. And that somebody is Joy Reid.
Baud
@TenguPhule: I think this last primary shows the danger of looking back.
Major Major Major Major
@Baud: yeah that line is starting to get pretty stale.
Baud
@Major Major Major Major: We’re nothing if not addicted to our memes.
raven
TenguPhule
@Baud:
I blame Baud for that.
Major Major Major Major
@Baud: for the lulz, man.
jl
Would be a hoot if we found out Clovis and Page also plead and have been cooperating.
I don’t know what value Page’s cooperation would be. Maybe he was tasked to go on TV interviews and say weird shit to stir up chatter that Clovis would pick up with a wire?
A guy can dream, right?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Schumer: “The right all sing from the same hymnal. I don’t know how they do that, but they do.”
Sounded a bit wistful, even jealous.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
oldgold
For years I have wondered if Brazile was not playing for the other team,
Trump is already tweeting about this.
@realDonaldTrump
·
48m
Donna Brazile just stated the DNC RIGGED the system to illegally steal the Primary from Bernie Sanders. Bought and paid for by Crooked H….
….This is real collusion and dishonesty. Major violation of Campaign Finance Laws and Money Laundering – where is our Justice Department?
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yep. He’s done a good job as leader.
jl
@oldgold:
A Trump tweet is worthless nonsense, whatever the subject. Just a window into whatever BS is going through Trump’s head, or what goofy stunt he is trying to pull. Nothing else.
different-church-lady
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Damage done: there’s no way to un-feed the Orcs.
Baud
@oldgold: Warren need stop retweet that approvingly.
NotMax
Went out with the best intentions to mechanically chew up some
lawnweeds in the yard, and the riding mower won’t start.Call to the repair service toll-free mainland number (still under Sears warranty) got me the message that they are “closed for the holiday.” WTF nonsense is that? Is it Lewis Carroll’s birthday?
Steeplejack
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I thought DFA was Howard Dean. Maybe just founded by. In any case, even if you decide that Northam is racist—again I say WTF?!—how in the hell do you not still support him against his opponent, who is like Whitey “Pointy Hat and Robe” McRacington?! What about the simple “lesser of two evils” concept is too hard for them to understand? And that’s even if you accept their bullshit premise. Jesus.
TenguPhule
@jl:
We know that.
But our media never learns.
dogwood
@jl:
Trump’s tweet might be worthless nonsense, but Brazille and Warren are serious problems for us.
TenguPhule
@Steeplejack:
Remember, less is more. //
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steeplejack:
They’re pure, Steep.
Steeplejack
@raven:
How about a link or even a mention of the source with your hot takes?
rikyrah
Hey Kay,
Sen. Patrick LeahyVerified account @SenatorLeahy
[BREAKING] Leahy: AG Sessions Must Return To Judiciary Cmte For Under-Oath Testimony To Address New Revelations: https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-ag-sessions-must-return-to-judiciary-committee-for-under-oath-testimony-to-address-new-revelations …
trollhattan
@LurkerNoLonger:
You owe me:
– Keyboard (1)
– Screenwipes (4)
– 2xIPA (5-7oz)
Hey everybody, it’s the Nimitz!
Nah, Clovis showing up on radar again.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@oldgold:
I believe they’re down the street from the White House. Put up or shut up Trump.
GregB
Brazile never impressed me as a strategist, but she seems to be doing a great job as a rat-f***er these days.
MazeDancer
@mike in dc:
Trump is tweeting about Brazille. If she screwed up, she better retract and apologize loudly.
Bill Arnold
@Brachiator:
Well-written is key. That means it can be shared with friends without worrying much about the level of their political sophistication or news consumption level, and that some right-wing/centrist friends/acquaintances might actually read it.
Read it earlier today and have been wondering about tactics for neutralizing such propaganda tactics. One aspect is key; to start the neutralization early as possible, like now. Points that could be made:
(1) The investigation is not just Mueller; he has a large team of experienced investigators. Are people suggesting that the entire team is corrupt and involved in an attempted coup? They’ve also been working pretty quickly and efficiently; how long exactly did the Ken Starr investigation last, and what exactly did it uncover amongst the things publicly investigated?
(2) Some of the alleged crimes are not political. They are financial, etc. Do people really want to normalize such crimes? (This especially applies if there is a pardon for such crimes.)
(3) I’m confused. I grew up being told by the Republicans that Russia was the enemy. They still have thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at us, they clearly attempted interference in our election through their propaganda apparatus (as facebook etc have acknowledged, quite reluctantly), in line with their known and documented (by them) military doctrine, and their leadership (notably V. Putin) is known to actively dislike Hillary Clinton for alleged interference in Russian elections. (etc etc etc)
What other points do people suggest? (Not sure the above are any good, just thrown out as examples.)
trollhattan
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
“Rigged” in the sailing sense? Are we ready to launch, or what?
I swear there are people jealous Trump is stealing their airtime. “Look at MEEEE!”
Betty Cracker
@Steeplejack: From the man himself:
dogwood
@MazeDancer:
I don’t think she can retract. It’s probably in the book she’s selling. Ratfucking Democrats is probably part of the marketing plan. Republicans and Bernie bots will buy. I don’t think she would have appealed to wide swaths of ordinary dems in terms of book sales.
NotMax
No, Trelane.
oldgold
@jl:
Not really. It is s big mistake to be dismissive of Trump’s rancid tweets. Almost every damn day for 18 months they have shaped this nation’s news narrative.
GregB
I am also watching on Twitter the same folks who have been adamant that there was no Russian involvement in the election whatsoever are now mocking some of the highlighted propaganda as silly.
So, it was none, zero, nada, zip and now it is look at all of the funny Russian propaganda.
I am also disgusted that the Democrats are in circular firing squad mode in VA. Insanity.
zhena gogolia
@dogwood:
That’s it exactly. If Donna Brazile published a book supporting Democrats and urging that we take back the House in 2018, it would be crickets. There’d be no TV appearances, no attention paid whatsoever, and certainly no sales.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
It turns out the Democrats are actually in disarray.
Bill Arnold
@oldgold:
For years I have wondered if Brazile was not playing for the other team,
“Three lefts make a right”, perhaps? Sad.
Amir Khalid
@LurkerNoLonger:
Of course not, silly. That would have been at Annapolis.
dogwood
@Betty Cracker:
The scary thing about these advocacy groups is that the people who run them get seduced by some weird sense that they are powerful movers and shakers. It’s about ego. Once that happens, the group is worthless as a change agent.
Gin & Tonic
@zhena gogolia: Some people are attention junkies. Once she got axed from the teevee, it’s “look at me, look at meeee!”
jl
@dogwood: Not unless the 2016 version of the DNC is the ultimate election winning machine. It wasn’t. The DNC and the various factions hashing out their gripes will sort it out and reach an agreement on how to go forward for future campaigns. And if they do, very few voters will care or even know about it in 2018 and 2020, or care what Brazile and Warren said today. Unless of course by some cruel twist of fate we have another HRC/BS race in 2020. I hope neither run, but it’s a free country, and HRC has said she won’t. If a strong candidate emerges from Dems, I hope BS says the same.
Some people at this blog are utterly consumed by the HRC/BS battle of 2016 and will never let it go.
Major Major Major Major
@jl: there’s, uh, a very important election on, ah, Tuesday.
Betty Cracker
Brazile’s Twitter feed would leave the impression that she never wrote a book that insinuated “Bernie Wuz Robbed.” Weird!
Baud
@Betty Cracker: I don’t understand.
dogwood
@jl:
It appears that Warren and Brazil’s aren’t letting it go. This is a minor blog. They’re opening the wounds on national tv.
Corner Stone
@dogwood:
Doubt Bernie Bros will buy a black woman’s book. They will just excerpt as needed.
Corner Stone
@trollhattan:
I knew that bastard MikeJ was guilty of something.
Baud
@jl: HRC is not running.
Corner Stone
@jl: None of that is what this is about. You don’t get that? It’s more grudge fucking.
Corner Stone
Northam is clearly getting ratfucked in VA. This is going to be fucking great.
dogwood
The first time Warren ran, I sent her some money and got on her email list. I wasn’t impressed enough with her to send cash in 2012. At least today she motivated me to unsubscribe. So that’s a good thing.
Baud
@dogwood: I think 2012 was her only election so far, right?
dogwood
@Baud:
No. She was elected in 2010 to fill out the remainder of Ted Kennedy’s term.
ETA i’m Wrong. She defeated Brown in 2012 who was finishing out kennedy’s Term. Anyway, fewer emails for me.
Betty Cracker
@Baud: For example, Brazile retweeted this:
Major Major Major Major
@dogwood: wasn’t that Scott Brown
Mike J
@Corner Stone: usually
Steeplejack
@Betty Cracker:
This hits a nerve with me, because I’m extremely nervous about the Gillespie-Northam governor’s race. Part of it is just pre-game jitters, I’m sure, but Gillespie has been bombarding the airwaves with ads that are completely hysterical and unhinged. Northam’s ads are so reasonable that they seem milktoasty and wussy in comparison.
Not only do I not want Ed Gillespie as governor, I don’t want to think about how his victory would embolden crazy-ass right-wing bullshit ads and campaigning in 2018. I don’t know if people on this blog in general have seen Gillespie’s ads, but they have left Willie Horton ads miles behind in the rearview mirror.
Baud
@Betty Cracker: Gotcha. WTF is she doing?
NotMax
@dogwood
Nope. That was the one Scott Brown won versus the amazingly inept Martha Coakley.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
@Steeplejack: They’re umm … deplorable.
Baud
@Tilda Swintons Bald Cap: No, they’re economically anxious.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Steeplejack: somebody said Northam finally has an ad out tying Gillespie to trump
dogwood
@NotMax:
Ya, I remembered as soon as I hit send, and made a correction.
Davebo
@Adam L Silverman: You have GOT to use the smart ass font in these situations!
dogwood
@Steeplejack:
I mentioned in a previous thread that I have had a bad feeling about Virginia for a long time. Republicans have a very reliable voter base. What Trump proved is you can find new Republican voters by being overtly racist, without losing the reliables.
dogwood
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I’m not sure policy drives voters as much as democrats think it does.
Betty Cracker
@Steeplejack: I’ve heard Gillespie is running a thoroughly despicable, race-baiting campaign. Didn’t he used to be a garden-variety wingnut apparatchik? Agree it’ll be scary as hell if that transformation is rewarded.
@Baud: Fuckifino. She’s not an idiot, so she must’ve realized how that dramatic “cancer” excerpt would land. She keeps repeating the mantra “read the whole book,” as if anything else it contains could mitigate the damage the excerpt is doing. I don’t see how it could.
Steeplejack
@Steeplejack:
ETA: Every autoplay ad that comes up for me on this very site—every page, every page refresh—is a goddamn Ed Gillespie ad. Fuck you, Taboola. Fuck you up your stupid ass.
Major Major Major Major
@dogwood: then again, Hillary won by five.
Baud
@Betty Cracker: Maybe the next chapter says everything in that last chapter was bullshit for marketing purposes.
Major Major Major Major
@Betty Cracker: saying it will sell books though.
Barbara
@Corner Stone: Maybe he should have let McAuliffe veto whatever it was he was supposed to provide the pivotal vote on. Warren has always seemed tone deaf to me and Brazile has always been an opportunist.
Adam L Silverman
@rikyrah: Not quite true. Despite his claims, it appears that Allan Greenspan doesn’t have an advanced degree in economics either. Supposedly he was awarded his doctorate not because of defense of a dissertation, but on the strength of five articles he had published. However, he, the department that awarded the doctorate, nor the university that conferred it upon him has ever been able to produce the five articles he was supposed to have published.
GregB
Gillespie called North Virginia enemy territory today.
Also, DFA only has a million members.
Still, what the fack…..
Adam L Silverman
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: There are no sanctuary cities in Virginia. The whole thing is a stupid discussion.
Steeplejack
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I have seen a few ads where Northam “hits back,” but, again, the “reasonableness” level is almost like Mayor Tommy Shanks.
Barbara
@Betty Cracker: I wouldn’t give a dime to Donna Brazile. She is simply another political operative with a penchant for getting ahead by throwing others under the bus. She has always been this way (and she has sometimes been treated this way by others as well).
Baud
@Adam L Silverman: So was emails.
Barbara
@GregB: Do you have a link?
Aleta
Maybe tomorrow (maybe Flynn)
-The Hill
GregB
Adam, Betty, All.
Check out this tweet from Richard Painter:
“The fix is in. They set up Sessions to take the fall. After he is gone, a new acting AG fires Mueller.”
Holy mackerel.
Baud
@GregB: We’ll see.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Baud: one of my many, many crackpot theories about politics is that Colorado and North Carolina have Republican Senators because a lot of dumb people thought that would stop Obama from letting them catch ebola
Baud
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: It worked!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@GregB: “fix is in” implies this was a long-term, grand strategy. I think they’re agile opportunists, and don’t doubt they’ll try it if they think they can get away with it, but I think Page, Geo Papadoo et al are telling the truth
ETA @Baud: hadn’t thought of that, it did pass Lisa Simpson’s “I have a rock, do you see any tigers?” test.
Omnes Omnibus
So, according to this thread, Warren and Brazile just fucked Democrats forever?
Barbara
@GregB: I am going to go out on a limb and guess that Sessions has better political instincts than Trump and will not take the fall for him, and that his friends in the Senate won’t either. Not sure who the acting AG would be. Rosenstein?
Adam L Silverman
@Davebo: I did not know we had a smartass font.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus: Forever is a long time.
GregB
@Barbara:
Gillespie.
Adam L Silverman
@GregB: I’ve seen him say that on MSNBC. It is possible, though I’m not sure who they is here. The President? Bannon? Miller? Jared? Especially as Grassley has made it clear that he will not hold a nomination to replace Sessions as AG if he resigns and/or is fired.
Adam L Silverman
@Barbara: Rosenstein would be the Acting AG.
Steeplejack
@Betty Cracker:
Here is a representative Gillespie ad, by no means the worst: “Northam Weak on MS-13.”
Interesting note: I really had to search to find this one, because Ed Gillespie’s YouTube channel doesn’t have it! The only ads on his channel are his own milktoasty “We love Ed Gillespie” ones. Go figure.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: I was being tiresomely sarcastic. I don’t think either person was helpful but I don’t see a disaster. The thread seemed to have gone Tenguphuly. That’s all.
NotMax
@Adam L. Silverman
Howzabout a font of smartassery?
;)
Davebo
@Adam L Silverman:
Good Grief! Why did I bring you on this cruise!
Adam L Silverman
@NotMax: I may resemble that remark.
Adam L Silverman
@Davebo: I’m a snappy dresser and my after dinner bon mots are to die for.
Davebo
@NotMax: Those are pretty lame.
Davebo
@Adam L Silverman: Perhaps, but it does me no good on the flight deck.
Lyrebird
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Sigh.
I still have enormous respect for Sen. Warren, but she shoulda just had her press person read Wonkette before responding to that mess. Or read Scotia’s and others’ eloquent comments here.
Steeplejack
@Omnes Omnibus:
You are misreading the thread. And being provocative with forever.
Davebo
OT but I’ve got to go to the Opera this weekend and it’s normal venue, has a couple of feet of mud in it from Harvey. I really don’t like the Opera much but she does so now I’ve got to find parking at their temporary venue at the convention center, AND a restaurant for dinner before.
Talk about first world problems.
Omnes Omnibus
@Steeplejack: If so, I apologize. Provocative was intentional.
Steve in the ATL
@Omnes Omnibus:
Heh.
MobiusKlein
@kindness: for Clovis, Wide Throat is the accurate descriptor.
FlipYrWhig
@MazeDancer:
Holy shit — after reading that thread, if it’s accurate, it sure as hell sounds like Brazile fucked up royal.
Corner Stone
@FlipYrWhig: It doesn’t matter what that thread says. Brazile fucked up royal.
dogwood
Democrats have been great about standing their ground without jumping in with provocative statements that draw attention away from the hourly crap that spews from the White House. And the press has been deservedly brutal to Trump. The problem is the press’ ethos is rooted in both siderism, so they jump eagerly on anything that allows them to feel sanctimoniously fair. This isn’t gonna change. Donna Brazile’s book tour will end, just like Hillary’s did. Let’s hope Warren gets enough negative feedback that she thinks twice before she decides to give the press what they want. But today is a cautionary tale for democrats who think going after your own is going to do anything to stop Trumpism. It’s the ultimate distraction.
Omnes Omnibus
@Steve in the ATL: I am told that I am wrong.
FlipYrWhig
@Corner Stone: Fair enough, but there’s political tone-deafness and then there’s just monumental errors of fact.
Bill Arnold
@GregB:
The thought has crossed the mind.
The five-minute (not carefully considered) reaction:
I don’t see it working out cleanly for them unless Sessions agrees to it. And even then, pretty (not completely) sure that Rosenstein would refuse/get-fired. At that point Trump’s support would be running on 27%er fumes. He could probably get rid of Mueller, then various dead-man switch plans would get activated. I have no clue what they are; neither do Trump’s people. They would be serious, and multi-pronged, and show no mercy.
For example, if the investigations are fully shut down, full terabyte(s) leaks of all investigatory materials to the crypto drop boxes of all media organizations. Enough material to perma-ruin the lives of all under investigation, and impoverish their children. Porn history, financial records, phone call (at least metadata, maybe including location) records including calls to mistresses, whatever. Independent non-nation-state actors (e.g. hackers/hacker groups) and other national governments might get involved (various motives), releasing other damaging information.
It would be breathtakingly naive not to expect substantial leaks (timed to do serious political damage) even if congressional “investigations” continue.
Omnes Omnibus
@dogwood: Exactly. This is a couple of mistakes on the same day by noticeable Dems. I don’t think it lasts past the weekend with anyone who doesn’t already think that HRC was running a kiddie escort service while blowing every investment banker who ever lived. And we will never get those people.
Let’s not worry about them and concentrate instead on non-voters that we can get.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: Also, since she’s not running for anything again, it’s kind of pointless navel gazing and sour grapes. Until someone can show me a single vote cast by the DNC, then joint funding agreements are just that, not vote rigging schemes. Also, if you want to complain that a political party screwed you it might go over better if you’d actually be a member of that party, rather than joining when it’s convenient and then quitting the party as soon as you no longer need it.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: Also, this:
Omnes Omnibus
@Adam L Silverman: No argument from me.
Omnes Omnibus
@Adam L Silverman: I don’t know how to deal with that.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: Take down on Brazile’s account, as well as Politico’s sensationalized headline, which was actually belied by what they had excerpted.
Omnes Omnibus
@Adam L Silverman: So the freak-out today wasn’t needed?
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: Nope. Completely self inflicted information ops fratricide.
ETA: Especially because Politico actually covered the joint financing agreement back in 2015
https://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/dnc-democratic-committee-hillary-clinton-fundraising-agreement-2016-121813
Omnes Omnibus
@Adam L Silverman: We really need to wait 48 hours before we get pissed off about what our reps do or say. They do have more info than we do. And strategies and shit.
Adam L Silverman
@Omnes Omnibus: Tracking. I’m personally not particularly upset. There are far more important things to be concerned with right now.
Steve in the ATL
@Omnes Omnibus:
I hear that constantly, but then I’m married….
Barry
@Davebo: “I seriously doubt anyone told him not to tell anyone about his summons and appearance and if they did that wouldn’t be enforceable.”
Agreed. What might have happened was that Mueller persuaded Clovis’ lawyers that – hypothetically – if ‘some guy’ felt the need to flip, for some reason, he could negotiate a much better deal if his conspirators remained ignorant.
J R in WV
@LurkerNoLonger:
No way, dude!!! Aircraft carriers train at Annapolis, they’re all Navy!!
Clovis maybe trained to be a C-5A, or even a C-130…