Rep. Trey Gowdy says the House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into the Trump administration's handling of Porter allegations. pic.twitter.com/I6yCwhusnk
— Axios (@axios) February 14, 2018
Maybe it’s just that “don’t hit girls” is a really, really low bar to clear; even the dumbest most partisan Fox News watcher can understand why it’s a bad idea to get caught encouraging such behavior. Or maybe the professional Repubs are just fekkin’ desperate to sever themselves from this dumpster fire of an administration. Politico:
House Republicans raised questions Wednesday about the Trump administration’s security clearance process and an oversight panel launched an investigation, as the controversy surrounding former aide Rob Porter started to eat into their confidence in President Donald Trump’s White House.
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said his House Oversight Committee on Tuesday night kicked off an investigation into Trump’s employment of Porter — the White House staff secretary who resigned last week — and what White House officials knew about domestic abuse accusations against him…
Asked about Gowdy’s investigation into the Porter scandal Wednesday, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he had been informed of the probe and believes the White House has to improve its vetting system for employees.
“They have work to do to improve their vetting system,” Ryan told reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t know how exactly they’ll do that; I will leave that to them. But Chairman Gowdy is doing his proper job on oversight, and yes, he did give us a heads-up.”…
The Porter situation has heaped scrutiny particularly on the White House’s security clearance procedures. Many other White House aides have been operating on interim clearances because they have not gotten a permanent security signoff. The White House personnel security office said last fall it would stop issuing new interim clearances, but people who already had them were allowed to keep working.
Three Democrats plan to introduce legislation Wednesday to give Congress greater oversight of the White House’s security clearance process. Among other provisions, the legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), would limit the use of interim security clearances to a year and require the White House to submit a list of individuals with security clearances working in the Executive Office of the President to Congress every three months…
Gowdy denied a recent allegation from Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, that the committee had avoided investigating the White House’s security clearance issues. But he said there were limits to his committee’s ability to compel the White House and FBI to answer questions — “unless you’re Jack Bauer, you can’t make people answer questions” — and urged the media and the public to put pressure on the executive branch to be more forthcoming…
Gowdy doesn't want Trump's taint hurting him in the private sector he's not f***ing noble the Legion of Doom always falls apart from within.
— Zeddy (@Zeddary) February 14, 2018
White House imposed a ban last fall on new interim security clearances, likely recognizing the potential pitfalls of the practice. It let those who already had them — Porter, Kushner — keep them. https://t.co/w2HpbqA8Iy via @AndrewRestuccia and @ewstephe
— Paul Volpe (@pvolpe) February 14, 2018
Kushner is the tail wagging the dog here. WH can't approve him for a permanent clearance because he's the subject of a criminal probe. But they can't yank everyone else's interim clearance and leave just his in place. So we get this mess. https://t.co/f2ldh17qLV
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 14, 2018
Joyce Harmon
Now they’re “losing confidence”? Just NOW?!
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
This is good. The Presidency has gotten too powerful and was always vulnerable to a buffoon like Trump. Won’t pass now, but it’s good that Dems are being responsible policymakers. Great contrast to the GOP.
I think this investigation is being launched because the R’s know that the ground has begun shifting on this kind of thing and are freaked about losing their majority this fall. All the Koch cash in the world isn’t going to save them.
dmsilev
He’s the Chair of a Congressional Committee. He has subpoena authority and at least some budgetary authority (in theory any way). He sure as Hell can _try_ to get the WH to answer questions.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@dmsilev:
It’s bullshit anyway, even if true, that a co-equal branch can’t check another.
different-church-lady
This is just the American Gangsters in The Long Good Friday deciding they can’t deal with the mayhem of the uncouth Bob Hoskins character. The problem isn’t the criminal activity, it’s that this idiot is going to get them all caught.
JPL
When the republican party goes down in flames, I’ll offer my thoughts and prayers.
TenguPhule
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
Republicans still control the agenda. Its an attempt to get some news, but its not going anywhere.
TenguPhule
@JPL:
I was going to suggest bringing smores.
efgoldman
@Joyce Harmon:
What they’re losing confidence in, is their own ability to get re-electred.
All but the Kkkraziest can count, read internal party polls, and are hearing it from women they know and female constituents.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@TenguPhule:
I acknowledged that.
NotMax
The only word which comes to mind is whitewash.
trollhattan
Feels so very weird rooting for Trey Gowdy.
Will probably get over it quite quickly, but still….
efgoldman
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: The purpose is to force the RWNJ assholes to go on record.
Another straw
hueyplong
@different-church-lady: I was thinking about the attitude Remo and the other bosses eventually took toward Joe Pesci late in the going in “C-s-no.” I was thinking that because I’m a naive optimist.
TenguPhule
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: The problem being our media doesn’t give Democrats the time of day, so other then political junkies, nobody is going to notice.
TenguPhule
@efgoldman:
Except they keep behaving as if they don’t expect any retribution.
Its puzzling.
lamh36
I believe I read somewhere that Gowdy is focusing investigating the FBI’s role, and NOT the WH
MomSense
@trollhattan:
Let’s wait and see if he actually does a credible job before we give that insufferable hack an ounce of credit.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
Adding on to that last paragraph, if the GOP hope to remain in power they’ll have to cancel elections. And all that will ultimately do is accelerate their downfall.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@TenguPhule:
I have no numbers or evidence to go by, but I honestly think that the media doesn’t matter as much anymore. Lots of people are seeing Trump and the Republicans for what they are. People who were previously on the sidelines. That’s the wide swings we’re seeing in special elections. I was in a B-Dubs the other night and CNN was playing. Wolf Blitzer. The headlines were relentlessly negative for Trump. Wolf freaking Blitzer was dumping on Trump. Things are changing.
trollhattan
@MomSense:
If nothing else we at least know he and his improbable hair will be moving on.
Amir Khalid
It might help the White House’s credibility if they got rid of the people who still don’t have clearances a year after they came aboard — like that Kushner guy, maybe.
Kay
Well, sadly, voters weren’t given the chance to decide if it mattered that the Trump Family would all be the subject of criminal probes.
Because we had to concentrate on Hillary Clinton’s email management.
Golly- that’s the kind of stuff that can turn elections, criminal probes. Too bad voters never got a head’s up!
Aleta
I wish reporters would “lose confidence” in their sources inside the WH. If they must report what they’ve been told, at least stop presenting it as straight news if they haven’t confirmed it in other ways.
And do accurate stories about manipulation of the media. Don’t be so afraid of losing your sources that you become their instrument.
mai naem mobile
1/please please let Stephen Miller be one of the onea without a regular security clearance.
2/thanks to school shootings being so common in the US the WH won’t be able to hide behind the Fl school shooting tomorrow. Huckster will be back behind the podium tomorrow answering questions about Stormy and Porter.
efgoldman
@Kay:
Sort of what I thought might happen. One by one, the few people who he trusts and who are loyal will drop away and get picked off one by one. leaving him more and more isolated and less ad less unable to function, for some definitions of functional. Even before the indictments start raining down.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
So true. The Seahawks’s secondary is in tatters.
MomSense
@trollhattan:
Thank goodness for that. Do you remember the illiterate soldier in Dances With Wolves who wiped his ass with pages from the main character’s journal? That’s who Gowdy reminds me of.
mai naem mobile
@Amir Khalid: sad part for Dolt45 is that i guarantee yoi Kush ain’t going to prison for him. Not even if he promises him a pardon. Not even if he has to divorce Ivanka. That weasel will flip on Dolt so fast it will make your head spin.
debbie
I have to say that on this horrible news day, this has cheered me up considerably:
Corner Stone
@debbie:
danielx
One more illustration of cat selective hearing: cannot hear “get down” three feet away, can hear food hitting the bowl from a hundred feet.
TenguPhule
@efgoldman: @? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
Or just tip them enough. 2004 was educational and not in a good way.
debbie
@Corner Stone:
I see a battle between Stormy and Omarosa to dominate the remainders table!
laura
Ryan tugs forelock, wishes there’d be less hiring of vile abusive rageholes. Not one word about the other 39 known to be without clearance.
Gowdy and company will look into Porter, but not so much with the other 39 known to be without clearance.
President shithole could care less about the lack of clearance and will happily continue to expose and reveal all manner of classified and top secret information because his base, the Senate and the Congress and majority of the Supreme Court can’t be arsed to bother upholding and/defending the Constitution.
Nelle
17 dead confirmed in Florida.
TS
@Aleta:
Given that the WHPC only asks the questions approved by the WH – going to be a long time before they give up on their inside sources. I cannot believe this is the same group of people who attacked President Obama because he wore a tan suit – and now refuse to ask questions “off topic” because SHS said not to do this.
Frankensteinbeck
Congressional Republicans have never had confidence in Trump. They are hyper-partisan nihilists terrified that if white power falters for even a second they will never get it back, which might even be true. Just because they’ve defended Trump from Democrats doesn’t mean they like him or obey him. They hate his guts.
JoeyJoeJoe Junior Shabadoo
@MomSense: Spivey, and Kevin Costner kills him in the end.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@TenguPhule:
This isn’t 2004. A lot can still happen, but I don’t think the blue wave is going to be overcome. If it is, people will know something is up.
TenguPhule
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
1) The trick is going to be to hold those gains, because even a little backsliding to the GOP means right back where we started. 2010 was….painful and eye opening.
2) In a sane world, the GOP would be trying to make nice with the Democrats as they see what’s coming and try to mitigate the damage. Instead, they’re doubling down.
lamh36
Seeing a Suspect name trending. “Nicholas Cruz”…
The WH has called a lid on press…so no statement from Chump on camera…how soon before Chump jumps to conclustions?
https://twitter.com/DavidOvalle305/status/963897587739824129
lamh36
Brachiator
Funny that the Trump Administration insists on “extreme vetting” for Muslims, but prefers practically no vetting for White House employees.
Amir Khalid
@danielx:
Cat can hear you fine. Cat is just reminding you that you are not the boss of cat.
divF
@debbie:
The only thing that is wrong with this story is that she doesn’t spell her name with two e’s.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Frankensteinbeck:
Rohrabacher and Nunes evidently really like Twerp.
TenguPhule
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: The lesson of 2004 was that all the outrage and polling and smaller elections going our way can still be thwarted by strategic cheating.
They don’t have to win every race, just enough of them. And just close enough to make it seem remotely possible.
geg6
@debbie:
Oh man, could it be that the FSM loves me this much?
(((CassandraLeo)))
@Corner Stone: Hey. She’s seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Things that no doubt would give many people a severe case of PTSD. If she wants to cash in, I can’t begrudge her too heavily, especially if it contributes to the downfall of Tangerine Torquemada.
lamh36
Official 17 dead.
dmsilev
@Brachiator: I’m sure they vet very carefully to make sure that no honest people inadvertently end up working at the WH.
MomSense
@JoeyJoeJoe Junior Shabadoo:
Thank you! Gowdy even looks like a Spivey.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@TenguPhule:
1) That’s true. This is a multi-cycle effort. I hope voters understand this now. The GOP must be kept out of power until they regain their senses, barring that, their collapse. Trying to take away healthcare should help with this.
2) That’s what R’s do. It will hasten their destruction.
(((CassandraLeo)))
@lamh36: Oof. This is horrible. I used to live in Parkland. It feels like a million years ago (I was just a kid), but I used to travel down Pine Island Rd. all the time. This one is chilling to me. And I’m seething with a quiet fury that it still won’t result in any reform to our gun laws.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@TenguPhule:
Funny thing is, I don’t think that’s wash as well this time around. The benefit of the doubt has been abused too much.
gene108
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
I don’t like the submitting a list to Congress every three months.
That is just waiting for a Republican Congress to use it to harass the hell out of a Democratic President.
Watergate spawned a Congressional Special Prosecutor to investigate the White House. Gingrich & Co abused by appointing Ken Starr, and then pointing to Starr and saying “look it can be abused” and then abolished it.
Today’s GOP operates in much less good faith than Gingrich era Republicans did.
Corner Stone
@(((CassandraLeo))): I hope she gets a million dollar advance and she gives it (all details) all up. She can make a fortune touring the south, stripping and doing book signings. Maybe finish off in the pr0n capital of the US, Utah.
Brachiator
@Frankensteinbeck:
Then why are they kissing Trump’s ass, and why have they done so since the primaries?
The Republican Congressional leadership could easily rein Trump in. Instead they have his back and go running to the money men to insulate them from the consequences of their bad decisions.
Have we seen any public act of defiance? Any on the record criticism of Trump from any Republican currently holding office, and who has not decided on an early retirement?
Corner Stone
@gene108:
You mean when Newt did his firebrand impression in front of cameras in an empty House? Making Radio Rwanda seem tame? That good faith?
Gravenstone
@divF: Ah, the classics. I knew immediately what you had to be referencing.
Roger Moore
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
This is good, but it still faces the most fundamental problem with all this stuff: it falls apart if Congress doesn’t do its job policing the president. Congress already has all the powers it needs to rein Trump in; they have plenty of justification for impeachment today. They don’t want to do anything about him, and no set of rules they come up with will accomplish anything until they do.
Sloane Ranger
I assume any investigation led by Trey Gowdy into this matter is intended to show that this is all part of the Deep State conspiracy and the FBI is totally to blame.
Brachiator
@dmsilev:
Ya know, this may be very true. I have seen before that dishonest organizations attract thieves and rogues and strongly discourage honest people from joining.
Mike G
Coming soon, probably:
“Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said his House Oversight Committee on Tuesday night kicked off an investigation into how the innumerable White House fuckups could be blamed on Benghazi, Jade Helm, pedophile pizza parlors and FBI Trump-hating secret societies”
lamh36
In case we forget, for whenever the “mentally ill” excuse come up
lamh36
Just One More Canuck
@danielx: Mine can hear me open the cupboard door where her food is when she’s sound asleep two floors away
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Brachiator:
Actually, I’d argue that because Republicans aren’t reigning him in they’re getting their asses beat in elections, so it’s a double edged sword.
(((CassandraLeo)))
@Corner Stone: Agreed. Honestly, I’d find it almost poetic.
Just One More Canuck
@debbie: I’ll be disappointed if there isn’t a WWE bout between Stormy (sorry, Stormee) and Omorosa
debbie
@geg6:
The tweetstorms should be epic!
TenguPhule
I’d like a new thread to complain about the Food Box Insanity Proposal.
TenguPhule
Anonymous At Work
This is “Blame the messenger, not the message” damage control. Bush “wasn’t a true conservative” since his “compassionate conservative” dogwhistle sounds vaguely liberal. Trump “wasn’t a true conservative” since his WH was staffed by wife-beater and lackeys.
bemused
@lamh36:
One of kids lost a classmate in an accident when he was in high school. Small class, all pretty close. After awhile, they started phoning each other and met to be with each other. They got even closer. A year later they lost another classmate in an accident. I answered the phone and heard the tragic news. I looked over at our kid just relaxing in a chair and thought how am I going to tell him. When I did, he flung his head back in the chair and sat for a few minutes. Then he got up and he and his classmates started calling each other. Very soon after that, they had plans to meet and he was out the door. I remember saying to my husband that how sad is it that they know exactly what to do this time, they have the drill down and yet they know how to get through it, together.
Riccardo Cabeza
@Joyce Harmon: republican assholes decide treason isn’t a good campaign slogan. fuck them all to death
Brachiator
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
Good point. I have said before that the GOP did not fear the voters. They felt that gerrymandering and the money men would insulate them. I still believe that the GOP does not really give a shit about voters, not even their own base, or Trump’s base.
But you make a very good point when you point out that sticking to Trump has had electoral consequences and the Republicans have suffered. Problem is, they don’t know how to get out of the deal with the devil that they made in backing Trump.
lamh36
It’s a private moment, but unfortunately, maybe THIS is what some folks need to see and hear!
Peale
@Brachiator: yep. List the top ten gop congressmen who disagree with Trump. Can’t get passed five I bet
lamh36
Van Buren
@JPL: My thought: GOOD RIDDANCE My prayer: THAT THEY NEVER RETURN.
Baud
I think I maligned Michelle Kwan this morning by confusing her with another figure skater. I’m sorry, Michelle.
TenguPhule
New Troubles on the horizon across the pond.
(((CassandraLeo)))
@Van Buren: So say we all.
trollhattan
@Baud:
You MONSTER!
Mnemosyne
I’m looking at a small image of the final Black Panther poster with all of the characters on it and only just realized that the background forms an X.
Well played, poster designer. Well played.
Brachiator
@TenguPhule:
This is an indirect residue of BREXIT. Prior agreements mandated that the same rules had to apply to both sides of the border, if I understand this correctly. BREXIT and UK disengagement from EU rules fucks this up.
And on top of all this, no one trusts the UK now that they have made the DUP their coalition partner. They are no longer perceived as an honest broker. Kinda like Trump and the Middle East now that he has declared for Jerusalem.
ETA: I will soon be on the road for on my commute. I think you and others wanted to bring up another story and I may miss out on reading the thread. With respect to the food box BS. A CNBC story notes:
How come the government doesn’t use its unique purchasing power to lower the cost of drugs?
Miss Bianca
@TenguPhule: God, I hope not. That would break my heart.
Van Buren
@Just One More Canuck: My dogs can hear the sound of a knife slicing cheese through 2 walls and over the sound of Tull cranked up to 11.
Mnemosyne
@hueyplong:
True fact: my spouse went to high school with the daughter of the guy Pesci’s character was based on. And, yes, the murder was pretty much as portrayed in the movie. ?
Brachiator
There’s a story on Slate that suggests that the Republicans might bounce back somewhat. Long story, and I have not had time to read it. Lots of conventional wisdom.
One semi-interesting point is that they suggest that the Democrats can’t get a lot of play because the media won’t cover their take on the issues. But I think the Democrats can bust through. They need to focus on Trump’s failures. He promised better health care, but just got stupid and vengeful. They need to be more concrete on the tax bills weaknesses and outline a superior alternative, not just talk about how it favors the rich. The voters expect this. But they also expect miracles, that they will get something out of the tax bill also. Make the lie of this easier to understand.
Brachiator
@Mnemosyne:
Keep hearing great things about the movie and will see it Saturday. I’ve seen some stories wondering if it will do well in foreign markets despite its strong favorable ratings here. Also, box office watchers will be looking to see how strong the second week of release might be.
Superhero movies with anyone other than the standard white bread male heroes still makes Hollywood nervous. OTOH, Wonder Woman kicked ass in its HBO showing, continuing its strong reception among movie watchers.
(((CassandraLeo)))
@Brachiator: #SlatePitch at its finest. I’ll link a rebuttal later in the form of historical data suggesting that, for whatever reason, the president’s party recovers in polls around this time of a midterm election year, then typically falls again. We just turned Sarasota blue. Some people aren’t happy unless they’re serving as soothsayers of doom.
Mnemosyne
@Brachiator:
Disney is 1000% behind the movie, and they’re gambling that it ends up doing really well. I suspect that it will do pretty well overseas because it’s an action/superhero movie, but we’ll see. Oddly, I think that having a primarily Black cast may end up working in its favor.
Jeffro
The key is, we are talking national security here…NO Republican wants to be caught out as weak on that. That’s why they get nervous when we talk about the people without clearances …
…WHICH IS WHY WE SHOULD KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE LACK OF SECURITY CLEARANCES !!!
(((CassandraLeo)))
@Mnemosyne: I’m almost certain it will. IIRC, Moonlight (completely different genre; similar cast) also did really well overseas.
Steeplejack (phone)
@hueyplong:
Casino and socialism and the other bad words are okay now! Alain did a fix.
Steve in the ATL
@Steeplejack (phone): thank god. can anyone spare some cialis?
Steve in the ATL
@Mnemosyne:
Works great for the NFL and NBA! NHL might have better ratings with some diversity.
Brachiator
@Mnemosyne:
I’ve seen that 2 of the few negative reviews of BP have come from Australia, which sadly, has audiences that do not always give a chance to films with people of color.
Mnemosyne
@(((CassandraLeo))):
I think — and I have not yet done the research — that films with a Black lead heading a mostly white cast do worse overseas than films with an all-Black or primarily Black cast. But I would have to do the research on BoxOfficeMojo to confirm that.
Mnemosyne
@Brachiator:
Australia is not a very big market in itself. It’s the rest of Asia — China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam — where it will really be tested.
IIRC, Vietnam is the fastest-growing movie market right now.
ETA: Obviously, I’m naming the Asian markets that consume a lot of Hollywood movies, not the whole region. Indian audiences are not very fond of Hollywood movies and prefer their own films.
tychay
@Brachiator: they can’t because they will either be primaried or will lose their “retirement” sinecures. Until that structure comes down, republicans have no reason to change even as they wind their way to oblivion like the CAGOP did.
Sm*t Cl*de
I did not need to read those words.
Steve in the ATL
@tychay: first time I’ve seen one of your posts in real time! How’s it hanging? Has Marie been asking about me? I was very clear that I am married.
WaterGirl
@geg6: Could her stories of disgusting Trump hair details be the thing that would turn Trump’s supporters against him? I have been thinking that there will be some bizarre thing that turns the tide, where we think: after everything he’s done, THAT WAS A BRIDGE TOO FAR?
I hope she publishes her book soon. If she’s smart, she started writing it when the whole thing hit the news months ago.
MisterForkbeard
@Brachiator:
Right? This is what happens when you partner with Zapp Brannigan.
Brachiator
@Jeffro:
Yep. Especially when the GOP want to try to bash Democrats for being weak on defense or bring up Hillary and her emails.
jonas
@trollhattan: Don’t worry — it’s a bit of “oh yeah, sure we take this seriously” posturing to give Republican candidates some cover this fall when some constituent asks them if they back Trump’s habit of hiring abusers: “Of course I fully back chairman Gowdy’s very serious, thorough investigation yada yada…” He ain’t gonna do shit. Any more than Devin Nunes is going to get to the root of the Russia hacks.
Matt McIrvin
@Mnemosyne: Black Panther has been smashing records for advance ticket sales–best-ever for this time of year, best ever for a superhero flick. There’s this huge pent-up demand.
(((CassandraLeo)))
@MisterForkbeard: This simply isn’t fair to Zapp Brannigan. Billy West, who’d been reading some of Trump’s quotes in Zapp’s voice, outright refused to read the Access Hollywood tape because there are some lines even Zapp wouldn’t cross. I assume it’s only gotten worse since then.