Last 24 hours has seen stories about Mueller pursuing lines of Trump inquiry on:
Email Hacking/release coordination (NBC)
Obstruction via Sessions threats (Post)
Business dealings in Russia (CNN)In other words, he is investigating everything. Everything.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) March 1, 2018
it rules that Trump's weird family pathologies are going to result in scandal timebomb Kushner hanging around the White House doing nothing except absorbing controversy until everything inevitably blows up
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) February 27, 2018
And here Donald thought he’d found himself a “son” who was a competent grifter!
It’s been a truism since at least Jimmy Carter’s presidency that Washington DC is “wired for Republicans”, but it’s a company town and these Trump goniffs are damaging the brand. I suspect the stories Roxanne Roberts shares in the Washington Post hurt Jared, Ivanka, and their socially-insecure old man’s feelings much more than any Democratic accusations of treason / incompetence / general venality — “Washington society and Team Trump: A year in, the fear and loathing is mutual”:
… The president and many of his closest advisers are contemptuous and suspicious of the Washington establishment, which they dismiss as the “swamp.” And the city’s social elite, normally quick to embrace a new chief executive and his inner circle, are judgmental, wary and afraid of being, as one Republican put it, “tainted for life.”
“This establishment is trying to reject Trump and his family like white blood cells chasing off an infection,” says conservative anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist, who has lived in Washington for 33 years. And Trump loyalists, he says, see little value in rubbing shoulders with people who didn’t want anything to do with them before the election…
The Trumps, for their part, seem to want not just respect and courtesy but personal allegiance. One Republican hostess, eager to introduce Trump family members to some of her friends, was told that they were interested only in people who are “loyal” — a term rarely used to describe social acquaintances…
There was a moment when Ivanka and Jared seemed like the perfect bridge between the White House and social Washington. They were young, glamorous and chic, the ultimate power couple in a city full of them. They had impeccable manners and were eager to engage. They hosted small dinners at their Kalorama home for members of Congress, administration officials and other prominent Washingtonians…
That mutual admiration was short-lived. The couple apparently became increasingly disenchanted with Washington after the Russia scandal broke, surprised by what they considered vicious, unfair attacks. Whatever goodwill they felt toward the establishment has reportedly evaporated, and the two are rarely seen at social events outside the president’s orbit.
Meanwhile, the A-list was surprised by what some describe as the self-importance and humorlessness of Team Trump. “This is the first administration,” one fundraiser says, “where you can’t tease.” …
The Kushner saga would be so bizarre – the president putting a vastly underqualified relative in charge of making Mideast peace, solving the opioid crisis and dealing with China – even if he could get a security clearance and didn't revise his disclosure forms 40-plus times.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 27, 2018
New: Jared Kushner, whose demeanor has been described as paranoid in recent days, suspects that the timing of the story about his foreign contacts was coordinated to be released when issues surrounding his security clearance were in the news. https://t.co/2d5ky3iuwk
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 28, 2018
… He is under the impression that officials from the intelligence and national security communities were aware of this information beforehand, the person said, but waited until his clearance issues were in the spotlight to make it public.
Kushner also feels that he has come under fire from his own West Wing colleagues recently, with the notion that “everyone is out to get him,” a source said. This person noted that Kushner remains exasperated by Kelly’s decision to overhaul the security clearance process, feeling that it is mainly directed at him. He has been asking others, “Why is John Kelly doing this?”…
Those who still enjoy access to the nation’s deepest secrets will now be responsible for cordoning off that information from those with only “secret” clearances — or be in violation of federal law, which punishes unauthorized disclosure of classified information with up to ten years in prison.
That’s provided national security officials — careerists and political appointees alike — with a sense of caution. One official described the mood as “walking on eggshells” to uphold the law.
Adding to the sense of uncertainty is a lack of clarity on who exactly has been stripped of their temporary clearances. Advisers have been told there are dozens of aides who previously had access to “top secret” information but who now only have access to “secret” — but a comprehensive roster of those with downgraded access hasn’t been widely circulated…
So either Kushner is going to break more laws or he’s taking up space in the White House for absolutely no reason, right?
— Schooley (@Rschooley) February 27, 2018
Not for nothing, but how would Abbe Lowell have any f**king clue whether “Kushner's work won't be affected” or not by his downgraded security clearance? https://t.co/FSn2CUJwyq
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) February 28, 2018
Kelly has remarked privately that Ivanka is just "playing government," one source said
via @jeffzeleny > https://t.co/UnXC8ydn0a
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) February 27, 2018
(But then again, as the old playground taunt goes: So’s her old man!)
The White House chief calligrapher has a higher clearance than Jared Kushner https://t.co/ZkGosb6whI
— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) February 28, 2018
Mike in NC
Mueller, as Adam would attest, is conducting penetration at every level. The results will be worth it.
GregB
The National Weather Service predicts a category 5 shitstorm bearing down on Washington, DC. People are asked to shelter in place and avoid open areas.
Adam L Silverman
Ya think? Every news report about this indicates that the information about the foreign contacts and the Israelis, Mexicans, Emiratis, and Chinese trying to leverage him as an unwitting asset were the results of US and allied SIGINT.
Jeffro
@GregB: yeah but that’s for Friday in the meantime we have 24 more hours to party
cain
I can’t wait till we re-wire washington away from Republicans. I don’t know what it should be, but it can’t be status quo.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
Let’s be honest, Schooley… Kushner has always just been taking up space in the White House.
Also, Kushner is not glamorous. His hair is perpetually oily and thin. His lips are disagreeable. He looks spoiled and prissy.
rk
I would be concerned that Trump would reveal top secret information to Jared, except I doubt that Trump even understands his security briefings, or even retains information five minutes after the briefing.
Steeplejack (phone)
Just remembered: Omarosa is on Colbert’s show tonight. Just started, but she won’t be on for 15 minutes or so. Must-see TV.
Jeffro
@Adam L Silverman: as I mentioned in an earlier thread,Twitter Richard Nixon put it best : Jared “ suspects “ all of this was time to damage him … can you imagine being a person who only “suspects”
cain
@Adam L Silverman:
I can’t imagine what career security people are thinking right now. A president that doesn’t read the daily briefing, information going to someone who shouldn’t, and large number of countries gunning to take advantage. I wonder how many of these folks were closet republicans?
Sandia Blanca
Nice burn about the calligrapher! Maybe she can make some nice engraved invitations to their sentencing hearings.
dmsilev
@Adam L Silverman: Jared is very perceptive.
Emma
In the match between Kelly and Javanka: In-ju-ries! In-Ju-Ries!! IN-JU-RIES!!!
Cheryl Rofer
None, NONE of this is a surprise. They told us who they were.
GregB
Breaking news: Hope Hicks and Chrissy Tiegen spotted on a plane leaving DC, eating an emotional support casserole with a shared spoon.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/whdh.com/entertainment/teigen-brings-emotional-support-casserole-on-flight-after-approval-from-tsa/amp/
Adam L Silverman
@cain: I can’t speak to party ID. But the answer to the rest of your question is mixed. True believers make excuses. The rest of us are varying degrees of amazed to very concerned.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
This can’t be a good time for another Coulter book…all her heroes are proving to be morons.
Maybe a children’s book? Hansel and Gretel: The Witch’s Perspective.
Adam L Silverman
@Cheryl Rofer: Executive time is going to be lit!
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
I’m glad Jarvanka is miserable
Jeffro
@Cheryl Rofer: You know what is a bit of a surprise, though? Many folks (including some here) noted that many qualified people would not want to serve in this administration, and so Trumpov would be left with the dregs, so to speak, with a few “let’s HOLD THE LINE” types a la Mattis and what not.
The surprise is that the dregs circled down the drain SO. QUICKLY. (and in some cases, with some positions, multiple times). Sean Spicer couldn’t hang in there. The Mooch? Gimme a break. Even frickin’ Prince of Darkness In His Own Incompetent Mind Steve Bannon couldn’t make it a year.
Bad people just…well…I guess you could say that they lack stamina. And for that, and their sheer incompetence, I (and the rest of this battered democracy) am eternally grateful.
ascap_scab
@GregB:
Is thst like a Shitnado?
Cheryl Rofer
@Jeffro: I agree that there are surprises in degree, but this is who this whole crew is.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Cheryl Rofer:
I wonder if there will come a day when the Executive Office of the President just organizationally collapses due to bleeding too many staff, qualified or otherwise, leaving Trump and his family alone.
Cheryl Rofer
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: I have been thinking about that. Nobody is going to want to work there unless they are coked up like Mooch or otherwise damaged, given the obviousl legal liabilities. It looks like it will come within the next six months.
mike in dc
I think Jared leaves relatively soon, and maybe Ivanka would if someone pressed her on her mom’s old marital rape claim.
cain
@Adam L Silverman:
I bet. Yeah that’s why I said ‘closted’. National security isn’t a political thing anyways.
Adam L Silverman
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: @Cheryl Rofer: There was informed speculation today on MSNBC that the President will simply not fill these positions as they come up. That you’ll basically see a hollowed out Executive Office of the President.
smedley the uncertain
@rk: Jared has been attending the daily briefings. Probably understands them better than the Orange One. Sad.
mike in dc
@Adam L Silverman: That’s going to make him even more uninformed and ineffective at the job.
mainmata
The Trump family started this administration with no higher agenda than monetizing the Presidency as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Everyone knew that Jared knew nothing about foreign or domestic policy; hell he even botched the running of his family’s own real estate business. So, it’s hardly surprising that he’s done exactly nothing except go to a few meetings and, apparently during some of them, attempt to bail out his Devil’s property 666 Fifth Ave. and other loser investments.
Most people would be embarrassed that they are taking up a key WH position and just sitting there like a cigar store Indian. But Javanka are incapable of even that.
trollhattan
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
Galleries are prepared for “Chlamydia! How liberals are like the clap, only not detectable”
At the same publisher is O’Reilly’s next: “Killing Prostate”
Jager
Apollo Global Management, the investment fund that loaned Kush 184 million for his Chicago properties last year is backed by money from Qatar. The refi was also three times what they normally lend on real estate. Of course the Apollo CEO Joshua Harris was only in meetings at the White House to “advise” on infrastructure projects.
BTW, I was waiting for a meeting to start today and watched trump and the congressional leaders meeting on gun control, the sound was down, but I have to say the body language was a god damned hoot.
mainmata
@rk: He retained enough of it a year ago to betray at least one Mossad agent to his Russian buddies in the Oval Office. So it depends. He is under FSB control so he knows what to remember and what to “forget”.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Adam L Silverman:
Why is he doing this? That job is already hell even with the support staff.
Thanks Ryan and McConnell for playing interference for this dysfunctional loser!
NotMax
Can’t help but think of this. (Some of the details may suffer from fuzzy memory but the gist is correct.)
There was a story in – probably – the 70s about an official appointed to head an obscure office in the executive branch. Said office had been created and served a purpose in WW1, continued as a dangling holdover with nothing to manage, nothing to supervise, nothing to do since then. The guy who held the job reportedly showed up at his office daily, spent eight hours (less a lunch break) listening to opera records and then headed home.
jl
Thanks for link with info on the WH Calligrapher’s Office. I didn’t know it was that plugged in to exciting stuff. Maybe the Trumpsters can pin all the mess on the calligraphers?
NotMax
@trollhattan
Chlamydia, chlamydia, oh you have chlamydia
Passed on from the tattooed lady
Adam L Silverman
@mike in dc: It is what it is.
Adam L Silverman
@Jager: Actually shortly after the meeting the President dropped his requirement that the tax bill close the carried interest loophole, which would have hit private equity and hedge fund folks.
Adam L Silverman
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?: Look at how he’s run his business. Basically family and some loyal retainers. He has no context for being president and running the country. He didn’t seek the presidency out of a calling to public service. This is the result.
? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?
@Adam L Silverman:
I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I thought even Trump understood the value of having support staff underneath him.
Raoul
I for one am shocked that people would wait for the most strategic moment to release damning info on a rival. Shocked!
Also, too, he’s not paranoid – he’s stupid. I mean, they are out to get him. But for things he actually did, so that’s just deserts, not a conspiracy to persecute.
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et Al.)
I feel almost dizzy with the speed all this shit is hurtling toward us. This has to end soon. It just has to. I don’t know how much more the country can take of this shit show fail parade, even leaving aside that we have, speaking practically, no federal government, and no likelihood of getting one at least until after the election. I know conservatives are thrilled not to have a federal government, but a country of 300,000,000 really kind of needs one.
efgoldman
@Adam L Silverman:
The longer this farce goes on, the more I’m convinced that “running his business” meant starting with several hundred million he inherited and penny ante-grifting to keep from losing it.
Raoul
Oh, and the “Why is John Kelly doing this?” is hilarious. I think Kelly is a terrible COS (in part because he’s COS-ing a truly terrible potus), and I think Kelly is the racist right-winger he is proving himself to be.
But he is a career Marine officer, retired General, and former Secretary of DHS. He was willing to play footsie up to a point on clearances, but once the press got ahold of the game, even Trump-compromised Kelly had to do something. Kushner is moronically pathetic with his unrealistic whining.
Manyakitty
@Cheryl Rofer: This made me snort-laugh and I startled the cats. Excellent. ?
Manyakitty
@GregB: I love Chrissy Tiegen more every day.
Frankensteinbeck
I feel sorry for those professionals who don’t want to break clearance laws. Shit will be hitting the fan soon in the White House. Kushner is Trump’s sidekick, and President Tantrum will insist Jared have access to everything. Kelly will insist he have access to nothing.
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
I can see the media and government grifter social group loving Kushner. He’s a smugly egotistical dimwit who looks moderately young and fit and spouts buzzwords as if they were genius strategies. He’s the vapid know-nothing’s idea of what a genius looks/sounds like.
@mainmata:
I don’t think that takes much brain power, though. Just enough to go ‘That’s cool and makes me Important!’ and then brag about it.
Raoul
@Cheryl Rofer: When your admin is hiring a party planner to be a HUD regional executive, in your first year, you have nowhere to go but down.
Vhh
The Hill reports that Trump angrily berated Hope Hicks for admitting to Congress that she told “white lies” for Trump, how could she be so stupid … cue the Downfall bunker scene where Hitler blames his generals and the German people for losing the war after he “alone conquered Europe”. Wonder what Trump says to the other staff he throws under the bus…..
Frankensteinbeck
@Raoul:
Jared was raised to believe it is the duty of the rest of the world to fall on their sword to protect him. His father literally went to jail for believing that.
@efgoldman:
And he’s losing it anyway. Given how insulated the super-rich are from consequences, that requires truly spectacular stupidity.
Raoul
delete
(wrong thread)
sukabi
@rk: don’t know…he retained enough to brief the Russians in the oval and blow an Israeli operation…
Heywood J.
@Steeplejack (phone): Only if she spontaneously combusts, leaving nothing but a sulfuric plume of smoke and a smoldering pile of embers. I sincerely hope she ends up on a street corner, juggling lemons and hoping people will throw change into her old milk carton.
danielx
@Jeffro:
Would not want to serve in a Trump administration for excellent reasons, number one being…a Trump administration. Another being that anyone who goes to work for a Trump administration is and will be permanently stained, one way or another – whether through being humilated and undercut by the boss, getting in legal trouble for trying to protect the boss, or morally damaged by trying to further his policies and defend the indefensible.
Ruckus
@? ?? Goku (aka Baka Amerikahito) ? ?:
The only support staff he has valued over his lifetime are attorneys. And that’s because he so doesn’t value support staff, because of course he’s brilliant and all powerful, that he keeps getting his dick caught in a wringer and has to use attorneys to get him unstuck. That’s part of the problem of a narcissist, especially one so textbook, everyone else is a useless fuck compared to him, in his mind. In his mind he can run into a building unarmed and take down a person with an assault rife and lots of don’t give a fuck. (The reality though is that he is a 70 yr old fat man who can’t walk a couple hundred feet. Even if he had been superman at some point in time, he isn’t in any way super any more. And of course he never was super in any way at all.) That someone who is president who is so out of touch with reality is, is, is unimaginable.
Jerry
I’ll let the goyim in on a little secret – it’s fairly well-understood within the D.C. Jewish community that you only get Abbe Lowell as your attorney if you are *actually guilty*. So that’s likely why his Kalorama minyan doesn’t keep up with him anymore.
Sm*t Cl*de
@jl:
Never fuck with someone who can go Swash Palatino on your ass
Origuy
What font is appropriate for placecards at an impeachment?
For this administration, probably Comic Sans.
Matt McIrvin
What is Mueller’s endgame? He can’t directly touch Trump. He’s not putting anyone else in jail because they flip and get off easy. Does he just release everything and hope the collective reaction isn’t just “yes, those crimes are all permitted now”?
daveNYC
@Matt McIrvin: NYS would be quite happy for any information he could provide about financial crimes involving the Trump and Kushner real estate holdings.
What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?
@Jeffro: not only that but imagine being a prime suspect.
Bookeater (formerly JosieJ)
@Raoul:
IKR?! He and his vapid wife are trying to oust Kelly via one of their patented lame leakfests and they think he’s not gonna come at them in return?!
Ken
@danielx: Imagine the future job interviews for members of the misadministration.
“So, on your resume there’s a eighteen-month gap between January 2017 and July 2018…”
“I was in Tibet. Fishing. No where near Washington.”
No Drought No More
“Why is John Kelly doing this?”.
Kushner knows damn well a president can designate literally anyone as having the highest security clearance. Which means what, exactly? I can’t figure it out. By now everyone in America knows it, including Kushner. On top of that, even in mundane business dealings, weasels like him are always apprised of their options. So it must be either a play for sympathy, and/or an attempt to paint himself as such a naif that a jury will take pity on his pathetic ass and absolve him of his treason. That is, he’s not in denial. No, the man who counseled his father-in-law to fire Comey is strategizing again. So, short of a seeing the light, manning up, and doing right by the country he has betrayed, I assume that’s the story he’ll stick to for the rest of his miserable life. It makes me wonder how many generations will need pass before the family he has so shamed will once again take pride in their last name and lineage. If they ever do, that is.
Of course, the American people will never live down the shame of electing the clown, either.
The names Trump and Kushner will forever rank in history as an international punch-line, as will the memory of our twisted generation which made the both possible. That’s just the way it goes. When we fuck up, we fuck-up big. What we need to work on as a people is admitting our fuck-ups to ourselves. “We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters”.
R.E. Lee wrote that in his report to Jefferson Davis in the aftermath of Gettysburg, and he was right. Lee would surely have also acknowledged the truth that Abraham Lincoln expressed when he wrote a friend in March of 1865: “..Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them”.