Trump II

[kers]

Once again, why is this happening in the USA?
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/02/us/las-vegas-shooter/index.html
Cheers,
Bart

almost every day...

[Robert Roaldi]

I haven't read any details about the Las Vegas shooting, but 50 dead and 200 wounded seems like a lot. Did he use an automatic fire weapon?

As for Slobadan's question about how something could happen "oh so liberal" Canada, I presume that's because the Edmonton perpetrator was non-white and non-Christian, since that is usually what gets his particular goat. So let me ask, is the US going to round up all the weapons sitting in the homes of deranged white people living in small town Nevada?

Or introduce some form of gun control?

Of course not, why should a free society prevent the buying of automatic weapons by brain-damaged wackos.

No need to answer, they are rhetorical questions.

[Peter McLennan]

Besides, none of that has anything to do with the point I raised: why?

Your point, Slobodan, was vague.  What was your point exactly?  It appeared to offer little but ignorant criticism of Canada's immigration policy.

MY point was "no shots fired".  Simple as that. If you don't (won't) get it, then I'm not surprised.

Meanwhile ...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/las-vegas-shooting-1.4316121

[pegelli]

Once again, if Trump tweets and actions are "the best recruiting tool for ISIS," why is this happening in the oh, so liberal, oh, so inclusive, oh, so tolerant Canada?

"Five hurt as Edmonton attacks spark terror investigation"

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/01/americas/edmonton-vehicle-attacks-investigation/index.html

I prefer five hurt (two killed) by a knife over fifty killed by a machine gun due to conservative - trigger happy - intolerant - white supremacist - gun lobbyists.

I don't need to ask why this is happening, I know

[Robert Roaldi]

Interesting podcast about the changes in Washington D.C. lobbying in the Trump administration: http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2017/09/28/554238302/fresh-air-for-sept-28-2017-lobbying-in-trump-s-washington.

Aside from the individual instances of what I consider to be repugnant behaviour, but which may be completely normal in that world for all I know, it's the stories of confusion and leadership vacuum that disturb. We don't seem to be seeing much evidence of sober reflection.

[Schewe]

So, Trump goes down to Puerto Rico to what, help the people or try to help his public image?

Paper towels? Really? Paper towels?

In Bizarre Moment, Trump Throws Paper Towels At Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims


Trump passed out food to hurricane victims in Texas and Florida, but Puerto Ricans got the President
throwing rolls of paper towels into the crowd.

Trump is doing everything imaginable to show that he doesn’t care and doesn’t want to be there. While the President tried to make a grand gesture out pretending to give a damn about hurricane victims in red states, he isn’t trying to hide his contempt in Puerto Rico.

Beneath the surface, Trump’s behavior suggests a much deeper issue. Donald Trump thinks that he is only the president of the places who voted for him. Trump doesn’t understand that he is supposed to behave like a president for all Americans. If Puerto Rico had voted for him in 2016, they would have all the disaster relief they wanted already, and the President would be promising to do everything in his power for the island.

But since the island is 99% Hispanic and not politically friendly territory, Trump is treating them with contempt.

Donald Trump seems to hate the people of Puerto Rico, and one gets the sense that the vast majority of residents feel the same way about Trump.

Somebody should tell Trump to "hand out" something useful like food or water...

[Schewe]

Americans trust media more, and they trust Donald Trump less, new poll finds
As the public starts to trust media more, Trump’s approval ratings dip


President Donald Trump can’t stop talking about “fake news,” but the majority of Americans would not use that term to describe
the mainstream media’s output.

There’s been a spike in trust of the media, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released Tuesday.

The poll, which surveyed 14,300 people in September, found that 48% of Americans have either a “great deal” or “some confidence” in the press, up from 39% last November.

In November 2016, 51% of Americans said they had “hardly any” confidence in the press. That number has since dipped to 45%.

Of the most trusted news sources among Americans, British outlets have topped the list of late. The most trusted news source in the U.S. is the Economist — a venerable weekly magazine published in the U.K., according to a survey conducted by the University of Missouri’s Reynolds Journalism Institute. The Wall Street Journal, owned by News Corp. NWSA, +0.68%  , the parent of MarketWatch, was ranked No. 8 among trusted news sources in the U.S.

And as American’s confidence in the media rises, their confidence in President Donald Trump falls.

In January, when Trump took office, 52% of Americans had a “great deal” or “some” confidence in the president. That number dipped to 51% by May. In September, it dropped to 48%. In contrast, former President Barack Obama left office with 57% of Americans expressing confidence in his administration.

And if there’s one person who really has no confidence in the press, it’s Trump himself. Trump, who popularized the term “fake news,” has repeatedly slammed news agencies such as MSNBC and CNN.

The more Trump claims #FAKE NEWS, the more he sounds like The Boy Who Cried Wolf and to be honest, the more Trump claims fake news, the harder the journalists work and the better we are for it.

Besides, who really believes Trump? Clearly not this country nor the rest of the world...maybe a few Trump supporters believe he's working for the forgotten people...but it's pretty clear he only remembers them when he stands up in a rally–and even then the odds are they don't believe him–they may cheat for the crap he says, but I doubt they actually believe what he says.

[Alan Klein]

So what, we still let them in

And we don't force our citizens to stand with their hand on their heart at the beginning of sports matches. To each their own.

No one forces anyone to stand.  If they choose to not stand, that's their freedom of speech.  But others who also have freedom of speech.  They can speak their minds if they find that action disrespectful to the flag and country.  Both sides can do what they want.  That's different than forcing people to remove their religious garb as happens in Europe.  In that case, someone's right of free speech is being taken away.   

[Alan Klein]

Trump should look in the mirror...

Donald Trump vowed to 'drain the swamp' – yet he uses Air Force One like an Uber


Donald Trump waves as he walks down the steps of Air Force One

Well, it costs about $200,000 an hour to fly Air Force One, the plane president typically travels on when flying. There's also the cost of flying the presidential limousine or SUV to Trump's destination ahead of time so he can be whisked away when he lands. So, Trump is filling his part of the swamp as fast as he's trying to pump other parts out...(if, that is, you believe he's trying to drain the swamp rather than simply repopulate it with his friends and supporters)

I never complained when Obama and hi family flew 6000 miles to his home state of Hawaii.  A lot further than Mar-a-lago.  Presidents need rest and recreation and take the White House with them in any case.  We recognize that and support the cost to do these things because they're necessary.  I would say the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense also need US planes to take them around as they need the security and ability to keep in constant communications with Washington DC. the president and the military due to their positions.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of the Interior, not so much.  Unless it's a special situation, they can take commercial flights and sit squashed like the rest of us. 

[Alan Klein]

So, Trump goes down to Puerto Rico to what, help the people or try to help his public image?

Paper towels? Really? Paper towels?

In Bizarre Moment, Trump Throws Paper Towels At Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims


Trump passed out food to hurricane victims in Texas and Florida, but Puerto Ricans got the President
throwing rolls of paper towels into the crowd.

Somebody should tell Trump to "hand out" something useful like food or water...

Well, he could be throwing toilet paper. 

[Alan Klein]

Interesting article how Reagan, Carter, Sen Ted Kennedy , Nixon, Obama, Bush and others "colluded" with foreign governments to tip the scales during presidential elections.  If Trump colluded too, he's in good company.
https://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2017/09/21/allegations-of-foreign-election-tampering-have-always-rung-hollow-n2384153

[Robert Roaldi]

So, Trump goes down to Puerto Rico to what, help the people or try to help his public image?

Paper towels? Really? Paper towels?

In Bizarre Moment, Trump Throws Paper Towels At Puerto Rico Hurricane Victims


Trump passed out food to hurricane victims in Texas and Florida, but Puerto Ricans got the President
throwing rolls of paper towels into the crowd.

Somebody should tell Trump to "hand out" something useful like food or water...

A bizarre moment? That's way past bizarre. The President of the USA threw paper towels at people who were victims of a hurricane. Wow. Just wow.

[Robert Roaldi]

Well, he could be throwing toilet paper. 

I don't understand your remark, Alan. Do you think this is funny?

[Schewe]

I never complained when Obama and hi family flew 6000 miles to his home state of Hawaii.

Well, I'm complain about how much money Trump is spending...he fly Air Force One to New Jersey...

And Trump is on line to spend more money in his first year than Obama did in his entire 8 years...

Trump on pace to surpass 8 years of Obama's travel spending in 1 year

Washington (CNN)Donald Trump's travel to his private club in Florida has cost over an estimated $20 million in his first 80 days as president, putting the president on pace in his first year of office to surpass former President Barack Obama's spending on travel for his entire eight years.

The outsized spending on travel stands in stark relief to Trump's calls for belt tightening across the federal government and the fact that he regularly criticized Obama for costing the American taxpayer money every time he took a trip.

Given variations in each trip, estimating the security costs around a presidential trip is difficult. But a 2016 Government Accountability Office report about a four-day trip Obama took to Florida in 2013 -- one similar to Trump's trips -- found the total cost to the Secret Service and Coast Guard was $3.6 million.

To date, Trump has spent six weekends -- and a total of 21 days -- at Mar-A-Lago, his private Palm Beach club. The total estimated costs for those trips are around $21.6 million.

Obama, by contrast, spent just under $97 million on travel in his eight years as president, according to documents reviewed by Judicial Watch, a conservative government watchdog. These trips included personal trips - including ski trips to Aspen and the Obama's annual family vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts -- and work trips, like a visit to Everglades National Park on Earth Day in 2015.

Trump's frequent weekend travel makes it all but certain the 45th President will surpass Obama's spending in his first term, likely within months.

Particularly hypocritical since Trump used to love tweeting about Obama's travel...




Donald J. Trump  ✔ @realDonaldTrump
When will Obama next go on vacation if he wins the election? The day after.
9:05 AM - Sep 12, 2012


Donald J. Trump  ✔ @realDonaldTrump
"Don't take vacations. What's the point? If you're not enjoying your work, you're in the wrong job." -- Think Like A Billionaire
2:28 PM - Nov 19, 2012

Donald J. Trump  ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Can you believe that,with all of the problems and difficulties facing the U.S., President Obama spent the day playing golf.Worse than Carter
7:03 PM - Oct 13, 2014


Donald J. Trump  ✔ @realDonaldTrump
We pay for Obama's travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies. Then we pay for his golf.
2:35 PM - Oct 14, 2014

[Schewe]

Donald Trump Boasts Puerto Rico Should Be 'Proud' More Haven't Died Like in 'a Real Catastrophe Like Katrina'


Donald Trump Boasts Puerto Rico Should Be 'Proud' More Haven't Died Like in 'a Real Catastrophe Like Katrina'

President Donald Trump compared the death count following 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina to the crisis in Puerto Rico during his visit to the island on Tuesday, noting that officials should be “proud” that not as many citizens have been killed.

“Every death is horrible, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous — hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was just totally overpowering, nobody’s ever seen anything like this,” said Trump, before asking officials at a meeting with local and federal leadership how many have died since Hurricane Maria made landfall on Sept. 20, leaving millions without homes and electricity.

Trump was seemingly pleased to hear the natural disaster has claimed only 16 lives “versus in the thousands” lost during Katrina, praising the leaders, “you can be proud.”

“You can be very proud of all of your people, all of our people working together, ” he said.

Yes, he did say Every death is horrible, but if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous — hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with really a storm that was just totally overpowering, nobody’s ever seen anything like this,

And twitter didn't react too well (or reacted well depending on whose side you are on)

Joe Scarborough  ✔ @JoeNBC
A real catastrophe like...the Trump presidency.
1:02 PM - Oct 3, 2017


Clint Watts  ✔ @selectedwisdom
Again, not a single situation where #Trump makes things better instead of worse https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/915270385918193664 …
1:01 PM - Oct 3, 2017


Jill E Bond @JillEBond
Trump finally quits golfing long enough to go to PR only to congratulate himself & tell them they shld be "very proud" of their death count.
12:42 PM - Oct 3, 2017


President ManBaby @ManBabyAmerica
Trump talking about the death count in Puerto Rico is sickening
11:10 AM - Oct 3, 2017


Lucy Lubin @Soylattelucy
I feel disgusted watching trump in Puerto Rico. He’s talking budget again. And comparing Maria 2 Katrina. He is disgusting. #trumppuertorico
11:11 AM - Oct 3, 2017


Touré  ✔ @Toure
It has been 0 (zero) days since Trump embarrassed America.
1:49 PM - Oct 3, 2017

[Schewe]

Puerto Rico: Trump appears to complain about cost of relief effort


Donald Trump sits between Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Rosselló and first lady Melania Trump,
as he receives a briefing on hurricane damage at an air base in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Donald Trump has heaped praise on his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria, said Puerto Rico’s leaders should be “very proud” of the low official death toll – and appeared to complain at the cost of the recovery effort.

The US president’s remarks came on his first visit to the US territory since it was pummeled by a category 4 hurricane nearly two weeks ago, amid continuing criticism that his government has failed to adequately respond to the crisis.

The island’s 3.4 million residents – particularly those in the more isolated parts – are still largely without electricity, communications and access to clean drinking water and food.

But Trump told reporters: “It’s now acknowledged what a great job we’ve done.”

Speaking at a briefing shortly after his arrival, Trump told local officials: “I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack.

“But that’s fine because we’ve saved a lot of lives.”

--snip--

At the briefing with cabinet members, local politicians and other emergency responders, Trump singled out Rosselló for “giving us the highest praise”.

But the US president also faced his most prominent local critic, San Juan’s mayor, Carmen Yulín Cruz, who he attacked at the weekend as a “politically motivated ingrate” after she made an impassioned plea for more help from the federal government.

The two politicians shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the airport hangar before the briefing, but Cruz later described the meeting as a “public relations situation” that did not deal with the island’s problems.

“We tend to judge human crises by the number of people who die instantly,” she told CNN. “So of course when you say Katrina there were thousands, that doesn’t convey the message that people are dying on a continuum because they don’t have dialysis, they don’t have healthcare, they’re drinking out of creeks.”

Cruz said that a second meeting with White House staff was more productive than the gathering hosted by the president. “Sometimes his style of communication gets in the way,” she said.

In Washington, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, said: “I don’t remember the president telling Texas that they threw our budget out of whack after [Hurricane] Harvey. Or Florida after Irma.”

“Yes, we’re spending money in Puerto Rico. We’re spending money to turn the power back on. To give people drinking water. And to keep life support machines working in the hospitals.”

Oxfam America also made a rare criticism of the US government on Tuesday over its response to the catastrophe.

“We’re hearing excuses and criticism from the administration instead of a cohesive and compassionate response,” said Oxfam America’s president, Abby Maxman, in a statement. “The US has more than enough resources to mobilize an emergency response but has failed to do so in a swift and robust manner.”

Wow, it's very unusual to get called on the carpet by https://www.oxfamamerica.org Read the letter...it's pretty scathing.

“Oxfam has monitored the response in Puerto Rico closely, and we are outraged at the slow and inadequate response the US Government has mounted in Puerto Rico. Clean water, food, fuel, electricity, and health care are in desperately short supply and quickly dwindling, and we’re hearing excuses and criticism from the administration instead of a cohesive and compassionate response. The US has more than enough resources to mobilize an emergency response but has failed to do so in a swift and robust manner. Oxfam rarely responds to humanitarian emergencies in the US and other wealthy countries, but as the situation in Puerto Rico worsens and the federal government’s response continues to falter, Oxfam has decided to step in to lend our expertise in dealing with some of the world’s most catastrophic disasters.”

[Schewe]

RUSSIA!

'Both sides are preparing for a possible showdown': Mueller is delving into Trump's pardon power

The special counsel, Robert Mueller, is probing the limits of Trump's pardon power.

There are several unanswered constitutional questions regarding Trump's pardon powers Mueller's team is reportedly looking into, all of which have little precedent.

"I suspect that both sides are preparing for a possible showdown on these issues," said one legal expert.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's team is looking into whether there are any limits on President Donald Trump's pardon powers as the FBI investigates Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Michael Dreeben, a seasoned prosecutor working with Mueller, is delving into past presidential pardons as the special counsel lays out a legal strategy, to ensure that Mueller's case has a solid foundation and can stand up to possible appeals, the report said.

Trump's pardon power — and its possible limits — became a subject of interest after The Washington Post reported in July that the president asked his advisers if he could pardon aides, family members, and possibly himself as the Russia investigation picked up steam.

Constitutionally, the president's pardon powers are very broad as they relate to federal crimes, which Trump pointed out in July.

"While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us.FAKE NEWS," Trump tweeted at the time.

So far, established constitutional limits on the president's pardon power prevent it from affecting impeachment proceedings and bar it from being applicable to state crimes.

But longtime federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti wrote Tuesday that it doesn't mean no other constitutional limits exist; merely that they have not yet been tested. Those possible limits are likely the questions Dreeben is looking into.

[Alan Klein]

Well, I'm complain about how much money Trump is spending...he fly Air Force One to New Jersey...

And Trump is on line to spend more money in his first year than Obama did in his entire 8 years...

...

Particularly hypocritical since Trump used to love tweeting about Obama's travel...

Well, he's welcome to stay with me and my wife in New Jersey for a weekend.  We'll throw in a free Continental breakfast.  That should save the taxpayers some money.   Maybe I can get the Secret Service to cut the grass. 

[Robert Roaldi]

Well, he's welcome to stay with me and my wife in New Jersey for a weekend.  We'll throw in a free Continental breakfast.  That should save the taxpayers some money.   Maybe I can get the Secret Service to cut the grass.

Maybe he can help out and bring you some toilet paper.

[Peter McLennan]

Maybe he can help out and bring you some toilet paper.