After several viewings and careful consideration, I give Trump an F MINUS grade on his press conference.
With Trump, its his effortless ability to be stupid and annoying at the same time which makes him so unique in politics.
And have you ever seen a man so obsessed with the media? You'd think he was a 400 pound man in bed with his computer or something.
Well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Especially 400 pound men like Trump when they fall out of bed.
With Trump, its his effortless ability to be stupid and annoying at the same time which makes him so unique in politics.
And have you ever seen a man so obsessed with the media? You'd think he was a 400 pound man in bed with his computer or something.
Well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Especially 400 pound men like Trump when they fall out of bed.
91
Side bar:
Did you notice that his orange hair was less intense? Guess he thinks he'll appear more presidential.
Did you notice several screams from members of the audience after typical Trumpian obfuscatory responses to legit questions? His people allowed non journalist political psychophants to join the press conference. Or was it a political rally?
Did you notice that his orange hair was less intense? Guess he thinks he'll appear more presidential.
Did you notice several screams from members of the audience after typical Trumpian obfuscatory responses to legit questions? His people allowed non journalist political psychophants to join the press conference. Or was it a political rally?
66
Nothing is going to come of any of this. First, the man has no shame and his supporters care not at all about the sort of behavior that would get anyone else shunned by their sane and decent neighbors and peers. The Billy Bush videotape proved that well enough. Second, while we clutch our pearls yet again about The Donald, the real action will be under the radar thanks to Blue-Eyed Boy Wonder and Turtle Man. All they need DJT for is to sign every truly horrific piece of legislation they place in front of him. He could be a pedophile and a cannibal for all that the current GOP Congress cares.
132
Why do we have to accept this? Surely there must be a way to stop the inauguration until all these special interests and reports have been thoroughly investigated! Hard to believe Founding Fathers didn't include a loophole. Meanwhile,boycott, resist,protest and shame him every chance you can. He is a bully and bullies fall easily.
58
The British Intelligence agent who passed along the report is now in hiding exposing trumps deviant proclivities and other things.
Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who produced Donald Trump Russian dossier, 'terrified for his safety' and went to ground before name released-http://www(dot)telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/11/former-mi6-officer-produc....
People should remember what happened to Alexander Litvinenko who crossed Putin. No admission from Putin that he ordered the hit-really?
The poisoning of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko - in 90 seconds
http://www.telegraph(dot)co.uk/news/2016/03/21/the-poisoning-of-ex-kgb-s....
Trump lies because he lies because he likes to lie because no one has ever held him accountable for lying in fact his lying reaps him benefits so the lying behavior has just because who and what he is. A liar.
A lie told often enough becomes the truth": Vladimir Lenin (fancy that he's Russian).
For those trump devotees who may have missed it, the repugs in congress voted last night to repel ACA aka Obamacare for those who don't know they
are the same thing. I'd say trump voters deserve the loss but their children don't and I feel for them however trump voters have created their own death panels. I also feel sorry for those who didn't vote for the Con and hope they can find replacement coverage because the republicans have NOTHING to replace it.
Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who produced Donald Trump Russian dossier, 'terrified for his safety' and went to ground before name released-http://www(dot)telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/11/former-mi6-officer-produc....
People should remember what happened to Alexander Litvinenko who crossed Putin. No admission from Putin that he ordered the hit-really?
The poisoning of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko - in 90 seconds
http://www.telegraph(dot)co.uk/news/2016/03/21/the-poisoning-of-ex-kgb-s....
Trump lies because he lies because he likes to lie because no one has ever held him accountable for lying in fact his lying reaps him benefits so the lying behavior has just because who and what he is. A liar.
A lie told often enough becomes the truth": Vladimir Lenin (fancy that he's Russian).
For those trump devotees who may have missed it, the repugs in congress voted last night to repel ACA aka Obamacare for those who don't know they
are the same thing. I'd say trump voters deserve the loss but their children don't and I feel for them however trump voters have created their own death panels. I also feel sorry for those who didn't vote for the Con and hope they can find replacement coverage because the republicans have NOTHING to replace it.
42
Full disclosure. I'm one of the 66 million angry voters who has been livid ever since this president-(s)elect has been foisted on this country.
Like most New Yorkers who have had the painful experience of having this pest in their backyard, I knew what this country would be in for if they ever gave him even half a chance to get into the White House.
Well, they did. And the rest is proving to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Just to be clear. If everybody wants to sit back and blame the Democrats for not listening to the angry white racists in middle-America, let them.
Just don't forget there are a lot more angry Americans out there as well.
And just for the record.
Don't count out a revolution.
Like most New Yorkers who have had the painful experience of having this pest in their backyard, I knew what this country would be in for if they ever gave him even half a chance to get into the White House.
Well, they did. And the rest is proving to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Just to be clear. If everybody wants to sit back and blame the Democrats for not listening to the angry white racists in middle-America, let them.
Just don't forget there are a lot more angry Americans out there as well.
And just for the record.
Don't count out a revolution.
72
I find solace in the comments section of NYT where tormented souls like mine are lamenting this presidency. I am apoplectic with anger and grief as to what this country has become. Yes, it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too! How can we mobilize our anger in productive ways?
85
Can he possibly cheapen the office of the president of the United States any more?
Today I heard some Congressional yahoo saying their job was to undo the _damage_done to this country over the last 8 years. And that we are weaker now than we've ever been. Really? What damage would that be? People going to the doctor at will? People getting paychecks? No new wars?
Donald Trump has already undermined our military, our intelligence, our democracy, our civil right, our Bill of Rights, and our constitution and he's not even taken the oath of office yet.
He has trumped damage with ridicule. We have become the global laughing stock and that absurd adventure in "news" conference put paid to that.
I cannot wait to see where we are in a year.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
Today I heard some Congressional yahoo saying their job was to undo the _damage_done to this country over the last 8 years. And that we are weaker now than we've ever been. Really? What damage would that be? People going to the doctor at will? People getting paychecks? No new wars?
Donald Trump has already undermined our military, our intelligence, our democracy, our civil right, our Bill of Rights, and our constitution and he's not even taken the oath of office yet.
He has trumped damage with ridicule. We have become the global laughing stock and that absurd adventure in "news" conference put paid to that.
I cannot wait to see where we are in a year.
http://wifelyperson.blogspot.com/
59
It is way past time for the Press to call for Trump to release the IRS 'notice of audit' he received and which is required for the IRS to send when they inform anyone or any business they are being placed under a tax audit.
The Press should do so with the same verve and doggedness Trump and the conservative right relentlessly employed when they demanded that President Obama's produce his birth certificate to prove he was an American citizen and not some nefarious Kenyan Muslim.
And the Press should not stop these requests until Trump makes that document public.
The Press should do so with the same verve and doggedness Trump and the conservative right relentlessly employed when they demanded that President Obama's produce his birth certificate to prove he was an American citizen and not some nefarious Kenyan Muslim.
And the Press should not stop these requests until Trump makes that document public.
48
The next four years are going to be a looping car wreck in which there are countless victims. It might be funny if it were TV, but this is our reality and we chose it.
36
As a performance It was third rate but, it was free! A good example of fake news unfolding in front of the media, why didn't someone ask to see the proof of " conflict of interest" with his bigly very successful business that was lined up in envelopes on tables in front of them? We did get one bit of real news, he admitted to one phobia, maybe soon we will get admittance to all the others! As for the dossier, he probably leaked it himself so he could exhibit another of his phobias, were there any tic tacs in the videos? This is a dangerous man, breaking all the rules in your face, ripping out the fabric of our Democracy. To the media of all kinds, when you see something say something.
21
My parents, both college graduates, are now convinced that the media can't be trusted...except for Fox News, of course. So nothing any news outlet says will convince them Trump is not right about everything. This, frankly, makes me angrier than Clinton losing, and it's probably Trump's and Rupert Murdoch's greatest triumph. Even within families, there's less and less common ground between opposing viewpoints.
100
If Mr. Cohen was in Prague, where he says he's never been, that should and could be easily settled by a check with Czech authorities as to whether he ever entered their country and with the U.S. State Department, which would have a record of where his passport has been, and by Mr. Cohen opening his passport.
But whether it was Mr. Cohen in Prague, or Roger Stone in Moscow or someone else some place else, there seems little doubt that the Trump campaign and people in it, and acting on its behalf, committed treason. Et tu Richard Nixon?
But whether it was Mr. Cohen in Prague, or Roger Stone in Moscow or someone else some place else, there seems little doubt that the Trump campaign and people in it, and acting on its behalf, committed treason. Et tu Richard Nixon?
48
It should be obvious by now that this individual is not a "bully," he's a sniveling whiner. Everyone is out to get him. He's doing us a favor by "serving." He's going to create jobs? Really?
This individual is incapable of completing a coherent sentence or saying one true thing. It's amazing!
Work for voter registration and for un-gerrymandering Congressional districts. And persuade your friends and families to get involved. We're going to take a lot of damage before this individual can be scuttled.
This individual is incapable of completing a coherent sentence or saying one true thing. It's amazing!
Work for voter registration and for un-gerrymandering Congressional districts. And persuade your friends and families to get involved. We're going to take a lot of damage before this individual can be scuttled.
80
Meanwhile the people who put their lives on the line for the country, like Valerie Plame, get shafted once again by the Republicans that party of sociopaths who will say anything for a buck or a vote. This is the intelligence community that protects us and now we have put a sociopathic real estate speculator in charge of their lives. What will we have left of that firewall against tyranny when he's through with it? Meanwhile we get stories about Democrat and Republican tables in Iowa. Dumb as dirt. Here today gone tomorrow like the Mayflies.
22
I voted for Hillary but not happily. I believe the Democrats would have won the election with almost any other accomplished candidate - Hillary just had too much baggage after her long political career. I'm sad for her, but she did prove that a woman can win the White House and that is a major accomplishment and something she can be proud of. Now, we must survive what is sure to be a very rocky ride with Trump at least for 4 years before hopefully we can elect a new leader who is a good and honest person (male or female) like Obama has been these past 8 years - he will be missed.
14
Gail, I disagree that Trump's win is the end of the election story. Should we learn that Trump or his people did work with the Putin to throw this election AND there is evidence, then I think everything is up in the air. The constitution didn't factor such a nightmare in to the rules.
How could all of this not have swayed the election? First you have heavily gerrymandered districts and extreme voter suppression laws laying the foundation for this election. Republicans worked long and hard to get us there! Then factor in 25 + years of republicans trashing Hillary and all the fake news generated to discredit her. Yes fake news is NOT new!
Then enter the donald. A lying narcissist who is still seeking approval from daddy. A master at projection & a very dirty player. No morals, no ethics. He has been caught at doing everything he ever accused Hillary of doing. What in the world do you think he was telling us when he publicly asked Putin to hack her lost emails? And of course they have something on him. Otherwise, why would he be so buddy, buddy with Putin? It's not just his need to be important. He wouldn't have made that a theme of his campaign if there wasn't something to it. The unverified report of sexual scandals seems not so far out of character now does it? He wouldn't be the first powerful man to be into S&M as the M. Which might explain his need to boast to other men about his macho behavior & grabbing women's privates. Think about it.
How could all of this not have swayed the election? First you have heavily gerrymandered districts and extreme voter suppression laws laying the foundation for this election. Republicans worked long and hard to get us there! Then factor in 25 + years of republicans trashing Hillary and all the fake news generated to discredit her. Yes fake news is NOT new!
Then enter the donald. A lying narcissist who is still seeking approval from daddy. A master at projection & a very dirty player. No morals, no ethics. He has been caught at doing everything he ever accused Hillary of doing. What in the world do you think he was telling us when he publicly asked Putin to hack her lost emails? And of course they have something on him. Otherwise, why would he be so buddy, buddy with Putin? It's not just his need to be important. He wouldn't have made that a theme of his campaign if there wasn't something to it. The unverified report of sexual scandals seems not so far out of character now does it? He wouldn't be the first powerful man to be into S&M as the M. Which might explain his need to boast to other men about his macho behavior & grabbing women's privates. Think about it.
31
Of the many disturbing images related to Trompe, perhaps the most horrifying is the notion of a Trump sex tape. My eyes, my eyes.
35
Here's how effective lying is in our rapid-fire electronic news age. Remember during the primaries when Trump said that he wasn't releasing his tax returns because they were being audited, but he would release them after the primaries were over? Everyone knew he was lying about the audit stuff, but there was nothing to be done. That release date has passed, of course, and no one even thinks to remind Trump of his earlier statement. And yesterday, in his first press conference in six months, with a straight face, he used the same ridiculous excuse--an excuse that has no factual or legal basis--and this time it's obvious that his lie will serve him forever. What everyone knew is clear now. Trump never intended to release any tax returns at any time.
To sum it up simply: he has been lying consistently and continues to lie to everyone in this country. It doesn't bother him at all because he doesn't even think about it. And it wouldn't bother him if he did.
To sum it up simply: he has been lying consistently and continues to lie to everyone in this country. It doesn't bother him at all because he doesn't even think about it. And it wouldn't bother him if he did.
45
What a horrible press conference. A cross between reading a stream of consciousness novel by Jack Kerouac and watching some hedonist pleasuring themselves. I won't waste my time watching anymore of his prattling. He is a loser of the highest order.
60
Is it true that Mel Gibson will be giving the invocation at the inauguration? I read it on the internet so it must be true. It will be a great, great invocation. Believe me.
17
Thanks Gail. Shouldn't Chief Justice Roberts be concerned about the president elect's lack of divestiture? I would think that man with final say over the nature and meaning of the constitution would be a bind of sorts presiding over the swearing in. Trump is openly flaunting his continued engagement with his companies and assets which should disqualify him. I would expect that will reflect badly on Mr. Roberts historically.
23
The support for a disturbed and unqualified person like Trump does not come from out of nowhere.
It feels like a reflection of a long period of people not getting the education they need to process information about policy and politics and the candidate's history.
It also feels like so called "single issue" voters showing up to air their grievances.
Its been said that the president is a reflection of the current state of the country.
George W. had his fake cowboy squint and swagger and many fell for it without considering his Ivy League background.
Like Trump, lots of folks who mostly see TV images and don't dig for more have chosen poorly to support their issue, be it guns, god, or gays ....as many have said.
It feels like a reflection of a long period of people not getting the education they need to process information about policy and politics and the candidate's history.
It also feels like so called "single issue" voters showing up to air their grievances.
Its been said that the president is a reflection of the current state of the country.
George W. had his fake cowboy squint and swagger and many fell for it without considering his Ivy League background.
Like Trump, lots of folks who mostly see TV images and don't dig for more have chosen poorly to support their issue, be it guns, god, or gays ....as many have said.
25
Thank you for giving Clinton voters a voice and recognition. I and many friends are furious and have no where to vent (except to each other). Even today, many of us are still in a state of shock.
Watching excerpts of the news conference yesterday just re-enforces what a horror Trump is. And I just shock my head that his children were standing on stage with him (and Hillary and the Bushs' were accused of being a part of a dynasty).
I can't wait to see the mess that the repeal of ACA will create and pity the poor people who will be caught in the middle without any coverage. Maybe then, many of his (still) supporters will realize what a sham he is.
Really the only recourse for us is to get busy at the grass roots level to make sure he doesn't get a second term.
Watching excerpts of the news conference yesterday just re-enforces what a horror Trump is. And I just shock my head that his children were standing on stage with him (and Hillary and the Bushs' were accused of being a part of a dynasty).
I can't wait to see the mess that the repeal of ACA will create and pity the poor people who will be caught in the middle without any coverage. Maybe then, many of his (still) supporters will realize what a sham he is.
Really the only recourse for us is to get busy at the grass roots level to make sure he doesn't get a second term.
43
Hey Trump Chumps, how about some Trump cheese with that Trump whine?
They like this guy, they really do. After Trump's show I turned on Hate Talk radio and there they were, in all-out full blustery Trump mode. Tremendous, stupendous, what a performance. Did Trump surely show the Press who's boss? He defined Fake News right before their eyes. And his disciples in the Sticks soaked it up and bathed in the glow of his bold gold-plated golden shower.
They were cleansed, baptized, they had seen the light, and were now emboldened to go forth and rip the "lame stream, drive-by media" anew. They clogged the phone lines of Rush, Sean, Savage every hate monger on the old squawk box, effusive in their praise of the Tangerine Dream cantilevered coiffed showman. It was just like watching a real life version of Reality TV. Spot the difference, I dare you.
Trump mesmerized his followers, played the Press like fiddle, called the shots, like the celebrity he is. And the Press showed up in a horde, just like they did when Trump first moved to Manhattan and summoned them to his Tower for some special announcement, only to be fooled again and again with some promotion. They finally caught on. When Trump called they no longer came. The nonsense ceased.
Maybe when the Press decides to place integrity above their money-hungry grab for ratings they will begin to look more like reporters and less like Russian prostitutes.
DD
Manhattan
They like this guy, they really do. After Trump's show I turned on Hate Talk radio and there they were, in all-out full blustery Trump mode. Tremendous, stupendous, what a performance. Did Trump surely show the Press who's boss? He defined Fake News right before their eyes. And his disciples in the Sticks soaked it up and bathed in the glow of his bold gold-plated golden shower.
They were cleansed, baptized, they had seen the light, and were now emboldened to go forth and rip the "lame stream, drive-by media" anew. They clogged the phone lines of Rush, Sean, Savage every hate monger on the old squawk box, effusive in their praise of the Tangerine Dream cantilevered coiffed showman. It was just like watching a real life version of Reality TV. Spot the difference, I dare you.
Trump mesmerized his followers, played the Press like fiddle, called the shots, like the celebrity he is. And the Press showed up in a horde, just like they did when Trump first moved to Manhattan and summoned them to his Tower for some special announcement, only to be fooled again and again with some promotion. They finally caught on. When Trump called they no longer came. The nonsense ceased.
Maybe when the Press decides to place integrity above their money-hungry grab for ratings they will begin to look more like reporters and less like Russian prostitutes.
DD
Manhattan
30
Putin's hacking had as much to do with Trump's election victory as doping had to do with Lance Armstrong's Tour de France victories. In theory the victories could have occurred anyway, but the probabilities of that are miniscule.
What would be his motive in having a friend in the White House? After the debacle in Afghanistan, Russia has no stomach for occupying territory where the population does not speak Russian.
The question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? For argument's sake, assume that Trump had agreed to do Putin's bidding. What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes in the last 50 years. That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shocks came with the 1967 and 1973 wars. Twenty percent of oil traded worldwide moves by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important petroleum transit choke point. Iran also provides various pathways that could lead to another oil price spike..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
What would be his motive in having a friend in the White House? After the debacle in Afghanistan, Russia has no stomach for occupying territory where the population does not speak Russian.
The question then becomes what did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? For argument's sake, assume that Trump had agreed to do Putin's bidding. What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
We know what has caused most of the oil price spikes in the last 50 years. That has been wars in the Middle East. The first oil shocks came with the 1967 and 1973 wars. Twenty percent of oil traded worldwide moves by tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important petroleum transit choke point. Iran also provides various pathways that could lead to another oil price spike..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
1
How could they? How could anyone (Buzz feed) besmirch and sully Trump's impeccable impressions of a virtuous man, and underscore a locker room behavior? During a press conference, yesterday, Trump's irresistible ire veered towards CNN's Jim Acosta, a mild mannered guy, who was never given a chance to clear the air. The press's assumption, of these dossier related allegations, fed into Trump's presumption, and the latter once again exploded right in front of the camera, much to the chagrin of, say, some viewers.
Trump's proverbially provocative behavior was at full display. Consequently, a follow up interview of a non-sheepish, and sly Kellyanne Conway with Anderson Cooper of CNN ensued. Her circumlocutory answers and discussions might have been loathsome to a few pol. watchers. As an astute attorney, she handles all the blitz with poise, aplomb, and a foxy smile.
Kellyanne's gift of the gab has been serving her and Trump quite well. Some of her Anderson interviews have been reminiscent of boxing bouts, and a few times, Anderson seemed nonplussed.
People. Welcome to the Trump's universe of prevarications and fantasies, and be prepared for certain bolts from the blue. His pugilistic and highfalutin attitudes have to be challenged by someone some day.
Trump's proverbially provocative behavior was at full display. Consequently, a follow up interview of a non-sheepish, and sly Kellyanne Conway with Anderson Cooper of CNN ensued. Her circumlocutory answers and discussions might have been loathsome to a few pol. watchers. As an astute attorney, she handles all the blitz with poise, aplomb, and a foxy smile.
Kellyanne's gift of the gab has been serving her and Trump quite well. Some of her Anderson interviews have been reminiscent of boxing bouts, and a few times, Anderson seemed nonplussed.
People. Welcome to the Trump's universe of prevarications and fantasies, and be prepared for certain bolts from the blue. His pugilistic and highfalutin attitudes have to be challenged by someone some day.
3
I'd really like to see the "legitimate anger in the Trump-tilting parts of the country" defined. I've seen a lot of conjecture, but nothing definitive that might lead to discussion and solutions. It makes me wonder if that anger is truly legitimate, or if it is somehow comparable to children whining that they didn't get as many cookies as the next guy and it isn't fair. There does seem to be a YUGE sense of victim stance among various groups in America, the wealthiest, most influential country in the world. My, my.
I believe Donald Trump is the perfect representative for that sentiment, and that the GOP is filled with glee over the opportunity to do dirty works that benefit themselves and their billionaire friends while Donald distracts everyone else. Let's hope the press is paying attention. Just what did happen yesterday in the cabinet hearings?
I believe Donald Trump is the perfect representative for that sentiment, and that the GOP is filled with glee over the opportunity to do dirty works that benefit themselves and their billionaire friends while Donald distracts everyone else. Let's hope the press is paying attention. Just what did happen yesterday in the cabinet hearings?
4
Trump's fans will love his show. He again stuck it to the press. They of course did not stick together and let themselves be divided into competition to see who gets to ask a question, almost as if he would give them a truthful answer. This media behavior started when they first allowed themselves to be placed in a pen/sty at his rallies so they could be pointed at and ridiculed by the Donald. So, after his inauguration in the press room, he can easily get the upper hand by picking on one of them and saying how nice the rest of the press is and keep them divided against each other so he can verbally man-handle them anyway he wants. He refers to people like this as "losers."
7
One of the worst aspects of a Trump administration is the dark veil that will cover creativity and the arts in this country. Trump is a person who does not have the ability or inclination to laugh, most especially about himself. He demeans and degrades artists and musicians and those with a sense of beauty and culture and social justice. The veil that trails him will blot out the streams of light we are accustomed to receiving. We must support the arts and not let Trump block our sun.
4
If Mr Trump's face wasn't so recognizable; one could dress him down, send him out to a public park and no one would be able to tell him from any of hundreds and thousands of mentally ill homeless individuals disbursed throughout our nation: Disjointed speech, third-person references to self; repetitive affirmations. easily interrupted patterns of thought; agitation; crulty of thought and speech toward others....Couple this with the over-the-top affirmation of self and all that "self" does.
It really is a pity, no one recognized clear indications of Emotional Disturbance when he was a child.
Today, anyone with a child exhibiting a few of these behaviors- seeks diagnosis and realizes their child will never grow out of these behaviors. With medication and behavior strategies though- most have the capacity for living a life less destructive to themselves and others. I now see why his children are so necessary; acting as human shields- shielding him from himself and from the world he is incapable of navigating.
It really is a pity, no one recognized clear indications of Emotional Disturbance when he was a child.
Today, anyone with a child exhibiting a few of these behaviors- seeks diagnosis and realizes their child will never grow out of these behaviors. With medication and behavior strategies though- most have the capacity for living a life less destructive to themselves and others. I now see why his children are so necessary; acting as human shields- shielding him from himself and from the world he is incapable of navigating.
9
Trump has refused to release his tax returns because they are "under audit." If you go to Trump's website you will see a letter from the same lawyer who spoke at the so-called press conference. This letter says that Trump and his business are under continual audit by the IRS. What this means is that the IRS has parked itself in Trump's headquarters and audits each transaction, past and present, which catches its interest. This is a common practice in large businesses, especially those who take an aggressive approach to analysis of the Internal Revenue Code.
What's important about Trump being under continual audit is that Trump has disingenuously implied that he will release his taxes as soon as the audit is finished. However, he will never release his taxes because his taxes will always under audit. I am surprised the press didn't pick this up. It puts Trump's audit excuse under a new light. Not a lie, but a significant omission.
Trump is right when he says that tax returns are not that informative. However they're better than nothing. What people should be asking for is an audited financial statement, but good luck asking for that! Any bank thinking of lending to Trump would ask for tax returns, audited financial statements and more. Aren't the citizens of the US entitled to the same information?
What's important about Trump being under continual audit is that Trump has disingenuously implied that he will release his taxes as soon as the audit is finished. However, he will never release his taxes because his taxes will always under audit. I am surprised the press didn't pick this up. It puts Trump's audit excuse under a new light. Not a lie, but a significant omission.
Trump is right when he says that tax returns are not that informative. However they're better than nothing. What people should be asking for is an audited financial statement, but good luck asking for that! Any bank thinking of lending to Trump would ask for tax returns, audited financial statements and more. Aren't the citizens of the US entitled to the same information?
3
We have a president elect who has chosen to take an adversarial position against our intelligence agencies. How exactly is that going to work for the safety of our country? So Trump is going to divest himself of his businesses - sort of - with his sons running them I have absolute zero confidence that there will be no conflict of interest, however to me the bigger story here is what connection, if any, Trump has to Russia interfering in the election.
Yes we who voted for Clinton are angry. Not because she didn't win, but because it is becoming more and more apparent that the election was hijacked. That should give anyone pause. Why this inauguration is going forward is beyond me. We aren't talking about vote counting errors, it is becoming more and more obvious Russia interfered in the election on many different levels.
Trump's ties to Russia through Paul Manafort should be investigated Why didn't a reporter speak up about this? We need a press right now that will keep probing and keep asking tough questions. You who are journalists and the ACLU are our firewall right now.
Yes we who voted for Clinton are angry. Not because she didn't win, but because it is becoming more and more apparent that the election was hijacked. That should give anyone pause. Why this inauguration is going forward is beyond me. We aren't talking about vote counting errors, it is becoming more and more obvious Russia interfered in the election on many different levels.
Trump's ties to Russia through Paul Manafort should be investigated Why didn't a reporter speak up about this? We need a press right now that will keep probing and keep asking tough questions. You who are journalists and the ACLU are our firewall right now.
6
It's a hard pill to swallow, I know, but we are living in a reality TV environment where the celebrity of bright, shiny objects that used to be called "people" is what matters. A blanket of consumerism-driven media covers our entire culture, allowing precious little light through. (See "fake news" and trolling and the rest.) And if I'm right, that might mean that after four or eight years of Mr. You're Fired, we will be faced with another such figure as the next president. Welcome to the alternate reality.
2
I am so disappointed Trump was elected.
Too bad the Democrats spent more time on the interests and 'rights' of illegal immigrants than they did on citizens. They lost because of that and, now, we will all lose.
Each of us has a choice to make- do citizens come first or do the poor of the world come first?
Too bad the Democrats spent more time on the interests and 'rights' of illegal immigrants than they did on citizens. They lost because of that and, now, we will all lose.
Each of us has a choice to make- do citizens come first or do the poor of the world come first?
3
Has anyone considered that maybe it was the Trump team that leaked this material? It apparently was known to various government and press entities for months without getting out. Only after Mr. Trump was briefed on Friday did it appear.
A pattern with his team seems to be to create a furor in one area when something actually important is happening in another. Coincidence that this leak and drama with the press is happening at the same time that congressional hearing are taking place and the plan for divesting (or not) from business activities is being presented?
A pattern with his team seems to be to create a furor in one area when something actually important is happening in another. Coincidence that this leak and drama with the press is happening at the same time that congressional hearing are taking place and the plan for divesting (or not) from business activities is being presented?
10
Since, as Ms. Collins points out, the leaked report was the best of distractions from serious issues that need to be addressed, what are the chances that the perfectly timed leak occurred due to a Trump operative insuring that was the case. So very much is "rotten" in America right now and methinks he "doth protest too much."
4
One of Donald Trump's many character flaws is an inability to admit to a mistake and/or apologize for having erred; this flaw was in full display at his "news" conference--which was anything but, although we did learn one thing: he reneged on his promise not to enter into any new business deals because when he tweeted that promise after the election, he meant only new "foreign" deals. Because, why should Trump's ability to make money be constrained by the insignificant fact that he's president? In fact, why should he or any of his family members who are about to run our country be constrained by anything?
According to his attorney, the emoluments clause doesn't include fair payments charged for services, such as hotel bills, but we don't know what the clause means because there are few court cases involving a president receiving payments from an active business while in office. And the bit about Trump disgorging his "profits" to the US Treasury--I hope he realizes such transactions wash through his tax returns: the profit is income subject to tax even if he gives it away. How will the "profit" be computed? Let's ask to see those returns!!!
According to his attorney, the emoluments clause doesn't include fair payments charged for services, such as hotel bills, but we don't know what the clause means because there are few court cases involving a president receiving payments from an active business while in office. And the bit about Trump disgorging his "profits" to the US Treasury--I hope he realizes such transactions wash through his tax returns: the profit is income subject to tax even if he gives it away. How will the "profit" be computed? Let's ask to see those returns!!!
13
The contrast between President Obama's farewell address and Trump's news conference is frighteningly stark. One has all the class and integrity in the world. The other, none. If it were not so scary it would be comical.
18
"But it's time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too." Amen, Sister Gail!
As one of those 66 million Clinton supporters, I am sick and tired of being lectured to by everyone that I am somehow an arrogant, coastal elite who is insensitive to needs of the white working class.
Despite all of the many shenanigans, from the Comey "empty bombshell" letter to Wikileaks to the many GOP voter suppression tactics, 66 million of us from all across the country and from all walks of life, went to the polls in good faith to vote for Hillary Clinton, naively believing that the total of our votes would collectively determine the next President.
Unfortunately, the Electoral College joke was on us. Even though we had nearly 3,000,000 more votes than Trump, they were nonetheless not distributed correctly enough across the 50 arbitrary state lines that divide our country (why are there two Dakotas, but only one California?) to "win" the election under the 1787 Electoral College rules.
Given all this, we certainly have a right to be as "angry" as anyone about the conduct and outcome of the election. For many of us, our faith in the American electoral system will never be the same.
As one of those 66 million Clinton supporters, I am sick and tired of being lectured to by everyone that I am somehow an arrogant, coastal elite who is insensitive to needs of the white working class.
Despite all of the many shenanigans, from the Comey "empty bombshell" letter to Wikileaks to the many GOP voter suppression tactics, 66 million of us from all across the country and from all walks of life, went to the polls in good faith to vote for Hillary Clinton, naively believing that the total of our votes would collectively determine the next President.
Unfortunately, the Electoral College joke was on us. Even though we had nearly 3,000,000 more votes than Trump, they were nonetheless not distributed correctly enough across the 50 arbitrary state lines that divide our country (why are there two Dakotas, but only one California?) to "win" the election under the 1787 Electoral College rules.
Given all this, we certainly have a right to be as "angry" as anyone about the conduct and outcome of the election. For many of us, our faith in the American electoral system will never be the same.
27
The circus act unfolding before our eyes has just launched a four-year run. It is on our national doorstep, about to stage a home invasion. Hide the family silver, sew the savings into the mattress and crawl under the bed. Take along a good supply of snacks and water.
As to Trump's personal behavior, who cares? He boasts openly and endlessly about his salaciousness and too many voters could care less. What an independent investigation needs to pursue now, however, is the question of collusion by Trump campaign personnel and operatives associated with any organ of the Russian government during the presidential election campaign. Then the investigators must level with the American people no matter what the conclusion.
If collusion is discovered and verified, then we would have no less than treason to prosecute against the undermining of the official foreign policy of a democratically-elected American government during a time of bilateral conflict with a foreign adversary. The stakes are as stark as that.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
As to Trump's personal behavior, who cares? He boasts openly and endlessly about his salaciousness and too many voters could care less. What an independent investigation needs to pursue now, however, is the question of collusion by Trump campaign personnel and operatives associated with any organ of the Russian government during the presidential election campaign. Then the investigators must level with the American people no matter what the conclusion.
If collusion is discovered and verified, then we would have no less than treason to prosecute against the undermining of the official foreign policy of a democratically-elected American government during a time of bilateral conflict with a foreign adversary. The stakes are as stark as that.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
10
The newly elected leader of the free world obviously needs a psych evaluation as well as a drug test. To my mind he is emotional and intellectually unstable and that does not bode well for himself and his family, our country and humanity.
15
The latest "Teflon Don' defelcts substantive answers to important issues. Bread and circus is all we are going to see while he continues to undermine (and mine) the country for the next 4 years.
9
It wasn't a press conference. It was just another campaign stop with the media as not-exactly-rabidly-with-him audience.
Trump is in a state of perpetual campaigning, with little or no sleep apparently, and no time for anything else, he keeps campaigning between tweet storms. Obsessively trying to sell himself to the people.
It seems the adulation of his mob isn't enough for him. He wants all of us. But, as said, he's still in his infancy. He was born a baby and so loved that role just never grew up.
Winning the presidency, however he managed that, undeniably is a big success. It is an unadulterated accomplishment, and he, in his unbalanced, infant brain, cannot quite grasp that he did it, and what he should do with it.
So he is compelled to keep telling us how wonderful he is hoping, sooner or later, we will all believe him.
Like a 70-year-old infant.
Trump is in a state of perpetual campaigning, with little or no sleep apparently, and no time for anything else, he keeps campaigning between tweet storms. Obsessively trying to sell himself to the people.
It seems the adulation of his mob isn't enough for him. He wants all of us. But, as said, he's still in his infancy. He was born a baby and so loved that role just never grew up.
Winning the presidency, however he managed that, undeniably is a big success. It is an unadulterated accomplishment, and he, in his unbalanced, infant brain, cannot quite grasp that he did it, and what he should do with it.
So he is compelled to keep telling us how wonderful he is hoping, sooner or later, we will all believe him.
Like a 70-year-old infant.
19
Once again our "President" shows himself to the psychopath he truly is. He put on a great show, denigrating the intelligence services and the press. It is absolutely disgraceful that this man will be the chief executive of this country.
However, he is also a master of distraction. While today's headlines are all about his press conference and his denials of the existence of sex tapes and his lashing out at organizations that try to tell the truth about him, his nominees for Cabinet positions were given a free pass. Very little was written about the hearings that were held yesterday. If his job was to draw the media's attention away from what was happening in Congress, then he succeeded bigly.
When will the media admit that this person is mentally unstable and should be treated as such? He is someone who is an expert at manipulation and distraction, basically a con man of the first order. Treat him as such! Stop trying to normalize an abnormal personality.
However, he is also a master of distraction. While today's headlines are all about his press conference and his denials of the existence of sex tapes and his lashing out at organizations that try to tell the truth about him, his nominees for Cabinet positions were given a free pass. Very little was written about the hearings that were held yesterday. If his job was to draw the media's attention away from what was happening in Congress, then he succeeded bigly.
When will the media admit that this person is mentally unstable and should be treated as such? He is someone who is an expert at manipulation and distraction, basically a con man of the first order. Treat him as such! Stop trying to normalize an abnormal personality.
20
Yes, Miss Gail, the 66 million Clinton voters are rightfully angry that they have the fake President-elect Donald Trump - carney-barker in chief - surrounded by his factotums, his children, and his unqualified nominees for Attorney General and Secretary of State. Jeff Sessions from Alabama, the Jim Crow man, Rex Tillerson, a climate-denier and Big Oil dealer. Hopefully, they will not be be consented to by the Senate (c.f. Trump's "Little
Marco Rubio").
Watching Trump's ghastly press conference showed us the whole catastrophe he and his Presidency will be. The FBI head, James Comey, who brought up the unjustified Clinton/Abedin/Weiner emails should still be hung from a lampost, flayed, spun in the wind. He, more than Trump's vile and salacious sexual chats with Billy Bush on video, was responsible for Clinton's last-minute defeat. We live in a strange culture here - too Orwellian - Trump's people are far more equal than others.
And how to "splain Trump's bromance with Vladimir Putin? Until the rubber meets the road in this peculiar administration, starting off so horridly with "sex and lots of whining" as you say, Gail, we the American people whose votes have been ignored, must go on, though we can't go on, but we will
go on. h/t to Samuel Beckett.
The differences.between beloved Obama and loathed Trump were evidenced by President Obama's moving farewell speech and Trump's outrageously angry press conference. Read 'em and weep!
Marco Rubio").
Watching Trump's ghastly press conference showed us the whole catastrophe he and his Presidency will be. The FBI head, James Comey, who brought up the unjustified Clinton/Abedin/Weiner emails should still be hung from a lampost, flayed, spun in the wind. He, more than Trump's vile and salacious sexual chats with Billy Bush on video, was responsible for Clinton's last-minute defeat. We live in a strange culture here - too Orwellian - Trump's people are far more equal than others.
And how to "splain Trump's bromance with Vladimir Putin? Until the rubber meets the road in this peculiar administration, starting off so horridly with "sex and lots of whining" as you say, Gail, we the American people whose votes have been ignored, must go on, though we can't go on, but we will
go on. h/t to Samuel Beckett.
The differences.between beloved Obama and loathed Trump were evidenced by President Obama's moving farewell speech and Trump's outrageously angry press conference. Read 'em and weep!
20
At his news conference, Trump displayed a pile of file folders that we are supposed to believe are evidence of his effort to separate himself from his business. Why anyone other than the slobbering gaggle of family and hangers-on who were on stage to clap like trained seals for him would believe that the papers in the folders actually were real is beyond my comprehension. He has absolutely no intention of separating himself from his business. He also has no intention of ever disclosing his tax returns even if the audit excuse is resolved. If he did, it would become clear that he is a fraud and up to his ears in debt.
35
Is this how Trump wants to start his Presidency, at war with the media and the intelligence community? If he thinks that he doesn't need the media or the intelligence people on his side then he's even more stupid than I originally thought and that's pretty stupid.
I still find it extremely troubling that his followers cannot see him for what he really is.
I still find it extremely troubling that his followers cannot see him for what he really is.
24
I've posted this at least 3 times not because it's particularly riveting but because I'm tired of the whining!
There are multiple lawful ways to take action and to send a clear message voicing our disapproval of everything this man represents. Or we could sleep!
The choice seems pretty clear to me. Either we throw up our hands in despair and proclaim their is nothing we can really do except retreat to our comfortable "nests" and wait for the storm to pass. We can be lulled into a false sense of normalcy OR we can take action.
This is NOT OK! We need to talk to Trump in a language he understands i.e. MONEY! Marching is great but let's put our money where our mouth is. Let's get his attention on Inauguration Day (1/20) by signing
up on line to make a one time or monthly donation to organizations that do not support Trump's agenda (i.e.
ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Planned Parenthood etc.)
If enough people do this we can "crash their websites." And may the roar from that crash reverberate through the halls of Congress all the way to the White House. That roar is the voice of millions of people proclaiming for all the world to hear "Never Again, Not Now, Not Here, Not Ever!"
And if we can't crash the web sites I'll settle for a story with the headline "Huge Uptick in Contributions to Organizations Opposing Trump Agenda."
Stop complaining and DO SOMETHING!
There are multiple lawful ways to take action and to send a clear message voicing our disapproval of everything this man represents. Or we could sleep!
The choice seems pretty clear to me. Either we throw up our hands in despair and proclaim their is nothing we can really do except retreat to our comfortable "nests" and wait for the storm to pass. We can be lulled into a false sense of normalcy OR we can take action.
This is NOT OK! We need to talk to Trump in a language he understands i.e. MONEY! Marching is great but let's put our money where our mouth is. Let's get his attention on Inauguration Day (1/20) by signing
up on line to make a one time or monthly donation to organizations that do not support Trump's agenda (i.e.
ACLU, Southern Poverty Law Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Planned Parenthood etc.)
If enough people do this we can "crash their websites." And may the roar from that crash reverberate through the halls of Congress all the way to the White House. That roar is the voice of millions of people proclaiming for all the world to hear "Never Again, Not Now, Not Here, Not Ever!"
And if we can't crash the web sites I'll settle for a story with the headline "Huge Uptick in Contributions to Organizations Opposing Trump Agenda."
Stop complaining and DO SOMETHING!
26
Don't forget the legions of right wingers who in their craven depravity will brush aside all of these in the fact they "won".
Sounds familiar, GWB anyone?
Sounds familiar, GWB anyone?
5
He certainly looked TIRED and OUTRAGED. You could almost hear his mind ranting 'SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PAY for this leaked material of outrageous allegations'. His ego has been wounded once again. If he's so tired now, how will he survive the great weight of the presidency? How will he think calmly when faced with difficult decisions?
14
All my adult life since first hearing the name Donald Trump he has been associated with womanizing, lewd behavior, etc. He appeared to like it, it got him press, he bragged about it, others bragged about it for him. There are so many examples it is mind boggling. So why the outrage with this dossier? The Golden Shower is just a small part of this dossier. There is so much in there that SHOULD be investigated, but no, we had to spend years investigating Hillary Clinton's emails. I realize the dossier is at this point unsubstantiated, but can't we investigate Donald Trump? Is he so pure and honest? History tells us otherwise.
17
There are also several million voters who cast ballots last November. They are disgusted, and very, very angry. They either voted for another party, wrote in, or skipped POTUS and voted on other items. I know cos I'm one of them.
--Debbie (Phil's wife)
--Debbie (Phil's wife)
3
Every American not just Clinton voters should be angry. We faced two God awful choices but the most evil by a mile was Donny the lucky sperm narcissist draft dodger. I blame President Obama for not having brought in a different Vice President in his second term to be groomed as his successor. We are going from a man of great intellect and integrity to a compulsive liar who only he himself believes is a smart guy.
5
Ironic isn't it. The leading purveyor of lies, innuendo and smear's is whining and castigating the press for "false reporting". Its also ironic, that unlike Trump supporters, most Democrats are willing to withhold judgement against Trump until they are absolutely certain of the validity of the very serious charges leveled against Trump. The ultimate irony is the United States is in the grip unhinged conspiracy kooks. Not a great state of affairs. I think half the country needs therapy badly.
15
The evangelist/moral majority/religious/whatever they call themselves have no credibility. They get bent out of shape with a transgender person needing a bathroom and then elect a deviant person to our highest office. How do they look their children in the eyes? They are tribal racist and nothing else. It's not about religion or any kind of morality.
25
I will be watching the whole charade very carefully because I am quite sure at least quite a few of his current appointees are going to find that they cannot sustain their Dear Leader's support once they even peep out the tiniest little criticism of him. He has a history of getting nasty to people who express their own valid opinions ! He cannot sustain anything, has no sense of humor, is a complete liar & cheat because he thinks THAT means he is successful. His mind appears to be trained into just one stream of what constitutes 'greatness' - that of cheating other people - 'yeah I am great I can cheat anyone out of their investment in my project & still walk away as if nothing happened' - there is something called Karma, and THAT is what we are all waiting for - should be VERY sweet when it finally hits !
11
What would Orson Welles take be on Trump, the man, and how would he remake "Citizen Kane" - "Citizen Trump"?
What would Donald's equivalent to "Rosebud" be? Too frightening to contemplate - from the disaster surrounding him and us, it cannot be good.
"The inauguration is going to be 'a beautiful event'” - initially while we are temporarily weightless as we go off the cliff.
What would Donald's equivalent to "Rosebud" be? Too frightening to contemplate - from the disaster surrounding him and us, it cannot be good.
"The inauguration is going to be 'a beautiful event'” - initially while we are temporarily weightless as we go off the cliff.
8
I don't like Trump much, but its unfair to criticize because he doesn't stick to the topics you want him to address. Russia, and conflict of interest concerns aren't my concerns. I expect both issues to be complex, and both to be watched -- but there not my biggest concerns. A lot of people just don't care about the same issues you do -- and Trump appears to be smart enough to hand you more rope. Until the media stops making their issues the only issues, Trump has a clear runway.
3
Not to worry, Trump fans. Soon the intelligence agencies will be run by the likes of Mike Pompeo, and any more compromising information about your guy will never see the light of day.
8
When charm no longer works. When claiming unfair victimization no longer works. The sociopath moves on to intimidation and even violence. The man is a clumsy but an unfortunately effective manipulator, a manipulator who will soon wield an ungodly amount of power. Be careful of a cornered, mad dog.
16
Hillary Clinton was trash talked and vilified and lied about for over two decades without any of the charges being confirmed. Two days worth of what we all already suspected might be true and we see in one hour how a congenital liar blows off reasonable questions. Those 80,000 voters in three states who made this man President will soon discover what his investors and contractors said during the campaign: the guy will tell you anything but he is always looking out for #1.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party is attempting to take apart the ACA but in six years they couldn't come up with anything better. You know what you'll be able to do with your vouchers in the face of insurance company control of the market. Maybe you'll be able to get care for an appendectomy or your tonsils, and every year your voucher will be worth less. It will be "tremendous."
WHERE ARE THE TAX REPORTS? Oh, I've gotta go, my kid just called to ask me if selling that property in Croatia is OK.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party is attempting to take apart the ACA but in six years they couldn't come up with anything better. You know what you'll be able to do with your vouchers in the face of insurance company control of the market. Maybe you'll be able to get care for an appendectomy or your tonsils, and every year your voucher will be worth less. It will be "tremendous."
WHERE ARE THE TAX REPORTS? Oh, I've gotta go, my kid just called to ask me if selling that property in Croatia is OK.
13
I'd pay a lot to have Trump publically take the SAT or GREs--tests used in college admissions and post-grad training, respectively--and release the results. I'd pay even more for him to take the Thematic Apperception test.
But such tests would be irrelevant. Trump voters cannot see Trump's flaws. In fact, the commitment of Trump voters to this man would probably be increased if they knew he was as ignorant and dense as they themselves are.
But such tests would be irrelevant. Trump voters cannot see Trump's flaws. In fact, the commitment of Trump voters to this man would probably be increased if they knew he was as ignorant and dense as they themselves are.
13
What if he called a press conference and nobody came. What if CNN and 'pariah' news services gave their questions to others to ask with a reference at the end, what if all of the competitive news services drafted a Bill of Rights stating that ignoring participants for political reasons was unacceptable, what if questions were taken randomly like a lottery, what if speakers demanded that previous questions be fully answered before putting forward their questions, what if the media stopped being dragged around by the ring in its nose and stood up for ethics, integrity and good industry behavior.
11
Putting aside whether there are tapes of him cavorting in a Moscow hotel or whether putting his assets under the control of his sons constitutes a 'blind trust' in anyone's mind, but his, the key takeaway in all of this was Gail Collins comment buried halfway down the page -- "The only ongoing focus is what it all means to Trump."
That is the problem we will be facing beginning on January 20th. American has selected (thanks to the Electoral College) and man who has the attention span of a 2-year old with ADD. He is also a narcissist who looks at everything that happens in terms of what does it mean for him.
This means that whatever happens in our country or in our world will be viewed from that perspective. He'll never bother to look at issues in depth or to listen to experts who may or may not have views different from his or to weigh his various options. No, he will just react in terms of what's in it for him or how does it make him look.
In the complex world we live in today, this will put our country at risk.
That is the problem we will be facing beginning on January 20th. American has selected (thanks to the Electoral College) and man who has the attention span of a 2-year old with ADD. He is also a narcissist who looks at everything that happens in terms of what does it mean for him.
This means that whatever happens in our country or in our world will be viewed from that perspective. He'll never bother to look at issues in depth or to listen to experts who may or may not have views different from his or to weigh his various options. No, he will just react in terms of what's in it for him or how does it make him look.
In the complex world we live in today, this will put our country at risk.
7
Remember the Emoluments Clause,,,,,because we are back to 'if the President does it, it is not illegal'...recall how that worked out for Nixon and his unrelenting attack on the press. Got to go..somebody turned down a 2 billion dollar deal in Dubai and so they're offering it to me.
7
I suspect that eventually Gail Collins with ferret out the truth and uncover the fact that Putin has pictures of Trump driving from Moscow to Minsk with a prostitute strapped to roof of his car. Keep digging, gal!
13
I grew up in the Presbyterian Church. One of the mantras for conducting one's life, church worship, and church business was to do everything "decently and in order". President Reagan brought order to the Presidential Press Conference and that practice was continued by successive Presidents; until now! President-elect Trump's press conference was chaotic, little information shared, no sense given of any appreciation for the office he is about to assume on behalf of the American citizens, and no empathy for the Americans displaced floods and storms. I am one of the 66 million Clinton. Anger does not describe my emotion. It is a mix of fear, trepidation and sorrow. I wonder, after the 3am tweets, does he lie in bed whispering "Rosebud"?
9
Now that you underline how he was "all over the place" in his press conference, which is typically him, I am beginning to think that he might have undiagnosed ADHD.
6
There is an old-fashioned word that I suspect is going to come back into common use. That word is "lout." If the children of those good Rust and Bible Belt souls who elected our next President spoke and acted as he does, they would be asking themselves where they had failed.
10
Every time the man opens his mouth a river of misinformation spews out dumping all over the press and adding to the already high level of confusion. His interests have nothing to do with the good of the country. Restating the obvious, everything he says and does, all of it, it is all and only about himself.
14
In 2008, President Obama told a small group of senators in a closed meeting that he won the election; and from then on, he's labeled as smug and arrogant by the Republicans. Trump shouts out he won the election ad nauseam and in every forum and he's called brash and confident.
Complaining about "Wild and unsubstantiated allegations" and "fake news" -- that's interesting, coming from someone who led and fueled the "Birther" myth against a sitting president.
Complaining about "Wild and unsubstantiated allegations" and "fake news" -- that's interesting, coming from someone who led and fueled the "Birther" myth against a sitting president.
15
Just when you think you've heard it all someone, in this case, the intelligence community pulls another rabbit out of the hat. Two wrongs don't make a right or at least that's a principle worth considering here - more specifically Mr. Comey starts to look like the reincarnate of Pinocchio as he flips and flops on what the agency will investigate. One standard for Hillary and another for Mr. Trump? And perhaps why didn't CIA, NSA and FBI wait a bit longer before disseminating the information about the dossier as they would appear to have clear reservations about the credibility pertaining to aspects of the document. Can one blame Trump or his minions for yelling "foul" here, and they must have wrung their hands with glee for this was for them yet another example of how the wretched corrupt media and the press had maligned the morally impeccable president elect. And even if the Don Juan of Washington (aka the president-elect) sowed his wild oats while wining and dining with comrade Vlad, does anyone really care. As he so openly reminded us, ... when you're important you can do anything. The bigger overriding issue here is where he and his cabinet appointees will stand on dealings and policy with Russia when the new administration takes office. Time to take the reins Mr. Trump and show us all you are more substantive than the pathetic joke we have continued to witness to date.
3
"I'm a germaphobe." All I could think of was another multi millionaire that would hide in a penthouse and was an extreme germaphobe. I am more worried about this, "In theory I could run my business perfectly and then run the country perfectly. There's never been a case like this,” quote from Trump to NYT. We don't count for nothing and the GOP will make sure Trump and his like will be taken care of.
4
Lost in the conversation; the Republican opposition to Trump initiated this opposition research. Okay; which of the Republicans started commissioned this? Ted Cruz? Jeb Bush? So who got the initial reports?
I was watching the BBC International News, a station that I switch over to every time Kelly Ann Conway is given the mike to spout her lies, and they say that they knew about this report months ago, as did many other news agencies. So did our intelligence agencies. So did the FBI.
Who didn't know? The American Voters. Of course we knew about the Trump genital grabbing video on bus. That should have been enough. That is probably what everyone was thinking. That is why we were kept in the dark.
Now we are left to live in a different sort of "dark"... darkness
I was watching the BBC International News, a station that I switch over to every time Kelly Ann Conway is given the mike to spout her lies, and they say that they knew about this report months ago, as did many other news agencies. So did our intelligence agencies. So did the FBI.
Who didn't know? The American Voters. Of course we knew about the Trump genital grabbing video on bus. That should have been enough. That is probably what everyone was thinking. That is why we were kept in the dark.
Now we are left to live in a different sort of "dark"... darkness
10
The ultimate danger is if we do not hold Donald Trump to the same standards we have held all other presidents then between Citizen's United flooding our elections with dark money and the peopling of billionaires in the Trump administration we may NEVER own our country again. And I'm sorry but this falls directly at the feet of the republican party that has looked the other way for decades as they have coarsened the discourse and values of this country in the name of winning. There is no equivalency.
12
Perhaps the most bizarre yet encouraging part of his discourse was when--introducing the concept that he *could* simultaneously head both the country and his company--he said, "The people don't want a president who micromanages." This means he won't be reading reports, taking briefings, etc. He'll just watch t.v., and tweet. He's sort of like a dangerous child King.
12
What people don't get about djt is that every word he says is a lie, even statements that can be factually correct (the few of those that there are). The reason for that is that he personally doesn't speak with even the remotest thought to what the truth is, he simply says whatever he wants at the moment to manipulate his zombie apocalypse followers. His enablers have committed crimes against humanity, and I have very little hope any more.
12
Thank you for pointing out one of Trump's main strategies: playing the victim. It is a well-known tactic of victimizers everywhere: it allows them to appeal to others who will also feel as "victims", and to claim that they are only acting in self-defense when they victimize. This is what he did throughout the campaign and it was effective. He played the victim over and over, constraining the media's efforts to call him out on his multiple aggressions. Let's hope the press stops playing along. Otherwise, they will be the first to suffer (as that CNN reporter found out, in one of the most disturbing moments of this "transition" period..), and our democracy will be indelibly damaged.
8
“Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you’re gonna probably have cameras.” Foreign dignitaries and other guests should remember this before booking a room in a Trump property.
“If Putin likes Donald Trump I consider that an asset, not a liability.” Better than being on Putin's hit-list.
"He blamed the intelligence services, which he compared, with great originality and careful choice of words, to Nazis." A more accurate comparison is "to Republicans."
We need to keep reminding Trump that he may have won the election, but Hillary is conclusively MORE POPULAR than he is. End of story.
“If Putin likes Donald Trump I consider that an asset, not a liability.” Better than being on Putin's hit-list.
"He blamed the intelligence services, which he compared, with great originality and careful choice of words, to Nazis." A more accurate comparison is "to Republicans."
We need to keep reminding Trump that he may have won the election, but Hillary is conclusively MORE POPULAR than he is. End of story.
10
Notwithstanding the possibility that all knowledge concerning the press and the Central Intelligence Agency seems to reside with Michael from Wappingers Falls New York, it seems that what we saw from the Trumpster during the election season is what we will see from him for the next sixteen or so seasons of his reign. Tant pis pour vous America.
1
There's no there-there. Why would anyone go to a Trump press conference? One would have a better chance of getting the truth from Sean Hannity.
7
It's pure karma that this will never go away, it will be on the back burner for many journalists, to be brought up over and over again - I HOPE. I would love for this to become the "birther" issue for trump. The biter bit.
5
The American press are like the dogs who gather to discuss something when one thinks he's seen a squirrel, says "Squirrel!!" and all the dogs bound off, looking for a squirrel. But with the press, it's a Tweet, and now sex in Moscow. Instead of pursuing the serious matter of Trump's refusal to divest himself of his business empire, the press is distracted by the latest Tweet (or sex in Moscow) and Trump is off the hook. Sad.
5
The reporters should have all asked the same question. No dodging until you leave the stage. That is how this so-called presidency should go until it is trampled beneath honest, ethical feet.
8
the election of trump is a misguided effort to wake up the sleep walking elites from both parties. one party has been getting votes by promising their base the world, playing on their fear and anger..... but never delivering anything that really helps them. and the other party has a disdain for those not college educated and or work with their hands..... they gamble with their jobs in the name of globalization even as tach replaces makes these jobs obsolete..... and it's just tough luck when the jobs go away. lip service is paid but no actual retraining is available. message from both parties? you are SOL. now we get trump promising waaaayyyyy more than he can possibly deliver and they are just starving enough to bite.
1
And many of us Obama/Clinton voters are not just sad and nostalgic. We are angry. There are a lot of us. And not just on the coasts. We are angry at GOP governments in our states, our GOP Congress and Senate. We are angry with the populist press, both print and electronic, that battened on Trump's candidacy. We will use this anger.
13
It is what it is. Gail Collins whining about it won't change a thing.
Maybe Gail could be more productive if she could find a funny way to describe what a horrible choice the DNC, the NYT, Planned Parenthood, herself and many others with access to a pen and barrels of ink, made in deciding who the next President would be.
Maybe Gail could be more productive if she could find a funny way to describe what a horrible choice the DNC, the NYT, Planned Parenthood, herself and many others with access to a pen and barrels of ink, made in deciding who the next President would be.
4
I am an angry Clinton voter, and also an angry cousin to a large number of Trump voters. I suggest that the Democrats stop wringing their hands over these voters. They have been voting for Republicans for 30 years. One, a Democrat, was wooed over the line by Trump's rhetoric.
The voters who went over to Donald Trump were not drawn by economic promises. To them, income equality is the result of the very diverse Democratic Party favoring – in their view – minorities and immigrants. Trump's economic message was yet another dog whistle.
These voters – over a dozen of my blue-collar and middle-class cousins – have jobs. They have businesses that, if not wildly successful, are at least supporting their families and paying the mortgage. They own homes or are living with close family who own homes. Many have health insurance through the same ACA that they want repealed. They object to high premiums and deductibles, not realizing that these are the result Republican and conservative Democratic undermining of the original legislation.
Democrats will not win these votes unless Democrats become the party of white people. That is what Nixon and Reagan saw, and that is the party they built. Trump hijacked that constituency- but it's not about the economy. "It's about race, stupid."
The voters who went over to Donald Trump were not drawn by economic promises. To them, income equality is the result of the very diverse Democratic Party favoring – in their view – minorities and immigrants. Trump's economic message was yet another dog whistle.
These voters – over a dozen of my blue-collar and middle-class cousins – have jobs. They have businesses that, if not wildly successful, are at least supporting their families and paying the mortgage. They own homes or are living with close family who own homes. Many have health insurance through the same ACA that they want repealed. They object to high premiums and deductibles, not realizing that these are the result Republican and conservative Democratic undermining of the original legislation.
Democrats will not win these votes unless Democrats become the party of white people. That is what Nixon and Reagan saw, and that is the party they built. Trump hijacked that constituency- but it's not about the economy. "It's about race, stupid."
12
What Trump and his children's children will have to live with is that his election will come with an asterisk. (The popular vote) Or two. (The Russian interference.) Possibly more. That's history.
6
No paper, journalist in America should EVER EVER normalize this man. Just watch Obamas farewell speech and then watch anything Rump has done or said. This man has not ever been well, actually mentally ill and should have never been able to run for president. Stop blaming Dems in any way, many poor middle class people voted for Hillary, we pay attention to policy. All the republicans ever want to do is harm you . They do not care about you at all and never have.
11
Itakes takes an expert on fake news to know it when he sees it.
How does it feel, buddy boy?
BTW , where's your birth certificate?
People are sayin you were born in Russia.
How does it feel, buddy boy?
BTW , where's your birth certificate?
People are sayin you were born in Russia.
8
I can imagine that duplicitous prostitutes hired by Russia would be the only way trump could get a woman in bed. That and flashing his wallet.
5
Trump's pomposity reminds me of US Civil War, Major General John Sedgwick's famous last quote, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." A Confederate sniper then promptly shot him.
5
It's frightening to think that we'd be better off if we amended the Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to hold the presidency and then elected Arnold Schwartzenegger to be president.
Wouldn't you wake up feeling better in the morning if Arnold Schwartzenegger were president now instead of Trump?
Wouldn't you wake up feeling better in the morning if Arnold Schwartzenegger were president now instead of Trump?
4
There's no way to tell and end of the story. Love your writing but as a person of principles and a minority, I consider that dismissing logic insulting.
1
From the get-go, Mr. Trump flatly refused to reveal his tax returns. I also suspect this "audit" involving said tax returns will be a long one, as in the never ending category. What is he hiding? We the People have a right to know. When called on the carpet, Trump and his people merely respond "We won, you lost. Deal with it" An unacceptable, contemptible response, unbecoming of a "President" and his crew. May I suggest Mr. Trumps Secret Service handle be "Liar One".....and Conway shall be "Liar Two"
6
I am sick of Trump already and he is not even inaugurated. I am sick of the lies and pompous posturing and being talked to like I don't know anything and don't have a right to know anything. His comment about his tax returns, only reporters care about his releasing his tax returns make me want to scream. I want to know what's in the tax returns. I am insulted and infuriated by this president-elect. I can only hope the collective frustration will expose Trump for what he is. How long can he do the dance of deception?
8
Evidence of Trump's sociopathy is his continual reference to himself in the third person. He believes he transcends discussion of himself as a person, and prefers to think and speak of himself as a Title. This will not turn out well, now that he is the most powerful Third Person in the world.
4
As always, a very good column. Especially the last sentence. Keep up the great work.
4
Comey chose to write his second letter based on no new evidence that had actually been reviewed, only a new source of likely duplicate material, which, surprise-surprise, turned out to be duplicate, totally redundant material. Comey chose not to investigate or pass along this so-called "unverified report" prepared by a respected former MI-6 investigator, and by failing to do so, Comey was largely responsible for stacking the deck and corrupting the outcome of this election. The totality of this picture is far more damaging than what we knew already, which was that he violated the Hatch Act possibly in both his letters, and in his prejudicial wording of his first "exoneration but scolding" tone in his first report.
Comey chose to act as a cipher, filter, and stopgap that heavily favored the chances of the challenging Republican candidate over those of Clinton, when she was running considerably ahead. He provided a platform ripe for the gross and slanderous hyperbole and overstatement of the fascistic and bombastic Trump rhetoric. Comey's name, and Trump's deserve to live in infamy for what they did. But, Trump's autocratic and bullying tendencies will be to use this information as his rationale to attempt an intimidating purge upon the intelligence community augmented by a stacking of the judicial system with his know-nothing flunkies, racists and henchmen, in the model of his hero "Little Putin." Welcome to a Dystopia Jonathan Swift could only describe. - Gulliver
Comey chose to act as a cipher, filter, and stopgap that heavily favored the chances of the challenging Republican candidate over those of Clinton, when she was running considerably ahead. He provided a platform ripe for the gross and slanderous hyperbole and overstatement of the fascistic and bombastic Trump rhetoric. Comey's name, and Trump's deserve to live in infamy for what they did. But, Trump's autocratic and bullying tendencies will be to use this information as his rationale to attempt an intimidating purge upon the intelligence community augmented by a stacking of the judicial system with his know-nothing flunkies, racists and henchmen, in the model of his hero "Little Putin." Welcome to a Dystopia Jonathan Swift could only describe. - Gulliver
71
Trump now, suddenly, has an aversion for fake news. This is the person who was the leader of the birther movement, who suggested that Ted Cruz's father was involved in JFK's assassination, who saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the 9/11 attacks and he has the gall to call these intelligence reports fake.
10
The only thing that tickled my funnybone was toward the end of the event when, after the CNN circus, donny called on a reporter who identified himself as from the BBC (after donny rudely barked at him to "stand up!").
donny said--"BBC? Yeah, another beaut" Reporter: "thank you."
I think the guy thought it was a compliment.
donny said--"BBC? Yeah, another beaut" Reporter: "thank you."
I think the guy thought it was a compliment.
2
America is the pinball machine. Trump is working the flippers at the podium.
TILT! Again!
TILT! Again!
1
'The Russians don’t have any secret tapes of him behaving badly in a hotel room because every time he goes to hotels abroad, he warns everybody: “Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you’re gonna probably have cameras.”'
Not because he didn't do what he was accused of.
Not because he didn't do what he was accused of.
1
Gail -- those who voted for HRC have no right to be angry. That's a childish response to losing an election. The election wasn't stolen, Trump won by the rules and is completely legitimate. This ongoing 2 month progressive orgy of anger, sorrow, disgust, etc. as well as the attempts to discredit and slander the president elect are getting old.
We're a republic. We have always had an orderly transition of power. Sometimes your side wins, sometimes it loses, sometimes it rains. But what the losing side is supposed to do is to buck up, become the loyal opposition that works to preserve as much of their agenda as possible and work towards the next election. The role isn't to sow divisiveness and blame the president elect for every ill on earth.
And notice what you've done. You've taken clearly unsubstantiated information and -- while you note it is unsubstantiated -- you treat it otherwise. The appropriate journalistic approach would simply be to ignore these allegations until some proof comes forth, if it ever does.
We're a republic. We have always had an orderly transition of power. Sometimes your side wins, sometimes it loses, sometimes it rains. But what the losing side is supposed to do is to buck up, become the loyal opposition that works to preserve as much of their agenda as possible and work towards the next election. The role isn't to sow divisiveness and blame the president elect for every ill on earth.
And notice what you've done. You've taken clearly unsubstantiated information and -- while you note it is unsubstantiated -- you treat it otherwise. The appropriate journalistic approach would simply be to ignore these allegations until some proof comes forth, if it ever does.
2
Just to put things in perspective: 66 million Clinton voters are angry out of 232 million registered voters. That's 28.5%. Only 9% of voters nominated Clinton and Trump in the first place. You're entitled to your outrage but that's not a very compelling statistic. If Democrats had been a little less "It's our party!" things might have worked out better for everyone. Instead, the party was dismissive, insulting, unethical, and borderline illegal. The run up to the New York primaries and the DNC are particularly sore subjects. Forgive me if I'm not especially sympathetic now. Democrats whining twists an entirely different knife.
For the record, I voted. I didn't vote for Trump.
For the record, I voted. I didn't vote for Trump.
2
In his news conference, he pilloried CNN's Acosta for the sin of publicly acknowledgement that there was unverified information that could be damaging, or even disqualifying to the legitimacy of his Presidency. How dare they!
This conclusion was in unbelievably hypocritical harmony to the seven year effort of one Donald J. Trump to publicize, highlight and broadcast his erroneous and shrill partisan portfolio on the birth certificate of the 44th President of the United States.
Think about that.
This conclusion was in unbelievably hypocritical harmony to the seven year effort of one Donald J. Trump to publicize, highlight and broadcast his erroneous and shrill partisan portfolio on the birth certificate of the 44th President of the United States.
Think about that.
5
I feel that the people who voted for Trump are more of a problem than he is. He is obviously a bigoted, misogynistic, racist, narcissistic, lying, fraudulent, puppet of Putin. Why is this not obvious to his supporters, and if it is obvious to them, why do they nevertheless support him? Without them, he would not be where he is. Without them, he could be impeached and removed in short order. His supporters are the problem.
6
The Theatre of the Absurd started the minute D.J.T. came down the golden elevator to his gaudy Trump Tower's lobby and announced his candidacy for the Republican party's nomination for president.
Just like the two little tramps on stage in the play 'Waiting for Godot', the ones that voted for him will forever wait for a non-existing figure, one they trusted to improve their lot in life, despite yet another ueber bombastic statement yesterday that will be the greatest job-creator in American history that God ever created.
If Trump were a figure made up in a comic strip, we might be amused.
On the 20th of January though, and thereafter, he will become the director that runs the play of the Theatre of the Absurd, and it will play all day long without interruption on the tele and by tweet.
It ain't going to be funny...., and amusement has already turning into outright horror of what has happened in the supposedly greatest country in the world.
A lot of extra jobs will no doubt be created, and that is in the field of psychiatry.
Just like the two little tramps on stage in the play 'Waiting for Godot', the ones that voted for him will forever wait for a non-existing figure, one they trusted to improve their lot in life, despite yet another ueber bombastic statement yesterday that will be the greatest job-creator in American history that God ever created.
If Trump were a figure made up in a comic strip, we might be amused.
On the 20th of January though, and thereafter, he will become the director that runs the play of the Theatre of the Absurd, and it will play all day long without interruption on the tele and by tweet.
It ain't going to be funny...., and amusement has already turning into outright horror of what has happened in the supposedly greatest country in the world.
A lot of extra jobs will no doubt be created, and that is in the field of psychiatry.
5
Nothing Donald Trump says surprises me. And his cabinet appointments are no surprise either. I wish the press would pay as much attention to what the Republicans in the Congress is doing to do our country in. Most of them cannot identify with what is good for the normal everyday citizen, as they do not live in the real world. Can we please have more reporting on Congress and their machinations? Can we continually call each one of them out for their lack of humanity? They are just like Trump Now that is really scary!
2
Trump essentially compared US intelligence agencies to the Gestapo, but if there is a threat of fascism it comes from Trump himself.
3
Constantly complaining about Trump and crying about Hillary for more than a year now. America really has become a pathetic country, no sense of humor, no inner strength, no future. Thanks Obama, you really blew it and all that in less than 8 years.
3
Russian dissident and chess champion Garry Kasparov noted: “Trump has criticized: Republicans, Democrats, the pope, U.S. elections, C.I.A., F.B.I., NATO, Meryl Streep. Trump hasn’t criticized: Vladimir Putin.” He is too stupid and inattentive to be a Manchurian candidate but he's certainly Putin's Poodle.
2
We already knew Trump was a sexual deviant so the Buzzfeed report is really nothing new. We also long suspected that Trump was collaborating, with the Russians, which is why he heaps effusive praise on Vladimir Putin. This, and the 'dishonest press' is really the only thing that Trump has been consistent about.
1
Get ready for "Nixon: The Sequel."
2
If this press conference is any indication, Trump should be just left alone to Tweet. There was nothing new learned about the multitude of issues facing the country, and Trump. He lies and sidesteps and tosses out insults and boasts about himself, and ends up saying nothing. Why even cover such nonsense? Unfortunately, our system is not set up to deal with Trump's kind of person. We know and accept some amount of lying from our politicians, and scandal follows them around on a regular basis. But, Trump is bringing a whole new level of dishonesty and scandal to the White House, and really there's nothing that can be done about it.
The voters put a Republican congress in power to shield and protect Trump, so we can't look to them for any help. Nothing can stop Trump from whatever it is he has planned, or whatever it is Putin has planned. We're sitting ducks, and the press is playing the fool covering press conference as if they mean something.
The voters put a Republican congress in power to shield and protect Trump, so we can't look to them for any help. Nothing can stop Trump from whatever it is he has planned, or whatever it is Putin has planned. We're sitting ducks, and the press is playing the fool covering press conference as if they mean something.
2
Everyone enjoyed what Ferris Bueller did on his day off, right? Ha ha ha...what a cut up. How did he get away with it all? Well... first and last, it was a movie. A M.O.V.I.E., not real life, where similar behavior would have landed him in jail and permanent debt. Yet in their wisdom, a minority of Americans have signed the rest of us up for Trump's Day Off, having to absorb the realities of such hi-jinx at home and internationally. We are about to get the movie but without the humor, without grownups to step in and with very serious consequences. Trump* is some combination of Berlusconi and Mussolini, a dangerous but fundamentally buffoonic character. It is rare that after wrecking damage such electoral mistakes are replaced by more benign characters. This is not going to end well...at all.
1
Is everyone listening to the way Trump talks? It's so rudimentary, so indicative of a limited intellect, and it should be raising alarms for anyone who loves this country. He isn't "telling it like it is", he is just using forceful diction to get through whatever time he is expected to speak. Of course he shut down a CNN reporter - he will do that with increasing frequency to more news agencies if it will relieve him of an obligation to say anything of substance without a large print teleprompter in front of him.
4
I only hope that Congress is ready to start the impeachment process as they are to get rid of the ACA and the rest of our civil liberties.
2
There comes a time to acknowledge that Trump-tilting supporters did not thoughtfully reflect on Trump's words and actions - and here we all are. I do not think it was about their purported anger. It was the unwillingness or inability to thoughtfully reflect and think through their choice. Now, that is sad and rest of us will continue to be disgusted by Trump's scapegoating, lies, egotism, vulgarity, lack of intelligence, and respect for our democracy. Until he is gone.
3
Gail Collins asks."Wouldn’t you have liked to be there to see the reaction" when Trump was brief on memo?," but her assertion that intelligence agencies briefed Trump on the memos is fake news. Briefers prepared a two-page annex about the memos, which they regarded as "disinformation," but opted not to mention it when they briefed Trump. Trump learned about the memos from press report.
NBC News reported yesterday that a senior intelligence official said a summary of the memos were included as an annex in a briefing prepared for Donald Trump was an example of "disinformation." NBC News said, "The two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation, according to the official." However, according to NBC, briefers opted not to mention the memos to Trump. Most people would be unhappy about news reports based on memos labeled on memos the intelligence community describes as disinformation.
NBC News reported yesterday that a senior intelligence official said a summary of the memos were included as an annex in a briefing prepared for Donald Trump was an example of "disinformation." NBC News said, "The two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material was made available to the briefers to provide context for Trump should they want to draw a distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted 'disinformation, according to the official." However, according to NBC, briefers opted not to mention the memos to Trump. Most people would be unhappy about news reports based on memos labeled on memos the intelligence community describes as disinformation.
1
The press conference was not a press conference. It was the usual modus operandi used by Trump and his people for the past year and a half. Pure distraction. Look at all my files, don't pay attention to the confirmation hearings. Look at my son's running my business, forget that Russian nonsense, etc. So many people keep taking the same old bait. He thinks it funny in a sick way. Really, it's incredibly dangerous and irresponsibly twisted.
2
There is a seriously mentally ill, imbecile coming in to be the next president, Donald Trump. It was sad and disheartening to read the sheer stupidity come from the people in Iowa who were interviewed for another NY Times article. These people's brains are complete mush, and they're incapable of any critical thought. You couple that with Trump's absolute sick display of his own brand of idiocy, and folks we're in grave trouble.
4
I feel like Cassandra walking around wringing her hands about the impending disaster of Trump being POTUS. It's weird, people don't get it and they certainly don't want to hear it.
As a kid I heard this statement: "If you can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, then you just don't understand the seriousness of the situation." And this is how I feel about the loyal Trump supporters--some of whom are in our extended family in the South. They really don't understand the seriousness of this ill-fated Trump presidency.
Like the article in today's Times about the Iowans still supporting Trump no matter what he says or does, I swear these people do not grasp what Trump and his hardliner appointees will do to this country and our future.
One clue is they don't read newspapers or expose themselves to news other than is on FOX or right-wing media.
I can understand why conniving GOP politicians stick with Trump--they think they will tell him what to do, and he will do it, such as scrap the social safety net, privatize what is public, and make sure government taxpayer dollars transfer to wealthy corporations and people, not to the people needing help or our crumbling society.
This really is serious and there does not seem to be anything anyone can do about it. Now the press is being attacked and silenced by Trump, and he gets away with it. Clearly neither Trump or his supporters know what they are doing. You can't survive this way as a species.
As a kid I heard this statement: "If you can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, then you just don't understand the seriousness of the situation." And this is how I feel about the loyal Trump supporters--some of whom are in our extended family in the South. They really don't understand the seriousness of this ill-fated Trump presidency.
Like the article in today's Times about the Iowans still supporting Trump no matter what he says or does, I swear these people do not grasp what Trump and his hardliner appointees will do to this country and our future.
One clue is they don't read newspapers or expose themselves to news other than is on FOX or right-wing media.
I can understand why conniving GOP politicians stick with Trump--they think they will tell him what to do, and he will do it, such as scrap the social safety net, privatize what is public, and make sure government taxpayer dollars transfer to wealthy corporations and people, not to the people needing help or our crumbling society.
This really is serious and there does not seem to be anything anyone can do about it. Now the press is being attacked and silenced by Trump, and he gets away with it. Clearly neither Trump or his supporters know what they are doing. You can't survive this way as a species.
1
I hope that someday DJT will get a grip on reality. Not likely. He just doesn't get it that there really are angry people who didn't vote for him, or give him that mandate. If those of us who have very severe reservations about him suggest that we do, then there is something wrong with us. Considering all of his past behavior, even if there aren't kinky sex tapes of him in a Russian hotel room, it does seem entirely plausible that there might be. (Does he use cameras in the rooms in his hotels?) He doesn't seem capable of creating calm, just repeatedly opening himself up for questions. I dread the day he takes the oath to be our president, I will not feel safe, I will not feel secure. I will have that "abandon hope all ye who enter here" sensation... more so than I do now. I voted for Mrs. Clinton, my heart was with Bernie... I do think we need to stop blaming her, and each other, for where the Democrats went wrong, and stand up to the tyrant that DJT is. If we cannot do that, then it really is hopeless. Maybe we are all still in shock, and there seems to be more of it on a daily basis. Are we just not angry enough? Keep up the good work, Times, wearing as it is, we need to know what is happening, the worst thing we can do is become complacent.
1
Gail - you covered the "highlights" beautifully, as usual. However, what about the Trump "cheering squad"? The president bringing a "cheering squad" to a press conference? A sad day for America.
3
Thank you Gail, spot on as always!! wish you could write everyday.
Ray
Ray
What I don't get is how Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump are buddies. There's a riddle I'd love solved. I imagine them sitting down with spinach-almond milk smoothies and chatting:
C. "Is your Dad embarrassing himself again? Poor baby."
I. "It was nicer when he invited your folks to the wedding."
C. "Are we going to grow up to be them?"
I. "Forget that smoothie. Have a scotch."
http://www.thecriticalmom.blogspot.com
C. "Is your Dad embarrassing himself again? Poor baby."
I. "It was nicer when he invited your folks to the wedding."
C. "Are we going to grow up to be them?"
I. "Forget that smoothie. Have a scotch."
http://www.thecriticalmom.blogspot.com
Bravo - I am one of the 66 million voters who is seething - the world is laughing at the President elect and his ravings.
3
I wish the news media present at yesterday's press conference had turned around and walked out in mass protest against Trump's treatment of the CNN reporter. He is destroying our democratic institutions.
6
What a great show you are having in the States. As one of your largest trading partners and allies, I watch in amazement of what has happended to your Country over the past 18 months. We are one continent but worlds apart on issues such as Heath Care, gun laws and education. I hope we can still be the best of friends over the next four years.
6
Gail--
Godot--the best line of any report on Trump's tax returns this year! Thanks--we desperately need something to laugh about!
Godot--the best line of any report on Trump's tax returns this year! Thanks--we desperately need something to laugh about!
5
Trump hasn't even been sworn in yet and he already has to play "shoot the messenger" in responding to potential sex and political scandals. President Obama went 8 years without a scandal despite thousands of man hours and taxpayer dollars spent by Republicans trying to find one. Trump's sleaziness and groping has already been documented, this latest scandal is not a shocker.
3
I think he does know what he's doing by his scattershot commentary. Carnival barkers know how to hit semi-conscious buttons in the most effective sequence, moving the crowds towards the purchase. Pay no attention to the Attorney General nominee's history of advocating for prisons that chained men and women to posts out in the Alabama sun. Think about me in a hotel room. Now hate the reporter from the channel that carefully reported THAT there was unconfirmed material in a briefing. Now hate the elites, you know, the guys with educations, and I will assure that you don't have to pay to educate your own kids but those of the elite.
3
All I want to say is THANK YOU GAIL for writing this wonderful article and also remembering 66 million Hillary voters, which most reporters conveniently forgot about. How dare anyone speak up against him or his wrong doings? Merryl Streep received so much criticism for standing up for other people. She was not even defending herself. What happened to our First Amendment rights? People feel so strongly about Second Amendment but what about our First Amendment? I hope more and more people including journalists such as yourself keep writing and speaking out. We need it so much in today's world.
6
Yes, we have been told to "pay attention to the legitimate anger in the Trump-tilting parts of the country." But that anger was coupled with willful ignorance/denial of the character of Donald Trump, tolerance of his blatant racism and cynical xenophobia, and a willingness to be conned by his lies. We can be sympathetic with their anger, but that anger in no way mitigates the complicity of millions of people who chose to ignore facts because they liked the way Donald Trump and all his lying bluster made them feel.
5
Oh my god, Gail, have you even read this report? Russian prostitutes and bribes are just the tip of the iceberg. Trump was happy to have the media report on Russia because it distracted from his corrupt connections in China. So that thing with Jack Ma this week? yeah, not so inscrutable now, is it?
The biggest takeaway from all if it, though, is promising. There are senior figures in the Kremlin that are TERRIFIED that the US public will find out what they were up to. And now we have. Sergei Ivanov was fired back in August specifically because he got cold feet over the DNC hacking.
We need to push, and keep pushing, for an independent inquiry into this. I'm confident we will, though it will take time, reveal the whole sordid mess that has been Trump's life.
The biggest takeaway from all if it, though, is promising. There are senior figures in the Kremlin that are TERRIFIED that the US public will find out what they were up to. And now we have. Sergei Ivanov was fired back in August specifically because he got cold feet over the DNC hacking.
We need to push, and keep pushing, for an independent inquiry into this. I'm confident we will, though it will take time, reveal the whole sordid mess that has been Trump's life.
4
The majority of people in this country will never accept this lunatic as our president.
A compliant and inept press corps won't legitimize him. Neither will the treasonous Republicans in Congress.
America will fight him until he's driven from office.
A compliant and inept press corps won't legitimize him. Neither will the treasonous Republicans in Congress.
America will fight him until he's driven from office.
5
Wasn't there a movie about this? Don Does DC?
Thank you, Ms. Collins, for acknowledging the legitimate anger of the majority of voters in 2017 elections.
I listened to that press conference, and worried. I worry because what I heard is a man who's decided that a way to keep "winning" is to exploit divisions, to sow distrust and to infantilize our country's citizens. My heart sank so often, especially when I heard some journalists clapping towards the end of his attack on CNN. (I personally refuse to watch the network since they started to air his rallies, as opposed to just reporting on them as a segment of the news.)
I don't know what the future holds, but I hope (yes!) that what he will unleash upon our republic will not cause lasting damage. Ignorance and prejudice walk hand in hand, and while there a lot of people who share his cynicism, there are a lot more whose ignorance is being exploited. It may seem condescending to note it, but the alternative is to think those voters are driven by true hate towards their fellow citizens who are women, immigrants like myself, people with different sexual orientations and/or from minority group backgrounds, disabled people, and the unfortunate list keeps growing. Even if that is the case, I know to keep in mind that the majority of my fellow americans want to be more inclusive and prosperous, both spiritually and economically.
Heaven help us all.
I listened to that press conference, and worried. I worry because what I heard is a man who's decided that a way to keep "winning" is to exploit divisions, to sow distrust and to infantilize our country's citizens. My heart sank so often, especially when I heard some journalists clapping towards the end of his attack on CNN. (I personally refuse to watch the network since they started to air his rallies, as opposed to just reporting on them as a segment of the news.)
I don't know what the future holds, but I hope (yes!) that what he will unleash upon our republic will not cause lasting damage. Ignorance and prejudice walk hand in hand, and while there a lot of people who share his cynicism, there are a lot more whose ignorance is being exploited. It may seem condescending to note it, but the alternative is to think those voters are driven by true hate towards their fellow citizens who are women, immigrants like myself, people with different sexual orientations and/or from minority group backgrounds, disabled people, and the unfortunate list keeps growing. Even if that is the case, I know to keep in mind that the majority of my fellow americans want to be more inclusive and prosperous, both spiritually and economically.
Heaven help us all.
2
Our self proclaimed "genius" president-elect promised the "drain the swamp" in DC. His actions, press conference, collection of twits laced with lies and at best half truths, lack of transparency, boorish behavior demonstrating his lack of morality and understanding of the law or ethics, is quickly changing the swamp into a cesspool. He moving at a pace to drown himself in this cesspool, a cesspool of his own making.
Our form of government is resilient. Trump is certainly is testing this premise. Incredibly he hasn't taken over the office of presidency yet.
Our form of government is resilient. Trump is certainly is testing this premise. Incredibly he hasn't taken over the office of presidency yet.
1
The press conference was pure infomercial - label correctly applied by Jelani Cobb.
2
They keep telling us that we need to reach out to the Trump supporters, hear their side of the story.
What about the Trump supporters reaching out to us?
I grew up blue collar, first generation in my family to go to college, worked through high school and college to go to a state university in high-tech.
If all those laid off rust belt factory workers had done the same thing they would be earning a good living today.
And I want to pay higher taxes to give them health care and retraining.
But to them, I am the bad guy.
What about the Trump supporters reaching out to us?
I grew up blue collar, first generation in my family to go to college, worked through high school and college to go to a state university in high-tech.
If all those laid off rust belt factory workers had done the same thing they would be earning a good living today.
And I want to pay higher taxes to give them health care and retraining.
But to them, I am the bad guy.
7
As a trial lawyer, I prepped many a witness. If Trump had been one of my witnesses, and told me his "story", I would have advised him to rely on his right to remain silent.
5
Could we please have some solidarity in the press - if Trump ostracizes members or specific organs - there needs to be solidarity - he cannot be allowed to cherry pick. This is fundamental. Schoolyard favoritism will seriously undermine fact-based reportage.
7
And more and more of the same ...
All that the people of good will can hope for, is that Trump will realize that he is incapable of being President and he will leave the Presidency for the world of self-enrichment.
All that the people of good will can hope for, is that Trump will realize that he is incapable of being President and he will leave the Presidency for the world of self-enrichment.
1
It's a disgrace that we will have a blatant liar leading our country for the next 4 years....hopefully less. He is an embarrassment to the USA.
4
I wonder if we could rehire those Secret Service agents who were fired for their sexual hijinks and boozing. They'd make a perfect group to protect the incoming groper in chief.
4
The Truth will come out and Trump will be exposed. Damage will be minimal, his followers will care less and he will blame it on "lack of leadership" from Obama and Hillary that put him in that position.
Damage to the country is another thing, and it will not be fixed by Trump
Meanwhile, 22m go without Health Insurance, Drug companies fight back against competitive bidding for their products and the privatization of taxpayer assets goes on and on until Trump and his partners own everything
Have a nice day
Damage to the country is another thing, and it will not be fixed by Trump
Meanwhile, 22m go without Health Insurance, Drug companies fight back against competitive bidding for their products and the privatization of taxpayer assets goes on and on until Trump and his partners own everything
Have a nice day
1
Did ANYONE outside of the media do more than shrug about the purportedly "explosive" revelation that Russians "might" have a compromising video about Trump? I couldn't believe such garbage was being reported, it appears the media has become one big national enquirer.
2
The CIA has a long history of overthrowing democratically elected governments in South American, eastern Europe and the Middle east. They are very good at subversion It wouldn't surprise me in the least if that's how the Trump story eventually plays out.
This is by far the best summary of yesterdays Donald Trump Show I've read, but even you, Gail, failed to note that he ignored the second half of the very important last question. "Did you or any member of your staff interact with Russia at any time to influence the outcome of the campaign." I think that if he answers that question honestly under oath, we'll be able to say, "You're fired!"
1
Such a grandiose display at his news conference foreshadows the possibility of an embattled, isolated Trump lashing out at his critics from the White House in erratic, dangerous ways. Not a pretty picture.
2
I used to think that if Trump were elected, he'd fire the IRS people doing the audit. Now I realize he'll keep them on that audit forever and give them a bonus.
2
Interesting use of the word asset. Trump is the biggest asset the KGB has ever had.
3
He's a crook. I would think that FBI and CIA profilers know all about guys like this. It's only a matter of time until this whining narcissist gets backed into a corner he can't distract and accuse his way out of. We can only hope the rest of America wakes up. Vulgar, selfish and destructive doesn't begin to describe him. There's a reason the dossier allegations ring true. We know he's crass and gross and self-indulgent and immature. Apparently, we need the video. And I don't doubt we'll have it.
5
The press conference is paired with Comey's testimony and it's sobering to contemplate:
1. Trump had Russian help in the election to tear down Clinton;
2. Trump has had financial dealings with Russia for decades in the ordinary course of doing business, and that is not undone by anything set up by the ridiculous briefing from the law firm
3. Comey and our profoundly politicized FBI decided they would essentially side with the Russians in releasing the Weiner email blast just before the election. They had similar unverified information about Trump which actually DID have national security implications, but chose to only release what would damage Clinton.
The election produced an illegitimate 'winner' .. down by 3 million, but, as you say, placed in office by our 'system.' Aided by our FBI. Aided by Russia, now dear close friend of POTUS.
1. Trump had Russian help in the election to tear down Clinton;
2. Trump has had financial dealings with Russia for decades in the ordinary course of doing business, and that is not undone by anything set up by the ridiculous briefing from the law firm
3. Comey and our profoundly politicized FBI decided they would essentially side with the Russians in releasing the Weiner email blast just before the election. They had similar unverified information about Trump which actually DID have national security implications, but chose to only release what would damage Clinton.
The election produced an illegitimate 'winner' .. down by 3 million, but, as you say, placed in office by our 'system.' Aided by our FBI. Aided by Russia, now dear close friend of POTUS.
Trump should recuse himself on all dealings with Russia. Let Pence be in charge of anything to do with Russia.
I wonder when reality sets in for Trump supporters. So far, they are unfazed by his behavior---which, after watching that news conference--renewed my search for a company that will build a bomb shelter in my backyard.
1
Let's all keep reminding Paul Ryan about how excited he is to work with Trump.
1
still no discussion on policy on important matters like the crippling expensive and futile war in Afghanistan, and the other battles around the world we are engaged in, climate change, the issues of privacy online, among many many others. We seem to take for granted that the wasteful brutal wars will go on, the climate will be destroyed no matter what, we will have no right to privacy. Russia's ideas of what is compromising come from a past the American public has no interest in, after reality TV and celebrity culture has broken down almost all boundaries. No one cares what Trump does in the bedroom, we'd rather not think about it. I pity his wife and his family, rich as they are, having to deal with a personality disordered individual. I'm more concerned at the fate of the poor women who may have been coerced into a life they don't want. Next time, if there is one, please let's get some questions and answers on the real issues. The Russian connections are reprehensible, but til we know more it's useless to ask him direct questions about them. We will not find out the truth about the Russian issues from asking him.
1
Thank you Gail for your predictably perfect last sentences.
1
Looks like this was Intel's warning to Trump that they could put out anything they want if Mr Trump doesn't play by theirs and the establishments rules. These Intel groups said they were 100% sure Saddam had nukes and we were gonna mushroom clouds over Manhattan. This was only 15 years ago and the same group is now saying NK is gonna fire nukes against us as soon as they are perfected. Nazi like? yes
The innate natural plausibility of "golden shower" trysts for men like Donald John Trump and William Jefferson Clinton rests in their records as blatant serial adulterous moral degenerate rogues. We know these barnyard roosters by their prancing and preening misogyny. Neither man is a George Walker Bush nor Barack Hussein Obama.
4
A Press Conference is intended to be Informational and Sharing.
Everything "Trump" is Control, Control, Control.
Everything "Trump" is Control, Control, Control.
1
It seems to me Mr. Trump had better get used to news about him and his antics, both "fake" and real. The press is not going to stop. The 66 million who voted for Hillary are not going to stop. The Democratic Party apparatus is certainly not going to stop. It's going to last at least four years. Not quite as long as the "birther" fiction, but long enough, I guess. Toughen up.
1
Don't forget what Trump said early on in his campaign; "I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and they'd still vote for me"... He's the new Teflon Don.
3
We still have Mr. & Mrs. Obama, and their lovely children to be proud of. Please, let's help him rebuild the Democratic Party. We 66 million are not going away, and we need champions to help us reclaim our country from the forces of darkness.
We 66 million are not going away. We are proud people with a firm grip on reality. We cannot help but prevail!
We 66 million are not going away. We are proud people with a firm grip on reality. We cannot help but prevail!
2
Oh my -- well, I don't think Hillary lost because of Weiner's sexting, and I'm not sure putting a camera in a room with a man and a bunch of prostitutes, is enough to blackmail him. I'm sure it would cause some embarrassment, but it would also backfire on Russia and those who brought it to light. As far as I'm concerned, one of our worst days in history was the day the Republicans dragged Bill Clinton onto Prime Time. Surely, we are better than this?
Looking for another way to view this mess. One thought: America is trying 'stupid' to see if it helps. An experiment if you will.
1
We have never before seen an individual so absolutely flippant and judgmental assume the role of our president. Or - maybe we have and we just don't remember (Warren G. Harding?).
Reasonable Democrats - these days all Democrats will claim to be the "adults" in the room - and reasonable Republicans - and there are a lot of them also raising an eyebrow and packing their bags in case they need to run to Aruba - have no idea how to behave in light of the trivialization of our leadership.
America voted for capital-C change. First for Obama, twice. Then a lot of the same people voted for Trump.
Well, we got what we got - capital-C change, behind a guy who makes no secret of the fact he feels enriching himself while in office is a right he has and "nobody else has," in his own words. And perhaps we'd even be fine with that - if he even showed one iota of a tendency to not knee jerk at personal insults to the detriment of the millions who now look up to him for protection.
He simply doesn't care about the people of America. Even the Democrat nemesis Mitch McConnell cares about America. Rand Paul cares about America. Paul Ryan cares about America. The differences in our opinion about what makes a better America is "yuge," but we don't doubt they care.
This guy has shown time and time again he doesn't. He's thinking he can turn over the hard work to his son-in-law and other appointees while he runs hotels from the oval office.
We should be more careful what we wish for.
Reasonable Democrats - these days all Democrats will claim to be the "adults" in the room - and reasonable Republicans - and there are a lot of them also raising an eyebrow and packing their bags in case they need to run to Aruba - have no idea how to behave in light of the trivialization of our leadership.
America voted for capital-C change. First for Obama, twice. Then a lot of the same people voted for Trump.
Well, we got what we got - capital-C change, behind a guy who makes no secret of the fact he feels enriching himself while in office is a right he has and "nobody else has," in his own words. And perhaps we'd even be fine with that - if he even showed one iota of a tendency to not knee jerk at personal insults to the detriment of the millions who now look up to him for protection.
He simply doesn't care about the people of America. Even the Democrat nemesis Mitch McConnell cares about America. Rand Paul cares about America. Paul Ryan cares about America. The differences in our opinion about what makes a better America is "yuge," but we don't doubt they care.
This guy has shown time and time again he doesn't. He's thinking he can turn over the hard work to his son-in-law and other appointees while he runs hotels from the oval office.
We should be more careful what we wish for.
I work with low-level readers who hope to earn their high school equivalency diplomas. Their ability to write -- or even comprehend -- compound sentences is very poor. Not a few will fail the writing part of the test on the first go-round. (And it's not a difficult exam.)
That's why so many people love Trump. He makes perfect sense to these folks.
That's why so many people love Trump. He makes perfect sense to these folks.
1
It isn't even inauguration day yet, and it just keeps on coming. I've thought that eventually, Trump will say something, or something will turn up and then I remember what Trump himself said. "I Could Stand In the Middle Of Fifth Avenue And Shoot Somebody And I Wouldn't Lose Any Voters". I realize now that this is probably the truest statement Trump has ever made in his whole life.
1
We've already heard the sex-in-Russia part, which the Times has so far deemed not fit to print. It gives new meaning to the term "leaked report."
In a way, Trump's win actually was a record-shattering triumph. Rudeness, bullying, racism and sexism just beat the heck out of integrity, democracy, decency, ethics and manners. Trump had those tools all to himself--he knew it wouldn't even occur to anyone else to use them.
2
Seeing his taxes would do fine for a start. Seeing him Russiafornicating would be a treat. Seeing the Republicans dump Trump would be a miracle and the best chance to Make America Decent Again!
donald stated in his press conference, if thats what it was called, that he always cautions his associates, when traveling, be very careful in your behavior, as it could be captured on secret cameras and you would not care to see yourself on the evening news. This coming from the mouth of donald, the one who boasted on a open mike, bragging his treatment of women because of his celebrity and can get away with it. Billy Bush gets fired and we wind up with a psychotic individual preparing to enter the oval office. Here is an individual who claims himself to be germaphobic, keeps his hands clean but has a polluted mind.
Not a believer in a personal god, all I can say, God Bless America.
Not a believer in a personal god, all I can say, God Bless America.
2
Allegedly Director Comey's concern during the election was to alert the public that there was an ongoing investigation of Clinton, even after the first investigation over her emails was closed. The public needed to know this just in case criminal activity was discovered after the election that could caste a cloud over the entire process.
So why don't those same principles apply to Trump? He and apparently some members of his campaign staff have been under investigation to determine whether allegations of foreign influence have any merit. But that investigation had to be kept secret, both before the election and after, and would not have been discovered now but for the leaked memo.
Was the memo in a classified intelligence report itself classified? If so, isn't the leak a felony? Hasn't the FBI vigorously gone after everyone who leaked classified material? Even regardless of the actual content of the material?
So some classified material from whistle blowers seeking to prevent unlawful activity in their agency warrants vigorous prosecution. But other classified material, from sources that leaks it for who knows what reasons is treated as business as usual in Washington.
So is anyone investigating the FBI? Or have we returned to the days of J. Edgar Hoover?
So why don't those same principles apply to Trump? He and apparently some members of his campaign staff have been under investigation to determine whether allegations of foreign influence have any merit. But that investigation had to be kept secret, both before the election and after, and would not have been discovered now but for the leaked memo.
Was the memo in a classified intelligence report itself classified? If so, isn't the leak a felony? Hasn't the FBI vigorously gone after everyone who leaked classified material? Even regardless of the actual content of the material?
So some classified material from whistle blowers seeking to prevent unlawful activity in their agency warrants vigorous prosecution. But other classified material, from sources that leaks it for who knows what reasons is treated as business as usual in Washington.
So is anyone investigating the FBI? Or have we returned to the days of J. Edgar Hoover?
3
When the tapes are eventually released, the President's response will be "that's not me - the tapes are fake too. My [manhood] is bigger than that".
The Ministry of Truth wants you to know that any criticism or negative information about the President is a lie. This is the answer to all of your questions.
The Ministry of Truth wants you to know that any criticism or negative information about the President is a lie. This is the answer to all of your questions.
2
Will Comey keep his job? Surely the Times needs to find out.
It is so sad. America has always been the country of democracy. Now for the first time you have a President elect who acts like a dictator and there are no real protests. Not from the people who did not elect him and not from the journalists. Everybody is digging in as if it was another entertaining show, but it is for real. Soon this man who is unfit for the Presidency will turn the world around. Remember also Adolf Hitler was democratically elected and he promised to make "Germany great again/ The third Reich". We all know how that ended, but the same indiffirence from the German people because "it couldn't be that bad". "He cannot possibly mean all what he is saying". Well don't be fooled Mr. Trump means what he is saying.
Trump is not our leader. He does not inspire.
Half of the American people legally qualified to vote cast a ballot for president.
Of that half that voted, less than half voted Trump. Perhaps more than half of the Trump voting people were Trump supporters. Perhaps not. I believe the exit polls showed Trump’s majority were voting against Clinton. “Lock her up” was their mantra.
Clinton had the majority of the popular vote, yet unofficial polls showed a majority of her voters were voting against Trump, not for her, and feared a vote for the Libertarian or Green Party candidate would elect Trump so they voted democrat.
Trump's base, on a good day was 11% of the voters. That is all. Winning the election by an Electoral College fluke does not make him a leader. He isn’t even inaugurated and half of his base are having second thoughts. Talk to these people today and they say, “At least he isn’t her.”
The wall is not going to keep people out. Between the tunnels and ladders, people healthy enough to work in the fields will climb over for a waiting truck to cart them to the waiting fields to harvest raspberries, strawberries, broccoli and celery.
The wall is going to be a giant billboard, spray painted with Nazi memorabilia to remind us we have a president whose hero is a Russian thug.
We are the losers.
http://michaelslevinson.com
Half of the American people legally qualified to vote cast a ballot for president.
Of that half that voted, less than half voted Trump. Perhaps more than half of the Trump voting people were Trump supporters. Perhaps not. I believe the exit polls showed Trump’s majority were voting against Clinton. “Lock her up” was their mantra.
Clinton had the majority of the popular vote, yet unofficial polls showed a majority of her voters were voting against Trump, not for her, and feared a vote for the Libertarian or Green Party candidate would elect Trump so they voted democrat.
Trump's base, on a good day was 11% of the voters. That is all. Winning the election by an Electoral College fluke does not make him a leader. He isn’t even inaugurated and half of his base are having second thoughts. Talk to these people today and they say, “At least he isn’t her.”
The wall is not going to keep people out. Between the tunnels and ladders, people healthy enough to work in the fields will climb over for a waiting truck to cart them to the waiting fields to harvest raspberries, strawberries, broccoli and celery.
The wall is going to be a giant billboard, spray painted with Nazi memorabilia to remind us we have a president whose hero is a Russian thug.
We are the losers.
http://michaelslevinson.com
2
It seems to me that Trump works very hard at being un-Presidential. His behavior is decidedly adolescent and that's not a simple judgement. It's a fact. When he called the CNN reporter rude., it was he who, in fact, was being rude in a very shallow way. I call your attention to his use of inane adjectives to describe everything Trump. Lacking perception and imagination everything is "fantastic and terrific." It reminds me of when a person is asked his opinion about a painting and responds "interesting." Translated that means they haven't a clue. To quote Trump "give me a break." I have a feeling that many of us confuse money for intelligence. I know many folks who do well, but are fiendishly anti-intellectual. Think about the sophomoric use of manila folders to show off Trump's "fantastic" holdings. He doesn't understand the difference between legal and moral. His having made billions did nothing to have him understand the numbers of people he hurt with his bankruptcies. No moral sense gave rise in him to help those he hurt. His foundation's buying a painting of him to hang in his Florida club is emblematic of his lack of a moral compass. The whole scene is garish, like his tower in Manhattan. He is the complete package - a boorish bully who did exactly what Meryl Streep said, and she is a truly gifted actor despite the bully's bellicosity.
3
Trump was elected to take on the government and shake things up. So far, the media is making him look pretty good at it.
Hopefully EVERYONE - American citizens, the press, congress, the intelligence community - stick to the core of what's important and not let Trump move the spotlight to the sideshow.
Did anyone associated with Trump meet with anyone associated with Russia at any time during the campaign? Keep on it. There's red meat there.
Did anyone associated with Trump meet with anyone associated with Russia at any time during the campaign? Keep on it. There's red meat there.
One has to wonder what it will take for the GOP or Republican voters to say "Hold on here. Just a darn minute..." For now, it doesn't seem to matter much what he says or does, his supporters are all in. Another Teflon president, apparently. Philanderer. Cheater. Liar. Thief. Turn-coat. It's all the same to them - he's not a Democrat.
1
Gail’s last line is the most intelligent observation in any venue, from mainstream media to alt-right, in the months since Nov. 8. There’s 66 million of us Hillary voters (including about 30 million would-have-preferred- Bernie’s-revolution voters), and we not only have a right to be angry, we are. Very, very angry! A few years from now the media will be wondering why they didn’t pay more attention to us.
2
Just a thought from a liberal who lives in this deep red rural part of the country: You might consider easing up just a bit on the attacks on Trump voters who live hereabouts. Your tribalism only reinforces theirs.
The future of our nation depends on the revival of a bigger tribe called the United States of America, one that we all once belonged to, before we decided to resurrect the passions and name calling that broke us apart in the mid nineteenth century.
And yes that means you will have to accept and try to understand the flyover deplorables too. Until you do that I will never be a able to gain any ground for you out here on the front lines.
The future of our nation depends on the revival of a bigger tribe called the United States of America, one that we all once belonged to, before we decided to resurrect the passions and name calling that broke us apart in the mid nineteenth century.
And yes that means you will have to accept and try to understand the flyover deplorables too. Until you do that I will never be a able to gain any ground for you out here on the front lines.
1
Thank you for ending on a note about us non-Trump voters. If I see another (and there is one on the front page of this paper today) article trying to understand Trump voters I'm going to scream. Try understanding us non-Trump voters - there are a lot more of us around.
2
I have a hard time reading Gail Collins complaints about Trump now. During the election she relished in discrediting Clinton every chance she got.
To the Dems: stop worrying about appeasing the anger of the Trump supporters. As the old saying goes: "Never try to teach a pig to dance. It won't work, and it annoys the pig"
Instead concentrate on obstructing the terrible appointments and laws Trump and the Republicans are foisting on the majority, and don't worry about the blowback.
Instead concentrate on obstructing the terrible appointments and laws Trump and the Republicans are foisting on the majority, and don't worry about the blowback.
7
Then, "be angry," Gail. See how far it gets you You and those you call, "my people" have a lot to be angry about.
So, start with a mirror and get rid of that stuck, smug, condescending look on your liberal kisser. It doesn't work. Stop the whining, that doesn't work either.
If you want to trump Trump, stop telling and start listening. Find a way to work with those who do not possess your brilliance by acting more humble and supplicant. Even if you're not.
So, start with a mirror and get rid of that stuck, smug, condescending look on your liberal kisser. It doesn't work. Stop the whining, that doesn't work either.
If you want to trump Trump, stop telling and start listening. Find a way to work with those who do not possess your brilliance by acting more humble and supplicant. Even if you're not.
2
Yes, this was a total clown show of a press conference. And it rightfully attracted all of our attention.
But at the same time not enough attention is paid to the fact that people like Sen. Sessions are in confirmation hearings. President-elect Trump has carefully chosen his nominees for cabinet positions to be the most incompetent and/or damaging people for the job. With the media focussed on Trump's twitter feed and his reality-tv style press conference, it lets his cabinet nominations off the hook.
In addition, Republicans in Congress are busy at work gutting ethics panels, repealing the ACA, stocking the judiciary with right-wing extremists, undermining the civil service by re-instituting the $1 salary-slash provision, and the list goes on and on.
He anybody considered that the Trump organization might have leaked the memos to Buzzfeed? The timing is perfect, the media focus all of their attention on the golden shower in a Moscow hotel room, and the greater game plan goes unnoticed. Remember the fake documents on Bush's National Guard service, which sank Dan Rather's career?
In the end Trump is the perfect Manchurian candidate. If he survives, Putin has the US in his pocket. If he gets impeached, Pence and the Tea Party have free reign. In both scenarios US democracy is damaged badly for decades to come.
But at the same time not enough attention is paid to the fact that people like Sen. Sessions are in confirmation hearings. President-elect Trump has carefully chosen his nominees for cabinet positions to be the most incompetent and/or damaging people for the job. With the media focussed on Trump's twitter feed and his reality-tv style press conference, it lets his cabinet nominations off the hook.
In addition, Republicans in Congress are busy at work gutting ethics panels, repealing the ACA, stocking the judiciary with right-wing extremists, undermining the civil service by re-instituting the $1 salary-slash provision, and the list goes on and on.
He anybody considered that the Trump organization might have leaked the memos to Buzzfeed? The timing is perfect, the media focus all of their attention on the golden shower in a Moscow hotel room, and the greater game plan goes unnoticed. Remember the fake documents on Bush's National Guard service, which sank Dan Rather's career?
In the end Trump is the perfect Manchurian candidate. If he survives, Putin has the US in his pocket. If he gets impeached, Pence and the Tea Party have free reign. In both scenarios US democracy is damaged badly for decades to come.
7
And you, Gail, do you wring your hands? Because you, as well as many columnists and journalists from the NYT and most other major publications in the country, colluded with the DNC in deciding that no one would interfere with Hillary Clinton in her whim to be the nominee for the Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders' platform was consistently dismissed and his victories in primaries minimized while Clinton's aggrandized. He was given minimum exposure and Hillary was all over the place. The fact is that, months before the nomination, Bernie was showing better chances to win the presidency than her. I know this is speculation but I'm sure that many of Trump's voters would've preferred to vote for Bernie because he was tapping into the same anger that got Trump elected. What irony! The one decent and honest choice in the whole recent election cycle was, to a significant extent, trumped by you and other, supposedly, "world class" journalists. Time to sincerely apologize to the country for knowingly allowing yourselves to be hijacked by the Clintons and the Democratic machine.
5
I'm one of the 66 million Clinton voters who Ms. Collins says have a right to be angry, too.
And I am angry.
Secretary Clinton muscled out any other Democratic contenders--running on the basis that the race and the Presidency were now her due--it wasn't just a woman's turn--it was HER turn.
And then she ran an appallingly bad campaign--communicating virtually zero about what she would do as President--beyond NOT be Trump and more aggressive in Syria and Iraq.
Did the FBI director and the Russians try to tilt the election?
Yes.
Welcome to the real world, Madam Secretary.
I'm angry that we now face four terrifying years of Trump and his alt-right goon squad running the country.
But my anger is directed at the candidate who managed to lose.
And I am angry.
Secretary Clinton muscled out any other Democratic contenders--running on the basis that the race and the Presidency were now her due--it wasn't just a woman's turn--it was HER turn.
And then she ran an appallingly bad campaign--communicating virtually zero about what she would do as President--beyond NOT be Trump and more aggressive in Syria and Iraq.
Did the FBI director and the Russians try to tilt the election?
Yes.
Welcome to the real world, Madam Secretary.
I'm angry that we now face four terrifying years of Trump and his alt-right goon squad running the country.
But my anger is directed at the candidate who managed to lose.
5
Gail's lasr point is right on. Clinton Voters Matter Too! And there are more of us. And we don't want to destoy the United States. Or Social Security, or Education, or Vaccinations, or.... Always remember that southern Republicans in their hearts resent and hate being part of the United States. Just like great, great granddaddy who came up short at Gettysburg.
1
Between Obama's farewell speech and Trump's press conference how depressing can it get? The contrast is frightening and for the first time in my life I am really scared for the country.
4
Look at how Mussolini and Hitler handled the press and you will see we are sliding towards a 21st century version of the same thing.
7
End of story. Well said.
But, Gail, are these Liberals you speak of, who you say have a right to stay angry, one and the same with the entitled, nepotistic, and life-tenured elite who had no problem with Hillary going for over 200 days without a press conference during the campaign?
Ironic that the permanent ruling class and running lackey "thought leaders" who so deplore Trump's crudeness, and juvenile eruptions are happy to stay in food fight mode. A sorry mirror for what they pretend to abhor.
But, Gail, are these Liberals you speak of, who you say have a right to stay angry, one and the same with the entitled, nepotistic, and life-tenured elite who had no problem with Hillary going for over 200 days without a press conference during the campaign?
Ironic that the permanent ruling class and running lackey "thought leaders" who so deplore Trump's crudeness, and juvenile eruptions are happy to stay in food fight mode. A sorry mirror for what they pretend to abhor.
The last two paragraphs said it all.
1
Hopefully, the media and the 'rest of the country' can stop the focus on this guy who is playing us like a fiddle thru the media. You can add to the end of any sentence he blurts out, '...and who is going to stop me.'
At some point we have the problem, not him...assuming we all want to Make America Great Again for everyone.
At some point we have the problem, not him...assuming we all want to Make America Great Again for everyone.
1
It is eight days before the country swears in a new president who believes our current government is both incompetent and out to get him along with his own political party. At the same time, at least half the country is wondering if he will obey the law once sworn in while the rest think that may be a good thing. "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into, Ollie"
1
This man's inability to intelligently express himself, as well as, his glaring ignorance about so many things including how the world works plus his lack of self awareness and refusal to play by the rules--which he petulantly and bewilderingly keeps getting away with--like no tax returns, nasty childish tweets diminishing anyone who he perceives is criticizing him, and ignoring common decency and decorum is mind boggling.
Personally, I'm as curious as is my six year old cat, Lizabeth. However, I could not bear beyond a few minutes the feeling of nails being scratched across a chalk board listening to the garbage flowing from the mouth of this dense foolish unevolved immature person pretending to know what he's doing and having seriously misplaced confidence in himself. In fact, I got to the point, If I heard the word "very" or "very, very" or "very, very, very" one more time, I felt I would scream. Also, how long can he go without discrediting the press, Hillary, or someone else?
It remains unimaginable that that's the level of intellect and awareness that will soon be the most powerful person in the world!!! We are in for a bumpy ride.
Personally, I'm as curious as is my six year old cat, Lizabeth. However, I could not bear beyond a few minutes the feeling of nails being scratched across a chalk board listening to the garbage flowing from the mouth of this dense foolish unevolved immature person pretending to know what he's doing and having seriously misplaced confidence in himself. In fact, I got to the point, If I heard the word "very" or "very, very" or "very, very, very" one more time, I felt I would scream. Also, how long can he go without discrediting the press, Hillary, or someone else?
It remains unimaginable that that's the level of intellect and awareness that will soon be the most powerful person in the world!!! We are in for a bumpy ride.
6
Trump is the ringmaster and he's turning everything into a circus intentionally. I say now is a great time for Americans to become politically literate and understand the legislative process and keep a running account of the grand bargains the current administration will make that run against the will of the people.
1
You have to give him credit, the President-Elect is a genius of diversion. While the unconscionably fast-tracked confirmation hearings are going on, he holds his first press "conference," which I think launches a new genre of fake press conference.
After setting a campaign-like backdrop--flags, family, VP, lawyer (well maybe that wasn't exactly campaign-worthy)--he delivered a dauntingly pin-ball opening statement and answered questions, to the degree he answered them in the same vein.
The press's challenge, now more than ever, is to identify this diversion strategy and, while reporting it, reporting the events that it is diverting from. For example, the ridiculous wall-to-wall coverage of remarks at a Broadway musical at the same time he settled a multi-million dollar fraud suit.
So the press can do a little soul-searching here and reflect on their process. Let's have the hard news and let the soft balls go. They are not the main story The are never the main story.
After setting a campaign-like backdrop--flags, family, VP, lawyer (well maybe that wasn't exactly campaign-worthy)--he delivered a dauntingly pin-ball opening statement and answered questions, to the degree he answered them in the same vein.
The press's challenge, now more than ever, is to identify this diversion strategy and, while reporting it, reporting the events that it is diverting from. For example, the ridiculous wall-to-wall coverage of remarks at a Broadway musical at the same time he settled a multi-million dollar fraud suit.
So the press can do a little soul-searching here and reflect on their process. Let's have the hard news and let the soft balls go. They are not the main story The are never the main story.
3
I am beginning to think that we are going to need to time stamp all of DT's statements. This column says he is not going to divest himself of his business, another article in today's paper says he is. So, which is it? Which is the latest statement? Or is this just one of many strategies to confuse people? Hard to argue against something if you don't know what it is.
1
Dear Ms. Collins,
Thank you for, firstly, sitting through the entire "press conference". My "gag reflex" started at the "warm up" speakers acting as if the "Great Jehovah" himself had just been elected our leader. Wanna' torture prisoners at "Gitmo" Mr. Trump? Just force them to watch this piece of poorly done, verbal legerdemain and they'll just spill their guts, literally and figuratively.
But in terms of Trump-speak, it seems the "Donald" has grudgingly admitted that Russia might have had something to do with the election tampering save for the caveat that a whole bunch of folks hack computers all the time and it still could've been some kid in Passaic after all. Those pesky New Jersians!
As for running the country and the company well he's got all those other swell business folks in his Cabinet who could easily do it while he's off playing golf and if they need his sagacious input, he's only a "tweet" away.
Saying this bunch has a "conflict of interests" is like saying your average Nazi really didn't like Jews very much; slightly understated, if you get my drift.
But this guy is the incoming president and all good Americans should rally behind him...I think I just had an aneurysm with that load of malarkey.
Oh well, at least we'll have a "beautiful event" in the inauguration. I wonder of Mr. Trump's ex-wives, girl friends and Russian call girls have been invited?
I got over my aneurysm, by the way.
Thank you for, firstly, sitting through the entire "press conference". My "gag reflex" started at the "warm up" speakers acting as if the "Great Jehovah" himself had just been elected our leader. Wanna' torture prisoners at "Gitmo" Mr. Trump? Just force them to watch this piece of poorly done, verbal legerdemain and they'll just spill their guts, literally and figuratively.
But in terms of Trump-speak, it seems the "Donald" has grudgingly admitted that Russia might have had something to do with the election tampering save for the caveat that a whole bunch of folks hack computers all the time and it still could've been some kid in Passaic after all. Those pesky New Jersians!
As for running the country and the company well he's got all those other swell business folks in his Cabinet who could easily do it while he's off playing golf and if they need his sagacious input, he's only a "tweet" away.
Saying this bunch has a "conflict of interests" is like saying your average Nazi really didn't like Jews very much; slightly understated, if you get my drift.
But this guy is the incoming president and all good Americans should rally behind him...I think I just had an aneurysm with that load of malarkey.
Oh well, at least we'll have a "beautiful event" in the inauguration. I wonder of Mr. Trump's ex-wives, girl friends and Russian call girls have been invited?
I got over my aneurysm, by the way.
1
Lest we forget our next president is a serial liar. When he vehemently denies ever having anything to do with Russia, it becomes very hard to believe him.
That's the downside to being a habitual liar, you can't believe a word that comes out of their mouth.
That's the downside to being a habitual liar, you can't believe a word that comes out of their mouth.
2
Mr. Trump does know a thing or two about fake news and absurdist truth.
Did I see Rod Serling off to the side of the stage?
Did I see Rod Serling off to the side of the stage?
3
Yes indeed, James Comey used that e-mail pretext to whack Hillary with Anthony Wiener. I am happy to see someone else point it out. He was the most effective hacker of the election.
6
This press conference was why I have had little sympathy for the whining MSM complaining about the lack of press conferences. All the tough questions that Trump would be getting if only he was willing to face the hard hitting, fact finding journalists. Please! I lost sympathy watching them whine about Clinton, and then going after nothing but e-mails, and parsing every word.
Press conferences are about reporters getting their faces out there confronting "power." In this case, power won. Trump played them. He answered what he wanted to, and played to his base. Same as Congress preening before the cameras in their hearings. I get more substance in a column like this than in all the other political showboats.
Press conferences are about reporters getting their faces out there confronting "power." In this case, power won. Trump played them. He answered what he wanted to, and played to his base. Same as Congress preening before the cameras in their hearings. I get more substance in a column like this than in all the other political showboats.
3
I am one of the 66 million who voted for Hillary Clinton, but I am also am one who is angry at the collaborative DNC/Clinton Campaign treatment of Bernie Sanders. Is that Vladimir Putin's fault?
3
The 66 million Clinton voters are rightfully angry that they have as their leader not the real deal, but the fake President-elect Donald Trump - carney-barker in chief - surrounded by his factotums, his children, and his unqualified nominees for Attorney General and Secretary of State. Jeff Sessions from Alabama, the Jim Crow man, Rex Tillerson, a climate-denier and big Exxon fossil-fuel dealer. Hopefully, they won't be consented to by the Senate.
Watching Trump's ghastly first press conference since last July showed us the whole catastrophe he and his Presidency will be. The FBI head, Comey, who brought up the unjustified Clinton/Abedin/Weiner emails should have been hung from a lampost, flayed, spun in the wind. He, more than Trump's salacious sexual chats with Billy Bush on video, was responsible for Clinton's last-minute defeat. We live in a strange culture here - very Orwellian - some people are far more equal than others.
And how to "splain Trump's bromance with Vladimir Putin? Until the rubber meets the road in this peculiar administration, starting off so horridly with "sex and lots of whining" as you say, Gail, we the American people whose votes have been ignored, must go on, though we can't go on, but we will
go on. h/t to Samuel Beckett.
The differences.between beloved Obama and loathed Trump were evidenced by President Obama's moving farewell speech and Trump's outrageously angry press conference. Read 'em and weep!
Watching Trump's ghastly first press conference since last July showed us the whole catastrophe he and his Presidency will be. The FBI head, Comey, who brought up the unjustified Clinton/Abedin/Weiner emails should have been hung from a lampost, flayed, spun in the wind. He, more than Trump's salacious sexual chats with Billy Bush on video, was responsible for Clinton's last-minute defeat. We live in a strange culture here - very Orwellian - some people are far more equal than others.
And how to "splain Trump's bromance with Vladimir Putin? Until the rubber meets the road in this peculiar administration, starting off so horridly with "sex and lots of whining" as you say, Gail, we the American people whose votes have been ignored, must go on, though we can't go on, but we will
go on. h/t to Samuel Beckett.
The differences.between beloved Obama and loathed Trump were evidenced by President Obama's moving farewell speech and Trump's outrageously angry press conference. Read 'em and weep!
3
Trump won and election with a minority of the votes cast so he will be president on a technicality, but all he did was win an election he did not conquer the United States and yet with a one party regime he appears to believe that he is above the law.
Trump referred to our intelligence services who in many instances risk their lives to protect our country as “Nazis.”
He should be careful when using that word, lest people recall who the Nazis were and what they believed. Nazis did not give press conferences. They told the papers what to print. Hitler complained about the lying press.
Nazis punished and prosecuted their opponents. Nazi leaders had interests in businesses, industries and mines and their regime was the greatest kleptocracy the world had ever seen. Trump should not cry wolf. What talks like a Nazi, struts like a Nazi, lies like a Nazi and hangs around with other Nazis? Careful of that word Heir Trump. Who financed Hitler's rise? Big busiess and Wall Street. Look it up.
Trump referred to our intelligence services who in many instances risk their lives to protect our country as “Nazis.”
He should be careful when using that word, lest people recall who the Nazis were and what they believed. Nazis did not give press conferences. They told the papers what to print. Hitler complained about the lying press.
Nazis punished and prosecuted their opponents. Nazi leaders had interests in businesses, industries and mines and their regime was the greatest kleptocracy the world had ever seen. Trump should not cry wolf. What talks like a Nazi, struts like a Nazi, lies like a Nazi and hangs around with other Nazis? Careful of that word Heir Trump. Who financed Hitler's rise? Big busiess and Wall Street. Look it up.
1
Sixty-six million citizens weep for the country and are outraged a minority is pushing an agenda that deprives healthcare from families, puts fools (Rick Perry, Ben Carson) in charge of governmental departments, and ignores the will of the majority. A Trump supporter was recently in the news for saying he couldn't wait for Obamacare to be repealed, but he sure loved his Affordable Healthcare Act.
2
Much as I loathe Donald Trump and dread his presidency, I find it hard to believe that he COULD be blackmailed or shamed. He does atrocious things and actually brags about them. And his supporters cheer.
1
Waiting for Godot- perfect!
2
"Over the weekend I was offered $2 billion to do a deal in Dubai.”
Hello, Justice Department? I'd like to report a possible violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or speak to the Office of Financial Assets Control. Please hurry before Mr. Sessions takes the helm.
Hello, Justice Department? I'd like to report a possible violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or speak to the Office of Financial Assets Control. Please hurry before Mr. Sessions takes the helm.
2
Trump is not a political genius -- there's no strategy here. He's a narcissist with ADD and the attention span of a gnat. Reporters have to coordinate their efforts so that he answers their questions.
4
too bad that you do not treat the democrats with the same distain you treat the republicans. It is a you kill my dog, I smash your cat president. It is about time we had a republican that fights back against the news media bullies. I only hope that senator Jeff Sessions gets up on the senate floor and gives cory booker the same treatment that sessions received from booker. tit for tat that's what the republicans need to be about. Fight back
1
One of the 66 million thanks you very much.
2
Trump is not equipped to be President (he's reminiscent of a 90's valley girl) but these Clinton shills are nauseating with their never ending repartee of fallacious
explanations for her self inflicted undoing.
explanations for her self inflicted undoing.
2
My jaw dropped lower and lower as I watched the press conference in a university cafeteria. Individuals became a community of head-shaking, incredulous witnesses to the car wreck that awaits. And then a question occurred to me: if no one were going to benefit from having, truly, a low grade moron in the White House, would events be unfolding as they are? Trump will be a useful embarrassment to the oil men, bankers and munitions manufacturers who are actually in charge.
5
The big question for me is will he last one year or two years? Pence is the 46 th POTUS.
1
It is going to be a long four years , as I was listening to Donald Trump`s press conference while doing some chores.
It was a royal pandemonium , Trump was just as he talks to his massive audience.
” I will be a very, very good President”
” This person I chose is just brilliant.”
Also DT was screaming over a reporter perhaps CNN ” Not you, fake news”.
Did not stop insulting Senator Lindsey Graham who is one of a very few Republicans to hold Trump accountable , saying ” Oh one day he will crack that one percent”.
Did I say It will be a very, very long four years Gail ?
It was a royal pandemonium , Trump was just as he talks to his massive audience.
” I will be a very, very good President”
” This person I chose is just brilliant.”
Also DT was screaming over a reporter perhaps CNN ” Not you, fake news”.
Did not stop insulting Senator Lindsey Graham who is one of a very few Republicans to hold Trump accountable , saying ” Oh one day he will crack that one percent”.
Did I say It will be a very, very long four years Gail ?
4
Most TImes readers would agree that the Trump presidency will be the worst thing for the United States since Fort Sumter was fired upon.
But you know what the problem is? We're not representative of the nation. While a considerable number of people in the US share this view, another considerable number of people don't. And an even larger number of people just don't care.
These non-carers are the biggest barrier in keeping the country from imploding. They don't vote, are disengaged politically and likely in many other ways, narrowly focused on the minutiae of their own lives (often, I suspect, on making ends meet), and either lack the capacity for nuanced analysis of how these far away events impact them or simply don't register these events as important to their lives. Instead, they go on existing, with their televisions (on which Trump appears as just another pass-the-time entertainment option) as background noise and their smartphones as distraction, trying to grab some pleasure from their day-to-day circumstances, sometimes falling into problematic situations and trying to extricate themselves, but not seeing themselves as part of a larger society or narrative.
I have no doubt that if we could get a majority of the American public actually ENGAGED, there might be better outcomes to a Trump presidency--maybe even its end. But how do you get so many tuned-out people to understand that nations fail when too many tune out? That's the big question.
But you know what the problem is? We're not representative of the nation. While a considerable number of people in the US share this view, another considerable number of people don't. And an even larger number of people just don't care.
These non-carers are the biggest barrier in keeping the country from imploding. They don't vote, are disengaged politically and likely in many other ways, narrowly focused on the minutiae of their own lives (often, I suspect, on making ends meet), and either lack the capacity for nuanced analysis of how these far away events impact them or simply don't register these events as important to their lives. Instead, they go on existing, with their televisions (on which Trump appears as just another pass-the-time entertainment option) as background noise and their smartphones as distraction, trying to grab some pleasure from their day-to-day circumstances, sometimes falling into problematic situations and trying to extricate themselves, but not seeing themselves as part of a larger society or narrative.
I have no doubt that if we could get a majority of the American public actually ENGAGED, there might be better outcomes to a Trump presidency--maybe even its end. But how do you get so many tuned-out people to understand that nations fail when too many tune out? That's the big question.
7
“Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you’re gonna probably have cameras.” Not too convincing to me, Gail. Trump spouted his “locker room talk” to a member of the media in an Access Hollywood bus, who he surely should have guessed might be taping him.
And in Trump’s own words on that bus, he’s apparently not too much of a germophobe to “grab ‘em by the” --- ahem.
Trump’s son-in-law as his chief advisor will have Trump’s ear, will hear inside info in the Oval Office, and will have a cell phone handy to call Trump’s children who will run Trump’s businesses. No, no conflict of interest there. Of course, Trump has a cell phone too; but with this cozy arrangement, Jared can do the calling and be the fall guy, while Trump claims innocence.
Because Putin likes Trump (he claims), Trump makes the leap that they therefore will have a great “relationship”?? If the Devil likes you, do you and the Devil have a great relationship? “Relationship” implies some level of trust. I don’t thinks it is trust that binds Trump and Putin, I think it’s something else. (See: Dossier, Memos.)
And in Trump’s own words on that bus, he’s apparently not too much of a germophobe to “grab ‘em by the” --- ahem.
Trump’s son-in-law as his chief advisor will have Trump’s ear, will hear inside info in the Oval Office, and will have a cell phone handy to call Trump’s children who will run Trump’s businesses. No, no conflict of interest there. Of course, Trump has a cell phone too; but with this cozy arrangement, Jared can do the calling and be the fall guy, while Trump claims innocence.
Because Putin likes Trump (he claims), Trump makes the leap that they therefore will have a great “relationship”?? If the Devil likes you, do you and the Devil have a great relationship? “Relationship” implies some level of trust. I don’t thinks it is trust that binds Trump and Putin, I think it’s something else. (See: Dossier, Memos.)
2
Yes, and we are terrified of the implications of the coming "presidency." My advice is to contribute to the best legal challengers who will push back and hold this patriarchal, egotistical movement accountable. Check out the rallies that Bernie Sanders will be sponsoring on Sunday, January 15th - this Sunday - will be holding across the country. And stay awake.
1
Revelations about Sex a la Mode in Russia fail to warm my heart. The closest American romantic encounter this year last was having my hand kissed by a stranger at Grand Central Station.
A sophisticated British friend in Paris, who enjoys Chekov, and classic Russian literature, once asked my opinion about America's attitude and position in sexual matters. If you want to know, I replied, you will find it in a novel by an Nathaniel Hawthorne and his 'Scarlet Letter'. Politely and to the point.
America is into the 'Intrigue' at the moment, and no matter how, when or where, it is our choice whether to soar above it. I feel sorry for Trump because there is a look in his stance and all the noise he creates that reminds me of a condemned man, a bull trapped in a pen.
All the men in the Valley where I live, and beautiful it is, are Trump Supporters. They are also gentlemen. When a grey beard showed up earlier with a tape to measure curtains, I told him of a New Year surprise to the household. 'A boyfriend?', he asked boyishly. Better, I replied. A poor pit bull that nobody wanted.
You should have heard the shouting, Ms. Collins. He and me are never going to have a spat over politics. This is a tacit understanding, and if he wants to call the President 'Your Friend', well that is his loss but not mine. Thank you for your column. You have inspired me to revisit 'Madame Solario' and I regret that you are left with dull and dangerous Trump.
A sophisticated British friend in Paris, who enjoys Chekov, and classic Russian literature, once asked my opinion about America's attitude and position in sexual matters. If you want to know, I replied, you will find it in a novel by an Nathaniel Hawthorne and his 'Scarlet Letter'. Politely and to the point.
America is into the 'Intrigue' at the moment, and no matter how, when or where, it is our choice whether to soar above it. I feel sorry for Trump because there is a look in his stance and all the noise he creates that reminds me of a condemned man, a bull trapped in a pen.
All the men in the Valley where I live, and beautiful it is, are Trump Supporters. They are also gentlemen. When a grey beard showed up earlier with a tape to measure curtains, I told him of a New Year surprise to the household. 'A boyfriend?', he asked boyishly. Better, I replied. A poor pit bull that nobody wanted.
You should have heard the shouting, Ms. Collins. He and me are never going to have a spat over politics. This is a tacit understanding, and if he wants to call the President 'Your Friend', well that is his loss but not mine. Thank you for your column. You have inspired me to revisit 'Madame Solario' and I regret that you are left with dull and dangerous Trump.
1
I am beyond angry. Donald Trump shames us all with his ethics, ego, lies and rhetorical violence. He will surely endanger us with his shortsighted world view that extends no further than his own persona.
But I'm also furious that Hillary Clinton lost the election because of fly-over arrogance and even more, that fly-over arrogance remains intact among many of her supporters.
The soul of America is at stake. We must unite the entire country around issues that everyone cares about: jobs, healthcare and environment.
But I'm also furious that Hillary Clinton lost the election because of fly-over arrogance and even more, that fly-over arrogance remains intact among many of her supporters.
The soul of America is at stake. We must unite the entire country around issues that everyone cares about: jobs, healthcare and environment.
2
Watching the Trump Show billed as a news conference, I think I need to amend my previous thoughts about Trump and mental illness. His albatross is not just a narcissistic personality disorder, but that -AND- adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Consider some of the hallmarks of the diagnosis:
Inattention
-Difficulty sustaining attention during activities and easily distracted
-Often distracted by extraneous stimuli
-Avoidance of activities that demand sustained mental effort
-Often does not listen when spoken to directly
Hyperactivity
-Often talks excessively
Impulsivity
-Often interrupts or intrudes on others
-Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
QED
I don't know if this rises to the level of the 25th Amendment, Section 4, dealing with the process for removal for incapacity to carry out the duties of his office, but could someone slip some Adderal into his morning orange juice?
Consider some of the hallmarks of the diagnosis:
Inattention
-Difficulty sustaining attention during activities and easily distracted
-Often distracted by extraneous stimuli
-Avoidance of activities that demand sustained mental effort
-Often does not listen when spoken to directly
Hyperactivity
-Often talks excessively
Impulsivity
-Often interrupts or intrudes on others
-Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
QED
I don't know if this rises to the level of the 25th Amendment, Section 4, dealing with the process for removal for incapacity to carry out the duties of his office, but could someone slip some Adderal into his morning orange juice?
1
I watched the Trump "news" conference yesterday not to hear what our president-elect might say - I was expecting gibberish, and was not disappointed - but to see how the press would handle him. It seemed to me that most reporters were not willing to simply accept what Trump said and move on. Hopefully, the press will continue to push him and call out the constant lies and equivocations. I'm somewhat encouraged - although I suspect there will never be a news conference without a significant number of Trump supporters so the victim-in-chief can receive his daily dose of adulation.
But listening to Trump expound on his many virtues and "accomplishments" was quite simply, nauseating. "Preening and whining" - what a way for the worlds oldest and most respected democracy to present itself. Sad.
But listening to Trump expound on his many virtues and "accomplishments" was quite simply, nauseating. "Preening and whining" - what a way for the worlds oldest and most respected democracy to present itself. Sad.
1
Look Trump is a joke. But Gail you never acknowledged the millions who voted for McCain or Romney. It was a different tone. Obama was the one that started the trash talking remember his phrase "We won you lost. Get over it." That's was a slap in the face to everyone who didn't vote for him. Democrats governed the same. They shoved things passed and said to Americans you'll take it and you'll like it. There were a lot of angry people when Obama was elected. They were not all racists. You really didn't care. Well please just remember Progressives were Dr. Frankenstein. Donald Trump is the result. You created him.
2
Put me down as one of the Hillary Clinton voters that is angry. Wednesday's nonsensical news conference makes me feel even worse. For good reason, most Americans did not vote for this mean, vindictive no-nothing. It's depressing now to see him take over the Oval office.
4
While the show that was labeled a press conference yesterday was both embarrassing for America and revealing as to what nastiness is in store for its citizens, it should also serve as a learning experience for reporters. Assuming that Trump is willing to have more news conferences during his tenure, a dicey assumption, the reporters, and interviewers in general, who ask the questions need to use a different approach than we saw yesterday. Reporters need to ask shorter questions that require simple but direct answers. Layering questions as they naturally do in an attempt to get more information only opens the door for Trump’s misdirection, rambling and snide off-the-cuff comments. This is a time for the media in general to sharpen its scalpels and operate with precision and clarity. When Trump accuses a news outlet of putting out “disgusting” fake news, he should be asked whether he would consider several of the fictional stories (specifics are well known) he promoted as fake news? When he continues to use his IRS audit as an excuse not to make his tax returns available, he should be challenged. Trump is a professional conman and reporters need to cut away the con and let us see what is left of the man.
2
Trump has his first news conference in 6 months and the reporters all waste time asking questions about unconfirmed reports of things he will obviously never admit to, thus deflecting attention from the more serious issue of his business conflicts.
It's long past time that the news media start doing their job.
It's long past time that the news media start doing their job.
1
66 million in one thing, but 3 million had their votes count for absolutely nothing!
The fact that 63 million beats 66 million is the shameful face of US "democracy". The mockery we have made out of our native language would make Orwell blush.
The fact that 63 million beats 66 million is the shameful face of US "democracy". The mockery we have made out of our native language would make Orwell blush.
4
What in tarnation would Putain possibly have on Trump?
I'm still stunned that he once suggested that gun owners take matters into their own hands with Hillary Clinton. The great mystery of the election is did Trump voters (other than gun enthusiasts) get, receive, understand, and process all the necessary information. Some people who voted for him say "it wasn't about Trump." In other words they somehow mentally bypassed what should have been a solid roadblock.
10
Another negative story about President-elect Trump. He certainly is getting under your skin isn't he? Well he will be our president in a few short days and it will be so good to have someone who is not a career politician in the White House. It will be the start of a new day and a new dawn and it will be just wonderful. I cannot wait.
1
So many ironic and ridiculous things about Trump
1 Unlike the story of our first President G. Washington who supposedly could not tell a lie, we have devolved to our 45th President who can't seem to tell the truth about anything. In fact, Trump is a man who has lied about just about everything--"I didn't say that," when we see and hear tapes of Trump saying what he said he didn't say (or do).
2 Not only has Trump lied about himself, he has spread vicious lies (fake news) about his competitors or critics (Obama's birth certificate, Hillary the Crook, etc.) So now Trump gets a taste of his own medicine, and listen to him whine and howl
Are the stories about Trump and sexual misconduct in Russia true? Who knows, but Trump is outraged that "lies" (or maybe the truth) are being spread about him. I am enjoying this part.
3 Trump brags about himself all the time. Ironic really. If he were really so accomplished & successful, he wouldn't need to brag. So let's see those tax returns
Meanwhile, while presenting himself as a magnificent businessman who cares about the working class, I heard in NPR yesterday once again, Trump has failed to pay some of the contractors (esp. the smaller ones) who worked on his DC hotel. What a guy!
3 Trump is one of those immature men who tries to present himself as a sexually attractive man via off-color remarks & offensive behavior--the very opposite of what most women find attractive
Every day Trump falls on his own sword. For 4 years?? SOS!
1 Unlike the story of our first President G. Washington who supposedly could not tell a lie, we have devolved to our 45th President who can't seem to tell the truth about anything. In fact, Trump is a man who has lied about just about everything--"I didn't say that," when we see and hear tapes of Trump saying what he said he didn't say (or do).
2 Not only has Trump lied about himself, he has spread vicious lies (fake news) about his competitors or critics (Obama's birth certificate, Hillary the Crook, etc.) So now Trump gets a taste of his own medicine, and listen to him whine and howl
Are the stories about Trump and sexual misconduct in Russia true? Who knows, but Trump is outraged that "lies" (or maybe the truth) are being spread about him. I am enjoying this part.
3 Trump brags about himself all the time. Ironic really. If he were really so accomplished & successful, he wouldn't need to brag. So let's see those tax returns
Meanwhile, while presenting himself as a magnificent businessman who cares about the working class, I heard in NPR yesterday once again, Trump has failed to pay some of the contractors (esp. the smaller ones) who worked on his DC hotel. What a guy!
3 Trump is one of those immature men who tries to present himself as a sexually attractive man via off-color remarks & offensive behavior--the very opposite of what most women find attractive
Every day Trump falls on his own sword. For 4 years?? SOS!
13
The so called respected spy was not ask to find the truth about Trump. He was hired to find dirt about Trump. It is slimy politics in action. It's unproven accusations. It is difficult if not impossible to prove something did not happen behind closed doors. The accusers know that just like the NYT knows that. Except maybe in Clinton's case when he left a little DNA. Cohen did prove he was not in Russia by showing his passport. This type of attack. doesn't matter if none of it is true. For some it will stick even if it is a lie. The NYT was outraged about the pizzeria rumor concerning Clinton. But it was only reported in the most news agencies after someone took a gun into the restaurant. We should be able to count on the NYT to condemn this kind of reporting. It is just gossip and gossip never has good intentions or even needs to be true.
Great stuff, America. I mean Ryan and McConnell must be on an infusion of antacids and anti-depressants by now. It is a cliche, but you could not make this stuff up. Well, maybe J K Rowling.
Just wait till the nominees start to bail. That loud swirling sound? Trump's golden toilet!
Just wait till the nominees start to bail. That loud swirling sound? Trump's golden toilet!
8
Wondering if we can start the deportation policy with all those who voted for Donald Trump. That might be a step in getting the country right.
Usually the President's pressers are snore-worthy. This one wasn't, but not in a good way. The only thing that made me chuckle was when he said he would tell his sons, if "they didn't do a good job" - "You're fired."
When can we tell that to Trump?
Usually the President's pressers are snore-worthy. This one wasn't, but not in a good way. The only thing that made me chuckle was when he said he would tell his sons, if "they didn't do a good job" - "You're fired."
When can we tell that to Trump?
8
The only thing to look forward to the next 4 years, is Alec Baldwin impersonating trump.
12
Ms. Collin's summary of the news conference was slanted but generally accurate. It must ranks as one of the longest at 1 hour and forty minutes. I have watched CNNs reporting and they have made the oppo research memo a non-stop breaking news story although it is entirely unverified. Trump was right to point this out and the media is not adequate reporting that one of the stories allegations has been proven false ( They got the wrong Michael Cohen). Hillary Clinton's campaign paid a cut-out (ex-British agent) to use his Russian contacts to get data on Trump. This is established. If it were established (it has not) that Trump people had contacted Russia how's this different? Trump has his own style in news conferences. It is pretty obvious that it works ( November 8th, 2016). Since Russian hacking and this memo have been around a good while it seems pretty obvious that the whole brouhaha about both is a last gasp to prevent Trump's inauguration or, failing that, to delegitimize him.
I see a few possibilities;
He is being blackmailed by the Russians, maybe a sex tape (but would anyone care, or be surprised?), maybe hard evidence on how Russia aided and abetted his election with his knowledge, maybe taking bribes (but would anybody care, or be surprised?)
He has been promised really big bucks to make the rich even richer.
He is insane and needs help, serious help.
I'm leaning towards the latter, but all of the above is another possibility.
He is being blackmailed by the Russians, maybe a sex tape (but would anyone care, or be surprised?), maybe hard evidence on how Russia aided and abetted his election with his knowledge, maybe taking bribes (but would anybody care, or be surprised?)
He has been promised really big bucks to make the rich even richer.
He is insane and needs help, serious help.
I'm leaning towards the latter, but all of the above is another possibility.
9
The 'hopeful' signs emerging:
*Obama entrusted the battle to overcome the effects of decades of gerrymandering to Holder.
*Obama will focus on recruiting and training leaders for the Democratic party
*Clinton will return to the stage to fight again.
*The GOP brand will be trashed, hopefully permanently.
*trump will find a way to self immolate soon. One commenter posted the Einstein quote (paraphrased): "The difference between a stupid man and a genius is that the genius know his limits". Guess where trump falls on the intelligence spectrum.
The possible sad outcome of trump's self immolation is that we will have an Evangelical Fundamentalist, religious nut in the wings. If we don't agree to be 'saved' we will not go to heaven. Gads.
*Obama entrusted the battle to overcome the effects of decades of gerrymandering to Holder.
*Obama will focus on recruiting and training leaders for the Democratic party
*Clinton will return to the stage to fight again.
*The GOP brand will be trashed, hopefully permanently.
*trump will find a way to self immolate soon. One commenter posted the Einstein quote (paraphrased): "The difference between a stupid man and a genius is that the genius know his limits". Guess where trump falls on the intelligence spectrum.
The possible sad outcome of trump's self immolation is that we will have an Evangelical Fundamentalist, religious nut in the wings. If we don't agree to be 'saved' we will not go to heaven. Gads.
9
I think you mean the guy who sent pictures of his strange parts to private women.
Incorporating a Greek chorus/laugh track into the Presidential press conference was a fantastic innovation. Perhaps, he will build up to uniformed cheerleaders or a 1950's-style Hollywood dance routine, he could be the guy in the middle with top hat. I wonder if he can sing and dance?
4
Trump is right about some people in the intelligence agencies whose loyalty is with the Democrats. The agencies need to be purged of all the political hacks. How cane he trust any briefings knowing that it is already in the hands of the Washington Post and New York Times?
Gail, of his response to the secret Russian tapes, you said, "Of everything Trump said during the press conference, this was perhaps the most convincing."
Not really.
Remember, Trump was the guy who knew he was wired for audio and was about to be video taped and yet said awful and insane things, including grabbing women by their genitals. So it is not as if he is a sane person thinking things through before saying and doing things.
As for him playing the victim, as the old saying goes, turnabout is fair play. He conveniently forgets that he kept the unfounded "birther" theory about President Obama alive for years without any evidence.
About Obama, Trump said, "If he wasn’t born in this country, he has conned the whole world." Then he went on to say that he has people researching the president's birth in Hawaii and, "Absolutely. And they cannot believe what they’re finding. And I’m serious."
So, now, a report leaks about his alleged escapades in Russia and Trump is shocked, really shocked that people will say unsubstantiated things about him in the press. Now that takes chutzpah.
Not really.
Remember, Trump was the guy who knew he was wired for audio and was about to be video taped and yet said awful and insane things, including grabbing women by their genitals. So it is not as if he is a sane person thinking things through before saying and doing things.
As for him playing the victim, as the old saying goes, turnabout is fair play. He conveniently forgets that he kept the unfounded "birther" theory about President Obama alive for years without any evidence.
About Obama, Trump said, "If he wasn’t born in this country, he has conned the whole world." Then he went on to say that he has people researching the president's birth in Hawaii and, "Absolutely. And they cannot believe what they’re finding. And I’m serious."
So, now, a report leaks about his alleged escapades in Russia and Trump is shocked, really shocked that people will say unsubstantiated things about him in the press. Now that takes chutzpah.
8
The most salient point in this salacious story is not whether it happened or not but that nobody has a problem believing it's true.
3
We should pressure Trump on his tax returns the same way he pressured Obama to release his birth certificate. We NEED to understand his finances and we NEED to see the truth - whatever that may be.
We care very much about his taxes!
We care very much about his taxes!
13
I love Trump's indignation at "fake news" when it's about "Himself". After birthers and all of the trash that was circulated about Hillary during the campaign that he took such delight in passing along, his outrage is totally misplaced. Hurts when it's about you, doesn't it?
Both he, and Kellyanne, have excused his excesses by saying that some of his tweets, and actual statements, are not representative of what he really thinks but just "passing on" what "others" have said (which may or may not be true). So, isn't that exactly what the dossier was? It was a heads up as to what's out there about him even though he can't imagine anyone doing that to anyone as wonderful as he is. Yesterday's event was an embarrassment; reality TV at its worst.
Both he, and Kellyanne, have excused his excesses by saying that some of his tweets, and actual statements, are not representative of what he really thinks but just "passing on" what "others" have said (which may or may not be true). So, isn't that exactly what the dossier was? It was a heads up as to what's out there about him even though he can't imagine anyone doing that to anyone as wonderful as he is. Yesterday's event was an embarrassment; reality TV at its worst.
7
Even thugh I slept well ast night, still I am tired of the hypocrisy. Still, why couldn't the guy say from the outset, "I just want to be your Boy."? Maybe he did. Although we are all guilty of thinking we know absolutely, the truth and feel we should sometimeds preach its superiority, we all are proved wrong from time to time.
So that's an evening out, that we all owe the Creator a confession. But in the sanctity of the confessional we are reminded there is a component of amends required in order to demonstrate one's desire to wash away wrongdoing no matter how common or small. "Let there be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with Me." is not inappropriate. We are forgiving people and we want to live in the freedom of forgiveness. "I woke up this morning with my mind Set on Freedom, Hallelujah." Really it's sometng you don't forget nor give up. But show us the amends now before the body is cold.
And thanks, Gail.
So that's an evening out, that we all owe the Creator a confession. But in the sanctity of the confessional we are reminded there is a component of amends required in order to demonstrate one's desire to wash away wrongdoing no matter how common or small. "Let there be Peace on Earth and Let it Begin with Me." is not inappropriate. We are forgiving people and we want to live in the freedom of forgiveness. "I woke up this morning with my mind Set on Freedom, Hallelujah." Really it's sometng you don't forget nor give up. But show us the amends now before the body is cold.
And thanks, Gail.
2
No Trump fan here. Far from it. Really far. That said, US military bands ARE great talent. Some of the finest and most versatile musicians in the country.
Of course, the members agree to perform at the inauguration. If not, they'd be teaching group piano in Leavenworth...
Of course, the members agree to perform at the inauguration. If not, they'd be teaching group piano in Leavenworth...
10
Anger is usually unavoidable in most people. However, in itself, anger is a huge waste of energy. It foments chemical reactions within ones body that are very unhealthy and generate an emotional screen that warps ones vision. Angry individuals are not very useful. A deep sense of Righteous Indignation that empowers positive action, an undeviating and unrelenting striving, not to get even, but to make it right is what we need.
This can come only from the heart, form a deep inner demand for Liberty, Justice and Freedom for all. This is what made this Nation, not anger or fear, but inexhaustible striving for Justice.
Ignore the very clever and carefully orchestrated offensive assaults on our equilibrium. They are designed to confuse us with anger and hatred.
Focus on bringing the Principles upon which our Government is based into manifestation. No body has to argue about their Truth. We simply have to implement it in programs that serve the Common GOOD.
This can come only from the heart, form a deep inner demand for Liberty, Justice and Freedom for all. This is what made this Nation, not anger or fear, but inexhaustible striving for Justice.
Ignore the very clever and carefully orchestrated offensive assaults on our equilibrium. They are designed to confuse us with anger and hatred.
Focus on bringing the Principles upon which our Government is based into manifestation. No body has to argue about their Truth. We simply have to implement it in programs that serve the Common GOOD.
4
Why would Trump accept the services of a prostitute? He's already on record via his video with Billy Bush that he just has to reach out and grab whatever he wants because he is the star that he is. Right? Why didn't he remind the press?
9
And we had the details of his plan for his businesses at his December 15 conference (NOT)
"If Putin likes Donald Trump I consider that an asset, not a liability"
Aside from the continuing insistence on referring to himself by his name - a trait we have heard displayed so often that we have come to accept it as something other than the bizarre affectation it is, much worse than the royal "we" - I am amazed that nothing I have read picks up on the question this answer - disturbing enough, was in response to.
The answer was given in response to a question about his feeling about not only the Russian hack, and it's use of the stolen material in the election, but their use of it in a way to sway the election in his favor.
Think about that response again in that light. Foreign enemy espionage and insertion into our democratic processes is A OKAY so long as it is in his favor.
One of two things will happen soon. 1) he will commit a high crime and misdemeanor so blatant that he must be removed or 2) he will have a complete and total meltdown and will not be able to conduct the responsibilities of his office.
Aside from the continuing insistence on referring to himself by his name - a trait we have heard displayed so often that we have come to accept it as something other than the bizarre affectation it is, much worse than the royal "we" - I am amazed that nothing I have read picks up on the question this answer - disturbing enough, was in response to.
The answer was given in response to a question about his feeling about not only the Russian hack, and it's use of the stolen material in the election, but their use of it in a way to sway the election in his favor.
Think about that response again in that light. Foreign enemy espionage and insertion into our democratic processes is A OKAY so long as it is in his favor.
One of two things will happen soon. 1) he will commit a high crime and misdemeanor so blatant that he must be removed or 2) he will have a complete and total meltdown and will not be able to conduct the responsibilities of his office.
9
The strategy of Trump should be apparent by now: "flood the zone" with a deluge of unconnected, barely coherent words, threats and anger. No way anyone will be able to keep up.
Which raises a troubling question. You do have to ask yourself whether the news media is up to the task of covering the Trump regime. With declining ad revenues, newsroom cutbacks, and a widespread antipathy towards journalism, it is frankly difficult to imagine whether the media has the stamina, resources or will to adequately gear up to cover this gigantic oil spill.
Trump hasn't yet been sworn into office and yet there is the sinking feeling (that Gail captured with today's column) that the media may already be suffering from Fact Fatigue, defined as the realization that no matter how much we try, lies and propaganda have washed over Washington like a tsunami.
Which raises a troubling question. You do have to ask yourself whether the news media is up to the task of covering the Trump regime. With declining ad revenues, newsroom cutbacks, and a widespread antipathy towards journalism, it is frankly difficult to imagine whether the media has the stamina, resources or will to adequately gear up to cover this gigantic oil spill.
Trump hasn't yet been sworn into office and yet there is the sinking feeling (that Gail captured with today's column) that the media may already be suffering from Fact Fatigue, defined as the realization that no matter how much we try, lies and propaganda have washed over Washington like a tsunami.
6
What I took from commrade trump's assurance that no member of his team met with any russian officials to undermine Secretary Clinton prior to the election was that a member of his team definitely met with russian officials to undermine Secretary Clinton prior to the election.
6
Is Vlad invited to the Inauguration?
5
"....failure to pay attention to the legitimate anger in the Trump-tilting parts of the country."
Exactly what are they angry at? Dollars to donuts 95% of the angriest get their news from Fox on their 1002" flat screen TV in their living room, not the 56" one in the bedroom. When they see something really galling they will send a group text to friends on their smartphone. Etc, etc, etc. Yes, there are people who are really struggling but this does not explain the election results.
Try the sting of relative deprivation or how 1% (all trumpers) thumbs their nose at the rest of us who actually pay taxes and try to live moral lives. I attribute maybe 60% to the lure of collective revenge on the coastal elites, scapegoats ala mode.
Try racist backlash against Obama. Oh, I forgot, we've evolved beyond that; in your dreams. I give this 20% of the vote. (These are the real deplorables.)
Some of the remaining 20% may have legitimate motives, but I can't think of any that would lead a rational person to have voted for trump.
Exactly what are they angry at? Dollars to donuts 95% of the angriest get their news from Fox on their 1002" flat screen TV in their living room, not the 56" one in the bedroom. When they see something really galling they will send a group text to friends on their smartphone. Etc, etc, etc. Yes, there are people who are really struggling but this does not explain the election results.
Try the sting of relative deprivation or how 1% (all trumpers) thumbs their nose at the rest of us who actually pay taxes and try to live moral lives. I attribute maybe 60% to the lure of collective revenge on the coastal elites, scapegoats ala mode.
Try racist backlash against Obama. Oh, I forgot, we've evolved beyond that; in your dreams. I give this 20% of the vote. (These are the real deplorables.)
Some of the remaining 20% may have legitimate motives, but I can't think of any that would lead a rational person to have voted for trump.
6
There was Obama's farewell speech which was graceful, elegant, and made clear his respect for the office of President. It had a nice narrative arc and was honest in that there was still work today. Then there was our President Elect the next day where Trump's disdain for the office he is about to hold came through clearly as well as the chaos that our country is about to become in terms of policies home and abroad. If it isn't clear that a terrible mistake has been made, it will over time.
4
The humor is over. The fun is over. Yes, there's opportunity for schadenfreude, but mostly we're in an irony-free freefall where the laughs will be limited and humorists and comics will be our truth tellers.
3
First. Let's be honest. The alleged compromising videos are not of Mr. Trump 'cavorting in a Russian hotel', but of him getting golden showers from young Russian 10's (he has his standards). And yes. This has not been corroborated. The only evidence thus far is that it would explain Mr. Trump's hair and skin color.
Second. 'Saw it on the Internet' is the high standard that Mr. Trump established. 'Saw it on the Internet' is the single criterion that must be met before making any claim yourself, telling it to the media and passing it along to others on social media. Mr. Trump used this standard of 'corroboration' to make his claims that President Obama was not born in America. His national security advisor Michael Flynn applied the same standard to claim Hillary Clinton ran a child-sex smuggling ring. 'Saw it on the Internet' makes anything a fact in Mr. Trump's mind, so his outrage over his golden showers splashed over the Internet and media are a bit disingenuous.
Third. Rube America brought us to this bizarre parallel universe where truth is what they 'Saw on the Internet.' I look forward to many more FACTS being released on the Internet about Mr. Trump's golden showers. As one of about 66 million Clinton voters, I am assuaging my anger with outright laughter at Mr. Trump and the Rubes. Mr. Trump is getting what he dished out. Mr. Trump is going to see that the Rubes get what they deserve.
Fourth. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Second. 'Saw it on the Internet' is the high standard that Mr. Trump established. 'Saw it on the Internet' is the single criterion that must be met before making any claim yourself, telling it to the media and passing it along to others on social media. Mr. Trump used this standard of 'corroboration' to make his claims that President Obama was not born in America. His national security advisor Michael Flynn applied the same standard to claim Hillary Clinton ran a child-sex smuggling ring. 'Saw it on the Internet' makes anything a fact in Mr. Trump's mind, so his outrage over his golden showers splashed over the Internet and media are a bit disingenuous.
Third. Rube America brought us to this bizarre parallel universe where truth is what they 'Saw on the Internet.' I look forward to many more FACTS being released on the Internet about Mr. Trump's golden showers. As one of about 66 million Clinton voters, I am assuaging my anger with outright laughter at Mr. Trump and the Rubes. Mr. Trump is getting what he dished out. Mr. Trump is going to see that the Rubes get what they deserve.
Fourth. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
5
When Trump spoke about cameras in every hotel room, not just in Russia, I got a chill down my back.
How many domestic and international dignitaries and important business figures have stayed in Trump's high-end international hotels?
Trump has already admitted to spying on teenage beauty queens so peeping is not below him.
Imagine the blackmailing he could to. He could probably blackmail himself right into the presidency.
With everyone still shaking their heads in disbelief that he won the election, maybe this thought will give you peace.
How many domestic and international dignitaries and important business figures have stayed in Trump's high-end international hotels?
Trump has already admitted to spying on teenage beauty queens so peeping is not below him.
Imagine the blackmailing he could to. He could probably blackmail himself right into the presidency.
With everyone still shaking their heads in disbelief that he won the election, maybe this thought will give you peace.
2
Drumpf turned down a $2 billion deal with Dubai.
Now, kids, raise your hands if you think his SONS are gonna turn down that deal.
I'm waiting...
Now, kids, raise your hands if you think his SONS are gonna turn down that deal.
I'm waiting...
3
Of course he was still showman Trump, why demanda miraculous transformation into someone other than a huckster? Donny, he's got to have it ... and he got it, so far. His lawyer's presentation was lawyerly ... and nonsensical, an insult to the brain. Those sloppy piles of signed files were a nice touch of nothing dispositive of probity. The con game was complete, and Donny won the golden quiz show ... for the time being.
3
I found it telling that Trump denied the prostitution story by citing his germaphobia, not his marital status.
9
Hillary wouldn't have had ethical problems if she didn't mix foundation business with State Department business. This is why many didn't vote for her, but also the terrible job she did while Secretary of State. Many saw her as a neocon/neoliberal who would keep us in perpetual war. Look at what she did in Libya as an example. After awhile the people started to disbelieve the press because they were so blatantly pro Hillary and anti Trump. That is still the case.
1
What if Chuckee held a press conference and no one showed up? Just boycott he jerk.
3
This whole thing about Trump's ethics is a big misunderstanding.
When Trump said he was going "bring back steal," everyone thought he was talking about iron, Pittsburgh, and cauldrons of molten metal.
Glad that's all cleared up now.
When Trump said he was going "bring back steal," everyone thought he was talking about iron, Pittsburgh, and cauldrons of molten metal.
Glad that's all cleared up now.
3
So now we have seen and heard the Distractor-In-Chief give his long-awaited press conference. No one seems to notice that he timed this very spontaneous public appearance so the news media would focus more on him than on President Obama's magnificent farewell address. Heaven forbid the gaze of the media should deviate even one day from Trump's glorious self. Signs of what is to come: four years of Me-Me-Me. And the news media buys into it hook, line and sinker. Heaven help us all.
2
This present situation provides us with a conundrum. The mainstream media is stepping all over itself to make sure they communicate accurate information (I'm not saying they should stop doing this) while Trump & his cohorts are blasting false information out to the millions of their twitter followers. It's ironic that while the mainstream media is wringing their hands and fighting one another about whether the Russian dossier story should have been published, Trump is laying a strong foundation that will totally discredit the mainstream media and move them along the path to becoming irrelevant.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but we need to find a way to address this problem quickly, before it's too late.
I'm not sure what the answer is, but we need to find a way to address this problem quickly, before it's too late.
1
Trump is making Caligula look like Thomas Jefferson
1
Thanks for 'splainin" what I saw yesterday. In all my years of watching news conferences, I have never seen anything lie it. "Hither and yon," is a nice way of saying bouncing off the walls. A shrink friend of mine predicts Mr. Trump will have a nervous breakdown within the year.
1
So here’s the truth:
1. Virtually everything that Trump denies or accuses his opponents of are things he did/would do: lying, rigging, cheating, weakness, and on and on. If he says somebody else did it, he did it first or tried.
2. Trump is an agent of Putin and the Russian mafia (pretty much the same thing). He is so deep in the hole to them that they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Trump is not a Russian spy, he’s a Russian stooge.
3. The election was rigged by Trump’s domestic and foreign oligarch backers. (See 1. and 2.) No wonder he is so defensive about recounts and Russian hacking.
The operating principle is "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. And that's all you need."
How long before the truth comes out?
1. Virtually everything that Trump denies or accuses his opponents of are things he did/would do: lying, rigging, cheating, weakness, and on and on. If he says somebody else did it, he did it first or tried.
2. Trump is an agent of Putin and the Russian mafia (pretty much the same thing). He is so deep in the hole to them that they made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Trump is not a Russian spy, he’s a Russian stooge.
3. The election was rigged by Trump’s domestic and foreign oligarch backers. (See 1. and 2.) No wonder he is so defensive about recounts and Russian hacking.
The operating principle is "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. And that's all you need."
How long before the truth comes out?
4
Collins: "But it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too."
I have the feeling, Gail, that you will soon have to revise that number upward, as the incoherence of the soon to be commander-in-chief becomes more manifest via tweets in response to criticism and exchanges with the news media in response to questions about conflicts of interest.
I have the feeling, Gail, that you will soon have to revise that number upward, as the incoherence of the soon to be commander-in-chief becomes more manifest via tweets in response to criticism and exchanges with the news media in response to questions about conflicts of interest.
4
Gail, why did you just not go with Sex, Trump and Videotape for the headline? Trump = lies, for sure. Let's see that Russian videotape.
2
Sixty six million? Strength in numbers? Not yet. The 42% of registered voters who stayed at home outnumbered those who voted for Trump or Clinton. That's the demographic we need to worry about. Of all the things that undermine democracy, apathy is the insidious killer.
8
"Trump is never going to admit his win was anything but a record-shattering triumph. But his preening, and his whining about being persecuted by the intelligence services, really twists the knife."
Whining is a staple in today's society. Just look how long the Democrats and their surrogates in the media kept whining about Hillary winning the popular vote.
Whining is a staple in today's society. Just look how long the Democrats and their surrogates in the media kept whining about Hillary winning the popular vote.
Trumps' cavorting (well known to anyone who has every heard of Studio 54) was never exposed during the election. Now it is just a distraction from the Trumputin dangerous agenda. There was never hard pressed investigation into his business dealings during the Republican nominating process and during the election which are highly relevant. Republicans could pass a law requiring him to reveal his finances tomorrow, before he is nominated. There would be bipartisan support, for sure. Blame the Republican Party for bringing us this President-elect, when they had so many other well qualified choices. An overly crowded field made it possible for the Manchurian Candidate to emerge, and where was Preibus throughout all of this? Now he is Trumps's Chief of Staff, a plum job, indeed. If there are any patriotic Republicans (which not include the Ryan and McConnell puppets) they must show the public, stand in opposition against Trumputin.
1
And how come it's not raging yuge news that he was clearly, obviously, conspicuously afraid to answer the direct question about whether his campaign had colluded with the Russians? The last question, where he walked off. After his strongest words for Putin were "well, he shouldn't have done it".
Hand puppet. Fake Manchurian president. Babyhands. Walking, talking joke. Except this is no joke.
Hand puppet. Fake Manchurian president. Babyhands. Walking, talking joke. Except this is no joke.
3
Ms Collins, It seems that it is the NYT that is doing all the whining. Look at your front page and count the number of articles devoted to the Pres. Elect. FWIW, there are still Americans fighting in Afganistan, unemployment is still an issue, and the Chinese are showing aggression in Asia; not to mention Turkey, Syria, eastern Ukraine.
Yes, I don't believe that we're going to see much of a honeymoon period for this president, at least insofar as his relations with the press and the intelligence agencies are concerned. He will undoubtedly be surprised by the number of sharks circling in these waters - people he once thought to be his friends. But he shouldn't have to ask who threw the chum into these waters, he won't need therapists (like Ivanka or Kellyanne) to tell him who let these dogs out ....
1
Collins: "The only ongoing focus is what it all means to Trump."
Gail, in helping people understand the president-elect, you need to frequently point them to the Mayo Clinic website: "Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."
Gail, in helping people understand the president-elect, you need to frequently point them to the Mayo Clinic website: "Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."
3
Russian Puppet. This is a national and worldwide disaster of unprecedented proportions in the making. With Trump in office Putin can bide his time for the opportunity to invade the Baltic states to "protect" ethnic Russians there, as he did in the Ukraine. Make America Great Again indeed! Anyone who is comfortable with Trump on foreign policy has just not been paying attention. Are Rex Tillerson and General Flynn, or the parade of sycophants with White House Advisor titles going to bring sanity to that situation room?
1
Gail, it's not about the sex. That's a shiny object to distract.
It's about the information that a 19% stake in the Russian energy giant Rosneft would be privatized and made available to Trump or his associates in return for a lifting of economic sanctions, that is the most interesting part of the Buzzfeed posting. The offer was made to Trump through his emissary Carter Page. This was on October 18th.
The actual sale of Rosneft took place on Dec.10th . There was a bond sale of Rosneft to raise money which was then reinvested as loans issued by Russian banks to the foreign investors. A series of shell companies were created and somehow the actual ownership seems to have shifted to a company in Singapore.
Steve Mnuchin has some explaining to do.
http://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/01/11/mnuchin-needs-to-explain-the-19-...
It's about the information that a 19% stake in the Russian energy giant Rosneft would be privatized and made available to Trump or his associates in return for a lifting of economic sanctions, that is the most interesting part of the Buzzfeed posting. The offer was made to Trump through his emissary Carter Page. This was on October 18th.
The actual sale of Rosneft took place on Dec.10th . There was a bond sale of Rosneft to raise money which was then reinvested as loans issued by Russian banks to the foreign investors. A series of shell companies were created and somehow the actual ownership seems to have shifted to a company in Singapore.
Steve Mnuchin has some explaining to do.
http://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/01/11/mnuchin-needs-to-explain-the-19-...
5
Hurts me to say this but Donald Trump is a genius! He was very entertaining at the Republican primary debates, I laughed and laughed and took it with a grain of salt. Now I laugh no longer, but shake my head. This guy has talent. Of course, successful con men have to be. His genius is that even when millions see through him he continues, unfazed. Pure genius I tell you!
1
We would all do well be honest on one point. The credit/blame for Trump's election victory lies entirely with the American people. We can make all the excuses, rationalizations, etc. that we want, but we own him; he is ours, warts and all.
2
I think there is a hotel tape and Trump will do anything for Putin to prevent its release so don't be surprised if Russian soldiers line the parade route in Manhattan on St. Patrick's Day as both men march up Fifth Avenue.
1
I hope that all the unhappy people who write in here will pay attention to Obama's words and become more involved than sitting at a keyboard typing out their rage. I also hope the DNC learns to focus and select a few of the worst senators and congressmen and campaign heartily against them, starting yesterday. The big damage is going on in Washington. Slap a bunch of them down in the next election, and the rest will be forced to pay attention.
1
Gail, in helping people understand the president-elect, you need to frequently point them to the Mayo Clinic website (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-d..., where they can learn about what afflicts the man soon to be commander-in-chief: "Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism."
3
Perhaps you can fool "all (or at least most) of the people all of the time".
It appears to me that the "whining" is being conducted by,. the media not the Trump Administration. Trump proved that the mainstream media is nearing extinction. The world will get their information in a different way or ways. The days of the traditional press conference and predictable spin at the White House are over.
1
Hunter S. Thompson, where art thou? Fear and loathing is the new American political zeitgeist and the helter skelter of the Trump victory appears to have driven some down the rabbit hole of rabid resistance to the point of almost Monty Python-esque absurdity. The Clinton KoolAide Drinkers seem to be contriving their own Private Political Jonestown with hallucinations of depravity and wild paranoia . Indeed, Ralph Steadman’s portraiture appears most apt to capture this Hillary in defeat moment: wild-eyed and delirious, naked and ugly, perched over a toilet vomiting a psychedelic brew of delusion.
1
Preening ~ so true. I can see why the guy has portraits of himself here and there: the mirror wouldn't show him what he wants to see ~ unless he has those slimming mirrors that they have in clothing store dressing rooms.
The way he talks reminds me of my mother as her dementia was setting in: vague and all over the place. Not saying he's demented necessarily, just that his mind isn't very finely tuned, and certainly not up to the job.
The way he talks reminds me of my mother as her dementia was setting in: vague and all over the place. Not saying he's demented necessarily, just that his mind isn't very finely tuned, and certainly not up to the job.
1
Trump kept demanding proof that President Obama is a citizen. It's time for the loyal opposition to demand that Trump provide proof that the is being audited. The IRS is not allowed to comment but Trump would have received a formal letter from IRS giving him notice of the audit. He is perfectly free to make that public without revealing anything about his income and taxes.
9
Watching him and his mouth pieces is really funny, the GOP, with trump as their stooge, will spend the next couple of weeks dismantling what Obama did and then what? I really am afraid to see one of these news conferences addressing a national or wold problem!
3
is anyone in the media going to report on the peanut gallery of trump staff applauding and jeering during the news conference? it was unseemly and disgusting
why not a story on that rather than the NYT twisting their arms to pat themselves on the back in avoiding the CNN pitfall?
why not a story on that rather than the NYT twisting their arms to pat themselves on the back in avoiding the CNN pitfall?
7
Gail I was with you for most of this column, but then you scared me. Trumps tax returns and audit is now known as Godot!! Remember in that great play nothing happens TWICE! Does this mean we will be going through a second act in 2020!! But looking on the bright side, at least he has friends and some of them actually know about Godot.
4
Continue, Gail, to write these spot-on satires that speak truth to power, but as upset as I am about this Twitidiot being the next president, the fact remains that he has been successful in convincing his supporters that anything negative said about him is false, so no amount of even great reporting will make a difference. I write this, saddened, as the GOP begins to take away my son's healthcare.
4
Trump has created a problem for himself by daily proving that he is a consummate liar. So why should we believe his denials of untoward events in a Moscow hotel across from the Kremlin?
More importantly, when asked at his news conference whether any of the Trump campaign had collaborated with the Russians on hacking, he did not answer the question and went to his standard deviation mode.
More importantly, when asked at his news conference whether any of the Trump campaign had collaborated with the Russians on hacking, he did not answer the question and went to his standard deviation mode.
7
Congratulations Gail, this editorial is proof that you are capable of surviving the Trump presidency- hopefully our nation is as resilient as your talent as a writer. We've reached the point where humor really fails to function as an effective antacid to our political reality and this is a serious column beautifully written.
It feels almost as though our nation has gone to war against a very powerful enemy and everything is at risk. Gallows humor may be the only form to employ at this point. Whimsical is certainly out the window.
It feels almost as though our nation has gone to war against a very powerful enemy and everything is at risk. Gallows humor may be the only form to employ at this point. Whimsical is certainly out the window.
1
I don't know if I am capable of watching him anymore. It is depressing. Also, hilarious because it reminded me to Billy Flynn singing "Razzle Dazzle Them" in "Chicago." Except that Donald really believes HE IS the Razzle Dazzle!
3
What a colossal mess we're in with President Trump. Most of his voters watch Fox News and those very informative "conservative" radio stations, but everyone sees Trump in his press conferences. I doubt there will be very many of those press junkets because they are way too damaging to our new president. I'm afraid to say it but it's true what you see is what you get. God help us all.
5
Trump is already a laughing stock. Very soon to be a DANGEROUS laughingstock. For the whole world.
3
Thanks Gail. The press conference was truly frightening.
4
One of my favorite props was the pile of files sitting on the desk next to the podium...my guess is they were filled with newsprint.
This is all we are going to get folks...preening, whining and accusations of betrayal. He has not changed and actually cannot change. We are in for a very rough ride.
This is all we are going to get folks...preening, whining and accusations of betrayal. He has not changed and actually cannot change. We are in for a very rough ride.
5
The problem with this nut is that he comes across as a nut. And so it's easy
to view Trump as a cartoon character, tangerine top and all. That view misses
the fact that he is one of the most experienced television actors of all time.
Specialty: dramatic, realistically falsified "reality" shows. There is no one in
political life--not even Arnold-- that has even 5% of his training or experience. If Trump's in front of a camera, he's acting.
Add to that he's a world-class planner and schemer. During his campaign
he opened a top-level golf course and club in Scotland and a luxury hotel just down the street from the White House. Think Cruz or Sanders could have done that?
He's not a clown or a puppet and people are not ready for what's coming.
Trump didn't expect to be elected and his only planning was to imagine a wonderful wall that he'd never have to build. But he's adjusted to his new position now and you can bet he has been happily planning on a totally new level.
How many actors and real-estate developers get to look out on a whole new reality like he is now? Plans? Bigly baby. Donald Trump, puppet of Putin and Ryan?
What a laugh?
to view Trump as a cartoon character, tangerine top and all. That view misses
the fact that he is one of the most experienced television actors of all time.
Specialty: dramatic, realistically falsified "reality" shows. There is no one in
political life--not even Arnold-- that has even 5% of his training or experience. If Trump's in front of a camera, he's acting.
Add to that he's a world-class planner and schemer. During his campaign
he opened a top-level golf course and club in Scotland and a luxury hotel just down the street from the White House. Think Cruz or Sanders could have done that?
He's not a clown or a puppet and people are not ready for what's coming.
Trump didn't expect to be elected and his only planning was to imagine a wonderful wall that he'd never have to build. But he's adjusted to his new position now and you can bet he has been happily planning on a totally new level.
How many actors and real-estate developers get to look out on a whole new reality like he is now? Plans? Bigly baby. Donald Trump, puppet of Putin and Ryan?
What a laugh?
4
It is surreal that this man will be our President. With a 36% approval rating that continues to drop, our allies both laughing at us and terrified, How did we let this happen? This "unverified" report seems so likely to be true and yet he masterfully denies and denigrates the press. Once a man convinces others that the free press are liars, then he has put himself up as the only so called beacon of truth. If then, you are foolish enough to believe, you have taken the first and most important step in welcoming authoritarian rule.
7
Did anyone at the news conference ask whether Trump installed cameras in his hotels (since everyone does it)?
8
Seems to me that tax return audit has been going on for an awfully long time. Suspiciously long!
5
Trump invented fake news with"birtherism". Remember?
Trump praises leaks. "Russia, if you are listening..." remember?
What goes around comes around.
Trump praises leaks. "Russia, if you are listening..." remember?
What goes around comes around.
5
The prostitutes in a Russian hotel kind of explains some things... and I don't think anyone is surprised. We are in serious trouble.
3
Dear Gail,
How can the country take 4 years of this macabre circus? Why does our press continue to participate in this freak show? I suggest a complete ban on coverage of Trump's press conferences and those of all his mouth pieces like Kelly Conway. Since they believe that CNN and NYT are fake news what is the point?
How can the country take 4 years of this macabre circus? Why does our press continue to participate in this freak show? I suggest a complete ban on coverage of Trump's press conferences and those of all his mouth pieces like Kelly Conway. Since they believe that CNN and NYT are fake news what is the point?
2
Trump thinks, acts, and behaves as if everything is about Trump in a 'Beauty Pageant' ... except the swim suit part. He is the only contestant and he always wins because he is also the judge!
I am already tired of him "winning" - so much winning even before he is President. One shudders at the thought of how much more winning America can stand after his "beautiful" inaugural parade with his "brilliant' billionaireful cabinet.
I am already tired of him "winning" - so much winning even before he is President. One shudders at the thought of how much more winning America can stand after his "beautiful" inaugural parade with his "brilliant' billionaireful cabinet.
2
And what about all of those folders on the table so he could point to them and comment how he has been doing lots and lots of signing? The showmanship continues.
Is anyone else getting tired of Pence and Conway being the explainers? They explain what Trump really meant so we can all understand his "just words".
It might be faster if they tried ventriloquism.
Is anyone else getting tired of Pence and Conway being the explainers? They explain what Trump really meant so we can all understand his "just words".
It might be faster if they tried ventriloquism.
6
Not to mention the millions of non-voters (shame!) who don't have a right but are also now very angry.
3
Gail I am one of those 66 million Hillary voters and I am angry. The more I see and hear from Trump voters, the more angry I get. Most of them are still claiming that Obama is not American. More than the individuals I know, I blame the Republican Legislators who put Party over Country and support Trump.
4
Is it over? these next 4 years ( he threatens 8) will be a time to be active. I might also get some things done that I have been procrastinating about because I will need to be busy.
Amy business person knows when traveling to a country such as Russia that you have to be careful about who you dine with and do not have sex in that country- prostitutes or otherwise. Surveillance is everywhere and can be used for blackmail. The Donald was known in the 70s for having women brought to him. Who knows what he did ioutside the country?
Amy business person knows when traveling to a country such as Russia that you have to be careful about who you dine with and do not have sex in that country- prostitutes or otherwise. Surveillance is everywhere and can be used for blackmail. The Donald was known in the 70s for having women brought to him. Who knows what he did ioutside the country?
2
As long as the sex stuff was among consenting adults, let it go. The more troubling thing is that he was a 70 year old man expertly groomed by a professional predator and all it took was a stray ego stroke here and there. How that will compromise our country in myriad ways won't be known for a long time, as Putin, like Bin Laden was, is a patient man. Better to make the sure the noose is good and tight before kicking the stool from beneath Trump.
2
That was not a news conference, but rather the incoherent ramblings of a paranoid and petty pathological liar. Most of his "answers" appeared contradictory, if not straight up delusional. Trump doesn't have the ability to demonstrate humility, or dare I mention empathy, even if one of his hair slicked spawn were to provide him with the definition.
I was also super impressed to learn that his "no money down" real estate business was an honest to goodness Empire! If that doesn't qualify him to be our dictator in Chief, what will? I think it's safe to say that it might be another 180 days until he faces questions from the "fake news" media again. And here I always thought that meant Fox News.
All this and he has yet to be sworn in.
I was also super impressed to learn that his "no money down" real estate business was an honest to goodness Empire! If that doesn't qualify him to be our dictator in Chief, what will? I think it's safe to say that it might be another 180 days until he faces questions from the "fake news" media again. And here I always thought that meant Fox News.
All this and he has yet to be sworn in.
7
We have been at this rodeo too many times.
Trump repeatedly's the man with wild flights of ideas and non-congruent side by side statements. Using a handful of the same boring, familiar words.
Always the victim, the wounded ego ready to attack and destroy.
Assign the blame.
Gather the family of mouthpiece surrogates and be the victim, stand as the victim, all glorious in fresh orange spray tan and new butter blonde highlights.
Lots of time for that routine.
Attack the intelligence professionals, attack the press....single out a journalist for extra mean spirited poundings....demean Democrats,
Blah, blah, blah.
His presidency is already tiresome.
Trump repeatedly's the man with wild flights of ideas and non-congruent side by side statements. Using a handful of the same boring, familiar words.
Always the victim, the wounded ego ready to attack and destroy.
Assign the blame.
Gather the family of mouthpiece surrogates and be the victim, stand as the victim, all glorious in fresh orange spray tan and new butter blonde highlights.
Lots of time for that routine.
Attack the intelligence professionals, attack the press....single out a journalist for extra mean spirited poundings....demean Democrats,
Blah, blah, blah.
His presidency is already tiresome.
5
Clinton's voters are angry all the time. Even before the election, there were protests in Oakland, Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee, etc.. All these cities are ruled by Democrat mayors, in a country governed by a Democrat president.
Now the Democrats' complaints have reached a feverish paroxysm. We're at the stage when they take offense not at real or imagined dirty glances, but at the mere possibility that other people might have voted for Trump.
Hopefully the fever breaks once Trump is actually sworn in.
Now the Democrats' complaints have reached a feverish paroxysm. We're at the stage when they take offense not at real or imagined dirty glances, but at the mere possibility that other people might have voted for Trump.
Hopefully the fever breaks once Trump is actually sworn in.
Watching his "performance" made me contemplate what it means. Here we have a leader, a 70 year old man, who by his ramblings made clear he is not wrapped real tight. And he is the leader of the free world? It's gonna be a long, very long, 4 years. I never like to wish anyone ill but the saving grace is he is nearing the end of his life's tenure on this planet. I hope he dies real soon. There, I said what many may be thinking....
John~
American Net'Zen
John~
American Net'Zen
2
Bullies, like Trump, can come up with many ways to deflect the truth. There is ONE way to bully a bully. We must ban together as one large group and bully him back
He doesn't worry about telling lies or telling journalist they are reporting lies.
So journalists must ban together. If he refuses to answer a questioning during a press conference, ALL the journalist must refuse to ask another question until he says he will let a journalist ask any question. Or the journalists should all turn around and walk out. Okay journalists. Can you all unite?
Trump wants as much attention as he can have. He does this by writing 140 characters each morning or whenever he feels like it. But we must bully him back as a large powerful group of protest. R take away his twitter account! Throw him off twitter!
He doesn't worry about telling lies or telling journalist they are reporting lies.
So journalists must ban together. If he refuses to answer a questioning during a press conference, ALL the journalist must refuse to ask another question until he says he will let a journalist ask any question. Or the journalists should all turn around and walk out. Okay journalists. Can you all unite?
Trump wants as much attention as he can have. He does this by writing 140 characters each morning or whenever he feels like it. But we must bully him back as a large powerful group of protest. R take away his twitter account! Throw him off twitter!
5
What worries me is that I cannot imagine a conspiracy, lie, or any self-serving falsehood for that matter I would reject if it comes from Trump. I understand by being elected with a modest intellect, a giant ego and no sense of shame to The Presidency The Donald has unhinged me and I need help coping. Serious help. It is embarrassing to have to admit you have been made crazy by a crazy man.
1
“Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you’re gonna probably have cameras.” Guess that doesn't apply to a bus on a backlot with Billy Bush.
2
The anger in the 'Trump tilting' parts of the country are the result of carefully calculated cultivation of hurts by cynical politicians who cannot and do not seem to want to deliver any benefit. The Tea Party's argument has been for less and less, damaging those who need the most. This self-serving political behavior has had out country in thrall for twenty years to no ones' good. McConnell and Ryan propose to cut our way to success, reduce benefits to victory, and make the rich richer so they won't have to touch the 'little people'.
I notice that DJT promises to be the best jobs president ever. I also notice that he didn't promise that any of those jobs would get paid as he seems to work both sides of the one--getting work done and refusing payment. Extending that ethic to the political realm makes an interesting pictures as the interlocking network of favors and loyalty is how it works and DJT has none of that: its all about him.
I notice that DJT promises to be the best jobs president ever. I also notice that he didn't promise that any of those jobs would get paid as he seems to work both sides of the one--getting work done and refusing payment. Extending that ethic to the political realm makes an interesting pictures as the interlocking network of favors and loyalty is how it works and DJT has none of that: its all about him.
1
Trump has always been a joke. The chore for the rest of the federal government and for the states is to essentially disregard the president and not make the rest of America a joke. The federal system is set up to bypass a bad actor. Let's see it work.
1
Thank you for reminding America that there are 66 million of us who are angry. But we're more than angry: we're sick from the 'Trump virus.'
It manifests itself in multiple ways:daily headaches, nausea, stomach pains, lassitude, insomnia, nightmares, and flu-like body aches.
It also manifests itself as depression, and its cousin PTSD.
PTSD is not overstating the case.
It's a mental health condition resulting from witnessing a terrifying or dangerous event. The election of Trump is such an event.
It was preceded by years of watching the deliberate erosion of a functioning republic, led by the GOP and its relative, the Tea Party. The refusal to compromise and govern; the refusal to vote for a Supreme Court nominee; the non-stop attempts to delegitimize the Obama presidency, led in part by Trump with his birther mania; and so much more there's no room to list it.
Now, after Russian meddling in our election, and FBI director Comey's letter to Congress about Clinton emails right before the election, an unqualified, corrupt, crazy man, who sounds like a Russian asset, is about to become president.
All we Americans, as individuals, and as a nation, believed about ourselves is in tatters. To say "I'm an American" was a source of pride, the right kind of identity politics. We knew who we were.Now we're lost, unable to ground ourselves in the identity that once defined us.
"Angry" fails to express the seismic loss we now suffer from daily.
It's PTSD, Gail, and it's dreadful.
It manifests itself in multiple ways:daily headaches, nausea, stomach pains, lassitude, insomnia, nightmares, and flu-like body aches.
It also manifests itself as depression, and its cousin PTSD.
PTSD is not overstating the case.
It's a mental health condition resulting from witnessing a terrifying or dangerous event. The election of Trump is such an event.
It was preceded by years of watching the deliberate erosion of a functioning republic, led by the GOP and its relative, the Tea Party. The refusal to compromise and govern; the refusal to vote for a Supreme Court nominee; the non-stop attempts to delegitimize the Obama presidency, led in part by Trump with his birther mania; and so much more there's no room to list it.
Now, after Russian meddling in our election, and FBI director Comey's letter to Congress about Clinton emails right before the election, an unqualified, corrupt, crazy man, who sounds like a Russian asset, is about to become president.
All we Americans, as individuals, and as a nation, believed about ourselves is in tatters. To say "I'm an American" was a source of pride, the right kind of identity politics. We knew who we were.Now we're lost, unable to ground ourselves in the identity that once defined us.
"Angry" fails to express the seismic loss we now suffer from daily.
It's PTSD, Gail, and it's dreadful.
4
"You didn't hear about it because nobody could confirm the allegations."
Wait, what? Who confirms allegations anymore? I thought the new meaning of allegation was fact, or truth, or some such thing.
I am having a lot of trouble distinguishing fact from fiction anymore, so I guess I should be grateful for the 140 character press release. Trump's Russian sex-tape is fiction, Hillary's child peddling pizzeria is news; climate change is fiction; vaccines being an autism causing government plot is fact. Got it.
Wait, what? Who confirms allegations anymore? I thought the new meaning of allegation was fact, or truth, or some such thing.
I am having a lot of trouble distinguishing fact from fiction anymore, so I guess I should be grateful for the 140 character press release. Trump's Russian sex-tape is fiction, Hillary's child peddling pizzeria is news; climate change is fiction; vaccines being an autism causing government plot is fact. Got it.
2
Gail, it has been a truly weird season.
I particularly liked when Trump shut down the CNN reporter.
Hopefully that is a sign of things to come.
Breitbart, CNN, Buzzfeed.
If it's not legitimate and verified information, it doesn't get into a POTUS press conference.
You are forewarned.
Maybe we can all take a stand for real news. Starting today with the now-crowned king of "fake news". Opinions are for actresses and professional athletes only. All of whom we can choose to ignore.
I particularly liked when Trump shut down the CNN reporter.
Hopefully that is a sign of things to come.
Breitbart, CNN, Buzzfeed.
If it's not legitimate and verified information, it doesn't get into a POTUS press conference.
You are forewarned.
Maybe we can all take a stand for real news. Starting today with the now-crowned king of "fake news". Opinions are for actresses and professional athletes only. All of whom we can choose to ignore.
2
Thanks Gail for remembering that the majority of voters did not vote for this guy.
1
As people of intelligence and conscience grapple with the ongoing catastrophe of a Trump presidency, we need to stop treating him with kid gloves. He did not win the presidency, he was given it by caveat. How does a person who receives 3 million less votes "win." He does nothing to reach out to people, unify the nation, it is all about him and his fragile ego. The main reason he has not given a press conference until now is that his lawyers are trying to figure out a way he can skirt the Constitution when it comes to his business dealings. The media needs to stop parroting his tweets and stop tolerating his unwillingness to play by the rules of the constitution and decency. He works for us, not the other way around. And if he doesn't like it, he can just leave.
5
Really, the basics of journalism have not changed. The press [including broadcast press] needs to be relentlessly on the job, doing the fundamental reporting and shining of light on dark corners. Just as I would have wanted them on the job if Clinton had won. They aren't ultimately responsible for the results of that, that part rests with us the public.
I also want the media to be vigilant to the tendency to distract. Trump regularly calls out "Hey, it's over here, look here!" and then "Hey, it's over there, look there!" when something of greater import is right in front.
I also want the media to be vigilant to the tendency to distract. Trump regularly calls out "Hey, it's over here, look here!" and then "Hey, it's over there, look there!" when something of greater import is right in front.
1
The CNN report about trump's alleged sacktivities in a Russian hotel room is legitimate reporting because the info was included in official briefings of the sitting president and the Peeotus. That he and his spokespersons attempt to conflate the leak (OK, I'll stop) of the unsubstantiated materials by Buzzfeed with sourced reporting is dishonest and hypocritical. I'll say this much: Trump is who he is and can do no better. Those in his orbit who do his bidding, Sean Spicer for example, are going to pay a large price.
1
There's a new sheriff in town, and if you don't like it, too bad.
The man even called out Big Pharm as ripping off the people, within minutes their stocks took a dive. It's about time the regular people have an advocate, and not a.leader who lectures them.
How many times did Obama say "I" Tuesday night?
The man even called out Big Pharm as ripping off the people, within minutes their stocks took a dive. It's about time the regular people have an advocate, and not a.leader who lectures them.
How many times did Obama say "I" Tuesday night?
1
Yesterday's "press conference" was an affront to every aspect of truth, respect and decency. This 3rd rate vaudevillian, poseur politician gave us just more lies, a reprise of his campaign rhetoric.He masterfully continues to distract from important issues by dwelling on either what he considers personal slights or denying vehemently the rumor of the day.
His own son, Donald jr., admitted to ties with Russia, financially, during the campaigns.yesterday Trump flatly denies "any ties". That was just one of the many statements yesterday that really flaunt his complete disrespect of the public's memory and intelligence.His dragging out a attorney, completely out of her depth in regard to Constitutional law was just appalling.None of the proposals submitted satisfy the conflict of interest issues.
This reality show format is way past its sell-by date.Will the voters in Trump's America wake up soon?
His own son, Donald jr., admitted to ties with Russia, financially, during the campaigns.yesterday Trump flatly denies "any ties". That was just one of the many statements yesterday that really flaunt his complete disrespect of the public's memory and intelligence.His dragging out a attorney, completely out of her depth in regard to Constitutional law was just appalling.None of the proposals submitted satisfy the conflict of interest issues.
This reality show format is way past its sell-by date.Will the voters in Trump's America wake up soon?
3
Trump asks us to believe him it's all fake, and he asks us to rely on Russia's statement about any tapes: "we don't do that kind of thing". Ha, I'm just watching our CBC reporting on just how much "taping" Putin does. Last year, he took out former PM Kasyanov and Putin critic with a hidden camera/sex tape that was then broadcast on Russian tv. No, the Russians don't do that. And the BBC is reporting that the former British spy who collected the materials through his 20+ years of spying in Russia, and who has now been outed, has gone to ground: he's in fear for his life from the Russians. Where trump goes so goes ugliness and chaos.
1
Gail's reference to whining coupled with Trump's allusion yesterday to Nazi Germany caused my mind to segue to the perfect title for Kellyanne Conway "Propaganda Minister". It's absolutely perfect. She is already master of the "big lie. She continually refers to the "president-elects landslide victory", when we all know he lost the popular vote by 3 million. She rationalizes every egregious Trump act or verbal holocaust, by creating a false equivalency to something Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama did or didn't do. Her signature move is to engage in serial whining anytime someone criticizes Donald Trump, underscoring her totalitarian aversion to freedom of speech.
8
And Trump follows the neat-as-a-pin Barrack Obama, never a whiff of a conflict of interest, not a hint of impropriety, always non-confrontational and compromising, on message, professional, professorial, logical, organized, not a hair out of place. Well so much for all that!
And now for something completely different.
And now for something completely different.
3
"Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” Trump’s son, Donald Jr., told a real estate conference in 2008, according to an account posted on the website of eTurboNews, a trade publication. “We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.”
And nobody at the press conference asked how this is possible if The Donald has no business in Russia? What alternative universe are we living in?
And nobody at the press conference asked how this is possible if The Donald has no business in Russia? What alternative universe are we living in?
10
We need a working Psychological Diagnosis for the President Elect, so we can affect a Treatment for Him.....or for Ourselves.
5
As one of the 66 million Clinton voters, (and an 86-year-old) I'm surprised and horrified by the stories published on 1/12/17 by the NYTimes. I didn't like the Trump campaign, though I watched some of his rallies. but these new stories and probably the ones I haven't read yet on today's op-ed pages give me goosebumps as to what his presidency has already done--let alone, what we may find out (through experienced reporters and CNN, rather than Fox) as he --well, I'll say "slithers" into the inauguration and the four years ahead, I'm not sure it's a good thing to pray that it's only 4 years---I had my doubts about Hillary also with that private server--but I'll wait to see how long it is before I need to confide my feelings --shall we say, skyward?
Jan Bone in Winter Park, FLA. 86 years old.
And it was with great happiness and pleasure that I watched the Obama farewell address. I plan to send that one to my grandchildren (I downloaded it immediately upon seeing it yesterday) as a testimony to Obama, who in my opinion will emerge in later reflection as one of the best presidents the United States has ever known!
Jan Bone in Winter Park, FLA. 86 years old.
And it was with great happiness and pleasure that I watched the Obama farewell address. I plan to send that one to my grandchildren (I downloaded it immediately upon seeing it yesterday) as a testimony to Obama, who in my opinion will emerge in later reflection as one of the best presidents the United States has ever known!
9
So do we say "Touche" to Putin's team for manipulating Trump so skillfully over years, for its own interests regardless the election?
I wonder if Mr Real Estate/quasi mafia/work every angle"Believe me" realizes he's been played, long game, by masters at the genre. He's a dolt.
Any chance at return of some normalcy left at today's news conference.
I wonder if Mr Real Estate/quasi mafia/work every angle"Believe me" realizes he's been played, long game, by masters at the genre. He's a dolt.
Any chance at return of some normalcy left at today's news conference.
2
Poor Donald, like all bullies he dishes it out with gusto but when the tables turn he has a tantrum. Invented stories were the currency of the 2016 campaign and as long as they defamed Clinton that was just fine and proclaimed as "Truthy" (I'm just sayin').
It is a wonder that so few people have the nerve to stand up to "The Donald" when Article-II tells us that the President really doesn't have all that much power. In fact, he only has as much power as We-the-People will allow him to have.
Like all bullies he is going to push the boundaries until he gets in trouble and then put the blame on anyone but himself. Yeah, he is going to have a series of public tantrums until We-the-People give him a Presidential Time-Out.
The President is not an all powerful dictator. Many of his staunch supporters are going to turn on him and it is going to get really ugly.
Personally, I think that our Constitution and Laws are stronger than any individual and that pretty soon We-the-People are going to realize that and "The Donald's" days as president will be numbered.
It is a wonder that so few people have the nerve to stand up to "The Donald" when Article-II tells us that the President really doesn't have all that much power. In fact, he only has as much power as We-the-People will allow him to have.
Like all bullies he is going to push the boundaries until he gets in trouble and then put the blame on anyone but himself. Yeah, he is going to have a series of public tantrums until We-the-People give him a Presidential Time-Out.
The President is not an all powerful dictator. Many of his staunch supporters are going to turn on him and it is going to get really ugly.
Personally, I think that our Constitution and Laws are stronger than any individual and that pretty soon We-the-People are going to realize that and "The Donald's" days as president will be numbered.
1
NYT, I implore you - please conduct the investigative reporting necessary to fully uncover Trump's conflicts of interest. Name sources and deals. Don't stop until his crooked, fraudulent, double-dipping, deals are so flagrantly well-exposed that Congress votes to impeach.
Please.
Please.
6
Watching the news before Obamas speech the reporters were asking people what they expected to hear from Obamas last speech as President. Everyone was hopeful, they knew it was going to be a positive speech. They said things like hes a great speaker and he has messages of hope. I was thinking when in history have they talked about a President in this way. Maybe Kennedy?
Listening to Trump I felt hopelessness, dismay, disappointment and shock.
Shock because he picks his first speech to talk about cameras in hotel rooms, germs, fake news, how everyone hacks us, etc. He puts fear out there everytime he talks! I think he enjoys making people live in fear. He has traits of the devil himself.
Listening to Trump I felt hopelessness, dismay, disappointment and shock.
Shock because he picks his first speech to talk about cameras in hotel rooms, germs, fake news, how everyone hacks us, etc. He puts fear out there everytime he talks! I think he enjoys making people live in fear. He has traits of the devil himself.
3
Are we also allowed to be angry at this paper and its columnists who almost studiously avoided substantive discussions and instead added grist to the gossip mill about Clinton?
3
Not angry, really. Trump*, after all, is a good salesman and genius at marketing himself. That millions bought what he was selling (or, at least, they bought the dream, if not the reality) is understandable and sad.
But I am frightened for this country. And what will happen when many realized the dream is in reality the equivalent of a parcel in the desert without water, roads or electricity.
The only way that Trump* can run the country and his businesses at the same time is to short shrift the country. His tweets and press conference show that he is not yet ready for his new job. The only reasons thinks he can do both is because he doesn't understand the responsibilities of his job.
Trump's unexplained shift in foreign policy towards favoring the oligarchy formerly known as Russia and its irruption dictator leaves him wide open to suggestions of improper influence by Russia. Until he comes clean and discloses his business entanglements, suspicions will only grow.
The Republicans in Congress are worthless. They are acting like kids who have just be given the keys to Uncle Donnie's candy store. Eating all that candy will rot more than their teeth.
But I am frightened for this country. And what will happen when many realized the dream is in reality the equivalent of a parcel in the desert without water, roads or electricity.
The only way that Trump* can run the country and his businesses at the same time is to short shrift the country. His tweets and press conference show that he is not yet ready for his new job. The only reasons thinks he can do both is because he doesn't understand the responsibilities of his job.
Trump's unexplained shift in foreign policy towards favoring the oligarchy formerly known as Russia and its irruption dictator leaves him wide open to suggestions of improper influence by Russia. Until he comes clean and discloses his business entanglements, suspicions will only grow.
The Republicans in Congress are worthless. They are acting like kids who have just be given the keys to Uncle Donnie's candy store. Eating all that candy will rot more than their teeth.
7
Trump tells us when he goes to hotels he is cautious because there are cameras every where. So...does that include cameras in Trump hotels?
6
Trump is Putin's puppet and the USA will soon be a Russian province. Americans will need to take out Russian citizenship and pay Russian taxes all because Trump thinks Putin likes him!
5
The circus was definitely in town today.
7
So there are 35 pages of unsubstantiated accusations by a British spy (or former spy) alleging sexual indiscretions by Trump in Moscow and/or contacts between Russian intelligence and Trump operatives over a 5 year period relating to his run for the Presidency with dirt amassed on his opponents given to him/them. Does he really believe he can avoid this stuff by blaming the media? Especially after his known relationship with Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy's lawyer, not to mention the crucifixion by Republicans of the Clintons and Obamas.
5
Wednesday's embarrassing display by Mr. Trump reinforced the obvious, that it really is all about him. The Trump era is upon us. Welcome to the age of lunacy. The best we can hope for is the avoidance of full descent into idiocracy.
8
I remain deeply squeamish about anyone who refers to himself in the third person -- with his full name. If he starts using his middle initial T., I say we call in the guards. But who? Who can we call?
9
Wait. Did the CEO of a company that operates HOTELS say that all hotel rooms have hidden cameras in them?
6
First, now that we see what Mr. Comey of the FBI could have released about the other side, the bias in his attacks on Mrs. Clinton is far more obvious.
Second, the media -- including The Times -- that dismiss the Watersportsgate report as "unverified" because accused participants deny in an interview that they participated are telling us nothing. Neither do they advance the situation. What independent Government inquiry panel can be established -- before or after 1/20 -- that might reach a solid conclusion and provide new information?
Second, the media -- including The Times -- that dismiss the Watersportsgate report as "unverified" because accused participants deny in an interview that they participated are telling us nothing. Neither do they advance the situation. What independent Government inquiry panel can be established -- before or after 1/20 -- that might reach a solid conclusion and provide new information?
3
"the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
"On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
~H.L. Mencken
Thank you for giving voice to those of us who are very angry that due to the quirk that is the electoral college our voices were ignored. A large majority of Americans did not allow themselves to be distracted by the overblown email scandal. But sadly, we are stuck with the moron for the next four years and we are very very angry.
The contrast between president Obama's farewell speech and Trump's ridiculous show today was telling. We've gone from an intellectual president to a blathering idiot. Thank you for not making light of this.
"On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
~H.L. Mencken
Thank you for giving voice to those of us who are very angry that due to the quirk that is the electoral college our voices were ignored. A large majority of Americans did not allow themselves to be distracted by the overblown email scandal. But sadly, we are stuck with the moron for the next four years and we are very very angry.
The contrast between president Obama's farewell speech and Trump's ridiculous show today was telling. We've gone from an intellectual president to a blathering idiot. Thank you for not making light of this.
10
One thing to keep in mind: Politicians' sex lives are private issues. Provided they do nothing illegal (rape, abuse of minors, harrassment etc.) , whatever they do and with whom is no matter for the media. Furthermore, the salacious part of the allegations actually has the ring of fake news and permits Trump to deny the more serious accusations of collusion with Russia to help him and/or hurt Clinton.
2
Fake news is in itself fake news.
When false information is spread against one party only it's called propaganda.
When law enforcement affects the outcome of an election it's called a coup.
Wait until he feels like the legitimate president.
So stupid. So stupid.
When false information is spread against one party only it's called propaganda.
When law enforcement affects the outcome of an election it's called a coup.
Wait until he feels like the legitimate president.
So stupid. So stupid.
4
Thank you, Gail. I am too angry still to give the Trump voters a pass.
10
Clinton voters have a right to be angry, sure. But let's not lose site of the fact that Bernie Sanders supporters REALLY have a right to be angry. Bernie would have beaten Trump, even the Donald admits that. But the Clinton machine and the DNC decided it was Hillary's turn and worked dishonestly behind the scenes to undermine and derail the Sanders campaign. Hillary and the rotten-to-the-core DNC share the blame for The Trump win, and until the Democratic Party embraces this fact, cleans house, and remodels itself to again become the party of the people, it will remain a rabble of whiners ineffective against the Republican Party.
3
Did James Comey even blush when he stated (with a straight face) that the FBI does not make public, nor confirm or deny, current investigations?
Did anyone, ANYONE in that room full of Senators call him out on his now well documented hypocrisy; indeed, his dereliction of duty?
This entire charade of a Presidential election stinks to high heaven.
Did anyone, ANYONE in that room full of Senators call him out on his now well documented hypocrisy; indeed, his dereliction of duty?
This entire charade of a Presidential election stinks to high heaven.
8
I keep wondering if we're going to get a tweet or email or some other notification when America is "great again." At the moment, I can't quite believe this farce is really happening.
6
Gail,
"66 million Hillary voters have a right to be angry". Well, now, that means every single US Citizen now has a right to be angry. Yes?
Half of them because their candidate lost an election in a democracy.
See how that sounds Gail? Sounds a little off the rocker yes?
Why don't we, who voted for Hillary, own up to her very profound weaknesses, the fact that she, and her husband, had a long standing tendency to "before telling the truth, give lying a chance",
and enjoy the Trump show that others have given us through...Democracy.
That is what I am doing. I voted for Hillary, but, believe me, I don't miss her.
Nor should anyone in this Democracy miss her. Time to support democracy. Trump won and, the probability the "Russsians" put him in office is precisely.....zero. US Citizens, voting, did.
"66 million Hillary voters have a right to be angry". Well, now, that means every single US Citizen now has a right to be angry. Yes?
Half of them because their candidate lost an election in a democracy.
See how that sounds Gail? Sounds a little off the rocker yes?
Why don't we, who voted for Hillary, own up to her very profound weaknesses, the fact that she, and her husband, had a long standing tendency to "before telling the truth, give lying a chance",
and enjoy the Trump show that others have given us through...Democracy.
That is what I am doing. I voted for Hillary, but, believe me, I don't miss her.
Nor should anyone in this Democracy miss her. Time to support democracy. Trump won and, the probability the "Russsians" put him in office is precisely.....zero. US Citizens, voting, did.
1
"But it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too."
Thank you, Gail, for saying what needs to be said. I'm tired of being told I need to "understand" or "reach out" to cranky white people so motivated by hateful ideology or just plain willful ignorance that they voted away their own health care. There's no reasoning with people that obtuse.
Thank you, Gail, for saying what needs to be said. I'm tired of being told I need to "understand" or "reach out" to cranky white people so motivated by hateful ideology or just plain willful ignorance that they voted away their own health care. There's no reasoning with people that obtuse.
4
The press conference...the press conference...oh, my god ! It was all out there on display, Trump's craziness ! We need help from this lunatic who will be in office just days from now.
4
Very well written. Just an enjoyable read. Makes the subscription very much worth it, work like this.
While I'm writing, nevertheless, I have a question, about Trump and the "Nazis": If the report had been 'bouncing around Washington' for some time how is it he was betrayed by the US agencies for releasing the dossier recently?
While I'm writing, nevertheless, I have a question, about Trump and the "Nazis": If the report had been 'bouncing around Washington' for some time how is it he was betrayed by the US agencies for releasing the dossier recently?
2
No story about Trump can be complete until he is able to be both the bully and the victim--at the same time. It really has become his trademark.
Trump and his family will likely do quite well financially with all this new power, influence, and complete access to inside information. The peasant classes--not so much.
Trump and his family will likely do quite well financially with all this new power, influence, and complete access to inside information. The peasant classes--not so much.
3
The 45th's press conference seemed to foreshadow his forthcoming White House tenure. It was chaotic and full of bluster, an incoherent rant that showed that the next president has a huge chip on his shoulder and that he has no intention of being transparent with his tax situation. He's going to do what he wants to do because he'll be president and if people don't like it, that's just too bad.
He threw our country's intelligence agencies under the bus while dismissing the "fake news" that had the earmarks of Hitler's "Nazi Germany". That he is the father of the birther campaign, the evil seed that gave life to the lie that questioned President Obama's right to be the duly elected Chief Executive was conveniently omitted. The Elect is always the victim, unfairly attacked and wrongly impugned. My my, the little darling's being picked on.
His angry broadside to the press at his sermon shows how utterly unprepared he is emotionally to deal with world leaders and diplomats. We saw this kind of behavior during his campaign and it's obvious now that he hasn't learned to be gracious in victory or forthcoming to the country that elected him.
It's doubtful that Pravda's news scoop will cause anxiety in Chump Nation so he's got nothing to worry about. But the stark contrast between President Obama's wonderful farewell address and the Elect's vitriolic diatribe should serve notice to all Americans and the world's population of the turbulent times that are ahead of us.
He threw our country's intelligence agencies under the bus while dismissing the "fake news" that had the earmarks of Hitler's "Nazi Germany". That he is the father of the birther campaign, the evil seed that gave life to the lie that questioned President Obama's right to be the duly elected Chief Executive was conveniently omitted. The Elect is always the victim, unfairly attacked and wrongly impugned. My my, the little darling's being picked on.
His angry broadside to the press at his sermon shows how utterly unprepared he is emotionally to deal with world leaders and diplomats. We saw this kind of behavior during his campaign and it's obvious now that he hasn't learned to be gracious in victory or forthcoming to the country that elected him.
It's doubtful that Pravda's news scoop will cause anxiety in Chump Nation so he's got nothing to worry about. But the stark contrast between President Obama's wonderful farewell address and the Elect's vitriolic diatribe should serve notice to all Americans and the world's population of the turbulent times that are ahead of us.
7
He's scary, 9/11 pr worse will come again, since he doesn't believe the intelligence agencies and won't follow their advice, then what? Martial law? He can probably be impeached . Let's hope the Republicans have the sense and courage to do so.
4
"But it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too."
You might do better to first break down that "66 million Clinton voters" to those who felt they had no choice since the DNC undermined Bernie's candidacy. Those voters are REALLY angry.
Next, you've been expressing your "anger" non-stop. Not at Hillary, who was one of the worst candidates in modern times with more ethical baggage and FBI investigations than she had new policy ideas.
Instead, every day brings a new hysterical NYT headline or byline. "Supreme Court seat stolen" and "This week in Hate," and Trump: the modern Manchurian candidate." Who knew that the Dems were secret McCarthyites just waiting to break free?
As for "whining," Hillary's famous meltdown after the Matt Lauer interview was downright scary. I'd take Donald's whining over Hillary's arrogance and secrecy anyday. One Richard Nixon was enough.
As for the canard of Hill's "three million vote" advantage, Gail sounds sad, like most Dems today, that the electoral college did not end before Hillary lost.
But how does that incessant "whining" over the electoral college contrast with the Dems "horror" that Trump might not honor the election outcome due to "voter fraud" and "media manipulation"?
Oh well, the two Coasts will have to learn to live with the rest of the Country. Or, with sanctuary city mayors standing in the doors, the Dems can always try for secession.
Didn't the South try that?
You might do better to first break down that "66 million Clinton voters" to those who felt they had no choice since the DNC undermined Bernie's candidacy. Those voters are REALLY angry.
Next, you've been expressing your "anger" non-stop. Not at Hillary, who was one of the worst candidates in modern times with more ethical baggage and FBI investigations than she had new policy ideas.
Instead, every day brings a new hysterical NYT headline or byline. "Supreme Court seat stolen" and "This week in Hate," and Trump: the modern Manchurian candidate." Who knew that the Dems were secret McCarthyites just waiting to break free?
As for "whining," Hillary's famous meltdown after the Matt Lauer interview was downright scary. I'd take Donald's whining over Hillary's arrogance and secrecy anyday. One Richard Nixon was enough.
As for the canard of Hill's "three million vote" advantage, Gail sounds sad, like most Dems today, that the electoral college did not end before Hillary lost.
But how does that incessant "whining" over the electoral college contrast with the Dems "horror" that Trump might not honor the election outcome due to "voter fraud" and "media manipulation"?
Oh well, the two Coasts will have to learn to live with the rest of the Country. Or, with sanctuary city mayors standing in the doors, the Dems can always try for secession.
Didn't the South try that?
2
Fixated on Hillary, are we? Give it a rest. The campaign is over.
Since Trump spent years denouncing President Obama and questioning his
citizenship and right to be in office, only to suddenly drop it, acknowledge that Obama was, after all, born in the U.S., without a word of apology, without a word to his (Trump's) supporters who still believe the Kenya birth lie, how can a reasonable person believe anything that Trump says now or in the future?
How such a catastrophe could happen to our country as electing this fellow is this: he spent years warming up with boldly spouting big lies which reached a gullible audience, and his campaign was rife with appealing catchy phrases "make America great" "build a wall" "I have a plan for ISIS", etc. And there was James Comey and the Russians.
Let's hope that when Humpty falls off his wall he doesn't take the rest of us with him.
citizenship and right to be in office, only to suddenly drop it, acknowledge that Obama was, after all, born in the U.S., without a word of apology, without a word to his (Trump's) supporters who still believe the Kenya birth lie, how can a reasonable person believe anything that Trump says now or in the future?
How such a catastrophe could happen to our country as electing this fellow is this: he spent years warming up with boldly spouting big lies which reached a gullible audience, and his campaign was rife with appealing catchy phrases "make America great" "build a wall" "I have a plan for ISIS", etc. And there was James Comey and the Russians.
Let's hope that when Humpty falls off his wall he doesn't take the rest of us with him.
8
"He was definitely playing the victim when it came to the leaked report."
Isn't Trump always the victim? Isn't it always someone else's fault? Isn't it always rosy in Trumpville?
Since we know that Trump doesn't wine, it must be that he likes to whine - all the time.
Isn't Trump always the victim? Isn't it always someone else's fault? Isn't it always rosy in Trumpville?
Since we know that Trump doesn't wine, it must be that he likes to whine - all the time.
2
Hail our new president, Donald "the Golden Shower" Trump. Congratulations America. Good choice! Welcome to your next 4 years.
4
Great article Gail Collins! Trump criticizing a conspiracy theory is a higher ire of irony. In fact, it goes over angry with the fango of a sumo wrestling mud-slinger as best man at Snow White's wedding.
I've already had with this guy. He along with Minister of Propaganda KellyAnn are lying frauds incapable of being honest. On CNN with A. Cooper she spun a web of lies so apparent that Saddam Hussein's Minister of Information, 'Baghdad Bob'(remember him) would have blushed. But, their lies about CNN were revealed when The U.S Intelligence chief, Clapper, released a statement only hours ago confirming the Intelligence briefing given to this low-life scumball Trump.
3
Yeah, it is really sad and cruel that we have to watch and listen to this Puppet for the next four years, well maybe. I just want to thank those 63 million voters that voted for him in their wisdom. And I wish Melania performed the task she was hired to do better. I feel her pain.
We really need to be reminded how superior our Electoral College system stacks up against direct elections for the Presidency. It is just one of the reason no other country adopts our now ancient constitutional system. But then I read in many Trump supporters comments about how lucky we are to live in a republic and not in a democracy.
Good luck to us.
We really need to be reminded how superior our Electoral College system stacks up against direct elections for the Presidency. It is just one of the reason no other country adopts our now ancient constitutional system. But then I read in many Trump supporters comments about how lucky we are to live in a republic and not in a democracy.
Good luck to us.
2
Here's what distracted this particular viewer of Trump's news conference: The man caught on tape bragging about grabbing women by their genitals positively scoffed at the idea that he would EVER be caught on tape.
Yet that bit of outrageous nonsense got tossed into the chaos blender with all the rest and, was forgotten, like any number of laughable Trumpisms from yesterday or the day before. The difference between news and entertainment is that entertainment doesn't have to be of value. It just has to hold your attention.
Yet that bit of outrageous nonsense got tossed into the chaos blender with all the rest and, was forgotten, like any number of laughable Trumpisms from yesterday or the day before. The difference between news and entertainment is that entertainment doesn't have to be of value. It just has to hold your attention.
1
I was watching the Tillerson hearing. In the short time I was tuned-in, first one woman, and then another, stood with banners and asked senators not to hand the State Department over to Exxon. They were civil, their voices were strong and clear, even as they were escorted away.
I tried to imagine being in their place, heart beating the moment before you stood. What courage. What commitment. And what a level of belief that, in America, all citizens are equal — senators, CEOs, presidents, you and I. Some think they’re better, like royalty. No way.
Maybe I’ve worked through the stages. Yes, Trump is psychologically unfit to be president, and his “intelligence” is tweet-level. To me, that’s established fact. Now to the next step.
Resistance.
The protestors at the hearing are part of the resistance. The Energy Department is too, refusing to give the names of those who worked on climate change. The cast of “Hamilton” is part of it. Meryl Streep. Performing artists turning down the inauguration. John McCain. Heck, the Radio City Rockettes are part of it, and my respect goes to those dancers.
Some of us who lived through the Sixties have been here before. Now I see that spirit rising again among those who believe in equality, climate change, freedom of religion, a free press, facts, rational thought. In democracy. And appalled by racism, misogyny, and authoritarian rule.
We are the resistance. And to Trump we say: We will be in your face from Day One.
I tried to imagine being in their place, heart beating the moment before you stood. What courage. What commitment. And what a level of belief that, in America, all citizens are equal — senators, CEOs, presidents, you and I. Some think they’re better, like royalty. No way.
Maybe I’ve worked through the stages. Yes, Trump is psychologically unfit to be president, and his “intelligence” is tweet-level. To me, that’s established fact. Now to the next step.
Resistance.
The protestors at the hearing are part of the resistance. The Energy Department is too, refusing to give the names of those who worked on climate change. The cast of “Hamilton” is part of it. Meryl Streep. Performing artists turning down the inauguration. John McCain. Heck, the Radio City Rockettes are part of it, and my respect goes to those dancers.
Some of us who lived through the Sixties have been here before. Now I see that spirit rising again among those who believe in equality, climate change, freedom of religion, a free press, facts, rational thought. In democracy. And appalled by racism, misogyny, and authoritarian rule.
We are the resistance. And to Trump we say: We will be in your face from Day One.
8
66 million of us need to do something! Start by reading the Biography of John Adams by Mc Cullough. In one read you will have a picture of
several of our country's founding fathers (and an extraordinary First Lady), all citizens with an astounding sense of purpose and intelligence . We need to do the one thing we choose with half their zeal.
PS Send your copy to the White House so we can help Donald find a place in the pages of history. He can pass extra copies out to his kids and cabinet.
several of our country's founding fathers (and an extraordinary First Lady), all citizens with an astounding sense of purpose and intelligence . We need to do the one thing we choose with half their zeal.
PS Send your copy to the White House so we can help Donald find a place in the pages of history. He can pass extra copies out to his kids and cabinet.
1
Every day this "wannabe", speaks more lies. Four years of this is not sustainable.
4
It's all about tax returns now. Don't let him change the subject. We need to see those tax returns, complete and unredacted. What are you hiding Mr. Trump?
3
Dear Gail, nicknaming Trump's never materializing tax returns "Godot"- genius! And Vladimir and Estragon a.k.a. "the American public" will continue to wait, and wait, and wait, and wait....
2
How is it at all possible that this creep is about to take on the job of leading our country??? He lacks moral fiber and has the mental capacities of a four year old. I understand the mechanics behind the dysfunctional voting system, but with everything that he's done and all that has come out about him, why is he still standing???
7
This man needs to be 'unpresidented.' Quickly.
8
Many pundits say that Trump's complex company makes for an unprecedented situation . It doesn't.. We don't alter the Office of the POTUS like it's an outfit to be customized by a haberdasher. The lucky candidate has to adapt and learn to inhabit it.
So, why should we care one iota if the requirements will adversely affect his private company? It's immaterial. He either wants the job and all that it implies, or he does not.
Furthermore, his statement that the letter of the law does not require him to divest is an opening salvo in a negotiation. Who is he negotiating with? The electorate?
He petitioned the citizens of the United States to request the honor. If he no longer wants it, he should resign. I'm confident we can find a satisfactory replacement.
So, why should we care one iota if the requirements will adversely affect his private company? It's immaterial. He either wants the job and all that it implies, or he does not.
Furthermore, his statement that the letter of the law does not require him to divest is an opening salvo in a negotiation. Who is he negotiating with? The electorate?
He petitioned the citizens of the United States to request the honor. If he no longer wants it, he should resign. I'm confident we can find a satisfactory replacement.
8
@ Alix yes, yes, yes, "He either wants the job and all it implies or he does not"
What happens to all Presidents? They're criticized. What happens when a narcissist or someone with narcissist personality disorder is criticized? They implode from "narcissistic rage". 4 years of temper tantrums when "he who shall not be named" finds out that not everyone will kowtow to the emperor with no clothes. It's about to get very ugly.
4
When Gail doesn't interject humor into her column, I know things are getting seriously scary.
5
For someone who never really says anything substantive, Trump really does say a lot that points to serious character flaws. I am still just baffled as to how anyone could think he should be president.
5
Don't forget, he sneered that he wasn't going to release his tax returns not only because of a very believable audit, but also because he won! He won! He won! Except for the popular vote of course. And with Russian assistance. The malfeasance and manipulation it took to win his vengeance prize will go down in the record books. Hired hands to applaud at campaign announcements and now press conferences may well, too.
4
@EASabo, what was that with the hired audience? And the cheering! He's still in campaign mob mode. Will he leave this behind as President or are we in for the rigged responses, disinformation, lies ( of course) the parade of generals, the clueless Rex whose never heard about the massacres in Syria, The stealth cabinet of Bannon, Kushner and assorted relatives. And regular visits from Brother Putin to the White House? How can this tragedy of American Democracy be shut down? It's insane.
This just in.
Meryl Streep has agreed to work with Mrs. Pence on redecorating the White House.
She will give particular attention to the kitchen, in Julia Child drag, per Mike's personal request. She was more than happy to oblige.
It turns out Melania was prescient about not being in any hurry to move in.
The Kushners were less prescient. They have a house in Kalorama listed on Craigslist.
Meryl Streep has agreed to work with Mrs. Pence on redecorating the White House.
She will give particular attention to the kitchen, in Julia Child drag, per Mike's personal request. She was more than happy to oblige.
It turns out Melania was prescient about not being in any hurry to move in.
The Kushners were less prescient. They have a house in Kalorama listed on Craigslist.
1
Russia will hold the hard evidence until a few key deals are done: sanctions lifted, oil flowing to Exxon, Syria handed over, Crimea takeover approved, investigation of Malaysia aircraft shooting shut down, etc.
Then when Putin needs to humiliate the U.S. to puff himself up (and have some fun), the tapes and business documents will be released, similar to the timing of the release of the Manafort Ukraine payroll document.
Be careful, folks. These people are NOT impulsive, they are in it until they scrape the last drop out of your pocket and soul.
Until we can shut them down, the Resistance must go on full force. Eat your Cheerios, everyone, it's important to stay healthy for the long haul.
Then when Putin needs to humiliate the U.S. to puff himself up (and have some fun), the tapes and business documents will be released, similar to the timing of the release of the Manafort Ukraine payroll document.
Be careful, folks. These people are NOT impulsive, they are in it until they scrape the last drop out of your pocket and soul.
Until we can shut them down, the Resistance must go on full force. Eat your Cheerios, everyone, it's important to stay healthy for the long haul.
5
There is more merit to the suspected Trump's kompromat sex tapes than there ever was about Obama's birth certificate, which Trump and his minions thought was hilarious to pursue.
Yes, his supposed caution with cameras sounded convincing until I remembered Trump's admitted compulsion around beautiful women ("I just start kissing them"), he is all too easy to manipulate. It is very likely the Kremlin has something on him which now worries both of them; Trump for obvious reasons and the Kremlin because there's no value in an ace everyone knows you are holding. This whole thing stinks; Trump's refusal to show his tax returns (who he owes money to), Manafort's cash from Russia and his insistence that NATO allegiance be kept out of the NCGOP agenda, Carter Cage, the Alfa Bank server in Trump Tower, Ivanka vacationing with Putin's girlfriend. This is no silly right wing conspiracy propaganda; these are easily verifiable. How ironic that conservatives spent eight years making stuff up about Obama while their own man is mired in real dirty dealings.
Yes, his supposed caution with cameras sounded convincing until I remembered Trump's admitted compulsion around beautiful women ("I just start kissing them"), he is all too easy to manipulate. It is very likely the Kremlin has something on him which now worries both of them; Trump for obvious reasons and the Kremlin because there's no value in an ace everyone knows you are holding. This whole thing stinks; Trump's refusal to show his tax returns (who he owes money to), Manafort's cash from Russia and his insistence that NATO allegiance be kept out of the NCGOP agenda, Carter Cage, the Alfa Bank server in Trump Tower, Ivanka vacationing with Putin's girlfriend. This is no silly right wing conspiracy propaganda; these are easily verifiable. How ironic that conservatives spent eight years making stuff up about Obama while their own man is mired in real dirty dealings.
6
Watching this con-artist perhaps is the best Tragicomedy I have ever seen. The awful and very real part of this is... To witness the destruction of The United States of America as we know it.
6
"But it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too."
The most under reported story of the year.
The most under reported story of the year.
14
The whole sham of Trump trotting out his tax attorney so she could spin doctor what the emoluments clause of the Constitution means was hilarious theater.
Sorry, I'm not buying such drivel, especially when the best Constitutional lawyers in the country burst out laughing at you arguments.
Then we get to the charade of creating a phony trust, and purported handing over the Trump empire operation to Uday and Qusay. Princess Ivanka is moving to Washington and soon will be ensconced in a West Wing office. The fact remains that Trump retains ownership in all his businesses, and as others give the boys bribes, and sweetheart deals to curry favor with the Donald, it will all flow to his wallet. These guys must think we are thick as bricks. The conflicts of interest start on day one.
Don the Con ducked lots of questions, including whether any of his staff had contacts with the Russians during the course of the campaign. I have read about the RNC having a back door channel thru a Russian bank. Also, his prior campaign manager was receiving millions from Communist sources. No connection? I'm sure FBI Director Comey is slavishly working away on investigating these connections. He was asked about this during a Congressional hearing, and responded, "I don't talk about ongoing investigations." The Senator then said, "Sir, do realize the irony of that statement you just made? I guess Hillary is the exception to the his rule.
Pathetic. FBI will never look into this collaboration w/ Putin.
Sorry, I'm not buying such drivel, especially when the best Constitutional lawyers in the country burst out laughing at you arguments.
Then we get to the charade of creating a phony trust, and purported handing over the Trump empire operation to Uday and Qusay. Princess Ivanka is moving to Washington and soon will be ensconced in a West Wing office. The fact remains that Trump retains ownership in all his businesses, and as others give the boys bribes, and sweetheart deals to curry favor with the Donald, it will all flow to his wallet. These guys must think we are thick as bricks. The conflicts of interest start on day one.
Don the Con ducked lots of questions, including whether any of his staff had contacts with the Russians during the course of the campaign. I have read about the RNC having a back door channel thru a Russian bank. Also, his prior campaign manager was receiving millions from Communist sources. No connection? I'm sure FBI Director Comey is slavishly working away on investigating these connections. He was asked about this during a Congressional hearing, and responded, "I don't talk about ongoing investigations." The Senator then said, "Sir, do realize the irony of that statement you just made? I guess Hillary is the exception to the his rule.
Pathetic. FBI will never look into this collaboration w/ Putin.
7
With all the Russian support for Trump, true and false, the bald fact is that Hillary Clinton won the election with a massive landslide of some three million votes. She lost the presidency because of an archaic and undemocratic system that is based on an authoritarian distrusts of citizens' choice and also on human slavery. This is the second time in some sixteen years that the person the people chose for the office did not become president.
How did the all-powerful Russians manage that?
How did the all-powerful Russians manage that?
6
"You didn’t hear about it because nobody could confirm any of the allegations."
Umm hello? What argument is that? Could anybody confirm the allegations - I'm sure you all remember - made by a certain someone that Obama wasn't born in the US? Or that Hillary was using her private email server with malicious intent? Could that be confirmed by anyone? I don't think so. Because it was all made up bogus bull. So why are we hearing about Trump being a potential client of hookers only now and not before the election? Why? Anyone??
I personally think that since we all know - and that my friends is actually a proven fact, it is on tape - that Trump likes to grab women by their pussies (without their permission that is) it is fair to assume that he also likes to hump hookers. It's on you Mr. umm... "President" to prove otherwise.
Umm hello? What argument is that? Could anybody confirm the allegations - I'm sure you all remember - made by a certain someone that Obama wasn't born in the US? Or that Hillary was using her private email server with malicious intent? Could that be confirmed by anyone? I don't think so. Because it was all made up bogus bull. So why are we hearing about Trump being a potential client of hookers only now and not before the election? Why? Anyone??
I personally think that since we all know - and that my friends is actually a proven fact, it is on tape - that Trump likes to grab women by their pussies (without their permission that is) it is fair to assume that he also likes to hump hookers. It's on you Mr. umm... "President" to prove otherwise.
8
I watched President’s farewell speech from Chicago Tuesday night streaming on Whitehouse.gov.
I felt I was at a funeral--for our country. I love this nation. Yes I recognize its many problems--inequality of classes, the gap of wealth is maddening....but I cried during the speech. I watched a wonderfully elegant man (We have replaced class with crass) perform once AGAIN as Mourner-in-Chief...only for us.
Out hearts are broken and he was trying to say “We’re going to be OK. We need to keep working, listening, talking with people whose ideas may not jibe with ours---stay out of bubbles and echo chambers.”
And Obama STILL got blasted for this short but heart felt speech. “He didn’t mention God--only once at the end of the speech!” And that was brought up by an African-American writer in the New Yorker.
I’m exhausted...exhausted with folks who voted for Trump and say they aren’t racist--just like ‘Bama senator Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions III who lied his way through his hearing......then get passed by those horrible GOP senators. Where did “stand-up” Jeff Flake and Susan Collins go?
The presser---Isn’t there ANY WH correspondent who has a spine to follow up Trump’s lies? He ends the presser by humorously saying “You’re fired” to Donny Jr and Eric if they don’t make him billions with his business...but he STILL states that he can run his business in ten countries AND run the world.
I hate what is going on and my vote meant nothing.
I WILL march January 21st--Must go!
I felt I was at a funeral--for our country. I love this nation. Yes I recognize its many problems--inequality of classes, the gap of wealth is maddening....but I cried during the speech. I watched a wonderfully elegant man (We have replaced class with crass) perform once AGAIN as Mourner-in-Chief...only for us.
Out hearts are broken and he was trying to say “We’re going to be OK. We need to keep working, listening, talking with people whose ideas may not jibe with ours---stay out of bubbles and echo chambers.”
And Obama STILL got blasted for this short but heart felt speech. “He didn’t mention God--only once at the end of the speech!” And that was brought up by an African-American writer in the New Yorker.
I’m exhausted...exhausted with folks who voted for Trump and say they aren’t racist--just like ‘Bama senator Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions III who lied his way through his hearing......then get passed by those horrible GOP senators. Where did “stand-up” Jeff Flake and Susan Collins go?
The presser---Isn’t there ANY WH correspondent who has a spine to follow up Trump’s lies? He ends the presser by humorously saying “You’re fired” to Donny Jr and Eric if they don’t make him billions with his business...but he STILL states that he can run his business in ten countries AND run the world.
I hate what is going on and my vote meant nothing.
I WILL march January 21st--Must go!
13
Of course all those showers Putin and Trump shared together were golden. Add Conway and it's east to see that we've entered a new golden age. Fools gold!
His sexual proclivities are opening to the media, I hope America realizes we have an adolescent in command, and that we better find a way to impeach him before it's too, late.
His sexual proclivities are opening to the media, I hope America realizes we have an adolescent in command, and that we better find a way to impeach him before it's too, late.
10
Events have given us a new perspective on leaking, trickle down, and yellow journalism.
4
We humans tend to prefer predictability over chaos. It allows us to feel safe and in control of our lives. What scores of millions of us are feeing right about now is a distinct and escalating unease as predictability and safety fly out the window. Trump's press conference was yet another illustration of his chaotic mind and his relentless twisting of the truth for his own gain. Tragically, America as we've known it is about to become unrecognizable to us, and the sense of safety we crave will soon be beyond our grasp -- unless we stand strong in opposition and make our voices heard.
4
A sad day when Gail can barely muster a laugh (although I did enjoy the line about the friend's of the tax audit knowing it as Godot).
So your new President cannot think systematically. Your new President regards your intelligence services with contempt. Your new President lacks dignity and a regard for the reasonable conventions of public life that are accepted, for good reason, by most elected officials in most democracies. Your new President presents as prone to the tantrums of a child.
This was all apparent before the election and yet he was elected anyway.
I strongly suspect that he will quickly be bored by the work load and the need for attention to detail that is required of a President. I fear he will delegate the essential functions of the President to others.
I fear that the President of your great country will quickly become the very embodiment of all that the conservative Mullahs decry about the west and the USA in particular.
Vladimir Putin must be falling about at the Kremlin.
So your new President cannot think systematically. Your new President regards your intelligence services with contempt. Your new President lacks dignity and a regard for the reasonable conventions of public life that are accepted, for good reason, by most elected officials in most democracies. Your new President presents as prone to the tantrums of a child.
This was all apparent before the election and yet he was elected anyway.
I strongly suspect that he will quickly be bored by the work load and the need for attention to detail that is required of a President. I fear he will delegate the essential functions of the President to others.
I fear that the President of your great country will quickly become the very embodiment of all that the conservative Mullahs decry about the west and the USA in particular.
Vladimir Putin must be falling about at the Kremlin.
7
Somehow unfairness in this country is okay if it happens to Democrats. #seegerrymandering
5
When will this nightmare end? In 4 or 8 years?
4
The term "red herring" has been replaced by "Michael Cohen".
Not much evidence yet that Mitch McConnell has made any progress at taming Kaiser Donald. Seems more like the other way around.
2
Once this man was elected who kicked off his campaign by lying about investigating the circumstances of President Obama's birth, why would anyone expect his supporters to care about additional lies or wrong doing?
9
Gail,
This was fun to read. I admit I have not followed Mr. Trump but I was amazed at the performance he gave at his first press conference. He has a sorcerer's magical gift to make a very serious situation, bordering on a charge of treason, an attention getting event that turns the news media inside out. Clearly, he has skills which the news media is not capable of handling.
Remember he says that this latest intelligence community's report phony and the CNN news is a "fake news" report, and a lot of people in the US are convinced that the 4th estate is now engaged in creating fake news as the first order of jounalism. He certainly took the focus off his cabinet nominees and the repeal of Obamacare. He is the Merlin President.
I am withholding judgement on his probable success as the President until after the first crisis. Mr. Obama has built a great platform for his team to launch new programs to make America great again.
Of course, I wish him well because his leadership effectiveness holds the future of the World on the balance, with global warming and all, including the huge dependence we are developing on these new hand held devices that are capable of spying on our every preference and spewing out 141 character blue birds of happiness to our news media.
Yesterday, the TV news displayed the Tweets of the day on the screen, without moving images. It was like discovering scrolls preserved in ancient tombs of a dead civilization.
This was fun to read. I admit I have not followed Mr. Trump but I was amazed at the performance he gave at his first press conference. He has a sorcerer's magical gift to make a very serious situation, bordering on a charge of treason, an attention getting event that turns the news media inside out. Clearly, he has skills which the news media is not capable of handling.
Remember he says that this latest intelligence community's report phony and the CNN news is a "fake news" report, and a lot of people in the US are convinced that the 4th estate is now engaged in creating fake news as the first order of jounalism. He certainly took the focus off his cabinet nominees and the repeal of Obamacare. He is the Merlin President.
I am withholding judgement on his probable success as the President until after the first crisis. Mr. Obama has built a great platform for his team to launch new programs to make America great again.
Of course, I wish him well because his leadership effectiveness holds the future of the World on the balance, with global warming and all, including the huge dependence we are developing on these new hand held devices that are capable of spying on our every preference and spewing out 141 character blue birds of happiness to our news media.
Yesterday, the TV news displayed the Tweets of the day on the screen, without moving images. It was like discovering scrolls preserved in ancient tombs of a dead civilization.
78
We are in the first crises.
You should have been following him, especially if you voted for him. You'd be as sick as the rest of us if you had or are you too easily amused by third-rate razzle dazzle of a con artist.
1
I have big plans for Inauguration Day. I'm going shopping. I'm going to use my Christmas gift cards and will stay in the stores until I'm sure everything is over and I don't have to listen to the A-listers, Jackie Evanchoe, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Rockettes. I've seen them all. A long time ago.
And I won't have to watch Little Miss Kellyanne Conway smarm her way past the cameras. Somebody ought to tell her that at 49, she should stick to using a trowel for her makeup rather than a shovel. And for Pete's sake, cut those long curls. You look like Little Bo Peep.
At least I'll be able to go back to the things I enjoyed before I became interested in politics. There's not a thing about this crowd that interests me. All I want to do is work to get them out.
And I won't have to watch Little Miss Kellyanne Conway smarm her way past the cameras. Somebody ought to tell her that at 49, she should stick to using a trowel for her makeup rather than a shovel. And for Pete's sake, cut those long curls. You look like Little Bo Peep.
At least I'll be able to go back to the things I enjoyed before I became interested in politics. There's not a thing about this crowd that interests me. All I want to do is work to get them out.
9
Oh yes great article. No matter how much Trump calls his election a mandate or landslide the truth is that 3 million more Americans voted for Clinton. Trump thinks he is large and in charge but my guess is that Putin is going to play him good. Trump has no idea what he is up against. He will be squeezed between Putin, who surely has something on him, and the opposition in this country. Once the Democrats stop their circular firing squad--and they better do that fast--they need to heed Obama's call to action. Ethics has become a bad word for the new administration. Was the election fair and square? Well, we must play by the rules. But Trump has to realize that this is still a democracy and that means he has to play by the rules as well--and be accountable and handle criticism by the opposition party. He should stop fighting with Hillary and Meryl and CNN and Alec Baldwin and whoever else gets under his skin. He can't shut down the press much as he would like to either. I say it is time for us who have a different, less crude and cruel vision of America to bring it on.
5
Will Trump’s first term as President be viewed by most Americans as a success leading to his reelection by a landslide? Yes. His investment in infrastructure, stimulating economic growth, may alone tip the balance heavily in his favor. We made errors in reelecting presidents twice in the recent past.
When Nixon was President, the FBI reported that the break-in at the Watergate was part of a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage on behalf of the heads of the Nixon re-election campaign. Despite these revelations, Nixon's re-election was never seriously jeopardized, and he was re-elected in one of the biggest landslides ever in American political history.
When George Bush was President, Dick Cheney, his Vice President, kicked off the push for war on Iraq in August 2002 by declaring “There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” Cheney’s speech had not been vetted by the C.I.A. where several senior analysts thought the existence of W.M.D.s in Iraq was a fantasy. A senior C.I.A. official later recalled that the agency’s reaction to Cheney’s speech was, “Where is he getting this stuff from?” Cheney’s claim that Saddam possessed W.M.D.s was built on air. President Bush’s unjust war on Iraq in 2003 resulted in the death of 4,497 Americans and over 150,000 Iraqis but these losses of life did not prevent his reelection in 2005.
When Nixon was President, the FBI reported that the break-in at the Watergate was part of a massive campaign of political spying and sabotage on behalf of the heads of the Nixon re-election campaign. Despite these revelations, Nixon's re-election was never seriously jeopardized, and he was re-elected in one of the biggest landslides ever in American political history.
When George Bush was President, Dick Cheney, his Vice President, kicked off the push for war on Iraq in August 2002 by declaring “There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.” Cheney’s speech had not been vetted by the C.I.A. where several senior analysts thought the existence of W.M.D.s in Iraq was a fantasy. A senior C.I.A. official later recalled that the agency’s reaction to Cheney’s speech was, “Where is he getting this stuff from?” Cheney’s claim that Saddam possessed W.M.D.s was built on air. President Bush’s unjust war on Iraq in 2003 resulted in the death of 4,497 Americans and over 150,000 Iraqis but these losses of life did not prevent his reelection in 2005.
1
To add to George M.
Conclusion:
The electorate is very slow - for one reason or another - to catch on.
The electorate is heavily numbered with:
The ignorant.
The low-informed.
The poorly informed.
The gullible and easily led believers of lies.
........ And last but not least.
The single-issue voters who exist in a total fog about anything else of note or of importance.
Let us hope that the blatant and ongoing Trump spectacle will quickly bring them all up to speed.
Let us hope for a total sweep for Democrats in the midterm elections in 2018 that will be the beginning of the end of the Trump power grab.
Conclusion:
The electorate is very slow - for one reason or another - to catch on.
The electorate is heavily numbered with:
The ignorant.
The low-informed.
The poorly informed.
The gullible and easily led believers of lies.
........ And last but not least.
The single-issue voters who exist in a total fog about anything else of note or of importance.
Let us hope that the blatant and ongoing Trump spectacle will quickly bring them all up to speed.
Let us hope for a total sweep for Democrats in the midterm elections in 2018 that will be the beginning of the end of the Trump power grab.
The distinct contrast between Obama's thoughtful, heartfelt going away speech in Chicago, and the brutish, chaotic, antagonistic "news conference" by Trump says it all. The man who would be King completely destroyed the critical relationship between POTUS and the free press, choosing instead to tell them to "be quiet". I have seen better performances from incoherent drunks trying to sing karaoke. Trump has often been lampooned as having tiny little hands. But it's his tiny feet, and the sad realization that they will never come close to filling Obama's shoes, that brings yet another tear to my eye.
5
Judging from what I heard on right wing talk radio all day today this whole affair is gonna blow back and hurt John McCain [not a friend of either Trump or Putin] a lot more than Donald Trump who is not only not affected but comes out ahead. Makes me wonder who the real target [besides the "liberal media"] was in the first place.
1
Trump is compromised by Russia. We cannot let him be inaugurated, but I've no idea how to stop it. But if he takes office, we will be governed by a Russian tool.
I'm scared. I am flat out scared, and Gail, not even you can make this that funny.
I'm scared. I am flat out scared, and Gail, not even you can make this that funny.
1
I thought the reference to Nazi Germany was interesting since the president elect seems to be doing his best to emulate some of their tactics.
4
Yes. This is called "projecting."
Why doesn't President Obama issue an executive order cancelling the IRS audit of Trump so Trump has no more excuses.? Even if the IRS found an issue there's little they can do.
1
Thank you, Gail, for pointing out James Comey's hypocrisy on which information to comment publicly. Wish you had gone the extra step to call it treason.
And to have pointed out that Hillary's loss can certainly be blamed, in part, on Comey's linking her forever to the sex-crazed world famous texted of his private parts. The evidence is clear on that point.
And to have pointed out that Hillary's loss can certainly be blamed, in part, on Comey's linking her forever to the sex-crazed world famous texted of his private parts. The evidence is clear on that point.
4
The real story hiding in plain sight? The Grand Ole Party. You get what you pay for.
2
This bit about Democratic "failure to pay attention to the legitimate anger in the Trump-tilting parts of the country" is more nonsense from overeducated media-types coming up with rationalizations for their failure to vet the candidates and the campaigns properly. Here is conclusive proof of my assertion:
1. If the Dems were being elitist snobs cavorting with Beyonce and JayZ while the white middle-class was a-hurtin' (to use the accent people on TV use in this context) was such a problem - how come Donald Trump defeated 16 Republican opponents - including experienced guys like John Kasich???? No Dems involved there.
2. Hillary Clinton ran an awful campaign, and always has. If Bernie could announce his candidacy the way he did, and sign up as a Democrat just so he could run in the primaries, and then give her the sort of run for the money (raising millions of dollars $27 a pop), it is all the proof you need that the Hillary candidacy was doomed. Hillary took the same insincere, intellectually dishonest attitude she has always had, into the primary, and then into the general election.
3. Hillary lost Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, not due to white middle-class resentment vote, she lost because she did not go to the various counties and ASK THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR VOTE! Trump actually did. While Hillary's overeducated fool campaign staff were trying to "psych" out the Trump campaign, Kellyanne Conway kept it simple - stay on message and ask for the vote. And they won.
1. If the Dems were being elitist snobs cavorting with Beyonce and JayZ while the white middle-class was a-hurtin' (to use the accent people on TV use in this context) was such a problem - how come Donald Trump defeated 16 Republican opponents - including experienced guys like John Kasich???? No Dems involved there.
2. Hillary Clinton ran an awful campaign, and always has. If Bernie could announce his candidacy the way he did, and sign up as a Democrat just so he could run in the primaries, and then give her the sort of run for the money (raising millions of dollars $27 a pop), it is all the proof you need that the Hillary candidacy was doomed. Hillary took the same insincere, intellectually dishonest attitude she has always had, into the primary, and then into the general election.
3. Hillary lost Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, not due to white middle-class resentment vote, she lost because she did not go to the various counties and ASK THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR VOTE! Trump actually did. While Hillary's overeducated fool campaign staff were trying to "psych" out the Trump campaign, Kellyanne Conway kept it simple - stay on message and ask for the vote. And they won.
1
"...speculation about whether there were compromising videos of Trump cavorting in a Russian hotel ...."
This was not journalism's finest hour.
Many of us see little difference (as in "no difference whatsoever") between:
(1) making some unsubstantiated salacious allegation; and
(2) saying "WE aren't making this salacious allegation -- perish the thought (perish, perish, perish the thought!_, and, by the way, this salacious allegation hasn't been corroborated so we don't know whether this salacious allegation is true or not -- but these other people are making this salacious allegation, and here's the link if you want to find out what this salacious allegation is that they're making."
Not journalism's finest hour.
This was not journalism's finest hour.
Many of us see little difference (as in "no difference whatsoever") between:
(1) making some unsubstantiated salacious allegation; and
(2) saying "WE aren't making this salacious allegation -- perish the thought (perish, perish, perish the thought!_, and, by the way, this salacious allegation hasn't been corroborated so we don't know whether this salacious allegation is true or not -- but these other people are making this salacious allegation, and here's the link if you want to find out what this salacious allegation is that they're making."
Not journalism's finest hour.
I suspect military bands will pretty much be the only bands in his parade because they are the only ones that could be forced to perform. I't my understanding nobody else wanted to. Will be interesting to see if the Trumps stay around for the whole "parade."
3
Thank you, Gail, for all of your columns this past year. But thank you most of all for the last paragraph in today's column.
1
Comey needs to be indicted for interfering in the election process. I agree it was his actions 11 days prior to the election that gave us Twump.
Yet, this story was also out there and never made it to the voters.
I love Obama, but there is a point where virtue can be a liability, especially when it comes to our presidential elections.
The president should have been more "involved" in this election for his sake, but more importantly for ours!
Yet, this story was also out there and never made it to the voters.
I love Obama, but there is a point where virtue can be a liability, especially when it comes to our presidential elections.
The president should have been more "involved" in this election for his sake, but more importantly for ours!
3
Joey, we are still waiting for the folks who misled us into Iraq war, to be indicted for war crimes. Its been a long wait. One can only hope the guilty (in the George W Bush admin) will be punished, posthumously.
1
If this is what the next four years of press conferences are going to be like, Heaven help us!
3
Obviously the video needs to be released. That's the only way to respond to blackmail, and under the circumstances, could be considered patriotic. Now, can we talk about Crimea?
"...politicians have wrung their hands over their failure to pay attention to the legitimate anger in the Trump-tilting parts of the country."
Whats makes it legitimate? Better to say they failed to pay attention to the anger!--Of whom?
Well-- of racists, xenophobes, homophobes, misogynists--bigots of all sorts. Face it--that's almost 50% of the electorate. A mass delusion.
Another big rhetorical mistake is calling all the bigotry "populism."
First: it is a far cry from the original Populist Party.
Second: it is very much like Nazism--which it candy coats.
Third: "alt-right" is nothing but another euphemism for Nazism.
Free speech gives them the political right to their opinions. The really free market means free from regulation--even regulation against libel, slander, defamation, fraud and breach of contract. Trump thinks the campaign was free marketing.
Truth, evidence, proof--the cornerstones of law, science, all academia and the "principled press" are irrelevant in free marketing.
Remember-- majority rule is not the test of truth on any subject. In some procedures it might end debate. It might even pronounce the accused guilty; but it doesn't make it true. Truth--even rational belief--march to a different drummer.
The real questions are a) how did they get that way? and b) what's the therapy? The USA has a serious pedagogical if not a medical problem.
Whats makes it legitimate? Better to say they failed to pay attention to the anger!--Of whom?
Well-- of racists, xenophobes, homophobes, misogynists--bigots of all sorts. Face it--that's almost 50% of the electorate. A mass delusion.
Another big rhetorical mistake is calling all the bigotry "populism."
First: it is a far cry from the original Populist Party.
Second: it is very much like Nazism--which it candy coats.
Third: "alt-right" is nothing but another euphemism for Nazism.
Free speech gives them the political right to their opinions. The really free market means free from regulation--even regulation against libel, slander, defamation, fraud and breach of contract. Trump thinks the campaign was free marketing.
Truth, evidence, proof--the cornerstones of law, science, all academia and the "principled press" are irrelevant in free marketing.
Remember-- majority rule is not the test of truth on any subject. In some procedures it might end debate. It might even pronounce the accused guilty; but it doesn't make it true. Truth--even rational belief--march to a different drummer.
The real questions are a) how did they get that way? and b) what's the therapy? The USA has a serious pedagogical if not a medical problem.
The 66 million Clinton voters should be angrier that neither they nor their media perceived that Bernie Sanders offered the only hope to defeat Trump and unite America.
Now all that remains is to make fun of the guy who defeated Hillary. Gail Collins, by far the sweetest of the NYT editorial community, is still part of the group that missed the sea change.
The Times along with the Clintons is riding into the sunset. Liberalism is now an antiquated science, while socialism and fascism come forward to duke it out.
Now all that remains is to make fun of the guy who defeated Hillary. Gail Collins, by far the sweetest of the NYT editorial community, is still part of the group that missed the sea change.
The Times along with the Clintons is riding into the sunset. Liberalism is now an antiquated science, while socialism and fascism come forward to duke it out.
1
It was the most insane press conference I've ever seen. He is seriously deranged and I doubt he could have a complete conversation with anyone. What a nutjob. It blows my mind that this crazy person is the president of the United States. Unreal.
7
He had no problem with false news...recall Obama's birth certificate, Ted Cruz's father involvement in JFK's assassination, and oh yes, the thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheering the 9/11 attacks. It is fun to see how he is reacting to the Golden Showers report.
3
You broke it, you bought it. Unfortunately, the other 66 million of us don't want it.
13
11 days before the election and 11 days before the inauguration - good timing.
3
How many Democrats here flipped your vote to Trump because of anything you read anywhere, real or fake? Is there even one subscriber to this global publication who switched their decision?
I know of many that a) chose not to vote for any presidential candidate or b) voted for a third choice due to becoming uncertain about HRC due to the constant suggestion that the e-mails were incriminating.
Yes. Not a few adults changed their minds about either not voting or writing in someone other than Whatshisface.
I think all of the speculation that Trump will change his ways once he becomes President has finally petered out. In fact, now that he's won, he has gotten even worse. And his twitter account is still operational.
9
How can the U.S. maintain any of its essential leadership role when the most detested and contemptible person at a G7 or NATO meeting is the American president, a man without a shred of integrity?
20
What if the Donald held a press conference and nobody came?
15
I honestly think the media should mostly ignore his twitter rants, deprive him of promotional oxygen and focus on lawmakers who are really doing the work of governing. His cabinet members , for example, and Schumer and Bernie. Reward serious governing activities. You are playing his game right now. The media has enough proof that all you get is self promotion, denial and "gas-lighting ." Media outlets also need to build their presence in midwest communities who only read Fox, Breibart and fake news.
Stop whining, democrats. Putin has made mincemeat out of Syria, Turkey, and Europe. The democrats would never beat him at his game. It's terrific that Trump was elected, who can join him. This is the only chance that America has to keep the Russian bear at bay.
Trump's lies and wrong doings are catching up with him, and it's all starting to make sense - His praise of Putin; his attempts to discredit the media; his threats to jail reporters.
If this man can not see how Russia's manipulation of our election compromises our democracy, how can this man run a country ? - It doesn't take a genius to see that this an attempt to weaken our country.
This narcissist should not be handed our country for his personal gain - He has already disgraced our great nation. We deserve better - Our country deserves better.
If this man can not see how Russia's manipulation of our election compromises our democracy, how can this man run a country ? - It doesn't take a genius to see that this an attempt to weaken our country.
This narcissist should not be handed our country for his personal gain - He has already disgraced our great nation. We deserve better - Our country deserves better.
13
Trump's comparison to Nazi Germany was both insensitive and ironic. The Nazis began their campaign of horror with dog whistles to nationalism, expanded that to ethnic purity, controlled the media story and then carefully sculpted a scapegoat for Germany's ills by scurrilously singling out the Jewish people. Sound familiar Mr. Trump?
All one need do is substitute "the free press" for "the Jewish people", although Trump may be conflating the two, and we have the Trump doppelganger. Vigilance is, indeed, the eternal price of freedom. Keep writing, Gail, Frank and colleagues as we are perilously close to a 21st century re-write of the past.
All one need do is substitute "the free press" for "the Jewish people", although Trump may be conflating the two, and we have the Trump doppelganger. Vigilance is, indeed, the eternal price of freedom. Keep writing, Gail, Frank and colleagues as we are perilously close to a 21st century re-write of the past.
4
The world has been turned upside down, then sideways, then inside out. Can you keep up? Trump is no conservative. He is no known political alignment other than Trumpism and that's just fine with a lot of people.
Trump is so un-conservative that even a high school senior in Dallas, Matt Liles, writing in the Dallas news, called him out on it and on how what was once thought of as conservative is being flipped:
"It is not uncommon now to come across instances on social media when someone labels another person a "liberal" for espousing traditionally conservative viewpoints. Similarly, it is not uncommon to find people who claim on their profiles to be "constitutionalists" or "conservatives" calling for strikingly clear violations of the Constitution.
"The growing power of the presidency has been a consistent target of criticism from conservatives during the Obama administration and might be the most obvious flip in philosophy. President-elect Trump has been given a wide mandate by Republican voters to abuse executive authority...
"For these people, working around Congress to put an agenda into law is too fashionable to pass up, especially now that our guys are in power. Trump has promised a White House that commentator David Boaz predicted will make the overreach of the last two executives "seem modest" in comparison."
Poor kid. He's too young to realize that "principles" only count when they can be used against the opposition.
Trump is so un-conservative that even a high school senior in Dallas, Matt Liles, writing in the Dallas news, called him out on it and on how what was once thought of as conservative is being flipped:
"It is not uncommon now to come across instances on social media when someone labels another person a "liberal" for espousing traditionally conservative viewpoints. Similarly, it is not uncommon to find people who claim on their profiles to be "constitutionalists" or "conservatives" calling for strikingly clear violations of the Constitution.
"The growing power of the presidency has been a consistent target of criticism from conservatives during the Obama administration and might be the most obvious flip in philosophy. President-elect Trump has been given a wide mandate by Republican voters to abuse executive authority...
"For these people, working around Congress to put an agenda into law is too fashionable to pass up, especially now that our guys are in power. Trump has promised a White House that commentator David Boaz predicted will make the overreach of the last two executives "seem modest" in comparison."
Poor kid. He's too young to realize that "principles" only count when they can be used against the opposition.
7
A great person would never ever brag about their own greatness (or talk about themselves in the 3rd person!) Only wannabes brag like that.
Then again, a great person also wouldn't brag about committing sexual assault, running a business that has gone bankrupt half a dozen times, making fun of disabled people, hiring racist, sexist, disabled-humiliating, planet-hating staff...(never has an ellipsis needed to work so hard to stand in for such a long list!)
Then again, a great person also wouldn't brag about committing sexual assault, running a business that has gone bankrupt half a dozen times, making fun of disabled people, hiring racist, sexist, disabled-humiliating, planet-hating staff...(never has an ellipsis needed to work so hard to stand in for such a long list!)
21
I tuned in to the show late just as a reporter was asking the PE what he would do with the "bill" he was soon to get. His expression suggested he was aghast at the notion of paying for something until it was clarified that the reporter was referring to legislation from Congress.
Let there be no question that he is focused on money.
Let there be no question that he is focused on money.
15
While Trump spreads lies, half truths, and unsubstantiated claims, just like a reality show, the press is playing "let's wait for confirmation before reporting" and takes hours to do so-called fact check. Trump is always going to dominate.
Most headlines these day say "Trump finally concedes Russia hacked the DNC" - but what values does that have? I mean whether or not he concedes, it is meaningless. Sure enough toward the end he added something like anybody could be the hacker. Just like the "the second amendment people may do something" everything thing he says is subject to alternate interpretation and full of innuendos to be totally meaningless other than to excite his base who are blind and voted against their own interests.
I say boycott his so-called "press conference", or show up but ask no question at all. That will end the reality TV show.
Talk facts and ethics with that man, it is a waste of time.
Most headlines these day say "Trump finally concedes Russia hacked the DNC" - but what values does that have? I mean whether or not he concedes, it is meaningless. Sure enough toward the end he added something like anybody could be the hacker. Just like the "the second amendment people may do something" everything thing he says is subject to alternate interpretation and full of innuendos to be totally meaningless other than to excite his base who are blind and voted against their own interests.
I say boycott his so-called "press conference", or show up but ask no question at all. That will end the reality TV show.
Talk facts and ethics with that man, it is a waste of time.
16
I completely agree. Boycott the press conferences.
Trump's ascendancy to the White House feels like the build up to the Iraq War. We know it feels wrong, the implications of moving forward would be a disaster for the country, but a dull inevitability had set in among policy makers and within a passive and resigned citizenry. We went ahead with the war. It destroyed Iraq, crippled the USA, and created a zeitgeist of cynicism and despair, of nihilism and contempt for self governance that haunts us to this day. Now Trump slouches toward the While House on the heels of a stolen election, buoyed by a party of cowards, hypocrites, and to be polite about it, outright traitors. Once again, as with the Iraq War, if the Trump presidency is allowed to go forward for any length of time, it will take at least a decade to restore what was wasted. Will those who might put a stop to this sit by and watch our country be torn to pieces?
29
I suspect the Russian hotel encounter & video -- soon to be released on YouTube -- is genuinely fake news. [How can news be "genuinely" fake? Only in America. Or Russia. Anyway. . . ]
I suspect the Russian hotel encounter is a complete fabrication.
I suspect the fabrication was somehow leaked -- along with plenty of corroborative detail to add verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative. The leak would be picked up by the media -- as indeed it has -- and then the story will be exposed as the fabrication it in fact was. Trump is innocent (as always). The media are liars (as always). I suspect this shoe will drop before Inauguration Day.
In other words, I think the Russian hotel story is a booby-trap. Too elaborate and subtle for Trump's scheming -- never much above 4th grade level -- but not too elaborate and subtle for some of his more intelligent pals. Take heed, O New York Times.
I suspect the Russian hotel encounter is a complete fabrication.
I suspect the fabrication was somehow leaked -- along with plenty of corroborative detail to add verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative. The leak would be picked up by the media -- as indeed it has -- and then the story will be exposed as the fabrication it in fact was. Trump is innocent (as always). The media are liars (as always). I suspect this shoe will drop before Inauguration Day.
In other words, I think the Russian hotel story is a booby-trap. Too elaborate and subtle for Trump's scheming -- never much above 4th grade level -- but not too elaborate and subtle for some of his more intelligent pals. Take heed, O New York Times.
4
It wouldn't shock me (nothing does, these days) if someone with interest in keeping Trump president--maybe even his own administration--spread this story to drive focus away from all of his other recent misdeeds. Sex scandals are more entertaining and fun than discussing why Trump's business interests conflict with being president, the multitude of ethical concerns surrounding his presidency, and so on. And the media is falling for it, partly because it increases readership. Addressing it as an aside is one thing, but please stick to the facts, NYT.
1
During the campaign, we were dragged into upside-down Trumpworld, and now we must learn how to navigate it, if we haven’t already. I suggest these guidelines. Whatever Trump says, assume it isn’t true, unless you can verify it with a couple of unimpeachable sources. When Trump directs your attention to the left, figuratively speaking, ignore it and look to the right; that’s where you’ll find whatever it is he doesn’t want you to think about. When Trump accuses someone of something, automatically assume it’s what he is doing. Finally, review the meaning of “gaslighting,” and never forget the definition of “hypocrisy” and of “narcissism.” Studying up on other personality disorders is helpful, too. Oh, one more thing. In trying to decipher the motives for any of his actions, figure out how a particular action benefits him personally. How, for instance, does he benefit personally from praising and defending Putin? There’s an answer to that question, and whatever it is, somebody had better find it and make it public. Soon.
35
Absolutely. And one other thing: if Trump is talking make sure you look to see what Congress is trying to do behind the media blind.
As we say in the stable yard he is BAR (boy ain't right). His bizarre stream of conciousness ramblings flabbergast me. How can this presidency be anything but a disaster?
42
Two things that often creep up out of the PEOTUS' mouth when challenged, his ego and his cluelessness. He invokes his superiority by saying the word "great" and diverts your attention with his worthless words and promises. Anyone who brags about a 2 Billion dollar offer he rejected is clueless about decency and class of his office. To him being President of this democracy is like being President of Trump Inc and we are all just his employees to be dismissed or better yet as he mentioned to be fired. All the collaborators in this in coming administration are no different than those who ran the free Vichy part of France and this includes the GOP. Instead of standing true to their principles, they work with him to further divide this country to those with Haves from the Have nots. I hope they enjoy their pieces of silver as they explain to their grandchildren how this democracy was destroyed by their own greed and lust for power. Truth will never come out of this administration, only a constant affirmation of their need to suppress freedoms that was established by the creation of a new country in 1776.
28
Trump has ruined more than his own presidency. He has set precedents that we will never erase. After this, future leaders will
-never release their tax returns
-never divest themselves of assets which might raise conflict of interest questions
-hire their relatives with impunity
-cut deals with foreign powers as "normal business"
-hire cronies who will work to enrich both the Presidency and themselves
-lie blatantly to the public
and all of this will be because "Trump did it and no one objected," cementing these as standard practices.
Don't look to Congress to curtail him. They are busy slopping at the trough.
-never release their tax returns
-never divest themselves of assets which might raise conflict of interest questions
-hire their relatives with impunity
-cut deals with foreign powers as "normal business"
-hire cronies who will work to enrich both the Presidency and themselves
-lie blatantly to the public
and all of this will be because "Trump did it and no one objected," cementing these as standard practices.
Don't look to Congress to curtail him. They are busy slopping at the trough.
57
Amen
This morning I was still basking in the glow of President Obama's thoughtful analysis of our current state of polarization and how everyday citizens can take actions to bridge the divide when I was jolted from the adult room to the 3rd grade playground of Donald Trump's huge ego and id. That both of these men are a reflection of who we are as Americans defies comprehension.
24
Thank you Gail. The very real pain Hillary's supporters are still suffering should not be overlooked. It could even be that not since the assassination of JFK have there been so many broken hearts all over the world.
24
More hearts were broken around the world over the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King 5 years after Kennedy, but I get your general point.
1
The eclectic narcissism of dysfunctional Donald was enhanced by the press conference revelation that he is a germaphobe. What is it with Billionaires and germs ? Will Donald Trump morph into Howard Hughes ? His malevolent game plan is to circumvent ethical and nepotism issues and cynically bully the media. It's an obvious ploy to inoculate himself, by deflecting attention to the messenger, not Donald Trump and/or his minions. We should all recognize a moment of silence for the White House domestic staff. Can you imagine their trepidation in transitioning from the grace of the Obama family to the crass of Donald " you're fired" Trump.
11
Trump did mention he is a "germophobe," so he already has that in common with Hughes. He still needs to go into movies, and the aviation and automobile industries... oh, wait; he has already meddled with them. I guess that might count.
Why would anyone think that Mr Trump would be embarrassed about sexual encounters in Russia, anymore than Berlusconi was about such things, and thus that he might be subject to blackmail as a result?
12
Anyone that finds that those elected to government in the last 50 years have had successful foreign policy, fiscal discipline, intelligent citizens paying attention to them with a few exceptions, I have an oil well to sell you in my back yard. It is time to send them all home for the next 25 years, and we would all be a lot better off. We are good at voting for character and wisdom, nor are those who run for office good at having much of it.
2
Gail, no comment on "germaphobe"!?? I thought you would be on that like white on rice...Perhaps you're saving that one for an entire column?
7
Nobody's writing about one of the most bizarre manifestations of the Elect's win: the spontaneous outbursts that take place by people in public areas (retail stores, airlines), when suddenly his voters/supporters/believers burst forth into tongues uplifted into chaotic messages (impossible to unscramble) punctuated with shouts of his name; these episodes also have frequently have kinetic jerks and turns of body, a frenetic dance as if they are momentarily possessed!
What, pray readers, should we make of them, this political awakening whose episodes have the features of a psychotic break?
What, pray readers, should we make of them, this political awakening whose episodes have the features of a psychotic break?
11
Gosh, I though we had it bad in DC; but it seems to be worse in your "neck of the woods."
After a few weeks of heavy breathing about the repeal of Obamacare, Trump announces they have a replacement plan ready to roll and you make no mention of that? Has health care been temporarily taken off the sniping list?
Trump bouncing hither and yon seems to work better than Obama's eloquence followed by doing nothing. It's going to be along four years in teh liberal press and the guy hasn't even been inaugurated.
Trump bouncing hither and yon seems to work better than Obama's eloquence followed by doing nothing. It's going to be along four years in teh liberal press and the guy hasn't even been inaugurated.
4
And you actually believe that he has a replacement plan?
Please describe it.
Too complicated?
Need some help? You can find some good ideas for how to improve the health care system right here
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/
Please describe it.
Too complicated?
Need some help? You can find some good ideas for how to improve the health care system right here
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/
3
Michael, listen and read carefully; this is important information you missed, and with your passion and interest in government, I am certain you want to get the facts right!
1. There is no GOP healthcare plan. Not in the House, not in the Senate, not by the transition team; Gail cannot not mention what doesn't exist--except to say it doesn't exist (which everybody in America knew--and now you do!)
Michael, your claims of "nothing" ignore some very big things: 20 million Americans with coverage taking the burden off of emergency rooms, eliminating pre-existing conditions as disqualifiers, removing the caps on catastrophic illnesses or medical events, prevention test coverage, and no penalty (higher pricing) for women.
The biggies were saving the Gulf (remember the BP spill?); saving Detroit (the US auto industry), restoring the global banking system, and for the little people on Main Street, 15.6 million private sector jobs created over 74 straight months without negative growth, the longest stretch of any peacetime President since records have been kept.
You may call 15.6 million jobs "nothing." Most of us think that's really "something."
Remember bin Laden? He's dead.
Oh, our domestic oil production ranks third in the world and we are exporting oil. The high school graduation rate also increased.
1. There is no GOP healthcare plan. Not in the House, not in the Senate, not by the transition team; Gail cannot not mention what doesn't exist--except to say it doesn't exist (which everybody in America knew--and now you do!)
Michael, your claims of "nothing" ignore some very big things: 20 million Americans with coverage taking the burden off of emergency rooms, eliminating pre-existing conditions as disqualifiers, removing the caps on catastrophic illnesses or medical events, prevention test coverage, and no penalty (higher pricing) for women.
The biggies were saving the Gulf (remember the BP spill?); saving Detroit (the US auto industry), restoring the global banking system, and for the little people on Main Street, 15.6 million private sector jobs created over 74 straight months without negative growth, the longest stretch of any peacetime President since records have been kept.
You may call 15.6 million jobs "nothing." Most of us think that's really "something."
Remember bin Laden? He's dead.
Oh, our domestic oil production ranks third in the world and we are exporting oil. The high school graduation rate also increased.
11
55 recipients - how many of the 20 million are people receiving free insurance. That's all well and good but it doesn't help the middle class who must buy ACA insurance.
Restoring the global banking system involved the mroal hazard of paying off Wall Street's gambling deb ts and refusing to prosecute Wall Street criminals.
As to jobs growth you fail to mention the 97 million who want jobs but have given up - very weak recovery.
When are you going to get there are reason that Trump won and abig part of it are the neoliberal policies of Obama?Clinton.
Restoring the global banking system involved the mroal hazard of paying off Wall Street's gambling deb ts and refusing to prosecute Wall Street criminals.
As to jobs growth you fail to mention the 97 million who want jobs but have given up - very weak recovery.
When are you going to get there are reason that Trump won and abig part of it are the neoliberal policies of Obama?Clinton.
Gee our intelligence services have never lied or played politics - give me a break. Hillary was a sure thing so why not give her a little push? Seems like a good career move for the brass and it would have been remembered come budget time.
Now that Trump has pushed back and threatened a purge it's open season The press did not think it proper to report on the blackmail theory until the CIA attached it to the briefing it gave Obama and Trump. Of course the CIA being as incompetent as it is doesn't get that Trump's base doesn't care about Trump's sexual scandals. Heads will roll.
Now that Trump has pushed back and threatened a purge it's open season The press did not think it proper to report on the blackmail theory until the CIA attached it to the briefing it gave Obama and Trump. Of course the CIA being as incompetent as it is doesn't get that Trump's base doesn't care about Trump's sexual scandals. Heads will roll.
2
Excuse me, Michael, you think Comey's remarks HELPED Hillary?
20
No it was Hillary's remarks and Podesta bad mouthing her that hurt her. Do you think the public needed Comey to remind them how awful Hillary was?
Michael S - please provide your citation for the whole intelligence service apparatus to have unified in consensus as with the Russian Hacking assessment in the name of playing politics? Your argument is false equivalency personified. Remember, the Pentagon Papers? Daniel Ellsberg revealed that the intelligence community was seriously split within and differed from the military's assessment in Vietnam.
As for determining what direction our nation takes based upon the beliefs or predictions of Trump's base might hold, what a perfect prescription for dooming the majority of Americans based upon the hatreds and prejudices that this 'base' seems motivated by. Heads may roll, but the last head to roll may be the Trump who would be king of a nation that only elects presidents not monarchs.
As for determining what direction our nation takes based upon the beliefs or predictions of Trump's base might hold, what a perfect prescription for dooming the majority of Americans based upon the hatreds and prejudices that this 'base' seems motivated by. Heads may roll, but the last head to roll may be the Trump who would be king of a nation that only elects presidents not monarchs.
2
It doesn't matter if Russia has anything on Trump or not. He is the real Teflon president - Ronald Reagan was an amateur compared to this guy. Yes, he could shoot an innocent person on 5th Avenue and his followers would cheer him on. The cowardly corporate press will continue to treat him with kid gloves and waste their time on false equivalencies and bubble head blather. The spineless Democrat leadership will cry and whine and refuse to stand up to him. Trump is the ultimate bully and the United States is his playground. May the gods help us because apparently we can't help ourselves.
122
Guess he knows about cameras in hotel rooms. He runs a few hotels.
62
It's a delicious irony that Donald Trump, a.k.a. Mr. Birther, is having to fend off, among other things, accusations of sexual shenanigans. Again. My suggestion is for him to recall his band of expert sleuths from the secret Hawaiian mission to investigate President Obama's birth certificate to feret out the Nazis in the intelligence community and the press.
81
I think Mr. Birther, had a Mrs. Birther in the 2008 primary.
I think if we've learned anything between now and yesterday - it's that the juxtaposition of Trump and Obama is downright striking. Both had relatively major public speeches within this 24 hour timeframe - and one was the adult, the other a national embarrassment.
Mr. Trump continues to berate, stroke his ego, and remind us he isn't qualified for the office. He is here to serve the people - but that doesn't seem to remotely enter his mind.
We are in deep trouble.
Mr. Trump continues to berate, stroke his ego, and remind us he isn't qualified for the office. He is here to serve the people - but that doesn't seem to remotely enter his mind.
We are in deep trouble.
170
Ms. Collins says about the Comey letter: "Clinton thinks it cost her the election. There’s no way to tell."
It could not be said with a hundred percent certainty, but it's highly likely that the letter cost her the presidency (and possibly costing Democrats a couple of Senate seats). Polling analysis by five thirty Eight before the election showed a sudden drop of around 2 percent for Clinton in the couple of days after the letter which she never recovered from. She lost by less than 1 percent in 3 states and a little over 1 percent in Florida. People vote based on their feelings, not by analyzing the facts. The letter was the last draw for undecided voters who had heard so much about her 'scandals'. Even the second letter Comey sent before the election was worded shrewdly to cause damage. KGB's Putin and FBI's Comey worked well together!
It could not be said with a hundred percent certainty, but it's highly likely that the letter cost her the presidency (and possibly costing Democrats a couple of Senate seats). Polling analysis by five thirty Eight before the election showed a sudden drop of around 2 percent for Clinton in the couple of days after the letter which she never recovered from. She lost by less than 1 percent in 3 states and a little over 1 percent in Florida. People vote based on their feelings, not by analyzing the facts. The letter was the last draw for undecided voters who had heard so much about her 'scandals'. Even the second letter Comey sent before the election was worded shrewdly to cause damage. KGB's Putin and FBI's Comey worked well together!
105
This press conference was a good example of why the President-elect so needs Trump whisperer Kellyanne Conway whose public deflections, feints and distractions provide some protection of Donald Trump from himself. But even she couldn't defend everything this week.
In an interview with CNN's Chris Cumo, he wouldn't let her wriggle off the hook of Trump claiming not to have mocked reporter Serge Kovaleski - something we all saw repeatedly as part of a Clinton ad during the campaign and which actress Meryl Streep mentioned again on Sunday night. Finally in exasperation, she criticized Cuomo's question. "Why is everything taken at face value?” she asked. “You can't give him the benefit of the doubt on this ....? You always want to go by what has come out of his mouth rather than look at what's in his heart," she opined. Oh my. We are living in a brand new world where up is down, news is fake, any win is a mandate, Vladimir Putin is more trustworthy than American intelligence agencies, and Donald J. Trump is about to be our President - whose closest adviser reminds us not to judge him by what comes out of his mouth. Well, that's a relief!
In an interview with CNN's Chris Cumo, he wouldn't let her wriggle off the hook of Trump claiming not to have mocked reporter Serge Kovaleski - something we all saw repeatedly as part of a Clinton ad during the campaign and which actress Meryl Streep mentioned again on Sunday night. Finally in exasperation, she criticized Cuomo's question. "Why is everything taken at face value?” she asked. “You can't give him the benefit of the doubt on this ....? You always want to go by what has come out of his mouth rather than look at what's in his heart," she opined. Oh my. We are living in a brand new world where up is down, news is fake, any win is a mandate, Vladimir Putin is more trustworthy than American intelligence agencies, and Donald J. Trump is about to be our President - whose closest adviser reminds us not to judge him by what comes out of his mouth. Well, that's a relief!
160
A world where up is down? How about a world where "war is peace", "freedom is slavery", and, most importantly, "ignorance is strength"?,
"You always want to go by what has come out of his mouth rather than look at what's in his heart," she opined.
But of course. Who are you going to believe: her, or your lying eyes?
But of course. Who are you going to believe: her, or your lying eyes?
Last night I was inspired, moved, encouraged, exhorted and comforted by my President. Today I was sickened, disgusted, and repeled by the spectacle of the "press conference" of the twittering dolt who will soon assume the leadership of our nation. A stark and frightening contrast.
225
The last line. You bet 66 million of us are angry. We will march, call, work hard and take a breath when Trump is arrested for treason.
187
"But it’s time to remember that there are about 66 million Clinton voters who have a right to be angry, too."
Thank you Gail, please remind us from time to time that there is, in fact, a majority of voting Americans who did not want Trump.
Thank you Gail, please remind us from time to time that there is, in fact, a majority of voting Americans who did not want Trump.
66
Thank God for Gail Collins. She's helping to keep us sane!
34
Thanks for reporting Trump's press conference with your unique perspective. Actually, your column is similar to the memo summarizing the press conference turned in by my cat--but then he is also quite perceptive and nothing gets past him.
11
Trump whines whenever he thinks something is unflattering or critical. He has the attention span of a gnat. Everything with him is "great, really great" or "terrific" or "good good people" or other repetitive adjectives. Nothing in the news conference that showed Trump to be anything other than the petty, vindictive narcissist that he has always been. If someone says something he doesn't like, it is "fake news" (and as a master of fake news, Trump ought to know). Buckle up, folks, it is going to be a bumpy ride.
54
Gail, sometimes you are all that makes the prospect of this four year travesty of democracy we face at all bearable. Honest to the gods above, how is it possible that this great country is going to be subjected to a man with no character and such mutable morals?. And as a bonus, he's disrespectful, ignorant and mean!
30
Told ya. Trump plans to make himself into an autocratic dictator. His answer to every challenge about his violating laws is "I won". He was an inch away from charging off the podium to punch out Acosta of CNN, one of the most respected and the ORIGINAL cable news network. Why? Because CNN has posted uncomplimentary stories about Tsar Donald. I'm surprised he didn't shout "Off with his head!" to his private bodyguards who don't answer to the Treasury as do the Secret Service, but only to Tsar Donald.
But Trump hasn't gathered nearly enough power yet to stop the press and if they corroborate the video tape story, Republicans on the Hill are to flee like rats from a sinking ship. He's made enemies--Marco Rubio would LOVE to deep-six Tillerson as SecState. Will he have the guts to do it, or will Trump's thugs scare him out of it?
It's an open secret that most, if not all Republicans on the Hill would much prefer Mike Pence as President to this megalomaniac (except maybe Jeff Sessions). And I suspect many Dems would as well. After all, Pence plays by the rules, but Trump thinks rules only apply to everyone else.
Rhetorical question: How did the United States of America EVER get to this low point?
But Trump hasn't gathered nearly enough power yet to stop the press and if they corroborate the video tape story, Republicans on the Hill are to flee like rats from a sinking ship. He's made enemies--Marco Rubio would LOVE to deep-six Tillerson as SecState. Will he have the guts to do it, or will Trump's thugs scare him out of it?
It's an open secret that most, if not all Republicans on the Hill would much prefer Mike Pence as President to this megalomaniac (except maybe Jeff Sessions). And I suspect many Dems would as well. After all, Pence plays by the rules, but Trump thinks rules only apply to everyone else.
Rhetorical question: How did the United States of America EVER get to this low point?
47
Money. Boat loads of it. This whole election was bought, repackaged and sold for money, the media, and by money provided by the supreme courts decision. Thats how we got to this point.
(You remember that audit. Its friends call it Godot.)
Ha!
Except the IRS needs to reveal in some fashion what the American people have a right to know.
We need to know if we have a crook on our hands.
Ha!
Except the IRS needs to reveal in some fashion what the American people have a right to know.
We need to know if we have a crook on our hands.
32
Gail Collins is angry! As she should be. As should we all.
22
Just another episode of the "reality show' that is dt* Enterprises, and what passes for democracy in the USA today. Depending upon your POV, it didn't translate too well in the actual real world, or, was a masterful debut (although it was a rerun). But whatever, the show has been put on the road, the circus wagons have left the parking lot, and the barkers have signed their contracts. One wonders how carefully they read them?
I do notice that dt* doesn't look as happy as he did on the trail. Maybe this gig won't suit him?
I do notice that dt* doesn't look as happy as he did on the trail. Maybe this gig won't suit him?
9
Which Trump aide decided to schedule the press conference the night after President Obama's farewell speech? To move so quickly from eloquence and grace to such a disgusting and ignorant tirade just makes Pres. Obama's departure even harder to bear. Wake me up from this nightmare.
75
Trust? Donald? Trump? Never!
When a confirmed liar says something, never take it at face value. When someone says they could shoot someone in mid-Manhattan and get away with it (either being honest or telling the sickest joke ever), they are pathological. Why waste our time even reporting what he says, pretending that his words have substance? Ignore what he says. JUST REPORT WHAT HE DOES.
He picked a racist for Attorney General. He picked a friend of Russia for Secretary of State. He picked a guy who distrusts scientists to run the EPA. He picked a doctor who would take care away from the poor as Health Secretary. He picked a guy who cheats his own workers for Labor Secretary. He picked a women who ruthlessly destroyed her small business competitors for head of the Small Business Administration. He picked someone who is hostile to Indians to run the Bureau of Indian affairs. He picked a billionaire who put people out of their homes as Treasury Secretary. He picked a Secretary of Education who has little regard for public education.
Go down virtually all his appointments and you see a team of incompetents who will work to demolish the US government from with, hurting millions of Americans in the process. Forget the words - judge the behavior! His actions betray his evil intent.
When a confirmed liar says something, never take it at face value. When someone says they could shoot someone in mid-Manhattan and get away with it (either being honest or telling the sickest joke ever), they are pathological. Why waste our time even reporting what he says, pretending that his words have substance? Ignore what he says. JUST REPORT WHAT HE DOES.
He picked a racist for Attorney General. He picked a friend of Russia for Secretary of State. He picked a guy who distrusts scientists to run the EPA. He picked a doctor who would take care away from the poor as Health Secretary. He picked a guy who cheats his own workers for Labor Secretary. He picked a women who ruthlessly destroyed her small business competitors for head of the Small Business Administration. He picked someone who is hostile to Indians to run the Bureau of Indian affairs. He picked a billionaire who put people out of their homes as Treasury Secretary. He picked a Secretary of Education who has little regard for public education.
Go down virtually all his appointments and you see a team of incompetents who will work to demolish the US government from with, hurting millions of Americans in the process. Forget the words - judge the behavior! His actions betray his evil intent.
167
Agreed. And to state it more simply: believe what you see, not what you hear.
Even Kellyanne Conway has said that we shouldn't listen to Trump's words. I don't think she suggested that we should pay attention to his actions, but how else are we going to know what's in his heart?
Please Lord, never let me see the Donald Trump sex tapes.
36
In my entire life, I have never seen anyone show such a level of contempt for the American people as Mr. Trump did during his 'press conference'. The man is a disgrace.
103
I suspect that Trump cannot divest himself of his businesses because such a process would open up his entire organization and all of its dealings to the light of day. This might contain damaging information. How could he sell some of these entities without a complete audit, and a complete exposition of loans, agreements, contracts, problems, and records?
37
All the more reason that he should do it.
So Donald Trump was all over the place in the press conference? What did you expect? It was a press conference. He was responding to questions. Of course he will be all over the place.
I liked the press conference. And I like the way Donald Trump has been preparing to be president. He is authentic. He gives direct responses to questions instead of the rambling dodges that Barack Obama gave. He tweets what he is thinking instead of having every public utterance vetted and approved by advisers. He is his own man.
Usually Maureen Dowd picks up on the main points of a press conference like this. But she didn't mention what I thought was the most important thing Donald Trump said. He railed against the intelligence agencies for their rampant leaking. He compared that use of fake news and propaganda to what Nazi Germany did.
And it is troubling. We have government officials leaking confidential information to reporters to do political damage to Donald Trump. Those officials are committing a felony. Yet the press seems to think nothing of it.
The press talks about the damage that Russia did to our democracy. What about the damage these leakers, and the press who aides and abets them, are doing to our country? To their own government? Damaging our own president to be, using our country's secrets?
I would expect that of the Russians. I did not expect that of American intelligence officials, and the reporters who they use, to do that. Shame on all of them.
I liked the press conference. And I like the way Donald Trump has been preparing to be president. He is authentic. He gives direct responses to questions instead of the rambling dodges that Barack Obama gave. He tweets what he is thinking instead of having every public utterance vetted and approved by advisers. He is his own man.
Usually Maureen Dowd picks up on the main points of a press conference like this. But she didn't mention what I thought was the most important thing Donald Trump said. He railed against the intelligence agencies for their rampant leaking. He compared that use of fake news and propaganda to what Nazi Germany did.
And it is troubling. We have government officials leaking confidential information to reporters to do political damage to Donald Trump. Those officials are committing a felony. Yet the press seems to think nothing of it.
The press talks about the damage that Russia did to our democracy. What about the damage these leakers, and the press who aides and abets them, are doing to our country? To their own government? Damaging our own president to be, using our country's secrets?
I would expect that of the Russians. I did not expect that of American intelligence officials, and the reporters who they use, to do that. Shame on all of them.
4
John, you seem confused. The column is by Gail Collins--a humorist--not by political commentator Maureen Dowd.
1
Maybe Maureen Dowd didn't mention what you thought most important because Gail Collins wrote the article.
1
John Smithson, Trump the Liar, Conman and Sex Abuser in Chief-elect was already unworthy of our respect and trust long before the report on his alleged (and given his known behaviors, quite believable) misbehaviors came out. Neither CNN nor the intelligence agencies leaked it. Trump gave direct responses but no answers to the questions asked. And it was their authentic behavior that got many convicts into prison. Bernie Madoff was also very authentic when he defended himself by saying that his victims asked for it because they trusted him with their money. We need to see Trump's tax returns. He may legally get away with not showing them, since the only qualifications for the presidency are being 35 or older and a naturally born American, but not showing them means he has something to hide there. For the rest, if you dish it out (birtherism, calling your opponent crooked and calling for her imprisonment), you have to be able to take it. If Trump can't stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen.
1
It is a disgrace that the security report and this dosier were not released before the election and perhaps that Trump was not arrested before the election. It is a smear on Justice that the FBI Director is not relieved and under arrest. It is shameful that Trump is still acting like he really could be President and pretend to hold a press conference where America was embarrassed by his stupidity, his hubris, and his emptiness. We have a talentless "reality TV" hack as the President and we are ashamed.
41
read some of the comments on here! some have a love affair with the donald.....THAT IS VERY INTENSE.
Someone compared Trump to Bozo, which others would say is an insult to Bozo, but it seems apt to me - he is a clown car driver, and there are a bunch of clowns in the car with him. Some people find clowns scary, and some of this clowns fellow passenger clowns truly are scary. Let's just see when this car pulls up in Washington, and the circus comes to town (from this week, it is clearly already there) what it means for our future.
11
Can you imagine President Obama using the word "crap" in public? Can you imagine him saying "I can run the country ..."? (In Tuesday's farewell address when speaking of his Administration's accomplishments, he unfailingly used the first person plural "we" to acknowledge the huge collective effort that went in to those achievements.) Can you imagine President Obama calling people names or using ad hominem insults? Can you imagine him defensive in the face of the constant ad hominem insults hurled in his direction? I mean, really, for four years we'll have to keep our children away from politics completely, when we might rather expose and teach them citizenship.
39
The main thing I learned from today's "press conference" was simply reinforcement of the reality that our President-elect and those clinging to his coattails are the biggest group of immature whiners we have seen in Washington in a very long time. The other thing is that I do find it difficult to accept that the financial holdings of Mitt Romney's family and Nelson Rockefeller's family were so much simpler and of smaller magnitude than that of the Mr. Trump. Then again, those two men did understand the concept of ethics and corruption within public service. I look forward to seeing if the incoming Trump administration can break the Reagan record for the number of indictments against members of the President's administration. The level of hubris alone all but guarantees this outcome.
89
Mr. Trump seems upset by the revelation of unconfirmed reports on his salacious behavior Maybe he should consider how Mr. Obama feels.
For years Mr. Obama was the victim of Mr. Trump's assertions that Mr. Obama was born in Kenya - a lie that was not merely unconfirmed but was refuted by documentation.
Consider Mr. Trump's revelations on his infidelities, both in his "auto"biography and on his repeated visits to Howard Stern's show. Consider his advise to Billy Bush on how to treat women. Consider his many derogatory statements about women over the years. Does any reasonable person think the chance of Donald Trump engaging in salacious acts is less than the chance that Mr. Obama was born in Kenya?
For years Mr. Obama was the victim of Mr. Trump's assertions that Mr. Obama was born in Kenya - a lie that was not merely unconfirmed but was refuted by documentation.
Consider Mr. Trump's revelations on his infidelities, both in his "auto"biography and on his repeated visits to Howard Stern's show. Consider his advise to Billy Bush on how to treat women. Consider his many derogatory statements about women over the years. Does any reasonable person think the chance of Donald Trump engaging in salacious acts is less than the chance that Mr. Obama was born in Kenya?
82
First of all, if journalists knew about these charges then how could they have been doing anything other than trying to confirm or refute them? We should have heard about this when we heard about the unconfirmed possibility of something condemning Hillary on some random laptop. If even the RNC had this info as this story implies, they should have known it would come out. They tossed the country under the bus to win the election.
Second, yeah, his current returns are under audit. So show us the most recent one that isn't! Why didn't the press at least push for that before the election?
Lastly, this seems too little too late. He's in. Even if he resigns we have Pence, a president who a vast majority of the country would NEVER have voted for.
On the positive side, as we've seen from subscription rates, people are reading more and clicking more. I hope that's a result rather than a cause. While there's a business incentive to encourage readership, the job of the press is to protect the democracy through exposing this exact sort of thing. Doing that now is cute and all, but it would have been useful back when it could make a real difference.
Second, yeah, his current returns are under audit. So show us the most recent one that isn't! Why didn't the press at least push for that before the election?
Lastly, this seems too little too late. He's in. Even if he resigns we have Pence, a president who a vast majority of the country would NEVER have voted for.
On the positive side, as we've seen from subscription rates, people are reading more and clicking more. I hope that's a result rather than a cause. While there's a business incentive to encourage readership, the job of the press is to protect the democracy through exposing this exact sort of thing. Doing that now is cute and all, but it would have been useful back when it could make a real difference.
39
It might be better to have Pence as president if more of the people would be united against him. And he'd certainly be less offensive on television.
And I think you're being overly harsh on the press. It was pretty clear all along that Trump was utterly unsuited to be president. Trump himself made that clear to most people. And a majority of people did not vote for him in either the Republican primaries or the general election.
And I think you're being overly harsh on the press. It was pretty clear all along that Trump was utterly unsuited to be president. Trump himself made that clear to most people. And a majority of people did not vote for him in either the Republican primaries or the general election.
I have noticed that Melania and Barron are staying out of sight, and now Ivanka and Jared are, also. Is this a good or bad sign?
I am astounded that a great nation like USA elect a person like TRUMP president !
The consequences for the country and world will be huge and irreversible.
Ruusian for sure have some damning things in closet about this guy and God knows how they will manipulate .
The consequences for the country and world will be huge and irreversible.
Ruusian for sure have some damning things in closet about this guy and God knows how they will manipulate .
17
Beautiful article, Gail. You cover alot of serious ground with your usual wit, humor and sense of irony and rooting out hypocrisy (Comey being the paradigmatic example).
24
He needs to understand that democracy is not for sale, that this presidency thing is about democracy. The tall tower experience was about con and making money for himself. I believe his background is lacking in the humanity department. I will be happy to give him a course by twitter about decency dignity and kindness. For free, because you, dt, need to be nicer. Your anger is out of control and you are mean.
24
After watching Trump's performance of bluster and bile, I'm now convinced that he will eventually "eat his own," i.e., the meek, cowered GOP politicians. Once that happens, there will be plenty of evidence for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Time to start a pool for "date of impeachment?"
Time to start a pool for "date of impeachment?"
41
pjd,
The odds of impeachment are currently 9 to 4 in the wake of a flurry of bets on the back of a growing consensus among law professors that the controversial Republican is heading for trouble.
The odds of impeachment are currently 9 to 4 in the wake of a flurry of bets on the back of a growing consensus among law professors that the controversial Republican is heading for trouble.
1
great idea!
1
The one thing that he wants is for you to continue to write about him. Mr. Trump loathes to be ignored. As President, that will be impossible, but the truth is you are actually supporting him by continuing to write about him and his behaviors. Attempting to bash him is only giving him strength, to him as well as to his supporters.
If you want to be thought of as being smarter than him, try ignoring him. This is what you, Mr. Blow, and the others in the press have yet to learn.