“Well, it turns out I’m the most — and I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,” he declared.
I have no choice but to agree with Trump. He is absolutely the most transparent person when it comes to lying, cheating, whining, scheming, bullying, name-calling, harassing, evading, stealing, kissing (up to Putin), obstructing (justice), being divisive, separating (children from their parents), sucking (up to his donors and Fox), hating (anyone who is not white), and so much more.
He does all of the above in broad daylight, in front of people and cameras with full transparency.
24
I just love the "I" word. Impeachment can't come soon enough.
Let the Republican Senate embarrass themselves if the do not vote for it. Who knows maybe 5 Republicans will actually grow a backbone and get rid of Trump.
I know, I know, Pence will be President for awhile, but it will only be for a few months.
8
President* is absolutely the most transparent man at the head of the most transparent administration in the history of this country...so transparent that we can see right through them.
4
I, for one, am extremely impressed by the White House staff’s ability to do the graphics for, decide on the colors, manage to put together incorrect stats, print the sign, and hang it on the podium in 3 minutes.
8
With the podium sign already made up, this apparition by the Nationalist Republican leader was a planned event. It didn't matter what the Democrats said and didn't say. As divisive as an impeachment would be, the specter of reelecting an impeached president would be breathtaking and a mark in history that will never disappear.
"What do you think was going on there? Was Trump …"
D) Fully aware that the feel-good infrastructure "deal" he originally cooked up with Chuck and Nancy would never get through his GOP majority in the Senate, so he orchestrated a "meeting" with the two Democratic leaders having the express purpose of blowing it to smithereens with the lame excuse that Nancy wasn't "nice" to him and that therefore he could never discuss infrastructure with any Democrat while under the Stormy cloud of such a grievous insult.
That's my bet.
3
sit down, this will be a shocker: President Trump claims to be the most transparent President in history, and I agree with him. almost all Americans can see right through him. he has a base and even they can see him for the conman he is - they just don't care. he lies constantly ( 10,000 lies in office so far, says the WaPo), clearly refuses to uphold his oath of office, is brazen in his admiration of foreign dictators, spends his days and nights acting guilty as sin, and is generally as crystaline as a glass half full of [redacted]. in your heart you know he's right. Guilty!
6
There is so much here. Lies are even being put on posters and handouts. Mueller report does NOT say no collusion. They didn't investigate collusion..they investigated conspiracy. It did NOT clear trump of obstruction. trump says, "I don't do cover ups.". Well, "individual 1" will have trouble proving that. Congress should subpeona Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougall. I think they would have a diddferent take on trump and cover ups.
3
The transparency claim is staggering.
2
Actually we do hate him. He's not wrong.
10
Trump had a pre-planned hissy fit because he has no plan/clue/interest in doing anything that might benefit America and Americans.
Given three weeks to come up with the $2 trillion that he suggested at the last infrastructure meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the best he could come up with was an infantile tantrum.
5
He's right about one thing, he is very transparent.
Is the I word Incompetent?
9
In Watkins v. United States (1957), the Supreme Court held that the power of Congress to conduct investigations is broad but not unlimited. The court found that “a congressional investigation into individual affairs is invalid if unrelated to any legislative purpose.”
The flurry of congressional subpoenas and congressional committee investigations aimed at Trump have no legislative purpose; they are political harassment. Democrats should stop gnashing their teeth over the outcomes of the last presidential election and the Mueller investigation.
11
@William Case Perhaps. But he is ALSO stopping investigations into other areas that can not be placed under that umbrella. Like border separation, or why he overruled professionals on security clearances, or why we are about to go to war with Iran. And, BTW, investigating his financial dealings includes determining whether his unorthodox foreign policy as connected to other countries that have made deals. And lets not even mention the emoluments clause, where Trump has not requested, nor has Congress given, approval for the financial 'gifts' from foreign countries. Nor his quashing of a plan to replace the crumbling FBI building because it could well bring in competition for his illegal hotel (he violates the terms of the agreement... . I would go on, there is so much. And BTW, there is no requirement for legislative purpose to handing over his tax returns. That law was created after the Teapot Dome fiasco. When all of the misdeeds of Trump are revealed, we will need a much larger name than 'Teapot' to attach to it.
147
@William Case
That case is about the affairs of private individuals (not the kind of affairs Trump has). Trump is the President of the United States (unfortunately).
57
@Jbugko
The issue is whether the congressional subpoenas have a legislative purpose. They don't.
4
I don't know what medications Trump takes for his ailments, but this sounds like a drug reaction or side effect. In fact, all of his ideas seem to spring from some kind of side effect, don't they?
2
Thank you, Gail. As always, you manage to wring laughter out of the horror that is this presidency!
13
It's almost as if Infrastructure Week isn't gonna happen...
6
Thank you for the chuckles. As for Trump, would anyone buy a bridge from that man? Much less trust him to fix one?
Also, where are the disappearing Republicans? Doesn't Congress, unlike Trump, have experience with the process of infrastructure aid, including hearings with experts, studies, setting priorities, and allocating budget resources?
Weren't McConnell and McCarthy also at the meeting? Weren't Mnuchin and Mulvaney supposed to be there as well since this was about the budget? Did Trump greet them or just glare at the two Democrats?
Why is it only Trump, Speaker Pelosi, and Sen. Schumer who are ever mentioned? This suspiciously sounds like a set up to be rude and belligerent or noncooperative.
This is increasingly bizarre. There's something else missing besides normal White House protocol when dealing with Congressional leaders.
3
How is this different from the immigration reform bill that Trump sabotaged? He employed pretty much the same tactics and the same "stages" then as now.
His motive is to blame Democrats for the promises he didn't keep. He can say, "See I tried to work with them, but they wouldn't cooperate. They insisted on investigating me."
The reality is that Congress can investigate and legislate at the same time. It's done that for over two centuries.
People don't have to like each other or even agree much with each other to get to a common goal, like building infrastructure, if they want to. Trump doesn't want to. Once again, it's all about him; not about what the country needs and wants.
And don't even get me started on how transparent he is. Yes, his behavior is transparent, but he hides the financial stuff.
7
To your multiple choice question; I don't think Trump has the attention span or cognitive ability to have watched a single episode of Game of Thrones let alone the entire series.
If he did he would probably be demanding the immediate purchase of dragons to patrol our southern border.
8
Say what you will about the Trump administration but a sign produced in 3 minutes and attached to the podium is impressive. If only they could fix the infrastructure as quickly.
8
Others have suggested that Trump chose to do this in this way and at this time because he realized he couldn't pay the bill for the infrastructure. That is his style.
That is likely true. However, it hides a deeper concern.
When Trump goes down (he often does) he takes a lot of people with him. He is like a drowning victim, who hangs onto the neck of the lifeguard trying to save him, until they both drown together. He pushes down the rescuer in a desperate effort to stay nearer the surface. This was one of the big risks taught to lifeguards, when I was teaching it as a Water Safety Instructor about 45 years ago now.
I doubt Trump could refuse to leave office or refuse to hold elections. I don't doubt he would if he could, just that he can't.
Instead, I foresee personal ruin for everyone he can ruin and take with him. That would be not just his friends, but everyone he blames and can reach to take with him. He's vicious.
Many in DC are vulnerable. They've got secrets. They've done stuff they could be hurt by if revealed. It is not wrong to call the place a Swamp, even if it is wrong to suggest there is anyone not a swamp creature residing there.
10
I am starting to see that there just might be something quite clever to Pelosi's long and slow approach towards impeachment. This is clearly making him unravel into even lower depths of despair and desperation, which ultimately will lead to his way too drawn out demise.
18
@Christian Hagen; let's hope he doesn't drag us into a war of distraction overseas as he goes down.
5
@Christian Hagen
Death by a thousand cuts.
She is a genius at this strategizing.
Oh, Ms. Collins, if only your skill set as a writer included the Humor Tool, and I am kidding, of course. I'm sure I am not alone in offering my gratitude to you for the execution of your formidable gift for guaranteeing that on those occasions (like 1/20/17 to the present) when we, the citizens of this great country, must bear up in trying circumstances, there WILL be considerable inspiration for laughter through the tears.
12
We can talk of Legislative rights, Criminal rights for Congress to investigate the President. Bottom line Congress represents the People who elected them and these People are the majority and want and demand to know if this President is a crook. Whether it was money laundering, bank fraud, tax fraud. We want to know because "We the People" would go to jail for this and expect the leader of our country to be a leader by example and play by the same rules.
11
Gail Collins is always a breath of fresh air. Someone at trump's pity party should have raised their hand and ask if by the 'I' word he meant infrastructure.
10
I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,
"Cellophane, Mister Cellophane
Should have been my name, Mister Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me,
Walk right by me, and never know I'm there."
7
BRAVO! One of your very best among your always excellent columns.
7
Thank you! I needed to laugh this morning. Trump can’t govern, never could.
7
"No collusion, no protrusion, no solution, no delusion, no wait there was confusion, and profusion and I am not sure if I said delusion, delusion, delusion....who said I'm not married, I meant to say that I am a 12 handicap with a bullwhip, catnip, don't snip that".
6
The intent of the infrastructure meeting between Trump, Schumer and Pelosi was to exchange infrastructure plan ideas to get some idea of where they agreed and disagreed, and what kink of "pay-fors" each was willing to consider. The idea was to begin a more practical discussion of what a mutually acceptable infrastructure bill might look like.
Trump and his unfocused, disfunctional team almost certainly did not have even the barest outlines of a real infrastructure plan. Trump was not about to acknowledge that he had no plan that could be a starting point for eventual legislation. Since he had not done his homework, he created a distraction to distract us from the unpleasant truth:
Trump did not do his job. He has a team that does not do their jobs.
Both Nixon and Clinton stayed engaged in the work of governance all the way through their impeachement woes. (Nixon was actively signing bills and issuing orders almost to the moment he borded the helicopter to leave the White House. That work was about goverance, and completely unrelated to both Nixion's future or his impeachment.)
Trump is certainly criminal (read the Mueller report). He is also utterly incompetent as President. Creating a braying distraction because he had not done his infrastructure homework is what we would expect from a 4th grader. He should be removed from office -- if not for his criminality, then for his utter incompetence.
17
I want the Infrastructure bill more than I want Trump to suffer. It is sad to me that most Democrats would rather see the country burn than give Trump the chance to do something that would help everyone. But that is where we are. I hated the obstruction when President Obama was in office and I hate it now.
1
@willt26
But it is Trump who is obstructing, not the dems. Pelosi and Schumer arrived with concrete proposals; it was Trump who never intended to sit down and instead had a hissy fit.
I don't know why we can't have both: an infrastructure bill passed and if Trump suffers along the way, I'm ok w/ that.
17
I'd love to believe this is just Trump being his usual moronic whiney crybaby self, but the reasons for his refusal is a decoy -- this is all in line with the same accelerationist Republican strategy they've been running for decades. Refuse to invest or legislate towards social services & infrastructure & clean technology, blame it on "big government" ineffectiveness, privatize everything that isn't nailed down, while Congress gives out huge subsidies to fossil fuel and their corporate sponsors in the military-industrial complex, fighting endless wars abroad while our healthcare and social wellbeing caves in on itself. I don't know what they think the endgame of this is supposed to be -- the Rapture?! -- since they have to drive the same roads and breathe the same air as everyone else.
9
Am I allowed to infer that the president may be starting to hear the word “quit” from at least one of the very few people with whom he ever makes eye contact.
4
It's 3, Gail; the $2 Trillion$ is something the Freedom Caucus crowd which Sleazy Slimy 45* has surrounded himself with, don't want - take a bow Mark Meadows and Mick Mulvaney.
This is the same Freedom Caucus 'no' crowd which devised the end-of-year government shutdown debacle, and advocated having the nation default on our debt in 2011's debt ceiling discussion, who are of the Steve Bannon/Grover Norquist ilk.
The same crowd who quickly grabbed Donald's ear after the televised Cabinet Room meeting in Jan. 2018, where Trump agreed with Dianne Feinstein and other Dems about immigration and DACA recipients, and the Freedom Caucus crowd got this president to reverse himself.
Since Sleazy Slimy Don is always concerned about 'the base' which the Freedom Caucus represents, they have no problem manipulating POTUS into stunts that fit their political agenda, no matter whether it's good for 'Individual-1/No Collusion' 45*, or the country. They are only concerned about advancing Movement Conservatism's Ayn Randian goals.
His Unhinged Unraveling Unfitness 45* is merely their willing, convenient stooge.
8
Everyday I loose what little respect or caring I have remaining for his supporters, this man is an abomination.
14
In every one of Trump's cabinet posts, a fox has been placed in charge of the hen house. But real foxes have courage, these are cowards not willing to defend the Constitution and our country from this madman and his primary accomplice and would-be dictator McConnell.
10
The Republican party should be declared the #1 enemy of the United States of America.
12
At the conclusion of The Donald’s three minute meltdown in the cabinet room, Kellyanne Conway tried to engage Nancy Pelosi.
Note to Mrs. Conway, Nancy Pelosi, (as well as the rest of us) know you are nothing but a non-stop loud mouth spinning for your boss. Stay in your lane, Kellyanne, stay in your lane. Speaker Pelosi is third in line to the Presidency as outlined in the Constitution. She is well within her rights as Speaker of the House, to address only the President, and not his assistants, no matter how important you may feel you are. Wish there was video of that exchange along with Trumps temper tantrum. If it wasn’t such a serious matter, it would be hilarious too. Another new low for the Trump team. Way to make America great, (MAGA) by embarrassing the entire country before the World.
17
I guess the payments to pornstars and the bought-and-killed tabloid stories don't count as "coverups."
13
Infrastructure would be a super deal, critically needed and would give Trump strong plusses with the American people. Regrettably, national security policy is in the hands of John Bolton who has only one answer to problems with difficult problems - regime change.
Bolton is the accidental national security advisor. Those with competence to do the job, advised Trump against exiting JCPOA. Despite Rubio's protestations Congress refused to give Trump legal cover in 2017 to exit JCPOA if Iran had not violated the agreement. Bolton provided a solution to use the emergency powers of the president and to act without Congress to inflict sanctions that would lead to the overthrow of the Mullahs.
If Trump is not going to deal with infrastructure while Democrats investigate he will busy himself to generate news addressing international crises. He has several choices. The story of the Iran crisis concocted by Bolton is straightforward. The Mullahs threaten Israel and Saudi oil. They refuse to negotiate with Trump. Bolton advises squeezing them harder. An incident that generates news is very likely.
Bolton has a plan. While Trump rushes from pillar to post Bolton will execute his plan that can only done if Trump is in power and Congress is kept busy on other stuff.
Congress should have the authority to remove Bolton from the seat of power to prevent irreparable damage to the U.S. That may be far more important than impeachment or infrastructure or even the investigations.
3
How did they get that sign printed so quickly? There was such a short time between his hissy fit in front of Chuck and Nancy and his rambling hissy fit in the Rose Garden. Perhaps the cover-up he heard was Nancy discussing her makeup,
2
Yeah -let’s work together—and I’ll stick a dagger in your back —ok?
I think that what America needs to do is take Donald J.Trump and throw him to the ground and then tie three of his legs together... just like what we do to cows at the rodeos here in Denver.
3
Trump is a whirling dirvish of incoherence and incompetence. He's gotta go. His presidency has been consumed by him and his never ending irrational behavior. His first term will be 4 years of nothing save his supreme court appointments which will not benefit the country. There aren't enough seditives in the US to calm us down. This man is absolutely nuts.
6
What does it say when our insane toddler president threatens to do nothing until investigations into his criminal activities cease? One would think if he has nothing to hide that he would welcome these probes into his administration, himself and his family. To his rabid followers I say this; Stand up for your country, not some pretend dictator con man tearing done our nation and the constitution every time he tweets unintelligible nonsense. To the Republican party members, I say this; Keep ignoring and obstructing justice to your own peril.
9
He can't bail out the farmers and commit to infrastructure and a big wall at the same time, so he throws a tantrum. He knows his time is drawing to a close.
7
Perhaps Trump read the following headline in Wednesday's NYT:
"New York Passes Bill Giving Congress a Way to Get Trump’s State Tax Returns"
That probably put his nibs into a tizzy.
6
Off topic , but I think it is time for another contest for the worst Cabinet Secretary , with Ben Carson now a leading candidate
7
The, “I-word”: imbecilic, inept, ignorant, idiotic, incoherent, ill-informed, impediment, imperious, imprisonment, implicate, impossible, incomprehensible, indiscreet, ineffective, insincere,
insufferable, irrational, irate, irresponsible, insulting, intolerable, imposture, impeach.
7
America, just think of all the side benefits when this clown is removed from office in 2010: Sarah Huckleberry goes back to her trailer park in Arkansas never to be heard from again, Pompeo leaves the world stage forever, that creep Stephen Miller slinks back into his hold, Ben Carson goes back to anonymity so richly deserved, and lardbutt Bill Barr goes to retirement where he can contemplate all day the President is ABOVE THE LAW, at least the Republican President. AND OH MY GOD, how can I forget, Kellyanne Conway will no longer soil the White House.
8
Crazeee as a bedbug.
4
Reading your columns and Seth Myers’ Closer Looks are the only political bright and funny spots in my days, along with a weekly Bill Maher. Have so enjoyed you, Gail, for years.
The reason I’m writing is: There must be some way to convince NP and the House to start the impeachment hearings. I don’t even care if the republicans let him slide, maybe they are as sick of him as...I digress. Standing up to this........ fill in whatever words are a personal fave but can’t be printed..........will at least show that we have refused to just go along with the orange king and his minions. I’m not sure if everyone heard about the $91,000,000.00 rabbit the treasury czar, sorry, secretary’s, daddy paid for Jeff Koons ‘ rabbit, but I think he’s the same guy who had the taxpayers pay for first class airfare when the government was short a plane, for he and his wife’s vacation.
Anyhoo, I just think if the democrats stood up to this 72 year old “No Army Bone-Spurred Ken doll,” that the non-cult voters of Westeros, sorry, USA, might feel they, indeed, have another choice. Is there any candidate with the name of Bran, or Joe, Pete, Liz, Cory, or, well, respect to the other 19, sorry if I left anyone out...that can really vanquish The Mad Queen, sorry, bad king Donnie. What do you and that cute guy think?
I’m on my way to find Drogon, and promise I’ll bring him to whomever has the courage to become The Wise and Benevolent President——-first of their name...We sure do need you.
Superb.
1
Kaboom..!!! I’m thinking... C) Surprised to discover $2 trillion was actually pretty hard to raise? After all, for him money has always been readily available his whole life. And this without really having to plan & work for it. There is also the fact that he has no or few friends he can count on in areas where he needs to collaborate. It indeed seems that many around him are more than willing to let him wander down blind alleys.
1
Trump colluded with Russia though not to the level of conspiracy.
Turmp obstructed justice.
When will be rid of this repulsive liar?
5
Trump knows his song & dance routine has turned stale. Everybody knows he's a goner, including the Republican Party and the Republican base. Sing with me now...
Oh Donnie Boy,
the truth, the truth is calling,
it's all your lies
that feed the great divide,
your cover's gone,
your childish lies appalling,
it's you, it's you
who lies to save your hide...
7
Trump inherited the equivalent of $6 billion from his father Fred 40 years ago.
We have seen. through tax gleanings described in the NYT, how he lost $1.17 billion in the 1980's and 1990's.
Fortune magazine today says that Trump real estate holdings have a worth of about $4.5 billion, of which over $2 billion is being propped up by debt to Russian oligarchs.
Does this loser, who has squandered 2/3rds of his inheritance over the past 40 years, and who has complete public meltdowns on a weekly basis, seem like a man who knows how to "...do infrastructure".
Trump is a pathetic narcissist, with an incredibly deep well of self pity - the eternal victim. What a sad & shallow man.
8
little donnie fingers can't say: "The "I" WORD"... (INCOMPETENT) (INCOHERENT) (IMPOTENT)
5
What do you expect? Trump is an usurper, a consummate showboat of a mafia don (well trained by Roy Cohn), and yet one who didn't wish to be president, but really, all he wanted was to throw his weight around, brag, swindle, grab women, while daddy's money kept the appearance of success. A loser really.
Trump is a crass act as a businessman but as the president of America he is an abomination, the hammer of democracy, and his rachitic yet vicious administration is jammed in a Yugo bumping from pothole to pothole.
Not only does Trump not build bridges but he is heading straight to the cliff.
It is unconscionable that this shyster and fraud, this usurper of presidency and idiotic liar will not be punished by Law and end up in jail.
4
It’s clear that the “I “ word is IDIOT. That’s what that third person trump has displayed his entire life . Now it’s in a very dangerous zone w him sitting in the “off” white house.
5
These latest polls just in: Trump favorability changed from 41% to 41%. Among Republicans, favorability changed from 90% to 90%. Among Christian evangelicals and one-issue anti-abortion voters, favorability rating 100%. Among Nazis, favorability rating 100%.
5
I thought the I-word referred to investigation, or was it impeachment, or maybe, but not really, infrastructure. Also, the term Idiot comes to mind.
3
Did Jabberwocky Trump read that off his TelePrompTer?
1
I'm happy to say the P-word is not a problem in my town. We voted overwhelmingly to roll-over a city bond that was expiring to repair our local roads rather than reduce taxes. Good job city council. No potholes here.
I will admit I find Trump referring to himself in the third person extremely unsettling though. I had a friend in high school who did that. It was kind of a joke. Like an MC name. I don't remember any real quotes but something like:
"Do you need a ride?"
"Scotty-Mic-What-What don't ask for rides!"
"Are you getting in the car or not?"
"Shotgun!"
He went on to operate a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on top of a mostly unarmored Humvee throughout the Iraq War. He only ended up in the hospital a few times though. The job suited his personality.
By contrast, you look at Trump referring to himself in the third person and you immediately think does Grandpa need a caretaker? The big I-word definitely has him unhinged.
2
I am sick and tired of the way the fake news has bought the story of lying michael cohen around Stormy Daniels. Trump instructed cohen to give her a stipend so she could have the time to gather her thoughts and tell the whole story. Trump wanted her to tell the truth because of his lifelong committment to transparency.
Michael Cohen twisted everything and the media believed it!
1
When narcissistic personality decompensates into persecutory delusions to defend against a troubling reality...
2
Gail Collins alone makes my subscription to the NYT worthwhile.
3
GOOGLE "Sociopath" and you will see a perfect description of trump. Do it!
4
Trump unhinged evidently lapses into Palinesque word salads. If only he’d drop Mike Pence and pick up Sarah for the 2020 ticket the two of them would gift the networks with a ratings bonanza, the New York Times could drop its paywall for a while and the rest of us could cancel our Netflix subscriptions and order our Newman’s Own ‘old style picture show’ by the case.
2
TRUMP'S LATEST MELT DOWN Seems to have taken the stalward grandmother, accustomed to dealing with toddlers, Nancy Pelosi, by surprise. Trump clearly set the trap. He had reports sitting on the White House lawn, waiting to film his infantile tantrum for posterity. And can you believe that he left the meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, then rushed out to the Rose Garden, WEARING A SOILED DEPENZ? Has he no decency. In the end has he no decency. One thing we know for sure is that he's often in deeper doo doo than anybody imagined. Except for the manufacturers of Depenz, that is!
1
Not being able to mention the "i" word is frustrating since there are SO many of them....Incompetent, Idiotic, Imbecilic, Irreverent, Implacable, Irascible....oh, and Infrackstruckture weak?
2
The President’s behavior is just pathetic.
3
We all know what kind of infrastructure Donald Trump and the Russian-Republicans like.
0.1% infrastructure.
Trump and the Grand One Percent got their huge tax cuts passed in 2017 under the cover of darkness with no hearings, and as far as the Grifter-In-Chief and his GOP co-conspirators are concerned, infrastructure is DONE !
Who needs rural broadband, paved roads, functioning bridges, modern airports and decent water systems when there are so many billionaire toenails to paint a brighter shade of gold ?
Infrastructure is for suckers...unless it's a road to a tax shelter ....and then it's a great idea.
And who needs clean water anyway....when polluted water will kill the annoying masses so much quicker ?
Could you imagine the reckless Republicans ever doing the responsible thing and raising taxes to pay for the infrastructure we need ?
The last Republican nincompoop President actually lowered taxes and charged $2 trillion to the American Taxpayer Express Card to level Iraq and create ISIS.
Republicans - especially Republicans led the King of Bankruptcy himself - are the last people in the world capable of building and paying for a common good like infrastructure.
Today's Republicans are Lord of the Flies Republicans, capable only of raping the earth for depraved, destructive, childish thrills...and the Lord-of-the-Flies-In-Chief will happily burn down the island before he lets anybody bring civilization to his diaper-filled playpen.
Nice GOPeople
Remember in 2020
8
Trump reminds me of those Road Runner cartoons.
In this case, Trump is the idiotic Wile E. Coyote who frenetically comes up with outrageous schemes to get the Road Runner (Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats). But every stupid trick Wile E. Coyote tries backfires, generally leaving him with a charred face.
For example, Trump's premade professional "No Collusion, No Obstruction" poster tacked on the podium at his press conference yesterday after he walked out on Pelosi and Schumer was a dead giveaway that Trump planned this idiotic stunt and had no intention of discussing infrastructure with Nancy and Chuck. Wile E. Coyote strikes again.
How many black marks and failures has Wile E. Coyote Trump chalked up in his White House Reign of Terror so far?
Anyway, it helps to think of Trump and his endless stupid Trump Tricks as the hapless and dopey coyote in the Road Runner cartoons.
1
After this performance, I can think of multiple "I" words more appropriate for Trump. Incorrigible, idiot, imbecile, irreconcilable, immoral, insane... Feel free to add your own. Truly a frightening spectacle.
3
When Trump invoked the "I word", "imbecile" immediately comes to mind. "Idiot" and "Ignoramus" too.
Maybe he just forgot for a minute what "I" word he meant to say, a senior moment or a clogged synapse. After all, "Impeachment" sounds like some kind of ice cream.
Maybe the oranges of the word failed him.
Just shows that exposure to too much TV is bad for infants still learning language, and too much exposure to Fox Snooze is bad for infants in chief.
2
"During his Rose Garden performance, the president once again fell into the extremely creepy habit of referring to himself in the third person. (“They hated President Trump. They hated him with a passion.”)"
It's finally dawned on me: Trump refers to himself in 3rd person because he actually has multiple personality disorder. There's "Donald the King," "Trump the guy they love to kick around," "good Donnie" who smiles and brags congenially, "bad Donnie" who tries to fire Mueller by having others do it, and of course, "angry Don" which levitates above all the others in a perpetual state of fury.
OK, I digress. But as you closed with the P-word meaning, "pothole," I'd venture to say it could also refer to POTUS.
Maybe that will end up being Donald's real legacy apart from lies, cover-ups, obstructions, and conspiracies. Years from now, when we blow out a tire, we can chalk it up to just another POTUS pothole from days gone by when infrastructure was just over the horizon.
5
"... in Trump’s 'Art of the Deal' era he was so good at building that he managed to lose more than twice as much money as any other American taxpayer."
Hmmm ... did his teevee show 'the Apprentice' somehow air next to The Biggest Loser?
Well, right there's your problem -- he thinks Losing is winning. No wonder he told us we'd all get sick and tired of all the "Winning."
I know I am.
4
Great article!
2
I think this is all verbiage.
It all comes down to, "Nice country you have here, wouldn't want to see it come crumbling down, would you, guv?".
i.e. drop the investigation or I will pull down the pillars and destroy the country. Contrast Trump's thin skin to Bill Clinton's compartmentalizing - he did a great job while being pilloried and laughed, and is an example all presidents should try to live up to (running the country under pressure, not dalliances with an intern).
4
I think many of us look forward to another I word, Incarceration.
15
I guess it is all funny in a sad way. We stumble over each other lampooning a president who makes it easy for even amateurs like us to jump in and perform well.
What we are witnessing is the slow motion unraveling of an extreme narcissist who is the leader of the most powerful country in the world. The man should be in the care of a competent psychiatrist. I guess we laugh because we are already numb to its implications of that. We are beyond; pinch me, I think I am dreaming (night-maring).
As Trump's world quickly unravels with the increasing possibility that his financial improprieties and bumbling(s) will be revealed, he acts less and less stable. I think he intends to take the nation down with him. As will his enablers. Hopefully Chuck and Nancy have a last ditch plan for intervention; they are going to need one.
8
The President declared himself on strike. This is so scary - we might be deprived of his unique talents for destruction of anything that resembles human decency and achievement in any field of activity. Mr Trump, please come back and continue your good work, for history's sake.
4
@SA Except for the recent trillion dollar give-away to the rich, the Republicans in Congress have in essence been on strike since Obama's first day in office more than a decade ago.
3
If your favorite uncle was found to be a serial killer it wouldn't be okay to have him over for Thanksgiving - you would call the authorities and have him turned in. Even if Trump was the greatest president in history (he's not), the law says we can't be governed by a corrupt person committing criminal acts. This is what Trump supporters should understand. Even if he does things you like it's not okay to do illegal things and still be president. That is why Congress is doing the right thing and carrying out their Constitutional duty of oversight. There's too much evidence of shady and perhaps criminal acts right in front of our faces - including what was outlined in Robert Mueller's report. And Mueller's assignment didn't cover Trump's finances. Now that Congress is picking up the ball around finances he is panicking. Trump has a lot to hide and he's doing what he always has - suing, stalling, threatening...
9
@Haynannu My favorite uncle was Uncle Wiggily. This guy doesn't even come close...except maybe in name only.
I am not one of Trump's mythical "Mueller's angry democrats" but I do detest this man with a passion.
Because we are approaching the 75th commemoration of the Normandy landings, I just must say how I hate having this immoral, lying, brigand represent our valiant servicemen at first the debacle of absence due to rain during the WWI commemoration in November and now the upcoming one in Normandy on June 6. A coward who has never served anyone else in his lifetime, how can he properly pay homage to those who fought and died on those beaches? He is a total disgrace and it is a degradation to have him represent us among the other Allied leaders. He has befouled us all and diminished this nation in ways that will take years for us to recover from. I will pray for driving rain on June 6 near Caen, Point du Hoc, Utah and Omaha Beaches; that will keep him home at his hotel safely coiffed and let the real men and women observe this solemn moment.
17
You are being unfair, Gail. The sentence from Trump’s rose garden address (using the word sentence generously) that you imply makes little sense, is perfectly clear to Trump’s followers.
Indeed, we are a country divided, not only by beliefs, but also by grammar.
And since I am on the subject of (minimal) grasp of the English language, if Wharton gave this man a degree, I say shame on Wharton. His father should demand his money back (posthumously).
7
@DJ Look further, DJ. Wharton gave him a degree BECAUSE the elder T "donated" money.
2
Nope, 'the total, horrible thing that happened to our country" is Trump and he and his campaign colluding with the Russians and welcoming their interference to get him elected, so he could try to destroy our democracy in favor of him as dictator, while the Republicans continue to aid and abet this same man to get tax cuts for themselves and their donors, who is still colluding with Russia and welcoming their interference in our next election, so he can escape indictment on multiple counts. Meanwhile, the Republican base continues to support this 'so-called' president who prefers strong men authoritarian leaders to our allies and even our fellow Americans, who call themselves Democrats, and choose to believe them over our intelligence services and refuses to hear anything differing from his own opinions and those of Fox, his formerly State TV. How much more of these Donald J. Trump "no good, terrible, horrible days" are we going to have to take? Justice must be served. The day of reckoning will come.Mueller, thank-you for the wonderful report, that when read is clear and concise about the way forward, but you may have to come and speak it anyway, as your pal, Barr really muddied up the waters and Trump is still saying there was "no collusion, no obstruction, total exoneration", when clearly you only excused him from 'criminal conspiracy' because you couldn't gain enough evidence to satisfy beyond a reasonable doubt, since some erased evidence from computers and refused it.
3
NO second term, they forgot that sign.
5
Who knew that the United States was so fragile that it could be brought to a halt by a temper tantrum? Or an alleged insult? Or a pet peeve?
Or is it just the ego of this so called president that is fragile and small?
Will t rump's republican party be stirred into protecting the Constitution if he tries to cancel the election next year?
What makes anyone think the republican senate will agree to spending 2 trillion dollars on the people's needs?
They have donors to enrich, after all.
2
Trump is mercurial and has remarkably thin skin. We all know that, including Pelosi. There she was at the White House to advance important legislation and she takes that opportunity to accuse Trump not only of a crime but of covering up that crime? What was she thinking? She had to know that he wouldn't have reacted well to that. It cannot be a surprise if we all knew what would happen.
2
Ms. Pelosi made the coverup statement before the I word meeting, I believe. But the DJT guy could have made it all up, being how he likes doing that. Thank you for bringing humor back into our lives, Ms. Collins!
@Chris
He never intended to talk about infrastructure. I believe he had been informed that the mountain of love called Mitch McConnell would never agree to spend money that would improve the lives of Trump voters( infrastructure.) The gate only opens to dole out riches for the uber-wealthy and the conscienceless corporations like Boeing.
Now wouldn't it be cool if when we see trump's financial records there is that one line near the bottom about Putin putting in poker chips, like trump's daddy did, to help out the kid. Moscow has casinos, right? Near that Moscow trump tower to be built.
1
@michael
It will happen and maybe sooner than we think. I don't think anything bothers him more than having the world find out that he probably isn't even a billionaire.
1
A man in total panic. It's times like this that we see the visible traces of dementia. This man puts our entire nation in danger.
6
If this administration can only do one thing at a time I vote for passing on infrastructure to start impeachment now. Every day this lunacy continues is a wasted day that could have been spend on solving real issues. It's time to start cleaning out the White House now.
4
This editorial is very biased. It should have started the story with Pelosi’s news conference right before going to meet Trump. Why accuse the president before a meeting with him to make a deal?
Mr Mueller spoke. We hired him to investigate. He found Trump not guilty. Just as the democrats couldn’t accept the election results, now they can’t accept Mueller’s investigation.
Non stop harassment. No wonder the president had enough!
1
@Marika
Mueller's investigation was limited in scope and limited to the question of if there was proof of conspiracy. The Congressional investigations cover areas that Mueller didn't go to and go beyond a mere criminal investigation. None of this is harassment.
3
@Marika, Mueller absolutely did NOT find trump "not guilty." That's a judgment rendered at trial. Mueller's conclusion was that if you posit that a sitting president can't be indicted, then Mueller couldn't/wouldn't indict. There's plenty of evidence of wrong-doing, and the public has both a duty and a right to understand how deep and far it goes.
@Marika All editorials are biased, Marika. That's why they're editorials and not news stories,
Trump is the worst president ever and should be impeached. Trump lost the popular vote, but became president after encouraging a foreign enemy to help him. Trump refuses to release financial data so that we don't know if he is profiting from legislation or receiving emoluments from foreign governments. Trump obstructed justice as documented in Mr. Mueller's report. Trump is bankrupting the country with tax cuts for the wealthy. Trump is bankrupting the working class with tariffs on imported goods. Trumps allows the country's infrastructure to crumble because he won't talk to people who say things he doesn't like. Trump obstructs Congress' effort to oversee the executive branch.
3
Speaking of infrastructure, 2 killed, several seriously hurt on I-265 in southern IN, the Veep's state. Reason? Sinkhole in middle of road. Pothole on steroids. Happy motoring fellow travelers over this holiday weekend.
2
@Cody McCall oh.
Speaking of I-words, his former chief of staff reportedly had one that described him but it had fewer letters.
6
@William Case. Query: How do you propose Congress “think” Trump has violated the emoluments clause without doing an investigation? Are you suggesting, as you state, Congress should simply make a criminal referral without any investigation or evidence? You really seem to be suggesting that one has to have incontrovertible evidence of criminal conduct in order to justify an investigation to see if criminal conduct has occurred. Gee, who would expect such a situational “law and order” view from a conservative.
1
This is one of those times - of many, many times - I have thought about about how difficult it will be to write a definitive book about the Trump Presidency. Even if the only subject area is the bizarre, if not totally unhinged, behavior of this horrible excuse for homo sapiens everywhere, it will not suffer from a lack of material.
What will make it almost too arduous a task is what to leave out because of repetition, paleness by comparison, or almost sheer incredulity. Will succeeding generations even understand that this really happened? Or, will the (at least) intelligent ones look at it like we look at Jesus walking on water, rising from the dead or other such apocryphal nonsense - just a myth made up by forebears?
One thing is for sure: A movie would be as long as Game of Thrones, and we can only hope for as simple a conclusion.
1
The fact that he had a prepared poster board about the Mueller investigation to put in front of the podium tells you that this was all orchestrated, disingenuous stagecraft.
8
I am sure Trump could have come up with the infrastructure money with a personal loan through Deutsche Bank. . .Well perhaps not. the Russian money launderers would need to give approval and I imagine even they are disgusted by Trump's financial antics.
2
@just Robert Disgusted? No. They just don't trust him.
Thanks for another great piece, Gail.
Many chuckles between the dry heaves.
3
If “transparent” means we can see right through his lies, then yes, trump is transparent.
2
@Paulie @Paulie Do you really think we've seen thru all his lies?
Well let's at lest give Donnie Boy the James Joyce "Mollie Bloom Stream of Consciousness Award" for his incoherent observations, Molly Bloom, James Joyce's fictional prima Donna and Donnie Prima Donna, unfortunately our very real prima donna part-time inhabitant of the White House when he isn't presiding over one bank/Trump owned property.
( Excuse me for rambling on, maybe it is catching)
1
@Bill Davies " ....and how he kissed me under the Moorish Wall and I thought well as well him as another."
.... and thus were we all led astray.
2
The whole meeting was just another Trumpian show. He had no intention of actually meeting to actually work on something good for the country. No Republicans were invited, hint number one that it wasn’t a real meeting. Trump, ever the cheap con man, used one word Pelosi said that day as his lame excuse for throwing himself on the floor, kicking and screaming, this time. No honest person watching this display doesn’t understand that if Pelosi had never said “cover up”, Trump would have used some other childish excuse to stalk out of his fake “meeting”. Pelosi, and all Democrats should refuse any and all calls to meet with the Toddler-in-Chief unless they are the ones setting it up.
3
He went unprepared with no plan to explain how to raise two trillion and didn't want to look inept so he bailed out on the flimsiest excuse he could think of... the current lack of the Democrats to cease trying to further incriminate him for his recent past history of lies and deception.
1
Trump has conspired with Russia before and after his election putting our national security at risk. Now Putin has bombers flying off of Alaska; blatant interference in our elections; Russian mob money flowing to Trump and his enterprises; Russian spies celebrating Comey's firing in the Oval Office while Trump gives them Israeli intel; our national security employees held up to ridicule and Russia calling the shots in Venezuela and Syria while civilians die.and Russian missile technology given to North korea while Trump romances Kim Jung Um.
Tell me this is not a violation of the President's oath and constitutional duties . The impeachment inquiry is mandatory based on these facts alone.
Finacial records will show foreign money flowing to Trump Enterprises from Russians and Saudis while Trump engaged in massive tax fraud. Just look at stories here about Rrump State Park and the 100 million dollar tax write off on property purchased for 2 million with no improvements. Again an impeachment inquiry is long overdue.
And as Gail points out, the President no longer is capable of
performing his job so the 25th amendment applies.
1
This president is a huge baby-bully. I have always avoided people like him. It’s hard to do now that this type of individual is our president and practices self promotion to an extent I’ve never seen before.
I just would like to see our republic get back on track and the government to work for US, not just to get re-elected. We pay these representatives, they answer to us.
The walkout was obviously staged. Trump never had any intention of doing an infrastructure deal. Certainly you, Gail, must be aware of that. But I guess you had to write about something.
The only thing transparent about Donald Trump is his lies. We can see right through all 10,000 of them! A man who makes housekeepers and gardeners sign NDAs has no intention of being transparent. A man who creates a Constitutional crisis by refusing to comply Congress's legitimate oversight duties has no intention of being transparent.
A man who claims EVERY judge who rules against him is biased, "Mexican", or "an Obama judge" has no intention of being transparent.
A man who is the only President since Nixon to refuse to share his tax returns has no intention of being transparent.
He lies about anything and everything everyday, all the time, and that's the only thing transparent about Donald Trump.
2
Fear not. The Republicans are not there to fix infrastructure. They are there to cut taxes for the rich (already done that) and put conservative, no-choice judges in lifetime positions (doing that every day). Nothing to see or worry about here for any of them. Yay. It doesn't matter if the pResident is a raving lunatic. Apparently.
4
“Well, it turns out I’m the most — and I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country.”
Yes, Trump is correct: über transparent. We all can easily see his utter lack of honesty, angry narcissism, intellectual vacuity and absence of empathy and compassion. His lifelong obsession with secrecy is absolutely hiding in plain sight. The inclination toward authoritarian chaos and disruption are remarkably obvious.
To be clear, he is transparently the worst president in the country's history, and this despite some very tough competition over the centuries. Let's make him a one-term failure. That should be transparent enough.
Eclectic Pragmatism — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
3
Ah yes... Trump and the "i" words. Let's see ... immoral, incompetent, ignorant, imperial, information deficit, imbecile, and the list could simply go on. And yes, even unfortunately what increasingly look like the most available answers to the problem ... inquiry, indictment, impeachment, incrimination, and, even as he suggested wrongly for Hillary, incarceration. Yes, all the "i" words many of us hope to hear more when Trump's name comes up.
2
Good luck with the condescension, NYT! You and your Left audience are just continuing the tone-deaf conduct that elected the President. Your cocktail party, parlor-game fun ignores some facts which should be scary to you and all Dems:
1. No Dem can get nominated without calling for impeachment in the primaries, so the Dem impeachment talk will continue until mid-election year;
2. Not just a majority of the Electoral College winning voters but a majority of all voters oppose impeachment, have investigation fatigue and don't understand why Dems cannot accept the clear verdict of their team's (Mueller and Dem prosecutors) 2-year investigation.
3. Trump has fulfilled the most important promises of his campaign and the result is an unprecedented booming economy, clearly lifting all boats even as the Dems deny what is plain for everyone else to see.
4. Trump's approval rating AMONG ALL VOTERS is higher today than Obama's at the same point of his Presidency, and now over 90% among GOP voters.
So, Dems are sailing into a disaster that will re-elect the President and lose the House and Gail Collins makes cheap jokes while the Dems "Rome" burns.
1
@SonomaEastSide
The impeachment talk should continue, and there's nothing scary about it. Further, an impeachment investigation itself can change the calculus.
Mueller's investigation was limited in scope and limited to the question of if there was proof of conspiracy. The Congressional investigations cover areas that Mueller didn't go to and go beyond a mere criminal investigation.
Nothing unprecedented about the economy. The economy is growing among the same trajectory as it was in the tail-end of the Obama administration.
Trump's average approval rating has been consistently lower than Obama's. You're clearly just looking as Rasmussen, which skews right.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
2
@SonomaEastSide - got facts?
1
I will start by agreeing with you and stipulate that it's too easy and non-productive at this point to spit out lame jokes about Trump. From there on, I can't let your assertions go unchallenged. Your musings about what it will take to get the Democratic nomination are just that, nothing more. Your assertion that a majority of all voters are against impeachment needs some supporting evidence. Your notion that the conclusions of the Mueller report are completely clear and exonerate Trump is just plain false. Your assertion of a "booming economy" is highly dependent on what's being measured, and many struggling working-class families would disagree. Your assertion that Trump has fulfilled his campaign promises is patently false. Your assertion that Trump's approval rating is higher than Obama's at the same point in his presidency I won't challenge, other than to ask, so what?
1
"What do you think was going on there?"
He wasn't allowed to have two pudding cups.
The 'tweeter-in-chief's' biggest mistake was running for president after hiding in his isolated cave in Trump Tower. Whoops, Trump's name on the Tower has been bumped.
His ignorance is abominable and he needs to go back to his cave with a keeper.
Great column, from Gail Collins. But I think we Democrats and the media have Donald Trump figured out all wrong.
It has become apparent that he is still the boy from Queens who dreams of making it in the big time. You can take the boy out of Queens. . .
Come on people! All Donald wants is respect! When he was interviewed by Maggie Haberman and her NY Times colleagues months ago he lamented that all he wanted from them was some good press, you know, from his "hometown newspaper."
Well, if we follow that request out to its logical end maybe the Queens Gazette could do a favorable op-ed on our president.
The only real thing the Trump Presidency has locked in is that a fool can sit in the Oval Office and the country still has a chance to survive. A fool and a serial liar. Maybe our Republic is stronger than we thought.
1
Oh, if only this was funny.
1
“Well, it turns out I’m the most — and I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country."
Obviously.
Other than paying off porn stars and buying the silence of Playboy bunnies....
But, yeah, Mr. President -- we CAN see right through you (and it's not a pretty sight).
It’s such a Taxing Time for the Poor Man. If he would only just release his tax history for the public to peruse he would be truly transparent.
Maybe Deutche can help with the financing.
124
@Harman MOSELEY 100 packs of smokes or 100 shares of DB. Take your pick. They aren't riding to anyones rescue, not even their own.
7
@Harman MOSELEY who?
2020 can’t come soon enough. No impeachment. Can’t win in the Senate. Let the voters decide. Hopefully no war with Iran and we will be here to vote. Trade wars solved without silly trarrifs. Trump needs to go. He and his unqualified cronies have set US relations back 50 years.
3
Hey GOP, look closely - the Emperor is not wearing any clothes.
Gail, Trump actually is the most transparent president in the history of this country. His tweets, his rants, his choices of judges and cabinet members are completely consistent with his narcissistic, paranoid, selfish motivations. At least this statement can be excluded from the list of his 10,000 lies.
“And the protection of the criminal justice system from corrupt acts by any person—including the President—accords with the fundamental principle of our government that ‘[n]o [person] in this country is so high that he is above the law.’” "Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election, Vol. II" (180-181)
1
It reminded me of the „Untergang“ - the last days in the Führerbunker. A mental meltdown for all to see and one conclusion: the leader of the „free world“ has gone full nuts.
1
The president has been mentally declining since he took office. And he wasn't all that stable when he started. If the people in his administration had any integrity that would use the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. And if the Democrats had any courage they would begin impeachment proceedings tomorrow. Since each group is looking out for themselves rather than the country, don't be surprised if Trump finally loses it and does something really stupid. Like nuke Iran. Or declare martial law. Or crown himself king. It's shameful how far we've declined since November 2016.
1
“I am the most transparent president probably in the history of this country.”
I think he misspoke as usual. He meant:
Most treasonous or most trolling or most tawdry or most toxic or most totalitarian or most twittering - or all of the above. Or choose your own.
2
I'm a good man. And then I said to Don, Jr. But after that I went to Nancy and Chuck. Before them I went to Mitch and the AG (I forgot his name), and well they said. You know, I'm the best president ever. Now poor Melania, the Democrats are making it so hard on her. Her dresses...she's gained weight! Time for a trade in? I'm the best ever when it comes to trade. Look at China! Cover-up? I have the best make-up in town. Boy do I look young for my age. Speaking of young, how's it going with the kids at the border...you know the ones who with their parents are trying to milk us. Btw, we need to make sure they are getting milk. Have we found their parents yet? I'm the most transparent president EVER. You can see right through me, to my heart and soul. Oh, dear, I think I'm in trouble. Am I in trouble, Rudy?
1
Is “the I-word” insanity?
Still waiting to hear from Senate Republicans about Trump’s wildcat strike. Anything you have to say Mitch? Are you going to join Trump’s picket line? Hello?
Just impeach him. Please. Even if only in the House. Put an asterisk on his presidency. He’ll appreciate it. Bigly.
3
A good leader does not blame someone else for failure. Trump is a prime example of a pathetically poor leader.
2
Nixon: "I don't obstruct justice....I am not a thief!
Clinton: "I never had sexual relations with that woman."
Trump: "I don't do cover-ups."
1
Creepy events today, Gail. Not just his "infrastructure meet" at the White House, but the weirder than usual rant in the Rose Garden, where his podium was festooned with signs of "NO Collusion", "NO Obstruction" and data about Mueller witch hunt hoax expenses...all set up during his 3 minutes hello-goodbye to Pelosi and Schumer and the Infrastructure Committee. And why were his daughter Ivanka Kushner and his loyal sychophant Kellyanne Conway in the room for the aborted infrastructure meeting? So was "the I-word" Infrastructure or Impeachment? Both words are big words for a little guy and they both start with "I". Incoherence, another "I" word is the orange cat's middle name. Deep doodoo is what Trump is in now.
1
As he said, "I think most of you will agree to this".
Gail Collins - Clever Brilliance
D T - Earth Cracking Incompetence
1
Did the minions around SCOTUS really think they could get away with this poorly-planned and executed "spontaneous" display? If you are going for spontaneous, do not have handouts and a placard displayed below the mike! And it seems that SCOTUS cannot bring himself to enunciate "the I word." He is either terrified at the prospect of impeachment or he may be a Game of Thrones junkie who thinks the "I" word means impalement.
2
Dear Gail, You would have done a great stand up routine on the Titanic. Who spilled the ice cubes on the deck? And why is the Captain running to the life boat in woman's clothing? A cover up? Not I says he. Its the porter on the third deck, yes, that's the ticket.
This is just what Rufus T. Firefly, the leader of Freedonia, would have done to the ambassador of Sylvania in Duck Soup.
2
Trump announced today that he doesn't do "cover-ups."
Really?
If that's the case, it leads to an obvious question: if he doesn't do "cover-ups", then what the heck is that orange thing super-glued to the top of his head?
3
Transparently narcissistic, greedy, and cruel? Yes!!
Transparent in the sense of human decency and what should be expected of a U.S. president? Nah, not so much!
1
Gail Collins, helping to keep rational people sane in the era of insanity. Thank you.
1
"I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country." Really? He won't release his tax returns. He pays women to to keep their mouths shut about affairs. He ignores congressional subpoenas and won't allow his staff to testify in congressional hearings. What else? This guy is ridiculous.
What a farce is Trump. And a true con man. The most opaque president since Nixon, invokes his transparency...in cheating us in plain daylight. And with a straight face. No surprises here, but what is galling is the complicity of the republican party, thrashing the constitution to protect such a vulgar bully. And this thug is the leader of these United States? How come?
1
This latest whatever was clearly not spontaneous. That silly sign appearing out of nowhere gives the game away, unless you think they have topic-specific signs like that ready for whatever mood the idiot adopts that minute. This is Trump's normal MO: Keep everyone off-balance and hope to, somehow, profit from the chaos. God knows it's no way to run a government but c. 40% of the country loves it and the rest of us just sink into despair.
1
Pelosi enrages Trump because not only does she have him nailed as a liar and a childish tyrant, she as the remarkable strength and composure of a woman who has been dealing with arrogant men all of her life, and knows exactly how to puncture their balloons. And she has the lectern of her speakership to use in reminding everyone that, in addition to being a buffoon, Donny is also mentally ill.
1
I have no pity for trump.May he stew in his own juices.
2
Donald is behaving like a lobster who can see the water on the boil.
1
"I don’t do cover-ups"....has he looked at his 'hair' in a mirror lately?
1
"stable genius". uhhuh.
Democrats don't do "phony inquiries". That's the republican's thing. Doesn't Donnie remember Benghazi and Hillary's emails?
2
Yes, referring to himself in the third person is "creepy": “They hated President Trump. They hated him with a passion.” But look at the bright side: Our Leader refers to Himself in the (Oh, Frabjous Joy!) PAST TENSE!!
2
Not surprising since Trump is a lunatic waiting for a bed in
an asylum. This is obvious to all except his base, which has
covered its eyes and ears with "hear no evil and see no evil".
2
Methinks it's time for Nancy Pelosi to adopt a theme song for herself to describe the unfair and totally vicious punishment she's continually had to endure from the likes of our illegitimately elected POTUS, who has conspired with our democracy's most formidable sworn enemy: "I've got you under my skin."
Vote.
Are you there, America?
It's us, the citizens.
1
And they say women have a tendency for hysteria!
2
This piece is so hilarious that someone should create a satire on a weekly basis. Featuring of course Bizarre in Chief as star. Unfortunately this is the president of the US and leader of the free world. Not some nutcase. Or is it?
Two points:
1, Democrat Party cant have it both ways: to try to deny the president ANY success (in anticipation of the 2020 landslide) and to blame that on Him. The American public is smarter than that.
2, Where was the Clintons or the Obamas BIG BOLD infrastructure effort? Why didn't this paper cry foul then? Hypocrites.
I choose B): here's what really happened yesterday:
trump was so upset by the Game of Thrones finale, that he gave his own crazy paranoid righteous tyrant queen speech, just to show Emelia Clarke how to really sell it.
In your face, Daenerys Targaryan!!
Another case of, "I don't like the way you are playing so I'm gonna' take my ball and go home." As to the hang ready signs for podiums, there is a special closet in the White House crammed with various catchy red meat slogans and graphics at the ready. The staff refer to it as the tantrum arsenal. You've got to love it when the President goes off on one of his free association riffs, even Ornette Coleman would get lost.
I think the “I word”, at least as it refers to Trump, is either “Incompetent” or “Idiot”.
He's going mad.
1
Incompetent
Irrational
Ignorant
Inexperienced
Inexcusable
Immoral
Infantile
Inexpert
Indicted (some day, we can only hope)
So many I-words, so little time.
2
Get the infrastructure money from Deutsche Bank and then declare bankruptcy. No low energy Democrats involved. I trust the president to do a great job with anything that needs to be shovel-ready.
I think Nancy was onto something when she talked about Donald impeaching himself. It feels like that's what we are watching in slow motion. It's hard to be patient, but given the behavior he's displayed recently, I don't think it's that far out of the realm to think that the Senate may reach a tipping point sooner than anyone would've thought. I think fears of a Republican backlash are overblown and many Republicans know it. He's doing more harm than good to the party at this point. If he were offered a graceful way out, he may take it. If Pence would promise him a pardon and he could be free to proclaim himself the biggest victim that ever lived, he may go for it. His biggest fear is about to come true as more of his finances are laid bare and the world sees that he probably isn't even a billionaire. He may decide he's had quite enough.
1
Did anyone really believe that infrastructure was going to get past the question of how to raise the money? Anyone at all?
2
Gail you mentioned the "I" word. The meeting was about infrastructure, which is an "I" word, as is Investigations. I think the "I"word that he is really worried about is Impeachment.
4
@Craig
or Indictment.
He's probably worrying about ending up in the same jail as his "fixer" attorney once he's out of office.
I'd like him impeached. I don't want to see him with accompanied by an entourage of bodyguards he hides behind so that he can hurl insults and threaten people for the rest of his life, paid for on my dime.
2
I think Mitch told him "we don't do legislation in the Senate. so don't even think about it." And Trump realized he was wasting his time.
5
To state the oh-so-obvious: if Trump is the most transparent president ever, where oh where are his tax returns? In a universe where alternative facts are the norm, should I conclude that not releasing his tax returns is the full equivalent of transparency?
3
Trump only led one organization that was publicly held during his entire time as a business exemplar, that was his casino corporation. He proceeded to run it into the ground through abysmal management, excessive compensation and perks that bankrupted the endeavor.
When asked about the damage done to his stockholders his response was classic Trump. "They shoulda looked out for themselves better."
How do we as loyal citizens look out for ourselves better?
14
It hasn't been mentioned in the press, but, does anyone think it's strange that one House and one Senate Democrat are negotiating directly with Trump over infrastructure?
The Constitution specifically gives the power of creating infrastructure and a budget for it to the Legislature. Congress must vote on all budget appropriations. (Refer to Article I, Sections 8, 9 and 10 for a list of legislative duties -- have no fear, it's easy reading).
Americans have gotten used to a Senate which permits Trump powers that are not even under the domain of Executive Privilege. They let Trump do their job for them, when a glance at the Constitution shows the President has the least amount of power, and the shortest job description.
Where is the U.S. Senate?
Oh, yeah, I forgot...they're cozying up to wealthy campaign donors and extremists in the Trump base, to keep their stranglehold on power by ignoring the Constitution.
Infrastructure, and a budget for it, are still needed. Are there no U.S. senators willing to work in a bipartisan manner to come up with a plan?
10
@Lilou: Normally I guess the House would propose a bill, make sure the have the votes in the Senate through negotiations, and then the Senate would vote on it and pass it, for signing into law by the president. But, since McConnell declared he'd not bring anything to the vote unless the president would sign it, and Trump had already promised 2 Trillion for infrastructure, it appears prudent that Democratic House and Senate representatives negotiate directly with the president, bypassing the McConnell-led Senate which had removed itself from the equation. Not that Trump can be trusted; after all, early in his tenure he refused to sign two bipartisan immigration bills that he had promised to sign... But at least the Democrats showed they were willing to sit down with Trump to craft a bill and find the money for it, which would benefit both Trump and the Democrats. Unfortunately Trump is a believer in "I only win if you lose."...
8
@Anna--Trump is not authorized to promise money or an infrastructure plan. This power lies solely with Congress, which must legislate a plan and vote on appropriations. (see Constitution, Article I, sections 8, 9 and 10 -- easy read -- it's a list of Congress' duties)
McConnell should be impeached for dereliction of duty and obstruction of government procedures. What if he allowed the Senate to vote on House legislation, and what if some of those bills actually made it to the President's desk?
Trump may veto them, but, he would also get a message from the Senate on what they wanted for the country.
As it is now, McConnell smugly forbids the Senate to review any House-generated legislation, when the Constitution clearly specifies that they must review it and vote. There is too much power vested in the hands of just a biased few in Washington.
1
@Lilou
Trump can't promise money but he can promise political support for the GOP-run Senate to vote on money.
The Constitution only says that a bill must pass the Senate, it doesn't dictate that it must vote on all bills sent to it by the House. Also, you can't impeach a senator.
His infrastructure bridges to nowhere are a great metaphor for the bridges he has tried to build between his base and the rest of the country - they don't exist and will not be built during his administration.
7
Pelosi should continue framing bills and passing them. That is the purpose of Congress. Keep working...that is the best way to take the moral high ground and to show the overall corruption of Don and his GOP backers.
13
"Real men" don't backdown because Pelosi says something mean about them. They stand up for what they believe in and carry out the other battles in the appropriate forums.
If one takes his temper tantrum seriously, then it looks like Trump must believe his reign of disorganization and confusion would come to an abrupt full stop if the investigations of his taxes and business practices move forward.
Consider this:
Promised a "big beautiful wall". Republican Congress refused. Taking money away from military preparedness.
Promised to rebuild America's highways, bridges and lots of other stuff. Walks out of a meeting like a petulant school child. Republicans undoubtably told him: "You aren't getting two trillion dollars," so he had to put on a show to blame the Democrats. Infrastructure will be back on the table in 30 days. Bet on it.
Promised tax cuts, gave most of the permanent tax cuts to the wealthy with small, temporary cuts for middle income earners.
Hid a big tax increase for those in richer states by cutting off deductions for state taxes. Lots of people pay a lot more.
Promised to revitalize the car industry. Ford announces plans for 7,000 layoffs following similar announcements by GM.
Stalled on grounding the 737 Max while the rest of the world sent it to the hangar.
Promised to deal with immigration. Numbers at the border surged to new highs.
Said he "doesn't back down" and will fight for you. ALWAYS backs down. Fights for himself first, last and always.
22
Thank you for the comic relief. I enjoyed it. But when will it be time to get serious? Let's hope in 2020.
3
Colbert had a funny line about Trump's "F the crumbling infrastructure...Nancy said something bad about me" juvenile meltdown. Colbert pointed out Trump's priorities ... "It's my way or NO highways!"
245
@dsmith Another funny Colbert line last night: Quoting Trump saying "I'm the most transparent President in history," SC said "That's true...we can see right through you."
34
Between a pre-printed sign and somewhat pre-thought out rant, it is clear this was never intended as a meeting on infrastructure by the administration but a staged setup. It should have been the lead sentence in every report on the subject instead of implying this was anything but a legitimate meeting on legislation that went off the rails.
That said, two experienced legislators like Pelosi and Schumer clearly knew if this as in a real world, it would have been preceded by a vast number of communications and opinions back and forth beforehand and would also have included the minority party. So I suspect they were just curious to see how far off the deep end the president would go and how much of it was just more planned public exposure of the nightmare in the White House.
Just my opinion.
13
Please read Bruce Maier's comment. If, in the past, trump is guilty of Russian money laundering, which is undoubtedly the case, he is a probably liability to this country when it comes to foreign policy. If, which is certainly the case, he is accepting monies from foreign countries at his private hotels and clubs, and is favoring these foreign countries re foreign policy then he is actually involved in pay for play behavior. Same with the wealthy and heads of industry and business spending money at his hotels. trump has more vulnerabilities and conflicts of interest than you can shake a stick at.
15
While I believe that the Democrats have a right—and some might say a duty—to investigate this administration, I also firmly believe that they have an obligation to forge ahead, in any way they can, with critical services to the people of the United States, including infrastructure. For all our collective wealth and ability, we sure do seem to be heading toward second-class status.
1
@Andre Hoogeveen: The Democrats are doing what they can, but unfortunately McConnell refuses to bring anything coming out of the House to a vote in the Senate, just to make Democrats look bad. But it's clearly McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate who neglect their obligations to the voters. They actively relegate almost all Americans to second-class and lower status, in the service of their wealthy donors and Russian money laundered through the NRA.
6
The real story behind Mr. Trump's melt-down: He took on the assignment of preparing for the big "Infrastructure Day" two months ago, was reminded of it the night before it was due, and realized he was going to fail. Again.
His gibberish in the Rose Garden, translated, "The dog ate my homework."
No matter. The grade is still "F." His teacher? Speaker Pelosi.
426
@Rose
No dogs allowed in Trump's White House! They are too low class according to Trump.
The current excuse would be "My computer crashed," but with all that spying by the Chinese, Russians, and the "Deep State" there was too big of a chance it would quickly be proffered.
Madam Speaker may have ways to punish miscreants.
7
@BarryD
Thanks for reminding us of the healthy job growth that President Obama created.
Unemployment rate has been dropping for 10 years.
Let me help you with the math: 10 years is way longer than trump's 2 1/2 years in office.
Read this: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2018/10/30/two-charts-show-trumps-job-gains-are-just-a-continuation-from-obamas-presidency/#17599c121af3
10
@Rose
Nancy does seem to own him, doesn't she?
It's pretty comical, he's so accustomed to bullying people into submission that when he runs into a strong woman, be her Gail Collins, Nancy, Elizabeth Warren or Stormy Daniels, he goes apoplectic.
Poor Donny- so close to being a real boy, maybe Poppa Gippetto will have better luck next try.
4
Maybe one of The Donald's handlers gave him the wrong script?
Perhaps the script that he used yesterday was meant for the day that he forebode any of his minions the opportunity to be transparent with the Congressional oversight committees?
This entertainment business can be treacherous.
Playing this role has been a UUUUGE challenge, even to a talented performer like Donnie Boy. He is sooooo reliant on his producers and editors - if they screw up, his performance suffers. He is a trouper - he soldiers on for 3-4 hours/day, 3/5 days/week. Sometimes he does two shows in one day!
I am sure that measuring up up the Emmy winning performance of Saint Ronald of Simi Valley is weighing heavily on our reality POTUS.
This may not have been his best show, but give the guy a break - we all have off days.
10
Gollum: 'They stole it from us, Precious. They stole it.' That ring of power can consume you (but hopefully not an entire nation).
2
Trump actually got one right:
I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country.”
He's absolutely correct; you can see right through him.
443
@Mark R.
Well said, Mark!
4
@Mark R.
I'm the most transparent president ever!
And I've proving it by being the only president UNWILLING to release my tax returns!
25
"We will not make any attempt whatsoever to explain why this all popped up during a press conference on infrastructure." I'll take that one. Don Jr. is going to have to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee and Trump was trying to counter any negative revelations. "No worries, Trump, your mole Richard Burr will take care of Jr."
3
Trump knows that a deal on paying for his 2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill, which the Democrats accepted, would require (1) more borrowing or (2) getting rid of the tax cut (his only claim of success). So he hatched up a tantum over Pelosi's use of the word "cover up." That way he could and did tell his base that the infrastructure bill was killed by the Democrats by the perceived (by him) insult and their investigation of his apparent attempts to obstruct the Mueller investigation and his self-dealing while in office.
His obvious solution to this problem and for that matter all the country's other problems? Re-elect him and help the GOP retake the House. Solutions are always over the horizon for authoritarians.
5
Trump’s biggest mistake was not putting Christie in charge of fixing the bridges.
195
@Asher Fried
That is so funny, thank you.
How great would that be to see Christie in charge of the bridges.
This just keeps getting crazier all the time.
Can we ever get rid of Trump?
15
Actually, Christie seemed to be quite challenged when it came to both bridges and tunnels.
9
@BruceC
Which qualifies him as the perfect candidate!
4
Well, as usual President Trump has managed to shoot himself in the foot, to the detriment of all Americans in achieving agreement on and implementing some kind of infrastructure plan and implementation which the American Society of Civil Engineers endorses as desperately needed. So, if any Americans are taking a pleasure drive this weekend, do avoid the potholes.... but remember this... if you are looking for the foundation to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library... well it may be rather small and difficult to find.
2
It becomes clearer every day. Presdient Trump is not making his own decisions. There are people most of you have never heard of or will hear of. Steve Bannon may be their trainer - but not their owner. Bannon has Mr. Miller inside the White House - it is his job to keep the President as a marionette for the unseen. Meanwhil Banoon runds around Europe and the old SSRs making certain they elect neonazi leadership. This is so obbious that I find it hard to believe that the talking heads employeb by the new media and other media do not recognize it. Trump was chosen long before he announced his primary run. He was chosen because he had nothing left to lose and would not realize what he was being used for. While farmers are gaingin hundreds of billions the poorest are eating cat food. What is the matter with us - have he lost all recognition?
This little man posing as a president is beyond delusional. Why are psychological exams and even polygraphs not be requirements for anyone running for president? This national nightmare could have been avoided by the results of Trump's mental stability testing and psychiatric analysis.
4
Mr. Trump is the quintessential Wizard of Oz now laid bare for the world to see as just the huckster Professor Marvel when the curtain is pulled back.
His cries (and signage) of "No Collusion No Obstruction" are reminiscent of the Wicked Witches' threat--"I'l get you, my pretty. You and your little dog too!" shortly before a house fell on her.
Mr. Trump need not search the sky, for a house is not soon to fall on him, just The House.
Ms. Gale and the Scarecrow again provide us the best point to ponder:
Dorothy: How can you talk, if you haven't got a brain?
The Scarecrow: I don't know. But, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?
Dorothy: Yes. I guess, you're right.
281
@Douglas McNeill If memory serves, the house fell on her sister (East). The Wicked Witch (West) was melted: collateral damage in Dorothy's attempt to save the Scarecrow from burning at the Witch's hands. BTW, I love the Scarecrow quote!
13
@Douglas McNeill
Love the allusions. But as a native Kansan I have to point out that the witch who made the comment you quote actually died when Dorothy threw a bucket of water on her and she melted. It was her evil sister who was crushed by the house. I'm sure there is a tie in there to the current situation, but I'll have to give it some more thought. LOL :)
8
@MValentine
Thanks for the correction. So many witches, so little time...
14
it's obvious that this was staged just like when he sent his VP to an NFL game so he could walk out. the signs were ready.
12
in my experience the ardor of the typical trump supporter has cooled...... they are less forceful in their defense of this most indefensible of presidents. what keeps many of them hanging on is that they cannot believe that anybody as dishonest as trump exists or would make it to the Oval Office. in other words "if he is as bad as you say he is? someone would have stopped him". in my rural area trump voters have no experience with his level of dishonesty in their daily lives..... perfect rubes for Goebbels's Big Lie and a man that tells it so convincingly and constantly.
5
How many examples of obstruction do we see AFTER the Mueller Report? Trump could be impeached because of those alone. He is off the rail. Maybe bring kick him out using article 25. He seems unhealthy, makes no logical sense when he speaks. His incompetence is legend.
3
Well, we definitely can see right through "Transparent Trump".
Dems should just start the Impeachment proceedings and let the steady exposure of detailed impeachment offenses make Trumpeteers beg Donald to take a permanent golf vacation.
And yes, the press should continue to highlight the differences between Bill Clinton's impeachment for one little lie about an affair with an intern to Trump's egregious obstruction of justice charges and 10,000+ lies.
I agree with Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ):
“It’s (impeachment) not an issue we can or should shy away from. At the end of the day, if we (the House of Representatives) do our duty and the Senate doesn’t, the shame will be on the other side.”
8
He doesn’t want to be president anymore, does he?
4
Trump has had at least one other snit when infrastructure was to be discussed. It is a reality issue in that monies have to be found. I recommend reading “The Eisenhower Year’s,” during which that Republican President was able to do vast infrastructure building while keeping deficits at bay. I know times were different, however he put the nation first, not himself, had detractors, and was able to accomplish a lot. Oh, I forgot, Trump doesn’t read. Oh well.
7
Thank you, Gail Collins. This is surely one of your best columns.
9
You forgot Stage 1A
15 minutes before the meeting at the White House Mrs Pelosi pulls a school yard move and accuses the President of a crime without presenting any evidence or indictment.
Here's a newsflash for all those people in Washington who live in the political bubble:
"you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar"
Grow up, do your job, everyone.
@Matt: Another newsflash for leaders: “Don’t take things personally”. And Trump had staged his “performance” way earlier than 15 minutes before the meeting. Probably Pelosi got wind of it and used it to her advantage. Good for her! Trump is no match for that cougar, and I mean that respectfully!
1
@Matt
The people who are really doing their jobs are the ones in the White House who were able to design and present the Rose Garden signs in under 15 minutes. They certainly put ProntoPrint to shame.
2
@Matt- Absolutely true- the use of a sweet demeanor does provide great benefits in trying to achieve something. It is sad that more often than not, President Trump just can't seem to find that darn honey pot.
1
May 22, 2019
WASHINGTON — President Trump, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer met today at the White House to discuss the nation’s spending plans for infrastructure.
“I campaigned on infrastructure and I will keep to my word,” the president announced as he shook hands with the Democratic congressional leaders. Mr. Trump continued: “If we rescind the recent tax cuts, we can come up with the money to get the job done. We will work in a bipartisan way. I intend to make that happen.” He added: “I have also instructed the Justice Department to release the full contents of the Mueller report to the public and the Treasury Department to release my tax returns from the past 10 years. In the interests of transparency, I want to let the American people know that I have nothing to hide.”
Did you see this story run in the New York Times today?
You didn’t?
It was, in fact, reported today. It just happened in a parallel universe, in a galaxy far, far away.
7
I just worry that the US will not bounce back from the lies. I love politics and I am afraid that the GOP, not just Trump, has poisoned the US for a long time. Can rational humans save the US from itself? Are there any rational members of the GOP left? One maybe two?
5
in my experience the ardor of the typical trump supporter has cooled...... they are less forceful in their defense of this most indefensible of presidents. what keeps many of them hanging on is that they cannot believe that anybody as dishonest as trump exists or would make it to the Oval Office. in other words "if he is as bad as you say he is? someone would have stopped him". in my rural area trump voters have no experience with his level of dishonesty in their daily lives..... perfect rubes for Goebbels's Big Lie and a man that tells it so convincingly and constantly.
3
But...as i read a sharply written article and agree with so many its readers' comments, i still think that this sometimes man who would be king is but a very distracting puppet. A sometimes sad clown who keeping us all entertained while the real dealmakers are busy destroying our nation's democracy and its progress. We are not stagnated by this destructive theater, we are devolving and turning our backs to the vision of its founders.
1
"Infrastructure" is never going to happen, nor was there really any intention of its happening. Blame the Democrats, of course.
Thing is, this is nothing new. Trump used this "technique" through out his business career. He schedules a meeting then throws a tantrum and storms out.
He has done the same for the past 2 years - storming out of meetings.
More evidence this was a setup is the sign on the podium he gave his 15 minute rant from. I am amazed how few people compare this to professional wrestling. All the bombastic yelling, loud music, passionate fans screaming and staged new conferences.
3
Here are some possibilities for Trump's meltdown on Wednesday:
A. Some pundit on Fox must have gotten Trump all riled up, although it doesn't take much these days.
B. Trump would rather watch TV and play golf than tackle any major spending bills (except for the Wall).
C. Trump was having a bad day as soon as he heard that he was having salad for lunch.
1
This was the funniest and most clever opinion piece this week because it really implied the A word instead of the P word that best represents our governing factions in Washington with their perceived I words
Sent from my iPhone
2
Gail, this is the most humorous column ever. I just want to compliment you on it. Thank you!
3
Gail your ability to help us see the humor in the midst of the horror is a gift. Thank you!
2
Childish behavior of a 73 year old! ..and one with access to the nuclear codes.
Trump could not care less if every bridge in America collapsed from neglect. Separating families case and point of his
Mentality.
God help us.
2
Just because everyone can see through you
doesn't mean that you are transparent.
2
Just want to say that the word creepy need only be substituted by the more apt word ie insane.
Queen Victoria (and other monarchs) often referred to herself using the “Royal We.” As Trump trues ever harder to become our self-annointed king, it is hardly surprising that he uses the third person to refer to himself - a kind of “Royal He.”
We, the people, are not amused!
1
"Our President is a pothole."
I'll be the first to admit that it has a certain ring to it.
1
How many more such incoherent meltdowns before SOME Republicans in Congress start to acknowledge that maybe, possibly, the leader of their party isn't quite right in the head?
It has been frightening to see the so-called Republican leadership fall in line behind this petulant, unintelligent, autocratic, preening conman. A good demonstration of how fascists and dictators can come to power and hold on to their offices when power-hungry, amoral yes-men enable them, just as these treasonous Republicans are doing.
3
How many administrations so far have not given us a sure fire infrastructure plan.
Where our the visionaries.
Oh wait.
Trying to make driverless trucks and cars .
Make the driverless roads first you dummies in congress. And stop walking into meetings with bully boy anymore.
He is useless as is the senate with the freedom caucus and Mcconnell.
Our major roads are unsafe. And clogged and those “ flying wallenda” bridges in Washington beltway are vertigo inspiring. I have commuted up and down our eastern seaboard for over 30 years on I 95 and the beltways from Maine to Florida and back multiple times and I see continued patchwork and enormous traffic jams and folk driving way above 90 miles per hour. No infrastructure isn’t a real goal for either party.
We need structural changes to congress and all three branches. Life time judgeships must be removed. Presidents should be able to be removed easily and quickly and when a president is removed all his appointees and the Vice President should be fired. With an emergency popular vote election .
Once again the American public is treated to the incoherent ramblings of a mad as a hatter President and no Republican flinches. Even Trump somewhere deep down in his soul must be wondering how many crazy and outrageous things can I do and say, how many blatant lies can I tell, and how much of my sordid past can be revealed before my approval ratings among Republicans plummet.
2
This guy is more than a few floors short of 68.
1
Donald doesn’t care about infrastructure as it would mostly benefit rural America. He would rather keep the 2 Trillion as spending money for his rallies, golf games, and 2 scoops of ice
cream.
Rural America is happy with his rallies and the Made in China hats (which they lovingly pay for with their insulin money).
The tantrum was staged.
What will not be staged is is his tantrum when his finances are outed:
• via Albany’s tax returns
• via Deutsche Bank’s loan records.
And this tantrum will have a nuclear fallout that would scorch Lindsey, Mitch, et al.
Remember, Trump blames everyone but himself. He is not going down alone. All you Republican enablers in the Senate will be named, your secrets laid bare. Remember Cohen, Flynn? It will be very beautiful to behold.
What is Donald hiding?
What is Lindsey hiding?
What is Mitch hiding?
2
@Opinioned!
It is also an extra slice of chocolate cake he wants but it doesn't come out of the two trillion dollars (not) pledged for infrastructure. "The best chocolate cake you ever tasted", remember.
1
Gail Collins. You are a national treasure.
4
It goes without saying that the “total, horrible thing that happened to our country” is that this disgraceful, lawless, unelected north end of a southbound horse ended up in the oval office.
3
"I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,” he declared." I cannot disagree with him.
This is almost fun, and I am not a mean person.
Obviously unqualified. Patently ignorant. Openly uncaring. Evidently a fraud. Plainly unprepared. Distinctly unethical. Clearly contemptible. Undoubtedly selfish. No substance: an empty shell. Without the Republicans bolstering his nothingness, he would be even less than he isn't already.
6
“ Never interrupt your enemy when He is making a mistake “ - attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Please Proceed, Sir.
3
After reading some Trump supporters' comments to the Times' article about today's latest Trump rant, his incoherent Rose Garden performance, and his explosive extortion demand to cooperate with Democrats ONLY if the Democrats just stop investigating him right now, I truly wonder what these Trump supporters are thinking:
a. Do they not realize that Trump is a habitual liar, and do they actually believe he is always telling the truth—as he and Fox repeatedly tells them he is?
b. Or, do they know Trump lies far more often than he tells the truth, but they don't care, which makes me wonder just what are they teaching their kids about honesty and telling the truth?
c. Or, do they think that they are watching a televised spinoff of "The Apprentice" called "The Presidential Apprentice," and all they are looking for is to be entertained by Trump's hilarious Don Rickles' disrespectful insult humor, firmly believing that he is far funnier than Hillary Clinton and any Democratic politician, who actually cares about stupid stuff, such as climate change, peace, education, health care, children, a living wage, and the future of this country?
d. Or, do Trump supporters think? And if so, where is the evidence, and why in the world do they adore this incompetent, narcissistic, ludicrous, and destructive president? Please explain.
3
There are no words allowed in a newspaper read by the general public to describe the idiocy and, yes, transparency of Trump's Wednesday performance (art). A wee lad taking his second semester of political science/propaganda course would know clear as day that Trump was trying to find a way to blame the Democrats because the Republicans on the Hill told him there was NO WAY he was going to get 2 trillion dollars for roads, bridges and other useless stuff that helps the nation keep growing and the economy on track.
Trump promoted himself as someone who never backs down. Oops. Turns out he ALWAYS backs down, which is part of his normal operating method. No matter which way he is going, north, east, west or south, he makes massive elephant sounds to cover up the fact that he's backing down.
Why do millions swallow this hogwash as if it were fresh spring water? Because they want to believe so badly that facts don't matter. Emotions and opposing those dirty liberals are what count.
Here's the question, though: how many times can you lead people down a dead end street and tell them it is a wide, wonderful boulevard that leads to heaven and have them believe it, again and again? Even someone paying with half an attention level will sooner or later see they are being conned. Big time.
6
CORRUPT Trump works for Putin's benefit. Everything is staged and chaos is the method.
1
Mark your calendar. Today, May 22, is the beginning of the end for Donald J.
He knows now what Congress is about to learn, and his fear is so great that he can't even pronounce the word impeachment.
"Be sure your sin will find you out," as the Bible says.
One of these days the "I-word" will begin to stand for 'INDICTED,'
followed a short time later by 'INCARCERATED.'
2
Why do you think Trump proposed $2Trillion? It was a set-up, a con he never intended to follow through on.
If NYT would report the facts about the exact length of the meeting, and the details of the Rose Garden press conference setup, the facts would be more convincing than an opinion like this one.
Funny, when I think of the "I-word", I am thinking insanity
4
He's transparent alright, but not in the way he means.
1
Trenchant and witty column--and not a dog in sight, on a car roof or anywhere!
1
Two things happened to precipitate Trump's latest childish behavior. First, he had no plan for infrastructure. He was, as usual, not only entirely unprepared but overwhelmed. He knew he was going to be made the fool---because he is. Second, he's everyday more enraged that, like a petulant teenager, he's been busted. But this is no prank. This is dangerously incompetent and vile behavior, this is exposure as the fraud he is. Even Fox won't be able to explain that he's not paid taxes or that his business has been more failure than success. Speaker Pelosi has his number in a way no one else has since all this madness began. She's going to make him twist in the wind. America, we pray, survives the mad king.
3
So much misrule under Trump. Sad!
1
I have no idea how members of the Washington press corps stifle their laughter when this buffoon speaks. Perhaps they are mesmerized and horrified all at the same time. Perhaps they are just lost in incredulity that 30ish percent of Americans and the vast majority of Republicans believe he is fit to run the country. Enough is enough. Impeach.
2
You can only pull the frayed edge of unraveling senility so far...and all we've got now is a tangle of undone laws and knotty coverups.
We have the law for a reason -- and now we get to see what that reason is there for.
We've reached the warped end of the woof.
1
The media shares every tweet Trump makes. I wish, instead, they would publish/play more of his full “speeches”. Could anyone listen to his incoherent ranks and not realize that this guy really is looney? If this were your dear old Uncle Ned spouting off at the family barbecue, you’d be looking to get him committed.
Thank you, Gail, for giving us a little snippet .
2
No wonder Trump's parents sent him off to boarding school. Too bad he didn't learn how to behave like a normal human being there, either.
Yep.
Oh yeah.
Thanks Gail, that sums it up pretty well.
Can we talk about the 25th amendment now Mike Pence?
2
Well, if everybody loves the idea of getting infrastructure done, Congress should just do its job, pass it in both houses, let the President veto it, and then override the veto.
Easy peasy. Right, Republicans? Because you're not actually going to let an opportunity for a much needed investment in the nuts and bolts of American life pass you by just because our temper-tantrum throwing, completely self-absorbed President doesn't understand that this isn't actually about him, are you?
..... Really?
Can you imagine what Congressional Republicans would be saying had President Obama stomped out of a meeting, and accused his counterparts of conspiring against him? As it was, Obama got called petulant and arrogant! And yet, with Trump, it’s a big shrug and he’ll be right back to more of the same absurdity.
2
Perfect closing sentence ! Just perfect
The rose garden temper tantrum was a preplanned show to continue to sucker in his base, cause he’s not fooling the rest of us.
1
President Chaos is the perfect appellation for Donald Trump. Chaos is derived from the ancient Greek word for the "abyss". Trump's illegal stonewalling of legitimate congressional oversight, provocative moves regarding Iran, and his total lack of policy competency, has caused many Americans to feel as if they are staring into a political abyss. This potential of this reality is exponentially increased by Trump's serial lying, and the shameless sycophants in the Senate, who belong to the Republican Party.
1
Wow. “Marching into the bog of self-pity”. Perfect description.
I wonder if the Be Best graphic designer did the No No sign - Is Donald Trump really posting I’m Not A Crook “ graphics on his own podium??
The drama queen soliloquy in the Rose Garden lets us soak in fully that Donald Trump having to think about anything but himself, much less road repair, is blowing the old boy’s gaskets. He was talking actual gibberish. We’re going to have to have to bust out the Napoleon tri-corner headgear instead of that trucker cap for more reasons than one.
1
Trumpy is under the delusion that even democracy is negotiable so that he can get his way. His Republican supporters in Congress deceive themselves by believing that Trumpy cares what they think. They collude with him in poor governance. The rest of us (not of the Clown persuasion) point him out and say, "Shame".
Ignominious. Insane. Incompetent. Illegitimate. Insidious. Immature. Insecure. There are enough "I-words" in this administration to start another dictionary. What's more, there are 25 more letters in the alphabet that are auditioning to co-star in this Impolitic Implosion.
Take the "V-word" for example ...
Vote.
2
What made anyone think that this man who spent his life threatening, lying and cheating would somehow change his life
style and become reasonable, truthful and wise? What I confess I did not expect was that the entire Republican party would genuflect to him. I confess i am guilty of thinking that Nixon was the worst president we could ever have had. Nixon looks like " Little Goody Two Shoes" next to this man and he must be laughing in his grave.
1
25th Amendment?
I for one am sooooooooo sick of having this blubbering egomaniac shoved into my consciousness everyday everywhere. He’s a nobody a nothing a zero... life ahhhhh Springtime here in California is so magical this year... the roses smell like never before.
1
Let’s be clear: Old white guys get to determine the rules or get to stomp off to a prearranged press conference with props. The rest of us don’t have the luxury of ignoring subpoenas or doing only one thing at a time. The rest of us are expected to be multitasking, team players. LOL
1
Wow, this is a gem, fashion in just a few hours after the event. Haven't seen anything the good since Art Buchwald's time.
He is such an unwell man, and yet people like McConnell, who are profiting from this disaster, continue to look the other way. Gail Collins, as usual, is able to make us laugh at our folly of trying to be a successful species.
1
A magnificent summation of today’s events. Historians of the trump era will be smacking their chops over this one, Gail
1
Finally the tide seems to be turning...
The natives are tired of the show.
Trump is circling the drain.
Wave and sing "Hail to the Chief" as he floats by.
1
I want to thank President Trump for providing me with the thrilling entertainment that only fear and dread can elicit. I watched an episode of the Game of Thrones to see what the media's publicity explosion was all about but, as it was obviously make-believe, it didn't give me much kick. I guess I'm too much of a realist. But when I read about the guy who has a button to launch a nuclear holocaust, going on a temper tantrum, that really gets to my inner self. Absolutely thrilling, better than a roller-coaster.
1
Trump lived up to his George Conway #Deranged Donald moniker.
The staged Rose Garden faux walk out was complete with handouts for the assembled press. Trump played Pelosi's victim for a morning tough guy Bully 'win'.
Giving a flying finger to America's needs with a "I'm not going to play with you anymore" 5 year olds taunt. No more Trump legislation! Take that.
#Deranged Donald seems increasingly desperate to hide any and all information about his conduct.
Another new low for our POTUS who refuses to put country before himself. He has confirmed again that HIS needs take priority over everything - Our country, government, rule of law, the needs of the people, ethics and traditions.
Trump asserts that he is not only the most important American but the neediest too. All must bend the knee to his needs and desires.
1
Excellent analysis while avoiding the brutality of the obvious truth about Mr Trump (I have decided that "Mr" is the only title which he still deserves). I had to think of the memorable song "Never Smile at a Crocodile" - Ms Pelosi may find herself singing it quite often when explaining her dealings with the guy in the Rose Garden (which he did in fact promise to the American people, although he probably can't sing the song saying that he never did - has he ever been known to sing, by the way?)
We can be fairly sure that Mr Trump has reworked his memories once again and now firmly believes his current version of "the facts" - as all religious influencers know, if you only repeat your mantras often enough, they will become true at least for you personally. So you end up being a sincere, misunderstood ... jerk. Sorry, is that lèse majesté?
I think Donald Trump took locution lessons from Casey Stengel.
3
It's 3, Gail; the $2 Trillion$ is something the Freedom Caucus crowd which Sleazy Slimy 45* has surrounded himself with, don't want - take a bow Mark Meadows and Mick Mulvaney.
This is the same Freedom Caucus 'no' crowd which devised the end-of-year government shutdown debacle, and advocated having the nation default on our debt in 2011's debt ceiling discussion, who are of the Steve Bannon/Grover Norquist ilk.
The same crowd who quickly grabbed Donald's ear after the televised Cabinet Room meeting in Jan. 2018, where Trump agreed with Diane Feinstein and other Dems about immigration and DACA recipients, and they got this president to reverse himself.
Since Sleazy Slimy is always concerned about 'the base' which the Freedom Caucus represents, they have no problem manipulating POTUS into stunts that fit their political agenda, no matter whether it's good for 'Individual-1/No Collusion' 45*.
He's a (willing) prop.
It's 3, Gail; the $2 Trillion$ is something the Freedom Caucus crowd which Sleazy Slimy 45* has surrounded himself with, don't want - take a bow Mark Meadows and Mick Mulvaney.
This is the same Freedom Caucus 'no' crowd which devised the end-of-year government shutdown debacle, and advocated having the nation default on our debt in 2011's debt ceiling discussion, who are of the Steve Bannon/Grover Norquist ilk.
The same crowd who quickly grabbed Donald's ear after the televised Cabinet Room meeting in Jan. 2018, where Trump agreed with Diane Feinstein and other Dems about immigration and DACA recipients, and they got this president to reverse himself.
Since Sleazy Slimy is always concerned about 'the base' which the Freedom Caucus represents, they have no problem manipulating POTUS into stunts that fit their political agenda, no matter whether it's good for 'Individual-1/No Collusion' 45*.
He's a (willing) prop.
"I am probably the most transparent president in history." Yeah we know. We can see right through you.
1
He's Lucy, Pelosi is Charlie Brown. The man is an an addled performance addict who gets off on hurting people and the planet. Yet his followers adore him. Yesterday one of them told me he's "cleaning up the mess." That's like saying the rats infesting NYC are cleaning up the mess the tourists drop on the street.
A: Trump's plan for infrastructure and climate change.
The Amazing Karnac's clairvoyant Q: What is "we'll burn THAT bridge once the water's OVER it!"?
1
Can Congress evict him?
If by "transparent" he means anyone can instantly see through his thousands of lies, I guess he is the most transparent president ever. The man is obviously one step removed from being deranged. I hope we survive him.
1
When he loses in 2020, he will not willingly go.
We need to prepare for that.
He is stark raving nuts.
4
I cannot help feelng the deepest sympathy for whatever wretched individual at the White House is tasked with transcribing Mr. Trump's "speeches."
Forget impeachment. Driving a secretarial assistant mad is surely a federal crime...?
3
So this will be another thing he fails to accomplish. Can a president be impeached merely for not getting anything done?
2
So, Trump is getting a taste of his own well honed campaigning technique: ridicule! Fine with me. If it turns out in hindsight that he got laughed out of office, perhaps it will be the curative for, at least , some of our ills... Maybe laughter is the best medicine after all!
Yes, yes, yes. This is all true. Trump is a colossal baby. But every time the media runs a photo with the sign NO collusion NO obstruction, he wins.
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@myasara
I'm not sure that's true. To me, that sign is a symbol of Trump's insanity. The fact that he had it made in the first place is... well, crazy. But when was it made, and how is it that it was ready to display for that spontaneous Rose Garden pressor? Oh - and how much did it cost? Add that to the "$35+ MILLION" price tag that American taxpayers have had to pay for the "privilege" of keeping this man in the White House.
And just for comparison, maybe the Democrats should have a companion sign made up showing the cost of all those golf excursions Trump promised he wouldn't take before the election. I believe that the cost is estimated to be over $102 million in the 2 years, 122 days he's been in office (yes, I'm keeping track).
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@myasara
Yikes, if you have to print it up on some cheap poster board in a pathetic attempt to convince people you DID NOT do it, we know definitely guilty.
11
@myasara, do you also think "I'm not a crook" was a win for Nixon?
3
Trump refused to answer Robert Mueller’s questions in-person, but claims he’s “the most transparent president probably in the history of this country”. He also said he’d refuse to do anything on infrastructure or anything else if Democrats continued with their investigation. This, despite the fact that Presidents Nixon, Clinton and Obama continued to do the peoples’ business while under investigation. Does anybody take any of this stuff seriously? Doubtful!
Trump ran on investing in infrastructure. Good! However, he doesn't want push it right now because McConnell, McCarthy and other Congressional GOPers tell him there's no money, much less two trillion dollars, to fund a large public works bill. The main reason there's no money is because of the 2017 tax cuts, which mostly benefited corporations and wealthy individuals. That's a sacred cow that Congressional Republicans absolutely refuse to roll back. So, there's no federal money for a large infrastructure project!
Of course, Trump and Congress could propose an infrastructure plan based largely on private funding. Isn't that the Republican way? The reason he doesn't push that is because privately-funded infrastructure will work well in high-population “blue” areas like New York City where there’s lots of people pay tolls, but not so well rural “red” areas where there's a lot fewer people to pay tolls. For that reason, Trump and Congressional GOPers won't push privately-funded infrastructure either. So .... they're stuck!
Very good, my compliments to the writer.
Nancy Pelosi, as the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, works hard to present herself as dignified, competent and reasonable. That totally freaks out Donald Trump who has built his entire brand on being sort of a jerk. It is impossible for me to say without know the guy personally if he is truly a jerk or if he simply plays a jerk because his base loves it. It does seem apparent to me that he is boxed in by Nancy Peolosi. If he tries to act as reasonable and dignified as she he will offend his base. I think this situation is as obvious as it is weird.
8
"Just don’t mention the I-word around the White House."
How soon will Trump prevent peaches from being served at the White House?
1
Trump was never serious about infrastructure, it was simply a campaign prop. Nor are his enablers in Congress. Republicans held the majority in both the House and Senate for the past six years and never introduced a bill to fix the crumbling roads and bridges let alone broadband which they think is a foreign word.
Religious liberty, abortion, voter suppression, these are the hallmarks of Republican governance. Health care, college debt, infrastructure, immigration reform, climate change, all dead on arrival at the McConnell Senate. Time is past to rid the country of these do nothing corporate shills.
11
Nice try Gail but your stages skip what Nancy Pelosi said earlier. Although you do mention it later, the omission sort of paints an inaccurate framing of what happened before the encounter.
As for Stormy Daniels, since when do liberals care about a sex scandal and why doesn't anyone see this as what it really was, blackmail and extortion lead by a lawyer facing 400 years in charges? Now if you said it was a bad deal because she did anything but hush, you'd have something here and you could mock the dealmaker.
Trump is actually forcing the Dems to decide, via the media coverage of this, which way are they going to go here. More investigations which is starting to look like persecution of an elected official and a very bad one at that, or trying to move forward on something that everyone should be able to get behind such as infrastructure projects that are sorely needed.
Let's see which way they go.
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@Norville T. Johnson
What does whatever the Democrats decide about investigations have to do with infrastructure?
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@Norville T. Johnson I think her point was that the fact that there was a pre-printed sign on the lectern indicates that Trump intended to walk out. Which means he's the one blocking progress on infrastructure in order to keep the focus on his "persecution" as you call it-- and you demonstrate exactly why he thinks this is a winning strategy for him, rather than having to deal with the hard work involved in negotiating with Democrats.
As for sex scandals, I can't imagine most Democrats care, or are surprised about the affair itself, especially considering he cheated on his former wives. It's the cover-up and lying that's galling. And the cognitive dissonance of many of his supporters that still somehow seem to think they are on the "family values" team.
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@Norville T. Johnson
Always strange to see conservative reasoning. It seems like rationalization.
There is no need for Democrats to choose "which way to go". They are willing do do both legitimate and investigate.
Trump seems to be all too willing to find an excuse not to address the this important infrastructure subject.He is the one who can't do two things at once: get the real work of governing done and have a temper tantrum.
So he chooses the latter
59
American "democracy" has been paralyzed now for a generation. It is well past time that the United States is two incompatible nations and the sooner disunion occurs, the better. The Civil War has been going on for just too long.
25
@FilmMD
I agree one hundred percent.
If climate change has not disposed of humanity in a few hundred years historians will look at the US after the Civil War and decide that there was too much appeasement of the forward looking former Union towards the regressive self-serving former Confederates. Especially reconstruction was a major mistake. A mistake we saw again, in an perverted modern version, when the monster of Wallstreet was not shackled in 2008, as it was on its knees. If the mortal enemy is down you need to destroy it and start afresh. One of the lessons with post-war Germany. Only when it was so thoroughly defeated was there a chance (not guaranteed) of renewal.
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This prescription is madness. Surely you remember what you learned about the aftermath of World War I, when Germany was humiliated and forced to pay huge reparations. The Germans didn't give us any trouble after that, right? If the Union had refused to begin rebuilding the south after the Civil War, we would have engaged in another bloody struggle with them within 10 years, and there would be no United States today.
The Marshall Plan, the equivalent of Reconstruction for Europe after World War II, is the primary reason we have not been engaged in a major war in Europe since then.
3
@Clearheaded Tom Leherer:
"We taught them a lesson in 1918, and they've hardly bothered us since then!"
1
The most transparent president in the history of the United States is trying to hide everything from his past and his presidency.
Despite the Mueller report completely exonerating him, he will not let a less redacted version be released, or let people interviewed by Mueller testify before Congress.
The self-proclaimed financial genius is trying to keep anyone from seeing his financial records or his tax returns.
Trump, who definitely did not commit obstruction of justice, is arguably committing obstruction of justice by stating that the White House will ignore all Congressional subpoenas.
The man with the “very good brain”, a “stable genius” if you will, cannot cope with working on legislation and being investigated at the same time.
The presidential candidate who did not commit any crimes surrounded himself with a bunch of crooks.
Truly, we live in strange times.
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@HG Obviously you haven't read even the 'redacted' Mueller Report because it did NOT Exonerate the President. It said that since he was unable to indict the President and force him to answer questions, that he could no longer proceed and it would be up to Congress to complete the investigation and pass judgment on the President's Obstruction of Justice.
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@Wayne Maybe I'm wrong, but I think HG was being ironic.
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@Wayne - I believe HG was being satirical!
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Do Dems have a positive plan? I don't mean just blocking Mr. Trump, poisoning public opinion against him, and if possible, driving him from the presidency, something they failed to do at the last election when they had the chance; I mean a constructive plan to build American prosperity, not transferring the earnings of productive people to the unproductive? What is their plan to build national wealth through investment, innovation, fair world trade? Their whole plan is blame-placing, borrowing, taxation, and wealth-transfer to people who show again and again that when they get their hands on money they just squander it on consumption, never mind about investment. The Dems are not the party of wealth-building, they're the party of national wealth depletion; they should not be encouraged.
3
Quaint and naive. Many plans have been approached and legislated, only to disappear in Mcconnell’s wasteland. Revision to tax code? Restructuring of health care? Relief from student debt? Foreign policy changes to strengthen democracies? The list goes on and on but the Republican Party of Trump will not ever recognize them. Why not? What are they afraid of?
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Wealth depletion. I forgot that the Dems triggered the Great Recession with tax cuts and reckless spending on wars in the Middle East and deregulation of the banking system. VP Dick Cheney famously said in those years that $deficits didn’t matter. Somehow I remember him being elected as the Republican running mate of W.
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@Ronald B. Duke Trump is the President. Surely he knew that being president and playing with the big boys would not be "bean bag"? And knew it from his own personal experience of giving presidents a hard time. The Democrats in Congress are passing legislation and doing their constitutional duty of oversight of the executive branch. Surely he knew from his past newspaper reading that Congresses do that? The Democratic leaders were there to discuss legislation with Trump on much needed infrastructure. Does he not understand that as the President he cannot legitimately just take his marbles and go home if things are not going exactly the way he wants them to go? That he has duties to perform, duties which he swore to uphold.
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On a daily basis trump gives new and better reasons to support his impeachment.
Get on with it Democrats.
3
Is this behavior right out of The Art of the Deal? Is this the kind of stuff I would have learned while enrolled at Trump University?
I’m sure glad I didn’t waste my money on that book, or on that tuition!
3
Trump's obstructive conduct begs for impeachment. Justin Amash is the sole Republican legislator who has the guts to acknowledge Trump should be impeached. Impeachment, regardless of the consequences, is imperative. Look at what happened to Nixon. At first, his party was prepared to save him but ultimately realized their leader was corrupt. The same may not play out this time, because there are no Howard Bakers or Barry Goldwaters who have the integrity or courage to go against Trump. But impeachment will be the only way to expose Trump as the crook he is.
4
What was missing at the carnival barker's performance was a carnival tent complete with caricatures of Trump and his toadies. Ms. Pinocchio, the press secretary, could be portrayed as a person who never tells the truth and KellyAnne portrayed as a person from an alternate universe.
Trump himself is a caricature of a compassionate and caring human being.
I remember the performances of Nixon and his "I am not a crook" and "if the president does it then it is not illegal".
At least Nixon was more adult than the angry toddler who pretends to govern.
Hmm. A caricature of a toddler appearing as Trump. Now that belongs on the carnival tent.
2
@Dan The Brits beat us to that one. Maybe they'd loan us that big Trump MAGA-baby balloon.
Ah. It reached Trump early: the gist of the court's Deutsche Bank/CapOne ruling in favor of the congressional subpoenas of his financial records. Trump's sudden, blanket refusal to work with Congress until it halts investigations was not unexplainable, erratic madness; it was a calculated response (ergo the premade sign containing the usual drivel planted prominently at the Rose Garden podium).
It's just Trump playing chicken - again. We saw it with DACA, with the last government shutdown, with the current Chinese trade war; now it's infrastructure (and apparently everything else). It's his preferred method of "negotiation": give me what I want or everyone suffers - except me because I can spin (fool's) gold from my own failures. Trump: the Rumpelstiltskin of politics.
2
The D base is never bothered when its establishment leaders allow themselves to be used like rented mules in Trump's media posing & posturing for his base. And Nancy & Chuck never tire of being used by Trump.
Only trump would stand behind a placard posting false information ( the investigation cost 25 million dollars, and with Manafort’s payments the govt made a profit) and spew out more false information. It is a festival of lying each and everyday. He is Shakespearean in his grievances. Greek in his tragic flaws. Our hero, a tawdry little grifter, unexpectedly granted a high position and finding the shoes are way too big.
3
I notice his sign does not list the number of indictments or guilty pleas...
2
Would love to hear the Founders comment on Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Roberts Court. My hunch is that the system the Founders devised will withstand this assault on its integrity. Not willing to bet the farm though! Apparently, you can fool 40% of the people all the time.
3
Yes, but what about the crowd at his inauguration?
55
Gail Collins--one of our finest living humorists. Should get the Mark Twain Prize for American humor, which honors, among other things, "uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly."
5
Thank you again Gail for a much needed laugh, it is so important in this time of American political insanity to be brought back to the reality of the ludicrous and farcical state of American politics. A pity the rest of of the world is laughing at us, rather than with us.
1
Rex Tillerson (remember him?) said it best concerning Trump.
1
You lost me at your first sentence. No, I'm not "used to being weirded out by" the current occupant. Let's not get too comfortable with this aberration of a presidency. ALWAYS be weirded out by this colossal mess. ALWAYS express anger or regret or laughter, but never, never, never get used to it.
2
Wait. Trump was rambling and incoherent?
1
Donald Trump is a flim flam man through and through. An entertainer and that is what his base voted for. He likes chaos, they like chaos. That is why they will continue to support him and his lack of governing technique.
The Republicans can get nothing done now either. They are hamstrung by the House thank goodness. So what Trump’s big accomplishments are include a tax cut mainly benefiting the wealthy and ultimately bankrupting our country, AND seating 2 very conservative judges sealing his religious right base.
How lucky our country is to have had this man as president.
The signs under the podium? Is he trying to brainwash us? His playbook is advertising 101. It’s become the “Donald Trump Show” tune in to see how wacky he is today! Ultimately he is just a showman. It’s funny until you remember we have ships in the middle east just begging for a confrontation, children separated from their families at the border, an ill planned trade war, a climate that is heating up, kids terrified to go to school for fear of a shooter. This presidency is such a waste of precious time.
2
In the interest of completeness, could you change the photo on this piece so it includes the other half of the poster in its original state when published? The half that shows how many convictions and pleas were entered, how many prosecutions are on-going, and how much money Mueller collected? The publishing of a picture of only half of this poster, as used by Trump, is fake news!
2
The Democrats were appaled by Donnie's behavior. The Liberals were shocked by Donnie's behavior. The Independents were amazed at Donnie's behavior. Americans were embarrassed with Donnie's behavior!
The Base of the Republican Party? They ate it up and love it; clamoring for more theatrics
Sad, where this country is headed!
Trump's Temper Tantrums. He comes apart at the seems so easily, doesn't he. For what is obvious even to a rabid Fox viewer, he is an insecure and unstable man who will resort to vindictiveness to lash out at his critics. He is basically a child wearing his mother's robes, believing himself to be king. And he is President. Trump vacillates between wallowing in self pity and exploding into full blown narcissism. Rosenstein was right in thinking about enlisting support in enacting the 25th Amendment. Trump is a troubled man - and if we as Americans aren't scared enough yet, we should be.
They should say the word "Benghazi" whenever Trump talks about ongoing worthless investigations that turned up nothing. Eight times in fact.
2
There are two "I" words...Impeachment and Investigation.
The second one yes of course...we have trump who lies continuously, attacks anyone and every one who says anything against him. That a sign of a big bully who is actually a coward.
I am hoping there is someone out there who could beat trump in his own game.
1
@B.Sharp There is a 3rd word that begins with 'i', incarcerate.
1
And Senate Republicans are ok with this! As long as he satisfies their greed for laws disadvantaging those they deem "less worthy," women, people of color, the poor and disabled, they will support him.
1
Another example of our President putting himself first as opposed putting the needs of our country and its citizens first. Remember opposite day in grade school?
A $2 trillion infrastructure bill is a worth goal, but not if causes taxes, other than fees for use of said infrastructure, to rise by a penny. NOT ONE PENNY.
2
"During his Rose Garden performance, the president once again fell into the extremely creepy habit of referring to himself in the third person. (“They hated President Trump. They hated him with a passion.”)"
I'd just like to point out that as Gollum sunk more and more under the control of the Great Ring of Power and Sauron, he began referring to himself in the third person.
Just makes you think...
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Seems Nancy and Chuck learned nothing from DACA. Remember that? They walked out of a meeting with Trump with a deal on the Dreamers. A few days later the whole thing exploded. When I heard last week about the infrastructure deal, I thought, "Well, that won't last." It ain't because I'm smart; it's because Trump is so predictable. Hard to believe Schumer and Pelosi fell for it again.
1
Rex Tillerson called it like it is when he described Trump's intellect and qualification for the presidency. I can't repeat it here as it is inappropriate (even if true) for polite company.
2
Republicans since Eisenhower couldn’t care less about the infrastructure of this nation; surely the one tenth of one percenters live lives insulated from such concerns and they are the GOP’s constituency.
Trump was just looking for an excuse to blow off infrastructure. Meanwhile, McConnell is breathing a sigh of relief.
1
Every day, we get one little step closer to the "emperor has no clothes" moment. Can't wait for it to happen!
And when it does, his base [in the high 30%s?] may very well still stick with him, but not a single voter beyond his base will: they will be thoroughly disillusioned and disgusted with him at that point, and for good reason. Not even a good economy may save him at that point....
1
For anyone who is disappointed by the end of "Game of Thrones," allow me to suggest "Game of Trumptantrums." You won't be disappointed.
"Game of Trumptantrums" plays 24/7. You can binge on it in real time. If you miss an episode, you've missed nothing...since there is no coherent story line.
"Game of Trumptantrums" is always entertaining. Yes of course it can be depressing, but it also engages a range of emotions...from belly laughter to pity.
And don't forget, "Game of Trumptantrums" includes thriller suspense. Democrats have taken a lead role. They are on the hunt, Trump and his Republican minions are looking for cover (engaged in a cover-up, if you will). We don't know what is in the next episode or how "Game of Trumptantrums" will end. We only know that while a train wreck could be coming, ongoing Trump tantrums are guaranteed.
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Why are so many people surprised that Donald Trump suddenly blew up right before he might have had an infrastructure deal (that would have gone nowhere in the Senate--Mitch McConnell's obedience stops at the point when a lot of spending has to be added to the civilian budget and the government might appear to be accomplishing something constructive that affects everyone's lives)? Doesn't he have a history of throwing tantrums right before he supposedly has finished negotiating? I suspect he's most angry at Xi Jinping for having blown up the U.S.-China negotiations before Mr. Trump could have done it himself.
4
I think seasoned Senator Schumer had the best interpretation of the tantrum (as much as tantrums can be interpreted). Trump stormed out with prepared remarks (apparently with 3rd grade level misspellings -- twitter is abuzz), to a waiting podium. This was planned as a face-saving (face slapping?) way out of the costs of infrastructure improvements while taking shots at his political foes. The conservative core was not amused at signs of progress (spending) on infrastructure. Apparently they only want a border wall.
9
Today's news is "brought to you by the letter "I", (to paraphrase from "Sesame Street", which somehow seems appropriate when discussing anything Trump has made a statement about). I use the word"statement" loosely. We could use some sort of translation running across the bottom of our television screens whenever Trump makes a "statement" to the press.
My "I" word for the day as regards Trump is "Insane". That was the word that pretty much came to mind yesterday when Trump threw his giant tantrum. It was a stunner - even for him. The other "I" word - infrastructure - was not going to happen, because Trump (A). Did not have a plan to fund it, and (B). Was not going to have the support of the other Republicans, who have made it clear they only care about the "T" word taxes and the cutting thereof. The other"I" word," impeachment" should be approached very carefully, because it is going to be impossible to get it pass the "S" word Senate. Instead, set the stage for that other "I" word, "indictment" when Trump leaves office, which I pray will happen following the "E" word election.
25
The bottom line in my mind is leadership. We have poor leadership. As in any business or organization, it starts at the top. If we had a true leader who was honest, forthright, had ethics, it wouldn't matter who or what investigation followed. A true leader would stand above the fray and do things that were best for his/her business and in this case, our country. Unfortunately, we don't have a leader at all right now. I, too pray for Trump and our country.
24
@PB Schwartz It is worse than that, his word is flexible, he can not be trusted to keep it. That is the first step in leadership, not the last.
4
Pelosi gave Trump an excuse for not meeting his campaign promise to address our infrastructure problems. That beats having to explain to his base that he wants to borrow trillions more, or explaining he has no strategy for deciding what gets funded. A truly huge win.
Pelosi is a brilliant politician and knew what would happen. She also wanted to be off the hook on infrastructure, as she showed when Democrats held all the cards. Go look at infrastructure in San Francisco and see how much she cares.
It is clear Democrats want to lose the next presidential election. The surprise will be that they will lose the House and be unable to play spoiler in 2021 and 2022.
3
@John Morton Nah. Trump has generated so much anger that it turned the House in 2018. The GOP will be in the same condition as the Dems were last time. The Dems will also take the house. While Trump can use that as an excuse as to why nothing progresses, be clear, he does not have any more 'big' ideas to pursue. He only wants to reverse Obama, and reduce taxes on the rich. Even his placement of conservative judges on the bench is because of those who supply him with a list, he is not involved in the decision.
10
@John Morton
"Nancy Pelosi said I am engaged in a cover up. Therefore, I will not deliver on my pledge to improve infrastructure for all Americans."
If Trump's base is foolish enough to accept that lame excuse, they deserve crumbling highways and bridges.
If I was a pessimist I would predict that Trump will let Bolton off the leash on Iran the day before the question of impeachment reaches the House. But, as an optimist I predict that impeachment will generate the Mother of all Tweet Storms and Trump being bundled out of the White House in a straight jacket.
36
Our political discourse forces Trump’s supporters to defend and justify this behavior. I see them rising to the occasion, and I marvel at their flexibility and creativity in their task. They are loyal, and they place their principles before their interests.
Usually, putting one’s principles at the leading edge of one’s action is considered noble and a result of personal character.
However, we also know that the desired Ends can not justify improper Means. This president demands that we ignore his Means and Methods. That is wrong, and his supporters become corrupted when they follow him.
Yes, here we are. Now we vote.
16
I wish John Kerry was running, he is younger than Sanders or Biden. He was defeated but those swift boat lies and we got W and then Iraq war.
The war is still going on in Iraq and Afghanistan while we are losing our soldiers, George W Bush is painting the disabled soldiers.
Move on to 2919 and Democrats have at least 24 candidates who are running for Presidency , why ?
So many must know they have no chance.
In the Primaries we can vote for only one, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is smart , articulate with a brain capable of multitasking.
Perfect candidate to be the President .
But if someone else becomes the nominee I will certainly vote for Her / Him for President.
16
Ms. Collins:
I just wanted to say thank you. You have this unique gift of taking absolutely horrid situations (like yesterday) and somehow make them bearable. For that, I (and my blood pressure) am extremely grateful!
43
@Suzanne Victor I recommend valium or even better oxycontin.
1
Gail forgot to mention stage 1B, where Pelosi met with her Democrat colleagues to discuss impeachment, and then accused Trump of a cover up right before the meeting.
If that's the way one prepares for a meeting, don't expect much difference.
4
@kwb, nice try, but the fact that Trump's press conference had been planned well in advance indicates that Pelosi's cover up comments (and what is his stonewalling but a cover up?) were not the cause of his hissy fit. Besides, she's been saying much worse about him for weeks. Trump's set-up yesterday was just another lie, one you and the rest of the Trumpies are eager to accept.
1
@kwb I think you forgot the part where she's the adult in the room steering those colleagues AWAY from impeachment...
2
@kwb
Kind of a miracle that Trump and his cronies managed to print up placards with the (some false)information regarding the collusion investigations in the few minutes before the meeting. The whole thing was obviously staged by the White House. Should it be pointed out that Nixon and Clinton got plenty of government business done and worked with the opposing party while they were being investigated? The trouble with the party of Trump is that its all about working for one person, not the country.
2
I'm reminded of Elia Kazan's great film, A Face in the Crowd, where Lonesome Rhodes, a charismatic drifter whose rise and fall ends in screaming gibberish to an audience of none with applause machines cued up -- but that's a movie and we have Mitch McConnell writing this reality show.
If ever America needed to harness the power of its college graduates, its reason and its sense of decency to work on behalf of the common good- the time is now. Even if one can fathom phantom benefits of a human wrecking ball in power- a president who rules on behalf of a small minority of citizens and seeks to punish those who dissent abuses the beauty of our Constitution.
46
You would think that with all his time on TV (and squeezing into every movie he could manage), trump would have picked up at least some acting tips. His performance was strictly amateur hour, would have been embarrassingly bad for a high school production. And love the ending where there just happens to be a sign on the lectern supporting his rant. nice touch.
67
Every speech Trump has made in the Rose Garden during 2019 is evidence that he's certifiable. There should be men and women in white coats mixed in with the Secret Service just out of range of the TV cameras.
68
I didn't see this press conference. Did he fail to mention his record setting inauguration crowd?
49
@SFR Daniel Another big "I" word!
The I word is all that has ever been on Trump’s mind and agenda. It is completely all about him and him alone.
24
Let’s stay with the “I” word. INVISIBLE. Potholes are, sad to say, a minor visible problem compared to what we drivers cannot see ... the underground pipes needing replacement, the bridge structures needing replacement, the broadband improvements needed, the mass transit system upgrades and construction, etc. Trump is a lousy “con” man (that apparently many American bankers and investors took some time to understand!) and any deal to end investigations would not yield infrastructure deals. He would blame others that nothing can be done, naturally. Still the invisible infrastructure desperately needs attention.
35
@Rev Wayne
Agree absolutely on the con man, but I think we should never have held our breaths waiting for federal money to improve our infrastructure. That's been discussed for many years with only dribbles of money occasionally issuing. The states and cities have been on their own on water and sewage treatment for years (biggest problem - separating sanitary from storm sewers). But, even though the clean water work is basically forced by unfunded mandates, it's stuff that really needs to be done. Same for bridges, roads, underground pipes, whatever. We can't wait for Congress to act, so suck it up and use more local fund sources for improvements, whether that's taxes or utility bill supplements. Sorry, you don't get something for nothing.
Dear Gail,
While Trump bloviates, Nancy and the Congress having been doing all this as reported today in the NYT “ House Democrats continue to churn through their policy agenda, passing health care bills, gun control measures and on Wednesday, a bill to fortify the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which the Trump administration has tried to defang.” These are all important and popular programs. They should just go forward with their own infrastructure bill challenge the Republicans. These are the actions that will set the record for 2020 as Trump and the do-nothing McConnell Republicans hope to win by tantrums, obstruction and identity politics.
71
Can't anyone ask Mr. Trump for examples where he provides transparency where former presidents did not?
31
Maybe he’s still trying for an Emmy. This wasn’t a temper tantrum, it was a performance. He set the meeting, but only so he could fume (and advance his plot line). He’s turned our country into a reality show and this was today’s ratings grab.
If that weren’t the case then he’d have just called off the meeting. Instead he got to sound all fiery (oooh! a dramatic episode!), followed by a pre-arranged press event to update everyone on his storming out.
If he refuses to be checked (or balanced) and we go along with it then this is no longer a democracy. Clearly, it’s a game to stoke right-wing indignation at the way he’s being treated to help in his re-election prospects.
Many other Presidents have had to suffer investigations. I’d say that he can take consolation in that if he’s innocent then it’ll just be background noise, but his reactions don’t indicate that.
The President doth protest too much.
What a fine comedian once said regarding dinner reservations seems apt: Anyone can TAKE an Oath of Office, but that doesn’t matter if you can’t hold it. Or, in this case, even agree to sit together at a table.
28
The whole incident seemed like a planned show with Pelosi and Schumer used as props. They need to turn down all future invitations to the White House.
30
This was a premeditated, made-for-tv stunt orchestrated by our reality-tv president.
Now he can go into 2020 telling his followers that he would have done big, beautiful infrastructure--better than anyone has ever done it!--but that the Democrats made it impossible.
67
@Marie
And unfortunately his tribal followers will agree that he would have been such a wonderful president if he had not been investigated. Somehow they have forgotten that the big T himself fueled the constant lies about Obama's citizenship and yet somehow Obama could still do his job, unlike president snowflake.
If the House does not follow-up on the "I" word and put their desperation to hold onto their jobs aside, our Country is doomed to irrelevance in the world. Time to show some guts and do what is right and start impeachment proceedings today.
15
@Bill I agree with you Bill. However, Pelosi, in an interview on MSNBC, demurred on impeachment and said we need to reach common ground with tRump! The ground under tRump is sand and things shift so much who knows what the common ground is. I thought that comment by her was pathetic.
Why do most people assume that Trump is in vigorous physical and mental health?
He is 71, as I recall, and has lived an (shall we say) adventurous life, The emotional drain of losing more than $1 billion simply has to have taken its toll, as have three marriages and untold numbers of affairs, flings and dalliances. Trump also finds himself in a pressure-filled job for which he is singularly unprepared. The man doesn't even read, for heaven's sake, and he's had all kinds of problems finding people who will bow meekly to his every whim. These things mount up, clouding his judgement and wounding his psyche.
The "I-word" may not have to be employed to judge his various high crimes and misdemeanors; instead, Congress may have to invoke impeachment hearings because Trump has clearly an ominously lost grip on reality.
65
@Paul Bernish
"Why do most people assume that Trump is in vigorous physical and mental health?"
I think you're mistaken about that.
2
I can think of several “I-words” that may be more appropriate in describing Trump here: incompetent, insane, ...
The trump presidency appears to be more and more like a failed spinoff of the Apprentice Show, not well scripted with mediocre actors. In the meantime, with little effective leadership from the Senate, the Ship of State flounders every closer to the shoals of disaster.
32
Every day that passes I think it can’t get any worse. And then the next day brings yet another tantrum, yet more lies, more theatrical distractions from the truth, more nose-thumbing of the Constitution and the rule of law. greater assumptions of power and even greater enabling of it by an utterly cowed and spineless, yet grasping GOP. And now there’s Bill Barr, standing in the wings with a crown, apparently intent on preserving an imperial presidency—even when the holder of it is so incompetent, so ignorant of the Constitution he swore to uphold, so devoid of personal integrity and any real allegiance to this country and its people it boggles the mind.
Not too very long ago, i thought our fate was in the hands of John Roberts, that his professed concern for the nonpartisan integrity of the Court might be what saved the republic. But what if Roberts does stand for country over party, does cast the deciding vote checking the power of this man who would be king? And what if the man in the oval office has none of it? Anybody who thinks Donald Trump would not defy an order of the Supreme Court that risked his fame and fortune hasn’t been paying attention. And anybody who thinks our attorney general would enforce a Supreme Court order against a sitting president has been paying even less.
What then, pray tell? What then?
42
@Steel Magnolia I have been saying since the beginning of this train wreck that when the subpoenas were issued, Trump would ignore them. Obviously, I have been proven right. I am here now to predict that he will ignore any court orders that don't go his way, including - you are right - orders from the SCOTUS. And nothing will be done to enforce his compliance. Nothing.
17
@Rena@Steel Magnolia
How far can this pattern be extended? Before the Nov '16 election, the DT said he would not accept a loss, considering that the vote would be 'rigged'. How much more likely is he to quietly accept an electoral loss after 4 years, and how is that likely to play out?
With no current anticipation of the 2020 vote's outcome, I have the feeling it's none too early to think of the possibilities. Playing catch-up is not usually a winning strategy.
4
Just try to imagine how it will go on from here.
One night in June Trump goes to bed exhausted but immensely gratified by the amazing progress he has made that day in spreading lies, chaos, bitterness and hate throughout the land.
Around 8 A.M. the next morning there is an immense pounding on the front door of the White House. Out of curiosity, the President
-- dressed only in his pajamas and hairpiece -- decides to open the door himself. There are 50 U.S. marshals standing there. One for each State. One of them has a thick manila envelope in his hand bearing the return address of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
One side says, “Let’s Make America Great Again.” The other side says Articles of Impeachment.
The news spreads quickly on all the cable channels.
24
Correction:
There will be 51 U.S. Marshals.
One from each State and one from Puerto Rico.
3
Amazing, Trump just wasted what may have been his only chance to get a positive note in future history books.
15
“I don’t do cover-ups,” says the man sporting the world's most elaborate, strange and unconvincing comb-over.
Meanwhile, with his across the board obstruction of Congressional oversight, he is slow-walking himself to impeachment (as a way to make those investigations happen).
It doesn't matter if the Senate/McConnell will refuse to remove trump.
It's quite evident trump fears that what would be revealed in a House impeachment investigation that he would be unable to stop with 'executive privilege' and court battles would be enough to destroy him and his presidency. His cover will be blown.
41
@Doug Keller Best analogy in a comment since printing wS invented! Bravo, Doug!
The Democrats should learn what Trump's Republicans seem to have already learned: You cannot do deals with Trump.
12
Trump is the most transparent president in history. The entire world sees right through him. As he disputes any basis of investigation while his pals sit in jail or waiting to go, he thunders that there will be no infrastructure work (another tax cut for the rich would be different) unless or until Congress stops investigating him, which is, by itself a grand effort to obstruct justice with the nation's needs held as hostage. Yes, we see right through that ploy.
23
This wasn't a temper tantrum. This was a planned, staged event, a 3-minute lead-in to a transparently contrived sound and video bite. In order to make it happen, the president of the United States had to take advantage of the good faith of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the minority leader of the Senate. It was a waste of time. It was a disgrace. It was a theft from the American people. It's as if he extended his right arm for a handshake and then pulled it back at the last second and grinned. Even a child outgrows this sort of nonsense somewhere between kindergarten and high school.
I hope the Speaker remembers this the next time she has to consider whether or not to invite the President to address a joint session of Congress in the House chamber.
20
Trump in the third person? My thoughts went to the late Edward G. Robinson, in the movie aptly titled "Little Caesar." Near the end, his character having been shot, as he lies dying he laments, "Oh... mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?"
And in another apt reference, perhaps it may well be the RICO statutes that will be the death of the Trump Organization, with the "Little Caesar" at the top having the farthest to fall, howling all the way down "no collusion, no obstruction!" Right.
21
Trump and his staff had the Washington Post graphic ready to go before the Speaker of the House and the Senate Minority Leader showed up. So this was a preplanned media event. Trump and his staff did not use the "page 2" of the graphic listing the number of indictments, etc. That in itself is a sign of how this regime intentionally distorts reality. Why didn't anyone ask Trump or Conway why he only showed half of the information from the graphic? Why was he selective in his data? Instead reporters, columnists and readers go with him on his display of incoherent rant. We (media and the readers) really need to work at staying grounded in facts and reality while this authoritarian regimes drags us into their lunacy.
22
It's all Nancy Pelosi's fault! All she had to do was promise that every infrastructure project would bear Trump's name, and the names on existing projects could be changed. What's wrong with changing the Eisenhower Interstate Highway system to the Donald J Trump Interstate Highways? After all, Mr. Trump would have been just as good a general as Eisenhower, had it not been for his bone spurs.
28
My dad had Alzheimer’s. It wasn’t his fault. It’s my understanding that Trump was far more eloquent and less incoherent in his younger days. Let’s try to separate the man’s obvious cognitive decline (not his fault), from his narcissism, relentless neediness, amorality, and fear of exposure. To some degree, these might not be his fault either. But this in no way “exonerates” the inaction and collusion of Mitch and the rest of the GOP. Unless by some miracle of probability they’re all afflicted with some psychological disorder apart from mere greed and self-interest.
18
@Boring Tool
Having watched a dear friend who was a brilliant teacher fade into cognitive decline, I can see how Trump could be confused, irritable and inarticulate. These behaviors and more are ratcheted up exponentially by his life experience and personality .
When will the GOP realize that Trump is a walking, out-of-control World Wrecking Ball? Inquiring minds world-wide would like to know.
I would agree that Trump is the most transparent president in history. His narcissism, guilt, and unfitness for office are on display 24-7. He's not smart enough to know how to conceal any of that.
24
Holding up the $35+ million spent on the Mueller investigation as some hysterical "OHMIGOD! Look at this Waste!" especially by Trump, is laughable. It's couch cushion change. It's a small price to pay when the goal is to gauge the degree of lawlessness of this administration and to return our government to more responsible functioning. It's also rather paltry when compared to the cost of Trump's golf outings which (to date) have run up a tab of over $102 million and still counting.
32
@SurlyBird Well put. There's the govt. wasteful spending and then there's Donald J. Trump getting what, I guess, he thinks he deserves. Funny how he never mentioned all the $$ the Treasury gained from Mr. Manafort's stuff. I believe it was more than $25+ million - the actually cost of the Mueller Report (not $35 mil. as Trump tells us).
I guess we all need to look the other way about the lodgings in Trump Tower for the Secret Service, all the protectors that follow his family members around and the more we don't even know about.
Anyone know who's paying for his rallies?
1
Trump realized he had stepped in it when he seemed to agree to an infrastructure plan and, as usual, needed to find a way out. The truth is that, apart from keeping as many brown people out of the country as possible and promoting a war with other brown people elsewhere, this phony has no plan for anything constructive.
17
I would place my nephew in his play pen when he was misbehaving as a toddler. The rule: He would stay there 1 minute per year of age. It was a quiet time for him to reflect.
He was 4 the 1st time he went gallivanting with me. Before leaving the house we discussed suitable behavior and consequences. I wanted to make sure that there would be no tantrums like those I had seen on display in public where the caregiver had no clue what to do.
The consequence for misbehavior: I would bring him to his grandparents and he would never, EVER, go anywhere with me. We discussed my mother’s philosophy regarding my childhood behavior. She felt it was OK for me to have tantrums at home; stuff happens but it was unacceptable in public. I would be disappointing my parents, my grandparents and all the ancestors. I explained that this also applied to him. As he liked going to stores, bookstores, libraries, plays, etc. with me, he only displeased me once in public. At 10 he disappeared at AC Moore. When I found him, we left the store immediately without buying what he so desperately needed.
IMHO Trump’s was never appropriately disciplined. So he acts like a spoiled brat. The consequences used on a toddler won’t work on a 72 year old. I do have a suggestion for the media. Instead of televising his tantrums and giving him the attention he craves, why don’t you shut the cameras off and walk away? Who knows without an audience, he might just stop behaving like a child.
14
@M. Natália Clemente Vieira
Dear Natalia,
This is exactly what I have been advocating. Stop paying attention to his nonsense and he will quit.
1
@M. Natália Clemente Vieira I sincerely doubt it.
1
@Sean Smith
I too doubt it but one can hope.
I always enjoy Gail's reasonable , well reasoned ,and witty takes on the almost daily insanity that defines Trump ,most of his administration and his family. Today though you outdid yourself , well done Gail !
18
There is "Executive time" and now there is 'Crazy time. Can't wait for the next rose gardened event.
12
I like Trump's phrase. I am the most transparent President in history. If you remember the story of the 'Emperor that has no clothes', this fits Donald to a T.
He wants to be a man for all seasons. The only seasons that he accomplishes are the embellishments on his daily word salad briefings. If you need evidence, listen to his Rose Garden remarks.
6
Why-why-why aren't the Dems asking Trump what he's hiding with his cover-ups and obstructions? If, as he claims, there's nothing to hide, he should indeed welcome the investigations. The question should be thrown at him every time he denies any wrongdoing!!!
5
@Expat Bob Ditto for the Press. Would love a headline saying Here's what Trumps has been hiding -
I believe it would be a very long article.
“Well, it turns out I’m the most — and I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,” he declared. Fortunately, there was no call for a show of hands. So spot on Gail!
13
Really the number one aim of Republicans and of Democrats is to get and retain power. Accomplishing anything else is way, way down on the agenda. That was clear during the Obama years (Ben Ghazi anyone?) and is equally true during this administration, when Democrats are having a public nervous breakdown over the Mueller report's rejecting their collusion hopes. All of them are acting like two-year olds. Is it really worth voting anymore?
@JPE
Blame McConnell for lack of accomplishments. He's blocking votes on bills, and has been doing this for years.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/01/mitch-mcconnell-democrat-bills-pelosi-1243627
@JPE Perhaps you should read Mueller's report and then get back to us. Thank you.
After years of attacking Obama (who mistakenly still tried to work with the GOP Congress) Trump has really proven he is the biggest bully/wimpy kid in the White House. The "I" word was never going to happen. However the "I" word investigation will continue now more than ever. Trump is the one who stirs the pot. He is the kid who gets in trouble all the time, on purpose, because he has to have all the attention all the time. He really did himself no favors with this tirade (there will be others). It was staged and he looked weak, sweaty, "I"coherent, and tiresome. I agree. We deserve better. Too bad the GOP is happy with what they have. I would have thought they had better judgement.
9
The I word...me. It's all about me. That I can tell you. Believe me. By the way, I have the best words. And I is the best. I is the best in history.
8
Constantly having to read these negative articles about Trump is not productive. The focus should be on the American voter - obviously the overall intelligence is deep in the red.
2
@rudolf
Just keep watching Fox News for positive reports on Trump.
The President is 1000% in the right.. no deals with enemy party to true American standards... many of the Democrats are obstructionists with no real plan for the country
Government-- is ruining the country
One of the weirdest aspects of the whole episode of this reality
TV show is the description of the ambiance in the room.
The room apparently was darkened and the curtains were drawn.
That is just down-right creepy.
Nothing to cover up....humm
6
There are always painful consequences when a sociopath achieves power. In this case, the sociopath is also transparently bonkers. You'd have to go back to the mad emperors of Rome to find another example like this. And none of those epics ended well, for anyone, including the emperors. Let's hope we escape the worst possible consequences of this mad era.
13
It was a nice sign. I bet the White House staff worked very hard to get it just right for President Donny.
4
The only thing Americans need to ask themselves is this: "If Obama behaved this way, what would have been said about it?" When all is said and done, I wonder what kind of a melt down Trump will have if someone (Obama, himself, would be ideal) gets up and says " Trump cannot hold it together and be presidential under verbal attack from the opposition. But the Black guy did. Who would have thought"?
3
The "No Collusion, no obstruction" sign on the lectern was the Trump equivalent of Nixon'x "I am not a crook!" assertion.
This sums up Trump's latest "thou doth protest too much moment and his life in general:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcsaoffblock&p=The+knickerbockers+Lies#id=1&vid=9179a8869b5c462a0f8b66cc28d1cd31&action=click
10
I never made it to college because I couldn't memorize anything, I still must look at the keyboard to find a place for my finger. This week however my memory which doesn't work properly was in the other gear and the sky was the limit.
I heard your President and googled bathetic farce. Little did I know the the worst theatre of the 16th century, Monty Python's Flying Circus and 21st century American governance would share so many essays as they played the same music and shared so many scripts.
I await Mr Trump's appearance explaining to us the parrot isn't really dead it is only playing dead but if we close our eyes and think really hard and if we only believe we can see it was a great Norwegian Blue that wrote All's well that Ends Well.
I know bathetic farce when I see it and I wonder why we must submit to pundits and journalists when what we need scholars and lexicographers and theatre critics. Where are the literary salons and where is Dr Johnson?
11
Love Trump’s imitation of Professor Irwin Corey .( look on YouTube). For a guy who claims he never touched the bottle, he does a solid impression. Our government leaders are missing in action, but still look in the mail for their checks. How about term limits on these public officials, it couldn’t be any worst.
3
Main stream media painting this as a fight between Democrats and Trump. The real headline is "What's he hiding? -Trump holds American interests hostage in effort to avoid scrutiny"
5
Obviously this T-moment (as in Trump-Moment or Tantrum-Moment - take your pick since they have both become so predictably routine events) was planned in advance. Just as obviously it was also intended not for anyone but his zombie like followers.
5
It was an embarrassment to our country, when our president pulled a stunt like he did yesterday in the Rose Garden. It showed his weakness as a leader. It was flat out bizarre. The White House Rose Garden has been the scene of many historical events, but this was a new low, even for Donald Trump.
As for The I word, I suggest steady the course. We will soon have all the proof to show if there is any malfeasance in the Trump administration to warrant an impeachment. Besides, he will probably implode right before our eyes. For a man who proclaims his innocence, he sure reacts like a guilty man. There has to be a reason for all the lying this president has displayed on a daily basis.
Mr. President, the Mueller Report didn’t investigate collusion, it was conspiracy. You are outright lying and distorting the truth, and yes you did obstruct justice in ten instances as outlined in the report. You are now in violation of Obstruction of Justice by defying authorized subpoena’s.
This is another impeachable offense. I support Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi to keep her caucus in line as they follow regular order to get to the bottom of all this mess.
13
Nancy is playing Donald like a fiddle. I say let’s let her continue to play her tune!
8
Stark. Raving. Mad.
And, tragically, that applies to nearly half the country, not just to this "president".
14
If Trump could construct a simple declarative sentence with a noun, a verb, and a predicate maybe we could understand the source of his childish petulance. But because he speaks some incomprehensible dialect resembling English we give him the benefit of the doubt, thinking his drivel means something when it reality his nonsense comments are the manifestation of disorganized thought and the product of self-centered visionless behavior that hasn’t a clue on how to do a job. Infrastructure has lots of syllables and requires complex planning. The facade for his inability is the usual distraction and misdirection of blaming others. As long as he resides in the White House this erratic behavior will remain the currency for conducting business.
8
Call Trump's bluff. Pass a sound, Democratic infrastructure and send it to the Senate.
8
The Speaker had it right: “That was vert, very, very strange.”
8
"The most transparent president probably in the history of the country" hides his tax returns, hides White House visitor logs, orders translators to destroy their notes when he meets with Putin, has abolished daily White House press briefings, lies repeatedly about obstructing justice, stonewalls Congressional investigations and orders former aides to ignore subpoenas. Coverup is too mild a word to describe Trump's blatant abuse of power aided and abetted by his attorney general and cowardly senatorial toadies.
22
Yeah. So staged, but what an awful production. He gave himself and his rich buddies such a huge tax cut, doubled our deficit, added trillions to the debt and couldn't figure out a way to do infrastructure without taxing himself and his golf club buddies. So now, he thinks, he's made it all democrats fault!
7
I watched Trump's meltdown yesterday and was offended by the petulant and pathetic nature of it. Offended, but, also not surprised. The visual aid attached to the podium in the rose garden only made the spectacle more pitiful.
Trump is the master conman who senses that his scam has essentially run its course. The humiliation he faces from exposure, not to mention legal and financial peril, are causing him to unravel. Republicans continue to protect a manifestly unstable and incompetent president who openly violates his oath of office and tolerates no checks on his authority. This is a dangerous situation.
11
Here in Maine, the P word is everywhere. The roads around Bangor, Maine are crumbling faster than Trump can storm out of a pre-planned hissy fit.
Thanks for the laughs, Gail. It is good to laugh at all this when I'm not crying.
How is it possible for anyone to support this thing that squats in our White House, he of the pre-planned, poor-me hissy fits? Please!
So now that he has announced that nothing will get done unless Congress abdicates any and all power and bow before him, can the press just stop covering him? No more telling us about the tweets, no more breathless reports on his tantrums and who he hates today. Please!!! Can we just stop it? It's all self-aggrandizement schemes he cooks up. He cares nothing about America. It's all about him all the time.
And can we stop paying the salaries of Sarah Sanders, Wm Barr, any 'Actings' and all others who are working for him and not for us? We could save a bunch of money there.
12
So he walks away from his duties. Behavior I've seen before, as an employee of a firm owned by a thin-skinned creep, managed by his dull family. Any work meeting could be hijacked by the angry boss.
The Dems could take this as a cue. If he doesn't act like a president, don't call him president. "Mr. Trump" is sufficiently polite. Also, the House should enact a slew of useful & far-reaching bills so they can promote them as "the real agenda" for the campaign. Donald will promote them negatively in his Nuremberg Rallies. The media should be calling Donald 'the lame-duck administration'.
7
I guess the staged event was planned by the Apprentice writers - except they forgot the "Your Fired" meme.
3
Trump refused to answer 39 questions submitted to him by Mueller. He couldn't do a live testimony because he would be done in 5 minutes. he has blocked every subpoena. so to say he is transparent is bogus.
5
It is becoming increasingly clear the "I" word is incompetent. Someone put an end to this I-ncoherence. I-mmediately.
The performance yesterday was of a man who is completely unhinged and unfit to continue to serve as President.
4
The greatest negotiator in the world proves again that the only way he negotiates is my way or the highway. Some set of skills, eh?
4
This man is actually running the country---how did we do this to ourselves.
13
did anyone in the press call him out for having a pre-made poster at the podium for his "impromptu" exit from the meeting on infrastructure? Did anyone remind him Ken Starr spent much more time and much more money allegedly investigating Whitewater, a failed real estate deal that would have paid for a single membership at one of his golf courses?
40
@dave
I don't believe that the speech/rant Trump gave was meant to include any discussion/questions by the reporters. They were there as dressing is for a salad -- to make it more palatable for Trump to do his level best to appear presidential instead of just paranoid and petty.
5
Trump simply abbreviated the performance that everyone was expecting. Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer expected that the closed-door/shades-drawn meeting would reach an agreeable conclusion, and they would emerge to announce progress. Trump would then come out the next day and completely reverse the position that he expressed during the meeting. Perhaps he thought that replaying one of his hits, in this way, wouldn't play well. Perhaps he thought that the news cycle timeline had to be changed because of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. One thing is certain: Trump never had, and never will have, any intention of going through with a deal.
36
Oh, where have all the Statesman gone?
oops... i forgot, this is infrastructure week. Or was that last year? At least i got a tax cut ... where i paid more than last year. But the economy is going gangbusters ... at least in that fictional stockmarket that none of us actually own stock in ... except through our small fractional interests in a 401k controlled by others.
Maybe I'll move to France ... where at least they have Freedom Fries!
36
@JFM,
'Dear Paris, delighted you received your birthday gift in time to celebrate this happy event with a fairy-tale in style, and I remain at your disposal for all questions you may have. It began in America and concluded in Napoule, where during WWII the heroine of this saga bamboozled the Nazis into believing she was the maid.
We are in the midst of 'Infrastructure Week', better known as Public Works, and my boss now retired from public life, was one of the first advocates of the above, before becoming U.S. Representative to France under the banner of Clinton.
Mr. Trump, our most melodramatic presidents in contemporary times, earlier threw a tantrum in front of the Nation and stormed out the door, leaving the viewers and Press in a cloudburst of confusion.
He appears to care about restoring good-will to the middle-class in a Dickens kind of way. The latter had a great fear of poverty, and while taking up the cause of the common man, did not understand how Public Works, 'work'. Whether he wrote of Pip addressing great expectations, or a saga of the Poor in need of better living conditions, he trails off on a beautiful, beautiful note.
Dickens wrote of criminals and crooks, and he was a tyrant when it came to power abusers. Our president is having a fit because allegations of acts of compromising our national security keep coming to the fore.
Come visit The Brooklyn Bridge before it collapses; before America turns into a Dictatorship, while 'Quiet Flows The Don'.
1
McConnell's Senate was never going to come up with 2 trillion for infrastructure anyway. They had already given that money away in tax cuts.
Republicans are generous when helping the already rich and frugal when legislating for the good of the country.
63
@dave
Just why do the repubs hate infrastructure spending? Easy, because it is tangible evidence "government" can work for the people.
5
When I look at the event's of the last two and a half years, and the last few day's specifically, I'm reminded of a line from the movie "The Truman Show"... How's it going to end?
On one side, you've got a fanatically loyal base that thinks President Trump is the greatest leader the US has ever had, many of whom have cheered when he jokes about a third term.
On the other side, you've got a group of people who are becoming increasingly worried about the rules that this administration is willing to break to deflect negative attention.
At the center, you've got a man that is becoming increasingly desperate to hide... something. We don't know exactly what it is, but it's become clear that whatever it is, ensuring that people never find out about it is has become President Trump's main focus.
Left leaning supporters have been holding their breath for the last 2 years, waiting for the moral cost of the GOP supporting President Trump to become too much.
We saw yesterday with Congressman Amash what happens to GOP members who put country ahead of party. They are insulted and publicly shamed.
The only way that the GOP will turn against President Trump is if it comes right from the top and it's unified, and sadly Mitch McConnell has demonstrated time and again that he simply lack's the moral conviction to do that.
How will it end? I don't know and I don't want to speculate, but I do know that I'm scared about US leadership in a way I've never been before.
84
@Chris
You aren't alone.
1
Where's the internal compass or censor that most people would bring to a podium before an audience of millions? Why doesn't he get it by now? It's all so cringeworthy and alarming as well. Personally I do not endorse the impending conflict over impeachment: isn't there alone enough evidence before our very eyes to insure a victory for democrats at the ballot box?
15
@Rob Read the Mueller report. Watch what this guy does every single day to dishonor and violate the Constitution. If we do not impeach now, with these facts, then when? Do we really need to wait until a president shoots someone on 5th Avenue? Refusing to impeach is to refuse to uphold the rule of law.
2
@Rob: I tend to share Bill Maher's fear concerning that possible victory at the ballot box: that Trump will simply refuse to acknowledge a loss and would tie up the results in court for as long as possible. Since he pretty much owns the Supreme Court, I think it’s a valid fear that he might somehow pull off an “upset”, get term limits repealed, or manage some other such hitherto unimaginable nonsensical end run around the Constitution. He’s already stonewalling every legal, systemic attempt by the House to perform its lawful oversight responsibilities...and getting away with it - so far. Realistically, what will the system do, should Trump lose the 2020 election, but refuse to vacate the White House? Send the US Marshals to evict him? And how would Trumpworld react then? Violently, maybe? Impossible, you say? Hogwash, you opine? Not so fast, say I. Trump continues to prove himself capable of bringing the surreal to life, and to go off to some other plane when thwarted or, sometimes, even criticized. Even if such shenanigans are just theater, they work. I think we’re in deep, deep trouble.
1
One of these days Trump is going to claim the Martians are controlling his mind and that is the real reason he cannot do infrastructure . Kellyanne will later appear on TV explaining that the President was being sarcastic when he made those comments . He will then go to the Rose Garden and he will address the assembled press without clothes on . Will that change the mind of the Republicans in Congress or his supporters in the Country at large ?
61
And yet we're all considering the very real possibility this, for lack of a better word, administration could be re-elected. I think we need more than prayers.
51
Trump, the megalomaniac, and his supporters (including the members of his cabinet, his base, members of the legislative branch, McConnell and Lindsey Gram to name a few, and the conservative majority in the U.S. Supreme Court and the neocons in the press) pose a grave threat not only the U.S. but to the rest world as well. Sane people around the world," be afraid, be very afraid."
4
Like Ms. Pelosi, I pray for the president. I pray that he gets the help that he needs. I pray that he gets it soon. I pray that the damage he has done can be fixed by an administration that is less focused on self interest. Maybe then, he will stop preying on us.
63
He, not I by a long stretch, began his call for National Infrastructure during the Clinton administration. It's a Third World Country out there, he shouted, in describing his view of New York (join the real world, I would hum, typing our Country's need for restoring and renovating our bridges, tunnels and public works).
Our powers-in-authority are challenged and in need of clarity of vision to restore Democracy to America. Do not go in search of World News for it is a brutal strategic chess game, where the value of human life diminishes.
Keep writing, 'Madame de Tocqueville', for while half the Country is asleep, some of us are feeling uneasy while going about our daily business.
'Character' has been described as the power to dominate others, whilst 'Courage' you have in abundance. Keep sharing the latter, and we may follow, in bringing back Democracy to America.
5
@Miss Ley, who are these mythical "we"? The democrat party?
The following is from an article by Jeffrey Fulmer:
"The infrastructure supporting human activities includes complex and interrelated physical, social, ecological, economic, and technological systems such as transportation and energy production and distribution; water resources management; waste management; facilities supporting urban and rural communities; communications; sustainable resources development; and environmental protection (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2009)."
In other words, infrastructure is complicated. Very. This left me wondering: How can a president whose only focus in life is on himself and who clearly has defective cerebral wiring deal with such a subject?
Answer: He can't. His impulse was to flee. And he did.
112
@KJ he does not have to "deal with such a subject",,,he just has to sign a bill passed by congress (after he's told to by Fox News)...
6
@KJ
It's hard to negotiate when there's no civility, so it's better to walk. Try it sometime.
The constant negative focus from the media is on the president. If you were in his shoes how would you respond? He's a person, not a robot.
@Vivian Trump breeds that lack of "civility". The reporting and negative focus is called journalism, and if in the course of reporting reveals a negative story, well, so be it.
If Trump and his lackeys were perhaps somewhat more civil to the press they may respond in kind.
Lastly, the recent former presidents also had negative stories printed concerning them.
And, like adults should, they dealt with those stories in a civil manner in comparison to the twitter tantrums.
If I were in his shoes? First, I would not put myself there as I believe you catch more flies with honey...A concept the carnival barker fails to understand.
2
The real question is why anyone would take Trump at his word. He cannot be trusted.
62
@tom Which letter-word can he be trusted about? Answer: every one of them! For the length of time it takes them to leave his mouth. Wait for the contradiction, rinse, spit.
1
The"No collusion, No Obstruction" sign seems to have been made in more than the few minutes it took Trump to tell Democrats there will be no infrastructure meeting.
The sign made and posted in advance proves deliberation and planning of the hijacking of the infrastructure bill by Trump. The stage was to publicly request his ramson. That Rose Garden Drama looked as a mafia hit, and would have happened no matter what Pelosi had said except "no more oversight to you, Mr. President".
73
The "impromptu" presser with the ready-made on-topic sign suggests Trump just felt he needed to shake things up for his Fox audience, show them he was still boss and cover up the fact that he had nothing to bring to that meeting with Democratic leaders.
All he needed was an excuse.
It's not like Speaker Pelosi has been silent about Trump's misdeeds. Is the word "coverup" a trigger for him? Or did something happen in MAGA World yesterday that showed support for the naked emperor was waning?
55
Vladimir Putin knows that a major infrastructure plan would strengthen America's economy in many impressive ways and, more important, rekindle a feeling among Americans that their government is actually good for something. It should be clear by now that Trump takes his marching orders from the one man who wants to destroy our democracy and can end Mafia Don's presidency with a single phone call and the faxing of a few incriminating documents. Is it any wonder that yesterday's shenanigans took place?
66
"We cannot afford to fix our infrastructure, what with the huge tax cut I gave to the upper class who needed it the least, so it's a yuge and fantastic deal from Russia I got today to purchase the U.S. for $1. Russian language lessons are not included."
52
Mitch McConnell had already assumed his self-proclaimed role as “Grim Reaper” to each and every piece of legislation or proposition that didn’t involve a “nuclear option” ramrod confirmation of a conservative judge or an additional tax cut. Trump’s hurt feelings and subsequent temper tantrum refusal to get anything done is hardly even relevant to the epic dysfunction of the US Congress. Either we get new leadership across the board in 2020 or the downward spiral continues.
122
"As you all agree, I'll be even more transparent when the audit is finally completed. It has been going on, as you all know, for 37 years."
47
Focus, for just a moment, om the fact that the President of the United States is incapable of uttering a coherent sentence, let alone stay on topic from the beginning of one to its end. What does that say about his intellectual, let alone emotional state?
I, for one, even when I stridently disagree with a president over this or that bias or policy, am at least comforted by the knowledge that he is capable of thought clarity, not to mention a modicum of self-control. No one would ever, ever mistake Donald Trump for manifesting such qualities.
Trump’s hyperbolic verbal edifices are, indeed, bridges to nowhere. Neither we, nor he, know where he’s going, but he’s on his way. Until, of course, he changes what passes for his mind again.
203
@Quoth The Raven For months I've been saying that I'm more offended that we elected a fourth rate thinker to be president, than I am about his policy choices, which I 95% disagree with.
It's the incoherence, the tiny vocabulary suggesting cognitive impairment, and perhaps most importantly his documented inability to read more than a paragraph or two meaning he isn't able to fully understand the arguments of both sides regarding any particular issue, many of which mankind's future depends on. You almost gotta laugh about that one.
147
@Phil That's why I have problems understanding why anyone would support him. You only need to listen to him speak for a few minutes to realize that there is something very very wrong with him. He simply is not firing on all cylinders.
7
@Quoth The Raven Well, his base doesn't seem to care if he's coherent or not; if he sold out to the Russians or not; if he cheats on his wife and pays prostitutes, if he hates animals, hates immigrants, demeans everyone who disagrees with him, acts like a 10 year old, won't show the American public his taxes, has no idea how to conduct diplomacy, listen to others, take responsibility, or even act like a decent, reasonably composed human being, praises racists and misogynists, is a loud mouthed, foul, stupid bore who has no idea how government works, is destroying this country for not other reason than to prop up his own ego. The crowds love him. What does that say about us? It's terrifying.
11
Tanking the meeting was simply Trump's artless, flatfooted way of saying that the "fundraising ideas" he promised to bring to the meeting were nonexistent.
He might as well have told us those big ideas are under audit so he can't reveal them. But he will for sure... later.
This presidential tableaux is so bizarre he's now resorted to covering up a cover up.
71
@Lois: He's completely incompetent. He doesn't know what to do to solve complex problems and so he creates chaos and emotional turmoil and upset to cover up the incompetence.
Yesterday was all pre-planned, the signs, the gathering of the press in the Rose Garden, the tantrum in front of the Democratic leadership, the pulled curtains in the Oval so they couldn't see what was going on. An adult does not behave this way. But we've all known for a long time now that he is not an adult, he's not even a competent child.
Trump said early on that he hasn't really changed since first grade. He's the same as in first grade. That, I believe completely.
8
He is the most transparent president in history. His driving motivations and intentions are on display in plain sight. He doesn’t care about the American people (or anyone else other than Ivanka and, possibly, Junior) only himself. Everything he does can be explained by simply asking if it’s good for Donald Trump. This includes his “foreign policy”, trade wars, tax cuts, etc. How’s that for transparency?
81
@Richard
Crystal clear.
1
I think any casual examination of any Trump statement will find that a) it always wanders off topic and b) manages to wander to talk of himself.
I guess I'm just not surprised anymore by anything he says or does. I'm only surprised that he has supporters in Congress and that he is still with us.
The only surprise I'm expecting is that, hopefully someday soon, he will be gone. Then I will be surprised.
73
@steve Him, gone? Don't count on it. The Supreme Court loves him.
1
Trump doesn’t do bridges- he does walls! Bridges connote easy, safe passage.That is not what he wants.The only bridge or highway he would approve is one named after him.His rant was not clever -it was well planned by his so called PR team.The scary feature is that if Trump is incoherent in the Rose Garden, imagine what he is overseas when he is under more pressure talking with other world leaders.This explains why his face to face negotiations never seem to go well. It also explains why he orders translators to tear up the notes of these meetings.He wants to cover up the incoherence of his conversations.
62
@JANET MICHAEL I doubt that he understands that he is incoherent. The suggests a level of self-knowledge way beyond what he is capable of.
1
@JANET MICHAEL
He has been compensating for his learning disabilities, deficiencies and lack of interest in anything but himself
and his purse forever.
1
Trump's incoherent ramble reminded me of a time I attended a family gathering, and there at the table sat a poor, aged, relative who had lost his mind and was rambling and raging endlessly in vaguely unhinged fashion about things that were disturbing him. Needless to say that family meeting did not end well.
And it went downhill from there until his direct blood relatives faced, and made, the decision to institutionalize him. It was a hard decision, but it was necessary for the health of the family. Does any of this sound...familiar? I think the country is on that same path...
John~
American Net'Zen
110
@John
Give a listen to Kacey Musgraves, Family is Family.
Already billions have been spent on infrastructure inn this century not spending anymore will keep the national debt down and money for tax cuts exclusively for middle class. Let the middle class invest in infrastructure through retirement savings and increased tax deferred annuities. The annual IRA current limit of 7000 can be doubled. Focus on dent reduction will have dividends for the nation and postpone a recession and job losses..
2
@Girish Kotwal "Tax savings" are not "infrastructure" and will not keep bridges from falling down.
1
Maybe that kid who was on national news for filling in potholes from dirt in his mom’s backyard is available.
1
We've seen this story before: President and Democrats "reach agreement" on deal. Democrats offer a plan. President throws all out the window. That's Trump's "Art of the Deal." There is no dealing with him.
137
Certainly $2 trillion is difficult to raise, but not hard at all to give away to the rich.
So trump manages to lower the bar once again. I am admittedly nostalgic for the days when Obama would stroll out to the Rose Garden and make a statement in his adult and measured way. It seems so long ago.
291
So, here is the classic behaviour you see when you accuse a narcissistic sociopath.
You saw it with R Kelly making himself a victim instead, he even managed to get his voice tearful.
And you've can see it with Putin often, with his half sneer-half smile deflection but watch the eyes-- they're scary in that moment. The person asking the question should be thankful they're in public.
This is Mr Trump's version.
Scattered thoughts, aimless deflections into facts which are not even on the table, painting himself as the victim of all these 'angry democrats', and then taking issue with that word, "cover-up", which hits home a little too close for his comfort.
Drama, so much drama and he thinks the world is blind.
For all students of psychology/psychiatry, well--the entire body of physicians, he is a real-time depiction of the syndrome of narcissism, pathological lying and inability to accept responsibility and/or blame.
It use to be a joke comparing notes in regard to above statement among my colleagues, but after the first year, it has stopped being a joke to measure his level of mendacity and depth to which he has and continues to fall.
It is not a joke, a diagnosis anymore-- it is the actual threat to the moral, spiritual, economic, social, cultural health of this country.
410
@Ash.
See my comment ... But the actual "threat to the moral, spiritual, economic, social, cultural health of this country" is bigger than Trump, for the number of suckers (sorry, but it seems the appropriate word) who support him hardly seems to be diminishing...
30
@Ash. Remember when it was not acceptable to suggest that something might be wrong with him?
22
@Ash. And the GOP continue to support trump... I think students of mental health and human behavior will be studying trump, his supporters and the GOP enablers for decades to come.
23
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder characterized by sudden episodes of unwarranted anger. The disorder is typified by hostility, impulsivity, and recurrent aggressive outbursts. People with IED essentially “explode” into a rage despite a lack of apparent provocation or reason.
I.e., we have a President who is unstable and unqualified to move forward even when partisanship is a negligible factor.
178
I wish there had been a show of hands.
107
@KPattis But in a way he seems on the way to becoming completely transparent. He keeps revealing who he is, tweet by tweet, outburst by outburst.
23
@KPattis
Trump's would have been the smallest.
6
@SFR Daniel: He shows us who he is and millions of us are appalled, concerned bordering on frightened, that we have an incompetent, raging narcissist at the helm of our ship. And millions of us love him for his show of strength and force, here and on the world stage.
Millions one way, millions the extreme opposite.
I wish I had more faith that we can find our way out of this mess. It makes me sad that I don't think it will happen in the years I have left. I feel very sorry for people in their eighties dealing with this America under Trump. I know some who are truly suffering with emotional distress because of Trump. Their 'golden years' are being destroyed by this unfit man and they worry they will never see the America they loved again.
It's not funny, all the tragedy he has wrought upon us. One man and enabling Republicans have caused great pain and continue to do so each and every day. Cowards, all of them to support such an unfit man.
12
“Well, it turns out I’m the most — and I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,” he declared. Fortunately, there was no call for a show of hands.
Anderson Cooper of CNN thinks Trump has a 'tell.' When he lies he pretends that the people being lied to agree with him (using "as you know," "you would agree to this" or words to that effect). Most of us think that he has another 'tell' that he is lying - his lips move.
468
@Partha Neogy
Trump is indeed transparent - you can see straight through him.
17
@Partha Neogy — Trumps lying “tell?” His lips are moving.
2
The Mueller investigation cost a fraction of DT's golf outings. What benefitted the country more?
193
Even better- with Manafort’s settlement, the Mueller investigation paid for itself and actually made us some money.
Contrast with Trump’s golf outings which put the Secret Service in the red and which all went into Trump’s pockets.
127
Note that Trump’s adorable little porta-podium has a sign calling out the costs of the Mueller investigation. Nowhere does Trump mention that the seized assets from some of those found guilty add up to far more than the money spent on the investigation itself.
34
@Neil Jacobson
My best effort at the-glass-is-half-full: we'll never know what malfeasance his taxpayer-funded junkets may have averted.
1
Trump is dangerous. There is purpose and intent behind his actions and he has the complete support of the Republican Party power structure. When Trump lies Mitch McConnell lies. They are two sides of the same coin. The incentives were overwhelming for the Republican Party to conspire with Russia to win the election.
137
@BillC Let's not forget Sarah Sanders. They lie with every breath and she swears to it. The disgraceful state of our federal and red state governments is beyond belief for rational people who love their country.
4
@BillC
McConnell is in the pay of the Russians - Blavatnik's money and Deripaska's aluminum mill. Trump has been living off laundering Russian money for years.
3
Does this mean the big, beautiful wall is on hold now?
39
Sorry Gail, I know you mean well but I’ve totally lost my sense of humor about all of this.
60
"...I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,”"
Yeah, about as transparent as a wall made out of lead!
If he's so transparent, then why hasn't he released his tax returns, and is fighting every request and subpoena issued for his testimony and records? It couldn't be that he's guilty, could it? Oh, heaven forbid!
What is most astounding is how many people still believe him and support him! And worse, that the Republicans in Congress refuse to do their sworn duty and uphold the law and the Constitution!
It's becoming ever more clear that we Americans were lulled into complacency by those seeking absolute power. Tragically, still some are asleep or willfully ignorant, but by the time they wake up, it will be too late.
Impeach Trump 2019!
72
I think he meant “transparent” as in The Emperor Has No Clothes transparent.
4
What, is, his problem? He throws tantrums like a five year old who needs a nap. He is supposed to be the president of the United States, not of his Trump world.
59
I know Gail, that you often seek to project humor in whatever you're writing about. With Trump, and especially with Trump today, it's not necessary. The absurdity of this man occupying the White House is hard to believe. Literally everyday there is something new. But today was over the top. Without saying so directly, his behavior says "Impeach me." Not only has he broken the law in not complying with numerous subpoenas to him and his staff, but now he refuses to do his job. He does not understand that he is president of the United States. He clearly believes he is president of the people who watch the Fox Propaganda Channel.
I'm sorry Don. There are a whole lot of us, in fact the majority of the population, who don't get their information from Fox and who are flabbergasted that a person like you could hold the position of president. Your behavior and lies and, yes, obstruction of justice, proves you are unqualified for this office. And I believe our system was designed to remove a would-be dictator like you before he damages our constitutional government any more than you have already attempted to do.
176
@John Woods I think you are spot on. But I can't help but think this is another con job by Trump and his admin. Sure his feelings may have been hurt by Pelosi saying he was engaged in a cover-up but I suspect he went into the meeting looking for a way to remove himself and throwing a tantrum was the first reaction. The show in the rose garden was pure theatre sign and all. What the Trump handlers seem to forget is that Trump doesn't have any tact, guile or anything resembling a considered approach. Combative is all he knows. He is desperately try to get the democrats to start impeachment so that he can play it up to his base.
6
Maybe he refers to "President Trump" in the third person because he can't believe it either..
112
"The most transparent president in history."
We can see right through him.
118
Enough already. Either impeach this immature and questionably rational man-child or invoke Article 25 before he does more harm to America and the world. (Actually, better to impeach: it keeps Trump where we can see him.)
59
@CP The problem about Article 25 is this: Take a look at who would have to make the decision to remove him.
3
Only a totally innocent person would have the confidence to talk so bewilderingly.
4
@Nate Hilts Confidence? Sounds more like desperation to me.
19
@Nate Hilts I hope that your statement is sarcasm.
1
Well, if the President won't work with Congress in governing the nation, isn't it Congress's duty to find someone who will - the White House is the third leg on the government three legged stool underpinning the separation of powers - 1) the Judiciary, 2) the Legislature (Congress) and the Executive (the White House/Ministry); if one leg breaks - in this case the Executive, in the national interest, it must be replaced.
34
@Cass Phoenix But the replacement would be VP Pence, so the country would still be crippled.
3
Trump, in his childish brain, may have truly believed a month ago that he could do something on infrastructure. He would love to, because then he would have something to show he had accomplished. Last month he huffed and puffed and took on some homework - to develop a plan for funding his infrastructure bill. But Trump did not do his homework, and when the next meeting time came he realized he had nothing to show. So he concocted a different show, complete with pre-made poster board displays, about his outrage at congress. Trump 'does' outrage very well, and the Trump cult laps that up. This bate-and-switch tactic allowed him to run completely away from the idea that he would do anything on infrastructure. Another promise not kept.
89
@earlyman
His proposal would have went over budget from all the Trump plaques and signs on every hi way ,bridge and sewer pipe .
1
What drives this President is the I word. All that counts is Trump. His ego is always in play. Accuse him of unflattering behavior and he withdraws and will not deal with the infrastructure initiative. The public good does not matter. My feelings are hurt says POTUS. I will not talk to the Democratic leadership.America’s first child-like President at play.
26
During his Rose Garden performance, the president once again fell into the extremely creepy habit of referring to himself in the third person. (“They hated President Trump. They hated him with a passion.”)
Oh boy! If Trump had used the present tense he would have come even closer to the truth. This reader's father used to say he only wanted to live long enough to see Bush Jr out of office and for his trouble got to see Obama bring dignity back to the highest office in the land. For every cloud, a silver lining.
31
Let us acknowledge the man is deranged. But while we are at it, let us also acknowledge that he is still considered “our president” by tens of millons of Americans. On days like this in upstate New York, still for the most part Trump country, I do not hold my country or fellow citizens in much regard for choosing this obscene, grotesque excuse for a man as our “leader.”
187
@William Colgan - Agree. And thank you for acknowledging that trump country is not confined to the bible belt south. We have our share of them and then some, but they're everywhere.
5
@William Colgan Once upon a time, I cared about Trump voters, wanted to know what it was that drew them to him, what made them feel so alienated from the Democratic process. Two years into this obscene presidency, I could care less about these people. They would (like Trump said) vote for him if he committed murder on Fifth Avenue. It says something really dark and creepy about Trump voters that they still stand behind him. It says something dark and creepy about this country. That's why I'm all for Blue state secession. Get away from these people and let them govern themselves; kill each other with unlicensed guns, rise to their goal of being completely uneducated, hate everybody who doesn't look like them, proudly inhale polluted air, destroy the planet with glee, get rid of Medicare and throw their seniors out on the street, then go to a Trump rally. I mean, these people are nuts.
9
How many demonstrations do we need to see that this poor specimen of humanity does not belong in the White House? I am not aware of any US president ever throwing public tantrums, and my memory goes back to Truman. How can anybody not be uneasy with such an unstable president?
112
As always, Gail Collins gives us something to chuckle about so we’re not always deeply disturbed and depressed about Trump.
Kind of like sunshine after two long years of rain. Too bad we still have two more years of rain ahead.
Thanks for the sunbeams anyway, Gail!
26
As much as anything, Trump's blustering walk out may just be a cover for not having to try to ask Congress to appropriate money for infrascture while expecting that they won't. Then he can blame his walk out on Pelosi and the Democrats for pursuing the investigations. Enough of his loyal "base" will buy it and be even more energized to vote for Trump in 2020 and ignore every norm and law needed to win.
While everything he says off script is a word salad, for him it's immaterial. What keeps his focus is what he's successfully employed in his highly developed dirty fighting guided by his cornered rat instincts. And, anyone who's been face-to face with a cornered rat knows that there's nothing much more dangerous . . . there are no rules, only a dirty and dangerours fight with real or metaphorical rabies-infested bites carried away as reminders.
So, Democrats prepare for more of the back alley fights to come and get your real or metaphorical rabies shots in the form of the teams who'll be equally fearless. Because, if you haven't grasped it by now, you can be assured that the only laws and political traditions that will protect you will be the ones you can enforce AFTER you win.
31
Completely ignored is the fact that the co-president, Mitch McConnell, would never let infrastructure get past the Senate.
Still not sure why Democrats continue to give Mcconnell a pass especially now that we've learned Oleg Deripaska, an Obama sanctioned Russian oligarch, was courted by disgraced former senator David vitter to open an aluminum plant in Kentucky and then, suddenly, the federal judgeship for Vitter's wife, bottled up in the Senate due to her lack of qualifications, suddenly sails through the Senate.
And this is after McConnell sabotaged Obama;s attempts to crack down on Russian meddling in the 2016 election followed by Pompeo's narrative that Obama did nothing to stop Russian interference in same.
I wonder if Democrats will tell rural voters they won't have broad band thanks to Trump
And I wonder how long it will take Democrat to run against the "do nothing team of Trump and McConnell."
Democrats claim they want to focus on the issues and the 2020 elections and not on Trump.
Well?
46
Harry Truman said, "If you want a friend in this town, get a dog." There's nothing in the Constitution that says you have to like the people you work with, but the nature of being president is that you are criticized and that you do have to work with the people criticizing you. Trump, however is incensed that there's not an imperial presidency, where there's only one branch of government that calls the shots. The Democratic Congress, last I checked, was duly elected by a majority of their constituents.
48
Anything to get out of doing any work on any project. That’s how he became the world’s worst real estate developer. Other developers will not deal with him in any way, except sometimes to license his name, which will be mud soon enough.
52
I must have missed the part of the presidential oath of office where Trump added that his "faithful execution" and "best of my ability" were conditional on nobody being mean to him. I did not realize he agreed to be president only if we were on our best behavior. I did not get that he's doing us a favor.
48
@Bob Hanle I think that “to the best of my ability” is his loophole.
27
@Marty West
You may be right. Doing nothing may be the best of his ability.
21
As much as infrastructure needs are growing, if you look at Trump's track record, we don't really want any infrastructure bill he would be signing.
There are predictable features of a Trump infrastructure plan.
1. Privatization. Investors would be encouraged through tax breaks and other Federal incentives to create private toll roads, bridges and other transportation. Tolls would be higher than those for public projects to generate an investor return, while risks would be ultimately assumed by taxpayers.
2. Blue to Red State Transfers. Those states that have high state gas, income, property and sales taxes have done better at maintaining infrastructure than those with low state taxes. In his 2017 tax bill, Trump has already shown preference for making Blue States pay more taxes, by limiting Federal deductions for state and local taxes, some of which go to pay for infrastructure. A Trump infrastructure bill would be very likely structured to support the states that voted for him.
3. Bypassing Environmental Reviews. Trump has signalled that he would expedite project approvals. This would certainly be at the expense of both environmental and safety reviews. He overturned flood plain development restrictions right before Hurricane Harvey left Houston area flood plain communities under water, which then required over $100 billion in Federal emergency funds.
We don't want the King of Bankruptcy helping us with infrastructure. And, no, he is not good at it.
98
@Look Ahead And then it would all fall down due to tatty materials and shoddy construction methods.
14
Trump could have agreed to this or any infrastructure plan, knowing that McConnell would never take it up with the Senate., but he wanted to use his walkout as a means of once again attacking the constitutional obligations of the House, led by a strong, intelligent woman.
87
Regarding the extremely creepy habit of referring to himself in the third person, remember when Bob Dole used to do that? Somehow that just seems quaint now. And as for the I-word, it doesn’t refer to impeachment, but rather insanity. The solution is invocation of the 25th amendment.
94
@Ockham9 Trump's Cabinet invoking the 25th Amendment? Name one of them with the honesty and integrity to start the process. When pigs fly.
25
Today was the first time in this 2+ year nightmare that I actually felt sorry for Trump. I think I'm going through something akin to the 5 stages of grief that began with outrage, then astonishment, went to exhaustion, and now I'm feeling pity for that tortured soul moving from one room of the White House to a press conference outdoors, having to come up with new lies, recycling some of his golden oldies, and then lapsing into confusion before walking away - alone. The fifth stage will be relief when this is all over.
70
@furnmtz
I am almost at the stage where I'm with you.
Except that he's Trump.
15
@furnmtz That may be what drove Pelosi to pray for him. (And the rest of us to pray he'll soon walk away for good.)
5
@furnmtz
Except that he is the President so if he can’t or won’t (actually can’t AND won’t) then he should get the heck out of the way.
2
Speaking of bridges, remember where the steel was sourced for the Bay Bridge between SF and Oakland? China. Gov Arnold of Hollywood refused to let any of the steel come from union steel plants in the USA. So it came from China. That’s what the GOP thinks of infrastructure spending. Give the business to China.
50
The Bay Bridge was built way before the terminator was governor.
1
@SteveH There were much needed repairs, since the bridge is widely used and pretty old.
1
He’s a master in the art of self-harm. Does he not realize that loudly refusing to participate in deals with Congress only further weakens his position?
32
@Martha Reilly No more than he realizes that telling his associates to refuse to obey subpoenas only makes them all look guiltier.
23
@Martha Reilly -- Not quite sure what you mean y "weakens his position" -- in negotiations? He doesn't have to care about that -- the Senate always does whatever he wants it to, so he doesn't have to cooperate with the House.
With regard to "not realize that", it's pretty clear at this point that:
1. He has little in the way of reasoning skills.
2. He doesn't connect with reality, so he never thinks that anything he does disadvantages him in any way or makes him look bad.
3. Tremendous wealth (even if far less than he boasts about) has made it possible for him to escape the consequences of every illegal/venal thing he has ever done, so he still behaves imperiously even tho he's a public servant.
4. None of this matters to his base, because they too traffic in aggrieved fantasy rather than realty
I'm with you, not agin' you -- just reminding you of the grim reality. I hope that I can make it to 2020 without my head exploding as it nearly did yesterday, with the arrogant+incompetent Ben Carson being a rude fool when questioned by cmtee. Kudos to Reps. Pressley and Porter -- magnificent.
3
@Martha Reilly: except his base. In their minds, he's sticking it to the pointy-headed liberals and standing up for the little guy. Until one of their bridges collapses...
1
Again it seems it's either impeachment or Article 25.
If I were to judge by his rants both verbal and twitter, I'd suggest that Article 25 is the more appropriate method of removal.
I'd like to remind those protecting Trump that the oath of office they take does not have the word Trump anywhere in it.
76
This column, like may others in the NYT, makes total sense. That is, if you are a NYT reader.
Sadly, it does not reach the people who are still in Trump's base.
They will continue to back him in spite of, or more likely, because of this blowup.
They still believe in this man and his "ideas" - more coal jobs, more manufacturing jobs, no climate change, war with "fill-in-the-blank."
58
@chickenlover
My own guess (maybe too optimistic) is that a large part of the base not only don’t really like Trump but quite probably won’t vote for him. What they’re signalling with their vociferous support for Trump is that they’re sticking it to the man—the “man” being people like us NYT readers, whom they richly hate. (Their hate is deplorable but—let’s face it—easy to understand.)
3
Great poster on the lectern, though there are several other statistics omitted:
-- Number of convictions
-- Number of guilty pleas
-- Number of years sentenced to prison
101
@J Darby, let’s also include the dollars recouped from Manafort’s forfeited assets, somewhere around 20 million.
30
@J Darby
-- Number of instances where evidence of obstruction of justice rose to an indictable level
-- Number of attempts at witness tampering and intimidation of potential witnesses
-- Number of dollars diverted to bribery, campaign finance violations, money laundering, tax evasion, insurance fraud, illegal conversion of charitable assets, . . . .
29
@J Darby All of the above would be great posters to place in Lafayette Park across from the White House.
3
Well, at least the funny sign in the Rose Garden wasn't as costly to us taxpayers as sending the vice-President, with staff and spouse and security, to a pro football game so he could leave in a huff.
I'm hoping the Administration can keep their huffing restricted to the D.C. area until the election, so we can all spend our tax dollars on less pointless travel and, maybe, more infrastructure repair. Speaking of travel, has anyone been tallying the travel schedule of the huffer in chief? I'm betting he's even ahead of champion US Capitol avoiders like Reagan and W.
47
@b fagan
Well, there is this tally from @bennettrules on Twitter posted 13 hours ago:
Trump has arrived at one of his hotel properties in Washington DC. This is his 255th day off in his two year presidency. Trump is the most lazy and corrupt president ever! #Trump #ImpeachTrump #MAGA
3
The premade sign Trump had on the podium said 35 million was spent on the Mueller investigation. It was actually 25 million. Trump failed to mention that he's spent 104 million dollars to date of your tax money to play golf at his own properties.
Trump whined about Obama's golfing, but Obama played half as much as Trump has and played mainly on military bases. No need for extra money for secuity as bases are secure already. Every time Trump plays at Mar-a-Lago, the Coast Guard has to double the number of patrol boats in the area, bringing them from as far away as Boston.
Trump has a big poster complaining about the ficticious amount spent investigating him, but fails to mention his stiffing of the tax payer for games of golf.
472
@Linda
Could somebody send this data to the president's public twitter line?
12
And we're paying 100 million, and counting, for him to *cheat* at golf. There is never one simple example of malfeasance -- there are always many layers of sheer corruption to reveal. And he cheats at everything.
24
@Linda
Right on. When he wasn’t President, I’m pretty sure he did not charge himself to play golf at his properties.
11
He didn’t just refer to himself in the third person, he also used the past tense!
58
@Susan Let's hope he is prescient about using the past tense.
3
I is also for Investigate
Hillary was brought down by a constant stream of media questioning her honesty, her readiness, her likability, her ...
Time to turn it around.
Make the Trump news all about his unsuitability, the crimes, the corruption, the money laundering, the scams, the rubles, the riyals, the ...
Talk about the possibilities that need to be investigated and how that investigation is blocked only by the men he himself has installed at the Justice Department. Here is the beginning of a one-man state, taking over the bureaucracy one appointment at a time.
I is for investigate, charges can wait.
53
@Gerard . The thing Trump is afraid of most is being labeled a loser. That's the tact that should be used.
20
@Gerard What so often occurs to me is, if he's so sensitive and angry and defensive about criticism, why doesn't he just tell the truth when questioned? Yet he couldn't even manage to do it when his lawyers tried to prepare him for a bout with Mueller. It's not just that the truth would get him impeached (or locked up)--it seems to be a kind of derangement itself, a denial of anything that doesn't fit his exalted self-image.
12
@R. Zeyen
That was hardly lost on Nancy Pelosi when she flagged a “lack of confidence on his part,” also implying weakness, his other kryptonite. And to have a woman making that call, no less. She has this guy's number.
5
Can someone please remind me, if it was so important, why Trump and the Republicans didn't pass a huge infrastructure bill when they had both houses of Congress during Trump's first two years in office?
Oh, wait a minute...they decided to give a huge tax break to corporations and the wealthiest among us and didn't have enough money - or interest - in repairing our crumbling roads and bridges and updating our airports which would have created millions of good paying jobs for hardworking, middle class Americans.
Oh, yeah. Now I remember what else. They were too busy trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act in their attempt to take health care away from millions of Americans.
Trump and the Republican Party have taken hypocrisy to dizzying heights.
586
@Morals Matter -- And don't forget the unmatched arrogance and incompetence of his cabinet. If you've not seen clips of Reps. Pressley and Porter questioning Ben Carson earlier this week, look for them (but have a quart of liquor nearby to calm yourself).
52
@Morals Matter
I hate them so much. If you don’t hate the Republican Party ... I don’t know whether to hate you too, or merely pity you. I guess it depends if you benefit from these criminals financially, and look the other way, or are just exploited by them.
7
@Doro Wynant
The Ben show was utterly intentional. Repubs live to break government, they are merely demonstrating "hey, maybe we don't need HUD. We seem to be doing fine...why, look at this incompetent leader!"
10
Well, Mr. Trump might be correct about the transparency statement as he seems to be very thin-skinned.
28
Yes, Gail is right: Trump has untold bridges to nowhere in his delusional, narcissistic life that is full of serial failures and lies.
With Mr. Trump. there has always been lots of bullying, bluster, and bombastic Trump proposals that end up as failures or never materialize.
Actually, we can probably be grateful that most of what Trump claims and threatens mercifully for us does not transpire.
Frankly, I am not disappointed that today's bipartisan meeting did not go well and nothing was done about infrastructure. Just imagine what kind of plan and how much taxpayer money a Trump proposal for infrastructure would cost us--and who (as in cronies and the Trump family) would end up by benefitting the most monetarily from Trump's infrastructure plan.
Let's just tread water until Trump is out of office, a Democrat is elected president, and the Republicans lose both the House and Senate to Democrats.
Look out world if Trump ever managed to follow through and get his threats and promises transformed into action.
23
@PB Let's just hope and pray that he doesn't decide that attacking Iran will secure his glorious legacy. (Bolton is probably whispering in his ear.)
3
It is baffling that more people, primarily MAGA supporters and the Republican Senate, can not realize or accept the psychological deterioration of their president. When have we ever seen such behavior? Yes, Nixon was indeed not a profile in courage. Far from it. But his state of mind and even actions during the Watergate hearings did not descend toward such desperateness and paranoia. Gail's title is "Trump's Bridges to Nowhere." In a sense that is true. His muddled mind brings this nation only to schizophrenic and incoherent policies. But in a sense the bridge IS going somewhere. We are beginning to see the wood buckling and rotting beneath his feet. His support structures from corrupt comrades to banks to family to the IRS are all giving way, unable to hold him up anymore. His journey on this bridge will drop him into that rushing river and wash him upon the shore of justice...and the justice that awaits him will be rocky and unforgiving. I hope...
50
@Kathy Lollock, the GOP doesn’t care so long as Trump turns us into a plutocracy. The MAGA crew don’t care so long as Trump “owns the libs.”
2
He was probably never going to sit with Schumer and Pelosi to discuss infrastructure in any real authentic way.
This is evident by the fact that he had already set up the lectern with the cheesy campaign poster. He'd probably been seething all night and the last thing on his mind was any real discussion of any real substance. Chuck and Nancy were just props in his Shakespearean drama as he rails against the obviousness of his culpability.
He is truly living out a drama
65
@dano50
I would say more Freudian than Shakespearean: Trump's twisted Id, with barely any filtering.
4
@dano50
I don’t think Speaker Pelosi or Sen Schumer were props. They knew very well Trump would likely pull some stunt or other - if not this time, then the next.
By arranging this meeting, they were just renting out the theater, knowing Trump would provide his own script & do his own bumbling song and dance.
Of course the image coming to mind is Gene Wilder & Peter Boyle doing their soft shoe routine “Putting on the Ritz” in “Young Frankenstein”, the monster’s vocalization being more coherent than Trump’s.
1
The Emperor has no clothes. He badly needs a coverup. Let's start with a Straight Jacket.
152
Remove this man from office. He's not well and that makes him dangerous. The chickens are coming home to roost finally and he's not handling it at all.
51
This is what political madness looks like.
37
The Trump was pretty clear in the State of the Union. No investigation, know infrastructure. Know investigation, no infrastructure.
It has also been pretty clear that the Trump will put his interests above everyone else's. Everyone.
I have very little in common with anyone who supports the Trump.
21
Pelosi made the remark abut Trump that he protested just a short time before the meeting that Stable Genius stormed out of. Yet the nice looking sign was on the podium that had been set up before Trump arrived at the meeting. I would suspect that it was made days ago - it could not have been made so quickly.
I am reminded of when President George W Bush on May 1, 2003 flew to an aircraft carrier and proclaimed "MISSON ACCOMPLISHED!" - that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were over and we had won. He actually claimed that he was inspired to use the phrase by the banner he saw on the ship. It turns out that his operatives had taken the banner to the ship and unfurled it, and that the phrase was n the prepared text of his speech.
Oh what a tangled web we weave...
22
Credit where credit is due. Having over 10,000 recognizable lies & falsehoods is a special kind of transparency.
52
Great piece Ms. Collins made me laugh in the midst of this continual GOP driven strategy to kill our democratic processes of law & order. Make no mistake, Trump is the best actor possible for his role. But this play was written and produced over decades by GOP operatives. Before it opened on Broadway it ran with successful reviews in WI, MI & OH with bit actors same scripts. The Powell Memo, Actor Reagan, Gannet’s Newspapers rapid expansion etc, Its going to be tough closing out this “Wag the Dog” type scam especially with Russian espionage having free access but WI & MI governmental changes were hopeful signs.
23
"During his Rose Garden performance, the president once again fell into the extremely creepy habit of referring to himself in the third person. (“They hated President Trump. They hated him with a passion.”)"
Creepy? This is known as Illeism from the Latin ille, meaning he, that.
Illeism in everyday speech can have a variety of intentions depending on context. One common usage is to impart humility. The use of illeism in this context imparts a sense of lack of self, implying a diminished importance of the speaker in relation to the addressee or to a larger whole.
Conversely, in different contexts, illeism can be used to reinforce self-promotion.
Third person self-referral can be associated with self-irony and not taking oneself too seriously.
What is Mr. Trump's intention through his use of illeism? Take your pick.
But "creepy" it is not.
5
@Joshua Schwartz
We know that it can't be answer #1, as Trump is the least humble person around. #3 may also be discarded as he has never shown himself to have any sense of humor and I would be shocked if he knew what the term "self-irony" even meant.
Thus, we are left with his greatest act...self-promotion. Perhaps this syndrome can heretofore be referred to as "Trump Illeism." I'm sure the term will be worth a great deal more if it has his brand behind it!
10
@Joshua Schwartz, Latinate, or not, I find it creepy, and anything but suggestive of humility, or irony, two qualities that do not come to mind when thinking of Mr. Trump.
14
@Joshua Schwartz
You pick your random sources and I'll pick mine, Gail Collins. And, yep, as she says, it and he are creepy.
1
Do we have a government these days?
If the president will not work with Congress by his own declaration, are we not at a stand off and headed clearly for paralysis?
Are both sides equally to blame? Hardly. The president publicly commits both legal and ethical crimes daily it seems. When he's confronted as he has been today he shows a level of derangement that should scare sane people everywhere. There are real problems like climate chaos and dictatorial governments building nuclear arsenals that are not being addressed in any manner that will protect us in our country nor the continued viability of human existence on Earth, for example. Not to mention attacks our electoral processes and being rewarded for it by strange declarations of love for them by our commander-in-chief.
The 25th Amendment to the Constitution would be an appropriate tool for our situation if the Cabinet were not filled with a rogues gallery of criminally incompetent sycophants.
I'd like to stand with the Speaker to let a little more unraveling occur at 1600, but I'm not sure we have the time to spare.
53
The performance was obviously pre-scripted, with the signs and news conference set up and waiting. Fox got the script beforehand, broadcasting events as they unfolded.
Speaker Pelosi raised five children before being elected to any office (and has nine grandchildren). So she knows exactly how to deal with a petulant sub-adult. If it did not matter so much for the country, it would be entertaining to watch.
90
@Leading Edge Boomer Trump keeps making the mistake of thinking he can mess with an Italian grandmother. He's wrong.
26
@Maria -- Or, with a skilled, practiced, shrewd politician.
(I know that you mean well with the "Italian grandmother" stuff, but such references are never made about men as they carry out their professional duties; it's a way of Othering women and enforcing old stereotypes that keep us stuck, so I encourage you to avoid such references, even when joking or being playful.)
21
@Doro Wynant But grandmothers are Other than grandfathers and women are Other than men. Equality doesn’t mean sameness.
1
Talking about how good he is with infrastructure; not only did he lose money on his buildings, he managed to make sure there were no sprinklers in his Trump tower apartments in case of fires. We know how that ended. I would be wary of any infrastructure he was involved in.
120
"...I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country,” he declared."
In fairness to PT, yes, this assertion is unsupported nor is there a definition of transparent. And yes that means he loses debaters points.
But that doesn't mean it's unsupportable or that transparent can't be usefully defined for purposes of comparing that characteristic in presidents.
Note, too, that he qualifies the assertion with "probably" allowing finally for an improbable result.
Lastly, he doesn't say anything about what might be an acceptable degree of transparency in a president.
So? So don't give him an F for this statement. Give him am incomplete and the opportunity to supply the needed responses.
5
Definitely not the placard of a man expecting to talk about a great infrastructure deal that he would be so good at and that he wants more than Democratic leaders. He's transparent. He just doesn't understand in what way he is transparent.
224
@Bradley Bleck Yes, Trump is transparent, as in, we can see through him, there's nothing there, he's an empty sad shell of a person, he's vapid, he's without thoughts.
Trump could not come up with a detailed infrastructure bill or how to fund it. Like a lazy high school freshman who did not have his homework done, he sai that mad dog Pelosi ate it...
6
Question. Ms Collins, how did you get such a good column written on such short notice?
Here's my guess. I enjoy professional writing. I always assume its polish, polish, and then polish some more. With you, the quick pounce on the absurdity of the moment seems to bring out your best.
652
@tom biglen
you are the best Gail! Serious subject, but I laughed out loud several times.
63
@tom biglen. Gail is a pro!!!
4
@tom biglen
Actually, Gail started writing this right after the Game of Thrones finale. That Trump would not allow the only thing that Republicans and Democrats could agree upon was foreseeable. That he would act like a big baby and in essence say,"Call me a cheat again and I'll take my ball and go home," was predictable. She only had to fill in the details about the miraculous three-minute sign on the podium and his mysterious coinage of the "I" word.
2
Is there any truth to the rumor that Trump used to work in a felt hat company and use lead to stiffing the fabric. He seems to have Mad-Hatter symptoms. Why cannot the Republicans and his enablers at Fox News see that this guy is extremely unstable and unpredictable. His disability is likely to cause irreparable harm to this country.
101
@Will25: If I recall correctly, it is mercury rather than lead that is responsible for the neurologic disorder known as "mad hatter disease."
10
I agree that he's as mad as a hatter, but it was mercury in the hat making process that brought on this condition.
8
@Will25
Many of them secretly know he is an unguided missile, but will keep propping him up and pretending he's the greatest thing since sliced bread as long as he keeps doing the dirty work of packing the courts, destroying the environment, rewarding the 1%, and persecuting almost anyone of color who wants to emigrate here. If he ever stops being a useful tool, suddenly Republicans will dig out the morals they have so conveniently put in suspended animation the last two years and pretend they were always on the side of truth, justice, and the American way.
3
They got that podium all set up, and the sign printed, in the time between when Trump blew up and had his temper tantrum and when he came out to do his rant act for the press.
Unh-hun.
Nice performance, Trump. Clearly planned in advance... and played to the max for his "base". The Trump spin: "Look at how strong and manly I am, how dedicated I am to doing my job while the Democrats pick on me, they just can't get over my glorious, entirely-legitimate and above-board election."
Sorry, this "liberal" isn't buying it. Hey - it sure would be nice to have that $1.5 Trillion from Trump's "Tax Reform" to start paying off that great 'infrastructure' Trump so desperately wants to build us all, if only those dastardly Democrats would let him.
I go back again to what continues to stay at the forefront of my Trump thoughts -- WHAT IS TRUMP TRYING TO HIDE?
Why is Trump so desperate to hide all his business history, the full Mueller Report, all his tax returns, all the former White House counsel's notes and testimony, pretty much everything. What is Trump so afraid that We the People can't find out?
Is this, really, the behavior of a 'completely exonerated' innocent person, Republicans?
592
@Jim Brokaw Yes, and is what he is trying to hide worse than anything I could imagine. So far that has been the case in general.
19
Exactly. I suspect he’s trying to hide the fact that he doesn’t have as much $$ as he pretends. Something so personally mundane as his ego, as him lying about his wealth may be the driver of all of our angst, all the ink spilled, the blood spilled. I just hope there’s no more.
8
I thought I was officially done a few months ago. Stick a fork in me.
But it turns out I was still pretty raw; I'm done now. Get that fork out again. Truly, I can't take much more. I'll be tough as leather.
I have recurring fantasies brought on by being absolutely worn out. I've been channeling Looney Tunes: we see our political leaders as foils to Bugs Bunny or Road Runner. Anvils, pianos, saws through floors, Acme products, tunnels painted on walls that contain real trains, and long drops into canyons, after of course, one realizes that there is no ground beneath.
Trump in the Rose Garden, bloviating, ranting, expounding when up from under a bush rises ole' Bugs. Aaaah... What's up doc? Pandemonium ensues.
I've watched Trump's reality show presidency with a feeling of unreality. Can't we just switch genres? Cartoon physics is a just reward for all of us. Meep Meep.
83
@Cathy: I think Bugs could get elected. It's rabbit season.
14
@Alan Dean Foster, I'll take a wascally wabbit any day over a mendacious mafioso.
2
Trump and his Republicans. They want the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade. Let’s think about that again. They want to overturn Roe. They passed tax cuts for themselves. They won’t enact any legislation that would be of use to the rest of us. They seek to destroy Obama’s legacy. They crave money and power for themselves. They need a smokescreen: endless chaos for the country and the world.
Game of Thrones 2020. Impeachment will be that molten gold poured all over Trump’s head. Let’s hope Nancy Pelosi has the timing worked out just right.
196
She may need some dragons! But seriously, would there be any greater pleasure than throwing a fake bucket of gold over this beggar king’s head. I’m off to old Valyria to find Drogon.
2
@Blue Moon
Pray for Nancy! Her timing is the Dems only hope!
3
Infrastructure week is going just great. Again.
63
@AJ
That's a good one, thanks
2
I think we need to add the "E" word to the list of high crimes and misdemeanors to the President's impeachable offenses. He now has committed EXTORTION or the "E" offense to the list. Failing to work with the democrats unless they derail their constitutional duty to perform Executive oversight is a quid pro quo.
65
The "I" word now is "ineligible". To run for POTUS in 2020.
"Impeachment" is "irrelevant" at this point. Trump wasn't properly vetted in 2015/16 and couldn't pass a public official background check nowadays. Trump is "irresponsible" and "irredeemable" at this point. He is way beyond "irritating".
We need our elected officials, to be honest, and transparent. Trump couldn't pass a background check nowadays. We should just pay to send him down to Mar-a-Lago one last time. Sans "iphone".
Trump is an "incorrigible" person. He is our mistake to correct.
64
@Anne
I is for ignominy?
2
Apparently, Trump has reached the confused and mumbling stage of development.
Thinking he finally got passed the Russians and Mueller, he learned the Germans, (at least Deutsche Bank) began their pre-invasion maneuvers. Who knows which borders will be crossed, but their actions are so highly suggestive they must be taken seriously. Let's look at some balance sheets.
Too, Pelosi revealed the democrats have not yet surrendered.
They never promised him a Rose Garden! He stormed away. Running out of deals, I assume. No artistry there!
40
Thanks, Gail, for finding a little humor in this horrible situation. Like many people, I just want to wake up from this nightmare.
131
" ... I’m the most transparent president ... " This is true. In spite of Trump's and his acolyte's best efforts or conceal and obfuscate, the public and the press have seen right through him.
165
@Steve
True that. The problem is not that we do not see what is happening; it’s that too few people care as long as they are getting what they want.
40
@Steve
Now, if only Republicans in Congress would do the same.
12
@Nate Hilts
this is exactly what's going on !
trump could've come to that podium stark naked and danced the hokey pokey and mitch would've looked the other way and continued to push through his "conservative " agenda
7
Trump is feeling the walls closing in again. You can always tell by his level of irrationality.
75
This is yet another example of the big con that the Big Don has been running ever since he planted himself in the Oval Office. It's been known for some time that Trump's enablers in Congress are as opposed to spending money on infrastructure as they are to spending it on anything else (excluding the military and the "defense" industry). And so they've clearly talked him out of the campaign promise that he made on this issue ("Promises Made, Promises Reconsidered"). And needing a fall-guy to fix the blame on here, he's decided that a fall-GIRL will have to do: ergo, Nancy with the Unsmiling Face. She had the audacity to refer to Trump's "cover up," which is just about the mildest epithet that's been used against him of late, and we're all supposed to believe that The Donald is now so outraged that he's not going to give Americans what we all clearly need: better roads, bridge repairs, well-paying jobs. Gee whiz; imagine how he would have reacted if someone had called him "fat"! Maybe he would have just left the White House in disgust and told Mike Pence to have a good time.
comment submitted on 5/22 at 9:14 PM
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@stu freeman
Yes, I suspect McConnell told him well before today's fiasco that infrastructure was a non-starter.
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Agree, but do you really still believe he needs to be talked out of his campaign promises that he never meant?
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@ElleJ: Probably not but, then again, he may have been under the impression that Mexico was going to pay for the infrastructure.
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POTUS telegraphed, in vivid color, that he was going to do this back at the SOTU address. Of course this was going to happen. He used the “cover-up” language because it was handy, not because it was the root of his actions. He is going to blame Dems for not getting Infrastructure done, and tack on some other specious bits.
It’s political theater, to be sure. It’s so ham-handed, it’d be off, off, off-Broadway.
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@Mark, but off-off-off Broadway is where his base is. He has all the subtlety of a WWE "performance of wrestling."
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The tsunami is coming and he’s lying awake at night trying to blame someone for the situation he’s in. Poor Donald has never faced a day in his life where he couldn’t talk himself out of a problem.
Remember, we’re talking about a guy who lost $10,000 a day for most of the 80’s and 90’s, more than anybody in the USA. He didn’t change, he justified his situation as a result of a poor economy.
This will not end well. He’s in a job where there is oversight and rules. Nancy Pelosi is going to let him bang himself as we saw today with his tantrum and twist in the wind.
Stand by for the fireworks. The walls are closing in and like a rat cornered, he will stop at nothing to save the most important thing in the world, himself.
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A narcissist survives by total control and intimidation. He would see co-equal branches of government- legislative and judicial- as hostile if they "aren't loyal"- aka they don't do his bidding. Trump has never been accountable to anyone. It is not in his DNA to interact with co-equal legislative and judicial branches.
How can there be any deals if to him, a deal is something only a loser would have to make.
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When this kind of staged stunt is preferred by this President over getting to work to help Idaho prevent any further freeway bridges from collapsing--
the I-word that comes to mind for this Idahoan is Incompetence.
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@Susanna
I live in CT but I care about the decaying bridges in all states including Idaho.
He doesn't care about Interstate or RR bridges anywhere. He doesn't use them, he flies over them.
We're now sinking into 3rd world status with our 50,000 deficient bridges unlike our neighbors today in E/A who experienc their 1st world modern transportation daily.
It will take a new admin, to finally deal with the massive rebuild to come.
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@Susanna. Hi Susanna. I wish your neighbors understood that.
It’s interesting that the Rose Garden podium was set up in advance with a nicely printed sign excoriating the “waste” of the Mueller report and trumpeting “No collusion / No obstruction.” Not a word in sight about infrastructure, the supposed topic of the day.
The entire spectacle seems a bit premeditated, doesn’t it?
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I can’t believe that I live in a country where anyone thinks Trump is fit to be president.
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@Southern girl
As of today, according to FiveThirtyEight, Trump’s current approval rating in the country, combining all polls taken, averages 41.1%
31
@Southern girl Trump's die hard supporters are not looking for an effective president; they want a "leader" who will validate and support their latent racism and anger at being left behind and unatttended to. Even though Trump has not fulfilled any promises he made to them regarding jobs, immigration, etc., they will continue to support him because he continues to validate them. It is an unfortunate self feeding loop.
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@DJ
I can't believe I live in a country where, perhaps, as many as 41% of the people" thinks Trump is fit to be president."
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Thanks for the laugh! Trump no doubt is his own worst enemy. He also is his biggest fan. His delusions of grander are exactly that, nothing more. To be perfectly honest I have to admit that it is a rather pleasurable experience watching him pity himself. Could anyone possibly be more deserving of no respect than Trump?
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Only the people who voted for him.
14
Trump is acting like the I-word he is truly afraid of is Incarceration or Insolvency, not Impeachment. He knows the Senate will not convict him.
But a New York State jury judging him on unpardonable State financial crimes that have will exceed the Statute of Limitations before his term ends? McConnell can't help. Barr can't help him. Civil suits from everyone he cheated? Long list of victims and attorneys who would love to take the cases
Trump is acting like the investigations into his finances will cost him more than an election. Much more. Unfortunately for Trump, his threat of "drop the investigations or the infrastructure gets it" is not going to scare anyone.
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@LT
“drop the investigations or the infrastructure gets it.” Truly great. I really like your comments.
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@LT On one of the "Saturday Night Live" Trumpworld sketches, Mueller (Robert De Niro) was talking with Eric Trump, who accused him of being "the worst thing that ever happened to my dad." Mueller's reply: "No, getting elected President was the worst thing that ever happened to your dad." There's a lot of truth in satire.
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@LT
To be candid, I think the big secret that President Trump isn't anything to do with Russia or "collusion", it's his finances.
His entire existence has been built around the world believing that he's some kind of spectacular business man, and he's terrified at what people will think when they find out that he's really not...
I don't think he's a billionaire. He may be a millionaire (even that would be a big prestige drop off for him), but I think it's far more likely that prior to 2016 he was suffering under a mountain of debt and he's terrified of "his base" finding that out.
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Yes, Ms. Collins, and MAGA nation and the Republican Senate continues to believe that the president is performing his job admirably. I thought we, as a country, entered the Twilight Zone the night he was shockingly elected.
Last month, I sat outside a Salvation Army outlet in Chicago, located right next to one of the CTA's elevated lines. The stanchions were rusted and the cement blocks into which they had been pile-driven over a century ago were crumbling. When a train rumbled overhead, I watched the steel pillars actually shaking. When a rush-hour six-car load comes down, I wonder if the president will blame Rahm Emmanuel, the former Chief of Staff to President Obama.
With Donald Trump, failure is always someone else's fault even if a disaster can be traced to him.
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@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
I'm not sure who he'll blame, but I'm sure that Trump will be standing in the rubble of what was the Salvation Army outlet tossing paper towels to the crowd.
32
@Red Sox, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, ‘18
And with Trump, he always claims to be the victim. No matter how much power he has, and abuses, he sure pretends to be helpless. The act is pathetic, just not in the way he thinks.
11
Sounds like he is now on strike! He now refuses to participate in any aspect of legislating. If the government were a car, taxes would be the engine, and legislating would be the steering system. Now we can see what the government can do without a participating president.
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@Texas Trader
Yes, he is on strike-- from the (maybe) three hours per day that he actually does something. When he's there, and not travelling (at taxpayer expense) to one of his resorts to play golf and share national security info with whoever is rich enough to be a member.
Now he'll have ALL day, not just nine hours, of "executive time", to watch Fox "News", retweet their nonsense and lies, call up his fellow rich thieves and kvetch about how badly, very, very unfairly he's treated. At taxpayer expense. While the world problems multiply and intensify--who knew?
I'm finding it very (very, very) difficult to remember the Golden Rule about his supporters.
We need a sane, decent,reasonably intelligent president.
We've got a proudly ignorant, narcissistic combination of a mob boss, a petulant and bullying fifth grader, and someone sliding into incoherent senility. This should end well.
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@Texas Trader,
A friend, now a retired sociologist, forwarded 'Duel under The Sun' to this American. It remains hurtfully topical and timeless. Yours from East of Eden.
3
Overwhelming as the Democratic primary seems, it is important to remember that any of our candidates, whatever their respective shortcomings, is still head and shoulders above Trump. We need responsibility and integrity in the White House again.
89
$35+ million spent, huh? Even if the asset seizures from Manafort didn't offset that cost entirely, this is 1/3rd the cost of a single F-35 fighter, machines we buy by the tens of hundreds to defend democracy abroad. Whatever the outcome of such an investigation, I'm happy to spend a tiny fraction of that to protect democracy at home. Why isn't Donald Trump?
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@gary89436 Protection at home should involve infrastructure not to mention defense of democracy by a Supreme Court, one that is not a puppet court controlled by the GOP.
8
The people closest to Donald Trump at the White House, a tiny group that includes his attorneys, used an old ploy favored by some businessmen in a financial jam.
Team Trump carefully prepared for a meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to discuss raising money for infrastructure. It was a meeting they had no intention of having Trump attend, but they had to come up with a dramatic device for the embattled president to use as an excuse for scuttling the meeting.
The best the schemers could do was to refer to use of the word “cover-up” by Pelosi. So, large charts were created to show why Trump could not – on the basis of sacred principle – attend the meeting.
In the old days – two or three years ago – Donald Trump could have pulled off the old stomp-out-of-the-room routine perfectly.
Today, Trump simply descended into weird gibberish. People noticed. Even Republicans noticed.
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@sdw
To be fair, Nancy Pelosi didn’t just *use* the word “cover-up”; she explicitly said it was something Donald Trump had done.
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All true except the “carefully planned” portion. My guess is that trump operates completely on mood & gut.
15
@PL
What can I say? In trying to back the younger members of her off the idea of moving directly to Impeachment, Nancy Pelosi assured them that she realized that Trump and Barr were engaging in a “cover-up” of Robert Mueller’s report. She wasn’t talking about Trump’s covering up his interfacing with the Russians or laundering money, which Mueller found.
Pelosi was trying to calm her Democrats down – not to stoke them up. And I might say, PL, where does it say that Trump – unlike Richard Nixon, a man of some accomplishments in his presidency before he went off the rails – can unilaterally stop the business of government because his feelings are hurt?
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When Trump said, "...I think most of you would agree to this — I’m the most transparent president probably in the history of this country," I wonder if people within earshot either laughed out loud or sniggered.
Last year, The Atlantic had an article titled, "How to Talk Like Trump." Not that anyone would want to do it, but it was entertaining. Under "VAGUE SOURCE ATTRIBUTION," there was this:
A lot of people are saying …
People think it’s going to happen.
Everybody’s talking about it.
They are saying …
Everyone is now saying …
I guess we could add "I think most of you would agree..." to that list.
Trump keeps adding to various lists, none of them positive.
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@RK
I laughed out loud when I heard "most transparent". Mayhem has been the least transparent of anyone to sit in the Oval Office. His mind just makes things up out of thin air and the sad part is, he really believes what he has said.
36
@RK
Add to the list; 1) I know it, you know it (to the White House press corps), everyone knows it. 2) A total loser 3) Not many people know 4) Take a look at 5) a total loser 5) a complete disaster 6) a real beauty 6) We'll see what happens.
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@RK
Not to mention the classic:
"That's just what I heard
[myself just say]."
3
Really, this has to end sometime. And by sometime I mean before November 2020. Are the Republicans really going to sit on their hands and let the Democrats figure out how to end this dysfunctional presidency? Things already don't bode well for the GOP. If they don't step up, they may as well start planning their retirements. It appears that most of them have built nice little nest eggs for themselves. Perhaps claw-backs ought to be on the Democratic to-do list.
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@Janna
It won't end just as the cancer of our time, twitter, won't suddenly disappear. Cause that would be the only reason his 'supporters' would start to think for themselves again.
2
Just when you think Trump could not demonstrate more panicked and desperate responses to what is happening around him, you find yourself listening to an almost incoherent man attempting to defend himself. The Republicans in the Senate who will be up for re-election next year must now be very concerned about their chances of re-election. Donald Trump just told us, he is incapable of pursuing a legislative agenda, when he is being investigated. Think about that. He just took the Republicans' legislative agenda(s) and said; 'no'.
It feels like the political death spiral for Trump and many Republicans in Congress just started to day. I am marking it on calendar.
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@Bryan
Things have been worse. This is just a reality show!
Remember the Reagan administration when Nancy Reagan's astrologer was supposed to be advising him.
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@Bryan
I hear what you're saying, Bryan. But, do the Republicans even have a "legislative agenda"?
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@Bryan
Don't count on any "death spiral". I have heard similar promises used by the cable talking heads all during the Mueller investigation, but somehow trump does in fact keep winning.
6
The whole thing was a ruse. Republicans don’t want to spend a dime unless it’s buying votes from MAGAfarmers impacted by the fabricated trade war, or more money that the pentagon says it doesn’t need. This is an easy out from having to spend money that benefits, you know, the majority of the people.
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@T. Rivers
Just think, if our Powers That Be halved the bloated "military" budget, we could sure use the jobs and put a big dent in fixing our crumbling infrastructure. But neither party plans to touch that sacrosanct cash cow/ socialism for defense contractors. Just a handful of Democratic senators voted nay - against last year's $750 plus monstrosity.
38