The Presidency of Donald J. Trump: No smocking guns. - Page 1975 - Politics and Economics

In your book you discuss the idea that Donald Trump will have his own version of Hitler’s Reichstag fire to expand his power and take full control of the government by declaring a state of emergency. How do you think that would play out?

Let me make just two points. The first is that I think it’s pretty much inevitable that they will try. The reason I think that is that the conventional ways of being popular are not working out for them. The conventional way to be popular or to be legitimate in this country is to have some policies, to grow your popularity ratings and to win some elections. I don’t think 2018 is looking very good for the Republicans along those conventional lines — not just because the president is historically unpopular. It’s also because neither the White House nor Congress have any policies which the majority of the public like.

This means they could be seduced by the notion of getting into a new rhythm of politics, one that does not depend upon popular policies and electoral cycles.

Yeah, but much like what has happenned so far, it's going to be "Stupid Reichstag" and won't work.

07-30-2017 , 05:16 PM

#49353

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jman220

Yeah, but much like what has happenned so far, it's going to be "Stupid Reichstag" and won't work.

Just because Trump is an incompetent moran doesn't mean everyone around him is too. Jared for example is brilliant and lawyered up with extremely competent attorneys. He's also handled almost every nefarious move imaginable since day 1 of the campaign without talking to the public until years later.

In other words, the Trump group is weird as hell. Incompetent as anything when doing good stuff in public, but competent as hell doing evil behind the scenes.

Follow Jared's movements around the world. In China, in the Middle East, with RUSSIA...just follow his movements.

07-30-2017 , 05:22 PM

#49354

sylar

Ivan Drago's homeslice

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Only trump describes jared as brilliant. "Stupid reichstag" has potential.

07-30-2017 , 05:38 PM

#49355

uDevil

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Our House

Tell me about it. I've literally been screaming about Thursday's hearing at the top of my lungs and can't penetrate the AIDS wall.

There's no significant new Russia news since then (just sanctions from the last few weeks and Putin's revenge). No Dem or GOP has said a word about it on TV. And there were bombshells about following the money and recent/current/future legislation allowing loopholes for Russians to use to bring laundered money in for rich US people to hide and store Putin's cash.

But carry on...

PS Browder hearing doesn't just mean "Browder hearing", like adoptions means "Magnitsky sanctions" and former KGB means "current FSB." Browder represented Magnitsky until Putin had him killed, and since then Browder made it his life's work to dig into everything surrounding it. He's the world's foremost expert on the Russian side of the Trump Jr meeting and other "adoption" discussions they had. They didn't just lobby Trump, the Russians lobbied CONGRESS too!

PPS Talk about weird, not even Rachel said a word about any of this on Thursday or Friday. I feel like the hearing never happened. JFC.

NPR covered Browder. I didn't have the patience to watch the hearing but I thought he was interviewed after at some point on MSNBC and/or CNN.

07-30-2017 , 05:46 PM

#49356

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sylar

Only trump describes jared as brilliant. "Stupid reichstag" has potential.

Dems in Congress do too. He's a brilliant person being pulled down by the weight of an incompetent boss.

07-30-2017 , 05:52 PM

#49357

ScreaminAsian

For President

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he's so brilliant his dad donated 3 million to harvard right before he applied

07-30-2017 , 05:52 PM

#49358

suzzer99

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 100,193

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbrochu

Is the DWS thing that stupid conspiracy Suzzer's buddy was all hot and bothered about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyWf

Yes. The smoking gun DWS youtube of her asking for her laptop back from capitol police was from May. Guess ole' Trumpster was just sitting on this earthshattering scandal for a couple of months out of fair play.

FWIW this National Review story was tweeted out today by John Podhoretz - and old school neo-con and vociferous never-Trumper. http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...uys-bank-fraud

Quote:

Although the Awans were banned from the Capitol computer network, not only did Wasserman Schultz keep Imran on staff for several additional months, but Meeks retained Alvi until February 28 — five days before she skedaddled to Lahore.

Yes he's an inveterate neocon, and yes its NR - but most of his tweets are spot on and he's anything but a conspiracy nut. Whatever the hell is going on with the Awan family - it's a pretty insane story that at least points to gross incompetence by DWS.

07-30-2017 , 05:56 PM

#49359

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uDevil

NPR covered Browder. I didn't have the patience to watch the hearing but I thought he was interviewed after at some point on MSNBC and/or CNN.

Yeah, that doesn't do the hearing justice. It doesn't capture expressions or lines of questioning and responses and follow-up Qs. Dems are onto things that Rs are clearly fearing.

FYI NPR mentions that $230 million Russian taxpayer theft by Putin at the heart of these sanctions...that $230 million was settled with the Russian lawyer Natalia (from the Don Jr "adoptions" meeting) by...Jeff Sessions recently...for...SIX million!

07-30-2017 , 05:58 PM

#49360

ligastar

ToP 100 pAsS cAtChErS

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how is Jared brilliant? why the **** would you even join this administration in the first place. (i understand that Mueller may provide me with an answer in the future).

07-30-2017 , 05:59 PM

#49361

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreaminAsian

he's so brilliant his dad donated 3 million to harvard right before he applied

Nah nah man, book smarts != street smarts. These guys are from NYC. To get way ahead there, especially as a criminal, requires massive street smarts and very little book smarts. See mafia.

07-30-2017 , 06:01 PM

#49362

aflametotheground

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,851

Having a look at his book talk at youtube and read the interview, he says alot of interresting things actually.

07-30-2017 , 06:09 PM

#49363

FlyWf

It's the other way

Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 58,097

Suzzer- That article is by Andrew McCarthy, don't take any of it at any value.

But of course DWS is terrible. She's always been and always will be. If the House Dems were willing to abandon ACORN over nothing, by God, let's jettison her over whatever this is(nobody can explain it. Bad hiring practices, as near as I can tell).

07-30-2017 , 06:12 PM

#49364

Riverman

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Kushner has, during a massive commercial real estate boom, royally ****ed up the company he inherited from his Dad, who himself was sent to prison by Chris Christie for paying a hooker to **** a business partner (maybe his brother? can't remember), then telling the dude's wife about it. The family are well known Jersey slumlords; Jared decided they needed to be players in Manhattan with disastrous consequences.

07-30-2017 , 06:12 PM

#49365

ecriture d'adulte

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Our House

Just because Trump is an incompetent moran doesn't mean everyone around him is too. Jared for example is brilliant and lawyered up with extremely competent attorneys. He's also handled almost every nefarious move imaginable since day 1 of the campaign without talking to the public until years later.

In other words, the Trump group is weird as hell. Incompetent as anything when doing good stuff in public, but competent as hell doing evil behind the scenes.

Follow Jared's movements around the world. In China, in the Middle East, with RUSSIA...just follow his movements.

Wait....why do you think he's brilliant? I guess he got into Harvard despite his dad giving them millions right before he applied?

I always just assumed that everybody thought he was a privileged Forrest Gump.....with none of the charm/likability/decency of Tom Hanks.

07-30-2017 , 06:15 PM

#49366

Our House

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So this week's events will be covered in Season 4 of HBO's TRUMP? I heard Season 5 reveals that the Russian takeover plot involves BOTH PARTIES.

The good news is we get to learn what Mueller is following in early Season 2. Hopefully we'll see that before the real investigation is over.

07-30-2017 , 06:17 PM

#49367

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ecriture d'adulte

Scroll up a few posts.

07-30-2017 , 06:19 PM

#49368

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

Question, because I don't know the history...

How long do Jared and Trump know each other?

I'm just wondering if Jared has been bailing Trump out the whole time.

07-30-2017 , 06:20 PM

#49369

fuluck414

veteran

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 3,281

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuppyFridayYall2

If the mods don't want me, message me and I'll never post in this forum again. It's hilarious my experience as

1) A wildly successful insurance producer
2) A forced ObamaCare consumer (the only one in this thread)

are "trash" because they don't line up precisely with your thoughts. The idea that you think the ACA is beyond refute is, frankly, shocking. Even the Dems had given up defending the rate increases/leaving carriers until Trump took office. Isn't that interesting?

Jake

You're not forced, if you were smart you'd make sure you owe money on your taxes, don't have to pay the fine.

07-30-2017 , 06:23 PM

#49370

aflametotheground

old hand

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,851

He is "brilliant" because hes street smart in NY?

I dont like to throw around the brilliant label too much, especially not for people associated with trump. Jared is sophisticated according to Adam Schiff, i highly doubt hes more than that.

07-30-2017 , 06:24 PM

#49371

FlyWf

It's the other way

Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 58,097

Quote:

Originally Posted by Our House

Question, because I don't know the history...

How long do Jared and Trump know each other?

I'm just wondering if Jared has been bailing Trump out the whole time.

Uh, Jared is probably even dumber than Trump, he's been riding his father-in-law's coat tails here

07-30-2017 , 06:26 PM

#49372

Joshfan

veteran

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,751

cumon he's not dumber than trump.

07-30-2017 , 06:33 PM

#49373

ScreaminAsian

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doesn't take a genius when you have a bottomless budget for criminal defense lawyers, all he's doing is listening to their pleas and keeping his mouth shut publicly. trump is so dumb he can't even do that. trump cheated to get C's throughout undergrad, his dad couldn't even buy him admission into law school.

07-30-2017 , 06:35 PM

#49374

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyWf

Uh, Jared is probably even dumber than Trump, he's been riding his father-in-law's coat tails here

Wha??

He's like the only person in this whole mess smart enough to STFU about everything except "policy" and cover his tracks with plausible deniability in many instances the others do not.

Manafort is smart too. And Sessions in a different way. Flynn, not so much. Don Jr, LMAO.

Trump's whole cabinet is full of rich white oligarchs who are book idiots and (NYC) street wise.

07-30-2017 , 06:39 PM

#49375

Our House

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreaminAsian

Your timeline is off. For the first 1.5 years of Trump in politics, Jared has been keeping his mouth shut about Russia, etc., long before he took on lawyers to listen to.

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