The Trump thread: All things Donald

[Athos_131]

John Brennan: I will speak out until integrity returns to the White House

My first visit to the Oval Office came in October 1990, when I was a 35-year-old CIA officer. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait two months before, and President George H.W. Bush wanted to discuss the implications of a U.S.-led military coalition that would ultimately push the Iraqis out.

I remember the nervousness I felt when I entered that room and met a president of the United States for the first time. By the time the meeting ended, his intellectual curiosity, wisdom, affability and intense interest in finding the best policy course to protect and promote U.S. interests were abundantly evident.

Over the next quarter-century, I returned to the Oval Office several hundred times during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The jitters that accompanied my first Oval Office visit dissipated over time, but the respect, awe and admiration I held for the office of the presidency and the incumbents never waned. The presidents I directly served were not perfect, and I didn’t agree with all of their policy choices. But I never doubted that each treated their solemn responsibility to lead our nation with anything less than the seriousness, intellectual rigor and principles that it deserved. Many times, I heard them dismiss the political concerns of their advisers, saying, “I don’t care about my politics, it’s the right thing to do.”

The esteem with which I held the presidency was dealt a serious blow when Donald Trump took office. Almost immediately, I began to see a startling aberration from the remarkable, though human, presidents I had served. Mr. Trump’s lifelong preoccupation with aggrandizing himself seemed to intensify in office, and he quickly leveraged his 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. address and his Twitter handle to burnish his brand and misrepresent reality.

Presidents throughout the years have differed in their approaches to policy, based on political platforms, ideologies and individual beliefs. Mr. Trump, however, has shown highly abnormal behavior by lying routinely to the American people without compunction, intentionally fueling divisions in our country and actively working to degrade the imperfect but critical institutions that serve us.

Although appalling, those actions shouldn’t be surprising. As was the case throughout his business and entertainment careers, Mr. Trump charts his every move according to a calculus of how it will personally help or hurt him. His strategy is to undercut real, potential and perceived opponents; his focus is to win at all costs, irrespective of truth, ethics, decency and — many would argue — the law. His disparagement of institutions is designed to short-circuit legitimate law enforcement investigations, intelligence assessments and media challenges that threaten his interests. His fear of the special counsel’s work is especially palpable, as is his growing interest in destroying its mandate.

For more than three decades, I observed and analyzed the traits and tactics of corrupt, incompetent and narcissistic foreign officials who did whatever they thought was necessary to retain power. Exploiting the fears and concerns of their citizenry, these demagogues routinely relied on lies, deceit and suppression of political opposition to cast themselves as populist heroes and to mask self-serving priorities. By gaining control of intelligence and security services, stifling the independence of the judiciary and discrediting a free press, these authoritarian rulers followed a time-tested recipe for how to inhibit democracy’s development, retard individual freedoms and liberties, and reserve the spoils of corrupt governance for themselves and their ilk. It never dawned on me that we could face such a development in the United States.

On the international front, Mr. Trump pursues policies that are rooted in uninformed campaign promises, a determination to upend actions of his predecessors and an aversion to multilateral engagements. His ad hoc and frequently impulsive approach to national security is short-sighted and dangerous, as allies and partners are left uncertain about U.S. strategy and objectives.

The impact of the Trump presidency will be felt for many years to come. Most worrisome is that his use of falsehoods, his mean-spirited and malicious behavior, and his self-absorption will be emulated by many young Americans — indeed, young people globally — who look to the president of the United States as a role model.

The damage also will be felt by the millions of Americans who believe in Mr. Trump because of their concern about being left behind in a rapidly changing globalized world. These Americans have a legitimate gripe that politicians and political parties of all stripes have failed to deliver on the promise that America is the land of opportunity for all, irrespective of race, creed or place of residence. At a time when deep-seated fears of socioeconomic and cultural change need to be addressed honestly and without prejudice, Mr. Trump grandstands like a snake-oil salesman, squandering his formidable charisma and communication skills in favor of ego, selfishness and false promises.

Many have condemned my public criticism of Mr. Trump, arguing that as a former CIA director, I should bite my tongue. My criticisms, however, are not political; I have never been and will never be a partisan. I speak out for the simple reason that Mr. Trump is failing to live up to the standards that we should all expect of a president.

As someone who had the rare privilege of directly serving four presidents, I will continue to speak out loudly and critically until integrity, decency, wisdom — and maybe even some humility — return to the White House.

Amen, brother.

#Resist

[Lois]

This is exhausting.  Every day there are more Trump lies and outrages.  I can't wait for 2020 when we can vote in someone who is competent.

[Athos_131]

If we were a functional democracy, after Trump is removed from office there would be at least 10 Constitutional Amendments passed so this shit would never happen again.

Don't hold your breath.

#Resist

[_priapism]

If we were a functional democracy, after Trump is removed from office there would be at least 10 Constitutional Amendments passed so this shit would never happen again.

Don't hold your breath.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Giuliani threatens to go to court if Mueller subpoenas Trump



They could significantly reduce the national debt by putting on pay-per-view Giuliani in front of SCOTUS on this.

#Resist

[joan1984]

This is exhausting.  Every day there are more Trump lies and outrages.  I can't wait for 2020 when we can vote in someone who is competent.

Give us a couple of names, who you consider 'competent'. President Trump meets all the Constitutional requirements to hold the office, and obtained many more electoral college votes than the nearest opponent.

Pecking order today is Donald J. Trump, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, Orin Hatch, Mike Pompeo, Steven Mnuchin, James Mattis, Jeff Sessions, Ryan Zinke, Sonny Purdue, Wilbur Ross, Alexander Acosta, Alex Azar, Ben Carson, Elaine Chow, Rick Perry, Betsy DeVos, Robert Wilkie, and Kristjen Nielsen, in order of succession.

Good list if you don't have any 'competent' folks to suggest for 2020.

[Lois]

I don't agree with his politics, but Dennis Kucinich is competent and preferable to any of the folks you listed.

Beyond that we'll have to see who actually throws their hat in the ring for 2020.

[Athos_131]

Give us a couple of names, who you consider 'competent'. President Trump meets all the Constitutional requirements to hold the office, and obtained many more electoral college votes than the nearest opponent.

Pecking order today is Donald J. Trump, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, Orin Hatch, Mike Pompeo, Steven Mnuchin, James Mattis, Jeff Sessions, Ryan Zinke, Sonny Purdue, Wilbur Ross, Alexander Acosta, Alex Azar, Ben Carson, Elaine Chow, Rick Perry, Betsy DeVos, Robert Wilkie, and Kristjen Nielsen, in order of succession.

Good list if you don't have any 'competent' folks to suggest for 2020.

Child rapists and convicted felons are not competent Senators.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

A Courtside View of Scott Pruitt’s Cozy Ties With a Billionaire Coal Baron

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Betsy DeVos and the Department of Education Get Sued for Abandoning Discrimination Complaints

#Resist

[joan1984]

Dennis Kucinich for President, Democrat Ticket 2020. An excellent selection. From your lips to DOG's ears.

How about for Vice President on the Dem Ticket in 2020?

By the way, I think the only Senator on the Presidential succession list I posted is Senator Orin Hatch, R-UT. Should the others ahead of any member on that list be unable to perform the duties, it could fall to Senator Hatch.

One caveat is the President must be a 'Natural Born Citizen', of course, and so Elaine Chow would need to decline, should the duty fall so far as to include her due to her Cabinet position. Secretary Chow is a naturalized American.

No worries, there are currently no Democrats on the succession list, therefore no known rapists or molesters are currently eligible, for the one who may be concerned in that regard. No felons, no one serving time, on on parole, for the same reason, no Democrats are eligible, none in the line of succession.

No one from IL or AZ at all, so far as I know. We can all sleep better.

MAGA!

I don't agree with his politics, but Dennis Kucinich is competent and preferable to any of the folks you listed.

Beyond that we'll have to see who actually throws their hat in the ring for 2020.

[Athos_131]

Dennis Kucinich for President, Democrat Ticket 2020. An excellent selection. From your lips to DOG's ears.

How about for Vice President on the Dem Ticket in 2020?

By the way, I think the only Senator on the Presidential succession list I posted is Senator Orin Hatch, R-UT. Should the others ahead of any member on that list be unable to perform the duties, it could fall to Senator Hatch.

One caveat is the President must be a 'Natural Born Citizen', of course, and so Elaine Chow would need to decline, should the duty fall so far as to include her due to her Cabinet position. Secretary Chow is a naturalized American.

No worries, there are currently no Democrats on the succession list, therefore no known rapists or molesters are currently eligible, for the one who may be concerned in that regard. No felons, no one serving time, on on parole, for the same reason, no Democrats are eligible, none in the line of succession.

No one from IL or AZ at all, so far as I know. We can all sleep better.

MAGA!

Go fuck yourself, racist, child rape, convict supporter.

#Resist

[Lois]

Since I was talking about who was running in 2020 and not about presidential succession I'm not sure how relevant Joan's list is. Unless Trump dies before the next election. And I certainly hope that does not happen.

I've heard rumors that Pence might run, but IMO he's to o religious for the American voters.

[Athos_131]

The playbook by the wall of yellow is to deflect, obfuscate and move the goalposts in the most offensive manner possible.

#Resist

[Lois]

Trump tweeted:

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!

What legal scholars said this?
If you have done nothing wrong why are you obsessing about this issue?
Who are these 13 Democrats?  (Comey, Mueller, Sessions and Rosenstein are all Republicans)

[Athos_131]

This was settled a long time ago.

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1003660739209564162



https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/opinions/1974/08/31/op-olc-supp-v001-p0370_0.pdf

What this idiot doesn't understand is by accepting a pardon it's an admission of guilt.  Why would he need a pardon?

#Resist

[Athos_131]

#Resist

[joan1984]

President Gerald Ford pardoned past President Richard Nixon, who was never impeached. Bill Clinton was impeached, the first Clinton Impeachment.

President Clinton survived his Impeachment, and went on to Pardon many who were unworthy, some on his final day.

Hillary Clinton was never elected President, just to be clear, and never will be.

This was settled a long time ago.

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1003660739209564162



https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/opinions/1974/08/31/op-olc-supp-v001-p0370_0.pdf

What this idiot doesn't understand is by accepting a pardon it's an admission of guilt.  Why would he need a pardon?

#Resist

[Lois]

He can't pardon himself in cases of impeachment, but what about money laundering?  

And who are those 13 Democrats he tweeted about.  Hey Joan, do you know who he is talking about?

[Athos_131]

He can't pardon himself in cases of impeachment, but what about money laundering?  

Pretty cut and and dried the DOJ already explained this.  Nixon knew he was fucked.  Trump and his horrible laywers keep thinking they are smarter than career law enforcement officials with high integrity.

#Resist