The Eerily Prescient Donald Trump

Buzzfeed boosts The Donald:

Over A Year Before 9/11, Trump Wrote Of Terror Threat With Remarkable Clarity

“I really am convinced we’re in danger of the sort of terrorist attacks that will make the bombing of the Trade Center look like kids playing with firecrackers.”

In 2000, 19 months before Sept. 11, 2001, Donald Trump wrote extensively of the terrorism threat the United States was facing.

Trump, who at the time was considering a presidential bid on the Reform Party ticket, went so far as to say that an attack on a major U.S. city was not just a probability, but an inevitability.

“I really am convinced we’re in danger of the sort of terrorist attacks that will make the bombing of the Trade Center look like kids playing with firecrackers,” wrote Trump in his 2000 book, The America We Deserve. “No sensible analyst rejects this possibility, and plenty of them, like me, are not wondering if but when it will happen.”

Trump even mentions Osama bin Laden by name, in a criticism of an American foreign policy that too quickly jumps from one crisis to the next.

“One day we’re told that a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin-Laden is public enemy number one, and U.S. jetfighters lay waste to his camp in Afghanistan,” The Donald wrote. “He escapes back under some rock, and a few news cycles later it’s on to a new enemy and new crisis.”

Well good for him. I think it is fair to say that terrorism was an under-emphasized issue during the 2000 campaign. As an example, this Times coverage of a national security event by then-presumptive nominee Bush  focused on nuclear arms and ballistic missile defenses; terrorism was only mentioned in the context of preventing missile strikes by rogue nations such as Iran or North Korea. If Bush was pounding the table on terror, this article missed it.

That said, the idea of a terrorist WMD strike on US soil was hardly original to Trump - Congress had passed and Clinton was implementing a plan to involve the military and National Guard in responding to such scenarios.

Be that as it may, let me note this - Donald Trump was preparing his comments contemporaneously and, we presume, had them reviewed by staffers with relevant expertise. L'il ole me is sitting here fifteen years later (NOT in pajamas!) relying on that most feckless of servants, my memory.

But without even turning to BING I will say that it was not, per Trump, "U.S. jetfighters" that laid waste to Osama's terrorist camp in Afghanistan. The famous attack that just missed Bin Laden was conducted with cruise missiles. Were they launched from jet fighters? I don't believe jet fighters carry the heavyweight cruise missiles, so I will double down and say these cruise missiles were launched from a ship or a sub.

Which leaves me wondering whether Trump can gather and rely on a competent staff. It also leaves me wondering why, instead of warming up some humble pie and perhaps serving it to myself I don't give in and verify my recollections. The Suspense Mounts!

SINCE YOU ASKED: Well, these cruise missiles attacks in Afghanistan and Sudan followed the embassy bombings, were launched from ships, and were targeting bin Laden.

Pentagon sources confirmed to CNN that the attacks were made with cruise missiles, not aircraft. The missiles were fired from ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. The simultaneous attacks took place about 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT).

To belabor the obvious, just what did Trump imagine the operating range of jet fighters to be, where did he suppose they flew from, and why would he think that jet fighters, rather than bombers or cruise missiles, would be the weapon of choice for a mission involving terrorist camps deep inside Afghanistan?

Comments

[matt]

foist?

[Dave (in MA)]

a shadowy figure with no fixed address named Osama bin-Laden

He didn't call him a "loser" or a "bozo"?

[Jeff Dobbs]

But Obama flew the jet fighter that actually killed bin Laden.

[narciso]

an interesting detail about why there were only a few airstrikes back then,

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/13/world/nuclear-rivals-marshal-armies-of-lobbyists-in-washington.html

[narciso]

after a mention of Charlie Wilson, whose crocodile tears are noted at the end of the Sorkin film,

The person handling Pakistan's account is a former Clinton special counsel, Lanny J. Davis, who helped the White House navigate the 1996 Democratic fund-raising imbroglio.

[Rick Ballard]

"But Obama flew the jet fighter that actually killed bin Laden."

Not in Trumpworld. Trump flew the yuuuge TRUMP-1 intergalactic fighter from his luxury base on the dark side of the moon to kill bin Laden, then he ordered TRUMP Construction to build 8,000 miles of hundred foot high walls around the TRUMP States of America in two weeks.

All things are possible in Trumpworld.

[Dave (in MA)]

Insty suggests Trump offering Webb as his running mate.

He's the same age as Stockdale circa Who am I? Why am I here?

[Threadkiller]

I thought his book only mentioned Kelo?

[glasater]

I'm getting the idea Mr Ballard is not too impressed with Trump.. ;-)

[sbw]

But Obama flew the jet fighter that actually killed bin Laden.

Nuh uh! It was Brian Williams. He said so.

[Threadkiller]

In ObamaWorld conservatives are winning on the local level.

[sbw]

Which one of you gave the pointer to the article that pointed out that from 1979-2010, while the rich got richer, so, to did those in the lowest adjusted income quintile.

If you recall it, would you post the link again?

Thnx.

[narciso]

Bearden, was the fellow who last handled the Afghan operation, and subsequently lobbied for the Sudan, and suggested 'the wag the dog' notion to Hitchens,

In August 1999, he argued that the threat posed by Osama bin Laden had been blown out of proportion. He called for the U.S. to renounce "any plans for a unilateral military action against Osama bin Laden or for another cruise missile attack on Afghanistan." He called for a "serious dialogue" with the Taliban and said that they "have no more obligation to extradite Osama bin Laden to the United States than, say, the French do in the case of Ira Einhorn or the Israelis in the case of Samuel Scheinbein -- both of whom are fugitives from American justice in capital murder cases." [3]

[Miss Marple 2]

Let me say that in 2000, as much as I follow news, I had never heard of Osama bin Laden.

The only idea I had about flying airliners into buildings came from a Tom Clancy novel, which at the time was considered far-fetched.

All of my military expertise on weapons and planes comes from what I learned after we went into Afghanistan and Iraq.

So I am quite willing to give Trump a pass on not knowing that Cruise missiles were launched from ships, and that we didn't have planes that could fly from Diego Garcia except for the stealth bomber. (I had never heard of Diego Garcia prior to 2001, when we suddenly started getting maps and explanations.)

Rick Ballard: In Trumpworld all things are possible.

Better than Obamaworld, where NOTHING is possible.

[narciso]

consider, this happened,

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58615-2004Jul17.html

what was the Razorback's response ala Libya, a decade later, the war over Kosovo,

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Wasn't Olliie North the first person to mention OBL in a high exposure setting?

[narciso]

it was Abu Nidal, I heard about him first in the Spectator, about a year before the embassy bombings,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--To belabor the obvious, just what did Trump imagine the operating range of jet fighters to be, where did he suppose they flew from, and why would he think that jet fighters, rather than bombers or cruise missiles, would be the weapon of choice for a mission involving terrorist camps deep inside Afghanistan?--

Ridiculing someone is always a risky business.
America flies jet fighters [actually multi role fighter/bomber FA18s] off of carriers and deploys a very large fleet of aerial refueling planes, so the operational range of our fighter/bombers more than reaches deep into Afghanistan and they are pretty good at ground attack.

It happens that Clinton lobbed cruise missiles pointlessly into a couple of hillsides, but I would much prefer a CiC who didn't know his burro from a burrow as far as operational details but was devoted to actually defeating our enemies to one who displays a gloss of knowledge and is a chickenshit fool only interested in "optics"...or in the present case a chickenshit traitor.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Trump needs to get out of the developer mindset where he sees "This Space Available" on that giant melon on Webb's neck.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

LOL, ch, but it was a throwaway suggestion by Insty, not anything Trump said.

[narciso]

the peter principle on display,

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/us/politics/new-role-for-general-after-failure-of-syria-rebel-plan.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1

[jimmyk on iPhone]

For all the commentary about Cruz being unlikable and grating, he seems very classy. His response to W:

“I have great respect for George W. Bush, and was proud to work on his 2000 campaign and in his administration It’s no surprise that President Bush is supporting his brother and attacking the candidates he believes pose a threat to his campaign. I have no intention of reciprocating. I met my wife Heidi working on his campaign, and so I will always be grateful to him.”

Granted there's also a subtle joust in there as well.

[narciso]

that's what you have security for,

http://www.mediaite.com/online/associated-press-twitter-links-cia-email-hack-to-viral-video-of-pirate-cat/

btw, this is sort of out of the homeland premiere episode,

[Rick Ballard]

glasater,

There are very few people who possess the ability to accurately gauge the credulity and gullibility of selected audiences over relatively long periods. Trump certainly ranks very high in that ability and he continues to provide the evidence, just as Perot did.

[narciso]

also at the time, there was genuflecting to Arafat, I'm not sure how much Dennis Ross realizes that was a waste of time,

[narciso]

was it seven years ago, that the Huntress predicted Volodya would invade the Ukraine,

[narciso]

this was more along the lines of the Hart, Bremer and Gilmore commissions, where is beaks btw,

[narciso]

they never move on:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/19/joan-brady-alger-hiss-was-framed-by-nixon

[Steve]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer (Official)

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2015/10/star-wars-force-awakens-trailer-official.html

[Miss Marple 2]

Since Trump is skilled at gauging the credibility and gullibility of the average voter, how come none of the others seem to possess this skill?

Let's run down the list of political people running:

Chris Christie seems to stretch the truth on how much he clung to Obama after the hurricane, his efforts on fighting terrorism, and his use of strongarm tactics against opponents.

Jeb Bush tells us he wants us to allow immigrants from south of the border because they come here to increase their chances of success, ignoring the drain on our economy and rise in criminality. He still pushes Common core, a notably unpopular idea with most of the base, and neglects to mention how much financial interest he has had from dealing with educational companies.

Kasich keeps pushing big government by hitting us over the head with a Bible.

Rand Paul is saddled with the nutty father and appeals to the younger college kids due to libertarian leanings.

Rubio is ok but seems to young to me (which might be my age talking) but is very light on executive experience.

The only one who seems to understand the voters is Cruz, but he hasn't caught fire.

Fiorina is failing to gain steam. Carson is doing better but is far too mild-mannered to my taste.

The rest are in single digits. Someone is going to have to explain to me why Trump is so much worse than these people. He's not in the political class, but that's a bonus as far as I am concerned. Is he full of bluster? Yes, but so are Christie and Kasich. Is he inexperienced in military matters? Yes, but so are most of them.

Like I said, I will vote for whoever wins the nomination, and my opportunity to affect that outcome is slim to none due to the lateness of the Indiana primary.

[Cecil Turner]

So I am quite willing to give Trump a pass on not knowing that Cruise missiles were launched from ships, and that we didn't have planes that could fly from Diego Garcia except for the stealth bomber. (I had never heard of Diego Garcia prior to 2001, when we suddenly started getting maps and explanations.)

No. These things are so basic that no sensible military operation can be contemplated without having a grasp of them. Yes, the details can be left to the experts. But these are not details.

Moreover, there was no serious doubt that a new terror attack was in the offing in the late '90s. The question was where it would occur, and what to do about it. The main disputes were whether to project actual military force (an attack plane is far more capable than a missile, and an armored division is more so), or to plink at them. The reason we were using missiles in the first place was because they don't require search and rescue assets be on call (recall Richard Clarke and the debate over using special forces to invade Afghanistan--and the military's correct insistence it wasn't feasible without search and rescue). The fact that we're still having the same arguments 15 years on is a telling indictment on the ability of our political class to generate a coherent national defense strategy.

Trump's problem, like most of the other contenders, is the inability to come up with a rational solution. And here's a hint for him: once you've ruled out Iraq, there's not much the military can do for you.

[Miss Marple 2]

Cecil,

You are comparing apples and oranges.

What YOU knew is not what a builder in Manhattan could know, nor is it something most people care about.

But why get on Trump when as you said, 15 years on the political class has failed to give us a coherent national defense strategy?

We will see. Harrumph at me all you want. It doesn't affect anything. Maybe you should get these people running to come up with a coherent strategy; so far the only one who has discussed this at any length is Lindsay Graham, and he isn't exactly getting air time.

[hrtshpdbox]

"His response to W:"

Rove (who, regardless of anything else, does know a bit about GW), said on FOX today that Cruz wasn't quite so classy when tearing down GW's appointment of John Roberts despite previously having been a supporter of Roberts (which Rove claims was done solely for political expedience). I think it's a given that there's some backstory when a discouraging word is heard from GW about anyone (as it's so seldom).

[mockmook]

To belabor the obvious, just what did Trump imagine the operating range of jet fighters to be, where did he suppose they flew from,

There's a ton to criticize about Trump, so picking this is incredibly ridiculous. This is so trivial that it makes Turkeygate look like a real scandal.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

So some ditzy bint with a taste for older men liked Hiss because he knew stuff about ballet and didn't criticize her terrible cooking? Sounds like one of al-Guardian's more credible sources and, welp, I'm convinced.

[hrtshpdbox]

"He still pushes Common core, a notably unpopular idea with most of the base, and neglects to mention how much financial interest he has had from dealing with educational companies."

Yeah, Jeb Bush supports Common Core because it financially benefits him personally. Also, the Bush family helped Hitler's rise to power!

[Extraneus]

These things are so basic that no sensible military operation can be contemplated without having a grasp of them.

He wasn't contemplating a military operation. He was commenting on Clinton's unseriousness.

[Threadkiller]

Trump should have said we were bombing bin Laden out of our whatever.

[hrtshpdbox]

And anyway, why should Bush or anyone else kowtow to the "base" when the "base" considers a pompous know-nothing like Trump to be a viable candidate? When the "base" is confused, as groups of people were confused into supporting George Wallace or Pat Buchanan or Huey Long or any other faux populist huckster, then screw the "base".

[Old Lurker]

Rick if you are still around. Could you expand on your thoughts about Biden's entering the race? I think last night you mentioned a "blocking role" but I'm not sure what you meant.

My default position is that it (Biden's entering) would telegraph a change in plans by Obama and that Obama holds Hillary's fate in his hands. I got the impression you might think the opposite and would love to hear what you think.

Thanks

[Threadkiller]

Bush isn't a pompous know-nothing?

[narciso]

as I pointed out, Clinton's response to that earlier PDB was to go on safari in Kosovo, after those dastardly Serbs, who was also active in that area, during that time, none other than Mohammed Zawahiri, the same fellow who was behind the real Benghazi video, 13 years later, he was working for the Kingdom's IIRO 'charity' Zubeydah was sending fighters there as well.

[henry]

box, I guess we need a hereditary elite to save us stoopit rubes from ourselves.

[James D]

No. These things are so basic that no sensible military operation can be contemplated without having a grasp of them. Yes, the details can be left to the experts. But these are not details.

No, they're not. And if Trump had been in office at the time, giving an Oval Office speech about action he had ordered; or in a meeting with the Joint chiefs and the Secretary of Defense discussing options, it would be unforgiveable.

But as he was a private citizen making a point in passing about Clinton's response to Bin Laden, I don't have a problem with it.

In the context of where it was said and the intended audience, "jetfighters' and "cruise missile" might as well be interchangeable. The point he was clearly making is:

Clinton called Bin Laden the biggest threat to our country and then conducted a half-assed, one-shot attack against him, after which he dropped off the radar, at least as far as Clinton and the Democrats and the MSM were concerned.

That's pretty accurate.

[narciso]

the Solon@ is the money men's 'Ben Kenobi' that does little to appease the base of the party,

[mockmook]

Cecil,

If Trump had been in on the planning of the operation, then you would have a point.

But, if Trump was in on the planning, I kind of feel like someone might have mentioned to him about where/how they were going to launch the missiles.

[hrtshpdbox]

"Bush isn't a pompous know-nothing?"

Not hardly, no. Another thing Bush has going for him, that Trump doesn't, is that Bush is a Republican. And, unlike Trump, Bush has always been pro-gun, anti-abortion, pro-tax cut, etc, etc. It amazes me, absolutely floors me, that any Republican with an IQ over 80 could even contemplate voting for Trump. It's bizzarro world.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Somebody just got back from a Duke and Duke executive retreat.

[rse]

Well it does help him personally because of CC's integral ties to digital learning and jeb personally and especially his foundation have close financial ties to many of these tech and software and LMS etc companies.

On GWB and Cruz, I think Cruz is less of an outsider than he has chosen to portray himself because that's his ticket. In turn it makes jeb look even more establishment. Cruz voted for wioa and as I have mentioned he was front and center at the Bipartisan Leaders summit last December where most of the speakers were more soros tied.

I suspect GWB knows that because of the position cruz held at FTC. He was also a public policy major at princeton with Robert George, member in good standing of CFR, as his adviser.

[Cecil Turner]

You are comparing apples and oranges.

What YOU knew is not what a builder in Manhattan could know, nor is it something most people care about.

Still no. He's running for president, and obviously doesn't get these things. It used to be a de facto requirement to have some military experience. Maybe we ought to go back to that.

He wasn't contemplating a military operation. He was commenting on Clinton's unseriousness.

He was commenting on a military operation ("and U.S. jetfighters lay waste to his camp in Afghanistan,”). Moreover, Clinton's unseriousness is directly related to--and evidenced by--that miltary operation.

[hrtshpdbox]

"box, I guess we need a hereditary elite to save us stoopit rubes from ourselves."

If I woke up one day and discovered that I'd been supporting that dime-a-dozen New York bs artist to be Commander In Chief of the United States of America, then yeah, I'd buy myself an "I'm a stupid rube" t-shirt.

[Threadkiller]

Was it bizzaro world when solid republican McCain suspended his campaign?

[henry]

Box, the issue is while Trump does suck as a potential CinC, so does Jeb, and damn near anyone else running. Do not assume a criticism of Jeb is an endorsement of Trump (or anyone else).

[Cecil Turner]

But as he was a private citizen making a point in passing about Clinton's response to Bin Laden, I don't have a problem with it.

He's making a criticism of the president's actions (correctly, to my mind), but can't come up with a better plan. And years on, he's still criticizing Iraq (the only place in the Mideast where the US can project significant power) with no alternative. I didn't have a problem with it then, but now that he's running for president, I do.

If Trump had been in on the planning of the operation, then you would have a point.

Again, this is hardly rocket science (oh, wait, it kinda is). Oh, never mind.

[Extraneus]

a pompous know-nothing

As a Jets fan, I learned over the past few years that some people simply hate Rex Ryan. I thought he was ok as a coach, but apparently some people are just repulsed by a brash talking guy.

Don't know if hrts is one of those, but I'd be interested in seeing a correlation between opinions on Trump and Rex. I'd bet that most of the people who hate one hate both.

[Threadkiller]

Bush and abortion...

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/jeb-bush-was-director-of-philanthropy-that-funded-planned-parenthoods-globa

[narciso]

we sent General Ralston, (who had been properly shamed as JCS candidate) to warn the Pakistani, hence the ones who were left was part of the ISI's
handpicked proxies, the HUM.

[DebinNC]

Jeb left office on Jan. 2, 2007. What's he telling audiences about what he's been doing the last 9 yrs., or does he just skip that part of his bio?

[Extraneus]

dime-a-dozen New York bs artist

You meant New Yawk, right?

[narciso]

I had forgotten what kind of a feck filled weasel,
Richard Clarke, thanks for that reminder,

[James D]

CT @ 12:39

Criticizing Trump NOW for a lack of ideas, or bad ideas, or dumb statements is fine. There's no shortage of things that are deserving of it.

Calling out one sentence from a book written fifteen years ago, when you acknowledge that you agree with the point he was making, seems like an overreaction to me.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Hasn't Cruz supported what GWB accomplished in Iraq and blasted 404 for squandering the advantage?

[Old Lurker]

James "Calling out one sentence from a book written fifteen years ago"

I have marked my calendar to see what Hit is doing to you in 2030 now that you have so many books to your credit, James!

Congratulations, BTW.

[James D]

apparently some people are just repulsed by a brash talking guy.

I generally am. But in Trump's case, at least some of the brash talk is directed towards people who manifestly deserve it (Zero and the MSM, primarily).

I don't want Trump as the Republican nominee. What I want is for a Republican who's strong on the issues I care about to take several pages from Trump's book and go after both the Dems and the MSM with both barrels. I want a Republican who understands on a gut level that the media is the enemy and treats them accordingly, rather than sucking up to them in hopes of good coverage that will never, ever come.

Cruz could be that guy. Carson could be that guy. Maybe Fiorina could be. I don't see it from any of the others still in the race, though.

[DebinNC]

I wonder if Pres. Trump would have watched American servicemen being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu and done nothing? Or bombed an aspirin factory in Sudan, killing a janitor and many Sudanese subsequently denied medications? Or impotently bombed Kosovo for weeks as "troops on the ground" there or anywhere was politically impossible? How many wag-the-dogs would Trump order to distract from his immoral sexual WH antics with an intern?

[Stephanie]

If I woke up one day and discovered that I'd been supporting that dime-a-dozen New York bs artist to be Commander In Chief of the United States of America, then yeah, I'd buy myself an "I'm a stupid rube" t-shirt.

What a load of horseshit... if your precious isn't the nominee and Trump is, I guess you are just gonna sit it out, huh? So much for being a supportive republican.

Yeah, Jeb Bush supports Common Core because it financially benefits him personally. Also, the Bush family helped Hitler's rise to power!

I'd suggest you bone up on your precious via rse's website [invisibleserfscollar.com] and stop making condescending remarks about what people who have studied the convergence of JEBs actions via common core and his allegiances with those who are pushing it are and exactly what the goals are and exactly which side of the aisle these goals are futhering.

You, sir, are making a fool of yourself with your defense of the defenseless; because, the 'rubes' know quite a bit more than you about your precious, and it is really quite unbecoming.

Now, if you want to be informed and knowledgeable about exactly what CC is, and what your precious is pushing, either by being complicit or a tool (hint neither option makes him look good), I'd suggest you study up and maybe you can elevate yourself to being a 'rube' instead of just a uneducated elitist who prefers precious' special blend of stoopit.

[Sue]

said on FOX today that Cruz wasn't quite so classy when tearing down GW's appointment of John Roberts despite previously having been a supporter of Roberts

Whoa, that makes me like Cruz even more.

[Algonquin]

After the first World Trade Center bombing, the Khobar Towers attack--which was responded to in a lawfare manner, and which a federal court found that there was enough evidence to find Iran responsible, after the attempt to assassinate George H. Bush, after the attack on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and after the attack on the USS Cole--

after the weak and/or legalese response to all of that we ended up with 9/11 before we realized we had to make a serious response to terrorism.

And we are on that road again, except the world enviroment is even less stable and ISIS has more territory to operate in and more funding, something like 45 million a month.

I want to hear Trump's strategy for the present day enviroment but so far he doesn't seem to think I deserve to hear a cohesive policy even though my people a scrambling under the Obama limitations to keep America safe.

I can tell you one thing about them--they are exhausted .

[Threadkiller]

Still waiting for your concern list, Al.

[Thomas Collins]

So far in this election season, my favorite tweaking of my coastal gentry prog friends is to assert that Cruz is not only the most academically accomplished candidate this year, but then go on to say that Cruz is one of the most academically accomplished people ever to have run for POTUS. When they scoff, I start going through Cruz's record. I realize that academic accomplishment does not necessarily translate into being a good POTUS. But just imagine if a Dem candidate was high school valedictorian, honors Princeton, honors Harvard Law School, and headed a law firm's national appellate practice group. NPR commentators would be swooning.

[narciso]

yes, constructivist based teaching templates, like those who have been in place in Florida, for a baker's dozen years don't work, students don't learn to read, or speak or think coherently,

Jeb was a member of the outfit that argued for a proactive response against Iraq, and yet he is mum now,

re Donald, it seems to be a swift strike with overwhelming force, against Islamist elements in Syria, not exclusively Islamic State, akin to Luttwak's lunge at the Saudi oil fields circa 1975

[Rick Ballard]

OL,

The only reason for Biden to enter the race at this point would be to act as another foil (blocking back) for Clinton. Comrade Bernie as the sole straight man on stage doesn't really cut it. Biden would be a counter balance to the far left and farther left options in the center ring.

The decision by the Fascists to leave Clinton sitting astride her sputtering broom on the launch pad all by herself isn't looking too smart at the moment but I'm sure it was the price paid to keep her oppo research on Obama hidden.

[Miss Marple 2]

Everyone seemed to think THIS non-detailed strategy was just fine, back in the 80's:

"We win. They lose."

----Ronald Reagan

[DebinNC]

Last night my dh and I watched Breach about the investigation and arrest of FBI traitor Robert Hanssen. Hanssen, other traitors, mob bosses, violent cult leaders, murderous jihadis, the Unabomber, Boston Marathon Bomber, and other such are housed in a remarkably secure federal prison in CO. Sorry to be off topic, but it was interesting to me to find so many disparate bad apples living the rest of their, hopefully, miserable lives in one hellish place.

[Algonquin]

Threadkiller

What are you talking about?

[narciso]

yes, that was a very prescient film, Chris Cooper does a very good portrait of Hanssen, who for decades was deep inside the Bureau, who had contempt for many of the ones who seemed not to catch on, he was also very prescient about internet security,

[Miss Marple 2]

I know the following rubes personally who are supporting Trump:

a Catholic art teacher, retired
a surgical nurse
a retired research biologist
a head of a hospital's surgery registry
a beautician who owns her own salon

Exactly what qualifies as a rube? Myself, I would think it is someone who swallows a political line without investigating the source, such as Common Core. Because Common Core is Science or something.

(Pay no attention to those corporate boards the candidate sat on, nor his FAILURE to defend his brother through the last 15 years, nor his sudden conversion to the Bush strategy of defense, nor his complete failure to anticipate tough questions, nor his failure to defend Americans from this horrible administration etc. etc.)

[Appalled]

I don't think it is nice to condescend to people who feel Trump is their candidate. If dealing illegal immigration is a core concern of yours, then Trump really is the most plausible candidate. Should he get elected, he would really have to do something.

I don't like Trump, and if confronted with a choice between him and Hillary, I think I really would not vote for that office. But the one thing he has been good at is reading about 30-40% of the GOP electorate (the other thing he is good at is trolling). If the base is deceived -- well, it is not really the base's job to be extra super special informed on the issues when, after all, they practice what political science types call "rational ignorance". It's the political elite's job to figure out how to adjust to what the base finds important, and get itself elected with a better candidate than the Donald.

[narciso]

Maverick suspended the campaign, with the concurrence of 'Dr. Evil' who just recently deepsixed Perry's campaign, with the pretense of Obama's great idealism, yadda yadda, then a staffer who went on to work for Romney, concocted a memo blaming the Huntress for the loss they were incurring,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Former chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy explodes nine environmental myths.
What is it about these greeny clubs that keep turning their big cheeses against them?
Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy. Who's next?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Hrt either married a Bush or is related by blood.
Hard to explain the fealty otherwise.

[Dave (in MA)]

The old lady wasn't too happy about Trump's troofer remarks the other day. She's thinking about scraping off the Trump sticker from her car.

[Algonquin]

What are Trump's policies?

Instead we get his followers beating up commenters with more hatred than they hold for liberals.

As to Stephanie's comment , around the internet it is usually Trump supporters who threaten not to support any other candidate, doesn't feel so good to have that turned around when facing the possibility of a Hillary Presidency for the next eight years. (incumbency is hard to overcome.)

[DebinNC]

I think Jeb Bush is a good man, was a good governor a decade ago, and would surely lose the election. I'd like to hear a realistic scenario in which Jeb wins the election, because it totally eludes me.

[Ann]

FYI:

Benghazi Committee Verified account
‏@HouseBenghazi

#BREAKING: The State Dept *just* delivered nearly 1,300 printed pages of new emails from Ambassador Chris Stevens. #Benghazi

[Old Lurker]

Thanks Rick, so that means you don't think much of the idea that Obama might have decided he does not want the Clintons back to carry his torch into the future?

You might be right but boy it seems to me if Obama has decided to bury them, he can do that, and if Biden has made a deal for one term then his VP takes over (Warren or Patrick or Moochell) that might be awfully tempting to Obama. If this is the game, Obama is actually playing it just right.

Interesting, any way you look at it.

[DebinNC]

Whereas BOzo's every word and move is scripted and choreographed out the wazoo, Trump is the opposite - free-wheeling and spontaneous. I prefer the what-you-see-is-what-you-get Trump to BOzo the Practiced Deceiver.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--It used to be a de facto requirement to have some military experience. Maybe we ought to go back to that.--

Calvin Coolidge didn't serve in the military at all.
Reagan's amounted to essentially making movies for a couple of years.
Jimmy Carter served seven years on active duty after graduating from Annapolis and qualified to command subs.
Any correlation to competence or wisdom and military service seems tenuous at best.

[Jane]

You guys are starting to remind me of 2012 when no one could agree to disagree about Romney. People got harassed and pushed out for their support. I too was guilty.

Let's not do it again.

[DebinNC]

I see Biden more as a visible under-study to HC, available if and when events force her out, rather than an actual challenger.

[narciso]

now Occam's razor would suggest the Solon got something wrong again,

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=359623

as he did with the nuclear freeze, the Contras,
et al,

[Miss Marple 2]

Meh, I don't care, Jane.

Just don't like seeing someone come on and insult people.

Everyone will support his/her candidate based on what issues are most important to them and what personalities appeal. I have found arguing about it to be pretty much useless.

I am going to the grocery. Then I am taking a nap because I have a headache.

[narciso]

Jeb folded like a cheap suite with a question or two from Megyn, the appearance before Tapper was even more embarassing,

[Stephanie]

I'm not a Trumper. I'm all in for Cruz. I'm just sick and tired of all the hoity toity bullshit disdain that is lobbed towards 'the base.' As if Jeb could get over 10% in the general without it.

Don't like your base? Maybe you should reevaluate why you are attempting to garner THEIR votes to 'represent' them. If you aren't representing, they aren't YOUR base. Republicans should remember that every time they head into an election season and start off by ignoring about 60% of their own 'base.'

[henry]

I agree with Jane. A field which started with so much promise is looking like a bunch of keystone kops thanks to MSM crapola (and the campaign consultants who are less competent than the kops). Certainly the candidate I like least is far better than any of the tyrants the Dems have on offer. (at the moment that is Kasich, but things may change).

[Threadkiller]

Al, the other day, when you showed great concern over Trump, I asked who your choice is.

It seemed to stump you because, after some time, you concluded that you will support the Republican choice.

I then asked you to build a list of candidates in order of who you are most concerned of to who you are least concerned of.

In order to better understand your concern, please share.

[narciso]

there are times, Fox disserves it's audience, not as crazed Rupert Pupkin or the house that Matthews built,

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/10/understanding-the-bloodlust.php

[Rick Ballard]

OL,

Where does a Clinton loss leave Obama wrt future cash flow? If Clinton wins, she gets the future cash flow, if she loses, Obama still has his rank as Field Marshal of the Free Shit Army to peddle.

I expect a fully half-assed effort by Obama to make sure Clinton doesn't quite make it.

[Ann]

Oh, henry

The Captain and I need to talk to you about Kasich.
He is certifiable.

Follow Jason Hart on Twitter if you can.

[Algonquin]

Well as to military experience, people are falling in love with Webb.

Webb initially ran for the Senate and his primary issue was George Bush's spending--he said he was going to fight that tooth and nail.

Well what did Webb do?

He voted for Obamacare, he voted for both stimulus packages which some estimate amounted to near two trillion in the end.

When you look at his Conservative voting score he scores to the left of Harry Reid. If memory serves me right Harry is at 16.9% and Webb scores at 16.7%.