An Unexpectedly Positive Appraisal Of Steve Bannon

The new NY Times stuns us with a surprisingly upbeat depiction of Trump adviser Steve Bannon. They find a few straws in the wind but essentially give up on the "Bannon as racist, anti-Semitic bigot" meme - apparently he has two many black friends, Jewish friends and liberal friends who just haven't seen that.

On the other hand:

Where some perceive racism and nativism, others see a different -ism: opportunism. Whatever may be in his heart, they say, Mr. Bannon was happy to draw a white nationalist following to Breitbart, while denying that was his intent.

Ben Shapiro, a former Breitbart editor who has been sharply critical of Mr. Bannon, called him “a manipulator” who had “mainstreamed” far-right extremists for cynical political purposes.

Ms. Jones, Mr. Bannon’s former film collaborator, who describes herself as very liberal, said, “Steve’s not a racist.”

But, she added, “he’s using the alt-right — using them for power.”

Obviously Trump has played along, and mainstreaming these people is simply not acceptable.

Ann Althouse has more.

Comments

[Captain Hate]

Advice from Costanza:

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/karl-rove-kellyanne-conway-romney-slam/2016/11/28/id/760952/?ns_mail_uid=32944113&ns_mail_job=1697839_11282016&s=al&dkt_nbr=4tfiwhvx

[henry]

"anonymous sources" useless GOPe doorknobs who aren't getting jobs.

[Thomas Collins]

"one place where TC might have a point"

Let the record reflect that OL has acknowledged that a lawyer may have a point! OL, are you having too many mimosas on the ledge? :-)

[Old Lurker]

Cap'n, having Rove pile on just confirms my suspicion that DJT and KAC set the whole thing up.

[Old Lurker]

Now TC, since lawyers always take all sides of all issues, naturally one of them has to be right.

Besides, you know it is G&T's for me.

And I'm not on the Ledge. But I did get it cleaned up and restocked just in case.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

not gun violence: Gun solved the problem, IMO.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-28/ohio-state-attack-suspect-20-year-old-somali-refugee-terror-motive-investigated

[Theo]

I certainly hope that the stories of Rodham's political death are not exaggerated. I thought she was pining for the fjords (politically speaking) after 2008. But apparently Ron Fournier has a story out that she has reluctantly signed on to the Stein recounts precisely in order to "keep her options open for 2020."

I would hope that the Democrats are not that crazy or desperate to bring her back yet again. At some point, even they have to acknowledge that the country is just not that into her.

But I do think it explains her have it both ways approach to the recounts. For all those who see it as a waste of time and a distracting cloud on the legitimacy of the process, she can say "I did not start this and my people said repeatedly that they did not think that this had any chance of changing the outcome." And to the loony dead enders she can say "I joined in the effort to make sure that the votes were counted correctly."

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Well, if Trump meets with Mittens again and then Conway disses him again even Mitt will figure out he's getting hosed.

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

Why do we even admit Somali refugees? I thought Somalia was one of President Obama's success stories?

2014 - http://www.weeklystandard.com/obama-tonight-yemen-and-somalia-are-models-of-success/article/804728

[James D]

Sandy @ 3:21

I'd second that recommendation of putting him at the VA. I'd also be OK with him at something like OPM. Lower profile, but could certainly use a ruthless business guy to clean house.

Let him prove his loyalty and demonstrate his competence for a couple of years, and then he can be reevaluated.

[Dave (in MA)]

"Abdul Razak Ali Artan" Read earlier that one of his half-dozen names was Mohammed. Now we really don't know the motive.

[Truthbetold5]

COULD THE PIZZAGATE ALLEGATIONS BE TRUE?

https://www.theburningplatform.com/2016/11/27/could-the-pizzagate-allegations-be-true/#

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

How would "the Democrats" stop her from giving it another shot if she wanted to?
They can break the wheels off her little red wagon like they did to Bernie but he still ran.

[derwill, yet another adorable, irredeemable deplorable]

Way behind on reading my emails, Lyle. Just sent you a reply.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Sandy:

1. The loyalty thing with Trump is a very big deal. I can only think that Romney is being put through this either as a humbling exercise and a lesson to all in who has the power.

2. Trump is a strategic thinker and sometimes does things I wouldn't expect, only it turns out later that he was right. Case in point is Pence, who has turned out to be COMPLETELY different than the guy who was my governor. (I keep going back to this because if you are an Indiana Republican it's like someone freed Pence from an evil spell or something. I still can't get over it.)

3. I find it interesting that Obama has been talking with Trump and has not offered any support for this recount. It's possible Trump has figured out a way to get Obama on his side - anything is possible.

4. It is also possible that someone else is being chosen, and everyone is keeping radio silence. I would like to remind everyone that the Trump campaign had a very sophisticated computer data operation in Houston, run by Jared Kushner, and no one knew about it.

5. Conway is not going rogue. That's a convenient storyline for the anti-Trump press, in order to make him seem less than competent. That doesn't pass the smell test in my book.

We will see. One thing for sure, it has everyone wondering. "What ever happened to the element of surprise?" Donald Trump

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

If Mittens can escape from the Burmese tiger trap then;

A. It should be dug deeper and be preloaded with a Burmese tiger.

B. There is no B.

[clarice]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pennsylvania-state-department-says-stein-missed-recount-deadline/article/2608305#.WDyXIm0zqf0.facebook

[Porchlight]

James D, I'm going to side with the notion that there is no political benefit to Trump putting Romney front and center as a possible Secretary of State and then having Conway undercut him publicly.

I wish I had a dollar for everything Trump has done that people said would accrue him no political benefit (or any other benefit, for that matter).

Trump doesn't look at everything through a conventional political lens, in case that wasn't already thunderingly obvious. ;)

[Theo]

Ignatz --

They cannot stop her from "giving it another shot," but they don't have to actually nominate her. Manifestly, if they had not cleared the field for her in 2016, she would not have been likely to win the nomination, given how much of a run Bernie gave her.

I agree with your oft stated pronouncement that she will never be president. But I am not sure that she is going to give up the dream until they pry it from her cold dead hands.

[clarice]

Not enough prayer rooms for Somali machete wielder:http://dailycaller.com/2016/11/28/ohio-state-attacker-identified-everything-we-know-about-abdul-razak-ali-artan/

[derwill, yet another adorable, irredeemable deplorable]

Hillary has some kind of degenerative disease--probably Parkinson's. Even with the collusion of the MSM, curtailing her campaign appearances, blood transfusions. and a massive drug cocktail, they weren't able to hide it completely this time. Who knows what kind of condition she'll be in four years from now--except that it will be worse, and likely completely impossible to hide anymore.

[Buckeye]

Hillary's options for 2020 are embalming or cremation.

I am continuing to pray. If I have my way, be a hell of a lot earlier than 2020.

[Porchlight]

"Embalm, cremate, bury at sea. Take no chances."

--Churchill

[Buckeye]

BTW, just ran an errand and listened to local talk radio.

Phone lines were lit up with people wanting to know how and why the muzzie Somali community gets their "entitlement" benefits.

Pissed off would be putting it mildly.

[Captain Hate]

Cap'n, having Rove pile on just confirms my suspicion that DJT and KAC set the whole thing up.

It's so unusual to have our side not doing something haplessly mired in stoopid.

[Old Lurker]

I refuse to waste one single brain cell worrying about Hillary running in 2020 if she in fact lost-lost in 2016.

Nor would I bet a dime that she will even be alive in 2020.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Rodham is facing several financial difficulties:

1. Donations to the Foundation are drying up.
2. Trump has suggested certain foreign donors might want to investigate. (I think Australia is moving towards this.) This will mean foreign lawyers as well as US lawyers. Not cheap.
3. She has a large staff of loyalists, probably 30 or so, who had counted on government jobs and now are pretty much unemployable. They also know things which might make them money if they are the first to write "The True Secrets of Hillary CLinton."
4. They have high personal living expenses which far exceed Cletus's pension.

I suppose they could go live in that "penthouse" on top of the horrible library in Little Rock, but that doeosn't suit their lifestyle.

By all accounts it was Podesta and Brazil who signed onto this. Anyone going to hire Brazil again? How about Podesta? His consulting group is probably dropping clients like flies.

Not to mention certain donors may sue her, Bill, and Chelsea.

It's really sort of poetic; it's like Trump through water on her and she's melting, melting, "Oh, what a world!"

[Theo]

To quote Iggy, Rodham will never be president.

BUT, she may not know that. She might well be delusional enough to think that there is still a "dumb and dumber" chance.

More realistically, she may be putting it out through her confidants that she is "keeping her options open for 2020" in order to keep the Foundation in the (future) influence peddling business. I am not sure how many suckers are out there, but she may be trying to find them.

In any event, I think it best explains her halfway approach to the recounts. She knows that they go nowhere and has not voiced any enthusiasm for them, but she does not want the hard core loonies to feel that she abandoned the fight either.

[DebinNC]

Trump took a big msm hit for claiming the danger of allowing unvetted muslims into America extended to the "second generation", i.e. their kids. Sounds like the 18 yo OSU jihadi is the latest to prove his point.

[Old Lurker]

Cap'n "It's so unusual to have our side not doing something haplessly mired in stoopid."

You are kinder than I am, Cap'n. I haven't scored Rove as being on my side for some time.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I have a pleasant vision of Hillary spending her golden years as Herbert Lom did in the later Pink Panther flicks, eye twitch, maniacal cackle and all.

[Thomas Collins]

The Hill will be told by the pooh-bahs and $$$-bahs in no uncertain terms that it's over. Look for Gillibrand, Patrick, Booker, Heitkamp, Harris, Kaine and perhaps other young-ins to go for the Dem nomination for a chance against President Trump in 2020.

[JimNorCal]

"Hillary's options for 2020 are embalming or cremation"

Can we vote? Cremation., then a rousing chorus of Dust In The Wind.

[Thomas Collins]

And if it's Gillibrand, look for President Trump to elicit prog outrage by referring to Gillibrand as "Hillary Lite".

[Old Lurker]

I will leave Iggy's vision of Hillary's golden years as stated rather than offer my own suggestion about how to make her days golden.

[Beasts of England]

Do we have a link for Kasich's gun comment? I'd like to think that's he not that damned stoopid, but I'd be glad to change my mind. :)

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

Oct. 2015 Israel - http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/10/14/israel-attack-surveillance-footage-jerusalem-orig.israeli-police/video/playlists/violence-in-israel/

" The footage shows a white car ramming into a group of people waiting at the bus stop. The perpetrator is then seen coming out of the car and hacking victims, before he is shot several times by a security guard and killed. "

[Captain Hate]

OL, please, I was talking about DJT & KAC.

[Dave (in MA)]

I have a pleasant vision of Hillary spending her golden years as Herbert Lom did in the later Pink Panther flicks, eye twitch, maniacal cackle and all.

[Old Lurker]

Embalm, Cremate, Bury at Sea?

What, you didn't like my option of the leaf grinder?

[Thomas Collins]

Oh, I forgot. Don't count out Joe Kennedy if he is elected MassGuv in 2018.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

She's prolly into that OL.

BTW, are we talking pre or post mortem cremation?

[Old Lurker]

:-) Cap'n. I see "Rove" and I launch...

[Thomas Collins]

Here's the likely source of the recount money.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/11/28/soros-financed-attorney-leading-hillary-clintons-recount-efforts/

[DebinNC]

Nancy Pelosi is 75. Steny Hoyer is 77. Chuck Schumer is 66. Keith Ellison was supposed to be the new face as DNC Chair - young, AA, muslim. Oopsie! Doesn't help that his Minneapolis district has a huge concentration of Somalis.

[Captain Hate]

Don't count out Joe Kennedy if he is elected MassGuv in 2018.

The one whose wife committed suicide from all his whoring around? I'm sure DJT wouldn't bring that up even if the Kennedy mystique still infests the Massholes.

[Jim Eagle]

After severely making a fool out of himself on Twitter this morning calling for more gun controls because of the OSU incident, he is now at the OSU press conference as if he has any damn thing to do with it. My God what a doofus.

The Mailman's Son never disappoints. Thinking someone would get an oscar for a comedy bio-optic on him.

[Old Lurker]

Iggy, if it is to be a pre-mortem cremation, the wimmins would say "See! First it was Joan d'Arc, now look what they did to our Hillary..."

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Rove,

Speaking of opportunists, that guy takes the cake.

I hope to see his contract with Fox not renewed. I bet every time he's on they lose viewers.

Bush 43 was duped by that guy, in my opinion. I always thought Rove spotted Bush as a natural politician, a charismatic and likeable guy who would be a winner. Bush never understood his own skills, so Rove convinced him it was his demographics and numbers manipulation. I personally think Bush would have done better without Rove.

Bringing him into the White House was the worst decision Bush made, and all of the rest of the mess was probably in large part to Rove's advice.

I read Rove's book. It was infuriating, and read more like a "Why you should hire me as your consultant" than a true account of those years, particularly when he barely mentioned the Florida Recount.

[Old Lurker]

Joe Kennedy in 2020?

Here's an idea for our two Americas. Let's give each side five families from the other side that they can wipe out of existence. Then we can all start fresh.

[Captain Hate]

After bitching in the media at the Highway patrolman who gave him a ticket for a legit violation, I'm sure the mailman's son isn't a fave of the constabulary.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

OL,

Nope. Their side would choose the Trump family, and I am not ready to drop those folks.

[jimmyk]

How would "the Democrats" stop her from giving it another shot if she wanted to?

One word (or is it two?): Super-delegates!

I'm guessing Hillary fantasizes that Trump will be such a disaster that the populace will be regretting their decision and longing for her to make a triumphal comeback. Ain't gonna happen, if only for health reasons, plus the fact that even if she lives she'll be the Democrat version of Harold Stassen, the punchline of a joke.

[Buckeye]

Just wait. JohnnyCakes will be sure to say something stoopid.

[Thomas Collins]

Different Kennedy, CH. That was RFK, Jr.'s wife.

Keep the ledge ready to go, OL, for Joe Kennedy-Chelsea Clinton in 2020!

Here is some info on Joe.

https://kennedy.house.gov/

[Dave (in MA)]

DIfferent Kennedy, CH.
That was the wife of RFK (some numeral goes here), the climate hysteric who talks like Harvey Fierstein.
The current Joe is the guy who was elected to Congress despite never having done jack squat because Kennedy.

[James D]

OL @ 4:20

Talk of yet another Kennedy thinking of national price makes me think that Lenin may have had a point when he had all the Romanovs killed, even the small children...

[common man]

Well I had to go shopping for Christmas presents today for Ms common man, and was away while all of this falderol at THE Nuthouse State, but I was convinced until I read upthread about the shooter being IDed, that the shooter was going to turn out to be Jim Harbaugh as he totally melted down on the sideline there this weekend.

But a Mooslum, wow I did not see that coming. What a plot twist. And a Somali to boot, probably let in this country on some BS refugee status and signed up for full welfare bennies day two.

[common man]

And can I say that a big problem in this country is knives are too damn available. If we had a lot fewer knifes, we would have a lot less violence. If we can make you use a plastic utensil to cut your steak inside the airport, why cant we do that common sense solution everywhere? Anyone?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Kasich is acting about as rational as my son the day before he took his walk in the buff.
You. Have. Been. Warned.

[James D]

I would dearly love to see removing self-government from DC as a first-hundred-dayspriority for President Trump:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-to-vote-on-nations-most-generous-family-leave-law-11-weeks-off/2016/11/28/e2ad7444-b343-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html?wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1

The D.C. plan, by contrast, would put the cost directly onto employers. It would be the first in the country to require businesses to pay into a fund to cover employees’ family leave benefit, much the way European governments use broad-based taxes to fund leave absences of up to a year after the birth of a child.

That will do wonders for economic growth...

[Old Lurker]

Common Man, I think we should have a Federal Agency tasked with the review and approval of ALL knives owned by Americans and that agency should maintain a registry of all such blades and their owners. Pediatricians should ask every child if there are knives in their houses and how does that make them feel?

[Old Lurker]

We should probably also pay attention to the number of knives in a set too.

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

The current Joe is the guy who was elected to Congress despite never having done jack squat because Kennedy

Ugh. He beat Sean Bielat. I LOVED Sean Bielat. Boy that Kennedy was an empty, know-nothing guy.
I listened to the debates between those two.

What an example of a smart, articulate, measured candidate losing to a doofus just because the doofus's name was Kennedy.
It was awful.

[Jim Eagle]

Buckeye,

He never disappoints. BTW, as a student at UC, I got to know John Gilligan quiet well. Don't ask but it had to do with his funeral parlor:)

[Porchlight]

Here's the OSU perp whining about Islamophobia and having no place to pray:

[Old Lurker]

Bad idea James...

WaPo headline: Trump takes home rule rights away from Blacks in the District of Columbia just so he can pay the workers in his luxury hotel less.

[Porchlight]

let's try this again

https://i.sli.mg/7uHNbT.png

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

His father is 1-800-CALL-JOE-FOR-OIL-SCREW-YOU-VENEZUELA

[JimNorCal]

Did this get discussed back thread? SF vs Miami NFL game.

It ended with Kiko Alonso delivering the game-ending blow on Colin Kaepernick and helping deliver to the Miami Dolphins their sixth consecutive win.

And moments later, in a Dolphins locker room filled with celebration, that was Alonso proudly putting on a headband that replicated the Cuban flag and meeting with his Cuban exile father and other family members to enjoy his enormously productive day.

[…]

Alonso posted a picture of that game-ending hit on his Instagram account. One of the hashtags to the picture was #cubalibre.

[Porchlight]

It appears to be scrubbed already from the OSU paper and the guy who interviewed him, Kevin Stankiewicz, is reporting on the stabbing without (yet) disclosing the prior interview.

[Dave (in MA)]

Janet, at least he hasn't destroyed the economy like the guy who was there before him. Yet.

[Old Lurker]

Porch, you are not suggesting this had anything at all to do with Islam are you?

[jimmyk]

Lenin may have had a point when he had all the Romanovs killed, even the small children...

Macbeth gave it a shot too.

[Porchlight]

No no, OL. Sheer coincidence.

[Old Lurker]

Whew.

[jimmyk]

Finally, Michigan certifies for Trump:

http://wtop.com/elections/2016/11/trump-wins-michigans-16-electoral-votes-state-board-says/

Let's see how long it takes the NYT to fill in MI red and put Trump at 306.

http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/president

[Porchlight]

And here is our Buckeye hero: Officer Alan Horujko

[Captain Hate]

Great story, JimNorCal.

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

Janet, at least he hasn't destroyed the economy like the guy who was there before him. Yet.

Probably waiting for instructions. He was dull, I tell ya. DULL.

I've written this before but I remember one question from a deaf guy. A 'what are you gonna do for me' question.
Kennedy said he was gonna start a new program for the guy. Bam!
Bielat said he would investigate what programs are currently available before deciding.

Santa Claus vs a grown-up

[Beasts of England]

Did Kasich bring his confetti gun (Like new - only used once!) to the news conference?

[Skoot]

I thought for sure the machete wielding madman would be named Amos Lapp. Oh, Abdul Razuk Ali Artan? You don't say.

[Porchlight]

The_Donald hit 270,000 subscribers on Election Night.

Today it hit 306,000 subscribers as Michigan certifies.

Maybe the kids are right about meme magic.

[common man]

Hahahahahaha! Jill Stein missed the deadline for a recount in Penn. So spending even a dollar in Wisconsin and Michigan for absolutely no impact is total insanity. George asked for your money back...

[buccr morgan.]

Afternoon, all, well you know my view of Scott Shane, they had another reporter taking up the gitmo detainees cause, among bannon' clients they say was silvio's media company.

[jimmyk]

Jill Stein missed the deadline for a recount in Penn

Some judge will give her a do-over like the Russian basketball team got in the '72 Olympics.

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

I have a hard time looking at that election map. It is SO embarrassing to live in a state that went for Hillary. Good Lord.
McAuliffe being our Governor is bad enough.
Pathetic.

[Porchlight]

She didn't miss the deadline to file a lawsuit. She filed on time. She only missed the voter-initiated deadline (11/21).

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/real-time/Despite-successful-fundraising-effort-recount-of-Pennsylvania-remains-difficult.html

[henry - drunk on prog tears]

Yes jimmyk, just as a Dane County judge ordering a full recount by hand in WI is a forgone conclusion.

[jimmyk]

You have no sympathy from me, Janet, given that my state

-elected Hillary to the Senate
-elected two Cuomos as governor
-elected Schumer and Gillibrand to the Senate
-hasn't voted R for President since Reagan.

[Buckeye]

So I just said something to Buckeyette about Abdul, the knife wielding muzzie, bitching that Ohio State did not have a place to pray like Columbus State.

"Fuck* him. They didn't provide a place for me to pray either. And Columbus State is fuckin* muzzie central".

* Included for journalistic accuracy. Acorn doesn't fall far from the tree:)

[henry - drunk on prog tears]

Stein filed some recount paperwork in PA... we will see if she shopped the correct judge.

[buccr morgan.]

Yrs she has issues with routing to the right locations

[henry - drunk on prog tears]

The Stein WI lawsuit is prepped. Any judge in Dane county knows they gotta find a way to grant her wish or be occupooped at home.

[Stephanie despicable me]

She filed it in PA - Panama. ;)

[Porchlight]

Good parenting, Buckeye. ;)

[derwill, yet another adorable, irredeemable deplorable]

She did miss the deadline for a recount. Today's the deadline for contesting the legality of the election--not the same thing. Contesting the legality requires prima facie proof, including sworn affidavits from 5 voters who then must present the proof on pain of perjury.

http://janderresearch.blogspot.fi/2016/11/there-will-be-no-recount-in.html?m=1

[Stephanie despicable me]

He noted state statute requires three things to justify an order for a hand recount: there is a reason to believe the voting equipment tally was inaccurate, the hand recount would be more accurate and that the result likely would change if a hand count was used.

"That seems to be a high burden of proof for any candidate," Haas said.

From Henry's article above. Bolding mine.

[Janet ~ an obnoxious Trump supporter]

Virginia elects Republicans sometimes but many are the RINO, phony, backstabbing kind like John Warner.

[buccr morgan.]

So zaphod and the salon will not go to Cuba, but lurch just might.