I Smell Fake News

Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, an Obama holdover, thrills her future employers by refusing to put the weight of the DoJ behind Trump's travel ban. Even the Times admits this gesture is somewhat symbolic since she is on her way out and Jeff Sessions is on his way in, but they include this odd detail:

Mr. Trump has the authority to fire Ms. Yates, but as the top Senate-confirmed official at the Justice Department, she is the only one authorized to sign foreign surveillance warrants, an essential function at the department.

Say what? I am not an authority on departmental succession but I have seen the trailers for "Designated Survivor" and I can't believe there is no Plan B if, God forbid, Ms. Yates is hit by a car or taken ill in the next few days.

So send in the lawyers! [SPOILER ALERT: Team Lawfare is all over this, and I am mostly right] This looks like the key bit of the FISA Act:

50 U.S. Code § 1801 - Definitions

...

(g) “Attorney General” means the Attorney General of the United States (or Acting Attorney General), the Deputy Attorney General, or, upon the designation of the Attorney General, the Assistant Attorney General designated as the Assistant Attorney General for National Security under section 507A of title 28.

As to where Acting Attorney Generals come from, this looks relevant:

5 U.S. Code § 3345 - Acting officer

Just to introduce some complications, here are the first few paragraphs:

(a) If an officer of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) whose appointment to office is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office—

(1) the first assistant to the office of such officer shall perform the functions and duties of the office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346;

 

(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct a person who serves in an office for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346; or...

 

So just to stop there - it seems that so far, the Acting AG must come from the ranks of either the confirmed deputy or another officer high enough in rank to have required Senate confirmation. It is possible that during the Obama/Trump transition the top people appointed by Obama and confirmed by the Senate have all left except Ms. Yates and there are no remaining senior Justice officials eligible under this clause. Lacking access to the DoJ roster, I don't know that to be true, but the Times story points that way.

But there are more provisions under which the President can make an appointment. Here are the next bits:

(3) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct an officer or employee of such Executive agency to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity, subject to the time limitations of section 3346, if—

(A)

during the 365-day period preceding the date of death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve of the applicable officer, the officer or employee served in a position in such agency for not less than 90 days; and

(B)

the rate of pay for the position described under subparagraph (A) is equal to or greater than the minimum rate of pay payable for a position at GS–15 of the General Schedule.

 

I think that means that anyone who has been with the DoJ at least three months with at least a GS-15 pay grade can take over any top spot on any acting basis. I could easily be wrong (Kiefer Sutherland skimmed over that point), and again, maybe all such people have moved on to their K-Street lobbying gigs. But that passage in the Times strikes me as a "too good to check" progressive fantasy rather than something the Times drilled down on. Then again, I would think that...

As I said, over to the lawyers! Aided by DoJ payroll and roster savants wherever they may be.

UPDATE: I guess we will find out - Trump has fired Yates and the new Acting AG is Dana Boente, former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In that role he was subject to Senate confirmation and should qualify under paragraph (2). The bench may have been deeper than the Times realized.

MORE: A Deplorable commenter noticed this Obama Executive Order, signed a week before he left. Quite likely the top appointees were heading for the exits, so it formalized a chain of succession for the Attorney General. Key takeaway - down the list a bit are some US Attorneys:

(a) United States Attorney for the District of Columbia;

(b) United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and

(c) United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

Next is a clause allowing the President to make any alternative legal appointment. Presumably, if one US Attorney is eligible another ought to be as well. Hence, Boente.

YET MORE: JustOneMinute gets results! The latest from the Times:

Administrations of both parties have interpreted surveillance laws as requiring foreign surveillance warrants be signed only by Senate-confirmed Justice Department officials. Ms. Yates was named as acting attorney general to allow her to continue signing those warrants. Mr. Boente was Senate confirmed as United States attorney and, though the situation is unprecedented, the White House said he was authorized to sign the warrants.

Well, it is not just the White House saying so. Even hack legal wanna-bes like me can see this logical thread, so I am sure the high-priced talent at the Times can do the same.

Now, we are all wondering what the Times does with their first, pre-firing story, which included this bit of speculative fiction:

Mr. Trump has the authority to fire Ms. Yates, but as the top Senate-confirmed official at the Justice Department, she is the only one authorized to sign foreign surveillance warrants, an essential function at the department.

Not a lot of caveats there, yet the Times no longer stands by it. Correction, with embarrassing editor's note, or midnight revision? Time will tell!

APPARENT RESOLUTION: It never printed so it never happened. This was a fast-moving story so the original article never made the print edition, and has now been disappeared. The original link to "Acting Attorney General Orders..." now re-directs to the current version, "Trump Fires...". And the original problematic paragraph disappears.

To Be Fair, that paragraph appeared with no sourcing at all, which may have been a waving red flag even within the Times newsroom. Still, folks were citing that bit of misinformation yesterday. Breaking news remains an ongoing challenge in the Twitter/Trump era.

LEST WE FORGET: A screenshot of the original story:

Comments

[James D]

Let's turn the whole country into one big commune, and all are welcome.

There are plenty of countries they could go to if they want to see how that turns out...

[Appalled]

(Note - I worte my 8:19 comment without having seen CH's 8:15 comment above mine. Great minds?)

[James D]

In other news, my new book is officially out today!

http://getBook.at/HerBrother

[buccaneer morgan]

Distracted by pup, runny nose, yipping all night

[Captain Hate]

That ignorant dago witch knows that this land wasn't made for the billions of non citizens, despite what that [redacted] Guthrie may have written.

[lurkersusie]

Once again unnamed sources!

‏@DavidWright_CNN

'Homeland Security Chief and White House Clash' http://on.wsj.com/2kaSUsp via @WSJ

WASHINGTON—Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has clashed with the White House over staffing and other decisions in recent days, people familiar with the matter said, leaving the agency without a second-in-command as it tried to institute a new travel ban during a chaotic weekend at the nation’s airports.

When President Donald Trump selected Mr. Kelly, the pick won broad support from Republicans and Democrats in part because they believed the retired Marine general would be willing to speak up and challenge Mr. Trump.

That tension didn’t take long to materialize. Mr. Kelly hasn’t been able to name the deputy he wants at the agency, people familiar with the matter said, and he fought off attempts by the White House to put Kris Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state known as a hard-liner on immigration, into the position.

[Captain Hate]

Wow, Appalled; both using the same metaphor.

[Captain Hate]

More CNN fake news from a trash network. Welcome to complete irrelevance, tools.

[James D]

If it's from unnamed sources, it's a lie.

[rse]

This is the CLASP statement on Sessions. http://www.clasp.org/issues/youth/in-focus/senator-jeff-sessions-a-threat-to-american-justice

Whoever trump nominates for scotus other than who obama put up will be an all out war.--Garland will be put up as the approvable compromise unless the filibuster is nuked.

[henry]

It's only a war if the Turtle fights.

[Old Lurker]

Why is McConnell not under a spotlight on getting the cabinet confirmed?

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

I am not surprised at the outrage, protests, rioting, assaults and general political misinformation - status quo. The Democrats and progressives are reeling from the actions and urgency exhibited by Trump. They know that this is playing well with the American public who elected him to do exactly what he said he would do.

What did they expect? Another Obama redux of watching ESPN, hitting the links and taking multi-million dollar vacations?

Then we have that from in the UK, Boris Johnson, proclaiming in Parliament that Trump's "bark is more than his bite." So much for holding hands with May.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

..that from = that frop...

[Momto2]

Congratulations, James! I will go over shortly and get the kindle version. Wishing you great success with it!

Narc - was pup's nose running or yours?

[Old Lurker]

WaPo Style section is all about Mrs. Trump not doing her duty by getting a staff in place fast enough and an agenda of proper programs for her to advance. The shame of it all.

Seriously.

[And littermates.]

Pups. Missin' its Mama, I hope that's all.

[Captain Hate]

The ruling class Repukes should be on notice that what happened with Trump can very easily happen with their seats.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I guess the 'party of no' is now a moniker of honor.
Neat Alilnskyite trick; declare your opponents illegitimate and fascists and suddenly any tactic up to and including halting the functioning of the state is an act of patriotism.
Perfectly legal policies are responded to with what is approaching insurrection territory.
The left's basic authoritarianism, sense of entitlement and belief in the irreversability of its central extra constitutional project has it headed down a very dangerous road.
It is the totalitarian road that was made inevitable when the anti-liberal New Left began its long march through the Democrat party close to fifty years ago.
They are invoking rhetoric and tactics that, if they do not control themselves, will lead to a national crisis.
They have grown so accustomed to accommodationist Republicans who were tolerated because they never actually threatened the one party authoritarian project the left embarked on privately in the pre Watergate era and publicly since then that a single non accommodationist president has them showing their true anti liberal, anti democratic, anti American tendencies in full.
They can't afford to have the inevibility of their Marxist derived historical determinism shown to be a fraud and so they are essentially engaged in a game of chicken with the rest of us.
And make no mistake the fate of the country is at stake. If they win this round of chicken, not by intimidating Trump or his voters, but by intimidating the pols necessary to implement Trump's policies we will have exhausted the last peaceful political chance we had to prevent their project, which has always been to destroy our constitutional republic and replace it with their version of the Paris commune.
The left is always and everywhere infected with the totalitarian temptation and they appear to be intent, at least many of them, on forcing a showdown of whether they will be granted essential veto power over any even mild dismantling of their engine of coercion and unbridled state power.
If the rest of us do not blink and instead defend our founding principles it could get ugly very fast. If we do blink it will eventually get ugly anyway but it will be farther down the road.
But don't kid yourself, they consider this to the death; the death of our country and as many of us as is necessary to ensure the former.The core of the left already openly talks of killing Trump and rioting, punching and killing people opposed to them. Soros and his many tentacled network is bent on any means necessary to create a closed society utterly dominated by the left's anti God, anti West, anti political liberty and ultimately anti human ideology.
Their anti democratic reaction, if it continues will have truly marked January 20 2017 as the beginning of the active phase of the second civil war.

[DebinNC]

Congrats on your latest book launch, James D! Can't fathom how much talent and imagination it takes to write one good book, much less the many you've produced.

[Janet S.]

OL, That makes me like her MORE.

[Old Lurker]

The sooner that is made clear to them, Cap'n, the better we will be.

[Old Lurker]

I think the GOPe Leadership in both Houses should be sent this story.

Just sayin:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2119677-chimps-beat-up-murder-and-then-cannibalise-their-former-tyrant/

[Just say no to littering the highways with uneaten school lunches.]

Heh, Ol, missing her Mama, no doubt. Didn't move her Mama in with her. Where's the duty to tradition?

[Man Tran]

JiB,

Sitting in an RSSB session in the Helicon. The track walk was at the Bank and Monument stations. Amazingly different lines due to cut and cover allowing taller equipment.

[DebinNC]

Last week was "retreat" week for Rs and Dems, but now's the time for McConnell to prove his leadership mettle and "git them dogies rollin'" or face a backlash.

[Old Lurker]

The wisdom of Iggy:

"And make no mistake the fate of the country is at stake. If they win this round of chicken, not by intimidating Trump or his voters, but by intimidating the pols necessary to implement Trump's policies we will have exhausted the last peaceful political chance we had to prevent their project, which has always been to destroy our constitutional republic and replace it with their version of the Paris commune."

[Captain Hate]

Which one of Bezos's gelded monkeys found the codified requirement that the First Lady meddle in people's lives?

[Old Lurker]

Deb, the thing about power is that it needs to be demonstrated from time to time or the other side will assume it does not exist. McConnell and Ryan both are in danger of communicating exactly that.

[DebinNC]

Amgen, Ig. You nailed it.

[Old Lurker]

I would be absolutely delighted if the First Lady hired only a single "Social Secretary" and made no secret that she intends to stay in NYC for days/weeks on end and to go about her own life. "We have agreed that my husband will work 24x7 to try to save this country and I, for one, do not intend to distract him from that."

[Old Lurker]

Isn't Amgen a stock, Deb?

[Old Lurker]

McConnell and Ryan both would have greatly enhanced their real power if they had come out smokin on day one.

They did not, and that's too damn bad.

[James D]

CH @ 8:54

The ruling class Repukes should be on notice that what happened with Trump can very easily happen with their seats.

They're all operating under the rule of "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you."

What they absolutely refuse to see is that letting the bear eat their fellows does not satiate the bear's hunger, or slow it down. Just the opposite; it only makes the bear stronger, and faster, and hungrier. And sooner or later, everyone else will have been eaten, and it'll only be them and the bear, and they'll wonder how it could possibly have come to that.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Eric Metaxas from Chuck Colson's Breakpoint on the growing threat to Christians and religious liberty in India.
Modi is a dangerous man in many ways.

[Old Lurker]

eg "...as one of the first order of business for this new Congress is that, like most hardworking Americans, we intend to be working on the Hill at the very least five days a week from 8am to 6pm, there will be one two week break in August, there will be no "excused absences" permitted from any official duty without prior permission for the Whip, and there will be no travel out of the country unless it is directed by Leadership.

[Beasts of England]

Who's going to fight for the left, Ig? The Pussy Hat Posse? Pajama Boyz?

Hopefully this 2nd civil war will commence in the morning, because I like to have lunch around 11:00...

[Old Lurker]

Silly Beasts. They intend to militarize the BLM thugs to be their enforcers. Think of them as modern day "Berserkers" for those who read Viking lore.

[JimNorCal]

OL quotes Iggy st 9am.
Yes. This time we need to come back with our shields or on them.

[Threadkiller]

Who's going to fight for the left, Ig?

Towelheads.

[buccaneer morgan]

Mom's In Tennessee, brought her in last week, so I shouldn't worry healthwise

[Beasts of England]

I remember watching videos of those BLM thugs in Ferguson, posturing and shouting, but the sound of a single gunshot had them scattering like the rent-a-cowards that they are, OL. :)

[Momto2]

This is the company that decided to "ban" Ivanka's shoes.

Apparently didn't work out the way they thought....

http://footwearnews.com/2017/business/retail/shoes-com-shuts-down-operations-out-of-business-bankrupt-closed-304420/

[Momto2]

Pup's runny nose is probably due to an allergy. Everything new is a potential irritant but it should adapt soon. Did you change food?

The first few nights without mom are not fun but this too shall pass!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

You know, I am glad to see that, Momto2. I am extremely tired of businesses either virtue signaling or bowing to pressure.

Starbucks sells coffee. It doesn't conduct foreign policy or national security. I don't care how the CEO votes or who he donates to, but leave me the hell alone and just make your overpriced coffee.

Seriously, why should I have to deal with all of these people, not only from Hollywood, but also from the corporate world, telling me what the proper way to think is? It's offensive in both its intrusiveness and its arrogance.

[Jack is Back (Again)!]

MT,

What't the subject? Safety or systems?

[DebinNC]

Current SCOTUSes:
Roberts - NW IN/adult life DC - Catholic - Harvard law
Kennedy (age 80) - CA - Catholic - Harvard law
Thomas - coastal GA - Catholic - Yale law
Alito - Trenton, NJ - Catholic - Yale law

Ginsberg - (age 83) - NYC - Jewish - Harvard
Breyer (78) - SanFran, CA - Jewish - Harvard
Sotomayor - NYC - Catholic - Yale
Kagan - NYC - Jewish - Harvard

Fwiw as we await Trump's choice.
Hardiman - MA - Catholic - Harvard

[Marlene]

bucc...does the puppy have a cozy bed or soft blanket to nest in or a small crate?

[rse]

Pertinent to ig's very valid point, abc news last night appears to be intent on fostering ths all as a civil war they want to fuel with righteous indignation. Watching how they framed everything going on makes it impossible to ever want to benefit disney.

They also ran long and literally used first 15 minutes framing outrage over trump and then did puff stories.

[henry]

An interesting take on automation (AI) replacing jobs.

[Clarice Feldman]

wasn't that something.OL? I was tempted to write and ask since Mrs C flubbed up on healthcare and Mrs O messed up with school lunches, which overreach do they want Melania to aim for?

[buccaneer morgan]

Has a blanket, bed is too big for the crate. Should I leave him out on the bed.

[Sandy Daze]

In a JoM oeuvre spanning thousands of posts, most remarkable in their own right, this:
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkywatzky | January 31, 2017 at 08:55 AM
must rank in the top three of the most salient.

Well stated, Iggy.

BZ.

[Marlene]

Hubby received an email from the Maine GOP this morning. It was a "heads up" about the small cities of Hallowell and Gardiner presenting draft resolutions to their respective city councils to become sanctuary cities.
Is this happening all over the country? The Maine media has been pushing the "Maine needs new citizens" mantra for months. The Democrat leaning cities are putting out the welcome mat. A city council member in one of the cities said this needs to be done in defiance of Trump.

[Marlene]

bucc...you can make a nest of blankets in the crate. Does he sleep in another room at night? You could try white noise. A small fan set on low for instance.

[GUS]

Sally Yates has NO CHARACTER.
So Trump grabbed her by her P####Y and shitcanned her.

Bye bye Sally!

[James D]

Marlene, do they ever explain WHY Maine needs new citizens?

Or, if it does, why those citizens must be immigrants rather than Americans from other areas attracted there due to the benefits/attractions/opportunities available in Maine?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Clarice,

Someone tell me what Mamie Eisenhower's of Bess Truman's project was. I think it was mainly flower arrangements for dinners.

Jacqueline Kennedy had an actual project: restoring the White House.

Lady Bird Johnson had wildflowers.

Ever since then First ladies have chosen increasingly intrusive projects, although I suppose reading was not so bad for Barbara and Laura Bush.

But healthcare, school lunches, excercise, etc. is busybodiness and should never have been accepted as the province of the First Lady.

[Momto2]

Agree with Marlene - if you are crate training him, you need to figure out a way for him to be in the crate. I use old towels (which can be easily washed) on one end of crate in case of accidents. A soft blanket or two are fine substitutes for the bed. He can play/lounge on his big bed when allowed outside of crate during supervised times. Enjoy - they grow *so* fast! (also take lots of pictures)

[Momto2]

I agree with you, MM. That "pick a pet project" reminds me of the Miss America pageant. Every contestant now has to have a "cause" and usually something with heartstrings attached. "Making sure blind children in poor countries are given braille computers" or some such thing.

[buccaneer morgan]

Thanks all, jom's pet clinic is invaluable, Stephanie did you get the pics?

[buccaneer morgan]

He want going for the dry food, but he likes the softer foods,

[Man Tran]

JiB,

A bit of both. It's a status update on various sponsored projects. I'm there mostly for the wheel/rail interaction. RCF and related damage is affected by the friction and my widget gets to the nub of that.

[Old Lurker]

My attic is filled with old dog crates for which we had great hopes with each new puppy, but most did not last a week. Something about hope springing eternally? Every time my wife mentions rescuing another mutt, I point out that our bed is not big enough for another one.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Their intention is to cow the rest of us into not fighting by intimidation and disruption. And judging by the history of the last eighty years they have good reason to believe they will succeed as they have before.
They are geniuses at using societal pressure and brinksmanship to stifle effective opposition.
Remember, they don't mind an opposition so long as it is not a threat to their long term goals. In fact they prefer an ineffectual opposition to no opposition at all as it legitimizes and disguises their basic hatred of political liberty.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I crate-trained Maggie until she got too big for the crate. Since she was bought as a watchdog when I lived alone, it seemed pointless to keep her in the crate. She sleeps in the hall between the bedrooms with one eye on the front door.

She doesn't get in bed with me because she likes the cool of the floor - always has.

[Threadkiller]

I wonder if residents of a high tax city can take sanctuary in a low tax city?

In California the sales tax on a car purchase is calculated off of where you live, not where you bought the car. All the county and city taxes need to flow to keep the pensioners happy.

Start wearing pink Volvo hats!

[Marlene]

James@9:52...Maine is old and white is usually the reason given.

[Momto2]

Or, if it does, why those citizens must be immigrants rather than Americans

Oh James, regular old Americans are so bland and boring! Why settle for them when you can import exotic, fascinating people who dress differently, eat differently, don't speak English, and have a very different "religion" (Catholics and Baptists are so stodgy.)

It will make them "feel" so superior and inclusive and brilliant! See, see how wonderful we are - we brought in these lovely curious people for you to live with ....now carry on!

[Old Lurker]

I'd like to see Trump announce today fair warning that he will not under any circumstances sign a CR to keep the government open past 10/31/2017. Congress must be forced to accomplish 13 signed Appropriation Bills by then or the shutdown will be on them, and it will last as long as it takes.

Say it. Mean it. Do it.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Iggy,

You are right and it is why they despise and fear Trump. He's not intimidated and leads by example. We have had 18 months of Trump not giving two hoots what the PC term is for anything, bluntly telling us what's wrong with the country, and in the process attacking their most lethal weapon, the mainstream media.

And what has them in a tailspin is that it is contagious. My number one example is Pence, of course, but close seconds are Priebus and Spicer.

Spicer is now getting daily live threads on his press briefings!

The Left is going to lose it, big time. Probably the best thing would be if a RICO charge could be brought against Soros. Removing a lot of the funding would stop a lot of this stuff.

[Momto2]

You can soak the dry kibble in warm water or even warm chicken broth. Crate training is the fastest, easiest way to house train a puppy. It takes determination but the end result is worth it. They will actually grow to like the crate and treat it as a den.

[Old Lurker]

So you say, Mom, so you say.

:-)

[JimNorCal]

Our 1095-C arrived.
This is the form you have to file in order to prove you have health insurance. Otherwise they can penalize you or hold back yr tax refund (as if...)

Another reminder of the bullet dodged.

[rse]

Just got a link to this in an email on the need for Dems to set new rules in dealing with Trump. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2017-01-31/4-lines-democrats-should-draw-with-donald-trump

We are at war.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5r7rmu/independent_thinkers_mccain_and_graham/

[lyle]

There's an un-commented upon shiny new thread...

[Clarice Feldman]

actually, I did write a comment on that silly story about Melania. I also gave the silly Petula what for in the comments section. These days we get the Post for the Sports section and, because we're old, the obituaries.

[Momto2]

I know, I've failed in the past before I began to foster dogs. Now, it is a must because I often bring an adult dog into my home. Some of these have never been inside before and have lived on a chain outside :(

I always make the crate a good thing - never use for discipline. They get a frozen stuffed Kong or other treat puzzles that takes a long time to consume. Soon they run to their crate because crate = yummy treat.

They must have plenty of exercise, though. Crating a dog who is not exercised is cruel and will not work out well.

[James D]

I keep seeing the lunatics on FB rant about "impeachable acts" and how the immigration/travel EOs are unconstitutional.

I realize they're just ranting because, well, that's all they know to do, but do they really think something is unconstitutional just because they don't like it?

[Old Lurker]

We know, Mom, and our friends swear by it too. My dogs just look at us like "you're joking, right???"

[Tom Maguire]

If the founders saw McCain and Schumer they'd think the country was made up of unserious idiots.

Yes, but I am sure the founders dealt with plenty of shortsighted fools in their day.
But its not the presence of knuckleheads that worries me - its the absence of great leaders. Where are Henry Clay and Daniel Webster? Even Lyndon Johnson was legendary for imposing his will and herding cats.

Today (OK, yesterday) what, Harry Reid?

Off hand, Ben Sasse of Nebraska is the only Senator whose opinion I weigh carefully. Not to exclude people like Jodi Ernst, but she is not a big media presence.

Well. I'm holding out for a hero, and I got Trump. And unhappy is the land that *needs* a hero.

[Old Lurker]

James, that's why I harp on getting Congress under control...like yesterday. As has been stated often before, any POTUS can be impeached for anything the House says is impeachable at the time; even if the Senate does not convict, the damage is enormous. Obama avoided it 1)because he was black, 2)the backup would have been Biden, and 3)the opposition party was GOPe. Nobody doubts that GOPe would be just delighted to put Pence in for Trump, and then install, say, Ryan as his VP.

[jimmyk]

do they really think something is unconstitutional just because they don't like it?

Sure, why not? We have a Supreme Court that declares something is suddenly required by the Constitution just because they like it.

[Old Lurker]

We have a Supreme Court that declares something is a Tax even though Congress and POTUS said it was not just because they like it.

[Captain Hate]

Well. I'm holding out for a hero, and I got Trump. And unhappy is the land that *needs* a hero.

Trump is the default hero because the Republican Party had too many elected officials who didn't even attempt to make good on their campaign promises. This created a vacuum that needed to be filled and now the squishes are pushing back more against Trump than they ever did the JEF. They all need to go; the sooner the better.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Despite Mr. McGuire's disappointment, I actually do think Trump is a hero.

He has sacrificed an awful lot and at great risk.

To me, someone who does that is a pretty good person. Not perfect, of course, but certainly one to be admired.

He seems to inspire great loyalty in his employees, and now his staff. A charlatan or doofus wouldn't deservethat level of loyalty.

Oh, well. Not everyone's cup of tea, I guess. Myself, I am enjoying this tremendously.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

")the backup would have been Biden,"

IMO, no one would knowingly risk him being in charge of a school crossing. That was why he was chosen.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

"this land is your"

The song the gatekeepers in Troy were singing as the Trojan horse can thru the gate.