If I Were A Fan Of Conspiracy Theories - George Papadoupolos, Fall Guy...

If I were a fan of conspiracy theories (If?!?) I would have a deep-dive New Year's weekend. My launch point would be this in-the-nick-of-time story about the background to the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign which began last summer.

How the Russia Inquiry Began: A Campaign Aide, Drinks and Talk of Political Dirt

WASHINGTON — During a night of heavy drinking at an upscale London bar in May 2016, George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, made a startling revelation to Australia’s top diplomat in Britain: Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton.

About three weeks earlier, Mr. Papadopoulos had been told that Moscow had thousands of emails that would embarrass Mrs. Clinton, apparently stolen in an effort to try to damage her campaign.

Exactly how much Mr. Papadopoulos said that night at the Kensington Wine Rooms with the Australian, Alexander Downer, is unclear. But two months later, when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, Australian officials passed the information about Mr. Papadopoulos to their American counterparts, according to four current and former American and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians’ role.

Oh, well, the so the FBI was inspired by Australian (and presumably British) intelligence agencies. Whew! We were worried that their launch point, as hinted but not directly claimed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, had been the Steele dossier, bought and paid for by Team Clinton.

However! As noted by Paul Mirengoff at Powerline and Byron York, the timing seems off - the FBI didn't actually interview Papadopoulos until February 2017.

But let's have some fun, starting here - why do we believe that George Papadopoulos's contact, the mysterious Professor Misfud, was working for the Russians? The professor was more or less a nobody from Malta claiming to have Russian contacts, and had a vague affiliation with a Russian university. Everything we see in his bio would be perfectly consistent with an MI6 attempt to promote one of their contacts as a Russian go-between. If I remember my Le Carre, and George Smiley, that would mean that MI6 could use the professor as a contact point for coat-trailing operations where they try to draw the attention of other spies, defectors, malcontents or any else interested in reaching out to the Russians. Its a fly-trap - people who want to reach out to the Russians meet the Maltese Stool Pigeon and end up unwittingly chatting with MI6. Impossible? No. Probable? Who can say?

As to the notion that in April 2016 the professor had early inside knowledge about the DNC hack which had only struck e-gold the month before, well, maybe. But if I were a self-promoter I would have been well aware that months of speculation had swirled around the question of whether the Russians had hacked Hillary's secret email server, the existence of which had been revealed in 2015. So, a lucky guess by the professor? Again, who knows?

In any case, the Trump/Putin bromance had been a matter of interest going back to 2015. So as a matter of protecting themselves and their ally, MI6 (with a wink from the US intelligence community) might have mounted an operation against George P. This LOL article about how the recruitment of George P. has all the earmarks of a Russian operation would read exactly the same if MI6 were substituted into it.

So sure, Prof. Misfud could have been part of a Russian operation to get a guy into the Trump campaign. OK, the Reds allegedly had Manafort, who joined the campaign in late March, but maybe he wasn't their guy so they needed to add a nobody with no connections to Team Trump out on the periphery of the campaign. Maybe!

Or maybe George P. was targeted by Western intelligence as, well, an insurance policy in case they needed a pretext to investigate Trump. What, am I suggesting the Western establishment was anti-Trump? Hard to imagine, right?

So now with the Steele dossier emerging as an indefensible pretext for the Trump investigation the FBI throws us George P.

Or not. George P. may well have been speaking to an authentic Russian contact point. That still doesn't mean this FBI-philic leak to the Times accurately describes the real impetus for any warrant applications.

Hall of mirrors stuff.

DO LET ME ADD: One of my 2016 resolutions was "No more crazy theories this year." Almost made it! Now, where's my apple pie and ice cream for breakfast? Next week, The Diet!

Comments

[Old Lurker]

TM "One of my 2016 resolutions was "No more crazy theories this year."

But, but, what will we talk about?

[DebinGA]

Carrying over the last thread's mention of Chuckie Schumer, Trump Pulls Brakes on 13B Obama-backed NY-NJ Rail-Tunnel Plan is delicious. I bet that project was funded in BOzo's Porkulus I/II boondoggles. Someone ask Czar Joe.

[daddy]

TM,

Here's the link to TheLastRefuge guy taking Maggie's theory apart again, which came from this excellent Sundance post: Transparent DOJ and FBI Desperation: New York Times Attempts “Trump Operation” Justification…

[henry]

Nice pieces this morning. Need forensic audits of the porkulus boondoggles.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

daddy,

Thanks for that link. The Last Refuge and Sundance are the same person, the guy who writes The Conservative Treehouse.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/lake-effect-snow-machine-to-operate-at-full-force-this-weekend/70003694

[James D.]

Wonderful Pieces today, Clarice! And thank you for your amazing work all year long!

[Janet 🚬]

"No more crazy theories this year."

So no more reading or listening to the OLD MFM.

THEY are the disinformation kings.

[Captain Hate]

Willowed

I'm calling out every GD one of the fake conservatives in 2018 because fuck them. Most of them are to the left of Milky Loads/Power Glutes, who has offended the progs by feuding with Tennessee Coatrack.

[narciso]

Great pieces clarice

You noted that link re the Imam of quom giving qualified support to the protesters in arabiya that's the saudi channel.

[Extraneus]

according to four current and former American and foreign officials with direct knowledge of the Australians’ role.

Is that four sources total, or four current plus an unspecified number of former "offiials?"

Anyway, let's just see the FISA warrant applications. If they show that they were based on Popadopalous, fine. If they don't, then Maggie is full of it.

I assume Trump already knows the truth about that. No one could justifiably deny his request to see the documents, could they?

[clarice]

victor keeps suggesting the GCC special forces may be aiding the protestors. The George P story is so absurd--a last ditch defense after McCabe's disastrous testimony.

[DebinGA]

CTH's Sundance: HC's Stunning Audacity in offering support today for the Iranian protests she and BOzo previously helped destroy.

[Janet 🚬]

Need forensic audits of the porkulus boondoggles.

Wouldn't that be great.
Audit all the "green" crap, Pigford, etc.
A simple accounting of exactly how our tax dollars were/are spent...project by project. Where'd the money go exactly?

...& then get rid of the programs that are just refunded year after year out of laziness.

Begin. I'm sure it is overwhelming, but BEGIN.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/252332/why-cant-the-american-media-cover-the-protests-in-iran

[Jim Eagle]

Bravo Zulu, Clarice. Passed it on to my Veteran's network which they will certainly appreciate.

CH,

Is that Teddy in a Santa hat?

[James D.]

CH @ 9:27

I am with you 1,000% on that!

[DebinGA]

Porkulus I-2009 transportation spending. Dems controlled Congress and Schumer was Reid's #2, so NY-NJ projects were probably at the top of the list.

[boatbuilder]

Don't want this to get willowed. Excellent big-picture long-term analysis of what Trump's plans actually are by a guy who actually reads what the administration says they are doing.

Miss Marple I believe it was you who linked to a Roger Kimball piece about what Trump is actually accomplishing on the international front, which in turn linked to this excellent David Goldman piece in The Asia Times. I highly recommend that everyone read it--it is what news analysis by grown-ups should look like. http://www.atimes.com/article/trump-offers-daring-program-restore-us-dominance/

[daddy]

Audit all the "green" crap, Pigford, etc.
A simple accounting of exactly how our tax dollars were/are spent...project by project. Where'd the money go exactly?

Yep. Solyndra alone was half a Billion Dollars. I can understand why nobody's head rolled for that under an Obama Administration but how about now? I'm with the Captain. End the persecution of the Bundy clan Jeff Sessions, and then sic some of your uncorrupt DOJ Prosecutors (if there are any) on Solyndra.

[boatbuilder]

It's a long article but it's 11 degrees out and there's nothing on but crappy NFL games and Meet the Depressed, so you have plenty of time.

Also never mind the apple pie and ice cream--I suggest the Founders Breakfast Stout that Captain Hate recommended last night. Get a jump on New Years Eve!!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

This is an article from February of 2016:

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/197447/washington-post-out-of-iran

The important point linking to present day events and Times' coverage is this:

"The Post’s No. 1 rival, the New York Times, did the Post one better: It not only gave the moderates all the great press they wanted, but as Rezaian languished in prison, it set up a travel business to send tourists to the land of his captors. “Travels from Persia” is one of the pricey travel packages put together by “Times Journeys,” which is operated by “the business side of the New York Times Company.” (The Times did not reply to requests for comment.) You can be pretty sure that the regime in Tehran doesn’t recognize the business/journalism distinction, and the paper of record didn’t help matters when it pulled down the firewall with both hands, by having name reporters like Roger Cohen, Elaine Sciolino, and John F. Burns moonlight as tour guides."
======================================
So, the Times has a FINANCIAL interest in keeping the regime in power. I consider this a huge media scandal which should get more attention.

[JimNorCal]

For daddy, since I bet PL week in pictures is blocked by The Great Firewall of China

TM: "Next week, The Diet!"

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

boatbuilder,

I am getting another cup of coffee and then will read that article!

[clarice]

Should be "Wictor"

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The Papodopolus claims which seem absurd, would seem to cast Comey et al in an even worse light if true.
The first FISA application was supposedly jettisoned because it specifically mentioned Trump.
Some minor Trump wannabe [the progs are now suddenly trying to improbably paint Pap as a major player] has a casual drunken non specific conversation and Nutjob springs into action to go after Trump himself the moment Oz passes the info along?
I can just hear the juicebox kids in unison "yeah, yeah, that's the ticket".

[boatbuilder]

Please tell me that your furnace is working!

[henry]

Boatbuilder, I will seek the Breakfast Stout once it warms up to double digits. ;)

[daddy]

That's a great cartoon, JimNorCal:) Amazingly tho' Powerline does work over here, but not Althouse. If there's a method to Chinese censorship madness I haven't figured it out yet.

And thanks Miss Marple for the info that TheLastRefuge and Sundance are the same guy.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

boatbuilder,

Nope. However, good insulation and storm windows and it's still 49 degrees in the house.

We are ok. DO not worry. Son'e friend has the part and I think is going to repair it today or tomorrow.

Had I known he would be delayed I would have made different arrangements, but he's got the part now so I have to wait on him to show up.

Oh, well.

[henry]

Miss M, you can look forward to a warmer 2018 (indoors).

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

David Martosko
‏Verified account @dmartosko
38m38 minutes ago

The central problem with the NYT's Papadopoulos narrative: It assumes a 28-year-old with casual Russia connections via a third-rate professor had intelligence & situational awareness that was so much better than the CIA's that it shocked the FBI into a counterintel investigation.
=============================

I think this is an excellent point.

[narciso]

They do sheepishly admit the point about the fbi interview but they have an excuse.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://twitter.com/barbarastarrcnn/status/946466091877961728

CNN's Pentagon correspondent wonders why the Secretary of the Navy is wearing a sidearm at a Marine post in AFGHANISTAN.

This is the quality of reporting from CNN.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Mitt Romney
‏Verified account @MittRomney
40m40 minutes ago

Profoundly moving to watch those seeking freedom in Iran. Patriots afar remind us of the patriots who won our own freedom and also those who preserve it. Heroes all.
=============================

It's nice Romney is being supportive of the protesters, but when I read his tweets I am struck by how reserved and rather removed his language is compared to President Trump's.

"Patriots afar" isn't exactly an attention-grabber.

[Old Lurker]

You never know when you have to shoot a white box truck, MM.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Old Lurker,

HA!

[Jane]

The panel on Meet the Press, most of which I have missed, have been quite complimentary to Trump - praising the economy etc.

Katty Kay, Rich Lowry, Kristen Welker, and Charlie Cooke(not the one from National review). Since Rich seems to be the only identifiable conservative, it's a bit shocking.

[GUS]

I thought OPPOSITION RESEARCH was OK.

Didn't Rodham tell us that??
So he claims to have "dirt" on Rodham. I'm sure someone can tell me the CRIME that was committed. This is absurd.
Btw, I watched 30 of FaREAK Zakaria's show this morning. BAT SHIT CRAZY is what it should be called. One of his guests said we should negotiate and let N.K. have nukes.

[clarice]

I keep getting begging emails from NR

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--One of his guests said we should negotiate and let N.K. have nukes.--

Uh, we already did that. That's how we ended up on one of those You Are Here maps.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-losing-faith-in-college-degrees-poll-finds-1504776601?mod=e2tw

This is behind the paywall so I have only read a couple paragraphs, but I wondered about this happening.

College degrees in liberal arts with no skills attached (that would be things like gender studies as opposed to a major in a language like Russian or Chinese) provide no advantage appreciably in the jobs these kids end up with, like clerical, sales, or retail. It's a huge investment of money and a debt burden that handicaps them for years to come.

Kids are starting to wake up about this. On top of that, I assume white males are looking askance at the attitudes about them on college campuses and prefer to go into trades or the military.

(These are my conclusions since I haven't read the article.)

What are colleges and universities going to do if the gravy train dries up?

[GUS]

Now FaREAKS guest tells me that Mr Trump has kind of a schoolboy CRUSH on gangster Putin, then he is asked how PUTIN stands up vs STALIN.

This shit is real. These fukwads actually believe they are "NEWS" people.

I admit it, I went back to watch another 30 seconds of the FaREAK show.

We are in a "VACATION from HISTORY", where in our "GLOBAL WORLD" all the other nations are fighting "CLIMATE CHANGE" but TRUMP IS DOUBLING DOWN on fossil fuels.

These FUCKERS are nuts.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Gregg Jarrett
‏Verified account @GreggJarrett
27m27 minutes ago

NYT: the FBI launched an investigation of Trump because one of his volunteer staffers heard a rumor that Russia had obtained hacked emails that would damage Clinton.
Where is the suspected crime involving Trump or his campaign that would merit the FBI investigating them?

[JimNorCal]

Miss Marple the Deplorable | December 31, 2017 at 10:45 AM

I didn't read it, but that link was posted on BJG a bit ago and one of the guys confirmed that men are increasingly focused on the trades. Quite the dichotomy is building ...

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://twitter.com/Vallmeister/status/945804432004014085

Go watch the video at this link. It will really make you smile.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Where is the suspected crime involving Trump or his campaign that would merit the FBI investigating them?--

Not sure that's the argument. They claim that gave them the impetus to launch counterintel surveillance.
It took James Comey writing a false memo to himself and leaking it to the press [the same gal with the Papodop story?] through a stooge to launch a criminal frame job investigation.

[Jim Eagle]

MM,

I remember that video when it was first released. LOL.

Read the comments to MM's 10:27 link to Barbara Starr tweet. If there is ever a war on our homeland, avoid teaming up with a Prog to fight it.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

That was hilarious MissM.

[Momto2]

Wonderful Pieces, Clarice! I find myself wondering each week what you will choose to highlight. You always choose well!

MM - I'm sorry but I'm taking up an offense for you. What is your son's friend doing that is more important than getting your furnace fixed? It seems at this point, he is dragging his feet worse than Jeff Sessions!

Who is the best to follow on the Iran news? Wictor? Ghavami? Strategic Sentinel? Others?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Patton and his ivory handled revolvers would have made poor Barbara Starr swoon.

[Extraneus]

What is your son's friend doing that is more important than getting your furnace fixed?

Really. What exactly is this "part," MM? Also, is it an oil or a gas furnace?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/366522-threats-of-2017-mideast-terror-weapons-will-linger-in-new-year?amp&__twitter_impression=true

John Bolton on threats in the new year.

[Captain Hate]

Is that Teddy in a Santa hat?

No, that's him lying on a couch in the living room we cover up so he doesn't get it dirty and Sailor, who's lying above him, doesn't claw it up.

Unsurprised by boatbuilder's strong endorsement of Founders Breakfast Stout; the first sip I had of it I knew it was something special. Very rich and full bodied.

My Indian son in law continues to despise the Islamic vermin as much as I do. He was brought up right by a mother who said "they're dirty and breed like rats".

[sbw]

Okay, who told @barbarastarrcnn that was a sidearm?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

OK, here's the deal on the furnace.

Son's friend came over when it quit working and didn't charge us. He has an HVAC license but also runs a snow removal service.

He determined that the GAS firnace's electrical circuitry had been fried when we had the problem with the electricity right after Thanksgiving. (That was a reversed circuit on a plug.) Anyway, he ordered the entire circuitry which had to be specially ordered because the furnace is old.

The part only came in last week and he picked it up on Friday. However, because of the snow and cold he is having to do his other job of clearing parking lots.

Since he is in custody of the part, we are sort of stuck. Plus, now that it's a holiday weekend, even if we got hold of the part the chances of getting service without paying a huge premium are slim to none.

So, we are waiting for him and that's about all I can do. This is just one of those things that happens, and there is no use in getting upset, since it is out of my control.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

sbw,

What a good point! That is a term someone that clueless shouldn't know.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The funniest comments at that Barbara Starr tweet were the candy asses claiming he didn't need to carry because none of the Marines were.

Even a cursory glance showed 4 ARs being held by the Marines and a guy the Sec was literally overlapping in the picture carrying exactly the same pistol in exactly the same holster.

I try to be charitable and say progs are a third choice beyond stupid or dishonest but it gets harder every day.

[Captain Hate]

It's nice Romney is being supportive of the protesters, but when I read his tweets I am struck by how reserved and rather removed his language is compared to President Trump's.

"Patriots afar" isn't exactly an attention-grabber.

But I remember Romney Fangurrrrrl #1 telling me that Mitt was a with it hepcat when it came to the lingo. In defense of Willard, if you plopped him in a time machine back to when Packards and Hudsons were still made his word choices would be somewhat edgy.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Oops, different holster.

[Skoot]

"...wonders why the Secretary of the Navy is wearing a sidearm ..."

Maybe because there was a 2 star murdered by "friendly" afghans a few years back.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Gregg Jarrett
‏Verified account @GreggJarrett
50s51 seconds ago

It is not a crime to talk to a guy in London who talked to a guy in Russia who conveyed a rumor which is later passed on to an Australian diplomat who gives it to the FBI. Yet, the FBI started a case against Trump based on quadruple hearsay involving no criminal acts?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Sebastian Gorka DrG
‏Verified account @SebGorka
2m2 minutes ago

I more and more believe Twitter was in fact invented by @realDonaldTrump.

(This is above a retweet of the New Year's Eve -global warming needed tweet.)

HA!!

[Extraneus]

‘Small Arsenal of Guns’ Found in Top-Floor Texas Hotel Room Hours Before New Year’s Celebration, Say Police

Just hours before a massive New Year’s Eve celebration at the Houston Hyatt Regency Hotel, an off-duty Houston police officer working security for the hotel encountered an allegedly intoxicated man who acted “erratically and belligerent,” KTRK ABC13 reported.

After having difficulty subduing the man, the officer called for “urgent backup.” The call went out at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Responding officers found “a small arsenal of guns” in his top-floor hotel room, Click2Houston reported. The officers called investigators to the scene.

The detectives discovered more weapons in his vehicle.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

IMO, this sounds like a leftist hit against a qualified military member.

https://www.weaselzippers.us/369365-army-generals-promotion-pulled-after-calling-congressional-staffer-sweetheart/

IMO, there is a need to record every thing and keep all recordings to protect yourself.

IMO,reducing the number of Congressional staffers is long overdue. Why does a R.I Rep need to have a staffer at a Ft Carson Col meeting?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/here-are-the-new-tax-brackets-under-the-final-republican-bill/article/2643699

[Bori]

First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Great Pieces Clarice, really nice way to end the year.

Lastly, I want to ask for everyone's help.

My daughter is part of a dancing team, for the last 3 years. Next year, though she may not be able to participate. Our family has had a tough year that has sap our ability to pay the fees and travel expenses that we would incur if she is to compete. My wife started a GoFundMe page in an attempt to see if we can raise enough funds to allow her to compete.

If any of you has the ability to contribute, whether by donating or sending the link to others it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all of you that are my daily source of news and fun. Love all of you, including 28$ DuDa.

https://www.gofundme.com/mias-dance-support-fund

[Beasts of England]

Dear JOM Yankees: please keep this [redacted] cold weather up North where it belongs. Pretty please. We'll offer a blanket apology for Steve Spurrier, kudzu and Lynyrd Skynyrd, if you'll just take this crap back immediately. Thank you.

[DebinGA]

Clear here in NW GA - highs in the mid-30s and teens overnight. And FDR's to blame for kudsu iirc, importing it and having his 1930s Conservation Corp guys plant it.

[Beasts of England]

Happy New Year, Bori!! 🎉

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.click2houston.com/news/intoxicated-man-found-with-small-arsenal-on-top-floor-of-hyatt-regency-downtown-police-say

I cannot be the only person who wonders about the Las Vegas mass shooting after reading this.

[Bori]

Beasts.

It is a balmy 41 degrees out in the desert in Nevada with high in the 60's all week.

[Momto2]

Oh, no! This sounds awful! Near Littleton, CO

A so far undisclosed number of Sheriff’s deputies were shot Sunday morning and a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team is at the scene, a home near the 3400 block of County Line Road, according to Lauren Lekander, DCSO spokeswoman. #DouglasCounty

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

This is supposedly from Tony Podesta's art collection. I don't know if that is correct, but I think whoeever produced this piece of "art" needs to be watched by the police and mental health professionals:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSVspbsUEAAs8AQ.jpg

[Beasts of England]

I'm truly considering a trip to Vegas this week, Bori. Or the Bahamas. It's 31° at the moment - which is the high until Thursday. Grrr Brrr.

[Bori]

MM,
Regarding the shooting in Las Vegas, I will say that there are too many loony conspiracy theories out there. Especially the one about the helicopters which are easily explained by the locals.

However, a successful attack like the one here is bound to attract some copycats. Fame and immortality are a strong draw to some.

[narciso]

Happy New year bori.

[simply stupid]

momto, amir taheri, michael ledden when he gets back but most of all john batchelor.

[Bori]

Beasts, don't wait too long, CES begins on January 9th and the town and prices get crazy.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I will donate what I can, Bori, once I'm off this useless phone.
Your daughter Mia is amazingly cute.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Pretty good likenesses of the Podesta bros IMO, though Tony seems a bit chunkier than represented.

[Bori]

Igz,

Anything helps, my situation will improve in time, which is precisely the issue as they need to be pre-paid in advance. Thanks for your support, I and my daughter definite appreciate it.

[Beasts of England]

Thanks, Bori! And I agree with Ig - she is a cute young lady...

[narciso]

Off wictors feed:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Raman_Ghavami

Michael ledeen was originally an literature prof at Washington u and once upon a time a contributor to new york magazine his academic interest, d annumzio brought him in contact with Italian intelligence and subsequently to the attention of vipers like sid vicious who savaged him when he served as a consultant to state on counterterrorism, in that capacity he was also in contact with Israeli govt and through them certain Iranian exiles

[jimmyk]

Ledeen has long been my go-to guy on anything to do with Iran. This was linked a couple of days ago, but worth re-posting:

https://pjmedia.com/michaelledeen/first-anti-american-president/

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Bori,

She is very cute! The site is not loading for me right now, but I can chip in a little, since people were generous with me.

I will try again in an hour or so.

Those competitions are important for the kids in building up not only dance skills but self-confidence. It's why I funded travel soccer and summer swim team participation when my kids were young.

[glasater]

Our pal MarkO is having quite the twitter conversation with "Navy Jack" related to the topic of this thread:

https://twitter.com/VanWagoner/status/947523725947105280

[henry]

That Navy Jack guy makes no sense to me.

[Beasts of England]

I'm brining my dove breasts at the moment, just in case I feel peckish while watching ESPN tomorrow night at 7:45 CST; and one of the breasts has six pieces of shot in it!! How close do you have to be to a dove to land that much shot in a breast? Five feet? Ten feet? I've never hit one that square in my life...

[glasater]

Thanks, Henry! Had a similar reaction :-)

[narciso]

Yes he's had too much of the zinfandel or something.

[henry]

Beasts, that must have been close enough to reverse the shotgun and club the dove.

[Jim Eagle]

narc

Roasting a pig, Cubano style for New Year's Eve?

Did you get my email?

Navy Jack needs a conspiracy to keep his "Oathkeepers" lodge's bar full of customers.

[Jane]

This is very funny: Dave Barry's rundown of 2017:

http://www.miamiherald.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/dave-barry/article192007484.html

[mockmook]

I keep seeing all the praise and links to sundance/conservativetreehouse, so I finally click over to one:

GRAHAM CONFIRMS FISA WARRANT WAS FROM DOSSIER!!!!
(or whatever)

Of course it was bunk and a lie, Graham did no such thing.

Clarice, I'd be leery of using him/it as a source.

[Beasts of England]

lol!! They must have been very well fed and tame, henry. ;)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
55s55 seconds ago

My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rallies/iran-protesters-rally-again-defying-warning-of-crackdown-idUSKBN1EP064?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

[narcisoyea]

No we had a change of pace, stir fry vegetables with shrimp, did porch forward mine to you

[JimNorCal]

The Dave Barry article (1:21) is long. But here's a snip:

"JANUARY
… which begins with the nation still bitterly divided over the 2016 election. On one side are the progressives, who refuse to accept Donald Trump as president, their reasoning being that:

1. He is Hitler.
2. He is literally Hitler.
3. He is LITERALLY WORSE THAN HITLER.

On the other side are the Trump supporters, whose position is:

1. You lost!
2. You whiny liberal pukes.
3. SHUT UP, LOSERS.

So there does not appear to be a lot of common ground between these positions. Nevertheless as the year progresses, the two sides will gradually find a way —call it the open-minded generosity of the American spirit — to loathe each other even more."