Lest you had a moment of hope that Washington dysfunction might be about to ebb, we are here to help you despair:
House Intel Republicans plan to wall off their aides from Democratic staffers
In a sign of increasing partisan hostilities, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee plan to construct a wall – a physical partition – separating Republican and Democratic staff members in the committee's secure spaces, according to multiple committee sources. It's expected to happen this spring.
So encouraging. What's next - formal adoption of the Talking Stick?
Pssst--no one will be able to force the President to spend all the money allotted. I'm glad we have a pragmatic president.
In this case yes but as a good practice any deviation from a budget in either direction should be discouraged. Budgets exist as an organized plan for advancing the interests of an entity. My wife's boss used to infuriate me by always striving to end the year with a budget surplus and I told her he either doesn't understand the purpose of a budget or the budgeting process is flawed.
Posted by: Captain Hate | February 09, 2018 at 10:07 AM
JNC,
One of my pals that used to work for me has been living out there for close to ten yrs (first near you and now in Walnut Creek). After about a half dozen different jobs, he now has one that will allow remote participation and that will likely be Cincinnati.
Also a cousin that will commute one day a week from Fresno where the rest of his family lives.
Posted by: Man Tran | February 09, 2018 at 10:07 AM
Sorry to ask again.(hopefully there is no rule against this)
Where did the screenshot of Warner's text come from?
Who saved it?
It was either Warner, the other party to the conversation, or a spy. I am not seeing this info in the stories I am reading.
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 10:08 AM
I am almost positive that when relatives donate a body for medical science, they think it is going to an American medical school. As this article shows, that is usually not the case.
http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/08/chinese-tanker-container-dead-americans/
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 10:12 AM
There is something seriously wrong with that woman.
Again the MFM is covering for just how out of it she is. The GOPe, specifically McTurtle, let everyone down by torpedoing McDaniel in favor of Cochran, who from what I've read is pretty far gone. At least the GOP has the common decency to not let him make a fool of himself in public but it should've never come to this.
Posted by: Captain Hate | February 09, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Rasmussen:Just 42% Think Russia Meddled More in 2016 Election Than FBI
Posted by: Clarice Feldman | February 09, 2018 at 10:13 AM
Currently, 1 in 20 working age adults in the USA are on disability payments from SS. Even in a strong economy.
JiB, I am sure your comment yesterday that most at my Social Security office were there to apply for disability is accurate.
What is the real pisser, is that no one was in a wheelchair, and there was plenty of parking in the handicap spots.
Posted by: Buckeye | February 09, 2018 at 10:16 AM
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/02/sudden_fbi_departures_indicate_that_the_jig_is_up.html
FBI jig is up
Posted by: Clarice Feldman | February 09, 2018 at 10:17 AM
Treytor Gowdmouth is jumping ship at the same time as the FBI rats?
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 10:21 AM
ok, this makes more sense:
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/john-kelly-rob-porter-security-clearance-400987
so how did he remain on hatch and previously lee's staff
Posted by: narciso | February 09, 2018 at 10:23 AM
It would seem that we have a culture of evasion of the rules in DC these days that goes all the way down. Fake e mail addresses, using throwaway phones, off site servers, destruction of evidence, using fake dossiers and all sorts of other scams.
I think we may have a RICO case against most of Congress ,the Obama administration and a lot of top agency employees.
The most transparent administration ever!
Posted by: matt - deplore me if you must | February 09, 2018 at 10:24 AM
Good Morning! I've been searching everywhere for a response from Susan Collins and Angus King (both on intel) about Mark Warner's texts. The only thing that I read (somewhere) is that Warner told the intel committee about the texts four months ago?! So maybe a pi**ed off staffer on the intel committee leaked the texts? Who knows? Both Collins and King called the Nunes memo partisan.After all,there are two sides to every story. *eyeroll*
Posted by: Marlene | February 09, 2018 at 10:25 AM
I can't stand Collins.
Posted by: fdcol63 🇺🇸 | February 09, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Of course the agreement will include $28 billion to build the wall. Or maybe hidden in the deep dark recesses of the agreement is clause putting off any money for at least two years.
Posted by: Davod | February 09, 2018 at 10:30 AM
Oh,this makes everything okay. Rubio tweeted that Warner disclosed the texts four months ago. Nothing to see,move along.
Posted by: Marlene | February 09, 2018 at 10:30 AM
The MFM's prime directive has always been to protect Cock Curious. What's funny is that he knows that and holds them in contempt for it, knowing full well those spineless quislings won't change.
The self-loathing (or masochism, or whatever other flavor of mental illness it is) of most MSMers is amazing to me. Zero didn’t just hold them in contempt, he was open about his contempt, and treated them like dirt (and sometimes much worse than that). As did Curb Dive. And yet they happily, proudly, enthusiastically support them, and keep coming back for more mistreatment, over and over and over again.
Posted by: James D. | February 09, 2018 at 10:32 AM
Just wait until the massive reconstruction project is signed by Trump.
Posted by: Davod | February 09, 2018 at 10:33 AM
TK
An aide to Warner confirmed to Fox News that the text messages are authentic. The messages, which were obtained from a Republican source, are all marked "CONFIDENTIAL" and are not classified. They were turned over to the Senate panel by Waldman last September.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/08/democratic-sen-mark-warner-texted-with-russian-oligarch-lobbyist-in-effort-to-contact-dossier-author-christopher-steele.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
Posted by: lurkersusie | February 09, 2018 at 10:37 AM
I told her he either doesn't understand the purpose of a budget or the budgeting process is flawed.
But surely the federal government budget process IS flawed, so I would think underspending is good practice. I've also been in too many circumstances where the attitude is "use it or lose it," meaning "We've really got to find some way to spend all our budget or they might cut it next year!"
Posted by: jimmyk | February 09, 2018 at 10:38 AM
Thanks, LS.
So we have no idea who did the screenshots?
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 10:39 AM
narciso,
Regarding Porter, I have a few questions.
1. As you said, how did he remain on Hatch's staff with that record?
2.Why did it take until NOVEMBER for Kelly to be notified that Porter wouldn't get a clearance? If the clearance was denied because of the protective order which was already in force and on the record, shouldn't the FBI have notified the White House a lot sooner?
3. Who else will be denied clearances? Does Kelly have those names yet? If not, why not?
My personal opinion is that Porter was known about immediately, and the FBI HELD that information until they could use it to make a big controversy to make Kelly and Trump look pro-spousal abuse and incompetent.
I want to know when the background check was done, and who held it until last November.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 10:40 AM
It's beyond farce that Mueller and his anti-DT hating cabal are mute, as irrefutable proof of Dem collusion with Russians rises to form a wall around them.
Posted by: DebinNC | February 09, 2018 at 10:43 AM
Did not Obama make a habit of using budgeted money from one line item to fund some other dream of his? I recall we went nuts over that but GOPe snoozed through it.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 10:44 AM
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/373080-trump-called-priebus-to-complain-about-kelly-report
I don't believe this for a second.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 10:44 AM
One of Porter's ex-wives went to the FBI a year ago.
Posted by: Marlene | February 09, 2018 at 10:45 AM
.Did not Obama make a habit of using budgeted money from one line item to fund some other dream of his? I recall we went nuts over that but GOPe snoozed through it.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 10:47 AM
.Did not Obama make a habit of using budgeted money from one line item to fund some other dream of his? I recall we went nuts over that but GOPe snoozed through it.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 10:48 AM
Now you know what I think about Blog Hogging. and virtue signaling.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 10:48 AM
"The messages, which were obtained from a Republican source, are all marked "CONFIDENTIAL" and are not classified."?????
"The U.S. classification of information system has three classification levels -- Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential -- which are defined in EO 12356. ... (2) "Secret" shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage to the national security..."
https://fas.org/sgp/library/quist2/chap_7.html
Posted by: Davod | February 09, 2018 at 10:52 AM
Davod, "confidential" to make sure the public doesn't know about his sneaky behavior?
Posted by: henry | February 09, 2018 at 10:59 AM
OL:
Noted.
Suggestion rejected.Will no longer read the end of a thread.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 11:04 AM
Rubio tweeted that Warner disclosed the texts four months ago.
That makes it even worse, since Senate Intel knew and didn't do anything about it.
Rubio said it "had zero impact on our work." Pfft.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 09, 2018 at 11:05 AM
DJIA turbulent today. Some pretty wild swings.
I think the programmers have been called to add a couple of new metrics and triggers. I still think it is over-valued by 30% and wouldn't surprise me to see it retreat to pre-election levels. Hope I am wrong since a lot of 401k are going to take a beating.
Buckeye,
Those handicap license plates or mirror hangers are some of the biggest frauds in the country. All you need is a doctor's order. I see perfectly fit people use handicap parking everyday. No one has to even fake a limp:)
Posted by: Jim Eagle | February 09, 2018 at 11:05 AM
Deb:
They have the irrefutable evidence of collusion by the Demorats with the Russians
I await charges to be brought.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 11:06 AM
MR..."Will no longer read the end of a thread."
But then you will miss some good posts since not every end of thread post is repeated on the new thread, plus how would you know where the end was?
"Noted" would have been sufficient without the snark.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 11:07 AM
JiB,
A dear friend of mine, whose cheating habits make me angry, fraudulently obtained a handicapped tag AND has registered a non-service pet as a service animal. Total BS.
Oh and did I mention she pays less than $80/month for her Obamacare policy. I have a very good idea of her income and this is also BS.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 09, 2018 at 11:09 AM
You need better friends, Porch.
Try me. Try me!
:-)
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 11:11 AM
Did not Obama make a habit of using budgeted money from one line item to fund some other dream of his?
I wonder if Obama is quiet these days because so much of what he did is empowered Trump.
If Obama had not created DACA by easily reversible executive fiat, a lot of the leverage the GOP and Trump have on immigration right now would dissolve.
Posted by: Appalled | February 09, 2018 at 11:19 AM
"Rubio said it "had zero impact on our work." Pfft."
Htf would he know!!!!
Posted by: Davod | February 09, 2018 at 11:20 AM
meanwhile, the real work continues ...
http://www.thetower.org/5915-watch-tillerson-says-u-s-and-argentina-will-cooperate-to-fight-hezbollahs-illicit-activities-in-latin-america/
Posted by: exdemocrat | February 09, 2018 at 11:23 AM
Did not Obama make a habit of using budgeted money from one line item to fund some other dream of his? I recall we went nuts over that but GOPe snoozed through it.
https://www.legion.org/magazine/222394/question-power-imperial-presidency
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 11:24 AM
Appalled,
I have no idea what happened between when he said, honestly for once, that he couldn't do anything unilaterally on immigration and subsequently when it was just another EO. Even with his extremely stunted intellect he had to know it could be just as easily undone
Posted by: Captain Hate | February 09, 2018 at 11:26 AM
Doesn't that mean that the nation that resisted Obama's immigration policies empowered Trump?
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 11:28 AM
Thanks TK. I did not dream it.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 11:28 AM
Lol: latest prototype for The Wall as submitted by the Reddit gang:
https://imgur.com/DGr7XlE
24/7 real time camera feed also proposed
Posted by: exdemocrat | February 09, 2018 at 11:30 AM
Here is the paragraph that precedes the one I posted above:
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 11:31 AM
OL, I hear you, but this is someone who took care of our kids so she is close in a special way.
But feel free to come down to Austin anyway! Donn's Depot is going to be the perfect spot for drinks. They have a nice porch, I mean verandah. :)
Posted by: Porchlight | February 09, 2018 at 11:33 AM
instead of the phony heroes, we hear too much about,
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/02/huge-comey-forced-tell-congress-weiner-emails-george-toscas-doj-found/
Posted by: narciso | February 09, 2018 at 11:40 AM
Wouldn't it be nice if "the power of the purse" was more than a 2010 campaign slogan.
Posted by: Captain Hate | February 09, 2018 at 11:41 AM
Porch, our Austin pals were with us in NZ and AU and they were pressuring us to do the same.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 11:42 AM
exdemocrat | February 09, 2018 at 11:30 AM they could have Sinkers and Floaters in the Rio Grande, and have to get past the Green Tea Bagger.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | February 09, 2018 at 11:49 AM
that's odd, all the links are dead:
https://www.zoominfo.com/p/George-Toscas/1092429602
Posted by: narciso | February 09, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Narciso:
Good link with reference of Comey being the The Director of Investigative Matters.
OL:
No snark in saying what I plan to read or not read.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 11:55 AM
I couldn't go cold cheddar even if I tried:
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/cheese-triggers-the-same-part-of-the-brain-as-hard-drugs-say-scientists-a3141936.html
Posted by: narciso | February 09, 2018 at 11:56 AM
Thread ends when someone states New Thread.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 11:57 AM
The Winter Olympics opening ceremonies will be broadcast tonight (tape delay of course).
So far on Twitter, I have seen a form of a snowboarder formed by drones which reconfigures into the Olympic rings and hovers over the stadium,, a torchlighting ceremony which looms like a giant phallus emerging to light a torch on top of carved ice, and a shirtless Tongan carrying his country's flag.
Not to mention VP Pence sitting in the box right in front of the North Korean sister and giving her the cold shoulder.
Daughter and I will be watching. It's a family traditions.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 11:57 AM
Oh noes! Trump actually likes to be briefed in person so he can ask questions!
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/373124-trump-prefers-oral-report-to-reading-daily-intel-briefing-report
It was Zero who broke precedent by insisting on reading his PDBs, if he actually even read them. No doubt he didn't want to look like a dummy.
W famously absorbed information rapidly and asked tough questions. Pretty sure that's Trump's mode as well.
Posted by: Porchlight | February 09, 2018 at 11:58 AM
that's another reason why they got rid of general Flynn, he could see why they are handing you a bunch of bunkum,
Posted by: narciso | February 09, 2018 at 12:02 PM
No doubt he didn't want to look like a dummy.
Well, that didn't work out, did it?
Posted by: James D. | February 09, 2018 at 12:11 PM
The latest meme being spewed around on my hometown opinion page is about Trump's in-laws being chain-migrating Communists.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | February 09, 2018 at 12:12 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | February 09, 2018 at 12:13 PM
Mary Rose:
"No snark in saying what I plan to read or not read.
Thread ends when someone states New Thread."
If you had not intended it to be snark, there was no purpose in saying it. Unless it was to establish victimhood. One or the other.
As to when the thread ends, when did any JOM thread end when some poster says "new thread"? How many have gone on for dozens of posts past that?
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 12:13 PM
I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just looking out for JimNJ who posted a series of great posts but got smacked for repeating one or two in the move from one thread to the next.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 12:17 PM
Thread ends when new rules make it no fun.
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 12:17 PM
NEW THREAD!
Posted by: GUS | February 09, 2018 at 12:20 PM
If Scorekeeper Hall-monitor were still here, and he actual acted fairly for once, he would announce that the technical end of a thread is when the comment section gets closed by the software.
Or something like that.
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 12:22 PM
...actually acted..
Posted by: Threadkiller | February 09, 2018 at 12:23 PM
LIAR
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | February 09, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Got punked by GUS, Dave?
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 12:26 PM
Not really; I just scrolled to the top and saw that there was no new thread, but speaking of getting Punk'd: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/09/boston-herald-looking-into-hoax-pulls-ron-borges-column/
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | February 09, 2018 at 12:29 PM
Captain was correct yesterday that the black athlete Ceasar's Palace greeter was Joe Louis. He was by the poker room when I saw him.
Posted by: glasater | February 09, 2018 at 12:44 PM
I really liked Jim NJ's posts.
I'm taking bets on which liberal media source is the first to report (honestly if possible) what is going on with Hillary, Russia, etc.
To a certain degree it reminds me of the Monica scandal which no one would talk about until Drudge screeched it.
But 1000x worse.
Posted by: Jane | February 09, 2018 at 12:46 PM
OL:
You misinterpret what I said.
I made a suggestion.
You didn’t like it and said so.
I stated my future plans.
I don’t killfile anyone.
Some really long posts I skip over.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 12:48 PM
Let's start an office pool of which DoJ/FBI official will be the first to cut a deal! We could also predict when (not if) it happens. :)
Posted by: Beasts of England | February 09, 2018 at 12:49 PM
It's common to squeeze small-time crooks until they give up bigger ones.
So who will be the first indicted?
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 12:49 PM
TK:
Who is Scorekeeper/ Hall Monitor?
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 12:50 PM
GMTA, Beasts.
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 12:50 PM
Beasts:
I think Priestap has already given up the ghost.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 12:51 PM
lol, Extraneus!!
Posted by: Beasts of England | February 09, 2018 at 12:51 PM
Ya know, maryrose, I would go for that. Haven't heard his name much lately. Funny how that works!! :)
Posted by: Beasts of England | February 09, 2018 at 12:53 PM
I think there was speculation that Priestap flipped.
Posted by: Rocco | February 09, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Priestap flipping might explain emo Comey's weird tweets.
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 12:55 PM
Sorry maryrose, didn't see ya there.
Posted by: Rocco | February 09, 2018 at 12:55 PM
Page has destroyed a lot of lives thus far. She'll flip.
Posted by: GUS | February 09, 2018 at 12:57 PM
"Flipping" requires a prosecutor with authority to deal to negotiate the flip in return for something.
So who is awake that meets that requirement?
Someone in the n Dimension?
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 01:02 PM
I hope Page does flip, but I think she's hard. I've wondered about her several times. I think I read in one of their text back-and-forths linked this morning about release of information to congress that her conclusion was: F Them.
She and Strok talked about hillbillies, she's the one who looks inbred for sure. You don't get gums like that in a good lineage. :)
Posted by: joan | February 09, 2018 at 01:03 PM
So, OL, speaking of prosecutors to 'flip' to, do you not think Priestap flipped? What do you think is going on with these last few names, i.e., Kortan, David Laufman, announcing departure?
Posted by: joan | February 09, 2018 at 01:08 PM
Old Lurker,
Federal prosecutors aren't only in Washington, D.C. I also am remembering that there are all of those sealed indictments in many jurisdictions around the country.
If I were putting Priestap in front of a federal grand jury, I might fly him to some place like Dallas or Indianapolis.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 01:08 PM
Dem Senator Mark Warner Responds to Backlash Over His Attempt to Secretly Meet With Steele – Thanks Little Marco!
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 01:10 PM
No prosecutorial authority, but I imagine Horowitz is able to squeeze some of these lower-level perps. Surely he'll make recommendations in his report.
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 01:12 PM
==She and Strok talked about hillbillies, she's the one who looks inbred for sure. You don't get gums like that in a good lineage. :)==
LOL
Posted by: Sue | February 09, 2018 at 01:15 PM
Ext:
Great link!
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 01:18 PM
Joan:
Totally agree wrt Page.
She will go down fighting, but she is a logical sacrificial and Hill and Obama won’t think twice about letting her take the fall.
Look at Susan MacDougal for former reference.
Posted by: maryrose | February 09, 2018 at 01:20 PM
Of possible interest to Wisconsin folks:
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2018/02/08/jerry-bader-cites-trump-coverage-loss-wtaq-radio-show/320904002/
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 01:21 PM
Joan, I just don't know.
I am just cautioning us against jumping ahead to assume a prosecution and then further ahead to negotiating a flip.
Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not true that the only thing we know for sure is that the DoJ IG is investigating some things, as are various congressional committees?
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 01:22 PM
MM " I also am remembering that there are all of those sealed indictments in many jurisdictions around the country."
Again, hoping and hoping but the fact is those could all be for unpaid parking tickets.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 01:24 PM
So the #MeToo parade gets around to this CA assemblywoman. Here are the accusations:
-and-
Maybe I'm not woke enough, but are these crimes?
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/cristina-garcia-california-metoo-398985
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 01:24 PM
Oh Ext, we are so far past, you know, crimes and laws and stuff when the SJW wants to take you down.
Posted by: Old Lurker | February 09, 2018 at 01:27 PM
Mattis would be in charge, correct?
Liberals Are Already Planning on Standing in Front of Tanks if Military Parade Happens
Posted by: Extraneus | February 09, 2018 at 01:28 PM
Old Lurker,
I am well aware that many of those indictments have nothing to do with DC. Many are probably MS-13, drug dealers, etc.
However, federal indictments do not cover parking tickets, as I am sure you know.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | February 09, 2018 at 01:30 PM