Even for the Age of Trump this story by the failing NY Times is a bit of a "wow":
Investigators Focus on Another Trump Ally: The National Enquirer
President Trump has long had ties to the nation’s major media players. But his connections with the country’s largest tabloid publisher, American Media Inc., run deeper than most.
A former top executive of Mr. Trump’s casino business sits on A.M.I.’s four-member board of directors, and an adviser joined the media company after the election. The company’s chairman, David J. Pecker, is a close friend of the president’s.
And in the Trump era, A.M.I.’s flagship tabloid, The National Enquirer, has taken a decidedly political turn, regularly devoting covers to the president’s triumphs and travails with articles headlined “Trump’s Plan For World Peace!” and “Proof! FBI Plot to Impeach Trump!”
Since the early stages of his campaign in 2015, Mr. Trump, his lawyer Michael D. Cohen and Mr. Pecker have strategized about protecting him and lashing out at his political enemies.
Yeah, yeah - in consequence, the National Enquirer's decision to pay for but not publish former Playmate Karen MacDougal's story becomes a suspect campaign contribution. The Times really pounds the table in defense of editorial discretion:
The federal inquiry could pose serious legal implications for the president and his campaign committee. It also presents thorny questions about A.M.I.’s First Amendment protections, and whether its record in supporting Mr. Trump somehow opens the door to scrutiny usually reserved for political organizations.
"Thorny questions". My goodness, the Times was bailed out in 2009 by Carlos Slim, a wealthy Mexican. Does this raise "thorny questions" about their commitment to undocumented immigrants? Of course not, because they say it doesn't.
Now obviously, Mr. Slim knew the Times was reliably progressive when he bought them, so he didn't need them to change their views on anything. But the National Enquirer has been making money off of Clinton scandals for decades. Maybe the AMI people simply decided that, in mirror image to the Times Upper West Side readership, their readers wanted material that bashed Hillary and praised Trump. They do tell the Times it was a business decision driven by the popularity of Trump with their readership. Plausible? Sure. Legal? Say what now?
If all AMI did was pick a side in pursuit of an audience, my goodness. That is well worth investigating because we all know that the mainstream media would never trade sympathetic coverage for access that can boost prestige, circulation and ratings. Please.
As to aggressive coverage of sex scandals by the mainstream media, well, that may be ideologically contingent - back in 2007-08, John Edwards and Rielle Hunter were a tabloid-based open secret (gullible Media Matters link) for months before the "responsible" media decided to jump in. Why they might today rush to bash Trump based on mere allegations is hard to understand. No it's not. Is the National Inquirer being investigated for spiking a story which the Times would never lower itself to touch? Too thorny!
At this juncture, I must glumly acknowledge that the DoJ, with some establishment Republicans at the top, did persuade a judge to issue a warrant because something was afoot. I just hope that whatever they find is serious and convincing.
As to the 'thorny questions', the Times concludes with this:
At the center of the campaign finance inquiries will be whether the ties between Mr. Cohen, Mr. Howard, Mr. Pecker, Mr. Trump and others led A.M.I. to act more like a political supporter than a news organization.
The group that brought the federal election complaint, Common Cause, claims the payment for Ms. McDougal’s story was not a “legitimate press function” and therefore was not protected by rules exempting news organizations from campaign finance regulations.
The question represents tricky terrain for federal officials, given the protection journalists have under the First Amendment. “We always worry when investigators are making those judgment calls about whether your editorial process is legitimate or not, or is this legitimate journalism or not,” said Alexandra Ellerbeck, the North America program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Yet even the staunchest defenders of the press say fraudulent activity is not protected by journalistic freedoms.
“We are not, as media organizations, immune from the civil and criminal laws of the country,” said Sandra S. Baron, a senior fellow at Yale Law School and the former executive director of the Media Law Resource Center.
Hmm. Is paying for stories a "legitimate press function"? That is how the National Enquirer broke the case of the murderer of Bill Cosby's son. They also paid Rush Limbaugh's housekeeper for the scoop that got Rush busted for his oxycontin habit - I bet that looked legit to Common Cause.
To paraphrase slightly, the dark night of fascism is always descending on the right yet arriving from the left.
how about some
invades must die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTw2YvutJRA
prodigy
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 02:39 AM
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 02:35 AM
he has enough he could have run his own polls ... surprised Fort Marcy Park hasn't called him ... totally cocked up his Lieberman Pivot.
two stray thoughts ...
The President tweets as a daily sensing session and focus group ... a data firm vacuums up the heat from them and he uses the data to adjust his fire ...
Facebook and Twitter know how he is doing it but they haven't shared it with Dems (or at least the media) ... stay tuned I suppose since that will be a big story whenever some gets it.
and I forgot the other thought ...
how about some korn instead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcACvjXuclA
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 02:46 AM
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 02:19 AM
why can't we have fist fights in Congress like a Boston New York game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7liEpuvEc8
too bad they both don't have hooligans like over in Europe to burn down the city and beat up the officials too ...
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 02:53 AM
Russia was sending over gangsters-trained by the Spetsnaz-to beef with England's hooligans ...
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 02:57 AM
I have some VooDoo Ranger left ...
korn
Got The Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWjsVoDpm0
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 03:00 AM
I can't believe how dark fdcol and Porchlight got ... during the day no less ...
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 03:04 AM
Rich, My fellow Nightstalker, Comey wasn't doing his own polling. He expected her to win based on the publicly available polls and was worried that he would de-legitimize her win by his actions.
"why can't we have fist fights in Congress like a Boston New York game"
No, not in favor of that, although I do like to watch the Iranian Parliament do that.
Wasn't there a Senator in the 1800's who almost beat another Senator to nearly to death with a cane?
"my question ... is why syria and why now?"
Yes, weren't they a wonderful nation back when Obama was in office, right? I mean Pelosi visited them in 2007, right?
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 03:25 AM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/whats-hot/fourth-grader-who-skipped-school-to-go-to-the-chicago-cubs-home-opener-with-a-sign-saying-shh-dont-tell-bumps-into-his-principal-at-the-game/ar-AAvO2kd?li=BBnbfcL
Fun story. Student, with father's permission, cuts school to go to Cubs opener, hold's up sign "shh don't tell the principal". Principal, taking a day off runs into student holding sign.
Even worse, both show up at next game.
Ya Gotta read this. very funny.
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 03:32 AM
I'll take that up on the next installment of KJOM jim_nj
alone I break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAWjsVoDpm0
The other stray thought I had, and our media seems unable to find their voice, is that the US, Israel, and KSA are involved in various coups of their actual governments (and look through the comment history, I was pretty good on KSA) and Europe is being invaded ...
... us 3? why?
did Zero aggregate enough power that he thinks he can pull off a global coup? corrupted fives eyes that deeply ... maybe so.
and fuck Paul Ryan.
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 04:02 AM
and I want fist fights in Congress. would prefer bats and tire irons, but I'll settle for fists ...
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 04:07 AM
and fuck you too Appalled.
Posted by: rich | April 13, 2018 at 04:07 AM
[snip]
Of an interest to ChiTown Lurker and me is how the ruble is collapsing and how the Iranian rial has collapsed to the point that when the head of the Iranian National Bank appeared before their parliament, there was a mini-riot with angry members shouting accusations at each other.
It seems to me that there are financial pressures being applied that the press is ignoring. Both countries have been hurt not only by sanctions but by American energy expansion.
I personally think that there is a lot of financial pressure being exerted out of the limelight. It is possible this will also happen in the US, although it would have to be done legally.
posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 12, 2018 at 12:43 PM
-------
Both currencies have been tanking for some time, but the pace grew on Monday after the announcement of the sanctions on Russian oligarchs and our previous threats to re-impose sanctions on Iran were repeated.
While it's possible to wonder about other external manipulations, this is what you see when citizens in Russia and Iran lose confidence in their own currencies and seek to move their assets into more stable currencies. It's a demand-supply curve. As you sell one currency to buy another, what you are buying rises in relation to what you're selling. Less demand for the home currency, more demand for a foreign currency, means the home currency falls in value.
And, if you will, assume that the most powerful, the wealthiest, interests are doing this this to protect themselves. If so, assume that the most powerful interests in Russia and Iran are undermining their own currencies in their own self-interest. In Iran, I presume the IRGC and the clerics are leading the pack. In Russia, I presume the oligarchs have been re-structering their own assets for some time and have picked up the pace rapidly.
The important point is that if rubles and rials are converted into other assets, they can't be re-invested in their own countries. The economies will contract. Inflation will rise.
Remember China holds an enormous amount of US dollars and US Bonds, but you can only use US dollars to buy dollar denominated goods.
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 04:07 AM
Rich. You may remember that Blair's Labor party was importing foreigners by the millions with the express aim of changing (diluting) the British way of life. Of course this information came out after Blair left office.
Posted by: Davod | April 13, 2018 at 04:22 AM
TM posted this on Twitter.
Axelrod must be thinking he'll survive what's going to happen. And the epitome of irony is him questioning "the circus"---what he's lived by for how long now???
David Axelrod
Verified account
@davidaxelrod
Follow Follow @davidaxelrod
More
I get why the timing of the Comey book works well for HIM. He’s going to make a mint and wants to have his say: But shouldn’t he have waited for the probe to end? Doesn’t this just contribute to the circus atmosphere?
Posted by: anonamom | April 13, 2018 at 04:39 AM
It's February 72, 2018 and cold, wet, and frozen precipitation forecast today, tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. Spring surfaced yesterday with a high of 51F. We aren't forecast seeing that again in the next 10-days until Sunday, Feb 81.
Posted by: hoyden | April 13, 2018 at 04:40 AM
Powerline quoting the WP
"Analysts in Russia said the focus now is on ways to ensure that any strikes are limited so that they don’t kill Russians, thereby allowing Moscow to refrain from carrying out its threats to retaliate. Thousands of Russian troops and military advisers are stationed at military facilities across Syria, where they have been supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s seven-year-old efforts to crush the rebellion against his rule. . . .
The Kommersant newspaper quoted anonymous Defense Ministry sources as saying that the general staff of Russia’s military was in touch with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and expected to receive coordinates on airstrike targets from the Pentagon to avoid Russian casualties."
So the Russians may be concerned that they are a target. How does that work if they're sheltering Syrian warplanes on their airbase?
They want to know what we're targeting? Do they think they have veto power?
If you do this, but not that, we won't retaliate?
I'm sure that there is great debate, on our side, about what we should target and how heavily.
But we're negotiating with Russia about what we can hit, or not, without retaliation?
I'm sorry, it's a dangerous move, but take out the Russian airbase.
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 04:45 AM
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/04/12/images-show-russian-ships-leaving-syrian-port/
Did they think they were, themselves, targets?
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 04:53 AM
Nytol
Posted by: jim nj | April 13, 2018 at 05:14 AM
Pardoning Scooter Libby: bless you President Trump! You really get get it. Thank you, by doing this you stand up for all of us.
Posted by: Bunky | April 13, 2018 at 05:18 AM
Good morning!
This was posted around 11PM last night, after I had gone to bed.
Donald J. Trump
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
6h6 hours ago
Would only join TPP if the deal were substantially better than the deal offered to Pres. Obama. We already have BILATERAL deals with six of the eleven nations in TPP, and are working to make a deal with the biggest of those nations, Japan, who has hit us hard on trade for years!
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 05:20 AM
The Pope says there's no such thing as Hell, but the Red Sox and Mets are both in first place
Posted by: -peter | April 13, 2018 at 05:23 AM
https://twitter.com/intheMatrixxx/status/984574306645520384
Senator Grassley sent a 2-page letterto Jack Dorsey of Twitter, asking him some very detailed and pointed questions.
The letter is in this Tweet. If you click on the first page of the letter, it will enlarge for reading. There is an arrow to the right of the letter which will take you to the second page.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 05:27 AM
Melania Trump
Verified account @FLOTUS
16h16 hours ago
Thank you to all the students who participated in an informative discussion at the @WhiteHouse! Children should be seen AND heard - their input is an important part in finding ways to help them be their best selves.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 05:30 AM
God bless Donald Trump for pardoning Scooter Libby.
Posted by: hrtshpdbox | April 13, 2018 at 05:55 AM
hrtshpdbox,
Has he done so? There was talk it was being considered, but I haven't seen a story yet.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 06:07 AM
Did Bush ever explain why not the pardon? Did he believe Libby guilty? If not then why withhold pardon?
Posted by: hoyden | April 13, 2018 at 06:48 AM
Box score, Dave (in MA)? What did the box score have to do whith Sonny's departure?
OK, I know I'm rubbing it in, and it's early in the season. It's just good natured payback for Yankees fans chanting 1918 when I was at old Yankee Stadium with my oldest for a regular season game in 2004 (my oldest was wearing a Pokey Reese Red Sox t-shirt).
Posted by: Thomas Collins | April 13, 2018 at 06:48 AM
"God bless Donald Trump for pardoning Scooter Libby."
If it happens, my sentiment too!
Posted by: JimNorCal | April 13, 2018 at 06:50 AM
Heshmat Alavi
@HeshmatAlavi
6m6 minutes ago
Russia's Sergei Lavrov is claiming the #Douma chemical attack was staged by "foreign secret services," adding Western intervention in #Syria will spark "new waves of migrants to Europe."
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/984737319356915712 …
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/984742768064032768 …
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 06:51 AM
Sounds like Sergei still thinks it's 2016. He (and they) are in for a rude awakening.
Posted by: RattlerGator | April 13, 2018 at 07:02 AM
Lets try one more time.
Do you think Felix Sater, a convicted felon and confidential informant against the Mafia under the control of Loretta Lynch, was a real ally/friend of Donald Trump?
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 12:51 AM
You know . . . I suspect both of you are equally tenacious but I think you've got TK on the run, my man, and that ain't easy!
Posted by: RattlerGator | April 13, 2018 at 07:03 AM
Did Bush ever explain why not the pardon? Did he believe Libby guilty? If not then why withhold pardon?
No, he was very tight lipped about it, like almost everything else and surely at the advice of Rove, so we're left to speculate about it. It was obviously aimed at Cheney instead of the completely traitorous rat pricks behind the whole fiasco, Powell and Armitage.
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 13, 2018 at 07:07 AM
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/13/gallup-u-s-catholic-church-attendance-drops-during-pontificate-of-pope-francis/
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:08 AM
RG,
It sounds to me like Lavrov has been reading hysterical web posts from the US.
I am going with the theory that the GCC commandos will take care of Assad and Trump is simply distracting everyone by tweeting about Syria.
Why would Assad do this when we said we were leaving soon? Because he doesn't always act rationally. Also, we don't know that he has complete control of his military.
I think Assad and a few henchmen and families were flown to Tehran a few nights ago. That might not be as safe a haven as he thinks.
Mattis isn't going to sign off on any sort of action unless he is almost certain of who was responsible.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:14 AM
Turns out tomorrow's March for Science is very interested in "gun violence research" . https://www.marchforscience.com/gunviolence
MM-remember our conversation yesterday about what was wrong with that michelle malkin piece and her pushing cheri kiesecker's work? Now I see the Nature Conservancy is one of the big sponsors of the march for science.
It turns out to be all about evidence-based policymaking and working with the neuroscientists and the Frameworks Institute to design the right kind of dialogue on issues. No wonder there is a formal desire to misrepresent the Student Data Privacy Toolkit as a solution when it is not and to misrepresent how Project Unicorn, also federally funded, work to parents.
Posted by: rse | April 13, 2018 at 07:15 AM
Oh, look. It's also about equity in scientific careers from currently underrepresented communities. https://www.marchforscience.com/our-mission
Posted by: rse | April 13, 2018 at 07:18 AM
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/382923-james-comeys-history-of-misconduct
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:21 AM
https://www.marchforscience.com/students-for-science
It's hard to look at those signs and that picture and not expect to see david hogg or his sister. This is not about physics or biology. It is about sociology or pedagogy being used to intervene in "social and political affairs" as some of the advocating org's admit as they hype this.
It's also a completely differennt view of the law as I saw this week. Basically they are trying to resurrect Michael Billesales fraudulent gun research as merely being a matter of "a few footnote problems that can happen to any writer." Such bs.
Posted by: rse | April 13, 2018 at 07:23 AM
I think that hour interview sunday night by steffi of comey is a anti-trump campaign contribution by disney and abc.
Posted by: rse | April 13, 2018 at 07:24 AM
rse,
I agree. I hope his book tour is a flop.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:28 AM
Exactly, rse.
Posted by: James D. | April 13, 2018 at 07:29 AM
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-signs-off-on-pardon-for-scooter-libby-report
Nothing definite yet.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:29 AM
Pardoning Libby would be a great way to show that any innocent patriot railroaded by the Deep State will be absolved. Plus the liberal tears will flow even stronger. Beautiful!
Posted by: Ward | April 13, 2018 at 07:41 AM
I ran across some postings that indicated Mueller was possibly guilty of withholding evidence that would exonerate some of the peole he convicted, when a US prosecutor in Massachusetts. I think Howie Carr has been talking about that.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:44 AM
Paul Sperry
@paulsperry_
9h9 hours ago
BREAKING: Records show Jill McCABE -- who now claims she also votes Republican and claims her husband, Comey deputy Andrew McCabe, is "reliably Republican" -- took $168,675 from PLANNED PARENTHOOD, her third largest donor along with Democratic Party of Virginia
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:47 AM
I would count Libby pardon as a partial skull owed by the deep state.
Posted by: hoyden | April 13, 2018 at 07:48 AM
Donald J. Trump
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
2m2 minutes ago
Tremendous pressure is building, like never before, for the Border Wall and an end to crime cradling Sanctuary Cities. Started the Wall in San Diego, where the people were pushing really hard to get it. They will soon be protected!
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:52 AM
I ran across some postings that indicated Mueller was possibly guilty of withholding evidence that would exonerate some of the peole he convicted, when a US prosecutor in Massachusetts.
That would be no surprise at all. MA prosecutors have a long history of hideous misconduct.
Posted by: James D. | April 13, 2018 at 07:53 AM
I am now convinced Twitter is surpressing the President's tweets. I had his page open and then I opened another screen with my timeline. When his tweet went up, I checked my tieline. It was there only because someone I follow retweeted it. As a stand-alone tweet, it was absent.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 07:54 AM
rse,
A March for Science? Whenever I see these infintile protests it rings my Soros, or worse, the Russian funded ANSWER or MoveOn.org, bells. Want to bet that Bill Nye, Michael Mann and Neil deGrasse Tyson are the keynote speakers at the rally.
Watch for all the manufactured-in-advance signs created by top leftist Madison Avenue ad shops. The major TV nets will have already scoped out the best visual's vantage points. The Time/Newsweak/Vanity Fair/Rolling Stone covers are already developed and ready for the printer's press.
The science they will be marching for is "fake science" much like their progressive agendas.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | April 13, 2018 at 07:57 AM
Twitter witholding Trump's tweets - Oh. Surprise, surprise, surprise. The business model needs to be investigated.
Posted by: Davod | April 13, 2018 at 07:58 AM
Here's the Jesse Kelly piece about the US divorcing. Narciso linked another federalist piece rebutting it last night.
http://thefederalist.com/2018/04/10/time-united-states-divorce-things-get-dangerous/
Posted by: Extraneus | April 13, 2018 at 08:01 AM
I'd like to add another comment.
When the left, the media and the Dems worry about Trump's behavior, focus and direction he leaves them gasping and twirling their pearls. An example is how he can transition in two days from warning Syria and Russia about missle attacks then pivot today back to the border wall and Sanctuary cities.
He may be the most mobile, multi-tasking POTUS ever. It's what I enjoy most about him.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | April 13, 2018 at 08:02 AM
Davod,
Grassley is on it. I posted a link this morning which has a letter he sent to Jack Dorsey with LOTS of questions.
Twitter is obviously selling data. There are zero ads unless you count tweets from DiGiorno pizza and A & W root boeer and the like, but as far as I can tell those companies can create an account just like I did, which would be free.
Therefore, their only source of income is selling data. (Unless they sell fake followers to politicians.)
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:04 AM
Jack,
I enjoy it, too. I think he is able to do that because of years of managing multiple construction projects while running golf clubs and hotels AND starring in a TV show.
It's fascinating to watch, and it's hilarious to watch the media scrambling to keep up.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:07 AM
Donald J. Trump
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
6m6 minutes ago
James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR. Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH. He is a weak and.....
=============
Part 2 will appear in a minute. HA!
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:08 AM
Miss M, I get lots of "promoted" tweets in my timeline. They appear to be based on who I follow, with some generic. (I have yet to tweet outbound). Can't imagine they are worth the effort put into them, but marketing exists to spend ever larger budgets...
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:11 AM
And, MM, we have noted this before, that being in New York as a non-drinker, he has watched, listened and mingled with Wall Street, mass media, visiting pols and the entertainment business. He has more diverse facets in his experience than any POTUS since who? Teddy Roosevelt?
They, the bankers, the TV nets, the NYTimes, Hollywood, the money begging pols, all know it. They were probably drunk or high on coke and keep wondering what they said to him in that state of mind. Waiting for any shoe to drop.....
Posted by: Jim Eagle | April 13, 2018 at 08:13 AM
I think that hour interview sunday night by steffi of comey is a anti-trump campaign contribution by disney and abc.
Like every fucking one of the national noose doses of propaganda and weeper human interest emotional manipulations?
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 13, 2018 at 08:13 AM
Miss Marple:
"I am now convinced Twitter is surpressing the President's tweets."
I've been worrying about that possiblity, ever since the suppression stories started to surface. Can you tweet that to the President? I would think he's got somebody who scans the reactions to what he puts out, although maybe there's too much trash to wade through. It seems to me that Twitter is his primary tool for getting around the press, and if someone is obstructing that, it's serious.
It would be interesting if he suddenly switched to GAB (?). He would take his peeps, and probably his anti-peeps too, with him! And of course, the press would have to cover him there, as a result.
Posted by: JM Hanes | April 13, 2018 at 08:15 AM
Where's Appalled?
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren Want the FCC to Revoke Sinclair's Broadcast Licenses
https://reason.com/blog/2018/04/12/bernie-sanders-and-elizabeth-warren-thin
Posted by: Extraneus | April 13, 2018 at 08:15 AM
A twitter tip I was told about - Put your follows on a Twitter "list". Then instead of reading from your timeline, read from the list.
No litter of "promoted" tweets.
Posted by: Another Bob | April 13, 2018 at 08:15 AM
The science they will be marching for is "fake science" much like their progressive agendas.
Or "social science", not that the hard sciences don't have their share of nuts.
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 13, 2018 at 08:16 AM
You know . . . I suspect both of you are equally tenacious but I think you've got TK on the run, my man, and that ain't easy!
If his ignoring the answer I gave 10min after he asked the same question in a previous thread equals "on the run" then yes. A big 4D yes.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 13, 2018 at 08:18 AM
If WI dems are really serious about taking Ryan's district, they will need to put up a better candidate than the Iron Stashe. Will Randy Bryce Have Competition from Peter Barca?
https://rightwisconsin.com/2018/04/12/will-randy-bryce-have-competition/
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:19 AM
Has the Mexico City Times shilled to revoke any Constitutional rights today?
Posted by: Captain Hate | April 13, 2018 at 08:19 AM
from that link above:
will Democrats content themselves with someone who has already lost three elections, has demonstrated little knowledge of the issues, and who paid for fake Twitter followers but only caught up on his child support payments when he decided to run for Congress?
and the Chamber of Commerce will make a run at losing the seat.
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:20 AM
PART @, and it's a doozie!!!
Donald J. Trump
Verified account @realDonaldTrump
49s50 seconds ago
....untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst “botch jobs” of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!
============================
Bwahahahaha! I LOVE MY PRESIDENT!!
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:20 AM
Mark Knoller
Verified account @markknoller
37s38 seconds ago
In 2nd tweet on Comey, doubles up with a scathing condemnation. May be first public use of "slime ball" by an American president
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:24 AM
Hmmm. GOPe wheels are turning behind the scenes for sure.
EXCLUSIVE on the @JayWeber3 show, Assemby Robin @SpeakerVos says he WON'T run for the seat vacated by @SpeakerRyan
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:24 AM
Annie
🧐99%Swamp=100%FedUp
@bloodless_coup
3m3 minutes ago
Annie
🧐99%Swamp=100%FedUp Retweeted MѕTяιαl
Perkins-Coie needs a good raiding. They were the conduit for Obama's phony birth certificate AND the phony dossier. Lotta fraud going on there.
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:28 AM
If y'all missed this Strategy Page link over on Instapundit yesterday, it's definitely worth a read, IMO: The Indo-Pacific Quad Confronts China. Kind of looks like the BRIC work (Brazil, Russia, India, China) is crumbling. The real flashpoint with China has been, is and will be maritime. We should never take our eyes off what's going on in the South China Sea. China has already got most of the largest shipping ports in the world and sees itself as the rightful hegemon of Asian waters, if not beyond.
Posted by: JM Hanes | April 13, 2018 at 08:29 AM
If his ignoring the answer I gave 10min after he asked the same question in a previous thread equals "on the run" then yes. A big 4D yes.
You never answered the question. If I am wrong then quote your response and I will formally apologize to you.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 08:36 AM
I believe the RNC is behind this site:
https://lyincomey.com/
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 13, 2018 at 08:39 AM
"What is the use of a book without pictures?" Asked Alice.
Posted by: daddy on iPad | April 13, 2018 at 08:39 AM
This is the verbiage in the email I got hyping the March For Science.
"And then, on April 15, we'll take up the task again. The effort to rely on evidence, inquiry, and methodical problem-solving deserves, and demands, constant attention--even now, when so many other issues clamor for our collective attention. That's because there is a deep connection between the public's engagement with science and their engagement on other issues, as Frank Oppenheimer, physicist and founder of the Exploratorium, beautifully articulated:
"The whole point is to make it possible for people to believe they can understand the world around them. I think a lot of people have given up trying to comprehend things, and when they give up with the physical world, they give up with the social and political world as well."
FrameWorks embraces his vision for a future in which "human understanding will cease to be an instrument of power for the benefit of a few, and will instead become a source of empowerment and pleasure to all."
That's the behavioral sciences being used to enact new public policies to force the Marxist Humanist vision for society with nary a heads up to anyone not familiar with the theories.
Posted by: rse | April 13, 2018 at 08:41 AM
You know . . . I suspect both of you are equally tenacious but I think you've got TK on the run, my man, and that ain't easy!
I’m an Army vet. “Offensive” is a Principle of War. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, always seize, retain and exploit the initiative to achieve the objective. The Felix Sater question has an ultimate objective but TK’s constant evasions are delaying achieving it.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 08:42 AM
Why don't you quote my response and explain where you find fault, TomR? You've been throwing around that "evading" line a little too much to assign me the task of doing your homework.
Or is this laziness part of your Army training.
Plus, I'm too busy being on the run.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 13, 2018 at 08:46 AM
one way to look at things:
Mickey Kaus @kausmickey
15h
Ryan's speakership a huge success for his backers: He stopped Trump. Wasted Trump's first two years on his (not Trump's) agenda. Will likely leave Trump with Dem House that'll block Trump for the next 2 years. Now he gets his paycheck
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:47 AM
RIP Cecil Taylor.
CH,
Have any of his works in your collection?
Posted by: Jim Eagle | April 13, 2018 at 08:51 AM
That's a curious demand, TK. Quote you? Here's a quote:
If his ignoring the answer I gave 10min after he asked the same question in a previous thread equals "on the run" then yes. A big 4D yes.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 13, 2018 at 08:18 AM
Hmmmm . . . so, in the here and now TK, one -- more -- time:
Do you think Felix Sater, a convicted felon and confidential informant against the Mafia under the control of Loretta Lynch, was a real ally/friend of Donald Trump?
Take a minute to get off the bicycle, my man, you're clearly responding in the here and now. So, what's your 2D answer to the question posed?
Posted by: RattlerGator | April 13, 2018 at 08:52 AM
here is the list of people running for Ryan's slot from the R side:
Don't know about strongest, but Vos certainly would have been the most-well-known. Outside their districts, nobody knows Kerkman/Craig. Outside Janesville, nobody knows Steil (though money can change that). Nobody at all knows Polce.
and nobody talks about Nehlen
https://twitter.com/NoRunnyEggs/status/984771769969111046
Posted by: henry | April 13, 2018 at 08:53 AM
Why would Assad do this when we said we were leaving soon? Because he doesn't always act rationally.
Every pundit, article, news broadcast I’ve read/seen since Assad gassed his own people last week ask the same question. Why did Assad gas his own people when he is winning the civil war plus Trump said he wanted US forces to redeploy?
The question is based on a false premise. Assad has pretty much already won the civil war. He owes the US and GCC thanks for that because it was our forces who defeated the ISIS caliphate capital of Raqqa. Assad didn’t gas his own people as part of the Syrian civil war. He gassed his own people because he and everyone else knew that Israel and the GCC were about to start a completely new war to remove him from power and begin the process of defeat all Iranian assets in the region (Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah and Hamas. There are now a lot of people around the world who now believe that Assad did not gas his own people and that belief is built on the false premise.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 08:54 AM
Grauniad headline, "Drinking an extra glass of wine 'will shorten your life by 30 minutes'"
So quit sipping so slowly. Just gulp it down, problem solved.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | April 13, 2018 at 08:56 AM
LOL. Did Comey beg for a hug after this? Did they torch a Kool together?
Posted by: Porchlight | April 13, 2018 at 08:56 AM
Why don't you quote my response and explain where you find fault, TomR? You've been throwing around that "evading" line a little too much to assign me the task of doing your homework.
I can’t quote a response that you never gave.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 08:59 AM
RG, I'm going to post a doozy in a minute or two, but in the meantime the focus is on Tom's multiple accusations that I am evading his question.
He needs to back that up, not me.
I answered and either he doesn't like the answer or he was too lazy to hit refresh 10 minutes after he, in a previous thread, posed the question with the evasion accusation.
Tom may have a master plan, but obfuscation isn't helping him.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 13, 2018 at 08:59 AM
MM. Quite frankly. I don't care if they are selling data. Unless it is outside the scope of their unreadable customer agreement.
What I do care about is if they are deliberately manipulating what the customer sees, such as stopping or delaying what a customer sees from another customer. Or, by directing customers to other customers who, judging by what they read and write, have no interest in the customers being referred to them.
Posted by: Davod | April 13, 2018 at 09:00 AM
Heh. Comedy is such a douche.
So in Reagan national airport, they're selling an Obama "Miss me yet?" T-shirt.
Apparently the Bush meme triggered them more than they let on.
Posted by: Extraneus | April 13, 2018 at 09:03 AM
Comey, spellchecked = Comedy
Posted by: Extraneus | April 13, 2018 at 09:04 AM
TK,
How many times now have you refused to answer the simple Yes/No Felix Sater question? I’ve lost count but probably at least 6 times. That’s enough to confirm you are evading the question.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 09:04 AM
My spellchecker does that too, Ext. I knew exactly who you meant. Tempting to leave it as is.
Posted by: Porchlight | April 13, 2018 at 09:05 AM
My spell checker on my IPhone always changes “narciso” to “Marxist”.
Posted by: Tom R | April 13, 2018 at 09:08 AM
My Kindle changes "narciso" to "Jacksonian."
Posted by: Porchlight | April 13, 2018 at 09:09 AM
French-navy-ship-aggressively-buzzed-Russian-warplane-Mediterranean.html
Reed that and you have Brit newspapers manufacturing fake news. Ships can’t buzz aircraft.
Posted by: sbw | April 13, 2018 at 09:13 AM
My autocucumber changes Read to Reed.
Posted by: sbw | April 13, 2018 at 09:13 AM
Miss Marple:
A President who fights -- out in the open! What a concept!
How many DC folks do we suppose will step up for James "Walter Mitty" Comey, now that he's been banished from the power grid. His pathetic need to cast himself as a hero has been obvious since the night of his raid on bedridden John Ashcroft's hospital room -- a tale he has long relished telling.
In Comey world, heroes get to make their own rules, of course, but I do not doubt that he spends considerable amounts of time contemplating his own putatively noble reflection. I suspect he will be surprised at how short-lived the interest, and how shallow the adulation, may prove to have been now that he's Just Jim Comey, disgruntled former government employee, peddling a muddled, vainglorious stew of defenses and resentments. There's a market for that, and he'll surely land a cushy job, but he may ultimately find himself at a net loss, when it comes to the respect of his peers. Will he notice? I'd like to think so.
Posted by: JM Hanes | April 13, 2018 at 09:14 AM
I was pointing out, Craig p's analysess of the fate of the sanctioned companies including rural which is owned by deripasha and glasenberg, the last is the south African head of glencore, the ones who looted Nigeria and botched the rosneft issue, they are fit to be tied, veselberg we learned from cockburns protege also chose poorly on dentin and red queen, he might get a c4 surprise for his troubles,
Posted by: narciso | April 13, 2018 at 09:15 AM
No the jets did, sukhois most likely, from the konovalov i mean kutznekov. Latakias too far north, and you wpuldnt want to provoke launching from tartus remember these officials hire Dem mouthpieces like Walkman or inn firtashs vase Manny Davis, so they don't have a better clue.
Posted by: narciso | April 13, 2018 at 09:21 AM
In order. With my emphasizing where necessary.
1)
Stuff on Cohen on this thread. Documented stuff.
https://twitter.com/tracybeanz/status/983802098579066880
Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | April 10, 2018 at 05:05 PM
2)
Stuff on Cohen on this thread. Documented stuff.
Its people on Twitter like you just posted that I pay more attention to now than the mainstream media, to include Fox News. You never see that kind of investigative analysis anymore.
If that person is correct, it just goes to show everyone should wait 24 hours and let the dust settle before jumping off the Ledge.
Posted by: Tom R | April 10, 2018 at 05:14 PM
3)
Here is the conclusion dot in the twitter thread explanation:
And here is Tom's assessment:
If that person is correct, it just goes to show everyone should wait 24 hours and let the dust settle before jumping off the Ledge.
Posted by: Tom R | April 10, 2018 at 05:14 PM
Will you join us when we jump when the timer hits hour 25?
FTR, I think it is progress that The Veranda is finally starting to institute timeline red lines.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 10, 2018 at 06:18 PM
4)
Here is the conclusion dot in the twitter thread explanation
I don't think you interpreted her conclusion correctly. [emphasis mine] She doesn't think Sater is an ally of Trump. Sater is a confirmed FBI intel asset during the Obama administration who she says also has connections with Loretta Lynch. Sater also apparently has some connections with the Russian oligarch Deripaska. Sater and Cohen have apparently been friends for a long time (this person says since they were kids) and have emailed each other. The email she posted was the one where Sater explicitly mentions he can get Putin's help to get Trump elected. It almost sounds like Sater was part of the Obama FBI's scheme to frame Trump for Russian collusion by planting evidence.
If Mueller was investigating Sater due to his connections with Deripaska and Loretta Lynch then her point is that it explains how Cohen got caught in the net. It wasn't that Mueller was going after Cohen in order to get dirt on Trump. The dirt (taxi medallions?) on Cohen was discovered when Mueller was digging into Sater's connection with the FBI under Obama.
Posted by: Tom R | April 10, 2018 at 06:41 PM
5)
I don't think you interpreted her conclusion correctly.
I quoted her and offered no interpretation.[emphasis mine]
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 10, 2018 at 06:47 PM
6)
Does the 24hr clock end 24hrs after Cohen was raided, 24hrs after tbeans poster her theory, or 24hrs after you commented on it, Tom?
;-)
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 10, 2018 at 08:17 PM
7)
Does the 24hr clock end 24hrs after Cohen was raided, 24hrs after tbeans poster her theory, or 24hrs after you commented on it, Tom?
If you choose we can engage in a Snark War to see which one of us has the sharpest wit. An alternative that I prefer would be to discuss the tracybeanz tweet thread that MM linked. In your attempt to get a snarky dig in against me, you gave the indication you completely missed the point tracybeanz was making. Specifically, she documented some facts that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that it’s quite possible Mueller wasn’t going after Cohen at all.
It’s why I asked narciso if he thought tracybeanz is correct when she says Felix Sater is not an ally of Trump. If she is correct then that opens up all kind of possibilities as to why Mueller was investigating everyone Sater was in communication with.
Posted by: Tom R | April 10, 2018 at 09:00 PM
8)
You said:
I am sincerely curious if the wait and see strategy actually has a discard date.[emphasis mine] If, after 24hrs, Beans theory hasn't come close to being substantiated, will the ledge jumpers get some credit?Posted by: Threadkiller | April 10, 2018 at 09:07 PM
9)
I am sincerely curious if the wait and see strategy actually has a discard date. If, after 24hrs, Beans theory hasn't come close to being substantiated, will the ledge jumpers get some credit?
Nick Saban has what he calls the “24 hour rule”. After a game is played, he will talk about the game for the next 24 hours. After that if any reporter asks him about the previous game they get excoriated because his focus is on the next game.
With Trump it’s the exact opposite. Within the first 24 hours of any reporting on anything related to Trump, there is a high degree of certainty that much of what is reported turns out to be fake, exaggerated, misinformation etc. Yesterday’s news about Mueller raiding Cohen falls into that category. Pretty much everyone here, myself included, immediately assumed the worst.
IF (big IF) tracybeanz analysis is correct, then combine that with the CNN report (likely fake news) Trump is considering firing Rosenstein. If tracybeanz is correct, then Mueller and Rosenstein complied with the law and did nothing wrong. Mueller wasn’t going after Cohen at all. Mueller was investigating Felix Sater and Cohen got caught in the net. IF (big IF) Trump knows all this, then there is no reason for him to fire Rosenstein.
I’ll ask the question again that no one appears to be willing to answer. Do you think tracybeanz analysis that Felix Sater is not an ally of Trump is correct?[emphasis mine] If the answer is Yes, then that means the “Mueller is a White Hat” possibility is back in play.
Posted by: Tom R | April 10, 2018 at 09:58 PM
=========================
Comment 9 on the list is where Tom switches(intentionally?) to a question he presents for the 1st time in our conversation.
The basis for his "evasion" Army debate technique starts there, when, in reality, it is clear that he has a) falsely portrayed me as having come to my own conclusions about TBeans hypothesis and b) willful and purposely evaded what I have been clearly asking about time frames related to his "if that person is proven correct..." statement. The Nick Saben quotes started out promising but Tom never took a position.
From there on out Tom has made it my duty to answer an irrelevant question to avoid his answering what apparently is an uncomfortable question.
2D for all to see, RG.
Posted by: Threadkiller | April 13, 2018 at 09:27 AM