So we are going to see Trump impeached for suggesting something crazy and stupid and then accepting the advice that is was crazy and stupid? Sure, why not!
A Bonus Howler is here:
According to The New York Times, Trump was rebuffed by White House counsel Don McGahn, who warned it “could prompt accusations of abuse of power.” McGahn has since departed the White House and the current acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker, wrote in a 2016 op-ed that he would indict Clinton.
Toobin told Wolf Blitzer tonight, “This is what happens in authoritarian countries. The president orders––the leader orders the investigation and prosecution of his political enemies.”
Wait'll he hear about Carter Page.
The underlying assumption that Trump is not constrained by larger circumstances (Congress not passing a replacement {Flake,Corker,Murkowski,Collins}, Mueller & press not sidetracking everything with an obstruction indictment of T or his kids) seems to be at work here.
It is like AGW ignoring the big ball of fire in the sky.
Pointless to argue with such assumptions.
Posted by: henry | November 21, 2018 at 03:17 PM
Am I missing something that is a game changer?
Thumb Safety on both sides means that you can play two-gun Pete with two guns.
Posted by: sbwaters | November 21, 2018 at 03:24 PM
They were all party to the Iran deal (price, cirincione, attiah) although the last is a relatively new player.
Posted by: Narciso79 | November 21, 2018 at 03:25 PM
Narciso, I suppose if we aren’t Iran’s bitch... Iran’s bitches calling us SA’s bitch is a step up from being called Israel’s bitch by the entire neighborhood.
One embassy relocation and one sword dance is all it took.
Posted by: henry | November 21, 2018 at 03:30 PM
I'm transcribing the comment from that former Trump State Department Senior Adviser from Lou Dobb's Show yesterday just so it's more accessible to you who may not have had the time to click and listen:
Lou: ...On the issue of maintaining a steadfast relationship with Saudi Arabia, your thoughts?
Christian Whiton: Yeah you see these Journalists, and these others, these Commentators, shrieking at the President like it's some Freshman Seminar in Feminine Literature at Smith College. I mean this is the man who's charged with defending the United States who has to weigh very important things. What they would have him do, turn our backs on Saudi Arabia, the same way incidentally Jimmy Carter turned his back on the Shah of Iran, 1979. What did we get? "Oh you know the Shah had some Civil Rights Violations" but instead you get the Islamic Republic of Iran, huge Human Rights Violators, huge problem for the United States even decades later. That is exactly what these people are preaching. We turn our backs on Saudi Arabia, the country that is spending 70 Billion dollars a year on Defense, 3 times what Israel spends, mostly defending against Iran, and what, we just open the door to the people in the Middle East to the Iranian Regime? Huge problem. These people do not know what they are talking about. Thank God we have a President who who will stand up, who will look at this and approach it in a balanced manner and defend our country.
-----------
YMMV.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 03:40 PM
MM2,
Iranian money? They fear a more liberal, and democratic SA. Wouldn't be the first time a foreign entity with adverserial relations with us, our media accepted at face value (a lot of Ben Franklin's faces).
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 03:42 PM
Thumb Safety on both sides means that you can play two-gun Pete with two guns.
Posted by: sbwaters | November 21, 2018 at 03:24 PM
All the troops get training on the de-cocker by Kristin Beck.
Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 21, 2018 at 03:45 PM
Spring Break

Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 21, 2018 at 03:46 PM
What happened at 3:00 PM? https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/djia
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | November 21, 2018 at 03:48 PM
Jeff Dunham's Livery says the same damn thing
Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 21, 2018 at 03:52 PM
Also from Molly we get more evidence for the charge of how these guys hate Trump just because he's not as cultured as they:
“There are many things to say about this astonishing press statement, but I can’t stop noticing that the first line—’The world is a very dangerous place!’—is written in near amphibrachs, putting Trump in the very American company of Dr. Seuss and Migos,” said The Atlantic’s Robinson Meyer.
So Trump speaks in the loathed amphibrachs. Anyone not in a Feminine Lit Seminar at Smith College know what this egregious speech pattern is?
am·phi·brach
/ˈamfəˌbrak/Submit
nounPROSODY
a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable between two unstressed syllables or (in Greek and Latin) a long syllable between two short syllables.
Ouch! What an uncultured oaf of a President we Deplorable's done elected fer "Merica.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 03:53 PM
Sens. Corker and Menendez demand a definitive answer from Trump on whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Jamal Khashoggi's killing
Did they ever demand such a thing on who killed Seth Rich?
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:03 PM
DOW just went negative:(
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:04 PM
California wildfire leaves scar on Earth that you can see from space
Thought it fascinating that those termite mounds in Brazil could also be seen from Space.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:12 PM
Real Donald Trump (blue checkmark)
Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have “Obama judges,” and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country. It would be great if the 9th Circuit was indeed an “independent judiciary,” but if it is why......
Posted by: henry | November 21, 2018 at 04:13 PM
Downtown Washington DC can be seen from space.
Lots of disasters are visible from space.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:14 PM
pt 2
.....are so many opposing view (on Border and Safety) cases filed there, and why are a vast number of those cases overturned. Please study the numbers, they are shocking. We need protection and security - these rulings are making our country unsafe! Very dangerous and unwise!
Posted by: henry | November 21, 2018 at 04:14 PM
Camp Fire (around Paradise, CA) update: 81 dead and 870 still missing.
Rainy season is starting, which should help. We are predicted to get 5" of rain over the next few days. It is welcomed!
Some rainy-day music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMqnGva32Vs
Grieg, Lyric Pieces, Gilels.
Posted by: DrJ | November 21, 2018 at 04:15 PM
DrJ...what is the local buzz on those 870?
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:16 PM
Another shot over the bow of the Trump renassaince:
Son of a teen single mom, self-made, neuroscientist. From Detroit.
I remember reading his book 20 years ago and being so proud he was from Detroit.
You people suck. He's accomplished and a good man.
Melissa Mackenzie 🌐 added,
William Bryant
@webhouse990
Detroit Board of Ed Approves Process to Remove Dr. Ben Carson Name From School https://deneenborelli.com/2018/11/detroit-board-of-ed-approves-process-to-remove-dr-ben-carson-name-from-school/ … via @deneenborelli
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 04:16 PM
Also LAPD not filing charges against Avenatti
Posted by: henry | November 21, 2018 at 04:16 PM
daddy
How is it that the termites haven't outproduced Peak Wood?
Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 21, 2018 at 04:17 PM
OL,
I've not read anything about the missing 870. Undoubtedly many of them have perished; others are in places where they can't be found and taken off the list.
Posted by: DrJ | November 21, 2018 at 04:18 PM
Thanks DrJ. Pretty much what we figured.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:20 PM
henry
The same Columbians who tried to frame up OJ can't get DV to stick on Avenatti. Can't wait till he tries to repo some memorabilia.
Posted by: Pinandpuller | November 21, 2018 at 04:20 PM
Here's the latest Camp Fire casualty reporting I've seen:
https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article222001085.html
There may be others...
Posted by: DrJ | November 21, 2018 at 04:22 PM
Legitimate question asking for info.
What is the alleged reason for why Khashoggi was murdered?
Was it one of those nebulous "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome Journalist" thingy, or some much more specific reason?
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:26 PM
Chief Justice John Roberts (The Man Who can see Taxes where they don't exist) speaks out in defense of an "independent judiciary"
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:31 PM
henry,
Thanks for grabbing the President's tweets!
I had to run out and get gas in case we decide to use my car tomorrow to get to my brother's. My youngest grandson, the offspring of my son's former girlfriend, will be joining us. He is 3. Should be fun to have a little one around!
When I got to the gas station I had to wait in line!! It reminded me of the gas shortages back in the 70'ss! I guess there are a lot of people traveling tonight and tomorrow!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 04:33 PM
Nice to see during catch-up that most of us have a similar take on Chief Justice John Roberts.
Of the current 9 he is the one I would most like to meet in a dark alley.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:36 PM
daddy,
I think he represented a threat to the Crown Prince.
He was as much a Journalist as I am a Nobel Prize winner.
Posted by: Buckeye | November 21, 2018 at 04:36 PM
It is my opinion that Roberts was blackmailed and is possibly still being blackmailed.
He has 2 adopted children from the Ukraine. It is my opinion, based on some veiled insults from democrats on those children being selected because they were blonde and blue-eyed, that the adoption skirted some laws and someone in State found out about it and it was being held over him.
Now, this is just my intuition and I have zero proof, but hey, when has that stopped me? LOL!
That Obamacare ruling was really fishy, if you ask me, so I am putting this out there for consideration.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 04:40 PM
Wouldn't everybody like to be "independent" Daddy?
Sadly for Roberts, his "Independent Judiciary" is not independent of the Constitution nor of the oaths of office sworn by all Federal Judges at all levels.
I do not think they all understand that. They certainly do not act like it.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:40 PM
daddy,
I'll give it a shot. He was in a position to poison any evolving relationship between Trump and the Crown Prince against Iran (A MB financier and propagandist). He had a major western media platform to make those opinions to millions.
Just my opinion.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 04:41 PM
MM "It is my opinion that Roberts was blackmailed and is possibly still being blackmailed."
If he was, then he still is. That is how blackmail works.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:42 PM
Iran’s bitches calling us SA’s bitch is a step up from being called Israel’s bitch by the entire neighborhood.
Ha! Nice comment, Henry, plus it's true:)
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:43 PM
I would like to know why the Muslim Brotherhood hasn't been named a terrorist organization, as it has in other countries.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 04:44 PM
When I edit wire service reports I change journalist for the Washington Post to writer for the Washington Post.
When you get right down to it, calling the Washington Post and the New York Times newspapers means that the meme of journalistic objectivity need no longer be trotted out.
Posted by: sbwaters | November 21, 2018 at 04:44 PM
Better answer than Jack's, Daddy:
Who cares and so what?
Foreign national killed in a foreign land by foreign killers?
Ho hum.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:45 PM
sbw...James and Catsmeat and Robin are Writers.
Not sure that WaPo and NYT have any.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 04:48 PM
I don't suppose sbw can insert "propagandists" or democrat or "democrat operatives."
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 04:51 PM
OL,
You think so? How about the next time we need to fly F-111's out of the UK to take out a target in Yemen, and the French are still pissed at our handling of Khashoggi? Your take is what is wrong with all our International strategy. Even as a nationalist, Trump understands our relationships with SA, and everyone else.
You think Bezo's isn't going to make a big deal out of this? If we don't keep our relationship in tact with SA, you can expect some nasty stuff here with Iranian financing. How much of the Caravan are carry cash from Obama's contribution to Iran.
Forgive my directness, but I am not a hider of global affairs. We are a very small world.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 04:52 PM
OL, writers don’t have to be good to be writers.
James, Catsmeat, Robin, and I are authors.
You don’t have to write well to be an author. I can testify to that.
Posted by: sbwaters | November 21, 2018 at 04:53 PM
How is it that the termites haven't outproduced Peak Wood?
Pin,
Speaking of Brazilian trees, I recall as a kid around Thanksgiving we would always have a big bowl of Brazil nuts and those metal crackers to open them up. Then I recall years later hearing how Brazil Nut harvesting was leading to deforestation or destruction of Native Tribes in Brazil---something like that, and that they became unavailable in the States. I notice now when I go to England shell-less Brazil nuts are in any grocery store in Cambridge, but I never see the same thing in our local Markets.
Do we still sell Brazil nuts, shelled or unshelled, here in the States? If it has somehow been wrapped up in the Global Warming hysteria I'm surprised they are still on UK shelves.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 04:58 PM
Jack, what part of just staying out of this killing would harm our relationship with SA? So in your world view, unless we can step into a matter that did not involve us in any way, and did not involve the French in any way, then just because somebody in France thought we should have intervened, France might act against us in the future?
Good lord. Imagine what the French will do to us because we trashed their Paris Accord?
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 05:00 PM
Well somebody's got to go to work to make a buck around here, so catch you guys on the flip flop. Happy Turkey day.
Posted by: daddy | November 21, 2018 at 05:02 PM
My reaction re Trump and Khashoggi and MBS: First, of course MBS knew about the Khashoggi operation, and most likely ordered it. The troubling thing would be if his close operatives did the deed without his knowledge. Second, of course Trump would be crazy to endanger the Saudi alliance because MBS had Khashoggi offed. From my perspective, the truly difficult reason of state balancing was the GWB Administration's flaccid reaction to the Saudis after 9/11. The ultimate rationalization for that flaccid reaction, namely, that the Saudi government itself didn't approve 9/11, was ridiculous. Did anyone expect a Saudi resolution explicitly approving 9/11?
Posted by: Thomas Collins | November 21, 2018 at 05:18 PM
I'm still at work, daddy. While you're doing the mundane task of flying aircraft, I'm doing the truly important work of pushing papers and writing turgid emails. Happy Thanksgiving, JOMland!
And no, I haven't gone to a shop yet to sample the newly legalized Bay State product. Pinot Noir and Cabernet and Jameson and Bruichladdich Scotch will carry me through the weekend.
Posted by: Thomas Collins | November 21, 2018 at 05:23 PM
OL,
Hell yeah. I am saying that. We need SA more than they need us.
You think Iran is going away because we decide to not get involved in this?
Stay safe, my friend. Fortify your ledge.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 05:26 PM
Has anyone watched the A&E series, The Clinton Affair ? I’ve wasted a few minutes on it but, frankly, it it seems tiring, reductive and the subjects irredeemably déclassé. You know there will NEVER be a similar retrospective on preznit jiveass 20 years from now.
Posted by: lyle | November 21, 2018 at 05:26 PM
OL,
SIG makes excellent, perhaps the best, semi auto pistols these days. And amidextrous safeties are better than not.
But...the idea this going to be some type of gamechanger is laughable.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 21, 2018 at 05:28 PM
I have no way of knowing the Chief Justice's possible personal issues, MM2. I can say with assurance, howver, that any JOMer who takes the time to go through the federal court cases on the federal government's taxing power (whether one agrees with those cases or not) would understand that the Chief Justice's opinion, whether one ultimately agrees with it or not, is not unreasonable.
Posted by: Thomas Collins | November 21, 2018 at 05:29 PM
Pinot Noir and Cabernet and Jameson and Bruichladdich Scotch will carry me through the weekend
Well, two out of four ain’t bad, TC! Stay turgid, my friend. 😎
Posted by: lyle | November 21, 2018 at 05:32 PM
Turgid and warm notwithstanding the weather, lyle. What happened to warm Thanksgivings due to Globull Warming? Beantown hasn't gotten the memo!
Posted by: Thomas Collins | November 21, 2018 at 05:34 PM
Stalin killed scores of millions and we had little hesitation in allying with him once he broke with Hitler.
Hell, our dainty progs on their fainting couches over Kashoggi would have been telling us what a great guy Hitler was during Molotov's pact between devils.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 21, 2018 at 05:35 PM
Once upon a time, French special forces hunted the Mahdis men, this was around the time they executed a princess and were giving Saddam the keys to osirak.
In so far as this concerns the kingdom its Hawali and awda who issue threats against coalition troops, they face the death penalty.
Posted by: Narciso79 | November 21, 2018 at 05:38 PM
I see Coach K has a new dress code for Duke. Look at those shorts. Circa 1970's, Compare to a nice catholic school like Gonzaga:)
Maui Invitaional on ESPN for all the Duke haters. You know who you are daddy:)
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 05:38 PM
Pinochet was less neat, he blew up the ex foreign minister on a busy DC street, it's not saw, but still showed some discourtesy.
Posted by: Narciso79 | November 21, 2018 at 05:41 PM
The unreasonableness of Roberts' opinion was in rewriting Obama's case for him to claim something he wasn't and the fact that he did so not for broad or even technical legal reasons but for political considerations.
So much for his vaunted "independent judiciary".
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 21, 2018 at 05:42 PM
Gnu.
Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki | November 21, 2018 at 05:44 PM
Been downright beautiful in Le Bois, TK. A gorgeous fall with daytime temps around 50F.
In anticipation of a lot of turkey consumption, tonight is steak au poivre with cream sauce, twice-baked spuds, asparagus and some medium aged Cabernet to be named later. Maybe an ‘08 Caymus Special Selection. Decisions! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Posted by: lyle | November 21, 2018 at 05:44 PM
still showed some discourtesy.
lol
Posted by: Extraneus | November 21, 2018 at 05:45 PM
Jack, I really don't understand what we disagree about. I think SA is vitally important to the US and so do you; I think SA is vitally important to our attempts to control the threats from Iran and so do you.
Because I think those two things, I think badgering Trump into punishing SA for a killing that did not involve the US is going out of our way to insert a wedge between us and SA that does not need to be there.
So I am scratching my head at your response to me.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 05:46 PM
Some game. If you like College BBall, this is the game for you. ESPN.
I have no idea if Gonzaga can hold out but they are a Jesuit schooll so you can bet on some dark magic.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 05:48 PM
Thanks Iggy. Nice improvements OK, but changing warfare as we know it? It was the headline that got to me.
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 05:48 PM
OL,
Love you like a brother. The one who gives me a deal on my lease contract:)
My point is that it is in our interest. Simply becasue it is SA dealing with the assholes who want to kill us. Khashoggi, via WAPO had big time matinee influence wiith the MB and their favs. Taking him out was like if we took Walter Mathny out in Russia when it counted.
Because he is a so called Journalist he is protected. BS. He was an enabler of the largest Islamist terroism cult in the world. To me its simple, protect the Homeland and those who help us do that.
YMMV
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 05:53 PM
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/21/flotus-liberty-university-opioid-epidemic-1010118
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 05:56 PM
Left this for OL as the last comment on the other thread:
OL,
Love you like a brother. The one who gives me a deal on my lease contract:)
My point is that it is in our interest. Simply becasue it is SA dealing with the assholes who want to kill us. Khashoggi, via WAPO had big time matinee influence wiith the MB and their favs. Taking him out was like if we took Walter Mathny out in Russia when it counted.
Because he is a so called Journalist he is protected. BS. He was an enabler of the largest Islamist terroism cult in the world. To me its simple, protect the Homeland and those who help us do that.
YMMV
Posted by: Jim Eagle | November 21, 2018 at 05:59 PM
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-usa-cuba-exclusive-idUSKCN1NQ2CV?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5bf5e5d004d301490b2cebbd&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
Exclusive: U.S. weighs sanctions on Cuban officials over role in Venezuela crackdown
Posted by: MissMarple2 | November 21, 2018 at 06:20 PM
Jack, your stash of Grey Goose is safe and guarded in our special vault on The Ledge. You and I are covered!
Posted by: Old Lurker | November 21, 2018 at 06:22 PM
Wait a minute OL, I thought I was in of that stash too!
Posted by: Another Bob | November 21, 2018 at 07:55 PM
BTW OL, I’m with you.
This is Saudis and Turks doing Saudi and Turk things. Khashoggi isn’t what he’s claimed to me.
The is the press trying to screw Trump again, nothing more.
Posted by: Another Bob | November 21, 2018 at 07:58 PM
He is an instrument of general intelligence and prince talal, where one begins and thr other end, he is also of the ikwan. The brotherhood. So this triangular alliance (Iraq opted out) Turkey Qatar and Iran is the thing.
Posted by: Narciso79 | November 21, 2018 at 08:05 PM
New thread
Posted by: sbwaters | November 22, 2018 at 08:16 AM