Who Will Trump Try To Blame For Trump Slump?
Will the "Trump Bump" turn into the "Trump Slump," or will the president somehow manage to successfully shift the political blame? That is the question on everyone's mind in Washington today, as the Dow Jones average slipped close to 1,200 points, after falling over 600 points last Friday. Trump has been overly eager to claim all the credit for a soaring stock market, so now that a bear seems to have taken hold of Wall Street, will he shoulder an equal share of the blame as the credit he's been claiming all along? That seems doubtful, knowing his aversion to accepting blame for pretty much anything under the sun.
This may give rise to a parlor game inside the Beltway, where people try to anticipate who Trump will attempt to lay all the blame on. Step right up and place your bets!
President Donald Trump will blame the stock market's downturn on:
(a) Hillary Clinton
(b) Barack Obama
(c) The Nunes memo, the F.B.I., and the Justice Department
(d) Tom Brady
(e) Traitorous Democrats in Congress
(f) Outgoing Fed chair Janet Yellen
(d) Immigrants, starting with those DACA gangsters
(g) The British national health system
(h) Bone spurs
(i) Other (fill in the blank...)
Too snarky? Too soon? Well, we certainly apologize for that... seeing as it's all Tom Brady's fault anyway. Heh.
All kidding aside, the market has taken a beating in the past two trading days -- one not seen for quite some time. The past year has seen a steady climb in the stock indexes, with almost no corrections or reversals whatsoever. So such a correction was actually overdue. But that doesn't make it any easier to cope with, politically, for a president who has been boasting about market gains for months.
Last Friday, the Dow fell by 666 points. Today, it shed a further 1,175 points, a total drop of 1,841 points in two days. That's historic in scale. If it slides further tomorrow, a sense of panic may begin to loom large over Wall Street.
Economists (being economists) haven't yet agreed on why the market got so bearish so quickly. There are a couple of possible culprits, or it could be a combination of them. First, on Friday there was a pretty good monthly jobs report out for January, which showed unemployment staying at record lows, but also showing bigger wage growth than has been seen in a while. Wage growth, while good for wage-earners and job-seekers, gives investors the jitters because it could indicate inflation to come. So this may have been the spark, since the report came out early Friday morning.
Secondly, the Trump Bump had to come to an end sometime. Wall Street has been anticipating two things from Trump: regulations slashed and lower taxes. Part of the historic rise in the stock market over the past year has been people essentially betting that those two things were going to happen, and that it would be good for business. At this point, though, both things have largely already happened. The Trump administration has been quietly killing or gutting regulations across the board, and the Republican Congress delivered a tax cut even more astonishingly tilted towards investors than they dared dream would become reality. But now it is reality. Meaning there's nothing more to look forward to -- it's a known quantity now, not a gamble on the future. Wall Street basically bet that the good times were going to continue, and then they did, but now they're figuring the real cost-to-benefit ratio. Either that, or the gamblers have now decided they won and are cashing out their chips simultaneously.
The third thing which could have driven the selloff was a report last week on the federal deficit. This article appeared last Friday in the Washington Post, focusing on two reports about the estimated deficit for this fiscal year:
Here are the exact figures: The U.S. Treasury expects to borrow $955 billion this fiscal year, according to documents released Wednesday. It's the highest amount of borrowing in six years, and a big jump from the $519 billion the federal government borrowed last year.
Treasury mainly attributed the increase to the "fiscal outlook." The Congressional Budget Office was more blunt. In a report this week, the CBO said tax receipts are going to be lower because of the new tax law.
In other words: "No, tax cuts do not pay for themselves. Never have, never will." Oh, and numerologists (and Bibliomancers) please take note: the actual official total deficit for fiscal year 2017 was (gasp!) $666 billion. And the Dow fell 666 points last Friday! It's the number of the Beast, twice!
Again, snarkiness aside, the almost-doubling of the yearly deficit has more far-reaching effects in the marketplace, as the article goes on to detail:
The White House got a taste of just how problematic this debt situation could get this week. Investors are concerned about all the additional borrowing and the likelihood of higher inflation, which is why the interest rates on U.S. government bonds hit the highest level since 2014. That, in turn, partly drove the worst weekly sell-off in the stock market in two years.
The belief in Washington and on Wall Street has long been that the U.S. government could just keep issuing debt because people around the world are eager to buy up this safe-haven asset. But there may be a limit to how much the market wants, especially if inflation starts rising and investors prefer to ditch bonds for higher-returning stocks.
"Some of my Wall Street clients are starting to talk recession in 2019 because of these issues. Fiscal policy is just out of control," says Peter Davis, a former tax economist in Congress who now runs Davis Capital Investment Ideas.
The Federal Reserve was also buying a lot of U.S. Treasury debt since the crisis, helping to beef up demand. But the Fed recently decided to stop doing that now that the economy has improved. It's another wrinkle as Treasury has to look for new buyers.
Once again, this article was written before the Dow went down another 1,175 points. With such a dramatic downturn, the media is going to be scrambling to attach a storyline to it (Friday's downturn news was kind of swallowed up by Super Bowl weekend). Any one of these three may become the favorite of the experts in the next few days, or perhaps something not even listed above.
Politically, a lot will depend on how far down things go and when things start to bounce back. If this is a steep drop which quickly bottoms out, then things might not be so bad, politically. But if it goes on for more than a short period, or if it drops more than anyone now predicts, then things are going to get a whole lot tougher to explain.
Trump, by tying himself so closely to the economy in his first year in office, is finally going to have to face some adversity. So far, he really hasn't faced any big crisis, other than natural disasters. But now, the stock market seems likely to dominate the news over the next week, if not beyond. And that news is pretty bad. If it gets even worse, Trump is going to have to address it in one way or another.
He probably won't be able to shift any political blame to Congress, since they haven't recently done anything (or failed to do anything) that directly sparked the selloff. The tax plan was passed over a month ago, and the shutdown was quickly resolved. The budget will likely stumble along throughout the year, but then again it's been doing that for a long time now. So Trump won't have Congress as a handy scapegoat. He also won't be able to target an individual party within Congress for mucking things up.
The only political thing so far being blamed is the tax cut bill, for almost doubling the deficit this year (with all the resulting ripples across the markets detailed in that article). But it's a fair bet that Trump won't be blaming his single legislative achievement to date for the market downturn. I just can't see him saying "It was wrong to cut all those business taxes" any time soon, to put it another way.
So far, President Trump has continued to get away with blaming others for any adversity. But it's going to prove impossible for him to lay this off on "fake news" or the media. The Dow is the Dow, not fake news. I realize that Trump may have even already begun the blame game (I have no idea what he's been tweeting while I've been writing this, in other words), but the safe bet is he'll either try to do so soon (perhaps tomorrow morning?) or else distract the media by picking a gigantic fight with someone totally unrelated (Eagles players already refusing their White House invitation?) in an effort to shift the conversation on cable news.
But from where I sit, I really think the Trump Slump is going to land at the president's feet. He had so much fun taking all the credit for the Trump Bump that it seems almost inevitable. Trump could try to just refuse to comment on the economy in general, but it's doubtful he'd be able to stick to it for long. Sooner or later, he's bound to try shifting all blame to some scapegoat or another (my guess would be Janet Yellen, who just stepped down last week as chair of the Federal Reserve -- the timing is more convenient than for any of the other possible scapegoats, in other words).
Democrats, if they're smart, will be mostly sitting this one out on the sidelines. There's no political upside in appearing to cheer for an economic downturn, to be blunt. Trump and the Republicans will be pointing fingers in all directions, but Democrats will likely take a pass at directly blaming Trump. Why should they, when Trump has already set himself up for this fall? When you claim all the credit on sunny days, then people are inevitably going to blame you when it rains. For better or worse, Trump claimed the Trump Bump as his own, so he likewise is now going to own the Trump Slump.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
He'll blame Mueller's investigation.
As you noted, the Tax-Heist is done, and lots of regs have been slashed and all the "excitement" those disasters may have given investors has probably petered out. Now the reckonings will start coming due -- all those financial sleights of hand the Repubs used to get their magical projections will begin failing. The deficit is growing ahead of schedule and that's just the beginning.
Wages have gone up but only a teeny bit relative to costs of living and what will soon be higher state/county/sales taxes and other price hikes people will be noticing. (Did you saw Paul Ryan's now deleted tweet where he lauded a woman who told him she was thrilled with the extra $1.50/week she's getting in her paycheck - Tweeters hammered him over it and he took it down.)
Well, if the economy is going to tank we can only hope the timing is good for Dems in 2018. Blotus is already pulling republicans down everywhere -- a rotten economy will take all the air out of their hoped for "tax-cut" sales jobs. They broke it, they own it.
Did you SEE
The markets could shoot up tomorrow, or they could deteriorate gradually over the next month.
Guess what, nobody knows nothing.
It is like weather and climate.
The longer term part, in my opinion (opinion!!!) is the bond market reaction to the debt and the structure of the debt.
Personally (opinion!!!) if I was in charge of the treasury over the last five years, I'd have been selling 30-50 year bonds at 5-6% or less. It is the ant and the grasshopper story, frankly.
CW: (i) Other (fill in the blank...)
Asked and answered:
(i) Other lies a.k.a. "fake news"
(j) All of the above... over time.
Benedict Donald is nothing if not predictable.
Paula
1
He'll blame Mueller's investigation.
Paula is right, and it suddenly occurred to me that it would be easier to list who Trump won't blame for the Trump Slump: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin... because kompromat.
CW: But from where I sit, I really think the Trump Slump is going to land at the president's feet.
I was picturing it landing squarely back into the Orange Blowhole from whence it spewed forth. :)
I think Trump's best option is to buy time with his old campaign boast "only I can fix this" and hope the markets recover quickly. He can try to leverage this by mentioning that the Mueller investigation is a major distraction...get rid of it. I'm not saying this is a good option, it's just the best at hand. Roll them bones.
TS
8
Sidekick dressed as a moth agrees. Hey, TS... 2/23:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkBNBxQZbY4
Better yet, WHOM will Chris get for a proofreader?
OH MY GOD!!!!!
The Market fell to a point from a couple days ago!!!
OH THE HORROR!!!! :D
You guys really crack me up..
You are so immersed in HHPTDS, that you can't even THINK rationally.. :D
CW: But from where I sit, I really think the Trump Slump is going to land at the president's feet.
I am shocked that you would really think that.. :D
I saids it befores and I'll says it agains..
You people really need to pace yourselves.. You are going to burn out LONG before *PRESIDENT* Trump leaves office in Jan of 2025... :D
The longer term part, in my opinion (opinion!!!) is the bond market reaction to the debt and the structure of the debt.
Personally (opinion!!!) if I was in charge of the treasury over the last five years, I'd have been selling 30-50 year bonds at 5-6% or less. It is the ant and the grasshopper story, frankly.
Weren't you the guy who said that *PRESIDENT* Trump probably didn't collude with the Russians, then changed your story and said *PRESIDENT* Trump probably DID collude with the Russians and then flip flopped AGAIN and say that *PRESIDENT* Trump probably DIDN'T collude with the Russians???
Dood.. WHY on this green earth would you believe you have ANY credibility when it comes to *PRESIDENT* Trump???
CRS,
Better yet, WHOM will Chris get for a proofreader?
For the most part, you are spot on with your comments..
But dood.. A Grammar Lame???
Seriously, that is beneath you.. :D
Prozac Girl,
Well, if the economy is going to tank we can only hope the timing is good for Dems in 2018.
And THERE it is in black and white...
Who cares HOW many Americans are hurt...
As long as it's politically good for the Dumbocrats, it's A-OK with Prozac-Girl...
So typical of the denizens of the People's Republic Of Weigantia...
"PARTY UBER ALLES"
Fear and uncertainty will almost always cause the stock market to go down.
The Nunes memo proves that the FISA process was weaponized to remove President Trump, a freely, fairly and legally elected President Of The United States...
In other words, we're in the midst of a coup by the Dumbocrat Party with assistance from hysterical NeverTrumpers from the Right..
Of course, the stock market is going to be twitchy...
The Nunes memo proves that the FISA process was weaponized to remove President Trump,
Man the conspiracy theories on the right are so wild we are going to run out of tin foil if 45 keeps this up.
Turns out the FBI were upset that 45 fired Comey:
https://www.npr.org/2018/02/05/583461793/emails-from-inside-the-fbi-give-insight-to-reaction-when-former-director-comey-w
Surprise, surprise, 45 was lying again about the FBI being happy Comey was fired.
It is sad that the Republicans, like Michale, hate law enforcement so much now. I thought they'd abandon 45 before turning against the people who keep us safe.
But I suppose in a world where not applauding 45 is treason, hating law enforcement for doing its job is just the latest "thing" on the right.
Sad.
Man the conspiracy theories on the right are so wild we are going to run out of tin foil if 45 keeps this up.
Any FACTS to dispute my claims???
No???
Of course not..
It is sad that the Republicans, like Michale, hate law enforcement so much now.
It's sad that you actually equate FBI higher ups as "law enforcement".. They are lawyers and politicians, not cops..
We KNOW how much the denizens of the People's Republic Of Weigantia hates cops..
That was on full display during MANY incidents in the past.. Darren Wilson ring a bell???
'Sides.. Yer the guy who flip flops on practically every issue..
Why do you think you have any credibility??
I managed to find an early draft of the SOTU speech. 45 was asked by the speechwriters to sketch out his thoughts:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iWiUC_Fjrow/Wm-1T3kEC7I/AAAAAAAAeoo/s1wR4ecjonIHKqOA31AmWcI6RoF-7v_HgCLcBGAs/s1600/state%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bunion.jpg
It is sad that the Republicans, like Michale
"I don't say this to you often, but this proves you have a true independent heart (and not, as most assume, the dark heart of an uber-Republican). If you were just a GOP stooge, you never would have posted that link..."
-CW, Grand Poobah of the People's Republic Of Weigantia
Of course, you have bullshit..
I have facts...
'nuff said
Typical...
I managed to find an early draft of the SOTU speech.
And the lies and bullshit continues...
The Federal Reserve May Secretly Want to Sink the Record-Breaking Stock Market
A big Federal Reserve meeting is coming up. Here is one thing that could happen if the Fed gets too aggressive.
Despite its independence, the Federal Reserve may quietly want a bear market that takes down a president that loves tweeting about the stock market.
Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, told TheStreet the "[Janet] Yellen put" in the markets could expire under President Trump. "I don't know if the Fed has much love for Trump," he said, adding that the Fed had the markets' back during the Obama Administration.
"Maybe the Fed would be happy to see a bear market that could be blamed on Trump." Schiff thinks the markets could easily correct 20%.
https://www.thestreet.com/story/14309564/1/federal-reserve-system.html
That explains a lot..
Man the conspiracy theories on the right are so wild we are going to run out of tin foil if 45 keeps this up.
This coming from the moron who has been flip-flopping on the biggest conspiracy theory in history...
:D
Let's see if 45 heeds his lawyers' advice and weasels out of his promise to talk to Mueller under oath.
My guess is that he will, and somehow blame Obama.
The thought of 45, under oath, being grilled like a cheese sandwich by Mueller, who you know will have answers to most of the questions already, is probably giving the legal team stomach ulcers.
What is really sad is the the fanboys will keep trashing law enforcement and the Justice Department to save their orange idol.
Some of 45's draft tweets:
"I hardly knew the Dow, it was merely a coffee boy."
"Who knew the stock market was so complicated?"
"Stock market? Barely knew the guy. Had a very very minor role. Don’t think I even met him."
“Inoculate yourself with the word of God,” urged Gloria Copeland who is on 45's evangelical advisory board, and doesn't understand science.
My advice: invest in tin foil hat stocks and stay away from the fanboys during the flu season.
The Federal Reserve May Secretly Want to Sink the Record-Breaking Stock Market
You do know that 45 just replaced the Fed chairman with his own pick?
So your latest conspiracy is that 45 is being undermined by the guy he put in place and who started work yesterday?
I'll send you over some more tin foil.
Let's see if 45 heeds his lawyers' advice and weasels out of his promise to talk to Mueller under oath.
What promise was that???
You know how I always know when I have you on the ropes, Neil??
You try to be like Mike :D
You do know that 45 just replaced the Fed chairman with his own pick?
You DO know that Yellin still has pull with the Fed board, despite the change in leadership, right??
And here I thought you were actually intelligent about all things financial...
Silly me.. :D
*PRESIDENT* Trump changed the leadership at the FBI.. The FBI minions are still doing the dirty work of the Dumbocrats and hysterical NeverTrumpers...
Duhhh
Neil's in panic mode..
His HHPTDS is in full flare up.. :D
neilm
24
Let's see if 45 heeds his lawyers' advice and weasels out of his promise to talk to Mueller under oath.
My guess is that he will, and somehow blame Obama.
I don't think Bobby Three Sticks will hesitate to subpoena Benedict Donald to testify to the grand jury. Trump's poor lawyers are faced with the fact that Hair Furor is a lying liar and con artist from way back who has lied so long and so hard that he believes his own bullshit and watches Fox News Entertainment Propaganda and believes their bullshit.
The thought of 45, under oath, being grilled like a cheese sandwich by Mueller, who you know will have answers to most of the questions already, is probably giving the legal team stomach ulcers.
*OMG* *Spew Alert* ---> "grilled like a cheese sandwich"
Neil wins the "Internets" today. :)
Welfare-Girl
I don't think Bobby Three Sticks will hesitate to subpoena Benedict Donald to testify to the grand jury. Trump's poor lawyers are faced with the fact that Hair Furor is a lying liar and con artist from way back who has lied so long and so hard that he believes his own bullshit and watches Fox News Entertainment Propaganda and believes their bullshit.
Any facts to support your claims??
Look who I am asking for facts...
A luser who takes a bath once a year whether she needs it or not.. :^/
Michale
Troll harder, please. *LOL* :)
"Just the facts..."
-Joe Friday
Welfare Girl,
I don't think Bobby Three Sticks will hesitate to subpoena Benedict Donald to testify to the grand jury. Trump's poor lawyers are faced with the fact that Hair Furor is a lying liar and con artist from way back who has lied so long and so hard that he believes his own bullshit and watches Fox News Entertainment Propaganda and believes their bullshit.
For once in your miserable and pathetic and scumbag existence, can you stay on topic...
1) Everyone may have failed to notice, but we are rapidly approaching yet another government shutdown. The deadline to pass another continuing resolution on the budget is THIS THURSDAY. So far, there is NO DEAL to move forward on DACA, immigration or the border wall. Also, I hardly think the last shutdown was a failure for Democrats, who got funding for children's health for 6 years, so that chip is now permanently off the table.
2) We are also rapidly approaching the debt ceiling limit. Because of the recently passed tax cut decreasing revenues, the debt ceiling will now be hit a full MONTH earlier than previously anticipated, from mid March to mid February.
3) Sean Hannity is trying to blame Obama for the recent stock market decline, even though Obama has been out of office for over a year now.
[11] Michale
"OH MY GOD!!!!!
The Market fell to a point from a couple days ago!!!
OH THE HORROR!!!! :D"
EXCEPT the FACTS are the following:
1) The recent stock market decline wiped out the gains for the ENTIRE YEAR of 2018 so far.
2) The recent decline was also the single LARGEST DROP in HISTORY.
Neither are hardly TRIVIAL matters.
You do know that 45 just replaced the Fed chairman with his own pick?
You *DO* know that Yellin was still in charge of the FED up until Friday..
Mighty big coincidence that the downturn started in Yellin's last days as Fed Chairman..
Com'on Neil!! I thought you were smarter than this!!!
3) Sean Hannity is trying to blame Obama for the recent stock market decline, even though Obama has been out of office for over a year now.
You morons blamed Bush for EIGHT YEARS after he left office...
DUH....
EXCEPT the FACTS are the following:
Yea.. "facts"..
2) The recent decline was also the single LARGEST DROP in HISTORY.
U.S. stocks plunged the most in 6 1/2 years,
Yep, still lying, JM....
And still being bitch-slapped with your lies.. :D
Also, I hardly think the last shutdown was a failure for Democrats,
Shocking!!! :D
But you are right about one thing.. You DO hardly think....
All the facts point to this being a total and utter clusterfrak for the Dumbocrats. Even CW made that clear...
So, yea.. Yer right. You DO hardly think...
[39] Michale
"2) The recent decline was also the single LARGEST DROP in HISTORY.
U.S. stocks plunged the most in 6 1/2 years,
Yep, still lying, JM...."
I did NOT LIE. TRY AGAIN. It WAS the largest POINT DROP in history 1,175. It was the biggest PERCENTAGE drop in 6 1/2 years.
If you are going to try to TROLL someone Michale, at least get YOUR facts straight!
Apparently the reason behind the stock market drop appears to be the dawning realization of concern over the rising debt due to the recent tax cuts, how to pay for them, and what impact they are going to have on inflation worries. Also dawning is the realization that the Fed is either going to have to raise interest rates due to inflation worries, or investors will start selling off bonds for the same reason. Or both. Either one, will definitely at least slow the economy for sure, and if taken too far, will probably tip us over into a recession just in time for the mid term elections.
Nice back pedal, JM... You lied.. It's not the largest drop in history..
It's the largest drop in 6.5 years...
Get yer facts straight..
I realize your Party slavery demands that you make things worse than they are...
But this is a minor correction.. Nothing more..
I know, I know.. You hope it's a major catastrophe, that tens of millions of Americans suffer so you can have the satisfaction of blaming *PRESIDENT* Trump....
You should examine WHY you want bad things to happen to your fellow Americans... Is your Party slavery THAT deeply ingrained in you???
Apparently the reason behind the stock market drop appears to be the dawning realization of concern over the rising debt due to the recent tax cuts, how to pay for them, and what impact they are going to have on inflation worries. Also dawning is the realization that the Fed is either going to have to raise interest rates due to inflation worries, or investors will start selling off bonds for the same reason. Or both. Either one, will definitely at least slow the economy for sure, and if taken too far, will probably tip us over into a recession just in time for the mid term elections.
Any facts to prove this??
Nope... None whatsoever...
1) Everyone may have failed to notice, but we are rapidly approaching yet another government shutdown. The deadline to pass another continuing resolution on the budget is THIS THURSDAY. So far, there is NO DEAL to move forward on DACA, immigration or the border wall. Also, I hardly think the last shutdown was a failure for Democrats, who got funding for children's health for 6 years, so that chip is now permanently off the table.
2) We are also rapidly approaching the debt ceiling limit. Because of the recently passed tax cut decreasing revenues, the debt ceiling will now be hit a full MONTH earlier than previously anticipated, from mid March to mid February.
Jesus H Christ!!!!
Am *I* the *ONLY* one who can stay on topic here!!!???
[39] Michale
"3) Sean Hannity is trying to blame Obama for the recent stock market decline, even though Obama has been out of office for over a year now.
You morons blamed Bush for EIGHT YEARS after he left office..."
Yet funny how you FAIL to mention a crucial DIFFERENCE.
TRUMP himself has been taking credit for the stock market increase ALL YEAR since he took office. Now that it is declining on HIS watch, he OWNS that too. You can't take credit for it, and then disavow it right after. It's either one or the other, not both.
[44] Michale
"Jesus H Christ!!!!
Am *I* the *ONLY* one who can stay on topic here!!!???"
Maybe YOU should re read C.W.'s post. I AM ON TOPIC. Since C.W. mentioned the stock market, debt, the tax cut bill and the economy. You have a problem with that, take it up with him.
Yet funny how you FAIL to mention a crucial DIFFERENCE.
It's ONLY "crucial" to your Party enslaved agenda..
The FACT is you and yer fellow scumbags blamed Bush for EVERYTHING, long after he left office..
NOW you complain when the Right does it..
That makes YOU a hypocrite..
Maybe YOU should re read C.W.'s post. I AM ON TOPIC. Since C.W. mentioned the stock market, debt, the tax cut bill and the economy. You have a problem with that, take it up with him.
But CW DIDN'T mention Mueller, the shut down or ANY of the other crap you mentioned..
So, stay on topic or shut the frak up...
So, stay on topic or shut the frak up...
Shoulda had a :D after that cuz it was funny as hell :D
[48] Michale
"That makes YOU a hypocrite.."
NO, it makes TRUMP a HYPOCRITE.
"But CW DIDN'T mention Mueller, the shut down or ANY of the other crap you mentioned.."
I didn't mention Mueller. NOT ONCE in this thread. And the shutdown IS part of the budget process, and therefore the economy.
"So, stay on topic or shut the frak up..."
Looks like I really struck a nerve and got into your heard as well as under your skin.
NO, it makes TRUMP a HYPOCRITE.
Did you complain when others blamed Bush during Odumbo's term??
No, you did not..
That makes YOU a hypocrite, no matter how badly you want to dodge it..
Looks like I really struck a nerve and got into your heard as well as under your skin.
Whatever you have to tell yourself to make it thru your dull and pathetic existence.. :D
NOTHING ever gets into my heard.. :D
Now THAT was funny as hell!!! :D
Kick-9
I'm on it....
Check out Electric Dreams if you haven't already... the first episode was good.
Amazon has committed to a 3rd season of Man In the High Castle!!!!
The recent decline was also the single LARGEST DROP in HISTORY.
I am also constrained to point out that this WASN'T a SINGLE drop.. It was a drop over a couple days...
So, in essence, you had a SINGLE drop of -666... And then ANOTHER SINGLE drop of -1175...
So, no matter how you slice it, your statement was utter bullshit and had NOTHING to do with facts whatsoever...
Your HHPTDS is so strong you are hysterical....
DOW JUMPS
https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/djia
BBBWWAHAHHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
Let the back-pedaling and market-splaining begin :D
Michale
35
For once in your miserable and pathetic and scumbag existence, can you stay on topic...
You mean like your multiple personal posts with your pictures of your trip to Shithole, Haiti? Did you need some more attention about your personal shit; did we all not clap enough for you like Your Whining Orange Idol?
Well, boo-f***ing-hoo. ~ Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire
We all here are expecting so much more from you than this weak shit, bro:
Troll harder! :) *LOL*
This whole blog thread distills down to a bunch of mostly irrational people trying to rationalize a subject which itself is irrational. Odds of success not good!
Ya'all DO know that Yellin still has pull with the Fed board, despite the change in leadership, right?
Pretty sure this current market is Janet Yellin's lingering influence.
Oh, wait, wait. It's back in negative territory again and falling... so obviously Trump's influence at work here. ;)
CRS,
This whole blog thread distills down to a bunch of mostly irrational people trying to rationalize a subject which itself is irrational. Odds of success not good!
heh :D
Troll harder! :) *LOL*
"It's no wonder you're still single.."
-Metatron, DOGMA
You mean like your multiple personal posts with your pictures of your trip to Shithole, Haiti?
Friday Talking Points are universally accepted as a free-for-all here in People's Republic Of Weigantia, due to the length of time between new commentaries..
Something you would know if you were actually part of this community and not just a lame and pathetic hanger-on....
Michale
60
Friday Talking Points are universally accepted as a free-for-all here in People's Republic Of Weigantia, due to the length of time between new commentaries..
Oh, is that so? If that were a fact, then why on Earth would you have needed "the Grand Poobah" (your term) to give you permission to live blog the game where your pathetic Jaguars from Shithole, Florida lost to the Patriots of New England? *LOL*
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2018/01/17/democrats-flip-another-statehouse-seat/#comment-114345
Something you would know if you were actually part of this community and not just a lame and pathetic hanger-on....
You know, you really do "the Grand Poobah" a disservice with your attitude toward other posters and your inherent need to run everyone else off the blog and act as though it's your personal recreational space. Pathetic really.
Folks:
I just finished reading "Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right" by Arlie Russell Hochschild.
Arlie travels to the petroleum belt of Louisiana over five years, gets to know the local people, and tries to understand why the people who most suffer from pollution, illegal dumping, etc. still vote for candidates that want to abolish the EPA.
It is well worth a read, however if you want a short article that comes to a similar conclusion, try:
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/insider-explains-rural-christian-white-america-dark-terrifying-underbelly/
Here is the NY Times review of the Hochschild book:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/books/review/strangers-in-their-own-land-arlie-russell-hochschild.html
I just finished reading "Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right" by Arlie Russell Hochschild.
Arlie travels to the petroleum belt of Louisiana over five years, gets to know the local people, and tries to understand why the people who most suffer from pollution, illegal dumping, etc. still vote for candidates that want to abolish the EPA.
It is well worth a read, however if you want a short article that comes to a similar conclusion, try:
And another OFF TOPIC posts....
Funny though... The LAST "well worth a read" was that John LeCarre novel you recommended that "proved" to you that *PRESIDENT* Trump DID collude with the Russians..
Of course, you flip-flopped on that when the facts came out... :D
Once again, one has to wonder WHY you think you have ANY credibility... :D
You know, you really do "the Grand Poobah" a disservice with your attitude toward other posters and your inherent need to run everyone else off the blog and act as though it's your personal recreational space. Pathetic really.
So, before you spoke for the entire Republic Of Weigantian community..
NOW yer speaking for CW.....
Pretty pathetic for a luser hanger-on who REALLY needs to get off of welfare and take a bath MORE than once a year...
"It's no wonder you're still single.."
-Metatron, DOGMA
No one can stand yer smell....
Blah, blah Michale. Regarding the book "Collusion" I stated that 45 himself wasn't involved in collusion, as I've stated all along, however it turns out the family and associates are well and truly compromised by Russian security services.
Try to keep up.
1. On the subject of name-calling, Senator Tammy Duckworth got off a good one on Twitter, referring to the Unfaithful Sh!thole as "Cadet Bone Spurs".
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/2/6/1739131/-Bravo-Sen-Tammy-Duckworth-Calls-out-Cadet-Bonespurs-We-don-t-live-in-a-dictatorship
Now that's a good one!
Although seeing it really does make me sad. That is what this piece of shit criminal has brought people to -- he reduces everyone to playground level of the worst kind.
Now, having said that, I don't believe we can actually blame others for our behaviors, good or bad. For instance, I can choose (and do much of the time) to ignore the Spigot rather than get down in the mud with him. But sometimes I feel like "lowering" myself. My choices - either way. The rancid piece of cheese posing as POTUS uses childish name-calling routinely and it is unbecoming a President. Everyone is under stress as we deal with this lumbering disaster and at times people choose to react in kind, as has Tammy Duckworth. And she got off a good snappy one. But it really is sad - though justified - that she felt moved to be that disrespectful. Blotus has so debased his office he literally doesn't merit respect. But its not good.
Her tweet: We don't live in a dictatorship or a monarchy. I swore an oath—in the military and in the Senate—to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, not to mindlessly cater to the whims of Cadet Bone Spurs and clap when he demands I clap.
Blah, blah Michale. Regarding the book "Collusion" I stated that 45 himself wasn't involved in collusion
Bullshit..
Now yer just lying to cover yer flip-flopping ass...
If *PRESIDENT* Trump wasn't involved in collusion, then he *CAN'T* be guilty of collusion..
So, *NOW* you are saying *PRESIDENT* Trump is not guilty of collusion..
Is THAT what you are saying now???
Prozac-Girl
1. On the subject of name-calling, Senator Tammy Duckworth got off a good one on Twitter, referring to the Unfaithful Sh!thole as "Cadet Bone Spurs".
So, as I said.. You are perfectly OK with name-calling as long as the RIGHT people are being name-called..
There's a word for that..
It's called HYPOCRISY...
And once again.. Off Topic comments as far as the eye can see.... :^/
Michale
65
So, before you spoke for the entire Republic Of Weigantian community..
So you're taking issue with speaking for others when you constantly put words in practically everyone's mouth? Your hypocrisy is stunning yet not at all unexpected.
NOW yer speaking for CW.....
And your reading comprehension problem reveals itself yet again. That was my opinion, dumb ass, and just because I spoke about CW in my opinion does not mean I was speaking for him when quite obviously I was speaking for myself.
Pretty pathetic for a luser hanger-on who REALLY needs to get off of welfare and take a bath MORE than once a year...
As I said already: Weak. Troll harder. :)
"It's no wonder you're still single.."
You want to drag my family into this?
No one can stand yer smell....
I am sure no one here wants to know about your family's issues, but if you'd stop putting your head up your ass, I think that would go a long way to alleviate your personal problems. :)
2. Of late I've been remembering Nicolae Ceausescu, dictator in Rumania. What I remember most vividly from the time was the images of the bodies of he and his wife -- they made me think of photos of Mussolini-and-wife's bodies, hung upside down, people hitting them with sticks. Just primal stuff.
I looked him up and this article describes the brief "trial" and summary execution of he and his wife. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-elsner/trial-and-execution-the-d_b_401497.html
The Ceausescus were charged with four counts including genocide. Nicolae Ceausescu refused to recognize the authority of the court and maintained that the revolution was organized by a gang of traitors backed by foreign interests. He seemed convinced to the end that the Romanian people still adored him…
Elena: “We have the right to die together. Together, together!”
Nicolae: “What kind of thing is this?” (Still apparently in disbelief that his last moments are approaching).
Elena: “Don’t tie us up, don’t offend us. Please don’t touch me”
Nicolae: “I have the right to do what I want.”
Elena: “Shame, shame on you. I brought you up as a mother. Stop it. You’re breaking my arms. Let go of them. Let me go. Why are you doing this?”
A soldier: “No-one will help you now.”
Elena: “We’re powerless now.”
They are led outside. The film records the bursts of gunfire and then zooms in on the two twisted bodies lying like broken dolls, blood streaming from their wounds. And then those famous final portraits of death that flashed around the world.
I want Blotus legally removed or for him to voluntarily step down. He has been playing with fire all along, every step of the way pushing the envelope and getting away with things no one else gets away with. He has shown nothing but contempt for everyone who doesn't kowtow to him, and for our democratic institutions. In the process he has encouraged all of us to be less civilized, less respectful, more hateful. In addition to being "unbecoming" or worse, it is dangerous. We don't know how low Blotus will go. We also don't know how low we'll go in response. I don't want to find out.
Michale
70
And once again.. Off Topic comments as far as the eye can see.... :^/
Which is not very far for Michale since his head is planted firmly up his ass on a near permanent basis. :)
Which is not very far for Michale since his head is planted firmly up his ass on a near permanent basis. :)
Says the spinster who's ass is planted so far up ANY NeverTrumpers ass she can find...
Rode hard.. Put away wet....
I get it, Victoria.. Yer upset that your welfare check hasn't come yet and you spent all your food stamps on ice cream...
I understand why you are so bitter..
But, jeezus, girl.. Take a bath!!! You'll never be able to have a relationship if you smell so bad...
Paula,
In the process he has encouraged all of us to be less civilized, less respectful, more hateful. In addition to being "unbecoming" or worse, it is dangerous. We don't know how low Blotus will go. We also don't know how low we'll go in response. I don't want to find out.
Well, Paula, we all have the power to be and act better than the president of the United States.
You want to drag my family into this?
Says the person who dragged MY family into this.
The difference is, you HAVE no family... You have been discarded and disowned by anyone and everyone..
The ONLY person I am dragging around is you, Victoria.. Yer a chew toy...
Nothing more...
Well, Paula, we all have the power to be and act better than the president of the United States.
Would that anyone here could...
But it's a race to the bottom....
But it's a race to the bottom....
You alone could change that, Michale, at least in this space.
I am hopeful that you will see the light and use your leadership role here for positive change.
But it's a race to the bottom....
You alone could change that, Michale, at least in this space.
Yea, you keep saying that..
And yet, everytime I try, everyone else simply goes about there way, continuing the personal attacks and NOW, there is even gross and perverse attacks on my family...
Sorry, Liz.. Try telling the bitches who makes such personal and gross attacks that THEY can stop it all..
See how well that works out for you...
It won't stop until they stop.. I am tired of always being the bigger person...
michale
Ya need to remember that in order for somebody to be capable of offending you, it's necessary that you first give a proverbial shit about what they think. Or to phrase it another way, 'Don't give a shit = never offended'!!
Liz,
I am hopeful that you will see the light and use your leadership role here for positive change.
Why don't you ever try and cajole all the others to change THEIR ways???
Let me tell you why..
Because you know they will simply attack you with the same viciousness and disregard for civilized behavior as they do anyone else that disagrees with them..
You are as much of a leader here as I am... You have as much leadership power as I do... You and I are the only one's left...
But, unless you wield it evenly, it's for naught...
CRS,
Ya need to remember that in order for somebody to be capable of offending you, it's necessary that you first give a proverbial shit about what they think. Or to phrase it another way, 'Don't give a shit = never offended'!!
"There can be no offense where none is taken"
-Sarek Of Vulcan
Yes, I know and I agree...
As long as the attacks and threats are confined to myself, I have no problem ignoring them and considering the source..
But when some two-bit bitch like Victoria starts dragging my family into her attacks and such??
Well, that's a whole nother kettle o' fish...
When the little pissant luser dragged my family into things.. The gloves came off...
Michale, you must have missed [75]. :)
You know, Michale, having a leadership role is not an easy proposition. But, then again, nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
I know you would agree that making this blog a civil one where there are no personal attacks, real or perceived, is worthwhile. So, I hope you would put more energy and a lot more patience into that effort.
But... Getting back on topic...
Stocks are up again...
So much for ya'all's end of the world predictions...
But, unless you wield [leadership power] evenly, it's for naught...
I'll try to do better. :)
I know you would agree that making this blog a civil one where there are no personal attacks, real or perceived, is worthwhile. So, I hope you would put more energy and a lot more patience into that effort.
I am tired of being the ONLY one who does and see all the other personal attacks and name-calling continue..
You get others to agree to a cease-fire and I'll be happy to oblige....
Can't get any more fair than that...
Stocks will do what stocks will do. They go up and they go down. The standard advice applies.
You get others to agree to a cease-fire and I'll be happy to oblige....
I'll work on it.
You get others to agree to a cease-fire and I'll be happy to oblige....
And THAT is more than you will get out of anyone else here...
You get others to agree to a cease-fire and I'll be happy to oblige....
I'll work on it.
Fair enough.. I wish you all the success in the world...
But battle lines are drawn in People's Republic Of Weigantia...
You have your work cut out for you...
Tell ya what.. I'll give ya a head start.. For the rest of the day, I will stick with stock market discussions only and/or refrain from *ANY* personal attacks or name-calling...
You have my word...
So, you won't have to worry about a single issue from me...
Good luck....
You have your work cut out for you...
...and, I will need your help!:)
...and, I will need your help!:)
I will help by not adding to your workload...
At least until 0400hrs tomorrow morning.. :D
Then we'll see how things are...
The Dow Jones industrial average opened with a big whoosh lower, then rallied all the way back and was more than 300 points higher at one point, before settling slightly higher.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-market-sell-off-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html
Seems that rumors of the catastrophe in the market were greatly exaggerated... :D
For informational purposes...
The Market would need to fall over 6,000 points to erase the Trump Bump.... :D
Paula
67
"Cadet Bone Spurs" *LOL*
That is a good one. Great link, thank you. There's another good tweet on there saying: "my two favorite nicknames for trump so far... cadet bone spurs and fat Nixon."
*LOL* Fat Nixon. :)
Blah, blah Michale. Regarding the book "Collusion" I stated that 45 himself wasn't involved in collusion
Bullshit..
Now yer just lying to cover yer flip-flopping ass...
Well that should be easy to prove - link to the post where I said that 45 is guilty of collusion.
As I've said all along, no intelligence officer worth his salt would trust 45 as part of a conspiracy.
Compromising 45's kids is an obvious move, as is working the sidelines and getting lucky picks by 45 such as Carter and Manafort.
45's underlying problem is a combination of ignorance, naivety and stupidity. His other, larger, problem is trying to cover things up and lying constantly.
Mueller, if unimpeded, will uncover the truth and we'll see if we have an innocent, maligned victim; a bungling fool whose only crimes were covering up stupidity; or a low life who worked with Russians to attack our democracy.
Michale
74
Still weak and too damn repetitive; be more creative and get some new material. You're simply repeating my lines from another comment here and accomplishing nothing more than revealing exactly what hit your nerve... the blurb about your hatred and bitterness. Thank you.
Troll harder. :)
Regarding 45's promise to talk to Mueller under oath that Michale seems to have conveniently forgot:
WASHINGTON — President Trump said Wednesday he's willing to testify in the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election — and will do so under oath.
“I’m looking forward to it actually,” Trump told reporters in the West Wing of the White House. “There has been no collusion whatsoever, there has been no obstruction whatsoever.”
Trump said his lawyers are working on the rules regarding his testimony, but added “I would do it under oath, absolutely.”
Asked if Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his office would be fair to him, Trump said: "We're going to find out."
Trump said his testimony could take place within two to three weeks.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/24/trump-says-he-would-testify-under-oath-muellers-russia-probe/1063745001/
Kick,
Are you going to contribute to making this blog more civil, starting with the elimination of gratuitous name-calling?
I'm hoping you're on board with making the comments sections of this blog the best in the blogosphere. After all, Chris deserves nothing less from all of us!
neilm
I love that - equating revealing that Hillary's behind-the-scenes troops conspired to shut Bernie S out of the Dem primary race, with "attacking our democracy"!!!
You ain't fooling us, what you REALLY mean is 'Attacking our Democratics', right??
Liz M [100]
A blog where your side takes personal offense, calls me an asshole and claims I'm attacking your intelligence when I inform you that you misunderstand some principle of economics ain't in any danger of ever becoming "civil".
Neil,
In light of my (real) promise to Liz, I'll defer my responses to #97 & #99 until such time as they are relevant and on-topic or the next Friday Talking Point commentary...
Whichever comes first...
CRS,
It's always better to be part of the solution than part of the problem.
It's always better to be part of the solution than part of the problem.
I think what CRS is saying is that people who call other people "asshole" solely because they disagree, those people are part of the problem and not part of the solution..
I can't say I disagree with him and I don't think you would either...
Stocks will do what stocks will do. They go up and they go down. The standard advice applies.
That's very true...
The problem here is that, in the Republic Of Weigantia, when the stocks go up, it's in spite of President Trump and when the stocks go down, it's BECAUSE of President Trump..
And that's just ludicrous... :D
Michale
76
Two comment boxes about the same post simply shows your desperation. Still too repetitive and whiny.
Says the person who dragged MY family into this.
It clearly hit a nerve. Good to know. Thank you.
The difference is, you HAVE no family... You have been discarded and disowned by anyone and everyone..
Weak tea and obviously made up. You're trying too hard. I said troll harder, not dumber. :)
The ONLY person I am dragging around is you, Victoria.. Yer a chew toy...
Yeah, still too repetitive and obviously one of your often repeated stale lines of same-old-repetitive drivel.
Work on it. :)
Michale
82
Still weak. It's always incredulous when the troll who constantly dishes it out assumes the role of whiny victim troll. Pretty standard stuff, though.
As long as the attacks and threats are confined to myself, I have no problem ignoring them and considering the source..
Oh, please. You're hysterical now and clearly can't take the exact same thing you've dished out many times... fooling no one here except yourself. Prozac Boy.
The gloves came off...
Not really. You just repeated the same lame shit you always have to everyone here at one time or another. SSDD
I love that - equating revealing that Hillary's behind-the-scenes troops conspired to shut Bernie S out of the Dem primary race, with "attacking our democracy"!!!
Weak attempt to troll CRS.
Hi gang, just got back into town after a week away.
CW - spot on. Hannity blamed Obama today, as a matter of fact. I noticed too, that the deficit hit $666 billion at the very same time that the market dropped by 666. We should all send Trump a pentagram.
Michale - You seem to be playing the victim card alot today. Did something sap you of your usual braggadocio? Or just temporarily out of talking points?
BTW, loved the split-screen yesterday, as Trump bragged about the markets, while in the insert, the market dropped and dropped and dropped. It may be a hiccup, but it was a beautifully timed one!
https://shareblue.com/trumps-chief-of-staff-attacks-dreamers-too-lazy-to-get-off-their-asses/
Acting-President Kelly is a swine.
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/02/trumpism-is-modern-republicanism/
Criticizing Trump is relatively easy. But purging the country of Trumpism means purging the Republican Party of the lunatic wing that truly believes liberalism means the end of America as we know it. This means more than just refusing to give it oxygen. It means no longer tolerating it. It means no longer indulging in Benghazi or the IRS or Solyndra or any of the other faux scandals, even though they’re a lot of fun. And it means calling out conservatives who do indulge in lunacy. That means Hannity. It means Glenn Beck back when he mattered. It means Rush Limbaugh. It means Steve King and Devin Nunes. It means Fox & Friends. It means evangelical leaders.
You can ask the same of Democrats, of course, but only if you recognize that this is fundamentally a Republican epidemic, and that’s where emergency measures are needed first.
Dear General Kelly -
We're making a database of former generals that some have considered deporting, due to their existential threat to the Republic. Would you care to sign up? If you do, we promise not to deport you right away, but we might use the information you give us to round you all up later - just sayin'.
Wait....no? Lazy Jarhead.
[75] Elizabeth: Well, Paula, we all have the power to be and act better than the president of the United States.
That is absolutely true. I ponder it on occasion.
And people wonder why we can't have nice things...
Well here is something totally OT but it is cool and it does show American Greatness...
http://www.spacex.com/webcast
[113] Balthasar: Yep.
neilm [109]
Yeah, sorry about the perceived inadequacies of my 'trolling' efforts. It's hard to excel at something you really don't completely understand.
It's hard to excel at something you really don't completely understand.
That seems to be finally dawning on a lot of Republicans lately.
GT,
And people wonder why we can't have nice things...
Well here is something totally OT but it is cool and it does show American Greatness...
http://www.spacex.com/webcast
I actually got to watch the actual rocket lift off.. Pretty awesome..
I have been watching rocket launches since the heady days of the MX Missile at Vandenberg AFB...
Never ceases to fill me with awe...
EM
100
Are your going to contribute to making this blog more civil, starting with the elimination of gratuitous name-calling?
Okay, first off, I'm happy for you and Michale that you've worked it out that you're the leaders of the blog and I'm not a member as expressed in Michale's comment to me at [60] and your multiple comments to each other where you annoint appoint yourselves.
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2018/02/05/who-will-trump-try-to-blame-for-trump-slump/#comment-115223
But I'm going to relieve you both of your workload and just let you know that neither of you are my "leader" and need to concern yourselves with giving me orders about what subjects I can post about or when my posts are off topic as determined by you or when there is a board free-for-all. I particularly don't need to be taunted by the most prolific poster of off-topic posts letting me know that my post is off topic while he feels free to post whatever he wants.
I will jump through hoops for the author of the blog and take whatever orders he has; however, neither of you are him.
In answer to your question, EM, I'm going to call Donald Trump and/or many other public figures any... but not every... gratuitous name that pops in my head. Having said that, if anyone/someone posts using words like "hysterical" and disparaging the group as a whole in multiple post after post in trolling fashion and putting words in other commenters mouths and/or referring to them by monikers containing medicinal names... either brand names or generics... or making up lies about anyone or the group as a whole, I can't exactly say I'll always ignore that.
Paula's post at 67 is excellent and pretty much sums it up perfectly, in my opinion. Thank you, Paula. :)
Balthasar
110
Exactly this! :)
BTW, loved the split-screen yesterday, as Trump bragged about the markets, while in the insert, the market dropped and dropped and dropped. It may be a hiccup, but it was a beautifully timed one!
Did you see Colbert?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lS6lCkJ5Fo&feature=youtu.be
Kick,
Please, for the sake of Chris's blog, grow up or find another playground to play in.
That is absolutely true. I ponder it on occasion.
Instead of pondering it, Paula, I wish you would act on it.
[120] Kick: You're welcome!
Paula
111
Acting-President Kelly is a swine.
Oh... wow. Well, what little respect I had left for Kelly just evaporated. Pathetic.
[122] Elizabeth: With all due respect re: Kick, sod off. If you're going to support the Spigot then you really can't complain about anyone else.
Re: [123] - I'm sure you do. Maybe I will. Probably not until after the criminal traitor is gone, hopefully taking a bunch of fellow-criminals with him. Until then I find I simply can't be respectful to/about traitors, whether they be the Unfaithful Sh!thole, individual or collective enablers, or resident rw trolls.
[125] Kick: Yep.
EM
122
Please, for the sake of Chris's blog, grow up or find another playground to play in.
What part of "neither of you are my leader" has confused you?
[67],
While Tammy Duckworth and each of us are free to say whatever we wish in our own virtual space, we should at all times respect the virtual spaces we choose to visit and, more importantly, respect the owners of the blogs in which we choose to participate.
So, let us be respectful of this excellent blog and take our juvenile playground nonsense elsewhere.
neilm [109]
Yeah, sorry about the perceived inadequacies of my 'trolling' efforts. It's hard to excel at something you really don't completely understand.
No worries, mate. Your nadir was when you claimed that women couldn't understand math, it will take a lot to get below that bar.
Kick [121]Did you see Colbert?
Yep, I saw that! Nailed it.
So, let us be respectful of this excellent blog and take our juvenile playground nonsense elsewhere.
But this blog is all about our juvenile playground nonsense. We call it politics. It might as well be duck-duck-goose for all the relationship that the debate has to real life.
It started with the Republicans. We wanted a steady, mature hand at the helm, but nooooooo, the other side wanted a radical, someone who would "mix it up" both verbally and politically. We wanted a debate, they wanted a cage match. So that's what they've got.
[132] Balthasar
"It started with the Republicans. We wanted a steady, mature hand at the helm, but nooooooo, the other side wanted a radical, someone who would "mix it up" both verbally and politically. We wanted a debate, they wanted a cage match. So that's what they've got."
You could not have said it better. They could have given us William F. Buckley, instead we got saddled with Archie Bunker instead.
Thanks for being part of the solution, Balthasar.
This blog, by the way, is all about what we choose to make it.
Let's try harder to make the comments sections worthy of Chris's commentaries.
Elizabeth [134]Thanks for being part of the solution, Balthasar.
You're welcome, Liz. I'm afraid I'm a bit of an absolutist when it comes to political speech. Sided with Zappa back in the 70's and never shook the habit.
It's a fool's errand anyway - people are who they are. I'm not fond of name-calling and ad hominem attacks either. It's childish and inane.
But people are who they are.
I'm actually glad that Trump isn't policed too closely in his speech: his true personality - his moronic, self-fellating grandiosity - is on display daily for all to see and judge. What luck for us that he isn't carefully scripted, eh?
John M. [133]: They could have given us William F. Buckley - we got saddled with Archie Bunker instead.
Exactly. I remember back when All in the Family premiered - my racist Uncle was a big fan of Archie. He was, that is, until he realized that we were laughing AT him and not WITH him.
I always said that that show did more to change America's relationship with bigotry than a thousand heartfelt speeches ever could have. After Archie, blatant racism sounded pretty stupid to most folks.
It still sounds stupid, but these days it's called "straight talk" by the Trumpers. My, how times have changed.
You tried, Liz..
But haters got to hate..
So we return to our regularly scheduled hate-fest...
Balthy,
Michale - You seem to be playing the victim card alot today. Did something sap you of your usual braggadocio? Or just temporarily out of talking points?
Lemme ask ya something..
Why is it, when ya'all (NEN) whine and scream and bitch and moan and hate and play the victim on my comments on a daily, sometimes HOURLY basis, you don't have a problem..
But when some fat bitch who smells like a shithouse and has been disowned and divorced and discarded by life like the used tampon she is *ATTACKS* my family and I respond, you whine and cry and stomp your feet??
Why is that???
I mean, honestly.. What kind of gutter-laden scumbag do you have to be to think that attacks on a man's FAMILY simply over political disagreements is perfectly acceptable??
What kind of scumbag lowlife are you to think that???
Prozac-Girl,
[122] Elizabeth: With all due respect re: Kick, sod off. If you're going to support the Spigot then you really can't complain about anyone else.
And if you are going to support all the trash and hate and name calling from everyone else, you really can't complain about me..
Works. Both. Ways.
Moron...
It's a fool's errand anyway - people are who they are. I'm not fond of name-calling and ad hominem attacks either. It's childish and inane.
Bullshit...
You LOVE it.. You WALLOW in it..
You LOVE it.. You WALLOW in it..
Ah, would that such base sensation could bring me such joy. Alas, it takes more than that to keep me interested. I need meat, and not the red, raw, indigestible sort. No, I like mine well-cooked and seasoned, not half-baked and smothered in off-the-shelf flavor-of-the-day.
For instance, the current GOP/Hannity attack against any entity that has dared to breathe a word of criticism against dear leader Trump has reached a new pitch of desperation, and spun out into tinfoil hat land. Hannity has decided that, in the middle of last year's campaign, Hillary invested significant time and money to create and peddle a fake document, or series of faked documents that wouldn't be made public until after the election. In this, she had the help of the British Government, a former British Spy, Russian intelligence and rogue elements of the FBI, at least one of whom also helped product the document that effectively ended her chances of becoming President. Says Hannity:
"The goal of the whole, unseemly syndicate? To launder Russian lies about Donald Trump through the U.S. government, so they could weaponize our own intelligence and law enforcement network against the man who now sits in the Oval Office."
Have I got that straight? Months before the election was even held, Hillary colluded with the folks who had hacked the DNC and her associate Podesta to undermine a future Trump administration by providing information marked: UNVERIFIED to the same FBI that was about to deep-six her own campaign?
Yeah, that's so much more believable than the story that a former British spy, while working on a contract, overheard troubling rumors about an American presidential candidate, and shared them with a friend in the FBI, who, along with many of his fellow agents had already seen troubling info about meetings between the Trump campaign and the Russians, and added that to their growing list of 'things to look into' about the Trump organization.
Hannity also postulates that four different Deputy Directors of the FBI, including one appointed by Trump, engaged in a conspiracy to withhold crucial information about the Dossiers from four different FISA judges in order to continue a surveillance warrant on Carter Page, who was at best a fringe player in the Trump campaign, at the behest of the Clinton Campaign and the Russians.
And again, all this was mostly done months before the election was even held. Uh-huh.
What Hannity's fantasy conspiracy lacks mostly is any evidence at all. At best, it's got the sort of coherence you'd expect from a teenager caught coming home late from a party.
That Fox would disseminate and promote this sort of dangerous and uncredible nonsense tells us a lot about the lengths that they're now apparently willing to go to, to appease the solidifying Trump wing of the GOP, at the expense of American sovereignty. And for what? Ratings.
But then, Fox was never precisely an "American" enterprise, was it, being closely held by an Australian who got his start-up money from the Saudis? No surprise then, that they're not overly concerned about foreign influence in US politics - having done just that themselves for years, after all...
Ah, would that such base sensation could bring me such joy. Alas, it takes more than that to keep me interested.
We're not talking about interested..
We're talking about how you claim to be against name-calling and ad honimem attacks, yet you are completely silent against such attacks when they are made be people who support your ideology...
CRS & Don have been attacked incessantly and yet you remained silent on those attacks..
So, the FACTS clearly show that, despite your claims of not being "fond of name-calling and ad hominem attacks" you actually are QUITE fond of them..
As long as they are part and parcel to your ideological slavery...
As far as being a scumbag for believing personal attacks against a person's family solely for a political disagreement is perfectly acceptable..
I accept your concession...
As far as being a scumbag for believing personal attacks against a person's family solely for a political disagreement is perfectly acceptable..
As far as being a low-life gutter dwelling scumbag for believing personal attacks against a person's family solely for a political disagreement are perfectly acceptable..
Apologies for the grammatical error..
And lookie here..
Dow closes 567 points higher after crazy market swings
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/us-stock-futures-dow-data-earnings-market-sell-off-and-politics-on-the-agenda.html
The market regained almost all of it's first day loss...
So much hysteria... So little FACT.. :D