Trump's Polling Remarkably Flat
We need to begin with a few program notes before I start in with the actual article. First; no, I haven't yet put the time and effort into creating graphs to show President Donald Trump's polling averages. I may at some point, but we have not yet reached that point (this is a fancy way of saying I've been too lazy to do so until now, I should in all honesty mention). Second; I wrote about Trump's polls only a few weeks ago, but I'm not sticking to a "once a month" schedule with him, the way I used to for President Obama. Instead, I'm attempting to identify turning points in the graphs, which can come after long periods or very short periods. Third; all numbers (as always) come from the Real Clear Politics rolling average webpage. Fourth; I felt it was time to write this -- in all fairness -- because Trump's doing better than I thought he'd be, by this point. OK, with all of that understood, let's take a look at Trump's recent job approval polling.
Flatter than expected
That'd have to be my sum-up of Trump's polling numbers since the last time I looked at them. Trump has lost roughly a point in job approval, and has lowered his own floor to 39 percent from 40 percent. But once the initial slide happened, Trump has had one of the most stable polling periods he's ever seen -- his polls for the past few weeks are almost perfectly flat, with both his job approval number and his job disapproval rating falling within a range of a single point for the whole time. For Trump, that's an achievement.
A few caveats are necessary for the data points involved, before we delve deeper into the averages. Individual polling of the president's job approval has been particularly sparse over the past three weeks, which is a bit unusual. Polling numbers come in two main flavors -- daily or weekly rolling averages, and national one-time polls. Organizations like Gallup and Rasmussen provide the former, while the big news networks and major newspapers provide most of the second (such as the "ABC/Washington Post poll"). For this period, there haven't been a whole lot of national one-off polls within the average that Real Clear Politics comes up with. This over-relies upon the daily polls, giving them more weight. I'm not sure what that means to the outcome in this particular instance, but it has to be pointed out. National polls usually come in a wave (you get two or three of them within the same week), so perhaps we're about to see some national numbers in the next week or so. This may be the primary reason for how flat Trump's polls currently are -- not where they're at right now, but how little they've been fluctuating.
As is almost always true with Donald Trump, the past few weeks have had no shortage of bombshell-level breaking news stories. But this has not affected the polling much, one way or the other. When I last wrote about Trump's polls, the story had just broken that Trump had given away Israeli national security secrets to the Russians in the Oval Office, after Trump just having weathered the controversy of firing James Comey. Partly, this is why I'm writing about Trump polls now, since we're on the brink of hearing Comey testify again before Congress -- which has become the biggest must-see televised congressional hearings since Bill Clinton was impeached. We could be on another cusp for Trump's poll numbers, in other words.
But before we look to the future, let's take a look at the past three weeks. The last time I wrote, Trump was at 40.7 percent job approval, and 53.9 percent disapproval. That's pretty dismal, but the slide continued for the next few days. Trump fell below 40 percent approval, and at his highest point hit 55 percent disapproval. He's been underwater (for more than a few days) to the tune of 15 percent or more, to put this slightly differently.
Trump initially hit a low of 39.6 percent approval, at the bottom of the slide he was already in, when I last wrote about his polling. But from that point on, it has fluctuated between a high of 40.0 percent and a low of 39.4 percent -- the lowest rating he's yet seen. His disapproval initially climbed all the way up to 55.0 percent, then fell back to 54.1 percent. Both of these stayed within these very tight ranges, however -- the flatness I referred to earlier. Today, Trump is at 39.9 percent approval and 54.3 percent disapproval. In both directions, the shift was roughly a single percentage point worse from where it had been previously, but once the shift was made the numbers stayed flat.
That flatness -- given all of what's taken place in the meantime -- is pretty notable. The Comey firing and the secrets-to-the-Russians thing in the Oval Office led to an exhausting couple of weeks of revelation after revelation about Trump, his campaign, his aides, Russia, and all the rest of it. The biggest news in this period was that a special counsel was named to investigate it all. Michael Flynn "took the Fifth" and refused to turn over documents to Congress. The C.B.O. score was released on the House health care bill (23 million fewer Americans covered). It was revealed that Trump gave more national security secrets (the location of two of our nuclear submarines) away to the leader of the Philippines, in a phone call. Trump released his budget, which has some truly awful numbers within it.
Meanwhile, Trump took his first trip overseas. It was chock full of gaffes from Trump, but on the whole he didn't start World War III or anything, so it turned out better than it could have. Trump promised he wouldn't lecture any country in the Middle East on anything, and then went right ahead and delivered several stern lectures to all of our strongest allies in Western Europe. Trump returned home and then made his big announcement of pulling out of the Paris Accords on climate change.
Throughout the whole period, Trump continued to tweet. So many, many tweets. Since Trump didn't give a single news conference while on his trip, this is now the primary means for the public to understand what Trump is thinking. This is all why it is so remarkable that Trump's numbers have barely budged during this time period. There was a lot happening, but you can't tell this from his polling trend. Perhaps it is a case of the negatives canceling out the positives. Many (especially of his own party) saw his foreign trip as a big success, so this probably boosted his average a bit. The drip-drip-drip nature of the Russia scandal might mean that the public has now gotten a bit jaded in hearing each further revelation -- each breaking news tidbit has less of an impact over time, in other words.
Trump's solid "floor" in the polling now seems to be 39 percent. That's pretty low -- in the daily averages, Trump has already charted a worse number (39.4) than Obama saw in his entire eight years as president, by comparison. But it didn't go any lower -- Trump's still got a hard 39 percent in his corner. I should say in all humbleness that that's higher than I predicted (I had thought it'd go down to at least 37 or 38 percent by this point). Now, anything below 45 percent is considered bad for a president, and anything under 40 percent is considered terrible. Trump's absolute job approval is historically low, to put this another way. But at least within this dismal range, he's been remarkably consistent for the past few weeks.
What will happen in the next few weeks is anyone's guess. Two things will impact it. The first is whenever the national polling comes in and gets added in to the average. This will have an outsized impact for the two weeks which follow the poll's publication date (the national polls stick around longer than the daily rolling averages, which are always changing). This article is guilty of examining the polls too closely, in other words -- when you only check in once a month, these things tend to smooth out more than when you take snapshot of less than a month.
But, obviously, the second big influence on Trump's polling may be Comey's testimony this Thursday morning. The broadcast networks are all going to cover this hearing live, guaranteeing a very wide audience. Now, Comey's testimony could fizzle -- he might answer most questions with some version of either: "I will answer that in closed session, later today," or: "I have been directed not to answer that at this point by the special counsel's office, because they feel it is so germane to their investigation." If Comey's testimony becomes a big nothingburger, then Trump's job approval rating may continue on its current flat trajectory.
Of course, Democrats are hoping for some bombshell revelations, and that could happen too. With Comey, you never know what he's going to say. Even if Comey's testimony lives up to the hype surrounding it, Trump's polling likely won't shift until the middle of next week -- polling takes time, and the impact of any one piece of political news takes even more time to percolate through the population.
So the potential is there for another big shift downward in Trump's poll numbers, but nothing more than just potential at this point. It's impossible to say whether anything Comey says will cause staunch Trump supporters to turn away from him. They really haven't, to date. And, notably, only a small percentage of them have done so in the past three weeks. Which is why, in all fairness, I had to take another snapshot of Trump's polling now, right before the Comey testimony happens.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
we have two competing models for this kind of scandal. on the one hand there's watergate, and on the other there's iran-contra. although both had numerous crimes prosecuted and persons convicted, these scandals resulted in two very different outcomes for the historic popularity of the presidents involved. why was nixon hated and why was reagan teflon? both were involved, both broke the law, both had their policy agendas disrupted, but reagan recovered and became even more popular, while nixon continued to spiral downward.
to be honest, the trump administration has a lot in common with both.
JL
I don't think Comey will move the needle at all, even if he produces a note in Trump's handwriting that says 'kill the investigation'. The alt-right has already discounted anything Comey has to say, and Trump loyalists are happy to follow suit.
And, as you say, Comey's testimony could turn out to be a big nothingburger. Comey has a reputation, though, for making news with his testimony. Will he break his streak and be boring for a change?
Clear testimony that Trump might have tried to influence Comey could embolden Democratic Senators and Reps to keep the heat on high, however, which will affect all of the OTHER things they want to do and have to do this year, including possible runs at healthcare and tax cuts by the republicans, and the unavoidable vote, for instance, to raise the debt ceiling.
Or to put it another way, as long as the bad headlines are about Trump for the next year and a half or so, Democratic congressmen and Senators won't worry as much about keeping their seats in the midterms and vote accordingly, while many Republicans will be forced to hedge their bets on every vote out of fear of being lashed to a sinking ship.
The Ship of Fool is already leaky and unsteady. Some of that is due to the inexperience of its crew, and that will almost certainly improve even with Captain Blighted at the helm, but Comey could punch the ceremonial first hole in the bow: the first, very likely, of many more to come.
nypoet22 -
Nixon went on TV to proclaim he was not a crook. Reagan went on TV and admitted that he had lied to the American people. Maybe that's the difference? At this point, I have no real idea, it's just a random thought.
Also, Reagan had a whole industry behind pushing the narrative that he was the GOP's "Saint Ronald of Reagan" -- which was largely successful. See the book "Tear Down This Myth" (I forget by whom, sorry).
Reagan's mythos rose exponentially AFTER he left office. Not during, and not when he actually left office.
I have to say, I've been wondering whether there'll be a similar effort for Trump. Will people, 25 years from now, be pushing the line that "Trump was one of our greatest presidents"???
I have to say I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me a bit, after what happened with Reagan.
Balthasar -
Maybe, maybe not. Comey's been known for holding things back (like that hospital story under Bush) until his actual testimony. So, at this point, I see it as about 50/50 whether we get a nothingburger or a shocking revelation from Comey. I have no idea which way it'll go -- could go either way, at this point....
-CW
Maybe, maybe not. Comey's been known for holding things back (like that hospital story under Bush) until his actual testimony. So, at this point, I see it as about 50/50 whether we get a nothingburger or a shocking revelation from Comey. I have no idea which way it'll go -- could go either way, at this point....
Oh, it's already been established that there WILL be a "bombshell" this week.... :D
It will likely be that Trump used the word 'argutwoeif' or had THREE scoops of ice cream..
"OH MY GOD, WHAT A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!!!"
-Marisa Tomeii, MY COUSIN VINNY
:D
michale -
You just keep telling yourself that. Whatever allows you to sleep at night...
Heh.
-CW
But I honestly understand why ya'all are so hysterical about President Trump..
When ya'all elevate the slightest whiff of an issue to the point of "OH MY GODS, IT'S WORLD WAR III!!!!!" it allows ya'all to forget how utterly and totally decimated your own Party is... And it allows ya'all to actually BELIEVE ya'all's fantasies that the American people are really on your side...
So, I get it.. I really do...
I'll try to be a little more compassionate regarding the hurt and utter despair ya'all feel...
You just keep telling yourself that. Whatever allows you to sleep at night...
Heh.
Touche' :D
But as BAD as my track record is on SCOTUS predictions, it's PHENOMENALLY accurate on Trump predictions..
You must concede that...
So, the chances of President Trump being forced from office over these totally fact-less accusations is slim and none and Slim just logged off..
Now, if YOU want to tell yourself different so YOU can sleep at night?? :D Who am I to stand in the way of a good night's sleep... heh
http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/opinions/europe-closer-to-trump-on-terror-than-you-think-stanley/index.html
If ya'all could get past the hysteria of ya'all's anti-Trump zealotry, you would see the logic of Trump's position vis a vis immigration and counter-terrorism...
Yooooooo hoooooooooo ...
DONALD TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATING IS BETTER THAN BILL CLINTON'S AT THIS POINT IN HIS FIRST TERM
http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-approval-rating-better-bill-clintons-first-term-621853
Let the "but!!! but!!! but!!! That's different!!!"s begin... :D
I think it's a mistake to read too much into brief intervals. As I see it, the first order trend is that Trump's popularity has declined over his first 4 months in office. The second order trend is that the rate of his decline has tended to diminished over that period.
Trump's popularity has gone flat in the last few weeks? I don't think the trend should be ground that fine. Looking at the RCP running average plot, I notice the current couple of flat-ish weeks doesn't look much different than the flat-sh weeks in Feb. and April. There is a lot of noise in these plots.
James Comey's credibility problem
http://theweek.com/articles/703539/james-comeys-credibility-problem
Comey's credibility problem mirrors the Democrats credibility problem quite closely...
Comey's credibility problem mirrors the Democrats credibility problem quite closely..
I knew that was coming. I just knew.
I knew that was coming. I just knew.
I am just pointing out the Democrat Party line prior to Comey's firing...
If you don't like the hypocrisy then quite being so damn hypocritical....
It's not rocket science...
On another note..
Where are the bombshells!!!????
We were promised bombshells!!!!
Where are they!!????
I guess it's just another hysterical Trump hater talking out of their asses again.....
Michale -
Who here has said there will be bombshells? Who here has said there will be WWIII? Who here is hysterical about Trump?
YOU!
You are the only one going on and on and tediously on in hysterical, hyperbolic rants. I get that it's all frantic distraction but jeez, give it a rest. Try rational argument for a change.
MS,
Who here has said there will be bombshells?
Victoria has promised us "bombshells" from the hearings going on today.. So far the only "bombshell" has been that President Trump hasn't interfered in any FBI or DOJ investigation..
Who here has said there will be WWIII?
The entirety of the Left Wingery including many here in Weigantia, up to and including you, if I am not mistaken...
I can provide the links if I thought for a second you would concede the point....
Who here is hysterical about Trump?
The ones who go on and on about a nonsensical word... The ones who take any anonymous source against Trump as gospel. The ones who attack Trump because he took 2 scoops of ice cream when everyone else had 1..
In short, the entirety of the Left Wingery including the majority here...
Try rational argument for a change.
I have.. I asked for ANY facts to support ya'all's hysterical accusations... All I got back was personal attacks and name-calling..
Here's a thought for ya'all..
If ya'all want RATIONAL arguments, try for just ONE second, to be RATIONAL....
Quit screaming hysterically about nonsensical words and phantom Russian collusion and non-existent back channels and join the real world...
WOOO WOOOOO WOOOOOOO
BOMBSHELL ALERT!!!
Top Intel Community Officials Deny That Trump Pressured Them On Russia Probe
http://dailycaller.com/2017/06/07/top-intel-community-officials-deny-that-trump-pressured-them-on-russia-probe/
What's that sound????
pppppppppffffffffffffffffffffffffftttttttttttttttttttt
That's all the air deflating your hysterical anti-Trump crusade.... :D
"The only bad air around here is you guys fartin' around!!!"
-Richard Dreyfuss, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
:D
#Resistance my ass! :D
Did I mention that Director Comey was going to release his written testimony while the Wednesday hearing was going on? It's great reading... a real "bombshell," if you know what I mean.
WHOOP: There it is! :)
Top Intel Community Officials Deny That Trump Pressured Them On Russia Probe
What they did was refuse to answer the question directly in public. What they'll say in closed session is a different matter.
Doesn't matter. Comey's testimony (his opening statement just released) details clear and overt pressure from Trump to shut down the investigation and/or steer the investigation away from Trump and Flynn.
Michale
7
So, the chances of President Trump being forced from office over these totally fact-less accusations is slim and none and Slim just logged off..
You just keep telling yourself that. Whatever allows you to sleep at night. Slim hasn't logged off; Slim is the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Westley: I myself am often surprised at life's little quirks. You see, what I told you before about saying "please" was true. It intrigued Roberts, as did my descriptions of your beauty. Finally, Roberts decided something. He said, "All right, Westley, I've never had a valet. You can try it for tonight. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." Three years he said that. "Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." It was a fine time for me. I was learning to fence, to fight, anything anyone would teach me. And Roberts and I eventually became friends. And then it happened.
Buttercup: What? Go on.
Westley: Well, Roberts had grown so rich, he wanted to retire. So he took me to his cabin and told me his secret: "I am not the Dread Pirate Roberts," he said. "My name is Ryan. I inherited this ship from the previous Dread Pirate Roberts, just as you will inherit it from me. The man I inherited it from was not the real Dread Pirate Roberts, either. His name was Cummerbund. The real Roberts has been retired fifteen years and living like a king in Patagonia."
But since we're talking Russia here, a better description would probably be perestroika dolls! :)
Interestingly, according to Comey, Trump's entire focus in these conversations was Himself, and Flynn. He apparently didn't attempt to shield his son-in-law, Sessions, Manafort, Page, or others who'd by then admitted to having contact with the Russians, referring to them only as 'satellites'.
So when he says to Comey, "I need loyalty", he doesn't apparently think that's a two-way street, unless it amounts to 'and in return you get to keep your job'.
Balthasar
21
Interestingly, according to Comey, Trump's entire focus in these conversations was Himself, and Flynn. He apparently didn't attempt to shield his son-in-law, Sessions, Manafort, Page, or others who'd by then admitted to having contact with the Russians, referring to them only as 'satellites'.
Comey is a great note taker. He made a brilliant move when he requested that his testimony be released to the public on Wednesday; it was what Comey wanted. He also wants all his notes released to the public. He's got nothing to hide.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the White House right about now. Seriously. If the Republicans keep asking about the "leaks"... the "leaks"... the "leaks" and get snoopy about finding the leakers, they're going to sure as hell be screaming "fake news"... "fake news"... if they put some of these journalists on the witness stand because many of these leaks come straight out of the White House... the different factions leaking information on each other. So they seriously don't want to go there.
And there are simply no excuses for what Trump has done. He was given a list of the rules; they all were. Read them and weep:
http://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000015a-dde8-d23c-a7ff-dfef4d530000
No excuses. :)
Doesn't matter. Comey's testimony (his opening statement just released) details clear and overt pressure from Trump to shut down the investigation and/or steer the investigation away from Trump and Flynn.
BBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go,”
THAT is clear and overt pressure??? :D
Yer a funny guy...
Here's the thing...
If it WAS clear and overt pressure, then Comey failed in his duty to immediately inform the AG....
You guys are grasping at straws and it's sad to watch...
Balthasar
Top Intel Community Officials Deny That Trump Pressured Them On Russia Probe
So they weren't "pressured," right? But the standard isn't whether or not they happened to feel any pressure. The standard is whether someone attempted to pressure them... and they knew the rules (see memo at link above).
Think back to the early news coming out of the White House about the Trump administration trying to influence senior members of the IC... remember?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-sought-to-enlist-intelligence-officials-key-lawmakers-to-counter-russia-stories/2017/02/24/c8487552-fa99-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html?utm_term=.f2c8402fbec2
The Trump administration has enlisted senior members of the intelligence community and Congress in efforts to counter news stories about Trump associates’ ties to Russia, a politically charged issue that has been under investigation by the FBI as well as lawmakers now defending the White House.
Acting at the behest of the White House, the officials made calls to news organizations last week in attempts to challenge stories about alleged contacts between members of President Trump’s campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives, U.S. officials said.
The calls were orchestrated by the White House after unsuccessful attempts by the administration to get senior FBI officials to speak with news organizations and dispute the accuracy of stories on the alleged contacts with Russia.
Wonder what old Reince is up to right about now? :)
there are simply no excuses for what Trump has done. He was given a list of the rules; they all were.
Oh, I see. That's what they did wrong. They forgot that Trump doesn't read. They should have created a special video featuring FOX hosts explaining the rules, and mentioning Trump (along with appropriate praises like, 'the man with amazingly large hands') and preferably under three minutes long, including introduction. Slip it in during 'Fox and Friends' in the morning, and voilà! he's informed. Sorta.
So, what ya are saying is that there will be BOMBSHELLS tomorrow, right!?? :D
Comey said he “could be wrong” about that interpretation of Trump’s comments.
Reasonable doubt..
Face it, people.. Ya'all got nothing....
Oh, I see. That's what they did wrong. They forgot that Trump doesn't read. They should have created a special video featuring FOX hosts explaining the rules, and mentioning Trump (along with appropriate praises like, 'the man with amazingly large hands') and preferably under three minutes long, including introduction. Slip it in during 'Fox and Friends' in the morning, and voilà! he's informed. Sorta.
And yet, Trump is a successful businessman that even OBAMA wanted to be like..
And, oh yea.... Trump TOTALLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY *DEVASTATED* yer chosen hero and champion!!!
BBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
So, if Trump is as bad as ya'all claim, that makes NOT-45 20 times WORSE for LOSING to Trump!!!!
:D
"Simple logic"
-Admiral James T Kirk
The mere fact that President Trump ALLOWED Comey to testify proves that there is just a big nothing-burger here...
Unlike Odumbo who hid criminal activity behind Executive Privilege...
And, oh yea...
Trump's approval rating is BETTER than Bill Clinton's was at this point in his presidency..
OUCH!!!!! That's GOTTA hurt!!!! :D
"You can't win! I've got god on my side!!!"
-Leland Gant, NEEDFUL THINGS
:D
If it WAS clear and overt pressure, then Comey failed in his duty to immediately inform the AG..
He did:
As was my practice for conversations with President Trump, I wrote a detailed memo about the dinner immediately afterwards and shared it with the senior leadership team of the FBI.
What he got back was Sessions' 'scared Bilbo' look, and nothing more. When later, Trump cleared the room after a briefing to again buttonhole Comey, Comey took Sessions to task for allowing it:
I took the opportunity to implore the Attorney General to prevent any future direct communication between the President and me. I told the AG that what had just happened – him being asked to leave while the FBI Director, who reports to the AG, remained behind – was inappropriate and should never happen. He did not reply.
Sessions recused himself from the investigation shortly thereafter. His successor, at Trump's request, wrote a memo of bullshit reasons that Comey could be fired, which was used as the excuse for firing Comey.
What he got back was Sessions' 'scared Bilbo' look, and nothing more. When later, Trump cleared the room after a briefing to again buttonhole Comey, Comey took Sessions to task for allowing it:
That paragraph is my words, not Comey's. The rest of the bolded text is from Comey's testimony.
Just to be clear.
And what's your cite for that information???
That paragraph is my words, not Comey's. The rest of the bolded text is from Comey's testimony.
In other words, total and complete bullshit...
Your interpretation based SOLELY and COMPLETELY on your Party bigotry..
That's what I thought...
And yet, Trump is a successful businessman that even OBAMA wanted to be like..
You DO know that repeating a thing over and over doesn't make it true?
As was my practice for conversations with President Trump, I wrote a detailed memo about the dinner immediately afterwards and shared it with the senior leadership team of the FBI.
Why would Sessions give Comey a scared Bilbo look if Sessions wasn't even there???
You see what I mean?
Your claims are complete and utter bullshit from the word go...
You people just make shit up and then whine and cry when I point out the FACT that ya'all have no credibility...
Jeeesh....
And what's your cite for that information?
Nearly every news outlet in the world, many of which printed the document in full - except for FOX news, of course, which printed only 'talking points'.
But yeah, a short google search yields the entire text.
Why would Sessions give Comey a scared Bilbo look if Sessions wasn't even there?
Oh, Sessions does that look all the time.
Probably my favorite part of Comey's written statement had to be:
Creating written records immediately after one-on-one conversations with Mr. Trump was my practice from that point forward. This had not been my practice in the past. I spoke alone with President Obama twice in person (and never on the phone) – once in 2015 to discuss law enforcement policy issues and a second time, briefly, for him to say goodbye in late 2016. In neither of those circumstances did I memorialize the discussions. I can recall nine one-on-one conversations with President Trump in four months – three in person and six on the phone.
Even after Comey told the President that the proper way for him to contact the FBI was through the proper channels at the DOJ, Trump continued to call him directly!
Then there was this last little gem:
He said he would do that and added, “Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal; we had that thing you know.” I did not reply or ask him what he meant by “that thing.”
He said he had nothing to do with Russia, had not been involved with hookers in Russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in Russia.
Well, we now know the hookers story was true! Make it rain! Make it rain!
And if Trump knew he was being recorded in Russia, then he had to have something to do with Russia! Why else would he be recorded?
I did not reply or ask him what he meant by “that thing.”
perhaps...
https://youtu.be/T6QKqFPRZSA
:)
JL
Balthasar
25
Oh, I see. That's what they did wrong. They forgot that Trump doesn't read. They should have created a special video featuring FOX hosts explaining the rules, and mentioning Trump (along with appropriate praises like, 'the man with amazingly large hands') and preferably under three minutes long, including introduction. Slip it in during 'Fox and Friends' in the morning, and voilà! he's informed. Sorta.
*LOL* Yes! And then, just for good measure, show it during "The Five" because Trump called Kimberly Guilfoyle about the climate agreement in the morning before he announced his decision to hear her thoughts. Word on the street is that she's gunning for Spicey's job, and Trump is phoning her. Who knows if it's true... considering the source being Fox News Entertainment Propaganda.
Oh, and don't forget to run it during Hannity. I heard that Eric Trump said on Hannity last night that Democrats who support the probe into his father's campaign and Russia are "not even people." Well, if that don't just blow the "deplorables" comment all to hell. Not. Even. People!
Oh, where is the outrage from the righties about that?
JL
43
Yes! Yes!
Or perhaps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzllVlzzeuo
;)
Listen
41
Probably my favorite part of Comey's written statement had to be:
Creating written records immediately after one-on-one conversations with Mr. Trump was my practice from that point forward. This had not been my practice in the past. I spoke alone with President Obama twice in person (and never on the phone) – once in 2015 to discuss law enforcement policy issues and a second time, briefly, for him to say goodbye in late 2016.
And we'll always have that time in the Rose Garden together, just me and BO and BM.
https://youtu.be/sraZtvTFeHo?t=4m23s
Mmmmm... Memories light the corners of my mind,
Misty water-colored memories of the way we were.
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another for the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we, could we.........
Oh, sure we could..... Just one more time for old times' sake. ;)
Listen
42
And if Trump knew he was being recorded in Russia, then he had to have something to do with Russia! Why else would he be recorded?
Recorded footage from a Moscow hotel... Trump talking about a "relationship" circa 2013:
https://youtu.be/Dn1ZK2kcfQ8?t=2s
Kick [44] I heard that Eric Trump said on Hannity last night that Democrats who support the probe into his father's campaign and Russia are "not even people."
Here's exactly what he said, from the official Fox transcript:
HANNITY: Don't you wish you went to Washington so you could be dealing with this every second of every day?
TRUMP: You know that? I've never seen hatred like this. And to me, they're not even people. It's so, so sad. I mean, morality's just gone. Morals have flown out the window. We deserve so much better than this as a country.
HANNITY: You're right.
------------------------------
Here I think Eric meant to say,'they're not even decent people', that is, meaning to say: they're deplorable. What came out of his mouth was far worse, which is why Eric isn't the Trump child with his own office in the White House.
Whether Eric was referring to Washingtonians, the WH press, the press in general, or Democrats depends on whether you assume he was answering to Hannity's prompt about D.C., or leading into his next statement, which led to a mini-rant about Democrats. I'm leaning with the former.
Now contrast Trump's blanket condemnation of his father's enemies with Hillary's remarks, which she begins with the qualification that she knows that what she is about to say is an exaggeration:
"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up." (emphasis mine)
Replace the word 'half' with the word 'some', and that's an empirically accurate statement. The word 'half' is...what's the term?..a gross generality. Too bad she didn't warn us about that....oh wait, she did.
This has been another episode of "I Know You Are But What Am I?" Thanks for playing.
Michale
9, 30
You had to post that twice for effect? *LOL*
I'm guessing you didn't read too far into that article, right? Because if you actually had read it, you would have discovered this paragraph:
If you compare where each president stood at this point in the Gallup tracking poll, however, the two are deadlocked. The most recent Gallup survey pegged Trump's approval at 37 percent, the exact same figure the polling company found for Clinton in early June 1993. Trump's disapproval rating in the survey was far higher, however, outpacing Clinton at 57 percent to 49 percent.
Hmmmmm. So Clinton's approval ratings were about the same as Trump's depending on the poll or polling aggregate, the exact same in the Gallup poll, but Trump's disapproval rating was FAR HIGHER. How come you left that part out? :)
Michale
29
The mere fact that President Trump ALLOWED Comey to testify proves that there is just a big nothing-burger here...
How many times do you have to be told that Trump couldn't have stopped James Comey's testimony? What right-wing rag or propaganda television source is telling you this utter bullshit?
Yes, Trump could have delayed Comey's testimony, but there is absolutely nothing that Trump could have done to stop Comey's testimony.
The single most ignorant thing that Benedict Donald has done in his capacity as President of the United States TO DATE {do not fail to note the qualifier in bold and CAPS}: Firing James Comey!
Mark the date in your history book: May 9, 2017. That date was the beginning of the end... seriously.
Whatever right-wing propaganda or fringe bullshit that you're watching and/or reading where they're informing you that Trump could have stopped Comey, THEY ARE LYING TO YOU.
Unlike Odumbo who hid criminal activity behind Executive Privilege...
Okay, then... THEY ARE LYING TO YOU AND DEFLECTING. :)
Maxine Waters tweeted:
“So Comey told Jeff Sessions he didn’t want to be alone with Trump. Women across the country can relate."
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh SNAP! Snap, indeed!
Balthy,
Oh, Sessions does that look all the time.
But he wasn't THERE to give Comey the look.
You made shit up...
And NOW we come to find out that Comey DID tell President Trump that the President was not under investigation...
Ya'all said Trump was lying..
Turns out it was YA'ALL that were lying...
It's gonna be a fun day!! :D
Russ,
And if Trump knew he was being recorded in Russia, then he had to have something to do with Russia! Why else would he be recorded?
Don't take this the wrong way...
But are you truly that dense!!!!????
Anyone who is anyone and has more than two brain cells to rub together knows that they are recorded when they go to Russia...
I mean, com'on... I *KNOW* you are smarter than this...
Jeesh....
OK, OK... It's probably NOT because you are dense..
I am sure it's just because you are blinded by such hatred and Party bigotry that you can't think logically..
That must be it...
Even after Comey told the President that the proper way for him to contact the FBI was through the proper channels at the DOJ, Trump continued to call him directly!
And the moronic-ness continues!!!! :^/
Russ, he's the President Of The Frakin' United States!!!
If the President Of The United States wants to telephone the Director of the FBI directly, then the President Of The United States is going to damn well do it!!
This is EXACTLY what I mean by total and complete hysterical stoopidity!!!!
Your attacking President Trump because he didn't follow the direction of the Director Of The FBI!!!????
Surely an impeachable offense!!!
Jeezus H Christ ya'all have lost your minds....
Veronica,
How many times do you have to be told that Trump couldn't have stopped James Comey's testimony?
Up to the point that you actually provide FACTS to support your bullshit claim...
But we both know that, like your bombshell claim, your current claim that President Trump (love typing that!! :D) cannot invoke EP and stop Comey from testifying is ALSO total and complete bullshit...
All President Trump has to say is that their conversations were private and the President is invoking Executive Privilege and 'viola.... Comey cannot testify...
This is fact and no amount of hysterical bullshit you spew will change that fact...
Love the bombshells we had on Weds Victoria!!! :D
BBBWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You have been PWNED... AGAIN... :D
He'll will testify under oath that Trump repeatedly pressed him for his "loyalty" and directly pushed him to "lift the cloud" of investigation by declaring publicly the president was not the target of the probe into his campaign's Russia ties.
OHMYGODS!!!!!!!
BOMBSHELL!!!!! BOMBSHELL!!!!! BOMBSHELL!!!!!
A President Of The United States was demanding loyalty from a subordinate!!!!
OH MY GODS!!!! WHAT A BOMBSHELL!!!!! FORGET IMPEACHMENT!!!! LETS JUST GO HANG 'IM!!!!!
I wonder if ya'all can comprehend how completely and utterly ridiculous ya'all look....
My guess is ya'all know but ya don't care because the PTDS is too strong and all ya'all care about is taking down President Trump....
Former FBI Director James Comey's written statement, which was released in advance of his Thursday testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, does not provide evidence that President Trump committed obstruction of justice or any other crime. Indeed it strongly suggests that even under the broadest reasonable definition of obstruction, no such crime was committed.
-Attorney Alan Derschowitz
Sorry Weigantians...
No bombshells for you!!! :D
hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
Is Comey Going to Be a Bust?
Democrats should lower expectations.
Expectations ahead of former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony before a congressional panel on Thursday are high, and high expectations are easily unmet. Many believed that Comey, now a private citizen, would be unconstrained by professional courtesies and free from political compromises when delivering his testimony. Yet the released draft of Comey’s opening statement does not appear to suggest something explosive is forthcoming.
https://www.commentarymagazine.com/politics-ideas/james-comey-going-to-be-a-bust/
Ya'all are doing yerselves ANY favors by claiming there are going to be "bombshells"...
And ya'all are giving me PLENTY of fodder to point out how wrong ya'all are..... AGAIN....
Sometimes you people are yer own worst enemies... :D
Veronica,
Mark the date in your history book: May 9, 2017. That date was the beginning of the end...
OH MY GODS!!!!!
WHATTA BOMBSHELL!!!!
I have NEVER heard a "TRUMP IS TOAST" prediction here in Weigantia... EVER!!!!! WOW!!!!! That's AMAZING, Victoria!!! :D
seriously.
Oh... Well, if yer SERIOUS about it, I must give your BOMBSHELL it's due consideration...
........
BBBWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
:D
The fact that you ARE "serious" about it shows how completely and utterly inane you are... :D
Grrrrr...
Ya'all are doing yerselves ANY favors by claiming there are going to be "bombshells"...
Ya'all AREN'T doing yerselves ANY favors by claiming there are going to be "bombshells"...
Finally, Comey’s remarks contradict a report in ABC News suggesting that “Comey has told associates” he will dispute Trump’s claim that he was told on three separate occasions that the president was not personally under investigation. According to Comey, he did precisely that.
OHMYGODS!!!!!!
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
A news media's anonymous sources were FLAT OUT and UNEQUIVOCALLY WRONG!!!!!
OHMYGODS, what a BOMBSHELL!!!!!
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
"I can do this all day.."
-Captain America
And likely will.... :D
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
1. January 6th Meeting at Trump Tower:
"In that context, prior to the January 6 meeting, I discussed with the FBI’s leadership team whether I should be prepared to assure President-Elect Trump that we were not investigating him personally. That was true; we did not have an open counter-intelligence case on him. We agreed I should do so if circumstances warranted. During our one-on-one meeting at Trump Tower, based on President Elect Trump’s reaction to the briefing and without him directly asking the question, I offered that assurance."
2. January 27th Dinner at White House:
"During the dinner, the President returned to the salacious material I had briefed him about on January 6, and, as he had done previously, expressed his disgust for the allegations and strongly denied them. He said he was considering ordering me to investigate the alleged incident to prove it didn’t happen. I replied that he should give that careful thought because it might create a narrative that we were investigating him personally, which we weren’t, and because it was very difficult to prove a negative. He said he would think about it and asked me to think about it."
3. March 30 Phone Call:
"I explained that we had briefed the leadership of Congress on exactly which individuals we were investigating and that we had told those Congressional leaders that we were not personally investigating President Trump. I reminded him I had previously told him that."
-Former FBI Director Comey's testimony...
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
Looks like Director Comey told President TRUMP three times that the President was not under investigation...
Hmmmmmmmm I seem to have heard that before..
SOMEONE told us that before and then a whole bunch of ignorant someone's said that it was a lie..
Hmmmmmmm
I can't recall who it was....
:D heh
It's gonna be a fun day filled with ***BOMBSHELLS*** that totally, utterly, unequivocally and completely devastates ya'all's accusations against President Trump...
Ya see what happens when ya'all let yer PTDS speak for ya'all???
Ya'all end up saying stoopid, inane and totally bullshit shit...
If ya'all stack with FACTS instead of all yer anonymous sources claptrap, ya'all wouldn't be looking like impotent fools right now.....
I'm just sayin'... Just tryin' to help out.. :D
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
"The president went on to say that if there were some 'satellite' associates of his who did something wrong, it would be good to find that out,"
-Former FBI Director Comey
Well, isn't this interesting...
President Trump *ENCOURAGED* then Director Comey to continue the investigation and root out those who WERE committing crimes...
Far from OBSTRUCTING justice, President Trump was FURTHERING justice, ENCOURAGING justice....
Oh the embarrassment and humiliation ya'all must feel right now.... :D
It's no fun when the shoe is on the OTHER foot, eh?? :D
I viewed the President's 'I hope you can let this go' comment regarding the FBI probe into Mike Flynn as entirely unrelated to the broader investigation into Russia or possible links to his campaign.
-Fromer FBI Director Comey
pppppppffffffffffffffffffffttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
That's the sound of hot air escaping from the Democrat Party's Obstruction Of Justice case against President Trump...
:D
Oh wait.. Was that a BOMBSHELL!??? :D
And another point that ya'all must consider.. If ya'all were so inclined to consider actual FACTS, I mean...
Special Prosecutor Mueller signed off on Comey's testimony and, you can be sure, had a hand in writing Comey's opening statement...
By actually supporting President Trump's statements to the hilt, Mueller via Comey is signaling quite clearly the focus of Mueller's investigation is NOT on President Trump....
ppppppffffffffffffffffffffssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
There's that sound again.... :D
Ooooo!!! 16 straight comments!!!
And NO SIGN of slowing down!!!!
I can tell it's going to be a grand day!!! :D
Oh Baaaallllttthhhhsaaaarrrrrrrrr???
Mr. Comey says Mr. Trump strongly suggested in February that he close the Michael Flynn file, but after conferring with his “FBI senior leadership” he decided not to relay the conversation to Attorney General Jeff Sessions or any other Justice Department superior.
So, answer something for me...
How can Sessions give a "Bilbo Scared" look to Comey when Sessions wasn't even TOLD about the detailed memo???
You lied..
Comey never told Sessions about the Flynn meeting...
And, since it was Comey's *DUTY* to tell the AG if Comey thought that the President was trying to obstruct justice and Comey DIDN'T tell the AG, then obviously Comey didn't feel that the President was trying to obstruct justice..
In an attempt to make an impossible case, you lied and changed the "facts" to suit your narrative..
I won't even bother with the ***BOMBSHELL** label because that ISN'T a bombshell...
It's standard MO for many MANY Weigantians...
“I have never been pressured—I have never felt pressured—to intervene or interfere in any way with shaping intelligence in a political way or in relation to an ongoing investigation.”
-Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats
“I have never been asked or pressured to do anything I believe to be illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate.”
-National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers
ppppppppfffffffffffffsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
:D
So far, Jim Comey is disappointing the witch-hunters
http://nypost.com/2017/06/07/so-far-jim-comey-is-disappointing-the-witch-hunters/
The Left has built up the Comey testimony as The Trump Slayer....
Ya'all can't even comprehend how much I am laughing my ass off that it turns out that Comey's testimony is actually Trump's shield!!!!
Who could have POSSIBLY predicted that this would happen...
Oh... Wait.... :D
Sifting through the wreckage of the 2016 election, Democratic pollsters, strategists and sympathetic academics have reached some unnerving conclusions.
What the autopsy reveals is that Democratic losses among working class voters were not limited to whites; that crucial constituencies within the party see its leaders as alien; and that unity over economic populism may not be able to turn back the conservative tide.
Equally disturbing, winning back former party loyalists who switched to Trump will be tough: these white voters’ views on immigration and race are in direct conflict with fundamental Democratic tenets.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/opinion/the-democratic-party-is-in-worse-shape-than-you-thought.html
And this is why the Left Wingery, including the majority of Weigantians are putting so many eggs in the Comey basket...
ANYTHING to distract the American people from the knowledge that the Democrat Party is on it's way out...
But, as usual, the Left and ya'all overreached.. Promised "bombshells" where none will be found...
The only "bombshells" are things that we already know and that ya'all called lies..
Well, looks like the liar shoe is on the other foot! :D
And we haven't even gotten to the actual testimony yet!!! :D
It can only get worse for Democrats... :D
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/336871-cnn-issues-correction-after-comey-statement-contradicts-reporting
This is what happens when people take 'anonymous sources' as facts..
They look foolish, politically bigoted and downright stoopid...
When will ya'all learn....
FACTS rule the day...
Not anonymous sources from political dolts with an obvious ax to grind...
One would think that, after getting burned time and time and time again, ya'all would get a clue...
And here I thought this section of Weigantia wold be BLAZING with comments on how this is the beginning of the end of Trump and how it's going to take down the President and all these "bombshells" are going to unite ALL of the Dumbocrat Party!!!!
Instead, it's nothing but a funeral dirge from ya'all...
Simply more nails in the coffin of the dead Democrat Party...
What a difference a day makes.. :D
Michale
56
All President Trump has to say is that their conversations were private and the President is invoking Executive Privilege and 'viola.... Comey cannot testify...
Yes, and thereby Comey's testimony would be delayed, the investigating committees would take their cases to the courts, and please check history for how that worked out for Nixon, Clinton, Obama, etc. to understand why it would only delay Comey's testimony.
That is a slam dunk loser of a case, by the way, because it would take a special kind of stupid for Trump and/or his legal team to claim that his conversations with Director Comey carried Executive Privilege after Trump himself tweeted about them and also spoke about them multiple times in public. Trump himself and Sarah Huckabee Sanders are both on record stating that Comey was fired in order to hasten the end of the Russia issue. Invoking Executive Privilege and slowing down proceedings would prove Trump lied and was trying to impede the investigation.
United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974) was a unanimous 8–0 ruling against President Richard Nixon that limits the power of any U.S. president to claim executive privilege. The SCOTUS rejected Nixon's claim to an "absolute, unqualified Presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances."
Not the first time I have said this, but you can either crack a book and educate yourself or get your information from right-wing propaganda sites wherein they are lying to you and deflecting. Propaganda has been known to render a person a "useful idiot," and it is a choice you make when you rely heavily on right-wing talking points versus precedent setting long settled case law :)
Kick,
I owe you a sincere apology...
There *IS* a bombshell coming out of the Comey hearing..
Under questioning by panel chairman Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Comey said that he was uncomfortable with the unexpected meeting Lynch had with former President Bill Clinton on an airport tarmac last year.
Comey said that meeting convinced him that the independence of the investigation was tainted with regard to the Justice Department and led him to go public with the bureau's findings on Clinton.
Of course I am sure you and every one else here will join me in applauding former Director Comey's honesty and integrity....
{/sarcasm}
heheheheheheheheheheheheehehehehe
Oh my gods, could this be any more of a perfect day!!! I got my new fitbit Blaze and the hysterical Anti-Trumpers are going down in flames!!! :D
Veronica,
Yes, and thereby Comey's testimony would be delayed, the investigating committees would take their cases to the courts, and please check history for how that worked out for Nixon, Clinton, Obama, etc. to understand why it would only delay Comey's testimony.
You can obfuscate and discuss what the meaning of 'is' is until the cows come home..
But the fact reminds that President Trump invoking EP would effectively silence Comey..
Since President Trump DIDN'T do it, it indicates a level of confidence that anything COmey would say would NOT be damaging at all..
Confidence, it appears, that was dead on ballz accurate....
You lost.. Get over it..
But I have to give you credit for actually showing up... As embarrassing as it is to be so completely and utterly WRONG, you still showed...
You deserve credit for that.... :D
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
And ANOTHER MSM accusation has been exposed as a complete and total lie!!!!!
Comey Debunks NYT Report About Trump Campaign Having Repeated Contacts With Russians
“In the main – it was not true,” Comey said. “The challenge -- and I’m not picking on reporters -- about writing stories about classified information is that people talking about it often don’t really know what is going on. And those of us who actually know what’s going on aren’t talking about it. And we don’t call the press to say, hey, you got that thing wrong about this sensitive topic. We just have to leave it there.”
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/susan-jones/comey-debunks-nyt-report-about-trump-campaign-having-repeated-contacts
ppppppppffffffffffffssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
The air is continuing to leak from ya'all's hysterical accusations against President Trump..
Who could have POSSIBLY predicted that all those anonymous sources from all those media outlets would be totally and completely full of shit!!
Oh... Wait... :D
Face reality, people... Ya'all are going down in flames.. :D
Michale
70
The Left has built up the Comey testimony as The Trump Slayer....
Quite the contrary. The Comey testimony is but the tip of the iceberg. If you pay attention, read the written testimony, you can actually tell from language tense regarding the date the FBI actually did open an investigation into the President.
Keep in mind that the State of New York is on the case. Trump fired Preet Bharara because he was building a strong RICO case against Trump involving money laundering, etc., and AG Schneiderman took over from there. The Trump Foundation "slush fund" investigation is yet another tip of the huge and bigly iceberg. :)
Victoria,
I admire that you can put on a brave face... And your ability to spin!?? Excellent..
But the FACTS clearly show that this is DEVASTATING for the anti-Trumpers..
Comey is confirming that everything Trump said was true on the issues and that the MSM, ya'all and the Dumbocrats were flat out WRONG about everything..
You said there was gonna be bombshells and there are none.....
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
After his firing and Trump's tweet, Comey asked a close friend of his — Columbia law professor Daniel Richman — to leak the content of his memos to the media with the hope of triggering the appointment of a special counsel.
So it was COMEY who leaked his memos..
I am losing respect for Comey....
***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL*** ***BOMBSHELL***
"Attorney General Loretta Lynch was looking to align the Clinton campaign language with our language, which... gave me a queasy feeling."
-former Director Comey
Ahhhhhhhhhh So Comey's decision to go over the head of AG Lynch directly to the American people was a sound and correct decision...
Yer stock is rising, Comey... :D
It's time to face reality, people..
This is a complete and utter decimation of the hysterical anti-Trumpers and their hysterical accusations against President Trump.....
I could not have had a better day if I scripted this myself!! :D
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Trump's polling seems to be taking another dive. Appr. down to 39.0 (new low), and disapp. up to 55.3 (new high) for an underwater spread of 16.3.
And that's BEFORE the Comey testimony resonates.
-CW
nypoet22 [43] and Kick [45] -
I dunno, call me old school, but...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qHX493bB3U
Heh. "You make ever'thang groooooo-vay!"
-CW
michale [37] -
Bilbo? Seriously?
Poll 100 people with a photo of Comey and Sessions, and ask them which one most resembles a hobbit. My money'd be on 90+ pointing to Sessions, personally.
Heh.
But then I've always thought he looked more like...
https://www.google.com/search?q=dopey&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4xpKthbDUAhUB4mMKHRb0DY8Q_AUICigB
-CW
Balthasar [32] -
See, this is what I get for trying to answer these from the bottom up for once....
Makes MUCH more sense that Sessions was the one with the "scared Bilbo look".
Thanks. Had me worried there for a moment. My apologies to michale, who was just quoting this...
-CW
michale [30] -
Cite? I have Clinton at 41.2% approval at this point in his presidency (Gallup #, I believe). Trump's below that. And Clinton improved up to 44% the next month. Really think Trump can hit that number next month? I doubt it.
-CW
michale [9] -
Oh, OK, got the cite. This is the last time I'm ever going to try to do these backwards! My apologies.
Clinton recovered from the "gays in the military" backlash. Within weeks. Think Trump will do the same? Doubtful.
-CW
TheStig [10] -
Trump's popularity has gone flat in the last few weeks? I don't think the trend should be ground that fine. Looking at the RCP running average plot, I notice the current couple of flat-ish weeks doesn't look much different than the flat-sh weeks in Feb. and April. There is a lot of noise in these plots.
Yeah, you're totally right about the granularity. I even admitted as much in the article:
This article is guilty of examining the polls too closely, in other words -- when you only check in once a month, these things tend to smooth out more than when you take snapshot of less than a month.
But so far it is looking like taking a snapshot now (even with the whole "making too much stew from one oyster" problem) was the way to go, because Trump's numbers may be taking a new dive. But (speaking of granularity) that's only like two DAYS' worth of data, so to say it is premature to say that is an understatement...
Ain't poll-watchin' fun?
Heh.
:-)
-CW
59 -
You have to RESPECT people's beliefs... Even if that belief manifests as bigotry..
No. I don't. I have to respect the rights of people to profess their beliefs.
If it is bigotry, there are boundaries beyond those which will personally constrain how a bigot acts out.
Segregation was state-sponsored bigotry. As Robert Bork wrote in explaining his support for the 1954 Brown decision: The Court's realistic choice ... was either to abandon the quest for equality by allowing segregation or to forbid segregation in order to achieve equality. ... The purpose that brought the fourteenth amendment into being was equality before the law, and equality, not separation, was written into the law.
Maybe it's worth recalling, if only in passing, that Bork was denied a seat on that Court, In my view of that history, it was because he lacked an equitable, i.e., moral, compass. He had demonstrated that lack by his participation in Nixon's attempt at obstruction. That, facing the plain fact that the nation's rule of law was in peril.
So long as there were more patriots than not on the watch, one who had ignored that peril would ever be seated on the Court. No amount of debate over the extent of Executive power was going to change that reality.
Nonetheless, he had a good life that he deserved from his scholarship and public service. He also enjoyed meaningful support from some of the many people who, until this day, believe that he had been, well, borked. I obviously don't agree with it, but I can respect that belief.