It is quite a fashion statement.

Tiki torch sold separately.

You may recall our previous conversation about him... I thought he was little because he looks little... like he might strain himself just counting money little.

You mean the conversation we had about me becoming Queen and making you my "Jared Kushner" in charge of fixing everything in the kingdom... our first order of business to build a wall to keep out all the knuckle-draggers... and make Donald Trump pay for it... that conversation?

Can't say I remember that, Fletch. ;)

Despite the downward spiral/tailspin, I still don't think it's actually going to happen though.
Nor would I want Pence to take his place.

Oh, ye of little faith... sit and watch.
You'll get what you get, and by that point you'll be glad to get it. :)

Today's post is now up. Just for everyone's information...

-CW

What the winner does with the bumpersticker is entirely up to the winner, of course.

But I do hear you. I've long maintained that pro-marijuana-reform types are at a disadvantage because it is impossible to put a "I'm a pot smoker AND I VOTE" bumpersticker on your car -- because the cops would read it as "Please pull me over and search my vehicle, officer!"

Funny story: A friend of mine moved to Texas back in the 1980s and slapped a "Washington Redskins Super Bowl Champions" bumpersticker on her car. Many attempts were made to forcibly remove it, but the glue held. When she bought a new car, the dealer offered her something like $700 less for the trade-in "because the entire bumper needs to be replaced before I can sell it."

Heh. Profiles in courage, or something.

:-)

-CW

One more.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/08/17/the-story-of-charlottesville-was-written-in-blood-in-the-ukraine/

Excerpt-

"What I find interesting about the current discussion around what many are referring to as the emboldening of the radical white supremacist right is how easy it is to mobilize opposition against the crude and overt white supremacists we saw in Charlottesville. So easy, in fact, that it’s really a distraction from the more difficult and dangerous work that needs to be done to confront the real right-wing power brokers."

-
-

I'm not sure if any of you are ready to read that whole article.
Fair warning.

A

This may bum you out, but it's worth recognizing.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/08/17/right-but-wrong-trumps-defense-of-confederate-symbols-and-its-threat-to-color-blind-liberalism/

Excerpt-

"Historically, Trump was right: there really is no moral difference between Lee and Washington or Jefferson."

Ouch.

A

The first glimmer of justice for the US torture program.

Historic Settlement Reached on Behalf of CIA Torture Victims

https://theintercept.com/2017/08/17/cia-torture-settlement-aclu-mitchell-jessen/

It should be noted, no thanks to Obama.
And we also need to thank Bush for making taxpayers liable for the bill (if you didn't make it to the end of the article).

A

This is a four part series about a new book put out by the UN.

The Handbook of Alternative Theories of Economic Development

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=19742

Links for pts 2,3,4 are to the right.

The TRNN host who introduces the story is that awful lady from the last clip on an economics story I shared with you, but her part is again very brief.

The book sounds very interesting.

A

Unintentional, but perhaps accurate.

A

It is quite a fashion statement.

You may recall our previous conversation about him... I thought he was little because he looks little... like he might strain himself just counting money little.

As for the bumper sticker, I'll take it as a consolation prize gladly.

Despite the downward spiral/tailspin, I still don't think it's actually going to happen though.
Nor would I want Pence to take his place.

A

... I'm not entirely sold on the idea of a "Hey Trump supporting LEO's! Pull me over!!!" sign on the back of my car given that I live in a red state.

Exactly my reasoning also.

It's more likely to end up on my fridge if I win.

"Unfit to Serve" plastered on your fridge? *LOL*

Thanks for freeing the comment.

nypoet and gang... it's comment 14 and worth a read if you didn't catch the story elsewhere.

I appreciate the credit for the idea of a prize for the contest, but I'm not entirely sold on the idea of a "Hey Trump supporting LEO's! Pull me over!!!" sign on the back of my car given that I live in a red state.
It's more likely to end up on my fridge if I win.
I'll also get to see it more often there... and be able to revel in my prediction skills despite my crystal ball running on a low battery.

A

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2017/08/15/kelly-exit-contest/#comment-108037

And everyone can thank altohone for suggesting it!

Thanks, Punk. If I win that thing by accident, it's all yours. :)

As for Jared, "pencil necked" is apt, but I just saw a picture of him again wearing a bullet proof vest somewhere, and his chest still looked sunken in despite the extra layer.

Jared was on a mission in Iraq, and it appears to the trained eye that Jared was dressed for a yacht party, sporting a flak jacket with his name on it (you cannot make this shirt up) along with a navy blazer/dinner jacket and... oh, my... absent the two aforementioned jackets, Jared is wearing the new neo-Nazi uniform... and shades.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jared-kushner-mocked-wearing-flak-jacket-blazer-iraq-article-1.3026610

Nazi pants and shades... it's the official outfit of the United States Middle East peace process.

Your long comment has been revived.

nypoet22 -

A comment from last week has been revived. Strangely enough, the cite/link that got caught is from my own home ISP (a fairly local outfit). So I'll check what's going on with that...

Sorry for the delay, folks.

-CW

Yeah, I saw that story too. Doesn't this date back to Goldwater? They instituted the rule for a previous discussion of unfitness for the presidency, I know that much...

[3] -

Aha! I thought it was Goldwater...

LeaningBlue [4] -

Whoops! You are entirely correct, and I have made the edit. The fact-checking department fell down on this one. Mea culpa, and thanks for pointing it out.

OK, let me go check the filter...

-CW

Due to popular demand, a prize has been added to the "When will Kelly go?" contest. I just posted a photo of the prize:

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2017/08/15/kelly-exit-contest/#comment-108037

And everyone can thank altohone for suggesting it!

-CW

Damn those homonyms! I get your point ... but the Trump well of stupid seems awfully deep.

Gotta agree with you there on two counts.

The silence and continued participation of Jewish Americans in Trump's current enterprise is increasingly difficult to understand.

As for Jared, "pencil necked" is apt, but I just saw a picture of him again wearing a bullet proof vest somewhere, and his chest still looked sunken in despite the extra layer.

"You've got city hands Mr. Hooper... been countin money all your life."
- Quint in Jaws

A

I'm just saying, if you have someone hold your beer while you go do something stupid, you're not actually drinking the beer.

Just lost a somewhat Trump Tailspin related comment to the filter.

It was long... no idea what triggered it.

A

Speaking of the Google censored WSWS.org who for some reason find value in reporting news and opinion supporting the rights and needs of workers rather than the rich, and who find fault with an economic system that has created mass inequality that denies billions suitable food, lodging, and healthcare while leading to the destruction of the ecosystems our species depends upon...

(I'm not a socialist, but that is the "larger context" in which WSWS operates, and if you're going to find fault with it you should have the balls to be specific rather than offer a simple dismissive quip)

... here's one of their latest bits of journalism-

Trump Administration Demands Internet Records of 1.3 Million Political Opponents

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/08/17/drea-a17.html

excerpts-

"A Washington DC Superior Court will hear a challenge Friday to the ominous and anti-democratic warrant filed by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), demanding the emails, logs of visitor Internet addresses, contact information and photographs relating to the website DisruptJ20.org, a group that coordinated protests at President Donald Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

The search warrant, issued July 12, was directed at Los Angeles-based provider DreamHost, which hosts DisruptJ20.org on its servers, allowing individuals to access and use the site online. If the warrant is enforced, the activities of some 1.3 million visitors will be revealed to the government through the seizure of their personal Internet records."

"The company’s filing notes: “Scrutiny of this type demonstrates that the warrant lacks the specificity required by the Fourth Amendment and is unreasonable as a whole. In addition, the search warrant violates the Privacy Protection Act and was not authorized by District of Columbia law. For the foregoing reasons, DreamHost respectfully requests that the government’s motion be denied.”

Mark Rumold, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group which has been advising DreamHost in its efforts to fight the warrant, denounced the warrant as an unconstitutional “fishing expedition.”

The warrant is part of a wide-ranging investigation into the DisruptJ20 inauguration day demonstrations in which several hundred people were arrested following several incidents of vandalism in which black bloc anarchists smashed bank and chain restaurant windows, threw garbage cans in the street, set off fireworks and injured six police officers.

While the vast majority of those arrested did not engage in any acts of vandalism, they now face charges of felony rioting, which carries a sentence of up to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine. While all criminal charges have been dropped against the journalists, medics and legal observers among those arrested, 214 people face the possibility of long prison sentences for allegedly participating in the anti-Trump protest.

It cannot be ruled out that the vandalism was a provocation by the police themselves to justify the mass arrest of protesters and a further crackdown on democratic rights. It is well known that black bloc anarchist groups, whose members conceal their identities by wearing masks, are often riddled with police agents. The Washington Post reported in April that court documents revealed that police agents had infiltrated and participated in logistical meetings in the period before the January 20 protest."

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-

Did you catch that last part repeated from a Washington Post article about the COINTELPRO type infiltration and possible participation in the violent activities that form the justifications of the search warrant?

Our resident trumpling dismissed such beliefs (as reported in the WashPo) about LEO activities as a "conspiracy theory" a few days ago...

... perhaps that alone should be sufficient in raising red flags for Americans who value the rights guaranteed by our Constitution?

Or, maybe, since this info is coming from me via the WSWS it should just be dismissed?

And the rights of millions who for some reason protested at Trump's inauguration deserve to be violated?

(yes... I know that's not what you were saying at all... but... since we're talking about "larger context", I thought I'd provide some for consideration... originating from those dastardly, misguided socialists)
:)

A

I can see your point if you don't mind vomit on your rug...but I wouldn't apply this standard to my Uber driver....the downside is people getting killed.

There was a lot of speculation about Presidential dementia during the 2nd Reagan Administration. It was generally dismissed at the time, but he was formally diagnosed with Azlheimer's in '94. Retrospectively, one son says it affected his Presidency, another said it didn't. From what I've seen in my family, this is typical. Memory lapses, episodes of bad driving, fades outs, tantrums etc. tend to be minimized or ignored....people don't like facing up to the problem. You are losing a loved one and you cling to denial.

Reagan had Nancy whispering cues in his ear. We should all be grateful for that. Trump has Melania, at arms length, when she's around him at all. Everyone at the office is selling something.

Go find clips of Trump from a decade ago on 'Tube.
He spoke in complete sentences back then, even whole paragraphs. Compare and contrast with today.

Houston, we have a mental problem! ... That's what the 25th is for. Congress, exercise it! It's not perfect, but it's the best tool in your updated 18th century kit. History is watching and tapping her foot nervously...."Nazis you idiots!"

I'd write the incident report summary as:

"Stall on takeoff with crash into tree line caused by an unqualified pilot unable to control an under powered and marginally stable experimental airplane."

Mechanics hanging around the political hanger would be heard to suck their teeth and mutter "You can send a old man up in crate like that."

"Yes [4] LeaningBlue it was Venezuela and I also agree with [5] Balthasar that Trump wouldn't know the difference (he'd be hard pressed to find South America on a map let alone Venezuela or Argentina) so it might as well be Argentina!"

To be fair, that would unfortunately be true of most ordinary Americans. I saw on one of the networks some reporters doing a "man on the street" interview asking people passing by to point out where North Korea was on a map of the world. One woman pointed to Canada!

[1] Russ,
Small correction: APA is the American Psychiatric Association so you were right in saying that it is the leading psychiatry group. :)

In those APA members' professional opinions I've heard or read, they also note that, in the absence of clinical examinations, technology has now made remote diagnosis possible and more accurate. While they still add the caveat that any conclusive diagnosis must include clinical tests, their remote diagnoses are very similar.

I watched as three medical experts discussed Trump's case and it was fascinating. They all readily agreed that he displayed classic symptoms of malignant Narcissistic Personality Disorder which is incurable.

They also agreed that he's also displaying symptoms of a far more recent secondary illness. One of the three specialized in Gerontology with expertise in brain-deterioration afflictions. It was her opinion that Trump was most likely suffering from Fronto-temporal Lobe Dementia. This is a wasting disease that is also incurable.

All three compared the symptoms of FTL Dementia with archived and recent footage of Trump and at the end of a riveting hour, all agreed that FTL Dementia was a very likely candidate for his secondary illness.

Lasting approximately 7 years, it is rarely diagnosed earlier than late in the 4th year/early in the 5th year. In the final 2 years, deterioration of the frontal temporal lobe increases exponentially until the patient dies.

The Gerontologist thought Trump was probably in the final stages of the 4th year when confusion (wandering off and inappropriate behavior) and declining cognitive function, including language, become more obvious and frequent. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next 12 months.

As for whether it affects his capacity to do the job, I don't see how anyone could tell. He started out as incompetent so more incompetence will just be more of the same.

Might as well be Argentina.

CW: Easily correctable mental typo; if my memory serves way back to earlier this week, it was Venezuela.

Wasn't endorsing psychoanalysis, just pointing out that one group that work under the APA's Goldwater Rule has decided it is not right to silence its members and chose to do so because of Trump's presidency.

-Russ

much like behaviorists on the opposite side of the spectrum, psychoanalysts have diverged pretty far from the mainstream of psychology and psychiatry practice. this is not to say their opinions are without value, but psychological opinions from psychoanalysts are sort-of like political opinions from the world socialist web site - they need to be understood in a larger context than the one they provide for themselves. as professionals from the two main organizations make their voices heard, we'll see what those organizations do.

JL

The statement, an email this month from the executive committee of the American Psychoanalytic Association to its 3,500 members, represents the first significant crack in the profession’s decades-old united front aimed at preventing experts from discussing the psychiatric aspects of politicians’ behavior. It will likely make many of its members feel more comfortable speaking openly about President Trump’s mental health.

Trump's behavior is seen as such a threat to our nation that the association felt they would be doing more harm if they didn't allow its members to speak out.