Donny "Tighty Whitey" Trump

Donny "Tiny Hands" Trump

Donny "Fast Food" Trump

Donny " That's a Camel" Trump

Donny "2&1/2 Chins " Trump

Donny "Long Tie" Trump

CNN [... FOX and MSNBC are] superimposing a shutdown countdown clock on their video.

Popcorn sales are soaring, I'm sure. The finale of Season 1 of Trump: The President.

I think they'll shut it down. The Democrats can give him the best anniversary present they could: Shut down the government, and ruin his big Mara Lago victory dance and weekend.

OK, firstly hilarious.

Secondly, I've now got that tune stuck in my head.

I was just thinking the same thing!

So "FCPA" won't stop playing in my head, and then... BAM... "Macho Man" pops into my head, and euuuuwwww that won't work... so I'm changing that to "Capo Man."

This is on you, TS! *LOL* :)

SIMPSON: We also had sort of more broadly learned that Mr. Trump had long time associations with Italian organized crime figures. And as we pieced together the early years of his biography, it seemed as if during the early part of his career he had connections to a lot of Italian mafia figures, and then gradually during the nineties became associated with Russian mafia figures.

Simpson gave this information to the FBI in 2016. Simpson points out what neilm has noted a few times....Trump is especially vulnerable to charges that he violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Oh, my goodness. This guy sounds like a turncoat who sold out his country to Russia.

WHO KNEW?

Reminds me of a Village People Song:

You messed with the FCPA
You messed with the FCPA

Trump is the Village Person in the Orange Jump suit and flip flops; they call him Benedict Donald.

OK, firstly hilarious.

Secondly, I've now got that tune stuck in my head.

Well done GT!

You can find the House Intel transcript here:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/18/house-panel-releases-transcript-of-interview-with-fusion-gps-co-founder-346342

Trump is alleged, among other things, to have laundered money for the Italian mafia, and more recently the smarter and craftier Russian mafia. The Russian mafia is basically an arm of Soviet Intelligence, which is controlled by Putin. Donald Trump aka Mafia Don? That the allegation.

Simpson gave this information to the FBI in 2016. Simpson points out what neilm has noted a few times....Trump is especially vulnerable to charges that he violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Reminds me of a Village People Song:

Old man, you are right to feel down
I said, old man, pick yourself off the ground
I said, old man, 'cause you're in a new town
You had better hunker down....

You messed with the FCPA
You messed with the FCPA

and so on.

Put a couple of logs on the fire, brew some cocoa, load some background music and enjoy a compelling 165 page (double spaced) read.

Task Order approvals are still coming in at 6 pm on the east coast.

I should be safe in my shutdown shelter. I sprayed a dollar sign on the door and duct taped my piggy bank....

CNN is superimposing a shutdown countdown clock on their video.

*LOL* I just checked... FOX and MSNBC are doing it too. Too funny. :0

Seriously, what a bunch of pompous drama queens.

John M is correct. The Republicans were in a position to prevent legislation from ever reaching Obama’s desk, the Democrats have no way of doing that with Trump.

Exactly. John M and Russ are correct. The GOP trying to convince anyone with two brain cells to rub together that Democrats can obstruct Trump are simply spewing disinformation. Last time I checked, it was Republican lawmakers and John McCain's thumb that ultimately killed Trump's "bigly" legislation. Duh.

Face the facts, the only big piece of legislation on which Republicans have been able to agree was passing a tax cut that primarily favors corporations and the rich. So I ask you, if the GOP passed the tax cuts with no votes from a single Democrat, what kind of moron is going to believe that the GOP couldn't have kept the government open had they so chosen? :)

The Dems did try to block much of Trump’s legislation from passing, and that was because it was horrible legislation! They also were willing to work with Trump to secure DACA’s continuation. This is why the comparison you are trying to make fails miserably: the Democrats will support good legislation regardless of who is introducing it/signing it into law. Republicans cannot make the same claim!

The Democrats aren’t going to block legislation that they support without there being a bigger goal in mind. The Republicans decided in 2009 to spend the next 8 years voting against Obama regardless of the cost to our country. Watching McCain flip flop on every position that was remotely similar to Obama’s position immediately after McCain won the Republican primary was confusing for me to understand, at first. I realized that it had nothing to do with any of the issues or positions, themselves, but was done so that McCain supporters didn’t have to think — they could just automatically know that they were against anything Obama was for! It’s this type of tribalism in politics that makes me loathe what the GOP has become.

Not true. Those deemed not essential don't get paid at all. Those deemed essential still have to go into work, but don't necessarily get paid either. They can be required to work without pay, such as members of the armed forces, including those in combat.

You're preaching to the choir. :)

It wasn't my intention to recite laws regarding federal pay, just to let another poster know that federal employees have always been paid in prior shutdowns... albeit delayed payment.

In previous shutdowns, everyone who stayed home was paid retroactively after an agreement was reached in Washington. But that is not something that is guaranteed to happen. It requires Congress to actually pass a separate bill to retroactively pay government employees who were affected.

Don't I know it. I've literally become a bank in the past when my friends needed loans "just until they shut down the shutdown." I really would put nothing past Trump going forward if it were entirely up to him; however, I don't think he'd refuse to sign legislation to pay federal employees when he depends on them and can't pick and choose who to shaft. :)

I'm constantly amazed that American taxpayers tolerate the number of "non-essential employees" we have on the gov't payroll.

Perhaps you should simply examine the definition of "nonessential employees." Passports are processed by employees deemed "nonessential" during a shutdown. Internal Revenue Service "pencil pushers" are deemed "nonessential" during a shutdown, slowing down refunds to citizens. Almost everything involving paperwork like grants to innovators, subsidies to farmers, etc. will not be processed because of a shutdown.

What we really need for purposes of gov't shutdown, is a list of SUPERFLUOUS gov't employees, who DO NOT GET PAID during shutdown, and that Trump should be at the top of that list!

Trump donates his paycheck to worthy causes; I insist that we keep paying him. :)

Appreciate the correction that government employees should get paid, I did not think that was the case for most non-essential positions.

That's just history, though. Do I think Trump would withhold "furlough" pay? He has a decades long history of stiffing investors, banks, contract employees, vendors, etc., and left to his own devices, I believe he would. However, I don't think he'd refuse to sign congressional legislation paying it either.

Anytime the subject of federal employee pay comes up, I am reminded of the fact that we pay our elected officials to do fund raising for their parties.

Yep.

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at how little they seem to actually accomplish, but it still should piss us off!

It makes my blood boil. Their primary job is to keep the government running. Epic fail in 3...2...1. Kicking the can down the road weeks at a time is pathetic, but the GOP can agree on very little inside their own ranks and have been blaming the Democrats for far too long for their "establishment GOP" versus "Tea Party" woes.

The Party that hasn't been able to agree amongst themselves for over a decade now will play hell convincing anyone but the uneducated and party drones that it's the Democrats' fault when a large number of Republicans aren't in agreement either. It's the "far-right" versus the "establishment" and nothing new under the sun, while BLOTUS refused the compromise that had been reached already but yet refuses to provide guidance regarding what he'll accept. This is on Trump who wants to compromise but can't afford to piss off the "deplorables." Pathetic really.

Change 2009 to 2017, change "they" to "Democrats" and change "Obama" to "Trump" and they *EXACT* same thing is factually accurate..

You see, this is ya'all's EXACT problem...

You acted all indignant when the GOP did that to Odumbo, but ya'all are doing the EXACT same thing to President Trump....

Ya'all are acting EXACTLY like ya'all accuse the GOP of acting towards Odumbo...

And get rid of the 'y' before *EXACT*

:D

Pussy.... :D

Change 2009 to 2017, change "they" to "Democrats" and change "Obama" to "Trump" and they *EXACT* same thing is factually accurate..

Again..

YES or NO......

That may have been what you MEANT, Russ... But that is not what you SAID...

You *SAID* the Republicans have openly bragged how they had no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans

And I responded that Democrats did the EXACT same thing.. They *BRAGGED* about obstructing everything President Trump did and would do...

Now, if you want to move on to actual ACTIONS, fine..

But, let's settle this first...

DID the Democrats *ALSO* "BRAG" about obstructing President Trump..

YES or NO...

John M is correct. The Republicans were in a position to prevent legislation from ever reaching Obama’s desk, the Democrats have no way of doing that with Trump.

Michale, the biggest issue I have with how the GOP treated Obama was that their actions were not based on a philosophical or political differences — in January of 2009 they agreed to vote against ANYTHING Obama supported regardless of the content of the proposed legislation for as long as Obama was in office.

They even voted against legislation that they, themselves, had introduced; but only after it became clear that Obama supported it and signified that he would sign it into law if it reached his desk. How can anyone believe that they had their constituent’s best interests in mind when they did this?

But that's not what Russ said...

Russ's statement was SOLELY about the Republicans BRAGGING about obstructing Obama.. Made NO mention of any follow thru...

My response was that Democrats did the EXACT same thing to President Trump. BRAGGED about obstruction...

Yer wrong JM... The more you deny it, the more pathetic you come across...

"EXACTLY OPENLY BRAGGED about having NO INTENTION....

Says NOTHING about actually DOING IT..."

In other words, QUICK JM caught me! Let me quickly add some qualifiers NOW!

Keep moving the goalposts Michale, because that is what you do to avoid admitting when you are wrong, even when you are caught red handed. Trying to have an intelligent conversation with you is like talking to a stick of furniture or a two year old. "Don't respond to what I actually said, or what I actually meant, go by what I am really saying now!"

It's nothing new.. Just another day in Weigantia under PRESIDENT Trump...

EXACTLY OPENLY BRAGGED about having NO INTENTION....

Says NOTHING about actually DOING IT...

You're wrong, JM..

But, as usual, you can't admit it....

"What part of "OPENLY BRAGGED" do you not understand??

Russ didn't say ANYTHING about passing or signing into law.."

YES HE DID. Quote the ENTIRE statement. DON'T CHERRY PICK.

RUSS:the Republicans have openly bragged how they had no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans.

The statement, IN CONTEXT, was NOT ONLY BRAGGING, BUT BRAGGING ABOUT OBSTRUCTING PASSING ANYTHING INTO LAW. There, fixed it for you!

I will accept YOUR apology and concession with both grace and dignity. Juts like with your "my bust" statement when you corrected yourself for mixing up Democrats and Republicans.

So, there is absolutely NO DIFFERENCE between Democrats and Republicans in that regard...

Feel free to offer your apology and concession..

I'll accept them with grace and dignity...

Scratch that.. The subject of his statement was the Republicans OPENLY BRAGGING.

My bust...

What part of "OPENLY BRAGGED" do you not understand??

Russ didn't say ANYTHING about passing or signing into law..

The subject of his statement was the Democrats OPENLY BRAGGING.

I'll accept your concession and apology...

If you actually had the integrity to admit you were wrong and apologize....

"I don't have to because that's not what I said.."

YES IT IS. AGAIN, YOU are the one with a comprehension problem!

RUSS:the Republicans have openly bragged how they had "no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything" that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans.

MICHALE: Just as the Democrats did with President Trump..

Pray tell, just WHAT do you think PREVENT SIGNING SOMETHING INTO LAW MEANS???

IT means it has to pass Congress FIRST. So I ask you AGAIN. Just WHAT have Democrats stopped Trump from passing Congress by majority vote and signing into law??

I don't have to because that's not what I said..

RUSS:the Republicans have openly bragged how they had no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans.

MICHALE: Just as the Democrats did with President Trump..

Check yer comprehension, JM :D

"Just as the Democrats did with President Trump..."

Really? Just what have Democrats stopped Trump from doing legislatively by majority vote on an actual piece of legislation? Name ONE....

"That (the no-budget-no-pay-act) has the same chance of passing as congressional term limits, and for the same reason."

This is very true. What California did was great. But there is no way this is ever going to happen on a national level. There is no national referendum citizen ballot initiative process for changing the U.S. Constitution and not enough members of Congress are ever going to vote to change their own paychecks in this way.

[4] Kick

"Actually, those deemed "nonessential" get paid for not going into work, and those deemed "essential" carry on as usual; however, there could be a delay in payment, and it is entirely possible that this could change under a new POTUS like BLOTUS."

Not true. Those deemed not essential don't get paid at all. Those deemed essential still have to go into work, but don't necessarily get paid either. They can be required to work without pay, such as members of the armed forces, including those in combat.

In previous shutdowns, everyone who stayed home was paid retroactively after an agreement was reached in Washington. But that is not something that is guaranteed to happen. It requires Congress to actually pass a separate bill to retroactively pay government employees who were affected.

[12] C. R. Stucki

"I'm constantly amazed that American taxpayers tolerate the number of "non-essential employees" we have on the gov't payroll."

Things like Social Security checks keep going out only because they have their own dedicated source of funding that is not subject to Congress's annual appropriation budget process.

But others, "nonessential services" like national parks being open, and gun permits and passports going out, simply stop until however long it takes to get the government funded again.

[8] Michale

"Democrats are going to shut down the government unless they get their way on immigrant criminals."

Excuse me, did you miss the part where C.W. stated that the government would shut down even without any Democrat voting no because the Republicans by themselves potentially don't have enough votes to keep the government open and running? The Republicans have a majority. All they need is for a majority of Republicans to vote in favor of a continuing resolution, and the government stays open. They don't need 60 votes, if Democrats simply decide not to oppose it, not to filibuster it and not vote at all. If Democrats don't decide to do that, then yes it does require 60 votes.

What great news to begin my 7-Day cruise on!! :D

BBBWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D

You actually BELIEVE that...

That is so cute... :D

the Republicans have openly bragged how they had no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans.

Just as the Democrats did with President Trump...

There is no difference between 2013 and now. It's just NOW ya'all support a government shutdown because it will push your agenda...

So, as I said at the time and ya'all have proven now.. Ya'all don't really mind a government shutdown. You just don't like it when it serves the GOP agenda..

Ya'all LOVE a government shutdown if it pushes yer agenda...

PARTY UBER ALLES

I'm constantly amazed that American taxpayers tolerate the number of "non-essential employees" we have on the gov't payroll.

What we really need for purposes of gov't shutdown, is a list of SUPERFLUOUS gov't employees, who DO NOT GET PAID during shutdown, and that Trump should be at the top of that list!

Appreciate the correction that government employees should get paid, I did not think that was the case for most non-essential positions.

Anytime the subject of federal employee pay comes up, I am reminded of the fact that we pay our elected officials to do fund raising for their parties. The average Congressional freshman spends about 60% of their workweek begging for donations — that’s 3 days out of a 5-day workweek spent NOT doing what they were elected to do. That leaves only 2 days for working for their constituents. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at how little they seem to actually accomplish, but it still should piss us off!

Funny how ya'all castigated the GOP in 2013 for doing the EXACT same thing on a different issue..

Except for one BIG difference: the Democrats were working in good faith both then and now; the Republicans have openly bragged how they had no intention of letting Obama sign into law anything that would be viewed in a positive light by most Americans. Obama had bent over backwards to secure compromises that the GOP could live with, and they just turned up their noses and voted against it all.

Sadly, Trump chose to turn down the bill that he had instructed both parties that if they put it on his desk, he’d sign it. So while it seems that some Republicans are working in good faith to get things done, the president has shown that he isn’t.

Funny how ya'all castigated the GOP in 2013 for doing the EXACT same thing on a different issue..

Yer hypocrisy is laid bare for all to see..

As it stands now the Republicons have taken a "our way or the highway approach" to their majority governance and have preferred to pass their shenanigans via budget bills through the reconciliation process. Which is a little back door they use to run our country like it is a parliamentary form of governance.

A true bi-partisan congresscritter written and approved budget would eliminate the that little crutch and force them to get back to doing things how they should be done... you know like by talking to each other and doing some giving to get some taking.

Not a big deal? Tell that to all of the government employees that won’t go in to work and thus won’t get paid for however long the government is shut down.

Actually, those deemed "nonessential" get paid for not going into work, and those deemed "essential" carry on as usual; however, there could be a delay in payment, and it is entirely possible that this could change under a new POTUS like BLOTUS. It would not surprise me in the least if "nonessential" employees had their pay withheld under BLOTUS... with the exception of Congress, of course.

Tell those people who have scheduled trips and paid for travel to our national monuments that will be turned away. Tell that to people waiting for the government to sign off on medical procedures their loved ones need.

Yep. A majority of medical personnel are considered "essential," but some of the "pencil pushers" are not, and everything sloooooooooooooows way down.

This Congress has had plenty of time to have worked on this budget, but the Republicans in control refused to address it. They are too comfortable with holding our nation hostage in order to have their demands met.

Amen. The GOP has spent far too long using the same tactics and pointing the finger across the aisle. It was Trump's decision to rescind DACA and Trump who refused to sign a compromise "bill of love" when he said that he would. Don't believe his BS about the military, though, the military is considered essential and would still report for duty. He must realize how stupid his base is because otherwise he'd have no need to lie to them about the military on Twitter. :)

^^^ Yes! This! ^^^

It really makes my blood boil that these lawmakers (regardless of party) use CHIP as a bargaining chip on top of years spent attempting to dismantle the ACA with no real plan to replace it. Now the GOP wants us to believe that Democrats don't care about the health of our children simply because the GOP refused to fund CHIP when they could have done so at any time. That is how stupid they think we are. Pathetic.

As far as a shutdown goes, I expect a "shutdown" for 5-ish days that ends next week... just a wild guess, I freely confess... and I agree with this guy:

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

2:35 PM - 23 Sep 2013

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/382226839210434562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Ftrump-twitter-shutdown-2d6605f00749%2F

^^^ Yes! This! ^^^

It really makes my blood boil that these lawmakers (regardless of party) use CHIP as a bargaining chip on top of years spent attempting to dismantle the ACA with no real plan to replace it. Now the GOP wants us to believe that Democrats don't care about the health of our children simply because the GOP refused to fund CHIP when they could have done so at any time. That is how stupid they think we are. Pathetic.

As far as a shutdown goes, I expect a "shutdown" for 5-ish days that ends next week... just a wild guess, I freely confess... and I agree with this guy:

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

2:35 PM - 23 Sep 2013

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/382226839210434562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthinkprogress.org%2Ftrump-twitter-shutdown-2d6605f00749%2F

However, who says gov't shutdown is a bad thing? They've done it before and it wasn't a big deal. Seeing as how most of what they do is a waste of money, it might actually be an improvement.

Not a big deal? Tell that to all of the government employees that won’t go in to work and thus won’t get paid for however long the government is shut down.

Tell those people who have scheduled trips and paid for travel to our national monuments that will be turned away. Tell that to people waiting for the government to sign off on medical procedures their loved ones need.

This Congress has had plenty of time to have worked on this budget, but the Republicans in control refused to address it. They are too comfortable with holding our nation hostage in order to have their demands met.

However, who says gov't shutdown is a bad thing? They've done it before and it wasn't a big deal. Seeing as how most of what they do is a waste of money, it might actually be an improvement.