This is interesting: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/politics/trump-putin-russia-timeline/

80 times Trump talked about Putin

Interesting timeline and quotes, and that confirms it: Trump is definitely Putin's Bitch.

“We should change the names of AR-15s to “Marco Rubio” because they are so easy to buy.”

Heh. Now that's a good one.

Gotta say, the future is looking brighter!

These survivors speaking out for themselves is a powerful weapon. David Hogg and Cameron Kasky of Never Again will be on Bill Maher's top-of-the-show segment on "Real Time" tonight. Got my popcorn ready. :)

80 times Trump talked about Putin

Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump consistently broke from political orthodoxy in his effusive praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I never met Putin,” Trump said at a July 2016 news conference. “I don’t know who Putin is. He said one nice thing about me. He said I'm a genius. I said thank you very much to the newspaper and that was the end of it. I never met Putin.”

Follows are then 80 quotes in a timeline from 2013 to 2016.

The jacket thing....Brilliant!!!

Good for you! Thanks for doing this.

Those vets deserve whatever my daddy's money can buy them. :)

Speaking of which... this market! Please keep your financial thoughts coming. :)

Now, if I had said that..... oh never mind! ;D

Ha! Don't look at me... TS made me do it. *grin*

Good for you! Thanks for doing this.

Turns out those guys aren't dicks at marketing, and now I have a car full of "Dick's." :)

Now, if I had said that..... oh never mind! ;D

Dick's will no longer sell assault rifles so that other dicks can't buy them to shoot up schools.

*LOL*

On the way back home today, we stopped into our local Dick's Sporting Goods and bought about two dozen North Face jackets to pass out to the vets at the VA.

So here's the neat part. We talked to the store manager and told him what we were doing and why and to pass our thanks up the chain to the CEO. He said he'd been hearing it all morning and insisted on giving us a bag for each jacket for each veteran.

Turns out those guys aren't dicks at marketing, and now I have a car full of "Dick's." :)

“We should change the names of AR-15s to “Marco Rubio” because they are so easy to buy.”

Gotta say, the future is looking brighter!

*LOL* Good one! :)

Now, hush, welfare-girl...

Adults are talking...

Could you please take the discussion of your family and their personal problems to another forum, Mugshot?

Why would I want to rub my nose in your fat ass???

What part of the term "Orange Sphincter" has confused you? Your head is so far up the Trumpian Sphincter that you're not thinking straight for oxygen deprivation. Extricate your head from the Orange Asshole and take a breath and collect yourself. :)

And *WHY* would you ask me to!???

I wouldn't and didn't... Orange Nose. :D

Dick's will no longer sell assault rifles so that other dicks can't buy them to shoot up schools.

If she gets out now she might at least be out of the politically motivated firing line.

However perhaps Mueller will want to know more about the "white lies" she tells on Trump's behalf, and if she can be pressured into being a witness for the prosecution.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/parkland-shooter-swastikas_us_5a96a5c4e4b09c872bafe4af?2vj

On Instagram Cruz posted photos of himself wearing a MAGA hat. (That is not from the article linked above, but it was widely reported after the shooting. Not, in my opinion, mentioned often enough since.)

Adamant_Actual@Adamant_Actual
Replying to @owillis

I will legitimately pay $1000 to the first journalist who asks him about our trade deficit with Wakanda putting hard-working American vibraneum miners out of work.

That wasn't a poll. You do know the difference between a poll and a prediction, right?

The news here is not so much that immediate hurricane fatalities were high—almost certainly over 500, which we’ve long suspected—but that they kept going long after Hurricane Maria left. In September, the death toll was probably around 500. But a month later, another 500 people died and a month after that another 200. These are the number of deaths above normal, and it’s evidence of just how feeble the federal government’s response was.

It’s one thing to lose a lot of lives directly to a natural disaster, but it’s quite another to lose that many again due to lack of food, water, and medicine. Hurricane Harvey, for example, killed about 60 people in the Houston area and then another 26 due to “unsafe or unhealthy conditions” related to the loss or disruption of services such as utilities, transportation and medical care. Nobody was still dying a month later.

Courtesy of an understaffed government being run by idiots and criminals. Government matters. Competence matters. Decency matters.

Yea.. One poll had Hillary winning at 98%....

If you allow for a 100% margin of error than yea..

The polls were within the margin of error... :^/

And, once again, you ignore the argument, set up a strawman argument and demolish THAT not-argument perfectly..

ALL the polls were wrong in 2016...

FACT

YOU put your faith in polls in the here and now, but ONLY the polls that say what you want to hear...

FACT

Now, WHY you do this... which is what CRS actually asked.... is conjecture...

But it's a pretty good guess given the FACTS...

Now, is there another straw man you want to set up and impressively knock down???

If ALL the polls were so utterly and completely wrong in the 2016 Elections...

WHY would ya'all put faith in ANY of the polls now??

Because.....

.......Psychologically, it's easy to explain..

They were MAJORLY butt-hurt by the 2016 elections..

They have ALWAYS been wrong about President Trump where FACTS are concerned..

So, they latch onto ANY delusion that allows them to save SOME semblance of face and get thru their President Trump-filled day...

Polls that say what they want to hear services that need..

"Simple logic"
-Admiral James T Kirk, STAR TREK IV-The Voyage Home

:D

You can split semantical hairs all you want..

But the simple fact is, ALL of the 2016 Presidential Election polls royally scrooo'ed the pooch..

To deny this is to deny reality...

Silver said there was about a 1/3 chance based on the margin of error in the polls.

I'll tell you what, how many times would you walk blindfolded across a freeway if there was a 1/3 chance you'd get hit by a truck?

Donald Trump won when Silver said there was a 75% chance that WOULDN'T happen.....

DUH......

What are you talking about? Believe it or not, when I post I'm posting to the entire group, not just you.

CRS: As a disinterested observer

NEIL: So disinterested that you have to share your thoughts?

Despite ALL the facts to the contrary :D

What are you talking about? Believe it or not, when I post I'm posting to the entire group, not just you.

The polls were more accurate in 2016 than they were in 2012. They were only 1-2% points out in 2016. How is that "WAY WAY" wrong?

Where did you detect the slightest interest on my part in political polls, fromn my post?

I expressed a minor interest in what and why my fellow Weigantians have such an interest in polls, but not a word about any interest on my part in the polls themselves.

Have you appointed yourself nit-picker-in-chief, or do I not get to comment on Weigantians, or what?

So Silver was less WAY WAY WAY wrong than everyone else..

He was still WAY WAY wrong, Neil..

And THAT is who you are backing now???

ONLY because he says what you want to hear?? :D

Michale - you are the person who gloats whenever you can cherry pick a poll that supports your idols. You are the poster child around here for latching on to delusions that feed your needs.

Says the guy who ONLY listens to polls that say what he wants to here..

I denigrate ALL polls.. You only denigrate the polls that say what you don't like..

It's really THAT simple.. :D

Michale - you are the person who gloats whenever you can cherry pick a poll that supports your idols. You are the poster child around here for latching on to delusions that feed your needs.

So disinterested that you have to share your thoughts?

given the history of political pollings' prognostication record

Nate Silver predicted all 50 senate wins in 2012 and 49 out of 50 in 2008. He also gave the clown in the White House a 1/3 chance of winning in 2016 when everybody else was under 10%, and most under 5%.

Here is is round up of the polling accuracy in 2016:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-real-story-of-2016/

"I know, right!!??"
-Felix, WRECK IT RALPH

But, psychologically, it's easy to explain..

They are MAJORLY butt-hurt by the 2016 elections..

They have ALWAYS been wrong about President Trump where FACTS are concerned..

So, they latch onto ANY delusion that allows them to save SOME semblance of face and get thru their President Trump-filled day...

Polls that say what they want to hear serves that need..

http://news.gallup.com/poll/226517/record-states-decline-2017.aspx

How many times do we have to tell Republicans this before they realize that tax cuts for Corporations are really for goosing the stock market?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/business/tax-cuts-share-buybacks-corporate.html

I mean, it isn't like they were not put on notice - "W"'s 2005 tax cuts ended up reducing employment.

Well, to all Republicans not in the top 5-10% in wealth, the already wealthy say thanks for the extra dividends and buy-back money. Oh, and you don't get to complain when your social security checks get frozen or your medicare stops covering as much as it used to. Money doesn't grow on trees you know and you voted for the rich people's party.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/corporations-stop-pretending-to-help-workers-go-back-to-enriching-themselves-trump-tax-plan

Which statement was that???

The appearance of fundamental incompetency of Trump and his retainers is constantly being reinforced with each fresh news cycle.

Ahhhh what the hell.....

Poll: GOP gains on generic ballot, Trump approval ticks upward

“Not only have Republicans increased support on the generic congressional ballot, they are now trusted more to handle the most important issue when voters head to the polls: the economy,” said Kyle Dropp, Morning Consult’s co-founder and chief research officer. “In mid-December, 39 percent of voters said they trusted Democrats more to handle the economy, compared to 38 percent who said Republicans. Today, 43 percent say Republicans and 32 percent say Democrats."
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/14/trump-polling-democrats-republicans-407315

This is especially telling because, as little as a few months ago, Democrats enjoyed a very large lead in the generic match-up...

But the Democrats have seen that lead vanish over their mis-handling of the very popular GOP Tax cut and other various issues..

What this means for the mid-terms is still not certain..

But this new GOP surge coupled with the Democrats support of a de-facto GUN BAN.....

Well, Democrats might as well not even show up for the mid-terms..

They gonna get clobbered!!!

Adults are talking...

Why would I want to rub my nose in your fat ass???

And *WHY* would you ask me to!???

Well, will wonders never cease.. The fat cow that usually reeks of bovine feces was actually right about something..

Well, I do often say that "I could rub your nose in shit and you'd insist it didn't stink," but I never suggested you take it upon yourself to rub your own nose in it. So how is the "Orange Sphincter"?

https://youtu.be/cD1e0BNNifk?t=2m39s

:)

Can you cite those polls???

Want to tell me again how Republicans have pulled even with Democrats in a generic us vs them poll??? This just appeared yesterday.

I'll be happy to..

But ONLY if you promise to acknowledge those polls when I do..

I'll accept your word on this promise. It's good enough for me.. :D

A Marist poll conducted over the same period found Democrats leading 46 percent to 39 percent.

Want to tell me again how Republicans have pulled even with Democrats in a generic us vs them poll??? This just appeared yesterday.

So, I was NOT totally wrong...

But you STILL totally smell...

Well, will wonders never cease.. The fat cow that usually reeks of bovine feces was actually right about something..

I stand corrected...

Fer christ's sake, people!! Get yer frakin' FACTS straight..

There are two levels below SECRET...

Wrong again, Coptard, there's only one level below "Secret."

There is CLASSIFIED and there is CONFIDENTIAL...

Wrong. "Classified" is not a level; they're all "classified."

If you're going to keep correcting people on grammar and issues of law, etc., at least get your facts straight rather than posting your ridiculous prolific misinformation.

Sec. 1.2. Classification Levels.
(a) Information may be classified at one of the following three levels:
(1) ‘‘Top Secret’’ shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
(2) ‘‘Secret’’ shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage to the national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
(3) ‘‘Confidential’’ shall be applied to information, the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by statute, no other terms shall be used to identify United States classified information.
(c) If there is significant doubt about the appropriate level of classification, it shall be classified at the lower level.

https://tinyurl.com/ybwn2yuk

You keep asking everyone else for "facts to support" while gleefully posting your misinformation with zero "facts to support" because there isn't any because it's bullshit. :)

Trump has effectively demoted Jared to WH intern, or maybe office boy.

Just another "coffee boy" like Flynn, Gates, and Papadopolous. ;)

Trump blinked. The guy who would like to think he'd run unarmed into a school building to face an active shooter has blinked.

The long-running White House McMaster/Kelly versus Jarvanka reality TV show feud is officially public.

Who stays, who goes?
Good God, who knows? ;)

I wonder what Jared is thinking about "Dad" with regard to impending FBI interviews, Federal pardon expectations and such.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeLC-WwW5zU

Oh, the wheels on the bus go
round and round,
round and round,
round and round

Oh, the wheels on the bus go
round and round all through the town. :)

And all ya have to do is get another 961 flips and you'll be back to where your Party was Pre-Odumbo..

BBWWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:D

Kushner should not qualify for the lowest security clearance available — and the fact that they claim that he has now been dropped down to the second highest level should be viewed as another crime against our country.

Tyranny! :)

Kushner should not qualify for the lowest security clearance available — and the fact that they claim that he has now been dropped down to the second highest level should be viewed as another crime against our country.

Tyranny! :)

And Dems flip a seat in New Hampshire AND another in Connecticut!

Plus 2 makes 39, and although the race in Kentucky did not flip, there was a +28 turnaround. Not too shabby.

Well said. :)

So, I guess it's official now: The "McMaster/Kelly" versus Jarvanka internal power struggle within the White House has gone public in a really big way... so "generals" please tread ever lightly... lest ye be branded the "deep state" and tossed out on thine proverbial ears. :)

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one or a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.
~ Publius, Federalist No. 47
a.k.a. James Madison, The Federalist Papers

Dems flip seat in new Hampshire:

Thanx, MS... Much appreciated..

So, the Dems have gotten back 39 seats..

Only 961 more seats to go! :D

It's funny to see Paula go all weak-kneed because the Dems gained back a couple state seats...

But when her Dumbocrats lost OVER ONE THOUSAND SEATS... Well, THAT was no big deal.. :D

"I just find that funny.. But ya'all ain't laughin'.."
-Will Smith, MEN IN BLACK

:D

Dems flip seat in new Hampshire:

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/375880-dem-wins-new-hampshire-seat-in-trump-district

Scroll down and the next story includes the seat flipped in Connecticut.

This reminds me of the time ya'all went hysterical bat-shit crazy when the stock markets fluctuated and predicted all sorts of gloom and doom for President Trump..

That lasted about 3 days until the next shiny thing grabbed ya'all's attention..

:D Like I said, ya'all REALLY need to pace yerselves...

Ya'all will vapor-lock long before Jan 2025 rolls around...

Facts to support???

{{{chhirrrrpppp}}} {{{cchhhiiirrrrrppppp}}}

Yea.. That's what I thought.. :^/

That is the lowest level of security.

Fer christ's sake, people!! Get yer frakin' FACTS straight..

SECRET is not the lowest level of 'security".. And it's NOT 'security' but rather intelligence classification.....

There are two levels below SECRET...

There is CLASSIFIED and there is CONFIDENTIAL...

And all President Trump has to do is issue an order to restore Kushner's clearance level and everything is fine and dandy..

Talk about making mountains out of mole hills.. :^/

Another 'cofveve' hysterical incident.. :^/

Yunno, when you start off with a bullshit claim, the whole commentary is tainted.. :D

Dude you are on a roll!

Sergeant Schultz head-in-the-sand position of: "We see nothing! Nothing!"

I can't believe I'm getting Hogan's Heroes references.

This is why this blog is the one I read first every day!

Thanks CW. Respect man.

Pot level access?

Heh.

Just trying to picture that one. Weed's legal in DC, isn't it?

:-)

-CW

Lowest is Classified.

For those of you interested in the cold hard facts of clearance level determinations here are the rules of adjudication.

https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/276289.htm

First off, welcome to the site!

This is to apologize to you for not approving your comment from last Friday. It can be found at:

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2018/02/23/ftp473/#comment-116562

Your first comment was held for moderation, but from now on you should be able to see your comments appear instantly. Just don't post more than one link per comment, as multilink comments are held automatically for moderation, which can take awhile (again, sorry 'bout that).

As for your comment...

I didn't mention Bernie because I hadn't seen the article you linked to:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/bernie-sanders-trump-russia-interference-420528

but you're right, it's awfully weaselly behavior. So it was an oversight, but not an intentional one. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, and I... um, no, if it's Friday it should be: "WE hereby retroactively award a (Dis-)Honorable Mention to Bernie Sanders, who really needs to work on a better response."

How's that?

:-)

-CW

Got a link? :-) Sounds like more good news!

TheStig [7] -

Really? When I wrote this, only the earliest reports were out, and the WashPost said he had been downgraded from Top Secret/Compartmentalized Information (the highest) to just Top Secret. If he's been knocked all the way down to Secret, that is much more major, that's for sure. I think there's one lower than that (Government Eyes Only? Something like that...), but if Jared can't even access Top Secret, then that's the end of all of his serious duties, that's for sure.

Thanks for the heads-up.

-CW

The New York Times, WAPO and other sources report Kushner's security level has been downgraded to Secret, not Top Secret. That is the lowest level of security.
He has acess to the White House, but that is about it. He no longer has acess to the information network required to do the diplomatic and other tasks he was assigned. Unless Trump changes his mind and personally waives normal vetting procedures. I personally think signals have been sent by various branches of govt. that going rogue would be a very bad idea.

Panama is important to our Military and Drug interdiction operations, not to mention commerce, for any of the adults to allow trump to do anything concrete.

If we were to lose Panama as active participants in the drug interdiction activities it would be devastating to the operations and then you wanna talk about drugs pouring in....

I do not see that as being allowed to happen.

Trump blinked. The guy who would like to think he'd run unarmed into a school building to face an active shooter has blinked. All he had to do is open his
KFC hole and say "give Jared his clearence." The Walter Mitty comparisons are already making the media rounds.

I wonder what Jared is thinking about "Dad" with regard to impending FBI interviews, Federal pardon expectations and such.

Yep.

Because it isn’t nearly downgraded as far as it warrants! Kushner lied about his Russian contacts and his financial history multiple times during the screening process. This should have immediately disqualified him AND resulted in criminal charges being filed against him! That’s a clear case of orange-privilege! Or more importantly, nepotism.

One of the security questions is “Do you associate with any known felons or persons involved in criminal activities?” His father is a felon....and his step-father is most likely guilty of treason! Russian diplomats were overheard by intelligence agencies (listening in on their phone conversations) discussing how Kushner wanted a secure, direct line to Putin after Trump won the election!

The man has massive debts! Kushner should not qualify for the lowest security clearance available — and the fact that they claim that he has now been dropped down to the second highest level should be viewed as another crime against our country.