Thursday Reads: Another Bonkers Trump Interview and More Breaking News
Posted: July 20, 2017 Filed under: just because 57 Comments
Sunday Afternoon, by Marie François Firmin-Girard
Good Morning!!
By 9:00 last night, there were about 10 huge breaking stories related to the Russia investigation.
There was a rambling, incoherent New York Times interview with Trump in which he trashed Attorney General Jeff Sessions, accused James Comey of blackmailing him, and threatened Special Counsel Robert Mueller, implying he’d better not try to look into Trump family finances.
On top of that, Trump still won’t let go of the dead GOP health care bill. And of course we learned that Sen. John McCain has an aggressive form of brain cancer that is likely terminal.
Right now we are waiting for Jeff Sessions to speak publicly. Will he resign? We’ll find out soon. In the meantime, here are some of the wild stories that broke last night. [UPDATE: He says he’s not resigning despite what Trump said about him (see CNN article posted down below. The announcement was about taking down a darknet website.]
I’m going to devote most of this post to the NYT interview, because it’s just so incredible that this numbskull with dementia is in the White House. Here’s the article the Times published about it: Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions.
President Trump said on Wednesday that he never would have appointed Attorney General Jeff Sessions had he known Mr. Sessions would recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation that has dogged his presidency, calling the decision “very unfair to the president.”
In a remarkable public break with one of his earliest political supporters, Mr. Trump complained that Mr. Sessions’s decision ultimately led to the appointment of a special counsel that should not have happened. “Sessions should have never recused himself, and if he was going to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else,” Mr. Trump said.
Desire DeHau reading a newspaper, by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec
In a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times, the president also accused James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director he fired in May, of trying to leverage a dossier of compromising material to keep his job. Mr. Trump criticized both the acting F.B.I. director who has been filling in since Mr. Comey’s dismissal and the deputy attorney general who recommended it. And he took on Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel now leading the investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election.
Mr. Trump said Mr. Mueller was running an office rife with conflicts of interest and warned investigators against delving into matters too far afield from Russia. Mr. Trump never said he would order the Justice Department to fire Mr. Mueller, nor would he outline circumstances under which he might do so. But he left open the possibility as he expressed deep grievance over an investigation that has taken a political toll in the six months since he took office.
Asked if Mr. Mueller’s investigation would cross a red line if it expanded to look at his family’s finances beyond any relationship to Russia, Mr. Trump said, “I would say yes.” He would not say what he would do about it. “I think that’s a violation. Look, this is about Russia.”
Much more at the link.
The Times also released an edited transcript of the interview: Excerpts From The Times’s Interview With Trump. Please read the whole thing if you can handle it. The “president” sounds like a third-grader. He can’t recall words, he has no idea what health insurance is, and he has no understanding of how the government works, and he has zero respect for the rule of law.
Some excerpts:
About health insurance and preexisting conditions:
HABERMAN: That’s been the thing for four years. When you win an entitlement, you can’t take it back.
TRUMP: But what it does, Maggie, it means it gets tougher and tougher. As they get something, it gets tougher. Because politically, you can’t give it away. So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan. Here’s something where you walk up and say, “I want my insurance.” It’s a very tough deal, but it is something that we’re doing a good job of.
Painting of woman reading newspaper by Johanna Harmon
So Trump thinks health insurance costs $12 per year and you don’t use it until you’re 70 years old? WTF?! A little more:
TRUMP: Yeah. It’s been a tough process for him. This health care is a tough deal. I said it from the beginning. No. 1, you know, a lot of the papers were saying — actually, these guys couldn’t believe it, how much I know about it. I know a lot about health care. [garbled] This is a very tough time for him, in a sense, because of the importance. And I believe we get there.
This is a very tough time for them, in a sense, because of the importance. And I believe that it’s [garbled], that makes it a lot easier. It’s a mess. One of the things you get out of this, you get major tax cuts, and reform. And if you add what the people are going to save in the middle income brackets, if you add that to what they’re saving with health care, this is like a windfall for the country, for the people. So, I don’t know, I thought it was a great meeting. I bet the number’s — I bet the real number’s four. But let’s say six or eight. And everyone’s [garbled], so statistically, that’s a little dangerous, right?
Trump claims his “enemies” loved the horrible speech he gave in Poland.
TRUMP: I have had the best reviews on foreign land. So I go to Poland and make a speech. Enemies of mine in the media, enemies of mine are saying it was the greatest speech ever made on foreign soil by a president. I’m saying, man, they cover [garbled]. You saw the reviews I got on that speech. Poland was beautiful and wonderful, and the reception was incredible.
The “president” had a blast in France.
After that, it was fairly surprising. He [President Emmanuel Macron of France] called me and said, “I’d love to have you there and honor you in France,” having to do with Bastille Day. Plus, it’s the 100th year of the First World War. That’s big. And I said yes. I mean, I have a great relationship with him. He’s a great guy.
HABERMAN: He was very deferential to you. Very.
TRUMP: He’s a great guy. Smart. Strong. Loves holding my hand….
People don’t realize he loves holding my hand. And that’s good, as far as that goes….
I mean, really. He’s a very good person. And a tough guy, but look, he has to be. I think he is going to be a terrific president of France. But he does love holding my hand.
Claude Monet reading a newspaper, by Pierre Auguste Renoir
On the parade in Paris:
But the Bastille Day parade was — now that was a super-duper — O.K. I mean, that was very much more than normal. They must have had 200 planes over our heads. Normally you have the planes and that’s it, like the Super Bowl parade. And everyone goes crazy, and that’s it. That happened for — and you know what else that was nice? It was limited. You know, it was two hours, and the parade ended. It didn’t go a whole day. They didn’t go crazy. You don’t want to leave, but you have to. Or you want to leave, really.
These things are going on all day. It was a two-hour parade. They had so many different zones. Maybe 100,000 different uniforms, different divisions, different bands. Then we had the retired, the older, the ones who were badly injured. The whole thing, it was an incredible thing.
Seriously, he sounds like a child. Later Macron took Trump to Napoleon’s tomb.
TRUMP: Well, Napoleon finished a little bit bad. But I asked that. So I asked the president, so what about Napoleon? He said: “No, no, no. What he did was incredible. He designed Paris.” [garbled] The street grid, the way they work, you know, the spokes. He did so many things even beyond. And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death. How many times has Russia been saved by the weather? [….]
Same thing happened to Hitler. Not for that reason, though. Hitler wanted to consolidate. He was all set to walk in. But he wanted to consolidate, and it went and dropped to 35 degrees below zero, and that was the end of that army….
But the Russians have great fighters in the cold. They use the cold to their advantage. I mean, they’ve won five wars where the armies that went against them froze to death. [crosstalk] It’s pretty amazing.
So what did Trump discuss with Putin during their recently revealed hour-long conversation after dinner at the G20?
We talked about Russian adoption. Yeah. I always found that interesting. Because, you know, he ended that years ago. And I actually talked about Russian adoption with him, which is interesting because it was a part of the conversation that Don [Jr., Mr. Trump’s son] had in that meeting. As I’ve said — most other people, you know, when they call up and say, “By the way, we have information on your opponent,” I think most politicians — I was just with a lot of people, they said [inaudible], “Who wouldn’t have taken a meeting like that?”
Reading the News, by Evariste Carpentier
Does Trump even know that when Putin talks about “adoptions” he’s actually referring to U.S. sanctions against individual Russian oligarchs? Probably not. Trump goes on to claim that he never saw the email stating that the Russian government was supporting him in the 2016 election. He then goes on to claim that Hillary Clinton strongly opposed sanctions on Russia.
TRUMP: Well, Hillary did the reset. Somebody was saying today, and then I read, where Hillary Clinton was dying to get back with Russia. Her husband made a speech, got half a million bucks while she was secretary of state. She did the uranium deal, which is a horrible thing, while she was secretary of state, and got a lot of money….
She was opposing sanctions. She was totally opposed to any sanctions for Russia.
BAKER: When was that?
HABERMAN: Do you remember when that was? I don’t remember that….
TRUMP: I just saw it. I just saw it. She was opposed to sanctions, strongly opposed to sanctions on Russia.
Cue the Twilight Zone music. There is much much more lunacy, but I’m running out of space. Please try to read the entire interview. I think it’s really important that we all understand how demented Trump really is.
Other important stories to check out:
Washington Post: John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona, diagnosed with brain tumor
CNN: Jeff Sessions: ‘I plan to continue’ as attorney general.
Bloomberg: Mueller Expands Probe to Trump Business Transactions. (Will Trump try to fire Mueller now?)
NYT: Manafort Was in Debt to Pro-Russia Interests, Cyprus Records Show (around $17 million in debt and to the same bank in Cyprus that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is connected with).
Politico: Republicans lament an agenda in ‘quicksand.’
Dakinikat posted this yesterday, but it’s worth reposting. The Daily Beast: GOP Lawmaker Got Direction From Moscow, Took It Back to D.C.
Paste Magazine: The Hidden Man: Why Paul Manafort is the Focal Point at the Trump Jr. Meeting.
NYT: Big German Bank, Key to Trump’s Finances, Faces New Scrutiny.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Honestly, it’s hard to know how to write a news post with so much shocking stuff breaking nearly every day. Yesterday was incredible and I dread what Trump might do by tonight.
It’s becoming more apparent that this entire presidency thing is to take revenge against Obama and to pay off Russian debt by enacting policies to please Putin.
I’m reading this Manafort piece we talked about … the banking stuff and all … it’s hairraising.
This imbecile is running U.S. foreign policy (from the NYT interview).
BB – I’m having to steel myself to read this post – but this excerpt here? holymotherofgawd He’s comparing the size of gas attacks under his admin and Obama’s. And you have to read it twice to figure that out.
We are so fkd.
He’s saying nonsense! It’s a misjointed stream of consciousness toddler spiel. I do not understand how reporters can listen to this garbled bullshit with straight faces.
It’s obviously not easy, but by reporting his insane rambling they are showing the danger this country is in. I give them credit for recording and publishing his demented stream of consciousness.
agree totally, but it shows what I hate, that so many men/politicians think that we have to oversee everything that happens in the world and use war to fix it. For example, this 15 year war that Bush started.
argle bargle
First, Jeff Sessions has always made me think of the man, from there old TV “Laugh-In”. who always wore a suit, and he was holding a flower; but, he, had no speaking part. That same guy, posing as Trump’s AG, now has a speaking part: “Thank you, Sir, may I have another? Trump likes to keep his excuses and potential scapegoats close at hand. Sean Spicer, for instance!
Consider the “Logic” or The Man from Bonkers! Session was one of his very closest advisors early on, possibly telegraphing his possible AG role. So on “December 1 or 2” (2016) he attended a meeting with Jared and Kislyak–perhaps a Russian Spy Master, due to his role as Washington Ambassador. A secret Kremlin-Trump Camp link was discussed, assumably to avoid US Intel. Was Senator (at the time) Sessions going to the meeting at Jared’s (35 years old at the time) request…OR, at Donald’s direction? How could AG Sessions not recuse himself…for doing Donald’s will?
Arte Johnson!!! Yes! I had to look it up – and he’s still with us.
Session’s refusal to resign is “veeeeery interesting”….these guys are turning on each other right and left.
No, Right and Righter! It’s today’s version of Dumb and Dumber!
The Daily Beast: Team Trump Used Obamacare Money to Run PR Effort Against It, by Sam Stein.
“whether the administration has misused funds” Oh hahahaha. lolsob.
Finally an article about the Democrats ignoring women and African Americans and trying to win over Trump voters–The Bernie bro strategy.
NYT Op-ed by Steve Phillips:
The Democratic Party’s Billion-Dollar Mistake
It’s all about ignoring blacks, as far as I could tell. Not one word about vote suppression. Not one word about women generally.
Since Hillary “lost” by 77,000 votes, a small number of any group of ignored voters could have made the difference.
But if the Dems don’t figure out that they have to sue over vote suppression in thousands of counties, and they have to do it now so it makes a difference for 2018, they can do all the improved outreach they want. Enough elections will still be stolen to keep us from ever being a democracy again.
Exactly.
Speaking from my experience down here in the south, they ignore black women at their peril.
Honest to god that “interview” has my head spinning. Such bullshit and incoherency coming out of the president of the US is mind blowing. Good lord the man is absolutely ignorant! It gets worse each and every day.
He understands nothing. Politics. Governing. History. Facts. Law. Healthcare. Where in god’s name did he come up with a $12.00 policy? He must have pulled that one out of his ass as usual. Where are the goddamned GOP leaders as this crackpot meanders over the board offering insane comments about everything and everyone?
As an aside: McCain’s treatment will be extremely costly so I am assuming he will perhaps change his mind about voting in favor of eliminating healthcare for millions? Or am I just wishful thinking that empathy may somehow grow from tragedy?
Loving the art, bb. Your choices always make my day.
Definitely wishful thinking. A woman tweeted yesterday that her husband had the same diagnosis a few years ago and they begged McCain for help. He suggested they move to another state.
WTF!
Are you serious? Karma – she’s a BITCH!
I saw that BB.
Jesus, don’t let that be true. I would like to think well of Johnny Mack For a few days. He betrayed he dude I used to like, a long time ago, but in this moment I prefer to think of he Pre-2000 Campaign McCain.
TIllerson just took out the State Department cybersecurity unit and now this:
Oh FFS! How blatant is that? And if it doesn’t get pulled off, they’ll move everything to the Cloud like Kushner recommended, and Putin can siphon off whatever the fck he wants.
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
According to the Bloomberg article at the bottom of the post, Mueller has rolled up the Preet Bharara money laundering investigation into his overall Russia probe.
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
If Jeff Secessions had a shred of dignity he would walk. “IF.”
Oh, I dunno … I’d like to make Trump fire me … make him squirm and be an ass … Sessions offered him his resignation when he steamed after the initial act of recuse. I’d make Trump fire me to my eye after all the Sessions did for him.
You make a good point. Why make it easy for the Jackass-O-Lantern. Jefferson Beauregard Secessions is a neo-confederate racist and closet segregationist and I don’t give a shit what happens to him per se, so I am down for whatever disrupts this evil fraud of a disadministration the most.
Mark Felt, in the guise of Deep Throat said it best, “Follow the money.” As long as Secesssons does not interfere with the media ultimate release of the taxes, Trumpkin can do whatever he wants with him!
I’d say he’s an out-of-the-closet segregationist. He’s a disgrace to the honor of this country (if we have any left now), but no surprise considering Trumputin picked him.
This:
“Does Trump even know that when Putin talks about “adoptions” he’s actually referring to U.S. sanctions against individual Russian oligarchs?”
Thank you for that.
They’ve compared tRump’s current talk with 20 years ago when he still had subject-verb agreement. Have they done those comparisons with even, say, eight or nine months ago?
I can’t bear to plough through that verbal diarrhea to check, but it feels like he’s gotten significantly worse just over the past few months.
Or maybe I’m just more allergic.
It’s hard to believe the stress isn’t exacerbating the problem. He sounds much worse now than last year to me.
Strikes you that way too, hmmm?
Oh yes – it was bad last year but this is some next level shit here. He’s been spewing this type of garbage a long time with complete lack of self-awareness. He has no idea how bad it sounds and no one is going to tell him.
Ooh. Ooh. I just thought of the solution. I mean, we have the solution. The 25th Amendment is supposed to allow the removal of useless blots, but the people who should refuse to do their jobs.
What we need is government by robot! The GOOG’s artificial intelligence Skynet or something. As soon as 1600 Pennsylvania Ave hits Level 7 Gonzo, the AI cuts off all contact with the outside world and the bomb removal drones roll in.
It’d work better than our current system.
lol
I think he’s getting worse too. He’s deteriorating rapidly. He’s 71 and his father had Alzheimer’s.
Hey! It’s not always heredity! At least I hope not … my mother had some type of cognitive impairment in her last years, though never a formal dx.
No, but just about every disease, including psychological disorders, has a genetic element–sometimes they are highly genetic. There are environmental factors too, and Trump has a terrible diet and doesn’t exercise. And stress!
Someone wrote an article on that very concept. I think it was by a psychologist IIRC. They compared his speech of 10-15 years ago with 5 yrs ago and with now. The disintegration was obvious. Not that he ever didn’t sound like an ass.
Will try to find that article.
I didn’t *think* it was just me imagining things. Interesting to know it’s been looked at by psychologists.
Here are two very alarming things happening via Shakesville – just in case you weren’t sure our democracy is in jeopardy:
1. ALEC scheming to repeal the 17 amendment so Republican-controlled state legislatures could pick senators:
http://www.shakesville.com/2017/07/the-democracy-killers-part-two.html
2. Team tRump’s success with appointing young conservatives to the federal judicial bench:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-one-area-where-trump-has-been-wildly-successful/2017/07/19/56c5c7ee-6be7-11e7-b9e2-2056e768a7e5_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.a0dd20ea2ead
Fuck ALEC. And yeah, I saw Trumputin’s packing the courts with racist misogynist pricks. Pardon the swearing but everything keeps getting worse.
This is pretty funny:
http://theweek.com/speedreads/713214/first-lady-japan-apparently-pretended-not-speak-english-avoid-talking-trump
LOL – I adore the way women around the world are responding to this cretin. Even Melania is showing him up for the bore that he is.
That’s fantastic. Good for her.
Ooooh, brilliant!
RICO – Racketeering – Al Capone is that you?
In Trump-branded made in China spades.
Hell yeah.
No really news, but this horrible statistic is getting some press. Although there’s the presumption that murderous violence happens because relationships “go wrong” and arguments happen or the women get pregnant. No, you idiots, it happens because the men are too emotional and don’t want to be adults and control their murderous violence. We can’t fix that by not getting pregnant and not arguing — and 70% of cases did not have arguments beforehand so there goes that excuse.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/07/20/most-female-homicide-victims-are-killed-by-husbands-or-other-intimate-partners-new-report-shows/?utm_term=.b96c7b3070de#comments
O.J. Simpson got paroled yesterday.
The CDC would better spend its time studying why men feel so threatened by women.