Not enough Whisky for this Tango Foxtrot

[Griffon64]

Yes, but it is these small pockets of rot that is spoiling the whole barrel of apples. I'm no longer of the mind to go "Ah, just a few loonies, it will be OK, what can they do?" when I hear about these things. That kind of thinking helped get Donald J Trump right into the White House, and that little event is not going well.

[RoseMorninStar]

I do want to point out that this is Rev. Moon's "church" so it's not like we'd expect sanity from them.

I'd like to point out that it is an 'offshoot' (pun intended?) of Rev. Moon's church. According to an article I read, this is Rev. Moon's son and he (?) I can't find the article at the moment, married into the family of an arms manufacturer. So, they have a financial stake in firearms. The main church distanced themselves from the event.

Griffon, I agree. The nuts have gone mainstream, as with conspiracy theorists. They are no longer a tiny fringe element and that is truly disturbing.

Edited to add:
Kahr Arms owned by none other than Jason Moon.

Oh lordy:

The church is expecting hundreds of people to arrive at its church in Newfoundland on 28 February. A note on its website asked those who cannot bring a gun to obtain a $700 (£500) gift certificate to show they plan to buy one.

“These actions to participate with crowns and a rod of iron/gift certificate are signs of attendance, sovereignty and vigilance to protect God’s coming nation of Cheon Il Guk”, the church said. Cheon Il Guk is its name for the kingdom of God on Earth.

[Sunsilver]

The only good thing I have to say about this is at least the Newfoundland in question isn't the Canadian province of the same name!

[RoseMorninStar]

More weird from people-who-say-they-want-to-keep-us-safe-but-don't-make-me-feel-any-safer category:
Oath Keepers

[Maria]

"Trump’s Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize Was Apparently Forged. Twice."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/worl ... -161420765

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I'm trying to wrap my brain around this sentence (from the NY Times), and failing:

Yet aides also noted that Mr. Trump has told the couple (Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner) that they should keep serving in their roles, even as he has privately asked Mr. Kelly for his help in moving them out.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/us/p ... ffice.html

[Primula Baggins]

I just read that, too. The disconnect between Trump and reality is getting deeper. Even if he's driven from office by the threat of impeachment after the 2018 election (assuming the Russians aren't able to throw it for him), the damage he is doing every day to this country and its institutions is going to be almost impossible to repair.

At least I hope it's "almost."

[RoseMorninStar]

Trump has a disconnect that appears to be growing. He wants Ivanka & Jared fired to take the heat off himself, but he does not and likely never will, know how to take responsibility for his actions. It is not part of his repertoire. It is ALWAYS someone else's fault.

As for the Nobel prize, well of course. Obama has one so Trump wants one. To put next to his purple heart.

Putin has a Superbowl ring, you know. One of true (*cough*) power does not need to earn these things in the way that mere underlings do.

[Frelga]

I don't have the context for this quote, which is probably just as well.

https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/971125951101919232

Trump says tariffs will be done in a "loving, loving way"

[Voronwë the Faithful]

And in this episode of "As the Trump Turns" Porn Star Stormy Daniels sues the President of the United States alleging that he never signed the "hush agreement" that they entered into get her to stay silent about their 2006-2007 affair and thus the agreement should be invalid, even though Trump lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 out of his own pocket.

Oh, and the president's Chief Economic Advisor is resigning, but who cares?

[RoseMorninStar]

The tariffs.. just like DACA.

Trump downplayed the risks of a trade war on Tuesday, and said his proposals wouldn't be draconian.
"We will straighten it out. We'll do it in a very loving way. It will be a loving, loving way. They'll like us better and they'll respect us much more," he said.

President Trump told a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday that he wants a bill to allow young immigrants who were brought to the country illegally to remain, saying that such a measure should be "a bipartisan bill of love" and that "we can do it."

We all know how that tends to work out. :/

[Frelga]

And in this episode of "As the Trump Turns" Porn Star Stormy Daniels sues the President of the United States alleging that he never signed the "hush agreement" that they entered into get her to stay silent about their 2006-2007 affair and thus the agreement should be invalid, even though Trump lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 out of his own pocket.

Oh, and the president's Chief Economic Advisor is resigning, but who cares?

Here's a slightly longer recap from the WaPo White House man

https://twitter.com/PhilipRucker/status ... 9221377025

Since Sam Nunberg:
-Trump says no CHAOS
-North Korea talks
-Kellyanne violates Hatch Act
-Trump admits Russian interference
-Trump likes watching aides fight
-Trump promises "very loving" tariffs
-Gary Cohn resigns
-UAE adviser cooperates with Mueller
-Stormy Daniels sues Trump

I missed the UAE part but there's also the Nastya Rybka saga unfolding.

Also, Trump properties were planning to use the Presidential Seal as golf tee markers. I long for the days when that would have been enough for a scandal on its own.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I caught the UAE, but I missed the liking watching aides fight. As for the Nastya Rybka saga I really hope that they make a deal with her.

[RoseMorninStar]

One of the many things I find... interesting? Is that Trump declares 'there is no chaos' but he has also said he LOVES chaos/conflict. This does not surprise me. What it means is that there is chaos. Tons of it. And he loves it. He thrives on it like a mean girl in High school. He loves to pit people against one another and watch them do one another in. Narcissists lack empathy and that is why they love the drama and risk-taking.

Can the last one out the door get the lights?

[Frelga]

So I fully realize that V has more pressing calls on his time than reading, let alone commenting on Seth Abramson's legal analysis of the Stormy Daniels lawsuit. But, should the universe arrange itself conveniently, I'd be very interested in V's take.

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status ... 9981776906

Because there really isn't enough whisk(e)y

[Voronwë the Faithful]

As you know, I'm not a big fan of Seth Abramham's, but I am a big fan of yours, so when I get a few minutes I'll look through what he has to say and comment to the extent that I can.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Okay, I read through about 25 of his tweets and I had to stop before losing what was left of my sanity. The bottom line is that Stormy took the money and should therefore be bound by the agreement, regardless of whether Trump was a party, as most legal analysts have said. Moreover, contrary to what Abramson seems to think, there is little reason why Cohen could not sue to enforce the agreement because there is no reason why Trump would have to testify about any details of any alleged affair as that would not be relevant to the suit.

However, the more critical legal issue is the one that has been brought of by two congresspersons, and that is whether Daniels suit points to election violations by not only Cohen but by Trump himself. Of course, those complaints will likely not go anywhere, but they should.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... spartanntp

[Frelga]

As you know, I'm not a big fan of Seth Abramham's, but I am a big fan of yours, so when I get a few minutes I'll look through what he has to say and comment to the extent that I can.

Awww, V, thank you!

And as you say, the really relevant issue is whether this constitutes an illegal campaign donation.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Its pretty remarkable to be able to say that it really is irrelevant as to whether the affair happened. Everybody knows that it probably is true and that Trump has done far worse than that, and yet it doesn't seem to matter.

I did read through the Complaint and exhibits and I am certain that the agreement is enforceable. But the only thing is just so ludicrous, with the alliterative pseudonyms and all.

How did it come to this?

[Frelga]

Yeah, what is with the pseudonym? Does it affect what Daniels is allowed to say? Like, she's not allowed to talk about any Dennisons she knows but talking about Trump is OK? (Unlikely, I realize.)

Honestly, I don't care about the affair. It's Melania's problem, not mine. I understand there was a concern that it makes the President vulnerable to blackmail, but the so called family values voters don't seem to care, either.