Before commenting on the reaction to Trump’s moronic comments about certain House Democrats, I want to point to something he said Friday:
So — so there’s no collusion and there’s no obstruction.
Now, we have a great Attorney General now — he’s strong and he’s smart — and he read it and he studied it — along with Rod Rosenstein, who worked it from the beginning. And Rod Rosenstein and Bill Barr said, “There’s no obstruction.”
It’s also interesting — number one, there’s no crime. And how do you obstruct when there’s no crime?
Also, take a look at one other thing. It’s a thing called Article II. Nobody ever mentions Article II. It gives me all of these rights at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We don’t even talk about Article II.
Let’s repeat that last paragraph:
Also, take a look at one other thing. It’s a thing called Article II. Nobody ever mentions Article II. It gives me all of these rights at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We don’t even talk about Article II.
It has been noted that whenever Trump says something along the lines of “no one ever talks about” or “no one knows about” something, that means he was just told something the rest of the world learned in second grade. It seems the imbecile has noticed there is this thing called “Article II” that gives him presidential powers. Whether he understands that “Article II” is part of the Constitution isn’t clear, but he does seem to assume that this “Article II” thing has been lost in a drawer somewhere all these years, and he is the first one to find out about it. And so now he knows he has power! Lots of power!
If he were to actually read the Constitution — I know, but let’s pretend — he might notice that Congress has lots and lots of specific power and that the president has very little in comparison. But I think it’s safe to say “Trump reading the Constitution” is an event unlikely to happen in this time-space continuum. And even if he read it, he wouldn’t understand it.
But now let’s talk about the outrage du jour, which is Trump’s racist comments on certain Democratic congresswomen of color. For the record, here’s a screen shot of the initial tweets. He’s since doubled down with crazier and crazier rants.
First, speaking as someone descended from soldiers of the American Revolution, let me say that from my perspective Trump just got off the boat last week. I don’t have anything against someone just off the boat, but don’t get off the boat and start making demands about who gets to stay or go. That pisses me off. As Richard Wolff said, “What is it about this German-American that makes him think he can tell native-born citizens what to say and how to behave?”
Note that all but one of the progressive Democratic congresswomen Trump is talking about was born in the United States. They also were all elected to Congress, which means they are authorized by We, the People to determine how our government is to be run. But good luck explaining that to the moron who won’t, and probably can’t, read the Constitution.
Good luck also explaining any of this to right-wing bloggers, such as the always moronic Ann Althouse and her rabidly racist readers. My own fantasy deportation list would start there. See also The Worst Responses to Trump’s Racist Tweets at Mother Jones.
Charles Blow, Trump’s Tweets Prove That He Is a Raging Racist:
Trump — and many of his supporters and defenders — spew their racism and tell themselves that it is perfectly acceptable when it is read back to them, in much the same way that a dog will eat its own vomit. …
…There can be no more discussion or debate about whether or not Trump is a racist. He is. There can be no more rhetorical juggling about not knowing what’s in his heart. We see what flows out of it.
White people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency. His primary concern is to defend, protect and promote it. All that threatens it must be attacked and assaulted. Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy. And, self-identified Republicans absolutely love him for it.
We are watching a very dark chapter in this nation’s history unfold in real time. We are watching as a president returns naked racism to the White House. And we are watching as fellow citizens — possibly a third of them — reveal to us their open animus for us through their continued support of him.
Eugene Robinson, Republicans embrace Trump’s racism. Blame them as much as him.
“Trump is a Racist” does not exactly qualify as breaking news. But the silence from prominent Republicans is staggering — and telling. It amounts to collaboration — perhaps collusion is a better word — with the president’s assault on diversity and pluralism. In the coming campaign, you will hear Republican candidates at every level claim to be colorblind and embrace all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity. Do not believe them. Their failure to speak out now tells us everything we need to know about their true feelings.
Jamelle Bouie, Trump’s America Is a ‘White Man’s Country’:
Much of Trump’s agenda rests on this idea that the boundaries of rights and citizenship are conterminous with race. Those within Trump’s boundaries enjoy the fruits of American freedom, while those outside them face the full force of American repression. White European immigrants like the first lady, Melania Trump, are welcomed; dark-skinned migrants from Latin America are put into cages and camps.
But also note this:
With that said, what’s more striking than the president’s blood-and-soil racism is how Democratic Party elites — or at least one group of them — are playing with similar assumptions. No, they haven’t held out the white working property owner as the only citizen of value, but they’re obsessed with winning that voter to their side — convinced that this group is the path to victory. It helps explain the current feud between Pelosi and the four congresswomen, with House Democratic leaders attacking progressives on behalf of moderates in the caucus — some of which represent districts Trump won in 2016, but most of whom represent districts that gave Democrats the majority last November.
Indeed, it is instructive — and frankly disturbing — that top Democrats leaked a poll to Axios showing broad dissatisfaction with Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Omar. Not from the entire public or Democratic voters, but from “1,003 likely general-election voters who are white and have two years or less of college education.”
That kind of thing has to stop, Democrats. The party cannot continue to pay lip service to the virtues of “diversity” while simultaneously telling “diversity” to sit down and shut up. The Democrats are either open to genuine diversity, or they are a diluted version of the Republicans.
Finally, see Inae Oh, Trump Stages Full-Blown, Racist Meltdown at “Made in America” Event about remarks Trump made today.
“If you’re not happy here, then you can leave,” Trump told reporters in a chaotic news conference for a “Made in America” event at the White House. “As far as I’m concerned, if you hate our country, if you’re not happy here, you can leave.”
This is the guy who ranted about “American carnage” in his inauguration speecy. He clearly hates this country and isn’t happy here. He should go first.
Well, as an American Indian, I wish someone would send trump back where he came from.
Does Uruguay still have nazi refugees? Asking for a potential POTUS in exile?
Can we find an island named Elba and send him there?
Trump plays the media like a fiddle. The unfolding tragedy at the border which Trump designed is starting to be noticed by the class of not-full-blown-racists. This wasn't the outcome they desired and expected. So let's shine the spotlight on something else for the media to chase. Like a cat playing with a laser dot, they run off.
100% agree, he also plays the democrats pretty well too, he knows they can be counted on to turn on one another. Trump understands two things, distraction and hate.
You'll hear me criticize Pelosi plenty but she defended the four like they were her kittens even though they were recently in a spat with Pelosi. The GOP is screaming foul today because Pelosi used the word 'racist' about Trump on the floor of the House.
There can be no more rhetorical juggling about not knowing what’s in his heart. We see what flows out of it.
There's a scripture that says: From an abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. It's kinda strange how a scripture written thousands of years ago can sum up the condition of what a cesspool of hate dwells in Trump's heart.
I also think it strange that some people are just now coming to the revelation that Trump is a racist. Like his latest racist tweets and comments have finally provided proof of his racism. I mean, didn't his comments about the Central Park five, or that Mexicans are rapists or his birther campaign against Obama give some sort of an indication that racism was a integral part of his character?
It's not that The Occupant isn't a n overweight orange douches whose also a racist. It's just he's keeping people from talking about Epstein raping children with The Occupant 's knowledge, approval and possible participation.
It's not that The Occupant isn't an overweight orange douche bag who is also a racist. It's just he's keeping people from talking about Epstein raping children with The Occupant 's knowledge, approval and possible participation.
When it comes to Trump's racism, which has been obvious to the honest observer for some time, our leaders and institutions like the NYT suffer from either incredulity or are paralyzed by cowardice when it comes to acknowledging and calling it out. The LA Times was one exception, calling Trump exactly what he is, the Bigot-in-Chief, compared to the NYTimes, an example of the institutional cowardice.
But that said, we have to acknowledge that, even before Trump, a segment of society existed that agrees with Trump, believes in his effort to "Make America White Again." Trump is their Fuhrer; they celebrate him as having brought hate from the shadows out into the open. For them, racism in support of white supremacy has been unchained by Trump, which explains the explosion in racist incidents visited upon non-whites.
If, God forbid, Trump wins in 2020, look out. Unchained from having to worry about reelection, I would fully expect him to work with the GOP to completely destroy what's left of the rule of law and Constitution, and turn the US into a white nationalist sh*thole country and make life a living hell for non-whites and those who support them.
Oh that Andy Borowitz, fiction but fiction with charm and humor:
I strongly disagree with Charles Blow's assertion that "White people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency". Sure, Trump is racist, but the true "center of the Trump presidency" is Trump. That's all he really cares about – himself. ALL of his tweets are just a cheap demand for attention, and unfortunately, it's working.
Eugene Robinson ,………. “Trump is a Racist” does not exactly qualify as breaking news. But the silence from prominent Republicans is staggering — and telling "
Really what is so staggering about that, the republican party created Trump, it is not the other way around. Trump is the scab, the republican party is the sore, it has always been corrupt and racist and it always will be. I like Eugene and think he is a brilliant writer, but he's sound awfully naive here? As I said on another post, this hate-racist-tweet was all about getting Trump's pedo-pal Epstein off the headlines, he needs that situation quiet so Bill (white-washer) Barr can get into the evidence that implicates Trump and make it go away. A side effect that also benefits Trump is that he is able to exploit a minor rift in the democratic party. Trump is a moronic horrible racist but he knows that the democrats given a controversy will eventually turn on each other. Trump is egging on that good old liberal circular firing squad. " The Democrats are either open to genuine diversity, or they are a diluted version of the Republicans "
Racism has been a constant thread in the American narrative through the treatment of the natives to African slavery to importation of Chinese and Mexican laborers to internment of Japanese-American citizens to redlining. Republican politics since the middle 20th century have taken advantage by including opposition to civil rights and equality, mention of "welfare queens", Willie Horton, birtherism and so on. Trump's only insight to politics is that those tactics could still be successful if the racism were only made plain enough. His attempt to revive the 1950s' and 60s' link between race and communism would be hilarious if it weren't so despicable. Compromise with the current Republican party is at least futile and at worst stupid. The time has passed that Democrats can look at all respectable promising it.
Your Miller analogy of the day. Mitch got a zero point response and Lindsey just went bat shit crazy.
Nixon: crook as Trump: _______
“Discovering” Article II is also playing to his base. The actual constitution isn’t something the base has read either. (There was an onion piece a decade ago about an area man defends what he believes the constitution says against the actual constitution ). His base feels good because their savior is sharing his great genius with their low born selves, and also is sticking it to their enemies and hated out groups.
same thing has played out many times already – Frederic Douglass?
I think there is something that is being missed in all this talk about his racist statement against these Congresswomen; and, that is that it is also SEXIST. If they had been four minority men would he have made this big a deal out of it. He's probably upset that they are four women he can't get his hands on.
Well, putting aside all the political wrangling and setting the ground work for Trump's 2020 campaign strategy. It is now an established fact that Trump has been certified a tried and true racist by the House of Representatives of the United States of America.
It's no easy feat to earn that distinction. I don't think George Wallace or even Nathan Bedford Forrest or George Lincoln Rockwell attained the status of being the supreme racist of the United States by a decree of Congress. Way to go, Donnie! Who needs a lousy Nobel peace prize after they've be honored as America's premier racist?
Trump should know that his racism doesn't dwell in his bones, it dwells in his heart.
Trump's heart is so shriveled it cannot hold all the hate and racism that he seems to think is so powerful.
Well, for a change, I actually agree with Presidunce tRUMP!
One Congresswoman is from Somalia, and the other three were born here in the USA, so today, they ARE all from a corrupt shithole of a country ruled by a DICKtator: Somalia and America!
Or, as I'd call it, "The Somaliafication of America."
You can't have a shithole country without a shithead for a "leader!"
I pledge allegiance to the squad. He who attacks the squad attacks all of us. She who demeans the squad is trying to demean all of us. I stand with, by, behind, and side by side with the squad.
New shit has come to light. The bone spur general is organizing his mob to be the anti-squad. His hate machine works late into the night creating the alternate reality they will propagate to defame the squad. The squad represents everything they hate: diversity, youth, competence, true patriotism, honesty, spirituality, a work ethic, intelligence, leadership ability, and a vision for the future of this country that is honest and sustainable. The squad is the true elite not the gaudy. spoiled, fake elite peddling their wares to a ditto headed mob. The squad represents the true qualities that make this country work. The squad are proven underdog winners, not entitled, rule bending losers. I stand with the squad.
" I pledge allegiance to the squad "
I disagree with many of the Policies the so called "Squad" are promoting and how they are promoting them. I do however stand by their right to push whatever policies they wish, they are duly elected members of congress, they have every right to push the policies they represent for their constituents, it is the voters that put them in office who have the right to get them out office, period. I do however recognize that Trump does not want to run against the democratic party en masse, most of whom are pragmatic center-left moderates. He wants to run against the very fringe of the party which is one of many reasons why he has picked this fight. So no I don't pledge allegiance to the "squad", I'm not falling into Trumps trap, I support the democratic party as a whole.
I'm a lot more interested in why Trump created this flap in the first place. I never agree with Kathleen Parker, but IMO, she nailed it: Trump's inflammatory remarks appeared right at the time Jeffrey Epstein's scandal blew open. NBC has video from the early 90s, showing Epstein hanging out with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, shortly after Trump's first divorce. This is the event where a bevy of young girls were flown in. Too rushed to provide links to all this – I think Parker's column is in the Wapo or NYT.
Don't get distracted by the shiny object. Look at why it's been tossed out now.
Good point. He is going to need many more shiny objects or a cell.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fbi-believed-trump-was-closely-involved-hush-money-scheme-unsealed-n1031246