The Former Trump Presidency Thread

[Isgrimnur]

NYT

Elizabeth, 92, who is now the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has met every president since Truman, except for Lyndon B. Johnson. The latest was President Trump, whom she received at Windsor Castle on Friday.

12/45 = 26.67%

[$iljanus]

The Queen needed Trump to complete her collection. How many US presidents has she met now?

Someone on the Twitter said that she has met 25% of the men who have ever served as US President. It was on Twitter, so it must be true.

And The Queen collects another sample of hair from a President, increasing her unnatural powers!

[hepcat]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

[malchior]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

*OH SNAP*

[noxiousdog]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

Not much opinion on EU because EU isn't a country.

Well, there's this..
Senator Lindsay Graham: "If Russia doesn't understand that they're gonna pay a price for continuing to interfere in our elections it will be a big mistake. Because they are. And to accept their denial would be to accept fake news. The President's success or failure in this summit may be defined by how aggressive he is about Russian interference in our election. And that's been created by this unwillingness to go there.

Trump: "I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. [stuff about email servers redacted] I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today, and what he did is an incredible offer. He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators... "

Trump was really hard on Russia, wasn't he?

[Rip]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

I have never been anything but critical of Russia, I was the one screaming for us to do something when they invaded Crimea. If I recall correctly most of you guys were just like "there isn't anything we can do" and moved on. How's that working out?

[Rip]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

Not much opinion on EU because EU isn't a country.

Well, there's this..
Senator Lindsay Graham: "If Russia doesn't understand that they're gonna pay a price for continuing to interfere in our elections it will be a big mistake. Because they are. And to accept their denial would be to accept fake news. The President's success or failure in this summit may be defined by how aggressive he is about Russian interference in our election. And that's been created by this unwillingness to go there.

Trump: "I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. [stuff about email servers redacted] I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today, and what he did is an incredible offer. He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators... "

Trump was really hard on Russia, wasn't he?

I keep hearing that but to this day no one has put the check on the table. Talk is cheap, I see no action in the works that would cause Putin to do anything more than roll his eyes.

[Zaxxon]

We have to be living in a simulation at this point, right? Right?

[malchior]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

I have never been anything but critical of Russia, I was the one screaming for us to do something when they invaded Crimea. If I recall correctly most of you guys were just like "there isn't anything we can do" and moved on. How's that working out?

The most the West could do aside from war was what they did. Sanctions. Arming Ukraine. Supporting Ukraine. And Trump is undermining that *right now*. Trying to ignore the conversation with this 'I'm stronger on Russia' card you are trying to play is pathetic but expected from you.

[noxiousdog]

I keep hearing that but to this day no one has put the check on the table. Talk is cheap, I see no action in the works that would cause Putin to do anything more than roll his eyes.

He probably needs chap stick for his ass after today.

[Smoove_B]

We have to be living in a simulation at this point, right? Right?

None of it makes any sense. Until you accept the suggestion that: (1) Trump is being directly influenced by Putin and (2), the leadership plus rank and file members of the GOP are complicit so long as they're able to continue to enjoy the benefits of their current position(s). Then it all makes perfect sense.

[malchior]

We have to be living in a simulation at this point, right? Right?

None of it makes any sense. Until you accept the suggestion that: (1) Trump is being directly influenced by Putin and (2), the leadership plus rank and file members of the GOP are complicit so long as they're able to continue to enjoy the benefits of their current position(s). Then it all makes perfect sense.

Correct. Especially since they have to do it or leave Congress. The base of the GOP has shown that they will throw out anyone who won't kiss Trump's ring. The GOP top to bottom is a reflection of a broken electorate. And Trump is also a twisted reflection of our own worse selves. And the only way out is for Congresscritters who only crave power to give up power. All while trapped in a game where no one wants to act first on top. We are boned.

[hepcat]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

I have never been anything but critical of Russia, I was the one screaming for us to do something when they invaded Crimea. If I recall correctly most of you guys were just like "there isn't anything we can do" and moved on. How's that working out?

Bull. Since Trump took office, you've been downplaying every proven report of Russian meddling with a shrug and a "what can you do?". Or even worse, by trying to trivialize their meddling by comparing them to things our allies have done, or by blaming the U.S. for "letting it happen".

You're practically asking Putin if you can give him a back rub and a cold drink at this point.

[malchior]

Bull. Since Trump took office, you've been downplaying every proven report of Russian meddling with a shrug and a "what can you do?". Or even worse, by trying to equate their meddling with things our allies have done, or by blaming the U.S. for "letting it happen".

You're practically asking Putin if you can give him a back rub and a cold drink at this point.

I sometimes wonder if he lives in a Trump-like fantasy world where he actually buys into his own bullshit.

[Kraken]

We have to be living in a simulation at this point, right? Right?

The best explanation I've seen says that the Large Hadron Collider tipped us into an alternate timeline. Science!

[Fitzy]

Bull. Since Trump took office, you've been downplaying every proven report of Russian meddling with a shrug and a "what can you do?". Or even worse, by trying to equate their meddling with things our allies have done, or by blaming the U.S. for "letting it happen".

You're practically asking Putin if you can give him a back rub and a cold drink at this point.

I sometimes wonder if he lives in a Trump-like fantasy world where he actually buys into his own bullshit.

Yes! It’s called narcissism. He creates a false self to protect himself from low self esteem.

Oops, I thought you were talking about Trump. I don’t know Rip well enough to say he’s a narcissist.

Sorry Rip!

[Rip]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

I have never been anything but critical of Russia, I was the one screaming for us to do something when they invaded Crimea. If I recall correctly most of you guys were just like "there isn't anything we can do" and moved on. How's that working out?

The most the West could do aside from war was what they did. Sanctions. Arming Ukraine. Supporting Ukraine. And Trump is undermining that *right now*. Trying to ignore the conversation with this 'I'm stronger on Russia' card you are trying to play is pathetic but expected from you.

Sorry you feel disappointed. For what it is worth I am very unhappy with how Trump has dealt with Russia. I look forward to voting for people with a strong anti-Russian agenda in the midterms and with any that run for POTUS in the 2020 primaries/election. I would very much like to see Trump not make it through the primaries in 2020.

[Rip]

Pretty sure I have made my opinion of Russia quite clear. I would be harder on them than any of you or the EU.

When will this happen? Because since Trump took office, you've been Chamberlaining like a champ.

I have never been anything but critical of Russia, I was the one screaming for us to do something when they invaded Crimea. If I recall correctly most of you guys were just like "there isn't anything we can do" and moved on. How's that working out?

Bull. Since Trump took office, you've been downplaying every proven report of Russian meddling with a shrug and a "what can you do?". Or even worse, by trying to trivialize their meddling by comparing them to things our allies have done, or by blaming the U.S. for "letting it happen".

You're practically asking Putin if you can give him a back rub and a cold drink at this point.

No I haven't. I have said very directly what we should do. Full on trade blockages from us and the EU. Military build-up. Install some missile defense systems. Start admitting some more countries into NATO. There are tons of things that could/should have been done since Crimea and before. Wasn't any political will then to do anything of substance just like there isn't now from either side. The rage only goes so far as Trump hating allows.

[Max Peck]

The Queen needed Trump to complete her collection. How many US presidents has she met now?

Someone on the Twitter said that she has met 25% of the men who have ever served as US President. It was on Twitter, so it must be true.

Remarkably, it is fairly truthy:

1. Harry Truman – October 31, 1951
2. Dwight D. Eisenhower – October 17, 1957
3. John F. Kennedy – June 15, 1961
4. Richard Nixon – February 15, 1969
5. Gerald Ford – July 17, 1976
6. Jimmy Carter – May 7, 1977
7. Ronald Reagan – June 7, 1982
8. George H.W. Bush – June 1, 1989
9. Bill Clinton – June 4, 1994
10. George W. Bush – November 21, 2003
11. Barack Obama – May 24, 2011
12. Товарищ Дональд Трамп - July 13, 2018

That's actually 26.7% of all US presidents, so the tweet was a slight understatement.

Edit: Damn you Isgrimnur! <insert fist-shake here> ;P

[Zarathud]

Wasn't any political will then to do anything of substance just like there isn't now from either side. The rage only goes so far as Trump hating allows.

As long as Republicans block any action, Rip doesn't care.

If the Democrats want to act, they just hate Trump so Rip doesn't care.

In other words, Rip only cares if FOX gives him instructions. #notapuppet

[LordMortis]

No I haven't. I have said very directly what we should do. Full on trade blockages from us and the EU. Military build-up. Install some missile defense systems. Start admitting some more countries into NATO. There are tons of things that could/should have been done since Crimea and before. Wasn't any political will then to do anything of substance just like there isn't now from either side. The rage only goes so far as Trump hating allows.

I support all of these things, though oddly enough, I agree that EU needs to pull more military weight for their part. Doesn't it seem to you this administration decreased trade sanctions, decreased military presence in the area, and has actively been seeking to sew chaos in to NATO while asking its partners to seek energy solution for Russia?

To be honest, I didn't pay enough attention until post Crimea (Late 2014?) but by all means before the election when all of the Ukraine stuff started coming to light.

I think with you stance you'd be raging the Administration like they were headed by a Clinton.

Edit; Holy Crap. Never thought I'd see this

I look forward to voting for people with a strong anti-Russian agenda in the midterms and with any that run for POTUS in the 2020 primaries/election. I would very much like to see Trump not make it through the primaries in 2020.

[Isgrimnur]

Edit: Damn you Isgrimnur! <insert fist-shake here> ;P

BAM!

[Daehawk]

Some CNN headlines and stories.......

Wow of all places Fox is anti Trump today.....
Ex-Fox News analyst unloads: Trump licked Putin's boots

Typical for President Bumbles
Trump's zero preparation, zero achievement summit

Anderson Cooper defends calling Trump's actions 'disgraceful'

At least CNN refuses to kiss Trump's skanky ass
Don Lemon questions whether Trump is fit to lead the country

How long can his war Cabinet tolerate Trump's farce?

And finally tonight we have Rand. With EVERYONE else pointing out Trump's stupidity we have Rand doing what Rand does best...act the idiot. Shame his neighbor didn't get in a few more good licks.
Rand Paul sides with Trump over US intel

I will say that I think the most thoughtful and intelligent response to Shinsplints actions came from of course Sen John McCain.
John McCain: Trump gave 'one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory'

Say what you will and this coming from a Democrat...John McCain is the only Republican I can respect or even like in DC. Shame he is sick. The other GOP members will simply brush his remarks off as the confusion of a sick man.

[Kraken]

McCain probably would have been a good president. It's a shame his career was Palined. I was leaning toward voting for him until that happened.

[Kraken]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

[El Guapo]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

They also got it comically wrong with foresight. It's not like this should have been unexpected - Trump said stuff that he's said a million versions of already. It's just that the visuals are more clear and striking with this press conference.

So expecting Trump to be tough on Putin in the press conference was idiocy before the press conference happened.

[Combustible Lemur]

They also got it comically wrong with foresight. It's not like this should have been unexpected - Trump said stuff that he's said a million versions of already. It's just that the visuals are more clear and striking with this press conference.

So expecting Trump to be tough on Putin in the press conference was idiocy before the press conference happened.

This, one of the talking heads noted that every one who was "shocked" yesterday weren't paying attention the past two years. He's said all this shit before, it's his standard Russian stance. The only shocking part was Putin with his thumb physically in trump's ass while he said it.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Jeff V]

McCain probably would have been a good president. It's a shame his career was Palined. I was leaning toward voting for him until that happened.

Picking her was probably indicative of the moment his brain cancer started. Who knows what other off-the-wall things he might have done if elected?

[Holman]

McCain probably would have been a good president. It's a shame his career was Palined. I was leaning toward voting for him until that happened.

Picking her was probably indicative of the moment his brain cancer started. Who knows what other off-the-wall things he might have done if elected?

He needed to excite the Tea Party, and he hoped picking a woman would partly nullify Obama's charisma as a fresh choice.

It was that clumsy and that crass a selection. Postmortems of the campaign admitted that they barely even tried to vet her.

[El Guapo]

McCain probably would have been a good president. It's a shame his career was Palined. I was leaning toward voting for him until that happened.

Picking her was probably indicative of the moment his brain cancer started. Who knows what other off-the-wall things he might have done if elected?

He needed to excite the Tea Party, and he hoped picking a woman would partly nullify Obama's charisma as a fresh choice.

It was that clumsy and that crass a selection. Postmortems of the campaign admitted that they barely even tried to vet her.

In McCain's partial defense, running to replace a hugely unpopular two-term incumbent of your party during a severe recession meant that he was a major underdog in that race. Adopting high variance strategies makes sense when you are a big underdog.

That said, that doesn't mean that you do so in a slapdash fashion. I'm sure he could have picked a better, more polished high risk / high reward choice.

[RunningMn9]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

Are we taking bets on how long it took Gorka to conclude that yesterday's ludicrously disastrous press conference was actually a clear sign of Trump's triumph over Putin?

[El Guapo]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

Are we taking bets on how long it took Gorka to conclude that yesterday's ludicrously disastrous press conference was actually a clear sign of Trump's triumph over Putin?

Oh geez, I didn't realize that piece was by Gorka. You might as well say that the propaganda minister got it wildly wrong in his praise of the glorious leader. Getting it right is not the point.

Shame on The Hill for letting Gorka publish something there, though.

[Kraken]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

They also got it comically wrong with foresight. It's not like this should have been unexpected - Trump said stuff that he's said a million versions of already. It's just that the visuals are more clear and striking with this press conference.

So expecting Trump to be tough on Putin in the press conference was idiocy before the press conference happened.

My favorite bit was "he won't blame America." It's Mueller's fault! It's Obama's fault! Whaddabout Hillary's emails?!

[Zaxxon]

[LordMortis]

No, you’re the puppet.

that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks against the United States of America, that you encouraged espionage against our people, that you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do, and that you continue to get help from him, because he has a very clear favorite in this race.
So I think that this is such an unprecedented situation. We’ve never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our election. We have 17 — 17 intelligence agencies, civilian and military, who have all concluded that these espionage attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of the Kremlin and they are designed to influence our election. I find that deeply disturbing.

Oh... My... God... I'm living in someone else's Total Recall (Take that ILB and hepcat!)

Back in reality someone is getting lobotomized while we are engaged his fantasy adventure in which he thinks he's a hero.

[hepcat]

Oh... My... God... I'm living in someone else's Total Recall (Take that ILB and hepcat!)

Which one of us is Kuato and which of us is the three breasted prostitute in this fever dream of yours?

[Fretmute]

It’s worse than that. We’re in the Colin Farrell version.

[hepcat]

<hepcat sadly puts away his triple boob costume...maybe next year, he says to himself...maybe next year.>

[Pyperkub]

This is amusing with hindsight: The Hill gets it exactly wrong.

Given Putin’s Cold War career and his behavior in office, what should we realistically expect from today’s summit? At the very least, President Trump will make it clear that his White House is not the Obama White House and that Russia’s destabilizing actions will not be met with indecision or acquiescence.
...
Unlike his predecessor, President Trump is a pragmatist who sees the world as it is. His is not hobbled by a default setting that sees America as the cause of the world’s ills. At the same time, he understands how the clear expression of power and success shapes relationships and can influence the behavior of bad actors. That is why he is the right man to meet with and rein in the former KGB colonel.

He sure took Putin to the woodshed!

They also got it comically wrong with foresight. It's not like this should have been unexpected - Trump said stuff that he's said a million versions of already. It's just that the visuals are more clear and striking with this press conference.

So expecting Trump to be tough on Putin in the press conference was idiocy before the press conference happened.

My favorite bit was "he won't blame America." It's Mueller's fault! It's Obama's fault! Whaddabout Hillary's emails?!

The other missing piece is that when Obama found out about the election meddling in 2016, he immediately tried to work with both houses (and was shot down by McConnell, of course), and then imposed sanctions, which Trump and his team tried to dismantle so fast that they did it even before they were in office.

Now, in light of the new indictments, the Trump Administration's position is... do nothing but lick Putin's boots.

Oh, and make it even easier for the Russians to meddle in our elections (if you didn't see this the other day):

Nonprofits that spend money to influence elections but are not required to disclose donors to the public — called “dark money” groups by critics — no longer need to share their donors’ names or addresses in their tax filings under a new Treasury rule announced Monday.

[LordMortis]

Which one of us is Kuato and which of us is the three breasted prostitute in this fever dream of yours?

It's not my dream. I'm a projection stuck in somebody else' lobotomy.

Also, back in the 80s, I had a triple boob costume and even a small wardrobe for it as my iteration of the triple breasted whore from Eroticon 6 ended up making a few appearances over the course of two years.