The Trump foreign policy thread

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:13 pm

The mouthpiece of the administration, Fox News, will have The Toddler's back of course and apply the appropriate spin to keep the true believers loyal.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:16 pm

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:19 pm

If those types of OpEd pieces come in and they start opening calling Trump an traitor en masse, I suspect he'll just start to casually ramp up his thoughts that members of the media should be jailed.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:28 pm

Not trying to overload with Ryan Lizza related material but he is right on in his Esquire piece.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:32 pm

Smoove_B wrote:If those types of OpEd pieces come in and they start opening calling Trump an traitor en masse, I suspect he'll just start to casually ramp up his thoughts that members of the media should be jailed.

Or audits are in somebody's future...

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:43 pm

Political punditry seems to be collectively freaking the fuck out right now, to the point where I was wondering whether I was missing something worse, like whether Trump had agreed to some sort of grand bargain with Russia.

What impact will this have? Who can say. Partly this depends on how this plays out on the non-Fox cable news this evening. Of course with all of the information out on Trump already, a "big" impact is maybe 1 - 2 points of approval rating.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:44 pm

Some Republicans in Congress sharply criticize Trump's comments on Putin

But will they do anything more concrete than offer criticism?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:48 pm

Don't worry - Paul Ryan has our back!

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:50 pm

I like how he somehow makes it sound like the House Committee on Intelligence is the imprimatur of credibility needed to believe the intelligence community.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:50 pm

Defiant wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:44 pm Some Republicans in Congress sharply criticize Trump's comments on Putin

But will they do anything more concrete than offer criticism?

I just read the criticism - it was mild at best. Graham called it a "missed opportunity". Are you fucking kidding me? If Obama said that he'd be jumping on his desk right now demanding impeachement. To hell with them all. Our nation is being stolen away and they are mildly kvetching.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:57 pm

Fucking disgraceful.

Fucking disgraceful.

He stands there and attacks our defenders in order to curry Putin's favor. And he does nothing while Putin goes out of his way to gloat over the victory.

Fucking disgraceful.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:58 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:43 pm Political punditry seems to be collectively freaking the fuck out right now, to the point where I was wondering whether I was missing something worse, like whether Trump had agreed to some sort of grand bargain with Russia.

What impact will this have? Who can say. Partly this depends on how this plays out on the non-Fox cable news this evening. Of course with all of the information out on Trump already, a "big" impact is maybe 1 - 2 points of approval rating.

Reading between the lines, Trump gave Putin carte blanche to manipulate the midterms. That blue ripple is already looking smaller.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:03 pm

malchior wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:50 pm I just read the criticism - it was mild at best. Graham called it a "missed opportunity". Are you fucking kidding me? If Obama said that he'd be jumping on his desk right now demanding impeachement. To hell with them all. Our nation is being stolen away and they are mildly kvetching.

Sasse's and Flake's response seem reasonable coming from someone from the same party, as does this one:

A senior GOP congressional aide told CNN it's "shocking he would disrespect our intel community on foreign soil. Next to Putin."

But if they aren't going to follow through with anything concrete, it's all for naught.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:04 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:43 pm Political punditry seems to be collectively freaking the fuck out right now, to the point where I was wondering whether I was missing something worse, like whether Trump had agreed to some sort of grand bargain with Russia.

What impact will this have? Who can say. Partly this depends on how this plays out on the non-Fox cable news this evening. Of course with all of the information out on Trump already, a "big" impact is maybe 1 - 2 points of approval rating.

It feels like the straw that is being used as an excuse to finally admit that the camel's back has been broken for some time.

Like everyone just agrees that it's time. The exaggerated indignation is just cover for not taking a stand sooner.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:04 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:58 pm
El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:43 pm Political punditry seems to be collectively freaking the fuck out right now, to the point where I was wondering whether I was missing something worse, like whether Trump had agreed to some sort of grand bargain with Russia.

What impact will this have? Who can say. Partly this depends on how this plays out on the non-Fox cable news this evening. Of course with all of the information out on Trump already, a "big" impact is maybe 1 - 2 points of approval rating.
Reading between the lines, Trump gave Putin carte blanche to manipulate the midterms. That blue ripple is already looking smaller.

Thinking about it some more, I think one possible impact of this clusterfuck of a meeting is that I think this will convince more of the political punditry to take seriously the notion that Trump really may be compromised by the Russian government in some form. I think that will shape coverage going forward, and give the "Trump as a traitor" narrative more traction.

But as you say, I do worry more and more about active Russian interference in the midterms. Given gerrymandering and other structural advantages, the GOP can lose by a lot and still win the House. So they wouldn't need to change that many votes (directly or indirectly) to change the outcome of an election. And while there's a risk of getting caught...at this point, if you're Russia, as long as you succeed in helping the GOP retain control, how much do you really worry about the consequences of getting caught?

Fireball · Post by **Fireball** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:06 pm

Defiant wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:44 pm Some Republicans in Congress sharply criticize Trump's comments on Putin

But will they do anything more concrete than offer criticism?

NARRATOR: They will not.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:24 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:50 pm I like how he somehow makes it sound like the House Committee on Intelligence is the imprimatur of credibility needed to believe the intelligence community.

I read it as, "Even the clown show that is the House Committee recognizes this."

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:30 pm

How anyone still respects this sycophantic lapdog is beyond me.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:31 pm

He lost Cavuto! Well I guess that is a who cares moment...

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:34 pm

Fireball wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:06 pm
Defiant wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:44 pm Some Republicans in Congress sharply criticize Trump's comments on Putin

But will they do anything more concrete than offer criticism?
NARRATOR: They will not.

Hey, spoilers!

Oh, who am I kidding, we can all see this coming a mile away.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:38 pm

I forgot to even talk about the Putin claim that he had evidence that US Intelligence and Law Enforcement conspired to help get $400 M of Russian money (illegally earned by Bill Browder natch!) to the Clinton campaign in 2016. Of course, the right underground is already seizing on that. Do you think Putin says that with anyone but Trump up there next to him? Of course not. It is fucking ludicrous and our President just nodded along.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:53 pm

Rep Dana Rohrabacher on Bloomberg TV says US meddles in Russian elections at "much higher rate" than Russia does in our elections

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:22 pm

Captain Caveman wrote:

How anyone still respects this sycophantic lapdog is beyond me.

Isn't it spelled "Amerika" now, Comrade Pence?

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 4:21 pm

Gary Shteyngart wrote:NYT: "So disorienting was Mr. Trump’s performance at times it fell to Mr. Putin to try to cushion the blow.

When a reporter asked whether Mr. Trump had raised objections to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Mr. Putin answered that of course [Trump] objected. Mr. Trump was silent."

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 5:06 pm

El Guapo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:04 pm I do worry more and more about active Russian interference in the midterms. Given gerrymandering and other structural advantages, the GOP can lose by a lot and still win the House. So they wouldn't need to change that many votes (directly or indirectly) to change the outcome of an election. And while there's a risk of getting caught...at this point, if you're Russia, as long as you succeed in helping the GOP retain control, how much do you really worry about the consequences of getting caught?

They don't even need to change results -- only sow enough confusion and distrust to de-legitimize results, spur recounts and lawsuits, and generally destroy voter confidence. And Trump as much as said that tampering will be blamed on the Chinese.

“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how.” --Joseph Stalin

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 5:06 pm

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:51 pm

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:56 pm

The 21 most disturbing lines from Donald Trump's press conference with Vladimir Putin

6. "But we have lots of sources now and the United States is much different than it was a number of years ago when we weren't unable to extract what we could extract today. So today we're number one in the world at that, and I think we'll be out there competing very strongly."

Uh, so, um, what?

7. "I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. ... And I think we're all to blame."

This is a line that will live in infamy. Trump, asked directly, "Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular," responded with this there's-plenty-of-blame-to-go-around response. It's a stunning response to what should be a very straightforward answer: Yes, I believe our intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia actively meddled in the election to help me, hurt Clinton and sow chaos. It's hard to properly contextualize what it means when the American president, standing beside the Russian president, says that he can't say whether Putin or the US intelligence apparatus is to be believed.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:14 pm

$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:13 pm The mouthpiece of the administration, Fox News, will have The Toddler's back of course and apply the appropriate spin to keep the true believers loyal.

Pretty strong language from Fox News even- http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/07/ ... ussia.html

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:22 pm

At least he didn't bow.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:22 pm

Defiant wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:51 pm

Based on that statement, and the statements of other conservatives, I might raise their level from "concerned" to "very concerned".

Not that they will actually do anything about it.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:24 pm

Yeah, we're beyond someone making an official statement or voicing their opinion via Twitter. Wake me up when they actually goddamn do something. Better yet, nudge me when they vote along party lines like the cowards they all are.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:25 pm

I know what the GOP is thinking. They obviously believe McCain isn't thinking clearly due to his health problems. That explains the confusion he obviously suffers from.

Fitzy · Post by **Fitzy** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:38 pm

First Trump gets played by Putin in the meeting and press conference and then:

Humiliated by Putin on FOX NEWS!!! If this didn’t damage the US it would be a lot funnier.

He added: “I don't want to insult President Trump when I say this -- and I may come as rude -- but before he announced that he will run for presidency, he was of no interest for us.”

He was a rich person, but, well, there's plenty of rich persons in the United States,” Putin said of Trump. “He was in the construction business. He organized the beauty pageants. But no, it would never occur to anyone that he would think of running for president.”

Putin argued Russia wouldn’t have the resources to track Trump had it wanted to do so. To make a point, Putin said the annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum usually draws 500 business leaders and most of them are industrial tycoons on a “greater scale” than Trump as a businessman.

Ok it actually is funny. Jesus he needs to go.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:54 pm

I looked on Trump's Twitter feed for his now typical set of replies to anyone's accusations that Trump is a nobody and not even rich. Trump didn't Tweet anything about Putin's remarks yet, but I'm sure he will once he's done going after restaurants and the Democrats.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 8:02 pm

Trump is a terrible business man as well. I dont know why his supporters think otherwise.

I have the suspicion that Trump is thinking of his post presidency days and he has big plans to open Trump failures businesses in Russia and is simply using the presidency to butter his future toast.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 8:40 pm

Daehawk wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 8:02 pm Trump is a terrible business man as well. I dont know why his supporters think otherwise.

I have the suspicion that Trump is thinking of his post presidency days and he has big plans to open Trump failures businesses in Russia and is simply using the presidency to butter his future toast.

I kind of assume his family is headed for Russia after the presidency. They're global and they're funding people to keep them connected and internationally black market wealthy for a generation until what have you done for me lately comes to call.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:04 pm

Alefroth wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:14 pm
$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:13 pm The mouthpiece of the administration, Fox News, will have The Toddler's back of course and apply the appropriate spin to keep the true believers loyal.
Pretty strong language from Fox News even- http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/07/ ... ussia.html

Hannity Wormtongue will make it all better.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:37 pm

$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:04 pm
Alefroth wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:14 pm
$iljanus wrote: ↑Mon Jul 16, 2018 1:13 pm The mouthpiece of the administration, Fox News, will have The Toddler's back of course and apply the appropriate spin to keep the true believers loyal.
Pretty strong language from Fox News even- http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/07/ ... ussia.html
Hannity Wormtongue will make it all better.

I'm anxious to see his performance.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Mon Jul 16, 2018 9:49 pm

Putin should have just put Trump in a headlock during the press conference and gave him a bunch of noogies while saying “Who is your papa” with a wedgie as his finishing move.