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After Comey firing, Trump's frustrations boil over

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By JULIE PACE and JONATHAN LEMIRE

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31 Comments
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"That's, frankly, offensive," Spicer said.

Yes, questioning the rationality of a leader is not only offensive but should be a treasonable offence. If only the pesky fake media could be bought out, or preferrably, muzzled.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Watching from the outside, it is interesting to see all this go down. Kinda funny really. The US beat the USSR in the cold war, but is now about to lose to Russia in a much more fundamental and emphatic way, namely the undermining of the concept of democracy and freedom which the used to US stand for and was a champion of. And Russia achieved this by simply capitalizing on the now seemingly unbridgeable gap in US politics and wider society. People on the right would rather the country burn down than trust or work with "liberals". People on the left will engage in name-calling (racist, sexist, xenophobe, etc), instead of producing more concrete arguments. Both sides engage in ad-hominem attacks and insults. It is fascinating to watch.

The other case to watch is that of the President itself. It is bewildering to watch Trump. Politics can be petty and dirty, but nonetheless you expect some dignity and class from the President and his office. Honest mistakes aside, even Bush looks like a luminary next to Trump. The fact that he tweeted he possibly has tapes of Comey conversation is so unsettling. Even as a non-US citizen, I have better expectations of a US president. And then to watch people cover for him is just prime-time entertainment at this point. Just get some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

"He's a little bit like a quarterback that gets ahead of his offensive line."

Oh, right. Nice analogy. Trump is just too clever and fleet-footed for his team.

Fact is, Trump is an unpredictable nut job and his administration can't do anything about it. And the majority of the GOP (including Gingrich) is pretending that's not the case.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

And then there is fox new, another source of prime-time entertainment.

Here is an original AP tweet about Trump's tax returns and income from Russian sources:

https://twitter.com/AP/status/863032385029451777

And here is what Fox News tweeted:

https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/863037470509871105

They are not even trying anymore. Fox is just like, "I am gonna lie straight to your face, what are you gonna do about it?". They know their base won't actually look for the AP tweet, and take Fox's words for gospel.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

American football analogy: any quarterback who who goes after referees (judges, FBI, lawmakers) should get banned from the game. Except in the American political system there isn't a hardass (and overpaid) NFL commissioner to do this. Now it's up to the people in the stands to demand better play from the supposed team/country leaders.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

He's gotta go - and he will; the only questions are how and when. As much as I disagree with Pence on almost everything, he'd be a vast improvement on this dumpster fire of a presidency.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Asking whether Trump is out of control is not only inoffensive, it is reasonable and good/responsible journalism. It is not as if he is the first president, or the first president in the age of the 24-hour news cycle.

Also, because I know Bass4funk and Blacklabel will attempt to defend Trump once they read this article:

You two constantly claiming that there was no Trump/Russian collusion during the election because there hasn't been any evidence released from the multiple investigations into the suspected collusion despite those investigations having been underway for so long is extremely flawed logic and intellectually dishonest. It is akin to saying that if a crime isn't solved within 48 hours, there was no crime.

You see, it takes a lot of time to sort out complex issues and to build a solid case against the perpetrators. That the investigative bodies are not rushing to conclusions means they are being careful, which is what the American people deserve.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

His tweet was a bad attempt of counter intelligence. James Comey is expert in Intelligence gathering and going to assume a private conversation with a President is taped. . Comey would have his own tapes of all his private conversations with all his meeting, That includes with the President. There is no other reason for President Trump to comment on the issue. Unless he did say something that was taped and it worries him that much as to pour more fuel on the political fire due to his poor attempt of counter intelligence. No there is guilt all over his recent action, Now he is going to front all his press meeting himself only once a fortnight. He trust no one but his family, Today interview has indicated that he is under pressure, even the make up could not hide his blood pressure, He a walking Heart attack. He has never had a work load like his before nor has the pallet of talent most President have develop to hold the position of President, He builds Hotels, Casino and resorts and get people and tell them how to manager his asset. Most of which have gone under. This does not make good stead for President of the worlds largest super power and largest economy. I give the Congress a week before they issue a please explain about his latest tweet. Month before he front fronting the Congress, 3 months before he is impeached.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Something's got to give sooner or later. But I have noticed that there are still plenty of die-hard fans who are living on cloud cuckoo land. Hearing them heap praise on Huckabee-Sander's stint at being Sean Spicer's substitute while he was hiding in the bushes was stomach-churning yet laughable. One of these days, one of those big names is going to either resign over stress, take their own lives or even strangle the boss themselves. Right at this moment, the way they're all acting, they'd stab their own mothers in the back if it meant keeping their jobs. Trump's done everything to them - degrading their wives (Cruz), insult them after complimenting them (Ryan), tricked them into making fools of themselves (Romney, Christie), and yet they come back as sycophants, over and over again. Trump has somehow managed to make the American slur 'Commie traitor' disappear. Something's gotta give.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Kudos to Trump and his team in the White House for breathing new life into the dwindling genre of reality show. Obama could be entertaining in his speeches, but Trump has really raised the whole show to an unprecedented level. I can't wait to see what's coming next. Absolutely brilliant. Hey, popcorn, more popcorn, I'm running out of popcorn...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How could Trump's communications team defend him when he keeps them out of the loop?

They're one of the last ones to know, with just an hour notice before they go on stage.

Trump even says not to expect perfect accuracy from them.

So OK, if we can't expect perfect accuracy from them, that means he's telling us to be.............. skeptical of them? I mean, if we can't take their word for it, then what are we supposed to do with their word? How accurate is not accurate enough?

When they said the President fired Comey due to the DOJ memo, are we or are we not supposed to believe them? Because those who didn't believe them.......... turned out to be correct in not believing them (since Trump later said he would've fired Comey anyway regardless of the DOJ memo - so at the end, the DOJ memo didn't matter at all).

So the big question is: how far do we believe everything that his communications team says from now on?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

'"That's, frankly, offensive," Spicer said.'

Unlike hiding 'among' the bushes, I suppose? hahaha. This guy is on the verge of being fired, so not sure why he's still arse-kissing. Although, the die-hard Trump fans would say not at St. Peter's Gate if the requirements to getting into heaven were to admit they were wrong about Trump. They'll rather spend eternity in hell than admit the truth.

It really, really is funny to watch Trump implode, though. He's coining "new" phrases, threatening to ban all media interaction (except Fox 'N Friends and Russians!), and now he's furious that instead of closing the case by firing Comey -- errr... wait, it was the WH, not him... no wait, it was him alone! haha -- he has brought more attention to it than ever. Amusing to watch the cowards in the GOP panic because they know they should stand up to him or distance themselves, but they have no spines whatsoever and would sooner sell their mothers.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Spicer at his best!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00DOh_saEfQ

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He's gotta go - and he will;

In 4 to 8 years, but yeah, he will go....eventually.

the only questions are how and when.

After his 4-8 years are up

As much as I disagree with Pence on almost everything, he'd be a vast improvement on this dumpster fire of a presidency.

Even if he were president, he would still push Trump's idea forward, so essentially, you're not really changing anything.

It really, really is funny to watch Trump implode, though. He's coining "new" phrases, threatening to ban all media interaction (except Fox 'N Friends and Russians!), and now he's furious that instead of closing the case by firing Comey -- errr... wait, it was the WH, not him... no wait, it was him alone! 

Between Comey and Trump, who can you believe? I'm in the middle on that one.

haha -- he has brought more attention to it than ever. Amusing to watch the cowards in the GOP panic because they know they should stand up to him or distance themselves, but they have no spines whatsoever and would sooner sell their mothers.

I think the only people that are really panicking are the Dems, because other than golf and the Russia story what do the Dems have? Ahh, frustration and anger,

-17 ( +1 / -18 )

I think the only people that are really panicking are the Dems, because other than golf and the Russia story what do the Dems have? Ahh, frustration and anger,

The Russia story is pretty heavy. I'd say chasing up his tax returns is worthwhile too. It's beyond me how anyone who believes in transparency and honesty can defend his not releasing this. The best I've heard is Clinton didn't release her Goldman Sachs speech transcripts. Now that Clinton isn't a olayer, that argument is null and void.

Let's hope the Democrats don't descend into sewer level ideas like birtherism and keep it legitimate, decent and sane. The idea of attacks at the level of Obama may be a Muslim is too horrible to contemplate. There are some who think you should descend into the sewer to fight on an equal footing are wrong in my opinion.

Keep your dignity at all costs.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Between Comey and Trump, who can you believe? I'm in the middle on that one.

Yeah man, I dunno it sure is a close call. I mean, Trump made up claims about Obama being a Kenyan, about being wiretapped, about having the largest inauguration crowd ever, about having no income from Russia, about Comey telling him he's not under investigation, and about building the wall and making Mexico pay for it. Yeah, sure is a close one. I dunno who to trust :3

11 ( +12 / -1 )

God, am I ever enjoying this!! Look at him wriggle and squirm! Look at the flood of desperate tweets! Obstruction of justice, threatening of a witness -- the crimes are piling up now. The walls are closing in on him, and there is NO ESCAPE! Yes!!

13 ( +13 / -0 )

bass4funk Today  10:52 pm JST

I think the only people that are really panicking are the Dems, because other than golf and the Russia story what do the Dems have?

Yeah. I mean apart from the wasting of taxpayer money on golf outings and potential treasonously assisting a power that has committed war on America for personal gain, what Trump scandals do Dems even have?

(the incompetent healthcare bills, the bigoted hate against Muslims and Mexicans, the granting of top secret security clearance to unelected family members, the bragging about sexual assault, the continuation of business that profit from Presidential policy without divestment to a blind trust, the courting of hate groups, the borderline illiteracy, the constant foreign policy blunders and of course, cheating at golf.)

15 ( +15 / -0 )

(the incompetent healthcare bills, the bigoted hate against Muslims and Mexicans, the granting of top secret security clearance to unelected family members, the bragging about sexual assault, the continuation of business that profit from Presidential policy without divestment to a blind trust, the courting of hate groups, the borderline illiteracy, the constant foreign policy blunders and of course, cheating at golf.)

Well, sure, if you want to nitpick.

bass: Between Comey and Trump, who can you believe? I'm in the middle on that one.

Here we see the obedient right-winger trying to fool himself and others into believing that he actually has a choice, that his opinion is actually relevant, and that he actually has the spine to stand up for himself.

You've sold your soul to The Don and the GOP, and the cost of admission is your integrity. You will repeat nonsensical explanations or make up your own when needed, and you will endure any humiliating position that Trump, your politicians, and the right-wing media put you in. They will look you in the eye and lie through their teeth because they know you will not stand up to them, even when it goes against your own opinions.

Want proof? Tell us again that Comey was fired because of Clinton. Go ahead. Assume the position.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

"and Keith Schiller, his longtime bodyguard. Schiller was among those Trump consulted about Comey and was tapped by the president to deliver a letter informing the director of his firing."

Is this guy for real? His bodyguard?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Russia story is pretty heavy. I'd say chasing up his tax returns is worthwhile too. It's beyond me how anyone who believes in transparency and honesty can defend his not releasing this. The best I've heard is Clinton didn't release her Goldman Sachs speech transcripts. Now that Clinton isn't a olayer, that argument is null and void. 

Yeah, as the country moves on, you guys keep chasing that nugget.

Let's hope the Democrats don't descend into sewer level ideas like birtherism and keep it legitimate, decent and sane.

They already have, that's why they can't get voted in to do anything.

The idea of attacks at the level of Obama may be a Muslim is too horrible to contemplate. There are some who think you should descend into the sewer to fight on an equal footing are wrong in my opinion. 

As of January of this year, the libs have taken on the mantel of sewer fighting

Yeah man, I dunno it sure is a close call. I mean, Trump made up claims about Obama being a Kenyan, about being wiretapped,

So then, Trump leaked out all of the information and then pinned it on Obama?

about having the largest inauguration crowd ever, about having no income from Russia, about Comey telling him he's not under investigation,

Could be, you don't know if Comey told him that or not nor can you confirm if Trump is lying or not. Now if you want to play partisan politics, I guess you can take a side.

and about building the wall and making Mexico pay for it. Yeah, sure is a close one. I dunno who to trust :3

4 months in office, still has 42 left, plenty of time for that.

@katsu

Can you prove he's a racist? I mean beyond a shadow of a doubt? I want to see factual proof of that and that he courted hate groups. If you can prove that, I'll apologize to you right now.

Here we see the obedient right-winger trying to fool himself and others into believing that he actually has a choice, that his opinion is actually relevant, and that he actually has the spine to stand up for himself.

Naw, I just believe there are two sides to every story and never let my personal emotions override the facts.

You've sold your soul to The Don and the GOP, and the cost of admission is your integrity. You will repeat nonsensical explanations or make up your own when needed, and you will endure any humiliating position that Trump, your politicians, and the right-wing media put you in.

No, I just don't believe in progressive liberal socialist policies, I see what they have done to my once great state of California.

They will look you in the eye and lie through their teeth because they know you will not stand up to them, even when it goes against your own opinions.

Oh, you have No idea....

Want proof? Tell us again that Comey was fired because of Clinton. Go ahead. Assume the position.

That's what I believe, but do I personally know for sure? Of course not and neither do you.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

They already have, that's why they can't get voted in to do anything.

Let's see if you are that confident next year when the midterm elections come up.

4 months in office, still has 42 left, plenty of time for that.

Nixon supporters said the same thing just at the Watergate investigations were starting.

Naw, I just believe there are two sides to every story and never let my personal emotions override the facts.

Unless of course if those "facts" get in the way of your personal bias.

No, I just don't believe in progressive liberal socialist policies, I see what they have done to my once great state of California.

Your "former" state of California is doing just fine--in fact, better than most (speed it up to 2:25--and a special 3:33 for you).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtNbMD96xgY

Oh, you have No idea....

And neither do you.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Russians are coming!!! Hahahaha

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Bass:

The Russia story is pretty heavy. I'd say chasing up his tax returns is worthwhile too. It's beyond me how anyone who believes in transparency and honesty can defend his not releasing this. The best I've heard is Clinton didn't release her Goldman Sachs speech transcripts. Now that Clinton isn't a olayer, that argument is null and void. 

Yeah, as the country moves on, you guys keep chasing that nugget.

You clearly did not read my previous post on this.

Your once great state of California? Those horrible progressive liberal social policies have produced the sixth largest economy in the world. Those same policies helped lead the way for anyone who loves their partner to marry (Prop 8 was passed because Mormons from Utah were bused in to lobby against it). And, those policies allowed people access to medicinal marijuana, which is to say they allowed science to be free.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Let's see if you are that confident next year when the midterm elections come up.

LOL! Yeah, let's see. Good luck with that.

http://americanactionnews.com/articles/democrats-lose-another-winnable-election

Nixon supporters said the same thing just at the Watergate investigations were starting.

I remember Watergate very well, this isn't even close to anything like that because if it were, criminal charges would have been brought up already. You think Clapper and Yates are in the tank for Trump? They are Obama leftovers, No fan of Trump’s and can’t find ANY collusion whatsoever between Trump and the Russians, even Diane Feinstein and his harshest critic Maxine Waters admitted there is nothing that they could find that would indicate that Trump colluded with the Russians. But if the Dems want to further embarrass themselves and continue this fruitless search, hey, go right ahead.

Unless of course if those "facts" get in the way of your personal bias.

Well, not really, even if that were the case, there are always 2 sides and the presumption of innocence before passing judgment. But I know libs don't believe in that. They take more of an " I heard this and therefore you are....." approach.

Your "former" state of California is doing just fine--in fact, better than most (speed it up to 2:25--and a special 3:33 for you).

I'm from California, I know it like the back of my hand, sorry, but I know the deep dark truth about my own state.

http://www.politifact.com/california/statements/2017/jan/20/chad-mayes/true-california-has-nations-highest-poverty-rate-w/

And neither do you

I never said, I did.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Bass4funk: "Between Comey and Trump, who can you believe? I'm in the middle on that one."

hahahaa... I'd say you're joking, but I think you've actually convinced yourself it's a choice. Yeah, whom to believe... the guy who looks at absolute proof he has lower inauguration numbers and says they are higher? The guy who claims he coins phrases that have been in dictionaries for decades? The guy who has cheated on wives to the point of being divorced a few times? The guy who claims he's innocent on taxes but won't release them to prove it? The guy who contradicts his own WH? He is a FLAGRANT liar, and you KNOW it. You've also conreadicted yourself in defending him.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Bass:

I remember Watergate very well, this isn't even close to anything like that because if it were, criminal charges would have been brought up already. You think Clapper and Yates are in the tank for Trump? They are Obama leftovers, No fan of Trump’s and can’t find ANY collusion whatsoever between Trump and the Russians, even Diane Feinstein and his harshest critic Maxine Waters admitted there is nothing that they could find that would indicate that Trump colluded with the Russians. But if the Dems want to further embarrass themselves and continue this fruitless search, hey, go right ahead.

You still haven't read my initial post.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

because other than golf and the Russia story what do the Dems have?

Alleged serious sexual misconduct on several occasions (I have to put the "alleged" in for obvious legal reasons). Mocking disabled people. Racism against Mexicans, Muslim countries, Native Americans. Appointing alleged White Nationalists and alleged racists to positions of power. Nepotism. Discussing affairs of state (with Abe) in a public place. Contradicting facts and offering obfuscation and falsehoods to the American public almost every time he opens his mouth. Then there's his dismissal of environmental concerns, his attempts to reverse healthy food for schoolkids, his attempts to reverse the transgender bathroom issue, his tax breaks for the wealthy, his filling Washington with rich cronies, his admiration for international despots like Putin, Kim and Duterte. Budget cuts that could harm homeless people (many of the US veterans).

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This reads like a handicapped child receiving the wrong birthday present and throwing a tantrum at his parents. Combining this with the astonishing and gravely disturbing interview he gave The Economist which was released last week, we are literally dealing with someone who appears to be mentally handicapped

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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