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© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Trump says White House 'fine-tuned machine,' despite turmoil
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and KEN THOMAS WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 09:09PM JST
How about if you face up to the fact that whatever happened in three two-term presidencies in no way excuses what Trump has managed to screw up in just under a month? You can't do that though, can you?
StrangerlandFEB. 18, 2017 - 10:15AM JST
I think the answer is "no, of course not."
Strangerland
So Bass, are you going to admit you were entirely incorrect with this statement:
bass4funk
Ok, many people died under Bush, Clinton and Obama, so may I ask, what would you like to see happen?
I felt the same for the last 8 years, I feel you and libs felt the same with Bush and yet, we all survived, chill, it'll be ok, Armageddon is not on its way.
Which is not that bad, as long as he stays on course, fulfills his promises that should go up, but he shouldn't focus on his approval ratings, he needs to focus on what's important for the country and his agenda for it.
Ohhh, you'll be fine, I freaked out too, but here I am, but feeling better, lots!!
I said, the same, but he made it surprisingly.
Yeah and the last president was driven only by ideology.
Nice try, if that were remotely true, he wouldn't even hit 40% Also, you're quoting Yahoo news and AFP? Why not just source RT or Buzzfeed instead at least they're a bit funnier.
PTownsend
My question wasn't about Trump. It was about paid Russian trolls. I was wondering what you thought about that.
Re The Guardian, it sounds like you might be media silo-fied. What publications do you read? Don't you think that to get a broader understanding of events people should read different sources that present different perspectives? People who constantly attack media seem to be trying to undermine a free press, don't you think?
viking68
Trump's lies are "unpresidented" to the point of being delusional.
That is why his approval rating is around 40%, which is also "unpresidented".
Strangerland
I'm going to deflect your attempt at deflection, and get back to the original point: Now that it's been shown, would you agree that you were incorrect with this statement:
viking68
I supported Obama's war in Afghanistan because it was a lawless state exporting terrorism and still is to large extent. I was a proponent to invading Afghanistan before 9/11. Bush was the one who pulled needed forces from Afghanistan to start an unwarranted war with Iraq that created ISIS, a new breeding ground for Al queda, and unstabilized the region.
The point is Trump badly planned the raid (there were no committee meetings to discuss legal, diplomatic, etc. concerns), and he lied about it afterwards to pass on blame when someone died.
A leader takes responsibility. Trump lies so that he doesn't have to.
Trump is careless and reckless. That is a huge concern in a president.
bass4funk
@strange
Trump is president, Trump won the college electorate, however you guys on the left continue to slice and toss the onion, scream, whine and get angry, it's not going to change. She will never set foot in the White House, thankfully she will never serve her the people, whatever happens to her, I wish her all the luck. so for now and for the next 4 to 8 years, in the US, Trump is the president, everything else doesn't and will not matter, the past is the past and the more the left talk about what could've, might've been is completely irrelevant.
Sad, tragic, so as I said, the last administration in Afghanistan had over 2,500 men and women killed. What is your point?
But ordered dozens of drone strikes which I did approve, but sometimes it would have been nice to apprehend some of these guys and interrogate them, but the guy just wasn't like that, it's easier to just off them, so what's your point?
Great!
All presidents lie, believe me, I could give a list of the lies of EVERY president, especially the last one.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 04:23PM JST
Crushed? You wish. He lost the popular vote and only won the Electoral College by a not especially impressive margin compared to Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Obama.
So that makes it completely okay, of course.
Strangerland
You're right, I meant Reagan. Thanks.
viking68
No, but a Obama's principles' adviser has made statements about the process for the DoD request, what the request was for (boots on the ground, but not the raid), and the decision not to commit Trump to boots on the ground in Yemen.
The principles' adviser committee advised the principles (heads of the NSC, legal, state, etc.) not to make a decision.
The principles' agreed and advised Obama to not to make a decision.
Obama agreed with the principles and did not to approve the request "for boots on the ground".Obama never saw the request for the raid.
Trump was the first president to see the request for the raid and he approved it.
Then he blamed Obama when the raid went bad by lying, saying Obama approved the raid first, which is completely untrue.
Strangerland
No you weren't:
The original comment:
The topic, both in the press conference, as well as here, was Trump claiming that he had the biggest election victory since Trump, which you tried to claim he was correct about. Neither the press conference, nor your comment, was in reference to his win against Hillary.
bass4funk
We said the same thing about Bush,
Who died as a cause of what Gen. Flynn did?
Tragic and also remember more people died in Afghanistan under the last admin. over 2,500 where's your outrage?
I fully understand all life lost is tragic! So far, we have one under Trump and thousands under the last two.
Where you there?
I know that already and I was talking about the college electorate race between Trump and Hillary and she was crushed.
Happened more under the last administration.
pointofview
@plasticmonkey,
I guess they took a break during Obama`s presidency then eh? Where were the hard questions and media infatuation?
@Ptownsend,
The Guardian is left wing trash. Never seen a positive article about Trump.
Simon Foston
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 02:13PM JST
Is he? Really? Let's take a look:
So how is he most definitely right? Care to explain?
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 02:50PM JST
Plenty of people just died in that drone strike in Yemen, including a Navy SEAL and 23 civilians, but not one of the top targets. You're happy to deal with that?
viking68
OK, OJ was guilty as got off and Flynn guilty and got off. Never mind the difference between prosecuted case and a case not prosecuted.
Benghazi again??? Hillary again??? Give it a rest. People die all the time when conducting foreign policy. The point is to reduce the risks.
In current news, a raid planned over a dinner table got a SEAL team member killed and a plane valued at $80 million destroyed. The raid was criticized for improper planning.
Trump's team said Obama approved the raid, but the timing wasn't right so they put it off to Trump. Trump flat out lied because the op went bad. Obama (include principles and the principles' advisers) decided not to approve a general request for boots on the ground request. Obama never saw this raid request.
Trump was the first to see this request. Trump did all the planning over the dinner table with a political operative present and pointed at Obama when it went bad.
bass4funk
I'm not that cruel, just give them their walking papers and send them off their merrily way.
Sounding like, instigating and physically doing an act of violence are all different things.
No, I said it for a reason, think!
Just because it slipped his mind, it doesn't mean that a crime was committed or if what he allegedly did was intentional. Prove it.
Hillary did as well and people died under her tenure and yet, life still goes on, deal with it, we had to and you can as well.
Strangerland
Let's stick to what Trump actually says. The rhetoric doesn't help our cause. He says more than enough stuff that we can be critical of without having to add rhetoric.
buchailldana
Bass4funk when you talk about getting rid of everyone in the state dept did you not want them put up against a wall and shot too.because that is the way Trump sounds.He is oblivious to the truth
viking68
Maybe you miss the irony of using a defense attorney quote that got OJ out of murder charges in a case lost because of the LAPD ineptitude.
In this case, it does fit. An so-called "intelligence" officer fails to mention damning conversations held over numerous calls. People with top level security clearances are supposed to keep records of and report all conversations with any foreign national. They are trained to write briefs of conversations that are not recorded. Yet, this one slips his mind.
No, this is more a case of prosecutorial discretion. Flynn got a free pass by the DoJ. If it went to a jury, it would fit.
bass4funk
If it doesn't fit, you have to acquit.
God, I so dearly hope so.
As far as the College Electorate is concerned, he's most definitely right about that. Besides, I know the media, they're not laughing, they want to get dibs on getting an interview or some questions in to the president, it also helps their careers, not to mention their inflated heads. It's the battle of the egos.
And vice versa and oh, the people feel the same because remember, we don't have to pick up or buy these papers or buy into their hit piece junk. If it's a legitimate criticism no one objects to that, but what these guys are doing....personally, if I were Trump, I would snub them every time they try and get personal, he can choose who gets the interview or not, not the other way around, the MSM will do what they always do.
viking68
Agreed, I was only commenting on the Logan Act.
Proving he lied to the FBI requires a showing of intent. He's already claiming that he overlooked the conversation.
Still, a jury would find it nearly impossible to believe that he overlooked the conversation. I also find it impossible that a "so-called" intelligence officer would have that faulty of a memory, let alone thinking that talking to Russia was a good idea. The second point is what makes me think he was directed to speak with Russia. Plus, Trump made some comments about the sanctions at the time as being only temporary and praising Putin for not retaliating.
I think Flynn is delusional and a nutter, so maybe that had an effect on his memory. At least, that is what I would argue as a defense attorney against the felony lying to the FBI charge.
TorafusuTorasan
Trump "learned" how to keep kissing up for a good decade now. In 2008, he said this about Putin to the Russian magazine Chayka:
"I respect him. He does his job well. Much better than our Bush."
Bass, if your busy schedule permits a 1000 word detour about Bush vs. Putin through a Trump lens, let's hear it.
Simon Foston
viking68FEB. 17, 2017 - 10:19AM JST
Well, except that it now appears that he lied to the FBI as well...
http://europe.newsweek.com/michael-flynn-donald-trump-russia-national-security-adviser-557744
Oh, and Fox News have it too...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/16/flynn-reportedly-lied-to-fbi-about-sanctions-talk-with-russian-envoy.html
But apparently the FBI aren't considering pressing charges. Nice of them, isn't it?
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 12:32PM JST
What's Trump going to do? "Get in their faces" again? They're just going to sit back and laugh. He's the one spewing out all the "Fake News," like winning the biggest election victory since Reagan, and when contradicted trying to get journalists to agree it was still an impressive victory when it was really anything but. Go on about declining readership all you like, it's not going to make serious journalists take Trump seriously.
bass4funk
I always read what Trump utters, but I don't go jumping off the conspiracy cliff either, big difference.
No, it's just what I learned through the years of this business and the integrity and standard we were taught to uphold, that's all gone nowadays, so what has become of this institution is a shame and yes, for a large majority of News outlets and so called Journalists, especially on the left, (there are a few on the right as well, but the vitriol and poison spewing from the left is mind blowing) I find it allextremely appalling and disgraceful.
Absolutely not, Not even close.
They got the "red carpet" treatment .
Of course not, they loved him, they wanted a rock star, Camelot, a Hollywood dream and Obama was the pure essence of that illusion. He was the liberals dream of what in their minds a president should be: fun and likable. Many on the left love it, but a large portion of us could care less a presidents likability, as long as he's serious about governing and the last administration wasn't.
Trump did as well, even social media outlets online including Skype and did this for over an hour while holding the journalists feet to the fire and good on him. For many of us, we want a straight talker and not another slick suit politician. Hard and to the point, even if it's not PC.
He should, they do that to him, he should interrupt and if it gets too much, don't call on them, kinda like how Josh Earnest would gloss over James Rosen so often.
That's your opinion, I vehemently disagree and applaud Trump for getting right in their faces, they deserve it, if the MSM wants to embrace and embellish Fake News, that's their prerogative, but that doesn't mean this WH has to take it, nor should they have to.
Like what? Can you back it up?
ikemenj
So interesting to see how peoples of different ideologies can see the same event and reach totally opposite conclusions about it. Here and most other msm news sites show it as an obvious embarrassment. Go check Drudge, and you'll read about how he kicked the media's butts.
If you are on the msm side of things, disparage sites like Drudge all you like, but the readers there are just as sincere as you, and convinced that their opponents are either evil or stupid, as you probably are.
The question is: how is the country going to resolve the growing differences between right and left without bloodshed? I don't think trying to ram one's policies down the unwilling throats of people of different cultures every eight years (and being the victims of the same for the other eight) is going to end well.
Simon Foston
pointofviewFEB. 17, 2017 - 09:23AM JST @Simon,
Does it? It wasn't me who said it was okay for Flynn to call the Russians to talk foreign policy when he wasn't authorised to. That was your hero The Donald. I'm just quoting him.
bass4funkFEB. 17, 2017 - 09:26AM JST
No, just a fine or three years in prison. But Trump doesn't appear to be aware that he broke any laws or did anything wrong at all, except conveniently "forgetting" to tell the Vice President he'd broken the law. Weren't you saying, though, that you did think Flynn did something wrong? What was that? Speaking to the Russians without proper authority, forgetting about it or pretending to forget about it?
Yardley
Trump's tenuous grip on reality has slipped even more. He thinks just by saying something he makes it true. He's done that time and time again, lie after lie. Finally, frustrated by trying to explain another ridiculous Trump statement, Sean Spicer metaphorically threw up his hands and said, "This is what the President believes." Trump can believe anything he wants, I suppose, but that doesn't make it true. He's a pathetic, delusional old man, unfortunately surrounded by people so hungry for power that they are more than willing to support and encourage his delusions. Never imagined seeing the U.S. in this sad mess. It's humiliating.
viking68
For once I would agree with you on a point. He wasn't likely to get into any trouble for violating the law.
However, the broader issue is the Trump administration has too cozy of a relationship with Russia. Flynn's firing is damage control around that relationship.
Combine the Russian relationships, the Russian election hacking, the constant lying and demagoguery, there is a lot to be worked up about.
dcog9065
He complains that the media is hostile to him and cries like a baby instead of actually doing his job. The media are doing their job by keeping a check on his moronic presidency. I hope the media steps up its scrutiny of him and his comically incompetent advisers 100-fold as it is too opaque and suspicious at the moment
plasticmonkey
Coming from a journalist, your disdain for journalism is astounding. The duty of good journalism is to ask the hard questions about possible wrongdoing, incompetence, corruption, or other cracks in the system of governance. The so-called mainstream media have asked these hard questions to every administration, including Obama's, and they never got a "beatdown". Whether you want to admit it or not, Obama never treated the press with contempt. He took questions from reporters across the spectrum, and answered in a manner befitting a president. Trump interrupts reporters' questions if he doesn't like them, and if possible only takes questions from outlets who are friendly to him (like Breitbart and townhall.com). That is UNPRECEDENTED for a POTUS. Trump built his campaign on vilifying journalists, getting his crowds to boo and heckle them at rallies. That doesn't scare you? It's a calculated attack on democracy, pure and simple. He's learned much from Putin.
PTownsend
Trump stories were also the lead stories on Russia Today. Are you saying your Putin is cashing in on Trump related news, too? Do you think Putin's media empire will get more powerful with Trump in office and Putin himself will get even richer? Isn't that what Russians want?
What do you think about this article? Trigger warning: it's from a western media source. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/nov/06/troll-armies-social-media-trump-russian
bass4funk
Actually, it was the people, not the network. The network just gave him an equal and fair platform.
Laptop_Warrior
Benedict Donald is losing it. Rupert Murdoch better move quickly, he's about to lose control over his blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy his TV network got elected.
bass4funk
I do enjoy a Trump WWF media beatdown! That press conference was such a joy to watch! Go Trump!
ClippetyClop
It's just hideously embarrassing watching this debacle of a man speak. But hugely entertaining.
bass4funk
This is just a waste of everyone's time. Flynn didn't break any laws that could get him in front of a firing squad. But I love how the left get so worked up over this.
Tokyo-Engr
This is turning into a circus.....no........already is a circus. The White House appears to be nowhere near a fine tuned machine. The media obviously has it in for Trump (who I do not support by the way) and it does not appear to be getting any better.
The real losers? The American people.....it almost appears there are deliberate actions being taken to divide the American people further.
Let's just agree with Trump for a moment......Perhaps Flynn was (or thought he was) doing his job by talking to Russian officials.....OK so the guy made a stupid mistake. This still shows a gross lack of judgment and protocol and a complete misunderstanding of the office of the President by President Trump.
I thought things could not get stranger....but they seem to every day.
pointofview
@Simon,
Sounds like you are creating news.
Simon Foston
Except that he wasn't, because Trump wasn't President at the time, and Flynn wasn't National Security Adviser...
So in other words, if Trump didn't actually tell Flynn to break the law by discussing diplomacy as a private citizen with foreign officials, it was all good anyway.
pointofview
The media are making big bucks off Trump. Its an obvious hit job. They cant seem to report on anything else.
Go Trump! get working on domestic issues.
bass4funk
I didn't.
Depending on the source, sure.
bass4funk
Both statements are true, Obama inherited a mess and Trump inherited a mess.
How do you define fixing?
Sorry, but that's not what the blue collars in the Bluest of States in middle America think. Unemployment among Blacks and Hispanics are still the highest, Blacks at 7.8% and they make up 13% of the population, a $17 Trillion deficit. Infrastructure, pot holes, our bridges are crumbling. A country that has been more racially divided than ever. Our military at its smallest man power level since before WWII and lacking confidence in the last administration particularly with the war in Syria and Afghanistan, a demoralized police force that lost complete confidence as well in the last admin. Open borders.
The Stock Market and the Dow went through the roof once this new admin. took over in the anticipation of lowering the corporate tax as well as the small business tax which currently has been killing the middle class and small business owners.
This is what has happened under Trump since being in office.
Simon Foston
Burning BushFEB. 17, 2017 - 07:17AM JST
Now they're going to get Trump and his billionaire cronies milking the system instead, wrecking it in the process.
Strangerland
So instead Trump put in a bunch of business men to milk the system.
plasticmonkey
The story is not fake. The New York Times is doing its job. Trump obviously cannot handle the truth.
Why would Trump choose to prioritize going after whistleblowers who report unlawful behavior instead of backing a full investigation into the Russia connections? Oh, right, I know why.
Oh, and where is that tax return that Trump said would be released?
PTownsend
@bass Thank you for posting a piece snipped from a Time article. Glad to see you're using corporate media. http://time.com/4673707/donald-trump-press-conference-news-media/
@brbush Which people are you referring to? The minority who voted for Trump? Fellow Russians? Out of curiosity, why are so many Russians posting pro-Trump messages? http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-internet-trolls-and-donald-trump-2016-7
TumbleDry
Bass4funk/BurningBush: are you falling for the deep state conspiracy? Really? So far is trying to fill the swamp and drain his pool.
CrazyJoe
He blamed any problems on the outgoing Obama administration. “I inherited a mess at home and abroad — a mess,” Trump said.
Obama inherited a mess and he fixed it:
Dow Jones going from 7,949 to 17,735 S & P 500 going from 683 to 2040 Unemployment down from 7.8% to 4.9% GDP Growth up from -5.4% to 2.2% Deficit GDP% down from 9.8% to 2.8% Consumer Confidence up from 37.7 to 97.6 Uninsured Adults down from 18% to 11.8% American cars sold up from 10.4m to 17.5m
This is what Trump inherited.
bass4funk
On Thursday, he warned in a pair of tweets that “low-life leakers” of classified information will be caught. As journalists were being escorted out of the breakfast meeting, Trump responded to a reporter’s question on the subject by saying: “We’re going to find the leakers” and “they’re going to pay a big price.”
Good on Trump. He should get rid of pretty much everyone in the State department of people that were left over from the last admin. and take it from there. If you want to clean house, start from within.
TumbleDry
Fine-tuned machine where cogs are already removed, rusting chains are used and is not environment friendly.
If this is really what he thinks, the standard is pretty low.