Sessions Will Recuse Himself, Carson and Perry Confirmed, Rand Paul Tries to Find GOP Obamacare Replacement: P.M. Links

• 

  Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

  Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a press conference this afternoon announced he will be recusing himself from any investigations over the relationship between Russia and President Donald Trump's election campaign. Some Democrats are demanding he resign entirely. Earlier in the day Trump said he had total confidence in Sessions and doesn't think he should recuse himself.

• Meanwhile both Ben Carson and former Gov. Rick Perry were confirmed as housing secretary and energy secretary respectively.
• Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is getting some media attention for trying and failing to get access and make public his own party's proposed Obamacare replacement legislation.
• The European Union is considering whether to require Americans to get visas before coming to visit.
• The new secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke, rode to work on a horse today. He probably still managed to get a speeding ticket from the D.C. police.
• The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the state's public records laws include correspondence by government officials on government business even when they use private email or personal devices.
• If you, like me, don't know why a live feed of a pregnant giraffe keeps showing up on your Facebook wall, here's an explanation.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a press conference this afternoon announced he will be recusing himself from any investigations over the relationship between Russia and President Donald Trump's election campaign.

Because there won't be any.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-home.html

The. Revolution. Begins. NOW.

[SIV]

Daily Mail links?

here

You're welcome.

[Fist of Etiquette]

And you thought it was weird when Crosby stayed for so long at Lemieux's house.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hey, I thought it was COOL.

[Fist of Etiquette]

He finally got his own place after Lemieux kept wandering by the concussed Crosby's bedroom reminding him about the time he played while suffering cancer.

[Trigger Hippie]

The only time I ever saw Lemieux play he threw his back out in the first period, then missed the rest of the 03-04 season.

[Idle Hands]

I think that report has been denied by Obama's press secretary. The most interesting thing about that was the tidbit that Valerie Jarret actually lived in the White House during the administration. the only evidence I could find on that actually happening was random quotes in news articles about how staffers used to call her the night stalker because she would walk with Obama back to the residential side of the White House compound after he hung up the pen for the day. Also an excerpt from the book Blood Feud by Edward Klein where it says she resided there.

[VG Zaytsev]

I'm sensing a target for a drone strike developing.

[Memory Hole]

Pretty sure the investigation started when Obama was in power.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Meanwhile both Ben Carson and former Gov. Rick Perry were confirmed as housing secretary and energy secretary respectively.

And a third confirmation happened but Shackford can't remember who.

[WakaWaka]

Don't call out Shack Attack.

[Bacon-Magic glib reasonoid]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is getting some media attention for trying and failing to get access and make public his own party's proposed Obamacare replacement legislation.

Rand Paul 2024

[WakaWaka]

Rand Paul 2020.

He should primary the Orange One

[BigT]

He doesn't have the vision.

[Trigger Hippie]

Amash would be petter suited for the position, IMHO.

[Trigger Hippie]

*better

[Trigger Hippie]

*better

[Trigger Hippie]

The squirrelz agree.

[Mike Laursen]

He would make a spectacles of himself.

[Citizen X - #6]

The new secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke, rode to work on a horse today.

Hopefully it took an enormous dump in the lobby.

[Citizen X - #6]

Either the horse or the secretary.

[Rich]

Which is a roan gelding?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is getting some media attention for trying and failing to get access and make public his own party's proposed Obamacare replacement legislation.

You can't be a whistleblower when there's no whistle to blow.

[Juice]

You just put your lips together.

[PBR Streetgang]

+1 Bogie and Bacall

[Libertymike]

+1 Claire Trevor - without her helping to foil Johnny Rocco, there would be no Bogie and Bacall.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The European Union is considering whether to require Americans to get visas before coming to visit.

The dollars still get in for free.

[american socialist]

Are they trying to hasten their collapse?

[BigT]

Can you imagine how many Yanks will show up sans visa? Angry ugly Americans!

[Rich]

If you, like me, don't know why a live feed of a pregnant giraffe keeps showing up on your Facebook wall, here's an explanation.

Russian hackers?

[Fist of Etiquette]

The new secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke, rode to work on a horse today.

But enough about Carly Fiorina's new gig.

[Bacon-Magic glib reasonoid]

Ba dum tss
"Fist is here all day folks! Tip your waiter."

[Libertarian]

"The European Union is considering whether to require Americans to get visas before coming to visit."

Even if we pass through Syria first?

[steve walsh]

But the former AG meeting with the husband of a POTUS candidate that was under investigation was a total nothing burger. God these people suck.

[Rich]

It is incredible, isn't it?

[WakaWaka]

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a press conference this afternoon announced he will be recusing himself"

The media suddenly receiving leaked information simultaneously and then beginning a ridiculous narrative is effective. McCarthyism is a hell of a drug

[BigT]

The diff is that McCarthy was mostly right.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the state's public records laws include correspondence by government officials on government business even when they use private email or personal devices.

Of course, there's still no penalty for breaking said laws.

[BigT]

Did they indict Hildog?

[Juice]

Some Democrats are demanding he resign entirely.

Me too.

[WakaWaka]

Isn't that redundant?

[Juice]

You think I'm a Democrat for wanting Jeff Sessions to resign?

[WakaWaka]

Wanting him to resign over Russia hysteria is a partisan position. Wanting him to resign, because of his positions on marijuana and criminal justice reform is different.

But, the ends do not justify the means

[Juice]

Wanting him to resign over Russia hysteria is a partisan position.

I just want him to resign over whatever it is that gets him to resign. If it's partisan bullshit (isn't it always?) so be it.

What are you some kind of Jeff Sessions groupie? Big supporter of his?

[WakaWaka]

I'm just someone who thinks that this Russia hysteria is not healthy or good. You'll understand after we start bombing Moscow because John Podesta isn't clever enough to come up with an e-mail password beyond "password".

[Juice]

The Russia hysteria is all show. But if it leads to a little Spring cleaning of the Trump administration that gets rid of the shittiest of his appointments, that will be a good thing.

[WakaWaka]

I'm guessing you weren't saying "the Russia hysteria is all show" when John McCain was pimping it. And that's kind of why my 'redundant' comment stands

[Juice]

I'm guessing you weren't saying "the Russia hysteria is all show" when John McCain was pimping it.

I wasn't saying it. I still knew it to be true. Are you some kind of McCain supporter too? You seem to be in to defending old Republican senators.

Dude, if you're a Republican just here to pretend to be libertarian, just say it. You'll feel better.

[WakaWaka]

I'm not a McCain fan, exactly because of his pro-war Russiaphobia antics, which is exactly what the Democrats are pimping now for political gains

[John]

I can respect "this is complete unfair bullshit but he deserves it". I think it is a pretty short sighted but it at least makes sense. But claiming there is anything to this is just self-identifying as a retard.

[Juice]

I don't care if there's anything to it. There wasn't much of anything to the Flynn thing, but Flynn is gone and that's a good thing.

[WakaWaka]

"Sure the Russia thing is bad, but DeVos is gone and she was bad anyways so that's good"

Your comment two weeks from now

[Juice]

Nah, DeVos leaving would be bad.

[WakaWaka]

Agreed

[Marty Feldman's Eyes]

Nah, DeVos leaving would be bad.

It would be great, if Michelle Rhees were interested in the job, but it looked like she was smart enough to stay away from the clown show.

[Juice]

Deserves has nothing to do with it. It's what better for everyone.

If you like Jeff Session as AG, just say so. No need to beat around the bush.

[WakaWaka]

I do not like Sessions, but I dislike the neoconservative 'Russia evil and we must make war with them' narrative far far more

[John]

Things can always be worse Juice. Be careful what you wish for. There is no guarantee that Sessions would be replaced by someone who is better and there is a pretty good chance it would be with someone who is worse. You may not think there is anyone worse than Sessions, but there is. There is always someone worse.

[wareagle]

There is always someone worse.

someone might let the SJW left know this because their anti-Trump hysteria keeps missing that his successor would be Pence.

[american socialist]

The sjws don't actually care about those groups. It is all about ego

[wareagle]

The sjws don't actually care about those groups.
then, their Trumpasms are even more retarded. Pence cares about those groups.

[x'); DROP USER Tony;]

I despise Sessions, and welcome any legitimate attempt to remove him from office.

I'm not willing to see our country in a global war to hasten that departure along, though.

[Rich]

"'Some' Democrats"? Maybe.

[Rufus The Monocled]

What a bunch of assholes Europeans are.

Next time those whiny bitches start a war or get into a mess you Yanks better not go in and clean up their mess.

[Zeb]

What if we just take it over and make it one huge amusement park?

Aren't you people technically Europeans, what with your Germanic queen and all?

[Rufus The Monocled]

I'd love bumper cars in the Colosseum.

I have no idea what we are anymore.

[BakedPenguin]

You put the queen on your money. You're British.

[Rufus The Monocled]

So much for independence.

[Wasteland Wanderer]

Wait, aren't you an Aussie? Don't they have her on the $5 note too?

[BakedPenguin]

No, I just watch their TV shows - Danger 5, Housos & Wentworth. And yes, they do.

[John Titor]

The Brits never seem to think we're British, more "colonial barbarians who are too sympathetic to the American rebel scum."

[John Titor]

Aren't you people technically Europeans, what with your Germanic queen and all?

If Brexit and the Commonwealth are any indication, the overwhelming response is "fuck you, we're the British Empire".

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Melania Trump Wears Black to the President's Speech (and Twitter Reacts)

On Tuesday evening, as President Trump delivered his speech to a joint session of Congress, Twitter began dissecting Melania Trump's outfit. The sequins covering the wool dinner jacket and skirt: too flashy. The price: at $4,595 for the skirt and $4,995 for the jacket, too high.

Some online commenters deemed the entire look inappropriate for Congress.

[Zeb]

I'm generally against sparkly clothing. But that outfit seems appropriate enough.

[american socialist]

12k pantsuits are totally cool tho

[x'); DROP USER Tony;]

I'd still be down to lick her uterus, even if she wore 25 pounds of rotting skunk asshole to Christmas service.

[Aloysious]

Everybody likes DEMOCRACY NOW!!, right? Good Heavens, of course you do.

Bernie Sanders Slams Trump for Ignoring Climate Change, Income Inequality & Voter Suppression

AMY GOODMAN: I wanted to turn to what President Trump said about healthcare on Monday, when he spoke before a room full of state governors.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Now, I have to tell you, it's an unbelievably complex subject. Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated.

AMY GOODMAN: Professor Jeffrey Sachs, "unbelievably complicated," he said. Something that isn't unbelievably complicated is Medicare for all. This is something that?well, that Bernie Sanders has talked about a great deal.

Medicare for all. So simple, anybody could think of it.

*barf*

[Juice]

Ah, Democracy Now!

When Castro died they had what I considered to be a tribute. They weren't necessarily kissing his ass, but they were very positive about his legacy. I was thinking, but ... the name ... of your show...ah fuck it.

[John]

Every time I flip by that show on my cable guide. that name pisses me off. Whatever that idiot who runs that show wants, it sure as hell isn't Democracy much less Democracy right now.

[american socialist]

How does the comrade figure to pay for this plan that is more Than medicare?

Just ignore vermont and colorado

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Dental assistant, 42, is charged with rape after 'having sex with three high school football players she met through the team photographer'

Authorities say the 42-year-old mother slept with the students in different parts of Siskiyou County over several weeks. Fletcher has also been accused of dissuading a witness as text messages reportedly show she tried to silence a victim.

The woman has been charged with four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, also known as statutory rape. The charges include two counts for two victims, and two for the third victim.

[Homple]

Victims. VICTIMS?

[John]

Did you see her picture? Victims my ass.

[Homple]

I did. Mother of Mercy, what a looker!

A young man should get his heart busted several times growing up anyhow, so why not get some sex with a smoking hot older woman along with the inevitable discarding?

[John]

I can't imagine having sex with that woman as a teenager and ever regretting it or seeing it as anything but one of the greatest breaks I ever got in life.

The age of consent laws are about four years too high in most states.

[Libertymike]

Apparently Jason Sehorn is a Mount Shasta HS alum.

[Rich]

Mary Fletcher, who goes by Debbie,

Of *course* she does.

[Homple]

But everyone knew her as Nancy.

[SIV]

She's goodlooking in her mugshot

[Rich]

Uh-huh.

[Juice]

Not at all bad for 42.

[SIV]

Agreed

But Rich thinks she looks like a dude

[Paloma]

I think so too. But I agree, they're totally not victims. I wonder who was the snitch?

[Not a True MJG]

Niiice.

[Juice]

Not nice that she was charged with rape. I know I know. If the genders were reversed everyone would want the charges to be rape. I would disagree then too.

[Not a True MJG]

Thanks, Milo.

(same)

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Someone explain it to me again, it really plain language cause I am a layman. One isn't intellectually mature enough for sex as a teenager but they are intellectually mature enough for transgenerding in grade school? This is the correct understanding of civil society, yes?

[SimonD]

yeah, even the squirrels realize it's B.S.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Someone explain it to me again, it really plain language cause I am a layman. One isn't intellectually mature enough for sex as a teenager but they are intellectually mature enough for transgenerding in grade school? This is the correct understanding of civil society, yes?

[Homple]

Yes, the Better Class of People know this is true.

So do the squirrels.

[Rich]

Anyone else find it, um, amusing that *Senators* voted against Carson because he's "not qualified for the position"?

[John]

Come on Rich, it's not like Carson is a brain surgeon or something.

[Rich]

The problem is, one supposes, that he's not a *lawyer*.

[John]

Yeah because Law School is right up there with pediatric neurology or quantum physics. If people only understood how easy the law actually is. Practicing law is hard because it involves people and facts. But the law itself in the abstract is not a particularly difficult subject. There is no more intellectually overrated position in society than that of an appellate judge or law professor.

[Rich]

Oh, we're in violent agreement, John.

If When AI gets applied to the law,
lawyers, law professors, and judges will be out of jobs,
if only because the whole system will be shown to be inconsistent and illogical.

[John]

There will still be a place for lawyers because figuring out the facts is a real skill and something AI won't be able to do very well. But the days of lawyers being needed for most document review or answering basic questions about the law will be over.

And CPAs are on their way out as well.

[EscherEnigma]

... and? Auto mechanics, doctors, and computer programmers are all educated. But I wouldn't want a software engineer working on my wet-ware, an auto mechanic working on software, or a doctor working on my hardware.

Which isn't too say those individuals might not be good at things outside their field, but that skill can't and shouldn't be assumed from an irrelevant skill-set.

[BigT]

Dental hygienist working on your wing wang?

[Zeb]

Seems like he may well not be very qualified. But so what? What does HUD do anyway? For most of these agencies, I doubt it really matters much who is the titular head.

[Bubba Jones]

FHA mortgage insurance.

[John]

So Sessions will recuse himself from any investigation into Trump's campaign's ties to the Russians. Since there currently are no such investigations, that means exactly nothing?

The media and the Democrats just got Sessions to recuse himself from a nonexistent investigation. WINNING!!

[american socialist]

From earlier konima was previously bo cara

[Zeb]

Don't tell John that, then he will just spend all day arguing with him.

[Zeb]

Who were you previously?

[american socialist]

Lurker and then American socialist left his name due to the sock. I took this

[american socialist]

Lurker and then American socialist left his name due to the sock. I took this

[american socialist]

Democrats love a strong regulatory state because it is a way to funnel money to lawyers and administrators which is a detriment to society in terms of wealth creation.

[american socialist]

Do people who employ illegals partially to get around labor laws? Like say min wage

[Juice]

Sometimes, but I usually see them hire at around the market rate, but since it's under the table, there's much less hassle. No forms, payroll taxes, etc.

[american socialist]

Thanks. Which would mean lower costs of employment i would think. I wonder if legal folks should start doing this as well cause why not. It isnt exactly enforced

I do wonder if progs love illegals so they can buy cheap stuff while preening how they care piling on min wage and benefit mandates

[Juice]

Meh. If an "illegal" wants to get a job and someone wants to hire him, who am I to stop them?

[american socialist]

I don't disagree but the laws may hurt those that follow them putting at a disadvantage . My preference is get rid of min wage and all the mandates

[Zeb]

Plenty of regular Americans get paid under the table too. Which is great if you ask me. The more people who choose to work outside of the system, the better.

[Bubba Jones]

Illegals drive down the market rate.

[jesse.in.mb]

Did You Read This Post Before You Commented?

Worst case scenario is bots get really good reading comprehension upgrades.

[american socialist]

Democracy is what ever progressive lefties determined is the correct way to go. Anyone going against must be against democracy and trying to sabotage it.

[Rich]

Is Your Sleep Tracking App Keeping You Up All Night?

It's all those audio pop-up ads.

[BakedPenguin]

...former Gov. Rick Perry [was] confirmed as ...energy secretary...

That'll make some proggy heads explode. (NSFW)

[Memory Hole]

Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a press conference

Sessions tried to ingratiate himself to the Russian ambassador in that meeting where they discussed foreign policy by telling the ambassador that he had visited Russian once with his church group and the ambassador apparently responded with "I don't believe in that".

[Stormy Dragon]

Trump is a monster:

Trump's first D.C. dinner as president: An overcooked, $54 steak. With ketchup.

Trump ordered a strip steak, which he ate per his preference, well done and with ketchup

[John]

That is one hell of a fuck you to the foodies. So there is that. But I don't see how that justifies destroying an innocent piece of meat like that.

God he really is Al Cervik.

[chemjeff]

When you've lost John...

[Idle Hands]

Foodies? Any sane carnivore should be insulted.

[Stormy Dragon]

Trump is apparently a germaphobe, so the well-done may be related to that.

[John]

I bet that is it. Funny that hasn't gotten more coverage in the media. Trump has some crazy Howard Hughes type would at least have the virtue of being interesting.

[Idle Hands]

that might be the single worse thing any president has ever done.

[John]

At least he didn't order dog. So, he has that going for him over other Presidents. Do you think Obama liked his dog rare or well done?

[Zeb]

Now he's gone too far!

[Chupacabra]

Holy Shit. Uncivil Servant is actually DONALD TRUMP?!!????!?!?!?!?

[chemjeff]

Well, looks like Rand Paul pulled a media stunt. Good for him. I am growing more and more concerned that the Republican Obamacare "repeal" plan will really just be Obamacare-lite.

[american socialist]

Yea but if it is lighter than it is better than the current.

No way in hell gov gets out of healthcare

[Memory Hole]

Sessions is doing his best to equivocate, saying he did not discuss the elections with Kislyak and met with him as a member of the Armed Services Committee, not the Trump campaign.

Oh really because I seem to recall that Sessions was designated as chairman of Donald Trump's foreign policy advisory committee.

http://www.newsmax.com/Headlin.....id/719484/

[John]

It is like he had two jobs. And answered truthfully when he said he never met with the Russians as part of the campaign.

Thanks for that link. It goes a long ways towards showing what bullshit this all is.

[Libertymike]

OT: RE - your comment upthread about grasping the law intellectually.

Although I largely agree, what about future interests? Please don't tell me that you didn't have any problems with that subject.

[BigT]

135 comments. It's almost not worth visiting.

So sad.

Nick, Katherine, and Matt - what are you going to do about this? It will certainly impact your clicks. Are Robby andDahlmia really that valuable?

[BigT]

Not to mention your self respect.

[Not a True MJG]

It keeps them up at night.

Why do you think Matt drinks?

[Stormy Dragon]

It will certainly impact your clicks.

I'd bet the impact was statistically insignificant. Despite delusions of grandeur on the part of some former commenters, the comments have never been the main draw here.

[VG Zaytsev]

They've been the main draw here for years.

[Buddy Bizarre]

The comments are why I've been lurking here for years.