A.M. Links: Trump Campaign Reportedly 'Had at Least 18 Contacts' With Russia, Fox News Founder Roger Ailes Dead at 77, Soundgarden's Chris Cornell Dead at 52

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  Gage Skidmore / Flickr.com

  The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties."

• Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly "told President Trump's transition team weeks before the inauguration that he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign."
• Donald Trump tweets: "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed!" (Note: "councel" is not a word.)
• "In Trump's first 100 days in office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 41,318 immigrants, up 37.6 percent over the same period last year, the agency said Wednesday."
• Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News, has died at age 77.
• Chris Cornell, the lead singer for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, has died at age 52.
• The International Court of Justice has ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of an alleged Indian spy.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News, has died at age 77.

Something ailed him.

[DanO.]

He was a victim! The lamestream media murdered him!

[Palin's Buttplug]

Wingnuts are already blaming the "deep state" similar to when Bratbitch keeled over dead.

HILLARY DID IT!

[Citizen X - #6]

Pay your bet, Blue Mikey.

[Palin's Buttplug]

You must have attended Trump University.

[Citizen X - #6]

Pay your bet.

[DanO.]

ValeDICKtorian!

[DanO.]

Maybe he just choked on his own fat.

[Last of the Shitlords]

He's not used to clogging his throat all the time like you are.

[LoneWaco]

in case you ever wondered why a leftist would burn Journolist down just to be rid of Weigel...

[Citizen X - #6]

Are you riding Simple Mikey's "shreek is Weigel" train? Don't ride that train. It only goes to Tardtown, where it jumps the tracks and plows through a daycare and then explodes.

[DanO.]

Besides, I'm Weigel.
No, Spartacus. Wait...yep, I'm Weigel.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

Hiss!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Chris Cornell, the lead singer for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, has died at age 52.

AND he did a Bond theme.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Possible suicide? That sucks.

[DanO.]

Donald J. Trump -- Victim, Witch?

WASHINGTON ? President Trump lashed out Thursday at his predecessor, President Barack Obama, and his former campaign opponent, Hillary Clinton, complaining that what he called "illegal acts" committed during their time in office never led to the appointment of a special counsel. He complained that he was the target of a witch hunt.

"With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed," the message said, misspelling counsel.

Moments later, Mr. Trump added, "This is the greatest single witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

The president is correct in his observation about the rarity of a special counsel, though his references to the Clinton campaign and the Obama administration may not bolster his case. There were multiple congressional investigations of the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, and the role played by Mrs. Clinton, then the secretary of state, and Mr. Obama.

Fake news! FAKE NEWS!
https://tinyurl.com/ly5uxy5

[Last of the Shitlords]

Trump is correct. Regardless, before we look at anything going on now, it's high time we started focusing on putting prominent democrats in prison for their crimes. Treason and sedition have their price.

[BYODB]

Not fake news, it's an opinion piece that gets the facts wrong since it conflates a special council with a congressional investigation. In other words, an opinion piece written by someone that doesn't understand what they're talking about.

I do find it strange that they would use the phrasing of 'rarity of a special council' to say 'there was never a special council' though. That implies that they know better, but are purposefully slanting their reporting.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The International Court of Justice has ordered Pakistan to halt the execution of an alleged Indian spy.

There's an international court of justice? And it has jurisdiction over something?

[DanO.]

You won't be smirking when they haul you in for impersonating a comedian.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I don't smirk. It's the lowest form of facial expression, below even the RBF.

[Citizen X - #6]

The only facial expression Eugene does in photographs is duck face.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

And the drapes match the carpet, if you know what I mean.

[Citizen X - #6]

I know, he has exquisite interior-decorating chops.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

And does he decorate while making a duck face and with his corkscrew duck penis hanging out his fly?

[Rhywun]

Dennis Quaid hardest hit.

[Fist of Etiquette]

"In Trump's first 100 days in office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 41,318 immigrants, up 37.6 percent over the same period last year, the agency said Wednesday."

Why are there quotes around the whole thing? Shouldn't the close quotes be after that last comma?

Also, that's a whole lot more government.

[Fist of Etiquette]

(Note: "councel" is not a word.)

When the president tweets something, that means it is a word.

[Mickey Rat]

Root wants to go after a typo in a tweet? I hope his house has reinforced glass.

[Fist of Etiquette]

It just makes me [sic].

[NotAnotherSkippy]

Reason publishes Gillespie apparently unedited. I'll leave it at that.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

"When I use a word, it means exactly what I want it to mean, no more, no less," said Humpty Trumpty as he sat on The Wall.

[Cyto]

International Court of Justice? That's a thing that can override Turkey's criminal courts? Who knew?

[Cyto]

And you may ask yourself....

.... why did he write Turkey.....

And you may ask yourself.....

..... why so many articles open at the same time?

Same as it ever was....

Same as it ever was....

Same as it ever was....

[Fist of Etiquette]

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly "told President Trump's transition team weeks before the inauguration that he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign."

Should have gotten that loyalty pledge from Comey before issuing Flynn his White House pass.

[damikesc]

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly "told President Trump's transition team weeks before the inauguration that he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign."

Should have gotten that loyalty pledge from Comey before issuing Flynn his White House pass.

Wouldn't you think that the FBI background check Flynn had to undergo would've brought all this stuff up? I mean, it happened in December and, CLEARLY, it did not or else you'd see stories of "TRUMP HIRED AN NSA WHO FAILED A BACKGROUND CHECK!!"

[LoneWaco]

(Note: "councel" is not a word.)

it is in Austrian.

[DanO.]

You know who else was an Aust--

Never mind.

[Anomalous]

Mozart?

[DanO.]

Yes! And Vienna killed him, the bastards!

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Bohm von Bawerk?

[Mendelism]

Milton Friedman?

[Bee Tagger]

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly "told President Trump's transition team weeks before the inauguration that he was under federal investigation for secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign."

Tryptophantastic

[$park? leftist poser]

Close enough

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties."

I don't need context. In Russia, election fix you.

[DanO.]

Kennedy had his New Frontier.
LBJ had his Great Society.
Carter had his Bag O' Peanuts.
Clinton had The Great Blewclinsky.
Trump...well, all he had was I'm a victim! The greatest victim! EVER!!

Sad!

[loveconstitution1789]

Yawn.

[Citizen X - #6]

Chris Cornell, the lead singer for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave, has died at age 52.

Poor guy, having to be remembered for Audioslave just as much as for Soundgarden.

[DanO.]

Never heard of him. But do comment on the white space below your comment.

[Rhywun]

Soundgarden was my least favorite grunge band but Chris Cornell was hot so I'm sad about that.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

The first Soundgarden album was great. He has finally broken his rusty cage.

[Citizen X - #6]

Good company.

[Rhywun]

I likes STP better.

[Rhywun]

"liked", even

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Yeah, STP had some good songs. I like your emphasis on the past tense, though.

[Rhywun]

*googles*

They're still around?!

[Citizen X - #6]

STP had three solid albums and then they broke up forever, as far as i'm concerned. Still, rest in peace, Scott Weiland.

[$park? leftist poser]

STP had three solid albums

It's like I don't even know you anymore.

STP was terrible.

[Citizen X - #6]

I said "solid," not "great." Calm down there, hater.

[GiveMeLibertyOrHandouts]

Ultramega OK was ok.

I always preferred Badmotorfinger though.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Cornell arguably had the most distinctive voice of the early 90s mainstream grunge groups. Didn't matter who he was singing with or where his songs playing, the second he started belting out you knew immediately who it was.

[Rhywun]

Yeah, great voice but I never liked the songwriting. Every time "Spoonman" came on I wanted to punch a fist through the picture tube.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

That song just made me think of Oz.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

"Rusty Cage" and "The Day I Tried To Live" are my favorites of their radio hits, but I'd agree that "Spoonman" sucked. And of course, it got more radio play than any other song they ever released. Even the rose-colored hue of nostalgia for that period of my late adolescence/early adulthood hasn't improved my opinion of it.

[Rhywun]

I don't how many times I've read some variation on "we never planned on releasing this track/the label made us release this track/we don't even like this track" followed by endless radio & club play of said crappy track and if they're not careful the dreaded one-hit-wonder legacy.

[Rhywun]

Not to imply that STP suffered this fate; I was just reminded of something I noticed with a lot of other bands.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

I don't how many times I've read some variation on "we never planned on releasing this track/the label made us release this track/we don't even like this track" followed by endless radio & club play of said crappy track and if they're not careful the dreaded one-hit-wonder legacy.

+1 "Cherry Pie"

[$park? leftist poser]

Spoonman was Soundgarden's Man in the Box.

[ChipToBeSquare]

Except for Burden in my Hand, My Wave, and The Day I Tried to Live, I don't think I much cared for most of their singles. Spoonman indeed sucks and I grew out of Black Hole Sun and Rusty Cage pretty quick. But they had some incredible album tracks

Someone else mentioned STP. They were the opposite: can't stand any of the album tracks

[$park? leftist poser]

IMO, best Soundgarden song is Birth Ritual off the Singles soundtrack.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

I just saw that movie the other night for the first time--I never realized how completely up our own ass and self-indulgent my generation was during that period, but Crowe did a great job in unwittingly driving that home. Now we're in charge of a good portion of the nation's businesses and bureaucracies, and we cluelessly wonder why no one can seem to properly manage something that doesn't turn into complete chaos.

[Ecoli]

"Picture tube."

Oldie, but goody.

[GiveMeLibertyOrHandouts]

Have you heard Seasons before? Him solo?

If not, check it out please.

[Libertarian]

Not to brag, but I think it was Hit and Run commenters in the early 80s who suggested that "Soundgarden" and "Audioslave" would make great band names.

[DanO.]

You know what else would make a good band name?

"You Know What Else."

Mind: blown.

[Aloysious]

Temple of the Dog

[Palin's Buttplug]

The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties."

Laundering money through Russian banks, campaign manager Manafort on the take with Russia, Flynn paid off and wants immunity, etc.

The Con Man POS is going down - or at least his anti-trade Big Gov agenda is.

[DanO.]

B-b-b-b-but Hillary!

[Philadelphia Collins]

Yeah, after the past 8 years this is peanuts

[DanO.]

Try to move on.

[Sevo]

DanO.|5.18.17 @ 10:27AM|#
"Try to move on."

You should take your own advice, loser. You lost.
Oh, and fuck off.

[Last of the Shitlords]

DanO, you really don't give a fuck about this country, do you? It's all about Team Blue, and your pathetic snark isn't it?

[Bee Tagger]

Donald Trump tweets: "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed!" (Note: "councel" is not a word.)

The Milwaukee Brewers appointed a special counsell, yet Root was mum on that.

[paranoid android]

Did Trump find time for so much as a tweet about the people assaulted in the street by his pal Erdogan's jackboot goons the other day? Too busy acting like a total fucking narcissist and crying about what a victim he is to comment?

[DanO.]

As a bonus, Trump's pal Flynn was working as (an illegally undeclared) lobbyist for Turkey. Then he was under investigation during the transition (and still is). Then Trump kept him on anyway. Even after Flynn's lies about not meeting with the Russian ambassador. For another 17 days! Then...forget it. I'm exhausted.

[Philadelphia Collins]

No criminal intent!

[DanO.]

Flynn accidentally took the $600K from the Turk!

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Then...forget it. I'm exhausted

If only.

[DanO.]

Haw haw haw never saw that coming.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

You forgot to include "That's so funny I forgot to laugh," turkey.

[Bee Tagger]

The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties."

Trump is is in the necktie business and even though a Kremlin design is probably a little off-brand, it's not that out of the ordinary.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Ailes, OJ, Bill Cosby, Trump.....

[DanO.]

Who are criminals who drug women for sex?

[Philadelphia Collins]

Bimbo eruptions

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

HuffPo says: Expired sunscreen is misogynist.

Sunday evening on the way home, though, I felt red and hot. I could see the signs of sunburn emerging, and I felt tired and dizzy from too much time in the sun. When I awoke on Monday morning, my shoulders and upper back were covered in second-degree burns, oozing, pussy blisters screaming across my skin. Getting dressed was a non-starter ? even the lightest, gentlest fabrics felt like daggers on my shoulders. I was a mess.

[Citizen X - #6]

Pussy Blisters is the actual name shreek's parents gave him.

[Scotticus Finch]

Picture me, age 14: Blond, blue-eyed and pasty-pale.

Go on...

[Citizen X - #6]

There actually is a picture. Her eyes are so close-set that they can see each other.

[$park? leftist poser]

In fact, it looks like her left eye is gazing into her right eye. Quite unsettling.

[Citizen X - #6]

I mean, everybody is awkward at that age, but i hope for her sake that her head eventually got wider.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Like Stewie from Family Guy?

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

The Singularity is near.

[Rhywun]

blisters screaming across my skin

I used to get those when I was little. Then I decided to stay out of the fucking sun. Been great ever since.

[Libertarian]

Well, that's one way. Or you could stop dropping acid.

[Rhywun]

Strangely, they went away before I ever dropped acid. I think.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

I'm not sure where your misogyny angle came from, but this did seem like an easy way for this woman to get paid. "Check the expiration date!" Very helpful.

[Citizen X - #6]

The Misogyny Angle was my nickname in seminary.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

I'm not sure where your misogyny angle came from

She is blaming the direct results of her own behavior (I felt tired and dizzy from too much time in the sun. When I awoke on Monday morning, my shoulders and upper back were covered in second-degree burns, oozing, pussy blisters screaming across my skin.) on expired sunscreen as an SJW would at Title IX Community College.

It was a reach, but I think most got it.

Plus I thought the phrase oozing, pussy blisters was funny, especially showing up in HuffPo.

[Citizen X - #6]

Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News, has died at age 77.

That's one way to dodge sexual harassment allegations, i guess.

[Libertarian]

Roger Uber Ailes!

[DanO.]

Ailes dead

The only way this could have been topped is if Bill O'Reilly's suffocated corpse had been found beneath him.

[Palin's Buttplug]

The wingnuts over at Bratfart.com are blaming feminists, Megyn Kelly, Gretchen Carlson, Julie somebody and all the other victims of Ailes for his death.

At least the ones not blaming Democrats are.

None of them can bring themselves to blame his death on his being a fat, cholesterol filled, 77 yr old.

[DanO.]

Aye, 'twas the cunts what killed 'im.

[Brian]

Wow, 18 contacts with Russians?

It's almost like the Russian ambassador to the USA has a job or something.

We should probably just kick all foreign ambassadors out of the country, lest gmthey influence something and taint our democracy.

Because we've apparently forgotten how everything works in DC.

[DanO.]

Nibble that Cheeto!

[Brian]

Repeat yourself endlessly.

[DanO.]

I learned it from you!

[Brian]

I go around saying "nibble the cheers" over and over again, out of some obsessed fear no one sees it?

Why didn't someone tell me about my tick?

[notJoe]

DON'T RESPOND TO THE FREAK

[DanO.]

They can't help it. It's a disease.

[colorblindkid]

While I'm sure some of this stuff was illegal, I seriously wonder how much is standard operating procedure in Washington. I really don't think the shady dealings of Trump's campaign was any different than Hillary's or Obama's or McCain's. In an ideal world, this would help the country get to the bottom of all of the awful fucking shit that happens everyday in Washington in both parties, but alas, it won't.

[damikesc]

While I'm sure some of this stuff was illegal, I seriously wonder how much is standard operating procedure in Washington. I really don't think the shady dealings of Trump's campaign was any different than Hillary's or Obama's or McCain's. In an ideal world, this would help the country get to the bottom of all of the awful fucking shit that happens everyday in Washington in both parties, but alas, it won't.

Yeah, some comparison of "contacts with Russia" amongst prior Presidents would be enlightening.

But this is the same media that misconstrued a joke as being an accusation of bribery.

[Konima]

Uh, you might want to do some research as to whether or not this is remotely typical. I'm willing to bet it isn't, which is why this is significant. Did they have a similar number of contacts with representatives from other countries? I'm willing to bet that they would have already leaked something indicating they did if that were the case.

[paranoid android]

Clearly, Ailes was taken out by the same DNC-operative hitman that killed Andrew Breitbart, Seth Rich, and Antonin Scalia. It's unclear at this time if Chris Cornell had pissed off the DNC. Domestic Dissident's gonna have a long day of huffing glue and adding to his conspiracy board ahead of him!

[Palin's Buttplug]

Mikey M is no doubt plastered on his SSDI funded opiates.

[DanO.]

It is proven that Hillary shot Vince Foster in the head and then used her super-powers to cover it up. It's all out there if you know where to look. BlockYoMomma!

[Last of the Shitlords]

Sure faggot. Team Blue was smeared and never guilty of anything ever. Team Red is clearly guilty of everything based on the slightest of rumors.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

"Super Powers" is HiLIARy's nickname for her favorite Persian rug.

[Domestic Dissident]

How many times have you jerked off to the Roger Aiiles Weigel?

Only a few more weeks until we get to laugh at the nonexistent sales of your piece of shit book!

[Palin's Buttplug]

You do care!

[DanO.]

He's like a retarded parrot.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

You gonna take that, Buttplug?

[pours a nice bowl of popcorn]

[Citizen X - #6]

You joke, but Simple Mikey is almost impossible to parody. He is probably hyperventilating right now, terrified that he himself must be next for getting so close to the truth.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Yokel Ono is a misunderstood artist.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Whoa, somehow I saw the other posts but missed that predictive parody. Excellently timed.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Cisco to cut 1,100 more jobs amid a worse-than-expected business outlook

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/17.....mates.html

MAKING AMURICA GREAT AGAIN!

[Brian]

So, have you been making or losing money during the first 100 days?

I assume that you recently purchased Venezuelan bonds.

[Entropy Drehmaschine Void]

Weigel is getting ready to make a cigaretteboat TP-n-Brewskis run to Caracas so he can pay off his gambling debts.

[NotAnotherSkippy]

Making government great again!"

[Ken Shultz]

The Trump administration naming Robert Mueller as Special Counsel was a mistake.

This is the FBI investigating itself.

This is the deep state investigating itself.

When the FBI investigates itself, it finds that the FBI did nothing wrong.

When the deep state investigates itself, it finds that the Trump administration and anyone else who tried to undermine their power and authority is guilty . . . of something.

If I were the Trump administration, I wouldn't have named the guy who transformed the FBI from a domestic law enforcement agency into an agency to fight terrorism internationally--to investigate and see whether the Trump administration was working with Russia.

We know that Trump wanted to collaborate with Putin on fighting ISIS in Syria--instead of using our intelligence services. He campaigned on that strategy. So, why would the Trump administration appoint the guy who set the FBI on its international terrorism course, gave the FBI turf like ISIS in Syria, etc. to investigate Trump's attempts to work together with Putin and undermine the power and responsibilities of the FBI?

The best explanation is that the Trump administration made a mistake. They should have picked someone else.

[Palin's Buttplug]

deep state

fucking hilarious

[DanO.]

It's Red Tony II. Best to walk away.

[Ken Shultz]

Shrike is talking to himself everybody.

Somebody get him the help he needs.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Awww, you just reminded me of Eddie. Hope he is well.

[Citizen X - #6]

Probably not. All of Opus Dei's penances for participating in a cesspool like Hit'n'Run are brutal.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Didn't he go to the other site? I could have sworn I saw a commenter over there with a Chesterton avatar, which would be right up his alley.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Last I looked, he's their prime content provider. It's links and Eddie.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Last I looked, he's their prime content provider. It's links and Eddie.

Which is pretty amazing considering how much shit a lot of the posters over there gave him before The Great Migration.

I'm surprised John hasn't popped up as a commenter there.

[Citizen X - #6]

Commenter? John's the site admin.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Holy shit--I sneaked a peek at a few of their threads but never saw his name. How the hell did he get that gig, considering he was constantly arguing with half the people who left?

[Citizen X - #6]

Pretty easy, considering my previous comment was a joke. John is far too busy keeping America safe from dusky foreigners as a DHS lawyer to waste any more time with people who insist on believing in individual liberty.

[DanO.]

How the hell did he get that gig, considering he was constantly arguing with half the people who left?

The Glibs value quantity over quality.

[Brian]

It's the classic "independent investigation": no charges will be filed relating to the actual matter under investigation, but along the way, someone will say something wrong and get charged for perjury and obstruction of justice.

If I had to bet, it would turn out that Russian ambassadors were doing intel leading up to the election, and reached out to people (possibly even the Hillary campaign, too! except no one cares, because, what difference, at this point, does it make?). They won't find that the campaign did anything wrong, but, along the way, someone won't remember something and get charged with perjury.

You know: like the way Ken Starr got Bill Clinton impeached for perjury, but not sexual harassment, or anything like that.

In this case, it will probably be some underling, like a Scooter Libby situation.

Or, as we say, AdolfNixonGate.

[Rhywun]

Yeah, I don't think our lefty friends are going to get President Pence let alone any impeachment.

[Philadelphia Collins]

Just wipe the servers, with a cloth, plead the 5th, and move on.

[Ken Shultz]

I think that's too optimistic.

The real question in the background is whether Trump should be able to collaborate with Russia on ISIS.

The intelligence services have done everything they can to undermine that effort.

The allegations about collaboration with Russia are really meant to undermine Trump's efforts to collaborate with Putin on ISIS in Syria.

Meanwhile, Mueller is the guy that transformed the FBI from a domestic crime fighting organization into a an organization meant to fight international terrorism. If the FBI has been working to undermine Trump administration's attempts at taking their responsibilities in Syria away and ceding them to Russia, you don't put the guy who transformed the FBI to get that turf in charge of the investigation against Trump.

Trump is trying to change the FBI back to more like it was before Mueller remade it.

Putting that guy in charge of making the FBI's case against the Trump administration is a big mistake.

It may be a betrayal of Trump by sessions, it's so obviously bad. Maybe Mueller is an amazingly honorable guy, and he'll give us the straight stuff--despite the fact that Trump is trying to take the FBI's turf away, the very turf Mueller fought so hard to give them. But that wouldn't be my bed.

Mueller may be a Special Counsel, but he sure as hell isn't an independent one.

[DanO.]

NIXON WAS FRAMED!

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

"The Trump administration" did not make the decision. Rosenstein did. They can decide to fire him if they want, but they're not that stu... well, let's leave that aside.

It's also not an investigation into the FBI or "the deep state." What is it that you imagine the FBI did wrong that Mueller will let slide?

[Ken Shultz]

When a FISA court rejected the FBI's request for a warrant to wiretap the Trump campaign, what was the reason given?

http://tinyurl.com/j2gfvlf

Was the timing of the leaking of the piss-gate dossier ahead of Trump's inauguration meant to undermine Trump's attempts at forging a working relationship with Putin on legitimate matters of state--like collaborating on ISIS in Syria?

http://tinyurl.com/zz2kw2b

Where did John McCain get the piss-gate dossier that he gave to Comey, anyway?

Aren't all of these questions pertinent? Did you miss the last five months?

You're going to investigate the Trump campaign's relationship with Russia as documented by the FBI, but not investigate the FBI's documentation?

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

No, I don't think "piss-gate" is terribly pertinent.

Seeking a warrant that was not approved is indicative of wrongdoing?

The FBI's evidence and counter-intelligence operation will presumably fall under the investigation, but the purpose is not to investigate leaking or 'inappropriate' or politically motivated investigations of the FBI. Trump can get Sessions to launch an investigation into that question if he pleases.

[Ken Shultz]

So you would investigate the Trump campaign's relationship with Russia as documented by the FBI--but not investigate the FBI's documentation.

. . . and you have that investigation conducted by an FBI insider, too!

You and Shika Dalmia should go bowling.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

"The FBI's evidence and counter-intelligence operation will presumably fall under the investigation"

[paranoid android]

Well the Trump apologists have to walk a fine line; they want to be able to be prepared to say that the whole investigation was a sham and a frame job if it finds any wrongdoing, but also be able to say it was 100% above board and the controversy is now over if it somehow clears him.

[Ken Shultz]

Actually, hiring the former director of the FBI to investigate the FBI is like hiring the FBI to investigate itself--regardless of how anyone feels about Trump.

[Konima]

I've used this phrase too much, but I am continually fascinated by the mental gymnastics that people engage in to keep defending Trump. The same could be said of the sycophants of any president, but Trump is a special case in the sense that he is clearly deficient mentally, and insufferable in every conceivable way. Your soul must be completely gone to keep doing this to yourself. Please stop.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

The absolute disingenuousness of the vast majority of his critics might have something to do with it. As Cyto pointed out yesterday, a lot of leftists were calling for him to get impeached right after the final electoral count came in.

It's one thing to go after Trump for legitimate policy decisions; it's another when you're clearly overreacting to Her Inevitability not winning the election and completely ignoring the obvious fuckups of her campaign that caused her to lose, blaming the Russians or Comey or a racist cartoon frog instead of the candidate herself. At least Republicans had the emotional maturity to admit that Romney ran a bad campaign instead of blaming outsiders for sabotaging it. That's what happens when you treat your political ideology as a religion and act as if your team winning an election is divinely ordained and your political positions are holy writ.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

That's an explanation, not a justification.

[NotAnotherSkippy]

"The absolute disingenuousness of the vast majority of his critics might have something to do with it. As Cyto pointed out yesterday, a lot of leftists were calling for him to get impeached right after the final electoral count came in."

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

"That's an explanation, not a justification."

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

If you see that people are going to lost their shit when a Presidential election doesn't go their way, and call you a fascist for voting for the candidate they didn't want to win (and let's face it, this shit happened with McCain and Romney, too), why would you bother entertaining the notion that there may be legitimate criticisms of his behavior when your own positions and in some cases your very existence not being treated in good faith?

I'm not talking about "justification" as some sort of purity test, I'm talking about the mass psychology of a deeply partisan society.

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

why would you bother entertaining the notion that there may be legitimate criticisms of his behavior when your own positions and in some cases your very existence not being treated in good faith?

Because it's irrelevant to the substance of the criticisms.

I guess we agree, though I don't know what "purity tests" have to do with it. It's understandable why people react this way, but it's still fallacious thinking and worth mocking.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

It's understandable why people react this way, but it's still fallacious thinking and worth mocking

Except that's what ends up driving social and cultural divisions that can become exceedingly toxic. You can laugh at it all you want, but it's not something that's ultimately good for national stability in the long run.

We're already seeing street battles in places between Trump supporters and Antifans, and various forms of campus violence, and as the 60s show, it can end up getting a lot worse. It's one thing to be mocked as a Nazi on an internet board, it's entirely another when not following the conventional goodthink can get you beat up or your livelihood destroyed.

[Konima]

Why even bother to look at things through that lens? Who gives a fuck how irrational the left is, or how differently the media treats Trump as opposed to Obama? It doesn't change the reality that Trump is corrupt, inept, and intellectually lazy. Again, that applies to every president to varying degrees, but Trump is an outlier even among the worst of us.

Obama and his sycophants spent 8 years blaming Bush for everything that didn't go well, and to some extent they had a modicum of a point because Bush was shit. Still, Obama was shit. The same can be said of Trump, his fans, and their blaming of the media. Trump is still shit.

As for the media and their behavior specifically: I wish that they would treat every president like this. Trump is a bad president. I hope they keep going after him. Pence would be pretty bad too, so we're fucked either way. Oh well.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Who gives a fuck how irrational the left is, or how differently the media treats Trump as opposed to Obama?

Everyone that voted for Trump.

[Ken Shultz]

"Trump is a special case in the sense that he is clearly deficient mentally, and insufferable in every conceivable way."

Are you familiar with Poe's law?

It says that you can't create a parody so extreme that it can't be mistaken for seriousness. There really are people out there as far out as this. Don't blame them if they think you're just off your rocker.

[NotAnotherSkippy]

I'm sure you were equally fascinated by the obama sycophants. Did you pledge yourself to the dear leader when he was elected?

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

"The same could be said of the sycophants of any president"

[NotAnotherSkippy]

Now could is equivalent to did? Have we gone that far down into New Speak?

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Yes, that is what "could" means in that context.

Or is your point seriously that you want Konima, himself, personally, to have railed against Obama sycophants to a sufficient degree, or else his fascination with Trump sycophants is unwarranted?

And the whole point of his post is that he is not equally fascinated by such sycophants, but that Trump sycophants are uniquely pitiable.

[Konima]

I actually was. I'm fascinated by cults of personality in general, and by people who feel the need to identify with various groups. The Obama drones were a special breed, and Trump's followers are interesting in a different sense. I feel like a lot of them are just too proud to admit that they voted for a fucking moron, even though they know this to be true internally. Obama's sycophants cried "Bush!", while Trump's cry "Media!" It all happens along the same continuum.

Do you think that Fox News wasn't irrationally biased against Obama? Is anything that's happening really new? The only new variable is how uniquely and conspicuously bad Trump has been. This dude writes at a fourth grade reading level and is the most powerful man in the world. It's incredible.

[DanO.]

First Trump, then Ailes!
Why, Jesus, why?

[Libertarian]

There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask 'why?' I dream of things that never were, and ask 'why not?'

[DanO.]

I just want Trump to drop dead. Does that make me a bad person?

[DanO.]

Roger Ailes has died

They'll need a crane.

[Sevo]

"The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties.""

I guess this is the sort of stuff that'll get turd and DanO excited, but I'm wondering what it means.

[Mark22]

Do two Russian hookers count as one contact or as two in their minds?

[DanO.]

Hi Servo! If you want "libertarians" to play with you, you might want to register at the Glib place. Bring up the absurdity of religion with the resident conservative Christians there. Hilarity will, I promise, ensue.

[Tak Kak]

"The Trump presidential campaign reportedly had at least 18 contacts "with Russian officials and others with Kremlin ties."

"The people who described the contacts to Reuters said they had seen no evidence of wrongdoing or collusion between the campaign and Russia in the communications reviewed so far."

I've come to the conclusion that Trump is too clean, it's suspicious.

[Konima]

What a clean dude.

[Citizen X - #6]

He takes so many baths, believe me. Big league baths. The best.

[DanO.]

Wait till the Saudi king tries to hold hands with him.

[Mark22]

Donald Trump tweets: "With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed!" (Note: "councel" is not a word.)

This is why we need free college: so that we can have more geniuses like Damon Root get soft degrees from Columbia and join the Fourth Estate and devote their life to keeping a watching eye on the orthography of the executive branch; it takes a truly special mind to detect such subtle spelling attacks on the foundations of our democracy! This illustrates well how important the Fourth Estate has become for our democracy!

[Unlabelable MJGreen]

Salty.

[$park? leftist poser]

Boy howdy that's quite a zinger. I'm sure he's gonna go cry in his closet now.

[paranoid android]

If things continue to spiral out of control for Trump, the rhetoric is gonna get pretty ugly (not that it hasn't already). I think the shift is already happening from people trying to mount any actual defense of Trump to just making personal attacks against his detractors.

[DanO.]

There are enough salty Republican ham tears in this place to fill a large soup pot, but who wants to eat split pea and Trumpkin soup? Not I.