Comey to Testify Trump Tried Influencing Him to End Flynn Investigation, Obama Says Future Doesn't Belong to Strongmen, Oldest Human Fossils Found in Morocco: P.M. Links

• 

  Max Planck Institute

  President Trump tried to specifically influence James Comey to end the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn, according to written testimony the former FBI director submitted to the Senate Intelligence Committee ahead of his appearance there tomorrow.

• In a speech in Canada, Barack Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."
• Former Goldman Sachs executive Phil Murphy won the Democratic nomination for governor in New Jersey. He will face Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno in the general election.
• North Korea condemned U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement as "the height of egotism."
• A military aircraft with 120 soldiers on board went missing off the coast of Myanmar.
• The oldest known homo sapiens fossils, aged 100,000 years, were discovered in Morocco.

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Oh, snap.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

Reset!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Add Krayewski to the list of Reason contributors who don't value our contribution!

[Rhywun]

Something was memory-holed?

[Fist of Etiquette]

ONLY EVERYTHING EVERYONE SAID HERE FOR AT LEAST FIVE WHOLE MINUTES. It was only the fact of my genetically engineered intellect that enabled my comments to survive.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

Well, if it was anything like the comments here, the world has forever been impoverished. We will never know how the original argument between Buttplug and Rufus went down.

[Rich]

Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

*And* the future "must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam".

What a futurist!

[Palin's Buttplug]

Well, it doesn't. I slander that goat-fucking child rapist and I am not cashing in on those futures.

[Juice]

I am not cashing in on those futures.

or options

[Bob K]

*And* that is because I can no longer be president with my pen and phone.

[Curt]

Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

So true. The past and present belong to strongmen. And, in the future, the past and present will still belong to strongmen.

But they don't own the future!

[Square = Circle]

No, they don't I do!

And when it arrives, boy am I going to cash in!

*gazes longingly at Deed to Future hanging on wall*

[Fist of Etiquette]

President Trump tried to specifically influence James Comey to end the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn...

Looks like Melania should have had a tarmac meeting with Sessions.

[Fist of Etiquette]

(If you know what I mean.)

[Fist of Etiquette]

In a speech in Canada, Barack Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

It belongs to weak, pretty boy Castro apologists?

[buybuydandavis]

You can't blame a guy for supporting his Dad.

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

Duh, Michelle out benchpresses him.

[Aloysious]

Am I in the twilight zone?

[Square = Circle]

Has the bullet hit the bone?

If so, you'll know.

[0x90]

In a speech in Canada, Barack Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

Who does it belong to then, corpse-men?

[Jerryskids]

As I was saying, the meek shall inherit the earth but not until the rest of us get done with it.

[Anomalous]

"The meek shall inherit the earth, but not the mineral rights."
-J. Paul Getty

[Palin's Buttplug]

Clearly, the future belongs to white trash Trumptards.

[mad.casual]

Who does it belong to then, corpse-men?

I think it's been firmly decided that it doesn't belong to old women who have trouble with things like gravity on a warm day and a glass ceiling with 18 million cracks in it. Not surprisingly, the arc of history bends like a spaghetti noodle.

[Charles Easterly]

Not surprisingly, the arc of history bends like a spaghetti noodle....

Please continue....

[Square = Circle]

Oddly, I just had a flash of 300 years in the future watching as the Church of the FSM burns its first heretics.

[Charles Easterly]

If you anticipate being alive in 300 years you may be a part of the purge.

I jest: I think that I understood your main point.

[Mickey Rat]

Men with pens and phones who tell everyone they must buy insurance that covers free contraceptives by executive decree.

On the other hand, he is out of power, so the future dies not belo g to one authoritarian.

[Jerryskids]

To be sure, it's a.m. somewhere, ain't it?

/Robby

[Fist of Etiquette]

...according to written testimony the former FBI director submitted to the Senate Intelligence Committee ahead of his appearance there tomorrow.

MORE LEAKS!

[Libertarian]

My god, it's as if congressional testimony is just a show for the citizens.

[Rich]

The oldest known homo sapiens fossils, aged 100,000 years, were discovered in Morocco.

Marrakesh souvenir shop?

[Libertarian]

I thought it'd been a while since we heard from Harry Reid.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The oldest known homo sapiens fossils, aged 100,000 years, were discovered in Morocco.

I spent 100.000 years in Morocco one week.

[Rich]

That reminds me. Whatever happened to Sandi?

[Jerry on the sea]

I spent 100.000 years in Morocco one week.

We'll always have Paris.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Hello, Fist.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Indeed.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Obama is such a classless jerk off.

He's consistently taking shots at a sitting President for being a strongman meanwhile didn't he pal around with Chavez and other such miscreants? I'm surprised he didn't make more of his relationship with Castro.

[Palin's Buttplug]

No, he didn't "pal around" with Chavez, you stupid Canuck redneck. Chavez handed Obama a book at an North/South America conference once and Obama politely ignored him.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Assholes defend assholes. Only normal.

The bottom line is he's acting like a man of low caliber. It's a long-established etiquette where outgoing leaders step aside and not be heard out of dignity and integrity and the office they once served. You don't go around doing shit like this.

As if this over-praised, superficial, remedial intellectual with mediocre oratorical skills broke the fucken mold on how to govern permitting him to do crap like this.

He lacks class and dignity.

I haven't heard boo from Bush and Harper.

Meanwhile, this piece of work is going around flapping his gums saying shit he never did himself.

Now go back to licking his poster with your purple tongue.

[Palin's Buttplug]

#1 - You lied. Obama did not "pal around" with Chavez. Or you are just ignorant.

#2 - Obama being critical of strongmen authoritarian assholes is a GOOD THING. Whether it is Putin, Saddam, Assad, or the Turkish and Phillipine assholes.

[Rufus The Monocled]

My mistake. Like this is any better:

http://wapo.st/2sgX73U

He's a left-wing, illiberal progressive. Nothing more, nothing less. A marvellously remedial thinker of mythical proportions and here you sit defending him as if it's some kind of virtue.

No, need for independent thought control buttons for Palin the classical liberal, no siree!

He can go fuck himself. He's doing to stick it to Trump.

Shut the fuck up and do it in a few years as PROPER.

This way he leaves himself open to severe (rightly) criticism.

Keep defending him though you fake classical liberal.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Trump is the type authoritarian asshole you supposedly hate.

You no doubt get a tiny boner when he arrests an evil drug user. You are a fucking conservative asshole who belongs at Bratfart.com.

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

Paid your bet yet?

Didn't think so.

[Mark22]

"Obama being critical of strongmen authoritarian assholes is a GOOD THING. "

It would be, but he isn't. He is just spewing meaningless drivel that his supporters will assume refers to Trump

[MarkLastname]

"Obama being critical of strongmen authoritarian assholes is a GOOD THING."
Being a hypocrite is a good thing?

Newt Gingrich lecturing Bill Clinton about the immorality of philandering would surely draw your applause.

In all seriousness, there is a childish charm to your blind loyalty to our ex-president.

[loveconstitution1789]

You're the liar Buttplug. Obama took the book.

"A running theme of the summit was Obama's cordial dealings with Chavez, who once called former President George W. Bush the "devil" and who last month dismissed Obama as an "ignoramus." The two were photographed smiling and clasping hands."

"At one meeting, Chavez made a show of walking around the table as the cameras rolled and handing Obama a copy of "Open Veins of Latin America," a 1971 book by Eduardo Galeano chronicling U.S. and European imperialism in the region."

He said it "was a nice gesture to give me a book. I'm a reader."
Obama & Chavez

[Rhywun]

It's only natural to confuse one Democrat who longs to be a Chavez or Castro with another among the long list of Democrats that have actually palled around with the likes of Chavez and Castro.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Or to confuse some GOP proto-fascist like Trump with Hitler.

Its not like the Bushpigs didn't torture and invade other countries for domination.

[Unicorn Abattoir]

Or to confuse a DEM crypto-fascist like Hillary with Stalin.

[MarkLastname]

The protofascist who you and your ilk are upset might eliminate regulations and roll back public funding. Is he an anti-government anarchocapitalist goober, or a fascist? You can't be both, because they are, like, opposites.

[loveconstitution1789]

Somebody knows how bad Obama and Democrats are and gets highly defensive about it.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Let's be frank, I wouldn't be surprised if he secretly was cool with the guy.

Progs will be progs.

[Palin's Buttplug]

In fact, you remind me how much I fucking despise Islamo or Christian fascists like the GOP has become.

[Rufus The Monocled]

That's because you're an idiot who consistently has revealed doesn't read or comprehend history. I guess this is what happens when no one took the time to teach to color inside the lines. Instead you were fed a Scooby-Snack for ruining Strawberry Shortcake in the colouring book.

[ChipToBeSquare]

Bush was an awful president, but prior to the progs digging him up recently for some kind of sick "remember when the R's weren't so bad?" nostalgia trip, he was a GREAT former president

I really wish Obama would also just lock himself away to paint pictures of the soliders and civilians that he's responsible for killing/mutiliating with his great foreign policy decisions. Or pull a Jimmy Carter and do a Habitat for Humanity thing so we can just say "at least he meant well"

As it is, I'm somehow hating him more than ever

[Palin's Buttplug]

Bush kept his yap shut because he left office with a cratering economy, a lost war, and a record low 22% approval rating.

Dickless Cheney, OTOH, ran shit from his mouth for 8 years.

[ChipToBeSquare]

We lost that war? Did someone tell Obama so he could leave?

[Square = Circle]

Clinton also didn't do it to Bush.
Bush, Sr. didn't do it to Clinton.
Carter didn't do it to Reagan.
Ford didn't do it to Carter.

Pattern emerging?

[MarkLastname]

So when is Jimmy Carter gonna shut up?

[Fist of Etiquette]

North Korea condemned U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement as "the height of egotism."

I mean, just look at the carbon footprint the Norks have. EVERYONE SHOULD FOLLOW THAT LEAD.

[Anomalous]

And their economy is as robust as it's ever been.

[Juice]

When Kim Jong Un completed his statement there was a 16 minute standing applause. The first person to stop clapping was summarily executed.

[Charles Easterly]

Juice,

With regards to your comment, (part one): this quote "At the conclusion of the conference, a tribute to Comrade Stalin was called for. Of course, everyone stood up (just as everyone had leaped to his feet during the conference at every mention of his name). ... For three minutes, four minutes, five minutes, the stormy applause, rising to an ovation, continued. But palms were getting sore and raised arms were already aching. And the older people were panting from exhaustion. It was becoming insufferably silly even to those who really adored Stalin.

However, who would dare to be the first to stop? ? After all, NKVD men were standing in the hall applauding and watching to see who would quit first! And in the obscure, small hall, unknown to the leader, the applause went on ? six, seven, eight minutes! They were done for! Their goose was cooked! They couldn't stop now till they collapsed with heart attacks! At the rear of the hall, which was crowded, they could of course cheat a bit, clap less frequently, less vigorously, not so eagerly ? but up there with the presidium where everyone could see them?"

[Charles Easterly]

(part two): "The director of the local paper factory, an independent and strong-minded man, stood with the presidium. Aware of all the falsity and all the impossibility of the situation, he still kept on applauding! Nine minutes! Ten! In anguish he watched the secretary of the District Party Committee, but the latter dared not stop. Insanity! To the last man! With make-believe enthusiasm on their faces, looking at each other with faint hope, the district leaders were just going to go on and on applauding till they fell where they stood, till they were carried out of the hall on stretchers! And even then those who were left would not falter?

Then, after eleven minutes, the director of the paper factory assumed a businesslike expression and sat down in his seat. And, oh, a miracle took place! Where had the universal, uninhibited, indescribable enthusiasm gone? To a man, everyone else stopped dead and sat down. They had been saved!

The squirrel had been smart enough to jump off his revolving wheel. That, however, was how they discovered who the independent people were. And that was how they went about eliminating them. That same night the factory director was arrested. They easily pasted ten years on him on the pretext of something quite different. But after he had signed Form 206, the final document of the interrogation, his interrogator reminded him: 'Don't ever be the first to stop applauding.'"

[Charles Easterly]

This seems to be an online version of the book, for any who are interested.

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

Interested, thank you.

[gaoxiaen]

Everyone should run their vehicles on wood gas? This truck looks like it has the carbon footprint of a 747.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz8I4HM7eGY

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

GETTING FRISKY AL FRESCO What is dogging, how popular is public sex in the UK, where are the most notorious sites and is it illegal? All you need to know

Public sex seems to be something of a national hobby for a great many Brits.

Last year a survey revealed that 43 per cent of Brits admitted to getting it on in a public place.

The study conducted by TV channel Alibi showed that it was in fact the second most common crime, after speeding, people admitted to having committed.

[Rich]

Last year a survey revealed that 43 per cent of Brits admitted to getting it on in a public place.

Well, it *is* the U.K. Thanks to all those cameras, *everywhere* is a public place.

[Libertarian]

"Admitted"? I think they misspelled "bragged."

[Griffin3]

Maybe the Japanese just need some CCTV cameras?

[Tejicano]

I don't see why. In my own meager sample I have seen a number of "incidents" of public sex here in Tokyo which were quite flagrant - they usually seem to be expecting somebody to see them.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Why Old-Timey Jobs Are Hot Again

Walk around parts of Brooklyn, Portland or Pittsburgh, and you'll find stylish cocktail bars, barbers and the occasional butcher shop staffed by young, college-educated employees. For an affluent segment of today's urban economy, these jobs have been revalued from low-status semi-manual labor to glamorous occupations, says sociologist Richard Ocejo.

Fucking losers.

[Rhywun]

I like how the author dances around the fact that these jobs attract narcissists. But we should be celebrating parting fools from their money, right?

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

But we should be celebrating parting fools from their money, right?

Yes.

[BestUsedCarSales]

I actually believe these kinds of jobs shoild not be looked down on, as well as skilled labor such as Electrician, Carpentet, Mechanic, etc.

Particularly the latter is a mode of work where there is evident demand for skilled practitioners. I also believe many of the people shunted into high schools uniformly based as some form of college prep would enjoy working with their hands more.

This model that everyone needs to go to college causes a lot of misery, and is responsible for schools getting worse too. Skilled labor is perfectly honorable work

Tldr: Bring back trade schools

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

This is inevitable.

[Square = Circle]

I also believe many of the people shunted into high schools uniformly based as some form of college prep would enjoy working with their hands more

.

One of the best finish carpenters we had on the project I'm on right now actually has a BA in English. I'm not sure why he went to college in the first place, but he once remarked to us office people that he just didn't understand how we could sit here and work at desks all day.

He makes good money, does good work, is well respected by his peers, enjoys his job, and has no need of his college degree whatsoever.

Yet many academics would see his career choice as a tragic waste. It's like a lot of them don't actually value diversity at all.

[BestUsedCarSales]

I have a coworker who is completely mystified and disappointed in his brother's life choice. He decided to be a plumber instead of going to college. My friend shakes his head every time he mentions it, and seems unaffected when I tell him plumbers make good money.

[Fascist loofa-faced shitgibbon]

"He makes good money, does good work, is well respected by his peers, enjoys his job, and has no need of his college degree whatsoever."

And his name is John Galt.

[Juice]

Losers? They have good paying jobs doing something they enjoy.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

WHY WON'T TREASON COVER THIS?!?!?!?!? Will Elizabeth Warren get an action figure?

Product design company FCTRY is set to launch a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday to produce Elizabeth Warren action figures. The mini-US Senator from Massachusetts wears a bright blazer, rimless glasses, and looks to be shaking her tiny fist.

[Meh.]

I can't read the Boston Globe article 🙁 But a quick Google search brought me to Salon's version, whose description is also hilarious:

Painted with "an optimistic smile to give us hope," the figure will wear a red "power blazer to topple the patriarchy," with the sleeves rolled up to "wrestle with big banks," as well as "sensible boots to march on Washington."

[0x90]

Not sure why I read that as "the figure will wear a 'red power' blazer..."

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

I knew there was a joke there! Well done.

[Square = Circle]

Nothing says "topple the patriarchy" like a red power blazer.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

The fuck? No headress or tomahawk? She should at least be holding a scalp.

At least the Bernie action figure came with 23 little deodorants.

[gaoxiaen]

An orange scalp.

[Libertarian]

This is news? I had those action figures back in the 60s. But the cowboy action figures usually won.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Longish Noir In Search Of An Answer

I've been told, in fact, that the latest cut of Blade Runner 2049, which was test-screened last night in Paramus, New Jersey, runs between 160 and 165 minutes, and that Ford doesn't appear until "around" the two-hour mark. A guy who attended suspects the Denis Villenueve's film will play better with the critics than with your run-of-the-mill, popcorn-inhaling sci-fi geeks. That, to me, would be excellent news.

The war on tiny bladders continues.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Timeless Christie Brinkley, 63, shows off her classic beauty as she poses alongside Baywatch babe Priyanka Chopra in campaign aimed to 'unite'

The scene aims to convey a message of optimism as a direct nod to the film's concept, while each dances to their own rhythm displaying their individuality, and then come together as a symbol of unity.

[Rich]

Broken link, Crusty.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Spoiler alert: she still looks good.

[Zeb]

She does look good. But I don't think that's her real face.

[Square = Circle]

Define "real."

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

It's an android. The real one has been buried in Billy Joel's basement for decades.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Sorry Rich.

[Juice]

Nicole Kidman was on something last night and I was amazed at how young she still looks even though she's pushing 50.

[Libertarian]

Red heads have a habit of aging well.

[Red Rocks Baiting n Inciting]

Nicole's had a lot of work done as well. Not judging, it's just a hazard of being in the entertainment industry.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

In a speech in Canada, Barack Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

Correct. The future belongs to strong women, am I right, ladies?

[Meh.]

Correct! I'm kinda surprised Elizabeth Warren is getting an action figure before Michelle Obama though.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

I blame racism.

[Chipper Morning, Now #1]

The Michelle action figure comes with inflatable arms and a coupon for a healthy lunch.

[Crusty Juggler - lamertarian]

Speaking of Seinfeld: Jerry Seinfeld turns down three hugs from Kesha

The singer wanted a hug from the comedian, but Seinfeld repeatedly declined, backing off and telling her, "no thanks" during the awkward exchange.

Kesha quickly walked away while Seinfeld laughed and told the reporter he "didn't know who that was." He said that he wished her the best after being told it was Kesha but still did not appear to know who the singer was.

"The pop singer who drinks her own urine, Jerry, that's who she is."

[Juice]

He still got herpes though.

[Libertarian]

Did she never watch his tv show???

[Stormy Dragon]

Former Goldman Sachs executive Phil Murphy won the Democratic nomination for governor in New Jersey.

I was on vacation, so could some one let me know if Goldman Sachs executives are the devil this week?

[Unicorn Abattoir]

Corrupt NJ Governor Jon Corzine was a Goldman Sachs executive. So yes.

[Libertarian]

They're the devil every week.

/Lew Rockwell.

[buybuydandavis]

In a speech in Canada, Barack Obama said the future "does not belong to strongmen."

Said the Thug who gloated "I have a pen and a phone".

[DRM]

The Obama quote in fuller context:

The future does not belong to strongmen. The future belongs bottom-up community organizers who will bring the blessings of fanatical interpretations of shaira and unending jihad against the infidel to the people long after our limited decapitation-oriented interventions, such as Libya. I thought for a while that to secure this legacy, we had to elect Secretary Clinton, but Trump's recent actions in Syria have proven that he, too, will get the job done.