WTF Wednesday Trump

[WanderingWinoZ]

So following the Porter scandal, a new story broke...
-at least 100+ people didn't in the WH didn't ahve permanent security clearances
-COS Kelly issues a memo saying it would all be fixed within a week
-last night Kelly issued another (random) statement praising Kush

www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/us/politics/kushner-kelly-security-clearance-.html

The conflict: "Kushner, ... concerned that Mr. Kelly has targeted him personally with the directive, has told colleagues at the White House that he is reluctant to give up his high-level access ... Kushner has insisted that he maintain his current level of access, including the ability to review the daily intelligence briefing when he sees fit."

"Kelly, who has been privately dismissive of Mr. Kushner since taking the post of chief of staff but has rarely taken him on directly, has made no guarantees, saying only that the president’s son-in-law will still have all the access he needs to do his job under the new system."

Kelly is in a weak position, with President Trump and the senior staff, because of his botched handling of domestic violence allegations against former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. Colleagues expect Jared to win this one.

[mbcdefg]

He got his own Attorney General's name wrong.

[WanderingWinoZ]

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, in India to meet promoters and buyers of Trump-brand luxury homes, on Indian television channel CNBC-TV 18, per AP:

Trump. Jr. said that when critics talk about his brother, Eric, and him "profiteering from the presidency and all this nonsense," they forget about "the opportunity cost of the deals that we were not able to do."

apnews.com/14a2355aba214af9af72d54a1adf6c66/Trump-Jr:-'Nonsense'-that-family's-profiting-from-presidency

[isabel]

Good Lord. These people are such a fucking shit show.

[WanderingWinoZ]

During Vice President Pence's trip to the Winter Olympics, he and his team came within two hours of meeting with Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, before the North Koreans pulled out, the WashPost's Ashley Parker reports:

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pence-was-set-to-meet-with-north-korean-officials-during-the-olympics-before-last-minute-cancellation/2018/02/20/89392dfe-1684-11e8-942d-16a950029788_story.html

[eclaires]

Garbage people, but honestly their COMPLETE STUPIDITY and INCOMPETENCE is what I find most offensive. It is so insulting.

[bex]

The Kushner thing is mind-boggling to me.

First, why does he want this information? Just so he can feel important? Or for some other reason? Why does he have the right to "insist" he have access to the most sensitive information our country has?

Second, why is this okay to people? Why has someone like Kelly been okay with this for months? Why is it something that gets some mentions but isn't a BIGGER FUCKING DEAL. Because it is a big deal!!

[eclaires]

I think Kush wants it so he is perceived as having power/info whether he uses it or not (wouldn't put it past him). But I think for him it's status because like Trump his business/money relies on people thinking he's wealthy and connected, whether he is or isn't. Not having access would hurt how he's seen I think - internationally - and I think he needs that status and to keep it.

[aurora]

Feb 21, 2018 9:30:58 GMT -5 bex said:

The Kushner thing is mind-boggling to me.

First, why does he want this information? Just so he can feel important? Or for some other reason? Why does he have the right to "insist" he have access to the most sensitive information our country has?

Second, why is this okay to people? Why has someone like Kelly been okay with this for months? Why is it something that gets some mentions but isn't a BIGGER FUCKING DEAL. Because it is a big deal!!

Because he's millions of dollars in debt and he can sell it for profit.

[rondonalddo]

Why on earth would you send Pence to deal with North Korea? That mushy mole-faced dingus can't even deal with the media in a savvy manner. Then again, maybe they thought he'd be great, since he would parrot exactly whatever they told him to say and wouldn't dare improvise in any way. Blech.

[ESF]

This might be my tinfoil hat talking, but I am convinced Kush needs the access because he’s being blackmailed into turning over state secrets.

ETA: or what aurora said. Probably both, actually.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Feb 21, 2018 9:12:55 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, in India to meet promoters and buyers of Trump-brand luxury homes, on Indian television channel CNBC-TV 18, per AP:

Trump. Jr. said that when critics talk about his brother, Eric, and him "profiteering from the presidency and all this nonsense," they forget about "the opportunity cost of the deals that we were not able to do."

apnews.com/14a2355aba214af9af72d54a1adf6c66/Trump-Jr:-'Nonsense'-that-family's-profiting-from-presidency

While in India promoting his fucking luxury buildings, this mother fucker right here also announced that he likes the poor people of India because they smile. (WAPO link)  He is the grossest parts of all Americans rolled up into an oily trash bag in a cheap suit.  

[WanderingWinoZ]

Feb 21, 2018 9:39:13 GMT -5 aurora said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:30:58 GMT -5 bex said:

The Kushner thing is mind-boggling to me.

First, why does he want this information? Just so he can feel important? Or for some other reason? Why does he have the right to "insist" he have access to the most sensitive information our country has?

Second, why is this okay to people? Why has someone like Kelly been okay with this for months? Why is it something that gets some mentions but isn't a BIGGER FUCKING DEAL. Because it is a big deal!!

Because he's millions of dollars in debt and he can sell it for profit.

Dont' forget this gem from a few days ago

thehill.com/homenews/administration/374356-kushner-requests-more-intel-info-than-almost-all-white-house-staff


Kushner requests more intel info than almost all White House staff: report
"has put in more requests for U.S. intelligence information than any White House staffer not working for the National Security Council."

[aurora]

Feb 21, 2018 9:39:38 GMT -5 rondonalddo said:

Why on earth would you send Pence to deal with North Korea? That mushy mole-faced dingus can't even deal with the media in a savvy manner. Then again, maybe they thought he'd be great, since he would parrot exactly whatever they told him to say and wouldn't dare improvise in any way. Blech.

At least he wouldn't set himself up for blackmail by meeting alone with Kim Jong Un's sister.

[ESF]

Feb 21, 2018 9:42:25 GMT -5 aurora said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:39:38 GMT -5 rondonalddo said:

Why on earth would you send Pence to deal with North Korea? That mushy mole-faced dingus can't even deal with the media in a savvy manner. Then again, maybe they thought he'd be great, since he would parrot exactly whatever they told him to say and wouldn't dare improvise in any way. Blech.

At least he wouldn't set himself up for blackmail by meeting alone with Kim Jong Un's sister.

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when Mike Pence is the brains in the administration.

[bex]

Feb 21, 2018 9:33:23 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I think Kush wants it so he is perceived as having power/info whether he uses it or not (wouldn't put it past him). But I think for him it's status because like Trump his business/money relies on people thinking he's wealthy and connected, whether he is or isn't. Not having access would hurt how he's seen I think - internationally - and I think he needs that status and to keep it.

I think this is part of it but I think it's something more. He asks for more information than anyone else in the White House. That's not status.  Even reading the PDB - people wouldn't really care if he wasn't reading it because who in the Obama white house read it? We don't know!* It's not usually news! So if he wasn't accessing this information, people would probably not even know. And he can't tell people what he knows, so its not like he can use the information at dinner parties to gain favor with others.**

Is he using the information for business purposes? Is he the one funneling information to Trump, since he doesn't listen to anyone else? I mean maybe it is just all status. But it feels deeper than that.

*I'm sure some people here know, but its not the kind of thing that was talked about in WaPo like this.

**well he's not supposed to anyway.

[bex]

Feb 21, 2018 9:40:13 GMT -5 ESF said:

This might be my tinfoil hat talking, but I am convinced Kush needs the access because he’s being blackmailed into turning over state secrets.

ETA: or what aurora said. Probably both, actually.

This is what I keep coming back to, but like you said is that my tinfoil hat talking?

there is a reason he cant get a security clearance.  Even with all the amendments, he still doesn't have one. My dad and I were talking last night (my dad has had a pretty high level clearance for most of his career, even though he's an electrical engineer, lol, so he's been through the process numerous times) and my dad was like "he cant get a clearance. This isn't about lying or amending or whatever. There is something there that is preventing him getting a clearance, and its probably significant.  This isn't about smoking pot in college or something."

So I wonder if that "something" is resulting in him needing access because of blackmail. Like debt to foreign governments is preventing him from a clearance, but that debt will be wiped away (or not pursued) if he can provide information.

That's kind of a terrifying thought though.

[miniroller]

Feb 21, 2018 9:42:25 GMT -5 aurora said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:39:38 GMT -5 rondonalddo said:

Why on earth would you send Pence to deal with North Korea? That mushy mole-faced dingus can't even deal with the media in a savvy manner. Then again, maybe they thought he'd be great, since he would parrot exactly whatever they told him to say and wouldn't dare improvise in any way. Blech.

At least he wouldn't set himself up for blackmail by meeting alone with Kim Jong Un's sister.

[mbcdefg]

Feb 21, 2018 9:30:58 GMT -5 bex said:

The Kushner thing is mind-boggling to me.

First, why does he want this information? Just so he can feel important? Or for some other reason? Why does he have the right to "insist" he have access to the most sensitive information our country has?

Second, why is this okay to people? Why has someone like Kelly been okay with this for months? Why is it something that gets some mentions but isn't a BIGGER FUCKING DEAL. Because it is a big deal!!

My thought - everyone is jockeying for position inside this circus of a White House because there's no organization or leadership, so he's reluctant to give up any of his juicy little privileges. It's every man for himself, and anyone who makes even a small concession will be immediately pushed out of the way by someone bigger, stronger and more vile. 

[jeaniebueller]

On one of the shows today, someone pointed out that Kush conveniently seems to be gone whenever Trump goes on one of his unhinged twitter rants. Supposedly Kush was in the Caribbean over the weekend. Its amazing that someone put in charge of middle east peace and the opioid epidemic has time to vacation so frequently.

[biscoffcookies]

Feb 21, 2018 9:12:47 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

He got his own Attorney General's name wrong.

This angle makes me especially rageful.  Obama was trying to address the meddling.  But also?  The GOP -- particularly in the form of Mitch McConnell -- made things more difficult for him than they needed to be and made him make some really difficult choices (for example, about whether to make public statements) because he made clear that he would paint any announcement as nothing more than partisan politics designed to help Hillary (which would simultaneously undermine the seriousness of the announcement). 

So don't sit there and be like, "OMG WHY DIDN'T OBAMA DOOOOOO SOMETHING" when your party was happy to obstruct him when he tried/wanted to.

Also: WTF what crimes?  Seriously, I want him to identify whatever crime he is thinking of. 

[WanderingWinoZ]

Do you think it will ever be revealed the nature of Kusher's denial of the security clearance? Will we find out waht it was???

Is it possible that something Mueller's investigation turned up (illegal activity) is keeping it held up? I think the CIA or FBI were investigating this circus well before the election (through Carter Page, if not others)

[turnipthebeet]

The PSA guys make it sound like lying on your security clearance form is the worst thing you can do, it almost guarantees that you won't be granted clearance. I assume that's the main reason he won't be given clearance.

Also, is there a special prison for people who know so many state secrets?

[audette]

Feb 21, 2018 9:43:38 GMT -5 ESF said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:42:25 GMT -5 aurora said:

At least he wouldn't set himself up for blackmail by meeting alone with Kim Jong Un's sister.

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when Mike Pence is the brains in the administration.

It's not brains.  He won't meet with a woman alone.  Mother won't let him.

[mbcdefg]

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin tells Politico that he’s begun investigating what he called “subversion” at the agency, and those who have defied his authority “won’t be working in my operation.”

Shulkin says the W.H. gave him the green light.

www.politico.com/story/2018/02/20/shulkin-veterans-agency-purge-417896

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2018 10:26:46 GMT -5 audette said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:43:38 GMT -5 ESF said:

You know you’ve hit rock bottom when Mike Pence is the brains in the administration.

It's not brains.  He won't meet with a woman alone.  Mother won't let him.

He could at least send some towel charms as a peace offering. I think Mother would approve of that.

[raangoli]

Feb 21, 2018 9:40:34 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

Feb 21, 2018 9:12:55 GMT -5 WanderingWinoZ said:

Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, in India to meet promoters and buyers of Trump-brand luxury homes, on Indian television channel CNBC-TV 18, per AP:

Trump. Jr. said that when critics talk about his brother, Eric, and him "profiteering from the presidency and all this nonsense," they forget about "the opportunity cost of the deals that we were not able to do."

apnews.com/14a2355aba214af9af72d54a1adf6c66/Trump-Jr:-'Nonsense'-that-family's-profiting-from-presidency

While in India promoting his fucking luxury buildings, this mother fucker right here also announced that he likes the poor people of India because they smile. (WAPO link)  He is the grossest parts of all Americans rolled up into an oily trash bag in a cheap suit.  

When I read that he said this, my brain exploded. Then I got angry with the way the wealthy in India are willing to pay to play. But the income disparity in India has long been issue that only continues to get worse. 

So I was just angry all around this morning, but definitely mostly directed at Cheeto Jr for being a horse's ass.

[Deleted]

Count me in on those who think Kushner is being blackmailed by foreign governments, or - I’ll be generous - at the least EXTREMELY vulnerable to it. I don’t even think that’s tinfoil hat territory.

Trump himself likely would never have a security clearance if POTUS was required to have one.

At will bet Kelly will be gone before Kushner is so that they don’t have to enforce those without permanent clearance being let go.

I’m curious why people like SHS still don’t have clearance.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

My Kushner tinfoil hat currently revolves around him wanting to have information to hand over to one of those non-extradition countries, should he need to seek asylum. Because he is a spineless piece of garbage.

[audette]

Feb 21, 2018 11:22:01 GMT -5 @bugginnine said:

I’m curious why people like SHS still don’t have clearance.

She doesn't really need one - the information she receives is intended for public distribution.  Things _should_ be compartmentalized such that she doesn't see/hear/receive classified materials.  What she doesn't know, she can't share during briefings and Q&A.