Harward turns down Trump’s national security adviser offer

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

But according to an individual familiar with Harward’s thinking, the former Navy SEAL who served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush turned down the Trump offer because he did not receive sufficient assurances about staffing and autonomy. Specifically, the source said Harward wanted commitments that the National Security Council would be fully in charge of security matters, not Trump’s political advisers. And he wanted to be able to select his own staff.

Harward turns down Trump’s national security adviser offer – POLITICO

hmmmm

Trump’s inherited ‘mess’ hard to find in economic data

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

To hear President Donald Trump tell it, you’d think the U.S. was in the worst shape since the Great Depression.

“It’s a mess. At home and abroad. A mess. Jobs are pouring out of the country. You see what’s going on with all of the companies leaving our country. Going to Mexico and other places. Low pay, low wages.”

…When it comes to the U.S economy, though, that “mess” isn’t borne out by most measures.

Trump’s inherited ‘mess’ hard to find in economic data

hmmmm

Spies Keep Trump in Dark on Intelligence in Sign of Mistrust

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

U.S. intelligence officials have withheld sensitive intelligence from President Donald Trump because they are concerned it could be leaked or compromised, according to current and former officials familiar with the matter.

…Several of Mr. Trump’s current and former advisers are under investigation for the nature of their ties to Moscow, according to people familiar with the matter. After Mr. Flynn’s dismissal, lawmakers have called on the government to release the transcripts of his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and to disclose whether Mr. Trump was aware of or directed Mr. Flynn’s conversations.

…“This is not about who won the election. This is about concerns about institutional integrity,” said Mark Lowenthal, a former senior intelligence official.

…Several congressional probes are examining Russia’s alleged meddling in the election. On Wednesday, the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee requested a Justice Department briefing and documents related to Mr. Flynn’s resignation, including details of his communications with Russian officials.

: Spies Keep Trump in Dark on Intelligence in Sign of Mistrust

hmmm

NBC’s Peter Alexander gives Trump in-person fact check 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

President Donald Trump, after lambasting the media as “dishonest people,” received an in-person fact check from NBC’s Peter Alexander at a White House news conference Thursday.

…Trump had claimed in his opening remarks that he had won the biggest Electoral College victory since Ronald Reagan, which is demonstrably false.

…“You said today that you had the biggest electoral margin since Ronald Reagan,” Alexander said, sitting feet from the president. He then began to list recent electoral victories bigger than Trump’s, which include both of Barack Obama’s victories, both of Bill Clinton’s victories and George H.W. Bush’s 1988 victory, all since Reagan.

…“It was a substantial victory, you do agree with that?” Trump asked.

“You’re the president,” Alexander responded.

NBC’s Peter Alexander gives Trump in-person fact check – POLITICO

Heh.

The real question is, does Trump know when he is lying?

‘Why should Americans trust you?’: Presser goes off the rails when NBC reporter confronts Trump

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

“You said today that you had the biggest electoral margin since Ronald Reagan,” Alexander began, reading off a list of several recent previous presidents who had larger margins than Trump.

“Why should Americans trust you,” Alexander asked.

…“Why should Americans trust you when you accuse the information they receive as being fake when you’re providing information that’s fake?” Alexander pressed.

‘Why should Americans trust you?’: Presser goes off the rails when NBC reporter confronts Trump

Heh

Press Conference Backfire: Rep. Elijah Cummings Calls Out Trump For Making Up A Story About Him

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Race,Leave a comment

Rep. Cummings said that Trump’s claim that Democrats backed out of the meeting with him was a made up piece of fiction.

In a statement to the press, Rep. Cummings said: “I have no idea why President Trump would make up a story about me like he did today. Of course, Senator Schumer never told me to skip a meeting with the President. I was actually looking forward to meeting with the President about the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs. 

…I also sincerely have no idea why the President made this claim in response to an unrelated question about the Congressional Black Caucus. I am sure members of the CBC can answer these questions for themselves. “The skyrocketing price of prescription drugs is an issue that affects every American family—not just people of color—and I hope the President will make good on his promise to finally allow HHS to negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of American families. I look forward to meeting with him on this issue and others.”

Press Conference Backfire: Rep. Elijah Cummings Calls Out Trump For Making Up A Story About Him

hmmm

Data Disproves Stephen Miller and Donald Trump’s Obsession With Voter Fraud 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Granite State,Leave a comment

There’s already been a deep-dive investigation into voter fraud in 2016, and the experts “didn’t find anything.”

…Those who live and die New Hampshire politics also deride the specifics of the New Hampshire allegations as folderol. To that extent, Miller and his boss have inspired impress bipartisanship – in demolishing the claims.

Data Disproves Stephen Miller and Donald Trump’s Obsession With Voter Fraud | Thomas Jefferson Street | US News

hmmm

Trump just casually demolished the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Middle East,Leave a comment

President Trump on Wednesday casually demolished a pillar of U.S. foreign policy under both Democratic and Republican administrations: the belief that the way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is for Israel to live side by side in peace with an independent Palestinian state.

Trump just casually demolished the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – LA Times

Oy….

Oklahoma Lawmakers Want Men to Approve All Abortions

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,Leave a comment

The first, Rep. George Faught’s House Bill 1549, was returning for a second year. Under the measure, a woman would be blocked from aborting a fetus because it has — or is suspected of having — a genetic abnormality, regardless of how early she sought termination. 

…HB 1441, that was even more disturbing, devoid of any nuance and completely unconstitutional. Written by another of the chamber’s freshmen, Rep. Justin Humphrey, the legislation would require a woman seeking an abortion first to obtain written permission from her sexual partner. It would also require her to provide his name to her doctor and would forestall the procedure if the man wanted the opportunity to challenge paternity.The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar provision in 1992.

…Humphrey said that the original intention of the bill was to ensure that fathers are involved in supporting a child from conception. “I was wanting fathers to have to pay child support at the beginning,” 

….Ultimately, he said, his intent was to let men have a say. “I believe one of the breakdowns in our society is that we have excluded the man out of all of these types of decisions,” he said. “I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women. “I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ ”

Oklahoma Lawmakers Want Men to Approve All Abortions

How very Handmaiden’ Tale.