Politico: “European leaders think Trump is mentally unstable … The president’s wild shifts in tone left many NATO allies concluding no hidden strategy lies behind his unpredictability.”
“Nobody knows when Trump is doing international diplomacy and when he is doing election campaigning in Montana. It is difficult to decode what policy the American president is promoting.” — Danish Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen.
“You know the way he speaks, you cannot take him literally.” — a senior NATO official.
“He speaks a language that doesn’t match with diplomacy. We were used to the Brits, who speak a more frank diplomatic language, but this is another thing.” — a European Union official.
“Sometimes tweets are more important than what is negotiated.” — French President Emmanuel Macron
Patd gave the best advice in the last thread – breathe in, breathe out, repeat. (Pardon my editing)
Now, with respect to this thread, we got what we feared.
Tour de France is my current diversion from the world wide ss of the low intelligence, senile, off his rocker SFB. I hope the Queen has a servant dump hot tea on the guy.
B.B., the Tour is fun isn’t it? Can’t wait for the mountains.
baby trump diaper dump
the guardian:
With criticism of May’s Brexit, Trump detonates a diplomatic grenade
Is the US president’s outburst to the Sun simply bad manners, or his latest attempt to undermine an old ally?
[…]
Donald Trump has once again torn up standard etiquette for diplomacy by turning up, not with flowers or a bottle of wine – but a verbal grenade. As he was setting off for his first visit to the UK as American president, he told the Sun that he advised Theresa May “how to do” Brexit but “she didn’t listen to me”.
He also warned that a soft Brexit will probably kill any hope of a separate US-UK trade deal, which was supposed to be a centrepiece of Friday’s talks at Chequers. And to add insult to injury, he suggested that May’s nemesis, Boris Johnson, would “make a great prime minister”.
[….]
His outburst to the Sun – a Eurosceptic tabloid newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch, whose Fox News channel supplies many of Trump’s views and staff – could certainly be seen as bad manners, perhaps an act of revenge for the baby blimp set to take to the London sky on Friday.
On another, equally Trumpian level, it might be regarded as his latest brazen attempt to undermine an old ally. Just as the president tore into Angela Merkel’s Germany over pastries and cheese before the Nato summit had even started, now he has May’s Britain in his sights.
Craig, I agree totally. The President is certifiable in the context of the 25th. For the icing on the cake, someone should tell him that the Churchills lived in the comfort of Chartwell, not Blenheim palace.
‘Where are your manners?’ British politicians outraged at Trump
British politicians expressed outrage Friday at US President Donald Trump’s attack on the government’s Brexit strategy, although one leading eurosceptic said it was “perfectly reasonable”.
“Where are your manners, Mr President?” tweeted universities minister Sam Gyimah.
Other MPs in May’s Conservative party rounded on the president for being “determined to insult” Prime Minister Theresa May as she hosted him on a trip to Britain.
The opposition Labour party called him “extraordinarily rude”.
Downing Street stayed silent but junior foreign minister Alan Duncan brushed off the row, saying Trump was a “controversialist, that’s his style”.
n an interview in The Sun tabloid published Friday, Trump said May’s plans to keep close economic ties with the EU after Brexit would “kill” its hopes of a US trade deal.
He also warned about migration into European cities including London, criticising Mayor Sadiq Khan over recent terror attacks and knife crime.
He also suggested Boris Johnson, who quit as foreign secretary this week in protest at May’s Brexit proposal, would make a good prime minister.
“@realDonaldTrump determined to insult our PM,” said Sarah Woollaston, a Conservative MP and chairwoman of parliament’s health committee.
She attacked his “divisive, dog-whistle rhetoric” on migration, adding: “If signing up to the #Trump world view is the price of a deal, it’s not worth paying.”
While she noted May would probably keep silent, she said: “Many will be cheering if she tells @realDonaldTrump where he can stick his dog whistle”.
Emily Thornberry, foreign affairs spokeswoman for the opposition Labour party who has herself called May’s Brexit plan a “delusion”, said Trump had been “extraordinarily rude”.
“She is his host. What did his mother teach him? This is not the way you behave,” she told ITV.
Yvette Cooper, a Labour MP and chairwoman of parliament’s home affairs committee said: “Trump’s appalling behaviour makes me sympathise with Theresa May.
“[Until] I remember her desperate rush to invite him, her repeated reluctance to criticise his Muslim ban or caging of children, her chasing him for a bad trade deal…. For God’s sake Theresa, stand up to him today.”
May must publicly respond to Trump’s comments when the pair hold a press conference later on Friday.
[….continues…]
HM the Queen must erase his presence–Out damned spot!
can you imagine the uproar if PM May came to u.s. said how great the democrats winning in nov. would be and that trade with uk might be negatively affected if they don’t? or if xi or kim gave an interview of how bad the twit negotiates?
the twit said at nato presser he’s a “stable genius”
— meaning he’s good at shoveling horseshit?
patd… last night on Lawrence O’Donnell someone said (paraphrasing) “can you imagine how well trump would take it if May came over here and said Elizabeth Warren would make a good president”. The panel laughed. Hell… the whole world is laughing at us now.
He acts like a spoiled baby. He is a compulsive liar, saying anything he pleases for whatever reason; to glorify himself or keep others off balance.
Where is Colleen? Can he be diagnosed as a sociopath?
He should be removed from office. Of course, then we get creepy Pence.
Republicans backing Trump are afraid, are self-serving fools, or, both.
Go, UK!
Gag. Now, the ex-half gov of AK is making the rounds on TV , again. ~Thanks, Sasha Baron Cohen.~ Don’t give her any reason to be offered TV time!
Pogo – the Tour is the ultimate sport contest. The mountains are great. The early stages are cool for the shakeout of the teams for all the flat land riding at speed. I do like Peter Sagan, his style and his flair are something that only a superior cyclist can pull off. He seems a bit off so far, but I expect him to start winning stages in the hills. It would be nice if the women’s Tour would at least be recapped in the evenings.
May standing next to Trump now, after he went wackadoo yesterday. She has a strong stomach.
Did he tell her how to do Brexit like he knew how to fix all our problems before the election? Did he say anything substantial about Brexit? Doubtful.
Oh, Trump said “our shared language.” Watch out. English only will be his next move, First Amendment be damned.
BB, I follow the tour through the race center at letour.fr. Looks like the peloton wants the leader brought back into the fold.
And you are correct – there should be some coverage of the women’s tour.
Sanders: High court fight won’t be won in DC https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/13/politics/bernie-sanders-supreme-court-strategy/index.html
Sagan, in less than a week on this Tour, has won two stages, worn yellow, is points leader, and 8th overall- he’s crushing it.
Kittel, on the other hand…
oh how I wish parliament not approve Brexit in the long run…. based on the evidence that Russia rigged the original vote of the citizenry and based on what damage they now know will be caused by leaving the eu .
and it would sure be a poke in the eye of the twit and his bud vlad.
BB & Bink, next Tuesday is when the fun starts with stage 10 – 3 Cat. 1 climbs and an HC over 158.5 kms followed by 2 HCs a 1 and a 2 on Wednesday and 3 HCs and a 2 ending atop Alp D’Huez on Thursday. fun times for viewers, and one thing is certain – the GC won’t look like it does now at the end of that 3 day set of climbs. I’m glad to see TJ in 2nd for now. And Bink, your comments about Sagan are exactly right. He’s riding like the World Champion he is.
It’s either Brexit or the dissolution of the UK led by the departure of Scotland. I am equal parts English, N. Irish, Scotch, and Welsh. I can’t see any of these countries truly thriving if the union breaks-up. Oh well, the English part of me arrived in 1636 and that’s my native language. But, I’m more sympathetic to the fate of Korea than the UK, and, considering my family’s current make-up, that is as it should be.
Kittel, #169, and Cavendish, #161, are in trouble. Sagan is #31, 2:46 back, which I expect him to close in the next days. Sagan reminds me of those days so many decades ago when I could pop a wheely on my bike and pedal down the street.
I am watching on NBC Sports Gold. Because I cannot watch the race during the day in the office I enjoy being able to watch the replay when I get home.
Don’t know whether the peloton is just letting Pinchon wear himself out and will pull him back in or letting him go.
Pinchon just got reeled in.
Must say, altho in diplomatic terms there’s some tough talk out of our allies, it’s amazing how well they keep their dignity, avoid stooping to his level of infantile discourse. Must be some bloody tongues among them.
New indictment/s expected in Mueller probe
CNN: Prosecutors from Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office and the Justice Department’s National Security Division visited the courtroom of a federal magistrate judge in DC this a.m. to return a grand jury indictment.
My bet: Roger Stone
Sagan is a sprinter, BB- his goals are stage wins and the points classification (green jersey) which is basically an award for the most consistent daily sprinter- as far as I know, he single-handedly elevated the prestige of that jersey by chasing it, year after year, with the doggedness that General Classification riders pursue the yellow jersey. He’ll probably be somewhere around an hour behind 1st by Paris, I would guess, yet will likely win the final green jersey, despite that.
Listened to the London protests on BBC and boy, are the protesters interviewed dumb- they don’t know why they are protesting and admit as much when questioned. It seems ignorant self-righteousness is a global phenomenon, too! Must be something in the atmosphere.
flatus
Irish is ok, don’t care for the scotch, I’m mostly sour mash bourbon, plus some tequila and rhum. . With a bit of cheap brandy thrown in for fun.
I’m with you on the importance of the Korea area in the scheme of world affairs. I would like to see a Germany solution but I doubt the Chinese will permit it.
Jack
12 Russian intel officers for DNC hacking, apparently no Americans indicted.. HuffPo
Oh, I feel like xrep should be credited for the original post. Posting or linking the 25th Amendment might be helpful, also (article 4?).
Bink
Either that or British TV is much like local TV here. What I learned, you can say important rational intelligent things for an hour but make one slip and give them the crazy quote and that is what they lead with. Don’t give them a crazy quote and you don’t get on.
Jack
25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.
BBC World Service Radio, Jack.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_world_service
The reporter also mistakenly stated that Trump won with a majority, with which the interviewee, an “ashamed and embarrassed” American expatriate, agreed. It’s bizarre how misinformed so many people are and how vocal they are, despite that. I suppose I’m as guilty as the next? Sorry about that, world.
I believe being loud while ignorant is just human nature. I’ve been there a few times myself.
Jack
We were talking about unicorns the other day. Here is OldSeaHag’s latest stoner creation… Unicorn Horns… pretzels dipped in yogurt with various other stuff…
So that is how diplomats call you an asshole
Jack
Now back to some more serious thingys….
Is trumpty dumpty still embarrassing us on the world stage… YUP!
Interesting timing on Mueller’s indicting 12 Russians. Glad he still has his eyes on the prize instead of being distracted by the latest shiny kangaroo repub court.
So here’s the deal, Trump is actually getting Crimea and it will be renamed Trumplandia in return Trump helps make Putin King of the World
Looks like OSH emptied all of her sprinkle bottles, looks fun, I’m partial to her toffee chocolate crunch. When the weather cools I need to order some and some dark chocolate for Mrs Jack.
Jack
Renee
Was my thought too, should make for a more interesting summit. It is a bit of a “rain on his parade” to it, wonder is that was deliberate?
Jack
Queen wearing blue to support Dems?
From indictment, this has to be Roger Stone… “The conspirators, posing as Guccifer 2.0, wrote to a person who was in regular contact with senior members of the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump”
Roger Stone! Great he needs to pay for his ridiculous behavior– a lifetime of it. He recently tried to insinuate himself into the legal marijuana campaigns by promising he could deliver Trump.
“Gucci” + “Lucifer” as a psuedonym? A window into the mind of that person, eh?
HOLY SHIT!
July 27, 2016, Trump: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
Today’s Indictment: That evening, Russian operatives targeted Clinton campaign emails “for the first time.”
Jack, I’ve found what is a really tasty, to my palate, cheap American brandy–E&J VSOP. I buy it by the 12-bottle case at the base for a very fair price that is doubly fair because of the quantity discount. That will last me about six months. It is better than the highfalutin French stuff that I bought a couple of weeks ago because they were out of the E&J.
“….apparently no Americans indicted”
YET
CHEQUERS, England (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said he would discuss substantial reductions to nuclear weapons when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin but cautioned that a “rigged witch hunt” in the United States was hampering efforts to improve relations.
[….]
But Trump cautioned that it was hard to do substantive deals with Russia because of an investigation into suspected Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, a probe Trump cast as “rigged witch hunt”.
“We have this stupidity going on, pure stupidity, but it makes it very hard to do something with Russia because, anything you do, it’s like: ‘Russia, oh he loves Russia’,” Trump said. “I love the United States but I love getting along with Russia and China and other countries.”
“I call it the rigged witch hunt. I think that really hurts our country and it really hurts our relationship with Russia,” said Trump who denies any collusion with Russian meddling in the election.
Trump was speaking shortly before the Justice Department in Washington announced that a federal grand jury had indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers on charges of hacking the computer networks of 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party.
[..continues…]
business insider:
Trump was briefed about Mueller’s indictments earlier this week — then on Friday, he called the investigation ‘rigged’
Forget about Trump for a minute and all that titillating stuff. Look at what they have? They identified the hackers right down to specific names.
That is the real WOW!!!
There are a lot of Russian security folks going
“oh Shit, that was just what they released, how much more do they know?”
Mueller is beating expectations by a mile.
Jack
from pbs story:
Read Mueller’s full indictment against 12 Russian officers for election interference
“In March 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller took over investigation of Guccifer 2.0 from the FBI while it was reported that forensic determination had found the Guccifer 2.0 persona to be a “particular military intelligence directorate (GRU) officer working out of the agency’s headquarters on Grizodubovoy Street in Moscow”.[31]”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guccifer_2.0
In fact the level of detail that I’m seeing is a little scary.
Yeah but Bink, they have the conversations and they are letting the world know it. A whole different level it seems to me.
Jack
Thanks, Mr Bink.
I have come to believe that trump is a clear and present danger, so I am surrendering my ‘pence first’ position. It seems that trump is happily accomplishing the international purposes of the russian government, and is now headed to an unstructured meeting, alone, with the russian dictator. I expect the worst from this meeting, perhaps the cession of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States, and Finland. I wouldn’t put anything past this quisling.
NEW THREAD
Although we have yet to hear him utter a word, Mr. Mueller has great comic timing.
Rosenstein delivers the news and although he gets a bad rap –‘ if you scratch his surface, you get more surface’ — I think he has done a great job in his delivery.
And the justice presser always end the russian probe indictment announcement with this —
“There is no allegation that the conspiracy altered the vote count or changed any election result.”
(we’ll see)
BW, new thread