Comments on: The End Of Sanity

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 01:51:06 +0000

The Senate’s power is negative. The President makes appointments; the Senate can only stop them. The House creates spending bills; the Senate can only amend or kill them. The Senate requires 60 votes to end debate and vote, but McConnell only has 52 votes. McConnell is facing an election in two years that could shift control, so he has to be careful of not pissing off too many voters.

Trump has surrounded himself with advisors that owe their existence to him. He doesn’t listen to others after he makes up his mind. Look at the way he has defended Putin. The Republican Establishment didn’t want Trump, and he campaigned against them, including McConnell and Ryan. Slate is trying to apply the old rules to an entirely new situation.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 21:15:40 +0000

Oh… It’s also quite possible that it was McConnell that got Trump to give his wife a cabinet position (and easily made Trump think it was his idea). It gives McConnell *eyes, ears & voice* where he wouldn’t normally have them almost every day. 🙂 *shrug* And looking at some of the other appointees, he may well have more than one! Putin has a couple also. 😉

From a purely professional (or academic) view, it’s going to be fascinating! LOL Otherwise… probably not so much.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 20:17:53 +0000

McConnell is a master of stroking massive ego’s, & Trumpet’s is god sized (he thinks anyway). It’s easy to control someone like that. Putin knows that too of course. In the *biz* we loved ego’s! So easy to manipulate! Just had to swallow my disgust & pride, especially when what I wanted to do was rip their head off. 😉 Most of the *control* is subtle. You make them think the *idea* is all theirs and what a great idea it is too! Then you make sure they don’t have time to think too much, which in Trumpet’s case is even easier! he’s like a magpie or crow! “Oooh! Shiny! Do want!” or “Oooh! Pretty girl! Do want”! Why else would he have a gold toilet? Hell! Most of the time he distracts himself! Especially now he’s discovered Twitter! (which only add’s to the manipulative skills of someone that wants to control him). McConnell’s only real problem is controlling all the others that want to control Trumpet! LOL

He’s not going to be the worst Prez because he’s a moron… No, he’ll be the worst because he’ll be easy to *control* by anyone that knows how! I very much doubt he’s had an original idea in his life!

McConnell has made powerful allies, like the Prince family (thanks to Jennifer for reminding me about them) & other extremists. Dangerous people.

He really is a lot like Hitler. The difference is Hitler was controlled by the Catholic Church and was a *true* believer who they allowed to get out of control!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 17:30:49 +0000

With only a two vote majority in the Senate, McConnell doesn’t have the power base to do anything. Trump bought him off by giving McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, a job as Secretary of Transportation. McConnell can’t control Trump. Hell, Trump can’t control Trump.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 07:27:00 +0000

The problem isn't actually so much Trumpet, but the guy holding his leash. Mitch McConnell. He's the real problem! Slate had an interesting article about that: The Most Powerful Republican in America (and How He Paved the Way for Donald Trump) So long as Trumpet does what he's told, Mitch will pretty much let him do whatever else he likes, and bury any problems that creates. I'm sure Trumpet thinks that's a good deal, but that's because he's a moron & probably doesn't understand what a vicious sociopath McConnell is!

Therein lies McConnell’s ace in the hole. He knows the game Trump is playing and has played a version of it himself. He broadly agrees with Trump’s desire, mostly unarticulated during the campaign but apparent in his actions since, to slash the social safety net and nullify minority rights. If Trump cooperates with McConnell, plays by the rules McConnell lays out—in short, treats the Senate as the ultimate arbiter of the Republican agenda—then the two will get along just fine. But if Trump steps too far out of line with McConnell, the wooden senator from Kentucky will quietly ensure that the president suffers. Trump may be “the most powerful Republican in America.” But he will only hold that title for as long as McConnell lets him.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 20:52:48 +0000

I know you didn’t really need more of the rain , Kryten, as you keep getting flooded. And how much of nothing will Telstra give you for the ‘inconvenience’? I figure about as much nothing as I get from the cable company. 😈

Glad to hear about your rain, Shirt. As for surviving, I’m not certain of that given what Congress is talking about doing.

I’m with your read, Badtux. He is ignoring all kinds of customs, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, laws, and Constitutional restrictions, and it is highly doubtful that the Congresscritters will do anything about it. Our best hope is the cholesterol gnome and coronary issues.

By: Badtux

Badtux — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 17:12:24 +0000

Germany survived Adolph Hitler too. Sort of. But that kind of survival — millions dead, the country in ruins kind of survival — isn’t what I want to see. Actually, I doubt that Herr #Twitler can do that because a) he’s old, and b) he’s stupid, but what he *can* do is destroy the country’s institutions so badly that an Adolph Hitler can arise. Rule of law rests upon very shaky foundations in the end, and Herr #Twitler has already kicked a few of the posts out from under it in his time just by ignoring or abusing the courts (and the press) so much.

By: Shirt

Shirt — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 15:12:25 +0000

The Nation will survive Trumpf. Mauled maybe by the Kakistocracy but we’ll survive and be better for it.

About Thunderstorms: FINALLY! California is getting the best dousing in years. The Sieras are inundated with snow; The Napa river is expected to crest as high as 2005. The Thunderstorms, in SoCal, are scheduled for this afternoon.

By: Kryten42

Kryten42 — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 10:15:44 +0000

Well, your wish came true m8! Here anyway! We had one hell of a thunderstorm for hours & a ton of rain was dumped! Then I lost internet. Using my mobile, which sux. Acording to Telstra website, the problem is expected to be fixed by the 31st of Jan! Given their record, I’m sre they meant at least Feb! I better upgrade my mobile plan. I dropped it to 4 GB/mth when I got ADSL. I can get 12 GB/mth for double the monthy fee. *sigh*

And yeah, re your post, I agree. Sorry m8, really. For us all.