571 Comments

Hegseth reminds me of all the ultra macho showy types in Russia. They’re so tough, but lack any interest in the things that actually make militaries effective: supply chains, thoughtful study of tactics, careful planning, and very disciplined execution.

You can’t out macho an automatic weapon or drone…

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How would getting rid of the FBI and the ATF not be considered defunding the police?

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A reign of terror is coming to America. There are no more rights.

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I'm not sure, as a lawyer and retired law professor, exactly how to convey the enormity of Trump's nomination of Matt Gaetz to be Attorney-General. The image that comes to mind (and pardon the crudity) is of Trump and Gaetz unzipping their pants and peeing on America. If you are a true MAGA, the image might delight you. If you are a vibe voter who voted for Trump just to "throw the rascals out," the image might come as something of a surprise to you. To the rest of us, the image reflects the realization of our forebodings. None of you can say you weren't warned.

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No it’s more like shooting up America. America has crossed over to autocracy. The Constitution has been abrogated. There are no more rights.

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Kristi "Gravel Pit" Noem will now get to decide whether to put us down! See you on the other side!

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What a stellar cabinet! Like that of Dr. Caligari - a complete delusion of an asylum inmate.

I'm waiting for the announcement of Boebert as education secretary (for obvious reasons) and Taylor Green as Agricultural secretary -- she is, after all, very familiar with the spreading of manure.

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Since my head is still reeling from learning the place I'm renting will be sold, I have enough to depress me. My question is - what are Fox and CNN saying about the idiots the Orange Snake is naming to his Cabinet?

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"Nobody’s licking their chops over Trump’s mass deportations plan like the private prisons industry."

If you employ migrants, you have to pay them. Not much, but something.

However, you DON'T have to pay prisoners - or at least, not nearly as much. Prison labor is much cheaper.

So, all the migrants who were picking your tomatoes for $2 and hour, will now be picking them for 50c an hour, once they're picked up and waiting for deportation. You might have to pay the prison company a dollar an hour for the service - but, hey! Still a big cost reduction! And the tax payer pays the prisons for their "care" - so, no wonder the private prison industry shares are going up. This is 21st century slavery. No wonder the South is celebrating.

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And the cost of tomatoes, etc. will triple in prison. Have to keep those wardens happy!

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Matt Gaetz as Attorney General.

That sums up what trump's approach to "government" is going to be.

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Nov 13·edited Nov 13

My heart sunk when I read that Jack Smith is planning to resign. I'm reacting this way primarily because of the way this will appear to many Americans. It suggests that the cases really weren't legitimate--that it was either politically motivated and not very serious. I really hope that's not the way the public will perceive it, but I suspect many will see it that way. Ugh.

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Jack Smith has read the room and decided resignation is the best way forward rather than allowing the Banana Republicans to control the narrative and shut him down. Trump will be deprived of his "You're Fired!" moment of triumph he has been hungering after.

It is impossible for the investigations to go forward so to drop them before Trump has power makes perfect sense.

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I don't read enough to have a strong opinion about whether he's doing the right thing. Even if it is (for reasons you mentioned or other reasons), the way the majority of the public views it is critical. And I fear the reaction I described in my original post.

(I don't think Smith should deprive Trump of firing him. If it is completely inappropriate, he should make Trump fire him--or that's my knee-jerk reaction now. Smith may not want to do this because Trump may actually have a legitimate reason to fire him--namely, the DOJ policy that prohibits a sitting POTUS from being prosecuted. If Smith doesn't resign, he could be seen as violating DOJ policy/norms. This, too, will make Smith seem political.)

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He wouldn't be able to complete his final report if he didn't first set an end date for his investigation ... would he? It seems like getting that report on the record (HOPEFULLY the public record) is the important thing now.

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I'm unclear about the importance of completing the final report. Is this to have as a matter of record, the reasons he's ending the investigations? And if he doesn't make this a matter of record, this allows Trump to create his own narrative?

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Not the reasons he's ending the investigation, the facts he discovered during the investigation.

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I thought I read (heard?) that Bannon has promoted the idea that implementing appointments & changes so quickly will create enough chaos so we’ll all be focused on that, missing the larger picture of huge changes being implemented. Can’t find the actual source of this though

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Bannon has admitted he wants to destroy the country.

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The R's in the Senate should rubber stamp whatever Trump wants. Let the American people learn. There are consequences both for actions and for inactions.

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Nov 13·edited Nov 13

I bet a yuppie foodstamp that neither Gabbard nor Gaetz gets the job in the end, but putting them in the running now beats up any remaining Senate GOP sellouts/normies who might like to think they have some line they can't cross ... in order to eventually put in someone slightly less terrifying as the "compromise" candidate.

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I somehow doubt that Trump is capable of that much strategic thinking.

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I somehow doubt it's him doing the thinking.

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Uhh.. did you miss the part where Trump demanded the Senate Majority Leader do any recess appointments he wants? And John Thune (now SML) said 'of course'. So Gaetz will be installed, no confirmation hearing needed.

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That's actually a somewhat optimistic scenario, if it happens. I'm more pessimistic about this than you are.

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Well, I am only betting a yuppie foodstamp.

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LOL

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Any room for Putin loving Matt Taibi?

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"Trump Chooses Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, a former congresswoman who left the Democratic Party, would hold a top job in the administration, overseeing 18 spy agencies." And the insanity just keeps going!

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Gaetz and Gabbard? This transition is turning out to be one big f-u to everyone who opposed him. So far, it's even worse than I could have imagined.

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It's a big f-u to America.

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Gotta own the libs, right?

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You got it. . .

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