Culture of incompetence

[kallend 2,106]

And this about the guy that has the nuclear launch codes.

By Dana Milbank, July 11:

Presidential advisers are explaining away the meeting with the Russian lawyer as a “rookie mistake” by an “unsophisticated” campaign.

“Rookie mistake”: the all-purpose defense of the Trump White House.

When President Trump failed to support NATO’s collective-defense promise, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called it “a rookie mistake.” After revelations of Trump’s meddling in the FBI’s Russia probe, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) explained that Trump is “new at this.” The rookie-error explanation has been employed to describe Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, his handling of health care and his legislative approach.

There have been enough rookie errors to send this whole team back to Double-A ball. The longer this goes on — we’re now six months into Trump’s term — the less it looks like growing pains than incompetence and mismanagement aggravated by nepotism and dishonesty.

Returning from three weeks abroad, I’ve been catching up on developments at home. These weeks, though highly abnormal by usual standards, were fairly typical of the Trump presidency. Mistakes and outrages are so common that we become numb to them. But stack three weeks of the embarrassments together and the cumulative effect makes it plain that this is amateur hour for the greatest nation on Earth:

The president, representing the United States at the Group of 20 summit in Germany, tweets that “everyone” at the world conference is talking about why Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta wouldn’t give DNC servers to law enforcement. Trump erroneously claims the CIA sought the server. Podesta, who had no authority over the DNC, urges “our whack job” president to “get a grip.”

Trump gives a speech in Warsaw contradicting an earlier speech he gave in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While in Poland, he publicly disparages U.S. intelligence agencies.

The president meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the White House press release identifies his country as “the Republic of China” — that is, China’s foe Taiwan.

Trump meets with Vladimir Putin and tweets that he “discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit” with Putin. Twelve hours later, Trump tweets that such a “Cyber Security unit” can’t happen.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tells reporters that Trump discussed sanctions with Putin. Trump tweets the next day: “Sanctions were not discussed.” (The previous month, Tillerson called for the end to a blockade of Qatar; hours later, Trump touted the Qatar blockade.)

President Trump travels to Germany for the Group of 20 Summit, where he will meet with several European leaders who view him skeptically and hold starkly different views on globalization.

Trump’s voter-fraud commission requests voter files and is roundly rejected by Democratic and Republican state officials alike; the Mississippi secretary of state, a Republican, tells the commission to “go jump in the Gulf of Mexico.”

In spite of Trump’s vow that a North Korean missile capable of reaching the United States “won’t happen,” North Korea tests an ICBM. Trump calls this “very, very bad behavior.” After the missile test, Trump’s U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, complains on Twitter on Independence Day: “Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea.”

Trump gives a speech at the Kennedy Center, in July, vowing, “We’re going to start saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.”

The president tweets that a cable-news host, Mika Brzezinski, was “bleeding badly from a face-lift” when he met her. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) responds: “Please just stop.”

Trump follows this by tweeting a mock professional wrestling video of him pummeling “Fraud News CNN.”

Fake Time magazine covers featuring Trump were on display in at least five of Trump’s clubs.

The president, who had implied he had tapes of his talks with Comey, tweets that there are no such tapes. Lawmakers, calling the president’s word insufficient, threaten to subpoena the tapes.

Former CIA director David Petraeus, asked in a panel discussion whether Trump is fit to serve, replies: “It’s immaterial.”

Trump claims the Senate health-care bill “is working along very well.” Republican leaders soon abandon plans to have a vote on the bill.

The White House issues a statement threatening to bomb the Syrian regime. Both the intelligence community and the Pentagon appear to be caught off guard.

Eight months after the election, Trump tweets: “Hillary Clinton colluded with the Democratic Party in order to beat Crazy Bernie Sanders.”

Now, after months of Trump denials of Russia contacts, comes proof of a Russia meeting with Donald Jr., Jared Kushner and then-campaign chairman Paul J. Manafort during the campaign. Among Junior’s conflicting explanations: It was okay because the Russian didn’t produce good dirt on Clinton.

And these are just some of the misfires.

They aren’t rookie mistakes. This is a team that never should have taken the field.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Lawndarter 3]

Look at the idiots in his cabinet!

Rick Perry at the Department of Energy - a position previously held by a nuclear physicist run by an idiot who thinks glasses make him look smarter.

Betsy DeVos at the Department of Education - a woman with no education and no experience with public schools, as she's a billionaire who homeschooled her kids.

Jared Kushner? What qualifications does he have to do anything?

Etc etc etc

[jakee 1,563]

Lawndarter

Jared Kushner? What qualifications does he have to do anything?

Given the size of his portfolio the question with Kushner is what qualifications does he have to do everything

It's like their strategy is to only use rookies, so anything they fuck up can be brushed off as a 'rookie mistake'. But sooner or later their most ardent supporters do need to recognise that some stuff needs to be done by people who know what they're doing.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[gowlerk 2,251]

Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[RonD1120 62]

gowlerk

Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

If you get the chance visit the Dali Museum in St Petersburg FL. He was an amazing artist able to adequately and accurately portray the hidden meanings in life. Generally, they were the spiritual meanings that reveal the essence of awe, joy, and peace.

I have been a fan of his since the '50s.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[gowlerk 2,251]

RonD1120

***Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

If you get the chance visit the Dali Museum in St Petersburg FL. He was an amazing artist able to adequately and accurately portray the hidden meanings in life. Generally, they were the spiritual meanings that reveal the essence of awe, joy, and peace.

I have been a fan of his since the '50s.


Exactly, well sort of. Trump does reveal some of the hidden meanings in life. Unfortunately they are not awe, joy, and peace. They mostly revolve around fear and how to exploit it.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[jakee 1,563]

gowlerk

******Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

If you get the chance visit the Dali Museum in St Petersburg FL. He was an amazing artist able to adequately and accurately portray the hidden meanings in life. Generally, they were the spiritual meanings that reveal the essence of awe, joy, and peace.

I have been a fan of his since the '50s.

Exactly, well sort of. Trump does reveal some of the hidden meanings in life. Unfortunately they are not awe, joy, and peace. They mostly revolve around fear and how to exploit it.

Dali was also a man who professed one ideology (anarchy) and displayed another (supporting a fascist regime) when it was expedient, so no wonder Ron likes him.

He was also a chronic masturbator and bisexual. Not sure if that's relevant personally for Ron, but still doesn't quite sit within his religious lines...

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Skwrl 56]

jakee

*********Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

If you get the chance visit the Dali Museum in St Petersburg FL. He was an amazing artist able to adequately and accurately portray the hidden meanings in life. Generally, they were the spiritual meanings that reveal the essence of awe, joy, and peace.

I have been a fan of his since the '50s.

Exactly, well sort of. Trump does reveal some of the hidden meanings in life. Unfortunately they are not awe, joy, and peace. They mostly revolve around fear and how to exploit it.

Dali was also a man who professed one ideology (anarchy) and displayed another (supporting a fascist regime) when it was expedient, so no wonder Ron likes him.

He was also a chronic masturbator and bisexual. Not sure if that's relevant personally for Ron, but still doesn't quite sit within his religious lines...

He was also a fascist, at least for a time, so someone will need to do the math.

Skwrl Productions - Wingsuit Photography

Northeast Bird School - Chief Logistics Guy and Video Dork

[billvon 3,073]

Quote

Dali was also a man who professed one ideology (anarchy) and displayed another (supporting a fascist regime) when it was expedient, so no wonder Ron likes him.

Jackson Pollock was an alcoholic and an adulterer; he killed himself and another passenger while driving drunk. Vincent Van Gogh was about as insane as they come. Both of them still created some pretty good art.

[jakee 1,563]

billvon

Quote

Dali was also a man who professed one ideology (anarchy) and displayed another (supporting a fascist regime) when it was expedient, so no wonder Ron likes him.

Jackson Pollock was an alcoholic and an adulterer; he killed himself and another passenger while driving drunk. Vincent Van Gogh was about as insane as they come. Both of them still created some pretty good art.

What, Caravaggio doesn't get a look in?

But I think if you're going to specifically praise the hidden meanings and spirituality of someone's work, its worth mentioning the hidden details and frankly mercenary spirituality of their life. Particularly when it has such convenient parallels


(And Van Gogh was a tragic figure with a genuine mental illness that plagued his life. I would hope no-one thinks it diminishes either his art or him. He was a victim of his own disease, IMO.)

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[yoink 321]

gowlerk

They mostly revolve around fear and how to exploit it.

He's very, very good at it. He's a great salesman.

[billvon 3,073]

Quote

But I think if you're going to specifically praise the hidden meanings and spirituality of someone's work, its worth mentioning the hidden details and frankly mercenary spirituality of their life.

While I agree, liking the spirit embodied in a painting is not the same as approving of the spirit of the person painting it. In fact you can argue that Van Gogh's insanity was one of the reasons his paintings were so interesting.

[normiss 854]

Betsy Devos: 90% of campus rape complaints "fall into the category of 'we were both drunk'".
A female said this.

[RonD1120 62]

I remember when I was in college and university the women always got me drunk before they had their way with me.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[yoink 321]

RonD1120

I remember when I was in college and university the women always got me drunk before they had their way with me.

What's your point in posting that as a reply?

I suggest you answer very carefully because you are on thin fucking ice.

[gowlerk 2,251]

RonD1120

I remember when I was in college and university the women always got me drunk before they had their way with me.

Yes, It's very typical of fundamentalist men to see women as evil seductresses. You and yours have that in common with Islamists. Religion is often used in this way.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[headoverheels 333]

gowlerk

***I remember when I was in college and university the women always got me drunk before they had their way with me.

Yes, It's very typical of fundamentalist men to see women as evil seductresses. You and yours have that in common with Islamists. Religion is often used in this way.]

It that what he meant? I thought that he meant that the women made him clean house while they napped.

[correcceo 0]

gowlerk

Yes, It's very typical of fundamentalist men to see women as evil seductresses. You and yours have that in common with Islamists. Religion is often used in this way.

Apparently you're not familiar with Proverbs and the Song of Solomon:

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3549710;#3549710

Having said that, if you haven't lived a night being seduced by an evil seductress, then you haven't lived. They are the means by which God brings a man to his knees - personally speaking, of course.

[piisfish 140]

RonD1120

I remember when I was in college and university the women always got me drunk before they had their way with me.

did they dare talk to snakes and eat apples?

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[RonD1120 62]

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[kallend 2,106]

"Eventually we will get something done." Donald Trump, July 18, 2017

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Phil1111 1,149]

kallend

"Eventually we will get something done." Donald Trump, July 18, 2017

Every month or so he slips up and tells the truth by accident. Either that, or his incoherent babbling creates a truthful statement by random co-incidence.

[okalb 104]

kallend

"Eventually we will get something done." Donald Trump, July 18, 2017

That is what I am afraid of

Time flies like an arrow....fruit flies like a banana

[Niki1 1]

gowlerk

Sigh....Watching Trump's Presidency unfold is interesting. In the same way examining a Salvador Dali piece is. Surreal.

I think more like an Eischer (sp?). I can't tell which way is up.

Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done.
Louis D Brandeis

Where are we going and why are we in this basket?

[kallend 2,106]

Donald Trump, like many a businessman-turned-politician before him, argued that if he was elected, he would bring his managerial acumen to Washington, making government run like a business with efficiency and skill.

What we’ve seen instead is the most chaotic and incompetent White House in living memory. And it’s only getting worse.

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/07/27/incredibly-the-white-house-is-spiraling-even-further-into-chaos/?tid=hybrid_collaborative_2_na&utm_term=.87798920514b

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.