Courtesy of AP:
Relatives of people who died in military service have recounted varied interactions with President Donald Trump in the difficult days and weeks after their loved one’s death. Despite Trump’s boast that he reaches out personally to all families of the fallen, interviews with families members did not support his claim. Some never heard from him at all, and a few who did came away more upset.
The Associated Press reached out to the families of all 43 people who have died in military service since Trump became president and made contact with about half the families. Of those who would address the question, relatives of nine said they had heard from Trump by phone or mail. Relatives of nine others said they haven’t.
Several spoke of being comforted by Trump but at least one call went awry: Cowanda Jones-Johnson told the AP that Trump spoke disrespectfully of her fallen nephew, Sgt. La David Johnson, when he called family members Tuesday. Johnson was among four servicemen killed in Niger earlier this month.
Of course the story that was tearing through the internet yesterday was this one.
Courtesy of WaPo:
President Trump, in a personal phone call to a grieving military father, offered him $25,000 and said he would direct his staff to establish an online fundraiser for the family, but neither happened, the father said.
Chris Baldridge, the father of Army Sgt. Dillon Baldridge, said that Trump called him at his home in Zebulon, N.C., a few weeks after his 22-year-old son and two fellow soldiers were fatally shot by an Afghan police officer on June 10. Their phone conversation lasted about 15 minutes, Baldridge said, and centered for a time on the father’s struggle with the manner in which his son was killed — shot by someone he was training.
“I said, ‘Me and my wife would rather our son died in trench warfare,’ ” Baldridge said. “I feel like he got murdered over there.”
Trump’s offer of $25,000 adds a dimension to his relationships with Gold Star families, and the disclosure follows questions about how often the president has called or written to the parents or spouses of those killed.
When reporters started trying to get an answer from the White House as to why Trump did not actually write this check, this happened:
President Donald Trump sent a $25,000 personal check to the family of a fallen soldier the same day that The Washington Post reported that he had promised the soldier's father a personal donation during a June condolence call but never followed through.
A White House official confirms to CNN that the President sent a personal check Wednesday to the family of Army Cpl. Dillon Baldridge Wednesday. Baldridge, 22, was killed in June by an Afghan police officer.
Now to be fair a president is NOT expected to volunteer his personal money to the family of a fallen soldier. But when you are trying to convince the country that you are better at this than your predecessor, well then let the mocking begin.
However before we turn to such frivolity we need to remember that there are those who will go to great lengths to defend the Orange Fuhrer.
Courtesy of CBS Miami:
Rep. Frederica Wilson’s office claims multiple threatening phone calls directed at congresswoman came into her D.C. office on Wednesday.
Her staff told CBS4’s Carey Codd the calls were directly related to the phone call from the president to the wife of Army Sgt. La David Johnson.
The congresswoman’s staff said they alerted the Capital Police, Miami Garden Police and the threat division of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Codd was told she is safe and that she is being protected at this point.
It must be remembered that this entire thing was self inflicted.
Trump was the one who bragged that while other presidents before him, President Obama in particular of course, were a little hit and miss when it came to reaching out to Gold Star families, he was talking to ALL of them.
And then when called out on that lie, and confronted with his lack of empathy, he started to attack those who criticized him.
This is why we are not supposed to allow a thin skinned lunatic into the White House.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mccain-trump-admin-not-forthcoming-niger-attack
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/its-diversion-maddows-explosive-new-theory-about-the-niger-attack-spells-trouble-for-trump/
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/10/what-we-know-niger-attack.html
Delete"“We do have information on the group that did it, their nature, their disposition and so on and so forth and appropriate organizations within the United States Military are digging deeper into that and will take appropriate action IF required,”
"In addition to Senator McCain, Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called for a fuller explanation from the Trump administration.
“I think the administration has to be more clear about our role in Niger and our role in other areas in Africa and other parts of the globe,” Reed said. “They have to connect it to a strategy. They should do that. I think that the inattention to this issue is not acceptable.”"
tinydjt"$aid, 'No other president has ever done something like this,' but he said, 'I'm going to do it." $25,000.oo/NSF
ReplyDeletehttp://time.com/4988502/trump-fallen-soldier-george-washington/
"sum of $50.00"<"the money came out of Washington's own pocket. A few years later, Elizabeth Neil was granted a pension of half her late husband's pay."
Now I am getting suspicious about the offer of $25K! WHY did Dotard offer HIS OWN MONEY after the father said his son was killed by the person he trained (i.e. 'friendly fire')? Did he want to shut the father up, so he does not make another Tiller-case out of his son's death?
ReplyDeleteSomehow, this does not sound right.
Also, of course, Dotard tried to get away with not delivering on his promise, as usual, but got called out on this one. Has he delivered on his pledge for the hurricane victims yet?
Pay it forward?
Delete@9:13 $omething Like tHIS?>
Deletehttps://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/marco-rubio-urges-congress-to-adjust-disaster-aid-bill-for-puerto-rico/
The Ru$$ian are watching Xxx--->>>
ReplyDeleteI am surprised they can get it up. Cold as hell there.
DeleteSnark.
Fox's Bret Baier: On Military Family Issue, Trump Started It
ReplyDelete...Baier told Sandra that what started this was the tragedy of four U.S. servicemen getting killed in Niger and this administration never discussing it.
Baier said, "We still haven’t heard exactly what happened in that operation --- and then he [Trump] turned it to previous presidents and whether they called or didn’t call or reached out or didn’t reach out. That was his answer and that's what started this whole cascade."
Trump has now destroyed all previous protocols on handling the very sensitive issue of the sitting president contacting military families after they've been informed their loved one was killed.
He continued, "My point last night on the show was no matter where you come down, we should focus on the deaths of the soldiers and the people who served and not this process. But it is, the president opened this door, we should point out."
There is nothing sacred for this president except his ego and how the media responds to him within any given moment in time.
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/10/fox-news-bret-baier-trump-opened-door
"Baier told Sandra that what started this was the tragedy of four U.S. servicemen getting killed in Niger and this administration never discussing it."
DeleteThat is why Dakota Meyer is relevant. He is an extension of Trump representing military and not bound by protocol and administrative management. He is going to shout out what he is passionate about. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MOVES MEYER TO ACTION AND SPEAKING. "Here @danbilzerian I'm done with your petty games. Don't ever drag my family into anything. I'm waiting" Oct 7
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ87IwWAzAZ/?hl=en
Don't make him wait, it won't be pretty.
It all started 4 October 2017.
Delete2017 Niger ambush
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Niger_ambush
What were they waiting for?
FUCK DUHkota Meyer.
DeletePansy ass.
So why are all the pansy assed war mongers waiting so long to mention the Niger ambush? Is it that golf and sniper school are more important? Duh has his important challenge to fight the INSTAGRAM KING.
DeleteWhen and where is that happening?
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/356166-north-korea-warns-us-of-unimaginable-nuclear-strike
ReplyDelete"“The U.S. is running amok by introducing under our nose the targets we have set as primary ones,""
IRAN"“it would be a waste of time to respond to such blatherings and nonsensical remarks by the foul-mouthed US President.”
Delete“The US President pretends to be an idiot, but this should not cause us to let our guard down,” Khamenei said. “They want to take back young, faithful and developed Iran to 50 years ago, and of course this is not possible, but due to backwardness, they are incapable of understanding this reality, and for this reason they have made a miscalculation and suffered, and will suffer successive defeats at the hands of the Iranian nation.”"
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/irans-supreme-leader-ayatollah-khamenei-trump-is-just-pretending-to-be-an-idiot/
This episode illustrates one of the Dotard's major failings. I know, among so many. There is a time-honored, military-endorsed SCRIPT for these calls. They are incredibly sensitive, difficult, and important. The President needs to get it right. This asshole cannot, or will not, follow directions. His insanity requires him to make up all the rules. The result of his off-script "condolence' calls has played out over the last few days. They are a disaster, like everything he touches in the White House.
ReplyDeleteThree of the dead soldiers whose families Trump ignored or demeaned were black
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump has an ugly habit of dismissing and demeaning black people. Even the ones who die in service to their country.
https://shareblue.com/three-of-the-dead-soldiers-whose-families-trump-ignored-or-demeaned-were-black/
Mother of a dead soldier wrote to Trump about her grief — and he ignored her
https://shareblue.com/mother-of-a-dead-soldier-wrote-to-trump-about-her-grief-and-he-ignored-her/
Gold Star mom to Trump: “Please stop making everything about you”
...Meredith, whose son, First Lt. Ken Ballard, lost his life in Iraq, told Trump in a message to VoteVets that it was time to grow up and care about others:
Mr. Trump, stop. Please, just stop. Your actions and words on this entire matter of the fallen in Niger is disgraceful, and unbecoming of a President of the United States and Commander in Chief. This is not about you, it is about them. It is about all of us who lost our loved ones in war. For once in your life, please stop making everything about you. For once in your life, at least pretend to know what empathy is. For once in your life, at least try to care about other people and their feelings.
https://shareblue.com/gold-star-mom-to-trump-please-stop-making-everything-about-you/
We do not know if Trump is capable of hindsight wisdom. IMO when the next of kin is on their way to Dover to receive the remains of the deceased is not right time for phone calls. Most importantly Trump, as anyone else, should appropriately acknowledge the widow and family member's feelings by apologizing for any words that were offensive and conveyed disrespect to them. Then clarify his intention of respect and gratitude for La David's service.
ReplyDeleteCondolences for their loss of husband, father, son and so on.
Alas Trump spoke as if their loved one asked for it, signing ng up to be killed. Callus and cold hearted words at a time of profound grief.
I bet Trump was pissed off to be called out and his lies about past Presidents not swallowed as truth or he praised for doing what other presidents did not.
Did you see his body language when he was called out? Petulant child, guilty as hell.
DeleteThis is so stupid! If he never heard the French language, why would anyone expect him to instantly understand and communicate in it? If every unpleasantness in your own life, unavoidable or self-created, has been removed or cleaned up so that you go untroubled by it, unfailingly escape confronting it, what right have I to expect you to evidence any more empathy than any other undomesticated mammalian form?
DeleteFor nearly two weeks, Trump refused to acknowledged the deaths, refused to honor the men by name, refused to reach out to the families. This, despite the fact that White House staffers immediately drafted a statement of sympathy for Trump to release to the public. Yet somehow that statement was mysteriously shelved.
ReplyDeleteTrump was only forced to acknowledge the troops when pressed by journalists about his silence. That’s when he opted to attack President Barack Obama by lying about how the former president handled soldier condolences. Then Trump offended the family of a slain Green Beret with a dismissive phone call on Tuesday.
But really, all you need to know about Trump’s callous mindset was his endless trips to his golf resort. That forever remains his top priority.
https://shareblue.com/the-5-times-trump-went-golfing-instead-of-reaching-out-to-families-of-4-fallen-soldiers/
For nearly two weeks, Trump refused to acknowledged the deaths, refused to honor the men by name, refused to reach out to the families............
DeleteThat is not President Trump's job, he has important things to do.
Republicans like Sarah Palin and her family have the job to report to their followers the news about Niger, troops, deaths of soldiers and anything Gold Star family.
Sarah and family have been assigned that work.
President Trump is busy with the opiate emergency, Puerta Rica urgencies and those vital jobs.
Donald Trump is back to insulting Gold Star families.Nearly every Trump scandal is of his own making, but the one that has defined much of this week—in which the president falsely claimed that his predecessors did not call the families of troops who were killed in action—is particularly alarming, both in the extent to which it is self-inflicted and what it says about Trump’s mentality.
ReplyDeletehttps://newrepublic.com/minutes/145354/donald-trump-back-insulting-gold-star-families
Gold Star dad: I will never forget Obama's call
ReplyDeletehttp://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/10/18/paul-monti-intv-father-fallen-soldier-jared-obama-medal-of-honor-sot-lemon-ctn.cnn
Called July 2009> Sept 2009>
Delete1st Medal of Honor Ceremony IN the Oval Office.
One word>'Compassion'
It was an honor to visit with Gold Star wives yesterday at our home.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/photos/a.10150723283643588.424640.24718773587/10153153033923588/?type=1&theater
DONALD TRUMP STILL HASN'T CALLED AT LEAST NINE GOLD STAR FAMILIES
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-military-gold-star-families-no-calls-nine-688586
He is busy, leave him alone. Let the generals, staff, Sarah H. S., friends and family explain his behavior.
DeleteYou're right about that. He's busy playing golf.
Delete"Even though he sent Vice President Mike Pence to Indiana -- at great taxpayer expense -- to showboat over the flag at an NFL game on Sunday, Trump couldn’t be bothered to head to Dover Air Force Base to greet the flag-draped coffin of one of the soldiers he claims to honor, on Monday. Instead, the president was busy playing golf with Sen. Lindsey Graham." - Salon magazine
President Trump Is Once Again Sweating About 'The Dossier'
ReplyDeletehttp://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a13050783/trump-russia-dossier-twitter/
"The one that launched a thousand 1000>
Delete"Pee Tape" jokes"
"the talk about who funded the project proves nothing about whether what it found is accurate."
"the president tweeted, AGAIN, a long-debunked accusation about Hillary Clinton and a Uranium deal with Russia:" also>
"rump went a step further this morning: He implied the Russians paid for The Dossier directly. There isn't even innuendo to support that." But tHIS>VF>
"reported the dossier was initially commissioned by Fusion GPS with funding from A
#NeverTrump Republican."
This is serious and critical. The Russians have something meaty to use. Thier American minions must be all over this. This is right up Sarah Palin's alley. Her president being himself and how he handles a vital part of his job.
ReplyDeleteDakota Meyer, may be even more pro Trump/Putin, Meyer is all about the deceased and those left behind in battle.
Bristol, the out standing Mil Spouse, can always do one of her Daily Mail articles on something so near and dear to all the Palins. They will stand up for the Gold Star families. It is their bread and butter. Russia can use their partnership now.
Keeping US military strong. Earning their way to maintain a lifestyle.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaZE7Y4A-e0/?hl=en&taken-by=dakotameyer0317
George W. Bush’s unmistakable takedown of Trumpism — and Trump
ReplyDeleteFor the past nine years, George W. Bush has largely stayed out of presidential politics; he declined to criticize his successor, Barack Obama, and he chose not to endorse but largely ignored President Trump. While Mitt Romney and others spoke out publicly against Trump, Bush stayed above the fray.
That changed in a big way Thursday.
Speaking at a George W. Bush Institute event in New York, Bush didn't use Trump's name, but his target became clearer as the speech progressed. Here's a sampling:
“Bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication.”
“We’ve seen nationalism distorted into nativism.”
“We’ve seen our discourse degraded by casual cruelty. . . . Argument turns too easily into animosity.”
“It means that bigotry and white supremacy in any form is blasphemy against the American creed, and it means the very identity of our nation depends on passing along civic ideals.”
“Bullying and prejudice in our public life … provides permission for cruelty and bigotry.”
“The only way to pass along civic values is to live up to them.”
Any one of these quotes in isolation could be dismissed as highflying rhetoric aimed at the general coarsening of our political culture — or the rise of forms of nationalism and extremism that clearly exist outside the Oval Office.
But almost each of these quotes has some connection to Trump. “Conspiracy theories and fabrications?” Check and check. “Nationalism and nativism?” Check. A “degraded discourse?” Big check. “Bigotry and white supremacy?” Trump was criticized for not calling them out strongly enough in Charlottesville. “Bullying?” Huge check. Not “living up to civic values?” Check, definitely.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/19/george-w-bushs-unmistakable-takedown-of-trumpism-and-trump/
Forbes Received a Very Strange Phone Call After Donald Trump Dropped 92 Spots On Its Rich People List
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gq.com/story/trump-forbes-list-call
"This message is for anyone in concern. I'm a supporter of Donald Trump. I love him and his very intelligent family. And this is like Forbes Magazine are in conspiracy to break this man financially, it seems. Donald Trump has more money than he ever had. So Forbes making noise about some three point something billion is fake news and therefore Forbes is on the drain-the-swamp list. Steve Bannon will make sure magazines and businesses like you will go down because Donald Trump is very intelligent, very handsome. His children are very beautiful, very handsome. They have the highest IQs than any racist or anybody in this county. And we love him, and he will continue to run this country, and his children will too. So fuck Forbes Magazine, and you can stick that fake news up your ass."
Delete"it's worth noting that the call bears a striking resemblance to the ones President Trump used to make to gossip columnists under the guise of being his own spokesman, sometimes named John Barron and other times named John Miller."
"The biggest hit was to Trump's real estate portfolio, which is weighted heavily toward New York City. Values of several Manhattan properties, particularly those on or near Fifth Avenue, have dropped, shaving nearly $400 million off his fortune. Some of his golf properties, including ones in Miami, Ireland and Scotland, have also declined in value, as some would-be guests stayed away, apparently offended by the president's politics and bombast. Trump's cash pile is down an estimated $100 million since last year, after he spent $66 million on his campaign and $25 million settling a lawsuit over Trump University."
Deletehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/10/17/the-poorer-president-donald-trumps-fortune-falls-600-million-in-a-year/#26e67a9e141b
"“Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.”
- Donald Trump, The Art Of The Deal"
https://www.forbes.com/donald-trump/#1acaa91d2899
it does sound just like trump, or someone copying him. he's the best, so handsome!kids so intelligent, ect. always has to be the best. too bad for dumpt, he was born crap.
DeleteOT?
ReplyDelete"rump on Thursday signaled his support of the GOP budget plan, which favor tax cuts while adding $1.5 Trillion to the deficit over the next {10} ten years.
“Republicans are going for the big Budget approval today, first step toward massive tax cuts,” Trump tweeted. “I think we have the votes, but who knows?" <NOT YOU.
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/sen-bob-corker-slams-gop-budget-process-everything-about-this-is-a-hoax/
How Trump Created His Sickest Self-Own
ReplyDeleteTwelve days of silence about fallen soldiers have been followed by three days of petty politics, undiplomatic phone calls, and painful fact-checking.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-dug-himself-a-mighty-hole-on-the-deaths-of-us-soldiers-then-he-kept-digging
The generals that surround him wanted him to shut the fook up about fallen soldiers and all that is painful.
DeleteIt may be the only time he paid attention to them.
Trump just publicly accused the FBI of having conspired against him
ReplyDeleteThe tweet is not only false, but creepily authoritarian.
As president, Donald Trump is in charge of the FBI. Which makes it incredibly striking that, in a Thursday morning tweet, Trump accused the bureau of having conspired to spread false intelligence about him during the 2016 election:
https://www.vox.com/world/2017/10/19/16503050/trump-tweet-fbi-steele-dossier
George W. Bush’s anti-Trump manifesto, annotated
ReplyDeletehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/19/george-w-bushs-anti-trump-manifesto-annotated/
Why did he wait so long to do something right?
DeleteTrump has not contacted at least 9 families of the 43 soldiers killed in action during his presidency
ReplyDeleteThere are reports of other calls that went awry
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/trump-dead-soldiers-not-called-contacted-presidency-number-a8009366.html
The Story of the Four Men Killed in Niger Is Just Beginning
ReplyDeleteHere's what we know.
Before we begin, these are the names of the fallen: Staff Sergeants Bryan Black, Dustin Wright, Jeremiah Johnson, and Sergeant La David Johnson. This much we know. Don't let President Trump's response to the situation overshadow their service and their honor.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a13043672/four-men-killed-niger/
It may be just beginning, but Trump teams can shut it down just as fast.
DeleteMaking a military widow cry: that is a classic Trump move
ReplyDeleteInstead of standing on a pedestal, he clambers down into the gutter of Twitter where he can indulge in the pettiest form of politics
Just when you thought there was nothing left to destroy – no more rules or taboos to break – Donald Trump proved you wrong. After nine long months of bumping along the bottom, our preening president has taken the presidency to a new all-time low.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/18/military-widow-cry-donald-trump
O.T.
ReplyDeleteCub Scout Expelled After Daring to Question a GOP State Senator
Ames Mayfield reportedly asked GOP Sen. Vicki Marble questions about her 2013 comments at a legislative hearing on poverty about the “problems in the black race” regarding mortality rates and “genetic makeup.” Lori Mayfield, the fifth-grader’s mother, said her son researched the state senator by himself and that she only told him to be “respectful” in his questioning.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/cub-scout-expelled-after-daring-to-question-a-gop-state-senator
"Say f*** (fuck) you to negativity." https://www.instagram.com/p/BacJMofADIz/
She who must not be named called out by DIGBY!!!
ReplyDeletedigby @digby56 55m55 minutes ago
Despicable racism again http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/despicable-racism-again.html
"Despicable racism
by digby
Gabe Ortiz at Daily Kos caught this latest sickening propaganda being pushed by the f-ing moron Sarah Palin:
A collection of right-wing websites teamed up with half-term nitwit Sarah Palin to spread a fake news story that appeared to pin the Northern California wildfires that have tragically killed at least 40 people onto an immigrant man who was arrested at a park in Sonoma, California."
Putin made her do it.
Deletehttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/19/14/418D688300000578-4618136-image-m-34_1497880730647.jpg
Oh boy, is she forever grateful. Check out her tribute to her boss.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4618136/Sarah-Palin-claims-Putin-father-s-DOPPELGANGER.html
In fact, people all across the country were so outraged by Trump’s disrespect for Johnson’s family that they stepped up and crowdfunded his children’s college tuition:
ReplyDeletehttps://shareblue.com/americans-raise-500k--for-children-of-grieving-army-widow-trump-insulted/
https://www.gofundme.com/sgt-la-david-johnson-scholarship
https://www.gofundme.com/ssg-dustin-wright-memorial-fund
The Trump folks are currently running a massive Trump campaign 'why you should like Trump' (on the various TV channels and cable) trying to correct the negative things in the media about him, his wife and adult kids. It's in full force today.
ReplyDeleteI cannot stand Donald Trump and think him to be a horrid representative of our country. I don't think he can be trusted or believed!
Monitor Kelly is delivering the major excuse speech for Trump. He is stunned a member of Congress was in the car with deceased soldier's family and sharing with family the call from Trump. Bad Congress!
ReplyDeleteGee in all rich households that would be so not appropriate.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rawstory.com/2017/10/absolutely-stuns-me-john-kelly-lashes-out-at-this-woman-frederica-wilson-for-revealing-trump-call/
ReplyDeletehttps://cdn.dvidshub.net/media/thumbs/photos/1305/943282/2000x1333_q95.jpg
Yech> “puffing” refers to “extravagant claims made by sellers in order to attract buyers.”
He is morphing into Donald Trump. He is mad at the Congresswoman and going back to a past anger.
DeleteCongresswoman gets death threats after Trump and Fox News launch dangerous smear campaign
ReplyDeleteTrump's toxic attacks on a congresswoman simply trying to protect a grieving family are having terrifying consequences.
It’s sad and unfortunate, but no, it’s not entirely surprising that Wilson is receiving death threats after the Trump White House and Fox News spearheaded a dangerous and misleading smear campaign against her.
https://shareblue.com/congresswoman-gets-death-threats-after-trump-and-fox-news-launch-dangerous-smear-campaign/
Trump is as evil as the devil.
DeleteGen John Kelly leads the torch brigade to burn the Congress Woman. Bully pulpit Kelly. Pathetic use of a man that is to work to serve the whole country.
DeleteA deep shame to see a military man obey his master like we just witnessed.
2:59pm
DeleteUh, Hello? Military people are completely and utterly brainwashed as part of their training to obey their masters. It's how the military works, sad but true.
Trump Isn’t Hitler. But the Lying …
ReplyDelete...Trump has found a way to couch the lies so that people believe they don’t emanate from him but pass through him. He is not a producer but a projector.
One way he does this is by using caveats — “I was told,” “Lots of people are saying” — as shields.
...“Trump frequently couches his most controversial comments this way, which allows him to share a controversial idea, piece of tabloid gossip or conspiracy theory without technically embracing it. If the comment turns out to be popular, Trump will often drop the distancing qualifier — ‘people think’ or ‘some say.’ If the opposite happens, Trump can claim that he never said the thing he is accused of saying, equating it to retweeting someone else’s thoughts on Twitter.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/opinion/trump-isnt-hitler-but-the-lying.html
This is what happens when we let generals run our country. No reporter who hasn't lost a family member in combat can ask a question? Are you kidding me? You can shut down debate because your overload dragged out your dead son? UnAmerican.
ReplyDeletehttps://cdn.dvidshub.net/media/thumbs/photos/1305/943282/2000x1333_q95.jpg
DeleteWoman survives Las Vegas shooting then sees home burn down in California wildfires a week later
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/16/woman-survives-las-vegas-shooting-sees-home-burn-california/
wow.
Donald Trump’s chief of staff reveals he suggested controversial phrase to console widow of fallen soldier
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/19/donald-trumps-chief-staff-reveals-suggested-controversial-phrase/
Pathetic. It is sickening to watch Kelly degrade himself - and his dead son - when ordered to prop up Trump.
DeleteI don't believe it. I think he's falling on his sword to save DJT. Ridiculous!
DeleteFrederica Wilson is a selfish and loony publicity hound. She will only expose how stupid she is the more she keeps talking.
DeleteKelly knew Trump would not take his advice not to call the families.
DeleteHe knew Trump would use his son's death and what Dumphyrd told another soldier (John Kelly).
They are trained with the same propaganda.
Kelly knows not to talk to a pregnant widow with 2 more children as if she is indoctrinated by the Marines.
They also know Frederica Wilson was in the car with the family. She was emotional like the family and she is not a military professional like the angry John Kelly.
You know sexist bullies by their actions and their words.
I can imagine how hard it would be to make these calls and I can also imagine how I could easily put my foot in my mouth if I made them spontaneously, without a plan. That's me and it's most people. That is why a President should have a script in front of him for at least the first few sentences he says to each relative of a fallen soldier. And the script should vary so that the soldier's name and the way s/he died is evident to the President. Most people, after they've spoken the first few sentences and gotten a response can then go on and have an empathetic conversation, but it's essential not to start off on a bad foot. If DJT's staff don't prepare him in this way and INSIST he do it this way then they are as much at fault as he. Mind you, I'm not at all sure than he could get through the unscripted part of the conversation without screwing up as most people could, because he does not possess empathy. But his staff should try to assure that these calls go as smoothly as possible considering the idiot they are dealing with. There is just NO excuse. And NO excuse for not calling every one of them and doing it promptly!!
ReplyDeleteOf course.
DeleteKelly also said he told this dope NOT to make the calls. But the vile tub of lard insisted because the press had called him out on it. Not because he felt deep compassion and respect for the families. But because he wanted to get the press off his back.
Kelly was right to tell him not to call. Kelly was a dope to tell him about his son and what his best friend told him. Unless Kelly wanted Donald to let it out about his son. He had to know what Donald would do with what Kelly said.
Deletehttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-gives-himself-a-10-out-of-10-on-puerto-rico-storm-recovery/ar-AAtJfX4
ReplyDelete"“Well, any debt that’s put in will be coming before that debt. We want to make sure that we put in debt and that is absolutely protected,” Trump told reporters during the meeting. “Certainly any money that’s put in by people whether it’s public or private, they’re going to want to come in first position and that’s very important, and I think the governor understands that.”“Did we do a great job?” Rossello answered: “You responded immediately, sir.”
"rump said he has “given my blessing to Congress” on a plan that is in the works but he didn’t elaborate on details."
"rump tried to fish for a compliment on the hurricane response from Gov. Ricardo Rossello but instead was completely shut down."
Deletehttp://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/19/puerto-rico-governor-shoots-trump-begs-compliments-hurricane-response.html
The congresswoman using the dead soldier and his family for publicity is truly pathetic. It is embarrassing people in this country are so stupid to vote for a woman like her.
ReplyDeleteI think she told the truth and outed our inept and lying fella in the white house.
DeletePart of me says "yes if you enlist you certainly know that you could end up dead" it's the biggest part of joining the military; you are so desperate for a job that you are willing to die doing it.
DeleteBut seriously, there has to be a nicer way to say it to a grieving widow, right?
Rep Wilson had mentored La David Johnson previously. She was close to him and family. She may have been feeling more friend than representative while she traveled in the grief stricken car to meet the body.
DeleteTrump being Trump made the call when he did. He did not heed the advice of General Kelly. He called Myeshia Johnson when he wanted. He copied what General Kelly's friend said to Kelly. Both men were in the service and speak the language.
Trump never served and neither did Mrs. Johnson. They would normally speak like civilians.
I was stunned how General Kelly understands about his friend and trusted Trump with what Joseph Dunford said to him about death of son.
General Kelly has no clue about friends Rep Wilson and La David Johnson. He lacks compassion and understanding of others. Donald Trump is the same.
Neither man is worthy to be public servants in any capacity.
1:23-jump off a bridge. you don't belong here. SHE!!!!!!!!!! it's not hard to see how you feel about women. and SHE is a friend of the family, shithead!
DeleteOT?
ReplyDelete"That’s the story Republicans have been telling for years about the “death tax” ― their scary name for the estate tax."
"“We are going to protect thousands of family businesses by ending the crushing, horrible, and unfair estate tax, sometimes known as the death tax,” Trump said in a speech last week in Harrisburg, Pa. “That’s a tax that has destroyed so many businesses and kept those businesses out of your family, your children, your grandchildren. It’s very sad.”
"the tax is levied only on individual estates worth more than $5.4 million after deductions and credits. The ONE-time tax rate on the taxable estate above that threshold is between 18 and 40 percent depending on its VALUE."
" The inclusion of an estate tax repeal is partly why the richest 1 percent of households would be the primary beneficiaries of the Republican tax plan." FACT>very few>
"will pay the estate tax for this year, or about 1 percent of all taxable estate tax returns in the country."
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-death-tax_us_59e7b1b5e4b00905bdae7e01?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
I would never accept a call from that - - -. He is unacceptable as potus and in no way represents me as an American!
ReplyDeleteThe "other side" felt the same way about Obama but it matters not because Trump IS your president, like it or not.
DeleteTrump was made a president by an electoral college. Not everyone believes that is their president. It doesn't matter what anyone believes or thinks about that. If you deeply feel he is your president, he is your president. If you feel nothing like that and definitely that he is not your president, he is not your president.
DeleteNot even as we have to endure the disastrous mistakes, Russians and what nots of last November.
The Russian choice, the traitor, the guy they call Trump is not my president.
The "other side" did not have President Obama for their president and that is also fine.
6:49, ALL Presidents including Obama, were chosen by the Electoral College, and not everyone liked the results of those elections either. Get it thru your stupid brain. Trump is the President of the USA, legally and legitimately, and he is your President whether you like him or not.
Delete8:21 am, pretty definitely not legally or legitimately, hence the investigation into Russia.
Delete10:14.... Trump is President. The Electoral College comprised of each states electors has determined the presidency. As it has always been.
DeleteThe 'Russia' investigation is not what you want to believe it is in your little head.
The people voted. The electors voted. Trump is President. Too bad for you.
FB>"There is some debate now about one of the most famous letters in American history.
ReplyDeleteIt was written to a Mrs. Bixby of Boston, Massachusetts in 1864 and signed by the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln had been notified, incorrectly it turns out, that Mrs. Bixby, a widow, had lost five sons in the Civil War. Two would survive the conflict/ There are also some who question whether Lincoln himself wrote the letter. But none of that should detract from the words and sentiments contained within - thoughts that seem all the more resonant in light of our current news cycle.
-----
Executive Mansion, Washington, November 21, 1864.
Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Massachusetts:
DEAR MADAM: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
Abraham Lincoln."
The only contact that Trump has with the military is a forced enrollment in military high school when he was proving to be belligerent and uncentered.
ReplyDeleteThat alone would lead to a rather poor outlook on the military experience and face it, that's all he knows about the subject, a forced experience because he was being a "bad kid".
No wonder he faked bone spurs to stay out of Vietnam, he had all he needed to see of a military experience and of course that led him to denigrate it rather than celebrate it.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/19/politics/north-korea-officials-mash-up/index.html
DeleteHistory will note, Trump dodged his failure to address the deaths of Green Berets by lying about President Obama.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/MaddowBlog/status/920110506865602560
I still stand by my account of the call b/t @realDonaldTrump and Myeshia Johnson. That is her name, Mr. Trump. Not "the woman" or "the wife"... @RepWilson