DRW50

An interesting article on whether the protest efforts in North Carolina can have any effect elsewhere. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/02/north-carolina-went-red-in-2016-but-can-it-be-a-model-for-democrats-214736 I heard on the news yesterday about a 4-month old girl from Iran who was supposed to be flown in to New York for a heart operation that can't be done in her home country, and how she and her family were turned back thanks to the ban, how it's now going forward again. And all I could think was of that some people out there hate a dying baby THAT much. It's just awful.

Generally that Putin is awesome and Obama is weak and that's why the world thought we were sissy girlies or whatever. Usually not, "We're all murderers, who can judge." Sorry - if you mean what they're saying about these comments, I can't begin to guess. Probably making anti-Semetic comments and blaming the Jews for his straying away from the faithful...

This is something many on the extreme left have often said. It makes me wonder if it's one of the things that may finally make some Republican scaredy-cats wake up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yag4Iznqo4Y

I saw some liberal organ houses like Daily Kos happy about this, but it's hard for me to care, because they aren't icing her based on her views or Trump's views, just on Trump trashing and humiliating them for an extended period. If they'd played along then CNN would have her on all day every day.

Is this Conard Fowkes in the Uniroyal Tire ad? I can't tell.

The nominee for Army secretary has withdrawn, supposedly due to financial issues. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/viola-withdraws-as-trumps-army-secretary-nominee-234641 I keep reading about all the vacancies still not being filled at so many departments. I'm staring to wonder if Bannon and Miller want it this way.

Will Tudor, probably most famous for getting his big dick out to make the generally wretched Loras plot slightly more interesting, has been cast on Shadowhunters for a major role. I don't watch that show, but good luck to him.

Ugh.

Michelle Sharon Jay Ben Phil Lee (not for much longer) Babe (ditto) Whitney Tina Kathy Mick Billy Honey Martin Stacey Louise Bex Shakil Keegan Donna Vincent Kim Denise Patrick Dot Abi Jack (supposedly going sooner rather than later) Johnny Linda Lauren Steven ian Jane Max Carmel Kush I've probably missed a few. There used to be quite a few more, but few have been replaced after last year's exodus. The bus crash was clearly thrown in at the last minute. The show is all over the place these days. Yesterday's was such a terrible episode I regretted watching it.

That stuff makes me worry we're heading toward some sort of coup or military state within the very near future.

I don't think most of the world has respected the US since the disastrous handling of Iraq. Even then it took a horrific terror attack to stave off some very hostile global views of us pre-9/11 (goodwill Cheney and friends soon threw away). And we've been a laughingstock to much of the world for a long time, the ugly, stupid, loud American so often seen in foreign TV shows or films. They like our money. And they liked Obama (well those who weren't racist did), but they also were happy to flout the US, as happened more and more in his last term. What he did continue was stability and trust. And now Trump has taken that away, replaced by fear and bullying. Once other countries see, in a way that goes beyond easy videos that help mask how much some of those countries like Germany are struggling against their own tide, that Trump is a paper tiger and that his real threat is to the US, then they will move on more and more from needing the US or seeing us as someone to rely on to help with peace, to do business with - to do anything but ignore, the way Trump and Bannon so desperately want us to ignore anyone but rich people writing checks. The best we can hope for is some of this can be fixed after 4 years (if he is in office that long), but it's going to take someone much more skillful than our current crop of politicians. My issue with that was I just thought the cutesy look-at-me posts were a waste of time and energy and counterproductive, like that man who berated her on a plane. The boycott itself I initially thought would be best served with people who were more involved and less easy to paint sympathetic media stories about, but now that she's taken on a role in her father's administration, I get why people were and are boycotting and I'm glad it's having an effect. I think at one point I also naively deluded myself into thinking she and her husband might have some voice in his ear, but clearly I was wrong on that one.

Something kind of bothers me about that Obama poster...

I'd say he's trying to cover his ass before he caves, but at least it shows the effort has been worth it.

Eva la Rue on SB.

More about the Turnbull dynamics. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/bombshell-lands-in-the-antipodes

A terrific scene between CC and Gina. I really wish @juniorz1 still posted here as I always enjoyed their comments on clips like these.

I still think it's too soon about comparing Trump and W, but I will say that lately I've dreaded even going to sleep because I don't know what I will hear about when I wake up. I didn't do that even during W. These last few days have been genuinely terrifying. (it doesn't help that I was asleep and a relative woke me up to tell me about the first plane crashing into the tower on 9/11...)

I didn't know either. I guess now they won't be coming...

Given that Trump seems to be racing to war with Iran (McCain must be getting a tingle up his leg...), I hope Brooks is right.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/feb/02/donald-trump-dumb-deal-australia-refugee-resettlement-live

I don't think W would have gotten a second term without 9/11. And I don't think the public will have the same reaction to Trump if that happens (which I hope it doesn't). I didn't think he'd be removed from office but these last two weeks have been so insane I'm starting to have my doubts. I think that may be why Bannon is trying to amass control as quickly as he can. Most of Congress is full of appeasers, but McConnell isn't that type (as much as the man disgusts me) when it gets to where we are heading - to the point where [!@#$%^&*] Australia is seen as an enemy of the state.

I don't know if you read the article I posted a few hours ago but it says the same thing. (it reminds me of when everything Rove did was praised as genius...although Trump makes him look like Sun Tzu).