What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[The Minsky Moment]

The Mueller team's statement is ambiguous enough to leave open the possibility that the story is still accurate.

[Grinning_Colossus]

Why would they bother correcting it if it's essentially accurate?

[The Minsky Moment]

Because they are concerned about how it characterizes the evidence at their disposal, their knowledge and their role.  Without knowing more about the sources and the documents, it's hard to say.

[crazy canuck]

What did they say this time?

Here is the piece in question.  It is behind a paywall but you get 2 free views.  This is definitely worth spending one of those views on

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/politics/trump-investigations.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Here is the story in the Times about Trumps reaction.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/us/politics/trump-new-york-times-enemy-people.html?action=click&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=Article&region=Footer&contentCollection=Politics

and here is a response from the Times publisher that I do not think is behind a paywall, so I will reproduce it for you.

America's founders believed that a free press was essential to democracy because it is the foundation of an informed, engaged citizenry. That conviction, enshrined in the First Amendment, has been embraced by nearly every American president. Thomas Jefferson declared, "The only security of all is in a free press." John F. Kennedy warned about the risks to "free society without a very, very active press." Ronald Reagan said, "There is no more essential ingredient than a free, strong and independent press to our continued success."

All these presidents had complaints about their coverage and at times took advantage of the freedom every American has to criticize journalists. But in demonizing the free press as the enemy, simply for performing its role of asking difficult questions and bringing uncomfortable information to light, President Trump is retreating from a distinctly American principle. It's a principle that previous occupants of the Oval Office fiercely defended regardless of their politics, party affiliation, or complaints about how they were covered.

The phrase "enemy of the people" is not just false, it's dangerous. It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information. And it is particularly reckless coming from someone whose office gives him broad powers to fight or imprison the nation's enemies. As I have repeatedly told President Trump face to face, there are mounting signs that this incendiary rhetoric is encouraging threats and violence against journalists at home and abroad.

Through 33 presidential administrations, across 167 years, The New York Times has worked to serve the public by fulfilling the fundamental role of the free press. To help people, regardless of their backgrounds or politics, understand their country and the world. To report independently, fairly and accurately. To ask hard questions. To pursue the truth wherever it leads. That will not change.

https://www.nytco.com/press/new-york-times-publisher-a-g-sulzberger-responded-to-president-trumps-continued-attacks-on-a-free-press/

[Savonarola]

I had posted a link to this article in the rail thread, but I think the issue deserves mention here:

Trump administration to cancel $929 million in California high-speed rail funding

It's too bad that Governor Newsom (or better still Elizabeth Warren) can't call Donald Trump an "Indian Giver" in this woke age.

Under a different administration this would make sense.  The high speed rail project was part of the stimulus package; and the Great Recession has long passed.  A high speed train from San Diego to Sacramento would have economic benefit; but that seems to be off in the very distant future.  The present incarnation is a train to nowhere and even that doesn't look like it will be done by 2022.  Of course Trump doesn't take issue with irresponsible government spending instead:

Earlier in the day, Trump had declared on Twitter, "The failed Fast Train project in California, where the cost overruns are becoming world record setting, is hundreds of times more expensive than the desperately needed Wall!"

It's all about the Wall (well, really it's all about Trump himself - he has become the Wall ); and most likely spurred by California suing Trump over his declared emergency.

[Valmy]

I find it really annoying when politicians start thinking they and the people are synonymous.

[Caliga]

It's funny, I really thought TEH WALL was just another campaign promise that he figured his voters would forget about once he was in office, like most political campaign promises.

[crazy canuck]

It's funny, I really thought TEH WALL was just another campaign promise that he figured his voters would forget about once he was in office, like most political campaign promises.

It became a political imperative for him when the right wing talking heads turned on him for making the compromise before the gov't shut down.  He had to reneg on that deal, shut down the government and rather than face further criticism from the right wing talking heads, declare the emergency.

[Admiral Yi]

It's funny, I really thought TEH WALL was just another campaign promise that he figured his voters would forget about once he was in office, like most political campaign promises.

Ann Coulter and Democratic/CNN opposition.  Donald's definition of important (any maybe of truth) is those things that create the most opposition.

Compare to the way Mattis slow rolled him on his Nuremberg rally idea.

[Caliga]

Yeah, I'm saying I didn't foresee any of this happening.  Figured it'd be just another empty campaign promise.  But Trump is a different sort of politician.

[Admiral Yi]

Yeah, I'm saying I didn't foresee any of this happening.  Figured it'd be just another empty campaign promise.  But Trump is a different sort of politician.

I wasn't refuting or rebutting you.  I was speechifying.

[Caliga]

 

[Valmy]

Yeah, I'm saying I didn't foresee any of this happening.  Figured it'd be just another empty campaign promise.  But Trump is a different sort of politician.

I am not sure what you are saying here. I mean sure often things said during campaigns do not end up happening either for practical or cynical reasons but not EVERYTHING. Many of the things politicians promise to do they do end up doing. So I don't see how doing one of the things he said he was going to do make him radically different from most politicians. There are many other things he does that make him different from most politicians but not this

[Admiral Yi]

Now Valmy, he's the one calling you out.  Calling you a punk ass bitch right in your face.

[viper37]

I find it really annoying when politicians start thinking they and the people are synonymous.

L'État c'est moi.
Better?