Trump's State of the Union

[uebermann]

[John Galt]

yeah, all state of the unions are like that. bizarre pep rallies. i do not watch them for this reason, they are uncomfortable to watch if i am being honest. i find the entire idea of the legislative body sitting and standing and applauding at the executive distasteful

however, i think you're interpreting that statement very weirdly. he just wants agencies to be able to fire people. it's his shtick, he fires people

my father, a federal employee, hates how he can't fire people. he hates how he is stuck with a bunch of shit workers, whom he needs half the staff of for his office to complete its mission. this is his complaint, a complaint he's had for years. he loved it every time the government gets shut down because he can show how they don't need half the staff anyway, hoping that someone will grant his request to have people removed (they aren't). i don't think it's an uncommon complaint, and it's not about wanting to obstruct justice. it's literally about wanting to serve the people better

[Kane]

[John Galt]

yeah like i said they are arguing for the bloody nose, or maybe cutting off the head. and as i said it relies on North Korea being so irrational that it will not talk, and so rational that it will realize the US is not trying to destroy it.

i think trump should acctually get some accolades on north korea. putting aside the dick measuring on twitter with kim, he has actually pursued using china to pressure the north koreans which has led to talks with the south, and a dialing back, at least momentarily, of threatening rhetoric. if we can keep this up we might even get to go farther

it's quite clear north korea will not give up its nuclear ambitions. in a david vs goliath situation it has smacked us in the face so much and we've never actually fought back. they think we won't -- and their nukes ensure it. it may be possible to have a swift military strike to topple the regime or to take out their rockets or whatever, but the risk is insanely great at this point. we are going to have to wait for the lasers for point defense. once we have that we can go roflstomp their faces

[exploited]

Nunes ought to be executed by hanging.

[Kane]

We'll see, I'm hearing this is actually very underwhelming.

His politicization of the FBI is unforgivable though. Not sure how you comfortably vote GOP anymore.

[Kane]

Just skimmed it: this is pretty lame stuff.

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/372022 ... epublicans

Note that nothing in this memo says anybody anywhere did anything criminal. This also feels incredibly incomplete. I'm guessing Wray is still working as head of the FBI because redactions were actually made. There aren't any new names as far as I can tell.

[spacemonkey]

In other news. According to the groundhog, six more weeks of winter.

[exploited]

[Kane]

Yes, but it's complicated. McConnell and Ryan are interested in getting their needs met. Ryan wants to cut back the size of the government (far more than most americans - even most "conservatives") - he's a bit of an ideologue with no spine when it comes to Trump. McConnell wants power - he thinks he can control or maneuver Trump legislatively while his handlers in the WH try to control for his tantrums. And so...leadership will shield him for as long as it actually matters. I think the only person who's actually compromised by Russia is Trump. GOP leadership just want what they want.

It's abhorrent but nothing will be done until something very bad happens. DPRK, Iran, economy, etc. Watch that bond market yo.