Chopper pressers are the best pressers. Earlier today President Trump was departing the White House for Bedminister, NJ, when he stopped to talk to the assembled press pool about a variety of topics. [Video and Transcript below]
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[Transcript] Q Mr. President, why did you throw the towel in on Ratcliffe? Why didn’t you want to wait a little bit longer and see how that process went?
THE PRESIDENT: Which process are you talking about?
Q The confirmation process. The confirmation process with Congressman Ratcliffe.
THE PRESIDENT: Because I felt that Congressman Ratcliffe was being treated very unfairly. I was reading the press. And I think I am a student of the press. And I could see that the press was treating him, I thought, very unfairly. He’s an outstanding man.
And I asked him — I said, “Do you want to go through this for two or three months or would you want me to, maybe, do something else?” And he thought about it. I said, “It’s going to be rough.” I could see exactly where the press was going and fake news. He’s a fine man. He’s a fine man. And so we hadn’t started the process and I thought it’s easier before we start.
But I read things that were just unfair. And he’s just too good. He doesn’t deserve it.
Q Mr. President, what issue do you have with Sue Gordon in the Acting role?
THE PRESIDENT: A little louder. What?
Q Sue Gordon, as Acting DNI — what issue do you have with her?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that might be — I like Sue Gordon. And Sue Gordon is there now, and I like her very much. I’ve always liked Sue Gordon.
Q Would you name her Acting?
THE PRESIDENT: Could be. Yeah. It could be. We’ll make another choice. And Sue will be — she’s there now, and certainly she will be considered for the Acting, and that could happen. We’ll probably be talking about it either later today or next week.
Do you like Sue Gordon?
Q Did Ratcliffe get cold feet, Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I think he was just treated very badly, very harshly by the press. And he really had a decision to make. “Do you want to go through this for — it could be months.” And I said, “I think I see exactly what they’re trying to do.” Nobody understands the press, but I think I understand them as well as anybody. And I didn’t think it was fair.
Q Did Republican lawmakers reach out to you to express concern about Ratcliffe?
THE PRESIDENT: No, they didn’t. I think he would have had support. But again, we were very early in the process. We hadn’t even started. So we were very early in the process. And I think he would have had good support, certainly from the Republicans.
Q They were pretty chilly.
THE PRESIDENT: What?
Q They were pretty chilly at first.
THE PRESIDENT: I haven’t seen that. I could tell you, the Democrats were chilly. That’s for sure.
Q Chairman Burr, Mitch McConnell —
THE PRESIDENT: But the Republican, I think, would have been very good. But a lot of the Republicans didn’t know John. But I think he would have had good receptivity, and he was getting that. But I believe he made the right decision.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. U.N. security (inaudible) resolution and the North Koreans’ missile launch is in violation of U.N. (inaudible). How did you (inaudible) this?
THE PRESIDENT: I don’t — do you understand?
Q I’m sorry, I did not.
Q U.N. security —
Q Mr. President, what does this say about the White House’s vetting? What does it say about the White House’s vetting process? This is the second nominee —
THE PRESIDENT: Well, no. You vet for me. I like when you vet. No, no, you vet.
Q This is the second time a head of an agency has had to withdraw.
THE PRESIDENT: I think the White House has a great vetting process. You vet for me. When I give a name, I give it out to the press and you vet for me. A lot of times, you do a very good job — not always.
Q What does that say about the White House’s process of vetting?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that the White — well, if you look at it, I mean, if you take a look at it, the vetting process for the White House is very good. But you’re part of the vetting process, you know? I give out a name to the press, and they vet for me. We save a lot of money that way.
But, in the case of John, I really believe that he was being treated very harshly and very unfairly.
Q President Trump, Republicans did express concern about Ratcliffe’s experience. Was that a deciding factor?
THE PRESIDENT: No. I tell you what: I think he would’ve had very good support. Republicans love John Ratcliffe, and I think he would’ve had very good support.
Now, he wasn’t in that world that much. I think he would’ve picked it up very quickly. But I think he would’ve had great Republican support. Probably would’ve had no Democrat support, which would’ve been nice to get some. But I think he would’ve done fine. But it would’ve been a long — it would’ve been a long, hard slog.
Q Another question, if you don’t mind, sir. The tweet that you put out about Elijah Cummings and that attempted burglary on his home, Nikki Haley is saying it was so unnecessary. What do you say to Nikki Haley?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s okay. I don’t mind that. The tweet itself was just, really, a repeat of what I heard over the news. I know his house was robbed, and I thought that was too bad. That was really just — that was really not meant as a wise-guy tweet. I mean, his house was robbed and it came over the news at a certain moment last night. And I had just mentioned it.
Q What does China need to do to avoid those tariffs going into force on September 1st?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think China — number one, you have to understand, we are so far behind. We have been treated so badly. And I don’t blame China; I blame our past leaders, our past Presidents, our past trade representatives. They’ve done a terrible job.
China — we can’t just go and make an even deal with China. We have to make a much better deal with China. Because, right now, they have a very unfair playing field, and I’m turning it around. So we’re getting 25 percent of $250 billion, and now we’ll be getting 10 percent of probably close to $350 billion. It’s a lot of money.
China has to do a lot of things to turn it around. But you’ll be seeing. They’ve got to do a lot of things. It goes on on September 1st. And, frankly, if they don’t do them, I can always increase it very substantially. In other words, I could increase it — if I wanted to, I could increase it to a very much higher number.
Q On Eric Garner, sir. On Eric Garner — the judge apparently recommended today the officer involved in that chokehold should be fired. Do you agree with that decision?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s in a process right now. I know the case very well. It’s a very sad situation. It really — it’s heartbreaking. But that’s in a process right now, so I’m not going to get involved in the process.
As you know, they’re going to be making a final decision, I guess, over the next 10 days. So I won’t interfere with the process.
Q Mr. President, sir, are you withdrawing the troops from Afghanistan? And how many troops are you withdrawing from Afghanistan?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it?
Q How many troops are you withdrawing from Afghanistan?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’ve been moving it down. We’ve been moving it down from Syria. We defeated the ISIS caliphate, and we have now 100 percent of that. We have 2,500 prisoners, and Europe is going to have to take them, or somebody is going to have to take them. But we have 2,500 ISIS prisoners. And we’ve told Europe, “Hey, some come from France. Some come from Germany.” They’re going to have to take them. So we’ll see what happens.
But we’ve pretty much reduced. We’ve taken it way down in Syria. Ultimately, it’ll be down to a very few people, if any.
With respect to Afghanistan, we’ve made a lot of progress. We’re talking, but we’ve also made a lot of progress. We’re reducing it. We’ve been there for 19 years. We’re really serving as policemen. We could win Afghanistan in two days or three days or four days, if we wanted. But I’m not looking to kill 10 million people.
Q Can you trust the Taliban?
THE PRESIDENT: What about it?
Q Mr. President, can you trust the Taliban in these negotiations?
THE PRESIDENT: We could win that war very easily. I could win that war in a week, if I wanted to. But I’m not looking to kill 10 million people, okay? Many of them would be innocent people. I’m not looking to do. And I’m not talking nuclear, by the way; I’m talking totally conventional. But I’m not looking to kill millions of people in Afghanistan.
Q But on the trust factor, can you actually come to an agreement with them?
THE PRESIDENT: That I can’t tell you. I mean, you know, we’ll find out.
Q Mr. President, Republican Congressman Will Hurd announced he’s not running for reelection — the eighth Republican to say that. (Inaudible) critical of you and your tweets about the Squad. What’s your reaction to him not going to run again?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hear he’s done a good job. I don’t know Congressman Hurd, but I’ve heard he’s done a good job. We differ on certain subjects, but I’ve heard he’s actually done a good job. It’s too bad he’s leaving. But I really don’t know him.
Q Mr. President, who’s on your shortlist to replace Coats?
THE PRESIDENT: So I do have a shortlist. I have a list of a few people we’re looking at — very well-known people. People where the vetting would go very easily because that’s what they’ve been doing; they’re in the intelligence world.
So we do. I have a list of three people that I’m going to be working on over the weekend. We’re going to Bedminster. I’ll be working on that over the weekend. And probably, on Monday, I’ll give you an answer.
And I do like Sue Gordon very much as Acting, as your — as per your question.
Q Who are the other two Mr. President?
Q Who would you like us to vet?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it again.
Q Who would you like us to vet? You said you relied on us to vet.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think we really — I think we have a lot of good people. We have three people, specifically — I mean, I could tell you.
Q Yes, tell us the names.
THE PRESIDENT: They’re — I could tell you. They’re right here. (The President gestures to his jacket pocket.)
Q Who are they?
THE PRESIDENT: Right there. But it’s too — it’s too early. Do you want a piece of the list?
Go ahead.
Q As far as peace negotiations with the Taliban, can the Taliban be trusted? Do you trust the Taliban?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t want to say if they can be trusted or not. Look, history, I would say, is not so good, but they don’t like us much either. But we’ve brought them down; we’ve brought the number of soldiers down very substantially. They’re coming down. We are talking to them. We have a lot of advantages making a deal with us.
We’re doing very well, as you know, with Pakistan. I met a gentleman who I liked a lot — as you know — last week, from Pakistan. I have a lot of respect for him. We have a good friendship — a good feeling, good chemistry. And I think Pakistan will help us, and I think others will get involved.
But we’ve been there 19 years. We’re not really — let’s put it this way: We’re more police than anything else, and that’s not for our soldiers.
And I’ve said — I’ve said it a lot: We could win the war in Pak- — we could win the war, if you look at it — and you can look at it any way you want — we can win the war in Afghanistan in less than a week. But I’m not looking to kill 10 million people. And I’m not talking nuclear. I’m not talking nuclear. But we’d win that war in less than a week, and I have that as an option, always. But that’s what we’re not looking to do.
Q Mr. President, how do you avoid a nuclear arms race now that you’ve decided to withdraw from the INF nuclear treaty?
THE PRESIDENT: So, Russia — we have been speaking to Russia about that — about a pact for nuclear — so that they get rid of some, we get rid of some. We’d probably have to put China in there.
But right now, we’re number one, Russia is number two, and China is number three. But China is quite a bit down, in terms of nuclear. China is much lower. But we would certainly want to include China at some point.
But I would think that the relationship is good. We’re trying to have a good relationship. It’s very hard, in light of the phony witch hunt, which is now dead.
But I will say this: With Russia, if we could get a pact where they reduce and we reduce nuclear, that would be a great thing for the world.
And I do believe — I do believe that will happen. We’ve — we have discussed it. I’ve also discussed it with China. I’ve discussed it with President Putin. I’ve also discussed it with China. And I will tell you, China was very, very excited about talking about it, and so is Russia. So I think we’ll have a deal at some point.
Q When?
THE PRESIDENT: But the particular pact you’re talking about that expired as of today, they weren’t living up to their commitment. And I said, if they’re not going to live up to their commitment, then we have to — we always have to be in the lead.
You know, I’ve redone our nuclear. We have new nuclear coming. I hate to tell that to people. I hate to say it because it’s devastating, but we’ve always got to be in the lead.
Hopefully — and hope to God — you never have to use it.
Q But you’re now going to test the new cruise missiles? You’re now going to test the new cruise missiles, correct?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it.
Q You’re now going to test new cruise missiles that were previously banned under this agreement?
THE PRESIDENT: We have new everything.
Q Would that be provocative?
THE PRESIDENT: We have the — we have the finest military in the world. We make the finest equipment in the world by far, whether it’s fighters, whether it’s — whether it’s missiles, whether it’s the ships, whether it’s submarines. There’s nobody to compete with us. But if we could hold off spending by getting a pact with Russia and with China, that would be very good for —
Q Do you believe that would provocative?
THE PRESIDENT: — that would be very good for all three countries.
Q On the trade deal that you signed today — that was signed today between the U.S. and EU —
THE PRESIDENT: You’re talking about the trade with the — on beef?
Q Yeah, exactly. Can you now resolve, quickly, all of the trade disputes with the EU?
THE PRESIDENT: EU is very tough to deal with. They’re — you know, they’re very difficult. They have barriers. They had barriers on beef. We broke that barrier today. I appreciate it. It’s a group of countries, as you know. We love those countries, but, for dealing with them, they’re very, very difficult.
But we did a very big deal today — beef. And we’re going to be selling them a big percentage of their beef. And that’s great for our ranchers and farmers, so we were happy to do it.
Q Are auto tariffs off the table? Or do you still think it’s (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Auto — auto tariffs are never off the table. If they would not treat us fairly — which they’re not. I mean, you know, it’s, right now —
Look, the EU has tremendous barriers to us, but we just broke the first barrier. And maybe we broke it because of the fact that if I don’t get what we want, I’ll put auto tariffs. Because it’s all about the automobile, and it’s all about the tariffs. If I don’t get what I want, I’ll have no choice but maybe to do that. But so far, they’ve been very good.
And I want to thank Mexico. The numbers are way, way down — apprehensions. The numbers are way down. Mexico — they have about 21,000. They actually now have maybe more than that on our border. They have another 6,000 on their northern border. Okay? If you view it that way — their northern border, near Guatemala. And, I will tell you, Mexico is doing a great job.
Q Speaking, Mr. President, of the southern border, any progress on a permanent DHS Secretary?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I would love to see — before we talk about Secretary, I will tell you, I would love to see the Democrats sit down and work out the loopholes in 20 minutes — because that’s what it would take — and work out asylum. But we’re moving along with an asylum fix and asylum bill. Lindsey Graham is heading it up very capably, and we’ll see what happens.
Q Mr. President, do you anticipate that if the trade war with China continues that there will be further bailouts for farmers in the U.S.?
THE PRESIDENT: I’ll always help our farmers. Our farmers were targeted by China. And our farmers — frankly, these are great patriots. I’ll always help our farmers.
There’ll be a time when the biggest beneficiary of what I’m doing, with respect to China and trade, generally — you’re seeing it with the EU. They couldn’t do the cattle thing at all — beef. They couldn’t do it at all. And now, all of a sudden, this came out of nowhere. Our farmers will ultimately be the biggest beneficiaries, and they know that. But our farmers are great patriots.
Q Mr. President, can you assure Americans they won’t pay more for their Christmas presents this year due to new tariffs on Chinese products?
THE PRESIDENT: No, what happens is China devalues their currency and China also is pouring money out, and that will pay for the tariffs. It’s a total misnomer.
Now, I don’t say that with all countries, but with China, they’re very highly sophisticated, but so are we — more than anybody would understand. All you have to do is ask China. All you have to do is ask China.
But let me just explain. So, China is devaluing their currency and they’re also pouring money in. Their currency is going to hell, but they’re also pouring money in. And that will totally pay for the tariffs. The tariffs are not being paid for by our people; it’s being paid for by China because of devaluation and because they’re pumping money in.
Thank you. Thank you, everybody.
Q (Inaudible) I had talked with a farmer last night, a soy bean farmer. And he said tariffs are causing crisis after crisis for him, and this will kill him even more.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you interviewed the wrong farmer, number one.
Number two: Any amount that China sucks out, we’re making up out of the billions of dollars that we’re taking in.
Remember this: Our country is taking in billions and billions of dollars from China. We never took in ten cents from China. And out of that many billions of dollars, we’re taking a part of it, and we’re giving it to the farmers because they’ve been targeted by China. The farmers — they come out totally whole. So you interviewed the wrong farmer, but that’s all right.
He’s not seriously considering Sue Gordon, who has been endorsed by…well, by basically every single rat involved in the coup against Trump. He’s just trying to not make waves.
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“Xi is a great guy! Really like him,..we have a good relationship!”
He says good things about lots of people, doesn’t mean a thing.
Actions. DJT detractors take him literally, but not seriously.
DJT supporters, seriously but NOT literally.
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Time after time our President says “nice things” about people and way too many accept that is the truth while we know he is leading many down that road and what he is really saying is the opposite. I love that way of talking! How many times have we said something nice while all the time we were merely being courteous and actually did not like or want that thing or person. It is a good thing so many think what he says like this are either great or nasty. In any case Trump gets the job done and I can appreciate anyone turning down a position as how it would affect that person and family. This underlines we need hard core men and women in our administration and they are out there.
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Its what our parents taught us;
“If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all”
But, in his position, if asked and he refuses to comment, that would be judged as negative.
Speaking negatively about someone, like talking behind their back, is usually counter productive. Bad habit. Much better to “kill them with kindness”, “damn them with praise”.
Pragmatically, put aside how you FEEL about someone, and focus on your goal. WHAT achieves your goal?
And, he usually comes across as the “Happy warrior”, ALWAYS projecting optimism.
Look at Dems by comparison.
Shrieking harpies and angry old men part 3.
Thats why they are going with Biden. He’s the only one of the front runners that can project a likeable demeanor, before we even get to substance.
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From where I sit, seems like the best way forward is to fire Gordon and leave the job unfilled. DNI is just a deep state apparatchik patriot act position anyway. We managed over 200 years without one.
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That’s a very interesting idea. He really doesn’t have a legal timetable.
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If Gordon is there they don’t even need Mueller to forget his phone anymore.
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that cell phone.. oh, that cell phone.. where was it located? Under a chair? Under the desk? On a windowsill? Behind a curtain?
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I love PDJT, but he is fibbing about Ratcliffe. Its a crying shame he ghas to, due to such lousy RINO’s though.
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Yes. And all this business about the media vetting for him is just silly. The media doesn’t :”vet,” it destroys. And if media hostility to his appointments is the standard, he’ll never be able to make a strong appointment again. If Ratcliffe wanted out because of the ordeal, that’s fine but just say it and leave it at that.
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CAll Rand! He surely could get McConnell to go along with it and set him up in confirmation. Might have to delay a Chinese tariff a few days.
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Rand would cause heart attacks from Langley to the Pentagon! And, as far as I’m concerned, the more the better.
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Great way to drain the swamp. Cause an epidemic of heart attacks, lol.
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No, because Rand is a Paul and he’d give POTUS heart attack too.
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Punctual & FACTUAL, intended for those listening..
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Tulsi Gabbard would be better than Susan Gordon.
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I think conservatives should pump the brakes on all this Tulsi love. She’s pretty and that’s about it. She’s dye in the wool leftist, never forget it!
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100%! A Democrat is a Democrat, is a Democrat, is a Democrat — end of story.
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Not just 100% Democrat. She is a 100% SOCIALIST Democrat. Never forget that she supported Sanders in 2016.
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AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t these Republican, independent, conservative men have any more control over their….than Slick Willy?????
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Remember, Tulsi said that Trump was supporting Al Qaeda. That should disqualify her at once. As we know from past experience with Barry, you can’t trust anyone born or raised in the progressive paradise of Hawaii.
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I’ve read that Hawaii was a “hot bed” (one of the hottest hot beds) of Communism in the 1950s…….
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There was a reason, actually a number of them, I said better rather than good.
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If dems possessed a collective, functional brain they’d unload all the obvious dead-weight and start promoting Gabbard. The women’s vote as you know is critical and there exist lots of squishy women voters, repubs included, who would fall for the Gabbard facade.
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I suspect she is only VP material to get the female vote.
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IMHO, the Dem old guard leadership has made one slight change, in terms of timing, for their traditional plan.
Usually they wait till AFTER the primary, when the chosen one has beaten off the more leftist challenger, to make the PIVOT to the center.
This time, I THINK they are making it early. Hence all the hitting on Harris, and running cover for Joe.
Firstly, this is just gonna p.o. the young turks. Secondly, they are gonna push old joe out there, and he’s gonna say;
“You didn’t REALLY believe I was for GND, Infanticide, Medicare for All, etc.
DID YOU? C’mon man, I’m Joe Biden!
You know me, I’m not a screaming Socialist!”
And they are hoping ‘moderate’ Democrats, who have been wanting to hear Someone, ANYONE say this, as much as we all wanted to hear Someone, ANYONE say what Graham said at Kavanaugh.
If you inspire a STRONG, emotional responce, like GRATITUDE, you mute the logical part of the brain, that does critical thinking.
That would say, “Hold it, 3-6 months ago, you supported ALL these wacky positions!
You were VP for 8 years under Obama.
We DO know you, Joe. And for 40+ years we have known when you were lieing, cause your lips were moving!
I don’t THINK they can sell it, this time.
Once too often to the well, cause Abe was right.
And the young turks are going to shred them for it.
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Ah, she’s waaay too young! She’s 38. She is only running to raise her name profile within the Dem party and perhaps be a real contender down the road.
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I do not understand the love Tucker Carlson has for her. It is truly mystifying.
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I think it has a lot to do with her being of very few Politicians, who called out the giant ruse in Syria. He was one of the only ones in MSM, that called it out too.
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He thinks she’s cute! That’s all! Shows you that people like Tucker would throw away all reason and principles for a pretty face!
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If you think with your pecker.
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Bite me, Nikki Haley….
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I was shocked, and my blood ran cold when Haley was nominated as am of the u.n.!!!!!!
TWO Thumbs up, sundance.
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SD that is the statement of the week. Well said.
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I saw President Trump Nikki in her place once.
She was knocked off her pedestal just a bit.
Ha Ha 😜
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^^^^ THIS was CLASSIC!
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IMHO, Excellent warning-shot too.
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She thinks she’s going to be president after Trump? Ha! We’ll be looking for a true American, not some liberal stalking horse tool of the GOP Establishment ! We see you Nikki ! Not a pretty sight !
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At least this’ll cool the Nikki love that was epidemic here on the Treehouse for a bit… that woman is dangerous and nasty.
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I never had any love for dangerous and nasty Nikki Dikki. Look up Veronica Brown. She is the child that Nikki gave away to genetic strangers when her biological, real father tried desperately to keep her. Yes, Nikki Dikki is evil.
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How about LTG Flynn 😉
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Unfortunately, he’s not cleared his name yet.
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A Flynn nomination would result in mass casualties and it would be glorious. As to clearing his name, that would not be difficult.
But I don’t believe he has enough heart left to do the job.
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Would Mike Pompeo need confirmation if he slid over to DNS?
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Whoa.
Let’s remember we are talking about a position that was being talked about for elimination.
Moving an effective Secretary of State to manage paper clips and pencils is not a good use of his capabilities.
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Yes, I know–so wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were a temporary move, just long enough to tell folks, you either release the doc NOW or you’re fired.
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There are other hammers in the tool chest.
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Names?
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The President said Monday.
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The State Department is highly overrated.
DiploMad:
W. Lewis Amselem, long time US Foreign Service Officer; now retired; served all over the world and under all sorts of conditions. Convinced the State Department needs to be drastically slashed and reformed so that it will no longer pose a threat to the national interests of the United States.
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No doubt it is a deep state sen and has often worked against our interests, but the Trump/Pompeo duo is there now and my sense is don’t mess with it.
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Yes. Slash it down to one position – the secretary.
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Lew Amselem (The “Diplomad”), is one VERY smart and experienced individual and he knows State inside and out. I have visited his blog regularly and think his views on things are quite compatible with most CTH readers. He claims that State is run by a cabal of anti-American, Europhile permanent bureaucrats who are deeply opposed to America’s founding principles and who find Jacksonian “deplorables” absolutely appalling. From my rather acrimonious dealings with U.S. Embassy personnel overseas, I’d say he’s dead on.
In my experience reading his postings, he has pointed out numerous accurate occasions where State has acted in direct opposition to U.S. national interests and coddled American enemies. Of particular note is his belief that Mexico sees the United States as an enemy country and invariably uses its foreign policy to injure or thwart American aims. He thinks we should shut down every Mexican consulate in the U.S. and put them on notice that that street runs both ways.
Again, this is one knowledgeable, sound man who is an excellent source for accurate information about dealings in the Department of State. His blog is well worth visiting.
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Lew Amselem’s staple reading for me too.
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Has he cleaned out the State Dept. already? What about that former place? I honestly don’t know, but I’m doubting it’d prove true.
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I like how he teases the press with the three names on the piece of paper in his jacket…wonder who they may be…
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Last name Horowitz..first names Moe, Curly and Shemp. Larry Fineberg a last option.
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Mike Rodgers perhaps, Devin Nunes perhaps,
One name that’s not there Marc Warner
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According to the statute, Nunes is no more “qualified” for the position than Ratcliffe.
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I apparently have missed something please explai
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Apparently I missed something. Please explain “according to statute”
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“You interviewed the wrong farmer.”
Gotta love Our President!
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Truth is many small time farmers won’t see a dime of those subsidies. Sad but true. Many mom and pop farms will finally have to sell even after surviving Obama. I wish the president would do more for them.
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God he’s wonderfully smart. Sees right through their phony innuendo. He should have pressed that barking seal for the farmers name and state. I guarantee the response would be “but that’s not important sir”.
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NO president has ever given the WH media more time to directly ask him questions than Trump. Obama was a hermit in comparison. (But to be fair to Barry, hauling his teleprompter down the driveway woulda been awkward)
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Plus Obama had that hearing problem. He could never hear the press over the copter/s
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Their questions woulda been the “How was your lunch, sir?” kind anyways.
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“What’s your favorite color?”
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Sample question the Big Zero would have gotten, had he done “copter pressers:
.”Is it hard living up to the heartfelt love the American people have for you?”
That would come from NY mag, a rag I saw a couple of lines from when I was searching DDgo….they were doing the usual leftist trick of stating their personal opinion as if it were fact or at least an opinion everyone else shares. The line from their story read ….”the vast majority of Americans have decided that Donald Trump is a liar and does not represent their values.”
It was prob written by the 25-year-old college girl “political reporter” Hannity interviewed on his show one time. It was during the campaign, and her one political comment was “Donald Trump has white supremacists at his rallies.” Move over, high school gossip column writers — I think you have some competition in this girl. And at the time, she was their “Washington correspondent.” God help us.
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You are so funny. Gave me a great laugh in a sea of foam.
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These people are not “Journalists”.
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Real journalists are the rainbow farting unicorns of the work world.
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They are “interpretative journalists” according to Joe Dan in the newest episode of Intellectual Froglegs:
https://intellectualfroglegs.com/
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Of course not. The MSM personnel haven’t been practicing “journalism” for decades.
They are Narrative Caretakers. They are given a Narrative (just like a pet) and told by their owners and editors to feed it, take care of it, keep it alive and healthy and don’t let it die.
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It’s a Big Club, smelly Deplorables, and you aint in it. And neither is your president.
– Your mastes in the Deep State
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McConnell and Burr be chilly In fact they be cold blooded.
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One of the three names is marianne Williamson. Her crystal power against dark forces will cure all that ails the intelligence community.
Ok just kidding.
Any ex fbi or CIA directors out there that aren’t swampy? VSGPDJT did. well with Barr.
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I am concerned about the secret service person in the red tie. He was watching and listening to what the president is saying instead of watching the crowd. Obviously that puts the president at some risk. A big no no!
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I noticed also this man. But in contradistinction, I felt he was on highest alert.
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He was packing the most firepower.
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Just glad to read that PDT has his own security that have been with him for decades. Not in the mood to trust anyone in the DC bureaucracy with our president’s life. Horrible to feel that way…
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65 years old here: never have I seen a USA President speak so personally. Btw, President Trump has 8 years on me and is vastly more knowledgable than I. Thank you, CTH for this forum.
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It sounds like POTUS pretty much wanted Ratcliff to withdraw….that’s too bad.
I am starting to think Trump is naive about the swamp. His positive attitude has pluses and minuses…unlike Marianne Williamson who claims to be spiritual but sees evil everywhere, POTUS, who is a billionaire businessman sees the positive in everyone. He keeps thinking if he says he likes someone and appoints them to a position they will support him. This Sue Gordon is never going to be on his side, yet he likes her very much.
In that interview on c-span, POTUS said how he thought after he was elected the media and the pols would unite around him. This is what I thought had happened; he did not realize the strength and evil of the swamp and he still doesn’t. It’s hard to criticize someone so positive, but it is painful to watch it.
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I think you may have put your finger on what could be Trump’s Achilles heel.
The way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
And there is no one good in The Swamp
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I noted this early on too. He came in believing if he did a good job, he would earn their respect. Although it should work that way, it’s NOT how these morally bankrupt people operate.
It was never more apparent than during the Presser, when he was first meeting with Kim. He even called the Fake-News MSM out, saying he’d just monitored the reporting– bashing & trivializing. This was just after they signed the agreement. He couldn’t hide the disappointment from his face… or maybe it was pure disgust.
He can never win these Scumbags over, nor any of their Political cohorts. They can’t be reasoned with (they have irrational brains). He can’t make deals with them, they have no integrity or honor– their word is worthless. There is NOTHING he can do or say that will ever change it. They want to destroy him, & they will NEVER stop trying to.
Hopefully, he’s come around to not just seeing, but also accepting this as reality. He must DESTROY them first, & take no prisoners.
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Not sure who is advising our great president. Why sign that sad budget deal? I’m not an eeyore, I just have questions sometimes. Love you President Trump, I’ll keep my faith in you and believe now and until your run is over in 4 more years that you have America first. I’ve been donating every month, I believe in you , I trust you and I respect you. God bless President Trump.
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The fact that Susan Gordan kept quiet, and that is “assuming” she wasn’t a participant, and allowed those around her to plot the framing and overthrow of a Constitutionally elected U.S. President makes her qualified only for a very long time in prison.
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What? No traditional firing squad?
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He knows who she is….I wouldn’t worry about that.
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He does say that “a good person, just really a good person” about everyone…I doubt that it’s always sincere;he’s just repeating it for the press. I would think he knows who she is, too.
Sudden thought….so many swamp dwellers are making millions from the Chinese…prob a good portion of their inability to ever see good in him is based in greed…How dare he put financial burdens on their excellent friends in China?.
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President Trump said he has a short list of 3 people that he will be deciding on over the weekend. I will be praying for him to have God’s wisdom for the correct choice. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
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By the way, on the issue of recess appointments, and the complaints about Trump not getting one, there was a good thread by Jeff Carlson on why they are very hard to make stick and therefore inadvisable. Takes control by both houses apparently.
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Wondering are these chopper pressers signalling the end on camera press-room pressers; giving no more face time for the msm dilettantes? Training the press to stand outside of the WH, getting them used to no more cushy WH digs? Fingers crossed.
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It’s difficult to know the truth sometimes but a few months ago various farm state newspapers were expressing (Dem?) concerns from some U.S.farmers about the uneven distribution of tariff monies. ie. Some stated that smaller farmers were being excluded while the massive corporate farms owned by out of state investors were getting too much. Chuck Grassley expressed similar concerns.
But a check of his Twitter site indicates he’s reasonably satisfied at this time. If he wasn’t, he would express it, so it appears to be good news about farmer compensation–I think
@ChuckGrassley
9 hours ago
Family Farmer Relief Act+ Small Biz Reorganization Act & Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act update bankruptcy law 2 help families get back on feet+promote economic prosperity
——————————————
@ChuckGrassley
Aug 1
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China has a responsibility to follow thru on its commitments on fentanyl+ ag purchases +trade talks Tariffs aren’t the only solution Pres Trump should use to pressure China but China isn’t making any friends in Congress w its behavior
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Lololol those pressers are priceless. “I could kill them all in a week if I wanted to.” Lord I don’t know why that struck me as so funny.
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Ezra Cohen Watnik
Watch.
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It will be all but impossible for The Donald to get his selection approved. Joe from WV might help.
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