While former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was busy getting convicted in Alexandria, Virginia, Michael Cohen was similarly indisposed some 240 miles away in New York, where the President’s notorious fixer pleaded guilty to eight counts including campaign finance violations.
Where was Donald Trump during the worst day of his presidency? Well, he was on Air Force One heading to a rally in Charleston, West Virginia.
The raucous event unfolded in front of an almost exclusively white crowd and found Trump leaning on familiar talking points that he believes play well when it comes to whipping the base into an anti-progressive, anti-establishment frenzy.
He kicked things off by criticizing NFL players who he again accused of attacking “our beautiful, beautiful national anthem”.
Trump didn’t mention Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, presumably because he didn’t have time to figure out what he could say that wouldn’t further implicate him a list of crimes that grows longer seemingly by the week, but he did talk about collusion a bit.
“Fake news, and the Russian witch hunt”, Trump said, taunting the media before adding the following:
Where is the collusion? You know they’re still looking for collusion. Where is the collusion? Find us some collusion. We want to find the collusion.
He did concede that “fake news” is better than no news, where no news would entail him shutting down unfriendly media outlets, something a disconcerting percentage of Republican voters are now on board with.
“I’d rather have fake news then have anybody – including liberal socialists, anything – then have anybody stopped and censored,” he said. Of course he doesn’t mean that, but it’s the thought that counts, so thanks, Mr. President. Although really, that’s just him implicitly chiding social media for shutting down folks like Alex Jones.
All of that was just par for the already crazy course, but it would subsequently get immeasurably more bizarre.
On Tuesday, the EPA unveiled plans to permit states to set their own emissions standards for coal-fueled power plants. Obviously, anything that’s “good” for coal will play well in West Virginia, so that was the backdrop for the rally. Well at one point, Trump claimed that a good argument against wind power is that if the United States is ever invaded, the would-be conquerers would find windmills to be easier targets than “indestructible” coal. Here’s the President to explain:
Believe it or not, that wasn’t the most bizarre thing the President said at the event – not even close.
In the course of explaining how lawmakers need to be more patient when it comes to the administration’s trade policies, Trump attempted to invoke a story about his mother cooking Turkey. That went about like you’d think it would go. Have a listen.
The President would go on to talk a bit about auto tariffs and how unfair the current set up is for U.S. manufacturers. In order to drive the point home, he quite literally made up a story about a Chinese man shouting at another Chinese man about Camaros at a stop light in Beijing. Here’s that clip:
Finally, in the coup de covfefe, Trump said this:
No arguments there, sir.
Cray, cray, and a little more cray.
I respect him for that. A man that can commit crimes in public, admit to having committed other crimes in public, provide evidence of in public, and unceasingly confess to being crazy, is deserving of at least that much respect.
But based upon all that we know, he deserves no more than that.
Do you hear me?? !
No more than that!!
Amazing. So, none of those fools at this same old rally, same old chants, same old liar – none of them have a TV or radio and have no clue of the day’s prior events? He did say he loves the uneducated. It is also clear that only the uneducated loves him.
Oh, and didn’t we love the fury of that man and wife who are so pissed that the media made them look crazy when they were cheering while on camera supporting QAnon — trump’s world is full of ’em. https://www.alternet.org/heres-why-trumps-most-rabid-fans-need-madness-qanon-conspiracy-theory
https://www.vox.com/2018/8/8/17657800/qanon-reddit-conspiracy-data
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/08/15/qanon-is-just-the-latest-in-a-long-line-of-right-wing-conspiracy-theories/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.0a17d05ea79a
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAnon
If it were not so tragic for America, this presidential administration would be funnier than SNL!
He’s crazy, all right!!
But he’s also a coward and scared rabbit.
He’s always been. He’ll never wanna to lose those fancy gold chairs in Trump Tower.
So don’t be surprised if it turns out that while he’s out there distracting everyone, that the real back channel that counts is the one with Mueller that Emmett Flood, Serene Raskin and Marty Raskin (the two former federal prosecutors and veteran defense lawyers Trump hired from Coral Gables, FL), and Crazy Rudy are trying to build in their effort to work out a deal that allows Trump and his posse to walk free for his resignation.
Hey Marty! I’ve read about the Raskin’s and wonder why they would ever agree to connect with trump. Their history is fighting the mob/mafia and being successful — they also are known to stay out of the limelight — surely they know he is known for not paying his lawyers and allegedly has lots of mob connections. By the time trump is done with them, their seemingly decent reputation will be ruined, as have many other prior associates of his.
I also read this comment about Jane Raskin: “During the Reagan administration, she resigned in protest from a criminal division post in the Justice Department over the actions of Attorney General Ed Meese. So you’re saying that in the 1980s she had ethical standards, but now she wants Trump as a client?” Interesting.
The real problem with our system of government is our president is shielded from the criminal laws that all the rest of us are required to obey or be arrested. If the president commits a crime he should be held accountable during and after his term in office. His resignation from office should not be currency to walk away unscathed, especially when he commanded the crime or stood shoulder-to-shoulder in commission of a crime.
The image of this coward being walked out the front door of the White House in handcuffs might go a long way to clean up the greed and corruption in our political system and all the participants!
I have no reason to question their ethical standards nor Flood’s, since I have not seen any of them take action on his behalf. I expect they’re undertaking on his behalf is limited to certain well defined subjects and no more than those. In that way, they are able to serve the client, keep control of the representation, and have less interaction with him on matters that the public should not be exposed to. One of those subjects, central to any representation in a criminal case, has either come up or definitely will arrive soon, i.e., discussions, deliberations and then communication with Mueller’s team on an agreement by which Mueller will allow Trump and his family to walk away from his nightmare without criminal liability in exchange for his resigning.
Don’t misunderstand – the word ethics in my prior comment was part of a quote I read and was repeating. I only find it interesting they would even consider representing this reprehensible and vile man, especially to assist him in walking away from criminal charges.
I guess it comes down to what are we willing to accept just to be rid of him and all of his family (an absolute must!) especially if that could be quickly done without further damage or cost to America! His resignation would equal an admission of guilt.
I have little doubt his future business relationships are permanently stained and he will die as an exposed, dishonored and shamed traitor. Even his equally criminal friends will laugh at how ignorant he was but most of them probably already know that!
And then I want the rules revised that govern the office of the President! 😡
Any lawyer – to include either or both Raskins – that could figure out a way to get him to agree to leave WH, even one day earlier than the next inauguration day, has my endless congrats, especially Mueller!
“I’d rather have fake news then have anybody – including liberal socialists, anything – then have anybody stopped and censored,”
It should be “than,” not “then,” in both instances.
Marty, I agree. Is today too soon?
Now, how about we see how many of the GOP’ers we can also get out of there for allowing this crap to go unchecked! Try this . . . let’s start with Raphael Cruz! quote trump . . .YOU’RE FIRED!