Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Hannibal]

FTR -- I think that Trump's remarks were fucking dumb. IMHO if you are concerned about bias than you need to provide a lot more information than that -- which, by the way, is out there. The judge is a Left Wing Obama appointee who is a member of a San Diego Latino lawyer activist group, and he sat on a committee that gave a scholarship to an illegal immigrant. The firms that he appointed to represent the Plaintiffs in the Trump University case have been huge Democrat donors. You cannot possibly argue with a straight face that Curiel's attitudes on immigration aren't diametrically opposed to Trump's. And, if you have been paying attention to the out of control judicial activism of the past couple of decades, the totalitarian nature of the Left, the arguments for "diversity", and the voting patterns and attitudes of racial minorities, then the reasons for Trump's concerns about getting a fair trial become blitheringly obvious to anybody with a working brain.

But of course, he didn't mention any of these, which is why I say that his remarks were dumb. So I'll gladly disavow those comments, as long as it means that we drop all "diversity" programs from Corporate America and academia. As well as condemn all remarks about the suitability of white people to pass judgement or be in leadership positions over minorities, since those complaints probably number in the millions by now. And nobody has thrown purple-faced angry tempertantrums about them the way that 100% of Democrats and about 50% of Republicans are doing right now with Trump's remarks.

But who am I kidding? The same people saying that Trump is another Hitler today for not wanting a Hispanic judge to oversee his case will be making the case for "diversity" again tomorrow morning and about how it's a good thing that women and minorities bring different attitudes to the table. They will, of course, not see the inherent logical contradictions, and the world will slip further into the Twilight Zone.

[Ghengis Jon]

For sure. I've read that there has even been behind the scenes talks about running Biden or Warren in that event so the Dems don't have to trot out socialist Bernie. I don't think for a minute that an indictment is on the way but obviously due diligence is necessary.

I think Biden would have beaten Hiltron 4000 like she's beating Bernie. Biden, despite the comic relief he can provide, is lightyears better than her. Its too bad family tragedy ended his run before it even started.

The problem that the Dems face is finding a running mate that is 'electric' to the younger voters. Bernie has electrified that voting bloc, but he has too much baggage to walk back (besides the personal stuff like honeymooning in the Soviet Union, etc) for the general electorate. The Dems have to produce someone that Sanders can support and be able to convince his followers to vote for Despicable Her.

Why is Bernie pressing on? Lots of reasons. Planks in the party platform that reflect his distaste for Big Banking and subsidizing education are two that come immediately to mind. A prime time speaking slot where he can praise or bash the VP nominee selection, in order to subtly modify the choice before it's even made. An opportunity to magnanimously direct his delegates to vote for the Hiltron 4000 in order to save the US, nay, the world, from the evil and catastrophic clutches of Donald Trump. And let's not forget old style political horse trading. Not for himself, but others. "I'll be your boy cheerleader if X and Y get these two Cabinet posts..."

I think it's just ego, albeit not on the immense scale of Trump. He wants to be king maker, now that he knows he can never ascend to the throne himself. "Without my support Hiltron, you'll never be elected. Therefore, by simple kind words from me, it is I who can save the universe from the Trumpian Borg. Your choice: acknowledge my power or plunge America into a bottomless abyss."


Where's Doc Hodgeman? Is it too late for him to enter the race?

[Wild Hoss]

or allow them to run for President..

That's just crooked, not nuts.

[hack]

The most simple explanation for everything Trump does is that he doesn't want to be president. He wants to continue trading off his name, and needs to keep it in lights in order to do so. Obviously a year ago he had no expectation of being in the position he's in now. He expected a few months of headlines and a nice little bump that maybe gets him back on TV every week. He does't want to surrender all his privacy and work 16 hours a day. The best outcome for him now is to keep making sure he can prove that he only lost because certain folks in the GOP kneecapped him. So he keeps on saying ridiculous things.

[Wild Hoss]

I liked this article about Judge Curiel: http://www.nationalreview.com/articl...k-trump-attack

Admittedly, it conforms to my opinion of most District Court judges, so perhaps it's confirmation bias on my part, but I have a really hard time thinking Trump is anything other than absolutely wrong.

Throw in the crass identity politics play, and it's a really bad look in my book.

Sounds like an outstanding judge...which is probably Trump's biggest beef with the man, because he's been unable to influence or bully him. Once you've faced down the cartels, some privileged, orange meathead looks like navel lint.

[hack]

Agree, GJ. I think the real story on the left/progressive side is to whom the baton is passed. Bernie has to be thinking about policy because that's what he does, but the movement has to be thinking about who is the next-generation leader that coalesces this into a legitimate post-Clinton force within the party, and how the conversation is going to go. Everywhere around the world people are backing off the Friedman approach. Even the IMF (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/...6/06/ostry.htm). So for those folks it's about how to continue the conversation and prepare for the next round.

[Wild Hoss]

He expected a few months of headlines and a nice little bump that maybe gets him back on TV every week. He does't want to surrender all his privacy and work 16 hours a day.

I think he's willing to ride the lark out now, if that's what it was. If elected, my expectation is that he would only serve one term, and maybe not even finish one. He'll burn out quickly when he's up at 6am taking calls on amendments to farm bills, and gets exposed as a dunce when Putin shoves his "great deals" up his ass.

His pick as VP could be especially critical.

[Ghengis Jon]

-- ... So I'll gladly disavow those comments, as long as it means that we drop all "diversity" programs from Corporate America and academia...

I work for an international joint venture. In my office of 60 people, we have Venezuelans, Brazilians, Mexicans (gasp!), Cubans, Germans, French, Belgians, Indians, and Chinese. And Americans, too. White, black, brown and yellow. It is an absolute priviledge to work in such an environment. Sadly, many of the corporate customers I deal with are such that you must be lily white to enter the ranks of management. Example: one customer headquarters in Alabama has exactly one Korean woman on the management staff. All others are old white males named Cletus, Clem, or Booger. Suffice it to say that the HQ is not located in an area that is 99% white. Yes they provide jobs (lower end) to the masses, but they do their community a great disservice.

Diversity rocks. I'm blessed that my employer feels the same way. Last Monday was 25 years with the company. I would have left long ago if it wasn't a positive experience. Diversity rocks.

[The Oracle]

The most simple explanation for everything Trump does is that he doesn't want to be president. He wants to continue trading off his name, and needs to keep it in lights in order to do so. Obviously a year ago he had no expectation of being in the position he's in now. He expected a few months of headlines and a nice little bump that maybe gets him back on TV every week. He does't want to surrender all his privacy and work 16 hours a day. The best outcome for him now is to keep making sure he can prove that he only lost because certain folks in the GOP kneecapped him. So he keeps on saying ridiculous things.

Well he's in it now. Now that he's the nominee, he's got to grovel to the donors or he's done with anyway. It's not like he has the money for this. Don't know why he'd want to come this far and the bow out looking more like a fool than he already does.

[hack]

It very well could be that it's gone to his head and he's prepared to actually do the work. But hey -- his lawyers know that the Mexican judge proposal is insane. He knows it too. Why'd he say it? I still think the most obvious explanation is to return to the initial motives and presume they haven't changed. He wants to lose, so he says ridiculous shit, and then will GOP sabotage as an excuse.

[Wild Hoss]

It very well could be that it's gone to his head and he's prepared to actually do the work. But hey -- his lawyers know that the Mexican judge proposal is insane. He knows it too. Why'd he say it? I still think the most obvious explanation is to return to the initial motives and presume they haven't changed. He wants to lose, so he says ridiculous shit, and then will GOP sabotage as an excuse.

Occam's Razor.

Its all a carefully-choreographed production that just happens to sound stupid...or he's just a bloviating, trust-fund asshole who's gone his whole hedonistic life bullying people without consequence, and thus cannot help but act like a bloviating, trust-fund asshole?

[hack]

I see good arguments for occam's razor on both sides of it, but I still think the most important thing is to go back to why he did it in the first place, which is exposure. Plus, he said years ago that he might run for president because its easy to fool people with nationalist blowhardiness. And now he's doing exactly that, and has said several times even in the process that it's an act he's putting on.

I do think that it's entirely possible that he might change his mind and want the job now that it's actually potentially available to him, but if that's the case he would have shifted from primary-season entertainer candidate to the more presidential version he promied. He knows that if he actually wants the job all he needs to do is talk about Hillary's many problems. He doesn't need to mention a word about himself.

[Wild Hoss]

JMO, but I think its just as likely that claiming his behavior is an act can be viewed as spin for it being legitimate.

Don't get me wrong...there is plenty of pre-packaged theatre involved in his campaign. We agree on that. There is also some real Donald Trump coming out too, in his unscripted moments, and there is some synergy between the two.

[hack]

Yeah. I'm going with my gut here, but those who think otherwise have good reasons for doing so too, no doubt. And it's very true that having a realistic chance at grabbing the ring makes you acutally want it.

[Hannibal]

There is no grand plan or clever scheme. He wants to be President. There is an inteview with him on Oprah from 1988 where he is saying many of the same things that he is saying now.

If he is going to be worn out by the job then he certainly isn't showing signs of it. He has run the most energetic and visible campaign out of all the candidates so far.