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Thursday, January 4, 2018

Bannon Does Damage?


Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about Michael Wolff's Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, already a bestseller before its release date of January 9, 2018.

See Trump Bannon row: 11 explosive claims from new book (BBC). The eleven explosive claims:
1. Bannon thought Don Jr meeting 'treasonous'

2. Trump 'befuddled' by his victory

3. Trump 'angry' at inauguration

4. Trump loved 'pursuing' friends' wives

5. Trump found White House 'scary'

6. Ivanka hopes to be president

7. Ivanka mocks dad's 'comb-over'

8. White House unsure of priorities

9. Trump's admiration for Murdoch

10. Murdoch calls Trump 'idiot'

11. Flynn knew Russia ties 'a problem'
Read the details about each of the above points HERE in the full article.

Late yesterday: Trump attorney sends Bannon cease and desist letter over 'disparaging' comments (ABC News).

Additional reading: criticism of author Michael Wolff, including In its review of Wolff's book Burn Rate, Brill's Content criticized Wolff for "apparent factual errors" and said that 13 people, including subjects he mentioned, complained that Wolff had "invented or changed quotes" (Wikipedia)

and Michael Wolff’s Trump book: The latest in a career of controversy (Washington Post).

Welcome to the world of tabloid politics!

69 comments:

  1. Optomisto de Massimo said

    Dow Jones Industrial Average

    INDEXDJX: .DJI - Jan 4, 10:05 AM EST

    25,067.58 up 144.90 so far today

    HOOP DEE DOO! And a HAPPY Little Old NEW YEAR to YOU! WOO HOO!

    Nothing succeeds like success.

    Stop eating the BUTTBURGERS served at the ENEMEDIA'S CRAPETERIA and you'll be MUCH happier and MUCH healthier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Optomisto di Massimo said

      The Dow's enormous gain was maintained throughout the day, and ended above twenty-five-thousand for te first time on yet-another new all-time high.

      Anti-Trump forces are on the wrong side of history. Too many here are playing RIGHT into their smarmy, grimy, grasping claws.

      Only rats desert a sinking ship and the the good ship United States of America is NOT sinking, so anyone who falls prey to the propagandistic cant and rhetoric vomited nigt and day by her her enemies is less intelligent than a rat.

      Disbelieve that at your peril, O Ye of litle faith.

      Delete
    2. Unfortunately, most of the middle class does not have the disposable income to have invested in Wall Street.

      Delete
    3. Optomisiti di Massimo said

      That's because in ost nstances they suffer from a poor sense of priorities and a lack of self-discipline.

      Delete
    4. Optomisti di Massimo saidThe US economy added 2 million jobs in 2017, a year of solid gains. (CNN)

      Unemployment is currently at its lowest in 20 years.

      Two-Million fewer are on food stamps today, and the number continues to decline.

      The DJIA continues to rocket its way into the stratosphere:

      Dow Jones Industrial Average
      INDEXDJX: .DJI - Jan 5, 12:32 PM EST
      25,173.10 up 97.97 (0.39%) so far today.

      "A rising tide does, indeed, lift all boats!"


      Delete
    5. Optomisiti,
      That's because in ost nstances they suffer from a poor sense of priorities and a lack of self-discipline.

      Too broad a brush there.

      Some in the middle class have a tough row to hoe. And they're not taking cruises or dining out or otherwise wasting a Wall Street nest egg. I PERSONALLY know several such people.

      Delete
    6. There is nothing new here. As I've stated many, many times, we do not live in the alternate universe where Donald J. Trump is not mentally retarded. Quite frankly, anyone trying to argue that Donald Trump is not retarded merely makes the fact that he is extremely retarded just all that much more effin' hilarious.

      But, the kicker is, the grand goof of all time, the cosmic kneeslapper to end all kneeslappers, is that as long as the Democrats are going to queue up Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Al Franken Gore Sharpton or Yankovic, Republicans can run a retard all goddamn century.

      We need to be thankful for the patriots within government that are willing to do the right things and get the right things done by faking love notes to Trump from Vladimir Putin with instructions on the right thing to do. Until Trump finds out he's been punked, we're going to have a great decade.

      Delete
    7. great... a blaspheming lover of police states...

      Delete
    8. Make Muricah Great Again... Law and Order reruns on every channel

      Delete
  2. Wolff is going to make a fortune! I've got a copy reserved at the library.

    This is why politicians and their political organizations are so boring and guarded, staging everything and crafting every statement.

    Donald Trump's campaign and presidency has been a ramshackle joyride of amateurs, loudmouths, sketchy business people, idiots, and otherwise-good-people in way over their heads.

    Don Junior meeting with that Russian was amateurishly stupid. The campaign should have learned from the Clinton Crime Syndicate and used multiple layers of buffers, lawyers, cutouts and private dirt digging companies like Fusion GPS.

    The Trump organization could also have learned from Hillary's precision operation to keep the kooks at arms length. She wouldn't let stinking turd David Brock anywhere near her operation, even has he shoveled manure for her.

    Bannon may have helped President Trump herd his inchoate id twitches into a semi-coherent message, but should never have been out in front.

    I do not believe Breitbart is a neo-nazi joint, but Trump's organization should never have allowed any association whatsoever with that on-line nuthouse.

    The next insurgency presidential campaign will go to school on all of this, learn from the litany of stupidity and mistakes, and mount a successful campaign. Unfortunately, that insurgency campaign could come from the left.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wouldn't that be a counter insurgency Silver?

      Delete
    2. SF,
      You were able to put a library reserve on the book? Not so here. The book isn't even on order.

      I absolutely agree with you about the next insurgency presidential campaign.

      I've never liked Bannon. He looks like a drunk who neglects personal hygiene and sleeps in the same clothes day after day.

      Delete
    3. "I've never liked Bannon. He looks like a drunk who neglects personal hygiene and sleeps in the same clothes day after day."

      DITTO!

      Delete
    4. Clothilde von Alpenstock said

      "Things are seldom what they seem."

      "Appearances can be deceiving."

      "Never judge a book by its cover."

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    6. FT,
      President Trump and the slovenly Mr. Bannon COULD very well be putting on a Punch & Judy Show...

      A nice thought, but I don't believe that such is the case.

      Bannon, after all, isn't the author of the book. It is Wolff's pockets that are being filled -- as far as I can tell, anyway.

      Besides, right now, Wolff's book that is sucking all the oxygen out of the room and detracting from the Trump Administration's upcoming agenda (trade deals, DACA, the Wall, etc.) AND continues the infatuation with the 25th Amendment:

      The Twenty-fifth Amendment (Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution deals with succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President as well as responding to Presidential disabilities.

      Also see Washington's growing obsession: The 25th Amendment...Lawmakers concerned about Trump's mental health invited a Yale psychiatry professor to brief them in December.

      Delete
    7. From that last link:

      On Wednesday, Kristol tweeted: “I trust @VP has asked his Counsel to prepare a draft document transferring power in accord with Sec. 4 of 25th Amendment in case it’s suddenly needed, & that he’s discussed this with COS Kelly.”

      The article was published January 3, 2018.

      Delete
    8. That 25th Amendment stuff is serious. There isn't an ethical neurologist on the planet that can't and wouldn't readily find that Donald Trump is doubly cursed with both Alzheimer's and severe mental retardation from decades of drug abuse.

      BUT, as long as the Secret Service can keep Trump away from light sockets and trying to taste the electricity, and the NSA keeps feeding Trump faked orders from Rusdia telling him to do quasi-neoconservative / neoliberal things, we're in good shape.

      Keep the cat in the bag.

      Delete
    9. Speaking of ethics...

      "it is unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion unless he or she has conducted an examination and has been granted proper authorization for such a statement.”

      WaPo

      Neurologists do not make sanity determinations.

      No credible source exists that provides any evidence Donald Trump abused or even used drugs.

      Does it bother you to be wrong so often?

      Delete
    10. See what I mean. Trying to defemd Trump against observations of his obvious retardation makes those observations all the more hilarious.

      I don't see the problem with conceding that Trump is retarded. I mean, after all, he is retarded. Let's not entertain absurdities like "Trump isn't retarded." Real Earth here. Stay with me, Sparky.

      We should be thankful we have people in government who recognize that Trump is thirty cents short of a quarter when it comes to intellect. Say what you will about the ethics of taking advantage of a guy that is dumber than your average sweet potato, but for the most part they've been able to steer the guy towards the benign and beneficial. That Hillary Clinton lost an election to a retard is just icing and the cake. Would you rather Trump be back on Jeffrey Epstein's plane with Bill Clinton tooting coke off the boobs of a prepubescent 11 year old girl? Don't squander opportunities. We've got a practically mindless plug ugly that will do anything for a compliment and as long as he thinks an idea came from someone in Russia, he'll pursue it vigorously. Enjoy the tricks we can do with this drone.

      Delete
    11. You sound like an angry little man with an inferiority complex.

      You are wrong about Psychology ethics, you provided no sources regarding this alleged drug use of President Trump, and neurologists do not make pronouncement on someone's psychological state.

      You have us shaking our heads.

      Delete
    12. No. I think it's aweaome that Trump is President. I used to think it was the next worst thing to Hillary Clinton being President, even without Trump having time to jack off on four year olds with his buddy Bill. Sure, Trump is a despicable cretin. and fiercely loyal to the Russian government, but he's not going to pass an intelligence test without eating it with laxatives first. He's a perfect tool. Thank goodness he's in the right hands.

      Delete
    13. No one says you must like President Trump. I believe he sets a horrible tone for the nation, but your comments on masturbation and laxatives are quite uncalled for!

      Delete
    14. You voted for Trump. It's too late to act like you have standards now.

      Delete
  3. What better way to create the impression of greater "social distance" between two business partners than a "Twitter War". The GOPe are warming up to Trump. Let's see if Trump really means it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...or if this is all about free advertising and building hype for a block-buster best-seller.

      Delete
    2. Bannon and Trump - MASTERS of using the free-press to advertise their products.

      Delete
    3. ...paid for by progressive Trump haters. Bannon's going to earn $millions$. :)

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. FT,
      There is a photo at one of the links in the blog post.

      Delete
    6. Bannon is now "officially" Trump's Gaius Petronius Arbiter.

      Delete
    7. To be flouted is disgraceful, but to dictate terms, sublime
      Pleased am I to choose what course I will,
      Even sages will retort an insult at the proper tune.
      Victor most is he who does not kill."

      Delete
    8. Michael Wolff is a flamer.

      Delete
  4. If Bannon was misquoted and did not say what is said he said, Trump erred in burning him.
    But now it's reported that Wolff taped his interviews.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My gut is turning.

      I always wondered what people saw in Bannon, but thought they knew better.

      Delete
    2. Ed,
      I always wondered what people saw in Bannon, but thought they knew better.

      Same here.

      Delete
  5. Each member of the media is trying to top another member of the media. For example, the UK's Telegraph offers this...

    Inside Donald Trump's White House: the 14 wildest claims in new book Fire and Fury, which includes Trump sits in bed with cheeseburgers. Sheesh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what we get for electing a reality TV personality who's was a money launderer for the Russian mob.

      The image of him in bed with a bag of cheeseburgers and a jumbo coke works for me.

      Delete
    2. Too bad you didn't quit while you were ahead. Your abject failure on the test above showed you in a far more credible, far more flattering light.

      Delete
    3. The weird thing is Donald Trump sits in bed with cheeseburgers and asks them to pee on him.

      Delete
    4. Evidently he thinks fast food is less likely to be poisoned.

      Delete
    5. Well I heard that he hired Progressives to cry on the cheeseburgers.

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BUFFETT: YEARS OF GROWTH LIE AHEAD...

      I hope so! Mr. AOW and I have small IRA's invested in the stock market.

      Delete
    2. "BUFFETT: YEARS OF GROWTH LIE AHEAD..."

      Isn't Buffett a Democrat? Perhaps some of the lesser evolved, of that party, should take heed!

      Delete
  8. 2018 could end up being the Year of President Trump and the Republicans.

    The Trumpistas are returning fire, and the incoming is getting heavier for the anti-Trump Establishment:

    * Wolff "acknowledged in an author's note that he wasn't certain all of its content was true."

    * Bannon is unclean, untouchable roadkill

    * Senate has referred evidence to Justice and is requesting a criminal investigation of Christopher Steel of the golden shower dossier.

    * Fusion GPS poobahs are screaming like babies

    * FBI and Justice are complying with congressional subpoenas

    * Justice is investigating the case of Hillary's clandestine toilet server, and investigating the Clinton "Foundation"

    Apparently, President Trump h as been keeping his powder dry and stocking up on cannonballs. I predict a year of screaming hellfire raining down on his tormentors, and it will be a beautiful thing to watch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SF,
      Wolff "acknowledged in an author's note that he wasn't certain all of its content was true."

      Since 9:30 this morning, I was either working or in the doctor's office, so I missed a lot of the items on your above list. But that author's note? That takes the cake! Somebody tell Joe Scarborough...

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. FT,
      The repulsiveness of Michael Wolff's physical appearance far exceeds that of Steve Bannon, who cleans up rather nicely

      Agreed.

      Delete
  9. This book says Melania was crying and Trump was upset that he won; TRUTH: A friend's best friend was sitting next to Ivanka in the Trump suite watching the election...nobody was crying, Trump was stunned but resolute and pleased. That's first-hand information. Melanie kept Baron in the bedroom because Trump said he didn't want him to hear the horrible stuff being said about him on the channels they were watching. She came out from time to time; Not crying. (this woman in the suite's husband is someone we hear about a lot re Trump's legislation programs)

    If Trump was so upset about winning, and didn't really want it, why's he working to get reelected?

    The TAPES worry me....though they were clearly done secretly because those in the WH who said they were never interviewed would have seen the recorder if Wolf had done it legally. Notes are BS, that could reveal something bad...Let's face it, BAD THINGS get said in ANY WH....anybody can make up notes.
    I believe Trump might have met Wolf and Wolf never said it was an interview for a book, "I never met with him" could mean
    'for a formal meeting'....but, they say Wolf wrote some complimentary pieces on Trump when first elected probably so he COULD get access.

    Bannon; I've been so sad at what he's done to Breitbart for the last few years....and now I'm more sad.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Z,
    I'm so glad that you weighed in! Thank you!

    Bannon; I've been so sad at what he's done to Breitbart for the last few years.

    DITTO! As far as I'm concerned, Breitbart was pretty much ruined after the death of Andrew Breitbart.

    As I said earlier in this thread...I've never liked Steve Bannon. I wonder...Is he a big-time boozer?

    Let's see if any tapes are released. Wolff could be bluffing on that -- or maybe not.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Z,
    Trump was stunned but resolute and pleased.

    That rings true to me.

    As for Barron and all the "gossip" about him -- it's beyond the pale. The right thing to do to protect a child: Melanie kept Baron in the bedroom because Trump said he didn't want him to hear the horrible stuff being said about him on the channels they were watching.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Obviously a paid for hit piece just like the dossier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The question is if it's accurate and the POTUS is going off the rails.

      Delete
    2. Going off his rails???
      Yesterday the Newsie Nutcases were all worried about him starting a nuclear apocalypse and today, that's disappeared and now they're sure that eating cheeseburger in bed (seems to be gossip at best) is a sign of incipient psychosis.

      Who's really off the rails? You didn't seem to worry much when silly Billy was diddling interns in the oval orifice or when sparky Obama was pretending to be Mussolini in the press gallery or sneaking out the back door of the White House to grab a cheeseburger.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete

  13. Trump and Bannon are alike in so many ways, smart, entrepreneurial, unconventional and colossal egos.

    Two such men can work together while fighting the Establishment on a public stage, but settling in at the White House, the two Alpha Dogs are bound to scrap, and the President will always win that one.

    President Trump is always on a hair-trigger, and he trashed Bannon before allowing the dust to settle and determine who really said what.

    I cannot imagine Bannon saying those things in they way they are presented. It looks to me like Wolff is enjoying sowing dissension. He has a reputation for that, often through blatant lies.

    Bannon and President Trump's lasting influence is nothing but positive:

    * Taking care of Americans first
    * Stopping our insane immigration surrender
    * Radical truth-telling: Jerusalem is and always has been the principle city of the Jewish people, for over 3,000 years.

    The economy is booming, unemployment, including African American unemployment, is at a record low. People are working, we are done coddling America's enemies, and the Saudis appear to be reforming. That's a pretty damn good legacy right there.

    ReplyDelete
  14. We would have to hear the tapes, but I don't think Bannon said those things in the way they were presented. Wolff is a know liar and pot stirrer.

    President Trump, as usual, went off half-cocked and blew up before getting a complete read.

    My conclusion? Both the Bannon firing and this can be chalked up to Clash of the Titanic Egos.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Not sure if others have pointed this out but interesting how the left said Bannon was a total liar and evil yet now they cite him as a source to attack Trump.....Not the first time irony has escaped them.

    ReplyDelete

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