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[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

While the notion of having a resistance inside the administration may comfort some, Kerry said the need for such a group disturbs him: “You’re not supposed to have a resistance in the White House to prevent your president from breaking the law and doing something irrational and dangerous.”

I completely disagree. That was precisely the point of the Nuremberg trials. Each person is accountable and cannot cede their authority with the excuse "I was following orders".

"Many Trump appointees have vowed to do what we can to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump's more misguided impulses until he is out of office."

I expected this to happen. Just because some nitwit is elected to office (which happens all the time) doesn't mean that career people in govt are going to leave their brain at the door.

Are they "treasonous"? Depends on if they are right or wrong. If "many" have vowed then the chances they are wrong are far less. History has taught us that we are often confronted with difficult choices and it often will take decades before we can judge.

Some online commentators are leaning toward Vice President Mike Pence based on just one word in the piece.

The unidentified author singles out the late Arizona Sen. John McCain as “a lodestar for restoring honor to public life and our national dialogue.”

It would be fascinating if it was Pence because he was elected and could not be "fired" by Trump.

My money says John Brennan wrote or had the piece written.

It's dissembling at it's best. Leave a marker that implicates the most unsuspecting source.

I understand Vegas bookies got into it.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

My money says John Brennan wrote or had the piece written.

It's dissembling at it's best. Leave a marker that implicates the most unsuspecting source.

I understand Vegas bookies got into it.

It seems the person who wrote this has political ambitions and doesn't want to be tarnished for being Trump's lackey. If it is Pence it is cowardly since he could have put his name on it without Trump being able to fire him. Also inferring that he is an appointee is deceptive. If it isn't Pence the person selected key words like "lodestar" to be deceptive. Either way this is a weasel of a person.

If people in the Whitehouse do feel this way which is certainly a reasonable conclusion from the op ed, then they are in a very tough predicament. They might not be able to do anything other than fall on their sword.

According to the letter they accepted Trump's appointment because of his conservative rhetoric, but then discovered that he is not true to what they understood. Generally if you felt this strongly you should resign, the only exception is if you truly feel you are protecting the country. But in that case it really is "treason" or Nurembergesque.

I am wondering if this was a coordinated attack with the Woodward books release, and if that is true it would be very likely that Woodward's book was actually engineered by these insiders seeking a credible journalist to tell this story. Politics at its ugliest. But if they are right it demonstrates that our system of govt can respond to powerful leaders who have been compromised in one way or another. If it is true that there are a significant number of insiders who have "vowed" to thwart Trump, and these insiders are powerful enough to "be the adult in the room with Trump" then there is nothing Trump can do. Even if he figures out who they are and fires them it will only cause a much greater rift. If this "weasel" and "deceptive, cowardly person" is in fact telling the truth Trump's administration is doomed.

One thing is for sure, this has been great press for Woodward's book.

[awareness]

Originally Posted by ZNP

It would be fascinating if it was Pence because he was elected and could not be "fired" by Trump.

It was Melania ....

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by awareness

It was Melania ....

Nope:

First Lady Melania Trump also weighed in, releasing a lengthy statement chastising the person behind the blind editorial.

“Freedom of speech is an important pillar of our nation’s founding principles and a free press is important to our democracy,” she said. “The press should be unbiased and responsible. Unidentified sources have become the majority of the voices people hear about in today’s news. People with no names are writing our nation’s history.”

“Words are important,” she continued, “and accusations can lead to severe consequences. If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand by their words and people have the right to be able to defend themselves. The writer of the oped — you are not protecting this country, you are sabotaging it with your cowardly actions.”

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by awareness

It was Melania ....

Barron Trump just now was indicted for high treason.

[awareness]

“Fake America Great Again.”

[zeek]

Donald J. Trump
‏
Verified account

@realDonaldTrump

10h10 hours ago

Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims “unwavering faith in President Trump.” Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!

Like the anonymous Op-Ed writer said: "In public and in private, President Trump shows a preference for autocrats and dictators, such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and displays little genuine appreciation for the ties that bind us to allied, like-minded nations." He loves tyrants and they love him back. They've got his number.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

My money says John Brennan wrote or had the piece written.

It's dissembling at it's best. Leave a marker that implicates the most unsuspecting source.

I understand Vegas bookies got into it.

So the guy who is no longer in the room is trying to comfort the rest of the country that there are adults in the room? Pretty scary, but I do agree that it is something you would expect of the CIA. Also, even if he is outed he has no risk of "treason" or "losing his job". Pretty cowardly if it is him.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

So the guy who is no longer in the room is trying to comfort the rest of the country that there are adults in the room? Pretty scary, but I do agree that it is something you would expect of the CIA. Also, even if he is outed he has no risk of "treason" or "losing his job". Pretty cowardly if it is him.

No comfort here. Writer's goal was two-fold. Sow further discord in the country, and cause the administration to be suspicious of one another. Classic intelligence misinformation tactics.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

No comfort here. Writer's goal was two-fold. Sow further discord in the country, and cause the administration to be suspicious of one another. Classic intelligence misinformation tactics.

Good theory except it is based on the assumption that the writer and NYTimes were intent on undermining the US govt.

If this is not a high level official working in the Whitehouse then the NYTimes is complicit in some very evil behavior that will certainly be the end of the NYTimes. I don't believe that is the case. I speak from my own perspective, my Dad used to be a VP at the NYTimes and both my father and mother were journalists.

I don't believe a guy with Woodward's reputation or the NYTimes reputation would throw it all away for this.

[ZNPaaneah]

Elizabeth Warren Calls For Use Of 25th Amendment To Remove Trump

That is not what she said. What she said is here:

“If senior administration officials think the president of the United States is not able to do his job, then they should invoke the 25th Amendment,” Warren said.

She is not calling for the use of the 25th amendment based on an anonymous op ed. What she is saying is that the op ed purports to be the opinion of a "senior administration official" who is authorized to use the 25th amendment and who clearly thinks the president is not able to do their job, therefore instead of writing anonymous hatchet pieces, do your job. She is basically confirming Trump's view that this person is a gutless coward.

It does support Trump's assertion that the person is committing treason. The US constitution provides the 25th amendment so that those who feel this way do not have to undermine the administration.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

Good theory except it is based on the assumption that the writer and NYTimes were intent on undermining the US govt.

If this is not a high level official working in the Whitehouse then the NYTimes is complicit in some very evil behavior that will certainly be the end of the NYTimes. I don't believe that is the case. I speak from my own perspective, my Dad used to be a VP at the NYTimes and both my father and mother were journalists.

I don't believe a guy with Woodward's reputation or the NYTimes reputation would throw it all away for this.

I'm sure your insider parents were professionals and would be shocked by what is happening at the Times. The credibility they and CNN and WaPo and others once enjoyed is no longer in effect. It means nothing anymore. It's like comparing the Sears of today with their reputation throughout the 20th century. Today these media titans of old don't bother even correcting past errors anymore.

None of these reporters like Woodward or Bernstein risk anything by deceptive writings. Look at Cory Booker's grandstanding in the Kavanaugh hearings, claiming an historic "I am Spartacus" moment, when he knew all along that (1) the documents were already cleared for release, and (2) the documents actually exposed his racist claims against the nominee.

The liberal Press will never expose their own, so what "risk" do any of them really have? Their viewing public only remember or get to see the initial accusations.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

I'm sure your insider parents were professionals and would be shocked by what is happening at the Times. The credibility they and CNN and WaPo and others once enjoyed is no longer in effect. It means nothing anymore. It's like comparing the Sears of today with their reputation throughout the 20th century. Today these media titans of old don't bother even correcting past errors anymore.

None of these reporters like Woodward or Bernstein risk anything by deceptive writings. Look at Cory Booker's grandstanding in the Kavanaugh hearings, claiming an historic "I am Spartacus" moment, when he knew all along that (1) the documents were already cleared for release, and (2) the documents actually exposed his racist claims against the nominee.

The liberal Press will never expose their own, so what "risk" do any of them really have? Their viewing public only remember or get to see the initial accusations.

I am the "viewing public" and the democrats have come across to me as disingenuous. Not just Corey Booker, but I would definitely include him.

This whole question about his email questioning Roe V. Wade comes across as total bull. The email says that you can challenge precedent. Obviously you can challenge precedent, if you couldn't you are elevating the Supreme Court to infallibility. It is so obvious no one asked him that question.

This is a sad indictment of the NYTimes though the comparison to Sears seems fair. Surely there will be some media outlets that rise to the top as having journalistic integrity.

I don't doubt that Woodward is happy to sell books, but my guess is that he was approached by those who wanted this book written and they chose him because of his credibility, and knowing that they were using him he required excellent access to numerous very credible resources.

[zeek]

Mike Pence Condemns Atheists, Homosexuals, And Feminists For Role In Forcing God To Punish America On 9/11

https://politics.theonion.com/mike-p...ist-1828976967 satire