American Politics Thread: Orange is the new POTUS (Archive)

[octothorp]

The other question I wanted to hear in the press conference (ideally as a follow-up to Spicer talking about leaks): If this hadn't been leaked, would Flynn still have a job today? If so, wasn't this more about appearances than trust? And if not, then why was the leak a big deal since it was just reporting on something that was going to come out immediately regardless?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by octothorp

That does raise the question: best actor to play Trudeau on SNL? How about Ryan Reynolds... limo pulls up, President Trump is waiting, shirtless Ryan Reynolds gets out.

I could see James Franco playing Trudeau well.

[photon]

Trump spends the entire campaign about emails, and now it seems his team is probably violating the Presidential Records Act by using an app that deletes communications after reading them.

Trump — distracted by political brushfires, often of his own making — has failed to fill such key posts as White House communications director, while sub-Cabinet positions across agencies and scores of ambassadorships around the globe still sit empty.

Upset about damaging leaks of his calls with world leaders and other national security information, Trump has ordered an internal investigation to find the leakers. Staffers, meanwhile, are so fearful of being accused of talking to the media that some have resorted to a secret chat app — Confide — that erases messages as soon as they’re read.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...5fc_story.html

[photon]

Are they tired of winning yet?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by octothorp

That does raise the question: best actor to play Trudeau on SNL?

Ok, I'll do it!

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't think that the CIA can do any kind of investigation unless Flynn is a willing participant unless the Senate gets involved and calls for hearings.

If he did break the law though the FBI could get involved.

[troutman]

‘Unbelievable Turmoil’: Trump’s First Month Leaves Washington Reeling

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/u...=top-news&_r=1

Robert Reich: Trump’s Bungling, Bitchy White House

http://www.newsweek.com/robert-reich...e-house-556638

He’s showing himself to be about the most inept, disorganized, sloppy, incompetent president in recent memory, one whose White House is nearly dysfunctional.

The first 25 days of Trump have been a zoetrope of galloping despair

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...P=share_btn_tw

As Trump stumbles, Hill Republicans find it harder to defend him

https://www.washingtonpost.com/power...=.5bf7275712c3

The Star’s running tally of the bald-faced lies, exaggerations and deceptions the president of the United States of America has said, so far

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2...k-updates.html

[Senator Clay Davis]

So yesterday, Kellyanne said Flynn had Trump's full confidence. Then an hour or so later Spicer said it was under review, and within a few hours Flynn resigned. Today Kellyanne said Flynn resigned on his own. At the presser, Spicer said Trump forced Flynn to resign. I'm starting to think Kellyanne is, like Sarah Palin, going rogue and just saying whatever the hell she wants. She seems extremely well protected by Trump, so why not just go with whatever?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I don't think that the CIA can do any kind of investigation unless Flynn is a willing participant unless the Senate gets involved and calls for hearings.

If he did break the law though the FBI could get involved.

Flynn is a military man and in most cases would be used to taking orders. I'm hoping an investigation does get kicked off and gets things cleaned up.

If there are no hearings, I'm sure we'll continue to hear leak after leak. What we've learned this month is this administration has the information security equivalent of a sieve.

[CaptainCrunch]

You know, I never thought about it but Flynn is still subject to the military justice system.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

You know, I never thought about it but Flynn is still subject to the military justice system.

Sooo...waterboard him?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

You know, I never thought about it but Flynn is still subject to the military justice system.

Wait, you can be executed for treason after court martial in the US can't you?

EDIT: Yes you can. Relevant section of the Military Code of Conduct

(a) (1) Any person subject to this chapter who, with intent or reason to believe that it is to be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, communicates, delivers, or transmits, or attempts to communicate, deliver, or transmit, to any entity described in paragraph (2), either directly or indirectly, any thing described in paragraph (3) shall be punished as a court-martial may direct, except that if the accused is found guilty of an offense that directly concerns (A) nuclear weaponry, military spacecraft or satellites, early warning systems, or other means of defense or retaliation against large scale attack, (B) war plans, (C) communications intelligence or cryptographic information, or (D) any other major weapons system or major element of defense strategy, the accused shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court- martial may direct.
(2) An entity referred to in paragraph (1) is–
(A) a foreign government;
(B) a faction or party or military force within a foreign country, whether recognized or unrecognized by the United States
(C) a representative, officer, agent, employee, subject, or citizen of such government, faction, party, or force.

http://www.ucmj.us/?s=punishment+for+treason

[Drak]

Isn't the US Military currently investigating Flynn for possible payments from Russia?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Wait, you can be executed for treason after court martial in the US can't you?

You can be executed for treason in any court in the US.

But yeah they can basically hang you in the military.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

Sooo...waterboard him?

I don't know why they call it that, it never bores me

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Wait, you can be executed for treason after court martial in the US can't you?

EDIT: Yes you can. Relevant section of the Military Code of Conduct



http://www.ucmj.us/?s=punishment+for+treason

Not a chance in hell they execute him, not a chance.

[FlamesAddiction]

Does anybody believe that this doesn't go all the way up to Trump though? Trump wanted to win and made a deal with the Russians. Flynn was working to execute Trump's side of the bargain.

There is no way Flynn sees a court, especially one that could end in his imprisonment or execution. Trump will either protect him or get rid of him Putin-style if it ever gets to that point. He won't risk having Flynn blow up everything.

[Drak]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Does anybody believe that this doesn't go all the way up to Trump though? Trump wanted to win and made a deal with the Russians. Flynn was working to execute Trump's side of the bargain.

There is no way Flynn sees a court, especially one that could end in his imprisonment or execution. Trump will either protect him or get rid of him Putin-style if it ever gets to that point. He won't risk having Flynn blow up everything.

Of course it does. This stuff was seen from miles away right from the get go.

And almost everyone in his cabinet has connections to Russia.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by wwkayaker

SNL is going to need a crack addict to play Kelly Anne Conway. She looks worn out and aged in just a short time.

Lindsey Lohan?

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Drak

Of course it does. This stuff was seen from miles away right from the get go.

And almost everyone in his cabinet has connections to Russia.

https://www.documentcloud.org/docume...legations.html

I suspect there's more than a few people who are working very hard on turning this from "unsubstantiated" to "substantiated". Way, way, way, too much smoke. Flynn may be the match.