Former President Donald J. Trump

[fange]

What a boor of a man.

[Charlie O.]

Certainly he is a boor, but I'm not sure I see exactly what the video poster saw there. As Trump "pushes past" you can see him saying something to the Montenegro PM out of the corner of his mouth; the PM seems to say something back, smile in a friendly if not affectionate manner, and give T's arm a squeeze.

Which of course begs the question: what mischief are those two up to?

[Jimbo]

Just thinking that if there is a world-wide conspiracy between the politicians, bankers and corporations it's got to be set up as delicately and as complicated as a fine Swiss watch.

Enter Donald Trump. (Sproing! )

[martha]

I really, really wish this was all just a movie.

me too.

Greg Gianforte won Montana, even after (allegedly) choking and body slamming a reporter for the Guardian who was just doing his job. It's fucking nuts our world.

I have this strange dreamlike remembrance of there being a time when the USA had some fucking dignity.

[Samoan]

I really, really wish this was all just a movie.

me too.

Greg Gianforte won Montana, even after (allegedly) choking and body slamming a reporter for the Guardian who was just doing his job. It's fucking nuts our world.

I have this strange dreamlike remembrance of there being a time when the USA had some fucking dignity.

Yes.

Quoted for truth and editing.

[Tactful Cactus]

Certainly he is a boor, but I'm not sure I see exactly what the video poster saw there. As Trump "pushes past" you can see him saying something to the Montenegro PM out of the corner of his mouth; the PM seems to say something back, smile in a friendly if not affectionate manner, and give T's arm a squeeze. Which of course begs the question: what mischief are those two up to?

Looks pushy to me. Trumps lips move but no eye contact, no customary arm on the shoulder to be civil - they locks arms a little. He doesn't need to know this person so he might as well not exist. Perfect symbolism. Trumps arrival at NATO is like a mafia boss threatening the local merchants for being late on protection money. Something he can finally understand and speak with confidence about, he was enjoying every minute.

[Snarfyguy]

I really, really wish this was all just a movie.

me too.

Greg Gianforte won Montana, even after (allegedly) choking and body slamming a reporter for the Guardian who was just doing his job. It's fucking nuts our world.

I have this strange dreamlike remembrance of there being a time when the USA had some fucking dignity.

The upside of the Montana thing is that the GOP may soon regret that Gianforte's been elevated to the national stage. He's shortly going to have to appear in court to face the assault charge and it's hard to see, from the evidence available, how he's not going to be convicted, which is going to put republican leaders in a weird position: do they seat him, thereby signalling approval of his conduct or a willingness to look the other way, or do they throw him under the bus and hold another special election in which the banjo guy is the front-runner, signalling that Montanans don't get to choose their own representative?

Whatever happens, I don't see how it's going to make the Republicans look good.

[BARON CORNY DOG]

I really don't see there being any (more) negative consequences for the Republicans out of this Montana fiasco. But who knows?

[Charlie O.]

The upside of the Montana thing is that the GOP may soon regret that Gianforte's been elevated to the national stage.

Yeah, but the downside is that a majority of Montanans actually voted for him - even after his demonstration that he doesn't have the temperament for the job (if he responds that way to a reasonable question, how's he going to respond when things actually get stressful?).

[Snarfyguy]

The upside of the Montana thing is that the GOP may soon regret that Gianforte's been elevated to the national stage.

Yeah, but the downside is that a majority of Montanans actually voted for him - even after his demonstration that he doesn't have the temperament for the job (if he responds that way to a reasonable question, how's he going to respond when things actually get stressful?).

The upside of that downside is that 70% of the balloting was done ahead of time, by mail, before the assault took place and before all three of Montana's leading newspapers pulled their endorsement of Gianforte.

source: cnn, I think, reported this.

[Charlie O.]

Ah! Thanks, that actually cheers me up a leetle bit.

[nathan]

Certainly he is a boor, but I'm not sure I see exactly what the video poster saw there. As Trump "pushes past" you can see him saying something to the Montenegro PM out of the corner of his mouth; the PM seems to say something back, smile in a friendly if not affectionate manner, and give T's arm a squeeze.

Which of course begs the question: what mischief are those two up to?

If I remember right, didn't Vladimir Putin put up a hissy-fit over Montenegro joining NATO last year? I'm sure he didn't let Trump forget.

[martha]

I really, really wish this was all just a movie.

me too.

Greg Gianforte won Montana, even after choking and body slamming a reporter for the Guardian who was just doing his job. It's fucking nuts our world.

I have this strange dreamlike remembrance of there being a time when the USA had some fucking dignity.

The upside of the Montana thing is that the GOP may soon regret that Gianforte's been elevated to the national stage. He's shortly going to have to appear in court to face the assault charge and it's hard to see, from the evidence available, how he's not going to be convicted, which is going to put republican leaders in a weird position: do they seat him, thereby signalling approval of his conduct or a willingness to look the other way, or do they throw him under the bus and hold another special election in which the banjo guy is the front-runner, signalling that Montanans don't get to choose their own representative?

Whatever happens, I don't see how it's going to make the Republicans look good.

Yeah we have judges like Todd Baugh and John McKeon here though so justice may not be served.

Rob by the way, is not known as "the banjo guy" in Montana. That's some deliberate "make fun of the hicks" bullshit the media went with. He does play the banjo, but he's also a huge arts advocate and philanthropist. He's not the kind with millions who tosses spare change in order to seem generous, but the grassroots kind. He's pretty beloved by anyone in the arts for his "lets have a benefit concert and do a fundraiser and raise awareness and fix things" attitude. I have worked with him for the past five years at various performing arts agencies and he's the guy you go to when you want to raise money for something non-profit and need a local headliner with global arts connections to help you. He is a true gentleman.

[martha]

The upside of the Montana thing is that the GOP may soon regret that Gianforte's been elevated to the national stage.

Yeah, but the downside is that a majority of Montanans actually voted for him - even after his demonstration that he doesn't have the temperament for the job (if he responds that way to a reasonable question, how's he going to respond when things actually get stressful?).

The majority of the state does mail in ballots. We are far flung and rural here. Their votes were recorded before the kerfuffle.

[martha]

If 180.000 voting liberals retired here (and DAMN! this state is freaking purdier than a $20 whore) the state would be solidly blue. The cost of housing is good. Missoula and Bozeman are liberal college towns and the flathead valley -- where I live -- is aside from Big Sur -- the most beautiful place I've ever been.

[martha]

[martha]

Less than 200,000 left wing voting people move here (and believe me, there's space) and it's a liberal paradise.

[...]

Is anyone watching Trump right now. I'm watching him on BBC talking (at a US base in Italy?) . The man is completely unhinged. Very, very scary

[Charlie O.]

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson: "I think poverty to a large extent is also a state of mind. You take somebody that has the right mindset, you can take everything from them and put them on the street, and I guarantee in a little while they'll be right back up there."

You guarantee that, Mr. Carson? Great! Let's take everything from you and put you out on the street and see how long it takes for you to get "right back up there." No cheating, now!

[Tactful Cactus]

Its an appalling thing to say but I'm glad he (and Trump) are doubling down on their ignorance. It quickens their exit, hopefully before dumb words become dumb actions.

Do any of the US posters know any devout Trump voters and has their attitude to him changed since November?