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I Agree Mr. President: He Is Manifestly Unfit. GOP — Renounce Trump.

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Whopperline-BHO-Hanna-Trump-Unfit-08-2016This is the time. This is the place.The first — of likely many Republicans in the House, one US Rep. Richard Hanna (R., NY) — has now officially gone on record and said he will vote HRC come November, due to Mr. Trump’s patently obvious lack of fitness for service, in the Wite House.

And perhaps more tellingly, our 44th President has now, from the White House, during an official function with various foreign leaders present, called on all GOP members to renounce Mr. Trump:

…“The notion that he would attack a Gold Star family that made such extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country, the fact that he doesn’t appear to have basic knowledge around critical issues in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, means that he is woefully unprepared to do this job,” Obama said….

“I think I was right and Mitt Romney and John McCain were wrong on certain policy issues, but I never thought that they couldn’t do the job,” Obama explained. “But that’s not the situation here, and that’s not just my opinion. That is the opinion of many prominent Republicans. There has to come a point at which you say enough. And the alternative is that the entire party, the Republican Party effectively endorses and validates the positions that are being articulated by Mr. Trump. And as I said in my speech last week, I don’t think that actually represents the views of a whole lot of Republicans out there….”

The GOP as a party will end — if Mr. Trump still has its support come November 2016.

That is a fact. It will go the way of the Whigs and Torries. Who knows what the new party might call itself — but it will not be the GOP.

A Withering Attack — On Mr. Trump’s Supposed Business Acumen — From The Sage Of Omaha…

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Whopperline-Buffett-For-HRC-2016It would seem that Mr. Trump had no idea what general election campaigning would hold in store for him. He’s been used to the minor leagues, and thus used to fat, soft, high-pitched balls, down the middle of the plate — but no more…

He clearly had no answer to Mr. Bloomberg, last week — and none at all, for Mr. Warren Buffett’s assessment of his candidacy. Here is the latest on it all, from the NYT:

“…Mr. Buffett, known to investors as the Sage of Omaha, said a monkey throwing darts at the stock pages in 1995, when Mr. Trump first offered stock in his Atlantic City hotels, would have come out far ahead of anyone who listened to Mr. Trump’s “siren song” and invested in his company that lost money year over year.

The attack from perhaps the nation’s most revered investor undercut a core argument of Mr. Trump’s presidential candidacy: that his success as a businessman qualified him to run the country despite his lack of political experience.

Mr. Buffett appeared at a rally with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, in his hometown, Omaha. Taking on Mr. Trump, he pledged to personally transport 10 Nebraskans to the polls on Election Day on behalf of Mrs. Clinton and urged others to do the same.

His appearance made him the latest billionaire to come out strongly against Mr. Trump’s candidacy — after speeches by Michael R. Bloomberg at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and by Mark Cuban over the weekend — as Mrs. Clinton enlists their support to question Mr. Trump’s business acumen….”

Welcome to the show, Mr. Trump. You should probably head back down to Single-A ball, buddy.

Senator John McCain: Fiercely Repudiates Mr. Trump — “Not The View Of The GOP.”

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Whopperline-Trump-Nailed-By-McCain-2016Mr. Trump may just have — finally — sunk his own battleship. Fittingly ironic, that he did it all to himself — by echoing his primary season attack, on another war hero. [He should by now know that what won him the primaries — will undo him — in the general. But he is not that self-aware. It is all better for the Democrats — but bad, for our nation.]

He continues to tweet — as late as Monday morning (from last Wednesday’s event) that the family of Capt. Khan has (in some mysterious way) “viciously attacked” him. In Trump’s Alternate Universe, telling someone they are wrong is a vicious attack, I guess. In Mr. Trump’s Universe, there is no debate — not even about his on-the-record positions, for example, banning Muslims from the US.

Now that Mr. Trump has tripled down — on his attacks of the Khan family, Sen. McCain has risen, and as ever, stood tall — to speak forcefully, on the family’s behalf, and as a former POW, in Vietnam. Here is the NYT, on it this morning:

…Mr. McCain, a war hero whose service and capture in Vietnam was also once derided by Mr. Trump, had stayed largely silent over the weekend as Mr. Trump’s feud with the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan brewed, waiting until Monday morning to release a prepared statement.

“In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier’s parents,” he wrote of the parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan. “He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump’s statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers or candidates.” 

Reverence for the military has been at the core of Mr. McCain’s career — he was his party’s nominee in 2008 and serves as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee — and he has a close allegiance to families of those killed in conflict. Mr. McCain is now in a tough re-election battle in his home state of Arizona….

Whopperline-Trump-Insults-War-Heros-Parents-2016“In the end, I am morally bound to speak only to the things that command my allegiance, and to which I have dedicated my life’s work: the Republican Party, and more important, the United States of America. I will not refrain from doing my utmost by those lights simply because it may benefit others with whom I disagree. I claim no moral superiority over Donald Trump. I have a long and well-known public and private record for which I will have to answer at the Final Judgment, and I repose my hope in the promise of mercy and the moderation of age. I challenge the nominee to set the example for what our country can and should represent….”

Well-said. But now it is time for the true conservatives of the GOP to rescind their endorsements of Mr. Trump. And for those who have not yet endorsed him — it is time to declare that the party will not be run by a tyrant in a fancy suit and pompador.

It is my firm opinion that HRC will now win — and win handily — in November (she’s getting a nice post convention bounce, and will never look back) — with or without the GOP leaders doing “the right thing”.

But it is the soul of the GOP that is now at stake. It will no longer exist, in this form, after November, unless its leadship begins to stand more on principle, and less on odious pragmatism. Your nomiee will lose. Will you insist on losing the whole party — with him?

Capt. Humayun Khan’s Mother Now Speaks: Trump Knows Nothing Of Real Sacrifice.

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Whopperline-Trump-Insults-War-Heros-Parents-2016Donald Trump is doubling down on his insults for the real religious teachings of devout, peacful Islam, and the parents of our fallen. And so, Ghazala Khan speaks out, as a mother of the fallen war hero, Capt. Humayan Khan — to rebuke the would-be fascist demagogue. Here it is, from The Washington Post, this morning:

…When Humayun was sent to Iraq, my husband and I worried about his safety. I had already been through one war, in Pakistan in 1965, when I was just a high school student. So I was very scared. You can sacrifice yourself, but you cannot take it that your kids will do this….

The last time I spoke to my son was on Mother’s Day 2004. We had asked him to call us collect whenever he could. I begged him to be safe. I asked him to stay back, and not to go running around trying to become a hero, because I knew he would do something like that.

He said, “Mom, these are my soldiers, these are my people. I have to take care of them.” He was killed by a car bomber outside the gates of his base. He died trying to save his soldiers and innocent civilians….

Humayun is my middle son, and the others are doing so well, but every day I feel the pain of his loss. It has been 12 years, but you know hearts of pain can never heal as long as we live. Just talking about it is hard for me all the time. Every day, whenever I pray, I have to pray for him, and I cry. The place that emptied will always be empty….

Whopperline-Bryan-1910-Trump-2016Walking onto the convention stage, with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself. What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?

Donald Trump said that maybe I wasn’t allowed to say anything. That is not true. My husband asked me if I wanted to speak, but I told him I could not. My religion teaches me that all human beings are equal in God’s eyes. Husband and wife are part of each other; you should love and respect each other so you can take care of the family.

When Donald Trump is talking about Islam, he is ignorant. If he studied the real Islam and Koran, all the ideas he gets from terrorists would change, because terrorism is a different religion.

Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices. He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means….”

Please, I ask all veterans everywhere — consider whether Mr. Trump (who never served, but previously freely and repeatedly disrespected former Vietnam POW Sen. John McCain — and now insults Gold Star parents whose faith differs from his — whatever that might be?!) is worthy of your franchise, in November. I submit that he is not.

This Petulant Man-Child Is Presidential, GOP? Insulting The Mother Of A Dead War Hero?!

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Whopperline-Trump-Insults-War-Heros-Parents-2016The GOP in general — and Mr. Hinderaker, in particular — earlier made a deal with a devil. And that devil is showing its pointy tail, and forked tongue, once again tonight.

This from a man who dodged the draft, using his being born into wealth to avoid serving in Vietnam. Disgusting.

The man has no soul. And I’ll say no more — as has been widely reported — here are his remarks:

…Mr. Trump’s comments, in an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News that will air on Sunday, drew quick and widespread condemnation and amplified calls for Republican leaders to distance themselves from their presidential nominee. With his implication that the soldier’s mother had not spoken because of female subservience expected in some traditional strains of Islam, his comments also inflamed his hostilities with American Muslims.

“Who wrote that? Did Hillary’s script writers write it?” Trump said in an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard,” said Trump.

Trump also said, “If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”

Khizr Khan, the soldier’s father, lashed out at Mr. Trump in an interview on Saturday, saying his wife had not spoken at the convention because it was too painful for her to talk about her son’s death….

If you vote for him — you vote for a renewed brand of national socialism — Nazism, in fact. He is a demagogue, in a nasty but expensive suit.

Not Really In The Habit Of Quoting George F. Will, Here…

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Whopperline-Will-Russia-Thrall-Trump-2016But these are extraordinary times. So, the time has come. He renounced his party affiliation a few weeks before the GOP Convention — due to a deeply reasoned, and principled, stand against its nominee — Donald Trump.

Tonight in the Washington Post, he writes of the thrall in which — it would seem — Mr. Putin holds Mr. Trump.

I concur with Mr. Will here, fully:

“…We shouldn’t overstate Putin’s efforts, which will hardly determine the outcome of the election. Still, we should think of the Trump campaign as the moral equivalent of Henry Wallace’s communist-infiltrated campaign for president in 1948. . . . A foreign power that wishes ill upon the United States has attached itself to a major presidential campaign.”

It is unclear whether any political idea leavens the avarice of Trump and some of his accomplices regarding today’s tormented and dangerous Russia. Speculation about the nature and scale of Trump’s financial entanglements with Putin and his associates is justified by Trump’s refusal to release his personal and business tax information. Obviously he is hiding something, and probably more than merely embarrassing evidence that he has vastly exaggerated his net worth and charitableness.

In Wednesday’s news conference, Trump said, “I have nothing to do with Russia.” Yet Donald Trump Jr. says, “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia....”

A decade ago, had you told me I’d be quoting George Will on the dangerous nature of a GOP candidate for President — I’d have asked whether Mr. Will had been demented, at the time.

But I would never have foreseen the rise — inside the GOP — of someone who more valued approval from the Russian oligarchy, than from his own fellow US citizens.

And, as Mr. Will points out — it could be that he has a strong economic interest (forgiveness of Trump’s debts to Russia?) to  be so supple.

But he may put to rest all this — with a release of even his last seven years of IRS 1040 Forms.

 

 

Mr. Hinderaker, On HRC — “Inadvertent Convention Truths” Department

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Whopperline-Concedes-Trump-2016After about 15 years at our back and ‘fro — I do (lately) respect this much about Mr. Hinderaker — he can be taught. And, he has learned since 2008 and 2012 — that Nate Silver is always right. And so, John is being far more careful about predicting/ proclaiming a GOP win, given what Mr. Silver has shown is embedded in all those often conflicting poll numbers, and what the DNC has been able to synthesize — out of its convention. Here he is this morning:

“…Hillary may yet win the presidency, but if she does, it won’t be because she has inspired anyone on the stump. And if she wins…. It will be because she has convinced most voters that… she is better on the merits than the alternative….”

He understates her abilities significantly, but he is right in his own pale way: the convention has absolutely convinced most voters that she is better on the merits.

MORE Orange May Be In Mr. Trump’s Future…

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Whopperline-Logan-Act-Trump-07-28-2016To All You PL Apologists for Donald Trump’s requests of the foreign powers, on the email leaks:

Let us not quibble henceforth:

No “hacking” need be shown. That is a canard.

Simply “correspondence or conversation” with a foreign power will suffice.

That’s three years in prison — under the Logan Act. 18 USC § 953 (1799):

“…Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both….”

Forget whether he was “joking” — or even if he was (preposterously!) asking to help the DoJ find the emails. He has no right to intervene — this is a matter for the discretion of our sitting President.

Under the Logan Act, since he is NOT a US legislator, he is PROHIBITED
from engaging with, or requesting anything from any Russian official to influence any US controversy, of any kind. Here, that would be those email productions/recoveries/retrieval or release(s). [WikiLeaks is no foreign government, so he is free to discuss it with Assange.]

That said, simply because we level headed Americans are magnanimous, and actually want to see him lose the election on his own, we are not likely to see him charged under the Logan Act.

But make no mistake, he could be wearing orange* (and not just his spray tan, and hair dye!) for at least three years, in a federal facility, while HRC serves as our duly-elected 45th President, if we decided we wanted to pin him down.

Here endeth the lesson.

[* Perhaps ORANGE is his natural hue, afterall.]

 

Mr. Trump (Aguably) Abets Espionage — Mr. Hinderaker? Silent As The Grave…

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Whopperline-Trump-Espionage-KGB-2016UPDATED: 07.28.2016 — Mr. Hinderaker has chosen the lowest possible path –he’s actually come out overnight specifically defending Mr. Trump’s remarks. First he calls them “flippant” — but then goes on to intimate that they exhibit a sort of SNL style media-savvy: simply tweaking the media’s nose. Except that it was in a serious press conference, not on SNL; not at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. No this was a serious event, and he was asked serious questions. He answered as a bully answers — with a sneer.

Even if we accept both of Mr. Hinderaker’s characterizations of the remarks (I don’t — I think Trump meant it all, in earnest), these are no defenses to the arguable attempted crime: abetting espionage.

To use a simple — if imperfect — analogy, go ask TSA if making bomb “jokes” in line at the airport is any sort of defense. Once again John’s “defense” of the indefensible will lead to a broad renunciation of the speaker Trump’s goals. End Update.

It is all within an eyelash-width of treason, and I would say unprecedented — in the 220 plus years of history — of even the most ugly of US Presidential politics, that a GOP nominee would seek a foreign power’s aid, in influencing the outcome of a US Presidential election — by encouraging espionage, by that foreign power’s spy agency.

That nominee today, of course, is Donald Trump. And he encouraged lawless action, abetting espionage, aimed at a former US Secretary of State — but seeking her documents in her capacity as Secretary of State. From Russia. [Let’s not forget that Condi Rice, under Bush 43, confessed to using private email for classified documents, when she was Secretary of State.]

It is hard not to think the man (Trump) has come unhinged. Seeking direct aid and comfort from the KGB?! Really? Against the US — in an election battle?!

And naturally — Mr. Hinderaker — having made his deal with this devil — falls silent.

Disgusting. We all know that if the shoe were on the other foot, he’d be seeking Congressional inquiries, impeachments, and special prosecutors for the crime of high treason.

But that’s just John. He’s myopic like that.