BREAKING: Trump to give address on Iran at 11:00 am

That's 11 am ET, btw.

Looks like he won once again. Sigh.

He’s disgusting!

Has to be on TV everyday.

His address will be dominating the news for the next three days. I hate that shit. And he needs to be extra careful. Because what he says every time he opens his fucking mouth gets us into deeper shit. This is all about PR for his re-election videos. I hate that fucker so much.

I predict so much walking back of his last week's threats in this address. "Yes, they scratched out bases, but the scratches weren't big enough to retaliate." Like a bully who isn't prepared to fight when all eyes are on him after he'd been talking smack. And of course his base will be nodding along.

I can’t imagine what utter bullshit this idiot is going to spew out.

"First Lady, she has a son, and she tells me he's very concerned about this."

Can't he get his fat ass out of bed earlier?

r9 Teleprompter needs warming up, his face needs tanning etc...

Sniffffff

I believe they play this song as he enters the stage.

Sorry, but he has won. Iran backed down when threatened with real force.

Iran wouldn’t still be a problem if previous Presidents hadn’t failed so badly.

[quote]Looks like he won once again. Sigh.

You view this as a Trump win? Really?

Iran should be applauded (AND, get a Nobel Peace prize) for its restraint towards this absolute nut and his supporters.

In what way has Trump won, exactly? Iran has attacked two US bases and now Trump has to somehow walk back his awful Twitter threats from last week on national TV. This could not be more humiliating for him if he tried. I can't recall the last time a US president tucked his tail between his legs this way.

Not to mention that the supposedly insane Muslim leadership in Iran behaved in a far more restrained way than did Trump. And that's supposed to be a victory for Trump?

[quote]I can't recall the last time a US president tucked his tail between his legs this way.

Iran attacked two bases without any American deaths as both sides are saying. You know damn well if they wanted dead Americans there would be dead Americans. This was penis waving all done for show. Both sides can save face...for now.

Dumbass to Lie About Iran at 11:00am EST

i think Iran is outmaneuvering him so far. this is far from over.

But trump can NEVER leave well enough alone. Escalation is his thing.

r17 But American deaths weren't the only condition for retaliation set out by Trump last week:

[quote]Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, [bold]or American assets,[/bold] we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT [bold]VERY FAST AND VERY HARD.[/bold] The USA wants no more threats!

So where is that terrible swift response he promised if American assets were hit? I'm sure his supporters will now break out the dictionary and argue over the word "asset" to mean only American citizens. 🙄

Bitch has to walk back those threats he made. That's all there is to it.

Lest anyone forget................

Trump has handled it well.

[quote]i think Iran is outmaneuvering him so far. this is far from over.

Of course they are. The USA must leave Iraq. Guess who owns Iraq now?

Trump can’t even handle his bronzer well.

[quote]Trump has handled it well.

Expelled from Iraq and spanked last night by the Iranian army. Yeah, it's going swimmingly.

Who said anything about leaving Iraq?

Great, so the Price Is Right will be preempted AGAIN.

[quote]The USA must leave Iraq. Guess who owns Iraq now?

The USA isn’t going anywhere in Iraq.

I thought it was decided the US would be leaving Iraq ? Or did I dream that?

Less than an hour to go until the next debasement of the presidency.

The Iraqi Prime Minister and Parliament did, R27 but in non-binding resolution and comment. What happens next will remains to be seen.

R30, the military sent a "draft" letter to the Iraqi PM detailing their withdrawal plans. When it was leaked (by the Iraqis), they first claimed it was a fake, then admitted it was real but insisted it was just a draft.

[quote]The USA isn’t going anywhere in Iraq.

MMPH... we'll see...

The US military mistakenly sent a draft letter to the Iraqi government suggesting it was pulling out its troops

"You view this as a Trump win? Really?"

Yes, this is a categorical win for Trump. And no, I'm not a MAGA cunt. I hate the man. I hate everything he represents. I admit this is a win with utter disgust but the optics are all in his favor.

For the longest time, our elder states people were pretty terrified of pushing Iran too hard on anything given their ability to just go batshit insane and further destabilize the region. It was always assumed that diplomacy was the only way to go. However, Trump killing general soleimani essentially calls this bluff. We killed their Mike Pompeo and all they did was lob a few non-deadly missiles at us. Granted, they are playing a longer game - anticipating our pulling out of Iraq which will in essence enable them to take over that country. But for the short-term, this makes Trump look like a "badass" - someone who gambles on the big prize and wins. The alpha-male fever dream that deplorables masturbate to.

This could all still blow up in his (our) face - but should the de-escalation stick, this man is most assuredly breezing through re-election.

No, this isn't a "categorical win for Trump" and no, he's not "most assuredly breezing through reelection." Those are the silliest claims made on DL today. We do have some of the most inept trolls on the Internet.

Yes, R34, because most Americans love the idea of World War 3 beginning because Trump needs to wave his dick. Women won’t go for this at all. Public support is already trending in the wrong direction for Trump on this.

Trump literally threatened Iran with obliterating their cultural heritage just last week if they hit ANY American assets. He - the AMERICAN PRESIDENT - now has to walk all of that back like a fucking cuck because he doesn't have the balls to walk the talk. I think you need to look up what the phrases "categorical win" and "favourable optics" actually mean. 🤦‍♂️

r35 Fucking concern trolls are the worst.

There are some wild misreadings of the situation happening in this thread.

Iran has *already laid down*, people. They bloody *warned* the Americans prior to the attacks on those bases -- the US knew they were coming. For gawd's sake, keep up, get over your stupid childish little fantasies that Trump will get his comeuppance. You might feel good saying it, but it's not helping anything.

I won't be watching yet another warmongering Neocon terrorist lie us into another war. Disgusting.

[quote]There are some wild misreadings of the situation happening in this thread.

And, like clockwork, the local general sounds off. 🙄

[quote]Trump needs to wave his dick

Pics please.

Wiggle his mushroom would be more accurate.

Meanwhile, the White House has not had an actual press conference for over 300+ days.

You can't wave something that small.

[quote]You can't wave something that small.

Hence my request for pics.

Ah, I was wondering why you were so eager. I was worried, R45.

[quote] Meanwhile, the White House has not had an actual press conference for over 300+ days.

So? All they do is lie, so they're useless.

Yes... this was definitely a "win" for Trump and the Republicans...

Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC: In my view, retaliation for the sake of retaliation is not necessary at this time. What is necessary is to lay out our strategic objectives regarding Iran in a simple and firm fashion.

Keep in mind this is what he tweeted earlier

Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC: It was an act of war by the regime that for the last 40 years has been a cancer in the Mideast.

[quote]Meanwhile, the White House has not had an actual press conference for over 300+ days.

[quote]So? All they do is lie, so they're useless.

Just further proof that Trump and his Administration are purposely trying to keep American citizens ill-informed and in the dark - so much for Trump's claim that his would be the most transparent Presidency ever - and not even the news media feels the need to mention the lack of press conferences. You would think the White House press corps itself would be urging for such conferences but even they seem to be quiet.

[quote]Just further proof that Trump and his Administration are purposely trying to keep American citizens ill-informed and in the dark

I'd say it is more like they don't have a fucking clue about what to do.

Nothing sicker than watching MAGATS try and convince themselves they aren't Neocons and create the same lies that got us into Iraq. And this is what Graham has been trying to have happen for a long time. He's an AIPAC whore. McCain -burning in hell- would've been cheerleading, too..

Most Americans are the stupidest, most ignorant motherfuckers. Truly, the stupidest people who will watch this country be led by warmongers over and over again and pretend the other country started it. No, it did not. This admin has been trying to blame Iran for so much as farting over the last couple of years or have some not paid attention?

The US killed someone who was killing ISIS and yet you're going to believe this lying asshole that the guy "Was about to do something." You mean like Saddam was about to? Sure. An admin that lies more than it breathes would lie even more about this. If you can't see it's a lie, you're either an idiot or a neocon. No other options.

"Obama didn't do anything. I had to do it."

"Iran won't hurt us. They'll pay to have the bases repaired."

"They had their fun. Now it's over."

"The Democrats wouldn't have done anything. Some say that's OK, but I said no, we have to do something. Are we safer? I don't know, but that's what people tell me."

Link with a live stream.

Can't stand his voice, so I'll rely on others to tell me about his ramblings.

Can't deliver a single statement without the teleprompter. Fucking pathetic.

Five minutes late. I can almost hear the last-minute sharpie note-making.

I can’t handle the shape of his mouth. Why waste time watching an ugly fat man lie?

[quote]I won't be watching yet another warmongering Neocon terrorist lie us into another war. Disgusting.

There’s no war. Trump called their bluff and the asshole Iranians backed down. Trump will be re-elected.

He’s not even out of bed yet.

Then someone put a pillow over his face and be done with it, R58

First chapter of Art of The Deal: Make Them Wait

Trumtards "winning"

Do you know the effort required to paint that mug orange and arrange his mother’s wig so it covers all of his baldness? It takes time to look even that bad.

He's still flushing the toilet. Just five more flushes left...

I can understand being a couple minutes late but this is pathetic. It’s at the White House too.

Waiting for Adderall refill.

If any European country which made fun of Trump or acts like they're so above America, joins a coalition, then they need to accept their status as peons and their words, meaningless.

Still not on? Hah his drug dealer is late.

R48, Lindsey Graham is a dumb asshole. He’s always two steps behind Trump who has constantly outmaneuvered him since 2015, when they both were running for the nomination.

I can't listen to his voice without wanting to throw myself out a window. Tell me if anyone shoots him during his little speech.

Imagine being a reporter in that room right now, waiting for the star of The Apprentice to give the address to the American nation. How surreal.

Come on flush the toilet get out and say what you want to say. We all know it won’t be anything relevant nor wise.

Let them eat cake

20 mins late so far...

Let them eat cake

20 mins late so far...

[quote]Tell me if anyone shoots him during his little speech.

I don't want him to be a martyr. I'd prefer a heart attack on camera. Don't care if his cockroach followers create conspiracies in the aftermath.

[quote]Imagine being a reporter in that room right now, waiting for the star of The Apprentice to give the address to the American nation. How surreal.

And start a disastrous war leading to more death and destruction.

I thought the tweet was the official White House means of communication?

Imagine if the black president was half an hour late to his address?

Everyone is saying that I finally did something good in Iran. I don’t know who but there are lots of people saying this and that about America. But you know what, we’ve got a lot of people on the ground, good guys, amazing things! It’s sad that the Democrats and fake news don’t see what good I am doing. We just made our country great again. No thanks from Pelosi. People are saying she should be impeached. Really good people are saying this!

Massive diarrhea caused by one too many Big Macs. Almost done...

OMG will you all just stop it with this is a "Trump win" or an "Iran win" when bombs are flying back and forth between two countries NO ONE wins.

dotard's on "Orange-Colored People Time," 20 minutes late and counting. Putin must be exceptionally long-winded during this morning's phone call.

NBC couldn't take it anymore and went to a correspondent just now.

Is she not bothering others in that room by talking that loud?

Who dis bitch think he is coming on late? Madonna?

Maybe he died getting out of bed!

R84 don’t tease!!!

Total disrespect. You should not expect anything less from the Clown King.

The door opens and the light comes streaming in, what a drama queen.

He’s either on the phone with Putin right now, who’s demanding he back down, or some official is on the phone with Iran right now, trying to negotiate right down to the wire, or his cabinet is squabbling hysterically right now, trying to get him to back down. Whoever it is, he won’t shut up and listen, because he’s already high as a kite on Adderall. If he would calm his ass down, he’d be out there already. There’s nobody involved in this who wants him to drag it out, it looks terrible.

CNN says he was changing his remarks 15 minutes ago.

Wow, the tan looks exceptionally bad today.

Dump seems out of breath. Imminent heart attach???

^^ attack

He's panting like he just ran three miles.

Maybe he's getting his walker polished, so he can pull a Weinstein?

Walking few steps was too tough? Heavy breath. Call KFC for more chicken! His reading skills are as bad as every 2-year-old.

He seems HIGH AS FUCK to me.

He's groggy. They got him out of bed.

I remember bullies in school would dog you til you retaliated in desperation. Then they would tell everyone you did or said something to them, and THAT'S why they stalk, harass and assault you.

That's Trump.

It's as if they picked some random guy off the street, who is unfamiliar with the text, to read one of the most significant messages in the Trump presidency.

Says the U.S. will evaluate military actions against Iran and immediately institute harsh new sanctions.

Obama did it!

How many lies has he told so far?

I don’t see how he can take all this stress with the terrible health he must be in. One of these days he’s just going to keel over.

Linda G said recently something drastic was going to happen around February, and she’s not the only one saying that. She thought it could be regime change.

In short: he's walking back his threats from last week and the US is standing down. Just as people here predicted.

God! Mics are picking up the air flow going into his nasal passages.

Trump isn't smart enough to realize Iran gave him a break without a larger retaliation.

[quote]Obama did it!

Actually, he pretty much blamed every president back to Carter for not being able to accomplish what he has done.

Tolerighted?

President Fartmouth fails again. He doesn't know what the fuck he's doing and won't listen to anyone except people as bent as he is.

He’s trying to tell other countries What to do. His hair is ridiculous

Blah, blah, blah, insults and provocations.

The two military guys standing behind him look very uncomfortable. Trump doesn't even have the reading skills of a 5th grader.

Fucking fool. And the people who voted for him are even worse.

“We don’t need Middle East oil”

"I'm going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Mideast process ... after I've spent the last three years telling the members how useless they are."

Brag and blather

His makeup is freakish. Just a circle of color. I guess that's all they had time for, since he was a half hour late.

His mouth is dry, he's tripping over the teleprompter words.

Guy to right of him shooting side eyes

Trump supporters are garbage shaped to look human. You have no redeeming qualities if you support someone as vile and stupid as Trump.

And if NATO goes along with this sham, then they are useless.

Five minutes of nothingness

That labored breathing is disturbing — unless it means that he’s about to croak.

He lied, bragged, and blathered. Blah, blah, blah.

"No Americans Harmed"

MAGAts: HA!

Iran: Uh, yeah. We didn't try to, idiots.

What was with The Apprentice entrance. How pathetic. It's sad that a dramatic entrance is something that he even thinks about.

Even more sad...no Q&A.

At the end, he went on and on about wishing Iran well. I didn’t watch the whole thing because I can’t stand the sound of his voice. That’s really weird when he just finished attacking them.

Who wrote his speech, Putin?

Rick Wilson:

I don’t mean this in a mean or sarcastic way but he does not sound well.

No, I mean it. All kidding aside. That man is not well.

His attempt at looking Tough is laughable! He’s just a fat quivering orange pudding.

[quote]That labored breathing is disturbing

No, it isn't. Music to my ears.

[quote]— unless it means that he’s about to croak.

EXACTLY!

R98, in other words, he tried to sound ominous but it did not mean anything.

The 30-minute delay was due to his speechwriter trying to finish Trump's speech.

Trump's delivery was horrible.

Does anyone in the world actually believe the lie that ISIS has been 100% defeated? No.

Out of breath becaused he hauled his tub o lard self 50 steps. He’s a buffoon.

Putin is crying laughing right now.

What does it mean?

They must be laughing their asses off in Iran as they watch this.

And in about 190 other countries, as well.

He's going to be kept alive as long as he's useful to the GOP, R101. After that? THEN, he'll be allowed to stroke out or fall down dead w/ cardiac arrest. They will fill him with so many pills to open his blockages and keep his cold, atrophied heart pumping so that his anus-shaped mouth will parrot whatever gets their work done for them.

From Reddit:

[quote]He sounds FAT or NERVOUS

That speech had pence and the neocons all over it. “Regime” is a buzzword for them. This is far from over.

Fuck all this shit.

Fuck it all.

"Wow, the tan looks exceptionally bad today."

It's called 'Marlboro Man #12'. We use it for early mornings (11am or earlier).

Christians Amanpour: Well, this is confusing.

MSNBC needs to stop bringing Matthews on for anything involving foreign policy. He's a genuinely ignorant, old, white guy and his take is typical of a genuinely ignorant, old, white guy

He’s haggard and worn out from the well deserved vitriol he’s receiving from the media. That’s why he looks like shit. Staying up late reading Twitter and Facebook...it wears on him.

Maybe I having been paying enough attention before, but I don't remember his face being that big and padded.

[quote] MSNBC needs to stop bringing Matthews on for anything involving foreign policy.

Matthews is the reason I am watching CNN.

Barbara Starr thinks he understands that wear with Iran would be catastrophic.

He's dissolving into a giant pudding as mentioned above r140.

Nancy’s holding back the Articles and letting him fret...has really taken a toll on his health over the last few weeks.

So stupid and ignorant of not only US law and int'l law. Threatening cultural sites - a fucking war crime.

Just die already, you stupid fat fuck!

Jabba the Trump

Understandably, most of these comments are about his looks since what he said was babble.

He bragged about was $2.4 trillion on the US military. 😂

Forrest Trump

Wasting

"At the end, he went on and on about wishing Iran well"

This proud and gentle people, ruled by brutal tyrants... are MONSTERS! With a lot of potential, they do, they really do.

He doesn't give a shit about American lives. He's worried his precious hotels will be knocked down.

Americans need to accept something whether you like it or not: Regardless of what you think of Iran, between Iran and the US, they are not the ones with the belligerent leadership looking for war.

How the fuck is it Obama’s fault? Trump is such a waste of flesh.

She knows what she's doing, R144. Lady Pelosi knows how to play that smart, long game.

Oh snap! MSNBC shade! Craig M. just told Chris Matthews that he has been covering news longer than some of the attendant panelists have been alive.

r153 nice try, but Trump Hatred overrides the very perception of a lot of people now. He's an odious asshole, he never should have been president, but their hatred of him is on another level altogether and actually has very little to do with Donald Trump.

He's so isolated, angry and tired. Just Pence and Pompeo whispering in his ear. Trying to get him out of office (I think Pence is "Anonymous") so Pence can take the throne and make Pompeo VP.

[quote]How the fuck is it Obama’s fault?

He had the nerve to be born black and with a funny name. Also, smart and popular.

(The real reason Trump hates him)

^You forgot lean and handsome.

Iran has quite effectively made the point that taking out one of their generals has not impacted their military efficiency one iota, as anyone with any nous would have told Trump if he'd listen to them.

As was said upthread, the takeaway from this statement is that after the Iranian missile attack our response was... no response. So 1) the tensions were heightened with our assassination of their general 2) Iran responds by saying they will return to a full bore project to develop atomic weapons, any previous limitations no longer observed, 3) our "restraint" today validates Iranian attacks.

So the killing of Suleimani weakened our position and standing, inflamed Iranian anger, and created the likelihood that Iran will have deliverable nuclear weapons. Good job.

All that buildup for that short nothing speech. Iran is laughing at him now.

Deplorables will be raging that don't get the war they were looking forward to.

Calm down, bitches, it's over.

[quote]So the killing of Suleimani weakened our position and standing,

What's amazing to me are people who literally couldn't pick this guy out of a lineup, suddenly knowingly everything about him and what he was "planning." Stupid, stupid people.

Again, it doesn't matter what you think of Iran, any threat they pose to the US is created by the US. Iranians aren't dumb. They're very measured in their responses. Even that scumbag Netanyahu knows it, which is why Israel itself would never have the guts to take on Iran and needs the US to do it. Israel's own intelligence said the Obama agreement was working.

This was all unnecessary and if you're trying to blame Iran, then go sit down with the children. You're too dumb to have an opinion.

Hi breathing was noticeably forced and weird (I listened to the speech didn't watch it)

R165 doesn’t cuddle after sex.

You wanna cuddle him r168?

FUCK YOU DATALOUNGE

We killed Suleimani because he was planning attacks on American positions.

Iran responds by attacking an American position.

The killing will be forgotten by Americans by next week, when there is the new episode of the Realty TV Show called "Trump is President."

Always blaming the black guy. He's like a low budget Bond foe...Damn that 007!

I heard his makeup was bad, then I went on twitter and saw this. Omg. Did anyone even look at him before he went out? He looks like Hitler on meth.

Seriously, how did they let him go out looking like that? Did he look even worse before they cleaned him up?

I don't really think Trump won this, but killing the top leader of a country was really bad and all Iran did was a fake "retaliation" to save face. No major damage, no real targets, no casualties. It does seem Iran is kinda weak. I don't mind this answer since I obviously don't want any casualties in this conflict or a war with Iran. But it looks like the just fired some missiles at random targets and probably even gave Iraq advance notice to save face.

[quote] R12: Sorry, but he has won. Iran backed down when threatened with real force...Iran wouldn’t still be a problem if previous Presidents hadn’t failed so badly.

Sorry, but you have a cartoonish idea of, probably, everything. Trump has already lost by virtue of tearing up the Iran peace deal “so that his feelings wouldn’t be hurt”. That was his big negotiation. It is unrealistic to think he can every make up for that, if he had 100 years.

In that picture at R173, his hair looks orange too. Did he spray his hair and face together?

Did his hair look that orange on live television?

r166 how is killing 1000 protesters not long ago "measured"? Attacking a US embassy?

I'll wait.

His “hair” looked awful, full on mullet going on at the back. I can see why his supporters love him.

[quote]It does seem Iran is kinda weak.

Yashar Ali:

If people think that this is it...that Iran has chosen to retaliate against the US for killing the second most powerful man in Iran, by lobbing some missiles across the border that didn't result in US casualties then I have a bridge to sell you.

Maybe they deliberately allowed him to go out there with poorly applied tan and hair dye.

“Slurred” and “Adderall” are trending.

Look at him slur the word “tolerated” here. He sounds like a drunk.

Holy shit. Surprised nobody else commented on how he completely stroke-slurred the word "tolerated." What even the fuck? There's something wrong with that man...

Chris Matthews ripped Trump apart! AND NOW.... Andrea Mitchell!

R177, you really want to compare body counts? And Iran denied their involvement. Frankly, there was no actual benefit to them doint it - clearly.

[quote]We killed Suleimani because he was planning attacks on American positions.

According to whom? An admin. that has only lied from day one? Did they hold up a vial, too?

In a lot of gay men there exists this reservoir of intense, pure hatred looking for an outlet. It's interesting to see it applied to the president. I mean, from a sociological perspective.

He reads like an eight year old. If he has Dyslexia he would never admit because he would see it as a weakness.

[quote]It's interesting to see it applied to the president.

You must be just a horrible, horrible person. Truly.

r184 I'll keep waiting.

R180, that’s what I think. They wanted him to go out there looking crazy. Maybe somebody even fucked up his makeup on purpose. There’s no way another person could do his makeup that badly. Either he did it himself, or somebody was trying to do it while he was ranting and moving around, and they just gave up. Maybe the Adderall makes him so restless he won’t hold still long enough for them to finish.

It looks like somebody started spraying and he just walked away in the middle.

Who does his makeup? Ivanka? Himself? No makeup artist would do that.

R188, I just answered you. Explain to me what Iran has has actually done to the US that has actually been verified. I get that people like you desperately want more war because you just never recognize who actually foments the hate and how it starts, but Iran has no compunction to go to war

I’m watching this speech delayed, but what I’m hearing from Trump are outright lies, and distortions that makes the world a more dangerous place for Americans and most other people. Most people have witnessed the events that he is lying about, so they have no excuse for believing such nonsense. The man is the greatest enemy that the American people face today.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Iran let him have this one, he let down his guard and they bombed Mar-a-Lago. I can’t imagine anything that would please the average Iranian more, than to screw over Trump personally.

[quote] Chris Matthews ripped Trump apart! AND NOW.... Andrea Mitchell!

Oh, on that network no one watches?

His tongue is bloated and blue. What is wrong with him?

"Deplorables will be raging that don't get the war they were looking forward to."

No fun gathering carts in the Walmart parking lot for a living.

The U.S. will just send the same Reserves they always send. And they are sick and tired of it.

Oh, this is rich...

Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC: A homerun speech by President @realDonaldTrump about the challenges we face with Iran. It was measured and firm. To the Iranian people: President Trump laid out a pathway forward for peace and prosperity. I hope you take it.

To the world: President Trump correctly identified the 40 year history of Iranian hostility and destabilization of the region. I hope you will help President Trump change the regime’s behavior so we can avoid a war.

To the American people and Congress: What President Trump is seeking from Iran is to end 40 years of tyranny, to stop them from being a state sponsor of terrorism, and to abandon their nuclear weapons program once and for all.

All Americans should support President Trump’s efforts to resolve the threat from Iran peacefully and fully understand the Maximum Pressure campaign must continue with a credible military component.”

BTW, R177, in reality, you're actually not owed a fucking thing because I dealt with people like you before Iraq, too. You think you're "rational," but you're not. You don't actually think in terms of the hate via policies created over generations and people like you being the reason it happens. Your views are fucked up and myopic.

[quote]I wouldn’t be surprised if Iran let him have this one, he let down his guard and they bombed Mar-a-Lago.

I really don't want them to do that. It's an historical landmark. Unfortunately, it's owned by Trump...

Better Mar-a-Lago than the White House.

Trump and his administration don't know wtf they're doing.

News item: Trump calls for NATO involvement in Iran conflict.

News item: NATO announces it is sending troops to critical Iran bases and cultural sites to train Iranian forces and support defense.

I thought Madonna had first dibs on the White House?

[quote]President Trump correctly identified the 40 year history of Iranian hostility and destabilization of the region.

Yes, 40 years. Let's stop there because heaven forbid we get into what happened for the decades prior which had led to those 40 years, you warmongering, Neocunt closet-case.

R186 I'm dyslexic. The dyslexia would explain his mispronunciation of words, but he fucks up on simple words. There is more going on there. It is not like the idiot has to process what he is saying.

r190 your reading comprehension is collapsing under all the excessive Trump hate -- you said "Iran is very measured", I said, "how is killing 1000 of their own citizens 'measured'?", you dodged that, and here we are...

Surely, enthused Deplorable Youth must be storming their local enlistment offices for the chance to sign-on to donald's war. The enrollment effort will be epic!

R113 and R201 he wants NATO to get more involved?

He just left NATO troops in Iraq, including the Canadians, the Belgians, the Germans, the French and their commanders and governments out to dry with no prior warning he was going to assassinate Soleimani.

The message is American lives are valuable - the rest of you NATO types, not so much.

Significant numbers of NATO troops who were training Iraqi military are withdrawing to Kuwait to wait and see what's up since they are not being kept in the loop.

Iran plays the long game.

This isn't over.

Trump does not know anything. He is a fucking moron, as his own staff asserts. He should not be allowed to be involved any of this.

Iran is not done responding. Their real response will come through their proxies, like Hezbollah.

This response is cover so they can maintain plausible deniability when the REAL response comes.

You think this is it then you’re a damn fool.

[quote][R190] your reading comprehension is collapsing under all the excessive Trump hate -- you said "Iran is very measured", I said, "how is killing 1000 of their own citizens 'measured'?", you dodged that, and here we are...

I meant in response to the US. When it comes to their domestic issues, your concern is only as far as using it as a "talking point" rather than genuine concern. Had we killed those 1000, they wouldn't warrant a mention from you.

What is this shit about Iran playing the "long game"? Give me as single shred of evidence that this is true. If it was, they would be the dominant force in the ME, not Saudi, Rushdie would be long dead (fatwa still exists, and others that have never been fulfilled). You all are fucking insane.

Congrats, r210 -- that was the sleaziest rhetorical dodge I've seen today. Iran is a nation run by incompetent fanatics. You all are batshit crazy if you think otherwise and you need to take a long vacation.

R211, Maybe the “long game” means not being distracted by things like Rushdie? You, R211, and too much of a simpleton to be arguing about this, as evidenced by that comment.

omg im just watching the clips. his patchy orange face! its like his makeup team sabotaged him. did he even look in the mirror?

We don't care what he does- as long as he ends queer marriage!!

And again, you just took the admin. word for it that the embassy was Iran's doing. And admin. that has -over the last couple of years- attempted to blame Iran for things that no one was buying.

What exactly would the benefit be to them to do it? To order it? Tell me. I'll wait...

[quote]Congrats, [R210] -- that was the sleaziest rhetorical dodge I've seen today. Iran is a nation run by incompetent fanatics. You all are batshit crazy if you think otherwise and you need to take a long vacation.

The US has the blood of a million Iraqis on its hands for a war based on lies. You a re now here attempting to justify another fucking war based on lies and a faux concern over 1000 protesters. That isn't me defending the Iranian govt, you low life neocon. That is me saying people like you are looking for any excuse to justify a war based in SPECIAL INTEREST.

Iran -regardless of their domestic situation- is not a threat to the US no matter how many lies you push. FUCK YOU, PNAC 2.0

[quote]What is this shit about Iran playing the "long game"? Give me as single shred of evidence that this is true. I

WSJ:

In 2012, assassins kill an Iranian nuclear chemist (likely directed by Israel). Iran promises revenge. The ultimate revenge takes place a month later in Georgia, India and Thailand where Israeli diplomats are targeted with bombs

r312 you're right, I'll just suspend judgement based on actual facts (e.g., Rushdie still being alive, Iran being an isolated shithole run by lunatics) and rely on the deep insights of a bunch of homebody middle aged Western gays on the internal habits of the Iranian regime. The "long game". You ppl don't even look stupid, you just look crazy.

I am guessing most Americans don't know about or even care about this copied from Wikipedia

[quote] The 1953 Iranian coup d'état, known in Iran as the 28 Mordad coup d'état, was the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favour of strengthening the monarchical rule of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi on 19 August 1953, orchestrated by the United States and the United Kingdom.

While most Americans don't even know about this, it is a huge deal to the Iranians and it is the source of much of the hate and distrust of Iranians towards the US. That and the often brutal rule of the Shah for the years that followed while the US propped up his government. This is the reason the Mullahs are in charge today.

Gadzooks, look at that picture. He looks like he stuck his face into a bowl of Cap'n Crunch right before he went in front of the cameras.

Which, let's admit it, is not outside the realm of possibility.

He’s pulled another rabbit out of the hat.

[quote]What is this shit about Iran playing the "long game"? Give me as single shred of evidence that this is true.

Another example from the WSJ:

[quote]While most Americans don't even know about this, it is a huge deal to the Iranians and it is the source of much of the hate and distrust of Iranians towards the US. That and the often brutal rule of the Shah for the years that followed while the US propped up his government. This is the reason the Mullahs are in charge today.

I'm an American who knows this quite well. So, what are you saying we should do with the information?

There are numerous nations on this planet with insane "regimes" -many of which were installed by the US to be puppets or in some way started with US interference (including Iran) which ended up destroying once secular govt- that is no excuse for another war BASED ON LIES. And these are absolutely lies. The only people who would be for war are idiots and neocons who know they're lies and don't care as long as they get their way.

R219, and that's why I said what I did at R203

R223, perhaps not repeat history over and over and over again....for once?

So, in other words, we should flatten them now before they bomb a minor diplomat in a third-world country? Got it -- we agree on something.

[quote]He’s pulled another rabbit out of the hat.

Wait, what? I'm at work, but are you saying this is being spun as a victory for Trump? From where I sit it makes him look AWFUL. He claims he killed this guy justly, and that if there were any retaliation that would not be tolerated. Then, there is retaliation, and it's tolerated. Win?

Oh, ok r224, so if we dabble in any regime-building as we discuss this present geopolitical crisis, we'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

This was the joke of the day!

BBC News (World) @BBCWorld: Donald Trump says Iran must "abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism" The US president adds that it's time for "the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China" to "break away" from the Iran nuclear deal

The USA didn't even give a courtesy call to our allies and Trump feels he can tell them what to do?

Esfandyar Batmanghelidj @yarbatman: 1. Trump just asked France, the UK, and Germany (plus Russia and China) to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. That's not going to happen. But Europe faces a bit of a puzzle about what to do to save the deal and prevent war.

After being tough, now he can be magnanimous. Iran provided advance notice of the missiles to make sure no Americans were killed and to give Trump the opportunity to be the one to prevent escalation. I guess that’s good for both sides.

[quote]You ppl don't even look stupid, you just look crazy.

Then why don't you just go away?

Ayatollah and Vlad: the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

[quote] I'm an American who knows this quite well.

I didn't say no one knows about his, of course many people know of this history between the US and Iran but most do not.

[quote] So, what are you saying we should do with the information?

All too often Americans love to think of themselves as the good guys, just wanting to spread democracy, which certain has not always been the case and the Iranians as the bad bad guys who just want to spread terrorism. Things are just not that black and white.

r231 they were already working together.

I keep thinking of comparisons and contrasts with the Cold War. Certainly the USSR was as evil or more so than Iran. The USSR was committed to the spread of Communism around the world, and to the closest allies of the US in particular. Over time they and we harassed, assassinated, kidnapped, bribed, fought, and stole from each other, repeatedly, but we did no on the margins, while keeping the idea of world-war at a distance. And “patience” turned out to be our best weapon. We won the unwinable war simply by trying to maintain peace long enough for the other side to implode. We could win this fight with Iran the same way, except that Trump doesn’t that that would be any fun for him.

Don't get teeth whitening with the peroxide gel. It destroys your enamel and makes your teeth ULTRA sensitive.

Okay that was obviously a mis-post. I blame DL. ^

And we blame you r236.

r237 = Trump's fake orange tan applicator of the morning

On what planet has he "won" anything other than he has not blown up the world due to his whims. The two major outcome as of now are that Iran has restarted their nuclear programs, formerly successfully suspended due to an international treaty which he walked away from. And we are isolated in the Middle East except maybe for Israel, at least as long as Bibi is in charge. Otherwise all our great allies of decades are no longer with us. If this is winning I'm a 22 year old twink! R211, yes, but so in the US right now- as someone point out above, Trump "telling" sovereign great powers to withdraw from a treaty. Un-fucking-believable.

[quote] Of course, there are major downsides for Russia from a U.S.-Iran conflict in the Middle East. A proxy conflict could stress Russian forces in Syria, especially if Israel escalates its strikes against Iranian-backed groups like Hezbollah, which vowed to revenge Soleimani’s death. Furthermore, any Iranian progress toward nuclear breakout surely would destabilize the region, complicating Russia’s ability to control the situation in Syria. Finally, if Russia cooperates too closely with Iran, it will attract criticism from other Middle Eastern partners.

[quote] Russia has been a vocal critic of the U.S. decision to withdraw from the deal and instead mount a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. In fact, Moscow’s position has placed it on the same side as European powers like France and Germany opposing the U.S.

My brain broke while reading this article R231. According to the article, there is no strategic action that can be taken and that immediate de escalation is also bad.

I feel like somethbeing pulled over on us? 22 bombs and no casualties? Seems strange to me. Is Russia involved??

I’ve had spray tans and none have ever been orange. What 80s product is this douchebag using? Do they even make those crappy products anymore?

For those Neo-Con, Trump converts, in this thread trolling the ignorance of other posters... yes, we know about the horrendous oppression and radicalism of the Iranian leaders. Yes, we know about the insane North Korean dictator, who puts millions of his people in concentration camps and has nuclear arms ready to hit Seattle and LA.

One, we must kill, limit, attack... One we are in love with.

It all makes sense.

R241 I don’t believe that crap either. Dump doesn’t want to put out the fire he started.

@RadioFreeTom had a good breakdown of what actually happened:

Speaking not as an Iran expert - I'm not - but as a guy who teaches about deterrence, a few initial impressions about how Iran's response was kind of smart. It leaves the U.S. ahead (we got Soleimani and so far haven't paid much), but Iran was both careful *and* escalatory. /1

The key to this kind of escalation is to show your opponent you'll act, communicate your threat clearly, show that you have options, indicate that you have more cards to play, but leave the other guy a way out. Check, check, and check. /2

Trump made the opening bid, and it was big. Iran is not up for an immediate conflict, which it would lose, if we define lose by "take a lot of damage." (No one is going to march into Tehran. Sorry, MAGA Nation.) But jumping to ballistic launches from Iran to Iraq was big, too. /3

Trump changed the rules, so Iran changed its rules as well. The U.S. killed an Iranian bad guy - a very bad guy - and so Iran made it personal, showing they'll reach out, hit us directly, and *take responsibility for it*. But not doing a lot of damage wisely left a door open. /4

This was a good break for Trump. Like a poker player with a big stake who was trying to get the other guy not only to fold, but to leave the table, Iran called rather than raised. All to the good. We take a smaller pot. But the other guy is still in the game and formidably so. /5

I raise all of this as a reminder: The Iranians are good at this. Do not underestimate them. I think Trump did just that when he told his advisers he could scrag Soleimani and there wouldn't be a response. There was. Next time, we could end up in a place we don't want to be. /6x

It's this, R242: Bronx Colors Boosting Hydrating Concealer in Orange. It's not even bronzer or foundation, but something that goes on under makeup to correct skin tone.

R231 The author condemns the attack on Soulemani because it helps Russia by " advancing global perceptions of the United States as volatile and beligerant" but then says that we would harm relationships with our allies if we deescalate which would also help Russia. These people are just hedging their bets no matter what the outcome and care more about the political ramifications to Donald Trump's presidency than they do the cost of human life. Disgusting.

R219 - Please do not presume our ignorance, based solely on your own. Most Americans of a certain age grew up seeing and reading media coverage of the regular appearances in D.C. of the Shah (and his wife) and Ethiopia's Haille Selasse. Back then the entire family gathered to watch the evening news and discuss the day's events afterwards. We didn't have the distractions of today and were curious and better-informed.

Never underestimate another person's intellect until proven otherwise. This what the media do when they claim we are too busy with "kitchen table" issues and have lost interest in the campaign, the impeachment, etc. It is as though they are indulging in self-fulfilling prophecy, but to what end? (Rhetorical question; no need to reply.)

"On what planet has he "won" anything other than he has not blown up the world due to his whims. "

He has won the optics for his base and the people who may have been on the fence about voting for him until now (a minority to be sure - but crucial to his re-election). He can spin this as a triumph in ridding the world of an admittedly awful man, with no American casualties. So - as he said - we are all "safer" now. That's how it's going to be spun. Shit I imagine the press will be all over this, saying that he has accomplished what no other President has. Even Maureen O'Dowd will shit out yet another cynically contrary piece extolling Trump, if only as a pretext to vent her hate for the Clintons for the millionth time.

Remember, a win for Trump is anything that helps get him back into office. Even if it fucks our country in the long run. So by that measure, it's a win.

That's like congratulating the arsonist for putting out the fire they started R249. It was Trump that put us in this precarious position to begin with and that hasn't gone unnoticed.

[quote]He has won the optics for his base and the people who may have been on the fence about voting for him until now (a minority to be sure - but crucial to his re-election).

I stopped reading right there and I call bull shit. Now, I have no scientific data to back it up, but I'm sensing that Trump's base is becoming only the Republicans that sit in Washington and those who are part of the infrastructure of the Republican party. It has been my feeling that the lay person Republican is no longer so sure of Trump. However, the lay Republicans (who are still supporting him) are still doing so because of their own embarrassment of actually supporting him in the first place. I no longer talk politics in the office now because these people cannot discuss politics in a civil. But if we do, (and from my sense), they are seemingly pleading for others to believe the FOX and Republican talking points. Or, trying to convince themselves of those talking points.

R250 You must have missed the address. Trump blamed the Iran Nuclear deal and Obama. I would say it's gone unnoticed.

Something very fishy going on here. The world gets stranger and stranger all the time. What next? Trump re elected.

Trump's lies don't count R252. If you have been listening to the news you would know the sentiment is Trump cause his own problem.

That can happen R253. But, I'm just not feeling that right at this moment. I do think that Trump is done.

Just a reminder that Trump is a decades-long prescription pill addict, who can no longer control his bowels and has to wear diapers because he fouls himself.

"but I'm sensing that Trump's base is becoming only the Republicans that sit in Washington and those who are part of the infrastructure of the Republican party."

Then I would say your senses need to be fine tuned. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a dick. But his approval rating, while low, is locked. And those people will ALL show up and vote in 2020 (as opposed to our side, where it's chic to be blase and not vote if the candidate fails one of a myriad of purity tests) . Couple that with voter suppression and other voting chicanery, the likes of which Republicans have turned into their very own witchcraft for survival, and he is more than likely poised to win.

Also, not many people are going to look at Trump as the arsonist who started the fire then put it out. They see Soleimani/Iran as the arsonist -

Lately, I've been listening to the Vice podcast Uncomitted - which is all about the Iowa Caucuses. To get an idea of just how rigid and unyielding Trump's base is, you should take a listen. One episode focused on Howard County - the one county that had gone for Obama twice then voted for Trump in a landslide.

Many of those residents turned to Trump based on doctored videos and fake content they received on Facebook. Even when presented with rock-solid evidence that this material was fake, they still said they were voting for Trump. Nothing would convince them otherwise.

Again, these are people who had voted for Obama.

I don't know what the fuck is going on right now - but it's total Twilight Zone shit. So I'm not holding my breath for any Trump comeuppance.

Front Page of Breitbart

World War 3 - Already Over?

MSNBC Spreads Iranian Propaganda

[quote]All too often Americans love to think of themselves as the good guys, just wanting to spread democracy, which certain has not always been the case and the Iranians as the bad bad guys who just want to spread terrorism.

Well, maybe in some quarters, where people aren't that well educated, and reflexively patriotic, that might be the case -- people thinking we do nothing but traipse across the globe distributing puppies, sumbeams and libertah. But I think the tendency amongst people who know anything about world events is actually the OPPOSITE. People tend to portray the US more darkly than it really deserves.

The British in the late 19th century didn't have even a quarter of the strength the US had after WWII. That's because, other than their industry and navy, the british actually weren't that powerful vis a vis the other European powers. As Bismarck once noted, the Prussian police force could arrest the British army. All they had was their navy, allowing them then-unparalleled ability to travel the world and assert their influence far afield. And look what they did! They gobbled up every fucking inch they could! And even tried to gobble up some places they couldn't.

The Russians, after WWII? What would the world be like now if it were the Soviets who had nuclear weapons first, and not the Americans? Just think of it.

Lots of evil talk about areas like Iran, Latin America, Vietnam, and Korea, but none of those places are black and white either. Just look at the North Korean regime and the communist Vietnamese to see what the alternative was.

Many of the Europeans who bash the US also rely almost completely on that same country for global security, and even if something happens in their local area, they immediately turn to the US to take action. (This happened recently in Libya, for instance.) And in their own pasts they have much worse behavior when they had more of a role in international power politics.

My fellow American liberals frequently shit all over the country, but that has a lot to do with the reflexive, unthinking patriotism many people demonstrate ("I'm not like that") and, frankly radical chic.

When the US eventually fades, whomever takes over as the world's dominant power (and it's not assured that will be China), it's entirely likely that people will look back on 1945 - whenever and see that as a golden age of peace and prosperity.

[quote]Then I would say your senses need to be fine tuned. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like a dick. But his approval rating, while low, is locked.

No offense taken but hear me out on my craziness... I think the polls and whatever are wrong. There is so much money pouring in to keep Trump propped up on some type of level that I wouldn't be surprised if certain entities weren't being paid to create and disseminate deceiving information. It is just a sense of mine that the Trump supporter cannot be read as just one type of person. You have the racist faction-which is probably happy with him. Then you have the religious faction and most of them (except the hardcore evangelical) are not so sure about him anymore. Then finally you have the moderate Republican who I think they're pretty much done with him. Bottom line, I don't sense that his support is as rock solid as we're being led to believe. BUT, all of the above could just be wishful thinking on my part.

This helps Trump with those moderates who voted for him last time but were tiring of his nonsense. This makes him look like a strong leader who is able to take on dictators around the world and make them back off. Some of those people who held their nose and voted for him because they didn't like Hillary may still give him another chance.

Of course, it depends what else he does over the next 10 months. And it depends on who the Democratic candidate is. And it depends on how many Bros decide to write Bernie in or vote third party.

I hate his guts but this move was well played. He gets to be at he hero without starting a war. I think most of us were expecting a war. That’s not to say Iran isn’t waiting to strike back one day. Today was good PR for him as much as I hate to admit it.

[quote]This helps Trump with those moderates who voted for him last time but were tiring of his nonsense. This makes him look like a strong leader who is able to take on dictators around the world and make them back off.

I so disagree with you.

His base won't see him as the arsonist that put out the fire, but everyone else does R257.

Please, die from a stroke now.

Cheeto's sniffly, slurry best bits

Ya see R257, this is the type of drivel that is coming from the Trump and Republican quarters now;

FOX headline:

"Liz Cheney calls Nancy Pelosi an 'embarrassment' after speaker spotted at party following missile fire on US troops in Iraq"

I mean, really?

Trump and the Republicans are in trouble. And, they're in trouble with their base too.

Meanwhile he was tweeting about blowing up Iranian cultural sites from a golf course, but Nancy is the embarrassment.

Trump was wrong to tear up the Iran Nuclear Deal but at the same time, the deal should have been revised. That was the majority opinion of the historians and military experts at the time.

I am so proud of our president. Obama should never have given Iran that money.

Flit, r270....

It was their money R270.

r270 knows that, r272.

You are assuming R273.

And, here comes the truth:

Paul Kane @pkcapitol

“I walked into the briefing undecided. I walked out decided,” @SenMikeLee says announcing support for Dem war powers resolution. @RandPaul agrees. Lee’s words describing briefing: “.. un-American, unconstitutional ... wrong ... insulting ... completely unacceptable.”

[quote]Trump has run out of options and is asking US allies for help with Iran, but they've already abandoned him

They've told him to; "To kiss my ass."

And, of course... Iran knows this.

They're people here who REALLY think that Trump won this?

LOL

Aaron Rupar @atrupar

Fox News cut away from Republican Sen. Mike Lee as he excoriated the Trump admin’s Soleimani briefing as “probably the worst briefing at least on a military issue I’ve seen.”

As the Orange One was talking today, I wondered what he **really** looks like without all the physical razzle dazzle. I found this photo on the internet. This is what we should be seeing on the screen not the fake tan, elaborate comb over and chalk white eye concealer.

R278 he gets his power from the spray tan.

He now looks uncannily like vintage character actor Charles "Piggy" Coburn.

Of course, Trump still thinks he looks like JAMES "Flint" Coburn.

Sorry, but there is no way that tRump won this except in his own mind. Yes, to his shrinking base of sycophants, this was a great victory. But it is clear to most rational people that he screwed up in ordering the killing. The Pentagon was clearly scrambling to make it look like they didn’t mess up, and everyone got a gift from Iran in the form of a meaningless air strike. We all got pulled back from the edge of the precipice, thank goodness. But this sorry episode displayed how weak, stupid, and incompetent the whole lot of them are in trying to deal with and handle this lunatic and in general.

We will be fortunate to survive the next 10 months.

I think those around him praised him and said he won R281.

Last night's events were simply a dress rehearsal to test Dumpty's response. He sat on his ass and did nothing except lie.

And he's too stupid to realize that something is going to happen on US soil. These are not people who quietly slink away with their tails between their legs.

I'm still trying to figure out if they roll him out of bed and hit him with a giant dose of Stimulants or a shot of Adrenalin before they prop him up on the dias.

[quote]That was the majority opinion of the historians and military experts at the time.

Do me a favor? Don't say shit you can't back up. LINK or STFU

He would actually look more healthy and more like serious person if he was made up like at R278. He would be a lot better looking. He looks like a circus clown now.

In real life, the pictures I’ve seen of him without makeup show him with a very granular look to his face. If you have high cholesterol, you get grainy looking deposits around the eyelids. But Trump must take a lot of medication for that, so presumably it’s not as bad as it should be.

Oh, now more rockets are landing in the green zone. This little speech will soon be forgotten.

I’m still trying to figure out what he was doing that they didn’t have time to do his face properly, but his speech writers were still working on his speech right to the end and were late. Where was he? In a bathtub full of ice, overdosing?

It’s like they just threw his face on and ran out.

[quote]That was the majority opinion of the historians and military experts at the time.

And if your source is AEI or anything along those lines, don't waste your time. Neocon thinktanks that have been pushing for war for decades do not count as a source.

Americans Aren’t Rallying to Trump--A president who writes off half the country can’t expect to garner support from a crisis of his own making.

(But, remember this is written by David Frum)

So that was not exactly the Cuban missile crisis.

In apparent retaliation for the killing of Iran’s top terror commander, Iran fired short-range ballistic missiles in the direction of military bases inside Iraq. The missiles inflicted no casualties on U.S. or allied forces.

The truly horrible news seems instead to be an accident: the crash of a Ukrainian Airlines flight to Tehran, which killed all 176 people aboard. The largest group among them consisted of 63 Canadian nationals. The cause of the crash remains uncertain. As of early this morning, the Iranian authorities had recovered the aircraft’s black boxes, but said they did not intend to send them to the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing. If a poorly aimed rocket struck the plane, then Iran has truly escalated the crisis. Otherwise, a night that opened with bellicosity closed in the shared grief of accidental tragedy.

But imagine that Iran had gotten luckier (or unluckier) with its missile aiming. Or that the Iranian regime had chosen—or still chooses—a more lethal response to the killing of Qassem Soleimani. Where would we be then?

The Trump administration and its supporters seem to have hoped for a “rally around the flag” effect from the killing of Soleimani. This did not happen. The fundamental geology of Donald Trump’s presidency remains unchanged: A large majority of Americans do not trust him, do not support him, and will not follow him. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has complained that European allies do not support the Trump administration’s actions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell laments that Democrats in Congress will not support the president either.

The first poll after the killing of Soleimani shows 53 percent of Americans disapproving of Trump’s handling of Iran, a number similar to what other polling registered in September and October. What has changed is that 39 percent “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s policy—a number up 10 points since before the Soleimani killing. Americans do not want war with Iran, and they do not trust Trump to lead such a war if it erupts.

Trump’s governance itself is legally in question right now. The president has been impeached. Unlike the Clinton impeachment of 1998–99, this process commands the approval of a majority of Americans. On average, more than 50 percent believe the Senate should remove Trump from office. That’s not sufficient to force the Senate to respond, especially not a Senate majority that itself was elected with the support of only a minority of Americans. But it’s certainly sufficient to deprive the president of the legitimacy to lead the nation to war.

The United States finds itself in the dangerous situation of having a president in power but without authority.

He is the least trusted president in the history of polling. Two-thirds of Americans regard him as dishonest. Sixty-one percent say he does not respect democracy.

With the departure of Secretary of Defense James Mattis at the end of 2018, there is no figure left in the administration who does command broad respect from the public, Congress, or American allies—who can credibly step forward and say, “This time, the president is not lying.”

Even the White House press secretary has given up. Unlike her two predecessors, who lied to the media’s face, the current holder of the office, Stephanie Grisham, has abandoned press briefings entirely.

The president, any president, is both the leader of his party and a representative of the entire nation. As the nation polarizes, it becomes harder and harder to combine those roles. But unlike his predecessors, Trump has never tried to do the second job. Even as he sought support from Democrats in Congress, the president retweeted one of his most provocative supporters equating Democrats in Congress to Iranian terrorists. Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, ever more brazenly campaigning to replace Vice President Mike Pence on the Republican 2020 ticket, gave an interview on Sean Hannity’s radio show in which she said nobody except Democratic Party leaders and presidential candidates mourned the death of Qassem Soleimani. (Meanwhile, one of the president’s strongest supporters in the Senate, Rand Paul, and one of Trump’s favorite TV hosts, Tucker Carlson, actually spoke out in opposition to the strike.)

Trump supporters are trying to re-create the atmosphere of 2003, to claim the high ground of patriotism and defense of the nation. That can never work for them, because at every turn they and the country confront the weird hold Russia’s Vladimir Putin seems to hold over the U.S. president. Trump defenders angrily denounce the facts of the Trump-Putin connection as a “hoax,” but the country does not believe them. As of mid-summer 2019, only 35 percent of voters accepted the president’s claims of “exoneration.” A majority believe that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump; a plurality believe that Trump colluded with that effort.

A president regarded by so many Americans as Putin’s puppet cannot plausibly wave the flag against domestic opponents.

Trump himself seems to intuit the danger—which is why he always flinches from foreign-policy confrontations at the last minute, first with North Korea and now with Iran. When you know you’re driving a stolen car, you want to avoid collisions.

But Trump’s supporters in Congress and on TV have not kept up with the times as well as their boss. They imagine it’s still 2003—or maybe 1969. But that history has passed by. When Fox talkers call on all Americans to unite behind the president, they have to carve out mental exceptions for close to half the country. Not New York State or New York City: President Trump has said he hates them “even more than I should.” Not the state of California, home to one out of every eight Americans: “a disgrace to our country.” Not the city of Chicago: “embarrassing to us as a nation.” Not the city of Baltimore: “a rat and rodent infested mess.” Not the city of Atlanta: “in horrible shape and falling apart.”

Trump has never aspired to the job of president of all the United States. He does not understand the job. He cannot do the job. And now the job needs to be done.

Earlier in the Trump administration, it was said that the president was fortunate to have never encountered a crisis not of his own making. Over three years, however, he has contrived to make a great many crises: a trade war with China, a betrayal in Kurdistan, a diplomatic debacle on the Korean peninsula, the ongoing thralldom of Trump to Putin, and now the approach to war with Iran. National crises become no less dangerous for being the fault of the U.S. president rather than some foreign aggressor. Happily, the Iran crisis is paused, at least for the moment. None of these national self-harms will be resolved, however, until this sham president leaves office.

[quote] I think those around him praised him and said he won R281.

That’s nice. But so what? Those people are shameless toadies who have not a shred of credibility. Their opinion is rather meaningless. So what is the point of raising that?

Are you dense R292? So he wouldn't escalate the fighting.

Why watch, you will NEVER get the truth.

I’m proud of our president.

^Why? Did he take a shit without flinging it?

Did he grab any pussies or rape anyone?

You're a fool, r295. And if you vote for the Adderall beast in 2020, you will beset with a thousand curses. I see one already took place, you are very stupid.

R298, he's a neocon, so of course he'll vote for that parasite.

[quote] Are you dense R292? So he wouldn't escalate the fighting.

Probably not a charge that you should be throwing around. My point in R281 is that this was not a win for him. The Iranians made a symbolic retaliation, and the Pentagon convinced the Dotard to give that muddled speech this morning and not escalate the conflict. To which the reply at R282 was: “I think those around him praised him and said he won.” Again, so what. That’s nice, and probably accurate, but also beside the point and has nothing to do with the assertion that most people — other than supporters, sycophants, and people around him — do not see this as a win. People telling him that he won — for whatever the reason and regardless of the immediate outcome — is somewhat irrelevant. It doesn’t make the “win” true and it doesn’t change the fact that to most of the rest of the world this simply is not a victory for him. The Iranians have likely played him, and will come back with more retaliation in a form that does not involve a military strike.

The fact that Mike Lee is trending, is all you need to know.

Neocons are lying, blood-thirsty savages and every normal person knows it. As I said in another thread, the only reason Bolton is suddenly ready to testify is he got an erection after this mess and he's going to defend Trump in the Senate.

the whole makeup/tanning fakeness of trump and his appearance is so hopelessly creepy. this photo with some of his ruskie buddies is really extra creepy because his skin color is very red under the fake tanning orange and he ends up looking like he is about to explode.

He also looks like a damned ruskie in that photo. He's in his criminal element.

R12 No. He comes off as a coward. He said if Iran retaliated he would bomb them worse.

They retaliated. He did nothing.

And after the 'briefing' that even Republicans are saying was embarrassing, we know there was no 'imminent' threat to begin with. Trump appears even more reckless and ignorant on 'National Security' policies than he did before.

Only an idiot would think this was a win for him.

Hi DL idiot.

R304, and FOX is still playing to the idiots because they cut off Mike Lee because he was basically calling out the embarrassing briefing, saying in his nine years, he'd never seen anything like it.

I fucking hate CNN and I barely watch MSNBC, but how in the fuck can anyone not see FOX is literally that North Korean newswoman?

Fox news is an entertainment channel, there's no news there as it's pure rhetoric and zero facts.

AND, MORE INFORMATION HAS JUST BEEN RECEIVED (within the last hour) ACCORDING TO RACHEL WHICH IS RELEVANT TO THE IMPEACHMENT!

Does anyone doubt R295 voted W&W for himself?

What information r307?

[quote] ACCORDING TO RACHEL

Love Rachel, but ever since her little stunt with Cheatolini’s tax returns, you’ll have to pardon my healthy dose of skepticism. I’d rather wait until the facts come out before I get too excited.

We’ve had the football pulled away too many times at this point.

r310 you mean that one time out of her thousand shows?

I agree a healthy dose of skepticism, but get real.

They're reading through them now. American Oversight was expecting emails that would involve Guiliani but it doesn't look like this batch of data contains that info.

American Oversight @weareoversight

NEW: The State Department has released additional Ukraine-related records to American Oversight in response to our FOIA lawsuit. Many emails are heavily redacted. We're reviewing the documents now and will be posting updates here and on our website.

Those florid red cheeks usually come from major alcohol consumption.

But of course, he claims that he doesn't drink.

Also comes from too much exposure to the sun without sun screen, and high blood pressure. I think he's good for all three. He proclaims he never drinks. But we have seen pictures of him with a glass in his hand,and partying, and we also know he lies.

I wonder if Iran will draw him out to a McDonald's buffet and drone attack him?

Hey, Tehran, you bunch of pussies! You think Behistun is something special? I'll show you a real cultural accomplishment: Stone Mountain. That's right, Stone Mountain at 33.805344° N, -84.1464° E.

No way could a bunch of heathen pussies like you create a masterpiece like this:

^Mount St. Losers.