In a shocking development, the National Rifle Association recently threw a bit of sass President Trump’s way.
The president sat in a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers to discuss gun ownership laws following the fatal shooting of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He reportedly made the following comment while suggesting the removal of an NRA-supported provision that would allow for permitted concealed carry weapons to cross state lines: “I like taking the guns early. … Take the guns first, go through due process second.”
JUST NOW: "I like taking the guns early," President Trump says. "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
In response, the Second Amendment nonprofit group accused the president of “punishing law-abiding gun owners” for the sake of grandstanding in a statement given to The Hill from spokesperson Jennifer Baker:
While today’s meeting made for great TV, the gun control proposals discussed would make for bad policy that would not keep our children safe. Instead of punishing law-abiding gun owners for the acts of a deranged lunatic, our leaders should pass meaningful reforms that would actually prevent future tragedies.
“Whether you love or hate firearms, we all want to send our children to safe schools and to live in safe communities,” Baker said in another statement. Still, she added, this did not necessarily mean “shifting the focus, blame or burden onto safe, law-abiding gun owners.”
Since the high school shooting, the NRA has given at least one other statement that deviated from common perceptions of the group.
After losing a number of corporate sponsorships, the NRA criticized law enforcement in a statement released earlier in the week while coming to the defense of its “law-abiding members.” The statement read, “The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with … the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement.” This was written in reference to disturbing revelations that the FBI did not act even after it was warned of the suspected shooter’s intention to cause a mass casualty incident, as well as revelations that at least four Broward County sheriff’s deputies, including the resource officer assigned to the school, did not enter to engage the shooter while the shooting was taking place.
(CNN)Nobody knew quite what to think.
After a wide-ranging, televised meeting Wednesday at the White House, Democrats walked away stunned and with some tepid optimism that something substantial could happen on guns, while Republicans appeared flummoxed.
After all, President some rich asshole had defied traditional GOP orthodoxy on an issue as essential to the Republican brand as any: guns.
And unlike earlier meetings where the rich asshole has embraced bipartisanship without any specificity, the rich asshole was explicit about what he wanted Wednesday. On camera, he'd pushed to raise the age at which an individual can purchase a rifle from 18 to 21 even after a weekend lunch with officials from the National Rifle Association, who have publicly opposed the change. the rich asshole called to expand background checks and told the House's Majority Whip Steve Scalise that a concealed carry bill would never pass attached to legislation to incentivize states to enter data into the national background checks database.
"I don't know how much clearer he could have been and the whole country can watch it," said Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Democrats argued that the rich asshole had power Democratic President Barack Obama never had: trust with the Republican base that he would not infringe on the Second Amendment.
"With President the rich asshole no one believes he will take their guns away," said West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin.
But the impact of the meeting at the White House, which stunned some within the President's own party and puzzled aides back on the Hill, was still uncertain.
"Holy s---," one Democratic Senate aide emailed as they watched the meeting unfolding.
"I don't know, man," another Democratic Senate aide said. "We'll see what happens, I guess."
the rich asshole meeting's impact on gun proposals unclear
Earlier in the day, negotiations to bring gun legislation to the floor of the Senate had broken down and there was no clear path for floor consideration of any bill, regardless of scope. But the meeting at the White House and the rich asshole's obvious and continued push to do something raised questions from aides and lawmakers as to whether the dynamic had changed -- or whether the rich asshole would simply shift away from his positions and enthusiasm for action in the days ahead, as he has multiple times in the past.
Republicans returned to Capitol Hill still a bit unsettled by what they'd heard. For days, lawmakers in the GOP had a united and concise message: if Congress were to do anything, it would be enforcing school safety and fixing the National Instant Criminal Background Checks system. There was little appetite to do more.
But the rich asshole wanted something "comprehensive." In the meeting the rich asshole called for Manchin-Toomey, legislation that had expanded background checks on internet and gun show sales, to be the base bill. As lawmakers brainstormed ideas around the table, the rich asshole encouraged many of them to be added to the background check bill.
Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, was skeptical "comprehensive" could work.
"I think that's ideal if you could do it all at once," Rubio said. "I just don't think it's likely to pass knowing this place."
Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate's whip who had been seated next to the rich asshole during the meeting described the meeting as "fascinating television" and "surreal."
"My takeaway is that we like to start with background checks and build from there and see where we can get consensus," Cornyn said. "And to be the most obvious place to start is the Fix NICs bill that has 46 co-sponsors."
He added that rolling multiple gun bills into one was "easier said than done."
Many Republicans remarked that they'd seen the rich asshole call for comprehensive, bipartisan legislation in the past in televised White House meetings that never materialized. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, warned that the rich asshole would need to follow through this time or risk hurting his reputation.
"If we don't do it this time, then this will get old." Graham said, "If the President has another one of these sessions and he doesn't follow through -- it's going to hurt him. It's going to hurt the Republican Party."
Graham had been a part of similar on-camera meeting last month, that one dedicated to finding a solution on immigration, another issue on which lawmakers haven't been able to find a deal.
"I've seen this movie before" Graham added. "If it ends up like immigration he's done himself a lot of harm. If we can actually deliver, he's done himself and the country a lot of good."
Stronger Republican reaction
Republicans also offered some strong rebukes to a few of the rich asshole's comments.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska, warned there were several Republicans with concerns about raising the age individuals could buy rifles from 18 to 21.
"I'm probably not the only senator in the US Senate who isn't supportive of that. But again, it's not like we're not trying to be constructive but you know I have 16-year-old Alaskans who go out and hunt and they do it seriously. ... We're very, very different from Connecticut and other places," Sullivan said.
Others were worried that during the meeting that the rich asshole said he wanted individuals who were identified as potentially dangerous to have their guns taken from them before they went to court.
"Strong leaders don't automatically agree with the last thing that was said to them. We have the Second Amendment and due process of law for a reason," Ben Sasse, a Republican senator from Nebraska, said in a statement. "We're not ditching any Constitutional protections simply because the last person the President talked to today doesn't like them."
David Choi 03-01-2018
President some rich asshole speaks to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.CNN
- President some rich asshole held a meeting on gun control with lawmakers at the White House on Wednesday.
- the rich asshole approved of many suggestions from Democratic lawmakers.
- Some Republicans felt shafted by his remarks.
When President some rich asshole appeared to chastise Republicans lawmakers and applaud Democrats during an informal meeting with a group of Congress members at the White House on Wednesday, they seemed to have a hard time containing their emotions.
During the meeting, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota suggested inserting an addendum on domestic violence to a new bill on background checks.
"So if you can add that to this bill, that would be great," the rich asshole said about Klobuchar's suggestion, before turning to Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California. "Dianne, if you can add what you have also, and I think you can, into the bill."
Feinstein cracked a smile and appeared to be gleeful about the suggestion:
"Joe, are you ready," Feinstein quipped to Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrat from West Virginia.
"Can you do that," the rich asshole asked. "Joe, can you do that?"
Klobuchar continued discussing another domestic-violence bill when the rich asshole interjected.
"I would say this, we're gonna get it passed," the rich asshole said. "If you could add 'domestic violence' paragraphs, pages into this bill, I'm all for it. I think it's terrific if you can do it."
As the rich asshole spoke, Klobuchar took a sip of water as she shot an approving glance to a colleague:
And while the rich asshole continued to green-light suggestions from Democrats, he appeared to temporarily pass over some Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the second-ranking GOP senator:
During the freewheeling meeting, the rich asshole made several statements that appeared to worry Republican lawmakers, including telling Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania that he might be "afraid of the NRA," referring to the National Rifle Association, an influential gun-rights organization.
"I like taking the guns early," the rich asshole said at the meeting. "Take the guns first, go through due process second."
Lawmakers have since railed against the rich asshole's remarks and said they disagreed with some of his ideas.
"Strong leaders don't automatically agree with the last thing that was said to them," Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska said in a statement.
"We have the Second Amendment and due process of law for a reason. We're not ditching any Constitutional protections simply because the last person the President talked to today doesn't like them," Sasse said.
Meghan McCain tries to corner House intel Dem about the rich asshole-Russia ‘overhype’ — and it backfires spectacularly
Rep. Adam Schiff (R-CA) and The View's Meghan McCain (Screengrab / ABC)
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“The View” co-host Meghan McCain on Thursday tried to corner House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) on what she described as Russia “overhype.” Instead, she got a lesson on the “damning” evidence of the rich asshole campaign collusion—and Congress’ duty to inform the public about Russian interference.
“Hi Congressman, I think at this point in time it’s really difficult for me and many Americans to differentiate between what’s overhype and what isn’t,” McCain began. “You have said on more than one occasion that you’ve seen ample evidence of the rich asshole campaign’s Russia collusion. Last month, you said you had more than circumstantial evidence of treasonous collusion with Russia.”
“What specifically were you referring to and please be specific, because if it’s true I do believe Americans have a right to know, a year later, what that is,” McCain pressed.
“Well I certainly said there was ample evidence of collusion, I’ve never used the word ‘treason,’ only Steve Bannon has used that word,” Schiff shot back. “But, if you look at the facts that are in the public domain, they’re pretty damning.”
Schiff listed onetime the rich asshole foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was “told back in April of last year that the Russians had stolen Clinton and DNC emails.”
“It was only weeks later that the Russians made a second approach,” Schiff continued, turning to the June 2016 meeting at the rich asshole Tower between top members of the rich asshole campaign and a Russia lawyer who “wanted to offer incriminating information on Hillary Clinton.”
“Is it enough for [special counsel Robert] Mueller to bring charges?” McCain demanded.
“What’s Mueller’s job and what’s our job?” Schiff replied. “Bob Mueller will make the decision whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt to indict and convict people. It is not his responsibility to tell the country what happened. There’s no guarantee the country will ever learn what Bob Mueller finds apart from an indictment.”
“It’s the job for the Congress to tell the American people what happened,” he added.
Watch below:
CPAC chief doubles down on racial comments about Michael Steele in combative MSNBC interview
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The head of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday doubled down on his criticism of former RNC chief Michael Steele, accusing him of having a lack of grace.
MSNBC host Hallie Jackson asked American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp whether CPAC communications director Ian Walters had been reprimanded for saying that Steele was picked as RNC chairman because “he was a black guy.”
“Absolutely not,” Schlapp replied, saying he agreed with Walters that the GOP had been too “cynical” in its approach to minorities. “He has a right to speak on these issues.”
Jackson noted that Steele and Schlapp had gotten into a heated exchange about the comments, after Schlapp had apologized for them.
“You said he should have some grace,” she said. “Do you regret any of that?”
Schlapp claimed that Walters had quickly called Steele to apologize, but that Steele had refused to accept it. “I think that shows a lack of grace,” he remarked.
“Things get said in a heated political conversation and at the end, we have to be able to continue to be friends. I don’t like the fact that we’re divided.”
“But I’ll tell you one thing, I think what Ian’s point of view is valid and I think there are a lot of people of color who are conservatives who believe that the Republican Party gets this wrong a lot and it is okay to talk about it,” Schlapp said.
Jackson said she was asking Schlapp about his particular positions. “You have not answered,” she told him. “So let me end on this, do you regret telling Michael Steele he should have some grace?”
“I think he should have grace, and we all should have grace,” Schlapp replied.
Watch video below:
Anthony Scaramucci goes on all-out media blitz to convince the rich asshole to fire ‘General Jackass’ John Kelly
Anthony Scaramucci on Colbert (Screen Capture)
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Anthony Scaramucci, who was employed as the rich asshole White House communications director for only eleven days before being fired by current White House chief of staff John Kelly, is once again ramping up his war to get Kelly fired.
Speaking with Bloomberg News’ Jennifer Jacobs, Scaramucci says that he is going on a media blitz to convince President some rich asshole that Kelly needs to go before morale within the White House completely collapses.
“Does the president want to lose everyone because of General Jackass?” Scaramucci asked, according to Jacobs.
Scarmucci denied he was backstabbing Kelly — and he told Jacobs that he was proudly “front-stabbing” him.
Scaramucci told me he doesn’t mind being quoted insulting Kelly.
“At least I’m an honest front-stabbing dude," he said.@Scaramucci twitter.com/jenniferjjacob…
Earlier on Thursday, Scaramucci ripped into Kelly during an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo in which the former White House communications director blamed the chief of staff for allegedly covering up abuse allegations that forced former staff secretary Rob Porter to resign.
And on Wednesday, Scaramucci said that Kelly’s presence in the White House was killing staff morale, as he said that Kelly was too restrictive about access to the president.
Kelly has reportedly been fighting with the rich asshole son-in-law Jared Kushner and first daughter Ivanka the rich asshole about Kushner’s security clearance, which was downgraded last week to prevent him from accessing top-secret classified information.
WATCH: John Kelly says ‘God punished me’ when he made me the rich asshole’s chief of staff
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White House chief of staff on Thursday jokingly said that “God punished me” when He made him leave the Department of Homeland Security to become President some rich asshole’s chief of staff.
“The last thing I wanted to do was walk away from one of the great honors of my life, being the secretary of Homeland Security, but I did something wrong and God punished me, I guess,” Kelly said to laughter during a Thursday morning event.
Kelly also said that he missed “everyone” at DHS “every day” before he rolled his eyes, seemingly a nod to his current job.
Kelly has reportedly been in a bitter fight with the rich asshole son-in-law Jared Kushner over his security clearance, which was downgraded last week to prevent Kushner from viewing top-secret classified information.
Watch the video of Kelly below.
CA University Changes Name Of Impeachment Course After Right-Wingers Whine
San Diego State University is about to really make the blood of conservatives boil. They have found a very creative way to teach Article 11, Section 4 of the United States Constitution – the part that discusses impeachment – along with the 25th Amendment, which deal with removing an incapacitated or unfit president: By teaching a one-credit hour course over the span of a weekend that, at first glance, seemingly focuses on removing some rich asshole from office.
According to the school, they aren’t actually using the course and its students to scheme to remove the rich asshole from office, but it could be viewed that way, as the course is entitled, “the rich asshole: Impeachment, Removal or Conviction?” However, the school says that is not the intent. Here is a bit of the course description:
“Focus will be on the two constitutional grounds: impeachment and removal (25th Amendment), and the possible charges of the independent counsel, the powers of the president, a history of the creation of that office and the comparison of divine right and rule of law leadership, presidential impeachments, including Nixon’s de facto impeachment, practically limitless grounds for impeachment, presidential immunity from indictment, and grounds for impeachment, removal, or indictment covering: conflict of interests, foreign emoluments, climate change, racism, religious bias, improper influence, nepotism, and a host of crimes, including conspiracy, false statements, and obstruction of justice.”
But, alas, of course right-wing websites – specifically Campus Reform, which supposedly “exposes liberal bias” on college campuses, were outraged at the course, so the name “the rich asshole” was dropped from the title. There, happy snowflakes?
Well, the is the first time since Richard Nixon that we have had a criminal in the Oval Office, so it is only natural that academic institutions would like to take advantage of living in such extraordinary times. And what better way to do it than to let the orange one illustrate just what should get a president removed from office? This is so perfect, It’s a shame they had to remove the rich asshole’s name, though I am sure the material won’t change.
REVEALED: Devin Nunes’ GOP intel members leaked text messages meant to discredit Russia probe
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) speaking outside the White House. Image via screengrab.
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Senate Intelligence Committee leaders have accused Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee—led by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)—of leaking private text messages from Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the New York Times reports.
The text messages were published Feb. 8 by Fox News, and showed Warner texting with a lobbyist for a Russian oligarch in an attempt to gain access to former British MI6 agent Christopher Steele. That report was hyped by Republicans, included some rich asshole, and came on the heels of the president’s decision to release a partisan memo by Nunes, which purported to prove surveillance abuses during the FBI’s Russia investigation.
“Taken together, the actions suggested a pattern of partisanship and unilateral action by the once-bipartisan House panel,” the Times notes.
Despite the rich asshole’s assertion that the messages prove “Warner did not want a ‘paper trail’ on a ‘private’ meeting (in London) he requested with Steele of fraudulent Dossier fame,” Senate Intelligence Committee member Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)undercut the president’s spin, writing on Twitter, “Sen. Warner fully disclosed this to the committee four months ago.”
Warner and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-SC) were “so perturbed by the leak” they demanded a meeting last month with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) to discuss the partisan breach of protocol and Nunes’ role as the House Intelligence Committee chair, according to the Times.
Jack Langer, a spokesman for Nunes, did not deny that members of the committee leaked the texts.
“The New York Times, a prominent purveyor of leaks, is highlighting anonymous sources leaking information that accuses Republicans of leaking information,” Langer said. “I’m not sure if this coverage could possibly get more absurd.”
In a joint statement, Burr and Warner “acknowledged the meeting with Ryan,” theTimes reports.
‘I know a lot’: Sex model jailed in Thailand claims to have video evidence of the rich asshole-Kremlin links
Anastasia Vashukevich (Instagram)
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A Belarusian social media star is hoping to trade information she says links President some rich asshole to the Kremlin for her release from a Thai prison on sex charges.
Anastasia Vashukevich, who has become internationally famous in recent months for her racy selfies, was jailed in Thailand for offering sex lessons without a permit, reported the Associated Press.
The self-described “mistress” of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska was arrested with nine other Russians and Belarusians after officials received complaints about the $700 weeklong class and raided the meeting.
Vashukevich, who calls herself Nastya Rybka on her Instagram account (@nastya_rybka.ru), told the AP that she fears for her life and wants to trade information in the rich asshole-Russia probe for her own safety.
She has not offered any such evidence, which she previously claimed to have in an Instagram video, and it’s not clear whether she has any useful information.
Deripaska is a metal tycoon who sued former the rich asshole campaign manager Paul Manafort and his lieutenant Rick Gates over an $18.9 million investment the pair was supposed to make in Ukraine.
Gates has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to investigators in the Russia probe, and Manafort has been charged with money laundering, fraud and numerous other charges in the case.
Vashukevich and her jailed companions have sent a letter to the U.S. embassy in Bangkok seeking asylum in exchange for “photo-video-audio” evidence of wrongdoing between the rich asshole and the Kremlin, and she also posted a video outlining her claims on Instagram.
“I didn’t want to tell you about many things. Now they’re trying to lock us up,” she says in the video, apparently made while in custody. “But now I’m ready to put together all the pieces of the puzzle that you have been missing, and back it up with audio and video regarding the ties of our esteemed lawmakers with Manafort, the rich asshole and all this buzz around the U.S. election. I know a lot.”
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