October 20, 2017

"Natasha De Alencar, the widow of Army Staff Sgt. Mark De Alencar, released video of her conversation with President Trump."

This is not the phone call that's been talked about in the news, but it does give you an example of how Trump handles these phone calls:

189 comments:

rcocean said...

I respect Trump for making the call. Its not something I would ever want to do. What a brave woman.

Kevin said...

Is this a Jeopardy answer?

Because the question is "What will not be played in its entirety on Morning Joe tomorrow?"

mockturtle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kevin said...

We truly do not deserve the people who fight on our behalf and the families that sacrifice so they can do so.

donald said...

CNN was getting nothing out of her this morning, so popped a couple
Of platitudes and she was gone.

ga6 said...

Rent, buy or download "Taking Chance". I have seen it done and my son did this twice as a Major..

Todd said...

I thank her for sharing and so wish she did not feel that she had to. These type of things should be able to be private.

William said...

I saw Cuomo's interview with this woman on CNN. She's quite splendid. She showed pictures of her children. They look exuberantly healthy and good looking, so maybe things willl turn out alright for them all........I kind of like Cuomo. Within the spectrum of Dem pols, he seems decent enough, but he kept asking prodding questions. He was trying to discover something that Trump or his administration did wrong. The widow showed real class and declined to get involved in the politics. She looked good, and Cuomo didn't.

Bob Ellison said...

That call apparently happened in April.

The Godfather said...

Well we've just discovered another hero named De Alencar.

LYNNDH said...

A very brave woman. She released this knowing that she was letting people into her private life. I do hope that this does go viral so that even those on the left will see it. And it is to be hoped that there is not a negative twitter storm against her.

Matt Sablan said...

"He was trying to discover something that Trump or his administration did wrong."

-- Well, yeah. That's the only reason they're looking into this. To Get Trump.

Trump's an ass. About the only thing more annoying than an asshole are the people intent on beating on the ass for being one.

traditionalguy said...

The Propaganda Media will now have to try to destroy her really fast. But it's too late. The 2020 re-election is as good as over. And in the second term, hopefully we will see a new Attorney General.

MaxedOutMama said...

What a formidable, wonderful woman. Two heroes in that family, at a minimum.

Glad the Meade/Ann Confederation found this and put it up. It is humbling.

And I know you didn't mean this for anything what it was, but it was refreshing and heartening to me to hear such a strong woman after all the frankly mean and demeaning news out of Hollywood.

Expat(ish) said...

That really makes me want to punch the people who made her life even harder.

I am gonna go get some pizza for lunch, that will cheer me up.

-XC

Anonymous said...

Couldn't get the link here, but got it elsewhere. Thank you, Ann for posting.

Nice conversation between a sergeant's wife and the Commander in Chief. It was clear that Trump was prepared, that she was prepared and that they both took some joy out of the call. I suspect the "disrespect" call was no different except that the widow there was playing a completely different game.

Henry said...

Yes, an amazing woman.

That has to be an almost impossible call to make. You could almost hear the relief in Trump's voice when he was able to talk to Natasha about her son and gush a little. But he made sure to get back to caring before he was done.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

"And I know you didn't mean this for anything what it was, but it was refreshing and heartening to me to hear such a strong woman after all the frankly mean and demeaning news out of Hollywood."

There are many good Americans out there. Very few of them are members of the "elite."

Chuck said...

Wait a minute! So this woman had people "secretly" listening to the president's call, and recording it?

"Secretly" was Trump's description for what Congresswoman Wilson did.

Professor Althouse, weren't you commenting recently on how odd it would have been to have others listening to such a call?

I know that the Althouse commentariat was assailing Mrs. Johnson and Rep. Wilson on the notion that others listened in on the call.

So now it's an okay thing again?

Bob Ellison said...

Chuck, calm down. We don't in either case whether anyone was listening secretly.

That Congressidiot from Florida is an obvious asshat. Trump didn't handle the aftermath well at all, but face facts.

Chuck said...

@RealDonaldTrump:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/921207772233990144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fentry%2Ftrump-wacky-congresswoman-call-widow_us_59e97d7ce4b0df10767c1211

buwaya said...

She recorded it herself, on her phone.
Was probably informed beforehand that the President would be calling. She probably recorded it for the sake of the children. This is a tribute to their father.

Bob Ellison said...

OK, Chuck, so Trump is asserting that he was not told others were listening in. Trump is not a terribly reliable source, but without other evidence, I'd tend to believe him.

Stop digging.

Chuck said...

No, Bob Ellison, let make myself real clear because I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand.

I don't think that there is anything weird about the video in this blog post.

I didn't think that there was anything weird about the scenario in which Rep. Wilson heard part of the Trump-Mrs. Jonson call.

My position is consistent. The Althousian position is the one that is inexplicably weird, selective and ultimately hypocritical.

Again, all of this could have been used cogently, by a competent messaging professional, to defuse this whole story. But Trump had to lay into it on Twitter, griping about people "secretly" listening, and witnesses "fabricating" things.

Ann Althouse said...

""Secretly" was Trump's description for what Congresswoman Wilson did. Professor Althouse, weren't you commenting recently on how odd it would have been to have others listening to such a call?"

I think it's just her family, at home, plus the officer whose duty it was to stay with her as long as needed.

I said that I thought the person setting up the call for the President would make sure that the setting for the call was right and didn't think being on a speakerphone in a car with a member of Congress was appropriate, especially a member of Congress who was fired up to make political hay out of it.

Does it really help Trump-haters to put all this focus on Wilson? I think it's really awful.

Was Wilson the Congresswoman John Kelly was talking about yesterday when he said:

"In October — April, rather, of 2015, I was still on active duty, and I went to the dedication of the new FBI field office in Miami. And it was dedicated to two men who were killed in a firefight in Miami against drug traffickers in 1986 — a guy by the name of Grogan and Duke. Grogan almost retired, 53 years old; Duke, I think less than a year on the job.

"Anyways, they got in a gunfight and they were killed. Three other FBI agents were there, were wounded, and now retired. So we go down — Jim Comey gave an absolutely brilliant memorial speech to those fallen men and to all of the men and women of the FBI who serve our country so well, and law enforcement so well.

"There were family members there. Some of the children that were there were three or four years old when their dads were killed on that street in Miami-Dade. Three of the men that survived the fight were there, and gave a rendition of how brave those men were and how they gave their lives.

"And a congresswoman stood up, and in the long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there and all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President Obama, and on that phone call he gave the money — the $20 million — to build the building. And she sat down, and we were stunned. Stunned that she had done it. Even for someone that is that empty a barrel, we were stunned.

"But, you know, none of us went to the press and criticized. None of us stood up and were appalled. We just said, O.K., fine."

Bob Ellison said...

OK, keep on digging. Didn't you say once that you're a lawyer or something? Not a PR pro, I guess.

Chuck said...

buwaya said...
She recorded it herself, on her phone.

No. Clearly, she put her mobile phone on "speaker." And someone else, I presume with the video camera in their own mobile phone, recorded it. I presume that that is the military attache' who was the bereavement officer is the guy sitting in the background, listening as well. And how many other people were in the room, I do not know. They would all have witnessed the call much as Rep. Wilson did.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Chuck,
Just shut up.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Congress people are like Hillarywood - only ugly, and even more useless.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

"I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand."

Lord almighty, did you actually have a straight face when you typed that?



Chuck said...

Althouse, you are mistaking me for someone who likes/respects/supports Rep. Wilson. I am none of those things.

All that I want to know from General Kelly apart from what he already said, is whether Rep. Wilson "fabricated" her version of the Trump call. Kelly retreated from the briefing room before anyone was afforded a chance to ask that direct, centrally-important question. My read on Kelly was that he essentially confirmed that it was not fabricated.

Anonymous said...

what the helo driver said

CStanley said...

That part where Kelly told the story of the "empty barrel" was the only part of his speech that he should have edited. It was unseemly and his anger must have gotten the better of him. The reaction he described that he and frank Thera had at the time was the correct one,

buwaya said...

Nothing is unseemly anymore.
There no longer are any limits or constraints.
You cannot fight an unlimited conflict against a more powerful foe by observing rules.

CStanley said...

Splitting hairs over what Trump said and how Wilson characterized it is really asinine and tiresome. Kelly explained the context while Wilson took one line out of context to make it sound harsh. Was Trump exactly correct in saying she lied and fabricated? Probably not, but this is the way Trump speaks.

It was interesting viewing and hearing this other call, that the widow was the one who made a similar comment about her husband's choice to serve.

Rob said...

This can't be a real call, because we've been reliably informed that Trump is a white supremacist and racist. The person on this call spoke with an African-American woman kindly and respectfully and made a human connection. Who are we going to believe, the media or our lying ears?

robother said...

"I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand."

As Chuck hits himself in the forehead with a hammer. Come on, Chuck, you make it hurt so good.

Ray - SoCal said...

The Congress lady just dragged herself down into the mud. That did not honor the dead. It was as a political hit job, and now she’s moved on to racism.

This video honored the dead.

Trump when attacked hits back. The GOPe believes this is wrong. Bush, McCain, and Romney turned the other cheek during their time running or being President. When he attacks back, he uses Alinsky tactics that are standard for the Left. And they are working.

With Trump you can focus on the negatives, or what’s actually being done. I’m surprised he is doing as well as he is. The cultural fights he was he is winning are amazing. He has reset the conversation on so many topics. And he is forcing congress to do its job, and has a good team on his cabinet. It’s a huge change to have patriotic, pro business, Non Globalist President.

For politics, I view Trumps as more of an old style liberal Democrat. Unfortunately the Democratic Party has moved so far right, he is viewed as right wing.

Anonymous said...

The normal protocol for casualty notification (and this tape was likely well after the initial notification) is for a team to show up at the next of kin's home in the morning.

For an enlisted man, the team might be the unit commander (if available), the SGT Major, the wife of one of them, a Chaplain (appropriate faith if possible), the Casualty Assistance Officer (paperwork expert) and possibly a doctor.

I never had to do that duty, but I did have to escort the body of one of my troops from the location he died to the Mortuary in Frankfort. It was pretty much as General Kelly described. I recovered his body. A Tank had crushed him. We put him in a sleeping bag, and flew to Frankfurt, where I did the formal ID and sent him home. Later, I had to do the letter to his wife. Not pleasant.

Nowdays, Post Tilman, some of the white lies can't be told and I suspect the practices of 40 years ago, might be problematic. (For example, My Platoon SGT and I went carefully through his things to remove anything that might upset the widow.)

Snark said...

That was a nice call. The ideas expressed - he was great, amazing, a hero, your kids are smart etc. - are right in his wheelhouse. But give a sociopath a more emotionally layered and complex thing to express in the vein of "knew what he was signing up for"? Forget about it.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

The New York Daily News has the video of Congresswoman Wilson's April 2015 speech. The bill she is talking about getting through Congress is not the funding but the naming after two deceased FBI agents who died in a 1986 gun battle. Sorry to say, but General Kelly appears to have the empty barrel on this one.

Chuck said...

Ann Althouse said...
...

Does it really help Trump-haters to put all this focus on Wilson? I think it's really awful.

In my sector of Trump-hatred, I don't think anybody cared about Wilson. I didn't. I've said so, in a half a dozen or more comments. In my sector of Trump-hatred, the biggest thing was the stark contrast between General Kelly's composed competence and Trump's raging incompetence.

I raised Wilson -- but much so the Trump Tweet about "secretly" listening -- to expose the Althouse.blogspot.com hypocrisy on this subject.

Trump, it seems, had General Kelly "secretly" listening in as well.

For all of the praise of Kelly's Press Room appearance, I very much agree with the commenter above who thinks that Kelly would have been better to edit his commentary. I suspect that the craven political calculation in the Trump press staff was to go with that part.

Chuck said...

Left Bank of the Charles said...
The New York Daily News has the video of Congresswoman Wilson's April 2015 speech. The bill she is talking about getting through Congress is not the funding but the naming after two deceased FBI agents who died in a 1986 gun battle. Sorry to say, but General Kelly appears to have the empty barrel on this one.

In other words, Rep. Wilson's 2015 speech was far less offensive than Donald Trump's 2017 speech to assembled CIA staff in front of Langley's KIA memorial wall, where Trump was riffing on the size of his inaugural crowd.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/defense/315605-why-trumps-cia-speech-was-simply-inappropriate

Snark said...

"The New York Daily News has the video of Congresswoman Wilson's April 2015 speech. The bill she is talking about getting through Congress is not the funding but the naming after two deceased FBI agents who died in a 1986 gun battle. Sorry to say, but General Kelly appears to have the empty barrel on this one."

She called it a lie this morning, pointing out that the funding was secured in 2009 before she was even in Congress. She said she did name the building at the request of James Comey. If her account is more accurate, perhaps Kelly simply misremembered. Memories are changed and conflated every time we take them out and put them back, and if Kelly was thinking about it all when he was angry at Wilson that can colour the recall process as well. It seems a bit unlikely that all these people are "lying". Except Trump, who is of course pretty much always lying.

Chuck said...

Was Trump exactly correct in saying she lied and fabricated? Probably not, but this is the way Trump speaks.


Exactly right. I bolded your quote, for emphasis.

And Trump ought to stop doing that. And Althouse has been missing the boat on such criticisms for more than a year. To her discredit. I think she's being cagey.

Birches said...

I will not listen to the call. I agree with Althouse that some things should remain sacred. I weep for our country.

Francisco D said...

"To her discredit. I think she's being cagey."

To your discredit, you are being Chuck, AKA The Sgt Schultz of Detroit elections..

bgates said...

I want to make this hurt for you,

says the guy who describes someone else as "inexplicably weird".

I'd be interested to hear from anyone besides Chuck who has read Chuck's comments over the past several months and been persuaded to move closer to his position.

Chuck said...

Francisco D said...
"To her discredit. I think she's being cagey."

To your discredit, you are being Chuck, AKA The Sgt Schultz of Detroit elections..

Fuck off, you ignorant prick. I worked for the Republicans in observing Detroit elections in 2000-2014. I declined in 2016. And please don't go back to revealing your ignorance about Michigan electoral counts again. I've shot that down before and I do not want to have to do it again.

CStanley said...

Oh BS Chuck. I started out feeling that way too, that Trump should stop being the way he is. But this is the person who was elected and he was elected in part because of these traits.. The reaction to him is causing far more harm to our country than his bumbling remarks cause and at some point people who want Trump to be more responsible with his speaking style need to accept their own responsibility for how they are responding to it.

Do you really think anyone cares whether what she said met some technical definition of a lie, when it is just as bad that she gave a bad faith interpretation of it?

Darrell said...

Bush is an ass. When the MSM attacked him mercilessly, he wouldn't even defend himself, he left it up to us to carry the weight. Now he sides with the same MSM to bash Trump. Fuck him.

Darrell said...

Obama told cops they knew what they signed up for and I never heard my betters say a single word about that. Fuck them all.

Omaha1 said...

God bless this woman and her family, who have lost their husband and father. I'm sorry she felt it necessary to publicize her interaction with the president but she must have been motivated to combat the current narrative that he is insensitive. I am very sorry for her loss and I hope that she is surrounded with family and friends who can support her and help her through the process of grief.

The Godfather said...

Chuck, who often says intelligent things in his comments, is having an off day today. Among other things, he complains that "Kelly retreated from the briefing room before anyone was afforded a chance to ask that direct, centrally-important question", that is, "whether Rep. Wilson 'fabricated' her version of the Trump call". "Retreated" referring to a military man is just a cheap shot, Chuck; you should be ashamed. What's interesting to me is that none of the press questions had anything to do with the phone call: They all related to the operation in which the four Special Forces were killed. My impression was that Gen. Kelly put the phone call issue to bed, and the reporters were moving on the the next, possibly actually important, story.

Birches said...

Ugh. Just read through the comments. I'm about ready for a permanent ban. Blind hatred is a terrible thing.

Darrell said...

I really do hope that Senator Kid Rock smashes a Jack Daniel's bottle on Chuck's head--as someone here said a few days ago. I'll be betting on jury nullification if they are given access to Althouse's archives.

Thorley Winston said...

I didn’t see a link or embedded copy of the call but managed to find one here. Normally I’d agree that these things should be private but the widow chose to share this with the public and after watching it, I was impressed with all involved.

rehajm said...

Like the John Kelly story: I once attended a memorial service where three close friends of the deceased eulogized. First was a business associate and fellow barfly, then the director of a charity for which the deceased was a major benefactor and third was a sitting US Senator that had been close friends with the deceased since college. First two guys told amazing stories of joy and sorrow while the Senator was a bit of a twat like the Kelly person. I just don't think they can help it.

mockturtle said...

Althouse, you are mistaking me for someone who likes/respects/supports Rep. Wilson. I am none of those things.

Chuck, trust me. No one mistakes you for anyone or anything other than what you are.

Nonapod said...

This late in the game, I find it a bit odd that so many people seem to focus on what Trump says. For example, if Trump says something that doesn't exactly pass fact check, why do people still behave as though it should matter?

The people who support Trump don't care.

At this point, the people who are ambivalent about Trump are probably more interested in what he does than what he says.

The people who dislike Trump are going to continue to dislike Trump.

In politics it's not the fact that someone lied that matters, it's what the lie is and why it was told. In this case, the whole thing is a repulsive game of political gotcha using a war widow as a prop. It's blatantly obvious that this whole thing was a trap set by Democrat congresswoman (possibly even at the behest of higher ups in the Democrat party) in order to try to make Trump look like a heartless monster who hates war widows. This is of course nonsense, but we all have to go through the motions as though it is not.

Trump makes a claim that may not technically be true about a conversation. He may well have said those things he is claimed to have said (but even so, those things he is alleged to have said aren't really all that bad anyway, at worst they're maybe a tad insensitive), but his intention wasn't to hurt a friggin' war widow.

Snark said...

"The New York Daily News has the video of Congresswoman Wilson's April 2015 speech. The bill she is talking about getting through Congress is not the funding but the naming after two deceased FBI agents who died in a 1986 gun battle. Sorry to say, but General Kelly appears to have the empty barrel on this one."

I've had a chance to listen to the video right through - and yeah, it's hard to sustain an accusation of grandstanding. The anecdote, which wasn't about money but about expediting the process to name the building, gave John Boehner at least equal credit. It was pretty clear to me that it was meant to be an uplifting story of efficient and effective bi-partisan work in congress for a commonly valued goal. Interesting what Kelly's takeaway was, and fascinating how the mind works. Wilson is kind of flamboyant and to a man of military bearing might seem garish and unable to find the right tone for the event. But, objectively speaking, she didn't do what he said she did either in letter or spirit.

Curious George said...

"Chuck said...
My position is consistent. "

Yeah, here on Althouse it's ass up, face down.

Chuck said...

Snark said...
"The New York Daily News has the video of Congresswoman Wilson's April 2015 speech. The bill she is talking about getting through Congress is not the funding but the naming after two deceased FBI agents who died in a 1986 gun battle. Sorry to say, but General Kelly appears to have the empty barrel on this one."

I've had a chance to listen to the video right through - and yeah, it's hard to sustain an accusation of grandstanding. The anecdote, which wasn't about money but about expediting the process to name the building, gave John Boehner at least equal credit. It was pretty clear to me that it was meant to be an uplifting story of efficient and effective bi-partisan work in congress for a commonly valued goal. Interesting what Kelly's takeaway was, and fascinating how the mind works. Wilson is kind of flamboyant and to a man of military bearing might seem garish and unable to find the right tone for the event. But, objectively speaking, she didn't do what he said she did either in letter or spirit.

It has become a kind of a Thermodynamic Law; anybody who remains in close contact with Trump for long enough, gets burned badly.

narayanan said...

@cstaanley - "Kelly explained the context while Wilson took one line out of context to make it sound harsh. Was Trump exactly correct in saying she lied and fabricated? Probably not, but this is the way Trump speaks."

- taking things out of context is the definition of fabrication.

donald said...

Who are YOU gonna hurt boy? Emphasis on the boy. Though cunt lip works I suppose.

Mattman26 said...

Yes, Wilson is the Congresswoman (the "empty barrel") who bragged about acquiring the funding for the FBI building while everyone else was honoring those who fell in the line of duty. (Sorry I can't find a link right now, but I had one yesterday.)

She's a real charmer; I hope she becomes the new fresh face of the Democratic Party.

Pres. Trump sounded pretty human on that call (and the widow is amazing); I can't imagine I could do that any better.

donald said...

What kinda pussy runs around screaming about their "hatred" of their fellow citizens? Good thing Teump is a republican (I giggle at that really), in a previous administration he'd probably got a visit from the gubmint. And an audit.

n.n said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
wwww said...



Where was the staff for the 12 day gap? The media wanted to know why a statement hadn't been released about the incident. There's a staffing issue here that should be fixed and it was part of what triggered the media storm.

Once again, Josh Barro on twitter get to the point:

One thing about Trump and his often bizarre way of speaking, especially when he is in situations where he's supposed to express empathy. Trump is a polarizing figure, and he's unusually subject to people hearing what they expect to hear from him. So, it's easy to imagine him saying something awkward, and some people being very inclined to hear him being awkwardly kind, and others not. He could fix that by speaking more clearly -- although, could he? I'm not sure he has it in him.






n.n said...

This late in the game

It's the fourth trimester since presidential conception and the baby hunts have failed to produce even one viable baby to be sacrificed in a public trial. Still, they persist in their journolistic fervor to throw men, women, and babies into the chambers, and threaten others at the of a scalpel. My guess is that they will continue to unintentionally expose witches and warlocks, and we will never observe the mythical baby of left-wing and establishment dreams.

John Nowak said...

>"I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand

Failed again.

LilyBart said...

Here is the FBI dedication speech. Wilson did not brag about her role in getting the funding. She did start off highlighting herself in the naming of the building after the FBI agents. Watch the whole thing if you can. She reads the speech as if its the first time she's seen it. She's quite a clown.

www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/94925992-132.html

grackle said...

Bush is an ass … he sides with the … MSM to bash Trump.

Trump destroyed his brother. It’s payback.

pacwest said...

"You cannot fight an unlimited conflict against a more powerful foe by observing rules."

buwaya, you can certainly can come up with some real gems, although I don't share your pessimism. Hopefully a certain individual (who must not be named) reads your comments and understands the reasons Trump garners support. Alinsky tactics are crude and rude. The Democrats have used these tactics to such an degree that decorum and polite processes are non-effective against them. I (we) believe the stranglehold of the narrative and tactics (and policies) of the ruling class can only be broken by using the same tactics against them, crude and rude as they may be. Polite discourse and process will not bring about the goal of changing the suicidal course the nation is on. He should focus on the goals, and not the process. If he did so I think he may realize that he is in closer agreement with Trump than he thinks.

Snark said...

"One thing about Trump and his often bizarre way of speaking, especially when he is in situations where he's supposed to express empathy. Trump is a polarizing figure, and he's unusually subject to people hearing what they expect to hear from him. So, it's easy to imagine him saying something awkward, and some people being very inclined to hear him being awkwardly kind, and others not. He could fix that by speaking more clearly -- although, could he? I'm not sure he has it in him.

He's a sociopath and by definition not capable of empathy. People should stop looking for it, because it's never going to be there. In the right circumstances he can pull off a reasonable facsimile, but it's not going to take much for it to go all to hell.

Paddy O said...

"Trump destroyed his brother."

Trump just happened to win an election that Jeb had lost before he even announced his candidacy. Jeb was never a contender.

George W. Bush destroyed his brother's chances by becoming the second Bush president. Three is too many from any family, and certainly not two from the same generation.

Laslo Spatula said...

"Chuck said...
No, Bob Ellison, let make myself real clear because I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand..."

God help me, I burst out laughing upon reading this.

Chuck is The Angriest Dog in the World.

I am Laslo.

rcocean said...

So, it was on-speaker phone with all kinds of people in the car, and yet no one recorded the Trump-Widow conversation.

Really? I don't believe that for a second.

Nor do I believe Rep. Wilson would've forgone a chance to make Trump look like a liar by releasing said Video. A Video which would've shown Wilson to be right, and Trump wrong, about what was said.

Summary: There is recording, Wilson has it, and won't release it, because it will show Trump is right.

rcocean said...

I'm glad people are reading life long Republican "chuck" - because I ain't.

I skip over him because I know what he will say, why waste time? I Might as well watch MSNBC.

But glad he provides amusement for others.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

Laslo, I thought of that cartoon and labeled Ritmo The Angriest Dog in the World one night when he was having his usual grand mal seizure in the comments sections, but Chuck certainly fits the description as well. Chuck's more like an angry toy poodle though. A toy poodle that fancies itself a pit bull.

rcocean said...

"George W. Bush destroyed his brother's chances by becoming the second Bush president."

The First bush was so bad he lost re-election and got 40% of the vote.

the Second bush in 2008 was the most unpopular 2nd term POTUS ever. He set a record, he even beat Nixon's 1974 low.

That Jeb Bush even had a chance of getting nominated, shows there's something deeply wrong about Republicans.

Chuck said...

Snark said...
"One thing about Trump and his often bizarre way of speaking, especially when he is in situations where he's supposed to express empathy. Trump is a polarizing figure, and he's unusually subject to people hearing what they expect to hear from him. So, it's easy to imagine him saying something awkward, and some people being very inclined to hear him being awkwardly kind, and others not. He could fix that by speaking more clearly -- although, could he? I'm not sure he has it in him.

Oh, that is one of the better comments I've read here in a long time.

My particular frustration with Althouse is that she's a genuinely good language critic. And insightful and disciplined observer of English usage.

And Trump is such a clumsy oaf in his use of the language.

To be sure -- and this is the essence of language criticism -- Trump's clumsy, awkward, imprecise mumblings are reflective of his own imprecise thinking. Trump has a few big ideas in mind -- patriotism, work, a kind of 1950's American traditionalism -- but nothing that satisfies Washington policy questions. And so as a public/policy figure, Trump developed a technique of mouthing platitudes without committing to anything.

Now I certainly can't claim that Trump hasn't made some very specific claims. He claims he will "build a wall, and make Mexico pay for it." He claimed that he'd repeal Obamacare and make tremendous new deals with everyone in health care that would provide all Americans with great coverage. Things like that. Blatantly untrue campaign promise-type things.

But day in and day out, he is constantly making claims about big things that are coming, and then say "just wait" and "you'll find out" about details. He talks about "big problems" without ever specifying what they are. He doesn't have a clue, and if pressed he just goes nuts like he did with John Dickerson in the Oval Office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHcf6szI09M

wwww said...


"Oh, that is one of the better comments I've read here in a long time."

That's a quote from Josh Barro's twitter feed. I follow him, and he's usually on point.

Drago said...

"lifelong republican" Chuck: "Althouse, you are mistaking me for someone who likes/respects/supports Rep. Wilson. I am none of those things."

LOL

You can't make this stuff up. Just sit back and marvel at it.

Drago said...

"God help me, I burst out laughing upon reading this"

You weren't the only one!

Drago said...

The only thing that could possibly get LLR Chuck to support Wilson more is if she lied, repeatedly, over multiple years and campaigns about Stolen Valor combat service.

She would have Chucky completely, instead of just mostly, wrapped around her rodeo-clown finger.

Chuck said...

LilyBart said...
Here is the FBI dedication speech. Wilson did not brag about her role in getting the funding. She did start off highlighting herself in the naming of the building after the FBI agents. Watch the whole thing if you can. She reads the speech as if its the first time she's seen it. She's quite a clown.

www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/94925992-132.html


Now let's see if Althouse follows up and blogs it. With a post of that video on her front page. Althouse might not -- I would -- expose Congresswoman Wilson to some level of ridicule. She's of a piece with John Dingell, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee and Alcee Hastings.

But that's easy. The real point is whether the nearly-universal praise being heaped on General Kelly is so deserved if he mischaracterized the Florida FBI building speech by Rep. Wilson.

Drago said...

BTW, LLR Chuck's newest beloved, Rep Wilson, called Gen Kelly a racist today.

In true "Chuck" fashion, she persisted...

Drago said...

LLR Chuck climbs aboard the "support Rep Wilson in her bid to identify all those racist Generals in the White House" Train!: "But that's easy. The real point is whether the nearly-universal praise being heaped on General Kelly is so deserved if he mischaracterized the Florida FBI building speech by Rep. Wilson"

Darn it!

Lifelong republican Chuck is, once again, totally "accidentally" aligned with the dem talking points of the day!

How does this happen so often?

Poor LLR Chuck can't catch a break!

Laslo should "story board" my latest idea for a Made-For-TV Movie: "The Accidental Leftist-The True Story of a Lifelong Republican"

Chuck said...

Drago said...
The only thing that could possibly get LLR Chuck to support Wilson more is if she lied, repeatedly, over multiple years and campaigns about Stolen Valor combat service.

Go fuck yourself, you asshole.

You know very well that I have never once defended Senator Blumenthal's misrepresentation of his military service. He apologized for it, and rightly so.

But the second point is that you have tried to defend Trump from his vicious little lie that Blumenthal "misrepresented" then-Judge Gorsuch in comments about how Gorsuch felt that it was demoralizing and disheartening, the way that Trump was trashtalking federal judges who ruled against him.

Fox reports the beginning of the story:
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/08/neil-gorsuch-trump-comments-judges-disheartening-demoralizing

And then the door gets slammed on Trump in Gorsuch's later hearing testimony:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/21/politics/neil-gorsuch-trump-criticism-disheartening/index.html

Fuck you, Drago. I am not defending Blumenthal. I am attacking Trump. And now I am attacking you.

Drago said...

"LLR and #StrongStolenValorDem Defender" Chuck: "You know very well that I have never once defended Senator Blumenthal's misrepresentation of his military service. He apologized for it, and rightly so"

LOL

Oh, we're back to the "super-duper-I'm-really-insulted-you-could-even-suggest-such-a-thing" Chuck, which is different than the "passive-aggressive dem-talking point "Hey, I'm just asking questions here'" Chuck as well as the "gee, I'm not really being purposely obtuse here I'm just really having a hard time understanding the obvious point that everyone else in world understands yet eludes me" Chuck.

It's fun to watch them come and go.

Anne in Rockwall, TX said...

Chuck is reminding me of Garage Mahal.

President-Mom-Jeans said...

"Wait a minute! So this woman had people "secretly" listening to the president's call, and recording it?"

Chuck you worthless cunt, its statements like these that people fervently wish that you suffer a beating within an inch of your miserable life.

You truly are a human being without any redeeming value, except perhaps as fertilizer.

Drago said...

"LLR and Chief Michigan-based Minimizer of Democrat Miscreant Misdeeds" Chuck: "But the second point is that you have tried to defend Trump from his vicious little lie that Blumenthal "misrepresented" then-Judge Gorsuch in comments about how Gorsuch felt that it was demoralizing and disheartening, the way that Trump was trashtalking federal judges who ruled against him."

Oh, I forgot to add in the "Uh oh, this topic isn't going well for me so I'll just pretend we were talking about something else" Chuck.

We ought to start a pool to see how many different personalities our LLR "Sybil" really has.

Drago said...

Annie C: "Chuck is reminding me of Garage Mahal"

That is unfair to Garage Mahal, who at least was honest in his partisanship.

John Nowak said...

>We ought to start a pool to see how many different personalities our LLR "Sybil" really has.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if one were Republican?

Drago said...

"LLR and Almost Joiner of the Military Who Now Supports Dem Reps who Call Generals Racist" Chuck: "Fuck you, Drago. I am not defending Blumenthal. I am attacking Trump. And now I am attacking you.

Well, that explains that tickly feeling on my calf muscle.

Drago said...

Assrat: "Wouldn't it be hilarious if one were Republican?"

Yes, but if so it would only be an ...... (wait for it)...... (wait for it)....

... An Accident!

Drago said...

I for one cannot wait to see how our LLR "accidentally" ends up in support of dem efforts to minimize Harvey Weinsteins transgressions!

Who can forget the blog posting just some days back, after the deluge of stars came out to confirm what everyone in Hollywood (what Chuck would call the "smart" and "informed" and "educated" set) already knew about good old Harvey.

What was Chucks first scintillating take? Look at how attractive Harvey's wife is!

Well, that's the kind of "finger on the pulse" reaction that just about guarantees the world beating a path to Chucky's door to get him to advise them on all matters, political or otherwise!

Well played LLR.

BTW, did you ever get that Soros-funded "Thank You" know from Sen Bluementhal?

'cuz you sure earned it.

Fabi said...

More soiled diapers on this thread. Get a girlfriend, Chuck.

Drago said...

Quick Note to Chuck: If you feel compelled to tell someone that you are attacking them, you might want evaluate whether or not you are being effective in those attacks.

You're welcome.

Drago said...

LLR Chuck (to actual republicans): Hey, actual republicans? Look, things got a little out of hand. It's just this war and that lying son of a bi*** Johnson! I would never hurt you republicans and "accidentally" take the side of the democrats.......

walter said...

Blogger Chuck said...
let make myself real clear because I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand.
--
Behold..the empty barrel makin' lotsa noise.

Chuck said...

The Miami Herald rips into Kelly's misrepresentation of Rep. Wilson's 2015 FBI building dedication speech:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article179952536.html

NOTE ON USE: Drago and some of the other moronic Althouse commenters will immediately accuse me of siding with Rep. Wilson, of being a stealth Democrat and a leftist and being a fake Republican. Be advised; I don't like Rep. Wilson and I would never vote for her. I don't admire her, and I don't support her. I expect that I have almost nothing in common with her, politically. But I do like true stories, and I like ferreting out lies and misrepresentations, no matter who is involved. To the extent that this involves criticism of an honored military leader like General John Kelly (on whom I have otherwise heaped much praise in this nasty little affair), too bad. He can take it. He's playing politics in the matter of Rep. Wilson, as opposed to his obviously genuine and heartfelt (heart-rending) memories of his fallen son and the fallen soldiers under his command.

Go ahead now, Drago. Continue with your personal attacks.

wwww said...


Question for people arguing with Chuck:


Do you disagree with Chuck on any policy issue? Or any social/cultural issue? Or is your only disagreement that you like Trump, the person and Chuck dislikes Trump, the person? Is it really so surprising that someone wouldn't like Trump, the person? I mean, Trump talked about his dick size during a Presidential debate, he's been on the Howard Stern show a lot. A lot of people are not impressed with someone who acts like that, and expect their politicians to have a more sober and dignified personality.

Chuck voted for Trump. He's happy about the SCOTUS appointment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but believe he's a fiscal & social conservative. Are you all this angry because he doesn't like the personality of Trump?

Trumpit said...

I'm sorry when a soldier dies, but I don't believe that the president should be making personal calls to the widow or family. His time is too valuable.

Drago said...

walter: "Behold..the empty barrel makin' lotsa noise"

Uh oh. Careful there!

Chucks newest friend, Rep Wilson, claims that is a racist phrase.

If you are waiting to Chucky to render an opinion on what his newest heroine said, you'll be waiting a long time.

Drago said...

I find it particularly amusing that our LLR and stout Dem defender Chuck would utilize the old "Make the Font of a personal comment look like official blog policy!" trick.

Layers upon layers of "clever" at work here.

Impressive.

Not as impressive as his "creative" defense of Blumenthal, but still.

Gahrie said...

Chuck voted for Trump. He's happy about the SCOTUS appointment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but believe he's a fiscal & social conservative. Are you all this angry because he doesn't like the personality of Trump?

No..we're angry because he won't shut the fuck up about his hatred for Trump. Every issue, every post becomes an excuse for him to attack Trump. Then there is the fact that he refuses to realize that the reason Trump is president is because of him and people like him.

Drago said...

I personally always greatly appreciate when Chuck takes time out of his busy schedule aligning himself with the dem talking points of the day to patiently explain to us mere mortals what General Kelly is "really doing".

Mind-reading. It's always handy.

pacwest said...

"Trump has a few big ideas in mind -- patriotism, work, a kind of 1950's American traditionalism -- but nothing that satisfies Washington policy questions."

An end to unfettered illigal immigration. A constitutional based judiciary. Some sort of redress to the ACA disaster. Putting a halter on a runaway EPA. Taking a different approach to a foreign policy, with enemies and allies alike, that is decades old and has proven itself unproductive. Revising a tax code that has stretched itself into unworkability and cronyism as well as making the USA less productive. Reworking trade deals that are unfavorable to the USA. Strengthening our military. The list is much longer.

Matt said...

Having listened to Rep. Wilson's speech at the FBI building dedication, I can see why Gen. Kelly said what he did. She spends quite a bit of time at the beginning of the speech talking about how great she was for getting the building named. It's disconcerting. She also never really gets the tone right. Up until the very end, she's very jokey and informal, even when talking about how the FBI agents died.

That said, I think Gen. Kelly is being uncharitable. It's clear what Rep. Wilson meant to accomplish with the speech. She failed, but she tried. Similarly, I think Trump's critics, including Rep. Wilson, are being uncharitable. It's clear what he was trying to do with the phone call. I guess this is where we are now. There's no room for honest mistakes with our political adversaries. There's no room for benefit of the doubt. Oh well.

wwww said...


Every issue, every post becomes an excuse for him to attack Trump.


Trump is polarizing. Not a lot of people are neutral towards his style.

Kevin said...

He could fix that by speaking more clearly -- although, could he? I'm not sure he has it in him.

Oh, that is one of the better comments I've read here in a long time.


Of COURSE Chuck likes it. It simultaneously says that all of Trump's problems are Trump's fault, yet at the same time he's too broken to address them. In one sentence we demand he change, yet we also close off any obligation for us to like him should he behave differently.

This has the added impact of suggesting a particular change - "speaking more clearly" - which is so undefined as to always remain out of reach. We can all "speak more clearly" compared to whatever it was we just uttered. [ed - Kevin, this post could have been written more clearly!] So Trump is being urged by the "helpful" commenter to engage on a journey which can have no definable end.

1. Trump must change!
2. Any change will never be enough for me to positively acknowledge.
3. GOTO 1

The infinite loop is the foundation of TDS, as it was the foundation for Obama Derangement Syndrome. If you haven't spotted the pattern by now, it's because the sucker at the table is you.

Chuck said...

Drago said...
walter: "Behold..the empty barrel makin' lotsa noise"

Uh oh. Careful there!

Chucks newest friend, Rep Wilson, claims that is a racist phrase.

If you are waiting to Chucky to render an opinion on what his newest heroine said, you'll be waiting a long time.


Hey, sport, thanks for asking!

I think that Rep. Wilson's claim of 'racism' is baseless and wholly illegitimate. Just like, say, Trump's claim that Senator Blumenthal "misrepresented" Judge Gorsuch.

Okay, then! Any other questions? If not, class is dismissed and everybody have a nice weekend.

walter said...

wwww,
Perhaps after skewering Althouse, he might address this:
Ann Althouse said...I said that I thought the person setting up the call for the President would make sure that the setting for the call was right and didn't think being on a speakerphone in a car with a member of Congress was appropriate, especially a member of Congress who was fired up to make political hay out of it.
--
The closest he came was saying Kelly was in on the call too.
Kelly is just he person you want there when you make that call...and it's far from surprising a president would have such a person there.
And turns out it was important to defend against the "sector of Trump haters".

Now, I keep hearing Wilson's tearful rendition "He didn't even know his name!" because he referred to him as "your guy".
Bull. Shit.
There's the hay making in bold relief.


Kevin said...

I'm sorry when a soldier dies, but I don't believe that the president should be making personal calls to the widow or family. His time is too valuable.

Trump has taken on this obligation himself. The time it takes will come at the reduction of some other Presidential activity.

Like filling out his NCAA bracket on ESPN. Or meeting with last year's NBA Champions.

Drago said...

I particularly enjoy how Chuck, in order to increase his "LLR" bona fides, will offer up the quickest, most painless critique of a dem, (wink wink), but in those cases ALWAYS shifts to a republican/conservative to criticize immediately.

If you are wondering if that little dynamic works in reverse, well, you already know the answer to that, don't you?

walter said...

Kevin,
Remember the coverage of Obama's WH parties early on?

Yancey Ward said...

Thread music just for Chuckles: For Chuck.

Drago said...

"Chuck voted for Trump. He's happy about the SCOTUS appointment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but believe he's a fiscal & social conservative."

There is zero actual evidence of this.

walter said...

At some point, even the MSM was noticing the amount of golfing.

Chuck said...

Drago said...
I particularly enjoy how Chuck, in order to increase his "LLR" bona fides, will offer up the quickest, most painless critique of a dem, (wink wink), but in those cases ALWAYS shifts to a republican/conservative to criticize immediately.

You lying shit. Name a Republican other than Trump (a "Republican") that I have criticized. Bannon? Does he even count? Scaramucci? Are you kidding?

I'm serious. Name a Republican/conservative whom I've criticized. And no, you cannot use Hannity because he is the loudest guy in the room proclaiming that he is NOT a Republican and that is just how I want it to stay.

rcocean said...

"Having listened to Rep. Wilson's speech at the FBI building dedication, I can see why Gen. Kelly said what he did. She spends quite a bit of time at the beginning of the speech talking about how great she was for getting the building named. It's disconcerting"

I listened to it also. One problem is we don't have Comey speech that came before it. Per Kelly, that speech was dedicated almost entirely to memorializing the dead agents. That's one reason why Wilson's speech is so horrible.

But leaving that aside, Wilson starts off with an out-of-place "lets give them a round of applause" for several congressman. Then, mutters a few words (1 minute) about the dead agents, and goes off a long ridiculous self-serving story about how SHE got the building funded and built. Its precisely what General Kelly said.

Of course, CNN and left-wing media are now running banners "Kelly wrong about Speech" - even though he isn't.

David said...

Guess what? She is great but she is not extraordinary. There are black people like her all across the country. Certainly in the part of it where I live.

rcocean said...

Its typical of the MSM/DNC to handle the story this way. Kelly destroyed Wilson and that should have been the end of it. Instead, the MSM/DNC decided to undermine Trump and discredit Kelly by claiming Wilson's FBI speech was misrepresented.

IOW, the shyster trick of focusing on a minor detail to discredit the whole story. It just shows how the Press isn't objective in the least, but an arm of the DNC.

David said...

"I'm sorry when a soldier dies, but I don't believe that the president should be making personal calls to the widow or family. His time is too valuable."

The experience of the calls is to valuable for the President not to make the calls.

Chuck said...

Gahrie said...
"Chuck voted for Trump. He's happy about the SCOTUS appointment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but believe he's a fiscal & social conservative. Are you all this angry because he doesn't like the personality of Trump?"

No..we're angry because he won't shut the fuck up about his hatred for Trump. Every issue, every post becomes an excuse for him to attack Trump.

By my count, Ann Althouse has put up 10 blog posts today. I think that I have commented on just one of them. The one that directly addressed the fallout from yet another Trump Tweetstorm.

rcocean said...

I really wonder if some Black people just don't understand the whole "Patriotism" thing.

Maybe that is the reason for the kneeling during the anthem, and their surprise at the reaction.

Of course, Liberals don't either, and most Blacks are liberal.

PackerBronco said...

The only bad person in this sorry mess is Wilson who decided to take the least charitable interpretation of Trump's words and use them as the basis for a cynical political attack while standing on the grave of a dead serviceman.

Kevin said...

Kevin,
Remember the coverage of Obama's WH parties early on?


Yes. Trump will forfeit time with Jay-Z and Beyonce, instead phoning the families of those who gave their lives for their country.

Chuck said...

rcocean said...
"Having listened to Rep. Wilson's speech at the FBI building dedication, I can see why Gen. Kelly said what he did. She spends quite a bit of time at the beginning of the speech talking about how great she was for getting the building named. It's disconcerting"

I listened to it also. One problem is we don't have Comey speech that came before it. Per Kelly, that speech was dedicated almost entirely to memorializing the dead agents. That's one reason why Wilson's speech is so horrible.

But leaving that aside, Wilson starts off with an out-of-place "lets give them a round of applause" for several congressman. Then, mutters a few words (1 minute) about the dead agents, and goes off a long ridiculous self-serving story about how SHE got the building funded and built. Its precisely what General Kelly said.

Of course, CNN and left-wing media are now running banners "Kelly wrong about Speech" - even though he isn't.

Do you realize that your general description about inappropriate tone applies to Trump's infamous post-inauguration speech at CIA headquarters?

PackerBronco said...

Actually, let me ammend my previous comment.

There are two bad people: one is Wilson and the other is any member of press which advances this story in a way designed to maximize political damage to the president.

Ken B said...

"Does it really help Trump-haters to put all this focus on Wilson? I think it's really awful."

It doesn't help them and it is awful, and it is revealing that Chuck cannot see that. It's like someone took his toy away and he can't accept it. he had this nice juicy Trump-is-a-lout story, this lovely Trump-doesn't-care-about-dead-soldiers, Trump-is-uncaring-to-widows fable and then -- it was snatched from him!

Drago said...

PB: "There are two bad people: one is Wilson and the other is any member of press which advances this story in a way designed to maximize political damage to the president."

Ouch.

Chucks MSM friends hardest hit.

Pookie Number 2 said...

No..we're angry because he won't shut the fuck up about his hatred for Trump. Every issue, every post becomes an excuse for him to attack Trump.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm never angry at Chuck. I'm entertained by the never-ending spectacle he provides in sacrificing his integrity in service to his uniquely penetratingly insightful observation that Trump is inarticulate.

Chuck seems to think that if only he stamps his foot one more time, then people will care. He's wrong, but I find his tantrums (and - let's be clear - Drago's responses) to be entertaining

Yancey Ward said...

I listened to the call made to Alencar's wife and I have to applaud Chuck for not writing that the invitation to the Oval Office was Trump making a pass at the widow. Score one for Chuck.

Yancey Ward said...

Like Pookie No.2, I find Chuck's cognitive dissonance just about the most amusing thing on this site- basically only second to the intentionally amusing Laslo. Not even Inga, Toothless, or ARM bring as much pleasure as Chuck does on a daily basis here because they, at least, are honestly dishonest, if such a thing exists. Chuck, on the other hand, is just laughably pathetic.

Drago said...

Yancey Ward: "I listened to the call made to Alencar's wife and I have to applaud Chuck for not writing that the invitation to the Oval Office was Trump making a pass at the widow. Score one for Chuck."

Indeed, kudos for some degree of self-restraint heretofore unseen.

However Yancey, we cannot yet discount the possibility that LLR Chuck has yet listen to that recording, thus, your "praise" might be premature.

It's also possible that LLR Chuck is so busy consuming the Dem talking points of the day that he has not yet had sufficient time for "independent" analysis of the situation. Once again, the praise is potentially premature.

Still, one can hope for the best, can't one?

alan markus said...

Chuck, on the other hand, is just laughably pathetic.

It is as if he is in middle school walking around with a "kick me" sign on his back, and clueless as to why he is constantly getting kicked as he walks the hallways.

Drago said...

The strategic ploy on the part of the dems and their voice-actuated lifelong republican allies is to keep screaming about this to cloud the reporting on the Clinton/Obama/Mueller/Comey/Russia/Putin collusion for the largest bribes/pay for play/kickbacks and corruption in our nations history.

Once again, LLR Chuck is happy to "enlist" in the Dem Talking Points Army.

Per usual.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

That was a very nice, normal phone call. The wife seems to be an amazingly strong woman. Not every widow is going to be so strong and put together at such a time. I won’t criticize the widow of LaDavid Johnson for the way she reacted or that she allowed her family friend, the Congresswoman to listen in. Trump could’ve been Presidential by handling the situation differently. It would’ve taken the wind out of the sails of the controversy and it all would’ve blown over. But Trump, for whatever reasons just cannot react normally for any length of time.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“I really wonder if some Black people just don't understand the whole "Patriotism" thing.

Maybe that is the reason for the kneeling during the anthem, and their surprise at the reaction.

Of course, Liberals don't either, and most Blacks are liberal.”

What? Wasn’t the widow in this video black?

Yancey Ward said...

Unknown,

It is normal to respond to a slander on ones character- it is abnormal to grin and bear it. However, presidential behavior is abnormal, however, given that his silence would have been used as confirmation of Wilson's original claim, I don't blame Trump for taking a different path, and it worked out quite well, too.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“It is normal to respond to a slander on ones character- it is abnormal to grin and bear it. However, presidential behavior is abnormal, however, given that his silence would have been used as confirmation of Wilson's original claim, I don't blame Trump for taking a different path, and it worked out quite well, too.”

First, we don’t know that it was slander. Trump is a known liar and I believe the Johnson family over Trump. It is abnormal for the POTUS to act the way he does when he feels he’s been wronged. He goes overboard like a 10 year old. Trump wouldn5 have needed to remain silent , he could’ve tactfully said he is sorry that his meaning was misconstrued. How hard would that have been?

walter said...

Unknown said...What? Wasn’t the widow in this video black?
--
Note "some" and "most".
We don't know the widow's politics..but we know Wilson's.
She is clearly in Rahmbo's never let a crisis go to waste school of thought.

donald said...

Yeah, that "hate" And "hurt" shit. I mean, who does that?

walter said...

Chuck's pretty quick with always potent "Fuck you!"

Drago said...

Unknown: "Trump could’ve been Presidential by handling the situation differently"

Yes, Trump could have silently by while Unknowns pals called him Hitler.

You know, be a "respectable" "house trained" "lifelong republican"-like guy.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“Note "some" and "most".

And some white people dont understand patriotism also.

We don't know the widow's politics...but we know Wilson’s.”

So it was her politics that is getting you folks all riled up? What if she were to have been a rightist and reported hearing the same thing?

Drago said...

walter: "Chuck's pretty quick with always potent "Fuck you!"

BTW, as with Unknown/Ingas unwillingness to criticize the sexual enslavers of young girls if they happen to be islamic supremacists, Chuck would never stoop to using the kind of language with dems.

walter said...

Ah..the ole "What if".
Got me with that one...

Drago said...

Yancey Ward: "Unknown, It is normal to respond to a slander on ones character- it is abnormal to grin and bear it"

The dems got used to dealing with all of those "nice" republicans who, when the lefties are sawing their heads off rhetorically, are always very polite to not move so as to avoid dulling the blade.

Because that would be bad manners.

Drago said...

"And some white people dont understand patriotism also."

Patriotism is white supremacy.

Dialogue is white supremacy.

Haven't you been listening to your lefty pals?

n.n said...

Human rights is white supremacy, which is why "good" people are Pro-Choice.

Judging people by the "content of their character" is white supremacy, which is why "good" people are class (e.g. color, sex) diverse.

Did the topic of corpse men come up? Classic Obama.

mockturtle said...

Chuck posts an italicized disclaimer: NOTE ON USE: Drago and some of the other moronic Althouse commenters will immediately accuse me of siding with Rep. Wilson, of being a stealth Democrat and a leftist and being a fake Republican. Be advised; I don't like Rep. Wilson and I would never vote for her. I don't admire her, and I don't support her. I expect that I have almost nothing in common with her, politically. But I do like true stories, and I like ferreting out lies and misrepresentations, no matter who is involved. To the extent that this involves criticism of an honored military leader like General John Kelly (on whom I have otherwise heaped much praise in this nasty little affair), too bad. He can take it. He's playing politics in the matter of Rep. Wilson, as opposed to his obviously genuine and heartfelt (heart-rending) memories of his fallen son and the fallen soldiers under his command.

Methinks he doth protest a bit too much.

Chuck said...

Drago said...
walter: "Chuck's pretty quick with always potent "Fuck you!"

BTW, as with Unknown/Ingas unwillingness to criticize the sexual enslavers of young girls if they happen to be islamic supremacists, Chuck would never stoop to using the kind of language with dems.

AND:

Drago said...
Unknown: "Trump could’ve been Presidential by handling the situation differently"

Yes, Trump could have silently by while Unknowns pals called him Hitler.

You know, be a "respectable" "house trained" "lifelong republican"-like guy.

Drago, I insult you because you have been so relentless in the spurious personal attacks on me.

I tried to straighten this out with Atlhouse a long time ago. I said that I don't care about her commenters (who seem fascinated if not obsessed with me), and that what it was all about was my attacking Trump (and not other commenters), with the commenters attacking me personally because they had nothing substantive in reply about Trump. But what Althouse said is that she doesn't have the technology to ban particular commenters and instead she is left with the (unenviable, painstaking) task of cleaning up and deleting individual posts. And not surprisingly, she didn't want to do it.

You are a truly amazing fuckhead, Drago. For more than a year, you keep up these personal attack memes on me ("LLR," "stolen valor Blumenthal," Greta van Susteren, etc. etc.)

And now you take pride in Donald J. Trump's never letting a challenge or an insult go unanswered. So just think of me as taking a page from the Trump playbook. I'm a counterpuncher I try to hit back ten times as hard when somebody hits me.

Kthanxbye.

Inga...Allie Oop said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Inga...Allie Oop said...

Chuck,
I’ve found Drago to be unworthy of any response. His blatherings are so outlandish that I am beginning to think he needs my sympathy more than my response. Thank goodness he holds no public office.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Speech by General Kelly - a must read

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=c7c578f94365a99fb2dd164c1&id=36d19acc3b&e=0b9061feb5

Gahrie said...

By my count, Ann Althouse has put up 10 blog posts today. I think that I have commented on just one of them. The one that directly addressed the fallout from yet another Trump Tweetstorm.

Good boy! You're making progress...soon the electroshock therapies won't be needed anymore!

Drago said...

"LLR and Meticulous Demander Of Accuracy On The Part Of Everyone Else" Chuck: "... Greta van Susteren, etc. etc.) .."

I have never talked about Greta and you.

It's unfortunate you can't keep some basic things straight.

Not unexpected of course. Just unfortunate.

Drago said...

LLR Chuck: "Drago, I insult you because you have been so relentless in the spurious personal attacks on me."

Yeah, Chuck just wrote that.

On this blog.

Without irony.

Lol

Drago said...

It's adorable how unknown/Inga rushes to LLR's defense, even though the Chuck claims to have voted for Trump, which Inga claimed makes you a Nazi.

Now why would an insane leftist like unknown come to a Nazi's defense.

It's almost as if Inga doesn't really believe Chuck is a LLR.

Now why would she think that?....

Lol

FullMoon said...

Chuck cries out:
"I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand


Haha! Nobody cares enough to be hurt by this.

Chuckie , who by the way, voted for Trump, is still feeling hurt from earlier abuse from the commenters.

Poor guy has not been this upset since the divorce.
Of course, his Greta tirade will always be my favorite, where he basically threatened to give her titty a twist to show her how it feels (or something similar)

rcocean said...

Unknown-drago-chuck-chuck-drago-unknown.

60 posts.

Yawn.

FullMoon said...

And now you take pride in Donald J. Trump's never letting a challenge or an insult go unanswered. So just think of me as taking a page from the Trump playbook. I'm a counterpuncher I try to hit back ten times as hard when somebody hits me.

Kthanxbye.


You aren't landing any punches Chuckie but keep trying, it's fun to watch.
Kthanxbye?
Uh oh ! Looks like some little girl has stolen Chucks identity !

Chuck said...

FullMoon said...
Chuck cries out:
"I want to make this hurt for you and Atlhouse and all of TrumpLand

Haha! Nobody cares enough to be hurt by this.

Chuckie , who by the way, voted for Trump, is still feeling hurt from earlier abuse from the commenters.

Poor guy has not been this upset since the divorce.
Of course, his Greta tirade will always be my favorite, where he basically threatened to give her titty a twist to show her how it feels (or something similar)


Except that never happened. And you've tossed out this mindless allegation before. And I've called you on it before. And you backed down when I challenged you pointedly on the subject.

You're pathological.

FullMoon said...

Except that never happened. And you've tossed out this mindless allegation before. And I've called you on it before. And you backed down when I challenged you pointedly on the subject.

You're pathological.


If pathological is good, then I am it.

Big fat woman abusing, liar Chuck repeatedly threatened last year:

"Chuck said...

Fuck you, Full Moon. I am not going to "deny it." I say again; I propose to grab Greta exactly the way that Corey grabbed Michelle. I expect Greta to be surprised and offended, and maybe even a bit frightened. Good. That's how Michelle felt, no doubt. But Greta thinks it was frivolous in Michelle's case. Again, good for me when I do it to her."

Spiros said...

Congresswoman Wilson must have recorded the conversation La David Johnson's widow had with President Trump as well. This thing was a setup from the beginning. I can't wait to hear what's in that recording!

Fabi said...

No fair using Chuck's "practically verbatim" quotes against him!

Kevin said...

I can't wait to hear what's in that recording!

If it truly made Trump look bad, you'd have heard it already.

Chuck said...

Right. I proposed to grab the ugly lying whore Greta van Susteren by the arm for the sole and precise reason that Greta said that Corey Lewandowski's grabbing Michelle Fields by the arm was frivolous and unworthy of a misdemeanor charge.

Later, when employed for a short time by MSNBC, Greta claimed that a protestor being physically pushed out of a Trump rally was a clear case requiring a criminal investigation.

All I proposed was to do what Greta had (unconvincingly) self-proclaimed to be a non-issue. I wrote it to make a point about Greta and the Lewandowski case.

Full Moon, the "titty-twisting" language is your own fantasy. You know that. I've never used that language, and when I demanded that you quote me, you couldn't and then you admitted that you were wrong.

Chuck, I have acknowledged mis remembering your titty twisting comment, which is why I did not repeat it this evening. I have, however posted several legitimate instances of you wishing to do physical harm to others in the exact same way...etc/

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2017/04/at-late-afternoon-cafe.html?showComment=1493519663128#c1203428048339628312

Fuck you, you hateful waste of time.

Fabi said...

"...ugly lying whore..."

What are three words Chuck would never use to describe Rachel Maddow?

FullMoon said...

Chuck said...

Right. I proposed to grab the ugly lying whore Greta van Susteren by the arm for the sole and precise reason that Greta said that Corey Lewandowski's grabbing Michelle Fields by the arm was frivolous and unworthy of a misdemeanor charge.

Later, when employed for a short time by MSNBC, Greta claimed that a protestor being physically pushed out of a Trump rally was a clear case requiring a criminal investigation.

All I proposed was to do what Greta had (unconvincingly) self-proclaimed to be a non-issue. I wrote it to make a point about Greta and the Lewandowski case.

Full Moon, the "titty-twisting" language is your own fantasy. You know that. I've never used that language, and when I demanded that you quote me, you couldn't and then you admitted that you were wrong.

Chuck, I have acknowledged mis remembering your titty twisting comment, which is why I did not repeat it this evening. I have, however posted several legitimate instances of you wishing to do physical harm to others in the exact same way...etc/

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2017/04/at-late-afternoon-cafe.html?showComment=1493519663128#c1203428048339628312

Fuck you, you hateful waste of time.


10/20/17, 5:47 PM

Ny goodness, your ex really stung you in the divorce, didn't she? Is that why you hate women so much? With that attitude, does not take much of a leap to imagine spousal abuse on her filing.
As for me, of course I am man enough and a decent enough person to acknowledge mis remembering exactly what your threats were. It has been over a year since I introduced the titty twister moniker, so I cannot remember exact circumstances. Can only imagine it was done in an attempt to add levity to the situation and hopefully calm you down.
Unfortunate you continue to abcess over it. SAD !


Chuck said...

So is this now the end, forever, of your misguided and hateful use of your own "titty-twister" fantasy? Will you never again use it in relation to me?

Yes or no please.

FullMoon said...

Chuck said...

So is this now the end, forever, of your misguided and hateful use of your own "titty-twister" fantasy? Will you never again use it in relation to me?

Yes or no please.

10/20/17, 6:25 PM


Shirley, you can't be serious.

Chuck said...

Fabi said...
"...ugly lying whore..."

What are three words Chuck would never use to describe Rachel Maddow?


Hmmm. I'll give that one a go in reverse. Here is WHAT I WOULD CALL HER:

A. "Boring lesbian ideologue."
B. "Patronizing phony liberal."
C. "Annoying leftwing unmensch."

Where did this meme start, wherein I am a supposed fan of Rachel Maddow? I suppose it stems from the interview from late 2016 that Maddow did with Kellyanne Conway. I commented here at that time, saying that I thought that that one interview was "brilliant." I said that Maddow's questioning was sharp, and I even congratulated Kellyanne for her performance under nearly-impossible circumstances. I encouraged everyone to watch it and make up their own minds. Maddow was bright, Conway was agile and hard-working, and Trump ended up looking like a doofus given how his statements left Conway with nowhere to run.

I said all of that at the time the interview aired in 2016. Now, in mid-2017, Rachel Maddow has won an Emmy for that interview, as the best live interview of the year.

It is, I'm quite sure, the only nice thing I have written about Rachel Maddow and it turned out to be pretty spot-on in the view of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z16xhQL3PUE

Fabi said...

None as demeaning as "ugly lying whore" -- but we knew that.

Drago said...

Maddows "brilliant" interview was to shut up long enough to let Kellyanne actually finish a sentence.

For that, the uber-leftists at Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded uber-leftist Maddow an award.

How....unexpected.

Naturally, LLR genuflects in the direction of any lefty governing body that rewards another lefty any award.

Chuck probably thinks obambi did something special to get a Nobel too. After all, how can you go wrong? They gave the guy a "prize"!

Known Unknown said...

Doubtful Trump knows his FBS college football standings, but Mizzou ain't a great team now. He might know that, and was obviously offering up flattery to the woman that her son plays for a 'good team.' I suppose just playing on an SEC team is big-time football, and worthy of praise.

Bad Lieutenant said...

I'm a counterpuncher I try to hit back ten times as hard when somebody hits me.


Oh, then you MUST come to New York, Chuck.

Bad Lieutenant said...

I say again; I propose to grab Greta exactly the way that Corey grabbed Michelle. I expect Greta to be surprised and offended, and maybe even a bit frightened. Good.



Bet you don't expect her to pull out her Ruger LCP and put one between your beady little eyes.

Haven't you got anything to say about Barron Trump? It seems ages since we've had an update.

Achilles said...

Just like with the NFL Trump is again on the side of Veterans and people who like this country and the left is raging against patriotism and unity and calling generals racist.

I don't think his enemies are all that smart.

Yancey Ward said...

I don't think his enemies are smart. FIFY.

Chuck said...

Achilles said...
Just like with the NFL Trump is again on the side of Veterans and people who like this country and the left is raging against patriotism and unity and calling generals racist.

You are quite welcome, to rage against the Left, for its repetitive and false allegations of "racism." You'll never see me side with them. They have cried "wolf!" on the racism thing about a half a million times too many.

Yet you folks never seem to accept it when conservatives and Republicans criticize things like Kelly's reckless and mistaken use of Rep. Wilson's FBI building dedication speech. Kelly's got an amazing personal story to tell. He would have carried the day -- he did, for about 20 hours -- if he stuck to his own matters.

But Kelly had to do the Trumpy thing. He had to attack. He had to try to go after Rep. Wilson (who is such a ludicrous figure and such a deep backbencher it hardly seems worth it) and in the process he fucked the story up completely.

Kelly, by himself, makes a lot of people want a president like him. Kelly, when he goes "Trump", looks like an asshole. Just like Trump.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Chuck, you are talking nonsense. In other news, water is wet.

Chuck said...

You see, Bad Lieutenant, Kelly really screwed the pooch when he went after Rep. Wilson.

Here are just a few of them:
~Kelly got the name wrong, of one of the two slain FBI agents about whom he was speaking so solemnly.
~Kelly got it wrong, about Rep. Wilson claiming that she got the funding for the building.
~Kelly got it wrong, about the tone of Rep. Wilson's speech in general.
~Kelly got it wrong, when he took offense at Rep. Wilson being in on the call on Mrs. Johnson's end; that happens all the time. People on cellphones can do that at will, anywhere, at the press of a button. Other Gold Star families have done the same and indeed Althouse posted such a video of that very thing happening.

Kelly never should have gone after Rep. Wilson. He should have stuck to what he knew. Kelly was doing fine, with his military experience and his personal experience with soliders Killed In Action. That is where he should have stopped.

His going after Rep. Wilson (a political small fish if ever there was one) just made him look venal and petty. Like, say, Donald J. Trump.

Bad Lieutenant said...

Wow. Just wow.

If you're not actually being paid by the Left, they should consider it. Might actually be a better ROI than Hillary Clinton.