Trump approval down to 33%, Republican Support is starting to crumble.

[Deleted]

There is too much focus on Trump as the bad guy instead of actually coming up with an alternative (Clinton certainly is NOT).

As long as there is no viable counter-candidate to run against him in the next election, he will be re-elected, no mater his popularity.

[Breccia]

There is too much focus on Trump as the bad guy instead of actually coming up with an alternative (Clinton certainly is NOT).

As long as there is no viable counter-candidate to run against him in the next election, he will be re-elected, no mater his popularity.

This is not the resounding defense of Trump I would expect. "Hey, you could have picked a better opponent" is not a sufficient defense for Trump damaging our domestic and international relations, engaging in military actions and/or threats with Yemen Afghanistan Iran Venezuela Syria and especially North Korea, causing massive damage to the GOP agenda such as the infrastructure plan -- you do remember this was supposed to be infrastructure week, right? -- while still being under multiple forms of federal investigations and taking to the cameras twice and twitter this morning to not just refuse to condemn American Nazis and the KKK, but to defend their actions as "just protesting a statue being taken down" to applause from David Duke and company.

And yet, you claim Clinton was the worse candidate. Too bad, she lost, get over it. That smell floating in the air is the dumpster fire of the person you're supporting, thinking you're safe from his actions and policies overseas. At best, you can defend him with hypotheticals and predicting the future out to 2020 which is really ballsy for someone who doesn't think polls work. At worst, you're so far into denial you can see crocodiles and hieroglyphics spelling out "TRUMP IS A LOSER".

[Deleted]

There is too much focus on Trump as the bad guy instead of actually coming up with an alternative (Clinton certainly is NOT).

As long as there is no viable counter-candidate to run against him in the next election, he will be re-elected, no mater his popularity.

We are still seven months into this administration, although it does look like seven years.

[Deleted]

This is not the resounding defense of Trump I would expect. "Hey, you could have picked a better opponent" is not a sufficient defense for Trump damaging our domestic and international relations, engaging in military actions and/or threats with Yemen Afghanistan Iran Venezuela Syria and especially North Korea, causing massive damage to the GOP agenda such as the infrastructure plan -- you do remember this was supposed to be infrastructure week, right? -- while still being under multiple forms of federal investigations and taking to the cameras twice and twitter this morning to not just refuse to condemn American Nazis and the KKK, but to defend their actions as "just protesting a statue being taken down" to applause from David Duke and company.

And yet, you claim Clinton was the worse candidate. Too bad, she lost, get over it. That smell floating in the air is the dumpster fire of the person you're supporting, thinking you're safe from his actions and policies overseas. At best, you can defend him with hypotheticals and predicting the future out to 2020 which is really ballsy for someone who doesn't think polls work. At worst, you're so far into denial you can see crocodiles and hieroglyphics spelling out "TRUMP IS A LOSER".

Clinton was such a bad candidate that the democrats actually helped Trump win. Everyone knew this early on, yet she was pushed through regardless, so enjoy the result the coming years

Don't get me wrong, even though I still enjoy the Trump show and the insane circus that is the USA, I would've preferred the stability that Clinton would bring, if only for my own interests. But if there is no better candidate next election, you get ringleader Trump once again.

[Belize]

Aw, do I not get an answer?

Trump supporters are sad, always trying to twist things and can't even face facts.

[Breccia]

Trump attacks Graham.

President Trump early Thursday attacked Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) over his criticism of Trump’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, Va., warning that “The people of South Carolina will remember!”

“Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists … and people like Ms. Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can't forget his election trouncing.The people of South Carolina will remember!” Trump tweeted.

Graham on Wednesday said Trump’s reaction to the violence was dividing the country, saying he made a “moral equivalency” between white supremacists who attended the weekend rally and Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old woman who was killed after being hit by a car allegedly driven by a man with far-right views.

"I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency," Graham said. "Many Republicans ... will fight back against the idea that the Party of Lincoln has a welcome mat out for the David Dukes of the world."

Graham responded to the president later on Thursday morning, urging him to "fix" his remarks on the Charlottesville violence.

Graham said Trump is receiving praise "from some of the most racist and hate-filled individuals and groups in our country" after his remarks stating that both sides were to blame for the violence.

White supremacist leaders David Duke and Richard Spencer both lauded Trump's remarks.

"For the sake of our Nation — as our President — please fix this. History is watching us all," Graham said.

Remember, Graham said what almost everyone said. Everyone, on many sides, pointed out -- correctly -- that Trump chose to make a moral equivalence between the protesters and the American Nazis and the KKK, who murdered a person. He has now done so twice, once by ignoring a prepared statement and once by the Q&A session, and is further attempting to deflect by making this about statues with a series of 6AM tweets.

So why Graham? He could have attacked the media, he does that a lot. Or Democrats. Or Rosie O'Donnell. Or, you know, McCain who has been exceptionally vocal and Trump called him out recently. He's already gone after Graham for Trump's own failure at health care, he's intent on making the relationship worse for some reason. It's like he's taking this massive cross of horrible PR he has to bear, covering it with the rest of his political capital, and setting the cross on fire in public. What gives?

- - - Updated - - -

Trump supporters are sad, always trying to twist things and can't even face facts.

Well, what choice do they have? Look at what they've got to work with there. Not sympathetic, they brought it on themselves, but there's no other option for them except therapy or admitting they were wrong.

P.S. If they chose "therapy" they better hurry, the GOP isn't done trying to take their health care away.

[Adam Jensen]

And this is how far the left has sunk. They believe the folks who disagree with them (and outnumber them) are in a cult, in fear of lizards or something. Also, white people.

Well, considering the right's incessent need to spin and justify every terrible and/or stupid thing Trump has said makes them look pretty cultish . . .

[Flarelaine]

So why Graham? He could have attacked the media, he does that a lot. Or Democrats. Or Rosie O'Donnell. Or, you know, McCain who has been exceptionally vocal and Trump called him out recently. He's already gone after Graham for Trump's own failure at health care, he's intent on making the relationship worse for some reason. It's like he's taking this massive cross of horrible PR he has to bear, covering it with the rest of his political capital, and setting the cross on fire in public. What gives?

Unlike most of those other people, Graham may have a shot at his job. He tried his hand already in the primaries last year and is very well positioned to run as an early, vocal and consistent critic of Trump.

[Deleted]

Graham is already preparing 2020, anyone can see it.

[Breccia]

Trump’s Presidency Enters Uncharted Waters

The president’s job approval rating hovers between 35 percent and 40 percent. Key American corporations have withdrawn from his business-advisory councils after the response to Charlottesville. He’s regularly lashing out at members of his own party. His top advisers are calling up liberal publications — and letting loose. Forty percent of Americans want him impeached, according to a new poll.

And we’re on the 210th day of his time in office (without a major legislative accomplishment under his belt, and with a special counsel already investigating him and his team).

Here’s the thing: We have no idea how this all plays out for President Trump and his administration. We’ve seen Trump survive past controversies (Khizr Khan, Access Hollywood), but he no longer has an opponent/foil like Hillary Clinton.

We’ve seen past presidents (LBJ, Nixon, Clinton) endure their share of turbulent times, but it’s never come this early in a presidency. And we’ve never seen so many members of the president’s own political party openly criticize him, but still vote for his agenda most of the time.

Using the words “uncharted waters” has become a bit cliché during the Trump Era — everything has been so different. But there also are no better words to use right now. And the turmoil comes at a pressing time: escalating tensions with North Korea, a debt ceiling that needs to be raised, and midterm elections that are right around the corner.

- - - Updated - - -

More support, crumbling.

Sen. Corker says Trump has not demonstrated "stability"

Republican Sen. Bob Corker had strong words for President Trump in his deep red state of Tennessee on Thursday, saying the president has not demonstrated he possesses the stability, competence or understanding of the country's character he needs to succeed.

Speaking to reporters after a rotary club speech in Chattanooga, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said "radical changes" must take place in regards to Mr. Trump. Corker's comments are some of the strongest any Republican has made in recent days, amid the political fallout from Mr. Trump's unscripted remarks Tuesday in which he said "both sides" were to blame for the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Corker's comments are particularly noteworthy given that he is up for reelection in 2018 in a state where Mr. Trump carried 91 of 95 counties in 2016.

"I do think that there do need to be radical changes," Corker told reporters. "The president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrates in order to be successful. And we need for him to be successful, our nation needs for him to be successful. It doesn't matter whether you are Republican or Democrat. We need for our president, the world needs our president to be successful."

"He has also recently not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation," Corker added. "He has not demonstrated that he understands what makes this nation great and what it is today. He has got to demonstrate the characteristics of a president who understands that. And without the things I just mentioned happening our nation is going to go through great peril."

Corker said the president needs to take stock of his role in the country, and move beyond his own interests.

"I will say where there needs to be radical changes take place at the White house itself," Corker said. "It has to happen. I think the president needs to take stock of the role that he plays in our nation and move beyond himself. Move way beyond himself and move to a place where daily he's waking up and thinking about what's best for our nation."

Corker also defended his Republican colleague Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, after the president took to Twitter earlier in the day to attack him. The president is supporting Flake's primary challenger.

"Senator Flake is one of the finest human beings I've ever met," Corker said. "The White House would be well served to embrace the character, the substance of someone like Senator Flake. One of the finest people I serve with. He's got a conscience. He is a real conservative. And I have the utmost of praise for him. I love serving with him. I hope for the good of the country he'll be someone serving our country after 2018 and I'm thankful to know him."

- - - Updated - - -

Addendum.

Dickerson: Corker's critique of Trump is "extraordinary"

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker unleashed a harsh critique of President Trump on Thursday in reaction to the president's comments blaming "both sides" for weekend violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

During a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, an apparent attendee allegedly plowed a car into a group of counter-protesters, killing one woman.

Corker, the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said, in part, "the president has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrates in order to be successful."

Corker later said Mr. Trump "has also recently not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation.

As CBS News chief Washington correspondent and "Face the Nation" moderator John Dickerson explained on Thursday's "CBS Evening News," the criticism is notable because Corker is "not one of the usual suspects who's always criticizing the president. He's been golfing with the president."

"But in this instance, he says if the president doesn't solve his problems, our nation is going to go through great peril. So where this is coming from is extraordinary and the critique he's making is a thorough one. It's not just something he tossed off," Dickerson said to CBS News' Anthony Mason.

Corker also called upon Mr. Trump to "move beyond himself." Dickerson says that points to a central critique of Mr. Trump that has persisted since the presidential campaign: "That his impulsiveness that made him so popular among his base is incompatible with the office he holds."

"So when [Corker] talks about the lack of discipline, the lack of stability, those are central, elemental characteristics the president has to have. And Sen. Corker is saying that they are not there in the president now," Dickerson said.

Despite the recent staff shakeups at the White House, Dickerson says, the criticism is aimed at only the president, and "there is no amount of staff you can ring around a president to fix" the problems as Sen. Corker has identified.

"He calls on the president to have some self-reflection, so if you're in the White House you have to hope the president is listening," Dickerson said.

[akris15]

Graham is already preparing 2020, anyone can see it.

Its going to be interesting Kasich is also posturing and he will be done with the Ohio Governorship in 2018 so he will have plenty of time to build another operation under the radar.

[Brubear]

Guess his bump with Republicans from the North Korea thing didn't last?

[Breccia]

Now granted, this guy is biased, because Trump tried to sue him for all the royalties for the book Trump paid him to write. Or, it's possible he's taunting Trump into a fury because he knows it will work. But he did research Trump more than anyone else ever has, and, well, just hear him out.

'Art of the Deal' ghostwriter predicts Trump will resign

The ghostwriter of "The Art of the Deal" thinks President Donald Trump will eventually call it quits.

Tony Schwartz, the man behind Trump's 1987 memoir, took to Twitter on Wednesday to vocalize his forecast for Trump's political future.

"The circle is closing at blinding speed," Schwartz tweeted. "Trump is going to resign and declare victory before Mueller and congress leave him no choice."

In a follow-up tweet, he added: "Trump's presidency is effectively over. Would be amazed if he survives till end of the year. More likely resigns by fall, if not sooner."

While working on the memoir in the 1980s, Schwartz spent 18 months with Trump. Over the past few years, he has been an outspoken critic of the former businessman, now President.

"I put lipstick on a pig," he told The New Yorker last year, adding that he feels "a deep sense of remorse" for "presenting Trump in a way that brought him wider attention and made him more appealing than he is."

This is not the first time Schwartz has made predictions about Trump's presidency. In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper in May, Schwartz also said he believed Trump will resign and then declare victory.

"I surely believe that at some point over the next period of time, he's going to have to figure out a way to resign," Schwartz said. "The reason he's going to do that, as opposed to go through what could be an impeachment process or a continuing humiliation, is that he wants to figure out a way, as he has done all his career, to turn a loss into a victory. So he will declare victory when he leaves."

Now obviously he has no idea what's going on in the probe -- well, okay, maybe he knows about shady business dealings that date back to his time, but probably nothing useful in context. But he has been saying what a few people have suggested, that Trump, like Nixon will resign before being impeached, should it come to that. And yes, a fair number of people including some overlap have also said he would declare victory before leaving office and/or not running in 2020.

I doubt @Skroe will agree he'll be out this year, however.

[Breccia]

Oh god, Trump quits before midterms, Pence takes over, Democrats stay useless, Republicans blame everything bad on Trump and get another term . . .

I see your concern, but don't share it. The author is talking about Trump being driven from office by Mueller and quitting before the investigation is over. Now, this guy has no access to the investigation. He's making a prediction on Trump's behavior when that happens, based on Trump's character which knows better than possibly anyone, but he doesn't have classified info.

Let's also not forget, if Trump does, as the author suggests, quit before the investigation is over, the investigation will continue. You don't just stop a criminal investigation because the target quit their job. If Russia helped Team Trump with their knowledge and help, if Trump made illegal business dealings, or if Trump obstructed justice, those crimes can still be prosecuted. That immediately stains Pence and the GOP, more so if Pence pardons Trump. The Democrats would smell blood in the water and lunge. Worse, as some people have already suggested about Trump vs. Graham and/or Trump vs. McConnell in 2020, fresh GOPers would run against incumbents, splitting the vote and helping the Democrats win seats.

The Democrats are not "staying useless" they have no majority in anything. But they already have lots to work with, due to votes in the House and the Senate to remove health care from millions of people, and their support of Trump. Trump resigning before the investigation is over will give them more. The investigation concluding could give them everything, depending on the result of course.

And I'm not convinced Pence is likable enough to win in 2020. I don't remember him even trying to run in 2016.

- - - Updated - - -

We've been saying since this started that Trump doesn't listen. We know about the folders he's brought twice a day with pictures of himself. We know about being smarter than the generals. We know about going off-script.

If Trump is going to start listening, he's got precious little time left to do it. Newt Gingrich is one of Trump's most ardent defenders and even he is openly admitting things are crumbling into orange cheezy dust.

Gingrich: Trump presidency at risk without 'serious changes'

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich said President Trump needs to make “serious changes” if he wants to have a stable presidency.

The Trump ally said in a Fox News interview with Bill Hemmer Friday that Trump has taken a “good first step” in bringing in John Kelly as chief of staff, but that other changes are necessary.

"You don’t get down to 35 percent approval and have people in your own party shooting at you and conclude that everything’s going fine," he said.

Gingrich added that Trump is in a “qualitatively different position” now than when he endured previous controversies.
"If he wants to get his agenda enacted that if he wants get things done and have a presidency that is stable, he is going to have to have a couple of serious changes."

Gingrich brought up Trump’s 1997 book “The Art of the Comeback,” adding that he needs to take his own advice and start thinking about “what hasn’t been working” with his presidency.

“I think he’s in a position right now where he’s much more isolated than he realizes,” Gingrich said.

Bolded for repetition, but also emphasis. When your ego is so big, possibly mentally insane big, that you think you break all the records every time you make a speech, you might not notice when the seats are empty. At a rally, that's just embarrassing. At the staff table, when you're trying to get work done, it's crippling.

[Edge-]

Bolded for repetition, but also emphasis. When your ego is so big, possibly mentally insane big, that you think you break all the records every time you make a speech, you might not notice when the seats are empty. At a rally, that's just embarrassing. At the staff table, when you're trying to get work done, it's crippling.

Holy shit...when even Gingrich is saying Trump is fucking up, you know Trump done fucked up real good. Gingrich has defended quite possibly every single other deplorable thing Trump has said and done, but apparently Nazi/KKK apologism is even too much for him.

[Breccia]

when even Gingrich is saying Trump is fucking up, you know Trump done fucked up real good.

It's just as bad when the people who run Meet the Press say this is Trump's worst week yet, which considering the ride we've been on so far, is just as done fucked up real good.

[Edge-]

It's just as bad when the people who run Meet the Press say this is Trump's worst week yet, which considering the ride we've been on so far, is just as done fucked up real good.

Do you know what Trump is most likely setting the worst record for? The most "Worst week ever" awards.

[Breccia]

And now basically everyone is reporting Bannon is out. Please direct comments on such to other thread dedicated to such.

- - - Updated - - -

I doubt Skroe will agree he'll be out this year, however.

Oh, um, Bannon's out. So....maybe not.

[Kujako]

Do you know what Trump is most likely setting the worst record for? The most "Worst week ever" awards.

But his "weeks" last a few hours at most.

[Edge-]

But his "weeks" last a few hours at most.

Well, that administrations attempt to have a themed "week", yep. But in terms of having media/pundit dubbed "worst week ever", he's raking up an impressive number of those compared to what most presidents manage in a short 7 months. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already surpassed most presidents "worst week ever" counts during their first 4 years combined, already : P