So Jared -- de facto president? People voted for him? CNN saying that foreign diplomats find

[anneboleyn]

the "arrangement" absolutely bizarre, especially in Europe (of course it is even though Trump tries to justify installing his family everywhere by referencing Kennedy). Jared is the man with the "most power" in the White House, and foreign leaders and diplomats are contacting him rather than Trump. So fucking weird, and seriously dangerous. Something is VERY wrong with Trump, and our press as usual doesn't ask the questions.
L
Frankly, I think it is clear that something is very wrong with Trump -- besides the obvious. I think he is mentally unraveling (maybe early dementia, extreme paranoia, who knows). He is clearly avoiding the public and press because he is terrified of Russia questions, and I wonder if he suffers from some mental illness that makes him terrified to be outside or to travel anywhere -- he runs to Mar-a-Lago every chance he gets, he reluctantly moved to the White House but doesn't even live there unlike every other president, and they have already warned us that Trump won't be "traveling" like other presidents. The fact that he's sending Jared to other countries to do HIS work or the SOS's work is to me a giant red flag that he can't even perform his duties.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. He is unwilling to do the work of president and he knows he is too stupid.

He really has no idea what anyone is talking about, for real.

Didnt know what a strong dollar was.

[Marie Marie]

59. He is also lazy. Lazy about learning or doing anything that doesn't

either interest him or make money for him. So he passes off the real work to others.

[Warpy]

2. I also find it absolutely bizarre

Nobody elected him. He wasn't confirmed by the Senate. He has no appointment within the State Department.

IOW, the only standing he has is that he's married to Dolt's little girl.

Foreign governments would be well within their rights to refuse to meet with him since he has no legal standing.

They certainly shouldn't be talking over international politics with him.

[former9thward]

13. Every president has appointed advisers.

And that gives them "standing". Obama appointed Valerie Garrett as an adviser and she was in charge of domestic policy for the 8 years Obama was president. If a foreign government does not want to meet with Jared they don't have to, just as they don't have to meet with anyone who represents the U.S. government whether it is the SOS, the President or any member of Congress.

[Kingofalldems]

21. Right on cue.

[former9thward]

25. Yes, you are.

Hope you are having a good day!

[pangaia]

50. opppsie...

[stonecutter357]

92. +1000

[Warpy]

30. Advisers, yes, especially domestic.

Presidents have also appointed former diplomats or former presidents with specific expertise as temporary negotiators in tense areas. Examples would be Jimmy Carter (Middle East) and Bill Richardson (North Korea).

This kid's only qualification is that he married daddy's little girl. He has no expertise. He has not built up rapport over time as an official part of the government. This is bizarre. He has absolutely no standing, legal or otherwise.

And it's disingenuous of you to suggest otherwise.

I hope they do refuse to meet with him. Oh, give the kid a tour, feed him dinner, but negotiate through proper channels, which he is clearly not.

[former9thward]

64. So if it is not legal then what law is being violated?

Yours?

[Warpy]

66. If you're the lawyer you claim to be

then you probably know the difference between having no legal standing and doing something illegal.

Give it up, this is incredibly poor judgment on the orange horror's part and the reactions of our allies range from nonplussed to hostile.

Find another way to defend him.

[Rhiannon12866]

69. Well said, thank you!

[bettyellen]

38. So you're claiming this is totally normal? An inexperienced SIL

Performing most of the functions performed by presidents and people with heavy experience in public service?

[former9thward]

65. I guess you did not bother to read the posts.

The poster I replied to said it was not legal. Do you agree?

[bettyellen]

67. I did. And you're normalizing a situation that most experts consider quite alarming.....

[former9thward]

71. Since you say it is not "legal" then what law is being broken?

The other poster refused to answer that question so I don't expect different from you.

[moriah]

82. I'm sure you would certainly agree legality would...

... hinge on several factors. What was said or "negotiated" being the primary factor -- sure, he's free to do the same type of "First Family" PR visit things as any First Lady I would think. If he doesn't have all the clearances necessary (and I am not speculating whether he does or doesn't), specific military strategic negotiations would likely be violating some law. And in the case of a very business-oriented family, if Jared tries to negotiate an Ivanka shoe commercial on public dough, that would probably be too.

So for my part, I'd rather skip legality and go to appropriate behavior, even though I realize that expecting appropriate behavior from this "Administration" is a foolish move. I certainy think the more extensive Jared's role becomes the more closely it would deserve scrutiny, as there is that "appearance of impropriety" thing that just keeps getting bigger as this shitstorm of a presidency continues.

[bettyellen]

85. I didn't say it whether it was legal or not and it was a small part of the post

You are suggesting this it what other presidents have done and that is very far from the truth. The White House has never seen this level of incompetent hires, nepotism and conflicts of interests at the very highest levels.
It's completely unacceptable and unprecedented and yet you pick nits to defend it at every opportunity.

[heaven05]

86. Why do you

continually show such obvious support for this administration of HORROR?

[former9thward]

93. If someone says something is not legal I want to know why?

You don't care, I get that.

[heaven05]

94. If you are a defense lawyer

I can understand your blind obstinance. Carry on. And you are right, I don't care anything about the POS's ruling this country now or putting on a civil face or trying to be nice in responding to the obvious truth of people saying their is something wrong with a Jared reading up on foreign powers or country while waiting for the ski lift. The point was made that he has NO standing or experience in the diplomatic community and otherwise and he should not be representing my interests overseas. Where is Tillerson? Just another sham appointment like devos, window dressing. In name only, they serve.

But you don't care about that, I get it....

[snooper2]

77. Well, you only have to be 35 to be President so he met that marker at least

[Warpy]

89. I think even the lamebrained Republicans are starting to learn that "qualified"

doesn't necessarily mean "appropriate." We need to pop our popcorn and watch their smug expressions turn to sheer horror as they realize what they've done.

[yallerdawg]

3. He's following the Reagan model.

One job - "Cut taxes" and "Outspend everyone on defense."

What could go wrong?

[demigoddess]

11. didn't we have a recession at the end of Reagan's years. I remember a RIF in the military in

1989 and Pres. Clinton had to work real hard bringing back the economy and working on the budget. Leaving Bush II with all that good economy to be squandered. which Obama had to work to put back.and now it is trumpette's time to squander everything again.

[yallerdawg]

14. Not to mention Reagan had the most corrupt, charged, convicted and sentenced administration...

up until now?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reagan_administration_scandals

[thegoose]

36. Dumpy's beating that record big time

[former9thward]

15. There was a brief recession starting in the middle of 1990.

It was minor, economy went down 1.4% and it lasted 8 months.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recessions_in_the_United_States

[notdarkyet]

57. And interest rates for a mortgage were 13%. And up.

[former9thward]

63. No, you are thinking of the late 70s and early 80s.

They got up to about 16-17% but then went down from there. In the late 80s early 90s they were never above 10%.

http://www.fedprimerate.com/mortgage_rates.htm

[NewJeffCT]

79. There was a big recession early on

in Reagan's tenure mid 1981 through mid 1982, I think, because our deficit ballooned out of control and the government had no money because of the tax cuts, and markets panicked over that. Once Reagan signed a huge tax increase into effect in 2003, I think, to try to pay for the deficit spending, the markets were calmed and and the economy recovered well. In fact, until the Bush recession of 2007-09 was dubbed The Great Recession, the 81-82 recession was often called The Great Recession because it was so severe.

After the 81-82 Great Recession, the next actual recession was not until George HW Bush was in office in 90-91, which tanked his approval ratings and led to Bill Clinton winning in 1992. ("It's the economy, stupid&quot

[sharedvalues]

31. Authoritarians give money to the military to buy their allegiance

That's all that's going on with the military spending.

[Scarsdale]

84. Cover up

the gop covered for Reagan when he had Alzheimers, so in effect we had no legitimate president. tRump shows signs of diminished brain function. He was obnoxious before, but now he is dangerous. They can not keep his tweeting under control, now he wants (or Bannon wants) RAW INTELLIGENCE. I think Ivanka has to medicate him, she is the only one who KNOWS what meds. he is on. Also, she receives the Depends, so he can try to keep secret that he has bladder control problems. Take a look at his pants when he is golfing every weekend. He certainly has adult diapers on. Why does a supposedly adult man in such a responsible position have to have his family beside him constantly? Why the daughter and not the wife?

[JI7]

4. CNN doesn't find it bizarre ?

[anneboleyn]

22. They've got Jeffrey Lord, Trump's slave, defending Jared now. CNN isn't finding it bizarre enough

in my opinion. Trump is sticking his daughter's husband in a bunch of extremely important positions which he can't handle (nobody could handle all of the ), and frankly this can put the country in DANGER. This is majorly fucked up. And Trump's dependence on Jared is just pathetic.

[JustAnotherGen]

81. Agreed

Legality aside - this punk isn't prepared to do this job anymore than his father in law was. We are in danger - these people are a threat to America.

[Tarc]

87. That slimeball Trump apologist made my blood boil during the election

I can't imagine what he's like now. Ugh.

[toska]

5. Has Trump gone back to Trump Tower since the inauguration?

Every weekend its either Florida or DC. He might have gone during the week but I haven't heard anything. It's almost like he's scared of being overheard.

[Arkansas Granny]

6. As I've said before, DT only wanted the title of President, not the job.

He's in way over his head and it shows. He doesn’t know government or policy and doesn’t want to learn. His staff, including Kushner, is as inexperienced as Trump himself. It's a pretty scary scenario.

[anneboleyn]

27. Frankly it is terrifying. Who knows what Kushner might say or promise to some foreign leader?

and what about Tillerson's role? Is Jared "higher" than Tillerson? All seriously bizarre, and yes it shows that Trump has no idea what he's doing.

[annabanana]

53. Or what he has ALREADY done..

(Try to watch Rachel Maddow's show from the beginning)

[WoonTars]

32. I agree. He thought it would be all about the pomp and ceremony...

....and signing Executive Orders like an emperor and Bingo!! Presto!! everything gets done.

He had no clue just how much hard, boring, work it was going to be.

And we all have to suffer the consequences of this rich man's folly...

[tblue37]

46. He sent Don Jr. to ask Kasich to be VP, promising that Kasich would get to

handle both domestic and foreign policy if he accepted.

When Kasich asked what Trump himself would be doing if Kasich was going to be responsible for domestic and foreign policy, Don Jr. said Trump would be making America great again.

[FakeNoose]

55. Kirchner is the only one

... that has bona-fide Putin contacts.

He and Ivanka just went out to Aspen last week to meet with the Russians during their "family skiing trip."
The other brothers just can't keep up with Jared.

Just sayin'

[GWC58]

60. Didn't DimDon II

say others would be doing the heavy lifting while DimDon I would be "making America great again? I think he said something of the sort.

[tblue37]

70. See my post #46 above. nt

[malaise]

7. Wasn't a law passed to prevent a Kennedy repeat

and his appointments were mild compared with this crap.

[former9thward]

17. The court said the law did not apply to the President.

Bill Clinton appointed Hillary Clinton to chair a health care task force. He was sued as a violation of the nepotism clause among other things. The DC Court of Appeals ruled that Congress may not restrict a president's ability under the Constitution to make appointments. The nepotism clause does not apply to the White House.

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, INC., et
al., Appellees, v. Hillary Rodham CLINTON, et al., Appellants. 997 F.2d 898 (1993)

So Trump has Bill Clinton to thank....

[malaise]

28. Wow!

Thanks

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. He doesn't have dementia. He does not think he's stupid, in fact he

apparently always thinks he's the smartest person in the room.

His knowledge of things (other than how to stiff contractors) is limited, but he hasn't a clue how limited his knowledge base is. He thinks government can and should be run like a business, and like everyone else who thinks that way (far too many people do) he does not grasp the many fundamental differences between government and business. Plus, all of his business have been LLCs, or some such. He's never been accountable to stockholders or a board of directors.

I do believe he's truly flabbergasted and angry that he's not being acknowledged as the Greatest President Ever from the very beginning of his term. He's hearing the word No for the first time in his life, and it's highly upsetting to him.

He's probably far too stubborn to resign voluntarily, unless he can come up with some truly stupifying excuse about some "accomplishment" being the most, the best, such a significant achievement that nothing could possibly top it, and that would be his excuse. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[Dawson Leery]

9. Presidents either speak for themselves

or find qualified professionals to speak on their behalf. Son-In-Laws who are in the same private enterprise you were in do NOT count!

[LeftInTX]

20. The Son-in-law who is in the same private enterprise speaks for Drump.

[annabanana]

51. Watch tonight's Rachel Maddow..

Jared's in hot water now

[Mr. Ected]

10. It's not like he didn't tell us his intentions from the beginning - in July in fact

He offered Kasich the VP position, an offer which included all domestic and foreign policy decisions. Trump's job was simply to MAGA.

Trump never intended to do the heavy lifting. He is President in name only. Kasich didn't work out so Kushner is the de facto Swiss Army Knife Executive Branch Officer. A wiser man would have surrounded himself with political confidants and amassed a huge assembly of conservative allies to undertake the day to day work. But Trump's ego wouldn't allow it. It's him, his family, and a bunch of former cronies who have zero clue what they're doing. Perhaps that's by (Bannon's) design. Destroy from within and no one knows it's happening.

[Nevernose]

12. The apparent fear of going anywhere different

Is a potential warning sign of Alzheimer's or other, similar dementia. Same as sometimes literally running away when encountering a difficult question, over-delegating to family members, or apparently not comprehending that Hillary should have become irrelevant to him six months ago.

[Tatiana]

16. The Kennedys were QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED politicians.

These grifters are only good at hawking overpriced trash.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

78. Didn't RFK's appointment as AG require the Senate's approval?

At least in that case there were some of the Constitutional checks-and-balances at play.

[LeftInTX]

18. Anyone from the State Dept would be better than Jared

I think Trump is going overseas in the near future. (I heard it on NPR this morning) And Trump does meet with foreign dignitaries over here.

But it is bizarre to send Jared.

I don't think Trump has dementia. I think this is a case of nepotism, control, and secrecy.

[Glimmer of Hope]

19. It seems like one big joke.

[adigal]

23. I'm hoping Trump has another one of those insane press conferences!!!

Anither chance for all to see how bayshit crazy he is.

And I've said he has Alzheimers for the past few months. Confused, repeats same words over and over. Stress, fatigue may be exacerbating it.

[anneboleyn]

24. Jeffrey Lord: Jared is like Bobby Kennedy! Jeffrey Lord (Trump toady on CNN) defends every single

thing that Trump does no matter what and it makes me angry. We are talking about world politics and very serious matters and Jeffrey Lord will kiss Trump's ass no matter what happens.

[WinkyDink]

40. What a maroon. Did no-one inform Lord that RFK might have been THE REASON for the anti-nepotism

rule?

http://time.com/4574971/donald-trump-transition-jared-kushner-legal-anti-nepotism-law/

[unblock]

26. i think he's a con man who feels he's finally been caught.

honestly, i think he knew the moment he won the election.

i think he thought to himself, oh sh!t, how the hell am i gonna pull this one off.

he feels the walls closing in....

[Buns_of_Fire]

29. Kushner vs. Bannon vs. Priebus.

Who will fill the void at the top? Who will get (and keep) the ear of Rump?

I look for Priebus to be taken out early. Past that, it's harder to tell. Kushner is a lightweight, but he DID marry daddy's little girl. On the other hand, Bannon is a streetfighter and a True Believer (in his own agenda).

Screw 'em both. Give them loincloths and a spear and set 'em loose on the grounds of Mar-el-Loco,

[Leghorn21]

35. Adam Khan via tweetville called it for Kushner a couple months ago...I never forgot reading that,

and, now? Very plausible scenario to me -

Adam Khan
@Khanoisseur


More I examine Kushner's Russian, Chinese $ ties, more I'm convinced Trump was just a vehicle to transport Kushner to the White House pic.twitter.com/EEbs5bWLx2

12:04 PM - 26 Jan 2017

[VOX]

72. WOW.

[MedusaX]

33. Trump was just the vehicle used to put Jared in WH

Jared is the one with all of the connections...

Jared is friendly with both
Roman Abramovich & Netanyahu
Who are connected to both
Mikhail Fridman (Alfa Bank)
And Vlad Putin directly

Both Roman Abramovich (RUSAL) &
Mikhail Fridman (Alfa Group; Alfa Bank; LetterOne)
Are business partners with
Viktor Vekselberg (Renova Group)
who is also connected directly to Vlad Putin.

Viktor Vekselberg (Renova Group founder) is
• the head of Skolkovo - which is the Russian Science & Technology village funded by the state
And partnered with MIT
• the owner of Metcom Bank
• connected directly to Bank of Cyprus
• Renova Group Board of Directors
•••• John M Deutch -- MIT -- & former CIA director
•••• Josef Ackermann -- Bank of Cyprus --- former head of Deutsch Bank when Trump loans made


Mikhail Fridman (Alfa Group;Alfa Bank; LetterOne)
and Vlad Putin are both connected to
Richard Burt -- who is the
• Advisory Board Chairman of the Center for the National Interest (US pro-Putin group)
• lobbyist for Russian pipeline
• shaped Trump's first Foreign Policy speech
• advised Jeff Sessions during campaign regarding Foreign Policy & National Security

Jared is also a business partner/ friend of Steve Schwarzmann founder of Blackstone ...
Schwarzmann is one of Trumps Trade Advisors
And is tied to the ROSNEFT 19.5% stock sale
as part of the financial backing along with Intessa SanPaolo Bank

Skolkovo is thought to be the covert operational/ intelligence hub for The hackers that provide information to FSB

[Leghorn21]

39. Well, there you have it. Superior post here, MedusaX. Many thanks...omg eom

[WinkyDink]

41. W.O.W. Rachel needs to read all that!

[Leghorn21]

45. Agreed! When K. was named Overhauler-in-Chief last week, I thought, whoa - the deal is now

SEALED. Right in front of my face, and I missed it.

Damn, all those wasted postcards to President Bannon...well, I'll get it right next time.

Have mercy

[JustAnotherGen]

48. We need more of this at DU

I'm bookmarking this. -

[thegoose]

34. Uh, yeah...a trust fund baby

Is carrying out the duties of the President? Why isn't every media outlet howling this into the rafters? Can you imagine if a Democrat behaved the way Donnie Dumpster has in his first few failed weeks in office? The Pukes would be screaming for blood.

[mnmoderatedem]

37. here's the quote from President Creepy

“Oh, really … Ya know what, Jared is such a good kid and he’ll make a deal with Israel that no one else can — ya know he’s a natural, he’s a great deal, he’s a natural — ya know what I was talking about, natural — he’s a natural deal-maker — everyone likes him,”

A "good kid". Quite the qualification. "no one else can". Another giant step away from sanity.

[Still In Wisconsin]

42. Our current government is much more like Saudi Arabia than a typical Western democracy...

of course the Europeans find this to be strange. Trump is not President, he's a despotic king.

[kimbutgar]

43. He must also know outside of Russia and Israel the protests against would be overwhelming

He is too protected inside his little bubble and doesn't want to see opposition against him.

[SHRED]

44. Dump is one lazy mofo.

[OliverQ]

47. So disgusted by this huge display of nepotism

Jared even sits on the NSC meetings as a Principle member.

Rachel is covering him now. He pretty much runs everything right now.

[pangaia]

49. Depression, narcissism and sociopathy...

What else,,,. could be...almost anything....
short little dick syndrome..

You name it...

[LiberalLovinLug]

52. Jared is the smartest person he knows who he can also trust the most

Which makes him a rare commodity. His ideal situation is to spend all his time to privately work to close deals for Trump Inc. using his position as influence (and golf), and let someone else run the damn government that has the intelligence to handle it. His overheard conversation with Kasich where he offered much the same deal to him if he'd take the VP slot, proves that.

Yes he may very well not be mentally stable, but IMO it is laziness and greed that rules his decisions.

[Takket]

54. I would not even receive the president's son-in-law if i were a foreign nation

and i would make sure Washington knows what an insult it is that this is the person they think is worth our time.

[billh58]

56. The support for

the Trumpster and his family in this thread is strange, being that we're on DU and everything.

[58Sunliner]

58. Please, this guy should sink with Dump. If what I've read is true, he gets picked up in RICO case.

[milestogo]

61. He doesn't trust anyone outside the family.

That limits his choices considerably.

[bdamomma]

62. They are no

Royal Family more like a Crime Family. Don the Con is grooming his daughter to be next to rule.

I wonder how Bannon is taking this, being second fiddle to Jared.

[stillcool]

68. Jared must be the sales manager..

the front man.... it's not like the Donald can trust just anyone.

[Vinca]

73. Trump apparently doesn't know the Kennedy appointment of his brother is what triggered the

law which should have prevented him from having either Jared or Ivanka in the White House.

[LiberalFighter]

74. Is that why Drumpf forgot to sign the Executive Orders?

If so, then Pence also knows of his condition.

[TNLib]

75. This whole family seems like they're leveraged to the hilt.

Including Kushner. IMHO this is all about using the presidency to preserve their family business.

[democratisphere]

76. We are being ruled by the Imperial drumpfanov family authoritarian regime.

Accept it! NOT!

[captain queeg]

80. Trump and dementia/Alzheimer's

Link to video:

(David Parkman show clip)

I hope no one else already posted this.

[world wide wally]

83. Lock him up!

In a padded room

[Solly Mack]

88. K&R

[Watalapan]

90. Hidden agenda

Send Jerad everywhere do he can Fuck Ivanka no harm no foul

[proud patriot]

91. another thing that concerns me

How do you get rid of a position that doesn't exist ?