Octopus Overlords

Dr Jen isn't the only one wondering about Trump's medical letter.

Has no one walked into the doctor's office and simply asked if he wrote the letter?

And if he did write the letter, to what purpose, as it wouldn't even count for an HR certified sick/healthy letter, and makes the doctor seem...terrible. On the national stage.

The article does some legwork to determine the doctor in question is not a member of the hospital mentioned, but how has no one tracked him down and spoken with him?

The father which was Trump's doctor passed away at 2010.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytime ... =139843879

BORNSTEIN--Jacob, M.D., 93, passed away peacefully at home on February 18. He was born in 1917 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to parents who had immigrated from Eastern Europe. His life was a tribute to the uniquely American concept of "anything is possible" if you are born here. He graduated from Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1938 and from Harvard Medical School in 1942. After serving as a house officer at the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts he spent three years as an officer in the United States Army during World War II. He came to New York City after the war where he was in the private practice of Internal Medicine for over sixty years. He spent his entire professional career as a staff member of the Department of Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY. He devoted his entire life to the study and practice of medicine and was completely and unequivocally committed to the care of his patients, who loved and respected him. He is survived by his loving wife, Maida (Seltzer), of over sixty-five years, his son, Harold Bornstein, M.D., his daughters Bonnie (Hyken) and Gail (Wachtel), his daughter-in-law, Melissa (Brown-Bornstein), his sons-in-law, Richard Hyken and Dr. Clifford Wachtel, and ten grandchildren, Kimberly (Boland), Kari (Seletz), and Matthew (Wachtel), Samuel and Lauren (Hyken), Robyn, Joseph, M.D., Alix, Jeremee and Jackson (Bornstein). His medical practice at 101 East 78th Street, New York, NY will be continued in perpetuity by his son and in the future by his grandsons. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 19th at 9am at the Riverside Memorial Chapel, 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

GreenGoo wrote:Has no one walked into the doctor's office and simply asked if he wrote the letter?

And if he did write the letter, to what purpose, as it wouldn't even count for an HR certified sick/healthy letter, and makes the doctor seem...terrible. On the national stage.

The article does some legwork to determine the doctor in question is not a member of the hospital mentioned, but how has no one tracked him down and spoken with him?

Drumpf probably knows a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that can make the doctor disappear.

It is almost like investigative journalism is dead.

I'm pretty sure Trump didn't write it, there isn't even a single mention of his penis size.

As with everything he says or does, its massive girth and length is implied.

hepcat wrote:As with everything he says or does, its massive girth and length is implied.

It goes up or down depending on his feelings.

I'm not going to touch that.

tgb wrote:I'm not going to touch that.

But you want to. Everybody wants to. I

Good article on fivethirtyeight.com talking about how Trump is doubling down on a losing strategy. Instead of pivoting towards the general electorate, he's continuing to play to the narrow niche that got him nominated.

It's strange to me that his campaign staff thinks this would work, when we've already seen that his "Teflon" coating in the primaries flaked off quickly when the general campaign started. Nothing about how he won the primaries and defied expectations is proving to work in an open race.

I don't know why I'm surprised, however, that the campaign is doing everything in its power to make the wrong moves. Either Trump is one of the most incompetent nominees in history, or this is a calculated conspiracy to get Clinton elected. Neither possibility gives me the warm fuzzies.

YellowKing wrote:It's strange to me that his campaign staff thinks this would work, when we've already seen that his "Teflon" coating in the primaries flaked off quickly when the general campaign started. Nothing about how he won the primaries and defied expectations is proving to work in an open race.

Given how often he keeps shuffling his campaign staff, I'd say it's pretty clear that they don't think it will work.

Trumpster Fire wrote:“What do we do when we find somebody that has extreme views?” Hannity asked in a town hall that was taped Tuesday but aired Wednesday so that it wouldn’t interfere with the live broadcast of Trump’s speech in Milwaukee. “Do we throw them the hell out?

“I'd throw him out,” Trump said of Mateen, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen. “If you look at him, I'd throw him out.”

Expelling citizens for what (you say) they believe is unconstitutional and stupid. I guess the First Amendment people could do something about that.

Isgrimnur wrote:

YellowKing wrote:It's strange to me that his campaign staff thinks this would work, when we've already seen that his "Teflon" coating in the primaries flaked off quickly when the general campaign started. Nothing about how he won the primaries and defied expectations is proving to work in an open race.

Given how often he keeps shuffling his campaign staff, I'd say it's pretty clear that they don't think it will work.

I honestly think this is partially about ego and partially about losing on his own terms.

Objectively it's clear that Drumpf cannot handle criticism, even well meaning and constructive criticism. He literally tells us that the guys he hires say nice things about him as one of the reasons he hires them in the first place. I think he would rather have rallies where everyone cheers insanely over the crazy stuff he spews than win the election. Of course he wants both, but if he had to choose, and he does, he'd choose screaming fans over the presidency. And that's what he's done. Imo.

So he gets his world view reinforced (I'm the best, people are telling me I'm the best) and when he loses he won't have to second guess himself. Of course publicly it will be someone else's fault. He doesn't have an ounce of humility. But internally he won't have to be pissed at himself for trying to be someone else and losing.

He just likes having yes men around him, and he wasn't getting enough people agreeing with him as his team tried to steer him in the right direction. It's probably as simple as that.

GreenGoo wrote:

Isgrimnur wrote:

YellowKing wrote:It's strange to me that his campaign staff thinks this would work, when we've already seen that his "Teflon" coating in the primaries flaked off quickly when the general campaign started. Nothing about how he won the primaries and defied expectations is proving to work in an open race.

Given how often he keeps shuffling his campaign staff, I'd say it's pretty clear that they don't think it will work.

I honestly think this is partially about ego and partially about losing on his own terms.

Objectively it's clear that Drumpf cannot handle criticism, even well meaning and constructive criticism. He literally tells us that the guys he hires say nice things about him as one of the reasons he hires them in the first place. I think he would rather have rallies where everyone cheers insanely over the crazy stuff he spews than win the election. Of course he wants both, but if he had to choose, and he does, he'd choose screaming fans over the presidency. And that's what he's done. Imo.

So he gets his world view reinforced (I'm the best, people are telling me I'm the best) and when he loses he won't have to second guess himself. Of course publicly it will be someone else's fault. He doesn't have an ounce of humility. But internally he won't have to be pissed at himself for trying to be someone else and losing.

He just likes having yes men around him, and he wasn't getting enough people agreeing with him as his team tried to steer him in the right direction. It's probably as simple as that.

Being offensive and shouting the crazy has brought him this far, and it's what comes naturally. He's bound to do it regardless of what his advisers advise. So, might as well double down and see where it goes. (As I said somewhere else) Even if he could manage to fake a professional campaign for the next three months, he'd lose some of his Trumpelos and he wouldn't fool anybody else, so there's nothing to gain by trying.

Either America wants a temperamental dictator or it doesn't. We'll find out in November because, if Trump achieves nothing else, he has made this election a referendum on him.

YellowKing wrote:Either Drumpf is one of the most incompetent nominees in history, or this is a calculated conspiracy to get Clinton elected. Neither possibility gives me the warm fuzzies.

It has to be the former - I think he is just too vain to take one for the team. I have to wonder if he just blundered into a winning strategy for the primaries based on his personality being in sync with a crazy plurality in the GOP base.

malchior wrote:

YellowKing wrote:Either Drumpf is one of the most incompetent nominees in history, or this is a calculated conspiracy to get Clinton elected. Neither possibility gives me the warm fuzzies.

It has to be the former - I think he is just too vain to take one for the team. I have to wonder if he just blundered into a winning strategy for the primaries based on his personality being in sync with a crazy plurality in the GOP base.

Refer to the bingo card. 16 candidates are too damn many; you need to be rich or crazy or both to get any notice. None of the more acceptable choices got much traction and before long, you were left with nothing but unacceptable options.

The lunatic fringe should not be allowed at the conference table. Whatever these people do, they are not going to switch teams. Let them bitch and moan about not being able to hoist a statute of Jesus at every public school at gun point. They should take every effort to just silence these asshats and make it clear they are not directing the direction of the party. Which means that those who are need to be purged. Then one or two more acceptable candidates should be anointed as the party's chosen ones, given a lot of party support, and every opportunity to interact with the public. Come 2020, they then might have a candidate that many people are both familiar with and inclined to accept.

malchior wrote:

YellowKing wrote:Either Drumpf is one of the most incompetent nominees in history, or this is a calculated conspiracy to get Clinton elected. Neither possibility gives me the warm fuzzies.

It has to be the former - I think he is just too vain to take one for the team. I have to wonder if he just blundered into a winning strategy for the primaries based on his personality being in sync with a crazy plurality in the GOP base.

I'm almost certain it's this.

This isn't the first time he's run (which was similar, but less insane than Mexico paying for a wall to keep themselves out), but it's the first time the stars aligned for him.

GreenGoo wrote: I think he would rather have rallies where everyone cheers insanely over the crazy stuff he spews than win the election. Of course he wants both, but if he had to choose, and he does, he'd choose screaming fans over the presidency. And that's what he's done. Imo.

Completely agree. It's a pattern too. Look at his comments about Putin - he basically said he had a relationship to the guy - why? "Because he said nice things about me".

"I got to know him very well because we were both on '60 Minutes,' we were stablemates, and we did very well that night," Trump said, despite the fact that he and Putin had been interviewed in separate countries at different times for the same news program.

Later, he denied ever having met him. Or said he didn't know if he had ever met him.

"I have no relationship with him other than he called me a genius. He said Donald trump is a genius and he is going to be the leader of the party and he's going to be the leader of the world or something," Trump said, embellishing Putin's praise.

"These characters that I'm running against said, 'We want you to disavow that statement.' I said what, he called me a genius, I'm going to disavow it? Are you crazy? Can you believe it? How stupid are they."

"I'm saying that I'd possibly have a good relationship. He's been very nice to me,"

This one kills me: ""I know Russia well. I had a major event in Russia two or three years ago, Miss Universe contest, which was a big, big, incredible event. An incredible success."

How does he know Russia "well"? Via a Miss Universe contest! W.T.F.



Stephanopoulos: "Let's talk about Russia. You made a lot of headlines with Russia this week. What exactly is your relationship with Vladimir Putin?"

Trump: "I have no relationship to -- with him. I have no relationship with him."

Stephanopoulos: "But if you have no relationship with Putin, then why did you say in 2013, I do have a relationship. In 2014, I spoke…"

Trump: "Because he has said nice things about me over the years. I remember years ago, he said something -- many years ago, he said something very nice about me. I said something good about him when Larry King was on. This was a long time ago. And I said he is a tough cookie or something to that effect. He said something nice about me. This has been going on. We did 60 Minutes together. By the way, not together-together, meaning he was probably shot in Moscow…."

Trump: "No, just so you understand, he said very nice things about me, but I have no relationship with him.

Trump: "I have never spoken to him on the phone, no. … Well, I don't know what it means by having a relationship. I mean he was saying very good things about me, but I don't have a relationship with him.

LOVE this:

For the record: Media outlets have said the more accurate translation for what Putin said was "flamboyant," rather than "genius," and Putin subsequently confirmed that he was trying to indicate "flamboyant" when he made his his remark.

Jeff V wrote:
The lunatic fringe should not be allowed at the conference table. Whatever these people do, they are not going to switch teams. Let them bitch and moan about not being able to hoist a statute of Jesus at every public school at gun point. They should take every effort to just silence these asshats and make it clear they are not directing the direction of the party. Which means that those who are need to be purged. Then one or two more acceptable candidates should be anointed as the party's chosen ones, given a lot of party support, and every opportunity to interact with the public. Come 2020, they then might have a candidate that many people are both familiar with and inclined to accept.

Who gets to define the "lunatic fringe"? You? I can think of a couple of people right here at OO that probably consider you (and me) part of the "lunatic fringe".

tgb wrote:

Jeff V wrote:
The lunatic fringe should not be allowed at the conference table. Whatever these people do, they are not going to switch teams. Let them bitch and moan about not being able to hoist a statute of Jesus at every public school at gun point. They should take every effort to just silence these asshats and make it clear they are not directing the direction of the party. Which means that those who are need to be purged. Then one or two more acceptable candidates should be anointed as the party's chosen ones, given a lot of party support, and every opportunity to interact with the public. Come 2020, they then might have a candidate that many people are both familiar with and inclined to accept.

Who gets to define the "lunatic fringe"? You? I can think of a couple of people right here at OO that probably consider you (and me) part of the "lunatic fringe".

I believe he's talking about what direction the party should move in. Basically cut the Tea Partiers (as one example) loose because chances are they are gonna vote for you anyway, then pick a direction the mainstream can get behind and move forward from there.

The lunatic fringe is any group with less than x supporters for their primary issue, perhaps.

malchior wrote:crazy plurality in the GOP base.

Keep in mind that it wasn't the GOP base that carried him through the primaries. It was a huge number of new "GOP" primary voters that carried him through the primaries. Keep in mind that up until he was the last man standing, in addition to having the most votes "for" in a GOP primary, he also had the most votes "against" in a GOP primary.

malchior wrote:It has to be the former - I think he is just too vain to take one for the team. I have to wonder if he just blundered into a winning strategy for the primaries based on his personality being in sync with a crazy plurality in the GOP base.

Did anyone read the big Michael Moore conspiracy theory?

The gist of it is that Trump ran for President as a big F-U to NBC because he wanted a raise and figured a campaign would give him leverage and possibly open up enough clout to move his show to another network. Then he made the "Mexican rapist" comments that led to NBC firing him, which shocked him greatly. But he shrugs it off and doubles down on the campaign, hoping to attract other networks.

And lo and behold, he starts becoming pretty popular! He's enjoying this new avenue of fame, and has a great deal of fun playing Presidential candidate. He forgets about the leverage for the TV deal and dives headlong into the candidacy.

Unfortunately he winds up being too good at it (or he underestimates the insanity of a certain segment of the Republican party). He does the unthinkable - he wins the nomination. Oh shit - now he actually has to campaign for a job he doesn't want.

Trump's way out? Self-sabotage. Turn the campaign into such a streaming trainwreck that the RNC will have no choice but to replace him. That way he can escape the commitment without losing to Hillary. Because there is nothing Trump hates more than losing.

As much as I dislike Michael Moore, I kind of love this scenario.

#Drumpf explains movie plots.

Some are pretty good.

Big shark. Biggest shark you ever saw. I saw it, folks. Huge. Police chief. Great guy, friend of mine. He KILLED it #TrumpExplainsMoviePlots

This guy, Aladdin- hes making terrible, the worst deals. Believe me folks, I would've got 4, 5, even 12 wishes #TrumpExplainsMoviePlots

Biff—great guy, good friend of mine—they ruin his life! Doc and Marty—total losers. Can't win without time machine. #TrumpExplainsMoviePlots

Little Frodo, very small guy, tries to destroy a ring, it takes forever, total loser. I'd do it quicker, believe me #TrumpExplainsMoviePlots

And finally.....

Finally watched Schindler's List. Loved it. Great, fantastic, wonderful. A lot of great ideas!" #TrumpExplainsMoviePlots

RunningMn9 wrote:

malchior wrote:crazy plurality in the GOP base.

Keep in mind that it wasn't the GOP base that carried him through the primaries. It was a huge number of new "GOP" primary voters that carried him through the primaries. Keep in mind that up until he was the last man standing, in addition to having the most votes "for" in a GOP primary, he also had the most votes "against" in a GOP primary.

Yep - I totally agree. He rode the split to the top.

YellowKing wrote: As much as I dislike Michael Moore, I kind of love this scenario.

I actually believed that Trump was sabotaging himself in order to avoid taking on the job of POTUS...until Moore endorsed that theory too.

I put him (almost) in the same camp as that nut job who made the anti Hillary and anti Obama films.

Manafort resigns.
Drumpf dumpster fire burns brightly
Putin shrugs oh well

I think this thread needs some actual art to match the title: NSFW Trump statues

Fitzy wrote:I think this thread needs some actual art

malchior wrote:Manafort resigns.
Drumpf dumpster fire burns brightly
Putin shrugs oh well

I hope Drumpf is busy burning bridges with his (former) allies. I hope all them bridges burn! I want his brand burned and his soil salted!

Full disclosure: I don't like the guy.

There have been a lot of dramas, both on the big screen and on TV, based off of politics. Political dramas are a staple.

I was just thinking that there was no way that this campaign could ever be convincingly presented as a drama. It is so consistently absurd that it would only ever work as a comedy.

And that isn't a joke.

It should be interesting to see whether Manafort acts like someone who was thrown under a bus, or if he continues to actively support the Trump campaign by other means (a la Roger Stone or Corey Lewandowski). I'm expecting the latter, although he might keep a low profile if he calculates that his Ukrainian shenanigans are drawing too much fire.

The pivot begins.

Drumpf wrote:"But one thing I can promise you is this: I will always tell you the truth."

Starting.....now.

He is probably joining the list of people trying to take Jared Kushner down. The coalition of the dissed.

Max Peck wrote:It should be interesting to see whether Manafort acts like someone who was thrown under a bus, or if he continues to actively support the Trump campaign by other means (a la Roger Stone or Corey Lewandowski). I'm expecting the latter, although he might keep a low profile if he calculates that his Ukrainian shenanigans are drawing too much fire.

Lewandowski is not exactly actively supporting Trump.

tjg_marantz wrote:Lewandowski is not exactly actively supporting Drumpf.

I disagree - IMO he defends Drumpf consistently on CNN. He was attacking Manafort but only as an individual and only when he was mostly out of favor. Otherwise he acts like a Drumpf surrogate that CNN pays.

Manafort has too many ties in the US and international political scene to go spurned partner and start dropping tell-all information.

One of the talking heads I was watching yesterday evening was saying that Manafort and Der Drumpfster, while not close friends, have known each other for years, but through common Russian connections, and Manafort has a condo in Trump Tower.

Apparently Manafort came into this deal overestimating his influence in mainstreaming Drumpf, and underestimating how much importance Fuckface McShitheel places on the voices in his head.

malchior wrote:

tjg_marantz wrote:Lewandowski is not exactly actively supporting Drumpf.

I disagree - IMO he defends Drumpf consistently on CNN. He was attacking Manafort but only as an individual and only when he was mostly out of favor. Otherwise he acts like a Drumpf surrogate that CNN pays.

That's been my impression. I haven't been glued to CNN and therefore may have missed him being all objective and impartial, but everytime I have seen Lewandowski pop up as a CNN commentator he is saying good things about Trump.

malchior wrote:Drumpf dumpster fire burns brightly

Can't we just shorten that to "Trumpster fire"? Or 'Drumpfster fire' if you're not into the whole brevity thing?