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Incoherent Trump Threatens to Cancel White House Press Briefings

After three days of failing to offer any consistent explanation for firing FBI director James Comey, Donald Trump has figured out how to get his story together—offer no story… or at least not a live, oral story:

Donald Trump, Tweet, 2017.05.12 06:59 EDT.
Donald Trump, Tweet, 2017.05.12 06:59 EDT.
Donald Trump, Tweet, 2017.05.12 07:07 EDT.
Donald Trump, Tweet, 2017.05.12 07:07 EDT.

Presidential press secretaries have managed to speak live to the press for decades without daily contradicting their bosses or plain fact. In declaring no confidence in his own spokespeople, Trump is ignoring the fact that their errors flow naturally from his own inability to tell the truth. Even the best spokespeople can’t save a President who can’t keep his own story straight.

Even suggesting that the White House would stop communicating directly with the press shows the utter disarray of Donald Trump’s thoughts, his contempt for honest journalism, his lack of commitment to informing his employers (We the People) of what he’s doing with our tax dollars, and his unfitness to serve in the White House.

Related: The New York Times reports that James Comey has told associates that, at a private dinner shortly after the Inauguration, Trump asked Comey to pledge his loyalty to Trump. Comey pledged his honesty. Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the White House does not “believe this to be an accurate account.” But as Trump says, we can’t trust his spokespeople for accurate accounts.

38 Comments

  1. Jenny 2017-05-12 09:08

    He still thinks he a hollywood star and feels the need to call out Rosie O’Donnell, this man is mentally ill.

    Something is psychologically very wrong with Trump and that’s what makes this scary. Any GOP in DC should proceed with caution and not trust him.

  2. Jenny 2017-05-12 09:10

    He has all the signs of a sociopath.

  3. JK 2017-05-12 10:28

    Every single day of this administration there is more drama.

  4. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 11:00

    Remember Nixon’s Watergate tapes?
    Trump issued a veiled threat to Comey in another tweet storm that there ‘may’ exist a tape of Comey and Trump’s conversations.
    How about that, the president bugging his own FBI director.
    Add ‘where’s the tape’ to the onslaught of evidence needed to impeach this president.

  5. Greg "Comrade" Deplorable 2017-05-12 11:00

    If you are under the executive branch you serve at the pleasure of the president. Plain and simple, outside liberal blogosphere not many people care.

    A new broom sweeps clean.

  6. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 11:05

    Ah, so now that Greg can’t refute anything we’ve argued about the fishiness of Trump’s timing (why didn’t that new broom sweep clean right away?), he resorts to dismissing the argument as insignificant outside of a group he tries to marginalize with his persistent and irrelevant labels. There are lots of people outside the “liberal blogosphere”. This is a question of a President interfering in an FBI investigation. The fact that it just happens to be two Republican Presidents, Nixon and Trump, who have been vile enough to try such a thing does not mean you can dismiss the issue as Democratic agitprop.

    In a similar vein, I will not try to argue that such top-level corruption is unique to Republican Presidents, despite the empirical evidence. :-D

  7. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 11:11

    Should Trump shutdown the daily press briefings, it could backfire on him.
    The press will be forced to rely more on other sources, especially leaks coming directly from the White House and other federal agencies.

  8. Greg "Comrade" Deplorable 2017-05-12 11:22

    As much as you guys toss around the words like “impeach”, and “watergate”, there are many more parallels with the Obama admin and Nixon than the Trump admin.

    Sicking the IRS on your enemies?
    Using the NSA to spy on your political opponents?
    NSA Spying on the press?

    Just to name a few.

    You guys have lost it, and I’m not just talking about elections. Name the laws he broke? Heck name the evidence produced that Russia colluded with the Trump admin? Seems like every Democrat that goes under oath or is questioned to produce facts end up saying there is nothing, but we have to keep looking.

    Juxtapose that to Comey listing all the violations of law Clinton broke and yet the investigation gets closed because no intent was found?

  9. mike from iowa 2017-05-12 11:36

    Such a well oiled machine can’t find it’s way
    Dirtbag Drumpf starts off his new day
    The way yesterday ended telling of lies
    All of them do it not only the guys

    Countdown the days to the bigly implosion
    That well oiled machine has drowned in corrosion
    All that’s left is the yooge explosion
    The worst potus ever be gone, buh bye.

    Seriously. is this dumbass that delusional he can’t see what is wrong with his administration? What a freaking joke wingnuts have become and they say Dems have lost it?

  10. jerry 2017-05-12 11:39

    Good to see you making your choice of flag “comrade”. This place might not be suitable for your needs, perhaps a nice visit to the Caucasus Mountains will invigorate your senses of loyalty. Proudly wear your red white and blue horizontal barred flag with no stars on it. Here is a helpful list of holidays for you to help your other comrades celebrate via skype or even just being there. Sigh..Women’s day is a must! https://www.1st-international.com/holidays.html Victory Day might get a little confusing for you, oh well.

  11. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 11:46

    More hilarity from Greg, who now resorts to rehashing the Obama era. You conservatives need to accept the fact that Donald Trump is now President.

  12. Greg "Comrade" Deplorable 2017-05-12 11:51

    I think most of you drones forgot Trump wasn’t elected to get along with the Democrats or the D.C. establishment. Him firing Comey only helps him. No matter what fake controversy you try and inject to the public, wrapping yourself around some D.C. beaurocrat will not enamor public sympathy to your cause.

    Your delusional attitude lost you the house, senate and presidency. I see nothing has changed.

  13. jerry 2017-05-12 11:53

    Saturday Night Live could do a daily briefing with Melisa McCarthy as the press secretary. Showing him literally in the bushes would be the way to have them each day. People around the world are actually amused by all of this from the empire itself. How quickly we have fallen and the republicans are in no hurry to help upright this failing. Wonder why they are so keen on allowing the United States to fail?

  14. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 11:59

    Uh… Greg, check your signal. I’m not reading you clearly.

    All I get from that comment is “firing Comey only helps him”… which is kind of our point. Trump fires Comey to foul the FBI investigation into Russian election interference on behalf of Trump. That’s what I said at the top. That’s what Epp is saying. That’s what Trump’s inability to settle on an alibi suggests. That’s what the timing points to as the most plausible explanation. And that’s as impeachable as Watergate.

  15. mike from iowa 2017-05-12 12:04

    https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump

    Drumpf just warned Comey not to talk to media because there might be audio tapes in Drumpf’s possession. I love the smell of impeachable actions when a stoopid wingnut continuously stumbles ahead and commits them every day.

  16. jerry 2017-05-12 12:05

    trumps lawyers now say that he did have income from the ruskies. trump was not elected, he was appointed by putin. What is strange is how our own elected officials, hell, all of them on the republican side, will not admit they are in cahoots with the russians. Do they hope they can score a date with some Ukrainian gal? And what about NOem, some caviar perhaps? South Dakota republican legislators are remarkably absent on any discussions regarding their new direction in leadership. Life is funny like that.

  17. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 12:10

    Jenny, I had to go search for that Rosie tweet from Trump yesterday. Check it out: Trump is President of the United States, yet he has time (or a staffer has time) to keep track of a December 20, 2016, tweet from a Hollywood celebrity that was even directed at Trump. What utter pettiness in the midst of far greater matters of state, similar to the pettiness of emphasizing his own alleged innocence and absence of investigation in a letter announcing something as serious as the firing of the FBI director.

    In threatening to end White House press briefings, we see more Trump narcissism. Trump is thinking not only “I alone can solve it” but “I alone can talk about it.” He really doesn’t want anyone on TV but himself, not even Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, James Comey, Nikki Haley, or Rex Tillerson. The story has to be about him, has to feature his words, his voice, his face. Jenny, does that fit your signs of a sociopath?

  18. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 12:17

    Jerry,
    trump may put SNL out of business, trump’s daily foils are comedy enough.

    Deplorable is right that appointees that serve in the Executive, serve at the behest of the president and he can remove them at any time.

    The FBI director serves in the Justice Department and congress approves them for a 10 year tenure to prevent president’s like trump to use them as political pawns.

    Deplorable in his desperation demands to know the extent of the Russia-Trump investigations and what laws were broken as well as the evidence that Trump broke the law.

    That is the whole point, deplorable. Trump impeded the Trump-Russian investigation by firing Comey because Comey wouldn’t end the inquiry for the truth and the evidence.

  19. jerry 2017-05-12 12:21

    Rosie made him do it! Hey, lets ask NOem, Thune and Rounds if they think that Rosie should be in charge of the government. One thing for certain, Rosie would not be dumb enough to talk about a wall or a ban or getting rid of healthcare and Social Security. Rosie Rosie Rosie…Rosie wants trump impeached, will he follow her directive and resign? Woman power!

  20. bearcreekbat 2017-05-12 12:23

    I think this statute, 18 U.S.C. 1505, has been cited here previously, but for Greg’s benefit I’ll cite and quote from it again to answer Greg’s question: “Name the laws he broke?”

    . . . Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress—

    Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1505

    The Russian investigation seems to be directly covered by this statute.

    There may be additional sections that apply to Trump’s conduct. Here is the lengthy list of federal obstruction statutes:

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-73

    For example, Trump’s negative public comments about Judges that have made decisions might run afoul of 18 U.S.C. 1509:

    Whoever, . . . willfully attempts to prevent, obstruct, impede, or interfere with, the due exercise of rights or the performance of duties under any order, judgment, or decree of a court of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year,

    For example, publicly calling federal judges illegitimate, based on ancestry or location, in an effort to intimidate other judges and undermine public confidence in adverse federal court decisions appears to fall within the prohibitions of this section.

    Hope that helps Greg!

  21. jerry 2017-05-12 12:31

    Roger, Comrade Deplorable rises each day to find evidence as to what the day will bring. Fox and Friends delight him and then Rush empowers him to face the reality of shaving. It is tough being a comrade, but there it is. Thankfully he can tape the entire weeks worth of this so his weekends are filled with joy. Reminder comrade,..Check recording device to see if all incoming and outgoing calls have been cataloged and filed along with the Fox episodes and your daily dose of Rush… Your welcome in American and your newly found tongue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q04enSTc5Pk

  22. Greg "Comrade" Deplorable 2017-05-12 12:46

    Thats pretty good there manbearpig, statues in search of a crime.

    “You don’t have to provides us with any classified information, Senator, but do you believe—do you have evidence that there was in fact collusion between Trump associates and Russia during the campaign?” asked CNN’s Wolf Blizter.
    “Not at this time,” replied Feinstein.

    Waters: I Believe Trump ‘Colluded With the Russians,’ I Haven’t Seen Any Evidence to Back That Up

    Liberalism is for the most part all based on faith, except results often run to the contrary.

    Keep the faith losers.

  23. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 13:04

    Greg, punctuating every response with “liberal!” makes it sound like you feel like you can’t win on the merits of the argument and must resort to what you consider name-calling. For the umpteenth time, I don’t have to shout “conservative!” or “Republican!” or any other label to look at Trump’s actions (and Bear’s excellent legal commentary) and say there’s a strong case to be made for Presidential impeachment. Stick with the facts at hand. Deal with the argument at hand separately from chasing the bogeymen out of your closet.

  24. Greg "Comrade" Deplorable 2017-05-12 13:14

    manbearpig did a good job copying and pasting, I give him that. It was some quality posting with the indents and such, top notch.
    I thought Maxine was out there, and even she can’t even produce a charge based on evidence.
    I think some of you should get your estrogen levels checked, you may be suffering from menopause. It can be a serious condition.

  25. buckobear 2017-05-12 13:16

    Aw, Gee …… that deplorable tin-foil hat must get very heavy by the end of the day, eh ?

  26. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 13:18

    Cory,
    Deplorable has to resort to Powers Dakota War College language out of sheer frustration in not being competent enough to make any legitimate arguments in support of Trump.

  27. Troy 2017-05-12 13:37

    Cory: “More hilarity from Greg, who now resorts to rehashing the Obama era.” said as he rehashes the Nixon era.

    Do you ever listen to yourself?

  28. bearcreekbat 2017-05-12 13:42

    Greg’s focus on “collusion” fails to address Trump’s problematic “obstruction” behavior.

    Just to clarify, Greg, “collusion” is different than “obstruction.” Even if Trump turns out to be completely innocent of “collusion” with Russia, he still may have already violated the statutes against obstruction by his efforts to interfere with the collusion investigation, using threats and intimidation, and by firing the lead FBI guy in charge of the investigation in an effort to stop Comney from the “due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry. . . .”

    Oh wait, I forgot, Trump fired Comney because of the way Comney handled the Clinton case. Never mind. Now about buying that bridge in Brooklyn, how much are you willing to pay? I am sure Trump is willing to sell it to you for the right price.

  29. Jenny 2017-05-12 13:51

    Thanks for listing the obstruction of due process federal laws, bear! Of course we expect the pubs here to just ignore them.

  30. jerry 2017-05-12 13:54

    Be alert bear, Troy has a bid on that bridge in Brooklyn. trump tower and all that goes with it, let us not let him lower that bid by any means. Troy and his comrade think that trump is a statesman because of his prattle on twitter. One thing is for certain, Troy kind of likes the idea that putin is really calling the shots in Washington.

  31. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 14:10

    Troy, you do realize the difference between any alleged President Obama scandals and the historical perspective that the Nixon Watergate scandal provides.
    Republicans claimed that President Obama did so many bad things but were never able to launch any investigations, even after they had control of both the House and Senate.
    The Watergate scandal is the best we have in comparison to the Trump-Russia investigation and is not rehashing the scandal, it is being done from a historical perspective only.

  32. jerry 2017-05-12 14:14

    Roger, the only scandal that President Obama ever had was the fact that he is a black man. That is something that the racists just could not handle.

  33. Roger Cornelius 2017-05-12 14:17

    True that, jerry.

  34. mike from iowa 2017-05-12 16:36

    Drumpf is in pretty clear violation of the emoluments clause. he allowed Russian propaganda artists in the Oval office while keeping the US press out.

    Drumpf shared secret communications with Japanese PM and un-vetted Mar a lago guests with zero security clearance. He allowed SIL and daughter to sit in meetings with foreigners w/o security clearance.

    He flat out lied that Obama bugged him and offered no proof because he had none.

    His administration is pushing the Drumpf brand in some of their postings.

    How many crimes does Drumpf need to commit before he gets the I word?

  35. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2017-05-12 17:41

    Constantly and assiduously, Troy.

    My central comparison to Nixon is a direct comparison to an example of articles of impeachment, to Presidential actions that provoked Congressional action. Greg’s reach for Obama is an effort to avoid the main issue and a detour into unrelated Fox News regurgitation. Even if Greg’s comment had merit, it would only show that Obama should have been impeached as well (by a Republican Congress that enjoyed six years of control but never saw the world the way Greg tries to now when it suits his rhetorical needs of the moment) and reinforce the case for impeaching Trump.

    Troy, I listened to myself through that entire paragraph, too. Sounded pretty good. ;-)

  36. Scott 2017-05-12 18:16

    Impeach the “Showboater in chief” ASAP, even that won’t be fast enough.

  37. jerry 2017-05-13 02:47

    After the impeachment of trump and pence, we have this crook and liar. The one who not only wants to steal healthcare for the 65 and under, but for the rest as well. As George Carlin (RIP of what would have been his 80th birth day) once said, republicans are coming for it all. Healthcare and Social Security, will Mr. grudznick allow it? perhaps. http://newstalk1130.iheart.com/onair/vicki-mckenna-29300/house-speaker-paul-ryan-talks-dir-15826704/ If you have a stout stomach listen to this.

  38. leslie 2017-05-13 18:24

    “Losers” — jfc. Greg: leave if you can’t resort to calling highly educated, trained people here “pig”.

    Troy, defending your party is a paltry effort here. Greg has pulled out all the stops. He’s criticizing typing skills now. There are no losers here. Just highly informed, sensible liberals, dems, independents and progressives among the hundreds of millions rising, protesting obvious republican shilling for the 1%. faith has little to do with it. you are the anti-Darwin, climate deniers. Greg and troy. deplorable trump supporters.

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