Er, okay. So basically, Clovis told someone to do something he opposed and was against campaign rules because he was only being a polite Midwesterner and he couldn’t technically prevent him from doing it. (As a Minnesotan, I’ll gladly try to use this excuse going forward.)
The strained explanation speaks to just how problematic this could be for Clovis. The campaign and the Trump transition team claimed over and over again that it had no contact with Russians during the campaign. Here we have a former Trump foreign policy aide actively setting up a potential meeting with the Russians, and Clovis giving him the thumbs-up. At one point, Papadopoulos specified that the meeting was requested by the Russian MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), so there was no mistaking who was requesting the meeting.
If nothing else, Clovis is a microcosm of Trump’s problems right now. Trump seems to surround himself with people who either aren’t terribly qualified for their jobs or haven’t been carefully vetted, and many of those decisions have come back to bite him [Aaron Blake, “Sam Clovis’s Really Bad Excuse for Greenlighting a Trump Campaign Meeting with Russians,” Washington Post, 2017.10.31].
This isn’t a hayride at the Woodbury County Fair where help the ladies off the wagon before we rush off for walking tacos. Clovis was part of a Presidential campaign. He’s now asking to be part of a Presidential Administration. We don’t do things we shouldn’t do just to be polite. We promote the policies that make sense and nix the policies that don’t. We don’t need kindly, fuzzy-brained Cousin Sam offering lemonade to every passerby; we need serious policymakers who can tell good from bad, fact from fiction, and sensible policy from threat to national security. Clovis’s polite approval of Papadopoulos’s falling for Russian counterintelligence operations shows that neither he nor his nominator are fit for their jobs.
The problem with soft Sam and his un-inquisitive president is math. They don’t do it. Don’t believe in it. And therefore are stuck with their fuzzy memories of what worked back when. They are not alone.
Now after watching this Singularity U clip on Exponential Energy – try explaining, using math, just how or why coal will come back or nuclear will make bottom line sense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwSkQa1tNmE
The nation cannot afford a USDA non-scientist who does not practice science and math.
Rorschach
2017-11-01 12:29
Clovis was an Air Force fighter pilot. The hell you say! The picture that comes to mind is Jabba the Hutt trying to stuff himself into an x-wing fighter.
Does the senate have 3 GOP Party members with a sense of duty to country who will scuttle this nomination? Or is the job viewed as unimportant enough to rubber stamp Clovis despite his failure to meet the statutory qualifications for the job?
The job he has now as White House Liaison to the Ag Department seems like a no-responsibility “fake job” that Mr. Clovis can keep till the marginal slice of bacon breaks the camel’s back and triggers the big one.
Roger Cornelius
2017-11-01 13:22
Following the terror attack in NYC yesterday, Trump ordered Homeland Security to institute their extreme vetting policies for immigrants.
Sadly, Trump hasn’t used extreme vetting policies in filling posts in his cabinet and administration.
As I pointed out on the other DFP thread about Clovis, we have found something that Trump is really good at, finding the least qualified and honest candidates to work for the government.
Hey, Ror, the Rebel Alliance does not discriminate based on weight, race, gender, or planet of origin.
I find it ironic that anyone on Team Trump could possibly claim as an excuse an excess of politeness. I find it far more likely that Trump-train riders will be able to blame their predicaments on willful ignorance, on the rejection of useful factual information, like those coal miners turning down training in up-and-coming job fields in favor of waiting for the Trump coal comeback.
jerry,
A link in the comment section of the Des Moines Register shows Grassley trying to sneak out of a press conference when questions about the indictments comes up.
jerry
2017-11-01 22:13
He is a sly one that Grinch Grassley, but the worm is beginning to turn.
jerry
2017-11-01 22:18
Cory, in my opinion the coal miners need to work that coal as that is the only real choice they have. The education part will not bring good paychecks for sometime so they have to work to keep the food on the table and the opioids from the doorstep. They are caught in a trap they cannot escape from without huge subsidies from the government to reclaim the damage they did to the land for the coal companies.
Hold on, Jerry. Grassley is dropping no hammer. The Iowa Senator says Papadopoulos/Russia questions “may slow consideration of his nomination,” but Grassley “continues to support Clovis’ appointment” and says the emails provide context that “indicate Clovis did not encourage meetings with Russian officials.”
Roger Cornelius
2017-11-02 11:06
According to CNN Sam Clovis has withdrawn his name as the nominee for the USDA science position.
mike from iowa
2017-11-02 11:06
GOOD NEWS- Clovis practices rhythym method and withdraws from consideration as scientist in chief. Another one bites the dust.
Horsehockey! Grassley was running interference for him, but it wasn’t working. Papadopoulos matters, Russia matters. Mueller matters. And Clovis is out! More dominoes, please!
But notice: Clovis is doing an end run, avoiding confirmation but angling to stay on advising on USDA policy! “However Clovis indicated in his letter that he will stay on at the Agriculture Department in a senior role, writing, ‘I will remain a devoted and loyal supporter and will continue to serve at the pleasure of you and the Secretary of Agriculture.'”
Thus cometh the autocracy, dodging the Senate’s check and balance.
jerry
2017-11-02 12:46
Clovis was gonna be working with this crew. Geesh, the republican swamp is stinky and getting stinkier. Smells like a cesspool..oh yeah, it is. From the Washington Post:
“●Christopher Hagan, a confidential assistant at the Agriculture Department. Before working on the Trump campaign, he was, between 2009 and 2015, a “cabana attendant” at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. According to his résumé, he “identified and addressed customer’s needs in a timely and orderly manner.”
This is important, because you never know when somebody at the USDA is going to need a towel.
●Nick Brusky, also a confidential assistant at the USDA. The Trump campaign worker previously drove a truck. He was a trustee in Butler Township, Ohio, at the same time, and, as Politico noted, his résumé lists coursework but no degree.
●David Matthews, yet another confidential assistant at the Agriculture Department, developed scented candles while also serving as a “legal receptionist” before joining the Trump campaign.”
trump’s “best people” are all crooks and liars and more importantly, idiots. Impeach trump and lock his sorry arse up.
jerry
2017-11-02 12:50
Mr. John T. has a very good post up showing how screwed we South Dakotan’s are with the direction the state continues to go on. Agriculture and especially with trump at the head of the line is only gonna be tougher and tougher to make ends meet. Renewable energy is the way to bring in much needed revenue to the state. Agriculture needs a complete revamping on it’s direction.
Holy cow, Jerry! The problem here appears to be that, in his gold-plated Manhattan penthouse, Trump never made connections with anybody involved in agriculture. Heck, he’s probably never even watered a plant (not counting taking a wiz on the back nine his golf course each weekend).
Roger Cornelius
2017-11-02 13:15
In maintaining his status as part of Trump’s swamp, Sam Clovis plans to continue sucking on the government teat.
jerry
2017-11-02 14:23
Eric is a potted plant Cory, so trump just used to walk by and lift his leg to water it, in addition to his golf course wizzing that we are paying for. trump does understand subsidies though, as we taxpayers continue to pay for his acreage visits. That amounts to the only experience he has ever had. Clovis was gonna be he scientist for the Department of Agriculture. That boy looks like he could scientist a side of corn fed beef and half a hog each weeks settings, with the trimmings. Talk about eating off the fat of the land, old Clovis does that indeed.
Al Franken is all over Sessions like white on rice.
Roger Cornelius
2017-11-03 14:18
mfi,
It does appear that Sessions does have his balls between a rock and a hard place.
Clearly he is guilty of perjury and won’t be prosecuted for that offense unless Mueller’s investigation reveals more about his interactions with the Russians.
Another interesting tidbit about the Clovis nomination was revealed the day Clovis withdrew his nomination. Apparently the White House wasn’t aware that Clovis was subpoenaed and that he testified in front of Mueller’s grand jury. This leads me to believe that Clovis didn’t withdraw his name after all, Trump more than likely forced him out because of what he would be forced to reveal to the senate about his Russian involvement.
mike from iowa
2020-08-19 17:00
The new (and final) bipartisan Senate Russia investigation wrapped up about a 1000 pages long, was released. The Senate sent 5 referrals to the DOJ in 2019 to further investigate whether witnesses lied to investigators about salient activities like meetings with Russians
Apparently, the DOJ did not bother to investigate as drumpf jr and SIL were two of those being looked at. Sam Clovis was also one of the motley crew.
The investigation did determine Manafort was quite likely a Russian agent and cheerfully shared drumpf campaign knowledge with known foreign agents.
Former GOP nutjob Putin lover from California received sensitive info from Russians while on a junket to Russia in 2016, even though he was advised not to attend said meeting.
The problem with soft Sam and his un-inquisitive president is math. They don’t do it. Don’t believe in it. And therefore are stuck with their fuzzy memories of what worked back when. They are not alone.
Coal miners too often refuse retraining in growing industries and professions. Coal miners, as do too many others, believe the president’s propaganda.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-coal-retraining-insight/awaiting-trumps-coal-comeback-miners-reject-retraining-idUSKBN1D14G0
Now after watching this Singularity U clip on Exponential Energy – try explaining, using math, just how or why coal will come back or nuclear will make bottom line sense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwSkQa1tNmE
The nation cannot afford a USDA non-scientist who does not practice science and math.
Clovis was an Air Force fighter pilot. The hell you say! The picture that comes to mind is Jabba the Hutt trying to stuff himself into an x-wing fighter.
Does the senate have 3 GOP Party members with a sense of duty to country who will scuttle this nomination? Or is the job viewed as unimportant enough to rubber stamp Clovis despite his failure to meet the statutory qualifications for the job?
The job he has now as White House Liaison to the Ag Department seems like a no-responsibility “fake job” that Mr. Clovis can keep till the marginal slice of bacon breaks the camel’s back and triggers the big one.
Following the terror attack in NYC yesterday, Trump ordered Homeland Security to institute their extreme vetting policies for immigrants.
Sadly, Trump hasn’t used extreme vetting policies in filling posts in his cabinet and administration.
As I pointed out on the other DFP thread about Clovis, we have found something that Trump is really good at, finding the least qualified and honest candidates to work for the government.
https://www.sott.net/article/360948-Former-Air-Force-pilot-once-saw-a-5000-mph-UFO
Imagine the Clovis of today in the cockpit of an F-16. Kinda makes you feel all warn and snuggly, donut?
http://tinyurl.com/ybu46vto
Too funny to pass up. Take that ham sandwich!
Paul Manafort had three US passports with different numbers and a travel alias. Flight risk?
Hey, Ror, the Rebel Alliance does not discriminate based on weight, race, gender, or planet of origin.
I find it ironic that anyone on Team Trump could possibly claim as an excuse an excess of politeness. I find it far more likely that Trump-train riders will be able to blame their predicaments on willful ignorance, on the rejection of useful factual information, like those coal miners turning down training in up-and-coming job fields in favor of waiting for the Trump coal comeback.
Clovis, we hardly knew ye. Grassley drops the hammer http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/11/01/grassley-trump-campaign-emails-show-entirely-different-context-around-sam-clovis/821827001/
jerry,
A link in the comment section of the Des Moines Register shows Grassley trying to sneak out of a press conference when questions about the indictments comes up.
He is a sly one that Grinch Grassley, but the worm is beginning to turn.
Cory, in my opinion the coal miners need to work that coal as that is the only real choice they have. The education part will not bring good paychecks for sometime so they have to work to keep the food on the table and the opioids from the doorstep. They are caught in a trap they cannot escape from without huge subsidies from the government to reclaim the damage they did to the land for the coal companies.
Hold on, Jerry. Grassley is dropping no hammer. The Iowa Senator says Papadopoulos/Russia questions “may slow consideration of his nomination,” but Grassley “continues to support Clovis’ appointment” and says the emails provide context that “indicate Clovis did not encourage meetings with Russian officials.”
According to CNN Sam Clovis has withdrawn his name as the nominee for the USDA science position.
GOOD NEWS- Clovis practices rhythym method and withdraws from consideration as scientist in chief. Another one bites the dust.
Dang it, Roger, you beat me again. :)
Hey mfi,
Great minds, huh?
Republican Clovis cries in his withdrawal letter to the Republican President that he doesn’t think he can get a fair hearing from the Republican Senate.
Horsehockey! Grassley was running interference for him, but it wasn’t working. Papadopoulos matters, Russia matters. Mueller matters. And Clovis is out! More dominoes, please!
But notice: Clovis is doing an end run, avoiding confirmation but angling to stay on advising on USDA policy! “However Clovis indicated in his letter that he will stay on at the Agriculture Department in a senior role, writing, ‘I will remain a devoted and loyal supporter and will continue to serve at the pleasure of you and the Secretary of Agriculture.'”
Thus cometh the autocracy, dodging the Senate’s check and balance.
Clovis was gonna be working with this crew. Geesh, the republican swamp is stinky and getting stinkier. Smells like a cesspool..oh yeah, it is. From the Washington Post:
“●Christopher Hagan, a confidential assistant at the Agriculture Department. Before working on the Trump campaign, he was, between 2009 and 2015, a “cabana attendant” at Westchester Country Club in Rye, N.Y. According to his résumé, he “identified and addressed customer’s needs in a timely and orderly manner.”
This is important, because you never know when somebody at the USDA is going to need a towel.
●Nick Brusky, also a confidential assistant at the USDA. The Trump campaign worker previously drove a truck. He was a trustee in Butler Township, Ohio, at the same time, and, as Politico noted, his résumé lists coursework but no degree.
●David Matthews, yet another confidential assistant at the Agriculture Department, developed scented candles while also serving as a “legal receptionist” before joining the Trump campaign.”
trump’s “best people” are all crooks and liars and more importantly, idiots. Impeach trump and lock his sorry arse up.
Mr. John T. has a very good post up showing how screwed we South Dakotan’s are with the direction the state continues to go on. Agriculture and especially with trump at the head of the line is only gonna be tougher and tougher to make ends meet. Renewable energy is the way to bring in much needed revenue to the state. Agriculture needs a complete revamping on it’s direction.
Holy cow, Jerry! The problem here appears to be that, in his gold-plated Manhattan penthouse, Trump never made connections with anybody involved in agriculture. Heck, he’s probably never even watered a plant (not counting taking a wiz on the back nine his golf course each weekend).
In maintaining his status as part of Trump’s swamp, Sam Clovis plans to continue sucking on the government teat.
Eric is a potted plant Cory, so trump just used to walk by and lift his leg to water it, in addition to his golf course wizzing that we are paying for. trump does understand subsidies though, as we taxpayers continue to pay for his acreage visits. That amounts to the only experience he has ever had. Clovis was gonna be he scientist for the Department of Agriculture. That boy looks like he could scientist a side of corn fed beef and half a hog each weeks settings, with the trimmings. Talk about eating off the fat of the land, old Clovis does that indeed.
Perjurer Sessions just remembered, http://crooksandliars.com/2017/11/breaking-jeff-sessions-suddenly-remembers
Al Franken is all over Sessions like white on rice.
mfi,
It does appear that Sessions does have his balls between a rock and a hard place.
Clearly he is guilty of perjury and won’t be prosecuted for that offense unless Mueller’s investigation reveals more about his interactions with the Russians.
Another interesting tidbit about the Clovis nomination was revealed the day Clovis withdrew his nomination. Apparently the White House wasn’t aware that Clovis was subpoenaed and that he testified in front of Mueller’s grand jury. This leads me to believe that Clovis didn’t withdraw his name after all, Trump more than likely forced him out because of what he would be forced to reveal to the senate about his Russian involvement.
The new (and final) bipartisan Senate Russia investigation wrapped up about a 1000 pages long, was released. The Senate sent 5 referrals to the DOJ in 2019 to further investigate whether witnesses lied to investigators about salient activities like meetings with Russians
Apparently, the DOJ did not bother to investigate as drumpf jr and SIL were two of those being looked at. Sam Clovis was also one of the motley crew.
The investigation did determine Manafort was quite likely a Russian agent and cheerfully shared drumpf campaign knowledge with known foreign agents.
https://www.salon.com/2020/08/19/senate-intelligence-report-reveals-a-vast-network-of–yes–trump-russia-collusion/
Former GOP nutjob Putin lover from California received sensitive info from Russians while on a junket to Russia in 2016, even though he was advised not to attend said meeting.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/08/rohrabacher-russia-putin-2016/