THE TRUMP DISASTER AREA

Dumb, dumb move - anyone with the slightest political judgement would leave Arpaio to swing in the wind, rather than cause more trouble.

Meanwhile, I do hope the American Taliban is going to be tearing down all statues of this shocking racist.....

"I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races ... I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races from living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be a position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race." ... Abraham Lincoln 1858

Funny how all this is being airbrushed out of history - or maybe far too many in the US would rather live in some kind of fake reality? I don't know, but it's bizarre that so many 'progressives' cannot face the fact that much of the North was every bit as bad as the South.

Donald Trump’s grandfather wrote letter begging not to be deported. Here it is.

When Donald Trump's German grandfather was ordered by a royal decree to leave the country and never return, he wrote a letter pleading the prince regent of Bavaria not to deport him.

Friedrich Trump wrote the letter in 1905 when he returned to Germany with his wife and daughter after having emigrated to the US.

German authorities had given him eight weeks to leave and denied him repatriation because he failed to complete his mandatory military service and to register his initial emigration to the US 20 years earlier.

In the letter, Mr Trump described the moment he received the news from the High Royal State Ministry he had to leave as "a lightning strike from fair skies".

"We were paralysed with fright, our happy family life was tarnished. My wife has been overcome by anxiety, and my lovely child has become sick," he wrote.

"Why should we be deported?" he asked, "This is very, very hard for a family. What will our fellow citizens think if honest subjects are faced with such a decree."

The letter, translated from German into English and published in Harper's Magazine, shows how desperate Mr Trump was to remain with his family in Bavaria.

Writing to Luitpold, prince regent of Bavaria, he begged for mercy.

He said: "In this urgent situation I have no other recourse than to turn to our adored, noble, wise, and just sovereign lord, our exalted ruler His Royal Highness, highest of all, who has already dried so many tears, who has ruled so beneficially and justly and wisely and softly and is warmly and deeply loved, with the most humble request that the highest of all will himself in mercy deign to allow the applicant to stay in the most gracious Kingdom of Bavaria."

Mr Trump was born in the village of Kallstadt, in the Rhineland region in west Germany in 1869.

He left the country at the age of 16 with little possessions and went to the US in the hope of making fortune.

He trained to become a barber and he went on to run a restaurant, bar and allegedly even a brothel and became a wealthy man.

Despite his letter, Mr Trump was not allowed to stay in Bavaria and returned to New York, where he settled with his family.

More than a 100 years later, his grandson, Donald Trump, imposed new immigration rules that would have kept his grandfather out of the US.

The Trump administration's hardline immigration stance has also set precedent for the First Lady Melania Trump to be deported.

Meanwhile, deportation raids in the US which are part of a crackdown by the Trump administration on all undocumented immigrants have led to a increase in arrests of immigrants who do not have criminal records.

In the latest deportation sweep, immigration officers arrested 650 people in communities across the US over a four-day span in July. Among them, 520 had no criminal records.

In June, President Trump reversed on his campaign promise to deport immigrants' children, known as "Dreamers", but their parents could still be sent back to their home countries.

Here is Friedrich Trump's letter in full, translated from German by Austen Hinkley:

Most Serene, Most Powerful Prince Regent! Most Gracious Regent and Lord!

I was born in Kallstadt on March 14, 1869. My parents were honest, plain, pious vineyard workers. They strictly held me to everything good — to diligence and piety, to regular attendance in school and church, to absolute obedience toward the high authority.

After my confirmation, in 1882, I apprenticed to become a barber. I emigrated in 1885, in my sixteenth year. In America I carried on my business with diligence, discretion, and prudence. God’s blessing was with me, and I became rich. I obtained American citizenship in 1892. In 1902 I met my current wife. Sadly, she could not tolerate the climate in New York, and I went with my dear family back to Kallstadt.

The town was glad to have received a capable and productive citizen. My old mother was happy to see her son, her dear daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter around her; she knows now that I will take care of her in her old age.

But we were confronted all at once, as if by a lightning strike from fair skies, with the news that the High Royal State Ministry had decided that we must leave our residence in the Kingdom of Bavaria. We were paralyzed with fright; our happy family life was tarnished. My wife has been overcome by anxiety, and my lovely child has become sick.

Why should we be deported? This is very, very hard for a family. What will our fellow citizens think if honest subjects are faced with such a decree — not to mention the great material losses it would incur. I would like to become a Bavarian citizen again.

In this urgent situation I have no other recourse than to turn to our adored, noble, wise, and just sovereign lord, our exalted ruler His Royal Highness, highest of all, who has already dried so many tears, who has ruled so beneficially and justly and wisely and softly and is warmly and deeply loved, with the most humble request that the highest of all will himself in mercy deign to allow the applicant to stay in the most gracious Kingdom of Bavaria.

Your most humble and obedient,

Friedrich Trump

https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-grandfather-wrote-letter-142548787.html

Oh, that's a gem!

http://news.sky.com/story/us-navy-guided-missile-destroyer-collides-with-merchant-vessel-near-singapore-10998677

Ten sailors are missing after a US destroyer collided with an oil tanker during a routine port visit to Singapore.

The USS John S McCain suffered damage on its side after the collision with the Alnic MC at 5.24am local time, but it sailed under its own power and arrived at Changi naval base on Singapore's east coast with a large hole torn in its hull.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet said: "There are currently 10 sailors missing and five injured... search and rescue efforts are under way in coordination with local authorities.

"The extent of damage and personnel injuries is being determined. The incident will be investigated."

s the warship was escorted to shore by two other vessels, the Navy later added: "Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery and communications rooms. Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding."....etc.

Much-vaunted US Navy fails to look out window and engage No 1 Eyeball AGAIN.

How can anyone, even a landlubber, fail to see and avoid smacking into a tanker 25% bigger than the new aircraft carrier The Queen Elizabeth? The mind boggles!!!! LL

It's the second time it's happened in a couple of months, LL. It's astonishingly sloppy - I wouldn't be at all surprised if the crew were all on Facebook, or at transgender diversity training courses, or something equally stupid.

For all their whizzy electronics, I suspect that if the US ever faced a real, hard, navy, they'd end up on the bottom of the sea.

The 5 Craziest War Stories (All Happened on the Same Ship).

Do you ever get sick of hearing about "the greatest generation"? For over 60 years now, it's been all "they survived the Depression" this and "they defeated the Nazis" that and "they never looked stupid in hats." Well, not everything the heroes of the 20th century did was pitch perfect. For example, the WWII destroyer USS William D. Porter was easily the stupidest ship ever launched. If ships were people, this one would be the kid who ate paste off a stick. And then almost killed the president by accident.

This is a real fun read!!!!      LL        
http://www.cracked.com/article_19637_the-5-craziest-war-stories-all-happened-same-ship.html
.................................................
The 23 Weirdest Trump Stories You Probably Missed.
More sniggers! LL
http://www.cracked.com/pictofacts-770-the-23-weirdest-trump-stories-you-probably-missed/

US Embassy in Russia suspends issuing nonimmigrant visas.

MOSCOW (AP) — In a step that could affect hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists, the U.S. Embassy in Russia said Monday it would suspend issuing nonimmigrant visas for eight days from Wednesday in response to the Russian decision to cap embassy staff.

The embassy made the decision after the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered a cap on the number of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, it said in a statement, adding that it would resume issuing visas in Moscow on Sept. 1, but maintain the suspension at consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok indefinitely.

Nearly a quarter of a million Russian tourists visited the U.S. last year, according to Russian tourism officials. Earlier this month, Russia ordered the U.S. to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755, or by two-thirds, heightening tensions between Washington and Moscow after the U.S. Congress approved sanctions against Russia for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and for its aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

President Putin said that Moscow felt forced to reciprocate to the new package of sanctions against what he dismissed as "unfounded accusations," but that it would hold off on further steps against the U.S.

The vast majority of the more than 1,000 employees at the various US diplomatic missions in Russia, including the embassy in Moscow and the three consulates are local employees. The U.S. embassy said on Monday that Russia's decision to cut its staff "calls into question Russia's seriousness about pursuing better relations." It insisted however that it will able to maintain adequate staffing "to carry out essential elements of our mission."

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference the decision to cut visa operations aims to make Russians feel discontent with their own government. Asked about a possible Russian reaction, Lavrov said Russia will "study" the embassy's announcement, adding that unlike the U.S. government Russia "is not going to take it out on U.S. citizens."
https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5455868-us-embassy-russia-suspends-issuing-nonimmigrant-vi.html#.1258-stage-hero1-4

So, Trump is due to make a statement about Afghanistan tonight. This should be interesting, as there has been a lot of chatter about him wanting to replace US troops with 'private contractors'.

Or mercenaries, as they are more usually known.

Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss.
Trump’s Base Goes Ballistic Over His ‘Unlimited War’.

The president has escalated fights in six countries. Now his supporters are wondering what happened to ‘America First.’

President Donald Trump acknowledged on Monday night that the new Afghanistan strategy he unveiled is a reversal of his long-held objection to the very idea of having a U.S. military presence in the country.

But in announcing a ramp up of U.S. forces with no defined timeline for their departure, Trump tailored and mangled and obscured the policy to such a degree so as to make it both difficult to understand and—he hopes—palatable to his base. At one point, he asserted that his strategy was to have no publicly-stated strategy at all.

“We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities,” Trump told a crowd of servicemen at Virginia’s Fort Myer on Monday.

President’s have made abrupt foreign policy reversals before, often breaking with campaign pledges when presented with a new set of geopolitical realities. Trump’s reversal stands out not just for the outright vehemence with which he previously argued that America needed to put an end to its 16-year-long war—Trump has called for total US withdrawal from Afghanistan and for handing the country over to an army of mercenaries—but also because of what it says about his foreign policy at large. In the seven months since taking office, Trump has expanded military operations in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and, now, Afghanistan. And that’s in addition to an escalated nuclear standoff with North Korea.

And so, when pitching the notion that the time had come to enlarge America’s military presence, the president used a variety of different selling points to re-frame the context. This was, he stressed, an agenda based on counter-terrorism principles and devoting American blood and treasure purely to the country’s first-order military interests.

"We are not nation-building again,” he said. “We are killing terrorists.”

It was “America First” rhetoric plastered atop a military-oriented interventionist policy. And it was done, ostensibly, to ensure that Trump’s base, disillusioned with decades of Republican-led foreign policy adventurism, heard someone who remained skeptical.

“Why did we even have an election?” wondered Mike Cernovich, a popular far-right internet media personality generally supportive of Trump. He mockingly tweeted a photo of a flak jacket-clad Jared Kushner, the president’s senior adviser and son-in-law, during a trip to Afghanistan this year, with the caption “General Jared.” In another tweet, he wrote, “Congratulations to President McMaster!” a derisive reference to White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, who pressed the president to boost troop levels in Afghanistan.

The pushback that came after Trump’s speech was apparent in the process leading up to it as well. Inside the White House, the draw-down and ramp-up camps battled over the president’s plan, in an internal debate that contributed to the departure last week of White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, the West Wing’s most vocal critic of escalation in Afghanistan.

Bannon returned to Breitbart News, the prominent right-wing website that has favorably covered Trump for years. And in the run-up to Trump’s speech on Monday evening, as details of the troop surge announcement trickled out, Breitbart’s coverage ranged from skeptical to hostile. “America First? With Steve Bannon Out, Globalists Push For More War Abroad” read one headline.

After Trump’s speech concluded, the lead story on Breitbart’s homepage braced readers for “UNLIMITED WAR.” (The site later took that headline down).

Bannon, Cernovich, and other elements of Trump’s less interventionist political base hoped for foreign policy more in tune with the president’s pre-White House rhetoric, when he dubbed the war in Afghanistan “a total disaster” and “a complete waste” and repeatedly called on President Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. forces completely. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), one of the few elected Republicans to echo this hope, was critical of Trump even before he spoke.

"The mission in Afghanistan has lost its purpose and I think it is a terrible idea to send any more troops into that war,” Paul said in a statement.

In a rare bit of self-reflection, Trump explained that the reason he changed his tune on Afghanistan was precisely because of the weight of his office. “[A]ll my life I have heard decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office,” he said. And he tried to couch the shift by repeatedly invoking the possibility of another attack homeland. Twice, Trump referenced the attacks from September 11, 2001. “A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists—including ISIS and Al Qaeda—would instantly fill,” he said.

But instead of placating his base, Trump ended up drawing plaudits from an unfamiliar crowd.

Sen. Marco Rubio, a GOP defense hawk and 2016 campaign rival, defended Trump’s apparent reversal. The president “has made a decision based on information now available to him in office & on advice of wide array of experts,” Rubio wrote on Twitter. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), one of the more pro-interventionist voices in the GOP and someone who has repeatedly butted heads with Trump in recent weeks, called the new policy “a big step in the right direction.” Trump, he added, “is now moving us well beyond the prior administration's failed strategy of merely postponing defeat.”

And then there was Marc Thiessen, one of the more prominent neoconservatives in media and a former speechwriter to George W. Bush, a man whose foreign policy record Trump has called an unmitigated disaster. Reacting to Trump’s pledge that U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan be hinged on “conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables” Thiessen wrote: “How many times did I write that?”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-s-base-bewails-unlimited-war-after-his-afghanistan-policy-speech?source=twitter&via=mobile

Donald Trump Rejects Advice From Basically Everyone, Watches Solar Eclipse Without Glasses.

We could have had the blind leading the country.

President Trump, deciding to challenge the sun itself, stared straight into the solar eclipse Monday afternoon without protective glasses — showing the entire nation exactly what not to do.

Despite constant warnings about potential eye damage or even blindness, Trump briefly stole an unprotected glance at the eclipse after watching it safely with First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron outside the White House.

An aide in the crowd below was heard shouting “Don’t look!” right as Trump looked.

Social media immediately took note, mocking Trump for doing what scientists and optometrists have warned against for weeks.

Viewers of the total solar eclipse needed to have special glasses to watch the historic event, since regular sunglasses are not strong enough to shield from its intense glare. Watching it with no protection at all was even more dangerous and raised the risk of going blind.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, said, "Almost the entire country saw 60 percent of the sun covered up by the moon. Even the president saw it, but in a move that is not a complete surprise, he looked directly at the sun without any glasses".

Carlson jokingly added that the move was "perhaps the most impressive thing any president has ever done".

Other members of the Trump administration seemed to get the memo.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-trump-stares-rights-solar-eclipse-glasses-article-1.3429928

Donald Trump mocked for looking directly at sun during solar eclipse - the funniest memes and tweets.

Donald Trump was one of the major talking points on social media as millions across America watched a total solar eclipse.

The US president was mocked online for appearing to look directly into the sun - despite warnings it could damage your eyes.

And the New York Daily News splashed the image of the front page under the headline: "Not too bright!" Lots more at link.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/solar-eclipse-donald-trump-mocked-202804728.html

Now now, LL, everyone knows The Donald is more powerful than the rays of a thousand suns....

More seriously....

http://news.sky.com/story/trump-were-not-nation-building-in-afghanistan-10999912

Donald Trump lays way to boosting US troops in Afghanistan
The US leader says that withdrawing troops would leave a vacuum which would be filled by terrorists.

Donald Trump has laid the way for an increase in US troops in Afghanistan, vowing he would "fight to win" America's longest war.

The President said his original instinct was to pull US forces out but he now feared such a move would leave a vacuum for terrorists to fill.

Mr Trump did not specify how many more troops would be added and gave no timeline for ending the US presence in Afghanistan.

But officials said he had signed off on Defense Secretary James Mattis' plans to send about 4,000 more to add to the 8,400 now deployed.

In a televised address, Mr Trump also put pressure on Pakistan, India and NATO allies to step up their own commitment in the country.

Speaking at a military base near Washington, he said: "Nearly 16 years after the September 11 attacks...the American people are weary of war without victory and nowhere is this more evident than with the war in Afghanistan."

However he said the consequences of a rapid exit are "both predictable and unacceptable".

"A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists...would instantly fill just as happened before September 11," he said.

At its peak in 2010/11, the US had roughly 100,000 troops in Afghanistan but this number has dropped to roughly 8,400 now, as the country battles a resurgent Taliban.

The final betrayal of all those people who voted for him thinking he would at least end these unwinnable wars.

America has lost the so-called 'war on terror' - Bin Laden won, as the US throws yet more money and lives into the Graveyard of Empires.

PS - did Trump fail to notice that the 9/11 hi-jackers were Saudis? You know, those people who gave him golden baubles and let him play with an orb?

Trump's Afghanistan strategy makes new demands on India.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Laying out his new Afghanistan war strategy, President Donald Trump reissued old demands on neighboring Pakistan to eliminate militant sanctuaries. Less expected: an entirely new warning to close U.S. partner India to provide more economic aid.

More surprising was Trump's blunt challenge to India and how he linked Afghanistan's economic revitalization to totally separate U.S.-Indian trade matters. "We appreciate India's important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development," Trump said.

He did not elaborate, but the threat was clear, especially considering Trump's regular chafing over countries enjoying significant trade surpluses with the United States. Either India must pony up more money for what the Trump administration is calling its "regional approach" to Afghanistan, or it could face commercial repercussions. More at link.
https://www.mail.com/int/news/us/5458404-trumps-afghanistan-strategy-demands-india.html#.1258-stage-hero1-5

Donald Trump defends his response to Charlottesville as protesters clash with police ouside Phoenix rally.

Donald Trump defended his response to the Charlottesville white supremacist violence in a divisive Arizona speech on Tuesday night, rebuking the "very dishonest media" for misrepresenting his statements.

Protesters clashed with police outside the arena in Phoenix after the rally. Police fired tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse the crowds.

Mr Trump last week blamed hatred "on many sides" for the violence ten days ago in Virginia that left a protester dead and several injured when they were run over by a white supremacist.

On Tuesday night, surrounded by his supporters after one of the most challenging periods of his young, chaotic presidency, the president re-read the three statements he had delivered in the aftermath of the violence - but omitted the "many sides" remark, among others.

He said, getting visibly angry, that he had "openly called for healing, unity and love" in his responses.

"What happened in Charlottesville strikes at the core of America and tonight, this entire arena stands united in forceful condemnation of the thugs that perpetrated hatred and violence," he said.

The president had been widely criticised on both sides of the political spectrum for failing to condemn neo-Nazis and other hate groups by name in his initial response to the protest and then insisting there was blame on "both sides".

Mr Trump said the TV news channels were giving platforms to hate groups.

He claimed the networks - particularly singling out CNN - were "nervous" to have him speaking on live television.

The president said he was able to bypass the "crooked media" and get his message across on Twitter.

"If I didn't have social media I probably wouldn't be standing here," he said.

Outside the arena, hundreds of supporters and opponents of Mr Trump gathered before the rally. There were a few minor scuffles and rival chanting, as supporters shouted “Build the wall” and “Make America Great Again" and opponents shouted “Shame, shame, shame” and “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA”.

A handful of anti-Trump protesters turned up outside with military-style rifles and fatigues.

They described themselves as an anti-fascist group who were offended by the president's comments in the wake of the Charlottesville violence.

After the speech, CNN's Don Lemon described the president's address as "total eclipse of the facts".

The president also threatened to shut down the federal government unless Congress provides funding for his promised border wall with Mexico.

Mr Trump again suggested he would pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's conviction for intentionally disobeying a judge's order in an immigration case.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-defends-response-charlottesville-034649761.html
..........................................
Trump rehashes his Charlottesville response at wild Arizona rally by reading different version of his original statement. Full report at link.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-rehashes-charlottesville-response-wild-032120184.html

Trump vows to 'close government' to build Mexico wall.

Donald Trump has vowed to close down the US government if necessary to build his wall along the Mexico border.

The president told supporters at a "Make America Great Again" rally in Phoenix, Arizona, that the opposition Democrats were being "obstructionist".

During the 80-minute speech, he also took aim at the media, blaming them for giving far right groups "a platform".

But he selectively quoted his initial response to violence at a far-right rally that left one woman dead.

He omitted the controversial claim that "many sides" had to shoulder the blame for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

From Nafta to North Korea

In his wide-ranging speech, Mr Trump also said he thought he would "probably end up terminating Nafta", the trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada that he has lambasted many times.

The three countries have begun talks on revising the agreement, and negotiators are due to meet again on 1 September.

On North Korea, the president sounded a hopeful note about the possibility of a reduction in tensions over Pyongyang's missile tests and nuclear programme.

Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Mr Trump said: "I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us".

"And maybe - probably not, but maybe - something positive can come about," he added.

But while his comments were met with cheers inside the conference centre, anti-Trump protesters who had gathered outside the rally clashed with police after the rally had finished.

Police deployed tear gas after the protesters threw bottles and rocks, Reuters news agency reported.

Bashing the media

President Trump began and finished his speech by urging the American people to come together.

But he quickly turned on familiar foes, beginning with the media. He said reporters had misrepresented his "perfect" words in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, where Heather Heyer was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of people protesting against far-right demonstrators including neo-Nazis.

He accused "truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media" of "trying to take away our history and heritage" because, he said, they "don't like our country".

He quoted his own initial public response to what happened in Charlottesville.

"This is what I said on Saturday: 'We're closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,' - this is me speaking. 'We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.' That's me speaking on Saturday, right after the event," he said.

But what he actually said on 12 August was: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides."

The wall

Mr Trump's attention then turned to immigration, and to the Democrats who he said were "putting all of America's safety at risk" by opposing the wall he wants to build along the US's southern border with Mexico.

He said immigration officers who worked in the area said it was "vital" to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

Mr Trump concluded: "If we have to close down government, we are building that wall."

Mr Trump also used the rally to hint he would pardon controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man who rose to national prominence because of his tough stance against illegal immigration.

He told the crowd Mr Arpaio - who was found guilty of criminal contempt in July - "is going to be just fine", but he would not formally pardon him at the moment because "I don't want to cause any controversy".

His comments directly contradicted those of White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said on Tuesday "there will be no discussion of that today".

Mr Arpaio, 85, was found to have violated a judge's 2001 order that he cease detaining migrants who are not suspected of having committed a state crime.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41020779

Mr Trump also used the rally to hint he would pardon controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, a man who rose to national prominence because of his tough stance against illegal immigration.

He told the crowd Mr Arpaio - who was found guilty of criminal contempt in July - "is going to be just fine", but he would not formally pardon him at the moment because "I don't want to cause any controversy".

IMO, a shrewd politician would leave Arpaio to swing in the wind, regardless of who is right or wrong, in the interests of calming some pretty nasty situations that are already in danger of spiralling out of control.

Trump seems to have NO grasp of political stagecraft, or that personal feelings have to be put aside for the greater good.

And no, I don't think that Wall is ever going to be built.

Donald Trump offers 'poor Jeffrey Lord' support after CNN analyst is fired for tweeting Nazi salute.

Donald Trump has defended a journalist who was recently fired from CNN for sending a Nazi salute to a prominent liberal activist.

Speaking at a campaign style rally in Phoenix, the US president launched into an animated defence of Jeffrey Lord and expressed his sympathy for the conservative commentator.

Earlier in the month, Mr Lord prompted outrage for tweeting “Sieg Heil” in response to an exchange with Angelo Carusone who is the president of Media Matters for America. After dismissing him, a CNN spokesperson said: “Nazi salutes are indefensible. Jeffrey Lord is no longer with the network.”

Addressing his supporters in Arizona, President Trump bemoaned the fact Mr Lord had been sacked.

“They fired Jeffrey Lord. Poor Jeffrey,” Mr Trump, who has repeatedly feuded with CNN, said exasperatedly.

"Jeffrey Lord. I guess he was getting a little bit fed up and was probably fighting back too hard and they said ‘we gotta get out of here’.”

Mr Lord, who served as associate political editor under the Reagan administration, responded by thanking President Trump on Twitter.

After his “Seig Heil” tweet sparked controversy, Mr Lord claimed he used the phrase to be “mocking”. The expression, which means "hail victory," is banned in Germany because of its link with Adolph Hitler and his Nazi party.

Mr Lord is reportedly now in talks to join far-right online publication Breitbart as a contributor. This comes days after Steve Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist who branded the site “the platform for the alt-right” last year, rejoined Breitbart as executive chairman after being sacked from his White House role.

President Trump also used his rally in Phoenix to launch into a barbed attack on the “fake media”, denouncing journalists as "truly dishonest people" who "don't like our country".    More at link.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-offers-apos-poor-092900697.html

Trump supporters post fake photos of huge crowds at Phoenix rally - as real images show room half-empty.

Donald Trump supporters have been sharing fake photos of huge crowds at the US President's Phoenix rally on social media, following claims the event failed to draw big numbers.

Images showing thousands of people lining the streets in Arizona were widely shared by Republicans and the US leader's core base.

But the photos were quickly debunked as fake. They showed an aerial view of crowds that had turned out for a championship parade for the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

Official turnout figures from the Phoenix convention centre rally have not been released, but many have speculated they could be lower than expected.

Images posted to social media appeared to show Trump supporters filling just half of the room.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-supporters-post-fake-photos-092917548.html

Further news re the collision between tanker and US warship:

Navy dismisses 7th Fleet commander after warship accidents.

TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. Navy dismissed the commander of the Asia-based 7th Fleet on Wednesday after a series of warship accidents raised questions about its operations in the Pacific. A two-sentence statement said Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, had relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin "due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command."

The move follows four Navy accidents in the Pacific since late January, including two collisions that left sailors dead and missing. "While each of these four incidents is unique, they cannot be viewed in isolation," Swift said earlier.

He said the Navy will carry out a "deliberate re-set" of all its ships in the Pacific, focused on navigation, mechanical systems and bridge resource management. It will include training and an expert assessment of each ship.

The Navy said that Rear Adm. Phillip Sawyer, who had already been named as Aucoin's successor, would assume command immediately. On Monday, the destroyer USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided off Singapore, injuring five sailors and leaving 10 others missing. Seven sailors died in June when the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off Japan.  

Swift, speaking Tuesday at a news conference in Singapore where the McCain is now docked, said Navy divers had found remains of some of the missing in a flooded compartment in the ship. He also said Malaysians assisting in the search had found a body, but it had not been determined if it was a McCain crew member.

The 7th Fleet said in a statement Wednesday that Navy and Marine Corps divers are continuing to search flooded compartments in the McCain in the hope of locating more of the missing sailors. The sea-based search east of Singapore "is expanding to encompass a greater area as time goes on," it said.
More at link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/world/5461248-navy-dismisses-7th-fleet-commander-warship-acciden.html#.1258-stage-hero1-11

He said the Navy will carry out a "deliberate re-set" of all its ships in the Pacific, focused on navigation, mechanical systems and bridge resource management.

I assume 'bridge resource management' means putting down your smart phone long enough to look out the window and realise a giant container ship is bearing down on you?

Trump's top spiritual adviser says opposing him is 'fighting against the hand of God'.

One of Donald Trump’s top spiritual advisers has claimed the President is a “king” who was put in power by God.

“Whether people like him or not, [Mr Trump] has been raised up by God, because God says that He raises up and places all people in places of authority,” televangelist Paula White recently told Jim Bakker, a right-wing pastor and vocal Trump supporter.

She added: “It is God that raises up a king, it is God that sets one down and so when you fight against the plan of God, you’re fighting against the hand of God.”

Ms White is a controversial televangelist who preaches prosperity gospel – the idea that God will bless believers with wealth on Earth, as well as happiness in the afterlife. She is also a personal friend of Mr Trump’s, who serves on his spiritual advisory counsel and led a prayer at his inauguration.

In her appearance on Mr Baker’s television show, Ms White compared Mr Trump to Esther, the Biblical figure who rose from her childhood as an orphan to become the Queen of Persia. Ms White said Mr Trump is similar to Esther in that they both transcended their non-conventional backgrounds to become great leaders.

“They even say that about our President, ‘Well he’s not presidential’." she said. “Thank goodness! And I mean that with all due respect, because, in other words, he’s not a polished politician.”

Mr Bakker, who was previously imprisoned on charges of mail and wire fraud, repeated the claim that Mr Trump is a king – though he specified that he meant this in a “Biblical sense”. He went on to tout Ms White’s unlimited access to the President, claiming she could walk into the White House “whenever she wants to”.

Mr Trump has previously called Ms White a "beautiful person” with “amazing insight”. Ms White, too, has defended Mr Trump, telling reporters that he “absolutely” has a relationship with God.

“He is a Christian, he accepts Jesus as his Lord and savior,” she told Politico.

Mr Trump has not regularly attended church since becoming president, and does not have a hometown congregation. According to CNN, he recently appeared not to know the difference between a Protestant (which he claims to be) and an evangelical Christian. A recent Politico article floated the idea that he is the “least God-fearing president to occupy the White House In centuries”.

But Ms White, Mr Bakker, and many other Christian leaders still seem to believe that he will serve their agenda well.

“God’s shaking America, people, and it’s time,” Mr Bakker said. “You better be ready, because we’re going to have the harvest time. It’s honestly going to be the greatest time.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/trump-apos-top-spiritual-adviser-205100325.html

Trump-McConnell feud threatens Republican agenda.

President Donald Trump can't enact his agenda without Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell may not have a majority to lead without Trump's help. It's simple, and still so complicated.

The strangest bedfellows in Washington are locked in an increasingly public and personal feud that defies conventional wisdom. The escalating tension between the two men is threatening the GOP's re-election prospects and its ability to govern. It has erupted at a high-stakes moment for the Republican Party, which is facing the prospect of a government shutdown — and the possibility it may fail to enact any major legislation during its first year in complete control of Washington.

The dispute is a reminder of the unconventional politics that have gripped the GOP in the Trump era. While Trump and McConnell ostensibly share the same philosophy, legislative agenda, voters and political opponents, they increasingly act more like adversaries than allies — a reminder of just how divisive the president remains within his own party.

"He's now actively attacking people who can help his agenda," veteran Republican operative Doug Heye said of Trump, who has mobilized his avid supporters against GOP senators since the party's embarrassing failure to overhaul the nation's health care system. "It seems to be really a one-man spiral to the bottom."

Divisions have deepened in recent weeks.

McConnell, like other leading Republicans, is particularly upset by Trump's consistent attacks against vulnerable Republican senators who need his help, according to a person familiar with the Kentucky Republican's thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share private conversations. The person said McConnell questions whether Trump is capable of righting his struggling presidency.

The concerns were exacerbated by Trump's recent description of some participants in a white supremacist rally as "very fine people," remarks that were broadly condemned by Republicans and Democrats.

The intra-party feuding threatens nearly all of Trump's priorities, including his near-daily campaign trail pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

While Trump threatened Tuesday to force a federal shutdown unless Congress provides funds for the massive project, many GOP lawmakers, especially moderates, lack his passion for the proposal. They may be harder to win over given the current rancorous atmosphere.

Republicans who feel wounded by Trump also could be less likely to defend him amid numerous investigations into his campaign's ties to Russia. And it could complicate the task of rallying Republicans around complicated tax legislation, where lawmakers can have divergent priorities.

"In politics, it's a mistake to personalize things, particularly if it's a member of your own team," veteran Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said Wednesday. "The reality is you're going to need them down the road."

Trump and McConnell "remain united on many shared priorities" and they and other top officials will hold "previously scheduled meetings" after Congress returns from its August recess, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday in a statement. She said their goals include middle-class tax cuts, building the border wall and strengthening the military.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we are committed to advancing our shared agenda together and anyone who suggests otherwise is clearly not part of the conversation," McConnell said in his own statement.

Such talks are unlikely to yield a close personal relationship between the two leaders.

At 75 years old, McConnell is just four years older than Trump. But he's spent decades in Washington compared with Trump's seven months. And stylistically and substantively, they are worlds apart.

McConnell, a Kentuckian, is guarded and gentlemanly, while Trump flashes a New Yorker's brash, bombastic impertinence.

McConnell is an unrelenting GOP loyalist who's mastered Senate rules and the legislative process, while Trump regularly bashes Republicans and has limited knowledge of congressional procedure. McConnell often seems to think several steps ahead of others, while Trump bounces from one subject to another with little clear strategic purpose.

The most perplexing of Trump's strategies has been the attacks on sitting Republican senators when his party holds control of the Senate by a narrow margin. Without his support, the GOP stands a chance — if somewhat unlikely — of losing its Senate majority.

Last week, Trump encouraged a former Arizona state senator to challenge Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in a Republican primary election. Meanwhile, a super PAC allied with Trump launched attack ads against Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, who is facing a primary challenge.

On Tuesday, Trump said his coy refusal to mention Flake's name at an Arizona rally showed "very presidential" restraint. He abandoned the restraint by Wednesday morning, tweeting that he's "not a fan of" Flake, whom he called "weak on crime & border."

Publicly and privately, Republicans tasked with preserving the GOP's House and Senate majorities next year are outraged.

Some party officials, Heye said, are asking themselves a difficult question: "Is it the Republican president or the Republican Senate I want to protect and work for?"

The divisions are "unprecedented," said Republican pollster Chris Wilson.

Wilson said he thought the party could survive Trump's political struggles and weak polling numbers in 2018, in part because so few races are being fought in competitive terrain. Democrats seeking the House majority have limited opportunities to pick up new seats given the way many congressional districts have been redrawn by Republican-led state legislatures. And Republicans expect gains among 10 states carried by Trump where Democrats currently serve.

But Wilson noted the division between Trump and his party is so clear, many voters don't necessarily link the two.

"He does his own job of separating himself from the Republican brand," Wilson said.

But it would be "catastrophic," he said, if Trump and the Republican-led Congress fail to enact meaningful legislation now that they have total control of Washington.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-mcconnell-feud-threatens-republican-agenda-49387195