'Willful Ignorance.' Inside President Trump's Troubled Intelligence Briefings

[j-mac]

Okay, please explain the threat you think Trump represents.

I said it...He represents a threat....

 

[Amelia]

Oh Bologna.....You weren't saying he was dumb, just that he was dumb....I don't have time for passive aggressive BS....

LOL.

Not my fault you don't understand what I said. But it is an ironic time for you to show you don't understand the distinction I made.


I'll leave it at that.

 

[j-mac]

What is the existential threat? He cuts regulations, cuts taxes, and throws money at defense contractors. He is constantly giving things to the already wealthy and powerful. Why would they want to get rid of that?

Building up defense that Obama, and liberals tried their damnedest to tear down is NOT just throwing money at the wealthy and Powerful...It is building America's defenses, something you clearly don't want...The question is why? But, you said it right there cuts regulation, cuts taxes...Both of which progressives like yourself hate because people like you think that income represents what progressives allow American's to keep, rather than the other way around...The corruption of our reps in bed with each other to seek more power, and make themselves wealthy off of their positions in office is another way Trump is exposing, and they hate...That's a couple.

 

[JasperL]

Well, isn't this a bit of snotty reporting from Mr. Walcott from Time....It isn't that these things are out there by yet more anonymous sourcing within the Obama politicized Intel services, but that the fact that some within those ranks are more than willing to talk to MSM media sources whom they know viscerally hate this President....

Here's how Sharyl Attkinsson lays it out in the Hill....

Ms. Attkinsson doesn't use the term, but I will...What we have seen for the past two years, and continuing is America's first Coup d'etat...And if not actually full blown, and complete with Troops marching into the White House to arrest, and remove President Trump, that is the dream...The next type would be a political coup....And that is what we are seeing...This is Obama's true legacy.

Pretty disappointing article by Attkinson. The allegation here is Trump is willfully ignorant, doesn't listen to the briefings, points have to be condensed to 2 or 3 sentences, he reacts angrily when the assessment differs from a public position he's taken and more.

Her defense of that is that the IC has been wrong many times in the past, and or that OBAMA!!! among others has either disregarded the IC's assessment, or that they agreed with assessments that turned out badly. Also, Clapper lied. Etc.

But that's nothing but moving the goal posts. Of course Presidents and the IC will sometimes make wrong decisions, and Presidents will act contrary to IC recommendations. But that assumes those decisions are made after listening to the IC's assessment, weighing it, and basing decisions based on other factors, also carefully considered. If the stories are true, Trump does none of that.

The article doesn't say that when POTUS decides to, say, meet with N. Korea that he's made a bad/wrong decision. What it alleges is that in general Trump barely even hears the IC's assessment of North Korea, much less considers it, because the briefings to keep his attention have to keep repeating his name and title, and points boiled down to 2 or 3 sentences, and when it contradicts what he's said publicly, he gets angry. That seems to me dangerous, especially getting angry at people offering what we have to assume is their best assessment. Worse is the allegation that some have been told not to even offer assessments that contradict Trump's public comments. Those are reckless ways to make decisions. Carefully considering and rejecting isn't necessarily even wrong, but ignoring, dismissing, not even wanting to HEAR contrary info is the worst possible way to run a country.

 

[j-mac]

LOL.

Not my fault you don't understand what I said. But it is an ironic time for you to show you don't understand the distinction I made.


I'll leave it at that.

You made a distinction without a difference.. You're not as clever as you think you are.

 

[Idiometer]

If only you were right about the troops marching into the White House and the coup.

Oh well, hope springs eternal.

:2funny:

 

[j-mac]

Pretty disappointing article by Attkinson. The allegation here is Trump is willfully ignorant, doesn't listen to the briefings, points have to be condensed to 2 or 3 sentences, he reacts angrily when the assessment differs from a public position he's taken and more.

Her defense of that is that the IC has been wrong many times in the past, and or that OBAMA!!! among others has either disregarded the IC's assessment, or that they agreed with assessments that turned out badly. Also, Clapper lied. Etc.

But that's nothing but moving the goal posts. Of course Presidents and the IC will sometimes make wrong decisions, and Presidents will act contrary to IC recommendations. But that assumes those decisions are made after listening to the IC's assessment, weighing it, and basing decisions based on other factors, also carefully considered. If the stories are true, Trump does none of that.

The article doesn't say that when POTUS decides to, say, meet with N. Korea that he's made a bad/wrong decision. What it alleges is that in general Trump barely even hears the IC's assessment of North Korea, much less considers it, because the briefings to keep his attention have to keep repeating his name and title, and points boiled down to 2 or 3 sentences, and when it contradicts what he's said publicly, he gets angry. That seems to me dangerous, especially getting angry at people offering what we have to assume is their best assessment. Worse is the allegation that some have been told not to even offer assessments that contradict Trump's public comments. Those are reckless ways to make decisions. Carefully considering and rejecting isn't necessarily even wrong, but ignoring, dismissing, not even wanting to HEAR contrary info is the worst possible way to run a country.

Wait, wait, wait....Now you guy's love the IC community? When did that happen? During Bush 43 you people had nothing but disdain for them....Hell, outlets like the NYTimes outed covert operations, and applauded the deaths of IC operatives in Afghanistan....NOW, all of the sudden, they are the adults just trying to lead the child President to the right path? Give me a break....They are politicized, and that was the outgoing plan from the a-hole in chief Obama....

 

[prometeus]

Well, isn't this a bit of snotty reporting from Mr. Walcott from Time...

Reality and truth are snotty for you? Never mind, it is a rhetorical question.

Here's how Sharyl Attkinsson lays it out in the Hill...

Right, a political hack, that must be true then.

Ms. Attkinsson doesn't use the term, but I will...What we have seen for the past two years, and continuing is America's first Coup d'etat...

What moronic tripe.

 

[prometeus]

So, sorry, I don't see this as funny in any way.

Of course not, indoctrination and ignorance have the right effect on you.

 

[Carleen]

*Yawn*....That is what you leftists say about any Republican elected....That they are "dumb".... Get a new bag.

Not any. Just the last two.

 

[prometeus]

Don't know what a "Trumpeteer" is supposed to be

One of those low intellect morons who think that Trump is a demi God and he can not do wrong and he is the embodiment of virtue, intellect and good.

 

[prometeus]

That's because you are smart.

:lamo:lamo:lamo the funniest post of the day.

 

[Idiometer]

Okay, please explain the threat you think Trump represents.

Related : All this angst over a mythical Obama deep state, yet Trump seems unable/unwilling to appoint people. His administration seems to me to have fewer members than it did 6 months into his presidency? Why is Trump losing/firing his staff? Why hasn't he replaced the "Obama deep state"?

No one, or no one who's good at anything, wants to work in such a volitile place as Trump's White House. Also, anyone taking a job there must first have the means to lawyer up.

The lunatics are now subletting the asylum.

:afraid:

 

[j-mac]

Not any. Just the last two.

Oh, You don't remember Reagan?

 

[j-mac]

One of those low intellect morons who think that Trump is a demi God and he can not do wrong and he is the embodiment of virtue, intellect and good.

Oh, who's that?

 

[j-mac]

Reality and truth are snotty for you? Never mind, it is a rhetorical question.

Right, a political hack, that must be true then.

What moronic tripe.

So, snotty, and hackish in attack of this President are what you see as intellectual honesty, and opinion opposing that view is politically hackish....? This speaks volumes about what people should view your opinions as....

 

[roughdraft274]

He's been doing an awful job running the government for two years, and it's still Obama's fault? Still?

FFS, when do we get to say that the president is in charge of the federal government and it's on him if it runs well or is run poorly?

 

[j-mac]

No one, or no one who's good at anything, wants to work in such a volitile place as Trump's White House. Also, anyone taking a job there must first have the means to lawyer up.

The lunatics are now subletting the asylum.

:afraid:

Nonsense...You should turn off Maddow once in a while....

 

[j-mac]

He's been doing an awful job running the government for two years, and it's still Obama's fault? Still?

FFS, when do we get to say that the president is in charge of the federal government and it's on him if it runs well or is run poorly?

Please explain how?

 

[roughdraft274]

Please explain how?

How what?

 

[Carleen]

Oh, You don't remember Reagan?

Reagan was not dumb neither was Bush # 1

 

[j-mac]

How what?

How he is doing an awful job?

Here is a list of his accomplishments....

Economic Growth
4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018.
For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.

Jobs
4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office.
More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history.
Jobless claims at lowest level in nearly five decades.
The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record.
Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record.
Unemployment claims at 50 year low
African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows.
African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018.
Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent.
Asian-American unemployment at record low of 2 percent.
Women’s unemployment recently at lowest rate in nearly 65 years.
Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953.
Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years.
July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966.
Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades.
July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001.
Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low.
Rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low.
Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades.
Poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.”
68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year.
Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job.
Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent.
Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election.
Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades.
100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.

American Income
Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high.
Wages up in August by their fastest rate since June 2009.
Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade.
Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year.
Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election.
Median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history.
Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

American Optimism
Small business optimism has hit historic highs.
NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35 year-old record in August.
SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high.
Manufacturers are more confident than ever.
95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever.
Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.
12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record.
Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.

American Business
Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts.
Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018.
Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017.
ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years.
Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years.
Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening.
Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs.
Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.

Continued

 

[prometeus]

So, snotty, and hackish in attack of this President are what you see as intellectual honesty

Those are your words and it is fact that Trump can not handle anything that is more complex that "will see" and that he does not read. The man has no clue where nations are located.

and opinion opposing that view is politically hackish...

There is nothing to support the tripe in that opinion so yes it is policial drivel.

This speaks volumes about what people should view your opinions as....

Come back when you can refute something.

 

[j-mac]

List continued...

Deregulation
Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office.
Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks.
Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings.
Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.
Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.


Tax Cuts
Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law
Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families.
Increased the exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business.
Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families.
Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction.
Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family.
Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win.
Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.
Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closed loopholes for the wealthy.
9 in 10 American workers are expected see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department.
More than 6 million of American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts.
Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts.
Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.


Worker Development
Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries.
Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students.
Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.


Domestic Infrastructure
Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country.
Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects.
Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects.
Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.


Health Care
Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients.
Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone.
FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion.
Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases.
Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans.
Let more employers to form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees.
Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty.
Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.”
USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states
Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law.
Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry.
HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.
Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities.

Continued....

 

[Vern]

So, sorry, I don't see this as funny in any way.

Well to be fair J, you didn't think it was funny when were laughing at you for thinking President Obama was born in Kenya, his BC a forgery, he wants to kill old people and the stimulus will hyperinflation, dollar collapse, market to zero. and the one I'll be sure to tell my grandchildren is that you thought republicans really really really want to balance the budget. Until you admit you have a problem, we cant help you.