10 days after the National Day of Patriotic Devotion (NDofPD+10)
This has got to be the single most cynical message from Donald Trump since he took the oath of office: “Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country?” Donald Trump, via Twitter, 30 January 2017
“On Sunday afternoon, four Democratic members of the House of Representatives arrived at Dulles airport in Virginia on word that people had been detained and denied access to lawyers. “We have a constitutional crisis today,” representative Don Beyer wrote on Twitter. “Four members of Congress asked CBP officials to enforce a federal court order and were turned away.”” The Guardian, 30 January 2017
In what appears to be an attempt to bring the funny to his assessment of America’s reaction to his travel ban, Trump says the only problems at the airport are computer glitches, protesters and liberal tears. “Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” Donald Trump via Twitter, Part One, Part Two
“A petition to stop US President Donald Trump’s UK state visit has gathered more than a million signatures. PM Theresa May announced the visit on her recent US trip. Downing Street said while it disagreed with the policy it was right to still work with the US.” The BBC, 30 January 2017
Trump, who campaigned as a “law and order” candidate, wants to eliminate 75% of the laws regulating the country. “President Trump’s latest executive action, fulfilling another campaign pledge, will eliminate two regulations for every new one enacted. Trump said earlier on Monday that he wants to eliminate “a little more than 75 percent” of the regulations now on the books. There are some 80,000 pages in the Federal Register, where all federal rules are published.” NPR, 30 January 2017
U.S. Embassy Contradicts U.K. Foreign Office Over Travel Ban, Bloomberg, 30 January 2017
“The US embassy in Britain’s capital sent out new advice on Monday, urging people with dual citizenship from those countries affected by US President Donald Trump’s travel ban not to apply for US Visas, despite claims from the UK government that such a ban does not apply.” Business Insider, 30 January
“Numerous Foreign Service officers and other diplomats have drafted a dissent memo expressing opposition to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning refugees and immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States.” Lawfare, 30 January 2017
“It’s a very dangerous thing to have a White House that can’t with the remotest pretense of competence and governance put together a major policy document on a crucial set of national security issues without inducing an avalanche of litigation and wide diplomatic fallout.” Lawfare, 28 January 2017
“Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz says his company plans to hire 10,000 refugees in the next five years in the 75 countries where it does business.” NPR, 30 January 2017
“Starbucks customers are threatening to boycott the coffee giant after its CEO took a stand against President Donald Trump’s executive order barring immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the US.” Business Insider 30 January 2017
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson compared Trump (apparently meaning to do it in Trump’s favor) to Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe and Romanian despot Nicolae Ceausescu. The BBC, 30 January 2017
“The Democrats are delaying my cabinet picks for purely political reasons. They have nothing going but to obstruct. Now have an Obama A.G.” Sauce for the goose, Mr. Trump. Donald Trump, via Twitter, 30 January 2017
“Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, ordered the Justice Department on Monday not to defend President Trump’s executive order on immigration in court. Mr. Trump has the authority to fire Ms. Yates, but as the top Senate-confirmed official at the Justice Department, she is the only one authorized to sign foreign surveillance warrants, an essential function at the department. “For as long as I am the acting attorney general, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the executive order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so,” she wrote.” The New York Times, 30 January 2017
“The Acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms. Yates of her duties …” Gant News, 30 January 2017
“Gregg Phillips, whose unsubstantiated claim that the election was marred by 3 million illegal votes was tweeted by the president, was listed on the rolls in Alabama, Texas and Mississippi, according to voting records and election officials in those states.” Trump cited Phillips as an authority on voter fraud. via AP News, 30 January 2017
This Is Drivel 