Before the questions, here are a few things to look at if you are concerned about the way Trump treats the media- take for instance the accusation that CNN is fake news father down. . .
Trump and the Media- Reich talks about 7 ways here and 4 in the video immediately below Trump is attempting to control the media:
http://www.salon.com/2016/12/04/robert-reich-donald-trumps-7-techniques-to-control-the-media_partner/
And a little flashier, with a white board. . . 4 Ways Trump Tries to Control the Media - or How Tyranny Begins. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_anu-feuKE
Advice to American journalists from Russians who covered Putin. . .
https://qz.com/884403/donald-trumps-press-conference-was-a-circus-but-vladimir-putins-is-way-worse-for-journalists/
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And here we go, fasten your seatbelts and put on your tinfoil hats! The first few are about Russia and hacking, so here's something you might want to watch first-
Trump DOES have a relationship with Putin several years ago, but NOW he doesn't know him at all.
http://www.msnbc.com/thomas-roberts/watch/trump-discusses-putin-in-2013-734124099973
(http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-01-10/donald-trump-barack-obama-briefed-on-reports-russia-had-compromising-information-on-president-elect)
QUESTION: A couple of aspects of the intelligence briefing that you received on Friday that we're looking for further clarification on.
TRUMP: It's all fake news. It's phony stuff. It didn't happen.
As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. But I think we also get hacked by other countries and other people. And I -- I can say that you know when -- when we lost 22 million names and everything else that was hacked recently, they didn't make a big deal out of that. That was something that was extraordinary. That was probably China.
They didn't make a big deal about the 22,000 names- hmm, front page news. That's a big deal. I'd say that's a pretty big deal. Believe me! (omg I can't keep the Trump language up, it's driving me batty.)
https://twitter.com/markberman/status/819220351955718144
TRUMP: And I have to say this also, the Democratic National Committee was totally open to be hacked. They did a very poor job. They could've had hacking defense, which we had.Wrong. They hacked both.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/01/11/fact-checking-president-elect-trumps-news-conference/?utm_term=.19d8fb0509ce
Here we are again, the DNC hack, emails, Comey. There was a hearing and Comey clammed up apparently, which is out of character, don't you think?
http://theslot.jezebel.com/something-extremely-concerning-happened-in-a-confidenti-1791170629http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/314161-dems-outraged-with-comey-after-house-briefing
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/13/fbi-chief-jim-comey-s-russia-hacking-brief-turns-into-sh-t-show.html
Washington Post has this one too.
TRUMP: Can you imagine that if Donald Trump got the questions to the debate -- it would've been the biggest story in the history of stories. And they would've said immediately, "You have to get out of the race." Nobody even talked about it. It's a very terrible thing.
The third person. Haha! Megalomania, anyone?
Also, if rape isn't bad enough, wtf IS (to make him step down)??
And WHY is he talking about debate questions and Hillary Clinton?? We have golden showers and conflicts of interest for himself and his cabinet to ask him about! I know, THAT'S why talk about his rallies, Nov. 8, beautiful and terrific nonspecific things.
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He does actually answer this first one (eventually), possibly the only thing he DID answer in a concise coherent fashion.
QUESTION: Do you accept that part of the finding? And will you undo what President Obama did to punish the Russians for this or will you keep it in place?The ISIS claim is STILL untrue. . . http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/aug/11/donald-trump/donald-trump-pants-fire-claim-obama-founded-isis-c/
TRUMP: Well, if -- if Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia. Russia can help us fight ISIS, which, by the way, is, number one, tricky. I mean if you look, this administration created ISIS by leaving at the wrong time. The void was created, ISIS was formed.
If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what, folks? That's called an asset, not a liability.
Now, I don't know that I'm gonna get along with Vladimir Putin. I hope I do. But there's a good chance I won't. And if I don't, do you honestly believe that Hillary would be tougher on Putin than me? Does anybody in this room really believe that? Give me a break.
He knows the exact time, he knows the incident, it totally happened.
QUESTION: Would a reasonable observer say that you are potentially vulnerable to blackmail by Russia or by its intelligence agencies?
TRUMP: Lemme just tell you what I do.
When I leave our country, I'm a very high-profile person, would you say?
I am extremely careful. I'm surrounded by bodyguards. I'm surrounded by people.
And I always tell them -- anywhere, but I always tell them if I'm leaving this country, "Be very careful, because in your hotel rooms and no matter where you go, you're gonna probably have cameras." I'm not referring just to Russia, but I would certainly put them in that category.
And number one, "I hope you're gonna be good anyway. But in those rooms, you have cameras in the strangest places. Cameras that are so small with modern technology, you can't see them and you won't know. You better be careful, or you'll be watching yourself on nightly television."
I tell this to people all the time.
I was in Russia years ago, with the Miss Universe contest, which did very well -- Moscow, the Moscow area did very, very well.
And I told many people, "Be careful, because you don't wanna see yourself on television. Cameras all over the place."
And again, not just Russia, all over.
Does anyone really believe that story?
I'm also very much of a germaphobe, by the way, believe me.
http://mashable.com/2017/01/11/donald-trump-germaphobe-hidden-cameras/#C3.yknX9AkqA
There are cameras everywhere! Not paranoid at all.
http://observer.com/2017/01/donald-trump-says-crap-golden-showers-report-cant-be-true-because-hes-a-germaphobe/
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TAX RETURNS, yes what about those?
---
QUESTION: (inaudible) do you believe the hacking was justified? And will you release your tax returns to prove what you're saying about no deals in Russia?Well, he didn't say can't this time, he said only that he's not. It was a lie that he can't, which he has said before: http://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/16/donald-trump-tax-returns-495955.html
TRUMP: I'm not releasing the tax returns because as you know, they're under audit.
QUESTION: ... since the '70's has had a required audit from the IRS, the last place to release them, but as president sir...---
TRUMP: You know, the only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, OK? They're the only who ask.
QUESTION: You don't think the American public is concerned about it?
TRUMP: No I don't think so. I won, when I became president. No, I don't think they care at all. I don't think they care at all.
TRUMP: I think you care -- I think you care. First of all, you learn very little to a tax return. What you should go down to federal elections and take a look at the numbers. And actually, people have learned a lot about my company and now they realize, my company is much bigger, much more powerful than they ever thought. We're in many, many countries, and I'm very proud of it.
And what I'm going to be doing is my two sons, who are right here, Don and Eric, are going to be running the company. They are going to be running it in a very professional manner. They're not going to discuss it with me. Again, I don't have to do this. They're not going to discuss it with me. And with that, I'm going to bring up Sheri Dillon, and she's going to go -- these papers are just some of the many documents that I've signed turning over complete and total control to my sons.
The American people don't care about his tax returns??? Why, because HE says so???
His company is "bigger than we ever thought," so we should go to federal elections and look at the huge numbers that are much more powerful than we ever even thought!
Oh look, but he's wrong about that. . .
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/sep/26/donald-trump/donald-trump-talks-about-his-finances-first-presid/
Oh what a relief, he won't discuss business with his sons! That's totally plausible and believable, right? Yeah, I don't think so either.
And all those brand new blank manila folders with reams of brand new printer paper in them, I'm SO glad he's going to explain that!!
And Trevor Noah of the Daily Show on the prop of the day, those very business-y full or empty manila folders:
http://www.alternet.org/investigations/following-trumps-press-conference-daily-shows-trevor-noah-comes-new-reason-why-trump
"Look how much work he's been doing for America! But don't look too close," Noah warned. "Because if you do, you may seem to notice things.
"For instance, the paper inside the folders doesn't look like weeks of contracts, it looks brand new," the host pointed out. "Yea, and I know some of you might be hating... But you tell me. If you had real folders of real business, you were really doing, wouldn't you at least have labels on them."
ALAS! It's unproven! See http://www.snopes.com/trump-busted-using-empty-folders/
But. . .
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-press-conference-folders-business-plan-empire-blank-fake-handover-donald-jr-eric-a7523426.html
Who can say? Maybe they're blank, maybe they're not blank. Some people say they were blank, believe me! I'm saying I don't know. Nobody knows. But they really look blank.
Maybe he paid people to clap, maybe they clapped because his lies and repetition of two syllables resonated with them. Who can say.
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Dillon on his financial situation, though not the taxes, she had nothing on that:
"The conflicts of interest laws simply do not apply to the president or the vice president and they are not required to separate themselves from their financial assets."Maybe this is true for all presidents, though this is hard to hear since he thinks NOTHING, no laws or standards apply to him. Blah blah blah, he'll try to distance himself even though he's not required, blah blah blah.
Another interpretation:
“If he doesn’t divest, he’s going to be violating the Constitution,” Norman Eisen, a former U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic who served as a White House ethics adviser under Barack Obama, told TIME.http://time.com/4631643/donald-trump-conflicts-interest-ethics-watchdogs/
The trust Mr. Trump will create “adds nothing to the equation,” Mr. Shaub said. “This is not a blind trust. It’s not even close.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2017/01/11/government-ethics-chief-says-trumps-conflict-of-interest-plan-isnt-good-enough/
And Dillon had lots to say about why Trump really shouldn't be expected to divest at all even though it's been a well established and advised precedent:
And Dillon had lots to say about why Trump really shouldn't be expected to divest at all even though it's been a well established and advised precedent:
- "And selling his assets without the rights to the brand would greatly diminish the value of the assets and create a fire sale.
- President-elect Trump should not be expected to destroy the company he built.
- Anyone who has ever gone through this extraordinarily cumbersome and complicated process knows that it is a non-starter. It is not realistic and it would be inappropriate for the Trump Organization.
- The so-called Emoluments Clause has never been interpreted, however, to apply to fair value exchanges that have absolutely nothing to do with an office holder.
- No one would have thought when the Constitution was written that paying your hotel bill was an emolument. Instead, it would have been thought of as a value-for-value exchange; not a gift, not a title, and not an emolument."
And to the question- "What is your response to your critics that say not only you, but also your Cabinet is filled with conflicts of interest?"
He responds:
(After talking about his Secretary of State pick, for which you can find more informative information here than the empty statements he made: https://www.thenation.com/article/rex-tillersons-jaw-dropping-testimony-just-completely-disqualified-him/
Exxon guy as Secretary of State, that doesn't scream conflict of interest, does it? But he's getting ready to clear that right up, I'm sure.)
"I want to bring the greatest people into government, because we're way behind. We don't make good deals any more. I say it all the time in speeches. We don't make good deals anymore; we make bad deals. Our trade deals are a disaster."
He says it all the time in speeches, so that's how you know we make bad deals???
And on the conflict of interest with all these business people in the Cabinet. . . ???
No answer. Great press conference.
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On the healthcare question- ". . .if you have outlined a plan for what you want the replace package to look like, would it guarantee coverage for those who have gotten health insurance through the current Obamacare law?" :
Which explains exactly NOTHING much like everything that comes out of his mouth, HOW did he get elected? Do people like hearing a bunch of nonsensical sentence-like things, what was it that made them say hey he's not perfect, lets look for the good in Trump, while refusing to look at any experience or good in Hillary and only focusing on what they disliked in her?? How is she corrupt and he not? Or how is his corruption less bad than hers? How is she MORE corporate=corrupt than he? Many people are saying gender bias was at play, but I don't know.
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Loaded question here, there are several topics in one.
http://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-perplexed-by-trumps-nazi-germany-comment/a-37114406
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/11/trumps-comparison-of-u-s-intelligence-community-to-nazi-germany-rebuked-by-anti-defamation-league/?utm_term=.5dcc63c36d45
Huh? Who's paying??
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CNN was called fake news for reporting on Trump's Russia connections and the alleged encounter with prostitutes and their or his urine. NO! YOU'RE THE PUPPET!!
http://www.cjr.org/covering_trump/trump_reporter_question_press_conference_cnn.php
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This was kind of a funny moment- I think he may have completely misunderstood what type of bill they were asking about. What??? Words can have more than one meaning?! Unheard of! Fake definition! Sad! No, you're the puppet!
Either that or he just started talking about competing with Lindsey Graham for money and getting into the top 1% for no apparent reason which would totally be in spastic narcissistic character. (???)
But he did answer that Obama did the right thing sanctioning Russia for hacking, the hacking that he disputes. Or maybe he's only calling the golden showers fake news. And also CNN. Who can say.
Send me a bill for WHAT? Hahahahaha! The president elect has no idea what bills are.
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TRUMP: Obamacare is the Democrats problem. We are gonna take the problem off the shelves for them. We're doing them a tremendous service by doing it. We could sit back and let them hang with it. We are doing the Democrats a great service.
TRUMP: And the plan will be repeal and replace Obamacare.You said that already!!!
TRUMP: We're going to have a health care that is far less expensive and far better. OK.
Which explains exactly NOTHING much like everything that comes out of his mouth, HOW did he get elected? Do people like hearing a bunch of nonsensical sentence-like things, what was it that made them say hey he's not perfect, lets look for the good in Trump, while refusing to look at any experience or good in Hillary and only focusing on what they disliked in her?? How is she corrupt and he not? Or how is his corruption less bad than hers? How is she MORE corporate=corrupt than he? Many people are saying gender bias was at play, but I don't know.
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Loaded question here, there are several topics in one.
On the reckless baseless Nazi accusation, because he's not going to answer that:
QUESTION: President-elect, I have a question about the Supreme Court and border security. But I also wanted to ask you about something you said on Twitter this morning. Are we living in Nazi Germany? What were you driving at there? Do you have a problem with the intelligence community?
And on the Supreme Court, what's your timeline? You said a while ago you were down to four. Have you conducted those interviews yet? What's your timeline for nominating?
And on the border fence, it now appears clear U.S. taxpayers will have to pay for it up front. What is your plan to...
http://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-perplexed-by-trumps-nazi-germany-comment/a-37114406
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/11/trumps-comparison-of-u-s-intelligence-community-to-nazi-germany-rebuked-by-anti-defamation-league/?utm_term=.5dcc63c36d45
TRUMP: On the fence -- it's not a fence. It's a wall. You just misreported it.He's trying to fact check??? Nope. Silence, Cheeto!
TRUMP: So, remember this, OK? I would say we are going to build a wall and people would go crazy. I would then say, who is going to pay for the wall? And people would all scream out -- 25,000, 30,000 people, because nobody has ever had crowds like Trump has had. You know that. You don't like to report that, but that's OK.Because the people at your rally say it?? That's your answer? Will he ever actually answer a freaking question??
TRUMP: So, in order to get the wall started, Mexico will pay for the wall, but it will be reimbursed. OK?
Huh? Who's paying??
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CNN was called fake news for reporting on Trump's Russia connections and the alleged encounter with prostitutes and their or his urine. NO! YOU'RE THE PUPPET!!
http://www.cjr.org/covering_trump/trump_reporter_question_press_conference_cnn.php
"And had they leaked by some other means, it would be up to journalists to establish their veracity; ignore them if possible, debunk them if necessary."https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/business/media/trump-media-news-conference.html
"The atmosphere at Trump’s press events often has a zoo-like quality. At this one it felt like the animals had been starved, hunted, and turned against each other."https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/trump-faces-a-weakened-press-corps/512849/
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This was kind of a funny moment- I think he may have completely misunderstood what type of bill they were asking about. What??? Words can have more than one meaning?! Unheard of! Fake definition! Sad! No, you're the puppet!
Either that or he just started talking about competing with Lindsey Graham for money and getting into the top 1% for no apparent reason which would totally be in spastic narcissistic character. (???)
But he did answer that Obama did the right thing sanctioning Russia for hacking, the hacking that he disputes. Or maybe he's only calling the golden showers fake news. And also CNN. Who can say.
QUESTION: Do you think President Obama went too far with the sanctions he put on Russia after the hacking?TRUMP: I don't think he went too far. No.He answered a question! Possibly the only one he's answered the entire campaign and transition periods!!! History has been made, folks!
QUESTION: Will you roll them back? What do you think of Lindsey Graham's plan to send you a bill for...
TRUMP: Plans to send me a bill for what?
QUESTION: Tougher sanctions.
TRUMP: I hadn't heard Lindsey Graham was going to do that. Lindsey Graham. I've been competing with him for a long time. He is going to crack that one percent barrier one day. I didn't realize Lindsey Graham still had it. That's all right. I think Lindsey Graham is a nice guy. I've heard that he is a nice guy and I've been hearing it.
Schoolhouse Rock, he could start there maybe?
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