Day 8. I think this might be better than I’ve ever done on a diet. Perhaps if food were words I’d look better? I can’t move onto the tweets without a comment on the North Korea situation though.

Today’s developments are once again making parts of my posts in preparation out of date. The impromptu press conference Trump just had would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. He’s standing there with his National Security Team who are all doing their best poker faces possible. However, that didn’t stop certain unconscious body reactions.

I took particular notice of Secretary of State Tillerson and UN Ambassador Ayotte, as they were on either side of him. Their anxiety at how the president would respond to certain questions was palpable. Then their relief or horror at his responses was also noticeable. Trump’s announcement that the US military might go into Venezuela was clearly a shock and surprise to both.

 

 

Then this:


His refusal to take the call is for no other reason than he doesn’t know what to say. He has no plan – he just likes to talk tough. He thinks it makes him look like a strong leader. But that only works with stupid people, and not forever. The way to stop bullies is to stand up to them – they almost always deflate in confrontation. Trumps history of settling out of court, despite his denials that he does that, shows he’s not really as tough as he pretends.

Even Fox News commentators who normally support Trump are criticizing his rhetoric, especially in relation to North Korea. For example, Steve Hayes of the Weekly Standard on ‘Special Report’ today (11 August US time/12 August NZ time):

I think he’s got to be careful not to become “the boy who cried wolf” here. … The tough talk is just fine but I think people have to continue to believe that you might actually do these things. And the more that you make those kind of threats the less effective they are.

(I will probably plagiarize myself in one of the North Korea posts I’m writing – don’t be surprised if you read the last few sentences again.)

But on with the show!

 

Cat Tweets

 

Other Animals Tweets

A wee cutie to start us off in this category …


Hilarious, but I’m glad I wasn’t staying there!

 

Very cool!

 

Does it know? I think so.

 

Mammoths fascinate me. I wish they were still around.

Dinosaurs are cool.

Political Tweets

I do not think he knows what those words mean. Worse, he doesn’t understand why it’s so important.

I’ve said this before – there’s always an old Trump tweet for the occasion …


Something else I should be writing about. Teen pregnancy is a problem in New Zealand too, but it’s getting better, so we know how to fix it. An increase and improvement in sex education in schools, wider availability of contraception, enabling teens to get contraception without parental consent and more. The same thing has also led to a decrease in abortions. So Trump does the opposite, with the Christianists Price and Pence cheering him on. It’s disgusting.

Some good news on the political front, in case some of you haven’t heard about it yet.

 

In response to a tweet about Scott Pruitt dismantling the EPA

 

I never saw this coming! However, I bet Gingrich is seeing the way the wind is blowing and has been looking for an excuse to jump ship for a while.

 

And a little irony to finish off the politics…

Science Tweets

I always knew fruitcake could last a long time. In fact a good one is better if it’s made several months ahead. But this?

Global warming is still getting worse. When it’s really cold, Fox News insists that proves there’s no such thing as global warming. They’re reporting the record hot temperatures in northern hemisphere recently, but global warming doesn’t get a mention.

Entertainment Tweets

Bloody gorgeous! Except for the cigarette. Who wants to kiss someone who’s been smoking? It’s interesting how smoking was part of the portrayal of sexy back then.

 

I admit, I don’t really know who Channing Tatum is, though I’ve heard the name, but this is fun all the same.

History Tweets

Imagine learning to type on this!

This situation was far more perilous. Luckily, Trump wasn’t in charge then.

Religion Tweets

I could fill this post up with Alex Jones nuttery every day.

 

Which was in response to this tweet.

 

Since same-sex marriage became legal in New Zealand, a third of the licences issued to same-sex couples have been to Australians coming to New Zealand to marry.

 

There’s hope for some of them yet though …

 

No, it’s not the legacy of partition, it’s the legacy of religion.

Architecture Tweets

Beautiful.


 

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