Rex Tillerson on Trump Charlottesville Comments: "The president speaks for himself" - Polidicks

[url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rex-tillerson-says-trump-speaks-for-himself-on-values/2017/08/27/6d6a4b90-8b46-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html]The Washington Post[/url] [quote]Secretary of State Rex Tillerson became the latest and highest-ranking administration official to distance himself from President Trump, saying in a Sunday interview that the president “speaks for himself” in his response to racial hatred and violence. Tillerson was asked on “Fox News Sunday” whether he thought Trump was expressing American values of tolerance and equality in his handling of racially tinged violence during a white-supremacist march in Charlottesville earlier this month. “The president speaks for himself,” he said. When host Chris Wallace then asked whether Tillerson was “separating himself” from Trump’s remarks, Tillerson answered, “I’ve made my own comments as to our values.” That was a reference to remarks Tillerson made Aug. 18 about inclusiveness and tolerance in a discussion of racial diversity and American values. His remarks were read as implicit criticism of Trump and his assertion that “both sides” were to blame for violence that killed a woman who was protesting the white-supremacist rally. Tillerson’s remarks followed harsh criticism of Trump from National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, who said in an interview Friday that he nearly quit over the president’s handling of the events in Charlottesville. “Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK,” Cohn said in the Financial Times interview. Cohn, who is Jewish, said that the administration “must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups.” Trump has condemned hate groups in the wake of Charlottesville but twice added equivocation about blame for violence and once said some “fine people” were among the white-supremacist marchers.[/quote] More high-ranking WH staff start to back away from the Degenerate-In-Chief. Who wants to bet Tillerson's next on the chopping block?

It feels like Trump is just the only dude at the White house now. So many people abandoning ship, its hard to remember who the fuck is even left.

Savage.

How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;52620027]How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?[/QUOTE] Instinct of self-preservation, I reckon.

Dude should resign

This article seems to have some interesting insight on supposed tensions between Trump and Tillerson, both because of this incident and also other past incidents discussed in the article. [B][U]Trump frustration with Tillerson rising fast[/U][/B] [url]https://www.axios.com/scoop-trump-frustration-with-tillerson-rising-fast-2478123564.html[/url] [QUOTE] There's a ticking problem with Rex Tillerson, and it's growing louder by the day, according to officials inside and close to the White House. President Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated with his Secretary of State. One time recently, after Trump had returned from a meeting on Afghanistan, a source recalled Trump saying, "Rex just doesn't get it, he's totally establishment in his thinking." Tillerson's jaw-dropping comments on TV today will likely only worsen their relationship. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE] Why this matters: We've been hearing for weeks, from sources who've spoken to the president, that Trump is getting more and more fed up with Tillerson, who has still yet to staff his agency. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;52620027]How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?[/QUOTE] "Nazis are bad" is such a low bar to clear for political thought.

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;52620027]How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?[/QUOTE] A man named "Mad Dog" is the only reasonable adult in the administration

Day after day I see more reason to draw parallels between Trump and Andrew Johnson and I expect the result to be the same, a president who's largely politically isolated being dragged along by the rest of the government.

[QUOTE=Anderan;52620183]Day after day I see more reason to draw parallels between Trump and Andrew Johnson and I expect the result to be the same, a president who's largely politically isolated being dragged along by the rest of the government.[/QUOTE] Damn shame the government's little better in terms of the damage they're doing to the country.

Respectfully, I disagree. The president is speaking for America, whether we agree with his message or not, and until congress steps up to do something about that, be it a censure or a declaration, he's the voice of america, a loud, pouty, narsasistic, voice. [editline]27th August 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Anderan;52620183]Day after day I see more reason to draw parallels between Trump and Andrew Johnson and I expect the result to be the same, a president who's largely politically isolated being dragged along by the rest of the government.[/QUOTE] the president had way less power and responsibility back then though.

[QUOTE=Vodkavia;52619853]Every day and every single time another little chip in Trump's armor happens we're just that ever bit closer to the end of all of this crap. Even though so much damage has been done and will likely be done before this is all over, there will be a day when trump resigns/prosecuted and Brexit is "sorted out" and on that day we can rest almost barely easy, knowing that the retardation that brought us where we are will swirling back down the toilet and maybe... just maybe the next generations will be smart enough to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors who failed to do so enough themselves.[/QUOTE] This isn't just some crap in a toilet we are dealing with, I'm afraid this is more of a plumbing problem, small leaks everywhere. The infrastructure already wet with dirty water while plumbers are unable to take apart the broken pipes and replace them because of how they were influenced. So their best choices being is duck tape for the leaks or turning valves on or off.

[QUOTE=Sableye;52620278]the president had way less power and responsibility back then though.[/QUOTE] Yes and no, Lincoln exercised considerable power. Trump couldn't even get away with half of what Lincoln did even taking into account the civil war. The president is still limited in what he can do, and if enough people in the federal government oppose him or work against him there is only so much he can do beyond screeching about it.

Recent events all seem to indicate that the traditional establishment GOP is sliding away from Trump, but I'm really surprised to see even Tillerson sliding away from Trump considering he only (allegedly) joined to help get sanctions lifted as per the Dossier.

[QUOTE=Anderan;52620820]Yes and no, Lincoln exercised considerable power. Trump couldn't even get away with half of what Lincoln did even taking into account the civil war. The president is still limited in what he can do, and if enough people in the federal government oppose him or work against him there is only so much he can do beyond screeching about it.[/QUOTE] ya but andrew jackson wasn't overseeing a government with a hostile nation litterally 100 miles to the south. Lincoln was a very big exception to the rule, presidents pre Teddy Roosavelt, generally had way less power and leeway in the government. They were very much ceremonial positions with the speaker of the house being the defacto head of the government. It wasn't until the late 1800s that things started to change and presidents started gaining more ground. The federal government really didn't do much until the 20th century when progressives gave it massive regulatory powers, until then it wasn't uncommon for presidents to work 4-5 hour days, take walks through washington, kick back on the WH porch and see disgruntled voters every now and then. [editline]28th August 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=BlindSniper17;52620838]Recent events all seem to indicate that the traditional establishment GOP is sliding away from Trump, but I'm really surprised to see even Tillerson sliding away from Trump considering he only (allegedly) joined to help get sanctions lifted as per the Dossier.[/QUOTE] we will see how september shapes up, the house and senate actually have to work bipartisan to pass all the shit the republicans ignored for the last 8 months, and all that time Trump is going to be pouting about getting healthcare done and berating the GOP about working with democrats. Its impossible to understate just how bad things are in congress right now. They have to pass no less than half a dozen reauthorizations on large chunks of the federal government, a budget, a debt ceiling, funds for the interstate construction fund, military defense spending reauthorization, and much much more all in about 16-20 days, if they try to do this the partisan way, things are going to fucking derail right away.

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;52620027]How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?[/QUOTE] I think Tillerson is probably what Trump would be if he had half a brain: an actual businessman who cares more about business than political parties. I don't think that makes him a good pick, he just doesn't have a reason to stick his neck out for any of this shit that Trump charges straight into.

[QUOTE=Sableye;52620860]ya but andrew jackson[/QUOTE] I said JOHNSON, not Jackson. I was drawing a comparison between what would happen if the president is completely politically isolated, and after the Russian sanctions that congress basically forced Trump to sign while also cock blocking him from repealing the notion that his "power" could some how still allow him to function with no support is utterly absurd.

[QUOTE=LTJGPliskin;52620027]How has Tillerson, one of the worst cabinet choices, started to become a voice of reason? Is he just realizing the gravity of the situation he's in?[/QUOTE] Voice of reason or he's just better at saying the right things in these situations. Which is easy when trump doesn't use any sort of self filter.