November 27, 2016

Kellyanne Conway's almost-perfect go-to answer for anything.

"Nothing is definite. He'll be speaking with his advisors. And he'll be applying the same brilliance and instincts and, that he, that he applied all throughout the campaign to all of these issues."

I'd have said her perfect go-to answer, but there is that repetition of "that he." I can tell you from watching the show — "Meet the Press" this morning — that she repeated herself to get back on track after the immoderate moderator, Chuck Todd, laughed out loud when she said "brilliance and instincts."

The particular subject there was how Trump was going to deal with Cuba.

Later in the show, Todd prodded her about the problem of conflicts of interest between his businesses and the work of the presidency. Conway said:
[H]e has been talking to his lawyers. He's been talking to ethics compliance folks. Everything will be done the way it needs to be done. But Chuck, there's no question that we're in unprecedented times. This country's not accustomed to having a successful businessman and job creator of tens of thousands of people at the helm. We're just, we're just accustomed to typical politicians ascending through the ranks. So it is different. But it's a large part of why people elected him.
She's testing the idea of flipping the problem into a positive: If his grounding in business is why people wanted him, then we understand the situation, and we should be glad we're not stuck once again with some politician who just ascended through the ranks

49 comments:

Owen said...

Conway is amazing. And increasingly I am seeing The Donald as a maestro. He uses BS as artillery and recon. It prepares the ground for his next move, and it informs him where the resistance will be.

The Progs seem quite unable to deal with this. Remarkable.

Is there a Trump (TM) Popcorn? Why not?

Nonapod said...

It's certainly interesting to watch a grand master of rhetorical ninjutsu at work.

mccullough said...

This conflict of interest stuff is boring. Trump was a long shot to win the GOP primary and the general election. Now some people are concerned about the hundreds of properties his companies own. Gimme a break. More fake news

rhhardin said...

A conflict of interest is the pulley on which good character is hoist into public view, Coleridge wrote.

Give him a chance and see.

It's not like he's a Clinton.

Mountain Maven said...

Great to see Conway lay a hit on Todd, that a$$hat.

Comanche Voter said...

Old Chuckums(or more likely upchuck when I think of Chuck Todd and Chuck You Schumer) warned Ms. Conway that she simply couldn't continue to blame our lame stream media. Lil Chuckums said that was a 'knee jerk response". Well a knee to certain portions of a jerk's anatomy is often the correct response. They brought it on themselves.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Chuck Todd and his wife are big phat democrats.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Chuck never cared that Hillary Clinton used a private server to stuff her family foundation coffers while heading the State Department. NO PRODDING from Chuck Todd (D) on that little insignificant item.

readering said...

Is she getting a job with the administration? If she's not that would explain her add lashing out on Romney. I wondered, since it would be hard for her to move her family to DC, whether she was angling for the NYC job that went to Haley.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I heard Chuck Todd(D) on the Hugh Hewitt show a few months back. His frustration with Hillary was a simple matter. 'She simply would not get out of her own way', Todd said. That's its. A simple matter. It has nothing to do with lying, corruption, money grubbing, private server, fake charity, selling out to the highest bidder... nah - it's simply that "she won't get out of her won way." Poor girl. Misunderstood. Chuck has a very moderate understanding of Hillary's corruption.

rehajm said...

We dodged a conflict of interest bullet when we elected Trump over Clinton.

n.n said...

Americans replaced the lawyer with a developer. They voted for revitalization, rehabilitation, and reconciliation to replace litigation. They voted against progressive wars, immigration reform, and class diversity.

As for conflicts of interest, the universality and ethics of conflict management eludes Todd's grasp. If anything, the conflicts that exist a priori pose a lesser risk than those that evolve during their term.

Kate said...

Conway on twitter today defended her negative comments about Romney: the Trump Train base hates him and has been vociferously against him for Sec State. This is true, and it's amazing that she takes hashtag chatter seriously. Using this very silly medium -- twitter -- feels like we have been given a voice.

Big Mike said...

@Owen, pub-leez don't suggest Trump-brand popcorn. I'm getting spammed with "opportunities" to purchase Trump/Pence tumblers, Christmas ornaments, leftover Trump campaign memorabilia, etc. I don't need Trump popcorn too!

Paul said...

"and we should be glad we're not stuck once again with some politician who just ascended through the ranks."

Oh hell yeah! Especially that lying corrupt bitch who ascended on the coattails of her lying corrupt husband.

Bruce Hayden said...

That is the thing - Crooked Hillary didn't ascend through the ranks. Her husband did. She was slipped into that Senate seat through some shenanigans, used her loss to Obama to leverage the Sec of State gig, and tried to leverage that into the White House. This was her third general election, where her previous two were in extremely Dem friendly NY.

JAORE said...

Wow. Remember when the very thought of challenging the election results was "horrifying" and would "undermine democracy". I do. Like it was just a couple of weeks ago.

JackWayne said...

I see it as a yuge plus that Trump is not a politician. It's doubleplus good that he doesn't owe anything to anybody except Priebus. My hope is that he reads the WAPO and the NYT and does exactly the opposite for the next 4 years.

Clyde said...

True. Hillary thought that she'd get promoted automatically through time in service, time in grade. She was entitled, dammit! But not so much.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Trump will learn from the Ultimo Master Sen. Jeff Flake and post endless pics of him with The Hispanics.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JeffFlake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Learn from your Master.

Big Mike said...

She's testing the idea of flipping the problem into a positive: If his grounding in business is why people wanted him, then we understand the situation, and we should be glad we're not stuck once again with some politician who just ascended through the ranks.

And she is so spot-on.

AmPowerBlog said...

Thanks Althouse!

I've got you linked up!

Here, "Kellyanne Conway Unloads on Mitt Romney — Trump Supporters 'Feel Betrayed' (VIDEO)."

Wince said...

Conflict of interest?

I hope Trump orders the invasion of Cuba. Builds a casino on the beachhead. Then sits in Havana on his birthday and passes around a cake making sure all his cronies get to see it before cutting each a piece.

Hagar said...

For the "conflict of interest" thing, I think that can be managed by keeping the Trump Empire business dealings fairly open for the next 4 years. It is the secrecy that is the tell that something crooked is going on.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
traditionalguy said...

At least with Conway's personality we won't get as tired of watching Trump win for us.

She has the charm, style and intelligence that makes political wrestling fun to watch.

Hagar said...

Conducting land development schemes in public would be something of a novelty, but the Trump kids are supposed to be very bright and will perhaps manage. And yes, Virginia, there are such people as honest land developers, and quite successful ones too.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

This is the thanks Trump gets for pardoning his old pal Hillary. I hope this irritates Trump back into making sure Clinton is thoroughly investigated.

gadfly said...

Lying on behalf of the ignorant and knowledgeless Trump gets to be more and more difficult for Kellyanne because she simply has no clue as to what stream-of-consciousness torrent will burst forth when next Trump says whatever he is musing about. I truly believe that she will shortly hate her job if she doesn't already.

If you have ever worked for a narcissist, you soon figure out that protecting the boss at all costs is expected of lieutenants (even bad ones!). Some people hang on longer than others but employee turnover caused by abusive superiors is always high.

gadfly said...

@AprilApple said...
This is the thanks Trump gets for pardoning his old pal Hillary. I hope this irritates Trump back into making sure Clinton is thoroughly investigated.

Trump is not the President yet, so he cannot pardon anyone. Where does this kind of thinking originate?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Trump pardoned her, in essence, before taking office. I used the word "pardon" instead of 'Letting the matter drop and the healing begin for such nice people.'

Etienne said...

On the subject of Romney, she has said that so far Trump is playing with an IED if he even smells like bringing him in.

I think if he brings in Romney, everyone else is going to leave.

He is being stupid by dragging this out. He has only one choice for Secretary of State, and that is Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...

khesanh0802 said...

Is it possible that this attack by Conway is Trump's revenge on Romney for being such an asshole during the campaign: lift Romney out of the darkness; give him some hope and then shoot his ass full of holes? It's almost too subtle to be real, but if it is, there are going to be a lot of people tip-toeing around Trump in the future. Remember he said he only attacks those who attack him. If Romney doesn't qualify on that score I don't know who does. Conway is too smart and too tied-in to wander far off the reservation in public. I will not be surprised to find out in a couple of years that this was revenge pure and simple.

I still don't want to se Guiliani as S o S, but there are a number of other good candidates available.

sane_voter said...

I watched some of Meet the Press today for the first time in months. Ole F Chuck Todd was in full tool mode. At least their full lib panel was against the WI/MI/PA recount, but wasn't nearly hard enough on Hillary for joining in or even being suspicious that the Greens were getting paid off by the Dems to lead the way on the recount. That show is next to useless.

LYNNDH said...

For the Never Romney people, remember that is Trump's decision and his alone. If that is who he wants then by all means he should have Romney.

Anonymous said...

Precisely why businessmen should stay out of politics, conflicts of interest. Either divest yourself of all your businesses alltogether or expect to be in violation of the Emolument Clause. Fake blind trusts just won't cut it.

Anonymous said...

"I see it as a yuge plus that Trump is not a politician. It's doubleplus good that he doesn't owe anything to anybody except Priebus.

How much does he owe Putin?

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Why? Are we only allowed corrupt politicians-for-life as leaders?

Drago said...

Unknown: "How much does he owe Putin?"

No doubt a number well south of the value of 20% of US Uranium deposits + improved Russian influence in the Middle East due to Hillary and li'l barack demonstrating astonishing "flexibility" after the 2012 election, just as li'l barack promised his Russian boyfriend during that delightful love-filled moment captured on video!

Sebastian said...

"[H]e has been talking to his lawyers" ="almost-perfect-go-to answer for anything"? Still a law prof, ain't you?

Drago said...

Unknown: "Precisely why businessmen should stay out of politics, conflicts of interest."

There are approximately 2 Billion ($$$) reasons (headquartered at the Clinton Global Initiative) why this is a laugh out loud comment.

SukieTawdry said...

I remember Kellyanne from way back when she was still Kellyanne Fitzgerald, market researcher and TV commentator. She was always poised, self-assured and knowledgeable. She's worked hard and has good instincts and I'm happy to see she made it to the big show, the first woman to successfully manage a presidential campaign. If Trump is smart, he'll keep on listening to her. I hope she gets on well with Jared Kushner.

Fred said...

Right. The President should be as free of conflicts of interest as that honest and devoted public servant Sen. Harry Reid, who managed to amass a 9 figure net worth on a Senator's salary.

Humperdink said...

LittleKnown said: "Precisely why businessmen should stay out of politics ..."

As a result of his business acumen, Trump made millions, which enabled him to finance his run for president.

As a result of influence peddling skills acquired as first lady and SoS, HRC made millions in graft. This enabled her to launder the money through the foundation and stash it.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

A President with skin in the game is how they will spin this. The average person doesn't have much concern for conflict of interest - assumes everyone has one. Trump not eating his own dog food is a better line of attack, but it's too soon for that.

YoungHegelian said...

@Unknown,

Precisely why businessmen should stay out of politics, conflicts of interest.

Yeah, unlike those career politicians & bureaucrats who spend a large part of their time in public service looking to arrange a cushy do-nothing job for some corporate constituent after they "retire" from public service.

Ever notice how many politicians seem to leave office so much wealthier than when they went in? How exactly do you think that happens on a government payroll?

Bad Lieutenant said...

gadfly said...

I truly believe that she will shortly hate her job if she doesn't already.

Not as much as you hate yours. At least she's getting paid. What are you getting out of this?

chickelit said...

@Unknown: The Emollient Clause is only for people with skin in the game.

Michael K said...

Gadfly and Inga are playing doubles with a net that is 2 stories high.

You guys need a coach.