‘Was There Vandalism?’: Whitehouse Comes Down Heavily Over Trump Nominee On Reflecting Pool
By: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Trump is giving us all a glimpse at how authoritarian systems operate. Just watch how his operatives have to twist themselves into pretzels (and blatantly lying) to try to support Trump's lies. And, of course, they end up relying upon deflection and, when that fails, flat-out not answering direct questions.
We see this avoidance on social media sites.
In essence, we have this:
- Senator: Answer the question!
- Sycophant: No!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Transcript (formatted by ChatGPT)
Thanks very much. Uh, Mr. Lily, thank you for joining me yesterday to discuss the issues the, uh, Interior Department is facing. Um, thank you for your service in our military.
Um, I would like to talk with you about the reflecting pool. As we discussed, uh, yesterday, um, at the moment, uh, the Park Police are making arrests around the reflecting pool.
The president has claimed that vandals, quoting him here, “took some form of knife or blade and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete.” He increased the estimate to 300 feet later, then to 350 feet, um, insisting that it was, quoting him again, “cut and powerfully lifted off the surface, leaving very jagged, uneven edges.”
He was asked what proof there was of any of that, since it doesn't seem to be visible to any other person. And he said, “Well, you'll have to go see the Parks Department. They'll show it to you, or see the secretary. But I saw it. We have pictures.” Uh, he also said, “You'll see it in court.”
Um, so you were a police commissioner in Texas. Understand it?
“Yes, sir.”
Um, when people visiting the reflecting pool are being arrested, handcuffed, and dragged away by your police officers, you'd like to think that they have proper probable cause to arrest someone.
I grew up in the Foreign Service, and there were plenty of countries in which arrests made to satisfy a political leader's narrative that had no basis in fact was something that they did.
The American system of justice has not operated that way.
What can you tell me here today about what damage was done to the reflecting pool, where this 350-foot gash came from, and why tourists are being arrested? What is the factual predicate for these arrests?
“Yes, sir. Thank you. And indeed, I have spent, as a son of a police officer as well as a police commissioner, I've sent spent virtually, virtually my entire life in and around the law enforcement industry, or business community, rather.”
So you'd agree with me that arresting tourists to vindicate a political narrative, not because of any evidence of a crime, would be a wrong thing to do if that were what happened. Correct?
“Senator, the U.S. Park Police is one of the most extraordinary and historic police departments in the United States, founded in 1789. And in the year that I've had the opportunity and pleasure and privilege and honor to work with them, I have been amazingly impressed by their professionalism, their training, their discipline, their service, and their, their duty and service to this district and the people that live here.”
Yeah, which is why these incidents seem so aggravating, and I'd like to ask you to respond to—
“And consequently, sir, I would say that, and I, I think that all people would agree, that ensuring that law and order is maintained for anyone to apply—and I'm not saying that you are—that the U.S. Park Police in any way use political motivation to carry out their duties, I think, would be unjust. Um, and in some ways, an egregious accusation.”
So what's the predicate, then? Was there, in fact, a 350-foot gash done by a vandal to the reflecting pool?
“The predicate, sir, is that I have no doubt that the police officers involved in the apprehensions of these individuals, of which I believe there were five, were doing their duty, were enforcing the law appropriately. And I think that all of us should recognize and believe that vandalism of any kind is an affront to civilized society. It hurts everyone.”
But, Mr. Lyn, the question is: Was there vandalism? Did someone cut a 350-foot gash in the reflecting pool? And what vandalism did these individuals do? Is it really vandalism to pick a piece of floating, peeled paint out of the reflecting pool? People have run through the reflecting pool in the past. The president drove through the reflecting pool, apparently.
“Sir, I stand by my statement that the U.S. Park Police operated and conducted their business of defending, protecting this city in an appropriate manner. There was no malfeasance, nor was there any political motivation to it. And furthermore, sir, as you know, this is an ongoing investigation, and consequently, I'm not in a position to share that information publicly. But once it is available publicly, I'm happy to meet with you. I met with you yesterday, sir. I'll meet with you anytime.”
Was there or was there not a 350-foot gash in the reflecting pool?
“Senator, I stand by one now. I stand by my statement, sir.”
Your statement doesn't answer the question.
“I stand by my statement, sir.”
Okay. Don't want to answer the question. I can see why you don't want to answer the question. You're in a terrible position because the president has made up a 350-foot gash, and unfortunately now police officers are being put in the position of having to make arrests that I suspect are going to fare very badly in court because there's nothing about touching the reflecting pool or picking up a piece of floating, peeling paint that amounts to vandalism as a matter of law.
Thank you, Chairman.
Summary:
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse pressed Trump nominee Kevin Lilly on the alleged vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, repeatedly demanding evidence behind the controversial arrests in a tense face-off. As Lilly refuses to directly answer whether a ‘350-foot gash’ existed, Whitehouse accused the Trump administration of pushing a narrative unsupported by facts.
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This is so sickening to watch. What a mess Trump continues to make of our nation.
america could've had a state of the art new pool with all the money now wasted by trump's incompetence with the existing pool ...
What is so hard about answering a yes or no question? And why all the extra words uttered from his lips? Some people have a quota of words they have to use every day and this guy used up all of his by not answering a straight question
If he answers the question, Trump fires him.
Not too long ago we had a nation where patriots would never stand for anything like this. Yet we still have Trump supporters who try to defend this abysmal human being as he damages our nation in pursuit of personal wealth, power, and self-aggrandizement.
I don't understand it! What's in it for them? Like the MAGA NT, what's in it for them to ignore all the problems and worship trmp like he's a god? Will I get answer from any of the MAGA NT here? Doubtful
Their positions of power ... their jobs. (Assuming we are talking about government employees.)
This I have no idea. It is completely counterproductive. There are a number of individuals who used to defend Trump who no longer even show up to comment. That I understand. They do not want to criticize Trump (and contradict their prior selves) so they do not even show up. I get it. What makes no sense are those who double, triple, quadruple down in their support for Trump even when they are experiencing some of Trump's failures personally (prices).
Just imagine having to defend someone who ruins the reflecting pool, then tells perhaps the most ludicrous and obvious lie most of us have ever heard — all immediately after starting a war that leaves the nation and the world worse off than if he had done nothing.
How can any rational mind still support Trump for PotUS???
you will be told you have TDS
by someone who I have on ignore
and that's pretty much all of them
there's already some morons repeating the trump vandalism excuse ...
I'm sure scumbag's motorcade driving down the length of the pool in the beginning didn't contribute to the problem ... /s
The Trump administration is so absurd that, if depicted in a fictional film, it would challenge the suspension of disbelief.
I'm thinking this may be a calculated misdirection while trump is attempting to use the USPS to obstruct the midterms ...
Is it not wonderful how clearly the difference can be defined between People Who React to the world around them and People Who Deny the world around them?
I just wish that more than 50% of the country knew WTF I am talking about.
Trump is Captain Chaos. Everything distracts from everything else. It is the way he operates.
I take solace in the fact that his kids and grandkids will suffer horribly within america in the near future ...
As I understand it, the reflecting pool is constructed with a concrete basin and a granite facade and walkway around the perimeter.
Concrete is a porous material that allows a coating to infiltrate the pores and form a mechanical bond. Granite is a non-porous material that requires special preparation to ensure a coating adheres to the surface. And the joint between the granite and concrete would be prone to failure.
From Trump's description, it appears the coating failed at the joint (a straight line gash) and the coating is peeling away from the granite facade. From Trump's description, what is happening is most likely the result of shoddy work and shortcuts rather than vandalism.
Kevin Lilly cannot really comment on the vandalism because he doesn't know anything about construction. The only thing Lilly has is the party line. And nominees rarely take a definitive stand on controversial issues.
so it would look like a knife cut, correct?
I would expect the failure to have more jagged edges than a knife cut. More like a torn edge.
The Park Service talked about a knife cut in the underlying foam. I'm not sure what that means. If its at a joint, a common practice is to lay a foam strip on top of the joint and push it (in the middle) into the joint. So it would look like two pieces of foam projecting from the joint. That could look like a knife cut in the foam (but its not).
Close ups show where the paint or sealant puddled and was not feathered out at the edges.
It was a quickie job by untrained people and should have been cured for a week and NEVER, ever driven on.
I guarantee that there is nothing on the product that says you can drive over this partially cured sealant.
This is the keystone kops at their finest.
Likely??
Of course it is not vandalism. The vandalism lie is outrageous. The pool is under 24/7 surveillance, so show us the video evidence of these vandals.
You are being far too generous to the liar in chief. It is obviously the result of shoddy work.
I don't know for certain. I can only speculate about what happened. Trump obviously knows less about construction than he makes out, too. We've seen that Trump makes low ball estimates to start the work and the costs balloon when its too late to stop the work.
It will be difficult to hide any evidence when the pool is drained for repairs. As usual, Trump's impulsive behavior will likely cause more troubles that he can't hide.
I think you know as much as anyone could know. Common sense rules here. If there were vandalism, the evidence would be immediate and obvious. There is no evidence. Nothing.
In contrast, we have a rush job which re-coated the pool. It is scientifically explainable why the paint is peeling and why there is an algae bloom.
This is obvious. Trump gets 0 benefit of the doubt.
The coating, however, needs to cure. Especially before being covered with water and exposed to direct sunlight.
Yep. Supposedly the coating was a fast curing polyurea. Emphasis on 'supposedly'.
Since the reflecting pool is constructed on fill material dredged from the Potomac and experiences a high water table, there may have been water seepage through the concrete that weakened the bond with the coating.
The one thing Trump got right is a darker color will enhance the reflections.
the dark color absorbing heat enhanced the algae problem, not to mention pumping water directly from the potomac to fill the pool and bypassing the water filtration system installed by the criminal crony of trump's that got the no bid contract.
Was that worth the $16+ million in taxpayer money to do it? Seems like this is just another in a long list of distractions from the Epstein files, 4.2% inflation, gas prices that are still higher than they were pre-Iran war, ICE killing people in the street and a $1.8 billion slush fund to pay off the violent convicted co-conspirators he pardoned. I mean, I wouldn't put it past him to have fucked up the reflecting pool on purpose just to get everyone to stop thinking about all the other shit he's done lately.
Arvo..and just to top it off you mob are less than impressed with all the overseas tourists with the soccer there..
Just reading an article about tipping, or in this case lack of..
If you had a decent minimum wage as most countries do then you wouldn't need tips..
Many countries us included don't tip here and have no idea that it is done to the extent it is in the US...
So when people don't tip it is not done maliciously, people simply just don't do it automatically in their own countries and never even think about it there..
If you tip here it will be most likely refused and almost regarded as an insult as it is not needed..good service is expected, if it's not people simply don't return and tell others about the experience..
So I apologise if an Aussies have offended and I hope Trumpet gets to "the bottom of the reflection pool"..😁
...
... ??
Errr please enlighten me?
I'm agreeing with your comment, literally ...
you bloody ripper ...
Morning...no worries..
Bit slow on the up take haven't had my Vegemite toast yet.. 🐨
So, it was YOU who put the Vegemite in our reflecting pool!!!
somebody must've tossed a jar of that vile veggy jam in the pool and in this heat and it multiplied. plus it killed off all the ducks that landed in it ...
Morning...geez took you mob long enough...😁
We think green is a massive improvement and with a touch of gold, Aussie to the core..great colours!!!.
We did hear there were some penguins and seals from Heard and McDonald island carrying Vegemite but can't confirm the rumours..
Last seen diving into the reflection pool...!!
Trump has turned the Reflecting Pool into the Deflecting Pool. Everything this moron touches turns to shit.
I understand that this guy is expected to kiss Trump's ass. Even so, I think when he was asked about the predicate for arrest, "I don't know" would have been a perfectly reasonable answer. I would not expect this guy - or anyone else for that matter, in the context of a congressional hearing - to argue the merits of probable cause for an arrest made a day or two ago. Not only is that something best articulated in front of a judge assigned to the case, but there is no reason to expect a man in his position to have even reviewed the arrest reports in this amount of time.
So why this tortured exchange then? I believe it's because lying for Trump is the priority, whether you need to or not. If he was just focused on doing the job honestly, I think he could have responded as I described above. But when lying for the boss is Job One, you are clearly full of shit from the jump.
It is one thing to support a plausible lie. But Trump's lies are sometimes so outrageous that even his supporters can see that he is full of shit. The reflecting pool vandalism lie is a fine example of this.