To be honest, we already covered this back in late June, the first time Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, floated the idea that there was some sort of deal between President Trump and Justice Anthony Kennedy that made the latter announce his retirement.
Leftists needed something to explain Kennedy’s retirement (aside from the fact that he’ll be 82 in a couple of weeks), and Tanden thought she’d found it:
Just to state this: Justice Kennedy's son gave a billion dollar loan to Trump when no one would give him a dime, and Justice Kennedy has been ruling in favor of the Trump Administration position for 2 years as the Court decides 5-4 case after 5-4 case.
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) June 29, 2018
Even though that conspiracy theory was quickly debunked, Tanden pulled it out of mothballs today after hearing NBC News’ report that Trump and Kennedy “had been in negotiations” for months over Kennedy’s replacement. (NBC News’ Leigh Ann Caldwell deleted a tweet to that effect and later said that Kennedy had only provided Trump with a list of suggestions to replace him.)
Just a reminder: Justice Kennedy’s son made a billion dollars in loans to Trump from the Russia infested and sanctioned Deutche Bank. https://t.co/HVqLIAzmPm
— Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) July 10, 2018
We especially like the addition that Deutche Bank is “Russia infested.”
NationalReview.com editor Charles C. W. Cooke thought perhaps a short skit might help debunk Tanden’s theory.
Tanden, the president of CAP, just tweeted this again. This is an Infowars-level conspiracy theory that doesn’t make any sense on its own terms, and that has been debunked across the center-left, including by Slate. https://t.co/40mypPO4F6
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
A play by Neera Tanden:
Trump: “Can I borrow some money?”
Kennedy Jr.: “Yes.”
Trump: “Now you’re in my debt. Your Dad is too.”
Kennedy: “Why? Surely, you—”
Trump: "Because you loaned me money.”
Kennedy Jr.: “That . . . makes no sense.”
Trump: “Quiet! Listen to my plan . . .”
(1)— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
Trump: "You loaned me money, so you owe me a favor."
Kennedy Jr.: "Again, that doesn't—"
Trump: “My favor is: Your Dad must leave the Court."
Kennedy Jr.: "But if I’m in your debt—somehow—wouldn't my Dad stay so you could control him?"
Trump: "You're not getting it, fool.”
(2)— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
Kennedy Jr.: "I’m just saying that—"
[Neera Tanden appears, on a unicorn.]
Tanden: “My name is Neera Tanden. I'm the president of the Center for American Progress. I’ve blown this wide open!”
[Tanden does a POW!—like in old Batman comics. Merrick Garland is seated.]
THE END
(3/3)— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
What bit doesn't make sense?
— Mark (@mark_melbin) July 10, 2018
Someone break out the puppets.
Well, for a start, there’s no quid pro quo. “Kennedy’s son loaned Trump money as part of his job, and then his Dad left the Supreme Court!” Okay, so what does Kennedy get?
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
Not to mention that if Kennedy were compromised—by what? By the terms of the theory, it’s Trump that would be—you’d want Kennedy to stay on the Court, not leave.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) July 10, 2018
Glenn Greenwald of The Intercept stepped in to provide backup.
For exactly that reason, the tweet will go viral, just like her first, equally deranged one did. The surest way to build audience and popularity among establishment liberals is with exactly this kind of unhinged conspiracy theorizing. Hence: https://t.co/pflUa3Dtx6
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) July 10, 2018
Hence, “MSNBC just completed a record-setting quarter in total viewers in every key daypart and for every hour between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays.”
This is a great mini-thread… the three tweet play is fantastic and also illustrates how ridiculous this particular conspiracy theory is. https://t.co/47UAVpexHB
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) July 10, 2018
Yes! It all makes sense now! ??? https://t.co/z0tKe4u4al
— LexyPenn (@LexyPenn) July 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/EF517_V3/status/1016795040046305281
Nope … they’ll never get over Hillary, and they’ll never get over Merrick Garland either.
I'm considering settling down and having some kids with this thread. https://t.co/2r8fDZzbVp
— Beard and Circus (@Shooter_ptpx01) July 10, 2018
Related:
GAME OVER! Neera Tanden shares proof of COLLUSION between Trump and … Anthony Kennedy? https://t.co/sp6j4w4isw
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) June 29, 2018
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