The lack of a filter between the VSG's brain and mouth sets off another cycle of hot takes and counter-takes

I guess you probably know what he said, but in case you've been busy so far today, here it is:

Asked by ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in the Oval Office on Wednesday whether his campaign would accept such information from foreigners -- such as China or Russia -- or hand it over the FBI, Trump said, "I think maybe you do both."

"I think you might want to listen, there isn't anything wrong with listening," Trump continued. "If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] ‘we have information on your opponent' -- oh, I think I'd want to hear it."

Stop before you make it worse, Squirrel-Hair. Oh, sheesh, he's going to step in it some more:

"It's not an interference, they have information -- I think I'd take it," Trump said. "If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI -- if I thought there was something wrong. But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'oh let's call the FBI.' The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it. When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."

Come on, man, this is your big chance to knock it off. Everybody's going to have a field day with what you've already said. Don't exacerbate the situation. Oh, crikey, here he goes:

"Somebody comes up and says, ‘hey, I have information on your opponent,' do you call the FBI?" Trump responded.

"I'll tell you what, I've seen a lot of things over my life. I don't think in my whole life I've ever called the FBI. In my whole life. You don't call the FBI. You throw somebody out of your office, you do whatever you do," Trump continued. "Oh, give me a break – life doesn't work that way." 

"The FBI director said that is what should happen," Stephanopoulos replied, referring to comments FBI Director Christopher Wray made during congressional testimony last month, when he told lawmakers "the FBI would want to know about" any foreign election meddling.

But on Wednesday, the president refuted Wray's sentiment. 

"The FBI director is wrong, because frankly it doesn't happen like that in life," Trump said. "Now maybe it will start happening, maybe today you'd think differently."

"It doesn't happen like that in life." That may be the most characteristic utterance in his whole discussion of the matter. It's the same mentality that has been on display when he's talked about paying politicians of both parties so as to hedge his bets when he wants to build a tower after an election, or when he leverages eminent domain to oust a little old lady from her house on land he wants for a casino.

And now, the turf-protection squads for the various brands involved are out in full force. Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi are calling him a national security threat. His shills are deep into the whataboutism. You know, "but the dossier," "but the FISA warrants." Hannity was on it right away last night. Yes, indeed, those are some standards to set.

I like the way Jay Caruso frames it:

Jay Caruso‏Verified account @JayCaruso

If you're doing the "But Obama" or "But Hillary" excuse for Trump's invitation for foreign governments to get involved in our campaigns, just stop. If you're going to use them as a benchmark, I'm not interested in what comes after that.

5:59 AM - 13 Jun 2019

It was refreshing to see Lindsey Graham's response:

Sen. Lindsey Graham sharply rebuked Donald Trump Thursday for saying he would likely take dirt on his 2020 opponents from a foreign government, though he also gave the president an out, calling it potentially a “mistake of law.” 

“That's not the right answer,” Graham told reporters Thursday. “A foreign government comes to you as a public official and offers to help your campaign giving you anything of value, whether it be money or information on your opponent, the right answer is no.”

(To be sure, Graham has gone on to say that this ought have been the way Dems behaved with regard to the Madame Bleachbit campaign and the Steele dossier, and rightly so. But he didn't use that as a means of going to bat for the Trump brand.)

Bottom line as far as LITD is concerned is that this is another of those completely avoidable instances of the Very Stable Genius increasing his political vulnerability with a poorly thought out off-the-cuff blurting.

One of the VSG's first-call bootlickers, Conrad Black, has called him "a president like no other." That's for damn sure - in ways I doubt Black is capable of fully considering.