crooksandliars--2020-10-20--RNC Chair Whines About 'Election Interference' Over Debate Mic Rule

Trump has been working the refs ahead of the final presidential debate this week , attacking moderator Kristen Welker and accusing her of being biased against him and a partisan who 's just out to get him .
He 's been getting lots of help from his propaganda network and his surrogates as well , and their latest feigned outrage is over the presidential debate commission 's decision to mute both candidates ' microphones during their opening two-minute answer to each of the debate topics .
The horror that Dear Leader wo n't be allowed to talk over Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the first debate where Chris Wallace just threw up his hands and allowed Trump to steamroll him .
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel made an appearance on this Tuesday 's Outnumbered Overtime on Fox , and accused the debate commission of `` election interference '' over the decision .
MCDANIEL : Well of course the president is going to debate .
He looks forward to getting in front of the American people and debating Joe Biden , but he 's right .
The commission has been stacked against him from day one .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've seen in Washington .
They do n't like Donald Trump .
This is a city that is plugged in for Joe Biden .
And to have this supposed non-partisan commission continue to make rule changes without consulting the Trump campaign , break promises they made to the Trump campaign , to unilaterally make decisions that ended the second debate , it 's just really shameful and they 're hurting the American people .
And it is a form of election interference .
I hope this commission does not exist after this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-partisan .
They do not deserve that status .
You have not worked on behalf of the Republican party , because you have a bunch of of never-Trumpers on that commission .
And you know who said that best ?
Bob Dole .
And Bob Dole 's not a flamethrower .
He is somebody who speaks the truth , and he said I know these people and this has not been a good process .
So she 's complaining that they are n't non-partisan , and complaining that they 're not working on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is is Ronna ?
McDaniel also immediately proceeded to flog Rudy Giuliani 's lame attempt at an October surprise that Fox 's `` news division '' supposedly did n't want to touch , but that they have n't had any problem peddling every other segment on most of their shows for the better part of the week now .
Twitter had thoughts on McDaniel 's carping about `` election interference . ''

Trump has been working the refs ahead of the final presidential debate this week, attacking moderator Kristen Welker and accusing her of being biased against him and a partisan who's just out to get him. He's been getting lots of help from his propaganda network and his surrogates as well, and their latest feigned outrage is over the presidential debate commission's decision to mute both candidates' microphones during their opening two-minute answer to each of the debate topics.
The horror that Dear Leader won't be allowed to talk over Joe Biden and interrupt him constantly as he did during the first debate where Chris Wallace just threw up his hands and allowed Trump to steamroll him.
RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel made an appearance on this Tuesday's Outnumbered Overtime on Fox, and accused the debate commission of "election interference" over the decision.
MCDANIEL: Well of course the president is going to debate. He looks forward to getting in front of the American people and debating Joe Biden, but he's right. The commission has been stacked against him from day one. It's part of the corruption that we've seen in Washington. They don't like Donald Trump. This is a city that is plugged in for Joe Biden. And to have this supposed non-partisan commission continue to make rule changes without consulting the Trump campaign, break promises they made to the Trump campaign, to unilaterally make decisions that ended the second debate, it's just really shameful and they're hurting the American people. And it is a form of election interference. I hope this commission does not exist after this. I certainly don't consider them non-partisan. They do not deserve that status. You have not worked on behalf of the Republican party, because you have a bunch of of never-Trumpers on that commission. And you know who said that best? Bob Dole. And Bob Dole's not a flamethrower. He is somebody who speaks the truth, and he said I know these people and this has not been a good process.
So she's complaining that they aren't non-partisan, and complaining that they're not working on the behalf of her party. Which is is Ronna? McDaniel also immediately proceeded to flog Rudy Giuliani's lame attempt at an October surprise that Fox's "news division" supposedly didn't want to touch, but that they haven't had any problem peddling every other segment on most of their shows for the better part of the week now.
Twitter had thoughts on McDaniel's carping about "election interference."
If Trump acted like an adult then we wouldn't need the rule — Joel Seattle (@joelseattle) October 20, 2020
Yes, that's "election interference". Everything you don't like is "election interference". — goinginpodcas (@goinginpodcas) October 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--QAnon And The Long History Of 'Satanic Panic'

In front of a TV audience on Oct. 15 , President Donald Trump declared that he knew “ nothing about ” QAnon , before correcting himself to say : “ I do know they are very much against pedophilia.
” What he didn ’ t do was disavow what has been referred to as a “ collective delusion.
” Part of that could be down to QAnon followers holding up Trump as some sort of savior – someone playing four-dimensional chess against shadowy political insiders and power players known as the “ Deep State.
” But that is only part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – believe .
What Trump didn ’ t mention is the atrocious claims that underlie this supposed chess match , and the demonic imagery and language that are used in the course of the conspiracy .
As a professor of religion who teaches courses on the cultural significance of monsters , I see many similarities between Anon claims and prior rumor panics that employed satanic rhetoric .
Moreover , given the growing popularity of the QAnon conspiracy – and its encroachment into mainstream politics – I believe that ignoring this rhetoric risks harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The QAnon conspiracy theory started with an anonymous 4chan post in October 2017 .
The author , who later signed his or her posts as “ Q ” , remains unknown .
Since then Q has posted anonymous messages , known as Qdrops , on 8chan and now 8kun – on both online message and image boards .
The conspiracy claims that deep-state politicians and the “ Hollywood elite ” are involved in a large child abduction network that harvests the chemical compound adrenochrome — which is obtained from the oxidation of adrenaline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satanic rituals .
Anons say that adrenochrome is consumed by some Democratic politicians and Hollywood elites for its psychedelic and anti-aging effects and is more potent when harvested from a frightened victim .
Trump , they believe , is planning a day of reckoning that will see the arrest , conviction and even execution of dozens of current and former government officials for their involvement in child sex trafficking .
In analyzing the Qdrops , I have noted a discourse of evil woven throughout Q ’ s nearly 5,000 messages .
Peppering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our government worship Satan.
” According to Anons , Trump is engaged in a battle of cosmic significance between the “ children of light ” and the “ children of darkness ” and is working to dismantle pedophile networks that are abducting children for satanic rites .
In using such language and imagery , Q does not portray perceived political adversaries as merely having a difference of opinion , but as being downright evil .
For example , in an Aug. 10 , 2018 , Qdrop titled “ Many in Power Worship the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PURE EVIL .
HOW MANY IN WASHINGTON AND THOSE AROUND THE WORLD ( IN POWER ) WORSHIP THE DEVIL ?
” On Aug. 26 , 2020 , Q posted an image suggesting that the 2020 Democratic National Convention logo resembled a Satanic Baphomet pentagram , which incorporates a goat ’ s head and a five-pointed star .
Accompanying text asserts that one party – Republicans – discusses God while the other party – Democrats – discusses darkness .
Such dialogue rises beyond the level of us versus them .
Instead , for Q @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of cosmic good versus monstrous evil .
This , I believe , is of grave concern .
Presenting opponents as monstrously evil dehumanizes them .
Through that process , Anons may see themselves as would-be monster-killers ready to use violence to remove the evil .
This process of using the language of evil to dehumanize a perceived enemy is nothing new .
It was seen in conspiracies such as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion .
The Protocols , a fictional document first published in Russia in the early 1900s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Antichrist .
Examining past rhetoric targeting Jews reveals how such a discourse lubricates the machinery of violence – Hitler called the Protocols “ immensely instructive.
” Jewish communities faced the blood libel — the idea that Jews kidnapped children for blood sacrifices — for centuries before it resurfaced in the Protocols .
In the Middle Ages this was driven by a fear of Jewish magicians kidnapping and stabbing children for evil rituals .
The blood produced from these rites was rumored to be ritually consumed as drink or mixed into matzo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any reality .
It is noteworthy that Anon claims about child abduction and blood consumption are linked to prominent Jewish figures such as billionaire philanthropist George Soros and the Rothschild family .
Joel Finkelstein , of the anti-hate watchdog the Network Contagion Research Institute has noted that the QAnon conspiracy is becoming increasingly anti-Semitic .
Indeed , renowned genocide scholar Gregory Stanton warned in an article in September that QAnon ’ s demonic fantasy was “ a rebranded version of the Protocols ” and noted that the conspiracy was gaining traction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ satanic panic ” of the 1980s , these Anon narratives will sound hauntingly familiar .
The satanic panic was based on a series of rumors spread by concerned parents and authority figures , ranging from therapists to law enforcement agencies , convinced that a demonic cabal had infiltrated society to its highest levels .
Organizations set up to counter this perceived threat , like Believe the Children , argued that children were most at risk in day care centers run by secret satanists .
Prosecutors accepted , with apparent earnest seriousness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse , secret tunnels , and satanic rituals at the McMartin Preschool in Manhattan Beach , California .
Similar sensational charges were brought against the Fells Acres Day School and the Wee Care Nursery School .
Charges were eventually dropped or reversed in many of these cases .
As the unjust prosecutions demonstrate , the satanic panic damaged the reputations and livelihoods of innocent people .
QAnon is poised to cause similar disruptions in the lives of innocent people .
Already there have been incidents including the apparent QAnon-inspired shooting of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ take out ” Joe Biden .
Anons are beginning to show a willingness to take matters into their own hands .
Why it matters now It is tempting to dismiss QAnon as too small and fringe to lead to the violence associated with prior satanic panics .
However , the emerging influence of Q is evident .
It is seen not only in the growing number of supporters – QAnon Facebook pages alone boast 3 million followers – but also in Washington with a president who declines to disavow the conspiracy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greene , looking set to head to Congress in November .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
The size of the QAnon community is difficult to estimate .
It is , by no means , mainstream .
But past experience has shown us that when a minority drapes its cause in a cosmic discourse of good versus evil , atrocities can follow .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

[Above: CNN visits a QAnon rally. Wow. -- C&L Editors]
Paul Thomas, Radford University
In front of a TV audience on Oct. 15, President Donald Trump declared that he knew “nothing about” QAnon, before correcting himself to say: “I do know they are very much against pedophilia.”
What he didn’t do was disavow what has been referred to as a “collective delusion.” Part of that could be down to QAnon followers holding up Trump as some sort of savior – someone playing four-dimensional chess against shadowy political insiders and power players known as the “Deep State.”
But that is only part of what Anons – followers of QAnon – believe. What Trump didn’t mention is the atrocious claims that underlie this supposed chess match, and the demonic imagery and language that are used in the course of the conspiracy.
As a professor of religion who teaches courses on the cultural significance of monsters, I see many similarities between Anon claims and prior rumor panics that employed satanic rhetoric. Moreover, given the growing popularity of the QAnon conspiracy – and its encroachment into mainstream politics – I believe that ignoring this rhetoric risks harm to those targeted by the conspiracy.
Accusations of evil
The QAnon conspiracy theory started with an anonymous 4chan post in October 2017. The author, who later signed his or her posts as “Q”, remains unknown. Since then Q has posted anonymous messages, known as Qdrops, on 8chan and now 8kun – on both online message and image boards.
The conspiracy claims that deep-state politicians and the “Hollywood elite” are involved in a large child abduction network that harvests the chemical compound adrenochrome — which is obtained from the oxidation of adrenaline — from sexually abused children subjected to satanic rituals.
Anons say that adrenochrome is consumed by some Democratic politicians and Hollywood elites for its psychedelic and anti-aging effects and is more potent when harvested from a frightened victim. Trump, they believe, is planning a day of reckoning that will see the arrest, conviction and even execution of dozens of current and former government officials for their involvement in child sex trafficking.
In analyzing the Qdrops, I have noted a discourse of evil woven throughout Q’s nearly 5,000 messages. Peppering the Qdrops are claims like “many in our government worship Satan.” According to Anons, Trump is engaged in a battle of cosmic significance between the “children of light” and the “children of darkness” and is working to dismantle pedophile networks that are abducting children for satanic rites.
In using such language and imagery, Q does not portray perceived political adversaries as merely having a difference of opinion, but as being downright evil.
For example, in an Aug. 10, 2018, Qdrop titled “Many in Power Worship the Devil,” Q states: “PURE EVIL. HOW MANY IN WASHINGTON AND THOSE AROUND THE WORLD (IN POWER) WORSHIP THE DEVIL?”
On Aug. 26, 2020, Q posted an image suggesting that the 2020 Democratic National Convention logo resembled a Satanic Baphomet pentagram, which incorporates a goat’s head and a five-pointed star. Accompanying text asserts that one party – Republicans – discusses God while the other party – Democrats – discusses darkness.
Such dialogue rises beyond the level of us versus them. Instead, for Q and Anons it elevates the conspiracy to a matter of cosmic good versus monstrous evil.
This, I believe, is of grave concern. Presenting opponents as monstrously evil dehumanizes them. Through that process, Anons may see themselves as would-be monster-killers ready to use violence to remove the evil.
Remembering the past
This process of using the language of evil to dehumanize a perceived enemy is nothing new. It was seen in conspiracies such as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The Protocols, a fictional document first published in Russia in the early 1900s, link a satanic Jewish cabal to the Antichrist.
Examining past rhetoric targeting Jews reveals how such a discourse lubricates the machinery of violence – Hitler called the Protocols “immensely instructive.”
Jewish communities faced the blood libel — the idea that Jews kidnapped children for blood sacrifices — for centuries before it resurfaced in the Protocols. In the Middle Ages this was driven by a fear of Jewish magicians kidnapping and stabbing children for evil rituals. The blood produced from these rites was rumored to be ritually consumed as drink or mixed into matzo. It was a demonic fantasy not based in any reality.
It is noteworthy that Anon claims about child abduction and blood consumption are linked to prominent Jewish figures such as billionaire philanthropist George Soros and the Rothschild family.
Joel Finkelstein, of the anti-hate watchdog the Network Contagion Research Institute has noted that the QAnon conspiracy is becoming increasingly anti-Semitic. Indeed, renowned genocide scholar Gregory Stanton warned in an article in September that QAnon’s demonic fantasy was “a rebranded version of the Protocols” and noted that the conspiracy was gaining traction in neo-Nazi circles.
‘Satanic Panic’
For those who remember the “satanic panic” of the 1980s, these Anon narratives will sound hauntingly familiar. The satanic panic was based on a series of rumors spread by concerned parents and authority figures, ranging from therapists to law enforcement agencies, convinced that a demonic cabal had infiltrated society to its highest levels. Organizations set up to counter this perceived threat, like Believe the Children, argued that children were most at risk in day care centers run by secret satanists. Prosecutors accepted, with apparent earnest seriousness, the claims being made about child sexual abuse, secret tunnels, and satanic rituals at the McMartin Preschool in Manhattan Beach, California. Similar sensational charges were brought against the Fells Acres Day School and the Wee Care Nursery School. Charges were eventually dropped or reversed in many of these cases.
As the unjust prosecutions demonstrate, the satanic panic damaged the reputations and livelihoods of innocent people.
QAnon is poised to cause similar disruptions in the lives of innocent people. Already there have been incidents including the apparent QAnon-inspired shooting of a mob boss and a live-streamed effort to “take out” Joe Biden. Anons are beginning to show a willingness to take matters into their own hands.
Why it matters now
It is tempting to dismiss QAnon as too small and fringe to lead to the violence associated with prior satanic panics. However, the emerging influence of Q is evident. It is seen not only in the growing number of supporters – QAnon Facebook pages alone boast 3 million followers – but also in Washington with a president who declines to disavow the conspiracy and a Republican QAnon supporter, Marjorie Taylor Greene, looking set to head to Congress in November.
[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]
The size of the QAnon community is difficult to estimate. It is, by no means, mainstream. But past experience has shown us that when a minority drapes its cause in a cosmic discourse of good versus evil, atrocities can follow.
Paul Thomas, Chair and Professor of Religious Studies, Radford University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--Desperate Trump Tells Fox And Friends He'll Force Bill Barr To Investigate The Bidens

On Fox and Friends earlier this morning the so-called president demanded that Attorney General Bill Barr immediately appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Giuliani planted laptop against the Bidens and finish it before the general election takes place in two weeks .
The laptop that Rudy Giuliani suddenly produced like a diseased David Copperfield ( as his October surprise ) is Trump 's last gasp at trying to smear Joe Biden with innuendo and conspiracies .
Trump said , `` We ’ ve got to get the attorney general to act .
He ’ s got to act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast .
He ’ s got to appoint somebody.
” '' This is major corruption and this has to be known about before the election , '' he said .
I will admit that Trump knows a lot about corruption because that 's how he lives his life , and ruins the White House as a serial liar .
After Rudy Giuliani helped Trump get impeached over their nefarious Ukraine debacle , even Fox News refused to be the news outlet to break the story that only the corrupt NY Post ( also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , I imagine Glenn 'Kellyanne ' Greenwald would have broken the story since he 's become a full-blown Trump and Tucker-loving maniacal smear merchant .
Marcy Wheeler has more on him .
That has n't stopped Fox News and his Trump surrogates from hyping and promoting it on their airwaves endlessly .
It 's another version of Cokie 's Law and that 's what Trump and Rudy hopes works to their advantage , .
I can ’ t help but be reminded of something I like to call Cokie ’ s Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes from the Village maxim , “ It doesn ’ t matter if it ’ s true or not , it ’ s out there , ” which was based upon this quote from Cokie Roberts back in 1999 about a Bill Clinton smear : “ At this point , ” said Roberts , “ it doesn ’ t much matter whether she said it or not because it ’ s become part of the culture .
I was at the beauty parlor yesterday and this was all anyone was talking about.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broken and then forgotten laptop that Hunter Biden supposedly flew across the country in a drunken stupor and dropped off to some Trump-supporting computer repairman in Delaware , is their great hope .
Back in 2018 , Rudy Giuliani demanded that Robert Mueller either finish his investigation or wait until after the midterm elections were over by citing a 60-day rule that Eric Holder has promoted .
Now of course that Giuliani believes this will benefit Trump , that `` rule '' goes out the window .
Trump told his minions he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but what he 's created is an authoritarian Swamp Thing filled with corruption and chaos .

On Fox and Friends earlier this morning the so-called president demanded that Attorney General Bill Barr immediately appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Giuliani planted laptop against the Bidens and finish it before the general election takes place in two weeks.
The laptop that Rudy Giuliani suddenly produced like a diseased David Copperfield (as his October surprise) is Trump's last gasp at trying to smear Joe Biden with innuendo and conspiracies.
Trump's corruption knows no bounds.
Trump said, "We’ve got to get the attorney general to act. He’s got to act. And he’s got to act fast. He’s got to appoint somebody.”
"This is major corruption and this has to be known about before the election," he said.
I will admit that Trump knows a lot about corruption because that's how he lives his life, and ruins the White House as a serial liar.
After Rudy Giuliani helped Trump get impeached over their nefarious Ukraine debacle, even Fox News refused to be the news outlet to break the story that only the corrupt NY Post (also a Murdoch enterprise) would run.
Well, I imagine Glenn 'Kellyanne' Greenwald would have broken the story since he's become a full-blown Trump and Tucker-loving maniacal smear merchant. Marcy Wheeler has more on him.
That hasn't stopped Fox News and his Trump surrogates from hyping and promoting it on their airwaves endlessly.
It's another version of Cokie's Law and that's what Trump and Rudy hopes works to their advantage,.
I can’t help but be reminded of something I like to call Cokie’s Law, after Steve Roberts wife. It comes from the Village maxim, “It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, it’s out there,” which was based upon this quote from Cokie Roberts back in 1999 about a Bill Clinton smear: “At this point,” said Roberts, “it doesn’t much matter whether she said it or not because it’s become part of the culture. I was at the beauty parlor yesterday and this was all anyone was talking about.”
Rudy Giuliani's kompromat i.e.: the broken and then forgotten laptop that Hunter Biden supposedly flew across the country in a drunken stupor and dropped off to some Trump-supporting computer repairman in Delaware, is their great hope.
Back in 2018, Rudy Giuliani demanded that Robert Mueller either finish his investigation or wait until after the midterm elections were over by citing a 60-day rule that Eric Holder has promoted.
Just a few days before 60 day run-up to 2018 elections. If Mueller wants to show he’s not partisan, then issue a report on collusion and obstruction. They will show President Trump did nothing wrong. Then we will have to admit you were fair. And we will. — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) August 25, 2018
Now of course that Giuliani believes this will benefit Trump, that "rule" goes out the window.
Trump told his minions he was going to drain the swamp, but what he's created is an authoritarian Swamp Thing filled with corruption and chaos.


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--Finally, An Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against Google

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday an antitrust lawsuit against Google—a filing that marks the biggest case tackling tech power since the one targeting Microsoft in 1998 .
The filing is joined by 11 states , all of which have Republican governors , Reuters reported .
Rep. David Cicilline ( D-R.I. ) responded to the announcement by pointing to the House antitrust subcommittee 's recent report finding that Google , along with other tech giants , hold monopoly power .
`` This step is long overdue , '' Cicilline tweeted of the government 's new lawsuit , adding , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Open Markets Institute , a research and advocacy group , framed the lawsuit as a `` big moment . ''
In a Twitter thread Monday ahead of the announcement , the group wrote that `` Google ... acquired its dominance of the internet search market by bribing smartphone manufacturers and wireless operators not to install rival search engines on devices they sold . ''
According to the Associated Press , the legal action could mark `` an opening salvo ahead of other major government antitrust actions , given ongoing investigations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Facebook at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission . ''

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday an antitrust lawsuit against Google—a filing that marks the biggest case tackling tech power since the one targeting Microsoft in 1998.
The filing is joined by 11 states, all of which have Republican governors, Reuters reported.
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) responded to the announcement by pointing to the House antitrust subcommittee's recent report finding that Google, along with other tech giants, hold monopoly power.
"This step is long overdue," Cicilline tweeted of the government's new lawsuit, adding, "It is time to restore competition online."
Open Markets Institute, a research and advocacy group, framed the lawsuit as a "big moment."
In a Twitter thread Monday ahead of the announcement, the group wrote that "Google... acquired its dominance of the internet search market by bribing smartphone manufacturers and wireless operators not to install rival search engines on devices they sold."
More on that from @sandeepvaheesan in @slate here:https://t.co/wwRVpsyqg3 pic.twitter.com/adjEmNMuOH — Open Markets Institute (@openmarkets) October 20, 2020 "Google reportedly paid Apple $12 billion in 2019 to install Google as the default search engine on Apple’s Safari browser—in lieu of Bing or DuckDuckGo etc. Through this deal, Google shared the spoils of its monopoly with Apple," - @sandeepvaheesan https://t.co/1hUrLLgMjH — Open Markets Institute (@openmarkets) October 20, 2020
According to the Associated Press, the legal action could mark "an opening salvo ahead of other major government antitrust actions, given ongoing investigations of major tech companies including Apple, Amazon, and Facebook at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission."
Republished from Common Dreams (Andrea Germanos, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--GOP In Disarray!  Trump Plots Retribution On 'Disloyal' Senators After Election

The quote of the week is from Senator John Cornyn of Texas , who may very well lose his seat this year .
Cornyn initially described his relationship with Trump as “ maybe like a lot of women who get married and think they ’ re going to change their spouse , and that doesn ’ t usually work out very well.
” Building a lifeboat to sail away from the Trump Titanic is what they 're ALL trying to do .
`` I disagreed with the president privately . ''
Give me a break .
And now we hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plotting ...
REVENGE !
!
!
Over the past few weeks , Donald Trump and his allies have kept close tabs on prominent conservatives the president believes are gearing up to throw him under the bus in the event he loses his bid for re-election .
Two individuals who have spoken to Trump say the president has expressed suspicion that members of his own party believe he will be defeated by Joe Biden .
That sense of paranoia has been fed by the president ’ s aides and confidants , who have flagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either openly criticizing his conduct or else trying to distance themselves from a looming possible electoral bloodbath .
According to one of the sources with direct knowledge , the president is already contemplating retribution .
Remember , the Republican Party cashed all their rebranding checks with The Tea Party after Bush .
No rebranding , no `` I 'm an independent Constitutional conservative who never liked the tweeting . ''
We on the Left refuse to leave the door open for Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton to be elected and worse than Trump @ @ @ @ @

The quote of the week is from Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who may very well lose his seat this year.
Cornyn initially described his relationship with Trump as “maybe like a lot of women who get married and think they’re going to change their spouse, and that doesn’t usually work out very well.”
With all the GOP jumping ship, who will be left on the Trumptanic?
I'm guessing Susan Collins is the next big name Senator to attempt to distance herself from Trump. Followed quickly by Joni Ernst, and McSally.
Don't listen to what they say, look at what they did. — Quancy Clayborne (@QuancyClayborne) October 20, 2020
Building a lifeboat to sail away from the Trump Titanic is what they're ALL trying to do. "I disagreed with the president privately." Give me a break.
Burn the lifeboats.
And now we hear from The Daily Beast that Trump is plotting...REVENGE!!!
Over the past few weeks, Donald Trump and his allies have kept close tabs on prominent conservatives the president believes are gearing up to throw him under the bus in the event he loses his bid for re-election. Two individuals who have spoken to Trump say the president has expressed suspicion that members of his own party believe he will be defeated by Joe Biden. That sense of paranoia has been fed by the president’s aides and confidants, who have flagged news coverage for him of Republican politicians either openly criticizing his conduct or else trying to distance themselves from a looming possible electoral bloodbath. According to one of the sources with direct knowledge, the president is already contemplating retribution.
Remember, the Republican Party cashed all their rebranding checks with The Tea Party after Bush. No rebranding, no "I'm an independent Constitutional conservative who never liked the tweeting." We on the Left refuse to leave the door open for Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton to be elected and worse than Trump on immigration and healthcare.
h/t Tengrain and ICMS


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--New Project Lincoln Ad Features Former GOP Chair: 'I Choose America'

A new Project Lincoln ad features former GOP chairman Michael Steele , talking about why he 's voting for Joe Biden .
It 's paired with an op-ed he has on NBCNews.com this morning : I , of course , disagree with Biden on many issues and policies , sometimes vigorously ; and it is my fervent hope that he will pursue policies that will help our country heal .
But this election is not about those issues or policies .
Rather , it is about the course of a nation and the character of her people reflected in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my fellow Americans to consider what is in your best interests , and not Donald Trump ’ s .
In 1860 , the Democratic nominee Stephen Douglas , anticipating a Lincoln victory , spent the campaign ’ s final months traveling throughout the South , calling for unity .
After Lincoln ’ s win , Douglas conspicuously demonstrated that , notwithstanding their political differences , he was part of the loyal opposition , and strongly supported the incoming president ’ s efforts to bring the country together .
Above all , he chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
As I ’ ve reflected on matters of leadership , decency , and constitutional norms I am reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. , who said “ a man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.
” Character matters .
Our vote matters .
The leader we choose matters .
I can not be silent , and I hope neither can you because we know a vote for Joe Biden is what is best for our country — because America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never-Trumpers when they acknowledge the really destructive ideas they sold to their voters .
Steele is n't one of them .
His extended piece ( go read it ) is all about how he was right to be a Republican , these other people ruined it but not me , blah blah blah .
Whatever .
I 'm willing to cut some degree of slack on the assumption that at least some people do change , but people who are still protecting their potential viability as Republicans ( `` building lifeboats , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'em , and the horse they rode in on .

A new Project Lincoln ad features former GOP chairman Michael Steele, talking about why he's voting for Joe Biden. It's paired with an op-ed he has on NBCNews.com this morning:
I, of course, disagree with Biden on many issues and policies, sometimes vigorously; and it is my fervent hope that he will pursue policies that will help our country heal. But this election is not about those issues or policies. Rather, it is about the course of a nation and the character of her people reflected in the leader they choose. I am asking my fellow Americans to consider what is in your best interests, and not Donald Trump’s. In 1860, the Democratic nominee Stephen Douglas, anticipating a Lincoln victory, spent the campaign’s final months traveling throughout the South, calling for unity. After Lincoln’s win, Douglas conspicuously demonstrated that, notwithstanding their political differences, he was part of the loyal opposition, and strongly supported the incoming president’s efforts to bring the country together. Above all, he chose to do what was best for the country. As I’ve reflected on matters of leadership, decency, and constitutional norms I am reminded of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said “a man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” Character matters. Our vote matters. The leader we choose matters. I cannot be silent, and I hope neither can you because we know a vote for Joe Biden is what is best for our country — because America matters.
Yeah, well.
I don't mind the never-Trumpers when they acknowledge the really destructive ideas they sold to their voters. Steele isn't one of them. His extended piece (go read it) is all about how he was right to be a Republican, these other people ruined it but not me, blah blah blah. Whatever.
I'm willing to cut some degree of slack on the assumption that at least some people do change, but people who are still protecting their potential viability as Republicans ("building lifeboats," as Driftglass calls it)?
F*ck 'em, and the horse they rode in on.


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--Reality Check: Trump's Accusations Are Always Projections About Himself

CNN 's John Avlon , one of the more incisive people on cable news , always gets to the heart of the matter with Trump -- and his Reality Check segment .
`` President Trump is all over the map in these final days of the campaign , and I do n't just mean his helter skelter travel schedule to states he won last time .
In place of a closing argument , the president is venting his spleen , refusing to denounce Qanon .
Retweeting conspiracy theories about Osama Bin Laden , and attacking Michigan 's governor , knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Could you imagine if I lose ?
Suburban women , will you please like me ?
I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics , I 'm not going to feel so good .
He 'll listen to the scientists .
Go buy a dishwasher .
I said , what 's wrong with this thing ?
Is it , it does n't clean the dishes .
Suburban women , please vote for me .
I 'm saving your house .
Maybe I 'll have to leave the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's one clear consistency , Trump 's irresistible impulse to project on his opponents what he 's been credibly accused of .
Buckle up for five primo projections from the last days of the Trump campaign .
Number one , corruption .
He 's a criminal and he should be in jail .
What he 's done was a criminal enterprise .
Joe Biden is a corrupt politician and the Biden family is a criminal enterprise .
`` That 's not normal to have an American president say his opponent should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not normal to have a president facing a boatload of legal problems when he leaves office .
From his taxes to multiple sexual assault allegations , to ongoing accusations that he 's corruptly profited off the presidency .
Number two , national security threat .
Yes , that 's what Trump tweeted Joe Biden is but of course , that 's one of many concerns about the reportedly $ 421 million Trump owes to we do n't know who , as well as why he refuses to confront Russian president Vladimir Putin about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden and China .
If he ever won , China will own the United States , okay ?
`` Of course , it 's the Trump family who 's gotten Chinese trademarks in office .
Trump who initially praised China 's covid response .
And Trump who , according to John Bolton , asked China 's help for winning in 2020 and gave the okay to Uighur concentration camps .
`` Number three is the boldest projection : Calling Joe Biden a liar in at least nine new Facebook campaign ads .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who 's been caught in more than 20,000 false and misleading statements .
Number four is that desperate old chestnut , the war on Christmas . ''
The Christmas season will be canceled .
`` But when it comes to the war on Christmas , the call is coming from within the White House . ''
I 'm working my ass off on Christmas stuff .
I mean , who gives a [ bleep ] about Christmas ?
People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots , these people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Well , people are tired of listening to idiots of who have gotten it wrong , but a quick glance at the comparative credibility of President Trump and Dr. Fauci on covid response showed that the idiot in question is not the good doctor .
And that 's your reality check . ''

CNN's John Avlon, one of the more incisive people on cable news, always gets to the heart of the matter with Trump -- and his Reality Check segment.
"President Trump is all over the map in these final days of the campaign, and I don't just mean his helter skelter travel schedule to states he won last time. In place of a closing argument, the president is venting his spleen, refusing to denounce Qanon. Retweeting conspiracy theories about Osama Bin Laden, and attacking Michigan's governor, knowing she was the target of an attack.
Could you imagine if I lose? Suburban women, will you please like me? I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics, I'm not going to feel so good. He'll listen to the scientists. Go buy a dishwasher. I said, what's wrong with this thing? Is it, it doesn't clean the dishes. Suburban women, please vote for me. I'm saving your house. Maybe I'll have to leave the country, I don't know.
"But there's one clear consistency, Trump's irresistible impulse to project on his opponents what he's been credibly accused of. Buckle up for five primo projections from the last days of the Trump campaign. Number one, corruption.
He's a criminal and he should be in jail. What he's done was a criminal enterprise. Joe Biden is a corrupt politician and the Biden family is a criminal enterprise.
"That's not normal to have an American president say his opponent should be in jail, but then it's not normal to have a president facing a boatload of legal problems when he leaves office. From his taxes to multiple sexual assault allegations, to ongoing accusations that he's corruptly profited off the presidency. Number two, national security threat. Yes, that's what Trump tweeted Joe Biden is but of course, that's one of many concerns about the reportedly $421 million Trump owes to we don't know who, as well as why he refuses to confront Russian president Vladimir Putin about anything. But Trump keeps projecting on Biden and China.
If he ever won, China will own the United States, okay?
"Of course, it's the Trump family who's gotten Chinese trademarks in office. Trump who initially praised China's covid response. And Trump who, according to John Bolton, asked China's help for winning in 2020 and gave the okay to Uighur concentration camps.
"Number three is the boldest projection: Calling Joe Biden a liar in at least nine new Facebook campaign ads. This is, of course, from the man who's been caught in more than 20,000 false and misleading statements. Number four is that desperate old chestnut, the war on Christmas."
The Christmas season will be canceled.
"But when it comes to the war on Christmas, the call is coming from within the White House."
I'm working my ass off on Christmas stuff. I mean, who gives a [ bleep ] about Christmas?
"And here's number five."
People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots, these people, these people that have gotten it wrong.
"Well, people are tired of listening to idiots of who have gotten it wrong, but a quick glance at the comparative credibility of President Trump and Dr. Fauci on covid response showed that the idiot in question is not the good doctor. And that's your reality check."


crooksandliars--2020-10-20--SCOTUS Decision On PA Voting Deadline Looks Like A Victory, But Not For Long

CNN 's Alysin Camerota talked to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro this morning about the SCOTUS decision that allowed a PA state supreme court ruling to stand .
`` The Supreme Court rejected the Republican push to require all ballots be received in Pennsylvania by Election Day .
So tell us what this means for Pennsylvania and your reaction when you heard it , '' Camerota said .
Shapiro said he was `` pleased '' with the reaction .
`` Time and time again I 've told the people of Pennsylvania that I would secure and protect their vote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to do that .
They have n't won a single case .
And now the rules are set , '' he said .
`` But practically speaking , what does it mean ?
Because in Pennsylvania you ca n't start counting the votes , as I understand it , until 7 a.m. on Election Day .
And so , is it highly possible that we wo n't have an answer in Pennsylvania on election night ? ''
Camerota asked .
Shapiro explained that Trump sued to eliminate the drop boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also tried to unwind a state Supreme Court decision that said as long as your ballots are postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received three days later by 5 p.m. , they would be counted .
`` And the Supreme Court of the United States essentially reaffirmed that with their ruling .
Look , we should want all votes to count , not fewer , but Donald Trump has recklessly been trying to sow doubt in this process and limit the voices of the people of Pennsylvania .
What this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Shapiro said .
`` As for when we 'll know results , I think you 're going to have a real good sense of where Pennsylvania is going in the early , early hours of Wednesday morning .
Between the precinct votes and the overall trends of the votes by mail I think there you 'll have a real good sense statewide .
You wo n't have the precise number , certainly , for a few days , but think you 'll have a real good sense of where things are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision last night was a 4-4 vote .
`` Is it your sense that if and when Amy Coney Barrett is seated or if she had been seated that this would have gone differently ? ''
she said .
Shapiro said chief Justice John Roberts `` cares deeply about the credibility of this court and protecting the election and giving the American people confidence in the election process .
I think that 's a good thing .
But I think it 's also clear in a 4-4 case like this that would there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pivotal vote , obviously .
She would have to go one way or the other .
`` The bottom line here is this .
We are deep in the fourth quarter of this game .
It would be really reckless and irresponsible for any court , let alone the Supreme Court of the United States , to change the rules of the game while people are already voting . ''
Legal analysts warn this split decision is a harbinger of things to come with Barrett voting on the Supreme Court :

CNN's Alysin Camerota talked to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro this morning about the SCOTUS decision that allowed a PA state supreme court ruling to stand.
"The Supreme Court rejected the Republican push to require all ballots be received in Pennsylvania by Election Day. So tell us what this means for Pennsylvania and your reaction when you heard it," Camerota said.
Shapiro said he was "pleased" with the reaction.
"Time and time again I've told the people of Pennsylvania that I would secure and protect their vote and we've beaten them in court just to be able to do that. They haven't won a single case. And now the rules are set," he said.
"But practically speaking, what does it mean? Because in Pennsylvania you can't start counting the votes, as I understand it, until 7 a.m. on Election Day. And so, is it highly possible that we won't have an answer in Pennsylvania on election night?" Camerota asked.
Shapiro explained that Trump sued to eliminate the drop boxes where people are returning their ballots, and also tried to unwind a state Supreme Court decision that said as long as your ballots are postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received three days later by 5 p.m., they would be counted.
"And the Supreme Court of the United States essentially reaffirmed that with their ruling. Look, we should want all votes to count, not fewer, but Donald Trump has recklessly been trying to sow doubt in this process and limit the voices of the people of Pennsylvania. What this assures is that they'll count," Shapiro said.
"As for when we'll know results, I think you're going to have a real good sense of where Pennsylvania is going in the early, early hours of Wednesday morning. Between the precinct votes and the overall trends of the votes by mail I think there you'll have a real good sense statewide. You won't have the precise number, certainly, for a few days, but think you'll have a real good sense of where things are going."
Camerota noted the Supreme Court decision last night was a 4-4 vote.
"Is it your sense that if and when Amy Coney Barrett is seated or if she had been seated that this would have gone differently?" she said.
Shapiro said chief Justice John Roberts "cares deeply about the credibility of this court and protecting the election and giving the American people confidence in the election process. I think that's a good thing. But I think it's also clear in a 4-4 case like this that would there be a Justice Barrett that would be a pivotal vote, obviously. She would have to go one way or the other.
"The bottom line here is this. We are deep in the fourth quarter of this game. It would be really reckless and irresponsible for any court, let alone the Supreme Court of the United States, to change the rules of the game while people are already voting."
Legal analysts warn this split decision is a harbinger of things to come with Barrett voting on the Supreme Court:
Guys, I know a few Democratic lawyers are celebrating tonight's voting rights decision from SCOTUS, and that's a big mistake.
Here's why this decision is a likely a disaster for Democrats -- and for anyone who cares about democracy.https://t.co/UP1vrzTsbN — Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) October 20, 2020
I just filed my piece on the really scary court order we just got from the Supreme Court. But let me just say that, if Democrats win this election, and they don't pack the Supreme Court, they could very well never win a national election again. — Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) October 19, 2020
A 6-3 Republican Supreme Court’s superpower is that it will make incursions on democracy that are so significant and profound that, when experts explain what just happened, it will be so awful that we’ll be disbelieved and accused of alarmism. — Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) October 20, 2020
The unfathomable thing about the four justices siding w PA Republicans tonight: they would’ve stripped a state supreme court of the authority to say what the law is in their own state.
That’s way beyond right field.
It’s judicial activism on steroids. — Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) October 20, 2020
Understand how extreme and dangerous the GOP's argument was in this case. They asked SCOTUS to stop an order by the PA Supreme Court that was based entirely on the PA state constitution. And 4 justices would have done it.
A stay takes 5 votes. Next time, Barrett could be #5. https://t.co/Tvy3ihI42x — Chiraag Bains (@chiraagbains) October 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--Giuliani's Smear On Hunter Biden Is So Ridiculous, Fox News Passed On It ... Then Covered It 24/7

Once upon a time—also know as 2019—Donald Trump tried to blackmail the president of Ukraine into making false claims about Hunter Biden .
Trump got caught , got impeached , and got not even a slap on the wrist from Senate Republicans who were willing to allow Trump to do anything in exchange for a flood of conservative judges .
After all , when you ’ ve already waved off the Hatch Act , ignored federal laws over nepotism , and blown off an endless stream of lies … what ’ s a little extortion of an ally for political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get what he wanted from from Volodymyr Zelensky , he put both U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Rudy Giuliani on the case .
Barr grabbed U.S. attorney John Durham and opened up an investigation that saw him flying around the world in an attempt to find someone reputable who would lend the slightest credence to Trump ’ s incredible claims .
Giuliani … just skipped out on the “ reputable.
” Instead , he grabbed a pair of foot soldiers for a Russian oligarch , latched onto some officials who had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly with an “ active Russian agent ” to produce a whole series of false claims and fake evidence .
That brings us to now .
Barr ’ s efforts have apparently come up dry .
One part of his investigation has already shut down , Durham ’ s top assistant has resigned , and there ’ s no report worth even a patently false summary before Election Day .
The Giuliani side has produced a hard drive .
A hard drive supposedly dropped off in Delaware by a man who lived in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vocal Trump supporter , where the security footage was mysteriously wiped , the blind shop owner could not identify the person who dropped it off , there was no name or contact information provided , and no one ever returned for it .
Giuliani ’ s story is so ridiculous that both Fox News and the New York Post reporter who was forced to write it both disowned it .
After years of trying to smear Biden , this really is the best they can do .
As Mediaite reports , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first choice in trying to get this contemptible last-ditch effort into the media .
It ’ s unclear how many other places he went first , but it is clear that he came to Fox News with his story of an unclaimed laptop .
Fox News looked at the story , got out their 10-foot pole , and carefully pushed the whole pile back to Giuliani .
After all , this is far from the first time that Giuliani has come up with supposedly shocking information that just happens to support Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , it became clear that Giuliani was working closely with U.S. Sec .
of State Mike Pompeo .
It ’ s since come out that the packet of information that Pompeo shared with Republican lawmakers , but not with Democrats , did not come from sources within the State Department .
He was simply laundering pages for Giuliani .
Naturally , Trump ’ s personal attorney could not stop bragging about this .
At the start of October , he told CNN that he was the source for the Biden information in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was enough that Louie Gohmert and Paul Gosar , DDS were willing to scrawl their signatures on a letter to the Justice Department , along with nine other Republicans out of 250 in the House and Senate .
But the many , many places where the Giuliani ’ s claims weren ’ t just wholly unbelievable but clearly connected to a known Republican disinformation campaign against Biden did bother a few other people .
Not only is there the little problem of there being absolutely no provenance concerning the hard drive itself—everything about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has holes the size of ocean liners .
The shop owner has given various accounts about how the laptop ( or laptops , since he at one point claimed there were three ) , entered his shop ; he ’ s been completely contradictory about how it came to the attention of the FBI ; and when and how Giuliani became involved in the affair is as clear as mud .
Also , there ’ s a little matter of how dates on the files found on the machine seem to be from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off .
But just because Fox News wouldn ’ t take it directly , that doesn ’ t mean that Rupert Murdoch wasn ’ t willing to step in to help out his pals .
After the story was turned away from Fox News , it was shuffled over to the Murdoch-owned paper where New York Times reports reporter Bruce Golding was tasked with taking the documents , and Giuliani ’ s ravings , and turning them into an article .
But once he heard the whole tale , Golding refused to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did other journalists in the Post news room … and this is a paper that just last year went with a front page emblazoned “ Bezos exposes Pecker.
” Instead , the story eventually ran under the byline of Emma-Jo Morris .
Morris is a former booker for Sean Hannity ’ s show on Fox , who made the trip across to the Post just in time for Giuliani ’ s Russian fabrication to be her very first article .
A second name on the article was Post reporter Gabrielle Fonrouge .
Fonrouge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most efficient manner .
The Post ’ s editors put it there , and didn ’ t tell Fonrouge until after it was published .
All of this works perfectly for Fox , for the Post , for Giuliani , for Trump , and most importantly , for Putin .
Fox doesn ’ t have to front the story .
With the story in the Post , Fox can report on it .
They can ask Republicans to comment on it .
They can construct great rambling opinions from Tucker Carlson and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report on the comments their story is getting on Fox .
Trump can retweet it all .
Republicans in the House can cite all of the above as justification for demanding William Barr whip up a special investigator .
And Vladimir Putin … can laugh .

Once upon a time—also know as 2019—Donald Trump tried to blackmail the president of Ukraine into making false claims about Hunter Biden. Trump got caught, got impeached, and got not even a slap on the wrist from Senate Republicans who were willing to allow Trump to do anything in exchange for a flood of conservative judges. After all, when you’ve already waved off the Hatch Act, ignored federal laws over nepotism, and blown off an endless stream of lies … what’s a little extortion of an ally for political advantage?
When Trump didn’t get what he wanted from from Volodymyr Zelensky, he put both U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Rudy Giuliani on the case. Barr grabbed U.S. attorney John Durham and opened up an investigation that saw him flying around the world in an attempt to find someone reputable who would lend the slightest credence to Trump’s incredible claims. Giuliani … just skipped out on the “reputable.” Instead, he grabbed a pair of foot soldiers for a Russian oligarch, latched onto some officials who had been kicked out for corruption, and worked directly with an “active Russian agent” to produce a whole series of false claims and fake evidence.
That brings us to now. Barr’s efforts have apparently come up dry. One part of his investigation has already shut down, Durham’s top assistant has resigned, and there’s no report worth even a patently false summary before Election Day. The Giuliani side has produced a hard drive. A hard drive supposedly dropped off in Delaware by a man who lived in California, at a shop owned by a vocal Trump supporter, where the security footage was mysteriously wiped, the blind shop owner could not identify the person who dropped it off, there was no name or contact information provided, and no one ever returned for it.
Giuliani’s story is so ridiculous that both Fox News and the New York Post reporter who was forced to write it both disowned it. After years of trying to smear Biden, this really is the best they can do.
As Mediaite reports, the New York Post was hardly Giuliani’s first choice in trying to get this contemptible last-ditch effort into the media. It’s unclear how many other places he went first, but it is clear that he came to Fox News with his story of an unclaimed laptop. Fox News looked at the story, got out their 10-foot pole, and carefully pushed the whole pile back to Giuliani.
After all, this is far from the first time that Giuliani has come up with supposedly shocking information that just happens to support Trump’s every delusional claim. In September, it became clear that Giuliani was working closely with U.S. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo. It’s since come out that the packet of information that Pompeo shared with Republican lawmakers, but not with Democrats, did not come from sources within the State Department. He was simply laundering pages for Giuliani. Naturally, Trump’s personal attorney could not stop bragging about this. At the start of October, he told CNN that he was the source for the Biden information in Republican’s hands.
This information was enough that Louie Gohmert and Paul Gosar, DDS were willing to scrawl their signatures on a letter to the Justice Department, along with nine other Republicans out of 250 in the House and Senate. But the many, many places where the Giuliani’s claims weren’t just wholly unbelievable but clearly connected to a known Republican disinformation campaign against Biden did bother a few other people.
Not only is there the little problem of there being absolutely no provenance concerning the hard drive itself—everything about the story of where it was found has holes the size of ocean liners. The shop owner has given various accounts about how the laptop (or laptops, since he at one point claimed there were three), entered his shop; he’s been completely contradictory about how it came to the attention of the FBI; and when and how Giuliani became involved in the affair is as clear as mud. Also, there’s a little matter of how dates on the files found on the machine seem to be from months after the machine was supposedly dropped off.
But just because Fox News wouldn’t take it directly, that doesn’t mean that Rupert Murdoch wasn’t willing to step in to help out his pals. After the story was turned away from Fox News, it was shuffled over to the Murdoch-owned paper where New York Times reports reporter Bruce Golding was tasked with taking the documents, and Giuliani’s ravings, and turning them into an article. But once he heard the whole tale, Golding refused to put his name to the piece. So did other journalists in the Post news room … and this is a paper that just last year went with a front page emblazoned “Bezos exposes Pecker.”
Instead, the story eventually ran under the byline of Emma-Jo Morris. Morris is a former booker for Sean Hannity’s show on Fox, who made the trip across to the Post just in time for Giuliani’s Russian fabrication to be her very first article. A second name on the article was Post reporter Gabrielle Fonrouge. Fonrouge’s name ended up there in the most efficient manner. The Post’s editors put it there, and didn’t tell Fonrouge until after it was published. All of this works perfectly for Fox, for the Post, for Giuliani, for Trump, and most importantly, for Putin. Fox doesn’t have to front the story. With the story in the Post, Fox can report on it. They can ask Republicans to comment on it. They can construct great rambling opinions from Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity. The Post can then report on the comments their story is getting on Fox. Trump can retweet it all. Republicans in the House can cite all of the above as justification for demanding William Barr whip up a special investigator. And Vladimir Putin … can laugh.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--Trump Jr. Calls Biden A Racist For Not Fixing Race Relations When Obama Was In Office

Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday argued that former Vice President Joe Biden should have solved racial tensions when there was an African-American president .
At a campaign event in Pennsylvania , the president ’ s son responded after a member of the audience called Biden a “ racist.
” “ Well , he is , ” Trump agreed .
“ He was best friends with every segregationist ever to walk the halls of Congress.
” “ But he ’ s going to fix those issues now , right ?
” he added sarcastically .
“ Now he ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why did you wait 47 years , Joe ?
You know , if you really cared , if you thought it was something you were going to campaign on , maybe you would have utilized , I don ’ t know , your 38 years in the United States Senate.
” Trump added : “ How about if you really wanted to do something about the issue — because this is what I would have done .
Now , I have a brain but maybe it ’ s different .
But if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have maybe utilized my eight years as vice president to the first African-American president .
”

Donald Trump Jr. on Tuesday argued that former Vice President Joe Biden should have solved racial tensions when there was an African-American president.
At a campaign event in Pennsylvania, the president’s son responded after a member of the audience called Biden a “racist.”
“Well, he is,” Trump agreed. “He was best friends with every segregationist ever to walk the halls of Congress.”
“But he’s going to fix those issues now, right?” he added sarcastically. “Now he’s going to fix racial tensions in America. Why did you wait 47 years, Joe? You know, if you really cared, if you thought it was something you were going to campaign on, maybe you would have utilized, I don’t know, your 38 years in the United States Senate.”
Trump added: “How about if you really wanted to do something about the issue — because this is what I would have done. Now, I have a brain but maybe it’s different. But if I really cared about the issue I would have maybe utilized my eight years as vice president to the first African-American president.”


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--Pres. Barack Obama Rips Trump Hard At Philadelphia Rally For Joe Biden

Former president Barack Obama held a drive-in car rally for Joe Biden this evening at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia , PA .
This is the first in-person campaign event Pres .
Obama will hold on behalf of Biden , and he is starting off his tour emphasizing the importance of the Black vote .
He will speak at a drive-in car rally for his former vice president at a sports arena in Philadelphia and encourage attendees to make plans to vote early , according to the Biden campaign .
... Mr. Obama has previously held virtual campaign events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The event on Wednesday will also be livestreamed on the Biden campaign website .
As David Plouffe noted on MSNBC , maybe something good will finally happen at Citizens Bank Park !
LOL — watch with us .
Watch the speech in the video above .
The whole thing .
Obama was on fire .
Four years of anger and pent-up frustration at the Orange Incompetent spilled in eloquent , Obama-like form in Philly and it was magnificent .
I tried to live-tweet here , if you want to read my efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Here are some other reactions : And this is absolutely what happened :

Former president Barack Obama held a drive-in car rally for Joe Biden this evening at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. This is the first in-person campaign event Pres. Obama will hold on behalf of Biden, and he is starting off his tour emphasizing the importance of the Black vote.
According to CBS:
He will speak at a drive-in car rally for his former vice president at a sports arena in Philadelphia and encourage attendees to make plans to vote early, according to the Biden campaign.
...
Mr. Obama has previously held virtual campaign events, but has not yet appeared in person. The event on Wednesday will also be livestreamed on the Biden campaign website.
As David Plouffe noted on MSNBC, maybe something good will finally happen at Citizens Bank Park! LOL — watch with us.
UPDATE: (Karoli)
Watch the speech in the video above. The whole thing. Obama was on fire. Four years of anger and pent-up frustration at the Orange Incompetent spilled in eloquent, Obama-like form in Philly and it was magnificent.
I tried to live-tweet here, if you want to read my efforts to capture some of the main moments:
Who needs to hear @BarackObama at a car rally for @JoeBiden ????? ME ME ME
You too?https://t.co/rxxtovxYNg — Karoli #BidenHarris2020 (@Karoli) October 21, 2020
Here are some other reactions:
As someone who talks in front of groups of people, I cannot tell you how amazingly well Pres Obama is overcoming the weirdness of talking to a parking lot full of cars. — Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) October 21, 2020
I'm going to remember this as @BarackObama's "Who Does That" speech. :) — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) October 21, 2020
This Obama fellow delivers a heck of a speech — Jennifer 'Vote Early' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 21, 2020
Barack is using Donald as a handi-wipe. — Oliver Griswold (@originalgriz) October 21, 2020
They say this cat Barack is a bad motherfuc... — Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) October 21, 2020
My father told me in the last week of his life this past year; live your life as to have Obama give your eulogy and Trump not getting invited to your funeral. https://t.co/MEMLCvIovh — YS (@NYinLA2121) October 21, 2020
And this is absolutely what happened:


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Rudy Giuliani Caught With His Hands In His Pants On The Borat 2 Movie

I do n't even know how to start this post , honestly .
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm : Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan comes out on Friday on Amazon Prime and reviewers are saying this movie is B-A-N-A-N-A-S. One of the craziest parts of the movie involves Donald Trump 's cybersecurity expert and total BFF ( and future cellmate ) , Big Rudy G. In the scene , Rudy is filmed in a hotel room with his hands down his pants , apparently touching himself in a ( gag ) sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bed while an actress playing Borat 's daughter talks to him while in the role of a journalist .
The set up is as follows : She interviewed Rudy for a conservative news program and then agreed to get a drink in the hotel room .
Pretty much as soon as they get in the room , Rudy prepares his soldier for business , reaching into his pants .
INSTANTLY Borat enters the room , screaming : “ She ’ s 15 .
She ’ s too old for you.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the segment was filmed , Rudy called the NYPD to report a man entering his hotel room , screaming .
The police found no crime had been committed .
The funniest part is that Rudy thought a super hot woman in her early 20 's would want to have sex with his denture wearing , mothball smelling , pinky finger wearing , wrinkly old a $ $ .

Guys.
I don't even know how to start this post, honestly.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery Of Prodigious Bribe To American Regime For Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan comes out on Friday on Amazon Prime and reviewers are saying this movie is B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
One of the craziest parts of the movie involves Donald Trump's cybersecurity expert and total BFF (and future cellmate), Big Rudy G. In the scene, Rudy is filmed in a hotel room with his hands down his pants, apparently touching himself in a (gag) sexual manner (vomit sounds) while laying on a bed while an actress playing Borat's daughter talks to him while in the role of a journalist.
The set up is as follows: She interviewed Rudy for a conservative news program and then agreed to get a drink in the hotel room. Pretty much as soon as they get in the room, Rudy prepares his soldier for business, reaching into his pants. INSTANTLY Borat enters the room, screaming: “She’s 15. She’s too old for you.”
Rudy had no comment.
But, back in July, when the segment was filmed, Rudy called the NYPD to report a man entering his hotel room, screaming. The police found no crime had been committed.
Twitter. ERUPTED:
Borat ends career of dead-handed dumbass Rudy Giuliani pic.twitter.com/XNdI9U3khz — Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) October 21, 2020
Borat duped Rudy Giuliani. Think about how easily other countries could put this doofus in an uncompromising situation. Then remember how close he is to the president. — Adam Best (@adamcbest) October 21, 2020
how it started how it’s going pic.twitter.com/YjOXVJtyYF — MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) October 21, 2020
I just watched the Borat/Giuliani scene....
My God.... — Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 21, 2020
Yeah the Borat thing is hilarious but can you imagine what professionally trained GRU and FSB assets could get out of Giuliani? He’s a counterintelligence nightmare. — Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) October 21, 2020
OMFG! Guiliani on camera masturbating in front of a woman who was playing a 15 y/o girl.
Vanity Fair: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Brings Back Borat, With His Daughter in Tow https://t.co/3Rp1vLnPmx pic.twitter.com/AKv2Bs1yLk — Kimberley Johnson (@AuthorKimberley) October 21, 2020
the Borat rollout marketing is unparalleled — Katherine Krueger (@kath_krueger) October 21, 2020
The funniest part is that Rudy thought a super hot woman in her early 20's would want to have sex with his denture wearing, mothball smelling, pinky finger wearing, wrinkly old a$$.


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--Nearly Half A Million People Watch AOC's GOTV Gaming Stream

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday experimented with a new way of engaging with young voters , inviting hundreds of thousands to join her livestream on the gaming platform Twitch as she played the popular online game Among Us .
The three-and-a-half-hour livestream garnered 439,000 viewers at its peak—the third-highest ever on the platform—as Ocasio-Cortez focused largely on playing the game and chatting good-naturedly with other players but also made clear that the event was intended as a Get Out the Vote effort .
As she has for months , the progressive New York Democrat began the livestream by urging young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden in the election , in which there are two weeks left to vote , in order to defeat President Donald Trump and then push Biden to adopt progressive policies .
`` Of course , we are here to vote Blue , that 's [ why ] I 'm here , to let you all know , '' said Ocasio-Cortez , who was joined by fellow progressive `` Squad '' member Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) in the game .
The congresswoman also urged British players to explain the benefits of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Health Service , and peppered the discussion with commentary about leaving planet-warming fossil fuels behind by transitioning to renewable energy sources .
`` What kind of futuristic spaceship has gasoline anyway ? ''
Ocasio-Cortez asked during the game , in which players try to fix a broken spaceship and determine who among them is an imposter .
`` This looks like a gas tank , I mean really . ''
`` The impressiveness of AOC is not simply that she is a forceful and articulate proponent of the Democratic message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak credibly directly to millennials using platforms like Twitch , '' Mitchell Robertson , a fellow at the Rothermere American Institute , told the BBC .
Amanda Litman , executive director of the organization Run for Something , which recruits and supports young Democratic candidates for public office , tweeted that by amassing more than half a million viewers across several different livestreams , Ocasio-Cortez held `` the biggest Get Out the Vote rally of 2020 . ''
The congresswoman 's decision to engage with young voters on a platform they already use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill in which members of Congress—who are nearly 60 years old on average—did n't grasp a number of concepts about the Internet and Facebook .
The livestream appeared to be paying dividends in its `` afterlife , '' Litman added , with TikTok users posting clips of Ocasio-Cortez 's game on Wednesday morning and garnering millions of views .
Other political and tech commentators also acknowledged that Ocasio-Cortez and Omar 's efforts to engage with young voters could win them supporters in the future .
Myth , a professional gamer with millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ocasio-Cortez 's livestream , followed the game by elevating the congresswoman 's Get Out the Vote message .
`` Remember to vote this election as well , '' he wrote .
`` This election is my first time voting and it 's super easy to do so do it . ''

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday experimented with a new way of engaging with young voters, inviting hundreds of thousands to join her livestream on the gaming platform Twitch as she played the popular online game Among Us.
The three-and-a-half-hour livestream garnered 439,000 viewers at its peak—the third-highest ever on the platform—as Ocasio-Cortez focused largely on playing the game and chatting good-naturedly with other players but also made clear that the event was intended as a Get Out the Vote effort.
As she has for months, the progressive New York Democrat began the livestream by urging young voters to support Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in the election, in which there are two weeks left to vote, in order to defeat President Donald Trump and then push Biden to adopt progressive policies.
"Of course, we are here to vote Blue, that's [why] I'm here, to let you all know," said Ocasio-Cortez, who was joined by fellow progressive "Squad" member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in the game. The congresswoman also urged British players to explain the benefits of their country's publicly-funded universal healthcare system, the National Health Service, and peppered the discussion with commentary about leaving planet-warming fossil fuels behind by transitioning to renewable energy sources.
"What kind of futuristic spaceship has gasoline anyway?" Ocasio-Cortez asked during the game, in which players try to fix a broken spaceship and determine who among them is an imposter. "This looks like a gas tank, I mean really."
highlights from the @AOC among us stream - my love for this woman knows no bounds https://t.co/aZErKVAlVw pic.twitter.com/OCa06KMuob — lindsay (@levlinds) October 21, 2020
one of my favorite moments from the among us games tonight @AOC pic.twitter.com/QWExORobRU — alyssa // BLM (@alyssad_203) October 21, 2020
"The impressiveness of AOC is not simply that she is a forceful and articulate proponent of the Democratic message, it is that she is able to speak credibly directly to millennials using platforms like Twitch," Mitchell Robertson, a fellow at the Rothermere American Institute, told the BBC.
Amanda Litman, executive director of the organization Run for Something, which recruits and supports young Democratic candidates for public office, tweeted that by amassing more than half a million viewers across several different livestreams, Ocasio-Cortez held "the biggest Get Out the Vote rally of 2020."
If you add up viewers across the various streams, more than half a million people are watching @AOC on Twitch — she’s hosting the biggest GOTV rally of 2020. — Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) October 21, 2020
The congresswoman's decision to engage with young voters on a platform they already use contrasted sharply with recent hearings on Capitol Hill in which members of Congress—who are nearly 60 years old on average—didn't grasp a number of concepts about the Internet and Facebook.
As AOC plays Among Us on Twitch to 400k viewers, I'm thinking back to the tech hearing where a member of Congress didn't understand how spam filters worked. Hot take, I know, but we should elect more young people! — Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) October 21, 2020
The livestream appeared to be paying dividends in its "afterlife," Litman added, with TikTok users posting clips of Ocasio-Cortez's game on Wednesday morning and garnering millions of views.
The afterlife of this is wild — my entire FYP on TikTok today is clips of this stream, many of which have 1million+ views. The joy of it all — from AOC, from the other gamers, from people watching a politician they can 100% relate to — is so contagious. — Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) October 21, 2020
Other political and tech commentators also acknowledged that Ocasio-Cortez and Omar's efforts to engage with young voters could win them supporters in the future.
What is happening on Twitch right now is incredible. @AOC + @IlhanMN are geniuses to embrace the culture and engage people where they are at. They got 360,000+ people watching them play Among Us, talking about voting + finding joy during these insane times. Brilliant! #VoteEarly pic.twitter.com/aXM1BHBt5O — Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) October 21, 2020
Really the only take I have about how @aoc is engaging twitch is that she clearly understands the platform and its appeal. She’s not doing what we do in media: try to force outside product like a “show” or podcast into twitch. Twitch is an engagement platform first, not broadcast — Gene Park (@GenePark) October 19, 2020
Myth, a professional gamer with millions of followers on Twitch and Twitter who joined Ocasio-Cortez's livestream, followed the game by elevating the congresswoman's Get Out the Vote message.
It was nice playing with @AOC tonight! Thank you all for coming out and watching. Remember to vote this election as well. This election is my first time voting and its super easy to do so do it. — Myth (@TSM_Myth) October 21, 2020
"Remember to vote this election as well," he wrote. "This election is my first time voting and it's super easy to do so do it."
Heard from @aoc during the game: "I can't believe this (space)ship runs on fossil fuel." LMAO!!! https://t.co/TX9nhZQz2I — Frances Langum 🧶 #BidenHarris2020 (@bluegal) October 21, 2020
.@AOC's Among Us Twitch Stream featuring @Ilhan is officially the 3rd most watched broadcast in the history of the platform.
So she's President now, right? That's how that works? https://t.co/wShXiYOnwU pic.twitter.com/XlW4SvIaHy — GameSpot (@GameSpot) October 21, 2020
Republished from Common Dreams (Julia Conley, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-10-21--This Doug Collins Campaign Ad Is A Military Crime

Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) , the only military chaplain in Congress , is running in the Georgia ’ special election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler , where Democrat Rev .
Raphael Warnock registered a roughly 20-point lead over both of them in the most recent Quinnipiac poll .
Warnock—pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church , home to Dr. Martin Luther King—is an actual Christian , while Collins is a narcissistically obsessed Christian nationalist , whose narcissism has finally gone too far .
As a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressuring the Department of Defense to trash its religious regulations to open the way for his fellow Christian fundamentalists in the military to shove their religion down other ’ s throats .
But now he ’ s blatantly violating the most basic DoD regulation regarding campaigning for office—not just once , but repeatedly .
The image above is cropped from the Facebook ad shown in full below , which clearly violates Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 , subparagraph 4.3.2.1 saying that service members may not “ Use or allow the use of photographs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formats of themselves in uniform as the primary graphic representation in any campaign media.
” It is but one of many such ads posted both on his campaign Facebook and Twitter feeds , as well as on his campaign website biographical page .
Collins is a dominionist Chaplain in the Air Force Reserve , and like most of his kind , he illegitimately takes his role as license to impose his religion on others , claiming that he and others like him are the real victims when anything is done to protect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left alone by them .
He routinely disregards or attacks regulations such as Air Force Instruction 1-1 , Paragraph 2.12 , which states : And he clashed repeatedly with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation , which fights to protect the religious freedom of all who serve in the military .
So , it ’ s not that surprising that he thinks the rules regarding use of military images don ’ t apply to him , either .
But they do .
And MRFF—responding to “ numerous formal complaints ... by Active Duty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and DoD civilians to include individuals on your own senior DoD staff ” is calling for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to take action , and charge him for breaking the law .
`` Doug Collins is a poster child for fundamentalist Christian oppression and tyranny in our US military , '' MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Crooks and Liars .
`` Whether it was Bibles on POW MIA tables or attending events in uniform where DoD officials are endorsing organizations that are virulently anti-LGBTQ , misogynistic , anti-Semitic , Islamophobic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the poster child for that , '' Weinstein said .
`` So , I 'm not at all surprised to see that he 's using pictures of himself to further his political fight against fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler . ''
The common thread of Collins ’ narcissism is impossible to miss : rules are for other people , not him .
But it ’ s not a matter of electoral politics for Weinstein .
“ The MRFF , obviously , expresses no opinion one way or the other about how anybody should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It 's about the fact that this Air Force Reserve field grade officer lt col. chaplain , is not slightly , but viciously violating a bedrock provision of the DoD regulatory structure.
” While non-primary use of such images ( as well as information about military service ) is permissible in a biographical context , along with non-military material , such use requires “ a prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer that neither the military information nor photographs imply endorsement.
” Perhaps most striking is the following ad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting rights activist and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as the enemy…presumably of America , though her broad smile seems jarringly at odds with that message .
It ’ s bad enough when Donald Trump does this kind of thing with his words—frequently endangering the lives of those he vilifies , but Collins doing this with images is a clear-cut violation of law .
As a result , MRFF is calling for charges to be brought against Collins under the Uniform Code of Military Justice [ UCMJ ] .
As MRFF Research Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodda reported that Weinstein has drafted ( and since sent ) a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper demanding “ that official , criminal UCMJ charges be aggressively brought against Collins so that he faces a formal trial by court-martial.
” In the letter , Weinstein notes that , “ The overt and flagrant violations of these DoD regulations [ regarding misuse of photographs ] also constitute a severe violation of UCMJ Article 92 ( ‘ Failure To Obey Order or Regulation , ’ 10 United States Code , Section 892 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In her article , Rodda explains the backstory of Collins ’ previous controversial involvement in bullying the Department of Defense to rewrite its regulations regarding religious activity , a stark counterpoint his utter disregard for the completely non-controversial regulations regarding misuse of military imagery : The rewriting came about so swiftly , and with such little regard for existing law , as well as decades-old DoD regulations , that there ’ s little doubt it would tossed out if challenged in court , if not for how dramatically Trump has transformed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court if they are to undo the long-term damage Trump has done .
The basis for this rewriting is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , itself a vehicle for a decades-long campaign to turn religious freedom into its opposite—transforming it from a shield protecting religious minorities into a sword used to attack them .
However , even if one swallowed this monstrous lie , that by itself wouldn ’ t support the new DoD changes .
That ’ s because the 1974 Supreme Court decision which held that The First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context because of its distinctive character and purpose : “ Speech that is protected in the civil population may nonetheless undermine the effectiveness of response to command .
If it does , it is constitutionally unprotected.
” As Weinstein told me in a 2018 interview .
“ the compelling government interest in the military ” is not to ensure maximal religious freedom for individual servicemembers , but “ to make sure that you maximize lethality of our military to protect the full panoply of constitutional rights of the rest of us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , morale , discipline , and unit cohesion , ” all of which can be severely damaged by religious proselytization .
That is the constitutional law background behind regulations like Air Force Instruction 1-1 , Paragraph 2.12 , cited above , which—properly understood—lies well outside the scope of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act..
So , to uphold the kind of changes that have been made to satisfy Collins , the courts would have to either ignore or overturn Parker v. Levy .
With the kinds and quantity of judges that Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the question .
But it does go to show just how much radical change has been under way without really registering , and how much depends on a wide-awake response—not just in the upcoming election , but in what we do afterwards .
And that in turn , underscores just how much is at stake in this US Senate race .
Of course , Loeffler could still win , but she 's nowhere near as strong a candidate as the GOP establishment had hoped and her battle with Collins is driving them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever wider opportunity for Warnock to reach people with a message that brings them together .
So , two extreme possibilities stand out : On the one hand , we could end up with Doug Collins , a religious zealot as incapable of listening to others as Donald Trump .
On the other hand , we could have Senator Rev .
Raphael Warnock , a leader in the tradition of Rev .
Dr. Martin Luther King , an open-hearted ecumenical tradition that 's been marginalized in our nation 's politics for far too @ @

Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), the only military chaplain in Congress, is running in the Georgia’ special election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler, where Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock registered a roughly 20-point lead over both of them in the most recent Quinnipiac poll. Warnock—pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, home to Dr. Martin Luther King—is an actual Christian, while Collins is a narcissistically obsessed Christian nationalist, whose narcissism has finally gone too far.
As a member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, he recently played a leading role in pressuring the Department of Defense to trash its religious regulations to open the way for his fellow Christian fundamentalists in the military to shove their religion down other’s throats. But now he’s blatantly violating the most basic DoD regulation regarding campaigning for office—not just once, but repeatedly.
The image above is cropped from the Facebook ad shown in full below, which clearly violates Department of Defense Directive 1344.10, subparagraph 4.3.2.1 saying that service members may not “Use or allow the use of photographs, drawings, and other similar media formats of themselves in uniform as the primary graphic representation in any campaign media.”
It is but one of many such ads posted both on his campaign Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as on his campaign website biographical page.
Collins is a dominionist Chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, and like most of his kind, he illegitimately takes his role as license to impose his religion on others, claiming that he and others like him are the real victims when anything is done to protect the religious freedom of those who wish be left alone by them. He routinely disregards or attacks regulations such as Air Force Instruction 1-1, Paragraph 2.12, which states:
Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief. [emphasis added]
And he clashed repeatedly with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which fights to protect the religious freedom of all who serve in the military. So, it’s not that surprising that he thinks the rules regarding use of military images don’t apply to him, either.
But they do.
And MRFF—responding to “numerous formal complaints... by Active Duty and Reserve military members as well as veterans and DoD civilians to include individuals on your own senior DoD staff” is calling for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to take action, and charge him for breaking the law.
"Doug Collins is a poster child for fundamentalist Christian oppression and tyranny in our US military," MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein told Crooks and Liars. "Whether it was Bibles on POW MIA tables or attending events in uniform where DoD officials are endorsing organizations that are virulently anti-LGBTQ, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, transphobic, Doug Collins is the poster child for that," Weinstein said. "So, I'm not at all surprised to see that he's using pictures of himself to further his political fight against fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler."
The common thread of Collins’ narcissism is impossible to miss: rules are for other people, not him.
But it’s not a matter of electoral politics for Weinstein. “The MRFF, obviously, expresses no opinion one way or the other about how anybody should vote. This is not about,” he said. “It's about the fact that this Air Force Reserve field grade officer lt col. chaplain, is not slightly, but viciously violating a bedrock provision of the DoD regulatory structure.”
While non-primary use of such images (as well as information about military service) is permissible in a biographical context, along with non-military material, such use requires “a prominent and clearly displayed disclaimer that neither the military information nor photographs imply endorsement.”
Perhaps most striking is the following ad, which uses Collins in uniform to present voting rights activist and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams as the enemy…presumably of America, though her broad smile seems jarringly at odds with that message. It’s bad enough when Donald Trump does this kind of thing with his words—frequently endangering the lives of those he vilifies, but Collins doing this with images is a clear-cut violation of law.
As a result, MRFF is calling for charges to be brought against Collins under the Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ]. As MRFF Research Director Chris Rodda reported on Daily Kos:
Ad after ad on Collins’s Senate campaign Facebook page and and Twitter feed contains a photo of Collins in uniform as “the primary graphic representation” or that “does not accurately reflect [his] actual performance of duty.” Using the uniform as Collins does to bolster his political image as someone who will “fight the mob” or who “fought Stacey Abrams” is a flagrant and shameless violation of regulations, as is using the uniform to solicit campaign donations.
Rodda reported that Weinstein has drafted (and since sent) a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper demanding “that official, criminal UCMJ charges be aggressively brought against Collins so that he faces a formal trial by court-martial.”
In the letter, Weinstein notes that, “The overt and flagrant violations of these DoD regulations [regarding misuse of photographs] also constitute a severe violation of UCMJ Article 92 (‘Failure To Obey Order or Regulation,’ 10 United States Code, Section 892) as well as potentially other UCMJ Articles.”
In her article, Rodda explains the backstory of Collins’ previous controversial involvement in bullying the Department of Defense to rewrite its regulations regarding religious activity, a stark counterpoint his utter disregard for the completely non-controversial regulations regarding misuse of military imagery:
Over the last several months, I’ve written about a group of twenty GOP House members and one senator who went on the warpath against the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), writing letters to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper decrying MRFF’s successes in keeping military members free from unwanted religious proselytizing during the pandemic. To appease these fundamentalist Christian GOP Congress members, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Matthew P. Donovan rewrote one of the DoD’s core regulations on religion, DoD Instruction 1300.17, to allow just about any form of previously prohibited religious behavior and proselytizing, with no regard for the right of service members to be free from unwanted religion.
The rewriting came about so swiftly, and with such little regard for existing law, as well as decades-old DoD regulations, that there’s little doubt it would tossed out if challenged in court, if not for how dramatically Trump has transformed the courts—yet another reason that Democrats must expand the Supreme Court if they are to undo the long-term damage Trump has done. The basis for this rewriting is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, itself a vehicle for a decades-long campaign to turn religious freedom into its opposite—transforming it from a shield protecting religious minorities into a sword used to attack them.
However, even if one swallowed this monstrous lie, that by itself wouldn’t support the new DoD changes. That’s because the 1974 Supreme Court decision which held that The First Amendment can be applied differently in the military context because of its distinctive character and purpose: “Speech that is protected in the civil population may nonetheless undermine the effectiveness of response to command. If it does, it is constitutionally unprotected.”
As Weinstein told me in a 2018 interview. “the compelling government interest in the military” is not to ensure maximal religious freedom for individual servicemembers, but “to make sure that you maximize lethality of our military to protect the full panoply of constitutional rights of the rest of us,” which in turn requires maximizing “good order, morale, discipline, and unit cohesion,” all of which can be severely damaged by religious proselytization. That is the constitutional law background behind regulations like Air Force Instruction 1-1, Paragraph 2.12, cited above, which—properly understood—lies well outside the scope of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act..
So, to uphold the kind of changes that have been made to satisfy Collins, the courts would have to either ignore or overturn Parker v. Levy. With the kinds and quantity of judges that Trump has appointed, that’s not out of the question. But it does go to show just how much radical change has been under way without really registering, and how much depends on a wide-awake response—not just in the upcoming election, but in what we do afterwards. And that in turn, underscores just how much is at stake in this US Senate race.
Of course, Loeffler could still win, but she's nowhere near as strong a candidate as the GOP establishment had hoped and her battle with Collins is driving them both to the right, creating an ever wider opportunity for Warnock to reach people with a message that brings them together. So, two extreme possibilities stand out: On the one hand, we could end up with Doug Collins, a religious zealot as incapable of listening to others as Donald Trump. On the other hand, we could have Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, a leader in the tradition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, an open-hearted ecumenical tradition that's been marginalized in our nation's politics for far too long.