crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Lin Wood Explains Plan For Trump To Enact Martial Law: 'Our Military Could Do It'

Election attorney Lin Wood on Sunday praised the idea that President Donald Trump could declare `` martial law '' in @ @ @ @ @ office .
During an interview that was broadcast on NTP , a conservative YouTube channel @ @ @ @ @ martial law could prevent President-elect Joe Biden from being sworn in as the next president @ @ @ @ @ will Trump them all , '' Wood proclaimed .
`` He 's also got the @ @ @ @ @ It 's been used 68 times .
Lincoln had to do it to save the @ @ @ @ @ will have to do it . ''
Wood explained that Trump could impose military rule @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I 've advocated the idea , '' he continued .
`` Go @ @ @ @ @ seize the machines , have them tested , have the paper ballots tested .
In @ @ @ @ @ our military could do it and we trust our military and we 'd have the @ @ @

Election attorney Lin Wood on Sunday praised the idea that President Donald Trump could declare "martial law" in an effort to remain in office.
During an interview that was broadcast on NTP, a conservative YouTube channel, Wood was asked if martial law could prevent President-elect Joe Biden from being sworn in as the next president.
"I think Trump will Trump them all," Wood proclaimed. "He's also got the option of martial law. It's been used 68 times. Lincoln had to do it to save the country. Maybe President Trump will have to do it."
Wood explained that Trump could impose military rule on a "limited basis."
"I've advocated the idea," he continued. "Go into these seven states, seize the machines, have them tested, have the paper ballots tested. In a matter of days, our military could do it and we trust our military and we'd have the answer."


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Social Media CEOs Care More About 'Staying In The Good Graces' Of The GOP Than Stopping Their Lies

Have you heard the one about the `` vote-flipping '' machines engineered by Hugo Chavez who 's been dead for nearly ten years ?
Or the one about numbers of ballots coming out of ceilings or leather bags ?
If so , you 're one of the millions of people who are on Facebook , Twitter , or have had the misfortune of hearing Donald Trump open his yap about the 2020 Election that he roundly lost ( but insists he won . )
Ali Velshi talked about a report that demonstrated that of 200 misleading and false posts on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of voters with no fact-check or warning label .
He asked Rashad Robinson , president of Color of Change , how to prevent the spread of misinformation , and why it 's everywhere .
Part of why this is so all over the place is because of decisions that the social media platforms have consistently made to prioritize growth and profit over safety , integrity and security .
In every phase where they do that , they make decisions and rules that allow this content to travel quickly , to not actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they should , to not pull town this information as quickly and put in systems to actually pull it down quickly .
We 've had many conversations .
We ran campaigns .
We pushed .
We had a whole boycott this summer on facebook and even while we were having the boycott they were making claims to media how much of this information their artificial intelligence actually catches .
And then you realize that 's not actually the case .
ROBINSON : Yeah.In every phase where they do that , they make decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel quickly , to not actually disable people 's account the way that they should , to not pull town this information as quickly and put in systems to actually pull it down quickly .
We 've had many conversations .
We ran campaigns .
We pushed .
We had a whole boycott this summer on facebook and even while we were having the boycott they were making claims to media how much of this information their artificial intelligence actually catches .
And then you realize that 's not actually the case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , by people inside the companies whose intelligence should be under question , both in terms of this sort of history of disinformation and misinformation when it comes to elections , but also the day-to-day interactions people have with these platforms that allow this information to travel so quickly , to allow it to serve sort of greater profit for the leaders of this platform and in many ways to allow political decisions about not wanting to be in the bad graces of one political party , so as a result , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this is a result of that .
For anyone who is watching , this is not a car accident .
This is the result of decisions that have been made , that now communities like ours , like Black communities are having to deal with .
Velshi then turned to Janell Ross to discuss the huge voter turnout in Georgia , the electorate seeming energized despite all this misinformation , and the predictable reduction in the number of polling places , given the fact that the racist GOP is still in charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ ... ] There is , without question , I think , a lot of conflicting , often utterly false information floating around .
This is an occasion , however , where it seems much of the disinformation , it will be very interesting to ultimately know where this information is coming from , because it did n't quite seem to be having the desired effect .
ROSS : It seems that turnout , for the most part , is pretty significant.
[ ... ] There is , without question , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utterly false information floating around .
This is an occasion , however , where it seems much of the disinformation , it will be very interesting to ultimately know where this information is coming from , because it did n't quite seem to be having the desired effect .
I would say that when I speak to people around the state of Georgia -- I 'm headed to Macon today .
I 'm in Atlanta now .
It seems to be many Republican voters who are most distrustful of the voting system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state , and have real questions and/or doubts about the ability to have a free and fair election .
And , therefore , I certainly have certainly spoken with some people who have really questioned whether or not this is something they want to spend their time on , if they want to totally disengage from this process .
On the other side of the equation , i 've spoken to many Democrats , many of them People of Color , who have a lot concerns about what local officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult to vote .
You mentioned the issue of closing early polling sites or limiting number of early polling site sites , which can have a pretty significant impact if you have to wait more than an hour to vote , and you have a job where you are paid by the hour .
The Republicans ' insidious propaganda campaign might seem to be backfiring on them at the moment , but we also know from history that there 's no bottom to their capacity for ratfcking Black people and People of Color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time to double down on our vigilance and activism , not take a break from it .
And if we win the Senate , maybe they can pass legislation that regulates and sanctions social media giants like Facebook and Twitter for playing such an outsized role in Trump 's failing up into the White House .

Have you heard the one about the "vote-flipping" machines engineered by Hugo Chavez who's been dead for nearly ten years? Or the one about numbers of ballots coming out of ceilings or leather bags? If so, you're one of the millions of people who are on Facebook, Twitter, or have had the misfortune of hearing Donald Trump open his yap about the 2020 Election that he roundly lost (but insists he won.)
Ali Velshi talked about a report that demonstrated that of 200 misleading and false posts on Facebook, 60% of them reached thousands of voters with no fact-check or warning label. He asked Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, how to prevent the spread of misinformation, and why it's everywhere.
Part of why this is so all over the place is because of decisions that the social media platforms have consistently made to prioritize growth and profit over safety, integrity and security. In every phase where they do that, they make decisions and rules that allow this content to travel quickly, to not actually disable people's account the way that they should, to not pull town this information as quickly and put in systems to actually pull it down quickly. We've had many conversations. We ran campaigns. We pushed. We had a whole boycott this summer on facebook and even while we were having the boycott they were making claims to media how much of this information their artificial intelligence actually catches. And then you realize that's not actually the case. ROBINSON: Yeah.In every phase where they do that, they make decisions and rules that allow this content to travel quickly, to not actually disable people's account the way that they should, to not pull town this information as quickly and put in systems to actually pull it down quickly. We've had many conversations. We ran campaigns. We pushed. We had a whole boycott this summer on facebook and even while we were having the boycott they were making claims to media how much of this information their artificial intelligence actually catches. And then you realize that's not actually the case. Their artificial intelligence is designed, once again, by people inside the companies whose intelligence should be under question, both in terms of this sort of history of disinformation and misinformation when it comes to elections, but also the day-to-day interactions people have with these platforms that allow this information to travel so quickly, to allow it to serve sort of greater profit for the leaders of this platform and in many ways to allow political decisions about not wanting to be in the bad graces of one political party, so as a result, not make the hard decisions. All of this is a result of that. For anyone who is watching, this is not a car accident. This is the result of decisions that have been made, that now communities like ours, like Black communities are having to deal with.
Velshi then turned to Janell Ross to discuss the huge voter turnout in Georgia, the electorate seeming energized despite all this misinformation, and the predictable reduction in the number of polling places, given the fact that the racist GOP is still in charge of the election in that state.
[...]
There is, without question, I think, a lot of conflicting, often utterly false information floating around. This is an occasion, however, where it seems much of the disinformation, it will be very interesting to ultimately know where this information is coming from, because it didn't quite seem to be having the desired effect. ROSS: It seems that turnout, for the most part, is pretty significant.[...]There is, without question, I think, a lot of conflicting, often utterly false information floating around. This is an occasion, however, where it seems much of the disinformation, it will be very interesting to ultimately know where this information is coming from, because it didn't quite seem to be having the desired effect. I would say that when I speak to people around the state of Georgia -- I'm headed to Macon today. I'm in Atlanta now. It seems to be many Republican voters who are most distrustful of the voting system, of the voting -- the election officials in the state, and have real questions and/or doubts about the ability to have a free and fair election. And, therefore, I certainly have certainly spoken with some people who have really questioned whether or not this is something they want to spend their time on, if they want to totally disengage from this process. On the other side of the equation, i've spoken to many Democrats, many of them People of Color, who have a lot concerns about what local officials in their view are doing to make it difficult to vote. You mentioned the issue of closing early polling sites or limiting number of early polling site sites, which can have a pretty significant impact if you have to wait more than an hour to vote, and you have a job where you are paid by the hour.
The Republicans' insidious propaganda campaign might seem to be backfiring on them at the moment, but we also know from history that there's no bottom to their capacity for ratfcking Black people and People of Color out of their votes. Now is the time to double down on our vigilance and activism, not take a break from it. And if we win the Senate, maybe they can pass legislation that regulates and sanctions social media giants like Facebook and Twitter for playing such an outsized role in Trump's failing up into the White House.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--'Maria Bartiromo Sold Out': Viewers Slam Fox News Host After She Debunks Election Fraud Claims

Fox News viewers lashed out at the network over the weekend after several shows aired a segment undermining President Donald Trump 's claims of election fraud .
According to reports , at least one Fox Business host and as many as three Fox News hosts aired a pre-taped segment with a spokesperson from Smartmatic , a voting systems software company .
The interview was aired again on Sunday by Maria Bartiromo , one of President Donald Trump 's top defenders on the network .
The segment was met with contempt from viewers , who refused to believe that the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So I guess @ MariaBartiromo just sold out-shameful , '' one viewer wrote on Twitter .
`` @ FoxNews needs to be ashamed for making her air this tripe , '' another viewer tweeted .
`` Who got to @ MariaBartiromo ? ''
another commenter complained .
`` Why has she put this fraud Eddie Perez , clearly an apologist for Smartmatic , on her show TWICE to read scripted denials to scripted questions -- right down to reading back the questions , a deposition trick taught by good trial attorneys ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ News last week , Smartmatic accused the network of a `` disinformation campaign '' '' Over the course of the campaign , Fox News published and republished dozens of false and misleading statements regarding Smartmatic , '' the statement said .

Fox News viewers lashed out at the network over the weekend after several shows aired a segment undermining President Donald Trump's claims of election fraud.
According to reports, at least one Fox Business host and as many as three Fox News hosts
aired a pre-taped segment with a spokesperson from Smartmatic, a voting systems software company.
The interview was aired again on Sunday by Maria Bartiromo, one of President Donald Trump's top defenders on the network.
The segment was met with contempt from viewers, who refused to believe that the election fraud claims had been debunked.
"So I guess @MariaBartiromo just sold out-shameful," one viewer wrote on Twitter.
"@FoxNews needs to be ashamed for making her air this tripe," another viewer tweeted.
"Who got to @MariaBartiromo?" another commenter complained. "Why has she put this fraud Eddie Perez, clearly an apologist for Smartmatic, on her show TWICE to read scripted denials to scripted questions-- right down to reading back the questions, a deposition trick taught by good trial attorneys?"
In a legal notice sent to Fox News last week, Smartmatic
accused the network of a "disinformation campaign"
"Over the course of the campaign, Fox News published and republished dozens of false and misleading statements regarding Smartmatic," the statement said.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Romney Calls Trump's Coup Attempt 'Sad' And 'Embarrassing,' But Refuses To Do Anything About It

The press loves to paint Sen. Mitt Romney as one of the few Republicans willing to stand up to Trump , but as this interview with CNN 's Jake Tapper this Sunday made apparent , he 's all talk and no action when it comes to actually reigning Trump in and being willing to put a stop to his dangerous anti-Democratic behavior .
Here 's Romney ignoring the question on what he and his fellow Senate Republicans should do about Trump 's attempted military coup , and pretending that Trump deserves an ounce of credit for his response to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccines .
TAPPER : President Trump held a meeting on Friday in which he reportedly discussed with his disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn this deranged idea , to declare Martial law , to force new elections in states that Biden lost .
They also have discussed appointing conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell as a special counsel to investigate her baseless claims of election fraud , and also issuing an executive order to seize voting machines .
This is , needless to say , quite alarming and scary to a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What will Senate Republicans do to make sure none of this madness happens ?
ROMNEY : Well it ’ s not going to happen .
That ’ s going nowhere , and I understand the president is casting about trying to find some way to have a different result than the one that was delivered by the American people .
But it ’ s really sad in a lot of respects and embarrassing because the president could , right now , be writing the last chapter of this administration with a victory lap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , he pushed aggressively to get the vaccine developed and distributed .
That ’ s happening on a quick timeframe .
He could be going out championing this extraordinary success and instead , he 's leaving Washington with a whole series of conspiracy theories and things that are so nutty and loopy , that people are shaking their head wondering , what in the world has gotten into this man ?
And I think that 's unfortunate because he has more accomplishments than this last chapter suggests he 's going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be known as one of the worst presidents in our history , and rightfully so , aided and abetted by the likes of Romney and his fellow spineless enablers .

The press loves to paint Sen. Mitt Romney as one of the few Republicans willing to stand up to Trump, but as this interview with CNN's Jake Tapper this Sunday made apparent, he's all talk and no action when it comes to actually reigning Trump in and being willing to put a stop to his dangerous anti-Democratic behavior.
Here's Romney ignoring the question on what he and his fellow Senate Republicans should do about Trump's attempted military coup, and pretending that Trump deserves an ounce of credit for his response to this deadly pandemic, or the rollout of the vaccines.
TAPPER: President Trump held a meeting on Friday in which he reportedly discussed with his disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn this deranged idea, to declare Martial law, to force new elections in states that Biden lost. They also have discussed appointing conspiracy theorist Sidney Powell as a special counsel to investigate her baseless claims of election fraud, and also issuing an executive order to seize voting machines. This is, needless to say, quite alarming and scary to a lot of people. What's your response? What will Senate Republicans do to make sure none of this madness happens? ROMNEY: Well it’s not going to happen. That’s going nowhere, and I understand the president is casting about trying to find some way to have a different result than the one that was delivered by the American people. But it’s really sad in a lot of respects and embarrassing because the president could, right now, be writing the last chapter of this administration with a victory lap with regards to the vaccine. After all, he pushed aggressively to get the vaccine developed and distributed. That’s happening on a quick timeframe. He could be going out championing this extraordinary success and instead, he's leaving Washington with a whole series of conspiracy theories and things that are so nutty and loopy, that people are shaking their head wondering, what in the world has gotten into this man? And I think that's unfortunate because he has more accomplishments than this last chapter suggests he's going to be known for.
He's going to be known as one of the worst presidents in our history, and rightfully so, aided and abetted by the likes of Romney and his fellow spineless enablers.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Chuck Todd Promotes '9/11-like Commission' To Investigate Trump For COVID Failures

NBC host Chuck Todd on Sunday suggested that the U.S. Congress should commission a investigation into President Donald Trump 's failures during the COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The pandemic continues to tear through the country , '' Todd explained in his opening remarks on Meet the Press .
`` We 're now experiencing a 9/11 every day and it 's worse than a 9/11 on some days . ''
`` After September 11th , the government created a commission to study what went wrong , '' he continued .
`` Is it time to establish a 9/11-like commission to study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , chose to dismiss the obvious danger , making it impossible for health officials to do their jobs ? ''
`` I 'm not sure whether it 's a commission or not but we certainly need to study what we could have done better , '' Romney agreed , `` and prepare for the next pandemic because there will be another one . ''
But White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor argued that it would not be possible for political leaders to agree on a 9/11-style commission .
`` It 's very hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Americans ca n't agree on the truth , '' she explained .
`` Rudy Giuliani told you truth is n't truth .
It is the thing that defined the Trump administration and this era , that there is -- they wanted to completely create a new version of the truth and so many Americans -- more than 75 million of them -- went along with that for President Trump . ''
`` I 'm not sure if we can get to a place where Americans can sit down and say , 'Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when we ca n't even agree on the facts , '' she added .

NBC host Chuck Todd on Sunday suggested that the U.S. Congress should commission a investigation into President Donald Trump's failures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The pandemic continues to tear through the country," Todd explained in his opening remarks on Meet the Press. "We're now experiencing a 9/11 every day and it's worse than a 9/11 on some days."
"After September 11th, the government created a commission to study what went wrong," he continued. "Is it time to establish a 9/11-like commission to study how significant parts of our government missed this, chose to dismiss the obvious danger, making it impossible for health officials to do their jobs?"
Todd posed the question to Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT).
"I'm not sure whether it's a commission or not but we certainly need to study what we could have done better," Romney agreed, "and prepare for the next pandemic because there will be another one."
But White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor argued that it would not be possible for political leaders to agree on a 9/11-style commission.
"It's very hard to have a truth and reconciliation commission when Americans can't agree on the truth," she explained. "Rudy Giuliani told you truth isn't truth. It is the thing that defined the Trump administration and this era, that there is -- they wanted to completely create a new version of the truth and so many Americans -- more than 75 million of them -- went along with that for President Trump."
"I'm not sure if we can get to a place where Americans can sit down and say, 'Let's talk about our differences,' when we can't even agree on the facts," she added.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Trump Stokes More Racial Resentment On His Way Out The Door With Formation Of '1776 Commission'

Another parting `` gift '' from Donald Trump with a month left to go in office -- a `` commission '' to promote `` patriotic education . ''
This is apparently the right 's response to the 1619 Project , which heaven forbid took an honest look at our country 's legacy of slavery and Jim Crow .
Trump has now appointed the members of this so-called `` commission , '' one of whom made an appearance on Fox & Friends this Sunday to brag about the project to host Pete Hegseth .
Dr. Jerry Davis , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement yesterday quoting Trump 's goals for the commission : The executive order , issued by United States President Donald J. Trump , states the following : “ Without our common faith in the equal right of every individual American to life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness , authoritarian visions of government and society could become increasingly alluring alternatives to self-government based on the consent of the people .
Thus it is necessary to provide America ’ s young people access to what is genuinely inspiring and unifying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lessons imparted by the American experience of overcoming great national challenges .
This is what makes possible the informed and honest patriotism that is essential for a successful republic .
“ A restoration of American education grounded in the principles of our founding that is accurate , honest , unifying , inspiring , and ennobling must ultimately succeed at the local level .
Parents and local school boards must be empowered to achieve greater choice and variety in curriculum at the State and local levels.
” Here 's more from Politico on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group will be led by the president of the conservative Hillsdale College , Larry Arnn , a longtime Trump ally , who will serve as chairman , the White House said Friday .
Matthew Spalding , vice president for the college ’ s Washington , D.C. , operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government , has been appointed executive director of the Commission , according to the college .
The commission is part of Trump ’ s defense against critical race theory and the 1619 Project , directed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revisits the country ’ s history with a focus on slavery and Black Americans ’ contributions .
Trump has said he hopes to counter lessons that he believes divide Americans on race and slavery and teach students to “ hate their own country.
” Along with Arnn , others to be appointed to the 18-member panel include activist Charlie Kirk , who founded the conservative campus group Turning Point USA ; Mississippi Gov .
Phil Bryant , who has declared his state “ Trump Country ; ” Silicon Valley CEO and Trump fundraiser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s domestic policy adviser ; and Mike Gonzalez , a Heritage Foundation senior fellow .
The commission was created by executive order , so let 's hope Biden disbands it the same way .

Another parting "gift" from Donald Trump with a month left to go in office -- a "commission" to promote "patriotic education." This is apparently the right's response to the 1619 Project, which heaven forbid took an honest look at our country's legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.
Trump has now appointed the members of this so-called "commission," one of whom made an appearance on Fox & Friends this Sunday to brag about the project to host Pete Hegseth. Dr. Jerry Davis, president of the evangelical College of the Ozarks, released a statement yesterday quoting Trump's goals for the commission:
The executive order, issued by United States President Donald J. Trump, states the following: “Without our common faith in the equal right of every individual American to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, authoritarian visions of government and society could become increasingly alluring alternatives to self-government based on the consent of the people. Thus it is necessary to provide America’s young people access to what is genuinely inspiring and unifying in our history, as well as to the lessons imparted by the American experience of overcoming great national challenges. This is what makes possible the informed and honest patriotism that is essential for a successful republic. “A restoration of American education grounded in the principles of our founding that is accurate, honest, unifying, inspiring, and ennobling must ultimately succeed at the local level. Parents and local school boards must be empowered to achieve greater choice and variety in curriculum at the State and local levels.”
Here's more from Politico on the group's other members:
The group will be led by the president of the conservative Hillsdale College, Larry Arnn, a longtime Trump ally, who will serve as chairman, the White House said Friday. Matthew Spalding, vice president for the college’s Washington, D.C., operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, has been appointed executive director of the Commission, according to the college. The commission is part of Trump’s defense against critical race theory and the 1619 Project, directed by The New York Times Magazine, which revisits the country’s history with a focus on slavery and Black Americans’ contributions. Trump has said he hopes to counter lessons that he believes divide Americans on race and slavery and teach students to “hate their own country.” Along with Arnn, others to be appointed to the 18-member panel include activist Charlie Kirk, who founded the conservative campus group Turning Point USA; Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, who has declared his state “Trump Country;” Silicon Valley CEO and Trump fundraiser Scott McNealy; Brooke Rollins, Trump’s domestic policy adviser; and Mike Gonzalez, a Heritage Foundation senior fellow.
The commission was created by executive order, so let's hope Biden disbands it the same way.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Peter Navarro Doubles Down On Election Lies: Joe Biden Will Be An 'Illegal' President

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday falsely claimed that Joe Biden will be an `` illegal '' president if he is sworn in on January 20 .
Navarro spoke to Fox News after he published a 36-page report on alleged election fraud .
`` It 's very , very clear , '' Navarro said .
`` The Democrat Party [ sic ] had a conscious , coordinated strategy to stuff the ballot box across these six battleground states with absentee and mail-in ballots , '' he opined .
`` And they were willing to bend and often break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really need here is a full investigation of what 's going on , '' he continued .
`` Because we run the risk of going in to Inauguration Day inaugurating and illegal , illegitimate president that public polls show the American public are skeptical about the fairness and integrity of the election . ''
Navarro added : `` And by the way , the greatest democracy in world history , if we ca n't run a free and fair election , all hope is lost . ''
President Donald Trump 's own cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the `` most secure in American history . ''
There is no evidence of widespread election fraud .

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Sunday falsely claimed that Joe Biden will be an "illegal" president if he is sworn in on January 20.
Navarro spoke to Fox News after he published a 36-page report on alleged election fraud.
"It's very, very clear," Navarro said. "The Democrat Party [sic] had a conscious, coordinated strategy to stuff the ballot box across these six battleground states with absentee and mail-in ballots," he opined. "And they were willing to bend and often break the laws."
"What we really need here is a full investigation of what's going on," he continued. "Because we run the risk of going in to Inauguration Day inaugurating and illegal, illegitimate president that public polls show the American public are skeptical about the fairness and integrity of the election."
Navarro added: "And by the way, the greatest democracy in world history, if we can't run a free and fair election, all hope is lost."
President Donald Trump's own cyber security agency declared the 2020 election to be the "most secure in American history." There is no evidence of widespread election fraud.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Axios: Rudy Giuliani Asked Ken Cuccinelli If DHS Could Seize Voting Machines

Biden 's inauguration ca n't come soon enough .
In yet another act of sheer desperation after losing one court case after another , Trump 's so-called `` lawyer '' and national embarrassment , Rudy Giuliani , reportedly called the ( illegally ) Acting Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security , Ken `` Cooch '' Cuccinelli ( who , as readers here may recall , ignored a ruling by a federal court that he did not meet the qualifications under the Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 , but hey , in the age of Trump , laws are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hang around regardless of how the court ruled ) and asked him about seizing voting machines : Rudy Giuliani called Ken Cuccinelli , second in command at the Department of Homeland Security , on Thursday night and asked him whether DHS could seize voting machines , a source familiar with the call confirmed to Axios .
The state of play : Cuccinelli responded that DHS does not have that authority , the source said .
Why it matters : The call , first reported by the New York Times ' Maggie Haberman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly extreme efforts to contest an election that was called for President-elect Joe Biden six weeks ago .
On Friday night , as first reported by The New York Times , Trump discussed commandeering voting machines and appointing conspiracy-minded election lawyer Sidney Powell as special counsel to inspect the machines .
• Axios reported Saturday afternoon that senior Trump administration officials are increasingly alarmed at what Trump might do to unleash the power of government to try to overturn the clear result of the election .
So Trump 's other national embarrassment Sidney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on computer hardware and software and capable of inspecting voting machines .
Trump is pushing for this as well .
We 'll see whether his new acting Attorney General , Jeffery Rosen , is willing to rubber stamp this nonsense or not .
In a functioning democracy , all of these grifters and gaslighters would be drummed out of polite society and never allowed to pollute our airways or political discourse in America ever again .
Sadly , we 're looking more like Nazi Germany in the run-up to Hitler these days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to flow unchecked on television , on the radio and online .

Biden's inauguration can't come soon enough. In yet another act of sheer desperation after losing one court case after another, Trump's so-called "lawyer" and national embarrassment, Rudy Giuliani, reportedly called the (illegally) Acting Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Ken "Cooch" Cuccinelli (who, as readers here may recall, ignored a ruling by a federal court that he did not meet the qualifications under the Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, but hey, in the age of Trump, laws are for suckers, so he decided to hang around regardless of how the court ruled) and asked him about seizing voting machines:
Rudy Giuliani called Ken Cuccinelli, second in command at the Department of Homeland Security, on Thursday night and asked him whether DHS could seize voting machines, a source familiar with the call confirmed to Axios. The state of play: Cuccinelli responded that DHS does not have that authority, the source said. Why it matters: The call, first reported by the New York Times' Maggie Haberman, is another manifestation of President Trump's increasingly extreme efforts to contest an election that was called for President-elect Joe Biden six weeks ago. On Friday night, as first reported by The New York Times, Trump discussed commandeering voting machines and appointing conspiracy-minded election lawyer Sidney Powell as special counsel to inspect the machines. Axios reported Saturday afternoon that senior Trump administration officials are increasingly alarmed at what Trump might do to unleash the power of government to try to overturn the clear result of the election.
So Trump's other national embarrassment Sidney Powell is now some sort of expert on computer hardware and software and capable of inspecting voting machines. Trump is pushing for this as well. We'll see whether his new acting Attorney General, Jeffery Rosen, is willing to rubber stamp this nonsense or not.
In a functioning democracy, all of these grifters and gaslighters would be drummed out of polite society and never allowed to pollute our airways or political discourse in America ever again. Sadly, we're looking more like Nazi Germany in the run-up to Hitler these days, with the dangerous propaganda from the right allowed to flow unchecked on television, on the radio and online.


crooksandliars--2020-12-20--Chris Wallace Rips Fox News For Attacking Jill Biden: Dr. Martin Luther King Wasn't A Physician Eith

Chris Wallace Rips Fox News For Attacking Jill Biden: Dr. Martin Luther King Wasn't A Physician Either

Fox News host Chris Wallace took a shot at his own network on Sunday after conservative pundits suggested that future First Lady Jill Biden does not deserve the title of `` doctor . ''
Wallace made the remarks during an interview with Jen Psaki , an adviser to President-elect Joe Biden .
`` There has been some criticism recently from conservatives , including some conservatives on Fox News about the fact that First Lady-to-be Jill Biden goes by the title doctor , '' the Fox News host told Psaki .
`` I wonder what is the Biden 's reaction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many people over the years -- I think of Dr. Henry Kissinger , the Rev .
Dr. Martin Luther King -- have gone by the title doctor , even though they 're not medical doctors and nobody have seems to have made a fuss about that . ''
`` With thousands of people dying every day of COVID , millions out of work , that anyone would wake up in the morning and decide that the focus they need to have , the way they can contribute to society that day is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden -- someone who is still teaching , who has a Ph.D in education -- should be called doctor or not , '' Psaki said .
`` Of course , she should .
As anyone who works through that challenging process of getting a Ph.D. '' '' It 's a really silly , sexist and absurd conversation that 's happening a bit in society , '' she added .

Fox News host Chris Wallace took a shot at his own network on Sunday after conservative pundits suggested that future First Lady Jill Biden does not deserve the title of "doctor."
Wallace made the remarks during an interview with Jen Psaki, an adviser to President-elect Joe Biden.
"There has been some criticism recently from conservatives, including some conservatives on Fox News about the fact that First Lady-to-be Jill Biden goes by the title doctor," the Fox News host told Psaki. "I wonder what is the Biden's reaction to that, especially given the fact that so many people over the years -- I think of Dr. Henry Kissinger, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King -- have gone by the title doctor, even though they're not medical doctors and nobody have seems to have made a fuss about that."
Psaki called the criticism "perplexing."
"With thousands of people dying every day of COVID, millions out of work, that anyone would wake up in the morning and decide that the focus they need to have, the way they can contribute to society that day is to question whether or not Dr. Jill Biden -- someone who is still teaching, who has a Ph.D in education -- should be called doctor or not," Psaki said. "Of course, she should. As anyone who works through that challenging process of getting a Ph.D."
"It's a really silly, sexist and absurd conversation that's happening a bit in society," she added.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Congressional Leaders Reach Agreement On New $900 Billion Pandemic Relief Package

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced late Sunday that congressional leaders have now reached agreement on an end-of-year pandemic relief package .
While the details are still being inked , the agreement will reportedly include $ 600 per person stimulus checks , extended unemployment benefits of up to $ 300 per week , and an extension of small business loans aimed at keeping payrolls intact despite pandemic restrictions .
While school aid is included , other details remain unclear .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced earlier that the agreement will not include Republican demands to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide crisis funding to individual states and cities .
Congress will approve a one-day deal to avoid an evening government shutdown , and is to vote on the packaged relief and yearly government spending bill on Monday .
The total is said to rise to over $ 2 trillion in funding .
The deal follows nine months of refusals by Sen. Mitch McConnell to allow additional pandemic aid , repeatedly blocking bills with his own poison-pill demands that businesses be provided immunity from liability for exposing either customers or employees to COVID-19 ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not included in the agreed-to package .
In the end , the deciding factor in favor of the deal may have been the Senate runoff elections in Georgia .
After blocking near-identical aid proposals all summer and fall , in recent days McConnell had reportedly expressed to his caucus that he wanted to move forward with pandemic relief so as to boost Republican chances of keeping the Senate .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced late Sunday that congressional leaders have now reached agreement on an end-of-year pandemic relief package. While the details are still being inked, the agreement will reportedly include $600 per person stimulus checks, extended unemployment benefits of up to $300 per week, and an extension of small business loans aimed at keeping payrolls intact despite pandemic restrictions. While school aid is included, other details remain unclear. Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced earlier that the agreement will not include Republican demands to curtail the Federal Reserve's ability to provide crisis funding to individual states and cities.
Congress will approve a one-day deal to avoid an evening government shutdown, and is to vote on the packaged relief and yearly government spending bill on Monday. The total is said to rise to over $2 trillion in funding.
The deal follows nine months of refusals by Sen. Mitch McConnell to allow additional pandemic aid, repeatedly blocking bills with his own poison-pill demands that businesses be provided immunity from liability for exposing either customers or employees to COVID-19; according to Sen. Schumer, that demand is not included in the agreed-to package.
In the end, the deciding factor in favor of the deal may have been the Senate runoff elections in Georgia. After blocking near-identical aid proposals all summer and fall, in recent days McConnell had reportedly expressed to his caucus that he wanted to move forward with pandemic relief so as to boost Republican chances of keeping the Senate.
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Trump Administration Rolls Back Water-Saving Standards For Showerheads

For more than 25 years , Congress has directed U.S. government agencies to set energy and water efficiency standards for many new products .
These measures conserve resources and save consumers a lot of money .
Until recently , they had bipartisan support .
But President Trump has turned efficiency standards into symbols of intrusive government .
His administration has opposed many of these rules , including standards for light bulbs , commercial boilers , portable air conditioners and low-flow toilets .
His latest target : showerheads .
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 , passed by a Democratic Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bush , set the maximum flow rate for showers at 2.5 gallons per minute .
Now the Trump administration has increased that rate , which Trump calls inadequate to wash his “ beautiful hair.
” It may sound funny , but it ’ s not .
As someone who writes and teaches about water law and policy , I know that the U.S. water supply is finite and exhaustible .
Most Americans take water for granted , but as population growth and climate change exacerbate water shortages , experts increasingly argue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a showerhead not a showerhead ?
On Aug. 13 , 2020 , the Department of Energy ’ s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the existing standard for showerheads .
The document ’ s definition of showerheads exemplified the byzantine logic behind this policy shift .
For example , it provided three images of fixtures with between three and eight heads attached to a single pipe coming out of the wall .
So long as none of the individual heads had a flow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the measure asserted that each fixture satisfied Congress ’ quest for water and energy conservation .
How can the Energy Department allow shower fixtures with as many as eight heads , each emitting 2.5 gallons per minute ?
For context , Webster ’ s dictionary defines a showerhead as a “ fixture for directing the spray of water in a bathroom shower.
” But the Trump rule interpreted “ showerhead ” to mean “ an accessory to a supply fitting for spraying water onto a bather.
” With this sleight of hand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deftly avoided by installing a hydra-headed fixture with multiple “ showerheads , ” each flowing at 2.5 gallons per minute .
The agency also released a fourth image of a wall fixture with seven nozzles , which the new rule would not subject to the 2.5 gallons per minute maximum .
The Energy Department deemed these fixtures a “ body spray ” rather than a showerhead because they are “ usually located ” below the bather ’ s head .
( Of course , the person showering may be short , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the shower wall . )
Body sprays may have six or eight nozzles with no flow limits .
The sad part of this foolishness is that the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s WaterSense program , which identifies water-efficient projects and promotes water conservation , has been spectacularly successful , at virtually no cost to consumers or the regulated community .
Showers constitute 17 % of residential water use .
That ’ s 40 gallons per day for the average family , or 1.2 trillion gallons annually in the United States .
WaterSense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 4.4 trillion gallons of water and US $ 87 billion in water and energy expenses since the program began in 2006 .
Low-water-use fixtures – including showerheads , toilets and washing machines – are now the accepted norm across the United States .
Some early products , such as the first high-efficiency toilets , had some hiccups .
But that was 20 years ago .
Today , notwithstanding President Trump ’ s declaration that “ people are flushing toilets 10 times , 15 times , as opposed to once , ” consumers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , save money and reduce water and energy consumption .
[ Expertise in your inbox .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter and get expert takes on today ’ s news , every day . ]
Today the United States faces serious water problems .
Georgia and Florida are fighting a prolonged battle over flows in the Apalachicola River , which the two states share .
Excessive groundwater pumping is causing water levels in wells to plummet and springs to dry up .
As I explain in my book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crisis and What To Do About It , ” farmers are competing with cities for water .
COVID-19 has helped to make the affordability of water a national issue .
Some rural areas , such as the Navajo Nation , where many people need to haul water to their homes and villages , have higher rates of coronavirus infection .
People who have lost their jobs find themselves unable to pay their water bills , which in turn compromises the financial stability of water providers .
Allowing showers to use more water will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
It will increase the amount of water cities must treat ; raise the chances of raw sewage overflows at water treatment plants – especially in cities such as Washington , D.C. that combine storm and sewer water ; and increase the amount of energy used to pump and treat water .
Disrupting low-flow fixture rules will create special hardships for western cities , such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas , that have struggled with water shortages for decades .
Both cities remarkably reduced their total water use between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth , partly by converting residences to low water-use fixtures .
Water is not just another natural resource .
Without it our bodies cease to function , our crops dry up , and our economy grinds to a halt .
We can ’ t make any more water , so it makes sense to use the water we have wisely .
This is an updated version of an article originally published on September 1 , 2020 .
Robert Glennon , Regents Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

High-efficiency showerheads save water and energy. mppix/iStock via Getty Images
Robert Glennon, University of Arizona
For more than 25 years, Congress has directed U.S. government agencies to set energy and water efficiency standards for many new products. These measures conserve resources and save consumers a lot of money. Until recently, they had bipartisan support.
But President Trump has turned efficiency standards into symbols of intrusive government. His administration has opposed many of these rules, including standards for light bulbs, commercial boilers, portable air conditioners and low-flow toilets. His latest target: showerheads.
The Energy Policy Act of 1992, passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by Republican President George H.W. Bush, set the maximum flow rate for showers at 2.5 gallons per minute. Now the Trump administration has increased that rate, which Trump calls inadequate to wash his “beautiful hair.”
It may sound funny, but it’s not. As someone who writes and teaches about water law and policy, I know that the U.S. water supply is finite and exhaustible. Most Americans take water for granted, but as population growth and climate change exacerbate water shortages, experts increasingly argue that water policy should promote conservation.
When is a showerhead not a showerhead?
On Aug. 13, 2020, the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend the existing standard for showerheads. The document’s definition of showerheads exemplified the byzantine logic behind this policy shift.
For example, it provided three images of fixtures with between three and eight heads attached to a single pipe coming out of the wall. So long as none of the individual heads had a flow greater than 2.5 gallons per minute, the measure asserted that each fixture satisfied Congress’ quest for water and energy conservation.
How can the Energy Department allow shower fixtures with as many as eight heads, each emitting 2.5 gallons per minute? For context, Webster’s dictionary defines a showerhead as a “fixture for directing the spray of water in a bathroom shower.”
But the Trump rule interpreted “showerhead” to mean “an accessory to a supply fitting for spraying water onto a bather.” With this sleight of hand, a congressional rule limiting showerhead flows can be deftly avoided by installing a hydra-headed fixture with multiple “showerheads,” each flowing at 2.5 gallons per minute.
The agency also released a fourth image of a wall fixture with seven nozzles, which the new rule would not subject to the 2.5 gallons per minute maximum. The Energy Department deemed these fixtures a “body spray” rather than a showerhead because they are “usually located” below the bather’s head. (Of course, the person showering may be short, or the plumber may install the fixture high on the shower wall.) Body sprays may have six or eight nozzles with no flow limits.
The sad part of this foolishness is that the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which identifies water-efficient projects and promotes water conservation, has been spectacularly successful, at virtually no cost to consumers or the regulated community. Showers constitute 17% of residential water use. That’s 40 gallons per day for the average family, or 1.2 trillion gallons annually in the United States.
WaterSense fixtures and appliances have saved Americans more than 4.4 trillion gallons of water and US$87 billion in water and energy expenses since the program began in 2006. Low-water-use fixtures – including showerheads, toilets and washing machines – are now the accepted norm across the United States.
Some early products, such as the first high-efficiency toilets, had some hiccups. But that was 20 years ago. Today, notwithstanding President Trump’s declaration that “people are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once,” consumers embrace low water-use fixtures because they work well, save money and reduce water and energy consumption.
[Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter and get expert takes on today’s news, every day.]
Tapped out
Today the United States faces serious water problems. Georgia and Florida are fighting a prolonged battle over flows in the Apalachicola River, which the two states share. Excessive groundwater pumping is causing water levels in wells to plummet and springs to dry up. As I explain in my book, “Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It,” farmers are competing with cities for water.
COVID-19 has helped to make the affordability of water a national issue. Some rural areas, such as the Navajo Nation, where many people need to haul water to their homes and villages, have higher rates of coronavirus infection. People who have lost their jobs find themselves unable to pay their water bills, which in turn compromises the financial stability of water providers.
Allowing showers to use more water will have several unfortunate consequences for cities across the country. It will increase the amount of water cities must treat; raise the chances of raw sewage overflows at water treatment plants – especially in cities such as Washington, D.C. that combine storm and sewer water; and increase the amount of energy used to pump and treat water.
Disrupting low-flow fixture rules will create special hardships for western cities, such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, that have struggled with water shortages for decades. Both cities remarkably reduced their total water use between the 1980s and 2020, despite rapid population growth, partly by converting residences to low water-use fixtures.
Water is not just another natural resource. Without it our bodies cease to function, our crops dry up, and our economy grinds to a halt. We can’t make any more water, so it makes sense to use the water we have wisely.
This is an updated version of an article originally published on September 1, 2020.
Robert Glennon, Regents Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy, University of Arizona
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Federalist Hack Calls Reports Of Trump's Attempted Coup 'Fake News'

Never mind the fact Trump ' minions have already said the quiet part out loud , The Federalist 's Mollie Hemingway wants us to believe Trump did n't really discuss having using the military to overturn the results of the presidential election he lost .
Hemingway made an appearance on this Sunday 's Media Buzz on Fox , and parroted Trump 's denial on Twitter from the day before where he denied asking about invoking martial law : HOWARD KURTZ ( HOST ) : The New York Times , as I am sure you know , reported that President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his now pardoned former national security adviser , with Sidney Powell , who had been a member of his campaign legal team , and that among the issues discussed was Flynn 's idea , which he 's talked about publicly , of having the president declare martial law and having the military supervise a rerun of the race in key states won by Joe Biden , and the press just going nuclear over this .
Your thoughts ?
MOLLIE HEMINGWAY ( FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR ) : Right , and President Trump tweeted last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news .
So you have it from the horse 's mouth that that was not -- that he has no intention of declaring martial law or of anything else crazy that the media are putting out there , using anonymous sources .
This is one of the things where the media have spent the last four years running false and defamatory stories using anonymous sources .
They are not held accountable when those stories do not turn out to be true .
But again , there are legitimate stories here that could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so partisan in how they handle things .
There are very legitimate concerns about this very sloppy election .
We all know that mail-in balloting was widely expanded .
We all know and have known for a very long time that that leads to greater opportunities for fraud .
We know that the standards for checking ballots were in decline .
And so to tell people tens of millions of Americans who have legitimate problems and concerns about that sloppiness , that they 're not going to cover this and they 're only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most outlandish way is not doing a service to the country .
There really will be moving forwards attempts to deal with this electoral situation so people can have confidence and our media have not been covering that story very well .
Kurtz 's other guest , FBN 's Liz Claman actually pushed back on Hemingway 's denial , noting that even The Wall Street Journal ( another Murdoch owned entity ) was reporting on the story as well .
LIZ CLAMAN ( FOX BUSINESS HOST ) : So let 's just say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something , saying I was there , I that was the room .
Yeah , you 've got to have that double source , sometimes triple source .
But you now have The Wall Street Journal jumping on this , this is not just The New York Times or The Washington Post .
The Wall Street Journal , which has been very fair to the president and some critics might say a little too open-minded when it comes to President Trump 's claims , is also reporting this story and the president does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was just kidding '' when I said that when it really is quite apparent that when he said it on video in many cases he was n't kidding .
So that 's a convenient sort of behavior here .
But I think that the press would very likely try and say that it 's a fancy way of claiming that his quixotic effort to hold on is out there but the two dollar version of that is that he is going to continue to look at different avenues until the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take him away from the White House .
It 's pretty pathetic when your lies are so obvious that even the non-token pretend to be liberals on Fox are debunking them .

Never mind the fact Trump' minions have already said the quiet part out loud, The Federalist's Mollie Hemingway wants us to believe Trump didn't really discuss having using the military to overturn the results of the presidential election he lost.
Hemingway made an appearance on this Sunday's Media Buzz on Fox, and parroted Trump's denial on Twitter from the day before where he denied asking about invoking martial law:
Martial law = Fake News. Just more knowingly bad reporting! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2020
HOWARD KURTZ (HOST): The New York Times, as I am sure you know, reported that President Trump met on Friday with Mike Flynn, his now pardoned former national security adviser, with Sidney Powell, who had been a member of his campaign legal team, and that among the issues discussed was Flynn's idea, which he's talked about publicly, of having the president declare martial law and having the military supervise a rerun of the race in key states won by Joe Biden, and the press just going nuclear over this. Your thoughts? MOLLIE HEMINGWAY (FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR): Right, and President Trump tweeted last night I believe that that was fake news. So you have it from the horse's mouth that that was not -- that he has no intention of declaring martial law or of anything else crazy that the media are putting out there, using anonymous sources. This is one of the things where the media have spent the last four years running false and defamatory stories using anonymous sources. They are not held accountable when those stories do not turn out to be true. But again, there are legitimate stories here that could be covered by credible media that wasn't so partisan in how they handle things. There are very legitimate concerns about this very sloppy election. We all know that mail-in balloting was widely expanded. We all know and have known for a very long time that that leads to greater opportunities for fraud. We know that the standards for checking ballots were in decline. And so to tell people tens of millions of Americans who have legitimate problems and concerns about that sloppiness, that they're not going to cover this and they're only of going to cover it in the most outlandish way is not doing a service to the country. There really will be moving forwards attempts to deal with this electoral situation so people can have confidence and our media have not been covering that story very well.
Kurtz's other guest, FBN's Liz Claman actually pushed back on Hemingway's denial, noting that even The Wall Street Journal (another Murdoch owned entity) was reporting on the story as well.
LIZ CLAMAN (FOX BUSINESS HOST): So let's just say somebody close to the president is floating something, saying I was there, I that was the room. Yeah, you've got to have that double source, sometimes triple source. But you now have The Wall Street Journal jumping on this, this is not just The New York Times or The Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, which has been very fair to the president and some critics might say a little too open-minded when it comes to President Trump's claims, is also reporting this story and the president does have a record of saying "oh, I was just kidding" when I said that when it really is quite apparent that when he said it on video in many cases he wasn't kidding. So that's a convenient sort of behavior here. But I think that the press would very likely try and say that it's a fancy way of claiming that his quixotic effort to hold on is out there but the two dollar version of that is that he is going to continue to look at different avenues until the last clear chance where Marine One is waiting to take him away from the White House.
It's pretty pathetic when your lies are so obvious that even the non-token pretend to be liberals on Fox are debunking them.


crooksandliars--2020-12-22--Even Pat Robertson Thinks It's Over For Donald Trump

Donald Trump is such a delusional loser that even Pat Robertson sounds sane .
That is how far we have fallen .
On the 700 Club , Pat Robertson announced that he thinks President Trump is acting `` erratic '' and needs to move on from his `` alternate reality '' thinking about the November election .
Just a reminder that back in October this same Pat Robertson said that God had `` told him '' that Donald Trump would win re-election , and he reminded his viewers that they had to get out to vote , because if Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrest , and then a war against Israel and so forth.
” Welp , the election did not go in Trump 's favor , and the only unrest has been in Trump 's delusional mind , and in his supporters fever brains .
On Monday , the 700 Club aired a segment which talked about Trump 's possible 2024 Presidential run .
After the segment , Robertson said : “ With all his talent and the ability to raise money and grow large crowds , the president still lives in an alternate reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Well , he lies about this , that , and the other.
’ No , he isn ’ t lying .
To him , that ’ s the truth.
” I disagree about the talent part , but I agree that Trump does live in an alternate reality .
Robertson went on to state that he does not think that Trump should run again , and he even went to far as to bash Trump for all of his lying , saying : “ He is very erratic , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fought people , and he ’ s insulted people… It ’ s a mixed bag.
” He ended by telling Trump directly : “ You ’ ve had your day and it ’ s time to move on.
” Will Trump attack him by tweet or will he just ignore this very direct attack ?

Donald Trump is such a delusional loser that even Pat Robertson sounds sane. That is how far we have fallen. On the 700 Club, Pat Robertson announced that he thinks President Trump is acting "erratic" and needs to move on from his "alternate reality" thinking about the November election.
Just a reminder that back in October this same Pat Robertson said that God had "told him" that Donald Trump would win re-election, and he reminded his viewers that they had to get out to vote, because if Trump lost it would "lead to civil unrest, and then a war against Israel and so forth.” Welp, the election did not go in Trump's favor, and the only unrest has been in Trump's delusional mind, and in his supporters fever brains.
How it started: How it’s going: pic.twitter.com/KmAgB5k3mb — Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) December 21, 2020
On Monday, the 700 Club aired a segment which talked about Trump's possible 2024 Presidential run. After the segment, Robertson said: “With all his talent and the ability to raise money and grow large crowds, the president still lives in an alternate reality. He really does. People say, ‘Well, he lies about this, that, and the other.’ No, he isn’t lying. To him, that’s the truth.”
I disagree about the talent part, but I agree that Trump does live in an alternate reality.
Robertson went on to state that he does not think that Trump should run again, and he even went to far as to bash Trump for all of his lying, saying: “He is very erratic, and he’s fired people, and he’s fought people, and he’s insulted people… It’s a mixed bag.”
He ended by telling Trump directly: “You’ve had your day and it’s time to move on.”
Will Trump attack him by tweet or will he just ignore this very direct attack?


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Joni Ernst Jumps To The Front Of The Line For The Vaccine

Iowa 's woeful senator questioned the number of deaths from COVID-19 and repeated a conspiracy theory from QAnon .
9/2/2020 @ @ @ @ @ last month , god only knows why .
Less than a week from when the @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer vaccine for coronavirus , Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-Iowa ) got her first of @ @ @ @ @ .
She posted about the incident on social media on Sunday , saying the Office @ @ @ @ @ she get vaccinated .
`` I encourage all Iowans and Americans to do the same @ @ @ @ @ '' wrote Ernst .
`` Thanks to Operation Warp Speed and the tireless work of @ @ @ @ @ we are one step closer to defeating this virus . ''
Ernst was criticized earlier @ @ @ @ @ regarding health care workers and the virus , implying they were inflating coronavirus totals .
@ @ @ @ @ Iowa Medical Society .
So far this year , COVID-19 has killed more than 3,500 @ @ @ @ @ residents .

Iowa's woeful senator questioned the number of deaths from COVID-19 and repeated a conspiracy theory from QAnon. 9/2/2020
Iowa re-elected this half-wit again last month, god only knows why.
Source: We Are Iowa
Less than a week from when the first Americans began receiving the Pfizer vaccine for coronavirus, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) got her first of two doses at the capitol.
She posted about the incident on social media on Sunday, saying the Office of the Attending Physician recommended she get vaccinated.
"I encourage all Iowans and Americans to do the same when their time comes," wrote Ernst. "Thanks to Operation Warp Speed and the tireless work of Americans across the country, we are one step closer to defeating this virus."
Ernst was criticized earlier this year for her comments regarding health care workers and the virus, implying they were inflating coronavirus totals. She privately apologized to the Iowa Medical Society.
So far this year, COVID-19 has killed more than 3,500 Iowans and infected 1.3 million residents.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Wisconsin Republicans Demand Their COVID-mas Tree

Wisconsin Republicans have been having a conniption fit over the Holiday Tree for over a decade .
Before Scott Walker was elected , it was inclusively called a Holiday Tree .
When Walker was elected , he made a big deal of making sure people knew that he was changing the name to `` Christmas Tree . ''
When the current governor , Tony Evers , was elected , it went back to Holiday Tree .
This , of course , sent Republicans into a frenzy .
This year , their faux outrage hit new levels when Evers announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public due to the COVID 19 pandemic , there would be no tree by any name this year .
The move makes sense .
Why go through the hassle and expense of finding the best tree , chopping it down , moving it to the Capitol Building , getting it inside and erected and decorated if no one was going to be able to see it ?
It makes sense , that is , unless you 're a Republican .
State Rep. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell bought a cheap artificial tree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Capitol .
It was promptly removed by statehouse operations workers because they did not have a permit for the display .
So Tittl bought another cheap artificial tree , which met the same fate as the first one .
Now Tittl has scheduled an event for this week to put up a third tree , decorate it and sing Christmas carols .
All lawmakers , legislative aides and other statehouse workers are invited .
Tittl claims to have applied for a permit this time , but the committee that would approve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of his Republican colleagues , wo n't be meeting again this year .
This would be hilarious in its pettiness if it was n't so outrageous on two counts .
The first offensive thing about this scheduled event is that these same Republicans banned people from coming to the building in 2013 to participate in a Solidarity Singalong .
At the singalongs , people would sing union protest songs regarding ACT 10 and other anti-worker laws .
Republicans were so outraged by the singalongs , they ordered the Capitol police to arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone and anyone , including disabled vets and little old ladies .
This practice was later ruled in court as being unconstitutional .
The even more outrageous part of this whole debacle is that the Republicans have not met in over eight months to take any action on the COVID 19 pandemic .
Nearly 4,500 people have died from the virus .
The total number of confirmed cases is more than ten times that number .
But the Republicans did not deem it a problem worthy of their attention much less taking any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas tree that no one will even see ?
!
That simply will not do !
I 'm surprised that they have n't contacted Trump to ask him to send in soldiers to protect their cheap tree .
They 'll probably decorate the damn thing with ornaments that look like little COVID viruses .
It 's good to know that we Wisconsinites are less important than a fake tree that started out as a pagan symbol and was taken when the Romans usurped Samhain as a holiday .

Wisconsin Republicans have been having a conniption fit over the Holiday Tree for over a decade. Before Scott Walker was elected, it was inclusively called a Holiday Tree. When Walker was elected, he made a big deal of making sure people knew that he was changing the name to "Christmas Tree." When the current governor, Tony Evers, was elected, it went back to Holiday Tree. This, of course, sent Republicans into a frenzy.
This year, their faux outrage hit new levels when Evers announced that since the Capitol Building was closed to the public due to the COVID 19 pandemic, there would be no tree by any name this year. The move makes sense. Why go through the hassle and expense of finding the best tree, chopping it down, moving it to the Capitol Building, getting it inside and erected and decorated if no one was going to be able to see it?
It makes sense, that is, unless you're a Republican. State Rep. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell bought a cheap artificial tree and erected it on the ground floor of the Capitol. It was promptly removed by statehouse operations workers because they did not have a permit for the display.
So Tittl bought another cheap artificial tree, which met the same fate as the first one.
Now Tittl has scheduled an event for this week to put up a third tree, decorate it and sing Christmas carols. All lawmakers, legislative aides and other statehouse workers are invited. Tittl claims to have applied for a permit this time, but the committee that would approve such permits and which is led by one of his Republican colleagues, won't be meeting again this year.
This would be hilarious in its pettiness if it wasn't so outrageous on two counts.
The first offensive thing about this scheduled event is that these same Republicans banned people from coming to the building in 2013 to participate in a Solidarity Singalong. At the singalongs, people would sing union protest songs regarding ACT 10 and other anti-worker laws.
Republicans were so outraged by the singalongs, they ordered the Capitol police to arrest the participants. The police were arrest everyone and anyone, including disabled vets and little old ladies.
This practice was later ruled in court as being unconstitutional.
The even more outrageous part of this whole debacle is that the Republicans have not met in over eight months to take any action on the COVID 19 pandemic. Nearly 4,500 people have died from the virus. The total number of confirmed cases is more than ten times that number. But the Republicans did not deem it a problem worthy of their attention much less taking any action.
But not to have a Christmas tree that no one will even see?! That simply will not do! I'm surprised that they haven't contacted Trump to ask him to send in soldiers to protect their cheap tree. They'll probably decorate the damn thing with ornaments that look like little COVID viruses.
It's good to know that we Wisconsinites are less important than a fake tree that started out as a pagan symbol and was taken when the Romans usurped Samhain as a holiday.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--President-elect Joe Biden Gets COVID-19 Vaccine

Joe Biden seeks to reassure the public of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine by receiving it in a publicly @ @ @ @ @ Biden is set to receive the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine Monday , an @ @ @ @ @ live as part of efforts to reassure the American public about its safety .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ list of public officials who have shared their own experiences getting inoculated against COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ and second lady Karen Pence and U.S .
Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams , who @ @ @ @ @ live television Friday .
After receiving the vaccine , Mr. Biden thanked the workers at @ @ @ @ @ and urged everyone to continue to be vigilant and follow Dr. Fauci 's ( and @ @ @ @ @ of not traveling over the coming holiday season , and wearing masks and keeping physical @ @ @ @

Joe Biden seeks to reassure the public of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine by receiving it in a publicly broadcast event.
From CBS News:
President-elect Joe Biden is set to receive the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine Monday, an event that will be broadcast live as part of efforts to reassure the American public about its safety.
Mr. Biden will join a growing list of public officials who have shared their own experiences getting inoculated against COVID-19, including Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who all received the vaccine on live television Friday.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Trump Wants An Airport Named After Him

Trump Wants An Airport Named After Him

I like how another Crooks and Liars team member responded to this story .
Trump Is Already Wondering What Airport @ @ @ @ @ The president has been asking aides and advisers what the process is for getting an @ @ @ @ @ his mind is drifting to a post-presidency .

I like how another Crooks and Liars team member responded to this story.
The Daily Beast (paywall) reports
Trump Is Already Wondering What Airport Will Bear His Name -- The president has been asking aides and advisers what the process is for getting an airport named after him—another sign his mind is drifting to a post-presidency.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Prepare For Trump Explosion: Bill Barr Says No Special Counsel For Hunter Biden

Got ta wonder if Trump is too busy pardoning his own kids to notice that Bill Barr 's final press @ @ @ @ @ a big ol ' FU on the Hunter Biden `` case . ''
Barr told @ @ @ @ @ appoint a special prosecutor to look into Hunter Biden-tax returns-Burisma-Benghazi-baby parts pizzagate birther tan suit @ @ @ @ @ tarmac .
Sorry , got a little carried away there with the Fox News brainwashing @ @ @ @ @ If I thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool , I @ @ @ @ @ I have n't and I 'm not going to .
Barr also smacked down efforts @ @ @ @ @ results , noting that while there 's fraud in `` most elections , '' he @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 election results would not be changed by further investigations .

Gotta wonder if Trump is too busy pardoning his own kids to notice that Bill Barr's final press conference as Attorney General is a big ol' FU on the Hunter Biden "case."
Barr told reporters that he will not appoint a special prosecutor to look into Hunter Biden-tax returns-Burisma-Benghazi-baby parts pizzagate birther tan suit Christmas card lists and the tarmac.
Sorry, got a little carried away there with the Fox News brainwashing words.
WILLIAM BARR: If I thought a special counsel at this stage was the right tool, I would name one, but I haven't and I'm not going to.
Barr also smacked down efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, noting that while there's fraud in "most elections," he stands by earlier comments that the 2020 election results would not be changed by further investigations.
Barr contradicted Trump at four times in this presser:
--cyber breach appears to be Russia
--no basis for special counsel for voter fraud
--no basis for special counsel for Hunter Biden
--no basis for seizing election machines — Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) December 21, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Dr. Deborah Birx Didn't Heed Her Own Advice Over Thanksgiving

In case you missed it Dr. Scarves , er , Birx is asking Handsome Joe Biden if she can join the team in the next administration , but I think she ’ s got some ‘ splainin ’ to do : WASHINGTON ( AP ) — As COVID-19 cases skyrocketed before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend , Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator of the White House coronavirus response , warned Americans to “ be vigilant ” and limit celebrations to “ your immediate household.
” For many Americans that guidance has been difficult to abide , including for Birx herself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one of her vacation properties on Fenwick Island in Delaware .
She was accompanied by three generations of her family from two households .
Birx , her husband Paige Reffe , a daughter , son-in-law and two young grandchildren were present .
And that ’ s pretty much when I closed the article .
For more than 9 months , we ’ ve all given up so much to try to do our part fighting the Trump-Virus .
Dr. Scarves couldn ’ t/wouldn ’ t be bothered to follow her own advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the curb by the Biden Admin .
She ’ s done nothing except to earn our scorn .

In case you missed it Dr. Scarves, er, Birx is asking Handsome Joe Biden if she can join the team in the next administration, but I think she’s got some ‘splainin’ to do:
Birx travels, family visits highlight pandemic safety perils WASHINGTON (AP) — As COVID-19 cases skyrocketed before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus response, warned Americans to “be vigilant” and limit celebrations to “your immediate household.” For many Americans that guidance has been difficult to abide, including for Birx herself. The day after Thanksgiving, she traveled to one of her vacation properties on Fenwick Island in Delaware. She was accompanied by three generations of her family from two households. Birx, her husband Paige Reffe, a daughter, son-in-law and two young grandchildren were present.
And that’s pretty much when I closed the article.
For more than 9 months, we’ve all given up so much to try to do our part fighting the Trump-Virus. Dr. Scarves couldn’t/wouldn’t be bothered to follow her own advice.
I hope Dr. Scarves gets booted to the curb by the Biden Admin. She’s done nothing except to earn our scorn.
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors.


crooksandliars--2020-12-21--Michael Schmidt: Trump Aides Are The Last Line Of Defense Against Him Stealing The Election

Joe Scarborough talked about the undemocratic actions of Donald Trump since the election .
`` This is what he 's done over the last month or so : called for the arrest of Joe Biden and his family , refused to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power and now this weekend we hear about calling for martial law , '' Scarborough said .
`` And in fact , the president asking whether he could call martial law .
Talking about the seizing of voting machines .
The -- the accusing of the Republican governors and secretaries of state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hugo Chavez and Josef Stalin and whoever else .
And getting to the point where yes , liberals , this weekend the defenders of the Republic were Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Meadows , think about that for a moment .
`` But Michael , it is getting actually to the point where you just wonder if we should n't just get rid of the 25th Amendment because at any other time , any other sane time , it would be used to temporarily remove a president from office if he were talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look , I think that it is a fact at this point that , if Donald Trump could , he would steal the election and he would stay there , regardless of anything else , '' Schmidt said .
`` And that he 's truly only being held back by folks like Cuccinelli and Meadows , as you were saying , who are truly loyalists .
Those are not sort of the John Kellys or Don McGahns of earlier in the administration .
Those are folks who have been around the president for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him , but are clearly unwilling to go along with this .
Pat Cipollone , who authored some of those very outlandish documents defending the president during impeachment , these are not , you know , the earlier containers of the administration .
This is truly the last line of aides that are still around Trump .
`` And the sort of -- the symmetry here , the bookend of Michael Flynn , the president 's first national security adviser , back in the Oval Office , it looks like , back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president on how to use martial law in these incredibly -- I guess , you know , for lack of a better word , creative ways of trying to overturn the election .
Michael Flynn , the original tie back to Russia , Michael Flynn , who we still do not why he lied about his contacts with the Russians , Michael Flynn who Bill Barr , following the lead of his lawyer , Sidney Powell going to court to throw out his case , to have a judge throw it out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days left to go . ''

Joe Scarborough talked about the undemocratic actions of Donald Trump since the election.
"This is what he's done over the last month or so: called for the arrest of Joe Biden and his family, refused to guarantee a peaceful transfer of power and now this weekend we hear about calling for martial law," Scarborough said.
"And in fact, the president asking whether he could call martial law. Talking about the seizing of voting machines. The -- the accusing of the Republican governors and secretaries of state and local officials of being in a conspiracy with Hugo Chavez and Josef Stalin and whoever else. And getting to the point where yes, liberals, this weekend the defenders of the Republic were Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Meadows, think about that for a moment.
"But Michael, it is getting actually to the point where you just wonder if we shouldn't just get rid of the 25th Amendment because at any other time, any other sane time, it would be used to temporarily remove a president from office if he were talking about these sort of things."
"Look, I think that it is a fact at this point that, if Donald Trump could, he would steal the election and he would stay there, regardless of anything else," Schmidt said.
"And that he's truly only being held back by folks like Cuccinelli and Meadows, as you were saying, who are truly loyalists. Those are not sort of the John Kellys or Don McGahns of earlier in the administration. Those are folks who have been around the president for four years and they were true supporters of him, but are clearly unwilling to go along with this. Pat Cipollone, who authored some of those very outlandish documents defending the president during impeachment, these are not, you know, the earlier containers of the administration. This is truly the last line of aides that are still around Trump.
"And the sort of -- the symmetry here, the bookend of Michael Flynn, the president's first national security adviser, back in the Oval Office, it looks like, back to provide his opinion if not advise the president on how to use martial law in these incredibly -- I guess, you know, for lack of a better word, creative ways of trying to overturn the election. Michael Flynn, the original tie back to Russia, Michael Flynn, who we still do not why he lied about his contacts with the Russians, Michael Flynn who Bill Barr, following the lead of his lawyer, Sidney Powell going to court to throw out his case, to have a judge throw it out, all wrapped into one with 30 days left to go."


crooksandliars--2020-12-22--Newsmax Issues 'Clarification' In Pathetic Attempt To Distance Itself From Election Lies

Likely desperate to avoid costly , crippling lawsuits from the owners of Smartmatic and Dominion Systems , Newsmax issued what it called a `` clarification '' about the lies it 's been spreading about the role those companies and their equipment played in Joe Biden 's crushing defeat of Donald Trump in the 2020 election .
The right-wing news outlet Newsmax on Monday broadcast a lengthy statement to `` clarify '' false and baseless claims made on its platform about two vote-processing companies , Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems , and the 2020 election .
`` Newsmax would like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies , '' John Tabacco said on the network .
He claimed that they have NO EVIDENCE that any of the things any of the people they 've brought on to lie about the election is actually true .
Newsmax has found no evidence either Dominion or Smartmatic owns the other , or has any business association with each other .
We have no evidence Dominion uses Smartmatic ’ s software or vice versa .
No evidence has been offered that Dominion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that manipulated votes in the 2020 election .
Dominion has stated its company has no ownership relationship with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's family , Sen. Dianne Feinstein 's family , the Clinton family , Hugo Chavez , or the government of Venezuela .
Neither Dominion nor Smartmatic has any relationship with George Soros .
Smartmatic is a U.S. company and not owned by the Venezuelan government , Hugo Chavez or any foreign official or entity .
Newsmax issued the same statement on its website on Saturday .
There you have it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawyer capable of bringing a solid , potentially crippling lawsuit against these criminal propagandists , and suddenly they 're telling the truth .

Likely desperate to avoid costly, crippling lawsuits from the owners of Smartmatic and Dominion Systems, Newsmax issued what it called a "clarification" about the lies it's been spreading about the role those companies and their equipment played in Joe Biden's crushing defeat of Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
According to Business Insider:
The right-wing news outlet Newsmax on Monday broadcast a lengthy statement to "clarify" false and baseless claims made on its platform about two vote-processing companies, Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, and the 2020 election. "Newsmax would like to clarify its news coverage and note that it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies," John Tabacco said on the network.
He claimed that they have NO EVIDENCE that any of the things any of the people they've brought on to lie about the election is actually true.
Newsmax has found no evidence either Dominion or Smartmatic owns the other, or has any business association with each other. We have no evidence Dominion uses Smartmatic’s software or vice versa. No evidence has been offered that Dominion or Smartmatic used software or reprogrammed software that manipulated votes in the 2020 election. [...] Dominion has stated its company has no ownership relationship with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's family, Sen. Dianne Feinstein's family, the Clinton family, Hugo Chavez, or the government of Venezuela. Neither Dominion nor Smartmatic has any relationship with George Soros. Smartmatic is a U.S. company and not owned by the Venezuelan government, Hugo Chavez or any foreign official or entity.
Newsmax issued the same statement on its website on Saturday.
There you have it. All you need is to have a lawyer capable of bringing a solid, potentially crippling lawsuit against these criminal propagandists, and suddenly they're telling the truth.


crooksandliars--2020-12-22--Far-right Protesters Storm Oregon Capitol, Are Met With Mace And Pepper Balls

In what is becoming a too-typical scene , a group of Trump supporters , some with guns and/or body armor , repeatedly attempted this morning to force their way past police officers and into the Oregon state Capitol building to protest pandemic safety restrictions and/or demand `` revolution . ''
They were met with mace and pepper balls .
An undercover report from inside the protest describes the far-right protest in detail , from unconfirmed reports that someone saw `` a Chinese person '' inside to numerous calls for `` revolution '' and a debate over whether to burn a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow them entry .
( They did not . )
As reported by Laura Jedeed , the attempt to storm the legislature appears to have been egged on primarily by Patriot Prayer 's Joey Gibson and Chandler Pappas , both fixtures of the Oregon far right , who also appear to have not been willing to actually risk arrest themselves while leading the would-be revolutionaries .
The crowd consisted of `` between 100 and 150 '' protesters , which is small for a revolution but which would completely fill a Chuck E. @ @

In what is becoming a too-typical scene, a group of Trump supporters, some with guns and/or body armor, repeatedly attempted this morning to force their way past police officers and into the Oregon state Capitol building to protest pandemic safety restrictions and/or demand "revolution." They were met with mace and pepper balls.
An undercover report from inside the protest describes the far-right protest in detail, from unconfirmed reports that someone saw "a Chinese person" inside to numerous calls for "revolution" and a debate over whether to burn a Blue Lives Matter flag after police refused to allow them entry. (They did not.)
As reported by Laura Jedeed, the attempt to storm the legislature appears to have been egged on primarily by Patriot Prayer's Joey Gibson and Chandler Pappas, both fixtures of the Oregon far right, who also appear to have not been willing to actually risk arrest themselves while leading the would-be revolutionaries. The crowd consisted of "between 100 and 150" protesters, which is small for a revolution but which would completely fill a Chuck E. Cheese.
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-12-22--Trump Twitter Rants Against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice

As Diaper Don has done in every battleground state , he filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin seeking to declare hundreds of thousands of votes null and void .
As he also done in every battleground state , Trump lost .
The Wisconsin Supreme Court 's ruling against Trump came out last week Monday , less than an hour before the Wisconsin electors were to cast their votes .
The deciding vote came from Justice Brian Hagedorn , the lone conservative to have sided against Trump .
Apparently , it took a week for the old man to process what had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boy Twitter raged against Hagedorn : As with so many of his tweets , Twitter had to tag two of the three tweets with a warning .
And , as with so many of this tweets , the orange shitgibbon was lying his ass off .
Trump claimed he endorsed Hagedorn two years ago .
But he did n't : Trump did not endorse Hagedorn before the election but did congratulate him after his win — a victory hailed by conservatives and considered to be a surprise after some prominent donors had backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , Hagedorn has written the majority opinion in decisions against the president as a swing vote in cases seeking to disqualify thousands of ballots .
Hagedorn sided with liberal justices to form a majority .
Another interesting point , but unrelated to Trump 's theatrics , is that Hagedorn , and presumably Justices Dallet and Karofsky , have received so many hostile emails , voicemails and letters from the MAGAts , that they all were given extra police protection .
As I said , it 's unrelated to Trump 's tweets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of why Trump is easily the worst president in American History , including Ronny Ray-gun and Tricky Dicky Nixon .
I look forward to the day when the consensus of the people is to minimize his term in history and either ignore it or condemn it , like the Germans have done with Hitler .

As Diaper Don has done in every battleground state, he filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin seeking to declare hundreds of thousands of votes null and void. As he also done in every battleground state, Trump lost. The Wisconsin Supreme Court's ruling against Trump came out last week Monday, less than an hour before the Wisconsin electors were to cast their votes. The deciding vote came from Justice Brian Hagedorn, the lone conservative to have sided against Trump.
Apparently, it took a week for the old man to process what had happened. This past Monday, Donny Boy Twitter raged against Hagedorn:
As with so many of his tweets, Twitter had to tag two of the three tweets with a warning.
And, as with so many of this tweets, the orange shitgibbon was lying his ass off.
Trump claimed he endorsed Hagedorn two years ago. But he didn't:
Trump did not endorse Hagedorn before the election but did congratulate him after his win — a victory hailed by conservatives and considered to be a surprise after some prominent donors had backed out of the race. In recent weeks, Hagedorn has written the majority opinion in decisions against the president as a swing vote in cases seeking to disqualify thousands of ballots. Hagedorn sided with liberal justices to form a majority.
Another interesting point, but unrelated to Trump's theatrics, is that Hagedorn, and presumably Justices Dallet and Karofsky, have received so many hostile emails, voicemails and letters from the MAGAts, that they all were given extra police protection.
As I said, it's unrelated to Trump's tweets, however, it's just another example of why Trump is easily the worst president in American History, including Ronny Ray-gun and Tricky Dicky Nixon. I look forward to the day when the consensus of the people is to minimize his term in history and either ignore it or condemn it, like the Germans have done with Hitler.


crooksandliars--2020-12-22--Parkland Parents Send Gunshot Victim Cookies To NRA

The Washington Examiner 's Byron York says the quiet part out loud on why Republicans are going after Eric Swalwell @ @ @ @ @ kicked off of the intel committee .

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crooksandliars--2020-12-23--FBI: Iran Was Behind 'Enemies Of The People' Website That Targeted U.S. Election Officials

I 'll admit it , I was skeptical of the Iran conspiracy two months ago when it was first disclosed by DNI John Ratliffe .
I assumed he was trying to downplay Russian election interference .
My bad .
Turns out an FBI investigation has connected Iran to online efforts earlier this month to target violence against FBI Director Chris Wray , cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs , and dozens of state election officials who refuted claims of widespread voter fraud .
They were also actively pushing conspiracy theories about voting machine companies .
Via the Washington Post : FBI Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department official Christopher Krebs were among more than a dozen people whose images , home addresses and other personal information were posted on a website titled “ Enemies of the People.
” Crosshairs were superimposed over the photos .
Many of these officials in one way or another have attested to the security of November ’ s election , saying they had not seen evidence of widespread fraud — a conclusion at odds with Trump ’ s baseless claims that the election was rigged .
“ The following individuals have aided and abetted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the website falsely claimed .
Back in August , intelligence officials said Iran would focus on online influence and disinformation -- which they apparently did : The “ Enemies ” hit list falsely accused swing-state governors , voting systems executives , Krebs and Wray of being responsible for “ changing votes and working against the President ” in a treasonous attempt to “ overthrow our democracy.
” It was shared on social media using the hashtags # remembertheirfaces and # NoQuarterForTraitors .

I'll admit it, I was skeptical of the Iran conspiracy two months ago when it was first disclosed by DNI John Ratliffe. I assumed he was trying to downplay Russian election interference. My bad.
Turns out an FBI investigation has connected Iran to online efforts earlier this month to target violence against FBI Director Chris Wray, cybersecurity chief Chris Krebs, and dozens of state election officials who refuted claims of widespread voter fraud. They were also actively pushing conspiracy theories about voting machine companies. Via the Washington Post:
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and ousted Homeland Security Department official Christopher Krebs were among more than a dozen people whose images, home addresses and other personal information were posted on a website titled “Enemies of the People.” Crosshairs were superimposed over the photos. Many of these officials in one way or another have attested to the security of November’s election, saying they had not seen evidence of widespread fraud — a conclusion at odds with Trump’s baseless claims that the election was rigged. “The following individuals have aided and abetted the fraudulent election against Trump,” the website falsely claimed.
Back in August, intelligence officials said Iran would focus on online influence and disinformation -- which they apparently did: