crooksandliars--2020-07-17--Gov. Brian Kemp Sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Over Mask Mandate

The Governor of Georgia has decided the best course of action to save the lives of the residents of Georgia is to ( check notes ) sue the Mayor of Atlanta over a mask mandate that was out forth to ... .save lives .
Yes , Kemp wants to roll back the exact type of steps that the CDC , the WHO and all medical professionals have actually said will help save lives .
The lawsuit states that he has the power `` to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or or to his executive orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angry that a woman has defied him that he is going to tie up the court system and waste tax payer money to prevent people from being asked to wear masks to save lives and slow the spread of a deadly pandemic .
Here is where the lawsuit goes sideways .
In a tweet , Kemp said : `` This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times . ''
A mask mandate does not stop business owners from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from working .
It does not prevent customers from visiting businesses .
In fact , it would probably increase customers because people would feel more safe knowing that those around them are taking proactive steps .
The mask mandate does not change anything about how businesses operate .
It does not limit hours or occupancy .
It does not do anything expect ask people to wear some fabric over their nose and mouth .
Literally that is it .
Here are some of the pages from the filing : She made a valid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this stupid lawsuit would be better spent on expanded testing and a contact testing program .
Gov .
Kemp continues to show why he is one of the worst governors in our country .
He is an inept science-denier , who uses his office to enact policies that are clearly designed to affect certain populations he views as less deserving than others .
Shameful to abuse the court system for personal and political reasons , while not doing the one job you were elected to do - serving your constituents .

The Governor of Georgia has decided the best course of action to save the lives of the residents of Georgia is to (check notes) sue the Mayor of Atlanta over a mask mandate that was out forth to....save lives. Yes, Kemp wants to roll back the exact type of steps that the CDC, the WHO and all medical professionals have actually said will help save lives.
The lawsuit states that he has the power "to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or or to his executive orders." He is so petty and angry that a woman has defied him that he is going to tie up the court system and waste tax payer money to prevent people from being asked to wear masks to save lives and slow the spread of a deadly pandemic.
Here is where the lawsuit goes sideways. In a tweet, Kemp said: "This lawsuit is on behalf of the Atlanta business owners and their hardworking employees who are struggling to survive during these difficult times."
A mask mandate does not stop business owners from working or prevent "hardworking employees" from working. It does not prevent customers from visiting businesses. In fact, it would probably increase customers because people would feel more safe knowing that those around them are taking proactive steps. The mask mandate does not change anything about how businesses operate. It does not limit hours or occupancy. It does not do anything expect ask people to wear some fabric over their nose and mouth. Literally that is it.
Here are some of the pages from the filing:
BREAKING: Governor Kemp has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the Atlanta City Council following her efforts to require face masks in public places during the pandemic. Here are a couple pages of the 124 page complaint. pic.twitter.com/sT26IayeNZ — Hayley Mason (@HayleyMasonTV) July 16, 2020
The Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, responded:
3104 Georgians have died and I and my family are amongst the 106k who have tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, I have been sued by @GovKemp for a mask mandate. A better use of tax payer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing. #ATLStrong pic.twitter.com/z4hpTrCS1B — Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 16, 2020
She made a valid point: the money being wasted on this stupid lawsuit would be better spent on expanded testing and a contact testing program.
Gov. Kemp continues to show why he is one of the worst governors in our country. He is an inept science-denier, who uses his office to enact policies that are clearly designed to affect certain populations he views as less deserving than others. Shameful to abuse the court system for personal and political reasons, while not doing the one job you were elected to do - serving your constituents.


crooksandliars--2020-07-17--Unidentified Federal Agents In Portland Grabbing Protesters Off The Streets

UPDATE : San Diego , too -- `` Follow us and you 'll get shot . ''
Trump is no normal president , and sending unidentified troops into the streets of a major city to quell peaceful protests is highly unusual .
What 's even more unusual is they seem to be taking people into custody for no apparent reason .
Via Oregon Public Broadcasting : Federal law enforcement officers have been using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters since at least July 14 .
Personal accounts and multiple videos posted online show the officers driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no explanation of why they are being arrested , and driving off .
The tactic appears to be another escalation in federal force deployed on Portland city streets , as federal officials and President Donald Trump have said they plan to “ quell ” nightly protests outside the federal courthouse and Multnomah County Justice Center that have lasted for more than six weeks .
Federal officers have charged at least 13 people with crimes related to the protests so far , while others have been arrested and released , including Pettibone .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fractures after shooting him in the face with so-called “ less lethal ” munitions July 11 .
Officers from the U.S .
Marshals Special Operations Group and Customs and Border Protection ’ s BORTAC , have been sent to Portland to protect federal property during the recent protests against racism and police brutality .

UPDATE: San Diego, too -- "Follow us and you'll get shot."
Trump is no normal president, and sending unidentified troops into the streets of a major city to quell peaceful protests is highly unusual. What's even more unusual is they seem to be taking people into custody for no apparent reason. Via Oregon Public Broadcasting:
Federal law enforcement officers have been using unmarked vehicles to drive around downtown Portland and detain protesters since at least July 14. Personal accounts and multiple videos posted online show the officers driving up to people, detaining individuals with no explanation of why they are being arrested, and driving off.
The tactic appears to be another escalation in federal force deployed on Portland city streets, as federal officials and President Donald Trump have said they plan to “quell” nightly protests outside the federal courthouse and Multnomah County Justice Center that have lasted for more than six weeks.
Federal officers have charged at least 13 people with crimes related to the protests so far, while others have been arrested and released, including Pettibone. They also left one demonstrator hospitalized with skull fractures after shooting him in the face with so-called “less lethal” munitions July 11.
Officers from the U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group and Customs and Border Protection’s BORTAC, have been sent to Portland to protect federal property during the recent protests against racism and police brutality.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--This Parrot Dancing To Ringtones Is What We All Need Today

This week has been a beast .
All of it .
But this bird is awesome .
Happy Friday , @ @ @ @ @ to go pour a nice cocktail and order out .
What are you doing tonight @

This week has been a beast. All of it. But this bird is awesome. Happy Friday, all!
I'm going to go pour a nice cocktail and order out. What are you doing tonight?
Open thread below.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--RNC: AOC Heads The ‘Democrat’ Party And Biden Follows ‘Every Step Of The Way’

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel brought her dogwhistle to Fox & Friends when she fearmongered that Joe Biden will turn the country over to Black and immigrant criminals as AOC and The Squad lead him around by the nose .
Host Jedediah Bila mapped out where she wanted McDaniel to go in a “ question ” about progressive upstart Jamaal Bowman having unseated long-time Rep. Eliot Engel in New York ’ s primary : “ What does this tell us about the future of the party , that this new , first-time candidate backed by the hard left-wing of that party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well established , long-time Democratic candidate , backed by more establishment Democrats ?
” McDaniel took the hint ( not that she needed one , ) but put an even more racist spin on her response : MCDANIEL : Well , this is what you ’ re seeing with the Democrat [ sic ] Party .
They ’ ve gone so progressive .
AOC , Ilhan Omar , Rashida Tlaib – they are the new face of the Democrat Party .
And you know who ’ s joining them ?
Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Bernie Sanders , calling for an end to cash bail , an end to deportations .
I mean , some really extreme things that are in there .
Joe Biden did call for defunding the police when he said in an interview he wants to see their funds redirected .
Guess what ?
That means defunding .
He ’ s called the police the enemy .
McDaniel is either too ignorant to have understood what Biden said or too dishonest to truthfully relay it .
From Politifact , which was commenting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Biden said police become the enemy when they use military equipment in a way that is like the military invading a neighborhood .
• Biden opposes defunding the police and has proposed more federal funding for community policing .
• Biden said he is open to shifting some police funding to services such as mental health counseling .
Not surprisingly , Bila said nothing to correct the record .
She knows it 's her job to promote GOP messaging , not to make sure viewers get the facts .
McDaniel moved on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her fear mongering , with another dollop of racism : MCDANIEL : I mean , [ Biden ] has embraced this left-left wing of the Democrat Party which is frightening .
He just put together a tax plan that would tax 82 % of American households .
So , AOC is the head of the Democrat Party and Joe Biden is following her every step of the way .
Basically , Biden ’ s plan reverses the Trump tax cuts that gave billionaires a lower tax rate than working class Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be under consideration for VP are mostly centrist .
Not one member of The Squad is on it .

RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel brought her dogwhistle to Fox & Friends when she fearmongered that Joe Biden will turn the country over to Black and immigrant criminals as AOC and The Squad lead him around by the nose.
Host Jedediah Bila mapped out where she wanted McDaniel to go in a “question” about progressive upstart Jamaal Bowman having unseated long-time Rep. Eliot Engel in New York’s primary: “What does this tell us about the future of the party, that this new, first-time candidate backed by the hard left-wing of that party, was able to defeat a very well established, long-time Democratic candidate, backed by more establishment Democrats?”
McDaniel took the hint (not that she needed one,) but put an even more racist spin on her response:
MCDANIEL: Well, this is what you’re seeing with the Democrat [sic] Party. They’ve gone so progressive. AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib – they are the new face of the Democrat Party. And you know who’s joining them? Joe Biden. You’ve seen his unity manifesto with Bernie Sanders, calling for an end to cash bail, an end to deportations. I mean, some really extreme things that are in there. Joe Biden did call for defunding the police when he said in an interview he wants to see their funds redirected. Guess what? That means defunding. He’s called the police the enemy.
McDaniel is either too ignorant to have understood what Biden said or too dishonest to truthfully relay it. From Politifact, which was commenting on Mike Pence’s similar disinformation:
• Biden said police become the enemy when they use military equipment in a way that is like the military invading a neighborhood.
• Biden opposes defunding the police and has proposed more federal funding for community policing.
• Biden said he is open to shifting some police funding to services such as mental health counseling.
Not surprisingly, Bila said nothing to correct the record. She knows it's her job to promote GOP messaging, not to make sure viewers get the facts.
McDaniel moved on to the “radical socialist” part of her fear mongering, with another dollop of racism:
MCDANIEL: I mean, [Biden] has embraced this left-left wing of the Democrat Party which is frightening. He just put together a tax plan that would tax 82% of American households. So, AOC is the head of the Democrat Party and Joe Biden is following her every step of the way.
Basically, Biden’s plan reverses the Trump tax cuts that gave billionaires a lower tax rate than working class Americans. Meanwhile, the list of women reported to be under consideration for VP are mostly centrist. Not one member of The Squad is on it.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Rev. Al Sharpton: Trump Should 'Get On His Knees And Repent' For His Racist Crimes

It should surprise no one that the day after two great civil rights icons have passed away , Trump has not spoken their names , and instead took the opportunity to spend the day golfing .
Honestly , no one wants to see or hear this man speak the revered names of Rep. John Lewis or Rev .
C.T .
Vivian , as anything Trump says , anyone he tries to honor , he ends up defiling .
Joy Reid said as much to Rev .
Al Sharpton this morning , but he had even harsher advice for Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hitler than Martin Luther King , Jr. REID : Two more quick questions before I let you go .
First of all , you know the president .
You 've known him a long time .
Does it surprise you that he 's golfing this morning ?
I do n't know if you agree with me , that probably golfing is best , because he 's disparaged John Lewis in such a vicious way in the past , has been so cruel to him in the way he 's spoken about him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying anything .
I think he should just not say anything .
Do you think I 'm wrong ?
REV .
SHARPTON : I certainly agree .
He disparaged him , he called him out of his name , he tweeted on him .
And he 's probably doing the best thing that he could , to go and golf because that 's where he is , that 's where his head is .
If he had any kind of respect and regard for the American people , he would go to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and repent for the things that he has done against Dr. King and against John Lewis .
But he does not have that in him .
We 've all made mistakes .
He has made them , continues to make them and he has institutionalized them .
And I just wish that John Lewis had lived to see the voters that he fought for rise up and answer Mr. Trump in November .
REID : And I should note that somebody on the staff in the White House has decided to have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And so , at least someone there understands optics .
That 's been done .
Repenting , though , usually is accompanied by an understanding that one has done something wrong , and that is not a level of intellectual or emotional maturity Trump has ever reached — though most five- and six-year-olds have .

It should surprise no one that the day after two great civil rights icons have passed away, Trump has not spoken their names, and instead took the opportunity to spend the day golfing. Honestly, no one wants to see or hear this man speak the revered names of Rep. John Lewis or Rev. C.T. Vivian, as anything Trump says, anyone he tries to honor, he ends up defiling.
Joy Reid said as much to Rev. Al Sharpton this morning, but he had even harsher advice for Trump, who'd rather read the words of Hitler than Martin Luther King, Jr.
REID: Two more quick questions before I let you go. First of all, you know the president. You've known him a long time. Does it surprise you that he's golfing this morning? I don't know if you agree with me, that probably golfing is best, because he's disparaged John Lewis in such a vicious way in the past, has been so cruel to him in the way he's spoken about him. I'm actually relieved he's not saying anything. I think he should just not say anything. Do you think I'm wrong? REV. SHARPTON: I certainly agree. He disparaged him, he called him out of his name, he tweeted on him. And he's probably doing the best thing that he could, to go and golf because that's where he is, that's where his head is. If he had any kind of respect and regard for the American people, he would go to the King memorial and get on his knees and repent for the things that he has done against Dr. King and against John Lewis. But he does not have that in him. We've all made mistakes. He has made them, continues to make them and he has institutionalized them. And I just wish that John Lewis had lived to see the voters that he fought for rise up and answer Mr. Trump in November. REID: And I should note that somebody on the staff in the White House has decided to have the flags lowered to half-mast on federal buildings. And so, at least someone there understands optics. That's been done.
Repenting, though, usually is accompanied by an understanding that one has done something wrong, and that is not a level of intellectual or emotional maturity Trump has ever reached — though most five- and six-year-olds have.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Marco Rubio Honors John Lewis With A Tweet Featuring Elijah Cummings

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Saturday in a tweet shared his thoughts about the death of civil rights icon , @ @ @ @ @ died Friday after a bout with Stage IV pancreatic cancer .
`` It was an @ @ @ @ @ blessed with the opportunity to serve in Congress with JohnLewis a genuine & historic American @ @ @ @ @ grant him eternal peace , '' the Florida Republican wrote in a tweet Saturday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ Twitter were quick to point out , the picture the Florida senator shared did not @ @ @ @ @ but instead with another late Black lawmaker — Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings who died unexpectedly @ @ @ @ @ age of 68 .
The photo was even briefly Rubio 's profile image on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ tweet disappeared .

I guess Senator Marco Rubio really is a Trump Republican afterall.
Source: Business Insider
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Saturday in a tweet shared his thoughts about the death of civil rights icon, Georgia Rep. John Lewis who died Friday after a bout with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.
"It was an honor to know & be blessed with the opportunity to serve in Congress with JohnLewis a genuine & historic American hero. May the Lord grant him eternal peace," the Florida Republican wrote in a tweet Saturday afternoon.
But as many on Twitter were quick to point out, the picture the Florida senator shared did not show him with Lewis, but instead with another late Black lawmaker — Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings who died unexpectedly in October 2019 at the age of 68.
The photo was even briefly Rubio's profile image on Twitter before it along with his tweet disappeared.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Portland Is What Trump's America Will Look Like If He's Reelected

Donald Trump 's beta run for flooding a city with armed unmarked , unidentified forces took place in Washington , D.C. , right alongside his botched Bible photo op that sent his approval ratings plummeting .
Now Trump is executing the next phase of his totalitarian fantasy in Portland , Oregon , a western city that was bound to attract far less press coverage than power plays in the nation 's central media corridor between New York and Washington , D.C .
This time around , Trump and his Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf have not only deployed unmarked forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets without cause and effectively interrogating them .
Take Mark Pettibone , a 29-year-old , who was kidnapped by these secret Gestapo-like forces while he was walking home from a peaceful protest in the wee hours Wednesday morning .
Though he had done nothing wrong , men in green military fatigues jumped out of an unmarked van , descended on him , apprehended him , drove him to a federal courthouse , then eventually read him his Miranda rights and asked if he would waive those rights to answer some questions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they let him go .
No explanation .
No identification .
Pettibone does n't even know if he was officially arrested because it was all such a shady mess of a deal .
If you 're wondering what these extrajudicial kidnappings look like , some have been caught on video .
According to local journalist Garrison Davis and the NPR affiliate Oregon Public Broadcasting , that video is very typical of what 's been playing out for about a week now .
Several men jump out of an unmarked van , often intent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , take them into custody while never identifying themselves or giving any explanations whatsoever .
Local officials and Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown have condemned the actions of these unmarked troops , saying Department of Homeland Security Sec .
Wolf is intentionally on a “ mission to provoke confrontation for political purposes.
” “ This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety , ” Brown said in a statement .
“ The President is failing to lead this nation .
Now he is deploying federal officers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blatant abuse of power by the federal government.
” Wolf also released a statement Thursday clearly intended to defend the lawlessness of his unmarked forces , which appear to be paramilitary troops operating under orders from Homeland Security .
Along with excoriating local leaders for failing to bring `` a violent mob '' of `` lawless anarchists '' under control , Wolf listed about a month and a half 's worth of supposed violations that apparently warrant disappearing people from the streets of a major American city in his view .
Many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` graffitied '' federal buildings .
In other words , watch out for those kids with spray paint .
Wolf also tweeted out praise for the forces Friday .
`` Our men and women in uniform are patriots .
We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch , '' he said .
It 's apparently lost on him that these paramilitary forces are n't `` in uniform '' if they 're unmarked .
But what Wolf hasn ’ t done to date is provide any justification for these kidnappings .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are arrested off the street is , what 's the probable cause ? ''
NBC Justice Correspondent Pete Wilson said Friday on MSNBC .
`` And we just have n't gotten a good answer to that question yet . ''
Wolf sounds like a problem in search of a solution—which would be removal from office in any reasonable , law-abiding administration .
Instead , Wolf 's shadow forces are an obvious extension of Trump 's twisted brain that 's clearly eager to inflict more lawless evils on the nation if Americans give him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't just want to be the nation 's president forever—he wants to be its forever dictator .
Nothing would please him more than having federal forces at his fingertips indefinitely to cater to his every sick whim .

Donald Trump's beta run for flooding a city with armed unmarked, unidentified forces took place in Washington, D.C., right alongside his botched Bible photo op that sent his approval ratings plummeting. Now Trump is executing the next phase of his totalitarian fantasy in Portland, Oregon, a western city that was bound to attract far less press coverage than power plays in the nation's central media corridor between New York and Washington, D.C.
This time around, Trump and his Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf have not only deployed unmarked forces, they're also snatching people off the streets without cause and effectively interrogating them. Take Mark Pettibone, a 29-year-old, who was kidnapped by these secret Gestapo-like forces while he was walking home from a peaceful protest in the wee hours Wednesday morning. Though he had done nothing wrong, men in green military fatigues jumped out of an unmarked van, descended on him, apprehended him, drove him to a federal courthouse, then eventually read him his Miranda rights and asked if he would waive those rights to answer some questions. When he said he wouldn't, they let him go. No explanation. No identification. Pettibone doesn't even know if he was officially arrested because it was all such a shady mess of a deal.
If you're wondering what these extrajudicial kidnappings look like, some have been caught on video.
I’m from Argentina, in the 70’s and early 80’s, we had a brutal military dictatorship that used tactics like this, kidnapping people off the streets and putting them in unmarked vehicles, to torture and kill political opponents. This is dangerous. pic.twitter.com/SepRmlqCUC — Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) July 17, 2020
According to local journalist Garrison Davis and the NPR affiliate Oregon Public Broadcasting, that video is very typical of what's been playing out for about a week now. Several men jump out of an unmarked van, often intent on a single target, and if possible, take them into custody while never identifying themselves or giving any explanations whatsoever.
Local officials and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown have condemned the actions of these unmarked troops, saying Department of Homeland Security Sec. Wolf is intentionally on a “mission to provoke confrontation for political purposes.”
“This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety,” Brown said in a statement. “The President is failing to lead this nation. Now he is deploying federal officers to patrol the streets of Portland in a blatant abuse of power by the federal government.”
Wolf also released a statement Thursday clearly intended to defend the lawlessness of his unmarked forces, which appear to be paramilitary troops operating under orders from Homeland Security. Along with excoriating local leaders for failing to bring "a violent mob" of "lawless anarchists" under control, Wolf listed about a month and a half's worth of supposed violations that apparently warrant disappearing people from the streets of a major American city in his view. Many of them list "violent anarchists" who "graffitied" federal buildings. In other words, watch out for those kids with spray paint.
Wolf also tweeted out praise for the forces Friday. "Our men and women in uniform are patriots. We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch," he said. It's apparently lost on him that these paramilitary forces aren't "in uniform" if they're unmarked.
But what Wolf hasn’t done to date is provide any justification for these kidnappings.
"The obvious question about the people that are arrested off the street is, what's the probable cause?" NBC Justice Correspondent Pete Wilson said Friday on MSNBC. "And we just haven't gotten a good answer to that question yet."
Wolf sounds like a problem in search of a solution—which would be removal from office in any reasonable, law-abiding administration. Instead, Wolf's shadow forces are an obvious extension of Trump's twisted brain that's clearly eager to inflict more lawless evils on the nation if Americans give him a second chance this November.
Trump doesn't just want to be the nation's president forever—he wants to be its forever dictator. Nothing would please him more than having federal forces at his fingertips indefinitely to cater to his every sick whim.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Ghoulish Joni Ernst Says She'd Be Happy To Vote On A Supreme Court Nominee In A Lame Duck Session

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst told reporters Friday that even if Donald Trump and the Senate Republicans lose in November , she 'd support the lame-duck Senate confirming a lame-duck appointed Supreme Court nominee before Joe Biden came to office in January .
You might be asking , `` is this a complete turn-around for Ernst from the last Supreme Court nomination in a presidential election year ? ''
You are right to ask that .
It is .
`` ( If ) it is a lame-duck session , I would support going ahead with any hearings that we might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Iowa Press show on Iowa PBS .
`` And if it comes to an appointment prior to the end of the year , I would be supportive of that . ''
The question has arisen because of the announcement from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that she is again getting treatment for cancer .
This gleeful looking forward from Ernst is even more ghoulish when you consider what she was saying during the 9-month boycott of Merrick Garland , President Obama 's failed nominee to replace Antonin Scalia .
In 2016 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their way .
`` We will see what the people say this fall and our next president , regardless of party , will be making that nomination , '' Ernst said .
`` We understand that , in November if people are unhappy with the way that we have been governing in the United States Senate , they would speak out , '' Ernst said .
`` But from what we have heard , people are excited about the opportunity to voice their opinion through the ballot box , whether they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' She 's already out for revenge against the 2020 voters who are likely to throw Trump and Republicans senators—maybe even her !
—out on their ears .
Revenge , retribution , corruption , hypocrisy , whatever you want to call it , it 's the GOP way .
It 's what 's going to boot Republicans—even Ernst—out in November .

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst told reporters Friday that even if Donald Trump and the Senate Republicans lose in November, she'd support the lame-duck Senate confirming a lame-duck appointed Supreme Court nominee before Joe Biden came to office in January. You might be asking, "is this a complete turn-around for Ernst from the last Supreme Court nomination in a presidential election year?" You are right to ask that. It is.
"(If) it is a lame-duck session, I would support going ahead with any hearings that we might have," Ernst said during a taping of the Iowa Press show on Iowa PBS. "And if it comes to an appointment prior to the end of the year, I would be supportive of that." The question has arisen because of the announcement from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that she is again getting treatment for cancer. This gleeful looking forward from Ernst is even more ghoulish when you consider what she was saying during the 9-month boycott of Merrick Garland, President Obama's failed nominee to replace Antonin Scalia.
In 2016, it was all about letting the voters have their way. "We will see what the people say this fall and our next president, regardless of party, will be making that nomination," Ernst said. "We understand that, in November if people are unhappy with the way that we have been governing in the United States Senate, they would speak out," Ernst said. "But from what we have heard, people are excited about the opportunity to voice their opinion through the ballot box, whether they're Democrats, whether they're Republicans."
She's already out for revenge against the 2020 voters who are likely to throw Trump and Republicans senators—maybe even her!—out on their ears. Revenge, retribution, corruption, hypocrisy, whatever you want to call it, it's the GOP way. It's what's going to boot Republicans—even Ernst—out in November.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Rev. Warnock: You Can’t Honor John Lewis While Trying To Block Voting Rights

Rev .
Dr. Raphael Warnock had a powerful message for those issuing platitudes about the newly-deceased .
Rep. John Lewis : Don ’ t “ remember him and dismember ” what he stood for .
Lewis , of course , has been on the front lines of civil rights activism since his youth ( when he was beaten during the Civil Rights era ) and through the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted after the killing of George Floyd .
This morning , Joy Reid called out the lip service being paid to Lewis by Republicans such as Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very lovely statements , written probably by staff , ” Reid said pointedly , “ lauding this man while they are also continuing to fight against voting rights.
” Warnock , who is a candidate for a Senate seat from Georgia and the senior pastor of the iconic Ebenezer Baptist Church , took it from there : They try to remember him and dismember him at the same time .
WARNOCK : I have to tell you , as pastor of the church , the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , time and time again .
Every year during Dr. King 's holiday , people stand up and offer pious platitudes to his memory .
You can not honor John Lewis while at the same time standing in the way of voting rights .
This was what his life was all about and so I know that there are folk who are talking about renaming the [ Edmund Pettus ] bridge and we ought to do that .
He definitely deserves it .
But I want us to think about how John Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was never about him .
It was about the cause .
And so we would make a mistake if we renamed the bridge but kept -- but did n't do the things we need to do to protect voting rights .
We ought to strengthen the Voting Rights Act and reauthorize it .
This used to be a bipartisan issue and sadly , John Lewis , the patron saint of voting rights , hailed from a state that is ground zero for voter suppression .
And so we 've got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 've got to fight for the integrity of our democracy with strength and vigor and commitment that he brought to the fight .
That 's the best way for us to honor john lewis .
I think another great way to honor Lewis would be to elect Rev .
Warnock to the U.S. Senate .

Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock had a powerful message for those issuing platitudes about the newly-deceased. Rep. John Lewis: Don’t “remember him and dismember” what he stood for.
Lewis, of course, has been on the front lines of civil rights activism since his youth (when he was beaten during the Civil Rights era) and through the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that erupted after the killing of George Floyd.
This morning, Joy Reid called out the lip service being paid to Lewis by Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. There are “very lovely statements, written probably by staff,” Reid said pointedly, “lauding this man while they are also continuing to fight against voting rights.”
Warnock, who is a candidate for a Senate seat from Georgia and the senior pastor of the iconic Ebenezer Baptist Church, took it from there:
They try to remember him and dismember him at the same time. WARNOCK: I have to tell you, as pastor of the church, the spiritual home of Martin Luther King Jr., I've seen this year after year, time and time again. Every year during Dr. King's holiday, people stand up and offer pious platitudes to his memory. You cannot honor John Lewis while at the same time standing in the way of voting rights. This was what his life was all about and so I know that there are folk who are talking about renaming the [Edmund Pettus] bridge and we ought to do that. He definitely deserves it. But I want us to think about how John Lewis would consider the issue. For him, it was never about him. It was about the cause. And so we would make a mistake if we renamed the bridge but kept -- but didn't do the things we need to do to protect voting rights. We ought to strengthen the Voting Rights Act and reauthorize it. This used to be a bipartisan issue and sadly, John Lewis, the patron saint of voting rights, hailed from a state that is ground zero for voter suppression. And so we've got to push against that in the coming months. We've got to fight for the integrity of our democracy with strength and vigor and commitment that he brought to the fight. That's the best way for us to honor john lewis.
I think another great way to honor Lewis would be to elect Rev. Warnock to the U.S. Senate.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--NYPD Union Head Ed Mullins Gives Fox Interview With QAnon Mug In Background

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins made an appearance on Fox 's Your World with Neil Cavuto this Friday with a coffee mug with the logo of QAnon sitting in the background over his left shoulder .
The head of the New York Police Department 's second-largest police union gave a television interview Friday afternoon while sitting in front of a mug emblazoned with QAnon imagery and slogans .
[ ... ] Followers of the QAnon conspiracy believe there is a `` deep state '' within the US government that is controlled by a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely run by Democratic politicians and liberal celebrities -- and President Donald Trump is trying to take them down .
The baseless theory has been linked to several violent incidents .
The mug behind Mullins featured the word `` QANON '' and the hashtag # WWG1WGA , which stands for `` where we go one , we go all , '' a popular slogan among QAnon supporters .
At the center of the mug was a large letter Q , which refers to a supposed government insider who , according to QAnon supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the `` deep state . ''
[ ... ] The interview was about the recent uptick in violent crime in some of America 's largest cities , including New York City .
Mullins has an antagonistic relationship with city leadership and recently traded barbs with the liberal de Blasio , who signed a budget that transferred and slashed $ 1 billion from the NYPD .

Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins made an appearance on Fox's Your World with Neil Cavuto this Friday with a coffee mug with the logo of QAnon sitting in the background over his left shoulder.
The head of the New York Police Department's second-largest police union gave a television interview Friday afternoon while sitting in front of a mug emblazoned with QAnon imagery and slogans. [...]
Followers of the QAnon conspiracy believe there is a "deep state" within the US government that is controlled by a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles. According to the conspiracy, the cabal is largely run by Democratic politicians and liberal celebrities -- and President Donald Trump is trying to take them down. The baseless theory has been linked to several violent incidents.
The mug behind Mullins featured the word "QANON" and the hashtag #WWG1WGA, which stands for "where we go one, we go all," a popular slogan among QAnon supporters. At the center of the mug was a large letter Q, which refers to a supposed government insider who, according to QAnon supporters, posts cryptic clues on the Internet about the "deep state." [...]
The interview was about the recent uptick in violent crime in some of America's largest cities, including New York City. Mullins has an antagonistic relationship with city leadership and recently traded barbs with the liberal de Blasio, who signed a budget that transferred and slashed $1 billion from the NYPD.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--St. Louis Gun Couple Join Trump Campaign Event

I suppose it makes perfect sense that these two nutjobs - pretty much the poster children for white privilege - would join forces with the Trump campaign for a celebration of gun culture in the United States..
The St. Louis couple at the center of a firestorm over their armed confrontation with a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters will join an official Trump campaign event on Friday night .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who were thrust into the national spotlight after video was captured of them holding firearms to protect their home from protesters on their property , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign 's Friday night livestream .
The campaign says the discussion , hosted by former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle , will focus on the Second Amendment and what it means for America .
The event comes on the heels of Trump 's endorsement from the National Rifle Association .
The group praised the president in an endorsement letter , saying he had `` done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms '' during his first term .
The NRA spent more than $ 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is expected to spend heavily for his reelection .
The McCloskeys have been in the middle of a controversy since video of their altercation with protesters went viral in June .
As the crowd entered the McCloskeys ' property through a gate marked `` private '' —which was destroyed during the incident—the couple pointed firearms at some members of the crowd and yelled at them to leave .

I suppose it makes perfect sense that these two nutjobs - pretty much the poster children for white privilege - would join forces with the Trump campaign for a celebration of gun culture in the United States..
Source: Washington Free Beacon
The St. Louis couple at the center of a firestorm over their armed confrontation with a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters will join an official Trump campaign event on Friday night.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who were thrust into the national spotlight after video was captured of them holding firearms to protect their home from protesters on their property, are among the featured guests on the campaign's Friday night livestream. The campaign says the discussion, hosted by former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, will focus on the Second Amendment and what it means for America.
The event comes on the heels of Trump's endorsement from the National Rifle Association. The group praised the president in an endorsement letter, saying he had "done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms" during his first term. The NRA spent more than $30 million in support of his 2016 victory and is expected to spend heavily for his reelection.
The McCloskeys have been in the middle of a controversy since video of their altercation with protesters went viral in June. As the crowd entered the McCloskeys' property through a gate marked "private"—which was destroyed during the incident—the couple pointed firearms at some members of the crowd and yelled at them to leave.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Pentagon Bans Confederate Flags On All Military Bases Worldwide

Donald Trump is losing his battle to preserve the Confederacy .
First , statues are being taken down nationwide .
Now the Pentagon has effectively banned confederate flags at all military installations worldwide .
Politico is reports that a new policy was laid out on Friday banning the display of the flag of traitors .
Here is the unclassified policy , which was obtained by Politico .
The policy does not actually name the flag , but rather it lists flags that *are* allowed to be displayed .
So , the confederate flag was banned by omission .
The flags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flags of non-traitors : The American Flag , flags of all states , territories and Washington , D.C , as well as our allies .
Donald Trump is going to be super duper mad about this .
He was furious when NASCAR banned the flag , claiming that they were stifling `` freedom of speech . ''
He has also thrown tantrums about the possibility of renaming 10 Army bases that have names of Confederate leaders .
Esper has faced mounting pressure to implement a ban following protests after the death of George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flag on all Marine Corp propety .
The Navy also made it 's own ban .
Let 's see if Trump posts some angry tweets about this .
Racists love clinging to their racist history and nothing makes them more mad than being told they ca n't fly their flag of hate .
Oh , one thing makes them more mad : being called a racist .

Donald Trump is losing his battle to preserve the Confederacy. First, statues are being taken down nationwide. Now the Pentagon has effectively banned confederate flags at all military installations worldwide. Politico is reports that a new policy was laid out on Friday banning the display of the flag of traitors.
Here is the unclassified policy, which was obtained by Politico. The policy does not actually name the flag, but rather it lists flags that *are* allowed to be displayed. So, the confederate flag was banned by omission. The flags that are allowed to be displayed include flags of non-traitors: The American Flag, flags of all states, territories and Washington, D.C, as well as our allies.
The memo states:
"The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols, in all DoD work places, common access areas, and public areas."
Donald Trump is going to be super duper mad about this. He was furious when NASCAR banned the flag, claiming that they were stifling "freedom of speech." He has also thrown tantrums about the possibility of renaming 10 Army bases that have names of Confederate leaders.
Esper has faced mounting pressure to implement a ban following protests after the death of George Floyd. The Marines already banned the flag on all Marine Corp propety. The Navy also made it's own ban. Let's see if Trump posts some angry tweets about this. Racists love clinging to their racist history and nothing makes them more mad than being told they can't fly their flag of hate. Oh, one thing makes them more mad: being called a racist.
The Confederacy loses again.


crooksandliars--2020-07-18--Fox News Staffers Revolt Against Internal 'Rank Racism Excused By Murdoch'

Fox News is undergoing its own version of a Black Lives Matter protest and it couldn ’ t happen to a more deserving bunch .
Not only are Black staffers mad as hell over the systemic racism , they don ’ t seem willing to take it any more .
According to The Daily Beast , the proverbial straw that broke the camel ’ s back was the jaw-dropping graphic the network posted showing stock market gains after the murders of prominent African Americans .
It would have been terrible at any time but it was especially offensive shortly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days later , a group of Black staffers discussed the matter with Fox honchos and , according to The Daily Beast , “ It did not go well.
” It was almost immediately rife with tension .
One staffer directly asked why Bret Baier—the anchor of the network ’ s key weekday news broadcast , Special Report , which aired the offensive graphic—was not on the call , nor any other white on-air talent .
( Baier had previously apologized for the “ major screw-up , ” noting that , because the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stops with me.
” Fox News also apologized for the “ insensitivity ” of the infographic , adding that it “ should have never aired on television without full context.
” ) Other participants on the call expressed anger and distress about rampant racism at Fox , both on- and off-air .
… One employee was especially angry , saying , “ They created a cell—they created a white supremacist cell inside the top cable network in America , the one that directly influences the president… This is rank racism excused by Murdoch.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and blogging about Fox for over a decade , I can attest that on-air racism is nothing new at Fox , though it does seem to be worse now .
But what gives me heart is that the network ’ s own employees are in revolt .
More from The Daily Beast : Over the past month , the network ’ s Black employees , including on-air talent , have begun to openly confront management over Fox ’ s anti-Black rhetoric—especially that of the network ’ s biggest stars , Laura Ingraham and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed outrage to network brass over their unwillingness to rein in hosts like Ingraham , whose primetime show—helmed by Tommy Firth , the same executive producer behind Megyn Kelly ’ s former Fox show—has long made white grievance politics a core feature .
On June 29 , she did an anti-Black Lives Matter monologue which included a line that many viewed as a racist dog whistle and threat : “ We will remember those who desert their colors.
” And the employees are not going along with Fox 's PR fig leaves : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewers that a Black Lives Matter “ mob ” will “ come for you.
” Fox News PR scrambled to claim his tirade was actually just about Democrats and “ inner city politicians , ” but some of the primetime star ’ s co-workers weren ’ t buying it .
“ Bull .
Shit .
They have the script written that gives them an out , ” one Fox staffer told The Daily Beast .
“ But what the viewers hear is the white supremacist crap .
And that crap goes straight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d say this to anyone at Fox News , but keep it up , guys !

Fox News is undergoing its own version of a Black Lives Matter protest and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch.
Not only are Black staffers mad as hell over the systemic racism, they don’t seem willing to take it any more.
According to The Daily Beast, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was the jaw-dropping graphic the network posted showing stock market gains after the murders of prominent African Americans. It would have been terrible at any time but it was especially offensive shortly after the murder of George Floyd.
Four days later, a group of Black staffers discussed the matter with Fox honchos and, according to The Daily Beast, “It did not go well.”
It was almost immediately rife with tension. One staffer directly asked why Bret Baier—the anchor of the network’s key weekday news broadcast, Special Report, which aired the offensive graphic—was not on the call, nor any other white on-air talent. (Baier had previously apologized for the “major screw-up,” noting that, because the show bears his name, “the buck stops with me.” Fox News also apologized for the “insensitivity” of the infographic, adding that it “should have never aired on television without full context.”) Other participants on the call expressed anger and distress about rampant racism at Fox, both on- and off-air.
…
One employee was especially angry, saying, “They created a cell—they created a white supremacist cell inside the top cable network in America, the one that directly influences the president… This is rank racism excused by Murdoch.”
As someone who has been watching and blogging about Fox for over a decade, I can attest that on-air racism is nothing new at Fox, though it does seem to be worse now.
But what gives me heart is that the network’s own employees are in revolt. More from The Daily Beast:
Over the past month, the network’s Black employees, including on-air talent, have begun to openly confront management over Fox’s anti-Black rhetoric—especially that of the network’s biggest stars, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson. Fox News personnel have expressed outrage to network brass over their unwillingness to rein in hosts like Ingraham, whose primetime show—helmed by Tommy Firth, the same executive producer behind Megyn Kelly’s former Fox show—has long made white grievance politics a core feature. On June 29, she did an anti-Black Lives Matter monologue which included a line that many viewed as a racist dog whistle and threat: “We will remember those who desert their colors.”
And the employees are not going along with Fox's PR fig leaves:
In one such monologue, Carlson warned viewers that a Black Lives Matter “mob” will “come for you.” Fox News PR scrambled to claim his tirade was actually just about Democrats and “inner city politicians,” but some of the primetime star’s co-workers weren’t buying it. “Bull. Shit. They have the script written that gives them an out,” one Fox staffer told The Daily Beast. “But what the viewers hear is the white supremacist crap. And that crap goes straight to the White House.”
I never thought I’d say this to anyone at Fox News, but keep it up, guys!


crooksandliars--2020-07-20--Portland Mayor: Trump Administration's Use Of Federal Troops Is Escalating Violence

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler did n't hold back when asked by CNN 's Jake Tapper about Trump executing the next phase of his totalitarian fantasy in his city .
Wheeler blasted the Trump administration for escalating tensions between protesters and the police and warned that it 's going to result in someone getting killed if it is n't put to a stop : The Democratic mayor of Portland slammed the Trump administration on Sunday for its response to ongoing protests in the city , saying federal agents deployed there are denying protesters due process during arrests .
`` The tactics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets of Portland are abhorrent , '' Mayor Ted Wheeler told CNN 's Jake Tapper on `` State of the Union . ''
`` People are being literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans , rental cars , apparently .
They are being denied probable cause .
And they are denied due process .
They do n't even know who 's pulling them into the vans .
The people are n't identifying themselves .
And , as far as I can see , this is completely unconstitutional , '' Wheeler said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agents in Portland has set up a clash between the city 's leaders and Washington , DC .
Oregon 's governor , Wheeler and Merkley have all demanded the federal officers be withdrawn .
`` We 're demanding that the President remove these additional troops that he sent to our city .
It is not helping to contain or de-escalate the situation it 's obviously having exactly the opposite impact , '' Wheeler said last week .

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler didn't hold back when asked by CNN's Jake Tapper about Trump executing the next phase of his totalitarian fantasy in his city. Wheeler blasted the Trump administration for escalating tensions between protesters and the police and warned that it's going to result in someone getting killed if it isn't put to a stop:
The Democratic mayor of Portland slammed the Trump administration on Sunday for its response to ongoing protests in the city, saying federal agents deployed there are denying protesters due process during arrests.
"The tactics that the Trump administration are using on the streets of Portland are abhorrent," Mayor Ted Wheeler told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union."
"People are being literally scooped off the street into unmarked vans, rental cars, apparently. They are being denied probable cause. And they are denied due process. They don't even know who's pulling them into the vans. The people aren't identifying themselves. And, as far as I can see, this is completely unconstitutional," Wheeler said. [...]
The presence of federal agents in Portland has set up a clash between the city's leaders and Washington, DC. Oregon's governor, Wheeler and Merkley have all demanded the federal officers be withdrawn.
"We're demanding that the President remove these additional troops that he sent to our city. It is not helping to contain or de-escalate the situation it's obviously having exactly the opposite impact," Wheeler said last week.


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--'I'm Not A Fan Of Fox': Trump Fumes At Chris Wallace During 92nd Interview On The Network

President Donald Trump claims that he is `` not a fan of Fox News '' even though he 's given them 10 times more interviews than any other network .
During an interview with Fox News , host Chris Wallace noted that Trump has attacked him with a number of `` mean tweets . ''
`` One of your beefs seems to be that I put Democrats on the show and I ask them questions , '' Wallace explained .
`` And I guess the question I have is , do n't you understand it 's my job to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask them probing questions just like I ask Republicans ? ''
`` I 'm not a big fan of Fox , '' Trump replied .
`` They 've changed a lot since Roger Ailes .
And I watch people like [ Rep. Eric Swallwell ( D-CA ) ] , who do n't even know . ''
`` Look , I know you very well , '' the president added .
`` I respect you a lot .
I respect your father a lot ...
I do think this , I think you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is okay . ''
Following the segment , CBS correspondent Mark Knoller noted that the appearance was Trump 's 92nd interview on the network .

President Donald Trump claims that he is "not a fan of Fox News" even though he's given them 10 times more interviews than any other network.
During an interview with Fox News, host Chris Wallace noted that Trump has attacked him with a number of "mean tweets."
"One of your beefs seems to be that I put Democrats on the show and I ask them questions," Wallace explained. "And I guess the question I have is, don't you understand it's my job to put Democrats on as well as Republicans and ask them probing questions just like I ask Republicans?"
"I'm not a big fan of Fox," Trump replied. "They've changed a lot since Roger Ailes. And I watch people like [Rep. Eric Swallwell (D-CA)], who don't even know."
Trump accused Wallace of interviewing "the nastiest people."
"Look, I know you very well," the president added. "I respect you a lot. I respect your father a lot... I do think this, I think you are toward the Democrats' side, which is okay."
"It's not true," Wallace protested.
Following the segment, CBS correspondent Mark Knoller noted that the appearance was Trump's 92nd interview on the network.


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--Trump Mocks Move To Rename Confederate Bases: 'You Going To Name It After The Rev. Al Sharpton?'

President Donald Trump suggested that bases named after Confederate soldiers should not be renamed because he could think of no Black war heroes deserving of the honor .
Trump made the remarks during an interview in which Fox News host Chris Wallace noted that legislation funding the Department of Defense could also force some bases to be renamed .
`` You 're going to veto that ? ''
Wallace asked . '
I did more for the military than any president ! ''
Trump exclaimed .
`` But you 're going to veto this bill ? ''
Wallace pressed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ft. Robert E. Lee -- all of these forts that have been named that way for a long time -- decades and decades , '' the president opined .
`` But the military says they are for this , '' Wallace pointed out .
`` Excuse me , '' Trump continued .
`` I do n't care what the military says .
I 'm supposed to make the decision .
Ft. Bragg is a big deal .
We won two world wars .
Nobody even knows Gen .
Bragg . ''
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added , seemingly at a loss for the names of Black war heroes .
`` You going to name it after the Rev .
Al Sharpton ?
What are you going to name it , Chris ?
Tell me what you 're going to name it . ''
Trump reminded the Fox News host that the United States `` won two beautiful world wars that were vicious and horrible . ''
`` And now , they want to throw those names away , '' he complained .
`` And I 'm @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump suggested that bases named after Confederate soldiers should not be renamed because he could think of no Black war heroes deserving of the honor.
Trump made the remarks during an interview in which Fox News host Chris Wallace noted that legislation funding the Department of Defense could also force some bases to be renamed.
"You're going to veto that?" Wallace asked.
'I did more for the military than any president!" Trump exclaimed.
"But you're going to veto this bill?" Wallace pressed.
"I think that Ft. Bragg, Ft. Robert E. Lee -- all of these forts that have been named that way for a long time -- decades and decades," the president opined.
"But the military says they are for this," Wallace pointed out.
"Excuse me," Trump continued. "I don't care what the military says. I'm supposed to make the decision. Ft. Bragg is a big deal. We won two world wars. Nobody even knows Gen. Bragg."
"What are we going to name it," he added, seemingly at a loss for the names of Black war heroes. "You going to name it after the Rev. Al Sharpton? What are you going to name it, Chris? Tell me what you're going to name it."
Trump reminded the Fox News host that the United States "won two beautiful world wars that were vicious and horrible."
"And now, they want to throw those names away," he complained. "And I'm against that."


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--Rob Reiner Scorches 'Racist Moron' Donald Trump

Today was the last day of Joy Reid anchoring AMJoy .
Amidst the tributes to her and well wishes , there were some great moments , even on this last broadcast with her at the anchor desk .
But all of them paled in comparison to Rob Reiner blasting Trump with truth bombs over and over again .
When Joy asked him whether he thought things would be this bad , Reiner let fly .
`` I knew he was incompetent and I knew he was a failure as a businessman and a person I knew he had racial leanings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` But , you know , you always hope that he 'll surround himself with people that will be able to , you know , read and that he would n't have to . ''
Still , Reiner admitted he never thought it was be as bad as it is right now , which is probably a thought most of us had since we did n't include a global pandemic on our 4-year Bingo cards .
Reflecting on John Lewis ' death and Martin Luther King 's promise that the arc of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` We all thought when Barack Obama got elected , we were on a glide path and that we were moving in the right direction and finally , finally we would start realizing what this whole wonderful experiment was going to lead to and then to go from a Black American to a racist in the White House , it 's like a gut punch . ''
`` I mean , it is good versus evil , it is love versus hate and [ Lewis ] embodied good and love .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out so I believe that 's what 's going to happen here we have this last -- you said it in the early clip , this last moment of a desperation by white supremacists in this country to hang on for dear life for this horrible legacy that the country started with and maybe , maybe it took this kind of backlash from Obama to Trump to really push us forward . ''
I sure hope he 's right .
But there is some work to do first .
`` But , first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this man , '' he warned .
`` He 's a criminal , he 's a racist , he 's dumb and we got to get rid of him .
Once we do , we can start the process of healing the country and actually delivering racial justice . ''
But he was not done .
The topic moved to the anti-maskers and how to deal with the fact that Trump made it political .
Once again , fire rained down on Trump .
No viewer could watch this and underestimate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's ridiculous .
It 's absolutely ridiculous the fact that this man in the White House could polarize , could make a partisan issue out of life and death is insane , '' he said .
`` I 'm calling on Anthony Fauci and the head of the CDC and scientists and doctors to come out and denounce Trump , come out en masse , in force , and say the president is wrong for whatever reasons , we 've got to stand on that and we 've got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We got to stop it .
We 're being killed by the thousands , and this has to stop .
The only way it 'll stop is if those people do what Vindman did , come out and say enough it 's one thing to be a moron and a racist , but now you 're killing us . ''
Amen , Rob Reiner .
And best wishes to Joy Reid on her new prime time show in the slot where Chris Matthews used to be .

Today was the last day of Joy Reid anchoring AMJoy. Amidst the tributes to her and well wishes, there were some great moments, even on this last broadcast with her at the anchor desk. But all of them paled in comparison to Rob Reiner blasting Trump with truth bombs over and over again.
When Joy asked him whether he thought things would be this bad, Reiner let fly. "I knew he was incompetent and I knew he was a failure as a businessman and a person I knew he had racial leanings, racist leanings," Reiner replied. "But, you know, you always hope that he'll surround himself with people that will be able to, you know, read and that he wouldn't have to."
But..but...he passed the cognitive test!
Still, Reiner admitted he never thought it was be as bad as it is right now, which is probably a thought most of us had since we didn't include a global pandemic on our 4-year Bingo cards.
Reflecting on John Lewis' death and Martin Luther King's promise that the arc of justice bends toward justice, he observed: "We all thought when Barack Obama got elected, we were on a glide path and that we were moving in the right direction and finally, finally we would start realizing what this whole wonderful experiment was going to lead to and then to go from a Black American to a racist in the White House, it's like a gut punch."
"I mean, it is good versus evil, it is love versus hate and [Lewis] embodied good and love. And he believed that ultimately that would win out so I believe that's what's going to happen here we have this last -- you said it in the early clip, this last moment of a desperation by white supremacists in this country to hang on for dear life for this horrible legacy that the country started with and maybe, maybe it took this kind of backlash from Obama to Trump to really push us forward."
I sure hope he's right. But there is some work to do first.
"But, first, we've got to get rid of this man," he warned. "He's a criminal, he's a racist, he's dumb and we got to get rid of him. Once we do, we can start the process of healing the country and actually delivering racial justice."
But he was not done. The topic moved to the anti-maskers and how to deal with the fact that Trump made it political. Once again, fire rained down on Trump. No viewer could watch this and underestimate the passion and fire with which Reiner spoke.
"It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous the fact that this man in the White House could polarize, could make a partisan issue out of life and death is insane," he said.
"I'm calling on Anthony Fauci and the head of the CDC and scientists and doctors to come out and denounce Trump, come out en masse, in force, and say the president is wrong for whatever reasons, we've got to stand on that and we've got to wear masks," he continued.
"We got to stop it. We're being killed by the thousands, and this has to stop. The only way it'll stop is if those people do what Vindman did, come out and say enough it's one thing to be a moron and a racist, but now you're killing us."
Amen, Rob Reiner. And best wishes to Joy Reid on her new prime time show in the slot where Chris Matthews used to be.


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--'I Have To See': Trump Tells Chris Wallace He May Not Accept Election Results

President Donald Trump suggested that he may not accept the results of the 2020 election because he 's not a @ @ @ @ @ In an interview that aired on Sunday , Chris Wallace asked the president if he @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I 'm not a good loser , '' Trump replied .
`` @ @ @ @ @ lose .
I do n't lose too often . ''
`` So , are you @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You do n't know until you see , it depends , '' Trump @ @ @ @ @ mail-in voting is going to rig the election . ''
`` Are you suggesting that @ @ @ @ @ results of the election ? ''
Wallace wondered .
`` I have to see , @ @ @ @ @ Can you give a direct answer ? ''
Wallace asked again .
`` I have @ @ @ @ @ no , I 'm not going to just say yes , '' Trump complained .

President Donald Trump suggested that he may not accept the results of the 2020 election because he's not a "good loser."
In an interview that aired on Sunday, Chris Wallace asked the president if he is a "good loser."
"I'm not a good loser," Trump replied. "I don't like to lose. I don't lose too often."
"So, are you gracious?" Wallace pressed.
"You don't know until you see, it depends," Trump insisted. "I think mail-in voting is going to rig the election."
"Are you suggesting that you might not accept the results of the election?" Wallace wondered.
"I have to see," Trump remarked.
"Can you give a direct answer?" Wallace asked again.
"I have to see! Look, no, I'm not going to just say yes," Trump complained.


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--Sen. Lindsey Graham Whitesplains The Difference Between John Lewis And BLM To Fox News Viewers

Who wants to take dibs that Sen. Lindsey Graham and his ilk were calling John Lewis and his fellow civil rights movement leaders America haters and much , much worse back in the days when Lewis was getting his skull bashed in on the Edmund Pettus Bridge .
Graham was asked about the passing of Rep. Lewis on this Saturday 's Justice with Judge Jeanine , and used the occasion to whitesplain to the viewers on Fox News the supposed difference between the type of `` good trouble '' that Lewis advocated , and the protests we 're seeing now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ John was known for causing , ‘ good trouble.
’ That ’ s what he described the civil rights movement — ‘ good trouble.
’ Peaceful protest , being hit in the head for a worthy cause .
That ’ s different than what you see playing out in the streets of the United States , ” Graham argued .
“ I think John Lewis loved America , he wanted to make it better .
What you see happening today here is people who hate America and want to change it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Big difference , but he will be missed.
” As the article at Raw Story and many on Twitter pointed out , Lewis was a supporter of BLM , and called the protests `` good trouble '' as well .

Who wants to take dibs that Sen. Lindsey Graham and his ilk were calling John Lewis and his fellow civil rights movement leaders America haters and much, much worse back in the days when Lewis was getting his skull bashed in on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Graham was asked about the passing of Rep. Lewis on this Saturday's Justice with Judge Jeanine, and used the occasion to whitesplain to the viewers on Fox News the supposed difference between the type of "good trouble" that Lewis advocated, and the protests we're seeing now from the Black Lives Matter movement.
“John was known for causing, ‘good trouble.’ That’s what he described the civil rights movement — ‘good trouble.’ Peaceful protest, being hit in the head for a worthy cause. That’s different than what you see playing out in the streets of the United States,” Graham argued. “I think John Lewis loved America, he wanted to make it better. What you see happening today here is people who hate America and want to change it,” the South Carolina Republican declared. “Big difference, but he will be missed.”
As the article at Raw Story and many on Twitter pointed out, Lewis was a supporter of BLM, and called the protests "good trouble" as well.
Civil rights leader and Democratic Rep. John Lewis visited the "BLACK LIVES MATTER" street banner recently painted outside of the White House, alongside Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser. https://t.co/Blm2wZ8zzK pic.twitter.com/ikAHonI0Gu — ABC News (@ABC) July 18, 2020
“Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.” Congressman John Lewis
I have been moved by his words & actions, and I’m humbled that he visited #BlackLivesMatter Plaza. The work goes on... pic.twitter.com/x7i53UuQIz — Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) June 7, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--Trump Calls Chris Wallace 'Fake News' As He Melts Down Over COVID Death Rate

President Donald Trump lashed out at Fox News host Chris Wallace after he was challenged on the false premise that the United States has the `` lowest '' COVID-19 mortality rate in the world .
`` I think we have one of the lowest mortality rates , '' Trump argued in an interview that aired on Sunday .
`` That 's not true , '' Wallace pointed out .
`` We have 900 deaths on a single day this week .
You can check it out . ''
At that point , Trump turned to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to back him up .
`` I heard we have one of the lowest , maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world , '' Trump told McEnany , refusing to look at Wallace .
`` Do you have the numbers , please ?
Because I heard we have the best mortality rate . ''
McEnany interrupted the interview to deliver a piece of paper .
`` Number one low mortality rate , '' Trump insisted , flashing the piece of paper at Wallace .
`` I hope you show this because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the president griped .
`` You said we had the worst mortality rate in the world ! ''
Trump exclaimed .
At that point , Fox News paused the interview to fact check the president .
According to numbers from Johns Hopkins University , the U.S. ranks seventh in mortality .

President Donald Trump lashed out at Fox News host Chris Wallace after he was challenged on the false premise that the United States has the "lowest" COVID-19 mortality rate in the world.
"I think we have one of the lowest mortality rates," Trump argued in an interview that aired on Sunday.
"That's not true," Wallace pointed out. "We have 900 deaths on a single day this week. You can check it out."
At that point, Trump turned to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who was off camera, to back him up.
"I heard we have one of the lowest, maybe the lowest mortality rate anywhere in the world," Trump told McEnany, refusing to look at Wallace. "Do you have the numbers, please? Because I heard we have the best mortality rate."
McEnany interrupted the interview to deliver a piece of paper.
"Number one low mortality rate," Trump insisted, flashing the piece of paper at Wallace.
"I hope you show this because it shows what fake news is," the president griped.
"I don't think I'm fake news," Wallace replied.
"Today, you are," Trump shot back.
"I put the facts on," Wallace observed.
"You said we had the worst mortality rate in the world!" Trump exclaimed.
At that point, Fox News paused the interview to fact check the president.
According to numbers from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. ranks seventh in mortality.


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--Jelani Cobb: For Any GOP To Praise Rep John Lewis Is 'Obscene' And 'Unconscionable'

Joy Reid spent one of her last weekend shows memorializing Rep. John Lewis by speaking to those who knew him , studied him , learned from him , and revered him .
All of her guests spoke to different aspects of his greatness , kindness , brilliance , and leadership , but when Reid spoke to Jelani Cobb of New Yorker magazine , she brought up the very subversive nature of his simply having grown old .
REID : I was watching yesterday , `` I Am Not Your Negro , '' the James Baldwin-based documentary , and it talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Malcolm , Martin and Medgar Evers , and the fact they never got to be old .
The thing about a John Lewis or a C.T .
Vivian is they actually got to mature into senior citizens and in a way , that is almost the most subversive thing they did , which was to survive and to live to old age .
And so in a way , I do n't know if that strikes you the same way .
I 'm so sad that he is gone .
You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but these are young civil rights leaders who actually got to age .
COBB : Yeah .
And I would add Reverend Joseph Lowery to that group as well .
And so I think it 's a very different burden , you know , for people who were working in Reverend 's — excuse me , Ambassador Young talked about how they made light of the possibility of death and that was , you know , a profound burden for them to have to bear at that point in their lives .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do the grinding work of fighting against the tendency of this country to revert back to its worst habits year after year after year after decade after decade for the entirety of your life .
And I think , to your earlier question , I think that 's what makes it so obscene .
You know , one of the worst disrespects is for your enemies to praise you .
And so for people who have gutted the Voting Rights Act , who have overseen the re-orchestration of a regime in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their voices within the democracy , for those people to have the temerity to praise John Lewis is just unconscionable .
It 's one thing to be a young person , laughing in the face of death .
It 's quite another to stay hopeful , peaceful , even , in the face of a nation who , as Cobb so incisively states , seems determined to walk back every step towards progress and equality for our Black and brown citizens .
For decades Rep. Lewis remained so in the face of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all he had achieved in the past , and hoped to achieve in the future .
How are we going to honor him in November , and beyond ?

Joy Reid spent one of her last weekend shows memorializing Rep. John Lewis by speaking to those who knew him, studied him, learned from him, and revered him. All of her guests spoke to different aspects of his greatness, kindness, brilliance, and leadership, but when Reid spoke to Jelani Cobb of New Yorker magazine, she brought up the very subversive nature of his simply having grown old.
REID: I was watching yesterday, "I Am Not Your Negro," the James Baldwin-based documentary, and it talked about these martyred men, you know, Malcolm, Martin and Medgar Evers, and the fact they never got to be old. The thing about a John Lewis or a C.T. Vivian is they actually got to mature into senior citizens and in a way, that is almost the most subversive thing they did, which was to survive and to live to old age. And so in a way, I don't know if that strikes you the same way. I'm so sad that he is gone. You know, that Elijah Cummings is gone, but these are young civil rights leaders who actually got to age. COBB: Yeah. And I would add Reverend Joseph Lowery to that group as well. And so I think it's a very different burden, you know, for people who were working in Reverend's — excuse me, Ambassador Young talked about how they made light of the possibility of death and that was, you know, a profound burden for them to have to bear at that point in their lives. But it's a very different burden to have to do the grinding work of fighting against the tendency of this country to revert back to its worst habits year after year after year after decade after decade for the entirety of your life. And I think, to your earlier question, I think that's what makes it so obscene. You know, one of the worst disrespects is for your enemies to praise you. And so for people who have gutted the Voting Rights Act, who have overseen the re-orchestration of a regime in which African-Americans have disproportionate difficulty in registering their voices within the democracy, for those people to have the temerity to praise John Lewis is just unconscionable.
It's one thing to be a young person, laughing in the face of death. It's quite another to stay hopeful, peaceful, even, in the face of a nation who, as Cobb so incisively states, seems determined to walk back every step towards progress and equality for our Black and brown citizens. For decades Rep. Lewis remained so in the face of his colleagues, who were determined to destroy all he had achieved in the past, and hoped to achieve in the future.
How are we going to honor him in November, and beyond?


crooksandliars--2020-07-19--A President Biden Can Start Restoring America By Investigating The Current President's Crimes

The Washington press corps appears to accept that the president was “ firing up his base ” Friday when he commuted Roger Stone ’ s sentence of three-and-a-fourth years .
That ’ s probably an assertion of opinion more than fact , though .
While presidents do normally base actions on political considerations , Donald Trump is not normal .
It ’ s a stretch , to say the least , to assume that the president ’ s base of power likes it when he helps a goon duly convicted by a jury of his peers .
The more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone to maintain his silence about their involvement in an international criminal conspiracy to defraud the American people .
There ’ s a good reason for turning the page : don ’ t criminalize politics .
But what if politics is criminal ?
That ’ s not to say Trump ’ s decision doesn ’ t appeal to someone .
Believers in something called “ QAnon ” probably felt that in commuting Stone ’ s sentence , the president was striking a righteous blow against a nameless and faceless “ deep state ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down since he decided to run for president .
According to my friend Amee Vanderpool , “ Anon followers believe this current political struggle will culminate in a fantasy conclusion know as , ‘ The Storm.
’ ” Amee went on to say : “ This phase involves the military rounding up , imprisoning and even executing anyone who dared to counter Trump or make any moves against him .
It ’ s safe to say that the list includes Democratic politicians , ‘ members of the ‘ liberal ’ media , Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump supporters to target.
” Anon followers are too small in number to affect this year ’ s election , but they could have serious effect if Joe Biden is victorious .
Amee says the conspiracy theory is making inroads in the Republican Party , because the Republicans are making room for it .
Combined with the market incentives of the GOP ’ s rightwing media allies , QAnon could erode a Biden administration ’ s credibility among white suburban voters the way birtherism eroded the Obama administration ’ s credibility among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see that things are probably going to get worse before they get better .
Liberals and people deferential to the authority of facts and reason don ’ t really know what to do when faced with conspiracism , except laugh at it .
That ’ s certainly what most of them did—what I did—during the Obama years .
But liberals and others ( me ) should learn from our mistake , specifically that conspiracy theory isn ’ t just Livin ’ La Vida Loca .
It is the abandonment of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rooted in political weakness .
If you can ’ t win by normal means , if you can ’ t win because the truth is against you , then what do you do ?
You invent a new set of “ alternate facts.
” Conspiracy theories are leading indicators that parts of a country have decoupled from the rest , and they are heading down the road to serfdom .
Something needs to be done .
Victory isn ’ t enough .
If Biden wins , we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a repeat of the post-2008 era .
Not only will conspiricism come back to the fore , poisoning our discourse , and not only will right-wing media weaponize conspiricism against the new administration , poisoning our discourse even more .
The GOP will pretend , en masse , as it did after Barack Obama became president , that all the things they did to wreck the economy , devastate public health and shred the moral fiber of our society were Biden ’ s fault .
For his part , Biden will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-2008—just simply forget what the previous administration did to bring America to the brink of being a failed state .
There ’ s one legitimate reason for this act of willful forgetting .
You don ’ t want to establish a precedent in which politics becomes a crime .
But politics can be criminal , as we learned when George W. Bush pushed us into invading a sovereign country that did us no harm after Sept. 11 , 2001 .
Trump ’ s crimes , moreover , are relatively worse .
The whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nothing has changed after Covid-19 killed enough people to equal forty-six 9/11s .
There ’ s actually another reason to forget .
New presidents have their own agendas .
They don ’ t want to get bogged down litigating old ones .
Biden , however , isn ’ t Obama .
His shtick is restoration , bringing America back to a state of normalcy and honor , putting the power of government on the side of normal people .
If something isn ’ t done to counteract , or at least counterbalance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentives , Biden can forget about that , even if his party controls both chambers of the Congress .
What ’ s needed is a rededication to the truth , and that requires a new special counsel to establish the whole truth of recent history , starting with Donald Trump ’ s victory .
Yes , I know Robert Mueller established many of the facts .
And yes , the appointment of a new special counsel would be received among Republicans and their rightwing media allies as well as Mueller was .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway , like I said yesterday , the conspiracy that brought Trump to power did not stop .
It has been ongoing .
It ’ s most recent manifestation was commuting Roger Stone ’ s sentence , an act of literal bribery aimed at covering up the cover up of the crime of defrauding the American people of the right to know who they were voting for .
We didn ’ t know .
We still don ’ t know .
Until we do , we can expect more of the same from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Editorial Board .
Subscribe here .

The Washington press corps appears to accept that the president was “firing up his base” Friday when he commuted Roger Stone’s sentence of three-and-a-fourth years. That’s probably an assertion of opinion more than fact, though. While presidents do normally base actions on political considerations, Donald Trump is not normal.
It’s a stretch, to say the least, to assume that the president’s base of power likes it when he helps a goon duly convicted by a jury of his peers. The more likely explanation is that Trump went easy on Stone to maintain his silence about their involvement in an international criminal conspiracy to defraud the American people.
There’s a good reason for turning the page: don’t criminalize politics. But what if politics is criminal?
That’s not to say Trump’s decision doesn’t appeal to someone. Believers in something called “QAnon” probably felt that in commuting Stone’s sentence, the president was striking a righteous blow against a nameless and faceless “deep state” that has been trying to bring Trump down since he decided to run for president. According to my friend Amee Vanderpool, “Anon followers believe this current political struggle will culminate in a fantasy conclusion know as, ‘The Storm.’” Amee went on to say:
“This phase involves the military rounding up, imprisoning and even executing anyone who dared to counter Trump or make any moves against him. It’s safe to say that the list includes Democratic politicians, ‘members of the ‘liberal’ media, Hollywood celebrities and other elites that are convenient for Trump supporters to target.”
Anon followers are too small in number to affect this year’s election, but they could have serious effect if Joe Biden is victorious. Amee says the conspiracy theory is making inroads in the Republican Party, because the Republicans are making room for it. Combined with the market incentives of the GOP’s rightwing media allies, QAnon could erode a Biden administration’s credibility among white suburban voters the way birtherism eroded the Obama administration’s credibility among the same. Put all this together to see that things are probably going to get worse before they get better.
Liberals and people deferential to the authority of facts and reason don’t really know what to do when faced with conspiracism, except laugh at it. That’s certainly what most of them did—what I did—during the Obama years. But liberals and others (me) should learn from our mistake, specifically that conspiracy theory isn’t just Livin’ La Vida Loca. It is the abandonment of the American social contract, a literal betrayal that’s rooted in political weakness. If you can’t win by normal means, if you can’t win because the truth is against you, then what do you do? You invent a new set of “alternate facts.” Conspiracy theories are leading indicators that parts of a country have decoupled from the rest, and they are heading down the road to serfdom.
Something needs to be done. Victory isn’t enough. If Biden wins, we’re going to witness wholesale amnesia among Republicans, leading to a repeat of the post-2008 era. Not only will conspiricism come back to the fore, poisoning our discourse, and not only will right-wing media weaponize conspiricism against the new administration, poisoning our discourse even more. The GOP will pretend, en masse, as it did after Barack Obama became president, that all the things they did to wreck the economy, devastate public health and shred the moral fiber of our society were Biden’s fault.
For his part, Biden will have great incentive to repeat what Obama did post-2008—just simply forget what the previous administration did to bring America to the brink of being a failed state. There’s one legitimate reason for this act of willful forgetting. You don’t want to establish a precedent in which politics becomes a crime. But politics can be criminal, as we learned when George W. Bush pushed us into invading a sovereign country that did us no harm after Sept. 11, 2001. Trump’s crimes, moreover, are relatively worse. The whole world changed after 3,000 Americans were murdered. Nothing has changed after Covid-19 killed enough people to equal forty-six 9/11s.
There’s actually another reason to forget. New presidents have their own agendas. They don’t want to get bogged down litigating old ones. Biden, however, isn’t Obama. His shtick is restoration, bringing America back to a state of normalcy and honor, putting the power of government on the side of normal people. If something isn’t done to counteract, or at least counterbalance, the Republican Party’s fascist incentives, Biden can forget about that, even if his party controls both chambers of the Congress. What’s needed is a rededication to the truth, and that requires a new special counsel to establish the whole truth of recent history, starting with Donald Trump’s victory.
Yes, I know Robert Mueller established many of the facts. And yes, the appointment of a new special counsel would be received among Republicans and their rightwing media allies as well as Mueller was. But truth and justice demand it. And anyway, like I said yesterday, the conspiracy that brought Trump to power did not stop. It has been ongoing. It’s most recent manifestation was commuting Roger Stone’s sentence, an act of literal bribery aimed at covering up the cover up of the crime of defrauding the American people of the right to know who they were voting for. We didn’t know. We still don’t know. Until we do, we can expect more of the same from the Republicans.
Posted with permission of The Editorial Board. Subscribe here.


crooksandliars--2020-07-20--Florida, Ultimate Swing State: Let's Win It This Time!

Often , in politics victories are far and in between .
Here at Blue America , we do n't pick candidates because we assess them as having the best chance to win .
We pick them because we think they 'll do the best job in office if they do win .
This past week , one of our top congressional candidates , Mike Siegel , won a resounding victory in central Texas , despite the fact that his opponent and that opponent 's allied SuperPAC spent $ 1.7 million to Mike 's $ 724,908 , over a MILLION dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , slimy character assassination from the SuperPAC .
With endorsements from Bernie , Elizabeth Warren , Ted Lieu , Ro Khanna , Dolores Huerta , Bill McKibben , the AFL-CIO , the Sunrise Movement and dozens of other groups and individuals and a straight-forward progressive message , Mike prevailed across the district .
If you want to help Mike in the general election battle against Trump enabler Michael McCaul , just click here .
And we had another big victory last week -- of a slightly different nature .
Blue America has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 For 90 to help flip the Florida legislature .
Normally , the Florida Democratic Party ignores dozens of seats , leaving them as `` gimmes '' for the GOP .
Those are seats where Republicans do n't face any accountability , no matter how badly they 've served their constituents , and do n't have to spend any resources defending their incumbency .
And in those districts , there is no organizing at the grassroots level by state legislative candidates who should be -- if they existed -- be helping turn out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Well , this year , for the first time in recent memory , every state House and every state Senate seat has a Democrat running , an amazing accomplishment , due in great part to the Environment Caucus and to the tireless efforts of 90 For 90 .
The state Democratic Party though , `` celebrated '' by then denying access to the voter files to struggling recruits unless they paid the party for the use .
How outrageous is that ?
But that was the battle we won last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ little push from the Biden campaign -- `` re-thought '' their position and after quite a struggle , finally agreed to provide every Florida state legislative candidate with the voter information for their own districts -- gratis .
How much of a difference does this make ?
We asked some of the candidates .
State Senate candidate Rachel Brown is running to represent Lee County -- including Fort Myers Sanibel and Cape Coral -- in Tallahassee .
While Republicans Ray Rodrigues and Heather Fitzhagen savage each other in a vicious Republican primary battle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what a progressive platform built to represent working families looks like.
`` Jared West is running for the state House in Polk County , an area that includes Haines City , Poinciana , Davenport and Winter Haven and that Alan Grayson tells me is ripe for a red to blue flip .
This morning , West told me that `` Having access to the voter files is a major victory for all candidates , and now we can start making contact and building out our grassroots campaigns .
In my district , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the first time in 20+ years , we have a very real chance to flip this seat , and access to the voter files made that even more possible . ''
Sarasota County House candidate Lisa Stortstrom , a special needs teacher , is all in .
`` I jumped in to save what is left of District 74 and to take out James Buchanan , '' she told me .
`` I will definitely need everyone ’ s help to flip this , but I know I can with the VAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups like Stonewall Dems and Equality Florida .
Vulnerable people in this area have been losing their medical services and Buchanan is looking in an other direction . ''
So , how about we celebrate this good news by getting as many of these grassroots progressive 90 for 90 candidates elected as we can -- up and down the Florida ballot .
They are tan , rested and ready to serve The People .
If you can , please give to any or all of them here .
Thanks for always doing what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ,

Often, in politics victories are far and in between. Here at Blue America, we don't pick candidates because we assess them as having the best chance to win. We pick them because we think they'll do the best job in office if they do win.
This past week, one of our top congressional candidates, Mike Siegel, won a resounding victory in central Texas, despite the fact that his opponent and that opponent's allied SuperPAC spent $1.7 million to Mike's $724,908, over a MILLION dollars more, much of it in disgusting, slimy character assassination from the SuperPAC. With endorsements from Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, Dolores Huerta, Bill McKibben, the AFL-CIO, the Sunrise Movement and dozens of other groups and individuals and a straight-forward progressive message, Mike prevailed across the district. If you want to help Mike in the general election battle against Trump enabler Michael McCaul, just click here.
And we had another big victory last week-- of a slightly different nature. Blue America has been working with the Florida Environmental Caucus and 90 For 90 to help flip the Florida legislature. Normally, the Florida Democratic Party ignores dozens of seats, leaving them as "gimmes" for the GOP. Those are seats where Republicans don't face any accountability, no matter how badly they've served their constituents, and don't have to spend any resources defending their incumbency. And in those districts, there is no organizing at the grassroots level by state legislative candidates who should be--if they existed-- be helping turn out the vote for statewide and federal candidates.
Well, this year, for the first time in recent memory, every state House and every state Senate seat has a Democrat running, an amazing accomplishment, due in great part to the Environment Caucus and to the tireless efforts of 90 For 90.
The state Democratic Party though, "celebrated" by then denying access to the voter files to struggling recruits unless they paid the party for the use. How outrageous is that? But that was the battle we won last week. The Florida Democratic Party-- with a little push from the Biden campaign-- "re-thought" their position and after quite a struggle, finally agreed to provide every Florida state legislative candidate with the voter information for their own districts-- gratis. How much of a difference does this make? We asked some of the candidates.
State Senate candidate Rachel Brown is running to represent Lee County-- including Fort Myers Sanibel and Cape Coral-- in Tallahassee. While Republicans Ray Rodrigues and Heather Fitzhagen savage each other in a vicious Republican primary battle, Brown is talking with voters about what a progressive platform built to represent working families looks like. "
This is a pivotal moment in Florida history," she told us, "and time will tell who was on the side of fighting corruption. The battle started with Dr. Fergie Reed and Dr. Janelle Christianson on the front lines and day by day, more follow. Candidates signing up to run, people donating and signing up to volunteer, allies in the party coming to assist despite the cloud of doubt hanging over the battle field. [Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner] Nikki Fried just bought us all a key piece of needed battle equipment... and the army keeps growing day by day."
Jared West is running for the state House in Polk County, an area that includes Haines City, Poinciana, Davenport and Winter Haven and that Alan Grayson tells me is ripe for a red to blue flip. This morning, West told me that "Having access to the voter files is a major victory for all candidates, and now we can start making contact and building out our grassroots campaigns. In my district, we have 6,138 more Democrats than Republicans. For the first time in 20+ years, we have a very real chance to flip this seat, and access to the voter files made that even more possible."
Sarasota County House candidate Lisa Stortstrom, a special needs teacher, is all in. "I jumped in to save what is left of District 74 and to take out James Buchanan," she told me. "I will definitely need everyone’s help to flip this, but I know I can with the VAN voter files and with help from progressive groups like Stonewall Dems and Equality Florida. Vulnerable people in this area have been losing their medical services and Buchanan is looking in an other direction."
So, how about we celebrate this good news by getting as many of these grassroots progressive 90 for 90 candidates elected as we can-- up and down the Florida ballot. They are tan, rested and ready to serve The People. If you can, please give to any or all of them here.
Thanks for always doing what you can to make this a better world,
Howie, for the entire Blue America team