crooksandliars--2020-05-07--'The Fix Is In': Ex-Prosecutor Rails At Bill Barr's Intervention To Drop Michael Flynn Charges (UPDA

'The Fix Is In': Ex-Prosecutor Rails At Bill Barr's Intervention To Drop Michael Flynn Charges (UPDATED)

The DOJ has asked the judge to drop all charges against Michael Flynn , claiming that there was no legitimate investigative reason for them to interview him about the subjects he admitted to lying about .
In a 108-page document filed Thursday , the Justice Department said “ after a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case , including newly discovered and disclosed information ... the government has concluded that [ Flynn ’ s interview by the FBI ] was untethered to , and unjustified by , the FBI ’ s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , 2017 was “ conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.
” Of course , people lie all the time about things like that , right ?
No .
The autocracy has spoken and exonerated Flynn of a crime he confessed to .
They just figured out a way to do it without having to have Trump issue a pardon .
Bill Barr is just Trump 's fixer these days .
Here is CNN reporter Shimon Prokupecz sorting out the Orwellian logic : [ DOJ ] says that the Michael Flynn interview , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became controversial certainly under this Attorney General , they say that should never have taken place .
It was covered extensively .
I was covering the story with Michael Flynn , was arrested the morning he surrendered and remember when Michael Flynn pleaded guilty , decided to cooperate .
The Department of Justice under this Attorney General Barr saying none of this should have happened , essentially , the FBI should have never interviewed Michael Flynn .
They were n't justified to do the interview and therefore , now , this case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this he cooperated with the government .
Apparently the fact that Flynn pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate does n't matter .
Bill Barr and Donald Trump are determined to corrupt the justice system as completely as possible .
And there 's this , too : Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Honig was furious .
The fix is in .
This is an absolute injustice , but like Shimon said , you could see this coming .
Michael Fynn lied to the FBI , he pled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing that , he took a plea , and then what does Bill Barr do ?
He says of all the tens of thousands of cases he 's been in charges of in the Department of Justice , look at that one .
Let 's take a closer look .
Not coincidentally the one the president has railing on for months and years now , and now we see Bill Barr doing Donald Trump 's dirty work .
Now Donald Trump is not going to have to issue a pardon , because Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really unprecedented step .
I 've never seen anything like this in my 14 years as a federal or state prosecutor .
There is some question about whether the judge could still sentence Flynn in spite of Barr 's move , but it 's unlikely .
The more likely scenario is that Flynn 's plea bargain is negated , the charges are dropped , and he goes free with nary a care and a federal pension .
It is indeed a portent of things to come : There are many more like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to burn everything down between now and November because he has nothing to lose .
His magical economy is shattered , people are dying , he 's losing support every day , and so he 's deploying his `` what do I have to lose ? ''
strategy , which is to snatch , grab and burn everything he can .

The DOJ has asked the judge to drop all charges against Michael Flynn, claiming that there was no legitimate investigative reason for them to interview him about the subjects he admitted to lying about.
In a 108-page document filed Thursday, the Justice Department said “after a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case, including newly discovered and disclosed information... the government has concluded that [Flynn’s interview by the FBI] was untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn” and that the interview on January 24, 2017 was “conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.”
Of course, people lie all the time about things like that, right? No. The autocracy has spoken and exonerated Flynn of a crime he confessed to. They just figured out a way to do it without having to have Trump issue a pardon. Bill Barr is just Trump's fixer these days.
Here is CNN reporter Shimon Prokupecz sorting out the Orwellian logic:
[DOJ] says that the Michael Flynn interview, remember that controversial interview of what really became controversial certainly under this Attorney General, they say that should never have taken place. It was covered extensively. I was covering the story with Michael Flynn, was arrested the morning he surrendered and remember when Michael Flynn pleaded guilty, decided to cooperate. The Department of Justice under this Attorney General Barr saying none of this should have happened, essentially, the FBI should have never interviewed Michael Flynn. They weren't justified to do the interview and therefore, now, this case, they can no longer go forward with this he cooperated with the government.
Apparently the fact that Flynn pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI and agreed to cooperate doesn't matter. Bill Barr and Donald Trump are determined to corrupt the justice system as completely as possible. And there's this, too:
I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Honig was furious.
The fix is in. This is an absolute injustice, but like Shimon said, you could see this coming. Michael Fynn lied to the FBI, he pled guilty under oath in federal court to doing that, he took a plea, and then what does Bill Barr do? He says of all the tens of thousands of cases he's been in charges of in the Department of Justice, look at that one. Let's take a closer look. Not coincidentally the one the president has railing on for months and years now, and now we see Bill Barr doing Donald Trump's dirty work. Now Donald Trump is not going to have to issue a pardon, because Bill Barr has stepped in and taken this really unprecedented step. I've never seen anything like this in my 14 years as a federal or state prosecutor.
There is some question about whether the judge could still sentence Flynn in spite of Barr's move, but it's unlikely. The more likely scenario is that Flynn's plea bargain is negated, the charges are dropped, and he goes free with nary a care and a federal pension.
Michael Flynn pleaded guilty. Twice. This is an absurd miscarriage of justice. https://t.co/BJWc9XG14s — Mike Quigley (@RepMikeQuigley) May 7, 2020
This is outrageous!
Flynn PLEADED GUILTY to lying to investigators. The evidence against him is overwhelming. Now, a politicized DOJ is dropping the case.
The decision to overrule the special counsel is without precedent and warrants an immediate explanation.
1/2 https://t.co/MxRyWkCMPw — (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) May 7, 2020
It is indeed a portent of things to come:
I think you have to see Bill Barr dropping charges against someone who already entered a guilty plea as a preview of what kind of abuses of power we’ll see as the election heats up this fall. — Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 7, 2020
Absolutely incredible. The only people who Bill Barr thinks are overprosecuted or shouldn’t be in prison are people who are in Trump’s favor. This is where the Justice Dept is focusing its energies — as Barr allows people to die in his prisons. https://t.co/9IdsDU0ZX5 — Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) May 7, 2020
They fired an admiral for trying to save his crew from Covid 19, yet let this treasonous General off on treason and lying to the FBI......#TrumpMadeUSaShitholeCountry — Connie Rodebaugh (@connie_rodeconn) May 7, 2020
The Flynn dismissal is a dark cloud that will hang over the DOJ until Jan. In looking for even the faintest of silver linings: the case against Flynn CAN be re-charged in Jan. when we have a law abiding President & a law-enforcing AG. Today is pitch dark. But #JusticeIsComing — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) May 7, 2020
There are many more like that. This is my take: Trump is going to burn everything down between now and November because he has nothing to lose. His magical economy is shattered, people are dying, he's losing support every day, and so he's deploying his "what do I have to lose?" strategy, which is to snatch, grab and burn everything he can.
UPDATE: Adam Schiff weighs in:


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--Trump's Personal Valet Has Tested Positive For COVID-19

COVID-19 has once again crept into Donald Trump ’ s personal circle .
You may recall back in early March , while the state of New York was already in a state of emergency , Donald Trump and his entourage went to Mar-a-Lago for a weekend of golf and conga lines , rubbing elbows with Brazil ’ s president and Fox News personalities , as well as top Senate sycophant , Lindsey Graham .
Graham , an aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and others tested positive after partying together at Mar-a-Lago .
Now another person close to Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the U.S. Navy who serves as a personal valet to Trump inside the White House and is responsible for serving Donald Trump his meals .
( Side note : How weird is it there is an elite Navy unit dedicated to being the president ’ s butlers ? )
CNN reports Trump was “ upset ” at the news and things were “ hitting the fan ” inside the White House .
Unlike some of the earlier exposures , this member of the U.S. Navy was said to be symptomatic when tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Pence and Trump have since tested negative .
The rub is the rapid tests for COVID-19 have 14.8 % rate of false negatives .
So , a negative test today does not necessarily mean a negative test tomorrow .
Knowing a member of Trump ’ s close circle has tested positive , let ’ s revisit his Tuesday trip to the Honeywell plant in Arizona where they have been making medical grade N95 masks for healthcare workers .
Photos and video emerged of Trump walking around the facility talking to workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per company policy .
But , there was Trump and his team , all refusing to wear masks .
And now we know Donald Trump and his crew potentially exposed these workers to COVID-19 .
NBC News has confirmed what we all suspected , Trump is refusing to wear a mask because he thinks it makes him look `` ridiculous . ''
This is , of course , an extreme example of both narcissism and toxic masculinity .
Donald Trump ’ s ego will not allow him to show any weakness and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are for the weak among us , not tough guys like Trump .
Even on Wednesday , the same day Trump ’ s valet tested positive , there he was in the White House for a photo op with medical personnel .
None of whom were wearing masks , none of whom were practicing proper social distancing .
There is no doubt they were pressured to relax these guidelines because of the president ’ s direction .
No question .
NBC also reports he thinks it will stymie efforts to “ reopen ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has told advisers that he believes wearing one would “ send the wrong message , ” according to one administration and two campaign officials not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations .
The president said doing so would make it seem like he is preoccupied with health instead of focused on reopening the nation ’ s economy — which his aides believe is the key to his reelection chances in November .
Today , America passed a very grim milestone as the death toll has surpassed 75,000 , up from 70,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s refusal to exercise every precaution , both in his own personal circle and in his messaging to the American people is why this body count is so high .
His refusal to wear a mask or to allow those around him to wear a mask endangers them all .
And his refusal to push for strict reopening guidelines endangers us all .
Four more years of Trump ?
I ’ m not sure the nation can sustain four more months .

COVID-19 has once again crept into Donald Trump’s personal circle. You may recall back in early March, while the state of New York was already in a state of emergency, Donald Trump and his entourage went to Mar-a-Lago for a weekend of golf and conga lines, rubbing elbows with Brazil’s president and Fox News personalities, as well as top Senate sycophant, Lindsey Graham. Graham, an aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and others tested positive after partying together at Mar-a-Lago.
Now another person close to Trump has tested positive, this time a member of the U.S. Navy who serves as a personal valet to Trump inside the White House and is responsible for serving Donald Trump his meals. (Side note: How weird is it there is an elite Navy unit dedicated to being the president’s butlers?)
CNN reports Trump was “upset” at the news and things were “hitting the fan” inside the White House. Unlike some of the earlier exposures, this member of the U.S. Navy was said to be symptomatic when tested.
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said both Pence and Trump have since tested negative. The rub is the rapid tests for COVID-19 have 14.8% rate of false negatives. So, a negative test today does not necessarily mean a negative test tomorrow.
Knowing a member of Trump’s close circle has tested positive, let’s revisit his Tuesday trip to the Honeywell plant in Arizona where they have been making medical grade N95 masks for healthcare workers. Photos and video emerged of Trump walking around the facility talking to workers, all of whom were wearing masks, per company policy.
But, there was Trump and his team, all refusing to wear masks. And now we know Donald Trump and his crew potentially exposed these workers to COVID-19. NBC News has confirmed what we all suspected, Trump is refusing to wear a mask because he thinks it makes him look "ridiculous." This is, of course, an extreme example of both narcissism and toxic masculinity. Donald Trump’s ego will not allow him to show any weakness and in his narcissistic, toxic mind, masks are for the weak among us, not tough guys like Trump.
Even on Wednesday, the same day Trump’s valet tested positive, there he was in the White House for a photo op with medical personnel. None of whom were wearing masks, none of whom were practicing proper social distancing. There is no doubt they were pressured to relax these guidelines because of the president’s direction. No question.
NBC also reports he thinks it will stymie efforts to “reopen” and therefore will hurt his reelection chances.
Trump has told advisers that he believes wearing one would “send the wrong message,” according to one administration and two campaign officials not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. The president said doing so would make it seem like he is preoccupied with health instead of focused on reopening the nation’s economy — which his aides believe is the key to his reelection chances in November.
Today, America passed a very grim milestone as the death toll has surpassed 75,000, up from 70,000 just two days ago. Donald Trump’s refusal to exercise every precaution, both in his own personal circle and in his messaging to the American people is why this body count is so high. His refusal to wear a mask or to allow those around him to wear a mask endangers them all. And his refusal to push for strict reopening guidelines endangers us all.
Four more years of Trump? I’m not sure the nation can sustain four more months.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--James Carville Outs Trump Campaign Grifters: They're In It For The Money

James Carville may not know everything , but he knows how campaign operatives behave .
And he knows a losing campaign where staffers have given up , too .
That 's the Trump campaign , in his eyes .
And he did n't sugarcoat it on Wednesday 's `` The 11th Hour '' : JAMES CARVILLE : His campaign manager ’ s got two condos , a Ferrari , a yacht , a Range Rover .
They ’ re all just fleecing the campaign .
It ’ s just about making money and they ’ re going in , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This whole thing is just like a crumbling empire right before your eyes .
Everybody is trying to take everything they can get on the way out and they ’ re trying to prop him up so they all can make money .
Carville is not making up the stuff about the luxury automobiles .
Huffpo reports : Brad Parscale , whom Trump named to run his 2020 effort in early 2018 , has already collected $ 38.9 million through his companies from Trump ’ s various reelection committees between January 2017 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings .
Gerrit Lansing ’ s payment processing company , which he started while a staffer at the National Republican Congressional Committee and continued to run while he worked at the Republican National Committee , has taken in $ 1.7 million .
Katie Walsh , briefly a Trump White House aide and a former RNC chief of staff , has received $ 877,424 through her firms .
And Richard Walters , who at age 30 is the current chief of staff , makes $ 244,943 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid an additional $ 135,000 through his own consulting firm .
Since the Trump presidency began , he has been paid a total of $ 755,324 .
For Parscale , who just a few years ago was designing websites in San Antonio for Trump ’ s properties , among other clients , the sudden wealth has afforded him a $ 2.4 million waterfront house in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , a pair of million-dollar condos , a brand new $ 400,000 boat , and another half-million dollars in luxury cars , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only thing Carville worries about is that Trump might interfere with the election itself .
PS .
This is how Brad Parscale is `` earning '' his paychecks :

James Carville may not know everything, but he knows how campaign operatives behave. And he knows a losing campaign where staffers have given up, too.
That's the Trump campaign, in his eyes. And he didn't sugarcoat it on Wednesday's "The 11th Hour":
JAMES CARVILLE: His campaign manager’s got two condos, a Ferrari, a yacht, a Range Rover. They’re all just fleecing the campaign. It’s just about making money and they’re going in, they’re giving him fake polls! This whole thing is just like a crumbling empire right before your eyes. Everybody is trying to take everything they can get on the way out and they’re trying to prop him up so they all can make money.
Carville is not making up the stuff about the luxury automobiles. Huffpo reports:
Brad Parscale, whom Trump named to run his 2020 effort in early 2018, has already collected $38.9 million through his companies from Trump’s various reelection committees between January 2017 and the end of March, according to a HuffPost analysis of Federal Election Commission filings. Gerrit Lansing’s payment processing company, which he started while a staffer at the National Republican Congressional Committee and continued to run while he worked at the Republican National Committee, has taken in $1.7 million. Katie Walsh, briefly a Trump White House aide and a former RNC chief of staff, has received $877,424 through her firms. And Richard Walters, who at age 30 is the current chief of staff, makes $244,943 a year in salary but last year was paid an additional $135,000 through his own consulting firm. Since the Trump presidency began, he has been paid a total of $755,324. For Parscale, who just a few years ago was designing websites in San Antonio for Trump’s properties, among other clients, the sudden wealth has afforded him a $2.4 million waterfront house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a pair of million-dollar condos, a brand new $400,000 boat, and another half-million dollars in luxury cars, including a Range Rover and a Ferrari.
The only thing Carville worries about is that Trump might interfere with the election itself.
PS. This is how Brad Parscale is "earning" his paychecks:


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--The Lincoln Project Shreds Martha McSally In New Ad

With any luck at all , Democrat Mark Kelly will soon start pulling away in the race for the senate seat from Arizona , and one less vermin will be in office .
I 'm not sure which is more effective , the standard 30-second spot , seen above , or the strange 6-second one seen below .
The ad is simply titled Why , as in why would you vote for someone who works for Donald Trump ?
Simple and effective messaging .
The Lincoln Project , a Republican super PAC partly run by George Conway , is targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a new attack ad , its first major foray into down-ballot races after a string of videos targeting President Trump .
The group , whose national profile has skyrocketed amid a longstanding public spat with Trump , accused McSally of being too close with the president and shirking the bipartisanship for which her predecessors garnered praise .
“ Martha McSally is no John McCain .
She ’ s no Barry Goldwater .
Martha McSally doesn ’ t deserve their seat in the U.S. Senate , ” a male narrator reads in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tarnished the strong and powerful leadership that came before her .
People like John McCain and Barry Goldwater have worked tirelessly for Arizonans and Martha McSally has only worked for Donald Trump , ” Jennifer Horn , co-founder of The Lincoln Project , added in a press release .

With any luck at all, Democrat Mark Kelly will soon start pulling away in the race for the senate seat from Arizona, and one less vermin will be in office.
I'm not sure which is more effective, the standard 30-second spot, seen above, or the strange 6-second one seen below. The ad is simply titled Why, as in why would you vote for someone who works for Donald Trump? Simple and effective messaging.
Source: The Hill
The Lincoln Project, a Republican super PAC partly run by George Conway, is targeting GOP Sen. Martha McSally (Ariz.) in a new attack ad, its first major foray into down-ballot races after a string of videos targeting President Trump. The group, whose national profile has skyrocketed amid a longstanding public spat with Trump, accused McSally of being too close with the president and shirking the bipartisanship for which her predecessors garnered praise. “Martha McSally is no John McCain. She’s no Barry Goldwater. Martha McSally doesn’t deserve their seat in the U.S. Senate,” a male narrator reads in the six-second clip. “Martha McSally has tarnished the strong and powerful leadership that came before her. People like John McCain and Barry Goldwater have worked tirelessly for Arizonans and Martha McSally has only worked for Donald Trump,” Jennifer Horn, co-founder of The Lincoln Project, added in a press release.
And the minimalist short version.


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--COVER UP:  Trump Tries To Shelve CDC Reopening Guidelines

He does understand when his buddies from the US Chamber of Commerce want zero liability and no OSHA protection for workers during the pandemic .
Trump also does n't understand the iron-clad rule of Monty Python and `` The Life of Brian '' : indicate to people that they ca n't or should n't have something , and they 'll fight like mad to get that very thing .
[ When the Monty Python movie `` Life of Brian '' was banned as blasphemous , it 's audience grew a hundredfold . ]
And now the so-called Trump White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how the nation should re-open safely and with a minimum amount of DEATH as the COVID pandemic continues .
It 's trending this morning on Twitter , the report has been leaked , and CNN International spent two segments on it so far .
The Associated Press has an exclusive on the report .
And ... the Associated Press has posted the entire report on that thing called the internet .
How 's that working out for you , Donnie ?
HALA GORANI , CNN : President Trump will not be adopting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 17-page document had been compiled at the request of a member of the president 's own coronavirus task force .
Nick Valencia is in Atlanta , the home of the CDC .
In fact .
Nick , this draft document has been under intense scrutiny over the last week or so at the White House .
The White House appears not to be willing to follow these guidelines .
What is this draft document suggest should be done in order to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic on public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus of intense debate over the course of the last week and according to a senior CDC official it has to do with the debate between the medical and economic advisers to the president .
Specifically over recommendations on businesses .
According to the senior CDC official , officials for the Department of Labor felt that the CDC recommendations that were drafted left the businesses here in America too vulnerable for -- to be sued by workers who may contract the virus at the workplace .
Also , point of contention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Human -- HHS here , in the United States , felt that they -- the recommendations were unfairly targeting faith-based organizations , churches , you know , this 17-page draft document we reported it last we can on CNN and it gives recommendations , again , not specific mandatory guidelines , but public health , sound public health advice from medical professionals who spent endless hours gathering this data on the request of the White House task force .
And really quick , ticking through some of the stuff we have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over this document for the last week : • guidelines for schools , spacing desks six feet apart , • canceling nonessential assemblies and churches , asking them to limit large gatherings .
But really according to the CDC source , they feel in their opinion a lot of this has to do over business recommendations and the liability that American businesses may have with these draft documents .
There was a pivot late last night as the White House made it very clear to the CDC they were not going to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing now because they feel as though this is very sound public health advice that should be used , they 're trying to go towards state agencies to get these recommendations implemented at the state level , but the White House pushing back saying , really that they were too specific and they ca n't be applied across the nation .
Hala ?
GORANI : What do the centers -- what does the CDC believe the impact , the effect will be of not following these guidelines on the overall death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US ?
VALENCIA : Simply put , they 're very frank , essentially saying their interpretation is that the White House is telling Americans not only do they have to be okay with workers getting sick , but with American workers dying just so they could have products like meat products .
There has been a lot of meetings recently between CEOs from meat plants , what they 're doing , there is an agency here under the Department of Labor called OSHA , which is essentially federal inspectors that go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being implemented .
OSHA for whatever reason has said they are not going to enforce or make these businesses in America enforce CDC recommendations .
There is a lot of frustration , anger , this is not surprising , though , to the officials I 've been talking to over the course of the last eight weeks .
There has been a lot of friction between the CDC and the White House , we heard from White House officials saying they have problems with some of the work output at the CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in these matters saying that at this point , they 're used to dealing with the White House that asks them to do things and then chaos ensues .
They 're giving a very stark and sort of ominous warning that people will die if these recommendations are n't adhered to .
GORANI : Thanks very much .
Nick Valencia with the view from the CDC .

Donald Trump doesn't understand things like "alarmed civil servants," and "media back-channels."
He does understand when his buddies from the US Chamber of Commerce want zero liability and no OSHA protection for workers during the pandemic.
But here's another thing.
Trump also doesn't understand the iron-clad rule of Monty Python and "The Life of Brian": indicate to people that they can't or shouldn't have something, and they'll fight like mad to get that very thing.
[When the Monty Python movie "Life of Brian" was banned as blasphemous, it's audience grew a hundredfold.]
And now the so-called Trump White House has tried to shelve a seventeen-page report on how the nation should re-open safely and with a minimum amount of DEATH as the COVID pandemic continues.
It's trending this morning on Twitter, the report has been leaked, and CNN International spent two segments on it so far.
The Associated Press has an exclusive on the report.
It was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told the guidance “would never see the light of day,” according to a CDC official. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
And... the Associated Press has posted the entire report on that thing called the internet.
How's that working out for you, Donnie?


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--Shorter Trump:  'Happy Nurses Day, You're Wrong, Be Quiet'

On top of everything else and his utter failure in this crisis , Donald Trump is a jerk .
In an Oval Office ceremony designed to HONOR NURSES on National Nurses Day , Donald Trump got huffy when one of the nurses attending mentioned that , yeah , PPE is important and she needs more of it .
CNN : '' I think [ availability of PPE is ] sporadic , '' answered Sophia L. Thomas , president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners .
`` I mean , I talk to my colleagues around the country .
Certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE is not ideal , but this is an unprecedented time . ''
`` The infection control measures that we learned back when we went to school , one gown and one mask for one patient per day -- this is a different time , '' she said , adding that she has been reusing a single N95 mask for `` a few weeks now . ''
`` PPE has been sporadic , but it 's been manageable .
And we do what we have to do , '' Thomas said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adapt and do whatever we can do for our patients to get the job done and the care provided , and that 's what we will continue to do as Covid-19 continues . ''
President Sudafed could n't handle a woman having the microphone for that long and being more fact-based and eloquent than he .
`` Sporadic for you but not sporadic for a lot of other people , '' he said .
She did not make him EAT her used N95 mask .
More 's the pity .

On top of everything else and his utter failure in this crisis, Donald Trump is a jerk.
In an Oval Office ceremony designed to HONOR NURSES on National Nurses Day, Donald Trump got huffy when one of the nurses attending mentioned that, yeah, PPE is important and she needs more of it. CNN:
"I think [availability of PPE is] sporadic," answered Sophia L. Thomas, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. "I mean, I talk to my colleagues around the country. Certainly there are pockets around the country where PPE is not ideal, but this is an unprecedented time." "The infection control measures that we learned back when we went to school, one gown and one mask for one patient per day -- this is a different time," she said, adding that she has been reusing a single N95 mask for "a few weeks now." "PPE has been sporadic, but it's been manageable. And we do what we have to do," Thomas said. "We are nurses and we learn to adapt and do whatever we can do for our patients to get the job done and the care provided, and that's what we will continue to do as Covid-19 continues."
President Sudafed couldn't handle a woman having the microphone for that long and being more fact-based and eloquent than he.
"Sporadic for you but not sporadic for a lot of other people," he said.
She did not make him EAT her used N95 mask. More's the pity.


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--Everything Trump Touches Dies. This Time, He Plans To Kill The Postal Service

Dear sweet baby Jesus , when do we get to wake up from this nightmare ?
Via the Washington Post : A top donor to President Trump and the Republican National Committee will be named the new head of the Postal Service , putting a top ally of the president in charge of an agency where Trump has long pressed for major changes in how it handles its business .
The Postal Service ’ s board of governors confirmed late Wednesday that Louis DeJoy , a North Carolina businessman who is currently in charge of fundraising for the Republican National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new postmaster general .
The action will install a stalwart Trump ally to lead the Postal Service , which he has railed against for years , and probably move him closer than ever before to forcing the service to renegotiate its terms with companies and its own union workforce .
Trump ’ s Treasury Department and the Postal Service are in the midst of a negotiation over a $ 10 billion line of credit approved as part of coronavirus legislation in March .
The Postal Service is in a fight for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top will be holding the knife .
It was always meant to be a national service , not a profitable entity .
And despite all the crazy restrictions put on their budget by the Republicans , it still functions .
Where would we be without the U.S. mail during this pandemic ?
( For one thing , it 's how many of us are getting prescriptions . )
What 's really crazy is , raising the prices on packaging will suppress the economy .
You 're a lot less likely to click @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 15 shipping charge .
Who am I kidding ?
We all know the real reason is stopping mail-in ballots .

Dear sweet baby Jesus, when do we get to wake up from this nightmare? Via the Washington Post:
A top donor to President Trump and the Republican National Committee will be named the new head of the Postal Service, putting a top ally of the president in charge of an agency where Trump has long pressed for major changes in how it handles its business. The Postal Service’s board of governors confirmed late Wednesday that Louis DeJoy, a North Carolina businessman who is currently in charge of fundraising for the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, will serve as the new postmaster general. The action will install a stalwart Trump ally to lead the Postal Service, which he has railed against for years, and probably move him closer than ever before to forcing the service to renegotiate its terms with companies and its own union workforce. Trump’s Treasury Department and the Postal Service are in the midst of a negotiation over a $10 billion line of credit approved as part of coronavirus legislation in March.
The Postal Service is in a fight for its life, and now the person at the top will be holding the knife.
It was always meant to be a national service, not a profitable entity. And despite all the crazy restrictions put on their budget by the Republicans, it still functions. Where would we be without the U.S. mail during this pandemic? (For one thing, it's how many of us are getting prescriptions.)
What's really crazy is, raising the prices on packaging will suppress the economy. You're a lot less likely to click on that impulse buy when you see a $15 shipping charge.
Who am I kidding? We all know the real reason is stopping mail-in ballots.
For decades this has been a non partisan post filled from the ranks. With vote by mail so crucial this year, this is an attack on our democracy/ Top RNC fundraiser and Trump ally named postmaster general, giving president new influence over Postal Service. https://t.co/KmT4px902a — Donna Deegan (@DonnaDeegan) May 7, 2020
America, the postal service as we know it was just terminated. This White House will now speed up the shut down before the election. FYI MAGA voters, this will matter to you. Your guy continues to give the 🖕to you.https://t.co/ZaB83gNycD — Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 6, 2020
Here we go. Goddamnit. Just as there is a need for significantly increased vote by mail: ⬇
“Top Republican fundraiser and Trump ally named postmaster general, giving president new influence over Postal Service.” https://t.co/KiEjVdxoJR — Jennifer Cohn ✍🏻 (@jennycohn1) May 7, 2020
It is time for @realDonaldTrump to listen to the 92% of voters who want full federal funding for the Postal Service.
The Post Office is delivering medicine to millions of Americans during a pandemic. We will not allow it to be bankrupted or privatized. https://t.co/W5jF84uGSF — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 6, 2020
Exclusive: A coalition of online retailers backed by Amazon is launching a $2+ mil ad blitz opposing Trump’s demand that the Postal Service ratchet up its package delivery rates 4x to avoid bankruptcy.
First ads on Hannity and Rush.https://t.co/QMh7GCIjBa — Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) May 6, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-05-07--BOMBSHELL: Colorado GOP Chair Ordered Volunteer To CHANGE Primary Election Results

“ How in the heck is the Republican Party going to go out and say we ’ re for the rule of law except when it applies to us — we can do whatever we want to ?
” Bremer said .
“ That ’ s not my Republican Party.
” Hahahaha !
I 'm laughing so hard , let me catch my breath .
Because it sure sounds like the Republican party I know !
Ken Buck , the Trump-loving congressman from Colorado , is also his state 's GOP chair .
Via the Denver Post : At issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 seat currently held by Sen. Owen Hill , who ’ s term-limited .
State Rep. Larry Liston and GOP activist David Stiver both ran for it .
To qualify for the November ballot via the caucus and assembly process , a candidate must receive 30 % of the vote from Republicans within the district .
During a district assembly in March , Liston received 75 % of the vote and Stiver just 24 % , according to documents filed later in Denver District Court .
Stiver complained the election was unfair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state central committee , which agreed , Buck said in an interview Wednesday .
The party 's central committee voted in the conference call to settle the matter by putting Stiver on the ballot .
But district chair Eli Bremer balked at the order .
“ Do you understand the order of the executive committee and the central committee that you will submit the paperwork to include Mr. Stiver and Mr. Liston on the ballot , with Mr. Liston receiving the top-line vote ?
” Buck said on the call .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the central committee has adopted a resolution that requires me to sign a false affidavit to the state , ” Bremer replied .
“ And will you do so ?
” Buck said .
Bremer : “ I will seek legal counsel as I am being asked to sign an affidavit that states Mr. Stiver received 30 % of the vote .
I need to seek legal counsel to find out if I am putting myself in jeopardy of a misdemeanor for doing that .
” Buck : “ And you understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central committee that you do so ?
” Bremer : “ I will consult with counsel .
Yes , sir , I understand the central committee has ordered me to sign an affidavit stating that a candidate got 30 % who did not .
And I will seek legal counsel and determine if I am legally able to follow that.
” Bremer refused .
A friendly lawsuit was filed to support him , and the judge ruled Monday that any certificate of designation filed with the Secretary of State ’ s Office showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law -- because he did not receive at least 30 % of the district ’ s votes .
Here 's the kind of Republican Ken Buck is : Rules are for the little people .
Ken Buck is a Republican , damn it !

“How in the heck is the Republican Party going to go out and say we’re for the rule of law except when it applies to us — we can do whatever we want to?” Bremer said. “That’s not my Republican Party.”
Hahahaha! I'm laughing so hard, let me catch my breath. Because it sure sounds like the Republican party I know!
Ken Buck, the Trump-loving congressman from Colorado, is also his state's GOP chair. Via the Denver Post:
At issue is the Republican primary for the District 10 seat currently held by Sen. Owen Hill, who’s term-limited. State Rep. Larry Liston and GOP activist David Stiver both ran for it. To qualify for the November ballot via the caucus and assembly process, a candidate must receive 30% of the vote from Republicans within the district. During a district assembly in March, Liston received 75% of the vote and Stiver just 24%, according to documents filed later in Denver District Court. Stiver complained the election was unfair, and the issue was taken up with the state central committee, which agreed, Buck said in an interview Wednesday.
The party's central committee voted in the conference call to settle the matter by putting Stiver on the ballot. But district chair Eli Bremer balked at the order.
“Do you understand the order of the executive committee and the central committee that you will submit the paperwork to include Mr. Stiver and Mr. Liston on the ballot, with Mr. Liston receiving the top-line vote?” Buck said on the call. “Uh, yes, sir, I understand the central committee has adopted a resolution that requires me to sign a false affidavit to the state,” Bremer replied. “And will you do so?” Buck said. Bremer: “I will seek legal counsel as I am being asked to sign an affidavit that states Mr. Stiver received 30% of the vote. I need to seek legal counsel to find out if I am putting myself in jeopardy of a misdemeanor for doing that. ” Buck: “And you understand that it is the order of the central committee that you do so?” Bremer: “I will consult with counsel. Yes, sir, I understand the central committee has ordered me to sign an affidavit stating that a candidate got 30% who did not. And I will seek legal counsel and determine if I am legally able to follow that.”
Bremer refused. A friendly lawsuit was filed to support him, and the judge ruled Monday that any certificate of designation filed with the Secretary of State’s Office showing Stiver as a candidate would violate state law -- because he did not receive at least 30% of the district’s votes.
Here's the kind of Republican Ken Buck is:
I SWEAR I COULD NOT MAKE THIS UP.
Ken Buck called the federal bill that contains stuff like automatic voter registration an attempt to "steal our elections and skew those rules" JUST LAST YEAR. 🤦♂ pic.twitter.com/HAKDYueHbt — Taniel (@Taniel) May 7, 2020
The soul of the GOP. Or lack thereof.
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO):
“...a lot of hype about fatalities. I don’t know anybody that wants to be the person who says, '33,000 deaths is okay, but 100,000 is not acceptable.' But that’s what officials are elected to do.” https://t.co/DaI4mqieRZ — Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 15, 2020
Ken Buck sent a strong message to the gun-grabbing Beto. https://t.co/agkObUPVbQ — Gun Owners of America (@GunOwners) March 13, 2020
Rules are for the little people. Ken Buck is a Republican, damn it!


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Is The Fauci ‘Sexual Assault’ Smear Tied To Trump?

Reason has a deep dive into the allegations against Fauci by Diana Andrade aka Diana Rodriguez that she now says she was paid to make about a man she has never met .
The guys who got her to do it were Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman .
For those lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the exploits of Wohl and Burkman , they are pro-Trump provocateurs who 've found a niche drumming up fake sexual harassment allegations that end comically badly , including against former FBI Director Robert Mueller ( who turned out to have been serving jury duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed the assault ) and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( the press conference for which took place on Burkman 's stoop , and whose supposed victim was a 24-year-old Marine ) .
Andrade , who now regrets her accusation , taped a call with the two provacateurs in order to expose them .
Reason author Nancy Rommelmann described the part of the tape in which Andrade discusses the money she received : She says she 's uncomfortable with the money they gave her , some guy showing up , claiming to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cap .
`` Is he even a real lawyer ? ''
she asks .
`` I looked him up . ''
`` Yeah , he 's a real lawyer , '' Wohl says .
`` He 's a good lawyer , '' and then goes on to brag about that lawyer 's White House connections .
It 's possible that a White House–connected lawyer might have hand-delivered five figures in cash to Andrade in Los Angeles .
It 's also possible Wohl made up the whole thing .
But she says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Burkman are clearly eager to imply that they are intimate with Team Trump .
What Rommelman didn ’ t mention is that the “ White House-connected lawyer ” was supposedly Charles Harder , Trump ’ s personal and campaign attorney .
Reporter Zachary Petrizzo , of the Daily Dot , which had previously debunked the sexual assault claim , tweeted a snippet of the discussion that explicitly names Harder as the attorney .
I ’ m not sure whether it ’ s Burkman or Wohl who ’ s speaking but in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything for the White House in L.A .
Anything in L.A. he handles.
” The other guys later says , Harder ’ s “ the one who brought you the cash , correct ?
And he did it personally ?
” Personally , I find it hard to believe Harder would play bagman for such a scheme .
But I also wonder why Burkman and Wohl would want to falsely implicate him .
In any event , the audio is now out there and we can let the Trumpers explain themselves .

Reason has a deep dive into the allegations against Fauci by Diana Andrade aka Diana Rodriguez that she now says she was paid to make about a man she has never met. The guys who got her to do it were Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman.
For those lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the exploits of Wohl and Burkman, they are pro-Trump provocateurs who've found a niche drumming up fake sexual harassment allegations that end comically badly, including against former FBI Director Robert Mueller (who turned out to have been serving jury duty the day he was supposed to have committed the assault) and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren (the press conference for which took place on Burkman's stoop, and whose supposed victim was a 24-year-old Marine).
Andrade, who now regrets her accusation, taped a call with the two provacateurs in order to expose them. Reason author Nancy Rommelmann described the part of the tape in which Andrade discusses the money she received:
She says she's uncomfortable with the money they gave her, some guy showing up, claiming to be a lawyer, with his face hidden by a cap.
"Is he even a real lawyer?" she asks. "I looked him up."
"Yeah, he's a real lawyer," Wohl says. "He's a good lawyer," and then goes on to brag about that lawyer's White House connections.
It's possible that a White House–connected lawyer might have hand-delivered five figures in cash to Andrade in Los Angeles. It's also possible Wohl made up the whole thing. But she says she did get the money, and Wohl and Burkman are clearly eager to imply that they are intimate with Team Trump.
What Rommelman didn’t mention is that the “White House-connected lawyer” was supposedly Charles Harder, Trump’s personal and campaign attorney.
Reporter Zachary Petrizzo, of the Daily Dot, which had previously debunked the sexual assault claim, tweeted a snippet of the discussion that explicitly names Harder as the attorney.
I’m not sure whether it’s Burkman or Wohl who’s speaking but in the audio, one says Harder “coordinates everything for the White House in L.A. Anything in L.A. he handles.”
The other guys later says, Harder’s “the one who brought you the cash, correct? And he did it personally?”
Andrade replies, “I guess. I mean, I don’t know.”
Personally, I find it hard to believe Harder would play bagman for such a scheme. But I also wonder why Burkman and Wohl would want to falsely implicate him.
In any event, the audio is now out there and we can let the Trumpers explain themselves.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Trump's Message To Moms On Mother's Day: We Have A Great Military

Donald Trump joined his favorite morning state-sponsored television program Fox and Friends for an exclusive interview this morning and as usual those being paid to exalt and glorify Trump , it was as servile and dutiful as possible .
As Mediaite 's Aidan McLaughlin wrote , not a word was spoken about the coronavirus , but there was a lot of fawning and Michael Flynn braggadocio .
Trump 's narcissism is so great that when he was asked to give his Mother 's Day message to all the moms tuning in , he could n't and had to be prodded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get him to even say `` Happy Mother 's Day . ''
Ainsley asked if he had `` a message for all the moms , '' and Trump started by saying how wonderful Camp David is and then said , `` And our military never looked better , it 's never been better . ''
Instead of trying to calm and congratulate mothers around the country , Trump went on to give a rudimentary ( if you can call it that ) rundown of the military equipment funded during his reign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Day .
The U.S. and the world is in the midst of a pandemic , the likes of which we have n't seen for over 100 years and the best message Trump can send to the moms of America who are suffering through this is to brag about a military buildup ?
Did the US just declare war against China and Iran ?
Mother 's Day is a celebration of being a mother , not the glorification of F 35s and F-18s .
After 60 seconds of his moronic promotion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get Trump to give a shout out to the moms on Mother 's Day .
Even then he could n't really do it .

Donald Trump joined his favorite morning state-sponsored television program Fox and Friends for an exclusive interview this morning and as usual those being paid to exalt and glorify Trump, it was as servile and dutiful as possible.
As Mediaite's Aidan McLaughlin wrote, not a word was spoken about the coronavirus, but there was a lot of fawning and Michael Flynn braggadocio.
Trump's narcissism is so great that when he was asked to give his Mother's Day message to all the moms tuning in, he couldn't and had to be prodded a second time by host Ainsley Earhardt to get him to even say "Happy Mother's Day."
Ainsley asked if he had "a message for all the moms," and Trump started by saying how wonderful Camp David is and then said, "And our military never looked better, it's never been better."
Instead of trying to calm and congratulate mothers around the country, Trump went on to give a rudimentary (if you can call it that) rundown of the military equipment funded during his reign of terror without the slightest thought about Mother's Day.
Here's the transcript of the president's remarks when asked about Mother's Day. pic.twitter.com/2c6P7Q6v7W — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) May 8, 2020
The U.S. and the world is in the midst of a pandemic, the likes of which we haven't seen for over 100 years and the best message Trump can send to the moms of America who are suffering through this is to brag about a military buildup?
Did the US just declare war against China and Iran?
Mother's Day is a celebration of being a mother, not the glorification of F 35s and F-18s.
After 60 seconds of his moronic promotion of the military, Ainsley came back again trying to get Trump to give a shout out to the moms on Mother's Day. Even then he couldn't really do it.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Sen. Kamala Harris Flames Trump And Barr For Dropping Flynn Charges During Pandemic

Senator Kamala Harris is NOT HAPPY with Bill Barr 's professional choices .
Suffice it to say , she has had his number from the very start , when he exhibited a strange sort of amnesia about what the word `` suggest '' means during his confirmation hearing .
Kamala `` Hinted ?
Inferred ?
You do n't know . ''
Harris had some thoughts for the brazenly corrupt , slavish attorney general and his master Trump yesterday when she appeared on Nicolle Wallace 's Deadline White House .
Wallace and Sen. Harris spent a good deal of time discussing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this COVID-19 crisis : unemployment and hunger .
Unemployment now stands at nearly 15 % and there is a devastating , worsening hunger crisis facing America 's children : nearly 20 % are going hungry .
Wallace asked Sen. Harris what she makes of all our nation has been through in the last two months , the senator set it up in stark contrast to the profoundly f*cked up priorities of this administration — specifically the DOJ dropping charges against Michael Flynn , who admitted he lied to the FBI .
SEN. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart .
I know it does that for all of us .
People are suffering right now .
People are hungry .
They 're standing in lines .
There is a hunger crisis in America right now , and we need to come to terms with this and this is again where we need a commander-in-chief who takes on the responsibility of lifting up the American people and meeting their needs while in this crisis people are suffering literally to get food to feed their families .
The fact that in America today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is our crisis is unconscionable and it requires all leaders to step up and focus on what is important today .
It 's not letting somebody like Flynn off , who pled guilty because he IS guilty .
It 's about having people in a position of leadership who are addressing the needs of people who are suffering in America today .
The coincidence that this happened , that the Department of Justice does this on the same day that the most recent unemployment numbers come out , on the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in five mothers is explaining that their children are hungry , talk about misplaced priorities .
It is about an abject failure of leadership , abandonment of leadership when the American people need their government the most .
Keep holding their feet to fire , Senator .

Senator Kamala Harris is NOT HAPPY with Bill Barr's professional choices. Suffice it to say, she has had his number from the very start, when he exhibited a strange sort of amnesia about what the word "suggest" means during his confirmation hearing. Kamala "Hinted? Inferred? You don't know." Harris had some thoughts for the brazenly corrupt, slavish attorney general and his master Trump yesterday when she appeared on Nicolle Wallace's Deadline White House.
Wallace and Sen. Harris spent a good deal of time discussing the tragic, yet avoidable, fallout from this COVID-19 crisis: unemployment and hunger. Unemployment now stands at nearly 15% and there is a devastating, worsening hunger crisis facing America's children: nearly 20% are going hungry.
Wallace asked Sen. Harris what she makes of all our nation has been through in the last two months, the senator set it up in stark contrast to the profoundly f*cked up priorities of this administration — specifically the DOJ dropping charges against Michael Flynn, who admitted he lied to the FBI.
SEN. HARRIS: Honestly, it breaks my heart. I know it does that for all of us. People are suffering right now. People are hungry. They're standing in lines. There is a hunger crisis in America right now, and we need to come to terms with this and this is again where we need a commander-in-chief who takes on the responsibility of lifting up the American people and meeting their needs while in this crisis people are suffering literally to get food to feed their families. The fact that in America today we have so many hungry people and that this is our crisis is unconscionable and it requires all leaders to step up and focus on what is important today. It's not letting somebody like Flynn off, who pled guilty because he IS guilty. It's about having people in a position of leadership who are addressing the needs of people who are suffering in America today. The coincidence that this happened, that the Department of Justice does this on the same day that the most recent unemployment numbers come out, on the same day that we have a report that one in five mothers is explaining that their children are hungry, talk about misplaced priorities. It is about an abject failure of leadership, abandonment of leadership when the American people need their government the most.
Keep holding their feet to fire, Senator.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Megyn Kelly’s Interview With Tara Reade Looks Like A Fox News Audition Reel

If you remember Kelly from her early days at Fox News , when she was Megyn Kendall , you may recall that her seemingly dogged investigation of the accuser in the Duke Lacrosse rape case , that often came straight from the defense attorneys , set her star rising at Fox .
But if Kelly is half as concerned with the dizzying array of inconsistencies and reversals in the Reade case as she seemed to be in the Duke case , she ’ s keeping it to herself so far .
The first of two clips Kelly released to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interview : Tara Reade responds to Joe Biden ; calls for him to drop out.
” That ’ s the big news from it , folks .
Nothing about why Reade decided to sit down with Kelly after claiming security concerns made her cancel an interview with Fox News ' Chris Wallace – right after Biden called on the National Archives to release any complaint about him from Reade nor why she subsequently revealed she never alleged harassment or assault in her complaint .
Kelly didn ’ t even mention Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , she noted that Biden has said women should start off with the presumption that they ’ re telling the truth when they allege sexual abuse , then asked pointedly , “ Do you think he ’ s afforded you that presumption ?
” That provided a series of predictable , Fox-friendly , anti-Biden soundbites , including Reade ’ s call for Biden “ to be held accountable.
” Throughout , Kelly nodded with predictable , Fox-friendly looks of sympathy .
It all concluded with Kelly saying , “ You want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I wish he would , but he won ’ t ” followed by the not-so-hard-hitting query , “ Do you want an apology ?
” Reade replied , “ It ’ s a little late , ” and clip over .
The other clip was just as Fox-friendly and uninformative .
In that one , Kelly gave the appearance of being a hard-nosed reporter while she outsourced all the work to someone else .
“ Does [ Biden ] get the chance to defend himself and vet these claims ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the complaint thingy .
“ Would you go under oath [ and submit to ] cross examination ?
” Reade replied , “ Absolutely.
” Reade was not so gung ho about taking a polygraph .
“ I ’ m not a criminal , ” she said .
“ Joe Biden should take the polygraph.
” But in a few moments , she said she ’ d take one if Biden did .
“ But I ’ m not a criminal , ” Reade added .
And that was the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sherman , Kelly wants to return to Fox News .
Sherman also reported that Fox does not want her back .
Will this interview change minds ?
Get Kelly a job at another conservative outlet ?
Stay tuned .

If you remember Kelly from her early days at Fox News, when she was Megyn Kendall, you may recall that her seemingly dogged investigation of the accuser in the Duke Lacrosse rape case, that often came straight from the defense attorneys, set her star rising at Fox.
But if Kelly is half as concerned with the dizzying array of inconsistencies and reversals in the Reade case as she seemed to be in the Duke case, she’s keeping it to herself so far.
The first of two clips Kelly released to the public is called, “The MK Interview: Tara Reade responds to Joe Biden; calls for him to drop out.” That’s the big news from it, folks. Nothing about why Reade decided to sit down with Kelly after claiming security concerns made her cancel an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace – right after Biden called on the National Archives to release any complaint about him from Reade nor why she subsequently revealed she never alleged harassment or assault in her complaint.
Kelly didn’t even mention Biden’s request for the complaint in the clip. Instead, she noted that Biden has said women should start off with the presumption that they’re telling the truth when they allege sexual abuse, then asked pointedly, “Do you think he’s afforded you that presumption?”
That provided a series of predictable, Fox-friendly, anti-Biden soundbites, including Reade’s call for Biden “to be held accountable.” Throughout, Kelly nodded with predictable, Fox-friendly looks of sympathy. It all concluded with Kelly saying, “You want him to withdraw” and Reade replying, “I wish he would, but he won’t” followed by the not-so-hard-hitting query, “Do you want an apology?” Reade replied, “It’s a little late,” and clip over.
The other clip was just as Fox-friendly and uninformative. In that one, Kelly gave the appearance of being a hard-nosed reporter while she outsourced all the work to someone else. “Does [Biden] get the chance to defend himself and vet these claims?” Kelly asked, still without mentioning anything about the complaint thingy. “Would you go under oath [and submit to] cross examination?” Reade replied, “Absolutely.” Reade was not so gung ho about taking a polygraph. “I’m not a criminal,” she said. “Joe Biden should take the polygraph.” But in a few moments, she said she’d take one if Biden did. “But I’m not a criminal,” Reade added.
And that was the end of the other teaser.
According to Gabriel Sherman, Kelly wants to return to Fox News. Sherman also reported that Fox does not want her back. Will this interview change minds? Get Kelly a job at another conservative outlet? Stay tuned.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Pence Spokesman Katie Miller Tests Positive For COVID (Updated)

UPDATE : The staffer who tested positive for COVID-19 is Katie Miller , wife of Stephen Miller .
Here she @ @ @ @ @ while talking to reporters at Pence 's PPE delivery event Thursday : Uh oh .
@ @ @ @ @ has tested positive for coronavirus .
This is someone who was on Pence 's flight @ @ @ @ @ were part of the photo op yesterday distributing supplies ?
And Trump 's reaction is @ @ @ @ @ might contact it .

UPDATE: The staffer who tested positive for COVID-19 is Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller.
Here she is NOT wearing a mask while talking to reporters at Pence's PPE delivery event Thursday:
@VPPressSec Katie Miller is seen talking with members of the media yesterday at @VP Mike Pence’s PPE delivery event. Miller has reportedly tested positive for #Covid_19 #coronavirus #Miller pic.twitter.com/RainyttxXb — Leah Millis (@LeahMillis) May 8, 2020
Twitter had thoughts:
I guess I don’t need to comment on the irony of Stephen Miller’s wife having COVID after he used it as an excuse to close the borders — Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) May 8, 2020
Stephen Miller's wife has tested positive for coronavirus. Further proof that it jumps from bats to humans. — Jon Zal (@OfficialJonZal) May 8, 2020
FWIW, Stephen Miller is probably fine — there’s no reported human to vampire transmission — Angry Staffer (@AngrierWHStaff) May 8, 2020
------
Uh oh. A second White House staffer has tested positive for coronavirus. This is someone who was on Pence's flight to Iowa. Maybe they were part of the photo op yesterday distributing supplies?
NEWS: Pence flight to Iowa delayed an hour after a staffer tested positive for coronavirus, I’m told. Some aides disembarked AF2. Wheels up now for Iowa. — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 8, 2020
Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst and US Ag Sec Sonny Perdue on AF2 from DC to Iowa today. pic.twitter.com/Xgb6L7OVmU — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 8, 2020
And Trump's reaction is that he's mad HE might contact it.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Dispatches From The American Idiocracy: 'Plandemic' Edition

This is the # 1 book on the Amazon bestseller list right now : The premise of the book seems ... apocalyptic : With the brilliant wit one might expect if Erin Brockovich had a doctorate in molecular biology , Dr. Mikovits has seen the best and worst of science .
When she was part of the research community that turned HIV-AIDS from a fatal disease into a manageable one , she saw science at its best .
But when her investigations questioned whether the use of animal tissue in medical research were unleashing devastating plagues of chronic diseases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she saw science at its worst .
If her suspicions are correct , we are looking at a complete realignment of scientific practices , including how we study and treat human disease .
Now , let 's find out about the people responsible for the book .
You know about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , who wrote the foreword -- he 's a well-known anti-vaxxer , and even his own relatives are disgusted by him .
But what about the authors of the book ?
The site for Plandemic describes the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
People are being arrested for surfing in the ocean and meditating in nature .
Nations are collapsing .
Hungry citizens are rioting for food .
The media has generated so much confusion and fear that people are begging for salvation in a syringe .
Billionaire patent owners are pushing for globally mandated vaccines .
Anyone who refuses to be injected with experimental poisons will be prohibited from travel , education and work .
No , this is not a synopsis for a new horror movie .
This is our current reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders of world health predicted millions would die .
The National Guard was deployed .
Makeshift hospitals were erected to care for a massive overflow of patients .
Mass graves were dug .
Terrifying news reports had people everywhere seeking shelter to avoid contact .
The plan was unfolding with diabolical precision , but the masters of the Pandemic underestimated one thing ... the people .
Medical professionals and every-day citizens are sharing critical information online .
The overlords of big tech have ordered all dissenting voices to be silenced and banned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slumbering masses are awake and aware that something is not right .
Quarantine has provided the missing element : time .
Suddenly , our overworked citizenry has ample time to research and investigate for themselves .
Once you see , you can ’ t unsee .
Snopes responds to a rumor that Mikovits `` was thrown in jail after she refused to discredit research that led to the discovery that deadly retroviruses have been transmitted through vaccines . ''
This claim is rated false .
She was arrested in 2011 , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a computer , and other material from the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno , Nevada , after the WPI fired her.
” She was fired after a paper she coauthored alleging a connection between a mouse retrovirus and chronic fatigue syndrome was partially retracted by the authors and then fully retracted by the publisher , Science magazine , after other researchers were unable to replicate the results .
She is now a celebrity on the anti-vaxx circuit and a sworn enemy of Dr. Anthony Fauci .
As for Kent Heckenlively , here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Loons : Kent Heckenlively is an antivaxxer who writes for the crank propaganda site Age of Autism , and is generally known for having taken his autistic daughter to Costa Rica for stem cell quackery and for subjecting her to all manner of biomedical woo .
He is , in other words , deeply steeped in woo , and got his test results for his daughter from Doctor ’ sData , the favored laboratory of dubious practitioners everywhere because of its lax methodology and tendency to find high levels of mercury and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sample .
Heckenlively is also known for his participation in chelation-provoked urine testing for mercury – which is guaranteed to cause the excretion of a lot of mercury in a normal person – so that the test results would not be in conflict with his already formed opinion about the causes of autism .
Of course , the fact that his daughter did not improve made Heckenlively ask a lot of questions ; unfortunately none of them included the question of whether his beliefs about the causes and treatments of autism corresponded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to be that the XMRV retrovirus is the cause of autism ( presumably in combination with heavy metals ) , in part because Judy Mikovits famously linked the retrovirus to the chronic fatigue syndrom in an appalling example of shoddy and possibly fraudulent research , and combined it with complete crank behavior that eventually got her fired .
Therefore there must apparently be some truth to her claims .
Here 's a sympathetic bio of Heckenlively on the site of a radio show on which he appeared as a guest : Kent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , author , and father of a daughter with autism .
He is a founding contributing editor of the website Age of Autism and his work can regularly be found on The Bolen Report .
In 2017 he was banned for three years from traveling to Australia for a planned lecture series on corruption at the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) .
In 2018 , his articles at The Bolen Report are regularly shadow-banned by Facebook , so we can only imagine what kind of trouble he ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The book comes with recommendations from Michelle Malkin ( `` Anthony Fauci , Bill Gates and Big Pharma do n't want you to read this book .
Get PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION now and learn the truth about public health industrial complex 's decades of research fraud and vaccine cover-ups '' ) and Ben Garrison , `` America 's # 1 political satirist '' ( “ Kent Heckenlively and Judy Mikovits are the new dynamic duo fighting corruption in science . ''
) At a time when we need solid science more than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book .
If America is n't an idiocracy yet , it 's not for lack of effort on the part of many of our fellow citizens .
UPDATE : Will Sommer of the Daily Beast has much more .
A sample : Millions of Americans have been exposed to “ Plandemic , ” a 22-minute conspiracy theory documentary about the coronavirus that racked up millions of views on Facebook and YouTube before it was banned from both sites .
In the video , controversial scientist Dr. Judy Mikovits , a close associate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging a government conspiracy to create the coronavirus , with Anthony Fauci as a kind of murderous puppetmaster behind it all ... .
In “ Plandemic , ” Mikovits ... claim [ s ] that the coronavirus was somehow cooked up in collusion between United States government labs and Chinese researchers .
A narrator voice-over suggests Fauci was somehow involved in the scheme ... .
Mikovits makes other bizarre claims that are barely remarked upon in the documentary .
She says that lockdown orders closing beaches have cut people off from “ healing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And she makes the bizarre argument that wearing a mask somehow makes a person more susceptible to the virus .
“ Wearing the mask literally activates your own virus , ” Mikovits said .
“ You ’ re getting sick from your own reactivated coronavirus expressions.
” Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog Editor 's Note : Amazon needs to pull that book off their virtual shelves .
We recommend you ask them to do it , especially since YouTube and Facebook have pulled the so-called `` documentary '' off @ @ @

This is the #1 book on the Amazon bestseller list right now:
The premise of the book seems ... apocalyptic:
With the brilliant wit one might expect if Erin Brockovich had a doctorate in molecular biology, Dr. Mikovits has seen the best and worst of science. When she was part of the research community that turned HIV-AIDS from a fatal disease into a manageable one, she saw science at its best. But when her investigations questioned whether the use of animal tissue in medical research were unleashing devastating plagues of chronic diseases, such as autism and chronic fatigue syndrome, she saw science at its worst. If her suspicions are correct, we are looking at a complete realignment of scientific practices, including how we study and treat human disease.
Now, let's find out about the people responsible for the book.
You know about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who wrote the foreword -- he's a well-known anti-vaxxer, and even his own relatives are disgusted by him. But what about the authors of the book?
Let's find out about Judy Mikovits.
YouTube has removed another video that’s circulating conspiracy theories amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The Plandemic,” a 25-minute clip from an upcoming documentary, was taken off of YouTube this week for violating the Google-owned video site’s community guidelines. The video centered on Dr. Judy Mikovits, a former chronic fatigue researcher who claims the federal government is behind a “plague of corruption” to inflate profits from a potential vaccine even as COVID-19 threatens lives.
The site for Plandemic describes the film:
Humanity is imprisoned by a killer pandemic. People are being arrested for surfing in the ocean and meditating in nature. Nations are collapsing. Hungry citizens are rioting for food. The media has generated so much confusion and fear that people are begging for salvation in a syringe. Billionaire patent owners are pushing for globally mandated vaccines. Anyone who refuses to be injected with experimental poisons will be prohibited from travel, education and work. No, this is not a synopsis for a new horror movie. This is our current reality. ... Create a problem, escalate fear, then offer a pre-planned solution. Sound familiar? Flash forward to 2020... They named it COVID19. Our leaders of world health predicted millions would die. The National Guard was deployed. Makeshift hospitals were erected to care for a massive overflow of patients. Mass graves were dug. Terrifying news reports had people everywhere seeking shelter to avoid contact. The plan was unfolding with diabolical precision, but the masters of the Pandemic underestimated one thing... the people. Medical professionals and every-day citizens are sharing critical information online. The overlords of big tech have ordered all dissenting voices to be silenced and banned, but they are too late. The slumbering masses are awake and aware that something is not right. Quarantine has provided the missing element: time. Suddenly, our overworked citizenry has ample time to research and investigate for themselves. Once you see, you can’t unsee.
Snopes responds to a rumor that Mikovits "was thrown in jail after she refused to discredit research that led to the discovery that deadly retroviruses have been transmitted through vaccines." This claim is rated false. She was arrested in 2011, but it was "for allegedly taking lab notebooks, a computer, and other material from the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, Nevada, after the WPI fired her.” She was fired after a paper she coauthored alleging a connection between a mouse retrovirus and chronic fatigue syndrome was partially retracted by the authors and then fully retracted by the publisher, Science magazine, after other researchers were unable to replicate the results. She is now a celebrity on the anti-vaxx circuit and a sworn enemy of Dr. Anthony Fauci.
As for Kent Heckenlively, here's a 2013 post from the blog American Loons:
Kent Heckenlively is an antivaxxer who writes for the crank propaganda site Age of Autism, and is generally known for having taken his autistic daughter to Costa Rica for stem cell quackery and for subjecting her to all manner of biomedical woo. He is, in other words, deeply steeped in woo, and got his test results for his daughter from Doctor’sData, the favored laboratory of dubious practitioners everywhere because of its lax methodology and tendency to find high levels of mercury and other heavy metals in just about any sample. Heckenlively is also known for his participation in chelation-provoked urine testing for mercury – which is guaranteed to cause the excretion of a lot of mercury in a normal person – so that the test results would not be in conflict with his already formed opinion about the causes of autism. Of course, the fact that his daughter did not improve made Heckenlively ask a lot of questions; unfortunately none of them included the question of whether his beliefs about the causes and treatments of autism corresponded with reality. Currently, his favored schtick seems to be that the XMRV retrovirus is the cause of autism (presumably in combination with heavy metals), in part because Judy Mikovits famously linked the retrovirus to the chronic fatigue syndrom in an appalling example of shoddy and possibly fraudulent research, and combined it with complete crank behavior that eventually got her fired. Therefore there must apparently be some truth to her claims.
Here's a sympathetic bio of Heckenlively on the site of a radio show on which he appeared as a guest:
Kent Heckenlively is an attorney, science teacher, author, and father of a daughter with autism. He is a founding contributing editor of the website Age of Autism and his work can regularly be found on The Bolen Report. In 2017 he was banned for three years from traveling to Australia for a planned lecture series on corruption at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In 2018, his articles at The Bolen Report are regularly shadow-banned by Facebook, so we can only imagine what kind of trouble he’s going to get into as the year progresses.
The book comes with recommendations from Michelle Malkin ("Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates and Big Pharma don't want you to read this book. Get PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION now and learn the truth about public health industrial complex's decades of research fraud and vaccine cover-ups") and Ben Garrison, "America's #1 political satirist" (“Kent Heckenlively and Judy Mikovits are the new dynamic duo fighting corruption in science.")
At a time when we need solid science more than ever, this is America's #1 book. If America isn't an idiocracy yet, it's not for lack of effort on the part of many of our fellow citizens.
*****
UPDATE: Will Sommer of the Daily Beast has much more. A sample:
Millions of Americans have been exposed to “Plandemic,” a 22-minute conspiracy theory documentary about the coronavirus that racked up millions of views on Facebook and YouTube before it was banned from both sites.
In the video, controversial scientist Dr. Judy Mikovits, a close associate of anti-vaccine activists, weaves an elaborate tale alleging a government conspiracy to create the coronavirus, with Anthony Fauci as a kind of murderous puppetmaster behind it all.... In “Plandemic,” Mikovits ... claim[s] that the coronavirus was somehow cooked up in collusion between United States government labs and Chinese researchers. A narrator voice-over suggests Fauci was somehow involved in the scheme.... Mikovits makes other bizarre claims that are barely remarked upon in the documentary. She says that lockdown orders closing beaches have cut people off from “healing microbes” in the ocean.... And she makes the bizarre argument that wearing a mask somehow makes a person more susceptible to the virus. “Wearing the mask literally activates your own virus,” Mikovits said. “You’re getting sick from your own reactivated coronavirus expressions.”
Did I say "idiocracy"?
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog
Editor's Note: Amazon needs to pull that book off their virtual shelves. We recommend you ask them to do it, especially since YouTube and Facebook have pulled the so-called "documentary" off their sites.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Friday News Dump: 'You Are The Swamp,' And Other News

My daughters 7th birthday is coming up , and she ’ s not going to be able to have a @ @ @ @ @ asked what it would take for her to get a puppy for her bday , @ @ @ @ @ .
She said let ’ s go !
pic.twitter.com/RccWprJbGS

Can you help us out?
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crooksandliars--2020-05-08--No, Bill Barr. We Will Not Let The Trump Regime Write Our History

Via The Daily Beast , here 's Bill Barr at his sleazy , repellent worst : Following the Justice Department ’ s decision to drop the charges against President Donald Trump ’ s former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI , Attorney General William Barr defended the reversal in an interview with CBS News on Thursday .
“ [ The FBI ] did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage , ” Barr told CBS News , adding that a “ crime can not be established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true that Flynn lied during an interview with the FBI in 2016 , Barr deflected : “ Well , people sometimes plead to things that turn out not to be crimes.
” Trump had previously hinted that he was considering a pardon for Flynn .
After denying he was doing Trump ’ s bidding , Barr was asked how history would remember this move .
“ History is written by the winners , so it largely depends on who is writing the history , ” he said with a sly smile .
Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece of shite .
( Barr , not Murphy . )
Like most of history , you assume it will always be written by the 1 % -- the people who were literate or had access to scribes , the people close to power .
As it turns out , Billy boy , the hoi polloi have since democratized the written word .
And as ugly as that can be ( hello , Twitter ! )
, you will never write the history .
We will .
Even as someone like Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will always be sites like this who debunk them .
Maybe you can intimidate the corporate media into backing off , but you ca n't intimidate us .
And I promise you , we 'll have the final word .
And what we 're going to write about you will show you for the mean , grasping weasel you are .
A behind-the-scenes servile courtier whose only real talent is your amorality , and your ability to bend over and ask for more .
You 're a pathetic lump of lard ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose repulsive sniffing after power is like a dog licking another dog 's ass .
We know that everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie .
We see you , Bill .
We will tell our grandchildren about the attorney general who worked to break our national justice system in the service of a Russian asset , the worst president ever .
We will teach them to spit on the ground at the mention of your name .

Via The Daily Beast, here's Bill Barr at his sleazy, repellent worst:
Following the Justice Department’s decision to drop the charges against President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI, Attorney General William Barr defended the reversal in an interview with CBS News on Thursday. “[The FBI] did not have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation against Flynn at that stage,” Barr told CBS News, adding that a “crime cannot be established here.” Asked whether it was still true that Flynn lied during an interview with the FBI in 2016, Barr deflected: “Well, people sometimes plead to things that turn out not to be crimes.” Trump had previously hinted that he was considering a pardon for Flynn. After denying he was doing Trump’s bidding, Barr was asked how history would remember this move. “History is written by the winners, so it largely depends on who is writing the history,” he said with a sly smile.
Sen. Chris Murphy was aghast.
"The entire idea of the rule of law—that thing the Attorney General is supposed to be in charge of upholding—is predicated on the outcome of elections NOT mattering when it comes to the operation of the legal system," Murphy said.
Yeah, we get it, you canine piece of shite. (Barr, not Murphy.) Like most of history, you assume it will always be written by the 1% -- the people who were literate or had access to scribes, the people close to power.
As it turns out, Billy boy, the hoi polloi have since democratized the written word. And as ugly as that can be (hello, Twitter!), you will never write the history. We will.
Even as someone like Trump is constantly quoting right-wing conspiracy sites, there will always be sites like this who debunk them. Maybe you can intimidate the corporate media into backing off, but you can't intimidate us. And I promise you, we'll have the final word.
And what we're going to write about you will show you for the mean, grasping weasel you are. A behind-the-scenes servile courtier whose only real talent is your amorality, and your ability to bend over and ask for more.
You're a pathetic lump of lard (I don't mean to insult lard) whose repulsive sniffing after power is like a dog licking another dog's ass. We know that everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie.
We see you, Bill.
We will tell our grandchildren about the attorney general who worked to break our national justice system in the service of a Russian asset, the worst president ever. We will teach them to spit on the ground at the mention of your name.
Congratulations, you win.


crooksandliars--2020-05-08--Jeff Toobin: Barr's Flynn Shocker Proves Trump Wants To Erase Mueller Investigation

Legal analyst Jeff Toobin had a few things to say about Bill Barr 's Justice Department dropping the case against Michael Flynn .
`` It is one of the most incredible legal documents I have read , and certainly something that I never expected to see from the United States Department of Justice .
The idea the Justice Department would do invent an argument and the argument that the judge in this case has already rejected , and say that 's a basis for dropping a case with the defendant admitted his guilt , shows the this is a case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toobin said .
He pointed out that Donald Trump has been saying for months if not years that he feels sorry for Michael Flynn and wanted to help him .
`` That 's what this case is about , not equal protection under the law . ''
`` Remember , there is another national security aspect to the lies , and this is something that Sally Yates , at the time , the acting attorney general , spoke to in that period when Flynn was fired which is , he lied and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the substance of the conversations during the transition and when the adversary knows you lied and the American public that point does not , that is a pressure point .
That is something you can use to influence the most senior national security official , '' Jim Sciutto said .
He said it has `` enormous '' national security implications .
`` Jeffrey , what is the role of the Attorney Jeff General Bill Barr in all of this ? ''
Wolf Blitzer asked .
`` He 's the boss .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` This is part of the story , where they are trying to undermine the work of the special counsel , of Robert Mueller .
You saw it when they tried to get a lesser sentence for Roger Stone , you saw it here where they 're trying to get rid of the Michael Flynn case , you see it as the president keeps talking about the possibilities of pardons , he does n't need to pardon Flynn anymore .
`` But George Papadopolous , Roger Stone , Paul Manafort -- all are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where this is all heading .
It 's all heading toward the president wiping the Mueller investigation out of the history books , at least as far as the criminal convictions . ''

Legal analyst Jeff Toobin had a few things to say about Bill Barr's Justice Department dropping the case against Michael Flynn.
"It is one of the most incredible legal documents I have read, and certainly something that I never expected to see from the United States Department of Justice. The idea the Justice Department would do invent an argument and the argument that the judge in this case has already rejected, and say that's a basis for dropping a case with the defendant admitted his guilt, shows the this is a case where the fix was in," Toobin said.
He pointed out that Donald Trump has been saying for months if not years that he feels sorry for Michael Flynn and wanted to help him.
"That's what this case is about, not equal protection under the law."
"Remember, there is another national security aspect to the lies, and this is something that Sally Yates, at the time, the acting attorney general, spoke to in that period when Flynn was fired which is, he lied and the Russians knew he lied because they knew the substance of the conversations during the transition and when the adversary knows you lied and the American public that point does not, that is a pressure point. That is something you can use to influence the most senior national security official," Jim Sciutto said.
He said it has "enormous" national security implications.
"Jeffrey, what is the role of the Attorney Jeff General Bill Barr in all of this?" Wolf Blitzer asked.
"He's the boss. This is his work," Toobin said.
"This is part of the story, where they are trying to undermine the work of the special counsel, of Robert Mueller. You saw it when they tried to get a lesser sentence for Roger Stone, you saw it here where they're trying to get rid of the Michael Flynn case, you see it as the president keeps talking about the possibilities of pardons, he doesn't need to pardon Flynn anymore.
"But George Papadopolous, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort -- all are betting on pardons. And that's where this is all heading. It's all heading toward the president wiping the Mueller investigation out of the history books, at least as far as the criminal convictions."


crooksandliars--2020-05-09--Trump Signs Executive Order Greenlighting 'Corporate Takeover Of Oceans'

Donald Trump issued an executive order late Thursday that environmentalists warned will accelerate the corporate exploitation of oceans by relaxing regulations on and streamlining the construction of industrial offshore aquaculture facilities , which critics deride as `` floating factory farms '' that pump pollution and diseases into public waters .
The Do n't Cage Our Ocean Coalition , which was formed to oppose ocean industrial fish farming , said in a statement that Trump 's Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth `` mandates federal agencies to craft a program for rapid authorization of industrial offshore aquaculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cultivate finfish , allowing toxic pollution to flow into open waters . ''
`` The federal government should strengthen local food security during this health crisis by supporting sustainable seafood , rather than allowing corporations to pollute the ecosystems we depend on . ''
—Marianne Cufone , environmental attorney Rosanna Marie Neil , policy counsel for Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance , a member of the coalition , said the Trump White House is `` supporting the corporate takeover of our oceans while they hope we are n't paying attention . ''
Environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to `` push through dangerous short-cuts to regulatory processes , while communities struggle to stay healthy , pay rent , and put food on the table . ''
`` The federal government should strengthen local food security during this health crisis by supporting sustainable seafood , '' said Cufone , `` rather than allowing corporations to pollute the ecosystems we depend on . ''
Trump 's executive order Thursday was just the latest step the president has taken amid the coronavirus pandemic to loosen regulations on polluting industries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , the Environmental Protection Agency announced a sweeping suspension of pollution regulations and empowered the fossil fuel industry to police itself indefinitely .
Environmental groups sued the EPA over the move , which they condemned as a `` free pass for polluters . ''
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal Thursday , White House advisers Joe Grogan and Peter Navarro touted Trump 's aquaculture executive order as a step toward making the U.S. `` the world 's seafood superpower . ''
`` President Trump 's executive order creates a task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reciprocal trade for America 's seafood industry , and strengthens enforcement of illegal , unreported , and unregulated fishing , '' Grogan and Navarro wrote .
But environmentalists cautioned that the order simply hands U.S. mega-corporations more power to plunder oceans without oversight , imperiling local fishing communities and the health of public waters .
`` It is outrageous and unethical for the federal government to use the current public health crisis to bolster this polluting industry , '' Hallie Templeton , senior oceans campaigner at Friends of the Earth , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time to prioritize our health , security , sustainable food systems , and American farmers and fishermen , not corporations . ''

Donald Trump issued an executive order late Thursday that environmentalists warned will accelerate the corporate exploitation of oceans by relaxing regulations on and streamlining the construction of industrial offshore aquaculture facilities, which critics deride as "floating factory farms" that pump pollution and diseases into public waters.
The Don't Cage Our Ocean Coalition, which was formed to oppose ocean industrial fish farming, said in a statement that Trump's Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth "mandates federal agencies to craft a program for rapid authorization of industrial offshore aquaculture facilities, which use giant floating cages to cultivate finfish, allowing toxic pollution to flow into open waters."
"The federal government should strengthen local food security during this health crisis by supporting sustainable seafood, rather than allowing corporations to pollute the ecosystems we depend on."
—Marianne Cufone, environmental attorney
Rosanna Marie Neil, policy counsel for Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, a member of the coalition, said the Trump White House is "supporting the corporate takeover of our oceans while they hope we aren't paying attention."
Environmental attorney Marianne Cufone similarly accused Trump of exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to "push through dangerous short-cuts to regulatory processes, while communities struggle to stay healthy, pay rent, and put food on the table."
"The federal government should strengthen local food security during this health crisis by supporting sustainable seafood," said Cufone, "rather than allowing corporations to pollute the ecosystems we depend on."
BREAKING: In the middle of a public health pandemic, Trump just issued an executive order to bolster aquaculture -- an industry that has pumped antibiotics, chemicals, disease and fish waste into our oceans.#DontCageOurOceanhttps://t.co/qyPUUITtL2 — Friends of the Earth (@foe_us) May 7, 2020
Trump is exploiting a public health crisis to help an industry known for pumping diseases & antibiotics into oceans.#DontCageOurOcean https://t.co/RAGOoEAR2T — Friends of the Earth (@foe_us) May 7, 2020
Trump's executive order Thursday was just the latest step the president has taken amid the coronavirus pandemic to loosen regulations on polluting industries. In late March, as Common Dreams reported, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a sweeping suspension of pollution regulations and empowered the fossil fuel industry to police itself indefinitely.
Environmental groups sued the EPA over the move, which they condemned as a "free pass for polluters."
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal Thursday, White House advisers Joe Grogan and Peter Navarro touted Trump's aquaculture executive order as a step toward making the U.S. "the world's seafood superpower."
"President Trump's executive order creates a task force to enact policies that encourage fair and reciprocal trade for America's seafood industry, and strengthens enforcement of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing," Grogan and Navarro wrote.
But environmentalists cautioned that the order simply hands U.S. mega-corporations more power to plunder oceans without oversight, imperiling local fishing communities and the health of public waters.
"It is outrageous and unethical for the federal government to use the current public health crisis to bolster this polluting industry," Hallie Templeton, senior oceans campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. "Now is the time to prioritize our health, security, sustainable food systems, and American farmers and fishermen, not corporations."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-05-09--Fox's Judge Napolitano Slams ‘Dangerous’ McConnell Plan To Shield Businesses From Coronavirus Lawsui

Fox's Judge Napolitano Slams ‘Dangerous’ McConnell Plan To Shield Businesses From Coronavirus Lawsuits

Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano said on Thursday that a Republican plan to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits is “ dangerous.
” Earlier this week , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) suggested that he would not support additional relief funds to households and businesses unless the package also includes a measure shielding businesses from liability for coronavirus infections .
But Napolitano argued that the provision would be anti-conservative and violate states rights .
“ Can the Congress tell state courts that they can not hear claims of liability when someone goes into a public accommodation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyst explained .
“ Congress has been very reticent to do that .
Conservatives who believe in states rights have been very reluctant to interfere with the operation of state courts.
” Napolitano pointed out that the only other instance where Congress has restricted state courts is a law that prohibits gun manufacturers from being sued over gun violence .
“ I think that this liability shield business is very dangerous , ” he added .
“ The decision of whose fault someone was harmed by should be decided by juries and not @ @ @ @

Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano said on Thursday that a Republican plan to shield businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits is “dangerous.”
Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) suggested that he would not support additional relief funds to households and businesses unless the package also includes a measure shielding businesses from liability for coronavirus infections.
But Napolitano argued that the provision would be anti-conservative and violate states rights.
“Can the Congress tell state courts that they cannot hear claims of liability when someone goes into a public accommodation and contracts coronavirus?” the Fox News analyst explained. “Congress has been very reticent to do that. Conservatives who believe in states rights have been very reluctant to interfere with the operation of state courts.”
Napolitano pointed out that the only other instance where Congress has restricted state courts is a law that prohibits gun manufacturers from being sued over gun violence.
“I think that this liability shield business is very dangerous,” he added. “The decision of whose fault someone was harmed by should be decided by juries and not by politicians.”