crooksandliars--2020-06-22--John Oliver Asks Why We Don't Care About COVID-19's Spread Through Prisons

In a lengthy dissection of the effect of coronavirus on prison populations , John Oliver pointed out that not everyone in a prison is actually in prison .
Workers have reported at least 9,180 cases .
In addition , inmates spread the virus when they transferred to another prison or are treated at local hospitals .
Via Yahoo.com : In addition , 200,000 people are booked across the country and another 200,000 walk out every week .
This can make it spread easily throughout the community .
One study found , as of mid-April , 15.7 % of all documented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cook County Jail .
Oliver said , “ The fewer people in these facilities , the easier it is for them to social distance , the fewer the staff , and the lower demand for PPE.
” Of course , many will dispute this .
He cuts to a clip of Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt who basically said he doesn ’ t want the safety of people being jeopardized with “ burglars and thieves ” on the loose .
Oliver suggests releasing those who are little risk to public safety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ On balance , the risks of carefully letting people out are vastly outweighed by the risks of leaving everyone inside , ” he said , adding that inmates , particularly the immunocompromised and the elderly , who have served their sentences should be released , put on furlough or even on house arrest .
“ We should be depopulating prisons and jails as quickly as we can right now , ” he declared .
“ In our current system — you ’ re never just being sentenced to time .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social stigma , futile job interviews and roadblocks to necessities like housing .
All of that is immoral enough .
There is frankly no reason whatsoever we should also be sentencing people to die from a virus cause tha ’ ts not justice , it ’ s neglect.
” He continued to say that incarcerated people are not separate from our population and are still members of our society .
“ If this horrific year has taught us one thing is that we are all on this death cruise ship together , @ @ @ @

In a lengthy dissection of the effect of coronavirus on prison populations, John Oliver pointed out that not everyone in a prison is actually in prison. Workers have reported at least 9,180 cases. In addition, inmates spread the virus when they transferred to another prison or are treated at local hospitals. Via Yahoo.com:
In addition, 200,000 people are booked across the country and another 200,000 walk out every week. This can make it spread easily throughout the community. One study found, as of mid-April, 15.7% of all documented coronavirus cases in Illinois were linked to the Cook County Jail.
Oliver said, “The fewer people in these facilities, the easier it is for them to social distance, the fewer the staff, and the lower demand for PPE.” Of course, many will dispute this. He cuts to a clip of Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt who basically said he doesn’t want the safety of people being jeopardized with “burglars and thieves” on the loose. Oliver suggests releasing those who are little risk to public safety and those who can’t post bail.
“On balance, the risks of carefully letting people out are vastly outweighed by the risks of leaving everyone inside,” he said, adding that inmates, particularly the immunocompromised and the elderly, who have served their sentences should be released, put on furlough or even on house arrest.
“We should be depopulating prisons and jails as quickly as we can right now,” he declared. “In our current system — you’re never just being sentenced to time. You’re being sentenced to a lifetime of social stigma, futile job interviews and roadblocks to necessities like housing. All of that is immoral enough. There is frankly no reason whatsoever we should also be sentencing people to die from a virus cause tha’ts not justice, it’s neglect.”
He continued to say that incarcerated people are not separate from our population and are still members of our society. “If this horrific year has taught us one thing is that we are all on this death cruise ship together,” he concluded.


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Brianna Keilar Is Not Taking Any Of This Trump Puppet's Crap

It 's always a given that if you work for Trump , the major part of your job description is lying , so it 's always nice to see his surrogates shrink under professional questioning .
Here 's Trump campaign official Tim Murtaugh trying to evade Brianna Keilar when she asked him about Trump saying he told his people to stop testing for the coronavirus .
Here 's the bad part .
When you do testing to that extent , you 're going to find more people , you 'll find more cases .
So I said to my people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Is that true , he 's asked for the testing to be slowed down ? ''
she said .
`` No , it 's not .
As a matter of fact , the United States leads the world in testing .
We 've tested more than 25 million Americans -- '' '' So , why is he saying that then ? ''
`` I understand there 's not a lot of a sense of humor at CNN .
He was joking .
When you expand testing , you will naturally detect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very point he was making .
I 'm not surprised you 're unable or unwilling to understand the president has a tongue-in-cheek remark there .
But that was the point he 's making , '' Murtaugh said .
`` I mean , Tim , 120,000 Americans dead .
I do not think that is funny .
Do you ? ''
she replied .
`` He was trying to illustrate the point that when you expand testing -- '' '' You said it 's a joke ? ''
He said Trump was using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skeptical .
`` Is it funny , Tim ?
Dead Americans ?
Unemployed Americans ?
Is that funny to you ? ''
`` You can ask it 100 different ways .
But the point the president was making -- '' '' And you wo n't answer it .
And there 's a reason why , '' she said .
`` I am answering it .
The president was illustrating the point that American testing has expanded to such lengths that we are now detecting more positive cases .
It stands to reason -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more positive cases when you do more testing .
That 's just a fact . ''
`` You are aware that that hospitalization numbers disprove what you are saying .
That testing does not solely account for the numbers we 're seeing , including Florida , a state you just held up as a model , which is certainly is not , '' she said .
`` It is not funny that Americans are dying .
It 's not funny that they 're unemployed . ''

It's always a given that if you work for Trump, the major part of your job description is lying, so it's always nice to see his surrogates shrink under professional questioning. Here's Trump campaign official Tim Murtaugh trying to evade Brianna Keilar when she asked him about Trump saying he told his people to stop testing for the coronavirus.
Here's the bad part. When you do testing to that extent, you're going to find more people, you'll find more cases. So I said to my people, slow the testing down, please.
"Is that true, he's asked for the testing to be slowed down?" she said.
"No, it's not. As a matter of fact, the United States leads the world in testing. We've tested more than 25 million Americans --"
"So, why is he saying that then?"
"I understand there's not a lot of a sense of humor at CNN. He was joking. When you expand testing, you will naturally detect the number of cases. That's the very point he was making. I'm not surprised you're unable or unwilling to understand the president has a tongue-in-cheek remark there. But that was the point he's making," Murtaugh said.
"I mean, Tim, 120,000 Americans dead. I do not think that is funny. Do you?" she replied.
"He was trying to illustrate the point that when you expand testing --"
"You said it's a joke?"
He said Trump was using "ironic" humor. Keilar was skeptical.
"Is it funny, Tim? Dead Americans? Unemployed Americans? Is that funny to you?"
"You can ask it 100 different ways. But the point the president was making --"
"And you won't answer it. And there's a reason why," she said.
"I am answering it. The president was illustrating the point that American testing has expanded to such lengths that we are now detecting more positive cases. It stands to reason -- it stands to reason we will have more positive cases when you do more testing. That's just a fact."
"You are aware that that hospitalization numbers disprove what you are saying. That testing does not solely account for the numbers we're seeing, including Florida, a state you just held up as a model, which is certainly is not," she said.
"It is not funny that Americans are dying. It's not funny that they're unemployed."


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Liar Rudy Giuliani Claims BLM Wants To 'Take Your House Away'

Rudy Giuliani , the orchestrator of the Ukraine debacle that got Trump impeached , is now shrieking about a new conspiracy theory based on nothing but his crazy fantasies concerning Black Lives Matter .
Giuliani joined Trump co-conspirator Laura Ingraham on her White Power Hour on Fox News Monday night .
He went on a bug-eyed rant against Black Lives Matter and everyone else who is calling for police reform .
Armed with only his insanity wrapped in outrage , he claimed the nationwide protests after the murder of George Floyd were an “ orchestrated effort ” to “ destroy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internationalize our government .
They want to do away with our system of courts , and they want to take your property away and give it to other people , ” Giuliani told Ingraham .
He concluded his doomsday prophecy with a stark warning .
“ People who say they are favorable to Black Lives Matter : Black Lives Matter wants to come and take your house away from you , ” Giuliani said .
“ They want to take your property away from you.
” This is reminiscent of the attacks Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midterm elections where they claimed caravans of undocumented workers were invading our country to take your jobs and steal your babies and your women .
They are a one-note operation of desperation based on fear and outrage .
Rudy should be banned from all credible news sources .
Ingraham 's White Power Hour should be canceled for its constant stream of White Nationalist content .
Here 's more of the insanity : TPM corrects the record : `` In reality , Black Lives Matter is a nonviolent movement against anti-Black political and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill unarmed African-Americans , such as Floyd and Breonna Taylor , with impunity .
Its proponents call for reforms in the U.S. criminal justice system , not conspiracies to “ destroy ” the government . ''

Rudy Giuliani, the orchestrator of the Ukraine debacle that got Trump impeached, is now shrieking about a new conspiracy theory based on nothing but his crazy fantasies concerning Black Lives Matter.
Giuliani joined Trump co-conspirator Laura Ingraham on her White Power Hour on Fox News Monday night. He went on a bug-eyed rant against Black Lives Matter and everyone else who is calling for police reform.
Armed with only his insanity wrapped in outrage, he claimed the nationwide protests after the murder of George Floyd were an “orchestrated effort” to “destroy our government.”
“They want to internationalize our government. They want to do away with our system of courts, and they want to take your property away and give it to other people,” Giuliani told Ingraham. He concluded his doomsday prophecy with a stark warning. “People who say they are favorable to Black Lives Matter: Black Lives Matter wants to come and take your house away from you,” Giuliani said. “They want to take your property away from you.”
This is reminiscent of the attacks Trump and his minions used during the 2018 midterm elections where they claimed caravans of undocumented workers were invading our country to take your jobs and steal your babies and your women.
They are a one-note operation of desperation based on fear and outrage.
Rudy should be banned from all credible news sources. Ingraham's White Power Hour should be canceled for its constant stream of White Nationalist content.
Here's more of the insanity:
TPM corrects the record: "In reality, Black Lives Matter is a nonviolent movement against anti-Black political and legal structures that frequently allow law enforcement to kill unarmed African-Americans, such as Floyd and Breonna Taylor, with impunity. Its proponents call for reforms in the U.S. criminal justice system, not conspiracies to “destroy” the government."


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Oregon Church Linked To COVID-19 Outbreak

And of course , the church in eastern Oregon cited Donald Trump 's demand that states allow churches to open as the reason they restarted services , against the law which did n't allow religious groups to convene in large gatherings .
A church in a small eastern Oregon county linked to the state ’ s largest coronavirus outbreak held worship services in the weeks before hundreds fell ill. At least 236 coronavirus cases are tied to Lighthouse Pentecostal Church , near La Grande in Union County .
The number of cases in Union County increased tenfold , from 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak came to light .
The outbreak led Union County to voluntarily return to Phase 1 of Gov .
Kate Brown ’ s phased reopening plan — the county had been at Phase 2 when the outbreak happened .
There are now 258 coronavirus cases in the county of 27,000 people .
...
In a May 22 Instagram post , Lighthouse Pentecostal Church said it would begin in-person services Memorial Day weekend “ in accordance ” with President Donald Trump ’ s demands that states allow churches to open .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phase 1 of reopening , in which religious groups are not allowed to convene in large groups .
The governor allowed faith groups to meet in gatherings of 25 people if congregants stayed a certain distance apart .
A Facebook video uploaded May 24 by the church showed hundreds of worshipers in the church dancing , singing and moving around in close proximity .
The video was later deleted .
A faith leader at the church wrote in a Memorial Day Facebook post that he was proud to be an American , listing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to attend church in our building .
”

And of course, the church in eastern Oregon cited Donald Trump's demand that states allow churches to open as the reason they restarted services, against the law which didn't allow religious groups to convene in large gatherings.
Source: Oregon Live
A church in a small eastern Oregon county linked to the state’s largest coronavirus outbreak held worship services in the weeks before hundreds fell ill.
At least 236 coronavirus cases are tied to Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, near La Grande in Union County. The number of cases in Union County increased tenfold, from 22 to 240, in three days after the outbreak came to light. The outbreak led Union County to voluntarily return to Phase 1 of Gov. Kate Brown’s phased reopening plan — the county had been at Phase 2 when the outbreak happened. There are now 258 coronavirus cases in the county of 27,000 people.
...
In a May 22 Instagram post, Lighthouse Pentecostal Church said it would begin in-person services Memorial Day weekend “in accordance” with President Donald Trump’s demands that states allow churches to open. At the time, Union County was still in Phase 1 of reopening, in which religious groups are not allowed to convene in large groups. The governor allowed faith groups to meet in gatherings of 25 people if congregants stayed a certain distance apart.
A Facebook video uploaded May 24 by the church showed hundreds of worshipers in the church dancing, singing and moving around in close proximity. The video was later deleted.
A faith leader at the church wrote in a Memorial Day Facebook post that he was proud to be an American, listing one of the reasons as being “able to attend church in our building.”


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Mango Mussolini Says He'll Protect Monuments With Long Jail Terms

CNN 's Brianna Keilar takes Trump campaign official Tim Murtaugh to task for his lame defense of Trump 's statement @ @ @ @ @ he asked his people to `` slow down testing '' of coronavirus to keep the @ @ @

Can you help us out?
For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Poverty Is Expected To Rise After CARES Act Relief Expires

The rise in poverty many economists projected as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has been largely avoided , capped by the relief bills passed in March , two new studies posit .
But the one time payment of $ 1,200 per person was just one time , and the extra assistance in unemployment benefits , as well as their extension to contract and gig workers , ends at the end of July with no apparent intention on the part of Mitch McConnell and the Republican Senate to extend it .
Not everyone has avoided destitution , the studies point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food insecurity and homelessness in the long delays before assistance reached them .
Others have been excluded because they do n't qualify , particularly undocumented workers even if they have American children .
But , says Zachary Parolin , with Columbia University 's team forecasting this year 's poverty rate , `` Right now , the safety net is doing what it ’ s supposed to do for most families—helping them secure a minimally decent life .
[ … ] Given the magnitude of the employment loss , this is really remarkable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ forecast poverty rising by 12.5 % this year , and now they estimate it will be 12.7 % .
Just to say here , nearly 13 % of the nation 's population sinking to poverty levels is not a win by any estimation .
And the only reason it 's not worse is because of the CARES Act the House forced through in March .
Another study by Bruce D. Meyer and Jeehoon Han of the University of Chicago and James X. Sullivan of Notre Dame looked at Census Bureau survey data and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , estimating that poverty in April and May fell from 10.9 % in January and February to 8.6 % in April and May .
`` When we initially saw our results , we thought , 'How could this be true ? '
'' Sullivan said , referencing the crisis .
`` But when you look at the size of the government response , it makes sense . ''
The extra unemployment payment of $ 600 a month and food programs have helped many significantly .
The University of Chicago economists found that about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been collecting sums that are greater than their usual earnings .
The poorest fifth of them can at least double their lost pay , their analysis finds .
The problem is , that 's going to end well before the economic crisis created by the pandemic is over and not everyone has been lifted .
Diane Schanzenbach , an economist at Northwestern University , notes that food insecurity is twice its prepandemic rate and child hunger has risen even more .
Diane Schanzenbach , an economist at Northwestern University , has found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis and child hunger has risen even more .
A large group of workers , many who 've waited for assistance , do n't have resources at all beyond their paychecks .
`` A lot of people aren ’ t seeing the money yet , '' Schanzenbach said .
`` I 'm worried about Congress taking its foot off the gas . ''
Christopher Wimer , one of the Columbia researchers , agrees .
`` What we ’ re doing has been largely successful , but families could find themselves in big trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Right now , the HEROES Act , passed by the House on May 16th , languishes on Mitch McConnell 's desk .
It includes a 15 % increase in SNAP food assistance , extends the additional unemployment bump of $ 600 and the inclusion of gig and contract workers and re-ups the $ 1,200 individual payments , uptimes o $ 6,000 per family .
It also provides hazard pay and critical state and local funding—the bare minimum the Americans are going to need to get out of the coronavirus hole .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wisdom that the crisis is over , no matter how many people are hungry .
No matter how many people are getting sick and dying .
No matter how many more small businesses are failing because they got left out of the previous relief bills .
Here 's how that felt to Melody Bedico , a single mother in Seattle whose job as a calker at an airport hotel ended with the virus .
She got no help for two months , and was eating just two meals a day so she could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old daughter .
`` My whole body really ached with stress , from my head to my toes , '' she said .
She fell three months behind on her mortgage .
The eight weeks of back pay she finally received , $ 7,600 , in addition to the ongoing pay and her stimulus as gotten her mostly out of the hole .
But the bonus ends in a month and her income will drop to 40 % of normal .
`` I ’ m worried I could lose my house , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the more fortunate ones .
Carlos Arciga , 53 , was an apple picker in Yakima , Washington who got fired when he showed up to work with a fever .
His unemployment claim was denied because he was fired .
`` I 'm a guy who works all the time , '' Aciga said .
He is getting food stamps and lives now with his parents .
`` I 'm in a bad spot—I do n't have a place , and I do n't have any money , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive failure in this crisis , but they do n't own the crisis .
The first stimulus bills should have been much , much larger , the direct payments continuing , and support for businesses t keep operating greater .
That 's a missed opportunity on the part of House and Senate Democrats , who largely drove the CARES Act .
But the ongoing angst , the cliff we 're about to go over , that 's on Mitch McConnell and his Republicans .

The rise in poverty many economists projected as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has been largely avoided, capped by the relief bills passed in March, two new studies posit. But the one time payment of $1,200 per person was just one time, and the extra assistance in unemployment benefits, as well as their extension to contract and gig workers, ends at the end of July with no apparent intention on the part of Mitch McConnell and the Republican Senate to extend it.
Not everyone has avoided destitution, the studies point out, and many people have experienced food insecurity and homelessness in the long delays before assistance reached them. Others have been excluded because they don't qualify, particularly undocumented workers even if they have American children. But, says Zachary Parolin, with Columbia University's team forecasting this year's poverty rate, "Right now, the safety net is doing what it’s supposed to do for most families—helping them secure a minimally decent life. […] Given the magnitude of the employment loss, this is really remarkable." Prior to the crisis, they forecast poverty rising by 12.5% this year, and now they estimate it will be 12.7%. Just to say here, nearly 13% of the nation's population sinking to poverty levels is not a win by any estimation. And the only reason it's not worse is because of the CARES Act the House forced through in March.
Another study by Bruce D. Meyer and Jeehoon Han of the University of Chicago and James X. Sullivan of Notre Dame looked at Census Bureau survey data and found that incomes rose in low-income families, estimating that poverty in April and May fell from 10.9% in January and February to 8.6% in April and May. "When we initially saw our results, we thought, 'How could this be true?'" Sullivan said, referencing the crisis. "But when you look at the size of the government response, it makes sense." The extra unemployment payment of $600 a month and food programs have helped many significantly. The University of Chicago economists found that about two-thirds of the workers eligible for unemployment have been collecting sums that are greater than their usual earnings. The poorest fifth of them can at least double their lost pay, their analysis finds.
The problem is, that's going to end well before the economic crisis created by the pandemic is over and not everyone has been lifted. Diane Schanzenbach, an economist at Northwestern University, notes that food insecurity is twice its prepandemic rate and child hunger has risen even more. Diane Schanzenbach, an economist at Northwestern University, has found that food insecurity has doubled in the crisis and child hunger has risen even more. A large group of workers, many who've waited for assistance, don't have resources at all beyond their paychecks. "A lot of people aren’t seeing the money yet," Schanzenbach said. "I'm worried about Congress taking its foot off the gas." Christopher Wimer, one of the Columbia researchers, agrees. "What we’re doing has been largely successful, but families could find themselves in big trouble in the fall after it expires."
Right now, the HEROES Act, passed by the House on May 16th, languishes on Mitch McConnell's desk. It includes a 15% increase in SNAP food assistance, extends the additional unemployment bump of $600 and the inclusion of gig and contract workers and re-ups the $1,200 individual payments, uptimes o $6,000 per family. It also provides hazard pay and critical state and local funding—the bare minimum the Americans are going to need to get out of the coronavirus hole.
But it now seems to be convention GOP wisdom that the crisis is over, no matter how many people are hungry. No matter how many people are getting sick and dying. No matter how many more small businesses are failing because they got left out of the previous relief bills. Here's how that felt to Melody Bedico, a single mother in Seattle whose job as a calker at an airport hotel ended with the virus. She got no help for two months, and was eating just two meals a day so she could feed her child, a 12 year old daughter. "My whole body really ached with stress, from my head to my toes," she said. She fell three months behind on her mortgage. The eight weeks of back pay she finally received, $7,600, in addition to the ongoing pay and her stimulus as gotten her mostly out of the hole. But the bonus ends in a month and her income will drop to 40% of normal. "I’m worried I could lose my house," she said. And she's one of the more fortunate ones. Carlos Arciga, 53, was an apple picker in Yakima, Washington who got fired when he showed up to work with a fever. His unemployment claim was denied because he was fired. "I'm a guy who works all the time," Aciga said. He is getting food stamps and lives now with his parents. "I'm in a bad spot—I don't have a place, and I don't have any money," he said.
The Trump administration has been a massive failure in this crisis, but they don't own the crisis. The first stimulus bills should have been much, much larger, the direct payments continuing, and support for businesses t keep operating greater. That's a missed opportunity on the part of House and Senate Democrats, who largely drove the CARES Act. But the ongoing angst, the cliff we're about to go over, that's on Mitch McConnell and his Republicans.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Beware The TikTok, My Friends

Beware The TikTok, My Friends

With all the high-fiving about the TikTok kids punking the Trump campaign , I had to wonder if this meant that TikTok was an unabashedly great thing for politics .
It ’ s mostly a teen-age platform and while I ’ m sure the kids are all terrific I ’ m not sure they are equipped to know what ’ s real from what ’ s not when it comes to political propaganda .
It literally couldn ’ t be worse .
This is the most disgusting , outrageous conspiracy theory out there .
And it ’ s taken off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somer who covers the right wing at the Daily Beast reports : While YouTube has tried to root out the conspiracy theory about a Democratic child sex dungeon in a Washington pizzeria by attaching a warning to those searching for the topic on its site , there ’ s a surprising place where Pizzagate is booming .
Nearly four years after it began , the conspiracy theory is popping up all over the place on the short-form video app and Gen Z hangout spot TikTok .
Pizzagate has become massive on TikTok , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality around them—thanks to the pandemic , police violence and related unrest , and a new Netflix documentary highlighting Jeffrey Epstein ’ s crimes—seems more and more unhinged .
The # Pizzagate hashtag has earned more than 69 million views on the platform , while related hashtags have earned several millions more .
Take a TikTok video posted at the beginning of June .
It looks like so many others : a teenager sitting in her room , while a pop song plays behind her .
Rather than being about problems in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though , this teenager is convinced that Hillary Clinton and former Clinton campaign chief John Podesta are eating children in the basement of a D.C. pizzeria .
“ Search up the # pizzagate and read it all , ” her texts on the screen flash .
“ If I die from this just know it was not an accident or suicide ” The resurgence comes even as original Pizzagate promoters like Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec flee from their associations with the conspiracy theory after it inspired an arson attack and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to be far more widespread than when it first began spreading in 2016 .
Indeed , it ’ s hard to overstate how huge Pizzagate is on TikTok , particularly amongst teenagers who don ’ t otherwise fit a right-wing conspiracy theorist mold .
I watched hours of posts on the hashtag , and many of the young people promoting it are otherwise just interested in viral dances and Black Lives Matters .
Many of the biggest Pizzagate videos come from @ _Kirie , a British teenager who regularly reaches nearly 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Comet Ping Pong is the center of a pedophile ring .
He didn ’ t respond to a request for comment .
Typically , his videos are a screenshot of a ludicrous Twitter post promoting Pizzagate , with an encouragement for his followers to spread the conspiracy theory .
Another account with more than 150,000 followers , which normally posts dance moves about historic events , declared that “ 2020 is the year of the pedobusters.
” In another video , the person behind the account posed as Edgar Maddison Welch , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , opened fire inside the restaurant ( fortunately , no one was hurt ) .
“ There ’ s way too much that adds up in that case , ” the caption reads .
Much of the latest interest among TikTok users appears to have been fueled by bogus viral tweets claiming that Hillary Clinton is currently on trial for being a pedophile .
In reality , she ’ s fighting a mundane court case over her private email server with Trump ally Tom Fitton and his group , Judicial Watch .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 views claim that Clinton is secretly on trial for running a child sex dungeon .
“ I don ’ t know why no one ’ s talking about this , ” said one TikToker in a video this week .
Other videos claim that Justin Bieber ’ s song “ Yummy ” , released in January , is secretly about Pizzagate .
Monash University professor Mark Andrejevic , who has studied conspiracy theories on TikTok , says the app ’ s format is ripe for promoting them .
This just makes me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These kids don ’ t know the history or the dynamics of our ugly politics of the last few decades .
They ’ re just seeing something and believing it because someone passed it on to them .
They know the technology but they don ’ t know the context or the subtext .
In some ways , they are like the elderly who get a chain letter or a Facebook post from someone they trust and believe what it says .
Actually , they should be .
One is political position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m afraid the left-wing is full of people who are as ripe for this bullshit as the right .

With all the high-fiving about the TikTok kids punking the Trump campaign, I had to wonder if this meant that TikTok was an unabashedly great thing for politics. It’s mostly a teen-age platform and while I’m sure the kids are all terrific I’m not sure they are equipped to know what’s real from what’s not when it comes to political propaganda.
Yep. I've been thinking about this all morning. It never goes only one way... https://t.co/hwDFoY9chA — digby (@digby56) June 21, 2020
It literally couldn’t be worse. This is the most disgusting, outrageous conspiracy theory out there. And it’s taken off like wildfire on the platform. Will Somer who covers the right wing at the Daily Beast reports:
Get ready for Pizzagate, Round 2. While YouTube has tried to root out the conspiracy theory about a Democratic child sex dungeon in a Washington pizzeria by attaching a warning to those searching for the topic on its site, there’s a surprising place where Pizzagate is booming. Nearly four years after it began, the conspiracy theory is popping up all over the place on the short-form video app and Gen Z hangout spot TikTok. Pizzagate has become massive on TikTok, reaching plenty of young people right as the reality around them—thanks to the pandemic, police violence and related unrest, and a new Netflix documentary highlighting Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes—seems more and more unhinged. The #Pizzagate hashtag has earned more than 69 million views on the platform, while related hashtags have earned several millions more.
the tiktok teens have found pizzagate and lost all critical thinking. — black identity extremist 🇿🇼 (@kzouis) June 19, 2020
Take a TikTok video posted at the beginning of June. It looks like so many others: a teenager sitting in her room, while a pop song plays behind her. Rather than being about problems in school, relationships, or mainstream politics, though, this teenager is convinced that Hillary Clinton and former Clinton campaign chief John Podesta are eating children in the basement of a D.C. pizzeria. “Search up the #pizzagate and read it all,” her texts on the screen flash. “If I die from this just know it was not an accident or suicide” The resurgence comes even as original Pizzagate promoters like Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec flee from their associations with the conspiracy theory after it inspired an arson attack and a shooting at the restaurant. And it appears to be far more widespread than when it first began spreading in 2016. Indeed, it’s hard to overstate how huge Pizzagate is on TikTok, particularly amongst teenagers who don’t otherwise fit a right-wing conspiracy theorist mold. I watched hours of posts on the hashtag, and many of the young people promoting it are otherwise just interested in viral dances and Black Lives Matters. Many of the biggest Pizzagate videos come from @_Kirie, a British teenager who regularly reaches nearly 1 million views each with each video claiming that Comet Ping Pong is the center of a pedophile ring. He didn’t respond to a request for comment. Typically, his videos are a screenshot of a ludicrous Twitter post promoting Pizzagate, with an encouragement for his followers to spread the conspiracy theory. Another account with more than 150,000 followers, which normally posts dance moves about historic events, declared that “2020 is the year of the pedobusters.” In another video, the person behind the account posed as Edgar Maddison Welch, the unhinged Pizzagate conspiracist who, in 2016, opened fire inside the restaurant (fortunately, no one was hurt). “There’s way too much that adds up in that case,” the caption reads. Much of the latest interest among TikTok users appears to have been fueled by bogus viral tweets claiming that Hillary Clinton is currently on trial for being a pedophile. In reality, she’s fighting a mundane court case over her private email server with Trump ally Tom Fitton and his group, Judicial Watch. Nevertheless, videos that each receive nearly 100,000 views claim that Clinton is secretly on trial for running a child sex dungeon. “I don’t know why no one’s talking about this,” said one TikToker in a video this week. Other videos claim that Justin Bieber’s song “Yummy”, released in January, is secretly about Pizzagate. Monash University professor Mark Andrejevic, who has studied conspiracy theories on TikTok, says the app’s format is ripe for promoting them.
This just makes me depressed. And a little bit nervous. These kids don’t know the history or the dynamics of our ugly politics of the last few decades. They’re just seeing something and believing it because someone passed it on to them. They know the technology but they don’t know the context or the subtext. In some ways, they are like the elderly who get a chain letter or a Facebook post from someone they trust and believe what it says.
It’s worrying.
Update: Here’s a young influencer named Brandon Wardell. He believes in free healthcare.
And Pizzagate:
“I have very leftist politics, but I want to say I believe in Pizzagate as much as I believe people should have free healthcare. They shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.”
Actually, they should be. One is political position the other is delusional nonsense. But I’m afraid the left-wing is full of people who are as ripe for this bullshit as the right.
Published with permission of Hullabaloo


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

No More Mister Nice Blog : Will Attorney General Bill Barr ’ s man John Durham deliver an October surprise @ @ @ @ @ and/or other Democratic officials ?
Bark Bark Woof Woof : Could Democratic complacency about Trump @ @ @ @ @ an October surprise of its own ?
We Hunted the Mammoth : Ladies , is @ @ @ @ @ of the Proud Boys ?
Mock Paper Scissors : Is Rich Lowry still asking where @ @ @ @ @ to get his apology ?
Speaking of which , your quote of the day : @ @ @ @ @ 'm not the only male in America who , when Palin dropped her first wink @ @ @ @ @ straighter on the couch and said , ‘ Hey , I think she just winked @ @ @ @ @ smile .
By the end , when she clearly knew she was doing well , @ @ @ @ @ was almost mesmerizing .
It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the @ @ @ @ @ '' ( Rich Lowry , October 3 , 2008 . )

No More Mister Nice Blog: Will Attorney General Bill Barr’s man John Durham deliver an October surprise with indictments of Hillary Clinton and/or other Democratic officials?
Bark Bark Woof Woof: Could Democratic complacency about Trump’s current implosion be an October surprise of its own?
We Hunted the Mammoth: Ladies, is your dream date a member of the Proud Boys?
Mock Paper Scissors: Is Rich Lowry still asking where Florida Governor Ron Desantis goes to get his apology?
Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, ‘Hey, I think she just winked at me.’ And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America." (Rich Lowry, October 3, 2008.)


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--There Will Still Be Trump Rallies, And Risk

Swaths of empty blue seats and a vacant overflow venue in Oklahoma have led President Donald Trump 's aides to begin debating what his signature campaign rallies will look like going forward , people familiar with the matter say .
Ahead of the President 's visit on Saturday to Tulsa , there had been tentative plans to announce another rally for the near future , perhaps as early as the next two weeks .
Now , it remains unclear when -- and how -- Trump will move forward with his flagship political events .
Some advisers suggested it could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another rally , though as of Monday morning no decisions had been made on how to proceed .
So it 's possible that the humiliation of Tulsa saved lives by altering Trump 's plans ?
Well , maybe not as many lives as it could have saved .
That appearance will take place at Phoenix 's Dream City Church , and if you think that will be a safer venue , well , here are a couple of photos from the church to disabuse you of that notion .
Such great news for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is `` now working to ensure that event appears full . ''
As the CNN story notes , one reason for the Tulsa rally was to `` improve the mood of a mostly homebound President . ''
Many people are paid large salaries from your tax dollars to improve Trump 's mood every day -- the Executive Branch is largely non-functional , but this is a matter that White House aides take very , very seriously , as do campaign staffers -- so , yes , there 'll be more rallies .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump believe rallies will be eliminated altogether .
But the empty seats and vacant overflow lot in Tulsa were an indication that their formula needs rethinking amid a continuing pandemic and an altered political landscape .
There are discussions about finding outdoor venues where supporters might feel safer convening , the people familiar said .
One campaign source suggested holding more airplane hangar rallies , a common feature of Trump 's last campaign that allowed him to visit a location without ever leaving the airport .
I suppose a hangar with natural air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risky , but I 'm looking at this photo of a 2017 hangar rally , or the photo below from a rally in 2018 , and I would n't say it looks safe .
Epidemiologists , correct me if I 'm wrong .
They have to do this to protect Trump 's fee-fees .
They have to make him feel loved by the masses -- even if it kills people .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

CNN reports:
Swaths of empty blue seats and a vacant overflow venue in Oklahoma have led President Donald Trump's aides to begin debating what his signature campaign rallies will look like going forward, people familiar with the matter say. Ahead of the President's visit on Saturday to Tulsa, there had been tentative plans to announce another rally for the near future, perhaps as early as the next two weeks. Now, it remains unclear when -- and how -- Trump will move forward with his flagship political events. Some advisers suggested it could be weeks or even months before Trump attempts another rally, though as of Monday morning no decisions had been made on how to proceed.
So it's possible that the humiliation of Tulsa saved lives by altering Trump's plans?
Well, maybe not as many lives as it could have saved.
When the President speaks Tuesday in Phoenix it will be to a group of young supporters, not a rally, though aides are now working to ensure that event appears full.
That appearance will take place at Phoenix's Dream City Church, and if you think that will be a safer venue, well, here are a couple of photos from the church to disabuse you of that notion.
Such great news for the state of Arizona that the campaign is "now working to ensure that event appears full."
As the CNN story notes, one reason for the Tulsa rally was to "improve the mood of a mostly homebound President." Many people are paid large salaries from your tax dollars to improve Trump's mood every day -- the Executive Branch is largely non-functional, but this is a matter that White House aides take very, very seriously, as do campaign staffers -- so, yes, there'll be more rallies. The CNN story explains:
Few people around Trump believe rallies will be eliminated altogether. But the empty seats and vacant overflow lot in Tulsa were an indication that their formula needs rethinking amid a continuing pandemic and an altered political landscape. There are discussions about finding outdoor venues where supporters might feel safer convening, the people familiar said. One campaign source suggested holding more airplane hangar rallies, a common feature of Trump's last campaign that allowed him to visit a location without ever leaving the airport.
I suppose a hangar with natural air flowing through it is a bit less risky, but I'm looking at this photo of a 2017 hangar rally, or the photo below from a rally in 2018, and I wouldn't say it looks safe. Epidemiologists, correct me if I'm wrong.
//WOTV NEWS//: Supporters watch as Air Force One lands outside the hangar where they wait for President Donald Trump to speak at a rally Saturday in Pensacola, Florida. https://t.co/K71HzKxxhr pic.twitter.com/qNm6SPiEpa — wotv news (@wotv_news) November 4, 2018
They have to do this to protect Trump's fee-fees. They have to make him feel loved by the masses -- even if it kills people.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Trump Admin May ‘Slow Down’ Testing By Ditching COVID Test Sites

The Trump administration is withdrawing federal funding and support for COVID-19 testing sites around the country even as the pandemic surges .
Despite the White House attempts to claim Donald Trump was joking when he boasted about telling `` my people '' to slow down coronavirus testing in order to have viewer cases , we now see at least one way he 'll likely get it done .
The federal government will stop providing money and support for 13 sites across five states which were originally set up in the first months of the pandemic to speed up testing at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly hard hit by the decision .
The federal government gives much-needed testing kits and laboratory access to seven testing sites around Texas .
But in the state , which is seeing new peaks in cases , people still face long lines for testing that continues to fail to meet overwhelming demand .
Given Trump ’ s near tie with Biden in Texas , a state Trump won by 9 points in 2016 , you ’ d think he would be reluctant to screw Lone Star State voters at a time like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request by Dallas ’ director of emergency management , Rocky Vaz , to extend its support beyond June 30 .
The federal support not only provides help with testing , but also with finances during a time when American cities and states are grappling with economic woes that go with the pandemic .
More from TPM : The sites provide testing kits and laboratories , and notify patients of their results .
The federal government covers costs , while providing staff and signing its own contracts with third-party vendors .
… The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off of cities and states already buckling under a budget crunch from the pandemic , while boosting testing capacity .
… “ The personnel , the site , the tents , the generators , the kits , the lab work , the patient notification , all of that , ” Vaz said , saying that the city of Dallas would end up paying between $ 130 and $ 150 per test once the federal help ends .
Each site can perform 1,000 COVID tests per day .
I ’ m willing to bet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be able to pick up all the slack from the federal government and likely cut back on testing .
Chances are , they won ’ t be up and running on July 1 , either .
Yesterday , Trump refused to say whether he had authorized a slowdown in testing .
Today , he said , `` I do n't kid '' when asked about it .
On Twitter , he confirmed he thinks he ’ d look better with fewer tests .
Today , Dr. Anthony Fauci told a House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force had never been directed to slow down testing , seemingly contradicting Trump .
Apparently , Trump has chosen another way to do it .
And it 's no joke .

The Trump administration is withdrawing federal funding and support for COVID-19 testing sites around the country even as the pandemic surges.
Despite the White House attempts to claim Donald Trump was joking when he boasted about telling "my people" to slow down coronavirus testing in order to have viewer cases, we now see at least one way he'll likely get it done.
From TPM Muckraker:
The federal government will stop providing money and support for 13 sites across five states which were originally set up in the first months of the pandemic to speed up testing at the local level. … Texas will be particularly hard hit by the decision. The federal government gives much-needed testing kits and laboratory access to seven testing sites around Texas. But in the state, which is seeing new peaks in cases, people still face long lines for testing that continues to fail to meet overwhelming demand.
Given Trump’s near tie with Biden in Texas, a state Trump won by 9 points in 2016, you’d think he would be reluctant to screw Lone Star State voters at a time like this. But the federal government reportedly refused a request by Dallas’ director of emergency management, Rocky Vaz, to extend its support beyond June 30.
The federal support not only provides help with testing, but also with finances during a time when American cities and states are grappling with economic woes that go with the pandemic. More from TPM:
The sites provide testing kits and laboratories, and notify patients of their results. The federal government covers costs, while providing staff and signing its own contracts with third-party vendors.
… The aid for testing takes a financial burden off of cities and states already buckling under a budget crunch from the pandemic, while boosting testing capacity.
… “The personnel, the site, the tents, the generators, the kits, the lab work, the patient notification, all of that,” Vaz said, saying that the city of Dallas would end up paying between $130 and $150 per test once the federal help ends. Each site can perform 1,000 COVID tests per day.
I’m willing to bet that Dallas and the other localities affected will not be able to pick up all the slack from the federal government and likely cut back on testing. Chances are, they won’t be up and running on July 1, either.
Yesterday, Trump refused to say whether he had authorized a slowdown in testing. Today, he said, "I don't kid" when asked about it. On Twitter, he confirmed he thinks he’d look better with fewer tests.
Cases are going up in the U.S. because we are testing far more than any other country, and ever expanding. With smaller testing we would show fewer cases! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 23, 2020
Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci told a House panel that the White House coronavirus task force had never been directed to slow down testing, seemingly contradicting Trump.
Apparently, Trump has chosen another way to do it. And it's no joke.


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--Sen. Kamala Harris Roasts John Cornyn On A Spit With Fourteen Words

Whose idea was it for John Cornyn to come after Sen. Kamala Harris on police reform , Senate procedure , transparency , or frankly , anything for that matter ?
It 's the perfect example of white male mediocrity being blasted into the ether by Black female brilliance and preparedness .
First , ( before the video above begins , ) Cornyn asked Sen. Harris if she was aware — if she was AWARE — the GOP 's no-teeth , no-reform police bill that the Democrats planned to vote against included the anti-lynching legislation she and Sen. Booker sponsored .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the smartest and most prepared legislators in the Senate would n't be AWARE of her own legislation .
She answered , '' The same one that Rand Paul obstructed a couple of weeks ago ?
Yes , I am aware of that . ''
Right then and there he should have sat his ass down , and known he was out of his league .
Of course , he did n't , because white men never think they 're beat .
She continued , listing the reasons Democrats wo n't sacrifice the critical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police accountability , national standards for use of force , independent investigators for the one anti-lynching issue .
Those other issues are the ones that would have helped keep so many of the Black people we mourn alive .
None of them is in that toothless GOP policing bill .
Yet , our Texas Senator pressed on , asking again if she was AWARE Senate procedure allowed Senators to offer amendments to improve legislation once it 's been taken up .
Like he 's teaching a 5-year-old who has never seen the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris gears up again , her face saying , `` Oh , you wan na challenge me on process ? ''
First , she reminds him that she and Cornyn both serve on the Judiciary Committee , as do the authors of the Senate policing bill she is opposing .
THEN , she roasts Mitch McConnell without even mentioning his name .
HARRIS : We have asked that there would be a meaningful discussion of the Justice in Policing Act in that committee .
None has occurred .
So , if we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us look at all the tools that are available to well-intentioned , well-meaning legislators if the goal is actually to solve and address the issue at hand .
I 've seen no evidence of that .
I 've seen no evidence that , in fact , I 've seen , reading some of the newspapers , sometimes they get things wrong , but if they got it right , the Senate Leader said that he has no interest in engaging in that kind of discussion or debate before we put the bill on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And because , apparently , Sen. Cornyn 's career has a death wish , a masochistic streak , or both , he requested one more question of Sen. Harris .
Then he stood there for a good 8 seconds before he said a word .
CORNYN : What I 'm trying to fathom , Madam President , is why the Senator would rather have these negotiations behind closed doors , as opposed to on the floor of the Senate , for the American people to see broadcast on television .
Do n't you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and in front of all 330 million Americans would be beneficial to healing our country and coming to some consensus about what the appropriate reforms should be ?
HARRIS : Indeed , that is the beauty of the Judiciary Committee .
Our meetings are public meetings .
I mean ... has anyone seen Sen. Cornyn 's pride ?
Is it hiding in the same place his intellect ?
Twitter had , shall we say , feelings about this exchange .

Whose idea was it for John Cornyn to come after Sen. Kamala Harris on police reform, Senate procedure, transparency, or frankly, anything for that matter? It's the perfect example of white male mediocrity being blasted into the ether by Black female brilliance and preparedness.
First, (before the video above begins,) Cornyn asked Sen. Harris if she was aware — if she was AWARE — the GOP's no-teeth, no-reform police bill that the Democrats planned to vote against included the anti-lynching legislation she and Sen. Booker sponsored. This S.O.B. As if one of the smartest and most prepared legislators in the Senate wouldn't be AWARE of her own legislation. She answered,
"The same one that Rand Paul obstructed a couple of weeks ago? Yes, I am aware of that."
Right then and there he should have sat his ass down, and known he was out of his league. Of course, he didn't, because white men never think they're beat. She continued, listing the reasons Democrats won't sacrifice the critical issues of no-knock warrants, chokehold bans, police accountability, national standards for use of force, independent investigators for the one anti-lynching issue. Those other issues are the ones that would have helped keep so many of the Black people we mourn alive. None of them is in that toothless GOP policing bill.
Yet, our Texas Senator pressed on, asking again if she was AWARE Senate procedure allowed Senators to offer amendments to improve legislation once it's been taken up. Like he's teaching a 5-year-old who has never seen the inside of the Capitol building. Sen. Harris gears up again, her face saying, "Oh, you wanna challenge me on process?"
First, she reminds him that she and Cornyn both serve on the Judiciary Committee, as do the authors of the Senate policing bill she is opposing. THEN, she roasts Mitch McConnell without even mentioning his name.
HARRIS: We have asked that there would be a meaningful discussion of the Justice in Policing Act in that committee. None has occurred. So, if we're gonna talk about process, let us look at all the tools that are available to well-intentioned, well-meaning legislators if the goal is actually to solve and address the issue at hand. I've seen no evidence of that. I've seen no evidence that, in fact, I've seen, reading some of the newspapers, sometimes they get things wrong, but if they got it right, the Senate Leader said that he has no interest in engaging in that kind of discussion or debate before we put the bill on the floor for a vote tomorrow.
And because, apparently, Sen. Cornyn's career has a death wish, a masochistic streak, or both, he requested one more question of Sen. Harris. Then he stood there for a good 8 seconds before he said a word.
CORNYN: What I'm trying to fathom, Madam President, is why the Senator would rather have these negotiations behind closed doors, as opposed to on the floor of the Senate, for the American people to see broadcast on television. Don't you think that sort of interaction and debate out and in front of all 330 million Americans would be beneficial to healing our country and coming to some consensus about what the appropriate reforms should be? HARRIS: Indeed, that is the beauty of the Judiciary Committee. Our meetings are public meetings.
BOOM.
I mean...has anyone seen Sen. Cornyn's pride? Is it hiding in the same place his intellect?
Twitter had, shall we say, feelings about this exchange.
Me: 911?
911: Yes.
Me: I'd like to report... no, sorry, I don't call the cops on black excellence... I need the fire department.
911: Why?
Me: @KamalaHarris just stranded @JohnCornyn is a tree and I don't think he can get down.
911: Sending Ladder Company "Ya Got Burnt" now. https://t.co/zGEEIGrJIz — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) June 23, 2020
She basically told him, “Bring it. Ain’t nothing between us but space and opportunity.” pic.twitter.com/pF7QpXg6pa — Hank Neloms (@MongoSlade64) June 23, 2020
.@KamalaHarris just snatched John Cornyn’s entire soul in front of the nation. That pause and look, chile...💀 pic.twitter.com/mEK2NQ2HHC — chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 23, 2020
Why did Kamala Harris embarrass John Cornyn like that?😭😩😂 pic.twitter.com/tmQD8tqLuf — The General (@generalunite) June 23, 2020
Wow. During powerful @SenKamalaHarris speech, Sen. Cornyn stops her to ask whether she knows her antilynching bill (w/ @CoryBooker) is included in the GOP bill.
She responded: “You mean the same one that Rand Paul obstructed?”
Don’t be distracted. GOP bill falls woefully short. pic.twitter.com/3XGXWNnrWp — Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) June 23, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-06-23--It's Late June, Time For A New Trump 2020 Campaign Manager

According to Vanity Fair , Prznint Stupid ’ s 2020 Goat Rodeo campaign manager is a dead-man walking : “ Brad really shit the bed Saturday night .
You have to remember , execution is 95 % of presidential politics , ” a Republican close to the White House told me over the weekend .
Parscale committed a cascade of errors , from overhyping expected turnout to blaming the half-filled arena on protesters .
Trump was so furious when he saw how thin the crowd was that he threatened to not go onstage , two sources briefed on the discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parscale , reading the tea leaves , is planning to step down .
“ He knows he can ’ t survive , ” one source told me .
So if Parscale gets airlocked , who steps into the Titanic ’ s wheelhouse ?
( And there ’ s no mixed metaphor there ! )
But one thing is for sure : The blame game has shifted into high gear .
Trump insiders told me Trump was presented with five options of where to hold his rally .
“ The president chose Tulsa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told me that if Parscale is forced out , he likely won ’ t be the only casualty of the rally fiasco .
Trump is debating revoking his son-in-law Jared Kushner ’ s control over the campaign , sources said .
As I previously reported , Trump has been frustrated with Kushner ’ s oversight of the campaign in light of polling that consistently shows Trump losing to Joe Biden.Another source of friction has been campaign spending and reports Trump has gotten that Parscale is making millions of dollars .
“ Did Jared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently , according to a source .
( Kushner declined to comment . )
Lord Damp Nut can not You ’ re Fired the Fresh Prince of New Jersey , so he ’ s gon na go for Parscale .
But it still doesn ’ t answer the question of who is gon na ride the Titanic all the way down .
One way to measure Kushner ’ s diminished influence will be found in whom Trump would choose to replace Parscale .
Top candidates include 2016 veterans Miller , David Bossie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner successfully kept on the outer fringe of Trumpworld .
“ We can ’ t allow Jared ’ s stupid disagreements to get in the way , ” Trump recently told advisers , according to a source briefed on the conversation .
A-Ha !
So we have the 3 leading candidates !
Let ’ s explore !
• The Miller that they are referring to is NOT his pocket Nazi , it ’ s Jason Miller .
He was there in the 2016 Goat Rodeo briefly as he was banging the staffers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one of ’ em pregnant .
• David Bossie , as you might recall , was also a 2016 Goat Rodeo campaign assistant who got You ’ re Fired ’ ed when he was grifting the olds in the base ( and didn ’ t give Lord Damp Nut the cream off the top ) .
• And that leaves Corey Lewandowski , a man so dumb he probably couldn ’ t be the assistant manager at the local 2-screen cineplex .
Though of those three , Lewandowski may seem the frontrunner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other Trump insiders are skeptical that Lewandowski would be put in charge of such a vast operation .
“ Corey was great when it was just Trump and an airplane .
But let ’ s face it , he couldn ’ t manage a 7-Eleven , ” a person close to Trump said .
“ The serious operation will be run by serious people.
” OK , so there ’ s our handicap , Scissorheads , and the betting window is open : Who is gon na be the next campaign manager ?

According to Vanity Fair, Prznint Stupid’s 2020 Goat Rodeo campaign manager is a dead-man walking:
“Brad really shit the bed Saturday night. You have to remember, execution is 95% of presidential politics,” a Republican close to the White House told me over the weekend. Parscale committed a cascade of errors, from overhyping expected turnout to blaming the half-filled arena on protesters. Trump was so furious when he saw how thin the crowd was that he threatened to not go onstage, two sources briefed on the discussions told me. The sources said that Parscale, reading the tea leaves, is planning to step down. “He knows he can’t survive,” one source told me.
So if Parscale gets airlocked, who steps into the Titanic’s wheelhouse? (And there’s no mixed metaphor there!)
But one thing is for sure: The blame game has shifted into high gear. Trump insiders told me Trump was presented with five options of where to hold his rally. “The president chose Tulsa,” a source said. Sources also told me that if Parscale is forced out, he likely won’t be the only casualty of the rally fiasco. Trump is debating revoking his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s control over the campaign, sources said. As I previously reported, Trump has been frustrated with Kushner’s oversight of the campaign in light of polling that consistently shows Trump losing to Joe Biden.Another source of friction has been campaign spending and reports Trump has gotten that Parscale is making millions of dollars. “Did Jared allow this?” Trump asked advisers recently, according to a source. (Kushner declined to comment.)
Lord Damp Nut cannot You’re Fired the Fresh Prince of New Jersey, so he’s gonna go for Parscale. But it still doesn’t answer the question of who is gonna ride the Titanic all the way down.
One way to measure Kushner’s diminished influence will be found in whom Trump would choose to replace Parscale. Top candidates include 2016 veterans Miller, David Bossie, and Corey Lewandowski, all of whom Kushner successfully kept on the outer fringe of Trumpworld. “We can’t allow Jared’s stupid disagreements to get in the way,” Trump recently told advisers, according to a source briefed on the conversation.
A-Ha! So we have the 3 leading candidates! Let’s explore!
The Miller that they are referring to is NOT his pocket Nazi, it’s Jason Miller. He was there in the 2016 Goat Rodeo briefly as he was banging the staffers who were not his wife and got at least one of ’em pregnant.
David Bossie, as you might recall, was also a 2016 Goat Rodeo campaign assistant who got You’re Fired’ed when he was grifting the olds in the base (and didn’t give Lord Damp Nut the cream off the top).
And that leaves Corey Lewandowski, a man so dumb he probably couldn’t be the assistant manager at the local 2-screen cineplex.
Though of those three, Lewandowski may seem the frontrunner, well, VF has doubts:
Other Trump insiders are skeptical that Lewandowski would be put in charge of such a vast operation. “Corey was great when it was just Trump and an airplane. But let’s face it, he couldn’t manage a 7-Eleven,” a person close to Trump said. “The serious operation will be run by serious people.”
OK, so there’s our handicap, Scissorheads, and the betting window is open: Who is gonna be the next campaign manager?
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Ex-Prosecutor Will Testify Today About Barr's Pressure To Go Easy On Roger Stone

This testimony today should be very dramatic , as a former Mueller prosecutor is expected to talk about the pressure from the top to change sentencing recommendations for Trump pal Roger `` I hardly know him '' Stone .
Via CNN : ( CNN ) A deputy to former special counsel Robert Mueller plans to tell a congressional panel Wednesday that the `` highest levels '' of the Justice Department politicized the sentencing of President Donald Trump 's longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone by pressuring the acting US attorney for the District of Columbia to ease up on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee released Tuesday .
Aaron Zelinsky , a member of Mueller 's team who prosecuted the Stone case , submitted written testimony charging that Stone was `` being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President . ''
`` What I saw was the Department of Justice exerting significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation to which Roger Stone was subject -- and to water down and in some cases outright distort the events that transpired in his trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his conviction , '' Zelinsky said in his written statement .
Zelinsky , currently a prosecutor in the Maryland US Attorney 's Office , is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday at a hearing on the politicization of the Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr .
Zelinsky is appearing alongside John Elias , a career staffer in DOJ 's Antitrust Division who is accusing Barr of ordering investigations into 10 mergers of cannabis companies because he did not like the industry .

This testimony today should be very dramatic, as a former Mueller prosecutor is expected to talk about the pressure from the top to change sentencing recommendations for Trump pal Roger "I hardly know him" Stone. Via CNN:
(CNN) A deputy to former special counsel Robert Mueller plans to tell a congressional panel Wednesday that the "highest levels" of the Justice Department politicized the sentencing of President Donald Trump's longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone by pressuring the acting US attorney for the District of Columbia to ease up on his sentencing, according to written testimony the committee released Tuesday.
Aaron Zelinsky, a member of Mueller's team who prosecuted the Stone case, submitted written testimony charging that Stone was "being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the President."
"What I saw was the Department of Justice exerting significant pressure on the line prosecutors in the case to obscure the correct Sentencing Guidelines calculation to which Roger Stone was subject -- and to water down and in some cases outright distort the events that transpired in his trial and the criminal conduct that gave rise to his conviction," Zelinsky said in his written statement.
Zelinsky, currently a prosecutor in the Maryland US Attorney's Office, is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday at a hearing on the politicization of the Justice Department under Attorney General William Barr. Zelinsky is appearing alongside John Elias, a career staffer in DOJ's Antitrust Division who is accusing Barr of ordering investigations into 10 mergers of cannabis companies because he did not like the industry.


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Incredulous Stephen Colbert To John Bolton: 'How Did You Not Know' About Trump?

Stephen Colbert tried to pin down slippery John Bolton last night when he had him on as a guest , but Bolton has so little capacity for self-awareness that it was almost impossible .
You have to watch the whole thing -- Colbert really got in his face , but to no avail .
You could say the biggest flaw in Colbert 's approach is that he 's treating Bolton as an intelligent , rational actor -- when history shows he 's simply an ideologue with a rigid set of extremist goals .
Bolton said he didn ’ t believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying .
“ But you ’ re an international negotiator .
How could you be naive ?
” Colbert said .
“ You ’ ve dealt with the worst people in the world !
” When Bolton mentioned that he wo n't vote for Trump , but he wo n't vote for Biden , either , Colbert let him have it .
Bolton said unlike Biden , Trump 's `` not going to be a Democrat subject , especially these days , to the pressure of the left . ''
`` No , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pressure of Vladmir Putin and Xi Jinping , '' an incredulous Colbert shot back .
He 's a person who 's willing to sell out the interest of the American people for his own re-election .
What could be worse in HIllary Clinton or Joe Biden 's philosophy than betraying your country to a hostile foreign power ? ''
`` Trust me , I understand that point , '' a placid Bolton said .
“ What I thought in 2016 was , ‘ Well , at least we have to try it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s exasperating , ” said Colbert , “ is there is absolutely nothing that Donald Trump has done that ’ s surprising to me .
My rule is : whatever you think he ’ s done is probably true .
He ’ s not deep enough to get your socks wet in .
That ’ s why , when he ran casinos , the house lost .
There was noting to learn about him .
How did you not know beforehand that he was that callow ?
” “ Because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad , ” Bolton said .

Stephen Colbert tried to pin down slippery John Bolton last night when he had him on as a guest, but Bolton has so little capacity for self-awareness that it was almost impossible. You have to watch the whole thing -- Colbert really got in his face, but to no avail.
You could say the biggest flaw in Colbert's approach is that he's treating Bolton as an intelligent, rational actor -- when history shows he's simply an ideologue with a rigid set of extremist goals.
Bolton said he didn’t believe Trump was as bad as people were saying.
“But you’re an international negotiator. How could you be naive?” Colbert said. “You’ve dealt with the worst people in the world!”
When Bolton mentioned that he won't vote for Trump, but he won't vote for Biden, either, Colbert let him have it.
Bolton said unlike Biden, Trump's "not going to be a Democrat subject, especially these days, to the pressure of the left."
"No, he's going to be subject to the pressure of Vladmir Putin and Xi Jinping," an incredulous Colbert shot back.
He's a person who's willing to sell out the interest of the American people for his own re-election. What could be worse in HIllary Clinton or Joe Biden's philosophy than betraying your country to a hostile foreign power?"
"Trust me, I understand that point," a placid Bolton said. “What I thought in 2016 was, ‘Well, at least we have to try it out.'”
“I guess what’s exasperating,” said Colbert, “is there is absolutely nothing that Donald Trump has done that’s surprising to me. My rule is: whatever you think he’s done is probably true. He’s not deep enough to get your socks wet in. That’s why, when he ran casinos, the house lost. There was noting to learn about him. How did you not know beforehand that he was that callow?”
“Because I couldn’t believe it was that bad,” Bolton said.


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Mike Huckabee Calls People Who Want To Remove Statues Of ‘White’ Jesus 'Crazy'

Ordained minister and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee ( R ) complained on Tuesday that Black Lives Matter activists are trying to erase “ history ” by calling for the removal of statues depicting a “ white ” Jesus Christ .
During a discussion on Fox Business , host Stuart Varney was taken aback by a tweet from activist Shaun King , who argued : “ The statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down.
” “ I can barely believe this , ” Varney said .
“ Look , I ’ m not happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only thing that you can do is to laugh at these loons , ” Huckabee replied .
“ First of all , what an idiotic thing we ’ re seeing going on all over the world with people tearing down every kind of statue.
” “ They defaced a statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn !
” he exclaimed .
“ This has gone beyond anything that we can imagine.
” According to Huckabee , the “ real challenge ” facing the world is “ a culture that doesn ’ t understand its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woke up tomorrow and had no clue what our names were , where we ’ d been to school , who our friends and family were , we ’ d be lost and we would be living in a world of chaos , ” he opined .
“ When a culture doesn ’ t know its history , it ’ s living in chaos.
” Huckabee added : “ We don ’ t know our history , we ’ re living in chaos .
And these crazy people on the left are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vestige or art and culture and trying to erase history , even the part of it that we ought to embrace .
”

Ordained minister and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) complained on Tuesday that Black Lives Matter activists are trying to erase “history” by calling for the removal of statues depicting a “white” Jesus Christ.
During a discussion on Fox Business, host Stuart Varney was taken aback by a tweet from activist Shaun King, who argued: “The statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down.”
Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down.
They are a form of white supremacy.
Always have been.
In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went?
EGYPT!
Not Denmark.
Tear them down. — Shaun King (@shaunking) June 22, 2020
“I can barely believe this,” Varney said. “Look, I’m not happy when I hear this nonsense.”
“The only thing that you can do is to laugh at these loons,” Huckabee replied. “First of all, what an idiotic thing we’re seeing going on all over the world with people tearing down every kind of statue.”
“They defaced a statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn!” he exclaimed. “This has gone beyond anything that we can imagine.”
According to Huckabee, the “real challenge” facing the world is “a culture that doesn’t understand its history.”
“If you and I woke up tomorrow and had no clue what our names were, where we’d been to school, who our friends and family were, we’d be lost and we would be living in a world of chaos,” he opined. “When a culture doesn’t know its history, it’s living in chaos.”
Huckabee added: “We don’t know our history, we’re living in chaos. And these crazy people on the left are now becoming like Islamic terrorists destroying every last vestige or art and culture and trying to erase history, even the part of it that we ought to embrace.”


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Confirmed: Roger Stone Was The Link Between Trump And Russia

I ’ m not one of those journalists who laments the news cycle as if the Washington press corps has no choice but to cover everything this president does as if everything he does were of equal importance .
The Trump administration is indeed a dust devil of disaster , but some things are more important than others , and reporters should say so .
This weekend saw wall-to-wall coverage of Donald Trump ’ s attempt to reboot his bid for reelection .
The setting was Tulsa , Oklahoma , where the Covid-19 pandemic is surging , and where civic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wrong time to gather 20-some thousand people in one place .
The Trump campaign , meanwhile , crowed about how many people were going to show up only to be humiliated when less than half did .
If this president , or any president , is shown to have cheated to get to where he is today , that means this president , or any president , is illegitimate .
Empty seats evidently signal “ vulnerabilities ” heading into the election , according to the AP ’ s Steve Peoples and Jonathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the campaign trail was designed to show strength and enthusiasm but instead highlighted growing vulnerabilities .
It also crystallized a divisive reelection message that largely ignores broad swaths of voters , who could play a decisive role on Election Day , and the critical and dominant national issue of racial injustice .
National unity was not mentioned.
” I get it .
I ’ m as human as the next guy .
The president was embarrassed .
Cue the Schadenfreude .
But if we ’ re going to talk seriously about Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ divisive election ” in which he ’ s pandering to his base of support while ignoring a majority of Americans , let ’ s remember that that ’ s what the president did last time around .
That ’ s why he had to cheat .
Cheating , for this guy , is a feature , not a bug .
Indeed , cheating was confirmed Friday .
The US Department of Justice released unredacted parts of Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian interference in 2016 .
The parts involved Roger Stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidant .
( They were redacted while Stone ’ s federal trial was ongoing . )
Thanks to Buzzfeed , which sued for the release of the information , it ’ s abundantly clear there was a link between Trump and Kremlin operatives attacking Democrat Hillary Clinton .
That link was Stone .
During testimony to the US Congress , Robert Mueller said the Russians waged a cyber-offensive against Clinton to benefit Trump .
His report explained how hackers under the direction of Vladimir Putin gave stolen documents to Wikileaks , which timed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , was whether the Trump campaign knew about Putin ’ s efforts and more importantly , whether Trump himself knew about his campaign ’ s effort to obtain the information .
If a link could be established , it would be clear that to win , the president colluded with the enemy .
The link was … already established ?
The Times and the Post , in reporting the results of Buzzfeed ’ s lawsuit , said there wasn ’ t anything new to report other than the possibility of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
Apparently , the link between Trump and Russia had already been reported !
Apparently , that link was clear after Roger Stone was convicted of lying to federal investigators !
I mean , OK , fine , so maybe I should ’ ve been paying more and better attention , but I do this stuff for a living .
If I missed this link , I ’ m betting lots of normal people missed it , too , and if lots of normal people missed it , too , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of institutional failing , right ?
It could be people did n't show up in Tulsa , because they do n't want to give an illegitimate president a second chance .
Think about it .
If this president , or any president , is shown to have cheated to get to where he is today , that means this president , or any president , is illegitimate .
That means this president , or any president , defrauded the American people , violated national sovereignty , and seized the right to rule without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means it doesn ’ t matter what this president , or any president , has done or will do from now on .
The fact that this president , or any president , cheated means he has to go .
He has to , because once a cheater , always a cheater .
Trump cheated again when he tried involving two foreign leaders in a scheme to interfere this year , and in doing so either betrayed Americans values ( he ’ s willing to look away from China cracks down on Hongkongers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treason ( with Ukraine , in my view ) .
Cheating , in other words , isn ’ t a bug for this guy .
It ’ s a permanent feature .
The Washington press corps can choose not to cover everything Trump does as if everything he does were of equal importance .
When it comes to reporting a campaign rally in which half the people showed up who were supposed to show up , cheating is a news context as valid as any other .
It could be the pandemic kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however—and plausibility is the best that reporters have to work with—is that people are not showing up to give an illegitimate president a second chance .
John Stoehr is the editor and publisher of the Editorial Board , a newsletter about politics in plain English for normal people and the common good .
He 's a visiting assistant professor of public policy at Wesleyan University , a fellow at the Yale Journalism Initiative , a contributing writer for the Washington Monthly , and a contributing editor for Religion Dispatches .
Republished with permission @

[Above video from February, 2019]
I’m not one of those journalists who laments the news cycle as if the Washington press corps has no choice but to cover everything this president does as if everything he does were of equal importance. The Trump administration is indeed a dust devil of disaster, but some things are more important than others, and reporters should say so.
This weekend saw wall-to-wall coverage of Donald Trump’s attempt to reboot his bid for reelection. The setting was Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Covid-19 pandemic is surging, and where civic and business leaders said now’s the wrong time to gather 20-some thousand people in one place. The Trump campaign, meanwhile, crowed about how many people were going to show up only to be humiliated when less than half did.
If this president, or any president, is shown to have cheated to get to where he is today, that means this president, or any president, is illegitimate.
Empty seats evidently signal “vulnerabilities” heading into the election, according to the AP’s Steve Peoples and Jonathan Lemire. “Trump’s return to the campaign trail was designed to show strength and enthusiasm but instead highlighted growing vulnerabilities. It also crystallized a divisive reelection message that largely ignores broad swaths of voters, who could play a decisive role on Election Day, and the critical and dominant national issue of racial injustice. National unity was not mentioned.”
I get it. I’m as human as the next guy. The president was embarrassed. Cue the Schadenfreude. But if we’re going to talk seriously about Trump’s “vulnerabilities” in a “divisive election” in which he’s pandering to his base of support while ignoring a majority of Americans, let’s remember that that’s what the president did last time around. That’s why he had to cheat. Cheating, for this guy, is a feature, not a bug.
Indeed, cheating was confirmed Friday. The US Department of Justice released unredacted parts of Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in 2016. The parts involved Roger Stone, the president’s friend and confidant. (They were redacted while Stone’s federal trial was ongoing.) Thanks to Buzzfeed, which sued for the release of the information, it’s abundantly clear there was a link between Trump and Kremlin operatives attacking Democrat Hillary Clinton. That link was Stone.
During testimony to the US Congress, Robert Mueller said the Russians waged a cyber-offensive against Clinton to benefit Trump. His report explained how hackers under the direction of Vladimir Putin gave stolen documents to Wikileaks, which timed their release for maximum impact. Unclear, however, was whether the Trump campaign knew about Putin’s efforts and more importantly, whether Trump himself knew about his campaign’s effort to obtain the information. If a link could be established, it would be clear that to win, the president colluded with the enemy.
The link was … already established? The Times and the Post, in reporting the results of Buzzfeed’s lawsuit, said there wasn’t anything new to report other than the possibility of the president having lied to Mueller’s team. Apparently, the link between Trump and Russia had already been reported! Apparently, that link was clear after Roger Stone was convicted of lying to federal investigators! I mean, OK, fine, so maybe I should’ve been paying more and better attention, but I do this stuff for a living. If I missed this link, I’m betting lots of normal people missed it, too, and if lots of normal people missed it, too, that’s probably an indicator of some sort of institutional failing, right?
It could be people didn't show up in Tulsa, because they don't want to give an illegitimate president a second chance.
Think about it. If this president, or any president, is shown to have cheated to get to where he is today, that means this president, or any president, is illegitimate. That means this president, or any president, defrauded the American people, violated national sovereignty, and seized the right to rule without the consent of the ruled. That means it doesn’t matter what this president, or any president, has done or will do from now on. The fact that this president, or any president, cheated means he has to go.
He has to, because once a cheater, always a cheater. Trump cheated again when he tried involving two foreign leaders in a scheme to interfere this year, and in doing so either betrayed Americans values (he’s willing to look away from China cracks down on Hongkongers and Uighur Muslims) or literally committed treason (with Ukraine, in my view). Cheating, in other words, isn’t a bug for this guy. It’s a permanent feature.
The Washington press corps can choose not to cover everything Trump does as if everything he does were of equal importance. When it comes to reporting a campaign rally in which half the people showed up who were supposed to show up, cheating is a news context as valid as any other. It could be the pandemic kept people away. Just as plausible, however—and plausibility is the best that reporters have to work with—is that people are not showing up to give an illegitimate president a second chance.
John Stoehr is the editor and publisher of the Editorial Board, a newsletter about politics in plain English for normal people and the common good. He's a visiting assistant professor of public policy at Wesleyan University, a fellow at the Yale Journalism Initiative, a contributing writer for the Washington Monthly, and a contributing editor for Religion Dispatches. Republished with permission.


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Lawyers , Guns & Money : Compare and contrast the responses of Washington state and Florida to rising COVID-19 case @ @ @ @ @ Consider this grim contribution to the uncounted death toll from COVID-19 .
Mahablog : Remember @ @ @ @ @ Roosevelt .
Right Wing Watch : Ponder that Trump of all people is accusing President @ @ @ @ @ of which , your quote of the day : `` Are you allowed to impeach @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
( Donald Trump , June 4 , 2014 . )
Guest blogging Mike @ @ @ @ @ week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives .
Send your tips , recommendations , comments and @ @ @ @ @ DOT com .

Lawyers, Guns & Money: Compare and contrast the responses of Washington state and Florida to rising COVID-19 case numbers.
Naked Capitalism: Consider this grim contribution to the uncounted death toll from COVID-19.
Mahablog: Remember this in defense of Teddy Roosevelt.
Right Wing Watch: Ponder that Trump of all people is accusing President Obama of treason.
Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"Are you allowed to impeach a president for gross incompetence?" (Donald Trump, June 4, 2014.)
Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--If This Is Your Planned October Surprise, You're Not Very Good At October Surprises

Michael Tomasky is concerned about William Barr and the election : Daily Beast columnist Michael Tomasky is warning Democrats to beware of Attorney General Bill Barr ’ s last-ditch effort to save President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign by springing last-minute indictments of former law enforcement officials involved in probing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Specifically , Tomasky speculates that Barr is pushing for prosecutor John Durham to allege that Russia was actually working to get Hillary Clinton , not Trump , elected in 2016 ... .
“ So Democrats need to start saying right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation that is an attempt by Barr to rig the election , ” he writes .
“ They need to say it and say it and say it .
And then , when Durham issues his report or indictments , public opinion , or the important slice of it anyway , will be conditioned to believe that it ’ s all a scam.
” It certainly would n't surprise me if that 's what Barr has in mind .
But why would it work ?
Consider where we are right now .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in the toilet .
Unaccountable police officers brutalize with impunity .
And we 're supposed to care about yet another attempt to smear Hillary Clinton ?
Or former law enforcement officials most Americans ca n't identify ?
Sure , this would be catnip for a certain segment of voters : people who are already 100 % certain to vote for Donald Trump .
If this is what Barr is up to , he 's yet another Trumper who thinks that making Trump superfans into mega-ultra-super-duper-fans will actually translate to more Trump votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only vote once each . )
For all its flaws , the press has quite steadfastly stuck to the story the intelligence community initially told us about Russia and the 2016 election : The Russians interfered because they wanted Donald Trump to win .
I know it 's easy to imagine Hillary-haters in the media seizing on one more chance to take a swipe at her , but I think they 'll question Barr and Durham 's deviation from the original story , primarily because all of their intelligence sources will .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
Nobody wants to see this happen except Fox-addled Republican voters .
They 'll cheer .
No one else will care .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

Michael Tomasky is concerned about William Barr and the election:
Daily Beast columnist Michael Tomasky is warning Democrats to beware of Attorney General Bill Barr’s last-ditch effort to save President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign by springing last-minute indictments of former law enforcement officials involved in probing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Specifically, Tomasky speculates that Barr is pushing for prosecutor John Durham to allege that Russia was actually working to get Hillary Clinton, not Trump, elected in 2016.... “So Democrats need to start saying right now that Durham is engaged in a phony investigation that is an attempt by Barr to rig the election,” he writes. “They need to say it and say it and say it. And then, when Durham issues his report or indictments, public opinion, or the important slice of it anyway, will be conditioned to believe that it’s all a scam.”
It certainly wouldn't surprise me if that's what Barr has in mind. But why would it work?
Consider where we are right now. A deadly disease is rampant. The economy is in the toilet. Unaccountable police officers brutalize with impunity.
And we're supposed to care about yet another attempt to smear Hillary Clinton? Or former law enforcement officials most Americans can't identify?
Sure, this would be catnip for a certain segment of voters: people who are already 100% certain to vote for Donald Trump. If this is what Barr is up to, he's yet another Trumper who thinks that making Trump superfans into mega-ultra-super-duper-fans will actually translate to more Trump votes in November. (Newsflash: They can only vote once each.)
For all its flaws, the press has quite steadfastly stuck to the story the intelligence community initially told us about Russia and the 2016 election: The Russians interfered because they wanted Donald Trump to win. I know it's easy to imagine Hillary-haters in the media seizing on one more chance to take a swipe at her, but I think they'll question Barr and Durham's deviation from the original story, primarily because all of their intelligence sources will.
In the end, it doesn't matter. Nobody wants to see this happen except Fox-addled Republican voters. They'll cheer. No one else will care.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Rep. Cedric Richmond Blasts Trump's Incompetence During Barr Hearing

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Wednesday with 3 DOJ whistleblowers ( and one GOP loving non-DOJ person lawyer ) to talk about Bill Barr 's politicization and corruption of the Department of Justice in decisions to investigate ( or not investigate ) certain cases and decisions .
The hearing went as expected - Democrats asking legitimate questions , Republicans talking about Obama , Hillary , Obamagate and the Steele Dossier .
Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-LA ) jumped in with the kill shot in his opening statement .
The knife went in so cleanly , you had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he said a second time : Mr. Chairman , let me start by saying that part of our colleagues said that the whole hearing is here so we can embarrass the president .
Let ’ s just be clear .
If we wanted to embarrass the president , we would sit back and do nothing and just let him continue to embarrass himself and say that you should drink bleach or disinfectant to cure COVID-19 , that he slowed down testing , that it will magically go away .
Or the absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for black people than Abraham Lincoln .
In law we just say res ipsa loquitor -- the thing speaks for itself .
So instead of trying to embarrass the president , we would just let him continue to do it himself .
What we ’ re here today to talk about is the abuse of power , the miscarriage of justice .
NARRATOR : Everything stated was true , and also true of a number of Republican representatives in that hearing today .

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Wednesday with 3 DOJ whistleblowers (and one GOP loving non-DOJ person lawyer) to talk about Bill Barr's politicization and corruption of the Department of Justice in decisions to investigate (or not investigate) certain cases and decisions. The hearing went as expected - Democrats asking legitimate questions, Republicans talking about Obama, Hillary, Obamagate and the Steele Dossier.
Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) jumped in with the kill shot in his opening statement. The knife went in so cleanly, you had to rewind the tape to even hear what he said a second time:
Mr. Chairman, let me start by saying that part of our colleagues said that the whole hearing is here so we can embarrass the president. Let’s just be clear. If we wanted to embarrass the president, we would sit back and do nothing and just let him continue to embarrass himself and say that you should drink bleach or disinfectant to cure COVID-19, that he slowed down testing, that it will magically go away. Or the absurd statement that he’s done more for black people than Abraham Lincoln. In law we just say res ipsa loquitor -- the thing speaks for itself. So instead of trying to embarrass the president, we would just let him continue to do it himself. What we’re here today to talk about is the abuse of power, the miscarriage of justice.
NARRATOR: Everything stated was true, and also true of a number of Republican representatives in that hearing today.
Watch the entire hearing here.


crooksandliars--2020-06-24--Rep. Louie Gohmert Plays The Fool:  Relentlessly Bangs On Table To Interrupt Witness

During today 's House Judiciary Hearing on Justice Department Oversight , as former Bush Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer was @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Louie Gohmert acted like a petulant child who did n't get his toy truck @ @ @ @ @ sandbox .
Gohmert continually started banging on the table which was highly audible trying to @ @ @ @ @ claimed he did so because he passed his five minute limit .
All the Republicans @ @ @ @ @ disrupt , whine and complain about Chairman Nadler for supposed rule violations regarding the hearing @ @ @ @ @ true defense .
Rep. Jordan , Collins and Gohmert bring no merits whatsoever to the @ @ @ @ @ like a**holes as usual .
Rep. Hank Johnson finally got so disgusted with Gohmert 's @ @ @ @ @ the chairman would call the sergeant-at-arms to remove the idiotic Gohmert for disrupting the proceedings @ @ @ @ @ down and let Ayer finish his opening statement .
Republicans always turn any hearing into @ @ @ @ @ sh*t show .
They are incapable of doing anything otherwise .

During today's House Judiciary Hearing on Justice Department Oversight, as former Bush Deputy Attorney General Donald Ayer was giving his opening comments, Rep. Louie Gohmert acted like a petulant child who didn't get his toy truck to play with in the sandbox.
Gohmert continually started banging on the table which was highly audible trying to disrupt Ayer's remarks and claimed he did so because he passed his five minute limit.
All the Republicans on the committee tried to disrupt, whine and complain about Chairman Nadler for supposed rule violations regarding the hearing because they have no other true defense.
Rep. Jordan, Collins and Gohmert bring no merits whatsoever to the committee proceedings except to act like a**holes as usual.
Rep. Hank Johnson finally got so disgusted with Gohmert's actions that he asked if the chairman would call the sergeant-at-arms to remove the idiotic Gohmert for disrupting the proceedings.
Chairman Nadler shut things down and let Ayer finish his opening statement.
Republicans always turn any hearing into the Trump administration into a sh*t show.
They are incapable of doing anything otherwise.