crooksandliars--2020-02-13--Mnuchin Releases Info On Hunter Biden But Not Trump's Taxes?

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin , sitting in front of Assistant Secretary Monica Crowley ( yeah it 's a cartoon at this point ) , was called out in a Senate Hearing for a blatant double standard by his , and Trump 's , Treasury Department .
Turns out Treasury had NO PROBLEM releasing sensitive financial documentation on Hunter Biden to a Republican member of Congress , but still has not released Trump 's taxes to the House Ways and Means Committee as they are REQUIRED to by law .
Law & Crime : U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release President Donald Trump ’ s tax returns to House Democrats after swiftly complying with GOP lawmakers ’ request for extremely sensitive financial information pertaining to Hunter Biden and his associates .
Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday , Senate Democrats barraged the former Goldman Sachs executive with accusations that his department was applying a blatantly partisan double-standard to congressional requests .
“ One request is backed up by clear , statutory language in tax code section 6103 requiring the ‘ shall provide ’ tax documents to the committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in reference to the regulation governing the release of tax returns .
That says the Treasury Secretary “ shall furnish such committee with any [ tax ] return or return information specified.
” Mnuchin 's answer was so convoluted that Wyden raised his voice : `` You 're stonewalling about stonewalling ! ''
said the Oregon Democrat .

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, sitting in front of Assistant Secretary Monica Crowley (yeah it's a cartoon at this point), was called out in a Senate Hearing for a blatant double standard by his, and Trump's, Treasury Department.
Turns out Treasury had NO PROBLEM releasing sensitive financial documentation on Hunter Biden to a Republican member of Congress, but still has not released Trump's taxes to the House Ways and Means Committee as they are REQUIRED to by law. Law & Crime:
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin attempted to defend his department’s decision not to release President Donald Trump’s tax returns to House Democrats after swiftly complying with GOP lawmakers’ request for extremely sensitive financial information pertaining to Hunter Biden and his associates. Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Senate Democrats barraged the former Goldman Sachs executive with accusations that his department was applying a blatantly partisan double-standard to congressional requests. “One request is backed up by clear, statutory language in tax code section 6103 requiring the ‘shall provide’ tax documents to the committee,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) said in reference to the regulation governing the release of tax returns. That says the Treasury Secretary “shall furnish such committee with any [tax] return or return information specified.”
Mnuchin's answer was so convoluted that Wyden raised his voice: "You're stonewalling about stonewalling!" said the Oregon Democrat.


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--Forty-Two Seconds Of Louie Gohmert On Medicare For All Is All You Need

Do you think the Fox News audience could find Cuba on a map ?
What about Venezuela ?
Do they @ @ @ @ @ n't exist anymore ?
You know what they CAN find ?
Their Social Security and @ @ @ @ @ is in a tough spot on Fox , having to defend private insurance and medical @ @ @ @ @ of insurance and stuff .
Oh wait , he did n't mention any of that @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union !
Venezuela !
Cuba !
and he was done .
And the Medicare @ @ @ @ @ that Louie Gohmert is defending their America for them .
Sad .

Do you think the Fox News audience could find Cuba on a map? What about Venezuela? Do they know the Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore?
You know what they CAN find? Their Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Louie Gohmert is in a tough spot on Fox, having to defend private insurance and medical bankruptcy and dying for lack of insurance and stuff.
Oh wait, he didn't mention any of that. He just sang out Soviet Union! Venezuela! Cuba! and he was done.
And the Medicare recipients watching Fox are satisfied that Louie Gohmert is defending their America for them. Sad.


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--Rush Limbaugh's Homophobic Rant: Dems 'Ramming' Gay Mayor Pete 'Down Trump's Throat'

Our newest Presidential Medal of Freedom winner is back at his day job , stoking hatred and fear of people in service of His Hero , Donald Trump .
His target this time is Pete Buttigieg specifically and LGBTQ people generally .
There is literally no substance to Limbaugh 's attack beyond the fact that Pete Buttigieg is gay and married , and aspiring to toss Trump out of the White House .
Here 's what he said : They are sitting there and looking at Mayor Pete .
37-year-old gay guy , Mayor of South Bend .
Loves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And they are saying , okay , how is this going to look ?
37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage next to Mr. Man , Donald Trump .
What 's going to happen there ?
And they got to be looking at that , and they 've got to be saying , that despite all the great progress and despite all the great wokeness and despite all the great ground that 's been covered , America still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying this , do n't they ?
Now , there may be some Democrats who think that is the ticket .
There may be some Democrats who think that 's exactly what we need to do , Rush .
Get a gay guy kissing his husband on stage , to ram it down Trump 's throat and beat him in the general election .
Really .
Having fun envisioning that .
This is all part and parcel of the Manly Men mantra that is the steel holding together Trump 's campaign .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildlife murders , it 's why they drape plastic women on their arms , it 's why they puff out their chests and strut around and talk about guns and freedom .
And always , there 's Rush Limbaugh there to prop them up .
The funny part is , Pete 's policy prescriptions are much closer to conservatives than Democrats .
He 's a student of the Pete Peterson `` cut the safety net '' school .
But for Rush , it 's never about policy and always about stoking hate and @ @

Our newest Presidential Medal of Freedom winner is back at his day job, stoking hatred and fear of people in service of His Hero, Donald Trump. His target this time is Pete Buttigieg specifically and LGBTQ people generally.
There is literally no substance to Limbaugh's attack beyond the fact that Pete Buttigieg is gay and married, and aspiring to toss Trump out of the White House.
Here's what he said:
They are sitting there and looking at Mayor Pete. 37-year-old gay guy, Mayor of South Bend. Loves to kiss his husband on the debate stage. And they are saying, okay, how is this going to look? 37-year-old gay guy kissing his husband on stage next to Mr. Man, Donald Trump. What's going to happen there? And they got to be looking at that, and they've got to be saying, that despite all the great progress and despite all the great wokeness and despite all the great ground that's been covered, America still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage president. They have to be saying this, don't they? Now, there may be some Democrats who think that is the ticket. There may be some Democrats who think that's exactly what we need to do, Rush. Get a gay guy kissing his husband on stage, to ram it down Trump's throat and beat him in the general election. Really. Having fun envisioning that.
This is all part and parcel of the Manly Men mantra that is the steel holding together Trump's campaign. It's why Junior circulates photos of his wildlife murders, it's why they drape plastic women on their arms, it's why they puff out their chests and strut around and talk about guns and freedom.
And always, there's Rush Limbaugh there to prop them up.
The funny part is, Pete's policy prescriptions are much closer to conservatives than Democrats. He's a student of the Pete Peterson "cut the safety net" school. But for Rush, it's never about policy and always about stoking hate and fear.


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--'My Hopey' Is Returning To The White House As A Senior Adviser

There is joy in the Oval Office today over The Return of Hope Hicks , former White House comms director , and if you look at her track record , you can understand why .
Trump trusts her because she observes the code of omerta : Here 's what Eric Swallwell said after Hope Hicks testified before the House Intelligence committee : '' Congressman Swalwell , did she say anything about that part and the questioning about contacts and activities during the campaign and did she say anything that was different from what she appeared to say in the Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will characterize it this way .
She knew what she was not supposed to say .
Her memory would be foggy or she would refuse to answer .
She would n't really go into the Mueller report , citing it as a time she was at the White House .
What this shows me is how guilty this gang is , '' Swalwell said .
I asked her about communications with Russians or Russian officials .
She tried to say that there were no communications whatsoever .
When i asked more specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
She did n't think they were relevant .
I tried to impress upon the witness it was not up to her to decide what was relevant .
We wanted the facts and the truth before the American people .
I had stonewalling there .
So we know why Trump loves her .
We also know that returning as an advisor reporting to Jared Kushner means they 're hoping Our Hopey will be able to keep Trump from setting off nukes before the election , thus assuring the Trump Family can continue @ @ @ @

There is joy in the Oval Office today over The Return of Hope Hicks, former White House comms director, and if you look at her track record, you can understand why. Trump trusts her because she observes the code of omerta:
Here's what Eric Swallwell said after Hope Hicks testified before the House Intelligence committee:
"Congressman Swalwell, did she say anything about that part and the questioning about contacts and activities during the campaign and did she say anything that was different from what she appeared to say in the Mueller report?" O'Donnell asked. "I will characterize it this way. She knew what she was not supposed to say. Her memory would be foggy or she would refuse to answer. She wouldn't really go into the Mueller report, citing it as a time she was at the White House. What this shows me is how guilty this gang is," Swalwell said.
Madeline Dean:
I asked her about communications with Russians or Russian officials. She tried to say that there were no communications whatsoever. When i asked more specifically, she said probably an e-mail or more. She didn't think they were relevant. I tried to impress upon the witness it was not up to her to decide what was relevant. We wanted the facts and the truth before the American people. I had stonewalling there.
So we know why Trump loves her. We also know that returning as an advisor reporting to Jared Kushner means they're hoping Our Hopey will be able to keep Trump from setting off nukes before the election, thus assuring the Trump Family can continue to grift unimpeded.


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--WOW: Mean Mike Bloomberg Casually Eviscerates Trump On Twitter

Voters seem to really , really like it when Mike Bloomberg kicks Donald Trump in his shiny capped teeth : @ @ @ @ @ know many of the same people in NY .
Behind your back they laugh at @ @ @ @ @ carnival barking clown .
They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid @ @ @ @ @ have the record & the resources to defeat you .
And I will .
https @ @ @ @ @ learn a lesson from Bloomberg : Do n't talk about how you will stand up @ @ @ @ @ !
Mike continues to be the only candidate who uses Trump as a punching bag @ @ @ @ @ it .
Do they like it enough to make him the Democratic nominee ?
The @ @ @ @ @ .
Watch Don Jr. express his sorrow over Bloomberg 's stop and frisk policy and @ @ @ @ @ as humans , `` the way my father does . ''

Voters seem to really, really like it when Mike Bloomberg kicks Donald Trump in his shiny capped teeth:
.@realDonaldTrump - we know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence.
I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will. https://t.co/fO4azmZaUg — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 13, 2020
Other candidates could learn a lesson from Bloomberg: Don't talk about how you will stand up to Trump -- show us! Mike continues to be the only candidate who uses Trump as a punching bag, and voters really like it.
Do they like it enough to make him the Democratic nominee? The Trumps seems to think so. Watch Don Jr. express his sorrow over Bloomberg's stop and frisk policy and his inability to see people as humans, "the way my father does."


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--John Avlon Makes An Exhausting List Of Trump Targets For 'Revenge Bender'

John Avlon talked about Trump 's enemies list in his Reality Check segment , and why it matters .
`` So look .
Once upon a time , Senator Lamar Alexander was really worried about enemies lists .
I want to make what I hope will be a friendly suggestion to President Obama in his White House .
And it is this : Do n't create an enemies list .
`` That was good advice , rooted in his experience working for Richard Nixon .
Kind of quaint in hindsight .
Now we 've got something to work with , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is on a `` revenge bender '' after the impeachment acquittal Alexander helped secure .
Trump , he says , talks a big game about loyalty , but it 's always been a one-way street . '
I would have wiped the floor with the guys that were n't loyal , which I will now do , which is great .
I love getting even with people .
`` Let 's take a look at some of the people who 've been in his cross hairs lately .
Trump is after people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , listing John Bolton , Michael Cohen , Steve Bannon , and even Fed Chairman Jerome Powell .
`` But Trump also loves targeting law enforcement and the intelligence communities .
Like fired FBI Director Jim Comey , John Brennan , Jim Clapper , Andrew McCabe .
And of course Robert Mueller .
It 's no secret that Trump ca n't quit hating on Democrats like Hillary Clinton , Barack Obama , Joe Biden .
They 're in the top tier of his negative twitter mentions , according to Fact Base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been spared his wrath , like former senators Jeff Flake and Dean Heller .
Both replaced by Democrats , incidentally .
Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan , now Justin Amash .
And the past three GOP nominees included John McCain .
Some former trump critics like Lindsey Graham have worked their way into Trump 's good graces by doggedly defending the president .
`` But taking a look at this list of enemies is exhausting .
Trump targets anyone who dares question , right or left .
people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appease him .
Winston Churchill famously defined an appeaser as 'one who feeds a crocodile hoping he will eat him last . '
Which is why another public servant targeted by Trump , former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Youvanovitch , deserves the last word from a speech she gave last night .
'An amoral foreign policy that substitutes threats , fear , and confusion for trust can not work over the long haul , ' she said .
`` Truth matters .
And that 's your reality check . ''

John Avlon talked about Trump's enemies list in his Reality Check segment, and why it matters.
"So look. Once upon a time, Senator Lamar Alexander was really worried about enemies lists.
I want to make what I hope will be a friendly suggestion to President Obama in his White House. And it is this: Don't create an enemies list.
"That was good advice, rooted in his experience working for Richard Nixon. Kind of quaint in hindsight. Now we've got something to work with," Avlon said, pointing out that Trump is on a "revenge bender" after the impeachment acquittal Alexander helped secure.
Trump, he says, talks a big game about loyalty, but it's always been a one-way street.
'I would have wiped the floor with the guys that weren't loyal, which I will now do, which is great. I love getting even with people.
"Let's take a look at some of the people who've been in his cross hairs lately. Trump is after people who crossed him during impeachment," he said, listing John Bolton, Michael Cohen, Steve Bannon, and even Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
"But Trump also loves targeting law enforcement and the intelligence communities. Like fired FBI Director Jim Comey, John Brennan, Jim Clapper, Andrew McCabe. And of course Robert Mueller. It's no secret that Trump can't quit hating on Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden. They're in the top tier of his negative twitter mentions, according to Fact Base. But it's not like Republicans have been spared his wrath, like former senators Jeff Flake and Dean Heller. Both replaced by Democrats, incidentally. Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, now Justin Amash. And the past three GOP nominees included John McCain. Some former trump critics like Lindsey Graham have worked their way into Trump's good graces by doggedly defending the president.
"But taking a look at this list of enemies is exhausting. Trump targets anyone who dares question, right or left. people who are against him. And tries to hard to appease him. Winston Churchill famously defined an appeaser as 'one who feeds a crocodile hoping he will eat him last.' Which is why another public servant targeted by Trump, former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Youvanovitch, deserves the last word from a speech she gave last night. 'An amoral foreign policy that substitutes threats, fear, and confusion for trust cannot work over the long haul,' she said.
"Truth matters. And that's your reality check."


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--In Georgia, Republicans Are Eating Their Own

Georgia has two U.S. Senate elections in November—and three serious Republican candidates , leading to some angst for their party .
Sen. David Perdue is running for re-election , while appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins will be facing off in a special election .
The big concern for Republicans is that the special election won ’ t have primaries .
All of the candidates will compete in November , and if no one gets more than 50 % of the vote , the election will go to a runoff in January , with Republicans worried that Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats by splitting the vote .
Collins was a major presence in the Republican fight against the House impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump , but that isn ’ t preventing the Republican establishment from going all-out against him .
“ Collins is everything Georgians hate about Washington , ” according to the National Republican Senatorial Committee ’ s executive director .
“ He is a swamp creature that claims to be conservative .
... Now , having made an emotional , ill-informed and selfish decision , he finds himself at a crossroads .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and retain the Senate majority hope he has a moment of clarity , does the right thing and walks away from this poor decision .
Otherwise , voters will make it for him.
” With the NRSC—and the Trump campaign—pressuring consultants and vendors not to work for Collins , his spokesman said , “ we are forming a group of grizzled freedom fighters taking on the establishment.
” The Collins campaign also accused Loeffler of being a “ Romney Republican , ” which is actually fair , since part of how she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who might be appointed to a Senate seat was by giving a lot of money to a Romney-backing super PAC in 2012 .
So Collins and Loeffler will be duking it out over who is the true conservative , while Loeffler ’ s establishment supporters work to strategically erase all of the question marks the far right might have about her , like that past Romney support .
Perdue and his allies , meanwhile , are worried that the Loeffler-Collins fight might divide Republicans enough to weaken Perdue himself .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lit this year , with these Senate races , several competitive House races , and the Democrat presidential nominee likely making a play for the state .

Georgia has two U.S. Senate elections in November—and three serious Republican candidates, leading to some angst for their party. Sen. David Perdue is running for re-election, while appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins will be facing off in a special election. The big concern for Republicans is that the special election won’t have primaries. All of the candidates will compete in November, and if no one gets more than 50% of the vote, the election will go to a runoff in January, with Republicans worried that Loeffler and Collins could provide an opening for Democrats by splitting the vote.
Collins was a major presence in the Republican fight against the House impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump, but that isn’t preventing the Republican establishment from going all-out against him. “Collins is everything Georgians hate about Washington,” according to the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s executive director. “He is a swamp creature that claims to be conservative. ... Now, having made an emotional, ill-informed and selfish decision, he finds himself at a crossroads. Republicans who are working to reelect President Trump and retain the Senate majority hope he has a moment of clarity, does the right thing and walks away from this poor decision. Otherwise, voters will make it for him.”
With the NRSC—and the Trump campaign—pressuring consultants and vendors not to work for Collins, his spokesman said, “we are forming a group of grizzled freedom fighters taking on the establishment.” The Collins campaign also accused Loeffler of being a “Romney Republican,” which is actually fair, since part of how she bought her way onto the list of people who might be appointed to a Senate seat was by giving a lot of money to a Romney-backing super PAC in 2012.
So Collins and Loeffler will be duking it out over who is the true conservative, while Loeffler’s establishment supporters work to strategically erase all of the question marks the far right might have about her, like that past Romney support. Perdue and his allies, meanwhile, are worried that the Loeffler-Collins fight might divide Republicans enough to weaken Perdue himself. We can hope …
Georgia is going to be lit this year, with these Senate races, several competitive House races, and the Democrat presidential nominee likely making a play for the state.
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--Tucker Carlson Demands Trump Pardon Roger Stone To Prove RussiaGate Is A Hoax

This is a gorgeous specimen of twisted logic from Tucker Carlson , TV dinner heir , spewed into homes nationwide .
Carlson begins by telling gullible Fox News viewers that Roger Stone 's conviction helps Democrats ' case that Russia interfered in the 2016 election for the benefit of Donald Trump .
Why , yes it does .
But really , lots of pieces come together to make that case , and Roger Stone is just one tiny shard of a far bigger puzzle .
The hilarious part , though , is that Tucker thinks Trump 's pardon will somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is why he argues this : The president must pardon Roger Stone or commute his sentence before he goes to jail .
Democrats will howl if he does that .
Well , they 're howling anyway .
They howl every day .
Chuck Schumer is now yelping about yet another investigation into Roger Stone .
Russiagate two .
In one entirely constitutional act , the president could save Roger Stone 's life , vindicate himself , and end this nonsense forever .
Let 's hope he does it .
We 'll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their case .
It acknowledges that he did what he was convicted of and simply erases the penalty with a stroke of the pen .
No jail , but history does n't forget that he was convicted of lying and a prolonged effort to intimidate Randy Credico into lying on his behalf .
If you have the time , you should read the first sentencing memo ( PDF ) prosecutors submitted , where they outline just how deliberate , obnoxious , and determined Roger Stone was to try and set up Credico as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any interaction with Wikileaks .
After you read it , it seems clear why prosecutors asked for the time they did .

This is a gorgeous specimen of twisted logic from Tucker Carlson, TV dinner heir, spewed into homes nationwide.
Carlson begins by telling gullible Fox News viewers that Roger Stone's conviction helps Democrats' case that Russia interfered in the 2016 election for the benefit of Donald Trump.
Why, yes it does. But really, lots of pieces come together to make that case, and Roger Stone is just one tiny shard of a far bigger puzzle.
The hilarious part, though, is that Tucker thinks Trump's pardon will somehow erase the facts of the case, which is why he argues this:
The president must pardon Roger Stone or commute his sentence before he goes to jail. Democrats will howl if he does that. Well, they're howling anyway. They howl every day. Chuck Schumer is now yelping about yet another investigation into Roger Stone. Russiagate two. In one entirely constitutional act, the president could save Roger Stone's life, vindicate himself, and end this nonsense forever. Let's hope he does it. We'll be watching.
Again, a pardon cements their case. It acknowledges that he did what he was convicted of and simply erases the penalty with a stroke of the pen. No jail, but history doesn't forget that he was convicted of lying and a prolonged effort to intimidate Randy Credico into lying on his behalf.
If you have the time, you should read the first sentencing memo (PDF) prosecutors submitted, where they outline just how deliberate, obnoxious, and determined Roger Stone was to try and set up Credico as his insurance policy against being accountable for any interaction with Wikileaks. After you read it, it seems clear why prosecutors asked for the time they did.


crooksandliars--2020-02-13--Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price To Resign After Caucus Fiasco

The video above is actually from a press conference a couple of days ago , but it 's a perfect metaphor of the mess that was Iowa , and likely the end of the Iowa Caucus .
Troy Price resigned his position as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday as the organization grapples with the fallout of a botched caucus process that has left the party and state reeling .
In an interview Wednesday evening with the Des Moines Register , he said there was a lot for Iowa Democrats to be proud of , but that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I believed that we were in a good spot , '' he said when asked whether there were warning signs that should have been heeded .
`` ( I believed that ) we were prepared .
And we had worked closely with our partners — not just us , but with the DNC and with our tech partners — to make sure we were in a good spot .
And I felt that we were.
” Price said he will call for an emergency meeting of that committee for 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The video above is actually from a press conference a couple of days ago, but it's a perfect metaphor of the mess that was Iowa, and likely the end of the Iowa Caucus.
Source: Des Moines Register
Troy Price resigned his position as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday as the organization grapples with the fallout of a botched caucus process that has left the party and state reeling.
In an interview Wednesday evening with the Des Moines Register, he said there was a lot for Iowa Democrats to be proud of, but that the failures on caucus night were "heartbreaking."
"I believed that we were in a good spot," he said when asked whether there were warning signs that should have been heeded. "(I believed that) we were prepared. And we had worked closely with our partners — not just us, but with the DNC and with our tech partners — to make sure we were in a good spot. And I felt that we were.”
Price said he will call for an emergency meeting of that committee for 1 p.m. Saturday to elect an interim chair.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Remember When We Worried Trump Might Be Fascist? Good Times!

My son is reading Animal Farm .
Just now over breakfast , when I asked him what was happening in @ @ @ @ @ “ the pigs are taking over .
And the other animals - just like us @ @ @ @ @ it .
”

My son is reading Animal Farm. Just now over breakfast, when I asked him what was happening in it, he said, “the pigs are taking over. And the other animals - just like us - are doing nothing about it.”
— Jason Stanley (@jasonintrator) February 13, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Brazen Trump Shakes Down NY Governor In Broad Daylight

Today , the forever impeached , so-called `` president '' went to Twitter and began a shakedown of the Governor of New York in front of anyone who was watching .
A brazen request for a quid pro quo transaction , conducted in front of everyone as if doing it in public makes it something that is fine to do .
If you 're unsure of what that 's about , last week the White House put a freeze on New York 's Global Entry program .
The New York Times explains : The decision by Homeland Security affects New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Entry ; their renewals will be cut off by the end of 2020 .
About 50,000 New Yorkers in the application process but who haven ’ t received final approval will also lose the opportunity to speed through security but will be reimbursed for their application fees , according to Heather Swift , a spokeswoman for Homeland Security .
In addition to airports , specific lanes to quickly cross over the land border — available to those in the FAST , NEXUS and SENTRI programs — are also covered by the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the New York State government from Chad F. Wolf , the acting secretary of Homeland Security .
That , too , could inconvenience state residents and commercial truck drivers , who frequently cross back and forth into Canada .
And of course , the administration was more than happy to rescind that freeze if Governor Cuomo would just give ICE access to their DMV database , with information about undocumented immigrants who have obtained drivers ' licenses .
This for that .
Quid pro quo .
And indeed , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case : But so far , the press has been so obsessed with Bill Barr 's ridiculous effort to duck responsibility for toadying to Trump that there has n't been much attention paid to this .
Shaub took note .
It 's what the Senate said he could do , so why would n't he , after all ?
No penalty for shaking down a foreign country , and none whatsoever for doing the same to the governor of one of the most populous states in the U.S..
It 's how he @ @ @ @ @

Today, the forever impeached, so-called "president" went to Twitter and began a shakedown of the Governor of New York in front of anyone who was watching. A brazen request for a quid pro quo transaction, conducted in front of everyone as if doing it in public makes it something that is fine to do.
I’m seeing Governor Cuomo today at The White House. He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics. New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment, start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes. Build relationships, but don’t bring Fredo! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2020
If you're unsure of what that's about, last week the White House put a freeze on New York's Global Entry program. The New York Times explains:
The decision by Homeland Security affects New Yorkers who use Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry; their renewals will be cut off by the end of 2020. About 50,000 New Yorkers in the application process but who haven’t received final approval will also lose the opportunity to speed through security but will be reimbursed for their application fees, according to Heather Swift, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security. In addition to airports, specific lanes to quickly cross over the land border — available to those in the FAST, NEXUS and SENTRI programs — are also covered by the new rules, which were announced in a letter to the New York State government from Chad F. Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security. That, too, could inconvenience state residents and commercial truck drivers, who frequently cross back and forth into Canada.
And of course, the administration was more than happy to rescind that freeze if Governor Cuomo would just give ICE access to their DMV database, with information about undocumented immigrants who have obtained drivers' licenses.
This for that. Quid pro quo.
Ethicist Walter Shaub is on fire:
It's 8:30 p.m. The President attempted quid pro quo extortion on Twitter. Pay attention. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 14, 2020
Holy cow! Why isn't twitter on fire over this? Holy cow! Wake up frog, the water is boiling! — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 13, 2020
Barr's PR nonsense is not the story. The story is your president just engaged in Ukraine-level quid pro quo extortion, but this time against one of the United States.
IN PLAIN SIGHT ON TWITTER! — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 13, 2020
What does that mean? That, unlike Ukraine, they'll cave to the quid pro quo extortion? Thank God @NewYorkStateAG is calling the shots. https://t.co/KIqfvQzhXg — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 13, 2020
And indeed, New York State Attorney General Letitia James is on the case:
When you stop violating the rights and liberties of all New Yorkers, we will stand down.
Until then, we have a duty and responsibility to defend the Constitution and the rule of law.
BTW, I file the lawsuits, not the Governor. https://t.co/tsOLeEgiQp — NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) February 13, 2020
But so far, the press has been so obsessed with Bill Barr's ridiculous effort to duck responsibility for toadying to Trump that there hasn't been much attention paid to this. Shaub took note.
The absolute scariest thing that has happened in the past three years is the media and public not reacting when Trump attempts Ukraine-level quid pro quo extortion in plain sight on Twitter. Before this non-reaction, I was alarmed. I am now scared. — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 13, 2020
So did Adam Schiff.
Trump abused his power to coerce Ukraine into announcing investigations for his personal benefit by freezing military aid.
Now, he's using his powers to coerce states to stop investigations into him and his businesses.
Different corrupt purpose, same corrupt President. https://t.co/4pBqY8gAnI — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 13, 2020
Also Rep. Don Beyer:
The President says if New York will stop investigating potential crimes he committed he will restore the global entry status he denied them for reasons which are now plain for all to see.
Senate Republicans protected a corrupt President who operates by shakedown and extortion. https://t.co/MunDqpLjLi — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) February 13, 2020
It's what the Senate said he could do, so why wouldn't he, after all? No penalty for shaking down a foreign country, and none whatsoever for doing the same to the governor of one of the most populous states in the U.S.. It's how he rolls, after all.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Rep. Ted Lieu Scorches Senate GOP: 'Basically A Quivering Mass Of Jello'

Chris Jansing asked California Democratic Representative Ted Lieu his thoughts about Attorney General Bill Barr 's latest slicing and dicing of legal decency at the Justice Department , and , as usual Rep. Lieu did not mince words .
Jansing specifically brought up the possibility of impeaching Barr ( hahahaha ) , which is a Constitutional remedy , but it 's never been done before , and even if the House tried to use its legal oversight authority to reign in Barr , we all know what would happen in the Senate .
She asked him what the solution was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Trump 's `` personal law firm . ''
REP. LIEU : So , other than Senator Mitt Romney , all of the Senate Republicans are basically a quivering mass of jello .
They 're simply going to bow down , kneel before Donald Trump .
As a result , the only folks that can now hold Donald Trump accountable are the American people in November , and my view is , the House Judiciary Committee , on which I sit , needs to continue to expose this misconduct and outrageous behavior of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can have the information they need before they vote .
The only remedy is the election in November , and not just the presidential election .
The Senate needs to flip , as well .
Of course , raise your hand if you think there is any chance in hell the November election wo n't be horrendously compromised through illegal voter suppression , foreign interference , electronic tampering , and/or all of the above .
When Jansing asked Rep. Lieu if he was surprised more people in Congress have n't spoken up against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that so many of them are actual , you know , LAWYERS , he said , `` Well , actually , the ones who are Democrats speak up .
GOP ?
Not so much .
And does that surprise me ?
Nope . ''
REP LIEU : Well , there are members of Congress that are Democrats , we have stood up to Donald Trump .
There are ones you mentioned who are Republicans and have kneeled before him and bowed down .
That 's very disappointing to me .
Last term the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the Republican-controlled House essentially enable every crazy thing Donald Trump wanted , and they flipped the House .
I think the U.S. Senate is going to be flipped this November because the American people actually want a check and balance .
They do n't just want people who bow down to one man .
So , yeah , flipping the Senate would be awesome .
First though , we need to overcome all the illegal barriers to the fair election Trump and the GOP will throw at us , and as far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to do that is to overwhelm them with turnout , baby .
Make sure you 're registered .
Make sure your family and friends are registered , and have a way to get to the polls .
Whether or not they are in a safe state , district , county , or whatever .
Get thee to the polls , do you hear me ?
?
?

Chris Jansing asked California Democratic Representative Ted Lieu his thoughts about Attorney General Bill Barr's latest slicing and dicing of legal decency at the Justice Department, and, as usual Rep. Lieu did not mince words. Jansing specifically brought up the possibility of impeaching Barr (hahahaha), which is a Constitutional remedy, but it's never been done before, and even if the House tried to use its legal oversight authority to reign in Barr, we all know what would happen in the Senate. She asked him what the solution was to Trump and Barr turning the DOJ into Trump's "personal law firm."
REP. LIEU: So, other than Senator Mitt Romney, all of the Senate Republicans are basically a quivering mass of jello. They're simply going to bow down, kneel before Donald Trump. As a result, the only folks that can now hold Donald Trump accountable are the American people in November, and my view is, the House Judiciary Committee, on which I sit, needs to continue to expose this misconduct and outrageous behavior of the administration, so the American people can have the information they need before they vote.
The only remedy is the election in November, and not just the presidential election. The Senate needs to flip, as well. Of course, raise your hand if you think there is any chance in hell the November election won't be horrendously compromised through illegal voter suppression, foreign interference, electronic tampering, and/or all of the above.
When Jansing asked Rep. Lieu if he was surprised more people in Congress haven't spoken up against Trump and Barr, given the fact that so many of them are actual, you know, LAWYERS, he said, "Well, actually, the ones who are Democrats speak up. GOP? Not so much. And does that surprise me? Nope."
REP LIEU: Well, there are members of Congress that are Democrats, we have stood up to Donald Trump. There are ones you mentioned who are Republicans and have kneeled before him and bowed down. That's very disappointing to me. Last term the American people flipped the House because they saw the Republican-controlled House essentially enable every crazy thing Donald Trump wanted, and they flipped the House. I think the U.S. Senate is going to be flipped this November because the American people actually want a check and balance. They don't just want people who bow down to one man.
So, yeah, flipping the Senate would be awesome. First though, we need to overcome all the illegal barriers to the fair election Trump and the GOP will throw at us, and as far as I can tell, the only way to do that is to overwhelm them with turnout, baby. Make sure you're registered. Make sure your family and friends are registered, and have a way to get to the polls. Whether or not they are in a safe state, district, county, or whatever.
Get thee to the polls, do you hear me???


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Medicaid Work Requirements

A 3-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down Arkansas work requirements for Medicaid .
In a unanimous opinion , the court laid down a simple principle : Medicaid was established to provide medical assistance to people who ca n't afford it .
Judge David B. Sentelle , a Reagan appointee known to be quite conservative , wrote the opinion upholding a lower court 's decision .
`` The district court is indisputably correct that the principal objective of Medicaid is providing health care coverage , '' he wrote , destroying the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be earned .
Putting an exclamation point on that , he adds this , later in the opinion : `` In sum , “ the intent of Congress is clear ” that Medicaid ’ s objective is to provide health care coverage , and , as a result , the Secretary “ must give effect to [ that ] unambiguously expressed intent of Congress.
” Azar and his minion Seema Verna tried to cloak the Medicaid work requirements in a mask of `` positive health outcomes , '' as if work requirements were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoking cessation .
Judge Sentelle was not having it .
Using TANF and SNAP as examples of programs created with the express purpose to lend a helping hand until people could get on their feet and work , Sentelle pointedly noted , `` In contrast , Congress has not conditioned the receipt of Medicaid benefits on fulfilling work requirements or taking steps to end receipt of governmental benefits . ''
As Joan McCarter notes , this case will head to the Supreme Court , but it 's an uphill battle , given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the actual text of a law .
Meanwhile , work requirement requests have been approved but not yet implemented in Arizona , Ohio , South Carolina , Utah , and Wisconsin .
For now , they will not be able to implement them .
What the Supreme Court will do is anyone 's guess , but at least the conservative dream of letting the poor and elderly die and die quickly is on ice for now .

A 3-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down Arkansas work requirements for Medicaid. In a unanimous opinion, the court laid down a simple principle: Medicaid was established to provide medical assistance to people who can't afford it.
Judge David B. Sentelle, a Reagan appointee known to be quite conservative, wrote the opinion upholding a lower court's decision.
"The district court is indisputably correct that the principal objective of Medicaid is providing health care coverage," he wrote, destroying the idea that health care is something which must be earned.
Putting an exclamation point on that, he adds this, later in the opinion: "In sum, “the intent of Congress is clear” that Medicaid’s objective is to provide health care coverage, and, as a result, the Secretary “must give effect to [that] unambiguously expressed intent of Congress.”
Azar and his minion Seema Verna tried to cloak the Medicaid work requirements in a mask of "positive health outcomes," as if work requirements were somehow analogous to weight loss programs or smoking cessation. Judge Sentelle was not having it. Using TANF and SNAP as examples of programs created with the express purpose to lend a helping hand until people could get on their feet and work, Sentelle pointedly noted, "In contrast, Congress has not conditioned the receipt of Medicaid benefits on fulfilling work requirements or taking steps to end receipt of governmental benefits."
As Joan McCarter notes, this case will head to the Supreme Court, but it's an uphill battle, given that even conservative judges have some respect for the actual text of a law. Meanwhile, work requirement requests have been approved but not yet implemented in Arizona, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.
For now, they will not be able to implement them. What the Supreme Court will do is anyone's guess, but at least the conservative dream of letting the poor and elderly die and die quickly is on ice for now.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Lou Dobbs Growls That An Independent DOJ Is 'Crap'

Attorney General Bill Barr told ABC News that Trump 's tweeting has made it impossible to do his job .
Now , that might seem kind of difficult to parse if you have more than two synapses to rub together .
Was Barr simply saying the quiet part out loud ?
Was he trying to make stupid people believe the pretzel-logic of his actual explanation ?
( That he 'd decided to intervene before Trump tweeted , and the tweet put Barr in the uncomfortable position of having to decide between intervening , which would make it seem like he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or not intervening which would be wrong because he 'd already decided it was the right thing to do — are you still with me ? )
Fortunately , we 're talking about Lou Dobbs , here , and he does NOT have two synapses to rub together , so THIS was his interpretation of Bill Barr 's interview with ABC News : DOBBS : He [ Trump ] is keeping his promise as candidate for the office that he holds .
He is also expressing himself fully , freely , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going through the sage intermediaries of the national left-wing media .
And , it 's just , I guess I am so disappointed in Bill Barr , I have to say this .
You know , it 's a damn shame when he does n't get what this president has gone through , and what the American people have gone through , and what his charge is as attorney general .
And by god , if he 's gon na complain , I just want to endorse everything you 've said .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But where the HELL is the report ?
Where the HELL are the indictments against the corrupt , the politically corrupt Deep State within the Justice Department , the FBI , and why in the HELL are n't we hearing apologies from someone in that rancid , corrupt department about what they permitted ?
Because they had to have enablers by the dozens to pull off what they did .
The 26 names that we can go through on the FBI and the Justice Department .
But then , to hear this attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's fighting every one of those damn people to do the right thing and to get this country straightened out , and it 's his mission to do so .
Not to carp about about his boss .
And by the way , I do n't want to hear any CRAP about an independent Justice Department !
This Justice Department , as does everyone , works for the president .
It is part of the Executive Branch .
Did we catch that , kids ?
Oh , Dobbs is hopping mad at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his lord and savior Donald Trump .
He 's so angry that he , Dobbs , HIMSELF said the quiet part out loud .
`` I do n't want to hear any CRAP about an independent Justice Department ! ''
Welp .
There it is .
I mean , the Deep State conspiracy tin foil hat spizzola is old hat already , but now we 're getting somewhere .
Independent Justice Department ?
Who needs it ?
You get on your knees pronto before Dear Leader , or else .
Mind you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barr had permission to `` act '' upset about Trump 's tweets , and Dobbs and Barr are on exactly the same page .
They 're all just playing their roles in the ways they think will best keep all the gears turning in the direction they want until they 've achieved their ultimate goal .
Unilateral , consolidated control under the Executive Branch .

Trump's Roy Cohn Attorney General Bill Barr told ABC News that Trump's tweeting has made it impossible to do his job. Now, that might seem kind of difficult to parse if you have more than two synapses to rub together. Was Barr simply saying the quiet part out loud?
What Bill Barr MEANT to say was "it's tough to do the sneaky, slimy, illegal stuff when trump says the quiet part out loud." #ResignBarr https://t.co/WHw7GeMWhl — BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) February 14, 2020
Was he trying to make stupid people believe the pretzel-logic of his actual explanation? (That he'd decided to intervene before Trump tweeted, and the tweet put Barr in the uncomfortable position of having to decide between intervening, which would make it seem like he was doing it because Trump made him, or not intervening which would be wrong because he'd already decided it was the right thing to do — are you still with me?)
Keep your eye on the ball - Bill Barr’s purported reasoning is nothing more than a shell game to deceive the public.
pic.twitter.com/R61yh02Av3 — Publius (@ThePubliusUSA) February 13, 2020
Fortunately, we're talking about Lou Dobbs, here, and he does NOT have two synapses to rub together, so THIS was his interpretation of Bill Barr's interview with ABC News:
DOBBS: He [Trump] is keeping his promise as candidate for the office that he holds. He is also expressing himself fully, freely, and directly to the American people, without going through the sage intermediaries of the national left-wing media. And, it's just, I guess I am so disappointed in Bill Barr, I have to say this. You know, it's a damn shame when he doesn't get what this president has gone through, and what the American people have gone through, and what his charge is as attorney general. And by god, if he's gonna complain, I just want to endorse everything you've said. Those are all things to complain about. But where the HELL is the report? Where the HELL are the indictments against the corrupt, the politically corrupt Deep State within the Justice Department, the FBI, and why in the HELL aren't we hearing apologies from someone in that rancid, corrupt department about what they permitted? Because they had to have enablers by the dozens to pull off what they did. The 26 names that we can go through on the FBI and the Justice Department. But then, to hear this attorney general complain about this president, who's fighting every one of those damn people to do the right thing and to get this country straightened out, and it's his mission to do so. Not to carp about about his boss. And by the way, I don't want to hear any CRAP about an independent Justice Department! This Justice Department, as does everyone, works for the president. It is part of the Executive Branch.
Did we catch that, kids? Oh, Dobbs is hopping mad at that mean AG dared speaketh a harsh word about his lord and savior Donald Trump. He's so angry that he, Dobbs, HIMSELF said the quiet part out loud.
"I don't want to hear any CRAP about an independent Justice Department!"
Welp. There it is. I mean, the Deep State conspiracy tin foil hat spizzola is old hat already, but now we're getting somewhere. Independent Justice Department? Who needs it? You get on your knees pronto before Dear Leader, or else.
Mind you, this is all theater, too. Barr had permission to "act" upset about Trump's tweets, and Dobbs and Barr are on exactly the same page. They're all just playing their roles in the ways they think will best keep all the gears turning in the direction they want until they've achieved their ultimate goal. Unilateral, consolidated control under the Executive Branch.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Womp Womp!  Trump Fails To Jail Andrew McCabe

`` Wait , should n't Trump be allowed to convict anyone he does n't like ? ''
That is the @ @ @ @ @ Twitter Friday , as the Justice Department , in a conveniently-timed move ... ... told @ @ @ @ @ prosecuting him .
Andrew McCabe is suing for wrongful termination and ERISA violations for screwing @ @ @ @ @ This adds to his case and should guarantee him getting a nice payout .
Pension @ @ @ @ @ It can expand his lawsuit .

"Wait, shouldn't Trump be allowed to convict anyone he doesn't like?"
That is the sentiment being expressed on Republican Twitter Friday, as the Justice Department, in a conveniently-timed move...
The McCabe investigation was dead months ago when is was clear that the grand jury wouldn’t indict him. Today’s announcement is a crass public relations move, pure & simple, trying to convince us that Barr is not doing Trump’s dirty work. Don’t be fooled. https://t.co/AnlNz8q26u — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) February 14, 2020
...told Andrew McCabe they were done prosecuting him.
DOJ tells former Acting Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe that it will not pursue charges against him. pic.twitter.com/imAyjZs9Nq — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 14, 2020
Andrew McCabe is suing for wrongful termination and ERISA violations for screwing him on his pension. This adds to his case and should guarantee him getting a nice payout. Pension, backpay, etc. It can expand his lawsuit.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Friday News Dump: What Do Warren And Howard Dean Have In Common? And Other News

A little history lesson about why Elizabeth Warren seems to have disappeared from the airwaves : On December 1 , 2003 , Howard Dean was ahead by twenty points in the polls when he appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews and said , `` We 're going to break up the giant media enterprises . ''
[ ... ] By mid-December , the news divisions of the four major television networks were reporting as fact that Dean was unelectable .
The print media echoed the theme ; on December 17 , the Washington Post printed a front-page story that posited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Post quickly followed up with an onslaught of articles and editorials reasserting that claim .
Before the month was over , Dean 's lack of electability had been highlighted in The New York Times , the Wall Street Journal , the Boston Globe , the Chicago Tribune , the Los Angeles Times , and every other major paper in the United States .
Fast forward to August 2019 .
What did Elizabeth Warren say ?
Zuckerberg Calls Elizabeth Warren an ‘ Existential ’ Threat to Facebook in Leaked Audio Elizabeth Warren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control over the biggest US companies Do n't let media monopolies deter your vote by talking about who 's electable , because they have their own agenda .
Vote for the person you actually want as president .
Now , back to the insanity !
Agree : `` If that ’ s true , that would in some ways be worse : It would mean that the department has become so attentive to the president ’ s political preferences that it is willing to cross the political divide uninstructed .
`` https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was killed in the Senate by Lieberman .
Then Kennedy died & a Republican won his seat .
Since the Senate version w/out the PO had passed before Kennedy died , the Dems had no choice but to go with that .
That 's not a `` failure of negotiation '' .
https : //t.co/wf4nBXLBcf DEPARTMENT OF LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED , HAPPY VALENTINE 'S DAY “ Most people are slow to champion love because they fear the transformation it brings into their lives .
And make no mistake about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transform the schemes and operations of our egos in a very mighty way.
” —Aberjhani Happy Valentines Day sweet people .

A little history lesson about why Elizabeth Warren seems to have disappeared from the airwaves:
On December 1, 2003, Howard Dean was ahead by twenty points in the polls when he appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews and said, "We're going to break up the giant media enterprises." [...] By mid-December, the news divisions of the four major television networks were reporting as fact that Dean was unelectable. The print media echoed the theme; on December 17, the Washington Post printed a front-page story that posited Dean could not win the presidency. The Post quickly followed up with an onslaught of articles and editorials reasserting that claim. Before the month was over, Dean's lack of electability had been highlighted in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and every other major paper in the United States.
Fast forward to August 2019. What did Elizabeth Warren say?
Elizabeth Warren Raises ‘Serious Concerns’ Over CBS-Viacom Merger
In October 2019:
Zuckerberg Calls Elizabeth Warren an ‘Existential’ Threat to Facebook in Leaked Audio
In December 2019:
Elizabeth Warren’s antitrust bill would dramatically enhance government control over the biggest US companies
Don't let media monopolies deter your vote by talking about who's electable, because they have their own agenda. Vote for the person you actually want as president.
Now, back to the insanity!
“In particular, ‘They change reality to suit themselves in their own mind.’ Although Trump ‘lies because of his sociopathic tendencies,’ telling falsehoods to fool others, ... he also lies to himself, to protect himself from narcissistic injury.”https://t.co/WdljZPm2nW — George Conway (@gtconway3d) October 17, 2019
President Trump now admits he sent Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine to find damaging information on his political opponents, despite denying it during impeachment https://t.co/n9hjzVSLwC pic.twitter.com/WZHZbgLLHq — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 14, 2020
Latest from @aseitzwald: "As Democrats survey their field, they see seven candidates, each with an Achilles' heel that makes it difficult to see who could consolidate support anytime soon." https://t.co/OsZWwzEmyK via @nbcnews — Catherine Kim (@CatherineKimNY) February 14, 2020
JUST IN: US military preparing for potential coronavirus pandemic: report https://t.co/Ckfb892DlG pic.twitter.com/F2CMCfQSbG — The Hill (@thehill) February 14, 2020
Kaepernick Publishing was founded to create opportunities for Black and Brown writers, authors, and creators to control their narratives and retain ownership. I am excited to announce the multi-project collaboration between myself, @KaepernickPub & @audible_com pic.twitter.com/ymwqXurTro — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) February 13, 2020
I DIDN'T MEAN *MY* FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT https://t.co/Vpij69ylEX — Kieran Healy (@kjhealy) February 14, 2020
Why does the @washingtonpost take this seriously? Why repeat the line Barr is feeding you, as if this is somehow genuine? We expect so much more of our free press. https://t.co/L6a123Wcrm — Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) February 14, 2020
Climate change must be part of our strategy to take back the White House.
Climate change must be part of our strategy to take back the White House.
Climate change must be part of our strategy to take back the White House. https://t.co/lIMvUg6XmK — Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) February 13, 2020
Was just told by one of my contacts that the actual reason why Hope Hicks is being brought back to the WH is due to Trump’s declining mental state. — Andrew C Laufer, Esq (@lauferlaw) February 13, 2020
Just came across this (again) in FOIA files...White House staffers drank $1,000 worth of liquor at Mar-a-Lago, @realdonaldtrump’s club.
Reader, the taxpayers paid! pic.twitter.com/fYonJTjPk3 — David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) February 13, 2020
Agree: " If that’s true, that would in some ways be worse: It would mean that the department has become so attentive to the president’s political preferences that it is willing to cross the political divide uninstructed."https://t.co/cacpCxlIwD — Harry Litman (@harrylitman) February 14, 2020
I agree with this. I teach a merit badge and last year young students actually cried in my session. Broke my heart.
Two largest teachers unions call for schools to revise or end active shooter drills - https://t.co/ddOvOKANZz https://t.co/m8QJ7cRxwc via @GoogleNews — ~ kiddle (for Warren) (@kiddle) February 14, 2020
Fmr Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch gets almost a minute long standing ovation when receiving award for her “excellence in the conduct of diplomacy.” I’m still clapping for the Ambassador right now. pic.twitter.com/h8d1OGfB8L — Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 13, 2020
I’ve decided to accept a job in the Trump Administration, duties will include glam squad scheduling for Ivanka, chopping Adderall and Valtrex runs and standing guard outside Jared’s office door when his ‘trainer’ visits. Basically same gig as ‘Apprentice’ days. @realDonaldTrump — NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) February 13, 2020
Some Californians have received "2020 Congressional District Census" questionnaires—but they were actually RNC mailers. Ploys like this increase confusion and distrust, when the census already struggles against disinformation. I called on the Census Director to do something. pic.twitter.com/8oE5wCv4L1 — Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) February 13, 2020
These guys used brute force to create every possible melody across 12 notes, in a major key, spanning one octave, then fixed them in MIDI. They claim #copyright (registration in progress). But do I have access?? https://t.co/ouWer7VVRr — kristelia (@kristelia) February 12, 2020
The House *PASSED* a Public Option. It was killed in the Senate by Lieberman. Then Kennedy died & a Republican won his seat. Since the Senate version w/out the PO had passed before Kennedy died, the Dems had no choice but to go with that. That's not a "failure of negotiation". https://t.co/wf4nBXLBcf — Charles Gaba (@charles_gaba) February 14, 2020
2 years after the fatal Parkland shooting that claimed 17 lives and launched a national youth-led gun safety movement, families and students affected by the attack are speaking out pic.twitter.com/rkCJYdhYad — NowThis (@nowthisnews) February 7, 2020
Here’s a compelling, comprehensive piece by @michelleinbklyn about Stone’s crimes, including his death threat to @credico2016, and AG Barr’s attempt to turn the DOJ into the DOPV - Department of Presidential Vendettas. https://t.co/Z2ecy4EDvo — Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) February 14, 2020
“This didn't impact the game.” Houston Astros owner Jim Crane addresses sign stealing scandal https://t.co/HdVPiqHjI3 pic.twitter.com/8JbvNm2KVT — TIME (@TIME) February 14, 2020
Democratic primary candidates are arguing over intricate policy details they'll never implement is pointless. My latest: https://t.co/clyjxvGA8U — Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) February 14, 2020
Yes, it’s exactly what you voted for. https://t.co/u9fdX9kypH — Christian Christensen (@ChrChristensen) February 14, 2020
Ahead of its screening at SXSW, read about @st_vincent and @Carrie_Rachel's musical-thriller-comedy disguised as a documentary. @cohenesque writes, "it's a meditation on art, autobiography, and persona, as well as fan, media, and social media perception." https://t.co/fYS4o31w16 — Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly) February 14, 2020
Today is the 260th birthday of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the first national Black church in the U.S., the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Learn about his legacy by visiting 'Bethel Burying Ground: A Tribute to A Sacred Place' at City Hall. https://t.co/jRRVJeSruL pic.twitter.com/k9i8kNhTyW — Creative Philadelphia (@CreativePHL) February 14, 2020
DEPARTMENT OF LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
A NASA astronaut’s dog couldn’t contain her joy upon seeing her owner return after nearly a year away. https://t.co/UJxJXcvkgV — Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) February 13, 2020
A possible Banksy mural showing a small girl with a catapult and a splatter of red flowers appears in his home town of Bristol in England, just in time for Valentine's Day https://t.co/PGnNucqo1w pic.twitter.com/8RtAANZNEP — Reuters (@Reuters) February 14, 2020
Music will always agree to be your Valentine.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. — Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) February 14, 2020
In preparation for their Valentine’s Day party and exchange, 5th-graders spread kindness by decorating each other's bags with compliments! # BeKind #SpreadHappiness pic.twitter.com/KWwrRGMtUc — Tuxedo Park School (@TuxedoPrkSchool) February 14, 2020
In many countries around the world, single people can find themselves dreading Valentine’s day. But not in Estonia and Finland, where Feb. 14 is Friend’s Day — a celebration of platonic love https://t.co/OqNY9KRIEf — TIME (@TIME) February 14, 2020
If you're feeling, uh, stabby today, why not pop on Kill Bill? 🗡💔
Find out which Netflix movie you should watch for Valentine's Day based on your relationship status: https://t.co/sOxmoUvapZ pic.twitter.com/f2AiMulz57 — HIGHSNOBIETY (@highsnobiety) February 14, 2020
Sister Mary Jo doesn't need a coat, because she's bringing the heat.pic.twitter.com/oO42G6bQpS — Cut4 (@Cut4) February 13, 2020
Orphaned Albino Elephant Recovers From Poacher's Snare https://t.co/U4Pif5OjPq — Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) February 14, 2020
For the lovers. We get it, you're in love, gross. Shoulda got a prenup, enjoy half of everything.https://t.co/xlR3XEnEx0 — Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 14, 2020
For the singles. Stop holding on to what never was and start celebrating yourself as the strong independent you've always been.https://t.co/lIPc6qHwvo — Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 14, 2020
“Most people are slow to champion love because they fear the transformation it brings into their lives. And make no mistake about it: love does take over and transform the schemes and operations of our egos in a very mighty way.” —Aberjhani
Happy Valentines Day sweet people. — Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) February 14, 2020
Have a wonderful weekend!


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Val Demings Calls Out Barr:  'No Faith Or Confidence' In AG

The Attorney General is corrupt as fark and we all know it .
It 's good to see Rep. Val Demings , who rocked at the Impeachment trial , come out swinging at AG Barr and his violations against justice and law .
And his nonsense about the tweeting as some sort of `` new distancing from the president ? ''
Please .
BURNETT : I want to go out front now to Democratic congressman Val Demings .
She 's on the House Jjudiciary .
She served as a House impeachment manager .
You saw her in the Senate day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you think about the way this is happening ?
Why is Barr choosing to speak out in this way in a public national interview instead of privately ?
DEMINGS : It 's good to be back with you .
Let me say this , it 's interesting to hear Attorney General Barr talk about what he said in the confirmation hearing .
He said all the right things in his hearing .
Someone once said do n't listen to what I say , look at what I do .
If you look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there 's been no daylight between him and the White House .
Attorney General Barr , as you remember miscategorized the conclusions in the Mueller report , basically misleading the American people .
The attorney general then helped President Trump congress 's in oversight .
I have no faith or confidence in what William Barr has said .
I think Roger Stone has turned up the heat a bit .
The president has been impeached and just went through a trial really ca n't take that .
And I think I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attorney general and the president were not in cahoots in terms of Barr making a public statement to the American people .
BURNETT : Interesting .
So , when Barr comes out and tells Trump to stop tweeting -- let me play that part again to the point you just made , I want to play that again .
Here it is , Congresswoman .
BURNETT : So , this is interesting , congresswoman .
So , are you hearing there then this is n't about the tweets .
That 's the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about is Barr saying I wanted a more lenient sentence for roger stone .
Yeah , president and I were in agreement .
What I want you to take away is I want that separate from him , geez if that guy would stop tweeting , all this would go away .
So , the tweet is the fig leaf ?
DEMINGS : I think that 's correct , Erin .
I 'm not falling for it .
I hope the American people are not falling for it .
What we know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be out front .
I do think when the president and his attorney general has a plan that they think can work , when the president tweets about it , it does call complications for the attorney general but not in terms of doing the right thing but in terms of doing the wrong thing and really undermining the Department of Justice that we have in this country .
BURNETT : You , as I mentioned , congresswoman , were one of the House members .
You were making the case to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions with the Ukrainian president .
The point you made repeatedly was that if trump gets away with pressuring Ukrainian President Zelensky , he will do it again .
I want to be sure you heard what President Trump said about future calls with world leaders .
Here he is .
BURNETT : You 're on the Judiciary Committee , Intelligence Committee , what do you say to that ?
DEMINGS : I say first of all that I am not surprised .
But I certainly hope the senators who voted to acquit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president has said .
Let me also remind you in our case we tried to make it quite clear through documents and evidence that was presented through the senate that the president would not only use/abuse his power to influence or get government powers involved , that he could use his powers in a domestic way to withhold money and funds to coerce people into basically doing what he wanted them to .
So , it does n't surprise me .
The president has no intention of stopping his wrongdoing .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and will look to people like William Barr , others in the senate , and others in the house who have turned a complete blind eye and deaf ear to his wrongdoing .
BURNETT : All right , Congresswoman Demings .
I appreciate your time together , and I thank you .

The Attorney General is corrupt as fark and we all know it.
It's good to see Rep. Val Demings, who rocked at the Impeachment trial, come out swinging at AG Barr and his violations against justice and law. And his nonsense about the tweeting as some sort of "new distancing from the president?" Please.
BURNETT: I want to go out front now to Democratic congressman Val Demings. She's on the House Jjudiciary. She served as a House impeachment manager. You saw her in the Senate day after day making the case. What do you think about the way this is happening? Why is Barr choosing to speak out in this way in a public national interview instead of privately?
DEMINGS: It's good to be back with you. Let me say this, it's interesting to hear Attorney General Barr talk about what he said in the confirmation hearing. He said all the right things in his hearing. Someone once said don't listen to what I say, look at what I do. If you look at what Attorney General Barr has done, there's been no daylight between him and the White House. Attorney General Barr, as you remember miscategorized the conclusions in the Mueller report, basically misleading the American people. The attorney general then helped President Trump congress's in oversight. I have no faith or confidence in what William Barr has said. I think Roger Stone has turned up the heat a bit. The president has been impeached and just went through a trial really can't take that. And I think I would not be surprised, Erin, if the attorney general and the president were not in cahoots in terms of Barr making a public statement to the American people.
BURNETT: Interesting. So, when Barr comes out and tells Trump to stop tweeting -- let me play that part again to the point you just made, I want to play that again. Here it is, Congresswoman.
(begin video)
BARR: To have public statements and tweets made about the department, about our people in the department, our men and women here, about cases pending in the department and about judges before whom we have cases make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that we're doing our work with integrity.
(end video)
BURNETT: So, this is interesting, congresswoman. So, are you hearing there then this isn't about the tweets. That's the fig leaf. What this is really about is Barr saying I wanted a more lenient sentence for roger stone. Yeah, president and I were in agreement. What I want you to take away is I want that separate from him, geez if that guy would stop tweeting, all this would go away. So, the tweet is the fig leaf?
DEMINGS: I think that's correct, Erin. I'm not falling for it. I hope the American people are not falling for it. What we know the president. He loves to boast and be out front. I do think when the president and his attorney general has a plan that they think can work, when the president tweets about it, it does call complications for the attorney general but not in terms of doing the right thing but in terms of doing the wrong thing and really undermining the Department of Justice that we have in this country.
BURNETT: You, as I mentioned, congresswoman, were one of the House members. You were making the case to remove this president from office due to his actions with the Ukrainian president. The point you made repeatedly was that if trump gets away with pressuring Ukrainian President Zelensky, he will do it again. I want to be sure you heard what President Trump said about future calls with world leaders. Here he is.
(video)
TRUMP: When you call a foreign leader, people listen. I may end the practice entirely. I may have to -- I may end it entirely.
(end video)
BURNETT: You're on the Judiciary Committee, Intelligence Committee, what do you say to that?
DEMINGS: I say first of all that I am not surprised. But I certainly hope the senators who voted to acquit the president hear loud and clear what the president has said. Let me also remind you in our case we tried to make it quite clear through documents and evidence that was presented through the senate that the president would not only use/abuse his power to influence or get government powers involved, that he could use his powers in a domestic way to withhold money and funds to coerce people into basically doing what he wanted them to. So, it doesn't surprise me. The president has no intention of stopping his wrongdoing. He just wants to continue to cover it up and will look to people like William Barr, others in the senate, and others in the house who have turned a complete blind eye and deaf ear to his wrongdoing.
BURNETT: All right, Congresswoman Demings. I appreciate your time together, and I thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Every Time Jim Jordan Opens His Mouth, Remember This

Chris Hayes reminded us of the content of Jim Jordan 's character last night .
`` Ohio republican congressman Jim Jordan is one of the president 's fiercest allies .
You 've probably seen him a million times on TV , this show and others .
He talks fast .
Rarely wears a jacket .
During Trump 's impeachment , he was actually put on the House Intelligence Committee temporarily just so he could stick it to Democrats .
Trump loves Jim Jordan , of course .
Lately , the president 's been shouting Jordan out pretty much anywhere he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he talked about Jordan position as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University from 1986 to 1994 .
`` While he was on that coaching staff , the team doctor , a guy named Richard Strauss , sexually abused at least 177 male students , according to an independent investigation conducted by law firm , Perkins Coie .
The investigation was commissioned after a whistle-blower came forward to say he was victimized .
Former Ohio State wrestler named Mike DiSabato .
Other former students have joined him .
And 350 students have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The whistle-blower and numerous other former wrestlers say at the time they told Jim Jordan , among others , what was going on .
And they say Jim Jordan turned a blind eye to the systemic sexual abuse happening right under his nose .
That claim is backed up by that same independent investigation which found the abuse was , and I quote it here , `` open secret , including among the coaching staff . ''
That whistle-blower telling NBC News , ' I consider Jim Jordan a friend but at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying if he says he does n't know what was going on . '
At a public hearing on Tuesday , that whistle-blower 's brother who was also a wrestler at Ohio State said Jim Jordan called him in 2018 to pressure him to contradict his brother . ''
MIKE DISABATO : Jim Jordan called me crying , crying , groveling .
On the fourth of July .
Begging me to go against my brother .
Begging me .
Crying for a half hour .
That 's the kind of cover-up that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said that is not true and Jordan has denied he knew about the abuse .
The whistle-blower 's brother was asked about that denial at the same hearing , '' Hayes said .
MIKE DISABATO : He 's throwing us under the bus , all of us .
He 's a coward .
He 's a coward .
He 's not a leader .
He 's a coward .
And Hayes ended with some advice .
`` Every time you see Jim Jordan talking about anything other than this , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind what you just heard . ''

Chris Hayes reminded us of the content of Jim Jordan's character last night.
"Ohio republican congressman Jim Jordan is one of the president's fiercest allies. You've probably seen him a million times on TV, this show and others. He talks fast. Rarely wears a jacket. During Trump's impeachment, he was actually put on the House Intelligence Committee temporarily just so he could stick it to Democrats. Trump loves Jim Jordan, of course. Lately, the president's been shouting Jordan out pretty much anywhere he goes," Hayes said.
Then he talked about Jordan position as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University from 1986 to 1994.
"While he was on that coaching staff, the team doctor, a guy named Richard Strauss, sexually abused at least 177 male students, according to an independent investigation conducted by law firm, Perkins Coie. The investigation was commissioned after a whistle-blower came forward to say he was victimized. Former Ohio State wrestler named Mike DiSabato. Other former students have joined him. And 350 students have now filed suit against university.
"The whistle-blower and numerous other former wrestlers say at the time they told Jim Jordan, among others, what was going on. And they say Jim Jordan turned a blind eye to the systemic sexual abuse happening right under his nose. That claim is backed up by that same independent investigation which found the abuse was, and I quote it here, "open secret, including among the coaching staff." That whistle-blower telling NBC News, 'I consider Jim Jordan a friend but at the end of the day he's absolutely lying if he says he doesn't know what was going on.' At a public hearing on Tuesday, that whistle-blower's brother who was also a wrestler at Ohio State said Jim Jordan called him in 2018 to pressure him to contradict his brother."
MIKE DISABATO: Jim Jordan called me crying, crying, groveling. On the fourth of July. Begging me to go against my brother. Begging me. Crying for a half hour. That's the kind of cover-up that's going on there.
"Jordan's spokesperson said that is not true and Jordan has denied he knew about the abuse. The whistle-blower's brother was asked about that denial at the same hearing," Hayes said.
MIKE DISABATO: He's throwing us under the bus, all of us. He's a coward. He's a coward. He's not a leader. He's a coward.
And Hayes ended with some advice.
"Every time you see Jim Jordan talking about anything other than this, I think it's probably useful to keep in mind what you just heard."
We will.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Nobody Knows The Troubles Don Jr. Has Seen

Don Jr in the middle wearing his communist kids tuxedo Ivana and Donald Trump relax in the living room of their Manhattan apartment on March 12 , 1979 .
She didn ’ t exactly grow up in a gulag : When Ivana Trump was growing up , the family lived in one of the city ’ s distinctive , cube-shaped “ Bata houses , ” designed in the 1920s as futuristic experiments in family housing by architects from the modernist school of Le Corbusier , thousands of which still dot the hillsides around the factory .
Ivana Trump came of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to leave Czechoslovakia was overwhelming for young people who had seen what existed beyond the country ’ s borders .
As the decade wore on , Czechs became more aware of what was available in the West—a mere four hour drive—yet far away for people without hard currency .
But only those favored by the regime got to travel abroad .
Sports was one way to gain that favor .
Czech communists were proud of their sports stars and film stars , but those who defected disappeared from national news .
Czech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s every move until she left for the West , after which they didn ’ t even cover Wimbledon .
It was a little harder to erase film stars , but when director Milos Forman defected , he was persona non grata until he cut a deal to shoot Amadeus in Prague in the 1980s , bringing millions in hard currency to his home country .
Pushed by her father and her own ambition , Ivana Trump became a good skier and made the junior national ski team , which allowed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s apartment , there ’ s still a ski hut and a bunny hill with a jump , where local kids can practice .
When Ivana Trump was a kid , she also practiced on winter weekends at her family ’ s humble country house in the foothills of the Carpathians , and eventually , at a ski camp in the Italian Alps .
In those years , the Czech ski team was small and relatively poorly trained .
But by the time she got to college in Prague , Ivana Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , and was intoxicated by the scent of perfume , chocolate , fashion and hard currency .
A striking blonde , she fit into Prague ’ s hip , young and mobile crowd .
“ Ivana didn ’ t want to stay here , ” Zelnickova ( who at 91 divides her time between New York and Zlin ) recalled .
“ She was always ambitious , and her father treated her like a boy.
” To get out , she married an Austrian skier for the passport .
She earned a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fate was not to teach gym to future socialist Olympians .
She left Czechoslovakia legally on her Austrian passport in September 1972 , moving to Canada , and eventually , to New York .

Bread lines? Really?
Don Jr in the middle wearing his communist kids tuxedo
Ivana and Donald Trump relax in the living room of their Manhattan apartment on March 12, 1979.
She didn’t exactly grow up in a gulag:
When Ivana Trump was growing up, the family lived in one of the city’s distinctive, cube-shaped “Bata houses,” designed in the 1920s as futuristic experiments in family housing by architects from the modernist school of Le Corbusier, thousands of which still dot the hillsides around the factory.
Ivana Trump came of age during the 1960s, when the desire to leave Czechoslovakia was overwhelming for young people who had seen what existed beyond the country’s borders. As the decade wore on, Czechs became more aware of what was available in the West—a mere four hour drive—yet far away for people without hard currency. But only those favored by the regime got to travel abroad. Sports was one way to gain that favor.
Czech communists were proud of their sports stars and film stars, but those who defected disappeared from national news. Czech media reported on tennis star Martina Navratilova’s every move until she left for the West, after which they didn’t even cover Wimbledon. It was a little harder to erase film stars, but when director Milos Forman defected, he was persona non grata until he cut a deal to shoot Amadeus in Prague in the 1980s, bringing millions in hard currency to his home country.
Pushed by her father and her own ambition, Ivana Trump became a good skier and made the junior national ski team, which allowed her to travel extensively. Uphill from Zelnickova’s apartment, there’s still a ski hut and a bunny hill with a jump, where local kids can practice. When Ivana Trump was a kid, she also practiced on winter weekends at her family’s humble country house in the foothills of the Carpathians, and eventually, at a ski camp in the Italian Alps.
In those years, the Czech ski team was small and relatively poorly trained. But by the time she got to college in Prague, Ivana Trump had been to Italy and Austria many times, and was intoxicated by the scent of perfume, chocolate, fashion and hard currency. A striking blonde, she fit into Prague’s hip, young and mobile crowd. “Ivana didn’t want to stay here,” Zelnickova (who at 91 divides her time between New York and Zlin) recalled. “She was always ambitious, and her father treated her like a boy.”
To get out, she married an Austrian skier for the passport. She earned a masters in physical education, but her fate was not to teach gym to future socialist Olympians. She left Czechoslovakia legally on her Austrian passport in September 1972, moving to Canada, and eventually, to New York.


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--The Fat Lady Ain’t Singing Yet, But She Is Getting Her Costume On

Read All About It !
Attorney General William Barr has agreed to give testimony before the House Judiciary Committee next @ @ @ @ @ the administration ’ s alleged interference in the criminal case of a close ally of @ @ @ @ @ Committee has become concerned about Trump ’ s interference in the Stone case and why @ @ @ @ @ directly to Barr about Giuliani ’ s own private investigations .
Oh Lord , it @ @ @ @ @ Louie Gohmert , and Matt Gaetz – we ’ re all gon na die .
@ @ @ @ @ Lofgren take over as chairman of the committee .
Jerry Nadler is a nice guy @ @ @ @ @ much on his plate right now .

Read All About It!
Attorney General William Barr has agreed to give testimony before the House Judiciary Committee next month amid growing questions over the administration’s alleged interference in the criminal case of a close ally of President Trump.
The Judiciary Committee has become concerned about Trump’s interference in the Stone case and why the hell Rudy Giuliani reports directly to Barr about Giuliani’s own private investigations.
Oh Lord, it’s Jim Jordan, Louie Gohmert, and Matt Gaetz – we’re all gonna die.
Democrats need to let Zoe Lofgren take over as chairman of the committee. Jerry Nadler is a nice guy but he has way too much on his plate right now.
Published with permission of JuanitaJean.com


crooksandliars--2020-02-14--Elizabeth Warren Scorches Bloomberg's Red Lining Defense

Now that former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is polling well in national polls , opposition is dropping on him everywhere .
His stop-and-frisk policies ( and his defense of it ) , and a new video in which he blames people of color for the financial crisis are the two worst .
There have been some efforts to mitigate the impact , but it 's still pretty bad , as Lawrence shows when he played the video for Senator Warren .
In it , Bloomberg says this : Redlining if you remember , was the term where banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People in these neighborhoods are poor .
They 're not going to be able to pay off their mortgages .
Tell your salesmen do n't go into those areas . ''
And then Congress got involved -- local elected officials as well -- and said , `` That 's not fair , these people should be able to get credit . ''
Once you started pushing in that direction , banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house was n't as good as you would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` What the mayor is really saying is that this crisis could have been averted if the banks had just been able to discriminate against black and brown people more , '' she said .
`` Let 's be clear , that would not have averted the crisis . ''
She added , `` Anybody who thinks that the banks should have been allowed to be more racist should not be the leader of our party . ''
Oh yes , indeed .
Lawrence then read what the Bloomberg campaign was saying about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond saying that `` something bad -- the financial crisis -- followed something good , which is the fight against red lining he was part of as mayor , '' and also he has a PLAN for how to counteract the effects of red lining .
`` He can try to scrub that video any way he wants , '' Warren countered .
`` It clearly says that redlining was what helped protect the banks .
The banks could make bigger profits . ''
And the reason they went along with redlining was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by carving up all the risky debt no matter what neighborhood it came from and sell it for the big bucks as a security with no underlying collateral .
She was n't finished with Bloomberg or her thoughts on his candidacy , stating outright that he is trying to buy an election because it 's the only way he could possibly get elected .
`` When you can reach in your own pocket and throw a few hundred million on the table and start buying your way to a nomination , it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing it from the grass-roots up , '' she said .
`` I believe in grass-roots funding . ''
After a plug for her website and donations , they turned to the question of whether a candidate 's past should define their present .
`` Part of your credibility or lack of credibility is your record , '' she said .
`` Everybody brings their record along with them . ''
She continued , `` Somebody who thinks that redlining was a good deal for the banks , to me just kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal .
Understand this about redlining .
What happened in America was that the federal government subsidized the purchase of housing because it helps build wealth .
They did it for decades for white people .
They discriminated against black people .
It helped create a racial wealth gap that persists until this day . ''
The next debate should be fascinating .

Now that former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is polling well in national polls, opposition is dropping on him everywhere. His stop-and-frisk policies (and his defense of it), and a new video in which he blames people of color for the financial crisis are the two worst.
There have been some efforts to mitigate the impact, but it's still pretty bad, as Lawrence shows when he played the video for Senator Warren. In it, Bloomberg says this:
Redlining if you remember, was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said, "People in these neighborhoods are poor. They're not going to be able to pay off their mortgages. Tell your salesmen don't go into those areas." And then Congress got involved -- local elected officials as well -- and said, "That's not fair, these people should be able to get credit." Once you started pushing in that direction, banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasn't as good as you would like.
Elizabeth Warren eviscerated that. "What the mayor is really saying is that this crisis could have been averted if the banks had just been able to discriminate against black and brown people more," she said. "Let's be clear, that would not have averted the crisis."
She added, "Anybody who thinks that the banks should have been allowed to be more racist should not be the leader of our party."
Oh yes, indeed.
Lawrence then read what the Bloomberg campaign was saying about it specifically, which wasn't much beyond saying that "something bad -- the financial crisis -- followed something good, which is the fight against red lining he was part of as mayor," and also he has a PLAN for how to counteract the effects of red lining.
"He can try to scrub that video any way he wants," Warren countered. "It clearly says that redlining was what helped protect the banks. The banks could make bigger profits."
And the reason they went along with redlining was so they could make even MORE money by carving up all the risky debt no matter what neighborhood it came from and sell it for the big bucks as a security with no underlying collateral.
She wasn't finished with Bloomberg or her thoughts on his candidacy, stating outright that he is trying to buy an election because it's the only way he could possibly get elected.
"When you can reach in your own pocket and throw a few hundred million on the table and start buying your way to a nomination, it's a different perspective than if you are doing it from the grass-roots up," she said. "I believe in grass-roots funding."
After a plug for her website and donations, they turned to the question of whether a candidate's past should define their present.
"Part of your credibility or lack of credibility is your record," she said. "Everybody brings their record along with them."
She continued, "Somebody who thinks that redlining was a good deal for the banks, to me just kind of has the wrong perspective on the whole deal. Understand this about redlining. What happened in America was that the federal government subsidized the purchase of housing because it helps build wealth. They did it for decades for white people. They discriminated against black people. It helped create a racial wealth gap that persists until this day."
The next debate should be fascinating.