crooksandliars--2020-09-28--The Future Of American Political Leadership: Mondaire Jones

This year , Mondaire Jones started to climb a hill most people thought was impossible .
He began a primary campaign against one of Pelosi 's most powerful allies in Congress , Nita Lowey , who was first elected to Congress when Mondaire was 2 years old , and had since risen to the position of chair of the House Appropriations Committee .
Their district , NY-17 , consists of northern and western Westchester County and all of Rockland County .
It 's a D+7 district where Hillary was able to win easily against Trump ( 58.6 % to 38.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly white and mostly rich ( nearly a $ 100,000 media family income ) .
Mondaire ran on working class issues , that have a lot of appeal to the upper middle class as well , the Green New Deal , Medicare-for-All , racial justice and police reform ...
Soon after he declared his candidacy , Lowey announced she was retiring , setting off a flood of candidates who wanted the safe Democratic seat for themselves .
And , after all , how hard would it be to defeat Jones , a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of Defense Evelyn Farkas , state Assemblyman David Buchwald , right-wing state Senate `` Democrat '' David Carlucci and son-of-a-billionaire Adam Schleifer , each thought the seat should belong to them .
Schleifer spent $ 5,197,000 of his inheritance on the race and Buchwald threw $ 612,342 of his own money in .
Mondaire , who eschews corporate money , won and won big with 41.7 % in an 8 person race -- more votes than the second and third place finishers combined .
So next question ... what is Mondaire likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Congress ?
He 's a natural-born reformer -- and he 's eager to get started .
One of his targets is a field of landmines : the Supreme Court .
I had asked him about the danger of Trump 's nominee abolishing women 's Choice .
`` Unfortunately , the Trump Administration and the Republican Party have systematically undermined women ’ s reproductive freedom , '' he said .
`` The federal government must step in to protect civil rights -- and it can not leave those rights up to the extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a member of Congress , I will work to codify Roe v. Wade by statute , repeal the Hyde Amendment , and ensure that any Medicare for All legislation includes coverage for the full range of reproductive services . ''
( His GOP opponent is an anti-choice nut , completely out of step with the values of NY-17 . )
But then he got into something related , but not specifically about Choice : He reminded me that McConnell `` is poised to ram through a replacement of Justice Ginsburg before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precedent he set just four years ago .
That should confirm for the American people what many of us already knew : the Republican Party sees the Supreme Court as a partisan tool meant to serve its own political ends and further entrench the power of right-wing plutocrats .
I refuse to stand by and let them .
The constitution gives Congress the authority to add or subtract seats from the Supreme Court , and I fully intend to fight to expand our Court , if elected . ''
He wants to add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loggerheads with Biden who opposes expanding the Court .
Last year Biden said that `` We ’ ll live to rue that day . ''
Jones says Democrats are already living that reality .
`` Democrats are already ruing the day , '' he said .
`` I think Democrats rue every day… I disagree with those words by Vice President Biden over a year ago .
And my expectation is that he will change his opinion now . ''
YES !
That 's the kind of leadership we need in Congress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win the Blue America endorsement during the primary , was n't the Court .
it was his stands on the other issues powering his campaign .
`` It 's frankly absurd that , in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 200,000 Americans , the debate over our predatory healthcare system has been completely shunted aside , '' he reiterated on Friday .
This fight is personal for me .
After my grandfather died of cancer , I watched helplessly as my grandmother worked well past the age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high cost of prescription drugs and medical procedures not fully covered by Medicare .
When I quit my job to try to better my community by running for Congress , I lost my health insurance .
That is not a rational system .
I believe health care should be a human right in a nation as wealthy as our own , not tied to employment status or economic means .
It has never been clearer to me , and to millions of Americans across this country , that we need Medicare for All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones will be working alongside AOC , Ed Markey and other climate hawks to fill in the details of the Green New Deal .
He told us last week that `` In the past month , America has watched in horror as the West Coast was engulfed in flames , and the Gulf Coast was inundated with hurricanes .
It is beyond debate at this point that climate change is real , it is here already , and it is disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable communities .
The question is , what are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know where I stand .
We absolutely must mobilize our collective resources to confront the challenge of climate change with the urgency required .
We must invest in sustainable infrastructure with a particular eye on our Black and brown communities that have experienced generations of environmental racism .
Anything less is tantamount to climate denial . ''
If you 're talking about the future of leadership in the Democratic Party and in Congress and in this country , you 're talking about Mondaire Jones .
`` This week , like so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is so difficult to be Black in America .
To be reminded that property is worth more than Black life .
People protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor are being punished more harshly than the people who actually killed Breonna Taylor .
That 's absurd , and , people all across this country have had it .
I may let myself feel the pain of injustice , but I do not despair .
I remain deeply committed to the fight for a more just America .
The fact is , our criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designers intended .
That ’ s why we need to reimagine that system . ''
Let 's reimagine a system where it 's men and women like Mondaire Jones leading our party -- instead of representatives of special interests who have long ago lost touch with the spirit of fairness and reform that have , in the past , made the Democratic Party worthwhile .

This year, Mondaire Jones started to climb a hill most people thought was impossible. He began a primary campaign against one of Pelosi's most powerful allies in Congress, Nita Lowey, who was first elected to Congress when Mondaire was 2 years old, and had since risen to the position of chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
Their district, NY-17, consists of northern and western Westchester County and all of Rockland County. It's a D+7 district where Hillary was able to win easily against Trump (58.6% to 38.4%). But the district is mostly white and mostly rich (nearly a $100,000 media family income). Mondaire ran on working class issues, that have a lot of appeal to the upper middle class as well, the Green New Deal, Medicare-for-All, racial justice and police reform...
Soon after he declared his candidacy, Lowey announced she was retiring, setting off a flood of candidates who wanted the safe Democratic seat for themselves. And, after all, how hard would it be to defeat Jones, a black, gay progressive?
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Evelyn Farkas, state Assemblyman David Buchwald, right-wing state Senate "Democrat" David Carlucci and son-of-a-billionaire Adam Schleifer, each thought the seat should belong to them. Schleifer spent $5,197,000 of his inheritance on the race and Buchwald threw $612,342 of his own money in. Mondaire, who eschews corporate money, won and won big with 41.7% in an 8 person race-- more votes than the second and third place finishers combined.
So next question... what is Mondaire likely to be like when he's sitting in Congress? He's a natural-born reformer-- and he's eager to get started. One of his targets is a field of landmines: the Supreme Court. I had asked him about the danger of Trump's nominee abolishing women's Choice. "Unfortunately, the Trump Administration and the Republican Party have systematically undermined women’s reproductive freedom," he said. "The federal government must step in to protect civil rights-- and it cannot leave those rights up to the extreme conservative majority on the Supreme Court. As a member of Congress, I will work to codify Roe v. Wade by statute, repeal the Hyde Amendment, and ensure that any Medicare for All legislation includes coverage for the full range of reproductive services." (His GOP opponent is an anti-choice nut, completely out of step with the values of NY-17.)
But then he got into something related, but not specifically about Choice: He reminded me that McConnell "is poised to ram through a replacement of Justice Ginsburg before the November election, flagrantly breaking with the precedent he set just four years ago. That should confirm for the American people what many of us already knew: the Republican Party sees the Supreme Court as a partisan tool meant to serve its own political ends and further entrench the power of right-wing plutocrats. I refuse to stand by and let them. The constitution gives Congress the authority to add or subtract seats from the Supreme Court, and I fully intend to fight to expand our Court, if elected." He wants to add 4 members.
That puts him at loggerheads with Biden who opposes expanding the Court. Last year Biden said that "We’ll live to rue that day." Jones says Democrats are already living that reality. "Democrats are already ruing the day," he said. "I think Democrats rue every day… I disagree with those words by Vice President Biden over a year ago. And my expectation is that he will change his opinion now." YES! That's the kind of leadership we need in Congress in 2021.
And what originally caused Jones to win the Blue America endorsement during the primary, wasn't the Court. it was his stands on the other issues powering his campaign. "It's frankly absurd that, in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed the lives of 200,000 Americans, the debate over our predatory healthcare system has been completely shunted aside," he reiterated on Friday.
This fight is personal for me. After my grandfather died of cancer, I watched helplessly as my grandmother worked well past the age of retirement just to pay for the high cost of prescription drugs and medical procedures not fully covered by Medicare. When I quit my job to try to better my community by running for Congress, I lost my health insurance. That is not a rational system. I believe health care should be a human right in a nation as wealthy as our own, not tied to employment status or economic means. It has never been clearer to me, and to millions of Americans across this country, that we need Medicare for All.
I have every confidence that Mondaire Jones will be working alongside AOC, Ed Markey and other climate hawks to fill in the details of the Green New Deal.
He told us last week that "In the past month, America has watched in horror as the West Coast was engulfed in flames, and the Gulf Coast was inundated with hurricanes. It is beyond debate at this point that climate change is real, it is here already, and it is disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable communities. The question is, what are we going to do about it?
I know where I stand. We absolutely must mobilize our collective resources to confront the challenge of climate change with the urgency required. We must invest in sustainable infrastructure with a particular eye on our Black and brown communities that have experienced generations of environmental racism. Anything less is tantamount to climate denial."
If you're talking about the future of leadership in the Democratic Party and in Congress and in this country, you're talking about Mondaire Jones.
"This week, like so many weeks," he said, "it is so difficult to be Black in America. To be reminded that property is worth more than Black life. People protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor are being punished more harshly than the people who actually killed Breonna Taylor. That's absurd, and, people all across this country have had it. I may let myself feel the pain of injustice, but I do not despair. I remain deeply committed to the fight for a more just America. The fact is, our criminal legal system is working exactly as its designers intended. That’s why we need to reimagine that system."
Let's reimagine a system where it's men and women like Mondaire Jones leading our party-- instead of representatives of special interests who have long ago lost touch with the spirit of fairness and reform that have, in the past, made the Democratic Party worthwhile.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--'Deterrence': Leaked Trump Campaign Documents Show Facebook Suppression Against Black Voters

President Donald Trump has claimed to do more for Black Americans than any president since Abraham Lincoln but internal documents @ @ @ @ @ reveal that he saw them as a threat .
According to an upcoming report from @ @ @ @ @ news , the Trump campaign listed more than 3 million Black voters as “ deterrence.
@ @ @ @ @ investigation reveals a huge Trump campaign data leak , exposing how 3.5 million Black Americans @ @ @ @ @ ’ – to try to stop them voting in 2016 , ” a tweet from @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
View a preview of the report below .

President Donald Trump has claimed to do more for Black Americans than any president since Abraham Lincoln but internal documents from his 2016 campaign reportedly reveal that he saw them as a threat.
According to an upcoming report from Britain’s Channel 4 news, the Trump campaign listed more than 3 million Black voters as “deterrence.”
“Channel 4 News investigation reveals a huge Trump campaign data leak, exposing how 3.5 million Black Americans were listed as ‘Deterrence’ – to try to stop them voting in 2016,” a tweet from the news network said on Monday.
View a preview of the report below.
??Tonight at 7pm:??
EXCLUSIVE: Channel 4 News investigation reveals a huge Trump campaign data leak, exposing how 3.5 million Black Americans were listed as ‘Deterrence’ - to try to stop them voting in 2016.#DeterringDemocracy pic.twitter.com/wkxKfbynu6 — Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) September 28, 2020
Watch the full video here.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--Ex-GOP Congressman Can't Justify Trump's $70,000 Hair Deduction

The New York Times blockbuster report on Trump 's tax returns reveals that he 's in so much debt he 's a national security threat , but also there 's a lot of shady activity including deducting thousands of dollars for what appears to be combovers .
Former Republican Congressman Charlie Dent told CNN 's Alisyn Camerota that Trump should have gone to his own barber at $ 25 a shot .
Dent said , `` Wow , I mean , it just strikes me that people are going to ask is their president a tax cheat ?
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he just deducted $ 70,000 for haircuts for heaven ’ s sake ?
I pay $ 25 every other month .
$ 150 a year for haircuts.
” Camerota asked facetiously if Trump was getting his money 's worth .
“ Yes , of course not , '' Dent replied .
`` I should introduce him to my barber , Jimmy Moyer in Allentown .
People in Allentown and Scranton are paying $ 20 to 25 bucks , at least guys are , for their haircuts . ''
`` But the bigger question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his golf resorts and his hotels . ''
How embarrassing is it for a US president to deduct thousands upon thousands of dollars for hair products and cuts ?
This leads to bigger problems which is if he can try to write off haircuts as a major deduction what else has he been lying about ?
Normal Americans will look at this and just shudder with contempt .

The New York Times blockbuster report on Trump's tax returns reveals that he's in so much debt he's a national security threat, but also there's a lot of shady activity including deducting thousands of dollars for what appears to be combovers.
Former Republican Congressman Charlie Dent told CNN's Alisyn Camerota that Trump should have gone to his own barber at $25 a shot.
Dent said, "Wow, I mean, it just strikes me that people are going to ask is their president a tax cheat? That’s the obvious question. I mean he just deducted $70,000 for haircuts for heaven’s sake? I pay $25 every other month. $150 a year for haircuts.”
Camerota asked facetiously if Trump was getting his money's worth.
“Yes, of course not," Dent replied.
"I should introduce him to my barber, Jimmy Moyer in Allentown. People in Allentown and Scranton are paying $20 to 25 bucks, at least guys are, for their haircuts."
"But the bigger question is, he is losing money on his golf resorts and his hotels."
How embarrassing is it for a US president to deduct thousands upon thousands of dollars for hair products and cuts?
This leads to bigger problems which is if he can try to write off haircuts as a major deduction what else has he been lying about?
Normal Americans will look at this and just shudder with contempt.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--CDC Director Blasts Trump's Newest COVID Task Force Hire: 'Everything He Says Is False'

The director for the CDC , Dr. Robert Redfield was overheard by NBC News attacking Dr. Scott Atlas for lying about the efficacy of masks , young people getting infected , and the so-called herd immunity to the virus Dr. Scott Atlas , a mainstay on Fox News since the virus struck , was a highly controversial pick made by Trump , who is noted for spreading his herd immunity theory , which Trump recites religiously now .
Many of his former colleagues at Stanford University medical school denounced Atlas for promoting `` falsehoods and misrepresentations of science . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ run counter to established science and , by doing so , undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy , ” according to the letter , signed by Dr. Philip A. Pizzo , former dean of Stanford School of Medicine ; Dr. Upi Singh , chief of Stanford ’ s Division of Infectious Diseases , and Dr. Bonnie Maldonado , professor of epidemiology and population health , and 105 others .
Here are a few of the outrageous claims he 's made on Fox News to undermine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has appeared 20 times on Fox News since the end of April , predicted in March that there would only be 10,000 deaths from COVID in America , said in April that the pandemic “ appears to be entering the containment phase , ” and claimed in May that “ the curves have been flattened.
” More recently , he has taken to making unproven claims downplaying the risk of COVID-19 in considering whether to reopen schools for in-person learning . ''
An NBC reporter overheard and reported Dr. Redfield 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who leads the CDC , suggested in a conversation with a colleague Friday that Dr. Scott Atlas is arming Trump with misleading data about a range of issues , including questioning the efficacy of masks , whether young people are susceptible to the virus and the potential benefits of herd immunity .
`` Everything he says is false , '' Redfield said during a phone call made in public on a commercial airline and overheard by NBC News .
Redfield acknowledged after the flight from Atlanta to Washington that he was speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background in infectious diseases or public health .
Atlas was brought on to the White House task force in August .
Atlas was obviously brought onto the task force to spread misinformation and lies to the American people , to induce them to send their kids back to school , and to open businesses during the pandemic , in an effort to help Trump 's reelection campaign .
In essence , Trump put a scummy medical version of Peter Navarro on the COVID19 task force , which is empowered with trying to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the coronavirus during a global pandemic .

The director for the CDC, Dr. Robert Redfield was overheard by NBC News attacking Dr. Scott Atlas for lying about the efficacy of masks, young people getting infected, and the so-called herd immunity to the virus
Dr. Scott Atlas, a mainstay on Fox News since the virus struck, was a highly controversial pick made by Trump, who is noted for spreading his herd mentality immunity theory, which Trump recites religiously now.
Many of his former colleagues at Stanford University medical school denounced Atlas for promoting "falsehoods and misrepresentations of science."
"Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy,” according to the letter, signed by Dr. Philip A. Pizzo, former dean of Stanford School of Medicine; Dr. Upi Singh, chief of Stanford’s Division of Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Bonnie Maldonado, professor of epidemiology and population health, and 105 others.
Here are a few of the outrageous claims he's made on Fox News to undermine the severity of Covid 19.
"Atlas, who has appeared 20 times on Fox News since the end of April, predicted in March that there would only be 10,000 deaths from COVID in America, said in April that the pandemic “appears to be entering the containment phase,” and claimed in May that “the curves have been flattened.” More recently, he has taken to making unproven claims downplaying the risk of COVID-19 in considering whether to reopen schools for in-person learning."
An NBC reporter overheard and reported Dr. Redfield's concerns about Atlas.
Dr. Robert Redfield, who leads the CDC, suggested in a conversation with a colleague Friday that Dr. Scott Atlas is arming Trump with misleading data about a range of issues, including questioning the efficacy of masks, whether young people are susceptible to the virus and the potential benefits of herd immunity. "Everything he says is false," Redfield said during a phone call made in public on a commercial airline and overheard by NBC News. Redfield acknowledged after the flight from Atlanta to Washington that he was speaking about Atlas, a neuroradiologist with no background in infectious diseases or public health. Atlas was brought on to the White House task force in August.
Atlas was obviously brought onto the task force to spread misinformation and lies to the American people, to induce them to send their kids back to school, and to open businesses during the pandemic, in an effort to help Trump's reelection campaign.
In essence, Trump put a scummy medical version of Peter Navarro on the COVID19 task force, which is empowered with trying to keep Americans safe, while developing a treatment for the coronavirus during a global pandemic.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--Kamala Harris Blasts SCOTUS Pick: 'We Won't Let This Trump Infection Spread To The Supreme Court'

Senator Kamala Harris blasted Republicans for `` trying to infect the Supreme Court '' with their intense desire to kill the Affordable Care Act and undo everything Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has done for women in the years she served on the Supreme Court during a speech at Shaw University in North Carolina Monday .
Pointing at the endangered Voting Rights Act , she called on everyone but especially women , to `` vote as if your lives and your choice depends on it .
Because it does . ''
She also said that the Republicans ' fever to repeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a blind rage toward President Obama.
” I will post her full remarks as prepared for delivery as soon as they 're available .
Watch the speech above .
On Friday morning , I attended the memorial service of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the U.S. Capitol .
She was the first woman in our history to lie in state .
I sat a few feet away from her flag-draped casket to pay my respects .
It was somber and personal .
And it was an extraordinary moment for me -- as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and millions of Americans , and people around the world who felt a connection with her .
It was sad because we lost a giant not only of the Court , but of American life .
Few people in our history have done more to change the lives of the American people than Ruth Bader Ginsburg did as a lawyer , an advocate , and a Supreme Court Justice .
And it was an inspiration and a call to each of us .
For each of us to be better , to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to what motivated Justice Ginsburg the most .
That phrase etched in the marble of the United States Supreme Court : `` Equal Justice Under Law . ''
Justice Ginsburg came to her view of the law not from a textbook , but from life .
Her own life .
She often told the story of how she had personally felt the sting of discrimination .
As the mother of a young child , trying to find work .
And so she committed her life step by step , case by case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the obstacles in the way of so many , especially women .
Now , we are about to undertake the task of finding her replacement on the United States Supreme Court .
Of course , it 's hard to say those words .
In truth , Ruth Bader Ginsburg can not be replaced .
She was an original .
A one of a kind .
She combined a steel spine with an ability to extend an open hand , never a closed fist .
She demonstrated you could both hold firm to your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you disagree .
That is a lesson that should be ringing in our ears .
But it looks like this President and his party are n't interested in hearing any lessons from Justice Ginsburg .
Already , the President and his Republicans have chosen to ignore Justice Ginsburg 's final wish -- to hold off the nomination to replace her until after the next president is chosen .
A wish , by the way , shared by the American people .
And it 's not complicated .
The voters would simply like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President before the Senate votes on a nominee .
That ’ s not too much to ask .
But President Trump and his party are n't interested in hearing the will of the people .
In fact , my sense is they 're afraid of what they 're going to be told .
We are not even debating whether the Senate should hold hearings on a nominee in an election year .
We 're not in the middle of an election year .
We 're in the middle of an election .
Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More will vote this week .
In just a few weeks , all Americans will have voted .
But President Trump and his party do n't care .
They just want to jam this nomination through as fast as they can .
But President Trump and his party are about to learn something .
They may think that it is they who have the power in this country .
The American people have the power -- you have the power .
And you can make it very clear , very soon how you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court nomination .
Even worse , though , than the President and his party ignoring Justice Ginsburg 's final wish -- is their determination to appoint a Justice who will undo her life 's work .
Let 's be clear .
The Supreme Court will impact our lives in three critical ways .
First , President Trump and his party have made it clear they will pick a justice who will get rid of the Affordable Care Act .
And , in fact , just days after the election the court will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Affordable Care Act in its entirety .
It 's a decision that could take away health care for 20 million Americans .
It is a decision that could take away protections for preexisting conditions for more than 100 million people in our country .
It 's a decision that could take away Medicare benefits for seniors .
It is a decision that could toss out the rule that says children can be covered on their parents ' health care up to the age of 26 .
All of that will hurt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely on the Affordable Care Act .
And what is especially offensive about what President Trump and his party are up to is this .
Getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will take us backward to a time when you could charge a woman more for her health care than you can charge a man -- just because she 's a woman .
Getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will take us backward to a time when pregnancy could be considered a pre-existing condition .
Getting rid of the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contraceptive coverage for women .
And get this .
This relentless obsession with overturning the Affordable Care Act -- driven entirely by a blind rage toward President Obama -- is happening at a moment when our country is suffering through the ravages of a pandemic that has claimed more than 200,000 lives .
Complications from COVID-19 , like lung scarring and heart damage , could well become the next pre-existing condition .
In short , there are few things they could that would be more offensive to the legacy of Justice Ginsburg than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of discrimination in health care toward the women of our country .
But that 's what overturning the Affordable Care Act will do .
And overturning the Affordable Care Act is a way a nominee gets the support of this president and his party .
As Attorney General of California , I defended your right to health care .
As Senator , I voted to protect your right to health care .
But now President Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
And we know where Judge Barrett stands on the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record opposing the decision that upheld the Affordable Care Act .
As recently as 2017 , she specifically attacked the Chief Justice 's opinion in an article saying , quote : `` Chief Justice Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute . ''
If nothing else , the voters should be very clear about one thing : President Trump and his party and Judge Barrett will overturn the Affordable Care Act .
And they wo n't stop there .
They have made clear that they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reproductive rights and freedoms .
Judge Barrett has a long record of opposing abortion and reproductive rights .
There is no other issue that so disrespects and dishonors the work of Justice Ginsburg 's life than undoing the seminal decision in the Court 's history that made it clear a woman has the right to control her own body .
But that 's where President Trump and his party and Judge Barrett are .
So let 's make it clear where we are .
Let 's vote for health care .
Vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if your life , your choice , depends on it -- because it does .
Make it clear to President Trump and to every Republican Senator that if they 're determined to get rid of your health care , you 'll be just as determined to vote them out .
And second , vote as if your right to vote depends on it -- because it does .
In 2013 , the Supreme Court 's decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act .
Soon after , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , Alabama , and Mississippi enacted discriminatory laws designed to suppress people 's right to vote , targeting people of color and students .
Justice Ginsburg wrote that the decision was like `` throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm . ''
Right here in North Carolina a voter suppression law was described by a federal court as having `` targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision '' to deny us the right to vote .
After the people of Florida voted to grant formerly incarcerated citizens the right to vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax to make it harder for those citizens to exercise that very right -- in this upcoming election .
And this modern-day poll tax was upheld by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals -- in large part because of judges appointed by Donald Trump .
But he knows he ca n't win if the people vote .
So he is throwing up every roadblock he can to suppress the vote .
And we , the people , ca n't let him get away with it .
Third , our ability to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and dismantle systemic racism -- well , that 's at stake , too .
For example , court decisions can determine your ability to earn a living wage , to receive equal pay for equal work , or collectively bargain for your rights at work .
With an extra vote on the Court , Donald Trump and his party will continue their attack on laws that keep our air clean and our food and water safe -- and attack any legislation that addresses climate change .
They will also continue to divide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still plagues our society .
Their decisions could fail to hold the actors in our criminal justice system accountable .
Victims of abuse of power by law enforcement could be less likely to succeed on their civil rights claims .
The due process rights of criminal defendants could be less likely to be vigorously enforced .
These are decisions that would upend Justice Ginsburg 's life 's work to uphold the basic civil rights of all Americans -- regardless of race , gender , sexual orientation , religion , disability , or economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our culture .
Yes , we wear those `` Notorious RBG '' t-shirts with a lot of pride .
But since she passed , there are parents reminding their children that she helped their lives in concrete yet immeasurable ways .
Because of her , they could get the job of their dreams , fight for equal pay for their work , marry the person they love , serve the country they love -- and enjoy the full rights and privileges of citizenship that they deserve , free of discrimination .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us -- is at stake .
The outcome of this election , more than any other in our lifetime , affects every part of your life and every branch of government -- all at once with consequences that can last generations .
And all with a nation in crisis and at a crossroads .
A crisis with the nomination to the Supreme Court .
I know sometimes it feels like it 's all just too much for our country to take .
And that 's what they want you to believe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we will not give up .
And we will not give in .
We wo n't let the infection that President Trump has injected into the presidency and into Congress -- that has paralyzed our politics and pitted Americans against each other -- spread to the Supreme Court .
This election is about more than the presidency or the Senate or the Supreme Court .
It 's about our democracy .
And , as Joe Biden has said from the moment he entered this race , it 's about the soul of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we stand for .
And maybe most importantly , who we want to be .
And that 's what I felt when I said goodbye to Justice Ginsburg .
She understood the soul of our nation .
And what is expected of each of us .
And that belief is especially resonant at a place like Shaw University , one of our nation 's first Black landmarks of higher learning , established just six months after the Civil War .
People born into bondage and brutality stood on this very ground as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in Estey Hall -- the country 's first university hall built to educate Black women .
A century later , and a few months after the Greensboro sit-ins , Ella Baker and fellow students at Shaw established the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee -- that our dear John Lewis would one day lead .
I stand here , on their shoulders , and with all of you , as the nominee for Vice President of the United States .
I stand with Joe Biden who will be your next President .
I stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next Senator from North Carolina .
And I stand with them and the American people , to fight for a Supreme Court Justice , who , like Justice Ginsburg , truly believes in “ Equal Justice Under Law.
” May God bless you all .
May God bless the United States of America .

Senator Kamala Harris blasted Republicans for "trying to infect the Supreme Court" with their intense desire to kill the Affordable Care Act and undo everything Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has done for women in the years she served on the Supreme Court during a speech at Shaw University in North Carolina Monday.
Pointing at the endangered Voting Rights Act, she called on everyone but especially women, to "vote as if your lives and your choice depends on it. Because it does."
She also said that the Republicans' fever to repeal the Affordable Care Act was "driven by a blind rage toward President Obama.”
I will post her full remarks as prepared for delivery as soon as they're available. Watch the speech above.
UPDATE: Full remarks as prepared for delivery
Good afternoon.
On Friday morning, I attended the memorial service of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the U.S. Capitol.
She was the first woman in our history to lie in state.
I sat a few feet away from her flag-draped casket to pay my respects.
It was somber and personal.
And it was an extraordinary moment for me -- as I'm sure it was for you and millions of Americans, and people around the world who felt a connection with her.
It was sad because we lost a giant not only of the Court, but of American life.
It was a celebration.
Few people in our history have done more to change the lives of the American people than Ruth Bader Ginsburg did as a lawyer, an advocate, and a Supreme Court Justice.
And it was an inspiration and a call to each of us.
For each of us to be better, to stay in the fight -- and stay committed to what motivated Justice Ginsburg the most.
That phrase etched in the marble of the United States Supreme Court: "Equal Justice Under Law."
Justice Ginsburg came to her view of the law not from a textbook, but from life.
Her own life. She often told the story of how she had personally felt the sting of discrimination.
As a woman.
As the mother of a young child, trying to find work.
And so she committed her life step by step, case by case, law by law, to tear down the obstacles in the way of so many, especially women.
Now, we are about to undertake the task of finding her replacement on the United States Supreme Court.
Of course, it's hard to say those words.
In truth, Ruth Bader Ginsburg cannot be replaced.
She was an original. A one of a kind.
She combined a steel spine with an ability to extend an open hand, never a closed fist.
She demonstrated you could both hold firm to your principles and still hear those with whom you disagree.
That is a lesson that should be ringing in our ears.
But it looks like this President and his party aren't interested in hearing any lessons from Justice Ginsburg.
Already, the President and his Republicans have chosen to ignore Justice Ginsburg's final wish -- to hold off the nomination to replace her until after the next president is chosen.
A wish, by the way, shared by the American people.
And it's not complicated.
The voters would simply like to have the opportunity to vote for their President before the Senate votes on a nominee.
That’s not too much to ask.
But President Trump and his party aren't interested in hearing the will of the people.
In fact, my sense is they're afraid of what they're going to be told.
We are not even debating whether the Senate should hold hearings on a nominee in an election year.
We're not in the middle of an election year.
We're in the middle of an election.
An on-going election.
Almost a million Americans have already voted.
More will vote this week.
In just a few weeks, all Americans will have voted.
But President Trump and his party don't care.
They just want to jam this nomination through as fast as they can.
It's raw power.
But President Trump and his party are about to learn something.
They may think that it is they who have the power in this country.
But they don't.
The American people have the power -- you have the power.
And you can make it very clear, very soon how you feel about being cut out of this Supreme Court nomination.
Even worse, though, than the President and his party ignoring Justice Ginsburg's final wish -- is their determination to appoint a Justice who will undo her life's work.
Let's be clear. The Supreme Court will impact our lives in three critical ways.
First, President Trump and his party have made it clear they will pick a justice who will get rid of the Affordable Care Act.
And, in fact, just days after the election the court will hear a case that could strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety.
It's a decision that could take away health care for 20 million Americans.
It is a decision that could take away protections for preexisting conditions for more than 100 million people in our country.
It's a decision that could take away Medicare benefits for seniors.
It is a decision that could toss out the rule that says children can be covered on their parents' health care up to the age of 26.
All of that will hurt the millions of Americans who have come to rely on the Affordable Care Act.
And what is especially offensive about what President Trump and his party are up to is this.
Getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will take us backward to a time when you could charge a woman more for her health care than you can charge a man -- just because she's a woman.
Getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will take us backward to a time when pregnancy could be considered a pre-existing condition.
Getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will take away birth control and contraceptive coverage for women.
And get this.
This relentless obsession with overturning the Affordable Care Act -- driven entirely by a blind rage toward President Obama -- is happening at a moment when our country is suffering through the ravages of a pandemic that has claimed more than 200,000 lives.
Complications from COVID-19, like lung scarring and heart damage, could well become the next pre-existing condition.
In short, there are few things they could that would be more offensive to the legacy of Justice Ginsburg than to return us to the full-scale policies of discrimination in health care toward the women of our country.
But that's what overturning the Affordable Care Act will do.
And overturning the Affordable Care Act is a way a nominee gets the support of this president and his party.
As Attorney General of California, I defended your right to health care.
As Senator, I voted to protect your right to health care.
But now President Trump has nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett. And we know where Judge Barrett stands on the Affordable Care Act.
Judge Barrett is on record opposing the decision that upheld the Affordable Care Act.
As recently as 2017, she specifically attacked the Chief Justice's opinion in an article saying, quote: "Chief Justice Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute."
If nothing else, the voters should be very clear about one thing: President Trump and his party and Judge Barrett will overturn the Affordable Care Act.
And they won't stop there.
They have made clear that they want to overturn Roe v. Wade and restrict reproductive rights and freedoms.
Judge Barrett has a long record of opposing abortion and reproductive rights.
There is no other issue that so disrespects and dishonors the work of Justice Ginsburg's life than undoing the seminal decision in the Court's history that made it clear a woman has the right to control her own body.
But that's where President Trump and his party and Judge Barrett are.
So let's make it clear where we are.
Let's vote for health care. Vote for the Affordable Care Act.
Vote as if your life, your choice, depends on it -- because it does.
Make it clear to President Trump and to every Republican Senator that if they're determined to get rid of your health care, you'll be just as determined to vote them out.
And second, vote as if your right to vote depends on it -- because it does.
In 2013, the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act.
Soon after, numerous states, including Texas, North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi enacted discriminatory laws designed to suppress people's right to vote, targeting people of color and students.
Justice Ginsburg wrote that the decision was like "throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm."
Right here in North Carolina a voter suppression law was described by a federal court as having "targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision" to deny us the right to vote.
Surgical precision.
After the people of Florida voted to grant formerly incarcerated citizens the right to vote, Republican officials recently enacted a modern-day poll tax to make it harder for those citizens to exercise that very right -- in this upcoming election.
And this modern-day poll tax was upheld by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals -- in large part because of judges appointed by Donald Trump.
But he knows he can't win if the people vote.
Donald Trump is weak.
So he is throwing up every roadblock he can to suppress the vote.
And we, the people, can't let him get away with it.
Third, our ability to make a living, take care of our families, and dismantle systemic racism -- well, that's at stake, too.
For example, court decisions can determine your ability to earn a living wage, to receive equal pay for equal work, or collectively bargain for your rights at work.
With an extra vote on the Court, Donald Trump and his party will continue their attack on laws that keep our air clean and our food and water safe -- and attack any legislation that addresses climate change.
They will also continue to divide us and ignore the systemic racism that still plagues our society.
Their decisions could fail to hold the actors in our criminal justice system accountable.
Victims of abuse of power by law enforcement could be less likely to succeed on their civil rights claims.
The due process rights of criminal defendants could be less likely to be vigorously enforced.
These are decisions that would upend Justice Ginsburg's life's work to uphold the basic civil rights of all Americans -- regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or economic station.
Yes, she was part of our culture.
Yes, we wear those "Notorious RBG" t-shirts with a lot of pride.
But since she passed, there are parents reminding their children that she helped their lives in concrete yet immeasurable ways.
Because of her, they could get the job of their dreams, fight for equal pay for their work, marry the person they love, serve the country they love -- and enjoy the full rights and privileges of citizenship that they deserve, free of discrimination.
And that legacy -- her belief in all of us -- is at stake.
The outcome of this election, more than any other in our lifetime, affects every part of your life and every branch of government -- all at once with consequences that can last generations.
And all with a nation in crisis and at a crossroads.
The pandemic.
The recession.
A reckoning on racial injustice.
A changing climate.
A crisis with the nomination to the Supreme Court.
I know sometimes it feels like it's all just too much for our country to take.
And that's what they want you to believe.
They want you to feel tired.
To feel your fight doesn't matter.
But we will not give up.
And we will not give in.
We won't let the infection that President Trump has injected into the presidency and into Congress -- that has paralyzed our politics and pitted Americans against each other -- spread to the Supreme Court.
This election is about more than the presidency or the Senate or the Supreme Court.
It's about our democracy.
And, as Joe Biden has said from the moment he entered this race, it's about the soul of our nation.
Who we are.
What we stand for.
And maybe most importantly, who we want to be.
And that's what I felt when I said goodbye to Justice Ginsburg.
She understood the soul of our nation.
And what is expected of each of us.
And that belief is especially resonant at a place like Shaw University, one of our nation's first Black landmarks of higher learning, established just six months after the Civil War.
People born into bondage and brutality stood on this very ground as graduates and as scholars.
I stand here in Estey Hall -- the country's first university hall built to educate Black women.
A century later, and a few months after the Greensboro sit-ins, Ella Baker and fellow students at Shaw established the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee -- that our dear John Lewis would one day lead.
I stand here, on their shoulders, and with all of you, as the nominee for Vice President of the United States.
I stand with Joe Biden who will be your next President.
I stand with Cal Cunningham who will be your next Senator from North Carolina.
And I stand with them and the American people, to fight for a Supreme Court Justice, who, like Justice Ginsburg, truly believes in “Equal Justice Under Law.”
May God bless Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
May God bless you all.
May God bless the United States of America.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--John Oliver Says To Mitt Romney, 'Since When Is This Nation Naturally Center-Right?'

Responding to nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , John Oliver did n't mince words .
“ We are at the end of a generational battle , ” he said .
“ And the heartbreaking thing is that we lost .
And that hurts.
” Via the A.V .
Club : Oliver had some solutions .
Shit-can Republicans from the presidency , Senate , and anywhere else the increasingly desperate right-wing minority is abandoning all pretense of honoring the concept of American democracy in order to cling to power .
Statehood for D.C. and P.R .
Abolish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both of which Oliver ’ s made strong cases for elsewhere . )
Adding to the Supreme Court is risky , but , according to Oliver , might be the only way to get anything meaningful done .
That said , term limits for those justices is certainly doable , so that—and just spitballing here—a shriveling conservative minority with no scruples whatsoever could steal three Supreme Court seats , thus ensuring their pinched , historically unpopular hate-and-greed positions hold Court in defiance of the actual will of the actual people .
Signing off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling out Republican shamelessness ( “ First of all , fuck you , Kevin , ” Oliver spat at GOP Senator Kevin McCarthy for whining about Democrats rigging an already rigged system ) , before restating , plainly , that these ’ s a whole lot of work to be done in an America whose carefully disguised innate bigotry has—thanks to Trump , McConnell , and their accomplices—been stripped bare .
Daunting as hell , but at least leaving anyone still invested in any semblance of justice , fairness , and plain human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of American institutional oppression .
Summing up a system meticulously constructed to protect the rule of the prejudiced , the opportunistically power-hungry , and the very , very white , Oliver noted , “ That is not a mandate , and it ’ s not democracy .
It ’ s a fucking travesty .
”

Responding to nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, John Oliver didn't mince words.
“We are at the end of a generational battle,” he said. “And the heartbreaking thing is that we lost. And that hurts.” Via the A.V. Club:
Oliver had some solutions. Shit-can Republicans from the presidency, Senate, and anywhere else the increasingly desperate right-wing minority is abandoning all pretense of honoring the concept of American democracy in order to cling to power. Statehood for D.C. and P.R. Abolish the Electoral College and the filibuster (both of which Oliver’s made strong cases for elsewhere.) Adding to the Supreme Court is risky, but, according to Oliver, might be the only way to get anything meaningful done. That said, term limits for those justices is certainly doable, so that—and just spitballing here—a shriveling conservative minority with no scruples whatsoever could steal three Supreme Court seats, thus ensuring their pinched, historically unpopular hate-and-greed positions hold Court in defiance of the actual will of the actual people.
Signing off, Oliver wasn’t playing, calling out Republican shamelessness (“First of all, fuck you, Kevin,” Oliver spat at GOP Senator Kevin McCarthy for whining about Democrats rigging an already rigged system), before restating, plainly, that these’s a whole lot of work to be done in an America whose carefully disguised innate bigotry has—thanks to Trump, McConnell, and their accomplices—been stripped bare. Daunting as hell, but at least leaving anyone still invested in any semblance of justice, fairness, and plain human decency a clear look at the sneering face of American institutional oppression.
Summing up a system meticulously constructed to protect the rule of the prejudiced, the opportunistically power-hungry, and the very, very white, Oliver noted, “That is not a mandate, and it’s not democracy. It’s a fucking travesty.”


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--Trump's Former Campaign Manager Taken Into Custody After Threatening Suicide

Heavily armed and barricaded in his expensive home , Parscale gave himself up voluntarily , and will now undergo a psychiatric assessment .
Parscale is believed to be heavily involved in Trump 's massive money laundering schemes , and this incident occurred just hours after the New York Times ' bombshell about Trump 's taxes .
On July 15 , Parscale was replaced as Trump 's 2020 campaign manager by Bill Stepien .
President Trump ’ s former campaign manager Brad Parscale was taken from his Fort Lauderdale home by police Sunday afternoon after his wife reported that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called by his wife , went to the house in the Seven Isles community , an affluent area in which houses have access to the water .
They made contact , “ developed a rapport ” and negotiated his exit from the house , the police said in a statement .
He was taken to Broward Health Medical Center under the Baker Act , which provides for temporary involuntary commitment .
Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Karen Dietrich said the encounter at the house was brief .
“ We went out and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got him help.
” Dietrich said he didn ’ t threaten police and he went willingly under Florida ’ s Baker Act , which allows police to detain a person who is potentially a threat to himself or others .

Heavily armed and barricaded in his expensive home, Parscale gave himself up voluntarily, and will now undergo a psychiatric assessment. Parscale is believed to be heavily involved in Trump's massive money laundering schemes, and this incident occurred just hours after the New York Times' bombshell about Trump's taxes. On July 15, Parscale was replaced as Trump's 2020 campaign manager by Bill Stepien.
Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
President Trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale was taken from his Fort Lauderdale home by police Sunday afternoon after his wife reported that he was armed and threatening suicide.
The police, called by his wife, went to the house in the Seven Isles community, an affluent area in which houses have access to the water. They made contact, “developed a rapport” and negotiated his exit from the house, the police said in a statement. He was taken to Broward Health Medical Center under the Baker Act, which provides for temporary involuntary commitment.
Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Karen Dietrich said the encounter at the house was brief.
“We went out and it was very short. We went and got him help.”
Dietrich said he didn’t threaten police and he went willingly under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows police to detain a person who is potentially a threat to himself or others.


crooksandliars--2020-09-28--Trump's Not A 'Failed Businessman' -- He's A Money Launderer

Contrary to the New York Times ' Trump tax story , Trump 's not a `` failed businessman . ''
@ @ @ @ @ to succeed , but Trump figured out a long time ago he could make more @ @ @ @ @ moving money around for other people .
He 's a crook .
This is not @ @ @ @ @ $ 10 million for `` significant and long-standing '' anti-money laundering violations at the Trump @ @ @ @ @ there 's the dirty Russian money in Trump Tower .
His business partners are crooks @ @ @ @ @ was noted by Deutsche Bank in Trump and Kushner accounts .
Deutsche Bank , which @ @ @ @ @ problems !
And these are just the scandals we know about , because Bob Mueller @ @ @ @ @ .
And so on , ad infinitum .
We need a special prosecutor to untangle @ @ @

Contrary to the New York Times' Trump tax story, Trump's not a "failed businessman." That implies he was trying to succeed, but Trump figured out a long time ago he could make more money by failing, and moving money around for other people. He's a crook.
This is not news. He was fined $10 million for "significant and long-standing" anti-money laundering violations at the Trump Taj Mahal casino.
Then there's the dirty Russian money in Trump Tower.
His business partners are crooks, too.
Suspicious activity was noted by Deutsche Bank in Trump and Kushner accounts. Deutsche Bank, which had its own money laundering problems!
And these are just the scandals we know about, because Bob Mueller NEVER LOOKED AT HIS FINANCES.
Powerful, corrupt rulers the world over are always trying to look legitimate, so they invariably turn to middlemen like fraudster Felix Sater https://t.co/IBQNxtO5p6 — The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) September 27, 2020
In @davidenrich ‘s jaw dropping book Dark Towers, he explains how the disarray of Deutsche Bank allowed Trump to take out multiple loans from different parts of the same bank, which was already laundering lots and lots of money from Russia — Vanessa I. Paulsen (@supervipgala) September 27, 2020
Qatar Is Paying the Trump Organization for What Appears to Be a Fake Office. Huh!
.@SpeakerPelosi, yet another example of of funneling cash to Trump through money laundering.
https://t.co/SNVw5Xa9yv — 🖕🏻Aunt Crabby calls Bullshit 🖕🏻 (@DearAuntCrabby) September 27, 2020
And so on, ad infinitum. We need a special prosecutor to untangle this mess.


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--KY AG Agrees To Release Grand Jury Recording After Juror Petitions Court

CNN has the news this morning that Mitch McConnell 's protege , Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron , says he will release a recording of the grand jury proceedings in the Breonna Taylor shooting death by police .
And as I wrote last week , he admits the only charge he recommended to the grand jury was unrelated to Taylor 's death .
`` CNN 's Shimon Prokupecz is live in Louisville , Kentucky , with more .
Why did he do that , Shimon ? ''
Alysin Camerota asked .
`` This all comes after an unprecedented step by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually in the grand jury , was one of the 12 jurors who were hearing evidence in this case , '' Prokupecz said .
Yes , this is highly unusual and might even indicate misconduct by Cameron .
`` Late yesterday , they filed a motion with the court , this person -- we do n't know who the person is .
They filed a motion to put pressure on the attorney general to release this information , because they say that the attorney general mischaracterized their work .
And in response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
He said that the grand jury is meant to be a secretive body. ''
'It 's apparent that the public interest in this case is n't going to allow that to happen .
As the special prosecutor , our team has an ethical obligation not to release the recording from the grand jury proceedings .
And we stand by our belief that such a belief could compromise the grand jury investigation and could have unintended consequences such as poisoning the jury pool . '
'' Oh , and there 's this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stinks from top to bottom .

CNN has the news this morning that Mitch McConnell's protege, Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron, says he will release a recording of the grand jury proceedings in the Breonna Taylor shooting death by police.
And as I wrote last week, he admits the only charge he recommended to the grand jury was unrelated to Taylor's death. "CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is live in Louisville, Kentucky, with more. Why did he do that, Shimon?" Alysin Camerota asked.
"This all comes after an unprecedented step by a grand jury, someone who was actually in the grand jury, was one of the 12 jurors who were hearing evidence in this case," Prokupecz said.
Yes, this is highly unusual and might even indicate misconduct by Cameron.
"Late yesterday, they filed a motion with the court, this person -- we don't know who the person is. They filed a motion to put pressure on the attorney general to release this information, because they say that the attorney general mischaracterized their work. And in response to that, the attorney general issued this statement. He said that the grand jury is meant to be a secretive body.
" 'It's apparent that the public interest in this case isn't going to allow that to happen. As the special prosecutor, our team has an ethical obligation not to release the recording from the grand jury proceedings. And we stand by our belief that such a belief could compromise the grand jury investigation and could have unintended consequences such as poisoning the jury pool.'"
Oh, and there's this:
Breaking: Multiple Louisville SWAT Team Members Told Investigators They Had Serious Concerns About Raid on Breonna Taylor’s Apartment https://t.co/W1xd3NZWFk — Roberto Aram Ferdman (@robferdman) September 28, 2020
As I've been saying: Stinks from top to bottom.


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--For His Attempted Election Theft, Trump Will Have Backup

Many people do n't seem to understand what 's about to happen after Election Day .
Ken Olin , the actor , gets it wrong : But the president is n't planning to say , `` Sure , I lost , but I 'm not leaving . ''
What he 's planning to say is : `` I won .
It 's obvious that I won . ''
One of the president 's sons said as much : Eric Trump told a crowd of his father 's supporters at an event in Las Vegas that President Donald Trump would concede @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the water ” by Democratic nominee Joe Biden after the president had cast doubts on a peaceful transfer of power once the race is decided .
“ I think my father ’ s just saying listen , if he got blown out of the water , of course , he ’ d concede , ” Eric Trump said at the Thursday event , according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal .
“ If he thought there was massive fraud , then he ’ d go and try and address that.
” Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Eric Trump .
Anything short of a blowout will be evidence of voter fraud .
His father does n't even acknowledge the possibility of being blown out : He said last month , `` the only way we 're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.
” And even if Eric is right and Trump will accept a decisive loss , what constitutes being `` blown out of the water '' ?
No one 's won the popular vote in a presidential election by double digits since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came with Electoral College margins of more than 100 , but the other three elections since 2000 were won by much smaller margins .
The president has defined mail votes as illegitimate .
Do you think Joe Biden can win 270 electoral votes based solely on ballots cast in person , or votes counted by sunrise the morning after Election Day ?
If Biden ca n't manage that -- and it 's unlikely that he can -- Trump can challenge the election results even if the final tally shows that he 's lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his party breaks from him and acknowledges Biden 's win .
That 's what one unnamed Republican insider predicts in this article from The Hill : “ No doubt the Trump base will stick with him , and will forever believe that Pelosi , Schumer , Shifty Schiff and Hunter Biden conspired with China and Russia to flood the American electoral system with phony ballots that swung the election to Biden , ” said one Republican elections lawyer who requested anonymity to speak candidly .
“ But everyone in official Washington will abandon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the RNC , every GOP senator , all but maybe a handful of GOP representatives , all of his political appointees .
...
Most lawyers will refuse to represent him — including government lawyers who will resign before advancing his positions in court .
The other two branches of government will put an end to this .
...
The judicial system in particular will have zero patience for this and its destabilizing effect on public order .
And Trump himself does not want to be frog-marched out of the White House in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 'll eventually go , too .
With a huge stink , but not an ounce of fight.
” Sounds like an Aaron Sorkin fantasy -- and in fact , Sorkin told a film festival audience this week that that 's more or less how he 'd write the ending of the Trump presidency , though in a more melodramatic form : That certainly wo n't happen .
But will the Republican election lawyer 's prediction come true ?
We 're assuming that the likely outcome is a Biden win that 's obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Trump/Fox/QAnon world , objective reality has no meaning to roughly 40 % of the population .
It 's also likely that Biden will win ( if he does win ) by less than the current 7-point margin the polls are showing for him , because of Republican vote suppression , incorrectly submitted mail ballots , and the usual problem Democrats have persuading many people who do n't like Republicans that they need to vote Democratic to keep Republicans out of office .
So I 'm expecting a Biden win by about 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put him over the top being very close .
And that 's where Mitch McConnell , Lindsey Graham , Kevin McCarthy , and the rest of the GOP `` establishment '' come in .
They 've accepted -- or openly endorsed -- nearly everything Trump has done to degrade our country .
`` Establishment '' Republicans were yelling `` Voter fraud ! ''
long before Trump was , back in the Bush years .
Why should we assume that they 'll abandon Trump when he 's making the same claim after the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be saying he lost but wo n't leave -- he 'll be saying he won , and in all likelihood McConnell , Graham , and others will be saying the same thing .
Fox News and the New York Post and The Federalist and The Washington Post 's Marc Thiessen and Hugh Hewitt will be saying the same thing .
Trump will find lawyers who will file court briefs saying the same thing .
And some judges will agree -- maybe even Supreme Court justices .
In other words , Trump wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He 'll attempt to change it .
And we 'll have to fight more than just Trump if we do n't want this effort to succeed .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

Many people don't seem to understand what's about to happen after Election Day. Ken Olin, the actor, gets it wrong:
If a United States elected official loses an election, they’re out. Period. It’s not a choice. Stop letting Trump control the narrative. He loses. He goes. He refuses? He goes. To prison. — ken olin (@kenolin1) September 25, 2020
But the president isn't planning to say, "Sure, I lost, but I'm not leaving." What he's planning to say is: "I won. It's obvious that I won." One of the president's sons said as much:
Eric Trump told a crowd of his father's supporters at an event in Las Vegas that President Donald Trump would concede the election “if he got blown out of the water” by Democratic nominee Joe Biden after the president had cast doubts on a peaceful transfer of power once the race is decided. “I think my father’s just saying listen, if he got blown out of the water, of course, he’d concede,” Eric Trump said at the Thursday event, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “If he thought there was massive fraud, then he’d go and try and address that.”
Those are the only two possible outcomes, according to Eric Trump. Anything short of a blowout will be evidence of voter fraud. His father doesn't even acknowledge the possibility of being blown out: He said last month, "the only way we're going to lose this election is if the election is rigged.” And even if Eric is right and Trump will accept a decisive loss, what constitutes being "blown out of the water"? No one's won the popular vote in a presidential election by double digits since 1984. Barack Obama's two victories came with Electoral College margins of more than 100, but the other three elections since 2000 were won by much smaller margins.
The president has defined mail votes as illegitimate. Do you think Joe Biden can win 270 electoral votes based solely on ballots cast in person, or votes counted by sunrise the morning after Election Day? If Biden can't manage that -- and it's unlikely that he can -- Trump can challenge the election results even if the final tally shows that he's lost decisively.
Which will be fine if his party breaks from him and acknowledges Biden's win. That's what one unnamed Republican insider predicts in this article from The Hill:
“No doubt the Trump base will stick with him, and will forever believe that Pelosi, Schumer, Shifty Schiff and Hunter Biden conspired with China and Russia to flood the American electoral system with phony ballots that swung the election to Biden,” said one Republican elections lawyer who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “But everyone in official Washington will abandon him. Pence, the entire cabinet, the RNC, every GOP senator, all but maybe a handful of GOP representatives, all of his political appointees. ... Most lawyers will refuse to represent him — including government lawyers who will resign before advancing his positions in court. The other two branches of government will put an end to this. ... The judicial system in particular will have zero patience for this and its destabilizing effect on public order. And Trump himself does not want to be frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs — like a dog — so he'll eventually go, too. With a huge stink, but not an ounce of fight.”
Sounds like an Aaron Sorkin fantasy -- and in fact, Sorkin told a film festival audience this week that that's more or less how he'd write the ending of the Trump presidency, though in a more melodramatic form:
Sorkin, whose films often deal with the ethics of power, ended the conversation by revealing how he would write election night, 2020. “Trump does what we all assume he will do, which is not concede defeat, claiming the election’s rigged and the Democrats cheated. For the first time, his Republican enablers march up to the White House and say Donald it’s time to go. I would write the ending where everyone does the right thing...."
That certainly won't happen. But will the Republican election lawyer's prediction come true?
We're assuming that the likely outcome is a Biden win that's obvious to all objective observers. But in a Trump/Fox/QAnon world, objective reality has no meaning to roughly 40% of the population. It's also likely that Biden will win (if he does win) by less than the current 7-point margin the polls are showing for him, because of Republican vote suppression, incorrectly submitted mail ballots, and the usual problem Democrats have persuading many people who don't like Republicans that they need to vote Democratic to keep Republicans out of office.
So I'm expecting a Biden win by about 4 points nationwide, with the states that put him over the top being very close. And that's where Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Kevin McCarthy, and the rest of the GOP "establishment" come in. They've accepted -- or openly endorsed -- nearly everything Trump has done to degrade our country. "Establishment" Republicans were yelling "Voter fraud!" long before Trump was, back in the Bush years. Why should we assume that they'll abandon Trump when he's making the same claim after the election?
After the election, Trump won't be saying he lost but won't leave -- he'll be saying he won, and in all likelihood McConnell, Graham, and others will be saying the same thing. Fox News and the New York Post and The Federalist and The Washington Post's Marc Thiessen and Hugh Hewitt will be saying the same thing. Trump will find lawyers who will file court briefs saying the same thing. And some judges will agree -- maybe even Supreme Court justices.
In other words, Trump won't try to reject the election outcome. He'll attempt to change it. And we'll have to fight more than just Trump if we don't want this effort to succeed.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--CNN Anchor Suffocates Trump Campaign's Lies About His Taxes

Poppy Harlow showed journalists ( and debate moderators and Congress people questioning nominees , frankly ) how to handle people who show up with nothing but lying and gaslighting on their alleged minds .
Trump 's Deputy Press Secretary , Brian Morgenstern , thought he could appear on CNN to play juvenile games about the very serious reports from The New York Times that delved into twenty years of Trump 's tax returns to reveal he paid only $ 750 in federal taxes in each of the first two years of his presidency .
Harlow , an actual adult with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him off each time he lied , and then made the ultimate threat when he besmirched the media : to end the interview if he did it again .
She started by asking him , since Trump claimed the reporting was false , how much DID he pay in federal income tax for 2016 and 2017 ?
Morgenstern claimed it was perhaps as much as $ 70 million in taxes , accused The Times of a coordinated smear with the Democrats , and demanded she ask about Hunter Biden 's taxes from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's so much there , Brian .
Brian , Brian , Brian .
I 'm so glad that we have you and we have lots of time so we do n't have to talk over each other but you speak for the president , so we 're gon na stick on that topic .
I 'm talking about federal income taxes , and in the absence of the president releasing them , which is unprecedented for modern presidents , I 'm going to go with The New York Times reporting , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
So going with their detailed reporting -- it 's very different than four years ago .
This is new reporting and in the absence of that , what is true ?
How much federal income tax did the president pay in 2016 and 2017 .
That 's all I 'm looking for is the number .
Morgenstern continued to whine that Trump has n't had a chance to see the documents on which the Times was basing their reporting .
This is a lie he repeated several times , each time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and his tax attorneys do indeed have access to his own tax filings and documents .
Morgenstern then again demanded to know about Hunter Biden 's taxes , and why Harlow was n't asking about THAT .
MORGENSTERN : So you are , Poppy and that 's why you should be asking where is the -- where are the taxes on Hunter 's 3.5 million from Russia ?
HARLOW : I absolutely should not be asking the president 's spokesman about someone that is not germane to this conversation , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORGENSTERN : Have you ever asked them ?
Have you ever done a segment on them ?
HARLOW : Please do our viewers a service and answer the question .
HARLOW : Because I ask the questions , and I 'm glad that you 're here , and I 'm going to keep asking them .
In 2017 , Brian , in 2017 , according to all of these documents , it appears the president paid more in taxes to Panama , India , and the Philippines than he did to Uncle Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like a rat lost in a maze , he went back to a previous dead end : the NYT and the Democrats were coordinating to smear Trump .
HARLOW : Okay .
Brian , I 'm just going to stop you there .
These are remarkable reporters from The New York Times who went through 20 years of documents .
It is not okay for you to accuse them with no facts of coordinating with the Democratic party .
Please stop doing that or this interview will end .
MORGENSTERN : They had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian , Stop attacking the press .
I have not seen you do that largely before .
Stop doing that .
I am asking you direct questions .
You can put the entire thing to bed if the president would release the records and show the American people what he says is true .
Why will he not do that ?
Having successfully de-fanged him , Harlow continued to dismantle his every lie and whiny excuse about how unfair all this is to poor little dictator Trump , until he really got himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : MORGENSTERN : But I 'm confused .
Is the attack that he was not a successful business man , or that he is profiting from the presidency which is not true ?
HARLOW : Both can be true .
Both can be true or false at the same time , but the only thing that can make it very clear for the American people was for them to see for themselves .
Damn .
Well-done , lady .
Who has any hope that Chris Wallace will call Trump out like that during @ @ @

Poppy Harlow showed journalists (and debate moderators and Congress people questioning nominees, frankly) how to handle people who show up with nothing but lying and gaslighting on their alleged minds.
Trump's Deputy Press Secretary, Brian Morgenstern, thought he could appear on CNN to play juvenile games about the very serious reports from The New York Times that delved into twenty years of Trump's tax returns to reveal he paid only $750 in federal taxes in each of the first two years of his presidency. Harlow, an actual adult with journalism experience and a brain, cut him off each time he lied, and then made the ultimate threat when he besmirched the media: to end the interview if he did it again.
She started by asking him, since Trump claimed the reporting was false, how much DID he pay in federal income tax for 2016 and 2017? Morgenstern claimed it was perhaps as much as $70 million in taxes, accused The Times of a coordinated smear with the Democrats, and demanded she ask about Hunter Biden's taxes from his time working in Ukraine.
Smackdown Number One:
HARLOW: There's so much there, Brian. Brian, Brian, Brian. I'm so glad that we have you and we have lots of time so we don't have to talk over each other but you speak for the president, so we're gonna stick on that topic. I'm talking about federal income taxes, and in the absence of the president releasing them, which is unprecedented for modern presidents, I'm going to go with The New York Times reporting, because there's no reason not to believe it. So going with their detailed reporting -- it's very different than four years ago. This is new reporting and in the absence of that, what is true? How much federal income tax did the president pay in 2016 and 2017. That's all I'm looking for is the number.
Morgenstern continued to whine that Trump hasn't had a chance to see the documents on which the Times was basing their reporting. This is a lie he repeated several times, each time with Harlow debunking it by saying that Trump and his tax attorneys do indeed have access to his own tax filings and documents. Morgenstern then again demanded to know about Hunter Biden's taxes, and why Harlow wasn't asking about THAT.
Smackdown Number Two:
MORGENSTERN: So you are, Poppy and that's why you should be asking where is the -- where are the taxes on Hunter's 3.5 million from Russia? HARLOW: I absolutely should not be asking the president's spokesman about someone that is not germane to this conversation, who is not running for President. Brian, MORGENSTERN: Have you ever asked them? Have you ever done a segment on them? HARLOW: Please do our viewers a service and answer the question. MORGENSTERN: You're not gonna answer THAT question. HARLOW: Because I ask the questions, and I'm glad that you're here, and I'm going to keep asking them. In 2017, Brian, in 2017, according to all of these documents, it appears the president paid more in taxes to Panama, India, and the Philippines than he did to Uncle Sam. How is that America first?
Like a rat lost in a maze, he went back to a previous dead end: the NYT and the Democrats were coordinating to smear Trump.
Smackdown Number Three:
HARLOW: Okay. Brian, I'm just going to stop you there. These are remarkable reporters from The New York Times who went through 20 years of documents. It is not okay for you to accuse them with no facts of coordinating with the Democratic party. Please stop doing that or this interview will end. MORGENSTERN: They had ads up and running. HARLOW: Brian, Stop attacking the press. I have not seen you do that largely before. Stop doing that. I am asking you direct questions. You can put the entire thing to bed if the president would release the records and show the American people what he says is true. Why will he not do that?
Having successfully de-fanged him, Harlow continued to dismantle his every lie and whiny excuse about how unfair all this is to poor little dictator Trump, until he really got himself tangled up in his own barbed wire:
Smackdown Number Four:
MORGENSTERN: But I'm confused. Is the attack that he was not a successful business man, or that he is profiting from the presidency which is not true? HARLOW: Both can be true. Both can be true or false at the same time, but the only thing that can make it very clear for the American people was for them to see for themselves.
Damn. Well-done, lady. Who has any hope that Chris Wallace will call Trump out like that during the debate?


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--WATCH: AMJoy Panelist's Fiery Stand Against Trump's Court Packing

Brittany Packnett Cunningham was absolutely brilliant on AM Joy , making a great case for why we are `` progressive '' and why justice matters .
TIFFANY CROSS : Brittany Cunningham , I want to ask you , because the most important reason why Donald Trump wants to rush this justice through is because the Supreme Court could be asked to weigh in on the election .
He 's filling this court and questioning the legitimacy of our election .
Back in 2000s , the story that I did was with [ Bush v. ] Gore , and we saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If these justices are asked to weigh in , and combining that with the uprising and increase groups of solidly Trump 's base .
We could have chaos in your government .
BRITTANY PACKNETT CUNNINGHAM : I think at this point is so important .
You 've heard from the entire panel , a critical reminder , that this has been a long-term strategy and project , to further codify patriarchy and White supremacy , at the highest level of this government .
But the reason why Donald Trump wants to sprint to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is to make sure he can resecure a victory .
We have to be clear that `` victory '' is not about another term .
If he 's able to resecure `` reelection , '' if he 's able to resecure keeping that position , then he 'll want to extend it out as far out as possible , not just for him but for the party .
I think everyone should be worried , especially on this fact , given Amy Comey Barrett 's history around voting rights .
It should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her prior opinions , where she 's written that voting is not an individual right but references historical idea that quote `` only belongs to virtuous citizens . ''
We should worry about somebody who 's looking at poor folks and black folks and LGBT folks and young people and women the way she does , and someone who views our democracy as `` optional '' for people who do n't agree with her .
And Brittany ?
You have assembled such a thoughtful panel of so many various and important perspectives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who might be watching this , who never had to have their rights voted on or ruled on , and so their privilege may make them think , that 'this is just political chatter ' , or 'this is a game ' , or even that 'this is merely identity politics ' .
But for the rest of us , it 's not a game .
And we should be reminded , that when oppressed people are more free , it has material benefits for everyone .
That those of us who call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' all we stand for is progress , justice , equity .
These are the things that everyone should be offended by , if you treat them as partisan .
Should we not be in favor of justice ?
Should we not be in favor of treating everyone equitably ?
Amy Comey Barrett and the party that is trying to rush her through this process stands against those very things .
And this judge wants to get in the way of healthcare , our bodily autonomy , and most importantly our democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , and it is not identity politics .
That should be a `` no '' for everyone .

Brittany Packnett Cunningham was absolutely brilliant on AM Joy, making a great case for why we are "progressive" and why justice matters.
TIFFANY CROSS: Brittany Cunningham, I want to ask you, because the most important reason why Donald Trump wants to rush this justice through is because the Supreme Court could be asked to weigh in on the election. He's filling this court and questioning the legitimacy of our election. Back in 2000s, the story that I did was with [Bush v.] Gore, and we saw the role that the courts play. If these justices are asked to weigh in, and combining that with the uprising and increase groups of solidly Trump's base. We could have chaos in your government.
BRITTANY PACKNETT CUNNINGHAM: I think at this point is so important. You've heard from the entire panel, a critical reminder, that this has been a long-term strategy and project, to further codify patriarchy and White supremacy, at the highest level of this government.
But the reason why Donald Trump wants to sprint to the end on this long marathon project, is to make sure he can resecure a victory. We have to be clear that "victory" is not about another term. If he's able to resecure "reelection," if he's able to resecure keeping that position, then he'll want to extend it out as far out as possible, not just for him but for the party.
I think everyone should be worried, especially on this fact, given Amy Comey Barrett's history around voting rights.
It should worry and offend all of us, her prior opinions, where she's written that voting is not an individual right but references historical idea that quote "only belongs to virtuous citizens."
We should worry about somebody who's looking at poor folks and black folks and LGBT folks and young people and women the way she does, and someone who views our democracy as "optional" for people who don't agree with her.
And Brittany? You have assembled such a thoughtful panel of so many various and important perspectives, that there are a lot of people who might be watching this, who never had to have their rights voted on or ruled on, and so their privilege may make them think, that 'this is just political chatter', or 'this is a game', or even that 'this is merely identity politics'. But for the rest of us, it's not a game.
And we should be reminded, that when oppressed people are more free, it has material benefits for everyone.
That those of us who call ourselves "liberal" or "progressive," all we stand for is progress, justice, equity. These are the things that everyone should be offended by, if you treat them as partisan.
Should we not be in favor of justice? Should we not be in favor of treating everyone equitably?
Amy Comey Barrett and the party that is trying to rush her through this process stands against those very things. And this judge wants to get in the way of healthcare, our bodily autonomy, and most importantly our democratic voice. It should offend all of us, and it is not identity politics. That should be a "no" for everyone.


Leeching Off America

During an appearance on AM Joy , Brittany Packnett Cunningham made an impassioned case for why everyone has to be @ @ @ @ @ for the Supreme Court , even if they 're not personally impacted by it .

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crooksandliars--2020-09-30--WATCH LIVE:  Biden-Trump First Presidential Debate

Via YouTube , Donald Trump and Joe Biden take part in the first presidential debate between the two candidates .
@ @ @ @ @ is moderated by “ Fox News Sunday ” anchor Chris Wallace .
Share what you @ @ @ @ @ Open debate thread below ...


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--Biden Camp Mocks Trump's Debate Conspiracies By Tossing Out One Of Their Own

Biden campaign deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on Tuesday claimed that President Donald Trump ’ s team asked debate moderator @ @ @ @ @ the number of people who have died from COVID-19 during his presidency .
Bedingfield revealed @ @ @ @ @ after the Trump campaign reportedly demanded that Democratic candidate Joe Biden ’ s ears be @ @ @ @ @ a conspiracy theory that was quickly repeated on Fox News .
“ If we ’ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump team asked that Chris Wallace never mention the number of COVID deaths once @ @ @ @ @ Bedingfield said , according to reports .
“ You can consider that confirmed from the @ @ @ @ @ easy that was to try to throw up a distraction ?
” she added .
@ @ @ @ @ if Bedingfield was serious about her allegation or if she made it to make a @ @ @ @ @ made by the Trump team .

Biden campaign deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield on Tuesday claimed that President Donald Trump’s team asked debate moderator Chris Wallace not to mention the number of people who have died from COVID-19 during his presidency.
Bedingfield revealed the detail of debate negotiations after the Trump campaign reportedly demanded that Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s ears be inspected for listening devices, a conspiracy theory that was quickly repeated on Fox News.
“If we’re playing that game then the Trump team asked that Chris Wallace never mention the number of COVID deaths once during the debate,” Bedingfield said, according to reports.
“You can consider that confirmed from the Biden campaign. See how easy that was to try to throw up a distraction?” she added.
It was not immediately clear if Bedingfield was serious about her allegation or if she made it to make a point about the wild claims made by the Trump team.
The Biden campaign pushed back on this saying he won't be wearing an earpiece and they never asked for breaks.
Deputy CM Kate Bedingfield: "If we're playing that game then the Trump team asked that Chris Wallace never mention the number of COVID deaths once during the debate." https://t.co/4SitfRTWDI — Daniel Strauss (@DanielStrauss4) September 29, 2020
In addition to Trump's request that debate officials *inspect Biden's ear for an earpiece* pre-debate, Biden comms director @KBeds said the Trump camp also asked Chris Wallace not mention the 200K US COVID deaths.
Bedingfeld calls it an attempt to win on process over substance. — Kara Voght (@karavoght) September 29, 2020
Biden spox @KBeds appeared to deny Trump camp claims that Biden reneged on an agreement to allow a 3rd-party inspection to ensure he's not wearing an earpiece to receive talking points. She made a wild claim: Trump's camp demanded moderator not mention the 205k+ covid deaths 1/x — Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) September 29, 2020
Biden campaigns’s @kbeds, responding to Trump claims that Biden won’t agree to an ear inspection and wants breaks ever 30 minutes: “Of course he’s not wearing an earpiece and we never asked for breaks." — Matt Viser (@mviser) September 29, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--We've Been Lulled Into A False Sense Of Democracy

Trump isn ’ t joking about an executive order to stop Biden from running .
Trump isn ’ t trying out new material when he threatens to cut federal funding for what he deems , ‘ Anarchist Jurisdictions , ’ including , but not limited to , Seattle , Portland , New York , and Washington , D.C .
I suspect Kentucky just made the short list .
Barr , Trump ’ s personal attorney was quite serious when he suggested that prosecutor ’ s charge the mayor of Seattle .
Trump isn ’ t cracking wise when he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power .
It ’ s not a drill when Trump repetitively states that he will contest the results IF mail-in-ballots are counted .
Trump and Miller aren ’ t seeing what will land with audiences by sterilizing women in migrant camps .
And on , and on , and on , the horror show goes .
Since the day that food poisoned diarrhea face descended the escalator , America has radically changed .
Between Putin , other dictators , Trump ’ s love affair with racism , and erasing the first African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country , we ’ ve been under siege by a regime determined to drag us back to Hitler ’ s reign and into Putin ’ s autocracy .
Divisive hate , scapegoating others , and literally killing anyone who gets in their way .
We can not afford the luxury of believing that we ’ re operating in a democracy , or that our democratic fail-safes will work .
They will not .
They have failed us under Trump and his loyalists .
Democracy is more fragile than toilet paper- a pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve learned , is a gift I must fight for daily .
Vigilance to preserve and defend the constitution and rule of law can never be taken for granted .
Never in my life did I think my country was in danger of becoming a dictatorship or that white supremacists would be deified by a ( stand-in ) “ president ” and his cohorts .
At his core , Trump is a dictator , a psychopath , and a sadistic narcissist .
He does not feel human emotions .
Rather , he mimics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not very well , because he ’ s lazy , ignorant , and easily manipulated .
One compliment buys you the moniker , ‘ very loyal , ’ and ‘ says nice things about me.
’ The avoidable , unforgivable pandemic , that ’ s consumed 200,000 Americans so far , is something Trump is proud of .
Every death is a badge of honor for him .
Knowing that millions of Americans are losing everything because of COVID-19 gives him a chipped fingernail sized chubby- it ’ s legit spank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously ) .
Tangerine comb over is dazzled by food shortages , enthralled by steep job losses , and chuckling about increased homelessness because of the vid .
White hate groups , especially militia groups who infiltrate Black Lives Matter protests , and kill people in his name , are his heroes .
Everything about this regime is grotesque and wholly abnormal .
It doesn ’ t help that too many anchors and reporters in the MSM are shocked by Trump ’ s behavior .
When they are , I want to scream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doing so is a proclamation that our democracy is still intact , and by extension downplays the severity of our constitutional crisis .
Why are we shocked by Trump ’ s behavior ?
How does that serve us ?
Even though the MSM ’ s coverage has improved since 2016 .
We need more clarity .
The MSM must cover Trump more accurately .
“ Trump said , “ X ” to create “ Y ” result .
What Trump is saying is a lie .
Here is the truth .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need them to stop drawing false equivalencies to Biden .
Should we continue being shocked by Trump ’ s behavior or his tax returns , or anything else he says or does ?
We know he ’ s a con-man , a thief , and a liar .
Those are facts .
He will twist and distort them at every turn .
He ’ ll demonize everyone to get his way .
With all the terrible things happening in this country , including the loss of democracy and democratic norms , like everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am also deeply ashamed to be American .
Though I ’ ve lived abroad a few times , I always loved my country .
Now , it ’ s a fucking punchline- didn ’ t see that coming .
No matter what , I ’ m going to vote , terrified it ’ s the last time I ’ ll ever be able to .
Trump is banking on my fear of voting by undermining mail-in-ballots .
Let ’ s face it , he ’ ll litigate the shit out of election @ @ @ @ @ @

Trump isn’t joking about an executive order to stop Biden from running. Trump isn’t trying out new material when he threatens to cut federal funding for what he deems, ‘Anarchist Jurisdictions,’ including, but not limited to, Seattle, Portland, New York, and Washington, D.C. I suspect Kentucky just made the short list. Barr, Trump’s personal attorney was quite serious when he suggested that prosecutor’s charge the mayor of Seattle. Trump isn’t cracking wise when he says there will be no peaceful transfer of power. It’s not a drill when Trump repetitively states that he will contest the results IF mail-in-ballots are counted. Trump and Miller aren’t seeing what will land with audiences by sterilizing women in migrant camps. And on, and on, and on, the horror show goes.
Since the day that food poisoned diarrhea face descended the escalator, America has radically changed. Between Putin, other dictators, Trump’s love affair with racism, and erasing the first African American president’s historical progress made to this country, we’ve been under siege by a regime determined to drag us back to Hitler’s reign and into Putin’s autocracy. Divisive hate, scapegoating others, and literally killing anyone who gets in their way.
We cannot afford the luxury of believing that we’re operating in a democracy, or that our democratic fail-safes will work. They will not. They have failed us under Trump and his loyalists. Democracy is more fragile than toilet paper- a pandemic hot commodity. Democracy, I’ve learned, is a gift I must fight for daily. Vigilance to preserve and defend the constitution and rule of law can never be taken for granted. Never in my life did I think my country was in danger of becoming a dictatorship or that white supremacists would be deified by a (stand-in) “president” and his cohorts.
At his core, Trump is a dictator, a psychopath, and a sadistic narcissist. He does not feel human emotions. Rather, he mimics them, ONLY when it serves him, and not very well, because he’s lazy, ignorant, and easily manipulated. One compliment buys you the moniker, ‘very loyal,’ and ‘says nice things about me.’
The avoidable, unforgivable pandemic, that’s consumed 200,000 Americans so far, is something Trump is proud of. Every death is a badge of honor for him. Knowing that millions of Americans are losing everything because of COVID-19 gives him a chipped fingernail sized chubby- it’s legit spank bank material (for his handler, obviously). Tangerine comb over is dazzled by food shortages, enthralled by steep job losses, and chuckling about increased homelessness because of the vid. White hate groups, especially militia groups who infiltrate Black Lives Matter protests, and kill people in his name, are his heroes.
Everything about this regime is grotesque and wholly abnormal. It doesn’t help that too many anchors and reporters in the MSM are shocked by Trump’s behavior. When they are, I want to scream, ‘STOP IT!’ Stop being shocked . Doing so is a proclamation that our democracy is still intact, and by extension downplays the severity of our constitutional crisis.
Why are we shocked by Trump’s behavior? How does that serve us? Even though the MSM’s coverage has improved since 2016. We need more clarity. The MSM must cover Trump more accurately. “Trump said, “X” to create “Y” result. What Trump is saying is a lie. Here is the truth. Here’s why it matters.” We also need them to stop drawing false equivalencies to Biden.
Should we continue being shocked by Trump’s behavior or his tax returns, or anything else he says or does? We know he’s a con-man, a thief, and a liar. Those are facts. He will twist and distort them at every turn. He’ll demonize everyone to get his way.
With all the terrible things happening in this country, including the loss of democracy and democratic norms, like everyone, I am overwhelmed and scared. I am also deeply ashamed to be American. Though I’ve lived abroad a few times, I always loved my country. Now, it’s a fucking punchline- didn’t see that coming. No matter what, I’m going to vote, terrified it’s the last time I’ll ever be able to. Trump is banking on my fear of voting by undermining mail-in-ballots. Let’s face it, he’ll litigate the shit out of election results no matter the outcome.
Save our country. Please vote…
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors