crooksandliars--2020-02-20--Trump's New Director Of National Intelligence Is A Rabidly Political Animal

Talk about alarms going off !
Trump naming Richard Grenell , the ambassador to Germany , as the National Director of Intelligence is a very , very bad thing .
For one thing , there 's clearly a partisan political motive with the election in mind -- because ( and here 's the good part ) he 's also keeping his job in Germany !
Imagine .
He will be Trump 's intelligence counterpart of Bill Barr at the DOJ .
( His background is in communications and public affairs i.e .
political PR hack . )
`` We ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no intelligence background and the director of national intelligence , it 's a job .
It 's a role that was created after 9/11 to oversee the entire intelligence apparatus , '' John Berman said .
`` And to prevent another 9/11 .
Because the issue going in was , you wanted coordination among the agencies , intelligence sharing , et cetera , '' Jim Sciutto said .
`` I 'm going to read in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 : Any individual nominated for appointment as DNI shall have extensive national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence of this .
They wanted someone with the experience and the leadership to bring it all together so that the country does n't face a threat like that again , '' Sciutto said .
`` He has diplomatic experience now .
But that 's vastly different from intelligence experience , and there is some evidence that the experience that he has that matters to the president is of a completely different nature .
And that 's as a partisan loyalist .
and again , partisanship has its place .
Politics has its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rick Grenell is a bomb thrower , '' Berman said .
So Trump cuts the Senate out of the process , because he 's being brought in as the acting director of national intelligence .
`` That 's crucial in this case because it 's our reporting that even Republican senators have communicated to the White House that they do not believe Rick Grenell has the experience to do this .
There are sitting senators today that were involved in writing the 2004 Act that they know and they wrote the law that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was up to the role . ''
Steve Benen at the Maddow blog sums it up : Though Trump yesterday referred to Grenell as `` highly respected , '' the truth is that Grenell was so reviled in his current diplomatic post that some German officials spoke publicly about the possibility of asking him to leave the country .
And did I mention that Grenell was also a relevant figure in the White House 's Ukraine scandal ?
Because that 's another relevant part of his c.v .
He 'll now parlay that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director of National Intelligence .
What 's more , while this is a Senate-confirmed position , Grenell will reportedly begin his tenure today in an acting capacity .
Samantha Power , who was President Barack Obama 's ambassador to the United Nations , said in a tweet , `` Appointing [ Grenell ] who has politicized every issue he has touched and has contempt for facts , would be a travesty . ''
Joe Cirincione , president of the Ploughshares Fund , added , `` This is a national disgrace . ''

Talk about alarms going off! Trump naming Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany, as the National Director of Intelligence is a very, very bad thing. For one thing, there's clearly a partisan political motive with the election in mind -- because (and here's the good part) he's also keeping his job in Germany!
Imagine. He will be Trump's intelligence counterpart of Bill Barr at the DOJ. (His background is in communications and public affairs i.e. political PR hack.)
"We can't say this enough. He has no intelligence background and the director of national intelligence, it's a job. It's a role that was created after 9/11 to oversee the entire intelligence apparatus," John Berman said.
"And to prevent another 9/11. Because the issue going in was, you wanted coordination among the agencies, intelligence sharing, et cetera," Jim Sciutto said.
"I'm going to read in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004: Any individual nominated for appointment as DNI shall have extensive national security expertise.' That was the intelligence of this. They wanted someone with the experience and the leadership to bring it all together so that the country doesn't face a threat like that again," Sciutto said.
"He has diplomatic experience now. But that's vastly different from intelligence experience, and there is some evidence that the experience that he has that matters to the president is of a completely different nature. And that's as a partisan loyalist. and again, partisanship has its place. Politics has its place. Anyone on twitter knows that Rick Grenell is a bomb thrower," Berman said.
So Trump cuts the Senate out of the process, because he's being brought in as the acting director of national intelligence.
"That's crucial in this case because it's our reporting that even Republican senators have communicated to the White House that they do not believe Rick Grenell has the experience to do this. There are sitting senators today that were involved in writing the 2004 Act that they know and they wrote the law that you put someone in that role who was up to the role."
Steve Benen at the Maddow blog sums it up:


crooksandliars--2020-02-20--Trump And Republicans Flip Out Over 'Logan Act'

Of course Trump is live-tweeting Fox this morning and ALL OF A SUDDEN a certain `` law '' matters bigly .
Now about this Logan Act ... Richard Fowler gave Mollie Hemingway a huge dose of truth ( bounced right off , but still ) on a show called `` Fox News at Night '' ( Transcript via Media Matters ) RICHARD FOWLER ( FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR ) : Republican Senators and Democratic Senators and Democratic members of the House engage with foreign leaders all the time .
I remember a couple of years ago , when there was sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu where John Boehner , the Speaker of the House , invited Bibi Netanyahu to address the House of Representatives .
This happens all the time .
What makes it different what Michael Flynn did versus what happened with Chris Murphy is that Michael Flynn was speaking on behalf of another administration , right , of the incoming administration .
That 's what made it different .
That 's the delineation here .
But we see this all the time ; they 're called CODELs , right , congressional delegations to foreign nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them , Lindsey Graham is famous for going on them , Nancy Pelosi is famous for going on them , where Congressional leaders go across the world and they have conversations with foreign leaders so they can do their jobs better .
I see nothing wrong with this , and I think in his Medium post , the Senator is very clear , saying , I can not conduct U.S. foreign policy , but I can definitely go and talk to individuals to get a better grasp of the situation because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee and I have to legislate on these matters .
HEMINGWAY : Again , just one other thing to add about this , that Medium post had some transparency to it , but it did n't mention who else was involved in the meeting .
And it is reported that former Sen. John Kerry , former Secretary of State was also participating in these meetings .
He , of course , would not have that Senate cover that we 're talking about here .
And again , Chris Murphy did not appreciate it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian leaders at the time that President Obama was trying to negotiate his -- FOWLER : Mollie , but not appreciating it and it being illegal are two different things .
HEMINGWAY : You know what ?
Your beef is with Chris Murphy here , who seems to have a different view of these things depending on whether he 's doing it or whether his political opponents are doing it .
It depends , Mollie , on whether the Republican Senators wrote a letter to Iran telling them NOT TO NEGOTIATE with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made secret deals to PROFIT from natural gas holdings by promising an end to sanctions BEFORE the inauguration .
Again , facts bounce right off of Mollie Hemingway , nevermind .

Of course Trump is live-tweeting Fox this morning and ALL OF A SUDDEN a certain "law" matters bigly.
Trump is live-tweeting Fox News. Kerry was just on & asked about this allegation, which he called "another presidential lie. A complete effort by the president to distort reality ... I did what every senator & secretaries of state in history have done, which is go to conferences" https://t.co/UfVUUWn1oi
Now about this Logan Act...
Richard Fowler gave Mollie Hemingway a huge dose of truth (bounced right off, but still) on a show called "Fox News at Night" (Transcript via Media Matters)
RICHARD FOWLER (FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR): Republican Senators and Democratic Senators and Democratic members of the House engage with foreign leaders all the time. I remember a couple of years ago, when there was sort of a beef going on with Bibi Netanyahu where John Boehner, the Speaker of the House, invited Bibi Netanyahu to address the House of Representatives. This happens all the time. What makes it different what Michael Flynn did versus what happened with Chris Murphy is that Michael Flynn was speaking on behalf of another administration, right, of the incoming administration. That's what made it different. That's the delineation here. But we see this all the time; they're called CODELs, right, congressional delegations to foreign nations. John McCain was famous for going on them, Lindsey Graham is famous for going on them, Nancy Pelosi is famous for going on them, where Congressional leaders go across the world and they have conversations with foreign leaders so they can do their jobs better. I see nothing wrong with this, and I think in his Medium post, the Senator is very clear, saying, I cannot conduct U.S. foreign policy, but I can definitely go and talk to individuals to get a better grasp of the situation because I'm a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and I have to legislate on these matters.
HEMINGWAY: Again, just one other thing to add about this, that Medium post had some transparency to it, but it didn't mention who else was involved in the meeting. And it is reported that former Sen. John Kerry, former Secretary of State was also participating in these meetings. He, of course, would not have that Senate cover that we're talking about here. And again, Chris Murphy did not appreciate it when Republicans wrote an open letter to Iranian leaders at the time that President Obama was trying to negotiate his --
FOWLER: Mollie, but not appreciating it and it being illegal are two different things.
HEMINGWAY: You know what? Your beef is with Chris Murphy here, who seems to have a different view of these things depending on whether he's doing it or whether his political opponents are doing it.


crooksandliars--2020-02-20--Jason Johnson: If No One Takes Out Bernie Sanders, The Race Is Over

Bernie Sanders has n't been challenged by fellow Democrats -- and if they wo n't do it , the race is over .
That was the conclusion of a panel on Stephanie Ruhle 's show this morning .
So we might expert to see more direct confrontations .
Ruhle asked Jason Johnson , `` If you 're of the theory that President Trump wants to run against Bernie Sanders and if you 're also of the theory that the number one priority for Democrats is to defeat Donald Trump , how do you solve for the fact that Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
`` Number one is defeating Donald Trump , but you ca n't defeat him by messing with the process , making it unfair , '' Johnson said .
`` If Bernie Sanders ends up winning , Bernie Sanders ends up winning .
What 's key , though , is if Bernie Sanders wins , you have to make sure he is a functional candidate .
He would have to be able to get through a contested convention , and I do n't think he will get 1990 ( electoral votes ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about .
I do n't believe there 's a magical candidate that could go against him .
To the degree you make the narrative 'we have to take out Bernie Sanders , ' you feed into some of the worst elements of his own campaign and you inherently weaken who goes against him .
This is an open race .
Treating it like 'we have to take down Bernie Sanders , ' that 's ridiculous .
I do n't think that 's fair to the democratic process . ''
`` Is n't that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I am not saying you have to cheat , go outside the process , but is n't the way a campaign works or any race works , take out the guy in the lead ? ''
`` Right , you have to take out the guy in the lead , but you have to have somebody to stop them based on their own message , not because there 's inherent fear the person is headed to failure .
That 's the distinction .
That 's what Democrats need to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likes , not the person to kneecap Bernie Sanders .
You ca n't kneecap Bernie Sanders .
Nothing can stop him with his base , '' Johnson said .
`` If you try , then you play into everything they want .
Bernie Sanders ' thing is ' I am a victim of these evil , terrible millionaires , ' even though I am one , and the Democratic party is part of that cabal trying to stop me . ''
`` They say 'listen , ca n't go after Bernie because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're gon na give it to him ? '
`` Ruhle said , incredulous .
`` If they 're dumb enough .
Mike Bloomberg went after Bernie Sanders the way you should be .
You do n't want a conversation of Medicare for All , it 's 'this guy and his staff and organization and plan do n't work . '
That 's how you run a campaign .
Then rally people around you , not just going after Bernie Sanders .
It is not going to work that way . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it on TV , though ? ''
Tim Miller said .
`` His campaign manager was on earlier and said Mike needs time to get his legs under him , had a terrible debate .
the race is functionally over in 12 days .
I lived through this in 2016 trying to stop Donald Trump .
Once Super Tuesday is finished , if there 's a candidate with a delegate lead , they 'll win the nomination .
Michael Bloomberg is spending $ 300 million on ads .
Spend 100 million of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not saying be dirty or lie , but educate them , try to create alternative choice ?
`` Right now , Bloomberg is holding the race hostage while we wait to see how he does Super Tuesday .
He did bad in the debate last night .
If he does bad Super Tuesday , the race is over .
His claim is he is in the race to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning .
That was his gambit .
But he is paving the way for just that .
If he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats were getting behind the current delegate leader , Mayor Pete , who nobody is talking about because they 're waiting for Bloomberg on Super Tuesday , maybe there would be a chance to stop Bernie .
`` Right now , nobody is doing it .
They 're going to let him glide to the nomination if something does n't change in the next 12 days . ''
Ruhle said Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey tweeted there was so much opposition research against Bernie Sanders , it could fill Trump 's empty Foxconn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has the opposition research ?
President Trump .
If these other Democrats are n't using it now , President Trump is going to be using it months from now .
Do they need to change strategy ? ''
`` Of course , Stephanie .
And Trump is stockpiling money , hundreds of millions of dollars at the Republican National Committee they intend to use as soon as the Democrats have a presumptive nominee to help define the nominee for general election voters , especially in those states that Sanders as nominee would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pennsylvania .
There 's a real danger ahead . ''
That 's right .
You saw Mike Bloomberg 's deer in the headlights look last night ?
Look for Bernie Sanders to recreate that moment in a debate with Trump if he does n't face those attacks now .

Bernie Sanders hasn't been challenged by fellow Democrats -- and if they won't do it, the race is over. That was the conclusion of a panel on Stephanie Ruhle's show this morning. So we might expert to see more direct confrontations.
Ruhle asked Jason Johnson, "If you're of the theory that President Trump wants to run against Bernie Sanders and if you're also of the theory that the number one priority for Democrats is to defeat Donald Trump, how do you solve for the fact that Bernie Sanders is doing as well as he is?"
"Number one is defeating Donald Trump, but you can't defeat him by messing with the process, making it unfair," Johnson said.
"If Bernie Sanders ends up winning, Bernie Sanders ends up winning. What's key, though, is if Bernie Sanders wins, you have to make sure he is a functional candidate. He would have to be able to get through a contested convention, and I don't think he will get 1990 (electoral votes). That is what people should think about. I don't believe there's a magical candidate that could go against him. To the degree you make the narrative 'we have to take out Bernie Sanders,' you feed into some of the worst elements of his own campaign and you inherently weaken who goes against him. This is an open race. Treating it like 'we have to take down Bernie Sanders,' that's ridiculous. I don't think that's fair to the democratic process."
"Isn't that the way campaigns work?" Ruhle said. "I am not saying you have to cheat, go outside the process, but isn't the way a campaign works or any race works, take out the guy in the lead?"
"Right, you have to take out the guy in the lead, but you have to have somebody to stop them based on their own message, not because there's inherent fear the person is headed to failure. That's the distinction. That's what Democrats need to think about. Who is the person everybody likes, not the person to kneecap Bernie Sanders. You can't kneecap Bernie Sanders. Nothing can stop him with his base," Johnson said.
"If you try, then you play into everything they want. Bernie Sanders' thing is 'I am a victim of these evil, terrible millionaires,' even though I am one, and the Democratic party is part of that cabal trying to stop me."
"They say 'listen, can't go after Bernie because they'll say we're cheating and they're gonna give it to him?' " Ruhle said, incredulous.
"If they're dumb enough. Mike Bloomberg went after Bernie Sanders the way you should be. You don't want a conversation of Medicare for All, it's 'this guy and his staff and organization and plan don't work.' That's how you run a campaign. Then rally people around you, not just going after Bernie Sanders. It is not going to work that way."
"Jason, why isn't Bloomberg doing it on TV, though?" Tim Miller said.
"His campaign manager was on earlier and said Mike needs time to get his legs under him, had a terrible debate. the race is functionally over in 12 days. I lived through this in 2016 trying to stop Donald Trump. Once Super Tuesday is finished, if there's a candidate with a delegate lead, they'll win the nomination. Michael Bloomberg is spending $300 million on ads. Spend 100 million of that educating people on Bernie Sanders' record, not saying be dirty or lie, but educate them, try to create alternative choice?
"Right now, Bloomberg is holding the race hostage while we wait to see how he does Super Tuesday. He did bad in the debate last night. If he does bad Super Tuesday, the race is over. His claim is he is in the race to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning. That was his gambit. But he is paving the way for just that. If he was running negative ads, if the establishment Democrats were getting behind the current delegate leader, Mayor Pete, who nobody is talking about because they're waiting for Bloomberg on Super Tuesday, maybe there would be a chance to stop Bernie.
"Right now, nobody is doing it. They're going to let him glide to the nomination if something doesn't change in the next 12 days."
Ruhle said Bloomberg campaign manager Kevin Sheekey tweeted there was so much opposition research against Bernie Sanders, it could fill Trump's empty Foxconn facility in Wisconsin.
"You know who has the opposition research? President Trump. If these other Democrats aren't using it now, President Trump is going to be using it months from now. Do they need to change strategy?"
"Of course, Stephanie. And Trump is stockpiling money, hundreds of millions of dollars at the Republican National Committee they intend to use as soon as the Democrats have a presumptive nominee to help define the nominee for general election voters, especially in those states that Sanders as nominee would have to win, Michigan and Wisconsin, Pennsylvania. There's a real danger ahead."
That's right. You saw Mike Bloomberg's deer in the headlights look last night? Look for Bernie Sanders to recreate that moment in a debate with Trump if he doesn't face those attacks now.


Future GOP Books

Elizabeth Warren ’ s law school classes at Harvard were once described as “ the Socratic Method administered by a @ @ @ @ @ who survived her tough approach came to be her most loyal acolytes and allies .
@ @ @ @ @ to [ ... ]

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She’s Baaack

Crooks and Liars , a progressive blog , remains neutral during the primary season .
Guest posts do not reflect the endorsement of Crooks and Liars or its editors .
Elizabeth Warren ’ s law school classes at Harvard were once described as “ the Socratic Method administered by a machine gun ” .
Those who survived her tough approach came to be her most loyal acolytes and allies .
I hope that is about to become true in the Democratic Party .
Elizabeth first got a following in the progressive movement by her searing questioning of Obama Treasury Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was willing to challenge the Democratic Party ’ s leadership , she would be willing to fight for them on the issues that mattered the most .
And when she got to the Senate and was named to the Banking Committee , in her first hearing as Senator , her questioning of a witness was so devastating that the video became the first Banking Committee hearing ever to get over a million views on YouTube .
She knows how to be tough .
Well , that Elizabeth Warren is back , folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and being written off by the pundits , she felt freed up to go back into Socrates with a machine gun mode .
I hope she stays there , and that she stays in this race over the long haul .
We need that toughness .
And for those who say : she was just preaching party unity last week , why was she so tough last night , I tell you this , something I am very certain about : we need toughness to unite this Democratic Party .
We are too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too challenging an opponent , to try to paper over our differences and pat the loser on the head .
It is precisely someone with Elizabeth ’ s toughness who can bring Bernie ’ s outsider warriors to the same table with the more moderate Dems and forge the understanding about what it will take to beat Trump , win the Senate , and govern the country .
One thing I do want to say to my worried friends in the Democratic Party about the overall feistiness of last night ’ s debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Think about the last winners of the presidency after contested primaries .
You think the Republican debates in 2016 were gentle ?
( At least there were no jokes about penis size last night . )
Or 2008 : did Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton treat each with kid gloves ?
Most people don ’ t remember the GOP primary debates in 2000 , but George W. Bush had to fend off aggressive attacks from Pat Buchanan ( not exactly the kid gloves kind of a guy ) and Steve Forbes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the nomination and defeat ( sort of ) Gore in the general election .
One more and I ’ ll stop with the history lesson : for those of you old enough to remember , Bill Clinton didn ’ t exactly have a mellow , copacetic time of life during the 1992 primary debate season : Bob Kerrey said he would be peeled open like a boiled peanut because of being a draft dodger and womanizer , and Tsongas , Jerry Brown , and Harkin weren ’ t what you would call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those candidates went on to win the general election after fearsome debates .
It ’ s a contest , folks , candidates are trying to beat each other and win : nothing wrong with it being tough and challenging at debate time .
The only candidates who I thought looked bad last night because of the way they were fighting were Pete and Amy .
Their exchanges felt too personal , too petty , and I don ’ t think they did either one of them any good .
In case you missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-debate commentary , here ’ s my other bit of news : Mike Bloomberg looked stunningly awful .
Not because he was too hard-hitting , but because he looked exactly like you would expect a man with $ 60 billion to look when people challenge him in public : arrogant , dismissive , outraged that the little people would dare challenge him .
Will his obscene amounts of spending on this race still buy him the election ?
Maybe , but I don ’ t think so .
There are a great many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy themselves an election and coming up way short .
So we ’ ll see what happens on Saturday .
Bernie is pretty much a lock to win , but I ’ m betting that debate performance by Elizabeth gives her enough of a boost to finish 2nd .
And the wheel on this crazy primary season will keep turning .

Crooks and Liars, a progressive blog, remains neutral during the primary season. Guest posts do not reflect the endorsement of Crooks and Liars or its editors.
Elizabeth Warren’s law school classes at Harvard were once described as “the Socratic Method administered by a machine gun”. Those who survived her tough approach came to be her most loyal acolytes and allies. I hope that is about to become true in the Democratic Party.
Elizabeth first got a following in the progressive movement by her searing questioning of Obama Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner: people figured that if she was willing to challenge the Democratic Party’s leadership, she would be willing to fight for them on the issues that mattered the most. And when she got to the Senate and was named to the Banking Committee, in her first hearing as Senator, her questioning of a witness was so devastating that the video became the first Banking Committee hearing ever to get over a million views on YouTube. She knows how to be tough.
Well, that Elizabeth Warren is back, folks. Maybe with her running from behind and being written off by the pundits, she felt freed up to go back into Socrates with a machine gun mode. I hope she stays there, and that she stays in this race over the long haul. We need that toughness.
And for those who say: she was just preaching party unity last week, why was she so tough last night, I tell you this, something I am very certain about: we need toughness to unite this Democratic Party. We are too fractured about important stuff, going against too challenging an opponent, to try to paper over our differences and pat the loser on the head. It is precisely someone with Elizabeth’s toughness who can bring Bernie’s outsider warriors to the same table with the more moderate Dems and forge the understanding about what it will take to beat Trump, win the Senate, and govern the country.
One thing I do want to say to my worried friends in the Democratic Party about the overall feistiness of last night’s debate: it will be okay. Really. Think about the last winners of the presidency after contested primaries. You think the Republican debates in 2016 were gentle? (At least there were no jokes about penis size last night.) Or 2008: did Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton treat each with kid gloves? Most people don’t remember the GOP primary debates in 2000, but George W. Bush had to fend off aggressive attacks from Pat Buchanan (not exactly the kid gloves kind of a guy) and Steve Forbes from the right before he went on to get the nomination and defeat (sort of) Gore in the general election.
One more and I’ll stop with the history lesson: for those of you old enough to remember, Bill Clinton didn’t exactly have a mellow, copacetic time of life during the 1992 primary debate season: Bob Kerrey said he would be peeled open like a boiled peanut because of being a draft dodger and womanizer, and Tsongas, Jerry Brown, and Harkin weren’t what you would call kind to him either.
All of those candidates went on to win the general election after fearsome debates. It’s a contest, folks, candidates are trying to beat each other and win: nothing wrong with it being tough and challenging at debate time.
The only candidates who I thought looked bad last night because of the way they were fighting were Pete and Amy. Their exchanges felt too personal, too petty, and I don’t think they did either one of them any good.
In case you missed the festivities last night and all the post-debate commentary, here’s my other bit of news: Mike Bloomberg looked stunningly awful. Not because he was too hard-hitting, but because he looked exactly like you would expect a man with $60 billion to look when people challenge him in public: arrogant, dismissive, outraged that the little people would dare challenge him. Will his obscene amounts of spending on this race still buy him the election? Maybe, but I don’t think so. There are a great many examples of people spending an absurd amount to buy themselves an election and coming up way short.
So we’ll see what happens on Saturday. Bernie is pretty much a lock to win, but I’m betting that debate performance by Elizabeth gives her enough of a boost to finish 2nd. And the wheel on this crazy primary season will keep turning.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Judge In Roger Stone Case Needles Trump Admin For Reducing Sentencing Guidelines

Judge Amy Berman Jackson seemed to take a swipe at Attorney General William Barr ’ s Justice Department over the @ @ @ @ @ .
At a court hearing on Thursday , Jackson addressed the fact that prosecutors had @ @ @ @ @ sentence for Stone .
The judge noted that it was unusual for the government to @ @ @ @ @ defendant in criminal cases .

Judge Amy Berman Jackson seemed to take a swipe at Attorney General William Barr’s Justice Department over the sentencing recommendations for Roger Stone.
At a court hearing on Thursday, Jackson addressed the fact that prosecutors had asked for a more lenient sentence for Stone. The judge noted that it was unusual for the government to take the side of the defendant in criminal cases.
Wow! Now Jackson getting snarky to those who just weighed in for leniency for Stone. 'For those of you new to this and work up last week to the fact that the [sentencing] guidelines are harsh … — Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) February 20, 2020
...I can assure you that defense attorneys and many judges have been making that point for a long time but we don’t usually succeed in getting the government to agree.' — Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) February 20, 2020
Jackson roundly rejects defense position that Mueller eventually got it right calling it "completely beside the point....He misdirected the committee." — Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) February 20, 2020
Jackson says the House Intelligence Committee's Russia probe was stymied because of Stone. His obstruction, she says, "led to an inaccurate, incomplete and incorrect report." — Darren Samuelsohn (@dsamuelsohn) February 20, 2020
Berman Jackson sides with defense for first time today, says guideline enhancement for extensive planning and scope does not apply: "I don’t think we’re looking at extensive scope or planning." — Rachel Weiner (@rachelweinerwp) February 20, 2020
Berman Jackson grills government on change in position on obstruction ongoing through trial. Crabb: "The guideline enhancement applies here for the reasons set forth in the original sentencing memorandum." Says he doesn't want to elaborate unless she has questions. — Rachel Weiner (@rachelweinerwp) February 20, 2020
Judge is not pleased by Stone's "provocative" statements made in interviews and social media and does not believe anxiety caused him to forget he was publishing a book when questioned by her before trial about his media contacts, etc. — Del Quentin Wilber (@DelWilber) February 20, 2020
Judge disputes notion that Stone stopped his interference with justice 'well before' the trial began. Points to reports that Stone texted Infowars Alex Jones while trial was underway despite gag order. — Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) February 20, 2020
still awaiting bottom line but in brief, Jackson more adopting government's (initial) position, but also giving throwing Stone a few bones, pointing towards a sentence somewhat under the 7 to 9 initially requested. And pretty well ignoring the whole second memorandum from DOJ. — Harry Litman (@harrylitman) February 20, 2020
Harsh comments from judge on Stone's conduct during trial: "Intolerable to the administration of justice," created concern that someone with "even poorer judgment than he has" would take violent action — Rachel Weiner (@rachelweinerwp) February 20, 2020
Jackson notes the she now, under the guidelines, has Stone at "5.8-7.25 years." But she can still apply a downward departure. — Dan Friedman (@dfriedman33) February 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--E. Jean Carroll Fired By Elle Magazine, And She Blames Trump

Women 's rights advocates came to the defense of longtime columnist E. Jean Carroll Wednesday after she revealed she was fired from Elle magazine months after coming forward with sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump .
Carroll claimed her dismissal from her job as an advice columnist for the magazine , where she worked for more than two decades , came as the result of Trump 's attacks on her following the accusation .
`` Because Trump ridiculed my reputation , laughed at my looks , and dragged me through the mud , after 26 years , Elle fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing was reported by news outlets .
`` I do n't blame Elle ...
I blame Donald Trump . ''
Last June , Carroll wrote in a New York magazine article that the president raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s .
Trump denied the allegation , saying he did n't know Carroll despite photographic evidence that they had met , claiming she was not his `` type , '' and calling her a liar .
In November , Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump .
Summer Zervos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apprentice , '' filed a similar suit against the president in 2017 after accusing him of assaulting her .
According to the New York Times , in a court filing in December Carroll 's lawyer wrote that her client had lost her job as a result of Trump 's defamation .
The lawyer also moved to block Trump 's attempt to have the case delayed until the New York Court of Appeals determines whether a sitting president can legally be sued—a ruling that may not be handed down until after the general election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to delay the case , he may have to provide a DNA sample , which Carroll has sought for months to bolster her claims .
On social media , supporters of Carroll condemned Elle 's decision to fire her while she is facing attacks on her character from the president .
`` In the end , a magazine for women chose the man , '' tweeted political scientist Rachel Bitecofer .
Others accused the magazine of being on the wrong side of history and of joining the ranks of many organizations throughout history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harrassment survivors for coming forward .
`` Any and every magazine claiming to be in support of women—should be standing behind E. Jean Carroll , '' tweeted journalist Carrie Courogen .
`` This is so incredibly disheartening . ''

Women's rights advocates came to the defense of longtime columnist E. Jean Carroll Wednesday after she revealed she was fired from Elle magazine months after coming forward with sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump.
Carroll claimed her dismissal from her job as an advice columnist for the magazine, where she worked for more than two decades, came as the result of Trump's attacks on her following the accusation.
"Because Trump ridiculed my reputation, laughed at my looks, and dragged me through the mud, after 26 years, Elle fired me," Carroll tweeted after her firing was reported by news outlets. "I don't blame Elle... I blame Donald Trump."
Because Trump ridiculed my reputation, laughed at my looks, & dragged me through the mud, after 26 years, ELLE fired me. I don't blame Elle. It was the great honor of my life writing "Ask E. Jean." I blame @realdonaldtrump.https://t.co/vYIVL6yDIp — E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) February 18, 2020
Last June, Carroll wrote in a New York magazine article that the president raped her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s. Trump denied the allegation, saying he didn't know Carroll despite photographic evidence that they had met, claiming she was not his "type," and calling her a liar.
In November, Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump. Summer Zervos, a former contestant on "The Apprentice," filed a similar suit against the president in 2017 after accusing him of assaulting her.
According to the New York Times, in a court filing in December Carroll's lawyer wrote that her client had lost her job as a result of Trump's defamation. The lawyer also moved to block Trump's attempt to have the case delayed until the New York Court of Appeals determines whether a sitting president can legally be sued—a ruling that may not be handed down until after the general election in November.
If Trump is unable to delay the case, he may have to provide a DNA sample, which Carroll has sought for months to bolster her claims.
On social media, supporters of Carroll condemned Elle's decision to fire her while she is facing attacks on her character from the president.
"In the end, a magazine for women chose the man," tweeted political scientist Rachel Bitecofer.
Ultimately, @ELLEmagazine fired @ejeancarroll bc she came forward w her rape allegation against the most powerful man in the world. In the end- a magazine for women, chose the man. https://t.co/q0CRoNRFOA — Rachel "The Doc" Bitecofer (@RachelBitecofer) February 19, 2020
Others accused the magazine of being on the wrong side of history and of joining the ranks of many organizations throughout history which have retaliated against sexual assault and harrassment survivors for coming forward.
This is a terrible move on the part of @ELLEmagazine. @ejeancarroll raised generations of us who are now the ones breaking down these barriers that hold women back. Sadly, this fight will define what the future brings and if Elle doesn't see E. Jean's value, they have no vision. https://t.co/VrvWuw4Weg — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 19, 2020
Yet another retaliation case.
Pathetic.https://t.co/9Tf4lnu1r7 — Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) February 19, 2020
After @ejeancarroll publicly accused Trump of raping her, he smeared her reputation and @ELLEmagazine fired her after nearly 30 years. So, tell me again how sexual assault claims ruin men?https://t.co/YfVd9frtmh — Minh Ngo (@minhtngo) February 19, 2020
We all — especially ANY and EVERY magazine claiming to be in support of women — should be standing behind E. Jean Carroll. This is so incredibly disheartening. https://t.co/DvVdIBDgtk — Carrie Courogen (@carriecourogen) February 19, 2020
"Any and every magazine claiming to be in support of women—should be standing behind E. Jean Carroll," tweeted journalist Carrie Courogen. "This is so incredibly disheartening."
Republished from Common Dreams (Julia Conley, staff writer) under a Creative Commons License.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Russia Is Interfering On Trump's Behalf Again, And He's Enraged That Congress Now Knows It

There 's a bit more clarity now to the story of the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee that may or may not have contributed to acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire 's departure from the Trump administration .
According to The New York Times , the mysterious briefing that Republicans and impeached president Donald Trump so objected to was about Russia interfering in this election , the 2020 one .
Five people familiar with the matter told the Times that the Feb. 13 briefing included a warning to lawmakers that Russia was interfering to get Trump reelected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who complained that Democrats would use it against him , '' as opposed to using it to try to secure the election and prevent Russia from mucking about in it again .
The Times reports that the next day , Trump `` berated Joseph Maguire , the outgoing acting director of national intelligence , for allowing it to take place '' and the fact that Rep. Adam Schiff , the committee chairman , was present to hear it was `` a particular irritant . ''
It 's not too much of stretch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all the details of the briefing , as a committee official said that `` members of both parties attended , including Representative Devin Nunes of California , the top Republican on the committee '' and that it was indeed about the `` integrity of our upcoming elections . ''
In what 's really not good news for the upcoming election , the Times reports that `` Some intelligence officials viewed the briefing as a tactical error , saying that had official who delivered the conclusion spoken less pointedly or left it out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans . ''
Not angering Republicans should not be the intelligence community 's concern at all .
Not when they have credible information saying that this election is in jeopardy of Russian interference on behalf of the man who has already been impeached for trying to get another country to do the same .

There's a bit more clarity now to the story of the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee that may or may not have contributed to acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire's departure from the Trump administration. According to The New York Times, the mysterious briefing that Republicans and impeached president Donald Trump so objected to was about Russia interfering in this election, the 2020 one.
Five people familiar with the matter told the Times that the Feb. 13 briefing included a warning to lawmakers that Russia was interfering to get Trump reelected, a "disclosure that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him," as opposed to using it to try to secure the election and prevent Russia from mucking about in it again. The Times reports that the next day, Trump "berated Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, for allowing it to take place" and the fact that Rep. Adam Schiff, the committee chairman, was present to hear it was "a particular irritant."
It's not too much of stretch to figure out who filled Trump in on all the details of the briefing, as a committee official said that " members of both parties attended, including Representative Devin Nunes of California, the top Republican on the committee" and that it was indeed about the "integrity of our upcoming elections." In what's really not good news for the upcoming election, the Times reports that "Some intelligence officials viewed the briefing as a tactical error, saying that had official who delivered the conclusion spoken less pointedly or left it out, they would have avoided angering the Republicans."
Not angering Republicans should not be the intelligence community's concern at all. Not when they have credible information saying that this election is in jeopardy of Russian interference on behalf of the man who has already been impeached for trying to get another country to do the same.
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Limbaugh: Trump Showed His Greatness By Using Me As A Prop

I do n't listen to Rush Limbaugh , but I read the occasional transcript on his website .
The headline of this transcribed segment from this Thursday 's radio show caught my eye .
`` Rare heart and character '' ?
Do tell , Rush .
Limbaugh teased his listeners for a while : Gosh , I ca n't imagine how anyone would come to that conclusion .
But when you get to know him personally , and I mean really get to know him , and you encounter the can-do , will-do , there ’ s no way we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize how rare it is .
If there ’ s any self-doubt in Donald Trump , he will never portray it , unless he ’ s joking about something .
And even when he ’ s joking , he ’ s serious .
He is somebody that doesn ’ t take “ no ” for an answer , but never manipulates you and never commands and never demands .
You end up doing what he wants even when you think you can ’ t .
But not because you have been intimidated or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to describe ... .
But I ’ m still not — I haven ’ t zeroed in on it , and it would be easy if I could give you some details that I don ’ t have permission to share yet about that day .
But if I were able , you would not have any questions about what I ’ m talking about .
So do your best to believe what I ’ m telling you here .
`` That day '' is the day Limbaugh got the Presidential Medal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Union address .
He tells his listeners that he ca n't reveal the real inside skinny -- but he does go on to recount some of what happened that day : ... Trump is just can-do .
He ’ s positive .
He exudes confidence and leadership , has no self-doubt , does not let you have any self-doubt , will not tolerate you thinking you can ’ t do something if he wants you to do it .
I ’ ll just give you one example , and this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not gon na be fully explanatory .
But on that day , we had no business being able to make it to Washington on the day of the State of the Union .
We didn ’ t have any clothes .
My transportation was not available .
Doctors ...
I had a crucial surgical procedure at 5 p.m. that day .
There was no way .
There no way under the sun I had any business being in Washington that night .
I tried to tell the president this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oh , yeah , your health comes first .
There ’ s no question .
Look , I ’ ve cleared you into Reagan National .
My guys are gon na meet you .
They ’ re gon na bring you right here to the White House .
“ If you need a tailor to fix the jacket , we got somebody here .
Don ’ t worry about it !
I understand your health has to come first.
” What do you say to that ?
“ I ’ ve cleared you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gon na bring you here to the White House .
If you need somebody to fix the jacket , no problem .
I understand your health comes first .
Can ’ t you just tell the doctors to do part of it , like , right now , and then let you go later this afternoon ?
” “ Well , it ’ s not quite that easy.
” “ Um ... ” ( chuckling ) And I knew nothing about the medal at this time .
I knew nothing about it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons he was so insistent .
But the point is , in his world , there was no way it wasn ’ t happening .
No matter what was standing in the way , it was going to happen .
No matter what the objection was .
No matter how sensible the objection was .
No matter how sincere it was .
No matter what .
So that 's Trump 's character -- he wants an acquaintance and important political ally to be given a medal on live TV because he believes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meat , as if they wo n't vote for him again unless they 're allowed to consume triple and quadruple portions every day between now and November .
This ally has stage-four cancer , for which he 's undergoing treatments I 'm sure are extremely debilitating .
But Trump wants the acquaintance to be a human prop , and he has both government power and personal wealth to make sure that his sick , weakened man complies .
And the acquaintance thinks that 's a good thing .
He thinks being used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be his final illness is just swell , because he believes in The Cause and he knows this advances it , and also because , being a right-winger , he believes that some people are Masters of the Universe and others are expected to serve them .
So he tells himself that Trump made him choose to do this in the midst of his cancer treatment .
But it ends up happening because you want to do it .
( laughing ) It ’ s not because you ’ ve been demanded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ordered .
It ’ s not because you ’ ve been intimidated or manipulated to show up .
It ’ s hard to describe .
All I can tell you is , there are so few people .
I understand he ’ s got the power of the presidency , but even without that he ’ s this kind of guy , and it ’ s rare .
Trump pushes Limbaugh around when he 's weak , and Limbaugh likes it .
That , ladies and gentlemen , is character , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No More Mr. Nice Blog

I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh, but I read the occasional transcript on his website. The headline of this transcribed segment from this Thursday's radio show caught my eye.
The Rare Heart and Character of the Donald Trump I Know
"Rare heart and character"? Do tell, Rush.
Limbaugh teased his listeners for a while:
... what is ironic about it is that people who only have formed an opinion of Trump based on criticism he gets in the media, when you tell them he has depth of character and heart, you lose ’em. They think the last thing Trump has is character. They think he’s totally devoid. They think he’s brusque and he’s an ogre.
Gosh, I can't imagine how anyone would come to that conclusion.
But when you get to know him personally, and I mean really get to know him, and you encounter the can-do, will-do, there’s no way we can be stopped personality, then you realize how rare it is. If there’s any self-doubt in Donald Trump, he will never portray it, unless he’s joking about something. And even when he’s joking, he’s serious. He is somebody that doesn’t take “no” for an answer, but never manipulates you and never commands and never demands. You end up doing what he wants even when you think you can’t. But not because you have been intimidated or made afraid. It’s hard to describe.... But I’m still not — I haven’t zeroed in on it, and it would be easy if I could give you some details that I don’t have permission to share yet about that day. But if I were able, you would not have any questions about what I’m talking about. So do your best to believe what I’m telling you here.
"That day" is the day Limbaugh got the Presidential Medal of Freedom on live TV during the State of the Union address. He tells his listeners that he can't reveal the real inside skinny -- but he does go on to recount some of what happened that day:
... Trump is just can-do. He’s positive. He exudes confidence and leadership, has no self-doubt, does not let you have any self-doubt, will not tolerate you thinking you can’t do something if he wants you to do it. I’ll just give you one example, and this is sort of out of context, and it’s not gonna be fully explanatory. But on that day, we had no business being able to make it to Washington on the day of the State of the Union. We didn’t have any clothes. My transportation was not available. Doctors... I had a crucial surgical procedure at 5 p.m. that day. There was no way. There no way under the sun I had any business being in Washington that night. I tried to tell the president this, and he agreed with me. “Oh, yeah, your health comes first. There’s no question. Look, I’ve cleared you into Reagan National. My guys are gonna meet you. They’re gonna bring you right here to the White House. “If you need a tailor to fix the jacket, we got somebody here. Don’t worry about it! I understand your health has to come first.” What do you say to that? “I’ve cleared you into Reagan National. My guys are gonna bring you here to the White House. If you need somebody to fix the jacket, no problem. I understand your health comes first. Can’t you just tell the doctors to do part of it, like, right now, and then let you go later this afternoon?” “Well, it’s not quite that easy.” “Well, what’s his name?” “Um...” (chuckling) And I knew nothing about the medal at this time. I knew nothing about it, and it’s one of the reasons he was so insistent. But the point is, in his world, there was no way it wasn’t happening. No matter what was standing in the way, it was going to happen. No matter what the objection was. No matter how sensible the objection was. No matter how sincere it was. No matter what.
So that's Trump's character -- he wants an acquaintance and important political ally to be given a medal on live TV because he believes in feeding his base endless quantities of red meat, as if they won't vote for him again unless they're allowed to consume triple and quadruple portions every day between now and November. This ally has stage-four cancer, for which he's undergoing treatments I'm sure are extremely debilitating. But Trump wants the acquaintance to be a human prop, and he has both government power and personal wealth to make sure that his sick, weakened man complies.
And the acquaintance thinks that's a good thing. He thinks being used as a prop during what is likely to be his final illness is just swell, because he believes in The Cause and he knows this advances it, and also because, being a right-winger, he believes that some people are Masters of the Universe and others are expected to serve them.
So he tells himself that Trump made him choose to do this in the midst of his cancer treatment.
But it ends up happening because you want to do it. (laughing) It’s not because you’ve been demanded. It’s not because you have been ordered. It’s not because you’ve been intimidated or manipulated to show up. It’s hard to describe. All I can tell you is, there are so few people. I understand he’s got the power of the presidency, but even without that he’s this kind of guy, and it’s rare.
Trump pushes Limbaugh around when he's weak, and Limbaugh likes it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is character, according to Limbaugh.
Published with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Grenell As Acting DNI Is More Than Embarrassing, It's Dangerous

Trump ’ s narcissistic ( and imbecilic ) power grabs are now destroying the US intelligence services that help defend the nation from foreign adversaries .
Donald picked an unqualified ex-Fox News contributor as his acting Director of National Intelligence .
Richard Grinnel has no intelligence experience except making a fool of himself while representing America in Germany as its Ambassador .
And get this : he plans to REMAIN Ambassador to Germany while acting as DNI chief .
Some trick .
Former CIA director John Brennan told MSNBC 's Morning Joe crew that Trump has decapitated the intelligent agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served under six different presidents and did n't always agree with their choices .
But Brennan says he has never seen a President like Trump completely attempt to destroy the integrity of the services .
“ What we ’ re seeing now is an anomaly , such an aberration from what we ’ ve seen in the past , about the importance , the independence of the intelligence community , ” Brennan said He continued , “ Who is going in there ?
” “ Someone who has no experience , no credentials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned , Richard Grenell .
Intelligence professionals can only see this as one more example they are not being allowed to do their job.
” Trump is trying to turn intelligence services into a partisan weapon for his reelection campaign .
This includes hiding intel from Democrats in Congress on very important intelligence matters .
And that includes intel on Russian interference in the 2020 election .
This would be another impeachable offense in any other era , but Senate Republicans have let themselves become as useless and culpable as House Republicans .

Trump’s narcissistic (and imbecilic) power grabs are now destroying the US intelligence services that help defend the nation from foreign adversaries.
Donald picked an unqualified ex-Fox News contributor as his acting Director of National Intelligence. Richard Grinnel has no intelligence experience except making a fool of himself while representing America in Germany as its Ambassador.
And get this: he plans to REMAIN Ambassador to Germany while acting as DNI chief. Some trick.
Grenell will remain as ambassador to Germany while serving as intelligence chief. Seems like Grenell’s job as intelligence chief is to play dumb. https://t.co/dVd9xzOanD — Sarah Heller ✍ (@Sheller49) February 21, 2020
Former CIA director John Brennan told MSNBC's Morning Joe crew that Trump has decapitated the intelligent agencies by removing stalwarts for sycophants.
Brennan served under six different presidents and didn't always agree with their choices. But Brennan says he has never seen a President like Trump completely attempt to destroy the integrity of the services.
“What we’re seeing now is an anomaly, such an aberration from what we’ve seen in the past, about the importance, the independence of the intelligence community,” Brennan said
He continued, “Who is going in there?”
“Someone who has no experience, no credentials as far as the intelligence community is concerned, Richard Grenell. Intelligence professionals can only see this as one more example they are not being allowed to do their job.”
Trump is trying to turn intelligence services into a partisan weapon for his reelection campaign. This includes hiding intel from Democrats in Congress on very important intelligence matters. And that includes intel on Russian interference in the 2020 election.
This would be another impeachable offense in any other era, but Senate Republicans have let themselves become as useless and culpable as House Republicans.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Mulvaney Whines To Brits That U.S. Needs More Immigrants To Fuel Economy

Oh , my aching sides !
Oh , the irony !
Mick Mulvaney ( seen above just one year ago ) is complaining that we 're not getting enough of those `` highly skilled '' immigrants Trump wanted -- after working so hard to make this an unattractive , unstable country !
God , I love Republicans !
Via the Washington Post : Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told a crowd at a private gathering in England on Wednesday night that the Trump administration “ needs more immigrants ” for the U.S. economy to continue growing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks obtained by The Washington Post .
“ We are desperate — desperate — for more people , ” Mulvaney said .
“ We are running out of people to fuel the economic growth that we ’ ve had in our nation over the last four years .
We need more immigrants.
” The Trump administration wants those immigrants to come in a “ legal fashion , ” Mulvaney said , according to the recording .
Mulvaney ’ s remarks appear in contrast to the public position of several top figures in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of senior policy adviser Stephen Miller — who have been working to slash legal and illegal immigration through a slew of policies that aim to close off the U.S. border to foreigners .
They have insisted that the steady arrival of newcomers depresses wages for the blue-collar U.S. workers whose votes helped lift Trump to the presidency in 2016 .

Oh, my aching sides! Oh, the irony! Mick Mulvaney (seen above just one year ago) is complaining that we're not getting enough of those "highly skilled" immigrants Trump wanted -- after working so hard to make this an unattractive, unstable country! God, I love Republicans! Via the Washington Post:
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told a crowd at a private gathering in England on Wednesday night that the Trump administration “needs more immigrants” for the U.S. economy to continue growing, according to an audio recording of his remarks obtained by The Washington Post.
“We are desperate — desperate — for more people,” Mulvaney said. “We are running out of people to fuel the economic growth that we’ve had in our nation over the last four years. We need more immigrants.”
The Trump administration wants those immigrants to come in a “legal fashion,” Mulvaney said, according to the recording.
Mulvaney’s remarks appear in contrast to the public position of several top figures in Trump’s White House — especially that of senior policy adviser Stephen Miller — who have been working to slash legal and illegal immigration through a slew of policies that aim to close off the U.S. border to foreigners. They have insisted that the steady arrival of newcomers depresses wages for the blue-collar U.S. workers whose votes helped lift Trump to the presidency in 2016.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Unhinged Trump Rally Includes Attack On Fox News

President Donald Trump 's rally in Colorado Springs Thursday night threw into sharp relief the stakes of the 2020 presidential election , observers said after watching the president joke about remaining in office for 26 years , complain that the Oscar for best picture went to a South Korean film , goad his audience into booing teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg , gin up xenophobia against undocumented immigrants , and more .
`` We 're staring into the abyss , '' tweeted Vox 's Aaron Rupar , who highlighted many of the bizarre moments from the rally and expressed hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` a sense of the stakes of the 2020 election . ''
`` I do n't want to alarm anyone , '' wrote the New Yorker 's Susan Glasser as she watched the event , `` but the president is now reading off 'poll ' after 'poll ' at his campaign rally to prove he won the debates in 2016 .
He is also complaining about Brad Pitt and that a South Korean movie won the Oscars and that he did n't win TIME 'Man of the Year . '
'' Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vying to take on the president in the general election took the stage in Las Vegas for the ninth Democratic presidential debate .
`` Some day in 10 , 14 , 18 , 22 years when I 'm gone , when we leave office in 26 years or so , they 're going to miss us , '' Trump said Thursday night .
Trump used his rally inside the Broadmoor World Arena to mock several of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates , including billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said of Klobuchar , mimicking a gagging motion while grabbing his necktie .
Trump went on to rant about the media and journalists—who he described as `` among the most dishonest people '' —and complain that Thunberg was named TIME 's `` Person of the Year '' over him .
The president 's Colorado Springs rally was part of a three-event swing that will end in Nevada Friday , a day before the state 's Democratic presidential caucus .
The Nevada Republican Party canceled its presidential primary caucus last September , essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Denver Post , `` as many as 20,000 people flocked to the city at the foot of Pikes Peak for Trump 's rally at the Broadmoor World Arena , which holds less than half that number . ''

President Donald Trump's rally in Colorado Springs Thursday night threw into sharp relief the stakes of the 2020 presidential election, observers said after watching the president joke about remaining in office for 26 years, complain that the Oscar for best picture went to a South Korean film, goad his audience into booing teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, gin up xenophobia against undocumented immigrants, and more.
"We're staring into the abyss," tweeted Vox's Aaron Rupar, who highlighted many of the bizarre moments from the rally and expressed hope that the clips will give the public "a sense of the stakes of the 2020 election."
"I don't want to alarm anyone," wrote the New Yorker's Susan Glasser as she watched the event, "but the president is now reading off 'poll' after 'poll' at his campaign rally to prove he won the debates in 2016. He is also complaining about Brad Pitt and that a South Korean movie won the Oscars and that he didn't win TIME 'Man of the Year.'"
Trump blasts best-picture Oscar for South Korean film 'Parasite'. More here: https://t.co/UXYxdu2ZRs pic.twitter.com/f1jMftYTej — Reuters (@Reuters) February 21, 2020
Trump's rally came just 24 hours after Democrats vying to take on the president in the general election took the stage in Las Vegas for the ninth Democratic presidential debate.
"Some day in 10, 14, 18, 22 years when I'm gone, when we leave office in 26 years or so, they're going to miss us," Trump said Thursday night.
"When we leave office in 26 years or so, they're going to miss us" -- Trump jokes about shredding the Constitution and serving more than 2 terms pic.twitter.com/APckvRSXBz — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2020
Trump used his rally inside the Broadmoor World Arena to mock several of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).
"She choked," Trump said of Klobuchar, mimicking a gagging motion while grabbing his necktie.
Trump transitions from bashing Democratic presidential candidates (including mocking Klobuchar with by mimicking choking) to shouting out a number of Fox News personalities by names (though he complains about the network not treating him as well as it used to) pic.twitter.com/mlB6LW5mc4 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1230657441072726016
Trump went on to rant about the media and journalists—who he described as "among the most dishonest people"—and complain that Thunberg was named TIME's "Person of the Year" over him.
While complaining about Time Magazine, Trump goads his audience into booing teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg pic.twitter.com/vz3MS1twuw — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2020
The president's Colorado Springs rally was part of a three-event swing that will end in Nevada Friday, a day before the state's Democratic presidential caucus. The Nevada Republican Party canceled its presidential primary caucus last September, essentially handing Trump a victory without a vote.
According to the Denver Post, "as many as 20,000 people flocked to the city at the foot of Pikes Peak for Trump's rally at the Broadmoor World Arena, which holds less than half that number."
Excerpted from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons License.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Devin Nunes Demonstrates Fox News 'Logic'

Good news , the Republican Party looks like nothing but Stable Geniuses for miles .
For instance , Devin Nunes @ @ @ @ @ a proud member of the House Intelligence Committee ( ironically ) and speaking to you @ @ @ @ @ because HE 'S A FARMER .
And Devin is here to tell you that this @ @ @ @ @ win '' is a lot of hooey , because then , how do you explain @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , huh ?
Gotcha there , did n't I ?
Former Republican House @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter : `` I worked with Nunes on W & M [ Ways and @ @ @ @ @ 's one of the dumbest members there is .
He was just able to hide @ @ @ @ @ ''

Good news, the Republican Party looks like nothing but Stable Geniuses for miles.
For instance, Devin Nunes, Republican of California, a proud member of the House Intelligence Committee (ironically) and speaking to you from the World Ag Expo because HE'S A FARMER.
And Devin is here to tell you that this "Russians want Republicans to win" is a lot of hooey, because then, how do you explain that Democrats won the midterms in 2016, huh? Gotcha there, didn't I?
Former Republican House staffer Jim Swift weighed in on Twitter: "I worked with Nunes on W&M [Ways and Means Committee] and he's one of the dumbest members there is. He was just able to hide it longer than others."
Hide it?
The claim that Repubs would have kept the House if Russia was helping Repubs, is unfathomably stupid
...even for a cud-chewing, mayonnaise-faced, dunderhead like Devin Nunes
Sometimes, cheaters still lose. Duh. — 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑’𝒔 𝒁𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 ❄ (@StevenReyCristo) February 21, 2020
Wow, @DevinNunes. Just wow...this is really your defense. What a useless traitor. — Independent_lefty (@independent_r21) February 21, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Intelligence Agencies Melt Down As Trump Purges Officials For Telling The Truth

Shelby Pearson , the election security czar , did her job , and reported to lawmakers on the House Intelligence committee last week that the Russians were continuing to meddle in our politics to reelect Donald Trump , Morning Joe reported .
Devin Nunes , who was in the briefing , tattled to the Toddler-In-Chief , who went into a rage at the news and berated the then-Director of National Intelligence Joseph McGuire .
He wanted to know why this briefing took place at all , why he had to hear about this from Nunes , and why was he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adam Schiff , Trump 's nemesis ?
He also told him the intelligence community was `` getting played . ''
( You know , by the Deep State Conspiracy to Make Trump Pee His Pants . )
`` And he 's -- Trump was worried that this could be used against him .
So McGuire is out now .
So the specter of intelligence officials speaking truth to power , which is their job , and they are being punished for it , '' Scarborough said .
But wait , there 's more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking about Doug freaking Collins for that position .
( You remember Doug .
Yells a lot , former Baptist preacher , has a law degree from a third-rate storefront college ? )
`` It 's not final .
He said there are other names he 's considering , '' he said .
`` One person we have n't heard from all of this , Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina .
Remember last time when the president nominated John Ratcliff before McGuire got the position .
Burr made it overly known that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need the Senate .
We 'll see to what extent Doug Collins passes muster there . ''
`` Intelligence officials I talked to yesterday were shocked .
More to the point , they were worried about the implications of what President Trump has done for two reasons . ''
Jeremy Bash said there is `` dire concern . ''
`` I 've talked to folks inside the intelligence community over the last 24 hours .
First of all , not only is Grenell in and McGuire out , but they 're cleaning house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving as the principle deputy DNI , a career intelligence professional , he was also shown the door and told today would be his last day .
In essence , you have the entire leadership of the Director of National Intelligence decapitated , '' he said .
`` And there was word last night that a Devin Nunes staffer would potentially be coming over to take a leadership role in the office .
This is all an effort to squash any information at all about a Russian cyber attack on our 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our election processes and doing so to benefit Donald Trump , I think frankly the president welcomes it .
He wants it .
He does n't want his intelligence community defending us .
He does n't want the intelligence community warning against us .
`` He certainly does n't want Congress understanding it , because heaven forbid , they might actually help protect our democracy against this attack .
He welcomes it .
Last time he requested it , he received that benefit , he benefited from it , he welcomed it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin .
This is nothing short of the president of the United States wanting , wanting this attack to occur . ''

Shelby Pearson, the election security czar, did her job, and reported to lawmakers on the House Intelligence committee last week that the Russians were continuing to meddle in our politics to reelect Donald Trump, Morning Joe reported.
Devin Nunes, who was in the briefing, tattled to the Toddler-In-Chief, who went into a rage at the news and berated the then-Director of National Intelligence Joseph McGuire.
He wanted to know why this briefing took place at all, why he had to hear about this from Nunes, and why was he hearing this information about the Russians with Adam Schiff, Trump's nemesis? He also told him the intelligence community was "getting played." (You know, by the Deep State Conspiracy to Make Trump Pee His Pants.)
"And he's -- Trump was worried that this could be used against him. So McGuire is out now. So the specter of intelligence officials speaking truth to power, which is their job, and they are being punished for it," Scarborough said.
But wait, there's more!
Hans Nichols told Scarborough Trump is thinking about Doug freaking Collins for that position. (You remember Doug. Yells a lot, former Baptist preacher, has a law degree from a third-rate storefront college?)
"It's not final. He said there are other names he's considering," he said.
"One person we haven't heard from all of this, Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina. Remember last time when the president nominated John Ratcliff before McGuire got the position. Burr made it overly known that he's not excited. We still need the Senate. We'll see to what extent Doug Collins passes muster there."
"Intelligence officials I talked to yesterday were shocked. More to the point, they were worried about the implications of what President Trump has done for two reasons."
Jeremy Bash said there is "dire concern."
"I've talked to folks inside the intelligence community over the last 24 hours. First of all, not only is Grenell in and McGuire out, but they're cleaning house. Andrew Hulman, who's been serving as the principle deputy DNI, a career intelligence professional, he was also shown the door and told today would be his last day. In essence, you have the entire leadership of the Director of National Intelligence decapitated," he said.
"And there was word last night that a Devin Nunes staffer would potentially be coming over to take a leadership role in the office. This is all an effort to squash any information at all about a Russian cyber attack on our 2020 election, because if the Russians are attacking our election processes and doing so to benefit Donald Trump, I think frankly the president welcomes it. He wants it. He doesn't want his intelligence community defending us. He doesn't want the intelligence community warning against us.
"He certainly doesn't want Congress understanding it, because heaven forbid, they might actually help protect our democracy against this attack. He welcomes it. Last time he requested it, he received that benefit, he benefited from it, he welcomed it,and he rewarded it, he rewarded Vladimir Putin. This is nothing short of the president of the United States wanting, wanting this attack to occur."


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--'Russia Couldn't Ask For Anything Better' Than Our Democracy In Chaos

We know Trump never reads , or even receives his daily security briefings .
We know he can not handle anything even tangentially related to the fact that Russia interfered in our 2016 elections , and is likely planning to interfere again .
We know Trump regularly derides and dismisses our seventeen highly esteemed security agencies set up specifically to protect our democracy and its citizens from harm .
The latest proof came on Thursday , when Trump fired director of national intelligence , Joseph Maguire .
Trump fired him because Maguire briefed House Intelligence Committee members on the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfere in our 2020 elections — that they are , in fact , carrying out those plans right now .
Clint Watts and Natasha Bertrand joined Joy Reid Thursday evening to discuss the blaring alarm sirens all of these moves are sounding .
Reid asked if there was reporting that showed Trump actively wanted Russia 's help , and in answering the question , Bertrand dropped an additional piece of jaw-dropping info : BERTRAND : So we do n't have the reporting that suggests that the president has told aides for example that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he thinks it going to help him , right ?
So far what we 've heard is he gets enraged because he thinks it questions the legitimacy of his election in 2016 , and potential reelection in 2020 .
I this I what a lot of former national security and intel experts are telling us is that they 're concerned that the intel community now is self-censoring , that they 're going into these briefings with Congress , and intel officials are actually holding back on the real threats that are posed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection this year .
[ T ] he senior officials that are already in place , that are career officials , are actually holding back information because they fear a political backlash from the president .
The Worldwide Threats Hearing that is a tradition every year , public by the intel officials to tell the public what the national threats are , the biggest national security threats to this country are , that has been cancelled because the intel leaders of this country are afraid of backlash from this president and that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these former experts tell me , and former officials tell me , because it will ultimately make it so that the intel community does not feel comfortable telling the president things he does not want to hear .
Not only are security officials NOT telling Trump information about threats to our nation , they 're now afraid to tell this information to Congress , because they know the info will get back to Trump , who will fly into a tantrum and fire career security experts only to replace them with cronies who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's @ ss .
To top it all off , now we have the yearly Worldwide Threats Hearing cancelled ?
The one hearing that keeps the citizens and Congress informed about the threats our security agencies consider most dire , requiring the highest levels of attention ?
IN ORDER TO KEEP US SAFE ?

We know Trump never reads, or even receives his daily security briefings. We know he cannot handle anything even tangentially related to the fact that Russia interfered in our 2016 elections, and is likely planning to interfere again. We know Trump regularly derides and dismisses our seventeen highly esteemed security agencies set up specifically to protect our democracy and its citizens from harm.
The latest proof came on Thursday, when Trump fired director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire. Trump fired him because Maguire briefed House Intelligence Committee members on the information he had about Russia's plans to interfere in our 2020 elections — that they are, in fact, carrying out those plans right now. Clint Watts and Natasha Bertrand joined Joy Reid Thursday evening to discuss the blaring alarm sirens all of these moves are sounding. Reid asked if there was reporting that showed Trump actively wanted Russia's help, and in answering the question, Bertrand dropped an additional piece of jaw-dropping info:
BERTRAND: So we don't have the reporting that suggests that the president has told aides for example that he really wants Russia to interfere because he thinks it going to help him, right? So far what we've heard is he gets enraged because he thinks it questions the legitimacy of his election in 2016, and potential reelection in 2020. I this I what a lot of former national security and intel experts are telling us is that they're concerned that the intel community now is self-censoring, that they're going into these briefings with Congress, and intel officials are actually holding back on the real threats that are posed by Russia with regard to helping Trump win reelection this year. [...] [T]he senior officials that are already in place, that are career officials, are actually holding back information because they fear a political backlash from the president. The Worldwide Threats Hearing that is a tradition every year, public by the intel officials to tell the public what the national threats are, the biggest national security threats to this country are, that has been cancelled because the intel leaders of this country are afraid of backlash from this president and that's a really bad precedent to set, these former experts tell me, and former officials tell me, because it will ultimately make it so that the intel community does not feel comfortable telling the president things he does not want to hear.
Not only are security officials NOT telling Trump information about threats to our nation, they're now afraid to tell this information to Congress, because they know the info will get back to Trump, who will fly into a tantrum and fire career security experts only to replace them with cronies who have zero experience in anything but kissing Trump's @ss.
To top it all off, now we have the yearly Worldwide Threats Hearing cancelled? The one hearing that keeps the citizens and Congress informed about the threats our security agencies consider most dire, requiring the highest levels of attention? IN ORDER TO KEEP US SAFE?
Cancelled. Because of Trump's tiny-brained, snowflake-melting, fragile, weak-@ss ego.


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Friday News Dump: Trump Covers Up New Russian Interference, And Other News

The Russians are back !
The Russians are back !
And Trump would prefer we not talk about it : Breaking via NYT : Intel officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get Trump re-elected , five people familiar with the matter said .
That angered Trump , who complained Dems would use it against him .
https : //t.co/OxTKMY3WPs Check out how Fox News is framing reports that the president was angry that intelligence officials briefed Congress that Russia is helping to get him elected again : Report : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Him pic.twitter.com/uxR4pWRSsT The news that intel officials angered Trump by telling House members that Russia is helping him in the election raises another worry .
He may abuse classification authority to prevent Congress from openly discussing it .
@ ChrisMurphyCT warned me of this : https : //t.co/1FVy9CiYMu pic.twitter.com/giiDyWbNPL So the sequence here appears to be .
1 .
DNI gets intel that Russia is interfering again in the election 2 .
Acting DNI briefs lawmakers about the threat .
3 .
Trump finds out 4 .
Trump berates acting DNI 5 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They are doing it again and I do n't know if we have the tools to stop it.
” — Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ( D-NV ) , in a phone interview that had been scheduled to discuss the impending Nevada Democratic caucus .
https : //t.co/77xJNwM2sL If Congress refuses to do anything in response to this , the eventual result will be that for the duration of Trump 's presidency Congress will get no intelligence information that is negative to Trump , even if it 's legally required and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told .
https : //t.co/c4nxCoTecE .
@ MajorCBS confirms intelligence officials told lawmakers that Russia is trying to help Trump win the 2020 election .
When the President found out about the briefing , he “ blew his stack ” and repeatedly said “ This is bullshit.
” More coming up on @ CBSEveningNews .
We are in danger .
Our national security is in danger .
Republicans erupted at an intel hearing while being briefed that Russia will attack our elections to make sure Trump stays in power .
Trump erupted at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //t.co/DNBsOoQFI1 I feel like a broken record but Russia has been attacking us .
Their attacks are aimed at dividing the Dem party while supporting the far left in order to secure Trumps grasp on power .
They are causing division based on class , race , attack on elites , and attack on progressives The Trump era news cycle moves very fast , but the Republican-controlled Senate 's acquittal of Trump is a much more consequential event than it may seem , because Trump and Barr have interpreted it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //t.co/0s4kh8vy9w pic.twitter.com/bWvVSpFA6z In case you 're wondering , Warren decided to take Super PAC money today .
The reason is simple : She thought making this a matter of principle would be a winning campaign point .
And it was n't .
https : //t.co/G2brKmiC1h WATCH : President Trump speaks after Roger Stone 's 40-month prison sentence : `` I 'm following this very closely , and I want to see it play out to its fullest , because Roger has a very good chance of exoneration , in my opinion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more now .
pic.twitter.com/7x8r3QnbDF Breaking news : The Florida House passes a bill that requires a parent or guardian to consent to an abortion for a minor .
The vote was 75-43 .
The bill is now certain to become law as it heads to Gov .
Ron DeSantis , who plans to sign it .
https : //t.co/dfljzW7PvU BREAKING : This is what local news should be .
Local man credits bail reform w/ new lease on life .
`` Benefiting from bail reform .
Allowed him to remain in home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting charges .
'Continue working on myself & provide for my family . '
'' https : //t.co/BLkAcX2Ss2 SYSTEMIC RACISM : Crystal Mason served her time and didn ’ t know she couldn ’ t vote as a former felon .
She cast a provisional ballot that wasn ’ t even counted : 5 YEARS Roger Stone engaged in witness tampering , lied to Congress , & obstructed justice to steal an election : 3 YEARS pic.twitter.com/OKjkidrROy DEPARTMENT OF 'OH GOD ANYTHING TO DISTRACT ME FROM THIS PRIMARY' This was Rusty .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg .
Yesterday , one day after his eighteenth birthday , Rusty passed away .
Flowers and a pair of his trademark glasses were left on his favorite chair .
He is our fifteenth 15/10 ❤ pic.twitter.com/LylNq0tCSu This guy challenged strangers to ‘ finish the lyrics ’ and this woman passing by started belting out Shallow like she was performing at the Oscars , literally flawless 😭 📹 : Kevin Freshwater pic.twitter.com/P8Vn5qj4Nn

If Congress refuses to do anything in response to this, the eventual result will be that for the duration of Trump's presidency Congress will get no intelligence information that is negative to Trump, even if it's legally required and vital to national security that they be told. https://t.co/c4nxCoTecE
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) February 20, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-02-21--Fox Distorts Objections To Barr Over Roger Stone Sentencing

FoxNews.com would have its readers believe that the objections to William Barr ’ s interference in the Roger Stone case were merely a matter of disagreement over the length of his sentence .
Attorney General William Barr has come under fire because he interfered with what should have been a matter for his federal prosecutors to handle and brought the case in line with what Donald Trump was demanding for his crony , Roger Stone The New York Times explains what Fox did not ( my emphases added ) : [ Trump ] intensified those attacks [ on the guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Stone be sentenced to up to nine years in prison , in accordance with advisory sentencing guidelines .
Their request , Mr. Trump said , was “ horrible and very unfair ” and constituted a “ miscarriage of justice.
” Almost simultaneously , Mr. Barr overruled the prosecutors ’ sentencing recommendation and a new one was filed in court .
It recommended a more lenient sentence but left the specific length of a prison term up to the judge .
The reversal , more aligned with Mr. Trump ’ s preference , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
One resigned from the Justice Department entirely .
The case ignited a broader controversy as former and current government lawyers accused Mr. Barr of failing to protect the department from improper political influence from the White House .
In an open letter , more than 2,000 former Justice Department employees have called for Mr. Barr to resign , claiming “ interference in the fair administration of justice ” by both the attorney general and the president .
But to Fox News , the uproar was all about Democrats and deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Stone ’ s sentence said nothing about Trump ’ s attempt to interfere in the case on behalf of Stone .
From its article : The judge presiding over Roger Stone ’ s case agreed with senior Justice Department leadership on Thursday that the original sentence proposal for the GOP operative was excessive -- amid a clash inside the DOJ over his sentencing .
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson , who sentenced Stone to 40 months in federal prison on Thursday , said the original sentence proposed last week by federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steep given the charges .
Last week , after prosecutors made their sentence recommendation , senior Justice Department officials , including Attorney General Bill Barr , intervened , overruling and scaling back the proposed prison sentence .
The mass withdrawal caused Democrats to accuse President Trump of interfering in the process , with many even calling for Barr ’ s resignation .
The intervention also prompted thousands of former Justice Department officials to sign an online petition calling for Barr ’ s resignation .
I think we can safely predict that Fox ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , use the ruling to attack Democrats and blithely ignore Dear Leader ’ s blatant attempts to undermine law and democracy .

FoxNews.com would have its readers believe that the objections to William Barr’s interference in the Roger Stone case were merely a matter of disagreement over the length of his sentence.
Attorney General William Barr has come under fire because he interfered with what should have been a matter for his federal prosecutors to handle and brought the case in line with what Donald Trump was demanding for his crony, Roger Stone
The New York Times explains what Fox did not (my emphases added):
But to Fox News, the uproar was all about Democrats and deep staters hating Dear Leader. Its article about Stone’s sentence said nothing about Trump’s attempt to interfere in the case on behalf of Stone. From its article:
The judge presiding over Roger Stone’s case agreed with senior Justice Department leadership on Thursday that the original sentence proposal for the GOP operative was excessive -- amid a clash inside the DOJ over his sentencing. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who sentenced Stone to 40 months in federal prison on Thursday, said the original sentence proposed last week by federal prosecutors of 87 to 108 months was steep given the charges. … Last week, after prosecutors made their sentence recommendation, senior Justice Department officials, including Attorney General Bill Barr, intervened, overruling and scaling back the proposed prison sentence. … The mass withdrawal caused Democrats to accuse President Trump of interfering in the process, with many even calling for Barr’s resignation. The intervention also prompted thousands of former Justice Department officials to sign an online petition calling for Barr’s resignation.
I think we can safely predict that Fox’s prime time Trumpers will declare victory, use the ruling to attack Democrats and blithely ignore Dear Leader’s blatant attempts to undermine law and democracy.
Stay tuned.
Published with permission from News Hounds.


crooksandliars--2020-02-22--Trump Is Hiding Information From Democrats Instead Of From Russia

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance joined Nicolle Wallace 's panel on Deadline White House today to discuss the new reporting that shocked no one : Russia is still interfering in our election process , again with the intention of helping Trump get re-elected .
Also shocking to no one , Trump is outraged , though he 's not even trying to hide the fact that he wants the help now .
Wallace asked Vance what we are even debating , at this point ?
That Russia is up to their old tricks , those rascals ?
Vance 's answer highlighted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia have achieved against the sanctity of our election security .
VANCE : You know , I think what we 're doing is that we 're looking backwards through this filter of more knowledge that we had when the Mueller investigation was underway .
And so , the most frightening thing , Nicolle , is that the president continues to view this as an attack on him personally .
And his response , instead of circling the wagons around the elections , and figuring out ways to keep Russia out of the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out ways to keep DEMOCRATS from getting information about what 's going on .
Bob Mueller identified criminal conduct , and he indicted people in Russian troll farms for trying to impact our elections .
That 's one way our government addresses these situations .
But now , Trump is going after the most foundational way we protect our election security from foreign attack .
That 's through the Intelligence Community .
People who need to have the latitude to do this work , when they are briefing people on the Hill to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the implications of that .
That 's what Trump is trying to shut down , and that should frighten all of us today .
He 's not trying to keep Russians from interfering .
He 's trying to keep Democrats from finding out about the interference , because he WANTS it .
He NEEDS it .
And he has realized the only way to keep Democrats in the dark is to keep our Intelligence Community from doing its job freely , which is why he has , as John Brennan said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career officials running it .

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance joined Nicolle Wallace's panel on Deadline White House today to discuss the new reporting that shocked no one: Russia is still interfering in our election process, again with the intention of helping Trump get re-elected. Also shocking to no one, Trump is outraged, though he's not even trying to hide the fact that he wants the help now.
Wallace asked Vance what we are even debating, at this point? That Russia is up to their old tricks, those rascals? Vance's answer highlighted the new depths of destruction Trump and Russia have achieved against the sanctity of our election security.
VANCE: You know, I think what we're doing is that we're looking backwards through this filter of more knowledge that we had when the Mueller investigation was underway. And so, the most frightening thing, Nicolle, is that the president continues to view this as an attack on him personally. And his response, instead of circling the wagons around the elections, and figuring out ways to keep Russia out of the election, is he's trying to figure out ways to keep DEMOCRATS from getting information about what's going on. Bob Mueller identified criminal conduct, and he indicted people in Russian troll farms for trying to impact our elections. That's one way our government addresses these situations. But now, Trump is going after the most foundational way we protect our election security from foreign attack. That's through the Intelligence Community. People who need to have the latitude to do this work, when they are briefing people on the Hill to speak the truth, and to think through the implications of that. That's what Trump is trying to shut down, and that should frighten all of us today.
He's not trying to keep Russians from interfering. He's trying to keep Democrats from finding out about the interference, because he WANTS it. He NEEDS it. And he has realized the only way to keep Democrats in the dark is to keep our Intelligence Community from doing its job freely, which is why he has, as John Brennan said, decapitated the ODNI by firing the top career officials running it.