crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Biden Won't 'Stand In Way' Of Future Prosecution Of Trump

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told NPR on Thursday that while he was unsure if it was `` good for democracy , '' if elected he would not stand in the way of a hypothetical Justice Department prosecution of President Donald Trump for crimes committed in office .
`` Look , the Justice Department is not the president 's private law firm , '' the former vice president said .
`` The attorney general is not the president 's private lawyer .
I will not interfere with the Justice Department 's judgment of whether or not they think they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they think has violated the law . ''
The comments came in response to a question from NPR 's Lulu Garcia-Navarro on remarks made last year by Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , a frontrunner for Biden 's pick for vice president , that the Justice Department would have `` no choice but to investigate Trump after his presidency . ''
Trump has been connected with alleged illegal activity by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and investigators working for former special counsel Robert Mueller .
What is n't clear is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or whether prosecutors might take action against Trump if he no longer enjoyed the privileges that protect him from being indicted as a sitting president .
Biden declared the idea of prosecuting a former president `` very unusual '' and said he would not weigh in on the decision and rather allow federal law enforcement officials to come to their own conclusions .
`` In terms of saying , ' I think the president violated the law .
I think the president did this , therefore , go on and prosecute him'—I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Progressives have expressed concern that Biden could follow the lead of his former boss President Barack Obama , who said that the country should `` look forward , not back '' when it came to his predecessor , former President George W. Bush .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told NPR on Thursday that while he was unsure if it was "good for democracy," if elected he would not stand in the way of a hypothetical Justice Department prosecution of President Donald Trump for crimes committed in office.
"Look, the Justice Department is not the president's private law firm," the former vice president said. "The attorney general is not the president's private lawyer. I will not interfere with the Justice Department's judgment of whether or not they think they should pursue the prosecution of anyone that they think has violated the law."
Joe Biden said he believes prosecuting a former president would be a "very unusual thing and probably not very ... good for democracy," but he wouldn't stand in the way of a future Justice Department pursuing criminal charges against President Trump. https://t.co/1XrvJQwkub — NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) August 6, 2020
The comments came in response to a question from NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro on remarks made last year by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), a frontrunner for Biden's pick for vice president, that the Justice Department would have "no choice but to investigate Trump after his presidency."
According to NPR:
Trump has been connected with alleged illegal activity by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and investigators working for former special counsel Robert Mueller. What isn't clear is whether federal authorities are investigating the president or whether prosecutors might take action against Trump if he no longer enjoyed the privileges that protect him from being indicted as a sitting president.
Biden declared the idea of prosecuting a former president "very unusual" and said he would not weigh in on the decision and rather allow federal law enforcement officials to come to their own conclusions.
"In terms of saying, 'I think the president violated the law. I think the president did this, therefore, go on and prosecute him'—I will not do that," Biden said.
Progressives have expressed concern that Biden could follow the lead of his former boss President Barack Obama, who said that the country should "look forward, not back" when it came to his predecessor, former President George W. Bush.
Republished from Common Dreams (Eoin Higgins, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Democratic Candidate: Fascism Is Here For Real

Long before Trump 's election , the 42nd congressional district of California ( now entirely within Riverside County ) was captured by a candidate who served the corrupt corporate agenda of big-moneyed donors and lobbyists .
Since 1993 , Ken Calvert has used his power and influence against working class and marginalized communities in Riverside county , engaging in race-baiting , Islamophobia -- and holding a 4 % rating from the ACLU !
Even Fox News featured his corruption on a special ... although they touched just one aspect of why he is unfit to serve in high office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ military-industrial complex , and he has pushed ever greater corporate welfare for bomb-makers , while voting for every use of force and sending American youth to die for oil and foreign infrastructure contracts .
Along the way he has championed the expanding police state , and resisted every opportunity to make life better for the residents of his district .
Progressive Liam O'Mara , won his primary handily and is now challenging Calvert for the seat in November .
A southern California native , Liam first voted in the 1992 election that put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen firsthand the damage from policies Calvert prefers .
Coming from a working class family , Liam did n't go to college until age 30 , and is the first in his family with a degree .
Having started as a longshoreman and restaurant worker , Liam now teaches history at three Southern California colleges .
As a historian of ideas , Liam understands the times better than most .
`` Forty years of neoliberalism , '' he told us , `` have undermined the American Dream and brought us to the edge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unidentified federal agents now roaming the streets in our cities , 'proactively ' arresting protesters and bystanders , whisking them off to undisclosed locations , we have reached the Gestapo phase of that descent , and we need to stand up . ''
We need voices in Washington who know how we got here and what we can do about it .
His district is demographically purple , 40 % Hispanic , and half the population is under 30 .
Republicans make up just 37 % of the electorate , and Calvert can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is why Liam 's progressive platform -- which includes Medicare-for-All , a Green New Deal , UBI , and more -- gets framed in economic terms , and he talks most about kitchen table issues that resonate powerfully in the area .
But his progressive credentials are also why the DCCC is blowing off the race , preferring the corrupt incumbent to someone who can push for real change in this country .
That 's why we need your help !
Every dollar you send goes to helping Liam 's team reach the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple phonebanks and textbanks every week .
Liam has said to us that this flippable seat can `` put another Squad member in the House , '' but only if enough of us are willing to stand with Liam against neo-fascists and neo-liberals alike .
Can you contribute today ?

Long before Trump's election, the 42nd congressional district of California (now entirely within Riverside County) was captured by a candidate who served the corrupt corporate agenda of big-moneyed donors and lobbyists. Since 1993, Ken Calvert has used his power and influence against working class and marginalized communities in Riverside county, engaging in race-baiting, Islamophobia-- and holding a 4% rating from the ACLU! Even Fox News featured his corruption on a special... although they touched just one aspect of why he is unfit to serve in high office.
Calvert's largest donors are in the military-industrial complex, and he has pushed ever greater corporate welfare for bomb-makers, while voting for every use of force and sending American youth to die for oil and foreign infrastructure contracts. Along the way he has championed the expanding police state, and resisted every opportunity to make life better for the residents of his district.
Progressive Liam O'Mara, won his primary handily and is now challenging Calvert for the seat in November. A southern California native, Liam first voted in the 1992 election that put Calvert into office, and he has seen firsthand the damage from policies Calvert prefers. Coming from a working class family, Liam didn't go to college until age 30, and is the first in his family with a degree. Having started as a longshoreman and restaurant worker, Liam now teaches history at three Southern California colleges.
As a historian of ideas, Liam understands the times better than most.
"Forty years of neoliberalism," he told us, "have undermined the American Dream and brought us to the edge of collapse into neofascist dictatorship. With unidentified federal agents now roaming the streets in our cities, 'proactively' arresting protesters and bystanders, whisking them off to undisclosed locations, we have reached the Gestapo phase of that descent, and we need to stand up."
We need voices in Washington who know how we got here and what we can do about it.
His district is demographically purple, 40% Hispanic, and half the population is under 30. Republicans make up just 37% of the electorate, and Calvert cannot win without independent voters. This is why Liam's progressive platform-- which includes Medicare-for-All, a Green New Deal, UBI, and more-- gets framed in economic terms, and he talks most about kitchen table issues that resonate powerfully in the area.
But his progressive credentials are also why the DCCC is blowing off the race, preferring the corrupt incumbent to someone who can push for real change in this country.
That's why we need your help! Every dollar you send goes to helping Liam's team reach the voters needed for that win-number, with multiple phonebanks and textbanks every week.
Liam has said to us that this flippable seat can "put another Squad member in the House," but only if enough of us are willing to stand with Liam against neo-fascists and neo-liberals alike.
Can you contribute today?


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Moderna To Charge $32-$37/Dose For Covid Vaccine Developed Entirely With Taxpayer Money

Consumer advocates warned Wednesday that pharmaceutical giant Moderna is `` taking taxpayers for a ride '' after the company announced plans to charge between $ 32 and $ 37 per dose for a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed entirely with funds from the U.S. federal government .
`` Taxpayers are paying for 100 % of Moderna 's Covid-19 vaccine development .
All of it , '' Peter Maybarduk , director of the Access to Medicines Program at Public Citizen , said in a statement .
`` Yet taxpayers may wind up paying tens of billions more to Moderna to buy our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and effective . ''
`` The so-called Moderna vaccine belongs in significant part to the people of the U.S , '' said Maybarduk .
`` We paid for it .
Federal scientists led the way .
It ought to be the people 's vaccine , not a new taxpayer burden . ''
The experimental vaccine is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial that is expected to enroll around 30,000 adult volunteers who do not have Covid-19 , according to the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) .
Trial results are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from early-stage clinical testing indicate the investigational mRNA-1273 vaccine is safe and immunogenic , supporting the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial , '' Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , said in a statement last week .
Under pressure from advocacy groups to publicly disclose how its potential vaccine is being financed , Moderna told Axios Wednesday that U.S. taxpayers are providing `` 100 % funding of the program . ''
Since April , the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company has received nearly a billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine as part of the Trump administration 's so-called Operation Warp Speed .
`` The company received $ 483 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in April to support its vaccine development , '' CNBC reported .
`` Last month , it announced it received an additional $ 472 million from the U.S .
government . ''
Dean Baker , senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research , wrote in a blog post Wednesday that `` this funding paid for the research and testing '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the risk . ''
`` If Moderna 's vaccine turns out to be ineffective , '' wrote Baker , `` the government will be out the money , not Moderna . ''
Despite the fact that Moderna 's price tag for its coronavirus vaccine is the highest yet announced by any corporation involved with Operation Warp Speed , Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel on Wednesday characterized the cost as a discount during a conference call announcing the company 's massive second-quarter revenue increase .
But Public Citizen noted the absurdity of charging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed entirely with taxpayer funding .
`` They want us to buy back a vaccine developed with our tax dollars , '' the group tweeted .

Consumer advocates warned Wednesday that pharmaceutical giant Moderna is "taking taxpayers for a ride" after the company announced plans to charge between $32 and $37 per dose for a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed entirely with funds from the U.S. federal government.
"Taxpayers are paying for 100% of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine development. All of it," Peter Maybarduk, director of the Access to Medicines Program at Public Citizen, said in a statement. "Yet taxpayers may wind up paying tens of billions more to Moderna to buy our vaccine back, if it proves safe and effective."
"The so-called Moderna vaccine belongs in significant part to the people of the U.S," said Maybarduk. "We paid for it. Federal scientists led the way. It ought to be the people's vaccine, not a new taxpayer burden."
The experimental vaccine is currently undergoing a Phase 3 clinical trial that is expected to enroll around 30,000 adult volunteers who do not have Covid-19, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Trial results are expected as early as October.
"Results from early-stage clinical testing indicate the investigational mRNA-1273 vaccine is safe and immunogenic, supporting the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a statement last week.
For context, the $32-$37/dose Moderna cites for smaller volume agreements of #COVID19 vaccine is 60% more (on low end) than Pfizer price of $19.95/dose agreement with U.S. govt. Moderna notes price would be lower for larger volume agreements. Price would go up after pandemic. https://t.co/eki26YgK07 — Meg Tirrell (@megtirrell) August 5, 2020
Under pressure from advocacy groups to publicly disclose how its potential vaccine is being financed, Moderna told Axios Wednesday that U.S. taxpayers are providing "100% funding of the program."
Since April, the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company has received nearly a billion dollars in taxpayer grants to develop a vaccine as part of the Trump administration's so-called Operation Warp Speed.
"The company received $483 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in April to support its vaccine development," CNBC reported. "Last month, it announced it received an additional $472 million from the U.S. government."
Dean Baker, senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, wrote in a blog post Wednesday that "this funding paid for the research and testing" and "it also meant that the government took all the risk."
"If Moderna's vaccine turns out to be ineffective," wrote Baker, "the government will be out the money, not Moderna."
Despite the fact that Moderna's price tag for its coronavirus vaccine is the highest yet announced by any corporation involved with Operation Warp Speed, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel on Wednesday characterized the cost as a discount during a conference call announcing the company's massive second-quarter revenue increase.
But Public Citizen noted the absurdity of charging the public anything at all for a vaccine developed entirely with taxpayer funding.
"They want us to buy back a vaccine developed with our tax dollars," the group tweeted.
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Some Republican Senators Actually Speak Out Against President Stupid's 'Executive Orders'

Some Republicans are unhappy with Generalissimo Stupid , El Presidente for Life ruling by fiat : Sen. Lamar Alexander ( @ @ @ @ @ president is doing all he can to help workers , students and renters , but @ @ @ @ @ should be acting.
” Rep. Justin Amash ( L-MI ) : “ Our Constitution doesn @ @ @ @ @ to act as king whenever Congress doesn ’ t legislate.
” Sen. Ben Sasse ( @ @ @ @ @ The pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop .
President Obama did not have @ @ @ @ @ immigration law with DACA , and President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Some Republicans are unhappy with Generalissimo Stupid, El Presidente for Life ruling by fiat:
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “The president is doing all he can to help workers, students and renters, but Congress is the one who should be acting.”
Rep. Justin Amash (L-MI): “Our Constitution doesn’t authorize the president to act as king whenever Congress doesn’t legislate.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “[I] would much prefer a congressional agreement.”
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.): “The pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop. President Obama did not have the power to unilaterally rewrite immigration law with DACA, and President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law.”


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Paul Begala Tells Dems To Focus On Trump's Threat To Destroy Social Security

On This Week , George Stephanopolous asked Paul Begala if Democrats risk overplaying their hands in the stimulus negotiations , '' No .
No .
People are hurting , '' Begala said .
`` And people want help .
I mean , it 's music to my ears , when Alice accuses the Democrats of being Santa Claus , I mean , my God , they do n't need Santa Claus , they need emergency responders .
And in fact , there 's one thread on this that I think Democrats really have to focus on .
And God bless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's Social Security , right ?
`` Last night Joe sent out a tweet , and he said this , today , 'Donald Trump stated that if re-elected he 'll undermine the entire financial footing of Social Security . '
This cessation , suspension of the payroll tax would cut the funding of Social Security , which is already being cut , of course , because of the recession .
We 're collecting less revenue in payroll taxes .
So when you -- when you do that , you 're cutting Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this in their bones , '' he insisted .
`` They need to have this in their cells , in the cytoplasm of their cells .
They need to know that if they communicate to people that Donald Trump , in his last two budgets , proposed cutting Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid by $ 2 trillion , now he 's doing it again as part of a so-called emergency covid package , that he 's bragged about it again and again .
`` I mean I 'm sorry to be Nostradamus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had this in my book .
There 's an entire chapter about Trump wanting to cut Medicare , Medicaid and Social Security .
And I tell the Democrats , that chapter is called , 'This Chapter Will Beat Trump , I Guarantee It . '
Joe Biden seems to knows that , that 's why he jumped all over that last night . ''
Taking Trump literally make a lot more sense than I previously thought , because this weekend , I read `` The Grifters Club , '' a book about Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-time members explained that Trump has no actual ideology , he just believes in catering to the desires of the people who pay the bills .
And since he 's funded by the DeVos family , Charles Koch , and every other right-wing billionaire extremist , they 're his customers and he 'll do what they tell him to do -- period .

On This Week, George Stephanopolous asked Paul Begala if Democrats risk overplaying their hands in the stimulus negotiations,
"No. No. People are hurting," Begala said.
"And people want help. I mean, it's music to my ears, when Alice accuses the Democrats of being Santa Claus, I mean, my God, they don't need Santa Claus, they need emergency responders. And in fact, there's one thread on this that I think Democrats really have to focus on. And God bless Joe Biden, he did, and that's Social Security, right?
"Last night Joe sent out a tweet, and he said this, today, 'Donald Trump stated that if re-elected he'll undermine the entire financial footing of Social Security.' This cessation, suspension of the payroll tax would cut the funding of Social Security, which is already being cut, of course, because of the recession. We're collecting less revenue in payroll taxes. So when you -- when you do that, you're cutting Social Security.
"Democrats need to know this in their bones," he insisted.
"They need to have this in their cells, in the cytoplasm of their cells. They need to know that if they communicate to people that Donald Trump, in his last two budgets, proposed cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid by $2 trillion, now he's doing it again as part of a so-called emergency covid package, that he's bragged about it again and again.
"I mean I'm sorry to be Nostradamus, but I had this -- I had this in my book. There's an entire chapter about Trump wanting to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. And I tell the Democrats, that chapter is called, 'This Chapter Will Beat Trump, I Guarantee It.' Joe Biden seems to knows that, that's why he jumped all over that last night."
Taking Trump literally make a lot more sense than I previously thought, because this weekend, I read "The Grifters Club," a book about Trump and Mar-A-Lago. And one of the long-time members explained that Trump has no actual ideology, he just believes in catering to the desires of the people who pay the bills.
And since he's funded by the DeVos family, Charles Koch, and every other right-wing billionaire extremist, they're his customers and he'll do what they tell him to do -- period.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Brian Kilmeade Admits Republicans Are NEVER Going To Vote For More Covid Aid

Discussing COVID economic relief with Charles Payne ( yeah ) Brian Kilmeade lets the truth slip out .
Republicans were never going to vote for any relief money .
It 's been widely reported for weeks there are around 20 of them that do n't want to spend a dime .
Kilmeade was n't that specific here , but basically admitted as much .
Of course , the purpose of the segment was to pretend that Donald Trump is a great leader bypassing Democratic `` obstruction , '' but by Monday morning every sane person noted he did squat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But hey , Fox and Friends has a job to do and Charles Payne is up to the task !
CHARLES PAYNE : I was going to say the clock is ticking but we already struck midnight for a whole lot of folks particularly with moneys that expired two weeks ago or a week and a half ago .
You know , Brian , it 's really crazy that it has to have come to all of this , whereand , listen , obviously , this is just touching on some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an entire economy .
And it keeps shutting parts of it down and even when it 's reopened it 's not fully reopened .
I 'm not sure , Congress , I read , where some folks are talking about going to court .
Do you really go to court to stop people from getting extra money so they can pay their bills ?
To say stop them from being evicted from their homes or do you really finally negotiate in good faith ?
The parties were far apart from the very beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to happen .
It 's a shame because it 's a slow motion train wreck and we knew it .
We saw it .
We saw the cavalier attitude .
Really , the un -- the kind of negotiating that was n't done in good faith .
When you start at 3.4 trillion , that 's not good faith .
When you throw out 70 % of what somebody is earning during a pandemic that 's not going to work .
They started so far apart .
President trump did whatever he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the states out .
You know , the Congress does control the purse .
There is no doubt about that .
There are existing programs that the president is trying to dip into that he wants to be able to help the American public .
KILMEADE : Charles , he wants to help .
Issuing executive orders .
He would rather not do that !
What 's he supposed to do spend the weekend wallow and wonder if they are going to get something down the line .
There is no hope with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action on both sides so he can toss out these executive orders .
It 's so clear .
PAYNE : It 's so clear and it 's also obvious that , you know , the swiftness of the initial efforts by the federal government spearheaded by President Trump by the federal reserve , worked wonders .
You compare the great recession to what happened here and by the way , this is a much more dire economic back drop .
And it 's been absolutely remarkable .
But all based on swiftness .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ together .
All the ohrs rolling in the same direction .
Now all of a sudden typical politics maybe it 's an election year , I do n't know why but to me it 's maddening why the president had to do this but he had to do this .
KILMEADE : Republicans do n't want to sign off on any more spending .
You will not get many to sign off on a trillion let alone go half way and have 2 trillion .
That 's an issue .

Discussing COVID economic relief with Charles Payne (yeah) Brian Kilmeade lets the truth slip out.
Republicans were never going to vote for any relief money. It's been widely reported for weeks there are around 20 of them that don't want to spend a dime. Kilmeade wasn't that specific here, but basically admitted as much.
Of course, the purpose of the segment was to pretend that Donald Trump is a great leader bypassing Democratic "obstruction," but by Monday morning every sane person noted he did squat and what he did do was unconstitutional. But hey, Fox and Friends has a job to do and Charles Payne is up to the task!
CHARLES PAYNE: I was going to say the clock is ticking but we already struck midnight for a whole lot of folks particularly with moneys that expired two weeks ago or a week and a half ago. You know, Brian, it's really crazy that it has to have come to all of this, whereand, listen, obviously, this is just touching on some of the issues brought about when you shut down an entire economy. And it keeps shutting parts of it down and even when it's reopened it's not fully reopened. I'm not sure, Congress, I read, where some folks are talking about going to court. Do you really go to court to stop people from getting extra money so they can pay their bills? To say stop them from being evicted from their homes or do you really finally negotiate in good faith?
The parties were far apart from the very beginning. You can sense this was going to happen. It's a shame because it's a slow motion train wreck and we knew it. We saw it. We saw the cavalier attitude. Really, the un -- the kind of negotiating that wasn't done in good faith. When you start at 3.4 trillion, that's not good faith. When you throw out 70% of what somebody is earning during a pandemic that's not going to work. They started so far apart. President trump did whatever he could do because obviously he couldn't help the states out. You know, the Congress does control the purse. There is no doubt about that. There are existing programs that the president is trying to dip into that he wants to be able to help the American public.
KILMEADE: Charles, he wants to help. Issuing executive orders. He would rather not do that! What's he supposed to do spend the weekend wallow and wonder if they are going to get something down the line. There is no hope with these negotiations. Additional leverage to spur action on both sides so he can toss out these executive orders. It's so clear.
PAYNE: It's so clear and it's also obvious that, you know, the swiftness of the initial efforts by the federal government spearheaded by President Trump by the federal reserve, worked wonders. You compare the great recession to what happened here and by the way, this is a much more dire economic back drop. And it's been absolutely remarkable. But all based on swiftness. It was all based on everyone working together. All the ohrs rolling in the same direction. Now all of a sudden typical politics maybe it's an election year, I don't know why but to me it's maddening why the president had to do this but he had to do this.
KILMEADE: Republicans don't want to sign off on any more spending. You will not get many to sign off on a trillion let alone go half way and have 2 trillion. That's an issue.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Rick Santorum Blames Obama For Trump's Executive Actions

John Berman tried to hold Rick Santorum accountable for what he said in 2014 .
This contextual accountability hardly ever happens on cable news , so some kudos are warranted here .
But John Berman could n't overcome his first problem , which is HAVING RICK SANTORUM ON YOUR SHOW , JOHN .
Sure , Rick Santorum got his panties in a huge twist when Barack Obama used executive actions to bypass the total obstruction of Mitch McConnell to allow any accomplishments from his administration .
Do n't forget that McConnell went so far in his obstructionism in 2012 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context is completely missing from the CNN conversation .
As is the fact that the House passed a bill on March 15 providing support for working families during the pandemic .
Rather than follow regular order ( the Senate passing their own bill and the two bills going to conference committee to hash out the differences ) Mitch McConnell called the House bill `` dead on arrival '' and dithered for weeks .
The mainstream media really wants to blame `` both sides '' for this .
Once again , it 's Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a complicit media helping cover up his crime against working families .
Do better , CNN .
Stop having Rick Santorum on your shows , and if you 're going to talk history , watch some Jon Stewart from 2012 .
JOHN BERMAN , HOST : This is what 2014 Rick Santorum says .
He says , 'tonight 's announcement by the president is just another in a long line of power grabs by this administration .
The president simply does not believe that the executive is a co-equal branch of government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has ignored the rule of law and the balance of power between each branch of government and ignored the will of the American people . '
That 's what you and to be fair , many Republicans felt that in terms of President Obama 's use of executive actions .
How do you feel about it now when it 's a Republican president ?
RICK SANTORUM : I would say , number one , some of the things the president is suggesting are proper use of executive action , like suspending the payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come back and make it permanent , so people do n't have to pay it back .
But he can certainly do that .
That 's not -- a couple of the executive actions are clearly fine .
There 's a couple that are not and I would say that President Obama has set the precedent , and that 's the problem .
That 's the reason that many Republicans came out when he was spending money on health care that he was not -- under Obamacare that he was not permitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was establishing the DACA program that was again , not a legitimate use of executive power , many of us stepped forward and said , no , you ca n't do this and you 're setting a horrible precedent that now Donald Trump is following .
So I find the hypocrisy of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer , who applauded President Obama for using this unconstitutional executive action , are now complaining that President Trump is doing the same thing .
BERMAN : But i 'm giving you an opportunity to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard me say it , John -- BERMAN : I know , you blamed President Obama .
I want to know , do you approve of the executive action -- BERMAN : I want to give you the opportunity to say , why do n't you approve of the action that president Trump , this president , took ?
SANTORUM : The action that you just spoke of , creating a new unemployment system , if you will , is something that is under the purview of Congress to do and not for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And just like when Barack Obama funded health insurance companies illegally , in my opinion , unconstitutionally , both are under the purview of congress to appropriate that money and he ca n't just unilaterally do that .

John Berman tried to hold Rick Santorum accountable for what he said in 2014.
This contextual accountability hardly ever happens on cable news, so some kudos are warranted here.
But John Berman couldn't overcome his first problem, which is HAVING RICK SANTORUM ON YOUR SHOW, JOHN.
Sure, Rick Santorum got his panties in a huge twist when Barack Obama used executive actions to bypass the total obstruction of Mitch McConnell to allow any accomplishments from his administration. Don't forget that McConnell went so far in his obstructionism in 2012 that he filibustered his own bill.
That context is completely missing from the CNN conversation. As is the fact that the House passed a bill on March 15 providing support for working families during the pandemic. Rather than follow regular order (the Senate passing their own bill and the two bills going to conference committee to hash out the differences) Mitch McConnell called the House bill "dead on arrival" and dithered for weeks.
The mainstream media really wants to blame "both sides" for this. Once again, it's Mitch McConnell's obstructionism at play, with a complicit media helping cover up his crime against working families.
Do better, CNN. Stop having Rick Santorum on your shows, and if you're going to talk history, watch some Jon Stewart from 2012.
JOHN BERMAN, HOST: This is what 2014 Rick Santorum says. He says, 'tonight's announcement by the president is just another in a long line of power grabs by this administration. The president simply does not believe that the executive is a co-equal branch of government. Time after time, President Obama then has ignored the rule of law and the balance of power between each branch of government and ignored the will of the American people.' That's what you and to be fair, many Republicans felt that in terms of President Obama's use of executive actions. How do you feel about it now when it's a Republican president? RICK SANTORUM: I would say, number one, some of the things the president is suggesting are proper use of executive action, like suspending the payroll tax temporarily. He'll need Congress to come back and make it permanent, so people don't have to pay it back. But he can certainly do that. That's not -- a couple of the executive actions are clearly fine. There's a couple that are not and I would say that President Obama has set the precedent, and that's the problem. That's the reason that many Republicans came out when he was spending money on health care that he was not -- under Obamacare that he was not permitted to spend under the act, that he was establishing the DACA program that was again, not a legitimate use of executive power, many of us stepped forward and said, no, you can't do this and you're setting a horrible precedent that now Donald Trump is following. So I find the hypocrisy of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, who applauded President Obama for using this unconstitutional executive action, are now complaining that President Trump is doing the same thing. BERMAN: But i'm giving you an opportunity to not be a hypocrite. SANTORUM: You heard me say it, John -- BERMAN: I know, you blamed President Obama. I want to know, do you approve of the executive action -- SANTORUM: No, I don't. [CROSSTALK] BERMAN: I want to give you the opportunity to say, why don't you approve of the action that president Trump, this president, took? SANTORUM: The action that you just spoke of, creating a new unemployment system, if you will, is something that is under the purview of Congress to do and not for the president to be able to do. And just like when Barack Obama funded health insurance companies illegally, in my opinion, unconstitutionally, both are under the purview of congress to appropriate that money and he can't just unilaterally do that.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Incompetent Fascist: Trump's 'Executive Orders' Do The Wrong Things --Illegally

On Saturday Donald Trump announced , in a bizarre golf clubhouse speech to an audience of millionaires , a series of `` executive orders '' that he will ( attempt to ) undertake as substitute for negotiating new pandemic aid packages with Congress .
Those talks had stalled due to Republican Senate indifference as to passing anything , Trump team unwillingness to assist state governments in economic crisis due to the pandemic , and Democratic insistence that Trump 's new postmaster general stop actively sabotaging the U.S. mail system during that pandemic .
Because Trump has surrounded himself with conservatism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grifters impress him during Fox News appearances—the executive orders produced manage to both do extremely bad things , and to do them illegally .
The Trump team is looking to manage the nation 's spending and tax policies out from under Congress .
The Constitution , back when it existed , does not technically allow that ; then again , the Constitution does n't allow a president to accept foreign bribes , either , but here we are .
The Washington Post 's Heather Long gives an overview of both the content and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing , only one of what Trump called his four `` executive orders '' is actually an executive order ; the rest are memorandums , which are ... not the same thing .
He also at one point referred to them as `` bills '' ; that 's even more wrong , and does even less to suggest Trump has even a passing familiarity with his own actual job .
The biggest `` thing '' Trump announced—in a memo , not an order—is a Trump instruction to the U.S. Treasury to simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
This `` payroll tax holiday '' has been a hobbyhorse for conservatism for some time , a brute-force means of depriving Social Security of funds so that , when the resulting deficits appear , it can later be pointed to as a program in crisis and sharply curtailed .
As far as pandemic stimulus goes , however , this ranks only slightly above Republicanism 's other no-really-they-proposed-this idea of allowing 100 % tax write-off of business lunches .
The federal payroll tax only affects people who are on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is massive , depression-level unemployment , which a `` tax cut '' will not solve in any way whatsoever .
It 's nonsensical .
No businesses are going to hire workers for now-shuttered or shrunken businesses on the basis of an imaginary tax cut .
That 's right : imaginary .
There 's a catch here , and it 's a big one .
Trump does n't eliminate the payroll tax , he simply orders the tax deferred until next year .
That means that every American worker struggling to make ends meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to come up with a lump-sum payment of all of those deferred taxes when the year is out .
That 's obviously untenable ; what Trump 's team intends is to force Congress into a position where they have to save taxpayers from this new manufactured double-crisis by forgiving those tax debts .
If it works out as Trump 's team plans , either Social Security gets massively defunded or a very large chunk of working America faces a new balloon payment come next April or so .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
( Similarly , another of Trump 's not-executive-orders does the same thing for federal student loans : Payments may be delayed with no interest , but only until January . )
Because this is also Donald Trump we 're talking about , this memorandum came with a explosive Trump ad-lib that either gave away his advisers ' larger game or is just the babbling of an idiot .
Trump said that if is reelected he would `` terminate '' these taxes permanently .
To every ear , that sounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security outright .
Just wipe it from the books .
It was up to the failingest economic crackpot in America , Trump adviser Larry Kudlow , to Trumpsplain to the nation that Trump did not mean what he said , he 's just incredibly dumb and could n't explain his own supposed policies .
The other `` big '' memorandum announced on Saturday is an attempt to extend pandemic unemployment aid without involving Congress .
Congressional Democrats wanted , at minimum , the $ 600-max-per-week aid payments to continue .
Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working ( during a pandemic in which there is no work ) and turn them lazy , begrudgingly offered $ 200 a week .
The Trump memo attempting to get around Congress on this one is a doozy .
It raids the Department of Homeland Security 's Disaster Relief Fund , the fund that enables Federal Emergency Management Association assistance after large-scale natural disasters such as fires or hurricanes , to the tune of $ 44 billion dollars .
This money will be used to pay for $ 400 per week in aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would in about a month .
It is similar in nature to Trump 's raiding of Defense Department funds to allocate towards building his `` wall '' along the southern border , ignoring the Constitution 's placement of federal spending powers with Congress to simply spend whatever Trump 's team wants to spend on whatever they want to spend it on .
There are ( ahem ) several problems with this , all of them rather ... existential ... in nature .
First off , it appears to be brazenly illegal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in clear violation of the laws that govern how the Disaster Relief Fund money can be spent .
( America 's worst economist had to publicly walk back his own prior statements presuming such a move would be illegal , in fact . )
It empties out the fund during what 's predicted to be one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons on record .
And Trump 's memorandum specifies that the funding can only be used in states that chip in $ 100 of that $ 400 per week themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a true extension of federal unemployment aid , but some sort of hybrid new program—one that could take `` months '' to even get off the ground .
Kudlow had to play the fool on this topic too , on the Sunday shows , admitting that the White House does n't know how many states would even be able to come up with the necessary funds themselves , during the effing worldwide pandemic .
On the plus side , if no states can afford to participate in the Trump plan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The problem solves itself .
That brings us to the last of the Things Trump called `` executive orders , '' and the only one that is an actual executive order .
Trump issued an executive order to ask his officials to `` consider '' whether a ban on residential evictions might be `` reasonably necessary . ''
Oh , and asks Housing and Urban Development to `` identify '' what Federal funds might in theory be used to help renters and homeowners .
And do whatever existing law says they can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have the heft of the others , does it .
But it , unlike the others , is definitely an `` executive order . ''
Yes , there 's a Kudlow clip .
Yes , it 's as humiliating as the others .
So that 's where we 're at , and it is a place both familiar and not .
What Trump actually signed bears very little resemblance to what Trump said he signed , during his golf-club announcement speech .
It is in equal parts unworkable , ineffective , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make his orders even remotely effective would of necessity mean they were illegal , and the only way to interpret them as legal would of necessity mean they were nigh-on useless .
His own advisers are contradicting what the memos say , and what Trump says they say , and their own past statements .
It is an attempt at an authoritarian override of Congress that glibly and intentionally undermines multiple federal programs in an ideologically-premised prescription that has little to nothing to do with the actual problem that faces us , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of much of the economy , most of our education systems , producing mass poverty , and killing people .
Much of the rest of the world is well on the way to controlling the pandemic until a vaccine can be produced by taking the core actions prescribed by each nation 's experts from the beginning : Vigorous testing , social isolation , and enough financial aid to absorb the effects of needed local or national closures .
While they 're doing that , our fascist-minded but catastrophically stupid executive heads are using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a large bite from Social Security , and revive the business lunch .
From a golf club , no less .
I mean , of course it would be from a golf club .

On Saturday Donald Trump announced, in a bizarre golf clubhouse speech to an audience of millionaires, a series of "executive orders" that he will (attempt to) undertake as substitute for negotiating new pandemic aid packages with Congress. Those talks had stalled due to Republican Senate indifference as to passing anything, Trump team unwillingness to assist state governments in economic crisis due to the pandemic, and Democratic insistence that Trump's new postmaster general stop actively sabotaging the U.S. mail system during that pandemic.
Because Trump has surrounded himself with conservatism's least competent blowhards—namely, whichever self-promoting grifters impress him during Fox News appearances—the executive orders produced manage to both do extremely bad things, and to do them illegally. The Trump team is looking to manage the nation's spending and tax policies out from under Congress. The Constitution, back when it existed, does not technically allow that; then again, the Constitution doesn't allow a president to accept foreign bribes, either, but here we are.
The Washington Post's Heather Long gives an overview of both the content and implications of Trump's orders. For one thing, only one of what Trump called his four "executive orders" is actually an executive order; the rest are memorandums, which are ... not the same thing. He also at one point referred to them as "bills"; that's even more wrong, and does even less to suggest Trump has even a passing familiarity with his own actual job.
The biggest "thing" Trump announced—in a memo, not an order—is a Trump instruction to the U.S. Treasury to simply stop collecting payroll taxes for the duration of the year. This "payroll tax holiday" has been a hobbyhorse for conservatism for some time, a brute-force means of depriving Social Security of funds so that, when the resulting deficits appear, it can later be pointed to as a program in crisis and sharply curtailed.
As far as pandemic stimulus goes, however, this ranks only slightly above Republicanism's other no-really-they-proposed-this idea of allowing 100% tax write-off of business lunches. The federal payroll tax only affects people who are on a payroll. The crisis of the moment is massive, depression-level unemployment, which a "tax cut" will not solve in any way whatsoever. It's nonsensical. No businesses are going to hire workers for now-shuttered or shrunken businesses on the basis of an imaginary tax cut.
That's right: imaginary. There's a catch here, and it's a big one. Trump doesn't eliminate the payroll tax, he simply orders the tax deferred until next year. That means that every American worker struggling to make ends meet during an actual, once-per-century worldwide pandemic will have to come up with a lump-sum payment of all of those deferred taxes when the year is out. That's obviously untenable; what Trump's team intends is to force Congress into a position where they have to save taxpayers from this new manufactured double-crisis by forgiving those tax debts.
If it works out as Trump's team plans, either Social Security gets massively defunded or a very large chunk of working America faces a new balloon payment come next April or so. Meanwhile, the actual pandemic itself rolls on unimpeded by the White House. (Similarly, another of Trump's not-executive-orders does the same thing for federal student loans: Payments may be delayed with no interest, but only until January.)
Because this is also Donald Trump we're talking about, this memorandum came with a explosive Trump ad-lib that either gave away his advisers' larger game or is just the babbling of an idiot. Trump said that if is reelected he would "terminate" these taxes permanently. To every ear, that sounded like a Trump promise to ... end Social Security outright. Just wipe it from the books. It was up to the failingest economic crackpot in America, Trump adviser Larry Kudlow, to Trumpsplain to the nation that Trump did not mean what he said, he's just incredibly dumb and couldn't explain his own supposed policies.
“I think what he was saying is that the deferral of the payroll tax to the end of the year will be made permanent…the tax is not going away," WH economic adviser Larry Kudlow says Pres. Trump’s promise to cut payroll taxes permanently will not impact Social Security or Medicare. pic.twitter.com/IYTpfW2IRi — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) August 9, 2020
Yikes.
The other "big" memorandum announced on Saturday is an attempt to extend pandemic unemployment aid without involving Congress. Congressional Democrats wanted, at minimum, the $600-max-per-week aid payments to continue. Republicans, fearing that number would dissuade Americans from working (during a pandemic in which there is no work) and turn them lazy, begrudgingly offered $200 a week.
The Trump memo attempting to get around Congress on this one is a doozy. It raids the Department of Homeland Security's Disaster Relief Fund, the fund that enables Federal Emergency Management Association assistance after large-scale natural disasters such as fires or hurricanes, to the tune of $44 billion dollars. This money will be used to pay for $400 per week in aid until the money runs out, which it would in about a month. It is similar in nature to Trump's raiding of Defense Department funds to allocate towards building his "wall" along the southern border, ignoring the Constitution's placement of federal spending powers with Congress to simply spend whatever Trump's team wants to spend on whatever they want to spend it on.
There are (ahem) several problems with this, all of them rather ... existential ... in nature. First off, it appears to be brazenly illegal. Trump's team simply takes the money, in clear violation of the laws that govern how the Disaster Relief Fund money can be spent. (America's worst economist had to publicly walk back his own prior statements presuming such a move would be illegal, in fact.) It empties out the fund during what's predicted to be one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons on record. And Trump's memorandum specifies that the funding can only be used in states that chip in $100 of that $400 per week themselves.
This means that it's not even a true extension of federal unemployment aid, but some sort of hybrid new program—one that could take "months" to even get off the ground.
Kudlow had to play the fool on this topic too, on the Sunday shows, admitting that the White House doesn't know how many states would even be able to come up with the necessary funds themselves, during the effing worldwide pandemic. On the plus side, if no states can afford to participate in the Trump plan, the $44 billion will last indefinitely: The problem solves itself.
That brings us to the last of the Things Trump called "executive orders," and the only one that is an actual executive order. Trump issued an executive order to ask his officials to "consider" whether a ban on residential evictions might be "reasonably necessary." Oh, and asks Housing and Urban Development to "identify" what Federal funds might in theory be used to help renters and homeowners. And do whatever existing law says they can do about the problem. Yeah, doesn't have the heft of the others, does it. But it, unlike the others, is definitely an "executive order."
Yes, there's a Kudlow clip. Yes, it's as humiliating as the others.
LARRY KUDLOW: The president felt he had to take action on an eviction moratorium.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But his executive order doesn't actually include an eviction moratorium.
KUDLOW: ... look, that's not entirely true.
STEPHANOPOULOS: It is true. I just read it. pic.twitter.com/f9Hc4J9FHw — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 9, 2020
So that's where we're at, and it is a place both familiar and not. What Trump actually signed bears very little resemblance to what Trump said he signed, during his golf-club announcement speech. It is in equal parts unworkable, ineffective, and illegal—and in fact the only way to make his orders even remotely effective would of necessity mean they were illegal, and the only way to interpret them as legal would of necessity mean they were nigh-on useless. His own advisers are contradicting what the memos say, and what Trump says they say, and their own past statements.
It is an attempt at an authoritarian override of Congress that glibly and intentionally undermines multiple federal programs in an ideologically-premised prescription that has little to nothing to do with the actual problem that faces us, a nationwide pandemic that is forcing the closure of much of the economy, most of our education systems, producing mass poverty, and killing people.
Much of the rest of the world is well on the way to controlling the pandemic until a vaccine can be produced by taking the core actions prescribed by each nation's experts from the beginning: Vigorous testing, social isolation, and enough financial aid to absorb the effects of needed local or national closures. While they're doing that, our fascist-minded but catastrophically stupid executive heads are using the pandemic to sabotage mail delivery, take a large bite from Social Security, and revive the business lunch.
From a golf club, no less. I mean, of course it would be from a golf club.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Wingnut Welfare Recipient Chides Democrats For Playing Santa Claus With Stimulus Checks

On This Week with George Stephanopolous , Republican operative Alice Stewart says the Republicans are being `` wise '' and @ @ @ @ @ to boot Americans off a $ 600 unemployment stimulus check .
Stewart herself ?
She @ @ @ @ @ most of her adult life .
She was the comms director for the losing presidential @ @ @ @ @ Mike Huckabee , Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann .
She has since failed upward to @ @ @ @ @ 's Kennedy School , and she 's on the faculty of the Leadership Institute , @ @ @ @ @ '' And so on .
Now she 's chiding Democrats for playing `` Santa Claus @ @ @ @ @ unmotivated Americans from going back to work .
We should all be focused on seeing @ @ @ @ @ left of the Republican Party to employ Alice Stewart .

On This Week with George Stephanopolous, Republican operative Alice Stewart says the Republicans are being "wise" and "thoughtful" in trying to boot Americans off a $600 unemployment stimulus check.
Stewart herself? She's been on wingnut welfare most of her adult life.
She was the comms director for the losing presidential campaigns of Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann. She has since failed upward to being a fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School, and she's on the faculty of the Leadership Institute, another wingnut "non-profit."
And so on.
Now she's chiding Democrats for playing "Santa Claus" and keeping lazy, unmotivated Americans from going back to work.
We should all be focused on seeing that there's not enough left of the Republican Party to employ Alice Stewart.


crooksandliars--2020-08-10--Jonathan Lemire: 'It's All Over' If Trump Loses Two More States

Early voting starts in a few weeks , and the breakdown does n't look good for Trump , as Jonathan Lemire explains .
`` The first state is North Carolina , which is I believe September 3rd .
That kicks off the early voting , '' he said .
`` North Carolina a key battleground and other states begin on the days and weeks to follow .
September 3rd is all of two months before Election Day .
So a lot of votes are going to be banked .
So the president trailing , and his campaign acknowledges that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those voters ' minds .
But it 's true , those who vote early tend to have their minds made up .
They are n't usually swing voters , they 're absolutely a factor here .
`` We were talking before about the polls , both campaigns agree that there are six battleground states to decide this election , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Michigan , Arizona , North Carolina , Florida .
That 's setting aside somewhere now the president has to play defense and has had to spend resources and had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio , Texas .
Georgia is another one he has to play defense .
We do n't see , outside of perhaps New Hampshire , a place where Democrats will have to do the same now that the Trump campaign has ceded Minnesota is a wish that will go unfulfilled .
Lemire explains Trump 's campaign can only afford to lose one more of the other side .
`` They can lose Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , but they have to win the rest of them , if they lose two the ball game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 270 electoral votes , '' he said .

Early voting starts in a few weeks, and the breakdown doesn't look good for Trump, as Jonathan Lemire explains.
"The first state is North Carolina, which is I believe September 3rd. That kicks off the early voting," he said.
"North Carolina a key battleground and other states begin on the days and weeks to follow. September 3rd is all of two months before Election Day. So a lot of votes are going to be banked. So the president trailing, and his campaign acknowledges that, are running out of time to change those voters' minds. But it's true, those who vote early tend to have their minds made up. They aren't usually swing voters, they're absolutely a factor here.
"We were talking before about the polls, both campaigns agree that there are six battleground states to decide this election, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, Florida. That's setting aside somewhere now the president has to play defense and has had to spend resources and had to go the past week to places like Ohio, Texas. Georgia is another one he has to play defense. We don't see, outside of perhaps New Hampshire, a place where Democrats will have to do the same now that the Trump campaign has ceded Minnesota is a wish that will go unfulfilled.
Lemire explains Trump's campaign can only afford to lose one more of the other side.
"They can lose Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, but they have to win the rest of them, if they lose two the ball game is over, they can't get 270 electoral votes," he said.


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--Imagine A World Where White House Correspondents Stop Being Polite To Trump

As a former journalist , I ca n't tell you how much it upsets me to see the White House @ @ @ @ @ time Trump interrupts them , abuses them , or openly lies to them .
I @ @ @ @ @ politician to get away with that .
Never .
Because my job was to get @ @ @ @ @ Period .
I have to assume these journalists been instructed by their corporate higher-ups not @ @ @ @ @ be there in case actual news happens -- although it never really does .
The @ @ @ @ @ comes out of these press conferences is when the occasional female reporter asks about one @ @ @ @ @ that 's why so many of us will love this video put together by Don @ @ @ @ @ author of many thrillers .
Enjoy , even if it 's unlikely to happen in @ @ @

As a former journalist, I can't tell you how much it upsets me to see the White House correspondents roll over almost every time Trump interrupts them, abuses them, or openly lies to them. I would never have allowed a politician to get away with that. Never.
Because my job was to get information for my readers. Period.
I have to assume these journalists been instructed by their corporate higher-ups not to jeopardize their chance to be there in case actual news happens -- although it never really does. The only "news" that comes out of these press conferences is when the occasional female reporter asks about one of his lies.
And that's why so many of us will love this video put together by Don Winslow, who's the author of many thrillers.
Enjoy, even if it's unlikely to happen in real life.


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--ACLU Director Calls For Dismantling Department Of Homeland Security

The ACLU has thrown down the gauntlet on the Department of Homeland Security .
Via USAToday : The fearsome tactics @ @ @ @ @ to the communities against whom they are used .
Its dysfunction is one of the @ @ @ @ @ secrets .
DHS ’ s overbroad mandate and unchecked powers have turned it into a @ @ @ @ @ a president willing to trample on the constitutional limits of presidential powers .
While calls @ @ @ @ @ and clear for years , new signals are now coming from the highest levels of @ @ @ @ @ notes that Tom Ridge , Michael Chertoff , and Richard Clarke have all been seriously @ @ @ @ @ concluding : Nearly 20 years of abuse , waste and corruption demonstrate the failure of @ @ @ @ @ 22 agencies with conflicting missions — including border security , disaster relief and immigration enforcement @ @ @ @ @ insiders knew DHS to be an ineffective superagency , but President Trump has converted DHS @ @ @ @ @ most notable badge of shame .

The ACLU has thrown down the gauntlet on the Department of Homeland Security. Via USAToday:
The fearsome tactics of DHS are well known to the communities against whom they are used. Its dysfunction is one of the Beltway’s worst kept secrets. DHS’s overbroad mandate and unchecked powers have turned it into a tinderbox, now ignited by a president willing to trample on the constitutional limits of presidential powers. While calls for reform have been loud and clear for years, new signals are now coming from the highest levels of the DHS diaspora.
He notes that Tom Ridge, Michael Chertoff, and Richard Clarke have all been seriously critical of the department, concluding:


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--California Cops Point Guns At Black Teens Who Were Being Threatened By Homeless Man

Law enforcement officers in Santa Clarita , California were seen on video pointing weapons at Black teens who were allegedly being threatened by a homeless man .
The video was posted by Instagram user Tammilaray .
“ I wanted to share what happened to my son yesterday in SCV when he was with a couple of friends sitting at a bus stop headed home , ” the Instagram user explained .
“ He was attacked by a gentleman ( homeless guy ) who approached them and first asked them if they had any crack then tried to take their things.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager of the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings called the cops to get help for the teens .
“ ‘ One ’ caller called the police and reported two black guys are attacking a homeless guy , ” Tammilaray said .
“ This is how the police responded .
This is something my son and his friends will never forget .
I ’ m still wonder how will I ever help my son recover from this traumatic experience .
Please pray for my family .
Please Share to protect our kids !
!
!
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Department told TMZ that they received a call about two adult males hitting another man with a skateboard .
The department said the two teens were released and no arrests were made .
“ The Dept doesn ’ t know what happened to the homeless man , ” TMZ added .
Watch the video and read the report below .

Law enforcement officers in Santa Clarita, California were seen on video pointing weapons at Black teens who were allegedly being threatened by a homeless man.
The video was posted by Instagram user Tammilaray.
“I wanted to share what happened to my son yesterday in SCV when he was with a couple of friends sitting at a bus stop headed home,” the Instagram user explained. “He was attacked by a gentleman (homeless guy) who approached them and first asked them if they had any crack then tried to take their things.”
According to the report, the manager of the nearby Buffalo Wild Wings called the cops to get help for the teens.
“‘One’ caller called the police and reported two black guys are attacking a homeless guy,” Tammilaray said. “This is how the police responded. This is something my son and his friends will never forget. I’m still wonder how will I ever help my son recover from this traumatic experience. Please pray for my family. Please Share to protect our kids!!!”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told TMZ that they received a call about two adult males hitting another man with a skateboard. The department said the two teens were released and no arrests were made. “The Dept doesn’t know what happened to the homeless man,” TMZ added.
Watch the video and read the report below.


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--Women Posing As Federal Workers Harass Grocery Store Employee

For people who hate the government so much , these anti-maskers sure enjoy cosplaying federal workers in order to intimidate people .
In this case , it was two women in Orange County , CA posing as `` workers '' with the `` FTBA , '' attempting to intimidate Liz Chavez in the grocery store where she works .
Chavez told them they needed to wear masks inside the store .
That 's when one of the women launched into a spiel about how they were from the `` Freedom to Breathe Agency '' as her companion took out her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , identified as the FTBA 's founder , Lenka Koloma , says in the video posted to TikTok that they are `` making sure that people 's constitutional rights , civil and federal laws are not broken . ''
For people who love law and order so much , they sure seem totally cool with committing felonies in order to exercise their right to be stupid and deadly in public during a pandemic .
The `` Freedom to Breathe Agency '' has drawn attention before for its stunts and was even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice .
The group — which is not a real governmental agency — had been distributing `` face mask exempt '' cards that claimed the holder was exempt from wearing a mask `` under the Americans with Disability Act , '' a misspelling of the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) .
For people who are so dead set on telling women what to do with their bodies , they sure do n't like being told to wear masks for 20 minutes while inside a grocery store .
The woman doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koloma ( founder of this fake agency ) claimed the following : She said her claim that someone like Chavez could face legal action is because telling someone to wear a mask is akin to impersonating a medical doctor .
A health order from the state of California , however , has mandated that customers and employees wear masks when around other people .
Does that mean all the anti-choice a $ $ holes outside women 's clinics harassing the patients about the medical procedures they 're seeking could also face legal action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is HUGE !

For people who hate the government so much, these anti-maskers sure enjoy cosplaying federal workers in order to intimidate people.
In this case, it was two women in Orange County, CA posing as "workers" with the "FTBA," attempting to intimidate Liz Chavez in the grocery store where she works. Chavez told them they needed to wear masks inside the store.
From Buzzfeed News:
That's when one of the women launched into a spiel about how they were from the "Freedom to Breathe Agency" as her companion took out her phone to record the exchange. The woman, identified as the FTBA's founder, Lenka Koloma, says in the video posted to TikTok that they are "making sure that people's constitutional rights, civil and federal laws are not broken."
These people are attempting to intimidate essential workers by pretending to work for a bogus federal agency. pic.twitter.com/fah5T2YGi6 — Kalhan (@KalhanR) August 7, 2020
For people who love law and order so much, they sure seem totally cool with committing felonies in order to exercise their right to be stupid and deadly in public during a pandemic.
The "Freedom to Breathe Agency" has drawn attention before for its stunts and was even the subject of a warning from the Department of Justice. The group — which is not a real governmental agency — had been distributing "face mask exempt" cards that claimed the holder was exempt from wearing a mask "under the Americans with Disability Act," a misspelling of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
For people who are so dead set on telling women what to do with their bodies, they sure don't like being told to wear masks for 20 minutes while inside a grocery store.
The woman doing the harassing in this video, Lenka Koloma (founder of this fake agency) claimed the following:
She said her claim that someone like Chavez could face legal action is because telling someone to wear a mask is akin to impersonating a medical doctor. A health order from the state of California, however, has mandated that customers and employees wear masks when around other people.
Does that mean all the anti-choice a$$holes outside women's clinics harassing the patients about the medical procedures they're seeking could also face legal action for impersonating medical doctors? If so, this is HUGE!


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--Biden Denounces Trump's Executive Orders As  'New, Reckless War On Social Security'

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has hit back against President Donald Trump 's open threat on Saturday to permanently cut the payroll tax which funds both Social Security and Medicare , two of the nation 's most popular and vital safety net programs .
Even as White House officials on Sunday did their best to walk back Trump 's clear-as-day pronouncement that he permanently `` terminate '' the payroll tax if reelected in November , Biden in a statement Saturday evening said : `` Make no mistake : Donald Trump said today that if he is re-elected , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For months , Trump has golfed rather than negotiated , and sown division rather than pull people together to get a package passed . ''
—Joe BidenWhile Republicans have refused to budge from their demands to drastically diminish a far-reaching Covid-19 relief package presented by Democrats , Biden in a statement characterized Trump 's announced executive orders on Saturday—which experts and critics have roundly rebuked as not only `` legally dubious '' but wholly inadequate to the pandemic crisis at hand—as a `` series of half-baked measures '' that include `` a first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' on Social Security and Medicare and an order on jobless benefits that `` will do nothing cuts , chaos , and confusion to our system of unemployment insurance . ''
Biden accused Trump of `` putting Social Security at grave risk at a time when seniors are suffering the overwhelming impact of a pandemic he has failed to get under control , '' and denounced the president 's failed leadership from day the first day of the pandemic through to the present .
`` For months , Trump has golfed rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull people together to get a package passed , '' Biden said .
`` Now , instead of staying in Washington and working with Republicans and Democrats to reach a bipartisan deal , President Trump is at his golf club in New Jersey signing a series of dubious executive orders . ''
Biden added : `` This is no art of the deal .
This is not presidential leadership .
These orders are not real solutions .
They are just another cynical ploy designed to deflect responsibility .
Some measures .
do far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden was repeatedly hit by critics during the Democratic primary for his less-than-impressive record when it comes to defending the social safety net during his long career in Congress , progressive advocacy groups like Social Security Works on Sunday applauded Biden for his promise to defend the program against an attack by Trump : As Common Dreams reported earlier Sunday , progressives have offered detailed critiques and condemnation of each of the orders that taken together amount to nothing but a `` cruel joke '' and a `` sham '' solution presented to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Security has sparked specific alarm , with defenders of the program vowing to do whatever it takes to make sure Trump—as well as any Republican who fails to vocally denounce such efforts—to pay a massive political price at the polls in November .
`` Seniors pay for their housing , food , and medicine with their Social Security , putting $ 1 trillion into our economy every year , '' said Richard Fiesta , executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans .
`` Older Americans have earned their benefits through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be put at risk because President Trump is mad at Congress for not bending to his will . ''
Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , Biden 's former rival for the Democratic nomination and one of Congress ' most outspoken defenders of Social Security , said Saturday night that Trump is quite mistaken if he thinks such a threat as Saturday would not be understood for what it was .
Sanders tweeted : In a statement on Saturday immediately after Trump 's statement , Social Security Works president Nancy Altman said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not only Trump held to account for what he has now threatened to do .
`` Voters should treat any Senator or Representative who is silent as complicit in destroying Social Security , '' Altman said .
`` Furthermore , every American who cares about Social Security 's future must do everything they can to ensure that Trump does not get a second term . ''

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has hit back against President Donald Trump's open threat on Saturday to permanently cut the payroll tax which funds both Social Security and Medicare, two of the nation's most popular and vital safety net programs.
Even as White House officials on Sunday did their best to walk back Trump's clear-as-day pronouncement that he permanently "terminate" the payroll tax if reelected in November, Biden in a statement Saturday evening said: "Make no mistake: Donald Trump said today that if he is re-elected, he will defund Social Security."
"For months, Trump has golfed rather than negotiated, and sown division rather than pull people together to get a package passed." —Joe BidenWhile Republicans have refused to budge from their demands to drastically diminish a far-reaching Covid-19 relief package presented by Democrats, Biden in a statement characterized Trump's announced executive orders on Saturday—which experts and critics have roundly rebuked as not only "legally dubious" but wholly inadequate to the pandemic crisis at hand—as a "series of half-baked measures" that include "a first shot in a new, reckless war" on Social Security and Medicare and an order on jobless benefits that "will do nothing cuts, chaos, and confusion to our system of unemployment insurance."
Biden accused Trump of "putting Social Security at grave risk at a time when seniors are suffering the overwhelming impact of a pandemic he has failed to get under control," and denounced the president's failed leadership from day the first day of the pandemic through to the present.
"For months, Trump has golfed rather than negotiated, and sown division rather than pull people together to get a package passed," Biden said. "Now, instead of staying in Washington and working with Republicans and Democrats to reach a bipartisan deal, President Trump is at his golf club in New Jersey signing a series of dubious executive orders."
Biden added: "This is no art of the deal. This is not presidential leadership. These orders are not real solutions. They are just another cynical ploy designed to deflect responsibility. Some measures. do far more harm than good."
While Biden was repeatedly hit by critics during the Democratic primary for his less-than-impressive record when it comes to defending the social safety net during his long career in Congress, progressive advocacy groups like Social Security Works on Sunday applauded Biden for his promise to defend the program against an attack by Trump:
Strong statement from @JoeBiden on Donald Trump's plan to destroy Social Security if reelected. https://t.co/iAQONnjGNe — SocialSecurityWorks (@SSWorks) August 9, 2020
As Common Dreams reported earlier Sunday, progressives have offered detailed critiques and condemnation of each of the orders that taken together amount to nothing but a "cruel joke" and a "sham" solution presented to the American people.
The attack on Social Security has sparked specific alarm, with defenders of the program vowing to do whatever it takes to make sure Trump—as well as any Republican who fails to vocally denounce such efforts—to pay a massive political price at the polls in November.
Trump couldn't make a deal with Congress so he decided to pretend he was a dictator and the first thing he did was defund Social Security — Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 8, 2020
"Seniors pay for their housing, food, and medicine with their Social Security, putting $1 trillion into our economy every year," said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. "Older Americans have earned their benefits through a lifetime of work. Their retirement should not be put at risk because President Trump is mad at Congress for not bending to his will."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Biden's former rival for the Democratic nomination and one of Congress' most outspoken defenders of Social Security, said Saturday night that Trump is quite mistaken if he thinks such a threat as Saturday would not be understood for what it was. Sanders tweeted:
Today, Trump announced that if he is re-elected he will permanently defund Social Security. That may make sense to the billionaires at his country club, but it makes zero sense to me. No, Mr. President. We will not let you destroy Social Security. We will defeat you – badly. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 9, 2020
In a statement on Saturday immediately after Trump's statement, Social Security Works president Nancy Altman said the American people must ensure that it's not only Trump held to account for what he has now threatened to do.
"Voters should treat any Senator or Representative who is silent as complicit in destroying Social Security," Altman said. "Furthermore, every American who cares about Social Security's future must do everything they can to ensure that Trump does not get a second term."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jon Queally, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--With Biden/Harris Ticket Set, It’s Game On For Democrats And Never Trumpers

The Lincoln Project summed up the sentiment nicely in its new video in support of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ “ Kamala .
It ’ s time .
Let ’ s go.
” The Never @ @ @ @ @ too : I 'll bet Maya Rudolph is happy , too .
This one , @ @ @ @ @ : Or maybe she needs a little more time to adjust : And then there @ @ @ @ @

The Lincoln Project summed up the sentiment nicely in its new video in support of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s running mate: “Kamala. It’s time. Let’s go.”
Lots of heavyweights agree:
I’ve known Senator @KamalaHarris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing. pic.twitter.com/duJhFhWp6g — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 11, 2020
I'm thrilled to welcome @KamalaHarris to a historic Democratic ticket. She's already proven herself to be an incredible public servant and leader. And I know she’ll be a strong partner to @JoeBiden. Please join me in having her back and getting her elected. pic.twitter.com/cmtOO8Gqqv — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 11, 2020
This is a terrific choice! @KamalaHarris will be a great partner and she and @JoeBiden make a strong team. — Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 11, 2020
.@KamalaHarris will be a great partner to @JoeBiden in making our government a powerful force for good in the fight for social, racial, and economic justice. pic.twitter.com/q5ggXBro5B — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 11, 2020
My warmest congratulations to @KamalaHarris. I am confident Biden-Harris will prove to be a winning ticket. I will do my utmost to help them win and govern. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/9pfJggZSV9 — Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) August 11, 2020
Joe&
Jill&
Kamala&
Doug
Get me T-shirt’s. Let’s go. — Chasten Buttigieg (@Chasten) August 11, 2020
Congratulations to my friend, @SenKamalaHarris on being selected the running mate to 2020 Presidential candidate Joe Biden. He couldn’t have chosen a better teammate. I used to be a Youth Coordinator for Shirley Chisholm, this is great day for me. I know Shirley is smiling down. pic.twitter.com/N6jHrWZVzX — Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 11, 2020
Harris is INSPIRING to a lot of people. Maybe not you, white progressive who has determined that there is only one true way to solve our problems, but to A LOT of people.
So, you know, something to think about, people who maybe aren't hooked into HBCU Twitter. — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) August 11, 2020
A reminder that Joe Biden has already promised that if elected and given the opportunity, he would nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court.
He's sending a very clear message to the most loyal supporters and voters of Democrats, black women. — Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 11, 2020
The Never Trump Republicans seem stoked, too:
What you notice following @KamalaHarris on trail is that like @JoeBiden she will get to eye level with kids, embrace grieving mothers, buck up young people, reassure high schoolers afraid of shootings. She is the empathetic bookend to Biden. — Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) August 11, 2020
Biden/Harris. Awesome.
Now let’s go fucking kick Trump’s ass. — Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) August 11, 2020
I'll bet Maya Rudolph is happy, too. This one, from our own Aliza Worthington:
Maya Rudolph just got four more years of work!!!#KamalaHarris
# BidenHarris#MayaRudolph — (((Bad at Ballet))) (@AlizaWrites) August 11, 2020
Or maybe she needs a little more time to adjust:
And then there's the Trump campaign:


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--Eugene Robinson: We Are The Asshole Country That Nobody Wants People From

Eugene Robinson is usually fairly mild-mannered and does n't use language like this very often , but his disgust with the current situation that Trump has put us in was plain this morning .
JOE SCARBOROUGH : Mika , i was thinking of asking Gene Tobinson if he wanted to go on a road trip with me , kind of maybe bring a video camera , do a buddy movie , a documentary , Gene and Joe 's excellent adventure .
We could go to Canada .
then I realized ... JOE SCARBOROUGH : ... they do n't want our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
JOE SCARBOROUGH : But then we were talking , Gene , about getting on a boat and going to the Bahamas because the Bahamas lets any American in with money .
They 'd even let me in .
And then , Gene , we ca n't even go to the Bahamas .
Our money 's not welcome there .
Seriously .
did you ever think , Gene , in all of your years that the United States of America would be in such a poor condition , a third world condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government 's handling of a pandemic that we would n't be able to go to other countries ?
The Bahamas would put up a do not enter sign .
That Canada -- Canada !
-- What 's it aboot ?
They wo n't even let Americans in .
EUGENE ROBINSON : What 's that aboot ?
We ca n't get out of the country , Joe .
EUGENE ROBINSON : It -- it is -- I never -- to answer your question , never in my life , in my wildest imagination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this position .
And we do n't have to be .
It did n't have to be this way .
We could have done what other developed countries did .
We could have properly shutdown the economy , driven the infection rate very low and by now we would be cautiously reopening and we 'd have a caseload that was similar to those of other -- of the rest of the world , basically , because we ca n't go anywhere .
And Donald Trump did n't do that , because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did n't understand it or reconfused World War I and World War II and 1917 , whatever .
It 's just appalling .
And shocking , really , that we 're in this position .
But this is where we are .
We are pariahs .
We are the asshole country that nobody wants people from .
That 's us now .

Eugene Robinson is usually fairly mild-mannered and doesn't use language like this very often, but his disgust with the current situation that Trump has put us in was plain this morning.
UPDATE: Corrected it. Does sound more like S-Hole rather than that other word.
Transcript:
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Mika, i was thinking of asking Gene Tobinson if he wanted to go on a road trip with me, kind of maybe bring a video camera, do a buddy movie, a documentary, Gene and Joe's excellent adventure. We could go to Canada. then I realized...
EUGENE ROBINSON: We can't, Joe.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: ... they don't want our types in Canada. Americans not allowed there.
EUGENE ROBINSON: I know.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: But then we were talking, Gene, about getting on a boat and going to the Bahamas because the Bahamas lets any American in with money. They'd even let me in. And then, Gene, we can't even go to the Bahamas. Our money's not welcome there. Seriously. did you ever think, Gene, in all of your years that the United States of America would be in such a poor condition, a third world condition when it came to health care and the government's handling of a pandemic that we wouldn't be able to go to other countries? The Bahamas would put up a do not enter sign. That Canada -- Canada! --What's it aboot? They won't even let Americans in.
EUGENE ROBINSON: What's that aboot? We can't get out of the country, Joe.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: No.
EUGENE ROBINSON: It -- it is -- I never -- to answer your question, never in my life, in my wildest imagination did I think we could conceivably be in this position. And we don't have to be. It didn't have to be this way. We could have done what other developed countries did. We could have properly shutdown the economy, driven the infection rate very low and by now we would be cautiously reopening and we'd have a caseload that was similar to those of other -- of the rest of the world, basically, because we can't go anywhere. And Donald Trump didn't do that, because he thought the virus was a hoax or he didn't understand it or reconfused World War I and World War II and 1917, whatever. It's just appalling. And shocking, really, that we're in this position. But this is where we are. We are pariahs. We are the S=Hole country that nobody wants people from. That's us now.


crooksandliars--2020-08-11--He Voted $740B For Pentagon, But Ted Cruz Says No 'Magic Money Tree' For Workers

Sen. Ed Markey led the charge on Monday against his colleague , Texas Sen. Ted Cruz , after the GOP lawmaker mocked the notion of providing robust financial assistance to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic as the nation faces a Great Depression-level unemployment crisis .
Markey , a Democrat from Massachusetts , has been vocal in recent months about the need for the federal government to provide monthly direct payments to every adult in the U.S. for the duration of the pandemic , similar to assistance provided in other wealthy countries .
Markey joined Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May to introduce the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act , which would provide a $ 2,000 check to anyone struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus crisis , which has now stretched on for five months as President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have encouraged Americans to return to work and regular activities—rather than giving them the financial support needed to stay home temporarily—resulting in significant spikes in Covid-19 case numbers across the country and widespread economic hardship .
When Markey took to social media to again demand the assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested struggling Americans would use any government assistance they receive to buy `` three soy lattes a day and a foot massage '' and sarcastically added , `` We have a magic money tree . ''
`` It 's not a goddamn joke , Ted , '' Markey replied , explaining to his colleague that Americans across the country need a far-reaching federal investment to help them afford groceries , rent , healthcare payments , and other necessities in order to keep money flowing through the economy that Republicans claim to want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis and its impacts on families across the country came as his own constituents in Texas face an 8.6 % unemployment rate .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued legal guidance on Friday saying local governments can not legally delay evictions for people struggling to pay rent during the pandemic .
A nationwide moratorium on evictions for more than 12 million people expired late last month .
The level of food insecurity and hunger in the state Cruz represents has doubled since the pandemic began , according to the charity Feeding Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seen significant increases in demand .
While Cruz scoffed on Monday at the notion of alleviating this economic pain with an investment that would largely go right back into local economies as people buy groceries and other necessities , government watchdog Public Citizen pointed out that the senator had no problem authorizing a $ 740,000,000,000 military spending budget just weeks ago , and joined the rest of his party in rejecting an amendment that would slash the Pentagon 's budget by 10 % to save money for education , healthcare , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's $ 2 billion a day , every day , '' Public Citizen said of the budget that was passed .
`` Ted Cruz does n't give a damn about ordinary people , '' added Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez , who ran in the Democratic primary earlier this year for Sen. John Cornyn 's ( R-Texas ) Senate seat , `` but he sure is willing to put billions and billons into endless wars . ''
MSNBC 's Ali Velshi conceded to Cruz that `` there actually IS a money tree '' in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for out-of-work Americans , '' the anchor tweeted .
In addition to supporting massive spending by the Pentagon , critics wrote , Cruz has enthusiastically supported tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations .
`` Ted Cruz 's magic money tree exists , but only for the billionaires who fund his re-election , '' tweeted Qasim Rashid , a Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia .

Sen. Ed Markey led the charge on Monday against his colleague, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, after the GOP lawmaker mocked the notion of providing robust financial assistance to Americans during the coronavirus pandemic as the nation faces a Great Depression-level unemployment crisis.
Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has been vocal in recent months about the need for the federal government to provide monthly direct payments to every adult in the U.S. for the duration of the pandemic, similar to assistance provided in other wealthy countries.
Markey joined Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in May to introduce the Monthly Economic Crisis Support Act, which would provide a $2,000 check to anyone struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus crisis, which has now stretched on for five months as President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have encouraged Americans to return to work and regular activities—rather than giving them the financial support needed to stay home temporarily—resulting in significant spikes in Covid-19 case numbers across the country and widespread economic hardship.
When Markey took to social media to again demand the assistance for working families on Monday, Cruz suggested struggling Americans would use any government assistance they receive to buy "three soy lattes a day and a foot massage" and sarcastically added, "We have a magic money tree."
Why be so cheap? Give everyone $1 million a day, every day, forever. And three soy lattes a day. And a foot massage. We have a magic money tree — we should use it! https://t.co/0ODgPBhc4O — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 10, 2020
"It's not a goddamn joke, Ted," Markey replied, explaining to his colleague that Americans across the country need a far-reaching federal investment to help them afford groceries, rent, healthcare payments, and other necessities in order to keep money flowing through the economy that Republicans claim to want to save.
It's not a goddamn joke Ted. Millions of families are facing hunger, the threat of eviction, and the loss of their health care during a pandemic that is worsening every day. Get real. https://t.co/z6ygY8lSxc — Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) August 10, 2020
Cruz's mockery of the economic crisis and its impacts on families across the country came as his own constituents in Texas face an 8.6% unemployment rate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued legal guidance on Friday saying local governments cannot legally delay evictions for people struggling to pay rent during the pandemic. A nationwide moratorium on evictions for more than 12 million people expired late last month.
The level of food insecurity and hunger in the state Cruz represents has doubled since the pandemic began, according to the charity Feeding Texas, and food banks across the country have seen significant increases in demand.
While Cruz scoffed on Monday at the notion of alleviating this economic pain with an investment that would largely go right back into local economies as people buy groceries and other necessities, government watchdog Public Citizen pointed out that the senator had no problem authorizing a $740,000,000,000 military spending budget just weeks ago, and joined the rest of his party in rejecting an amendment that would slash the Pentagon's budget by 10% to save money for education, healthcare, and housing in poor communities.
"That's $2 billion a day, every day," Public Citizen said of the budget that was passed.
Ted Cruz voted to pass a $740,000,000,000 military budget two weeks ago. That's $2 billion a day, every day. https://t.co/ZIT6Pt2unF — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) August 10, 2020
"Ted Cruz doesn't give a damn about ordinary people," added Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, who ran in the Democratic primary earlier this year for Sen. John Cornyn's (R-Texas) Senate seat, "but he sure is willing to put billions and billons into endless wars."
Truth- @tedcruz doesn't give a damn about ordinary people he doesn't want our government spending money on our healthcare, schools or jobs but he sure is willing to put billions and billons into endless wars https://t.co/msH93GRpkk — Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez (@cristinafortx) August 10, 2020
MSNBC's Ali Velshi conceded to Cruz that "there actually IS a money tree" in the United States.
"It's just not for out-of-work Americans," the anchor tweeted.
Sen @TedCruz & I don’t agree on much, but he IS right about this. There actually IS a money tree. It’s a magical money tree. And you can sit in its shade and eat it’s fruit. As long as you are wealthy, a stockholder, or a major company. It’s just not for out of work Americans. https://t.co/zk1gPcGYTS — Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) August 10, 2020
In addition to supporting massive spending by the Pentagon, critics wrote, Cruz has enthusiastically supported tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
Ted Cruz acted like we had a magic money tree when he voted for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. But when it comes to keeping people from starving or becoming homeless during a pandemic he suddenly gets stingy. Ted works for his big-money donors, not his constituents. https://t.co/SOeLL4sHMi — Adam Best (@adamcbest) August 10, 2020
The irony is the 2017 GOP $1.7T tax cut literally gave ~$1M a day, every day, forever—to America's 465 wealthiest billionaires. Ted Cruz's magic money tree exists, but only for the billionaires who fund his re-election. https://t.co/2Kmouw4F4p — Qasim Rashid for Congress (@QasimRashid) August 10, 2020
"Ted Cruz's magic money tree exists, but only for the billionaires who fund his re-election," tweeted Qasim Rashid, a Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia.
Republished from Common Dreams (Julia Conley, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.