crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Trump Threatens To Adjourn Congress So He Can Install His Judges

Republicans still have the majority in the Senate , right ?
In a completely incongruous and deranged tangent , Trump ranted for a good seven minutes about judicial appointments and people in `` acting '' positions in his administration , who somehow Democrats have blocked from being approved .
This was during his daily press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic , remember .
Remember ?
?
?
He lied .
He pulled numbers out of his ass .
He complained about things that were completely within his control .
In other words , he Trumped .
He whined that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight the pandemic BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS WOULD N'T APPROVE THEM !
It is insanity .
It is crazy-making .
It is metal spikes scratching on chalkboards torturous to listen to this sentient bag of pus whine about how aggrieved he is .
And then , he said this : TRUMP : The Senate has left Washington until at least May 4th .
The Constitution provides a mechanism for the president to fill positions in such circumstances .
The recess appointment , it 's called .
The Senate 's practice of gaveling into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is even there has prevented me from using the constitutional authority that we 're giving , that we 're given under the recess provisions .
The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on my nominees , or it should formally adjourn so that I can make recess appointments .
We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government , and now more so than ever before because of the virus and the problem .
We have to do it .
We have to do whatever we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded the Senate either vote on his nominees or adjourn so he can make his recess appointments .
And somewhere in Bethesda , Maryland , Merrick Garland 's head just exploded into fifty bazillion pieces .
But that was n't enough - if the Senate does n't come back and bend the knee , Trump threatened the following : TRUMP : If the House will not agree to that adjournment , I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress .
The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty that the American people can not afford during this crisis .
It is a scam what they do .
It 's a scam .
Is this his version of the Reichstag Fire ?
Seriously , are all the fire alarms working at the Capitol ?
Here 's Trump trying to swing his mushroom spotted d*ck around : He is , indeed , a jackass , but he is the most dangerous jackass to slump across the hallowed White House grounds .

Republicans still have the majority in the Senate, right?
In a completely incongruous and deranged tangent, Trump ranted for a good seven minutes about judicial appointments and people in "acting" positions in his administration, who somehow Democrats have blocked from being approved. This was during his daily press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, remember. Remember???
He lied. He pulled numbers out of his ass. He complained about things that were completely within his control. In other words, he Trumped. He whined that he didn't have the people he needed to fight the pandemic BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS WOULDN'T APPROVE THEM! It is insanity. It is crazy-making. It is metal spikes scratching on chalkboards torturous to listen to this sentient bag of pus whine about how aggrieved he is.
And then, he said this:
TRUMP: The Senate has left Washington until at least May 4th. The Constitution provides a mechanism for the president to fill positions in such circumstances. The recess appointment, it's called. The Senate's practice of gaveling into so-called pro forma sessions where no one is even there has prevented me from using the constitutional authority that we're giving, that we're given under the recess provisions. The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on my nominees, or it should formally adjourn so that I can make recess appointments. We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government, and now more so than ever before because of the virus and the problem. We have to do it. We have to do whatever we have to do.
Got that? He demanded the Senate either vote on his nominees or adjourn so he can make his recess appointments. And somewhere in Bethesda, Maryland, Merrick Garland's head just exploded into fifty bazillion pieces.
But that wasn't enough - if the Senate doesn't come back and bend the knee, Trump threatened the following:
TRUMP: If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress. The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during this crisis. It is a scam what they do. It's a scam.
Is this his version of the Reichstag Fire? Seriously, are all the fire alarms working at the Capitol?
Twitter had a virtual heart attack.
Did Trump just threaten to abuse emergency powers to unilaterally adjourn congress if they don’t approve his nominees? I think trump just threatened to unilaterally adjourn congress if they don’t approve his nominees. #DictatorTrump — Mueller, She Wrote Podcast (@MuellerSheWrote) April 15, 2020
Trump’s lost his mind. He’s callin’ to suspend Congress and ram all his appointees through. — Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) April 15, 2020
In middle of pandemic Trump threatens to adjourn congress if lawmakers don’t approve his nominees. WH says constitution allows him to do it. “I have a very strong power,” Trump says. Trump points to nominee to oversee Voice of America as if that justifies such a drastic move. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) April 15, 2020
Remember when Barack Obama got on TV and threatened to shut down the House and the Senate when Merrick Garland didn’t get appointed...
Neither do I. — Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) April 15, 2020
Here's one from Trump's favorite lawyer...
The President just said that he may unilaterally adjourn Congress. This seems to be a reference to Article II, Section 3, which gives a president in “extraordinary occasions” to convene or adjourn the Houses. This power has never been used and should not be used now . . . — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) April 15, 2020
Here's Trump trying to swing his mushroom spotted d*ck around:
Trump: '"They've been warned" as he threatens to use his power to bring Congress back to DC — Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) April 15, 2020
Clearly, it didn't work...
I’m pretttty sure I just heard someone call Trump a jackass on the CSPAN feed as he was leaving today’s “briefing.”
Y’all hear it near the end? pic.twitter.com/zmycxG9Zcr — Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) April 15, 2020
He is, indeed, a jackass, but he is the most dangerous jackass to slump across the hallowed White House grounds.


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--IRS Stimulus Payment Website Turns Into One Big Error Message After Launch

If you 're one of those people who gets a tax refund every year via direct deposit , this article is n't for you .
Your StimBux™ either dropped into your account or will be in your account shortly if you are eligible to receive them .
For those of us who do n't have direct deposit for whatever reason , the IRS helpfully set up a website where you could enter a change of address or direct deposit information , but by the time the West Coast woke up it was inundated and offering this message : The wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes or so , and then there was an invitation to enter an `` official U.S. Government site '' where a short form was served asking for Social Security number , date of birth and street address .
I was a little bit annoyed at this point that I had to give that information when all I wanted to do was give bank information for direct deposit ( I wrote a check to the IRS last year after the tax scam passed ) .
I was okay giving the info but I wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving my direct deposit information .
Still , I did the thing .
Aaaaaand , I got the message you see in the screen shot at the top of the page .
Just a random , generic error message that suggests they do n't know I sent them a big fat check last year to pay my ( MUCH INCREASED ) taxes for 2018 .
We have n't filed 2019 and do n't plan to do it until next month now that we have until July 15th .
What gives , IRS ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wingers did when healthcare.gov crashed and burned on day one ?
It may be frustrating , but the good news is you do n't appear to be alone .
`` Anyone else getting this msg when checking for stimulus funds ?
Payment Status Not Available According to information that we have on file , we can not determine your eligibility for a payment at this time , '' one Twitter user wrote .
`` @ IRS I have filed every single year , up to and including 2018 . ''
11Alive has reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement explaining why so many appear to be receiving the message .
Wait , what ?
?
?
Treasury wo n't directly address whether the message is in error ?
Here , let me help them with that .
Here 's the URL of the error I got : I 'm going to go out on a limb and say that a page entitled `` error-generic '' suggests that the site is choking and our data is never reaching the database .
Let 's hope it 's not being sucked up by hackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrating , but I 'm sure it 's temporary .
With 60 million filers receiving their stimulus payments today , things should clear out enough for the rest of us to get our direct deposit information in there too , so we can enjoy some of those yummy StimBux™ too .
That is , if they 're not confiscated for debts .
Here 's what happens to people who actually manage to get in : Oh .
That 's not good .
And it was n't just him .

If you're one of those people who gets a tax refund every year via direct deposit, this article isn't for you. Your StimBux™ either dropped into your account or will be in your account shortly if you are eligible to receive them.
For those of us who don't have direct deposit for whatever reason, the IRS helpfully set up a website where you could enter a change of address or direct deposit information, but by the time the West Coast woke up it was inundated and offering this message:
The wait was not terribly long, maybe 15 minutes or so, and then there was an invitation to enter an "official U.S. Government site" where a short form was served asking for Social Security number, date of birth and street address.
I was a little bit annoyed at this point that I had to give that information when all I wanted to do was give bank information for direct deposit (I wrote a check to the IRS last year after the tax scam passed). I was okay giving the info but I wanted it to be in connection with me giving my direct deposit information. Still, I did the thing.
Aaaaaand, I got the message you see in the screen shot at the top of the page. Just a random, generic error message that suggests they don't know I sent them a big fat check last year to pay my (MUCH INCREASED) taxes for 2018. We haven't filed 2019 and don't plan to do it until next month now that we have until July 15th.
What gives, IRS? Should we all start squawking like the wingers did when healthcare.gov crashed and burned on day one?
11Alive.com reports:
It may be frustrating, but the good news is you don't appear to be alone. "Anyone else getting this msg when checking for stimulus funds? Payment Status Not Available According to information that we have on file, we cannot determine your eligibility for a payment at this time," one Twitter user wrote. "@IRS I have filed every single year, up to and including 2018." 11Alive has reached out to the Treasury Department for a statement explaining why so many appear to be receiving the message. (Update: A Treasury representative has replied twice to our inquiry, but has yet to directly address whether there are people seeing the message in error or not.)
Wait, what??? Treasury won't directly address whether the message is in error? Here, let me help them with that. Here's the URL of the error I got:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that a page entitled "error-generic" suggests that the site is choking and our data is never reaching the database. Let's hope it's not being sucked up by hackers, too.
Yes, it's frustrating, but I'm sure it's temporary. With 60 million filers receiving their stimulus payments today, things should clear out enough for the rest of us to get our direct deposit information in there too, so we can enjoy some of those yummy StimBux™ too.
That is, if they're not confiscated for debts.
UPDATE:
Here's what happens to people who actually manage to get in:
So there’s no stimulus check in my bank account. I went to the IRS website to see what’s up. Put in my info and they said I qualify for a payment but they need my banking info. WTF? They have my info and direct deposited my last refund (I double checked). — chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 15, 2020
SO - I go to the next screen where is tells me to enter my bank account info and my adjusted gross income.
I think I entered my AGI wrong — now it tells me I have accessed the system too many times and need to come back in 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/aM4fGftpzl — chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 15, 2020
Oh. That's not good. And it wasn't just him.
UPDATE 2: Thursday morning I'm locked out for 24 hours after they said I either accessed the site too many times or my data wasn't accurate. The data is fine. Their website is screwed up. Plain and simple.


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Joe Biden's Virtual Town Hall With Coronavirus Frontline Workers

Former VP Joe Biden , presumptive 2020 nominee for the Democratic party 's presidential ticket , is holding a virtual @ @ @ @ @ pm ( EST ) /12 pm ( PST ) .
He 'll take questions from @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , and outline his ideas on how to best help our citizens @ @ @ @ @ not watch and give the Mango Turdblossom something else to be angry about ?

Former VP Joe Biden, presumptive 2020 nominee for the Democratic party's presidential ticket, is holding a virtual town hall today at 3 pm (EST)/12 pm (PST). He'll take questions from people on the front lines of the pandemic, and outline his ideas on how to best help our citizens through this crisis.
Why not watch and give the Mango Turdblossom something else to be angry about?


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Your COVID Check Is Delayed Because Trump Wants To Sign It

Millions of Americans are in dire need of money to afford groceries , rent , and other necessities amid the coronavirus-induced economic fallout , but the Treasury Department has officially ordered that President Donald Trump 's name appear on the one-time $ 1,200 stimulus checks set to be mailed to 70 million people , an unprecedented move that could delay delivery of the payments for days .
The decision was finalized late Monday , the Washington Post reported Tuesday night , and it `` means that when recipients open the $ 1,200 paper checks ... 'President Donald J. Trump ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the payment . ''
`` Imagine the kind of sad , egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress . ''
—Rep .
Jim McGovern '' Trump 's insistence that his name appear on the checks is slowing their delivery , '' tweeted former Labor Secretary Robert Reich .
`` But he wants Americans to be appreciative—even though it was Congress 's idea , it 's taxpayer 's money , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Watchdog group Common Cause called the move `` a disgusting use of taxpayer dollars to promote the president in an election year . ''
According to the Post , Trump privately pressured the Treasury Department to allow him to `` formally sign the checks , '' but because the president is not an authorized signer of Treasury Department payments , Trump 's name will appear on the memo line .
`` The decision to have the paper checks bear Trump 's name , in the works for weeks , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday to the IRS ' information technology team , '' the Post reported .
`` The team , working from home , is now racing to implement a programming change that two senior IRS officials said will probably lead to a delay in issuing the first batch of paper checks .
They are scheduled to be sent Thursday to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service for printing and issuing . ''
Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) joined the chorus of progressives condemning the Treasury Department 's decision : Eligible Americans who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRS are set to receive the payments in their bank accounts in the coming days—assuming their banks do n't seize them—and will not see the president 's name .
Those without the necessary information on file with the government , a group that is disproportionately low-income , will receive a paper check in the mail .
The IRS said in an internal draft plan circulated earlier this month that millions of Americans could face significant delays—in some cases up to five months—in receiving their $ 1,200 checks .
In a briefing earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Democrats that the stimulus checks will begin flowing steadily by May 4 .
As Common Dreams reported , lawmakers and advocacy groups have been raising alarm about the Treasury Department 's slow-walking of the checks—Trump signed the CARES Act , which authorized the one-time payments , on March 27 .
A delay of even just one or two days could have a devastating impact for those on the brink of financial ruin , observers warned .
Erin Hatch , a spokeswoman for House Ways and Means Committee Democrats , said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress were not consulted about the Treasury Department 's decision to add Trump 's name to the checks at the urging of the president .
Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) , the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee , ripped the Treasury Department 's move in a statement late Tuesday .
`` Donald Trump is further delaying cash payments to millions of Americans struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table to feed his ego , '' Wyden said .
`` Only this president would try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all about him . ''
Rep. Jim McGovern ( D-Mass . )
was more scathing on Twitter .
`` Imagine the kind of sad , egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress , '' McGovern wrote .

Millions of Americans are in dire need of money to afford groceries, rent, and other necessities amid the coronavirus-induced economic fallout, but the Treasury Department has officially ordered that President Donald Trump's name appear on the one-time $1,200 stimulus checks set to be mailed to 70 million people, an unprecedented move that could delay delivery of the payments for days.
The decision was finalized late Monday, the Washington Post reported Tuesday night, and it "means that when recipients open the $1,200 paper checks... 'President Donald J. Trump' will appear on the left side of the payment."
"Imagine the kind of sad, egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress."
—Rep. Jim McGovern
"Trump's insistence that his name appear on the checks is slowing their delivery," tweeted former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. "But he wants Americans to be appreciative—even though it was Congress's idea, it's taxpayer's money, and it's too little, too late."
Watchdog group Common Cause called the move "a disgusting use of taxpayer dollars to promote the president in an election year."
According to the Post, Trump privately pressured the Treasury Department to allow him to "formally sign the checks," but because the president is not an authorized signer of Treasury Department payments, Trump's name will appear on the memo line.
"The decision to have the paper checks bear Trump's name, in the works for weeks, according to a Treasury official, was announced early Tuesday to the IRS' information technology team," the Post reported. "The team, working from home, is now racing to implement a programming change that two senior IRS officials said will probably lead to a delay in issuing the first batch of paper checks. They are scheduled to be sent Thursday to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service for printing and issuing."
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) joined the chorus of progressives condemning the Treasury Department's decision:
17 million people have lost their jobs. Millions can’t pay rent, afford food, and are sinking into debt. And the president is delaying relief for them so he can see his name on a check. Trump first, America second.https://t.co/zEcta20fTH — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 15, 2020
Eligible Americans who have direct deposit information on file with the IRS are set to receive the payments in their bank accounts in the coming days—assuming their banks don't seize them—and will not see the president's name.
Those without the necessary information on file with the government, a group that is disproportionately low-income, will receive a paper check in the mail. The IRS said in an internal draft plan circulated earlier this month that millions of Americans could face significant delays—in some cases up to five months—in receiving their $1,200 checks.
In a briefing earlier this month, Treasury and IRS officials told House Democrats that the stimulus checks will begin flowing steadily by May 4.
As Common Dreams reported, lawmakers and advocacy groups have been raising alarm about the Treasury Department's slow-walking of the checks—Trump signed the CARES Act, which authorized the one-time payments, on March 27. A delay of even just one or two days could have a devastating impact for those on the brink of financial ruin, observers warned.
What’s worse? His egomania, or the fact that his egomania could cause people to literally starve and/or lose their homes? https://t.co/3RX4VLV406 — Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) April 15, 2020
Erin Hatch, a spokeswoman for House Ways and Means Committee Democrats, said in an interview with the New York Times that members of Congress were not consulted about the Treasury Department's decision to add Trump's name to the checks at the urging of the president.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, ripped the Treasury Department's move in a statement late Tuesday.
"Donald Trump is further delaying cash payments to millions of Americans struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table to feed his ego," Wyden said. "Only this president would try to make a pandemic and economic catastrophe all about him."
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) was more scathing on Twitter.
"Imagine the kind of sad, egotistical person who would turn this awful crisis into an absurd campaign stunt by demanding their name go into the memo field of a check that was approved by Congress," McGovern wrote.
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Home Depot Founder Blames COVID Response On Impeachment

Laura Ingraham hosts Bernie Marcus , an old white billionaire right-winger who 's good at spewing right-wing conspiracy theories .
@ @ @ @ @ point that somehow impeachment `` distracted from '' the COVID19 response .
Fun fact : @ @ @ @ @ Depot since Bernie was a major funder of George W. Bush 's second inaugural in @ @ @ @ @ Stable Genius DVR 'd Ingraham and had totally-not-distracted free time to TWEET about the interview @ @ @ @ @ if not thousands of Americans die TODAY of the virus .
Great businessman & philanthropist @ @ @ @ @ Home Depot , said that Congress was too distracted by the ( phony ) Impeachment @ @ @ @ @ have been investigating CoronaVirus when it first appeared in China .
Media played a big @ @ @ @ @

Laura Ingraham hosts Bernie Marcus, an old white billionaire right-winger who's good at spewing right-wing conspiracy theories.
Bernie spews the pro-Trump talking point that somehow impeachment "distracted from" the COVID19 response.
Fun fact: my household has boycotted Home Depot since Bernie was a major funder of George W. Bush's second inaugural in 2005.
And of course Stable Genius DVR'd Ingraham and had totally-not-distracted free time to TWEET about the interview this morning, while hundreds if not thousands of Americans die TODAY of the virus.
Great businessman & philanthropist Bernie Marcus, Co-Founder of Home Depot, said that Congress was too distracted by the (phony) Impeachment Witch Hunt when they should have been investigating CoronaVirus when it first appeared in China. Media played a big roll also!@dcexaminer — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2020
He misspelled "role."


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Is A F**king Moron

In a bizarre press conference , Florida 's governor earmarked live pro wrestling as an essential service in his state because people are tired of seeing reruns .
The hell with the pandemic and the death toll , people are tired of watching old sporting events on the MLB network .
`` People are starved for content , '' he said as if his constituents are all five years old and are throwing tantrums because their toys have been taken away .
`` Since the beginning of March -- here we are in the middle of April that people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house , it sure does help to have some fresh things to be able to do , '' DeSantis said in a serious tone .
Like many Americans , I 'm a sports junkie , but I think I can go without my hockey playoffs , NCAA , football and MLB seasons if it means that I , my family , and the rest of America will not be infected with a virus that has killed over 26,000 Americans so far .
`` We are watching reruns from like early 2000s . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Betsy -- say it ai n't so .
Floridians deserve the representatives they voted for .
Or perhaps that election was stolen , too ?
We have an imbecile in the White House and a chucklehead as governor of Florida .

In a bizarre press conference, Florida's governor earmarked live pro wrestling as an essential service in his state because people are tired of seeing reruns.
The hell with the pandemic and the death toll, people are tired of watching old sporting events on the MLB network.
"People are starved for content," he said as if his constituents are all five years old and are throwing tantrums because their toys have been taken away.
"Since the beginning of March -- here we are in the middle of April that people are being told to stay closer to the house, it sure does help to have some fresh things to be able to do," DeSantis said in a serious tone.
Like many Americans, I'm a sports junkie, but I think I can go without my hockey playoffs, NCAA, football and MLB seasons if it means that I, my family, and the rest of America will not be infected with a virus that has killed over 26,000 Americans so far.
"We are watching reruns from like early 2000s." DeSantis said
Oh God forbid and heavens to Betsy -- say it ain't so.
Floridians deserve the representatives they voted for. Or perhaps that election was stolen, too?
We have an imbecile in the White House and a chucklehead as governor of Florida.


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Kellyanne Pretends COVID19 Is Somehow The Nineteenth Virus

The new White House tactic is to blame the WHO for the outbreak of the coronavirus .
Think about it : the top White House priority today is to shift the blame from Donald Trump and make mendacious excuses for not taking action sooner to stop the spread of the virus in the US .
On this morning 's Fox and Friends , `` alternative reality spokesperson '' Kellyanne Conway was there to promote their latest propaganda .
Another of their talking points is that Trump closed down travel between the US and China that is saving lives .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and viruses spread ( they hope their followers do n't bother figuring that out either ) then they 'd know that Trump 's restrictions came too late and was not effective in curbing travel .
And the latest death toll figures stand at 26,000 in the U.S. What does professional liar have to say to those that have lost loved ones ?
Nada .
Anyway , then she made as asinine a comment as possible .
Conway said , “ Some of the scientists and doctors say there could be other strains later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall in a limited way . ''
`` This is Covid-19 , not Covid 1 , folks .
And you would think that people charged with the World Health Organization facts and figures would be on top of that , ” Conway said .
Trump sycophants and surrogates do n't even bother trying to understand basic information about any topic they gaslight whenever they begin their newest lie fest .
If it has a rhyme or sounds good in their twisted brains then it 's good enough to tell the American people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kellyanne needs some help .
What does COVID-19 stand for in its full form ?
COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus .
Viruses and the diseases they cause have different names .
For example , AIDS is the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus , HIV .
As mentioned above , COVID-19 is an acronym .
In its full form , COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease of 2019 .
So the `` 19 '' categorizes what year the virus was created .
Please , the stupid @ @ @ @ @ @

The new White House tactic is to blame the WHO for the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Think about it: the top White House priority today is to shift the blame from Donald Trump and make mendacious excuses for not taking action sooner to stop the spread of the virus in the US.
On this morning's Fox and Friends, "alternative reality spokesperson" Kellyanne Conway was there to promote their latest propaganda.
Another of their talking points is that Trump closed down travel between the US and China that is saving lives.
If they actually knew how a pandemic works and viruses spread (they hope their followers don't bother figuring that out either) then they'd know that Trump's restrictions came too late and was not effective in curbing travel.
And the latest death toll figures stand at 26,000 in the U.S.
What does professional liar have to say to those that have lost loved ones? Nada.
Anyway, then she made as asinine a comment as possible.
Conway said, “Some of the scientists and doctors say there could be other strains later on, this could come back in the fall in a limited way."
"This is Covid-19, not Covid 1, folks. And you would think that people charged with the World Health Organization facts and figures would be on top of that,” Conway said.
Trump sycophants and surrogates don't even bother trying to understand basic information about any topic they gaslight whenever they begin their newest lie fest.
If it has a rhyme or sounds good in their twisted brains then it's good enough to tell the American people.
Here's a brief explanation in Kellyanne needs some help.
What does COVID-19 stand for in its full form? COVID-19 is the name of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus. Viruses and the diseases they cause have different names. For example, AIDS is the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV. As mentioned above, COVID-19 is an acronym. In its full form, COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease of 2019.
So the "19" categorizes what year the virus was created.
Gotcha.
Please, the stupid hurts, make it stop!


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--How Odd! 'Reopen The Economy' Cheerleaders Are Not Opening Their Own Companies

Joe Scarborough and Rev .
Al Sharpton noted that the same people urging the country to get back to work are n't exactly doing it themselves .
`` It 's real interesting , Reverend Al , some talking heads , let 's reopen the company right now .
Editorials talking , oh , let 's open the economy , '' Scarborough said .
`` Get the economy open as fast as possible .
Liberals want to keep it closed .
Actually , it 's the medical providers , the medical people want to keep it closed until it 's safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these people that are now , you know , sort of parroting Larry Kudlow 's line : 'People need to get back to work and if they do n't want to get back to work it 's because they do n't like working . '
`` I do n't see these pro-Trump media outlets rushing their people back to work .
And they 're not going to , because they know it 's not safe .
They do n't want their people to die .
They do n't want to die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reckless , irresponsible things in the press about quickly reopening the government .
The Wall Street Journal editorial page , you know , blamed the liberal media for wanting -- are you kidding me ?
Is the Wall Street Journal editorial staff rushing in to work today ?
To their office ?
No , they 're not . ''
`` None of the Trumpsters , or the big supporters of the president that are saying we need to get back to work , they 're not rushing back to work , '' Rev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them are at home with masks and gloves on , hiding under the bed while they 're trying to tell everybody else to go back to work , and I think that the president , we saw demonstrated his fragile ego , because some of the governors stepped forward and started doing what they 're supposed to do : governing .
He could n't stand for anyone else to take center stage , so he rushes out there and part of it was his ego .
The other part was a distraction .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump 's strategy is to keep distracting , so people do n't notice all the people who are dying .
`` I think Andrew Cuomo , our governor , no , was brilliant to say ' I 'm not going to give you a fight .
I 'm not going to give you a distraction .
When I was a youngster , I was very much a fan of Muhammad Ali , who I did get to know , and he had a strategy called rope-a-dope .
That 's what Andrew Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaned back and said , 'You punch yourself out .
I 'm not going to exert any energy .
I 'm going to let you punch yourself out . '
`` And that 's what we 're seeing , a rope-a-dope at the White House . ''

Joe Scarborough and Rev. Al Sharpton noted that the same people urging the country to get back to work aren't exactly doing it themselves.
"It's real interesting, Reverend Al, some talking heads, let's reopen the company right now. Editorials talking, oh, let's open the economy," Scarborough said.
"Get the economy open as fast as possible. Liberals want to keep it closed. Actually, it's the medical providers, the medical people want to keep it closed until it's safe to reopen, and you have all of these people that are now, you know, sort of parroting Larry Kudlow's line: 'People need to get back to work and if they don't want to get back to work it's because they don't like working.'
"I don't see these pro-Trump media outlets rushing their people back to work. And they're not going to, because they know it's not safe. They don't want their people to die. They don't want to die. And yet they continue to say these reckless, irresponsible things in the press about quickly reopening the government. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, you know, blamed the liberal media for wanting -- are you kidding me? Is the Wall Street Journal editorial staff rushing in to work today? To their office? No, they're not."
"None of the Trumpsters, or the big supporters of the president that are saying we need to get back to work, they're not rushing back to work," Rev. Al said.
"Many of them are at home with masks and gloves on, hiding under the bed while they're trying to tell everybody else to go back to work, and I think that the president, we saw demonstrated his fragile ego, because some of the governors stepped forward and started doing what they're supposed to do: governing. He couldn't stand for anyone else to take center stage, so he rushes out there and part of it was his ego. The other part was a distraction.
He went on to agree with Scarborough that Trump's strategy is to keep distracting, so people don't notice all the people who are dying.
"I think Andrew Cuomo, our governor, no, was brilliant to say 'I'm not going to give you a fight. I'm not going to give you a distraction. When I was a youngster, I was very much a fan of Muhammad Ali, who I did get to know, and he had a strategy called rope-a-dope. That's what Andrew Cuomo did to President Trump. He just leaned back and said, 'You punch yourself out. I'm not going to exert any energy. I'm going to let you punch yourself out.'
"And that's what we're seeing, a rope-a-dope at the White House."


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Giant Orange Man-Baby Berates Reporter For Asking About Tests

Trump had a little snit over Playboy reporter Brian Karem and threatened to take his ball and go home .
@ @ @ @ @ Trump .
`` I know you want to blame the WHO , but I 've @ @ @ @ @ across the country in the last few weeks who say they still ca n't get @ @ @ @ @ are n't social distancing . ''
`` Excuse me , I know your question .
@ @ @ @ @ are supposed to do testing .
It 's up to the governors , '' the @ @ @ @ @ talked over another reporter 's question , saying the people who wo n't observe social @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` I told them when they put this guy here it 's nothing @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` He 's a showboat .
If you keep talking , I 'll @ @ @ @ @ have it out with the rest of these people . ''

Trump had a little snit over Playboy reporter Brian Karem and threatened to take his ball and go home.
Karem yelled a question at Trump. "I know you want to blame the WHO, but I've spoken to hundreds of people across the country in the last few weeks who say they still can't get tested, and that they aren't social distancing."
"Excuse me, I know your question. You ready? The governors are supposed to do testing. It's up to the governors," the Orange Cheeto said.
Karem talked over another reporter's question, saying the people who won't observe social distancing "followed his lead."
"I told them when they put this guy here it's nothing but trouble," Trump said. "He's a showboat. If you keep talking, I'll leave, and you can have it out with the rest of these people."


crooksandliars--2020-04-15--Trump Tells Pandemic Survivor, 'Stay Away! Keep Her Away!'

The Oval Office Squatter 's level of empathy continues to astonish , as he met with survivors of COVID-19 on Tuesday .
No , he did not visit them , he had people recovering from grave illness make the trip to see him , at the White House .
One woman described her ordeal , which lasted weeks , first with fever , then the awful respiratory illness .
VISITOR : It came in waves .
I had three , probably , different waves , and tested positive again after a month .
I am negative now .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t test negative until five days ago .
Trump seemed shocked it lasted a month , and when he asked her how she was feeling , she told him she felt great .
But when he got more specific , her answer brought out his obscene lack of awareness of situational appropriateness .
TRUMP : How are you now ?
Would you say 100 % ?
TRUMP : Eh , stay away from me , please .
Stay away !
Keep her away !
Is n't that just the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the survivor of a deadly pandemic ?
Someone who has just spent weeks in isolation , no less .
Even just as a joke ?
How sensitive !
How adorable , to make yourself the focus by saying something `` funny '' like that !
What a classy , selfless bag of human waste he is !

The Oval Office Squatter's level of empathy continues to astonish, as he met with survivors of COVID-19 on Tuesday. No, he did not visit them, he had people recovering from grave illness make the trip to see him, at the White House.
One woman described her ordeal, which lasted weeks, first with fever, then the awful respiratory illness.
VISITOR: It came in waves. I had three, probably, different waves, and tested positive again after a month. I am negative now. The first symptoms were [March] ninth, I didn’t test negative until five days ago.
Trump seemed shocked it lasted a month, and when he asked her how she was feeling, she told him she felt great. But when he got more specific, her answer brought out his obscene lack of awareness of situational appropriateness.
TRUMP: How are you now? Would you say 100%? VISITOR: I would say 85. TRUMP: Eh, stay away from me, please. Stay away! Keep her away!
Isn't that just the way you'd want your president speaking to the survivor of a deadly pandemic? Someone who has just spent weeks in isolation, no less. Even just as a joke? How sensitive! How adorable, to make yourself the focus by saying something "funny" like that! What a classy, selfless bag of human waste he is!


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--OOPS: Leaked Pentagon Letter Indicated U.S. Was Moving Troops Out Of Iraq

What 's going on at the Department of Defense ?
First , the draft of a letter stating the U.S. would leave Iraq gets leaked : '' One day after Iraq 's Parliament passed a resolution to expel U.S. troops following the killing of Iranian General Gassem Soleimani in Baghdad , top military officials had to scramble together a news conference yesterday to contradict its own commanding general in Iraq , '' Morning Joe 's Mika Brzezinski said .
`` In a letter to Iraqi officials , General William Sealy of the U.S. Command in Baghdad said troops were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then came the walk back from the defense secretary that 'there has been no decision whatsoever to leave . '
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said the letter was a mistake .
He called it an unsigned , poorly worded draft , and said it was sent to the Iraqis to coordinate about U.S. troops moving around Baghdad .
`` Former NSC spokesman for President Obama Tommy Vietor observed on Twitter , ' I realize that letters go out with typos sometimes , and people make mistakes , but how do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign government that says we 're pulling 5,200 troops out of your country ?
This is not believable . '
It 's unbelievable . ''
In addition to the leaked letter , there 's also Trump 's claim that the U.S. would attack Iran 's cultural sites , which is of course a war crime .
`` At what we call a bullpen at the Pentagon , a lot of questions about the cultural sites and what the president meant and then there was n't a lot of clarity on this letter from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Things in the letter we first saw it online that did n't quite make sense , '' Hans Nichols said .
`` It seemed to suggest a withdrawal but did n't quite say it and then officials , Milley came back down , chairman of the Joint Staff , banging on doors trying to clarify further and that 's when they really owned the mistake .
Obviously , they 're going to have a difficult morning at the Pentagon .
A clerical mistake , bureaucratic mistake , gives an indication what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Nichols said the bigger problem for Esper and Milley is that Pentagon officials had to publicly contradict Trump over attacking cultural sites .
`` An exceedingly uncomfortable place for anyone to be in any administration , all the more so with this president .
Esper was pretty clear yesterday that the United States will follow the rules of the laws of war and that prevents targeting culture sites and the president himself clearly wants the signal that cultural sites are on the table , and that puts , that makes Esper 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious contradiction of the commander in chief .
Esper , who has a difficult morning on two fronts . ''

What's going on at the Department of Defense? First, the draft of a letter stating the U.S. would leave Iraq gets leaked:
"One day after Iraq's Parliament passed a resolution to expel U.S. troops following the killing of Iranian General Gassem Soleimani in Baghdad, top military officials had to scramble together a news conference yesterday to contradict its own commanding general in Iraq," Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski said.
"In a letter to Iraqi officials, General William Sealy of the U.S. Command in Baghdad said troops were being repositioned in preparation to leave the country. Then came the walk back from the defense secretary that 'there has been no decision whatsoever to leave.' The chairman of the Joint Chiefs said the letter was a mistake. He called it an unsigned, poorly worded draft, and said it was sent to the Iraqis to coordinate about U.S. troops moving around Baghdad.
"Former NSC spokesman for President Obama Tommy Vietor observed on Twitter, 'I realize that letters go out with typos sometimes, and people make mistakes, but how do you mistakenly send a message to a foreign government that says we're pulling 5,200 troops out of your country? This is not believable.' It's unbelievable."
In addition to the leaked letter, there's also Trump's claim that the U.S. would attack Iran's cultural sites, which is of course a war crime.
"At what we call a bullpen at the Pentagon, a lot of questions about the cultural sites and what the president meant and then there wasn't a lot of clarity on this letter from the general. Was it a draft? Things in the letter we first saw it online that didn't quite make sense," Hans Nichols said.
"It seemed to suggest a withdrawal but didn't quite say it and then officials, Milley came back down, chairman of the Joint Staff, banging on doors trying to clarify further and that's when they really owned the mistake. Obviously, they're going to have a difficult morning at the Pentagon. A clerical mistake, bureaucratic mistake, gives an indication what they're planning for at the Pentagon."
Nichols said the bigger problem for Esper and Milley is that Pentagon officials had to publicly contradict Trump over attacking cultural sites.
"An exceedingly uncomfortable place for anyone to be in any administration, all the more so with this president. Esper was pretty clear yesterday that the United States will follow the rules of the laws of war and that prevents targeting culture sites and the president himself clearly wants the signal that cultural sites are on the table, and that puts, that makes Esper's warning very difficult when it seems in obvious contradiction of the commander in chief. Esper, who has a difficult morning on two fronts."


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--Mike's Blog Round Up

Mike's Blog Round Up

Calculated Risk : U.S. sales of light trucks/SUVs far outstrip those of passenger cars .
Upyernoz : Allies can sometimes @ @ @ @ @ ass , but especially when you don ’ t have any .
Speaking of which @ @ @ @ @ day : `` Now Hillary has a big Clinton Foundation problem , too , .
@ @ @ @ @ August 23 , 2016 . )
Guest blogging Mike 's Blog Round Up this week @ @ @ @ @ .
Send your tips , recommendations , comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT @ @

Calculated Risk: U.S. sales of light trucks/SUVs far outstrip those of passenger cars.
Upyernoz: Allies can sometimes be a pain in the ass, but especially when you don’t have any.
Boing Boing: Deere John, farmers increasingly prefer old tractors.
Lawyers, Guns and Money: CNN’s Chris Cillizza regurgitates conventional wisdom on Elizabeth Warren.
Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"Now Hillary has a big Clinton Foundation problem, too,." (Chris Cillizza, August 23, 2016.)
Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--The Strange Importance Of This Presidential Race

Donald Trump is one weird dude , and he makes everything related to him—including the race to beat him—exceptionally strange .
But the likelihood of war with Iran adds a whole new twist on the Democratic primary fight , one that goes straight to the heart of the matter in terms of who our candidate should be in 2020 .
Ironically , Trump decided to go to war during what is normally the quietest , calmest time of the year , the celebration of the birth of a man whose followers call him the Prince of Peace .
But before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained of stability in our foreign policy and starting what some analysts believe could turn into World War III , I want to discuss what was happening in the presidential race before Trump 's 2020 New Year 's blast .
On December 31st , Elizabeth Warren gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard a presidential candidate make .
Her speech in Boston , on the anniversary of her announcement of her presidential bid , framed this race perfectly .
She opened talking about the huge stakes of the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to wrestle with , anchoring the speech in the big issues our country has had to face at critical moments in our history : '' Those moments in American history define us .
And at each one of them , if our leaders had approached the moment thinking small , we would not have made it through .
Americans do big things .
That ’ s who we are .
And our best moments as a country have been when we see a challenge clearly and we mobilize to meet it head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this reflection on what the 2020 race is about : Elizabeth Warren did n't know while she was giving this profoundly important speech that just two days later , Donald Trump was going to bring us to the brink of another major Middle East war .
In some ways , though , Trump 's speech reminds us that Warren 's message about refusing to accept the world the way it is , and instead imagining what could and should be , fits this moment perfectly .
And the cautious , wavering reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other Democrats tied to the foreign policy establishment is the ultimate reminder of the stakes in this battle .
I remember all too well talking to Democratic leaders and their staff people in 2002 during the debate over authorizing the war in Iraq : they were afraid of the political repercussions of being against the war if all went well , and were convinced if they just agreed with Bush on the war , they could debate other issues with him .
What resulted was strong bipartisan support for one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the Democrats who supported the war , the decision was a disaster politically as well : progressive turnout in 2002 was dampened and Democrats had a bad year ; John Kerry 's 2004 candidacy was haunted by his support for the war , and he lost to Bush ; Hillary Clinton lost the 2008 primary fight to Obama in great part because of her support of the war and Obama 's opposition to it .
Keep in mind that openly assassinating a leader of a sovereign power is an overt act of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be worse , far worse , than the war with Iraq , which rivals Vietnam as the most costly and terrible foreign policy disasters in American history .
That Biden , Buttigieg , and Klobuchar would be too cautious to immediately condemn such a ghastly mistake is a very bad sign .
It appears that the establishment wing of the Democratic Party has learned nothing from the Iraq War nightmare .
Based on a few days in Iowa over the holiday break , I can tell you this : the only certainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 4 weeks left to go .
I went to a Warren town hall in Clarinda .
250 people showed up , which is astounding for a small town in Southwest Iowa , the most Republican part of the state , during the Christmas season .
The undecided folks I talked to there were trying to decide between Bernie , Buttigieg , and Warren , or between Yang and Warren .
The owner of my favorite restaurant in Des Moines ( a great Greek place called the Olympic Flame , which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was trying to decide between Warren and Biden .
Everyone is talking about Klobuchar rising but no one I talked to was for her , or could identify any tangible evidence to verify this momentum .
The bottom line is the intense unpredictability of this race , and the fact that while in pundits ’ minds it 's between Biden and Buttigieg in the moderate lane , or Warren and Bernie in the progressive lane , in real voters ' minds , they are still thinking about multiple candidates from multiple lanes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state party is instituting a new `` two ballot '' reporting system , where they are hoping to get results both from the time when people walk in the door and from the final delegate count , the traditional way the results are reported .
This could result in two different winners being called and mass confusion all around about how things actually came out .
So per usual : things are very unpredictable in Iowa .
But Trump 's drone attack has added a huge new element to this debate : are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Trump 's war , or are they going to say `` No , let 's not go down the path we went down in Iraq . ''
The stakes have just gotten even higher than the sky high place they already were : wild times ahead .

Donald Trump is one weird dude, and he makes everything related to him—including the race to beat him—exceptionally strange. But the likelihood of war with Iran adds a whole new twist on the Democratic primary fight, one that goes straight to the heart of the matter in terms of who our candidate should be in 2020.
Ironically, Trump decided to go to war during what is normally the quietest, calmest time of the year, the celebration of the birth of a man whose followers call him the Prince of Peace.
But before we get to Trump blowing up what remained of stability in our foreign policy and starting what some analysts believe could turn into World War III, I want to discuss what was happening in the presidential race before Trump's 2020 New Year's blast.
On December 31st, Elizabeth Warren gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard a presidential candidate make. Her speech in Boston, on the anniversary of her announcement of her presidential bid, framed this race perfectly. She opened talking about the huge stakes of the 2020 election, and the profoundly important issues we have to wrestle with, anchoring the speech in the big issues our country has had to face at critical moments in our history:
"Those moments in American history define us. And at each one of them, if our leaders had approached the moment thinking small, we would not have made it through. Americans do big things. That’s who we are. And our best moments as a country have been when we see a challenge clearly and we mobilize to meet it head on."
And she ended it with this reflection on what the 2020 race is about:
"2020 is our fight: our chance to rewrite the rules of power in our country. Our chance to come together despite our differences and mobilize a movement for change. I believe that when future generations of Americans look back on this time, they will celebrate us for choosing hope over fear, courage over timidity, dreams over cynicism. I believe they will see that we fought to build an America of our best values—an America that works for everyone."
Elizabeth Warren didn't know while she was giving this profoundly important speech that just two days later, Donald Trump was going to bring us to the brink of another major Middle East war. In some ways, though, Trump's speech reminds us that Warren's message about refusing to accept the world the way it is, and instead imagining what could and should be, fits this moment perfectly. And the cautious, wavering reaction from Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and other Democrats tied to the foreign policy establishment is the ultimate reminder of the stakes in this battle.
I remember all too well talking to Democratic leaders and their staff people in 2002 during the debate over authorizing the war in Iraq: they were afraid of the political repercussions of being against the war if all went well, and were convinced if they just agreed with Bush on the war, they could debate other issues with him. What resulted was strong bipartisan support for one of the most disastrous wars in American history. For the Democrats who supported the war, the decision was a disaster politically as well: progressive turnout in 2002 was dampened and Democrats had a bad year; John Kerry's 2004 candidacy was haunted by his support for the war, and he lost to Bush; Hillary Clinton lost the 2008 primary fight to Obama in great part because of her support of the war and Obama's opposition to it.
Keep in mind that openly assassinating a leader of a sovereign power is an overt act of war, and that war with Iran would be worse, far worse, than the war with Iraq, which rivals Vietnam as the most costly and terrible foreign policy disasters in American history. That Biden, Buttigieg, and Klobuchar would be too cautious to immediately condemn such a ghastly mistake is a very bad sign. It appears that the establishment wing of the Democratic Party has learned nothing from the Iraq War nightmare.
Based on a few days in Iowa over the holiday break, I can tell you this: the only certainty is the complete unpredictability of the race with 4 weeks left to go. I went to a Warren town hall in Clarinda. 250 people showed up, which is astounding for a small town in Southwest Iowa, the most Republican part of the state, during the Christmas season. The undecided folks I talked to there were trying to decide between Bernie, Buttigieg, and Warren, or between Yang and Warren. The owner of my favorite restaurant in Des Moines (a great Greek place called the Olympic Flame, which has been there for at least 35 years) was trying to decide between Warren and Biden. Everyone is talking about Klobuchar rising but no one I talked to was for her, or could identify any tangible evidence to verify this momentum.
The bottom line is the intense unpredictability of this race, and the fact that while in pundits’ minds it's between Biden and Buttigieg in the moderate lane, or Warren and Bernie in the progressive lane, in real voters' minds, they are still thinking about multiple candidates from multiple lanes. Added to this unpredictability is that the state party is instituting a new "two ballot" reporting system, where they are hoping to get results both from the time when people walk in the door and from the final delegate count, the traditional way the results are reported. This could result in two different winners being called and mass confusion all around about how things actually came out.
So per usual: things are very unpredictable in Iowa. But Trump's drone attack has added a huge new element to this debate: are Democrats going to support caution and uncertainty about Trump's war, or are they going to say "No, let's not go down the path we went down in Iraq."
The stakes have just gotten even higher than the sky high place they already were: wild times ahead.


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--Martha McSally Pleads For Outside Groups To Save Her

The embattled Arizona Senator ca n't coordinate with outside groups , but `` prays for them every day '' , to send air support like an A-10 , referring to the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt , to save her as her Democratic opponent , Mark Kelly , is far outdistancing in fundraising .
McSally was appointed to the US Senate after John McCain died .
WASHINGTON — Sen. Martha McSally , who ’ s in one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the country , is encouraging outside groups to run ads defending her position on health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Mirror .
During a December conversation with Republicans in Legislative District 11 , McSally expressed frustration with a barrage of ads against her and insisted she wants to protect health care for people with pre-existing conditions .
Her comments came as polls show she ’ ll likely face a tight race against retired astronaut Mark Kelly , the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate seat .
“ Look , the attack ads are a lie , ” she said when asked whether she supports people with pre-existing conditions getting access to health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote opposing an effort to overturn a Trump administration policy that allows states to ignore certain requirements of the Obama administration ’ s Affordable Care Act .
McSally said at the GOP gathering , “ We don ’ t have the resources to fight .
If I went up on TV right now , my campaign coffers would be empty .
If we ’ re going to fight back with a TV ad , it ’ s going to cost us millions of dollars.
” Kelly has outraised McSally so far in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of fundraising reports is due to be released later this month .
McSally suggested last month that outside groups should pitch in to help .
“ We need close air support to show up .
There ’ s outside groups .
We can ’ t talk to them .
We can ’ t invite them , but we pray for them every day .
We need conservative outside groups , you know , to wake up , and get involved , and start muddying up the landscape a little bit , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking incoming and not having any A-10s show up , you know overhead , to help me out .
”

The embattled Arizona Senator can't coordinate with outside groups, but "prays for them every day", to send air support like an A-10, referring to the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt, to save her as her Democratic opponent, Mark Kelly, is far outdistancing in fundraising.
McSally was appointed to the US Senate after John McCain died.
Source: Arizona Mirror
WASHINGTON — Sen. Martha McSally, who’s in one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the country, is encouraging outside groups to run ads defending her position on health care, according to audio obtained by the Arizona Mirror.
During a December conversation with Republicans in Legislative District 11, McSally expressed frustration with a barrage of ads against her and insisted she wants to protect health care for people with pre-existing conditions. Her comments came as polls show she’ll likely face a tight race against retired astronaut Mark Kelly, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate seat.
“Look, the attack ads are a lie,” she said when asked whether she supports people with pre-existing conditions getting access to health insurance. The ads have assailed her vote opposing an effort to overturn a Trump administration policy that allows states to ignore certain requirements of the Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act.
McSally said at the GOP gathering, “We don’t have the resources to fight. If I went up on TV right now, my campaign coffers would be empty. If we’re going to fight back with a TV ad, it’s going to cost us millions of dollars.”
Kelly has outraised McSally so far in his bid to unseat her. The next round of fundraising reports is due to be released later this month.
McSally suggested last month that outside groups should pitch in to help.
“We need close air support to show up. There’s outside groups. We can’t talk to them. We can’t invite them, but we pray for them every day. We need conservative outside groups, you know, to wake up, and get involved, and start muddying up the landscape a little bit, so I’m not just sitting here taking incoming and not having any A-10s show up, you know overhead, to help me out.”


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--Ex-Fox Reporter Courtney Friel: Married Trump Invited Me To His Office ‘For A Kiss’

It ’ s been a long time since we ’ ve seen former Fox News reporter Courtney Friel but she ’ s out with a new memoir that contains a tidbit about P***y Grabber In Chief Donald Trump hitting on her while she still worked at Fox .
From the New York Daily News : She says Trump told her she was “ the hottest one at Fox News ” and called her office line a few weeks after she mentioned an interest in working as a judge on his Miss USA beauty pageant .
“ Though he said I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I worked at a different network , he did ask me about my career goals and complimented my work at FNC , ” Friel , 39 , wrote in a sneak peek of her book shared with the Daily News .
“ Then , out of nowhere , he said : ‘ You should come up to my office sometime , so we can kiss , ’ ” Friel claimed .
Friel says she told Trump they were both married and quickly ended the call .
But she also said the experience makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump call the women who have accused him of sexual harassment liars .
`` I totally believe them , ” she reportedly says in the book , “ Tonight At 10 : Kicking Booze and Breaking News.
” Oh , and Friel says her then-officemate and now former Fox News reporter Rick Folbaum overheard the conversation : It 's rather disappointing , however , that Friel waited until she had a book to sell before coming forward with this information .
Kriel is now an anchor at KTLA and it 's unclear when @ @ @ @

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen former Fox News reporter Courtney Friel but she’s out with a new memoir that contains a tidbit about P***y Grabber In Chief Donald Trump hitting on her while she still worked at Fox.
From the New York Daily News:
She says Trump told her she was “the hottest one at Fox News” and called her office line a few weeks after she mentioned an interest in working as a judge on his Miss USA beauty pageant. “Though he said I couldn’t be a judge since I worked at a different network, he did ask me about my career goals and complimented my work at FNC,” Friel, 39, wrote in a sneak peek of her book shared with the Daily News. “Then, out of nowhere, he said: ‘You should come up to my office sometime, so we can kiss,’” Friel claimed.
Friel says she told Trump they were both married and quickly ended the call.
But she also said the experience makes her “infuriated” when she hears Trump call the women who have accused him of sexual harassment liars. "I totally believe them,” she reportedly says in the book, “Tonight At 10: Kicking Booze and Breaking News.”
Oh, and Friel says her then-officemate and now former Fox News reporter Rick Folbaum overheard the conversation:
This is just one tiny story in my book that will hopefully help people get sober. Btw- as I say in the book, my office mate @RickFolbaum was right there with me during the call. https://t.co/rSAWEAAY4F — Courtney Friel (@courtneyfriel) January 3, 2020
It's rather disappointing, however, that Friel waited until she had a book to sell before coming forward with this information.
Kriel is now an anchor at KTLA and it's unclear when this incident occurred.
(H/T reader Eric Jefferson)
Published with permission from News Hounds.


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--WATCH:  Michelle Williams, Best Speech Of 2020 Golden Globes

Michelle Williams is expecting a baby .
And last night she won a Golden Globe ( best actress in a limited series ) for her work in `` Fosse/Verdon . ''
She said this : When you put this [ award ] in someone 's hands you 're acknowledging the choices they make as an actor .
Moment by moment , scene by scene , day by day .
But you 're also acknowledging the choices they make as a person .
The education they pursued , the training they sought , the hours they put in .
I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 've made and I 'm also grateful to have lived in a moment in our society where choice exists , because as women and as girls , things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice .
I 've tried my very best to live a life of my own making , and not just a series of events that happened to me .
But one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over .
Sometimes messy and scrawling , sometimes careful and precise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with my own hand .
And I would n't have been able to do this without employing a woman 's right to choose .
To choose when to have my children and with whom , when I felt supported and able to balance our lives as all mothers know that the scales must and will tip towards our children .
Now I know my choices might look different than yours , but thank God or whoever you pray to that we live in a country founded on the principles that I am free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free to live by yours .
So , women 18 to 118 , when it is time to vote please do so in your self-interest .
It 's what men have been doing for years , which is why the world looks so much like them .
But do n't forget we are the largest voting body in this country .
Let 's make it look more like us .

Michelle Williams is expecting a baby. And last night she won a Golden Globe (best actress in a limited series) for her work in "Fosse/Verdon." She said this:
When you put this [award] in someone's hands you're acknowledging the choices they make as an actor. Moment by moment, scene by scene, day by day. But you're also acknowledging the choices they make as a person. The education they pursued, the training they sought, the hours they put in. I'm grateful for the acknowledgment of the choices I've made and I'm also grateful to have lived in a moment in our society where choice exists, because as women and as girls, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice.
I've tried my very best to live a life of my own making, and not just a series of events that happened to me. But one that I could stand back and look at and recognize my handwriting all over. Sometimes messy and scrawling, sometimes careful and precise. But one that I had carved with my own hand. And I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose.
To choose when to have my children and with whom, when I felt supported and able to balance our lives as all mothers know that the scales must and will tip towards our children. Now I know my choices might look different than yours, but thank God or whoever you pray to that we live in a country founded on the principles that I am free to live by my faith and you are free to live by yours. So, women 18 to 118, when it is time to vote please do so in your self-interest. It's what men have been doing for years, which is why the world looks so much like them. But don't forget we are the largest voting body in this country. Let's make it look more like us.


crooksandliars--2020-01-07--Mike Pence Demonstrates Vividly Just How Much Contempt He Holds For The American Public

Donald Trump has lied over 14,000 times since taking office .
Some of those lies are about the economy , some of them about his political opponents , and a surprising number involve Trump claiming credit for programs actually signed into law by Barack Obama .
Trump ’ s been joined in his lies by members of his White House team , from Kellyanne Conway to Mick Mulvaney to Mike Pompeo , delivering a fat untruth with a sneer seems to be the primary qualification to join Team Trump .
But it ’ s a tweet posted by Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustration of the lies originating from this White House .
Because it ’ s not just a lie , it ’ s multiple lies .
Incredibly lazy lies .
Lies so sloppy , with so little attention to history , reason , or anything else , that Pence should be forced to wear them eternally stapled to his massive white forehead .
In defense of assassinating Iranian general Qassem Soleimani , Pence went through a long list of Soleimani ’ s supposed crimes .
Among them “ Assisted in the clandestine travel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
” The list of reasons why this tweet is ridiculous is far longer than the original tweet .
First of all , on the most straightforward point , there were 19 hijackers on 9/11 .
Not 12 .
A spokesperson for Pence has since launched a defense for this in saying that Pence was talking about a “ subset ” of the hijackers who traveled to Afghanistan through Iran .
That statement also clarifies how Soleimani “ assisted ” these hijackers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in Iran .
A quick check of the records shows that Soleimani also allowed 4 million other people to land in Iran in 2001 alone .
He was apparently a very busy fellow .
As many , many people have pointed out since Pence ’ s tweet , 15 of the 19 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia .
They didn ’ t just touch down in Saudi Arabia to change planes on the way to Kabul , they lived there—which would seem to make a lot of Saudi officials more bomb-worthy than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump ’ s action .
More importantly , not only were the large majority of the hijackers Saudi , all of them were Sunni .
So was all of al-Qaeda .
The whole organization is composed of Salafist jihadists , a subset of radical Sunnis who regard Shiite Muslims as heretics worthy of death .
Attempting to tie the Sunni forces of al-Qaeda to the Shiite government of Iran may just signal that Mike Pence is astoundingly ignorant .
But it certainly shows the disdain the whole Trump White House holds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it ’ s not the only way they ’ re demonstrating their contempt .
Here ’ s the schedule for the top Defense Department officials on Friday .
• Mark Esper , Secretary of Defense : No public or media events .
• David Norqust , Deputy Sec .
of Defense : No public or media events .
• Mark Miley , Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff : No public or media events .
• John Hyten , Vice chair Joint Chiefs of Staff : No public or media events .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation to the brink of war , the Defense Department had nothing to say .
The generals left it guys like Pence to distribute lies .
Pence isn ’ t even pretending to have secret intelligence that supports the death of Soleimani .
Completely missing from his list of reasons is any detail about the supposed “ imminent threat ” that the general represented to Americans .
The reason for that is clear enough : The intelligence that Donald Trump , Mike Pompeo , Mike Pence and others have been claiming supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just as absurd as Pence ’ s tweet .

Donald Trump has lied over 14,000 times since taking office. Some of those lies are about the economy, some of them about his political opponents, and a surprising number involve Trump claiming credit for programs actually signed into law by Barack Obama. Trump’s been joined in his lies by members of his White House team, from Kellyanne Conway to Mick Mulvaney to Mike Pompeo, delivering a fat untruth with a sneer seems to be the primary qualification to join Team Trump.
But it’s a tweet posted by Mike Pence on Friday that may be the best illustration of the lies originating from this White House. Because it’s not just a lie, it’s multiple lies. Incredibly lazy lies. Lies so sloppy, with so little attention to history, reason, or anything else, that Pence should be forced to wear them eternally stapled to his massive white forehead.
In defense of assassinating Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Pence went through a long list of Soleimani’s supposed crimes. Among them “Assisted in the clandestine travel to Afghanistan of 10 of the 12 terrorists who carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.”
The list of reasons why this tweet is ridiculous is far longer than the original tweet. First of all, on the most straightforward point, there were 19 hijackers on 9/11. Not 12. A spokesperson for Pence has since launched a defense for this in saying that Pence was talking about a “subset” of the hijackers who traveled to Afghanistan through Iran. That statement also clarifies how Soleimani “assisted” these hijackers. He “allowed them to land” in Iran. A quick check of the records shows that Soleimani also allowed 4 million other people to land in Iran in 2001 alone. He was apparently a very busy fellow.
As many, many people have pointed out since Pence’s tweet, 15 of the 19 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia. They didn’t just touch down in Saudi Arabia to change planes on the way to Kabul, they lived there—which would seem to make a lot of Saudi officials more bomb-worthy than Soleimani if that were the real basis of Trump’s action. More importantly, not only were the large majority of the hijackers Saudi, all of them were Sunni. So was all of al-Qaeda. The whole organization is composed of Salafist jihadists, a subset of radical Sunnis who regard Shiite Muslims as heretics worthy of death.
Attempting to tie the Sunni forces of al-Qaeda to the Shiite government of Iran may just signal that Mike Pence is astoundingly ignorant. But it certainly shows the disdain the whole Trump White House holds for the intelligence of the American public. And it’s not the only way they’re demonstrating their contempt.
Here’s the schedule for the top Defense Department officials on Friday.
Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense: No public or media events.
David Norqust, Deputy Sec. of Defense: No public or media events.
Mark Miley, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff: No public or media events.
John Hyten, Vice chair Joint Chiefs of Staff: No public or media events.
In the wake of an event that takes the nation to the brink of war, the Defense Department had nothing to say. The generals left it guys like Pence to distribute lies.
Pence isn’t even pretending to have secret intelligence that supports the death of Soleimani. Completely missing from his list of reasons is any detail about the supposed “imminent threat” that the general represented to Americans.
The reason for that is clear enough: The intelligence that Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo, Mike Pence and others have been claiming supported the assassination of a foreign official, was just as absurd as Pence’s tweet.
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-01-06--Jesus Candy II: It’s Proselytizing, Proud Candymaker Says!

For those not living in a toxic environment of religious coercion , it might seem a bit silly to get upset over a piece of candy .
That was certainly the response from a lot of righwing media outlets— Fox News , The Daily Wire , The Blaze , etc.—who relied on a rightwing lawyer who called it a “ publicity stunt ” when they followed up on my December 23 report here , `` Jesus Candy Causes Democracy Decay At Peterson AFB '' .
The complaint arose from an email sent to Mikey Weinstein , founder and President of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called it , “ the fundamentalist Christian straw breaking the MRFF clients ' backs.
” And MRFF researcher Chris Rodda explained that it had been two years since MRFF first requested a copy of Peterson ’ s religious climate survey—without any response except a notification of delay .
“ They obviously do not want us to see this religious climate survey , indicating that it must be really bad.
” So , initially the focus was on the whole situation .
But now , the candy itself has become the story .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proselytizing kit than a package of candy , ” Rodda wrote at Daily Kos on January 3 .
And that ’ s not just her opinion .
That ’ s what the candymaker himself proudly proclaims .
In fact , it ’ s the whole reason for his company ’ s very existence .
Which is why MRFF is now legally demanding that it removed .
First , Rodda notes , is the company ’ s slogan , printed on the candy ’ s packaging : “ Reaching The World One Piece At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company ’ s name : “ Scripture Candy , Inc. ” And she presents its stated mission , which begins as follows : This alone is sufficient to show why the candy can ’ t legally and constitutionally be sold at the Peterson BX : it ’ s a cut-and-dried case of government promotion of religion—and a discriminatory one at that , which is where it runs further afoul of specific military regulations .
Which is why MRFF sent a demand letter requesting its removal on January 3 to Dale Harbour , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force Exchange Service , which read , in part : Scripture Candy ’ s mission goes on to say : All that is just fine and dandy—for selling candy anywhere that doesn ’ t entail a government endorsement .
It could even be sold elsewhere on the base—under the auspices of chaplaincy services .
Rodda also goes on to quote Scripture Candy founder Brian Adkins from the story of why he started his company : There could not be a clearer statement of proselytizing intent—which , to be clear , is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if done in a manner that doesn ’ t infringe on the rights of others .
But , is it really even accurate to call it “ candy , ” when there ’ s so much else being sold along with it ?
As Rodda describes it , the answer is far from clear : If I were a kid , I ’ d feel cheated to get that as candy , no matter what the occasion .
And I ’ m not the only one who ’ d be upset , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , the letter later goes on to quote relevant paragraphs from two Air Force Instructions [ AFIs ] .
First , AFI 1-1 , Air Force Standards ( 2014 ) , ¶ 2.12 , which states : And second , AFI 36-7001 , Diversity and Inclusion ( 2019 ) , ¶ 2.22 , which states : In short , these regulations reflect that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment—forbidding establishment of a state religion—has primacy over the Free Exercise Clause when military officers are acting in an official capacity .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its rightwing media allies simply can not accept—or even admit is the actual issue .
This explains how they spun their initial reporting , which relied on a rightwing lawyer , Mike Berry , who called it “ just the latest publicity stunt by a bunch of activists . ''
Berry works for the First Liberty Institute , which the Southern Poverty Law Center has described as “ a Christian legal organization based in Plano , Texas that battles LGBT rights and abortion under the guise of ‘ religious liberty.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ director of military affairs , ” but his comments in these rightwing outlets were starkly devoid of any consciousness that the military environment is significantly distinct in how First Amendment protections apply , as the regulations above reflect .
`` A real constitutional expert or any first-year law student knows that selling candy canes at Christmas is perfectly legal , '' Berry told Fox News .
But that ’ s not the case when the candy cane is a form of religious proselytization , and it ’ s sold at a military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student might not know that , specifically .
But it reflects a broader general principle they should know : First Amendment rights of all sorts are subject to “ time , place , and manner ” regulations .
And it shouldn ’ t be hard for them to understand why the military environment specifically requires a balancing that protects against practices that erode “ unit cohesion , good order and discipline , ” which are fundamental to the military ’ s mission .
So , Berry ’ s faux appeal to a first-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
No way it ’ s a serious argument .
It never has been .
It ’ s a straight-up con .
“ Freedom for me , but not for thee ” always is .

For those not living in a toxic environment of religious coercion, it might seem a bit silly to get upset over a piece of candy. That was certainly the response from a lot of righwing media outlets— Fox News, The Daily Wire, The Blaze, etc.—who relied on a rightwing lawyer who called it a “publicity stunt” when they followed up on my December 23 report here, "Jesus Candy Causes Democracy Decay At Peterson AFB".
The complaint arose from an email sent to Mikey Weinstein, founder and President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, who called it, “the fundamentalist Christian straw breaking the MRFF clients' backs.” And MRFF researcher Chris Rodda explained that it had been two years since MRFF first requested a copy of Peterson’s religious climate survey—without any response except a notification of delay. “They obviously do not want us to see this religious climate survey, indicating that it must be really bad.”
So, initially the focus was on the whole situation. But now, the candy itself has become the story. “This candy is more of a Christian proselytizing kit than a package of candy,” Rodda wrote at Daily Kos on January 3. And that’s not just her opinion. That’s what the candymaker himself proudly proclaims. In fact, it’s the whole reason for his company’s very existence. Which is why MRFF is now legally demanding that it removed.
First, Rodda notes, is the company’s slogan, printed on the candy’s packaging: “Reaching The World One Piece At A Time.” Then, she notes the company’s name: “Scripture Candy, Inc.” And she presents its stated mission, which begins as follows:
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
“At Scripture Candy, Inc. we are using a simple piece of candy in order to fulfill this commission. We want to ‘Reach The World One Piece At A Time.
’
This alone is sufficient to show why the candy can’t legally and constitutionally be sold at the Peterson BX: it’s a cut-and-dried case of government promotion of religion—and a discriminatory one at that, which is where it runs further afoul of specific military regulations.
Which is why MRFF sent a demand letter requesting its removal on January 3 to Dale Harbour, General Counsel for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which read, in part:
MRFF thus demands that this product be removed from all AAFES facilities at once because, not only is it an illegal promotion of religion, but it is offensive to the many clients of MRFF, Christian and non-Christian, and others who frequent the Exchange facilities.
Scripture Candy’s mission goes on to say:
“We take the best tasting candies and wrap them in Scriptures so that they can be passed out to everyone. It's a great way to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A single piece of Scripture Candy is like that seed planted by the sower in the parable spoken by Jesus in Matthew 13; it has the potential of producing a tremendous harvest. Jesus said in Luke 10:2 ‘…The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few…’ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
All that is just fine and dandy—for selling candy anywhere that doesn’t entail a government endorsement. It could even be sold elsewhere on the base—under the auspices of chaplaincy services.
Rodda also goes on to quote Scripture Candy founder Brian Adkins from the story of why he started his company:
“In 1991, while listening to ‘Focus on the Family’ on the radio doing a program on the occults and Halloween, GOD gave me the inspiration about turning a pagan holiday into something to glorify GOD. Since we give out candy as ‘treats’ during the holiday, if we could wrap the ‘Word’ around the candy, every piece we gave out would have the possibility of planting a seed in a person's life. Thus creating our tagline ‘Reaching The World One Piece At A Time.’ “The whole meaning behind ‘Scripture Candy, Inc.’ is to plant the seed of the ‘Word’ in everyone throughout the world.”
There could not be a clearer statement of proselytizing intent—which, to be clear, is not a problem for MRFF or its clients, if done in a manner that doesn’t infringe on the rights of others.
But, is it really even accurate to call it “candy,” when there’s so much else being sold along with it? As Rodda describes it, the answer is far from clear:
The candy cane package, for example, contains a stocking with the words “JESUS Sweetest Name I Know,” a bookmark with a cross and evangelical scripture verse on one side and a completely bogus history of the candy cane on the other — with the red stripes representing the blood of Christ, and the candy cane’s shape being a “J” for Jesus, an urban legend according to the real history — and a Christian coloring page, all of which are pictured on the back of the package. The only candy in the package is one single candy cane.
If I were a kid, I’d feel cheated to get that as candy, no matter what the occasion. And I’m not the only one who’d be upset, as the demand letter explained:
Can you imagine the uproar if someone tried to sell “Muslim Munchies,” “Buddhist Bubble-gum,” “Wiccan Wafers,” or “Satanic Suckers” in an AAFES facility? This is no different and is equally as offensive to many patrons, including Christian clients of MRFF, who have complained to MRFF. By promoting only Christian “Candy” products (aside from the tackiness of it all), AAFES is in violation of DoD Directive [DoDD] 1020.02E, Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity in the DoD (2018). Enclosure 2 of that DoDD, ¶ 2.b.(1), prohibits “unlawful discrimination on the basis of . . . religion . . .
Among other things, the letter later goes on to quote relevant paragraphs from two Air Force Instructions [AFIs]. First, AFI 1-1, Air Force Standards (2014), ¶ 2.12, which states:
Balance of Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clause. Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for their own free exercise of religion, including individual expressions of religious beliefs, and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. They must ensure their words and actions cannot reasonably be construed to be officially endorsing or disapproving of, or extending preferential treatment for any faith, belief, or absence of belief. [Emphasis added].
And second, AFI 36-7001, Diversity and Inclusion (2019), ¶ 2.22, which states:
All Airmen, military and civilian, are responsible for creating an inclusive organizational culture and do so as a reflection of the Air Force’s core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. Airmen at all levels should strive to understand the individual, organizational, and operational value of diversity and inclusion, and ensure mutual respect for all. [Emphasis added].
In short, these regulations reflect that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment—forbidding establishment of a state religion—has primacy over the Free Exercise Clause when military officers are acting in an official capacity. And that’s what the religious right and its rightwing media allies simply cannot accept—or even admit is the actual issue.
This explains how they spun their initial reporting, which relied on a rightwing lawyer, Mike Berry, who called it “just the latest publicity stunt by a bunch of activists." Berry works for the First Liberty Institute, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has described as “a Christian legal organization based in Plano, Texas that battles LGBT rights and abortion under the guise of ‘religious liberty.’”
Berry is described as FLI’s “director of military affairs,” but his comments in these rightwing outlets were starkly devoid of any consciousness that the military environment is significantly distinct in how First Amendment protections apply, as the regulations above reflect.
"A real constitutional expert or any first-year law student knows that selling candy canes at Christmas is perfectly legal," Berry told Fox News. But that’s not the case when the candy cane is a form of religious proselytization, and it’s sold at a military PX or BX. A first-year law student might not know that, specifically. But it reflects a broader general principle they should know: First Amendment rights of all sorts are subject to “time, place, and manner” regulations. And it shouldn’t be hard for them to understand why the military environment specifically requires a balancing that protects against practices that erode “unit cohesion, good order and discipline,” which are fundamental to the military’s mission.
So, Berry’s faux appeal to a first-year law student is laughable on its face. No way it’s a serious argument. It never has been. It’s a straight-up con. “Freedom for me, but not for thee” always is.


crooksandliars--2020-01-06--Don't Get Your Hopes Up About John Bolton Testifying In The Senate

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has issued a statement that he will testify in impeachment proceedings if he is subpoenaed by the Senate .
Now that his aide , Dr. Charles Kupperman 's case about the very same question with which he allegedly wrestled ( which branch is more powerful ? )
has been dismissed and , thus resolved in favor of Congress , sure , he 's game to appear before the Senate .
You know , the one controlled by Republicans and Mitch McConnell .
The Senate whose leader has vowed to be impartial and run a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to exonerate the criminal president who continues his crime spree in plain sight .
That criminal president , though , who had Bolton so incensed by his `` drug deal '' and use of Rudy `` Hand Grenade '' Giuliani to conduct foreign diplomacy in Ukraine has perhaps won back a bit of favor with Bolton by tweeting us into a near-certain war with Iran .
Bolton has never met a war he has n't loved , so , how inclined is he right now to speak out against the man-child tantrum-tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to many , Mitch McConnell is facing pressure to hold an actual trial with witnesses called , and as Bolton is the most powerful , with the closest knowledge of the bribery and extortion aspects of what went down in Trump 's attempted `` Dirt On Biden for Military Aid '' quid pro quo .
Common consensus is that McConnell made a colossal blunder by openly stating his intentions to basically unilaterally exonerate Trump .
Furthermore , there are a few senators in his party who may want to hear from Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time to speak up , Romney ... ) The most interesting idea came from John King and Michael Zeldin on CNN , though .
In discussing these new developments with King and the former federal prosecutor floated the notion of Speaker Nancy Pelosi issuing a subpoena to Bolton , even though the House has already voted on the articles of impeachment .
King wanted to know if the House would have to open a third article of impeachment in order to call Bolton to testify , or if the Speaker could call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established .
ZELDIN : I think that she has the authority to do that , once she has oversight authority , to the articles of impeachment.
, talk about a continuing pattern of behavior .
Both articles of impeachment say he did these specific things , and this was a pattern of behavior .
So in this pattern of behavior language within those articles of impeachment , they could call Bolton , I believe , as a supplemental witness to that , and it would be further evidence of that which they 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't think they need a third article of impeachment of any kind .
I think the way they were drafted was clever , and Bolton 's testimony could fall within the structure of obstruction of Congress and abuse of authority , and that testimony would then be relevant to trial if Mitch McConnell was willing to hold a real trial .
KING : If he is willing .
I just want to note John Bolton , a veteran of Washington , understands the Democrats control the House , the Republicans control the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have concluded if Senate issues a subpoena , I am prepared to testify . ''
It does not answer the question of what he would do if the House came back with one .
We may get that answer in the days ahead .
It 's very hard to imagine , however , anyone in conservative and/or GOP circles doing the right thing .
Given our situation , if we have n't learned from their behavior in the past , it 's our own fault if we get our hopes up .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling the Democrats is that he 's still playing Hard-To-Get .

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton has issued a statement that he will testify in impeachment proceedings if he is subpoenaed by the Senate. Now that his aide, Dr. Charles Kupperman's case about the very same question with which he allegedly wrestled (which branch is more powerful?) has been dismissed and, thus resolved in favor of Congress, sure, he's game to appear before the Senate.
You know, the one controlled by Republicans and Mitch McConnell. The Senate whose leader has vowed to be impartial and run a sham trial designed, from the beginning, to exonerate the criminal president who continues his crime spree in plain sight.
That criminal president, though, who had Bolton so incensed by his "drug deal" and use of Rudy "Hand Grenade" Giuliani to conduct foreign diplomacy in Ukraine has perhaps won back a bit of favor with Bolton by tweeting us into a near-certain war with Iran. Bolton has never met a war he hasn't loved, so, how inclined is he right now to speak out against the man-child tantrum-tweeting his way into it?
Still, according to many, Mitch McConnell is facing pressure to hold an actual trial with witnesses called, and as Bolton is the most powerful, with the closest knowledge of the bribery and extortion aspects of what went down in Trump's attempted "Dirt On Biden for Military Aid" quid pro quo. Common consensus is that McConnell made a colossal blunder by openly stating his intentions to basically unilaterally exonerate Trump. Furthermore, there are a few senators in his party who may want to hear from Bolton, as well. (Now's the time to speak up, Romney...)
The most interesting idea came from John King and Michael Zeldin on CNN, though. In discussing these new developments with King and the former federal prosecutor floated the notion of Speaker Nancy Pelosi issuing a subpoena to Bolton, even though the House has already voted on the articles of impeachment. King wanted to know if the House would have to open a third article of impeachment in order to call Bolton to testify, or if the Speaker could call him now, under the articles already established.
ZELDIN: I think that she has the authority to do that, once she has oversight authority, to the articles of impeachment., talk about a continuing pattern of behavior. Both articles of impeachment say he did these specific things, and this was a pattern of behavior. So in this pattern of behavior language within those articles of impeachment, they could call Bolton, I believe, as a supplemental witness to that, and it would be further evidence of that which they've already impeached him on. I don't think they need a third article of impeachment of any kind. I think the way they were drafted was clever, and Bolton's testimony could fall within the structure of obstruction of Congress and abuse of authority, and that testimony would then be relevant to trial if Mitch McConnell was willing to hold a real trial. KING: If he is willing. I just want to note John Bolton, a veteran of Washington, understands the Democrats control the House, the Republicans control the Senate. His statement says, "I have concluded if Senate issues a subpoena, I am prepared to testify." It does not answer the question of what he would do if the House came back with one. We may get that answer in the days ahead.
It's very hard to imagine, however, anyone in conservative and/or GOP circles doing the right thing. Given our situation, if we haven't learned from their behavior in the past, it's our own fault if we get our hopes up. So, big-f*ckin-deal. All John Bolton is telling the Democrats is that he's still playing Hard-To-Get.