crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Sen. Lindsey Graham Plans To Manufacture More 'Obamagate' Lies For Trump

Donald Trump wants to discredit the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and smear his political opponents in the process .
Sen. Lindsey Graham is , as usual , eager to make Trump happy .
From his perch as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee , Graham plans to investigate the investigations , looking for anything he can blow up into alleged wrongdoing against Trump .
If this sounds familiar , it ’ s probably because Attorney General William Barr is carrying out his own version of the same project .
The Judiciary Committee usually issues subpoenas on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sidestep that by holding a vote to allow himself to subpoena more than 50 current and former officials involved in the investigations .
Graham ’ s subpoena list includes former FBI Director James Comey , former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper , and former CIA Director John Brennan—all of whom are firmly on Trump ’ s enemies list—as well as current Trump officials like Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray .
Graham has said he does not want to subpoena former President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his partisan investigation won ’ t give Trump the excuse to keep ranting about “ Obamagate.
” After all , he ’ s shown he doesn ’ t need any actual substance , telling Fox News viewers : “ It was the greatest political crime in the history of our country , ” and : “ If I were a Democrat instead of a Republican , I think everybody would 've been in jail a long time ago , & I 'm talking with 50-year sentences .
It is a disgrace what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scam , hoax , in the history of our country .
And people should be going to jail for this stuff , and hopefully a lot of people are going to have to pay .
No other president should have to go through ... ( something something , Flynn , heroes , something something ) .
[ ... ] This was all Obama .
This was all Biden .
These people were corrupt .
The whole thing was corrupt .
And we caught them.
” Note how at no point does he give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political crime in the history of our country ” was—so when it comes to Graham ’ s shame investigation , anything Obama administration-adjacent will be plenty for Trump to hang another rant on .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , too , jumped on board with the plan to attack the investigations into Russian election interference , saying Tuesday that the FBI ’ s investigation of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page used the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to “ snoop on a presidential campaign.
” McConnell , remember , blocked Obama from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sway the 2016 elections .
So this is the play : Try to not only create doubt about whether Russia put a thumb on the scale in Trump ’ s favor in 2016 ( which it did ) , but actually reverse that and make it look like the fact of Russian interference is actually a fiction concocted by Democrats to illegally hurt Trump .
And Republicans control enough of government—and can rely on traditional media to both-sides everything in sight—that it may succeed in convincing some fraction of voters .

Donald Trump wants to discredit the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and smear his political opponents in the process. Sen. Lindsey Graham is, as usual, eager to make Trump happy. From his perch as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham plans to investigate the investigations, looking for anything he can blow up into alleged wrongdoing against Trump. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because Attorney General William Barr is carrying out his own version of the same project.
The Judiciary Committee usually issues subpoenas on a bipartisan basis, but Graham plans to sidestep that by holding a vote to allow himself to subpoena more than 50 current and former officials involved in the investigations. Graham’s subpoena list includes former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and former CIA Director John Brennan—all of whom are firmly on Trump’s enemies list—as well as current Trump officials like Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Graham has said he does not want to subpoena former President Barack Obama, but that doesn’t mean his partisan investigation won’t give Trump the excuse to keep ranting about “Obamagate.” After all, he’s shown he doesn’t need any actual substance, telling Fox News viewers: “It was the greatest political crime in the history of our country,” and: “If I were a Democrat instead of a Republican, I think everybody would've been in jail a long time ago, & I'm talking with 50-year sentences. It is a disgrace what's happened. This is the greatest political scam, hoax, in the history of our country. And people should be going to jail for this stuff, and hopefully a lot of people are going to have to pay. No other president should have to go through... (something something, Flynn, heroes, something something). [...] This was all Obama. This was all Biden. These people were corrupt. The whole thing was corrupt. And we caught them.”
Note how at no point does he give any hint of what this “greatest political crime in the history of our country” was—so when it comes to Graham’s shame investigation, anything Obama administration-adjacent will be plenty for Trump to hang another rant on.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, too, jumped on board with the plan to attack the investigations into Russian election interference, saying Tuesday that the FBI’s investigation of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page used the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to “snoop on a presidential campaign.” McConnell, remember, blocked Obama from alerting voters to Russia’s efforts to sway the 2016 elections.
So this is the play: Try to not only create doubt about whether Russia put a thumb on the scale in Trump’s favor in 2016 (which it did), but actually reverse that and make it look like the fact of Russian interference is actually a fiction concocted by Democrats to illegally hurt Trump. And Republicans control enough of government—and can rely on traditional media to both-sides everything in sight—that it may succeed in convincing some fraction of voters.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Speaker Pelosi On Arms Sales To Saudis: 'Congress Said NO To It'

Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss everything from Trump 's claiming he is taking hydroxychloroquine , to the House 's HEROES Act , to the gleeful purging of inspectors general that would put any banana republic dictator to shame .
When focusing on the IGs , Wallace noted that firing them seems to be how Trump has spent nearly every Friday night of the pandemic .
Most recently , Steve Linick , the State Department 's IG was fired for investigating Mike Pompeo 's personal corruption AND illegal arms sales to Saudi Arabia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday nights to avoid headlines and attention , and then a few days later , Trump makes some insane , bogus announcement to keep the news cycle away from the story behind the firing .
`` It 's ALL a distraction , '' said the Speaker .
Neither Wallace , nor Pelosi was about to let THAT happen , though .
SPEAKER PELOSI : In any event , the fact is that the president is clearly afraid of the truth , and we as the country must insist on the truth , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , the truth on how we 're securing our nation .
Not only was the arms sale to Saudi Arabia not approved by Congress , Congress said NO to it .
And then they declared a fake emergency in order to do that , and if in fact , and I do n't have all of the facts , but if that is what the IG was investigating , then , again , the president was afraid of the truth and we must insist upon the truth .
The truth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of what the possibilities are for our country in every way .
If we do n't , we are no longer a great democracy , we are turning into something very different .
And by the way , as I said earlier , the president 's words weigh a ton .
When certain people hear his words , whether it 's about our security , whether it 's about anything in terms of even their personal health , they believe the president of the United States .
So do n't abuse the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only not being fully truthful in your comments , or careful in your comments , but also firing those who tell the truth .
And that 's what 's happening with the IGs .
The IGs were established after the Watergate .
The purpose was to hold agencies of government accountable , whether Democrats or Republicans .
The IG is a respected arbiter of what 's happening , and to say , if you do n't like what they 're talking about , they get fired and even -- even Secretary Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He was n't operating the way we wanted him to operate . ''
Well , no !
He 's not supposed to !
He 's supposed to operate the way an inspector general is supposed to operate .
WALLACE : Yeah , he did n't embrace our `` ethos . ''
Right .
SPEAKER PELOSI : It 's really unfortunate .
It 's very sad .
And it 's really a threat to our democracy .
I know that some Republicans are speaking out , writing letters and the rest .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least they 're , again , saying that this is not right , not for a Democratic president , not for a Republican president , not for any president , or head of any agency of government .
We must insist upon the truth .
So , to be clear , the wrongdoing surrounding this Saudi arms sale involves the fact that we had stopped selling them lethal weapons because they were being found to be involved in the deaths of Yemeni civilians , many of them children .
The murder and dismemberment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifting of that ban .
But Trump loves him some munitions money for his Raytheon pals , and Jared-boy loves him some Prince Mohammed bin Salman , so together with Pompeo , they 'd been pushing Congress to lift the ban .
As Speaker Pelosi said , though , not only did Congress not approve lifting the ban , they outright SAID NO .
So , what do criminals and children do when they do n't get what they want ?
Lie ( creating a fake Iran `` emergency '' ) and cheat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they are called out on it by the truth-tellers and people holding them to account , dictators fire them in the dark of a Friday night .

Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House to discuss everything from Trump's claiming he is taking hydroxychloroquine, to the House's HEROES Act, to the gleeful purging of inspectors general that would put any banana republic dictator to shame. When focusing on the IGs, Wallace noted that firing them seems to be how Trump has spent nearly every Friday night of the pandemic. Most recently, Steve Linick, the State Department's IG was fired for investigating Mike Pompeo's personal corruption AND illegal arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Pelosi surmised that the firings happen on Friday nights to avoid headlines and attention, and then a few days later, Trump makes some insane, bogus announcement to keep the news cycle away from the story behind the firing. "It's ALL a distraction," said the Speaker. Neither Wallace, nor Pelosi was about to let THAT happen, though.
SPEAKER PELOSI: In any event, the fact is that the president is clearly afraid of the truth, and we as the country must insist on the truth, on the truth of how we're fighting the coronavirus, the truth on how we're securing our nation. Not only was the arms sale to Saudi Arabia not approved by Congress, Congress said NO to it. And then they declared a fake emergency in order to do that, and if in fact, and I don't have all of the facts, but if that is what the IG was investigating, then, again, the president was afraid of the truth and we must insist upon the truth. The truth in terms of science, the truth in terms of what the possibilities are for our country in every way. If we don't, we are no longer a great democracy, we are turning into something very different. And by the way, as I said earlier, the president's words weigh a ton. When certain people hear his words, whether it's about our security, whether it's about anything in terms of even their personal health, they believe the president of the United States. So don't abuse the privilege that you have as president by not only not being fully truthful in your comments, or careful in your comments, but also firing those who tell the truth. And that's what's happening with the IGs. The IGs were established after the Watergate. The purpose was to hold agencies of government accountable, whether Democrats or Republicans. The IG is a respected arbiter of what's happening, and to say, if you don't like what they're talking about, they get fired and even -- even Secretary Pompeo said something to the effect of, "He wasn't operating the way we wanted him to operate." Well, no! He's not supposed to! He's supposed to operate the way an inspector general is supposed to operate. WALLACE: Yeah, he didn't embrace our "ethos." Right. SPEAKER PELOSI: It's really unfortunate. It's very sad. And it's really a threat to our democracy. I know that some Republicans are speaking out, writing letters and the rest. I hope they will do more. At least they're, again, saying that this is not right, not for a Democratic president, not for a Republican president, not for any president, or head of any agency of government. We must insist upon the truth.
So, to be clear, the wrongdoing surrounding this Saudi arms sale involves the fact that we had stopped selling them lethal weapons because they were being found to be involved in the deaths of Yemeni civilians, many of them children. The murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Kashoggi further delayed the lifting of that ban. But Trump loves him some munitions money for his Raytheon pals, and Jared-boy loves him some Prince Mohammed bin Salman, so together with Pompeo, they'd been pushing Congress to lift the ban.
As Speaker Pelosi said, though, not only did Congress not approve lifting the ban, they outright SAID NO. So, what do criminals and children do when they don't get what they want? Lie (creating a fake Iran "emergency") and cheat (make the sale.) And when they are called out on it by the truth-tellers and people holding them to account, dictators fire them in the dark of a Friday night.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Trump Refuses To Unveil Obama’s Portrait At The White House

President Donald Trump wo n't be unveiling former President Barack Obama 's portrait at the White House , breaking a 40-year tradition , NBC News reported on Tuesday .
Obama would also not be interested in attending such an event , according to the report , which cited people familiar with the matter .
… For decades , first-term presidents have held ceremonies in the East Room to unveil the portraits of their immediate predecessors .
Obama did so for former President George W. Bush in 2012 , for example .
The unveiling could have been a moment for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magnanimity we used to take for granted in a president .
But Trump ca n't seem to muster up even the smallest doses .
As NBC News pointed out , Trump `` has attacked Obama to an extent no other president has done to a predecessor . ''
Recently , Trump has been accusing Obama of a crime yet is unable to explain what the crime is .
Heck , maybe Trump is just afraid he 'd have to acknowledge that his whole birther schtick was nothing but a load of racist BS @

From Business Insider:
President Donald Trump won't be unveiling former President Barack Obama's portrait at the White House, breaking a 40-year tradition, NBC News reported on Tuesday.
Obama would also not be interested in attending such an event, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the matter.
… For decades, first-term presidents have held ceremonies in the East Room to unveil the portraits of their immediate predecessors. Obama did so for former President George W. Bush in 2012, for example.
The unveiling could have been a moment for Trump to show the kind of decency and magnanimity we used to take for granted in a president. But Trump can't seem to muster up even the smallest doses.
As NBC News pointed out, Trump "has attacked Obama to an extent no other president has done to a predecessor." Recently, Trump has been accusing Obama of a crime yet is unable to explain what the crime is.
Heck, maybe Trump is just afraid he'd have to acknowledge that his whole birther schtick was nothing but a load of racist BS.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Ford Motor Co. Backs Off Face Mask Requirement When Trump Comes To Town

Ford were awarded the contract to build ventilators specifically to deal with the effects of COVID-19 , and yet when Orange Shitgibbon comes to visit they get rid of their requirement for wearing face masks .
You ca n't make this stuff up .
It 's impossible .
Michigan 's Attorney-General has different ideas , writing in an open letter to Trump that he has a `` legal responsibility '' to wear a mask .
Ford Motor Co. is backpedaling from a policy that every visitor to its factories wear masks ahead of President Donald Trump ’ s tour of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ converted to a ventilator-making facility .
Personal protective equipment use is among the health requirements Ford has put in place at U.S. factories that restarted vehicle production this week .
But although the automaker has shared its protocols with the administration , it will defer to the White House ’ s safety policies and determinations on Thursday , according to Rachel McCleery , a spokeswoman .
“ I don ’ t know , I haven ’ t even thought of it , ” Trump said Tuesday when asked if he ’ ll wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean , you know , in certain areas , I would .
In certain areas , I don ’ t .
But I will certainly look at it.
” Trump has dismissed suggestions that he wear a mask , saying he is tested frequently for the coronavirus .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that face coverings can prevent those who ’ ve contracted the virus but aren ’ t showing symptoms from unknowingly spreading it to others .
Ford ’ s Executive Chairman Bill Ford donned a face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tour of one of the company ’ s plants last month .
The company has publicly released a 64-page return-to-work playbook that states : “ Face masks are required to be worn by everyone , in all facilities , at all times .
”

Ford were awarded the contract to build ventilators specifically to deal with the effects of COVID-19, and yet when Orange Shitgibbon comes to visit they get rid of their requirement for wearing face masks.
You can't make this stuff up. It's impossible.
Michigan's Attorney-General has different ideas, writing in an open letter to Trump that he has a "legal responsibility" to wear a mask.
Source: Bloomberg
Ford Motor Co. is backpedaling from a policy that every visitor to its factories wear masks ahead of President Donald Trump’s tour of a components plant that it’s converted to a ventilator-making facility. Personal protective equipment use is among the health requirements Ford has put in place at U.S. factories that restarted vehicle production this week. But although the automaker has shared its protocols with the administration, it will defer to the White House’s safety policies and determinations on Thursday, according to Rachel McCleery, a spokeswoman. “I don’t know, I haven’t even thought of it,” Trump said Tuesday when asked if he’ll wear a mask. “It depends. I mean, you know, in certain areas, I would. In certain areas, I don’t. But I will certainly look at it.” Trump has dismissed suggestions that he wear a mask, saying he is tested frequently for the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that face coverings can prevent those who’ve contracted the virus but aren’t showing symptoms from unknowingly spreading it to others. Ford’s Executive Chairman Bill Ford donned a face mask and shield when taking 60 Minutes for a tour of one of the company’s plants last month. The company has publicly released a 64-page return-to-work playbook that states: “Face masks are required to be worn by everyone, in all facilities, at all times.”


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Kamala Harris Annihilates Ron Johnson For 'Doing The President's Personal Bidding'

Senator Kamala Harris was at it again , today , painting a clear picture of what 's backwards and wrong with Republican thinking and priorities .
Sen. Ron Johnson , chairman of the Senate Committee of Homeland Security , called a meeting of the committee ( on which Sen. Harris serves ) — NOT , mind you , to brainstorm ways they can help their constituents stay safe during the pandemic .
No , this meeting was to hold a vote on issuing a subpoena to see records related to Hunter Biden 's behavior while employed by Burisma .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP seems to be trying to resuscitate the long-dead conspiracy theory that Joe Biden 's son was responsible for , frankly , I 'm not sure what , while he was working there .
Sen. Harris was having none of it .
She was recognized by the Chairman for her remarks , during which she skillfully skewered RoJo 's subservience to his Orange Master at the expense of ordinary Americans dying from COVID-19 .
SEN. HARRIS : Chairman , this committee has the responsibility , dare I say the duty , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch over how government , how federal government is preparing to respond to them .
This clearly includes how government agencies are addressing COVID-19 .
She went on to list those agencies : FEMA , ICE , Office of Personnel Management , USPS .
Sen. Harris noted that 98 days earlier , RoJo convened a round-table on COVID-19 preparedness without a single Trump administration official present .
Now , with 1.5 million cases , and over 91,000 deaths , she identified the United States as having only 4 % of the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world 's cases of COVID-19 .
Then , she lays the blame .
SEN. HARRIS : Every day that we fail to schedule an oversight hearing , Mr. Chairman , every day YOU fail to schedule an oversight hearing , an average of at least 20,000 people in America will become infected because of this virus , and an average of 1,000 Americans will die each day from the virus .
Our committee must provide oversight , because the American people and our constituents deserve to know what is going on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are meeting is to vote on subpoena issued for purely bogus political reasons , it turns out .
SEN. HARRIS : Yet , you made a unilateral decision to convene this meeting on a matter wholly unrelated to the threat , the deadly threat facing our constituents .
You made the decision to force a vote on a purely political matter that will do absolutely nothing for those at risk of contracting COVID-19 .
The matter you want us to consider is to grant you additional legal authority to demand legal documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand is willing to give those documents to this committee .
Hold up .
So , they do n't even need to subpoena the documents ?
These GOP bastards are so f*cking cynical , I do n't know how they do n't spontaneously burst into flames in the presence of people with consciences .
Not only are they giving CPR to the conspiracy that 's been dead for years , they 're issuing a subpoena for no reason whatsoever .
SEN. HARRIS : So , this is not nearly so urgent as COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the federal agencies that are supposed to be helping the American people .
And it is not helpful for the Homeland Security Committee to prioritize divisive political subpoenas , which will only sow further distrust among the American people and fuel skepticism about our democratic system of government .
Today ’ s agenda reveals a lot about the Senate majority ’ s priorities , sadly .
There are literally matters of life and death waiting for our committee ’ s attention .
But instead , this committee is doing the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ron Johnson looked around and said , `` Welp .
No more talking until after the vote . ''

Senator Kamala Harris was at it again, today, painting a clear picture of what's backwards and wrong with Republican thinking and priorities.
Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Committee of Homeland Security, called a meeting of the committee (on which Sen. Harris serves) — NOT, mind you, to brainstorm ways they can help their constituents stay safe during the pandemic. No, this meeting was to hold a vote on issuing a subpoena to see records related to Hunter Biden's behavior while employed by Burisma. With "Obamagate" down the drain, the GOP seems to be trying to resuscitate the long-dead conspiracy theory that Joe Biden's son was responsible for, frankly, I'm not sure what, while he was working there.
Sen. Harris was having none of it. She was recognized by the Chairman for her remarks, during which she skillfully skewered RoJo's subservience to his Orange Master at the expense of ordinary Americans dying from COVID-19.
SEN. HARRIS: Chairman, this committee has the responsibility, dare I say the duty, to investigate threats against the homeland, and watch over how government, how federal government is preparing to respond to them. This clearly includes how government agencies are addressing COVID-19.
She went on to list those agencies: FEMA, ICE, Office of Personnel Management, USPS. Sen. Harris noted that 98 days earlier, RoJo convened a round-table on COVID-19 preparedness without a single Trump administration official present. Now, with 1.5 million cases, and over 91,000 deaths, she identified the United States as having only 4% of the world's population, but over 30% of the world's cases of COVID-19.
Then, she lays the blame.
SEN. HARRIS: Every day that we fail to schedule an oversight hearing, Mr. Chairman, every day YOU fail to schedule an oversight hearing, an average of at least 20,000 people in America will become infected because of this virus, and an average of 1,000 Americans will die each day from the virus. Our committee must provide oversight, because the American people and our constituents deserve to know what is going on.
Somehow, though, the only reason they are meeting is to vote on subpoena issued for purely bogus political reasons, it turns out.
SEN. HARRIS: Yet, you made a unilateral decision to convene this meeting on a matter wholly unrelated to the threat, the deadly threat facing our constituents. You made the decision to force a vote on a purely political matter that will do absolutely nothing for those at risk of contracting COVID-19. The matter you want us to consider is to grant you additional legal authority to demand legal documents from a public relations firm that I understand is willing to give those documents to this committee.
Hold up. So, they don't even need to subpoena the documents? These GOP bastards are so f*cking cynical, I don't know how they don't spontaneously burst into flames in the presence of people with consciences. Not only are they giving CPR to the conspiracy that's been dead for years, they're issuing a subpoena for no reason whatsoever.
SEN. HARRIS: So, this is not nearly so urgent as COVID-19 and our duty to perform oversight over the federal agencies that are supposed to be helping the American people. And it is not helpful for the Homeland Security Committee to prioritize divisive political subpoenas, which will only sow further distrust among the American people and fuel skepticism about our democratic system of government. Today’s agenda reveals a lot about the Senate majority’s priorities, sadly. There are literally matters of life and death waiting for our committee’s attention. But instead, this committee is doing the president’s personal bidding.
When she finished, Ron Johnson looked around and said, "Welp. No more talking until after the vote."


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--New Mexico County Official: 'The Only Good Democrat Is A Dead Democrat'

Otero County Commissioner and founder of Cowboys for Trump Couy Griffin has some decidedly unchristian thoughts about his political opponents , telling the crowd in Truth or Consequences , New Mexico that `` the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat . ''
`` I 've come to a place where I 've come to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat , '' he told the crowd gathered in violation of the state 's stay-at-home orders at New Hope Revival Church .
He tried to backtrack on his comments by saying he meant `` dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not really the type for nuance , as the AlamoGordo Daily News reports : The founder of Cowboys For Trump posted to the group 's Facebook page : `` Virginia I 'm coming your way .
And I got a rope on my saddle if you think we may need it ? ''
last month while sharing a news article highlighting the state 's Democratic governor Ralph Northam .
As you may imagine , the outcry was immediate .
“ The County Commissioner ’ s comment is despicable , indefensible , and un-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brian Egolf tweeted Tuesday .
“ He represents Rs , Ds , and Independents .
He should immediately apologize and resign.
” Democratic Party of New Mexico chairwoman Marg Elliston said in a statement Griffin ’ s comments had no place in the state ’ s political discourse .
“ Commissioner Griffin should resign his position immediately , ” she said .
“ It is also incumbent upon every single Republican holding or running for elected office in New Mexico to strongly denounce his comments and join our call for his resignation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so to speak .
He will not resign because he believes he has a right to speak out .
He does not have the right to threaten other people 's lives , however .

Otero County Commissioner and founder of Cowboys for Trump Couy Griffin has some decidedly unchristian thoughts about his political opponents, telling the crowd in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico that "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat."
"I've come to a place where I've come to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat," he told the crowd gathered in violation of the state's stay-at-home orders at New Hope Revival Church.
He tried to backtrack on his comments by saying he meant "dead politically" later, but he's not really the type for nuance, as the AlamoGordo Daily News reports:
The founder of Cowboys For Trump posted to the group's Facebook page: "Virginia I'm coming your way. And I got a rope on my saddle if you think we may need it?" last month while sharing a news article highlighting the state's Democratic governor Ralph Northam.
As you may imagine, the outcry was immediate.
“The County Commissioner’s comment is despicable, indefensible, and un-American,” Democratic New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf tweeted Tuesday. “He represents Rs, Ds, and Independents. He should immediately apologize and resign.” Democratic Party of New Mexico chairwoman Marg Elliston said in a statement Griffin’s comments had no place in the state’s political discourse. “Commissioner Griffin should resign his position immediately,” she said. “It is also incumbent upon every single Republican holding or running for elected office in New Mexico to strongly denounce his comments and join our call for his resignation.”
Griffin is sticking to his guns, so to speak. He will not resign because he believes he has a right to speak out. He does not have the right to threaten other people's lives, however.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Lou Dobbs And Convicted Felon Roger Stone Accuse FBI Of Colluding With Russians

Roger Stone is very experienced at staring at a camera and lying .
He 's really good at it .
And that is just the kind of skill a ratf**king Republican operative needs to be welcomed on to Lou Dobbs 's television show .
Stone is attempting to `` Michael Flynn '' his conviction and stay out of prison .
And Fox News is helping .
And of course , the `` interview '' was a festival of projection propaganda : `` Always accuse your enemy of that which you are guilty . ''
In this case , Lou Dobbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians .
NO , REALLY .
LOU DOBBS ( HOST ) : Joining us tonight is former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone .
And , Roger , good to have you on the broadcast , and I know there 's some -- I want to talk about some of the similarities as well as where you stand in the court process as your case is being adjudicated on appeal .
Your sense of the comparison -- compare for us , if you will , your case and General Flynn and how they match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lou , thanks for having me .
First of all , I guess I would say both General Flynn , who I consider a great American patriot , and I are the subjects of a political vendetta , of a politically-motivated prosecution by politically-oriented prosecutors .
We were both subject to misconduct by the FBI .
The FBI obviously set General Flynn up .
They attempted to set me up in May of 2016 .
I was approached by a man claiming his name was Henry Greenberg who offered to sell me dirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million .
I dismissed it out of hand , only to learn later that Henry Greenberg was a long-time -- not only a Russian national , but an FBI informant who was only in the country on an FBI informant 's visa .
A visa that has been -- that was signed by the Miami office of the FBI , had been extended on nine separate occasions .
Robert Mueller would kind of air brush this in his report , and never even mentioned that Henry Greenberg 's real name was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country as a longtime FBI informant .
DOBBS : It sounds like the FBI was colluding with Russians .
We 'll continue with Roger Stone .
We 'll get his sense as to why did Robert Mueller go after him well after he knew there was no Russian collusion whatsoever with the Trump administration .

Roger Stone is very experienced at staring at a camera and lying. He's really good at it. And that is just the kind of skill a ratf**king Republican operative needs to be welcomed on to Lou Dobbs's television show.
Stone is attempting to "Michael Flynn" his conviction and stay out of prison. And Fox News is helping.
And of course, the "interview" was a festival of projection propaganda: "Always accuse your enemy of that which you are guilty." In this case, Lou Dobbs concluding that THE FBI conspired with the Russians. NO, REALLY.
Transcript via Media Matters:


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Kellyanne Suggests Biden Wants To Sexually Assault His Female VP Pick

The disgusting lewdness of TrumpWorld knows no bounds .
In her usual flippant and despicable fashion , Kellyanne Conway made @ @ @ @ @ Ed Henry .
Conway said , “ You ’ ve seen the long shortlist of @ @ @ @ @ .
choices .
They all happen to be female .
He sounds like co-ed at @ @ @ @ @ party - ‘ I need a woman ! '
” '' So now he has @ @ @ @ @ looking through , '' she said as if he 's conducting a casting couch session @ @ @ @ @ .
Ring any bells for you , Kellyanne ?

The disgusting lewdness of TrumpWorld knows no bounds.
In her usual flippant and despicable fashion, Kellyanne Conway made this disgusting statement to toadie Ed Henry.
Conway said, “You’ve seen the long shortlist of Joe Biden’s V.P. choices. They all happen to be female. He sounds like co-ed at the end of a frat party - ‘I need a woman!'”
"So now he has binders of women he's looking through," she said as if he's conducting a casting couch session for teenage beauty pageant contestants.
Ring any bells for you, Kellyanne?
Remember when Joe Biden bought ‘Miss Universe’ & ‘Miss Teen USA’ so he would have a steady stream of teenage girls to sexually assault? Me neither. @realDonaldTrump — NoelCaslerComedy (@CaslerNoel) May 18, 2020
Miss Teen USA Pageant pic.twitter.com/Ab7jOhIth9 — 🌊 Chelsea 🌊 (@WhataWhich) May 19, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Paranoid 'President'  Claims Negative Hydroxychloroquine Study Is An 'Enemy Statement'

The FDA , CDC and every other health organization worth its salt severely criticized the so-called president on Monday for claiming that even though he 's symptom-free of the coronavirus , he 's been taken hydroxychloroquine as a precautionary measure .
He 's lying .
But he 's doubling down on his self-defense OF the lie as well .
His need to always be right and never be corrected is so strong that he 's willing to spew dangerous snake oil to his gullible followers .
So Tuesday Donald responded with paranoia and delusion .
A reporter asked Trump about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know why it was okay for him to promote the use of this drug when he 's not a doctor .
Trump interrupted , `` I work with doctors , '' and then he bashed the recent Veterans ' Administration study on hydroxychloroquine that showed no results as a treatment for COVID-19 .
He said they were given to people that were very old and basically dead already .
`` It was a Trump enemy statement . ''
he said .
Trump is starting a new conspiracy theory that goes something like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is against me so they will not try and cure COVID-19 . ''
This sounds more like it 's coming from a paranoid individual than a normal person , let alone a US president .
Then he started to cite tests from European countries that have been widely debunked by scientists here .
Donald then claimed that he believes hydro serves as a buffer between you and the coronavirus .
And then he made another very dangerous claim that can cause people real harm .
Trump said quite calmly , `` Plus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making believe that since this anti-malaria drug has been on the market for decades , it 's perfectly safe to use .
Most Americans understand that 's not how medications work .
Neil Cavuto has expressed outrage at this dangerous nonsense .
And then his paranoia kicked in .
He said if it was anybody else was touting this unproven treatment they would be called smart .
There are many things a person can call Donald Trump but `` being smart '' is not one of them .
Especially when it comes to @ @

The FDA, CDC and every other health organization worth its salt severely criticized the so-called president on Monday for claiming that even though he's symptom-free of the coronavirus, he's been taken hydroxychloroquine as a precautionary measure.
He's lying. But he's doubling down on his self-defense OF the lie as well.
His need to always be right and never be corrected is so strong that he's willing to spew dangerous snake oil to his gullible followers.
So Tuesday Donald responded with paranoia and delusion.
A reporter asked Trump about his taking the anti-malaria drug and demanded to know why it was okay for him to promote the use of this drug when he's not a doctor.
Trump interrupted, "I work with doctors," and then he bashed the recent Veterans' Administration study on hydroxychloroquine that showed no results as a treatment for COVID-19.
He said they were given to people that were very old and basically dead already.
"It was a Trump enemy statement." he said.
Trump is starting a new conspiracy theory that goes something like this: "the entire medical community is against me so they will not try and cure COVID-19."
This sounds more like it's coming from a paranoid individual than a normal person, let alone a US president.
Then he started to cite tests from European countries that have been widely debunked by scientists here.
Donald then claimed that he believes hydro serves as a buffer between you and the coronavirus.
And then he made another very dangerous claim that can cause people real harm.
Trump said quite calmly, "Plus, it doesn't hurt people," making believe that since this anti-malaria drug has been on the market for decades, it's perfectly safe to use.
Just like spearmint chewing gum?
Most Americans understand that's not how medications work.
Neil Cavuto has expressed outrage at this dangerous nonsense.
And then his paranoia kicked in. He said if it was anybody else was touting this unproven treatment they would be called smart.
There are many things a person can call Donald Trump but "being smart" is not one of them. Especially when it comes to COVID19.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Trump Admin Declassifies Memo Showing Obama Officials Thought Flynn Was Foreign Agent

In an apparent Senate and Team Trump effort to something something a new Trump-demanded Obama `` scandal , '' the Trump administration has declassified an additional portion of a previously disclosed email from Ambassador Susan Rice to herself documenting an Obama meeting with FBI Director James Comey and other top officials over the potential national security threat posed by Trump transition member Michael Flynn 's `` frequent '' private contacts with the Russian ambassador .
What 's the new disclosure show , then ?
That intelligence leaders were extremely alarmed by Flynn 's behavior , with Comey informing Obama that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk severe enough that the Obama administration should avoid passing him sensitive information .
While Obama wanted law enforcement and intelligence communities to handle their concerns `` by the book , '' Obama told Comey to `` inform him '' if anything came up that `` should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team . ''
The declassified portion can be found at Politico : “ Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding ‘ by the book ’ as it relates to law enforcement .
From a national security perspective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak .
Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information .
President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn .
Comey replied ‘ potentially.
’ He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak , but he noted that ‘ the level of communication is unusual.
’ The President asked Comey to inform him if anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team .
Comey said that he would.
” That does n't sound like anyone in the Obama administration doing anything scandalous .
That sounds like the director of the FBI warning that Flynn 's behavior had raised red flags to such an extent that he was not entirely sure the Trump transition team member was not passing classified information to the same hostile foreign power that had engaged in an ambitious hacking and propaganda campaign to throw the election to Flynn 's boss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Trump 's , let 's say `` intelligence , '' leaders have seen fit to declassify this not-exactly-breaking information at this particular moment .
We can assume it is mostly an effort to throw chaff , part of the now-familiar Republican effort to flood media airwaves with unspecific claims of impropriety backed by mountains of unrelated things that prove nothing of the sort .
Mostly , though , we can gather that the Trump-demanded effort to investigate the Obama administration for alleged wrongdoing in the intelligence community 's repeated discoveries of strange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under U.S. surveillance is now in full swing .
Trump 's attorney general , William Barr , threw out an alarming trial balloon when he pseudo-bravely suggested that he did n't foresee pursuing criminal charges against either the last sitting president or against Trump election opponent Joe Biden for their role in overseeing intelligence officials who discovered Russian election hacking .
It was intended to suggest that such a thing could be reasonably possible , rather than the objectively insane rantings of a fascist cabal .
Barr 's aggressive move to force his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything at all , to prove something sketchy must have been afoot in the Russian investigation and in Flynn 's prosecution goes hand-in-hand with new efforts to immunize Flynn from his own guilty plea after Flynn admitted to lying to federal investigators about his own role as paid agent of a foreign power .
The Republican Senate , and especially Trump allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham , have been positively frothing in their efforts to assist .
In the meantime , here 's one new thing we know : As president , Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be staying out of whatever investigations or intelligence operations surrounded the incoming transition team .
But he also asked to be kept informed if intelligence found reasons why he and his team should not be sharing classified intelligence with a specific member of the Trump transition team who had been making so many unusual contacts with the Russian ambassador , post-hacking effort , that the FBI could not assure him with confidence that Flynn was n't acting as a foreign spy .
As we 've seen , the FBI had good reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questionable contacts by Roger Stone , by Jared Kushner , by Paul Manafort , by Donald Trump Jr. , and by other campaign-connected lackeys , intelligence experts were trying to figure out whether the whole Trump operation was a subsidiary of foreign saboteurs—during and after the most sophisticated foreign attack on U.S. elections in the nation 's history .

In an apparent Senate and Team Trump effort to something something a new Trump-demanded Obama "scandal," the Trump administration has declassified an additional portion of a previously disclosed email from Ambassador Susan Rice to herself documenting an Obama meeting with FBI Director James Comey and other top officials over the potential national security threat posed by Trump transition member Michael Flynn's "frequent" private contacts with the Russian ambassador.
What's the new disclosure show, then? That intelligence leaders were extremely alarmed by Flynn's behavior, with Comey informing Obama that Flynn "potentially" represented a security risk severe enough that the Obama administration should avoid passing him sensitive information. While Obama wanted law enforcement and intelligence communities to handle their concerns "by the book," Obama told Comey to "inform him" if anything came up that "should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team."
The declassified portion can be found at Politico:
“Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding ‘by the book’ as it relates to law enforcement. From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information. President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn. Comey replied ‘potentially.’ He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that ‘the level of communication is unusual.’ The President asked Comey to inform him if anything changes in the next few weeks that should affect how we share classified information with the incoming team. Comey said that he would.”
That doesn't sound like anyone in the Obama administration doing anything scandalous. That sounds like the director of the FBI warning that Flynn's behavior had raised red flags to such an extent that he was not entirely sure the Trump transition team member was not passing classified information to the same hostile foreign power that had engaged in an ambitious hacking and propaganda campaign to throw the election to Flynn's boss.
The question, then, is why Trump's, let's say "intelligence," leaders have seen fit to declassify this not-exactly-breaking information at this particular moment. We can assume it is mostly an effort to throw chaff, part of the now-familiar Republican effort to flood media airwaves with unspecific claims of impropriety backed by mountains of unrelated things that prove nothing of the sort. Mostly, though, we can gather that the Trump-demanded effort to investigate the Obama administration for alleged wrongdoing in the intelligence community's repeated discoveries of strange connections between Trump campaign officials and individuals under U.S. surveillance is now in full swing.
Trump's attorney general, William Barr, threw out an alarming trial balloon when he pseudo-bravely suggested that he didn't foresee pursuing criminal charges against either the last sitting president or against Trump election opponent Joe Biden for their role in overseeing intelligence officials who discovered Russian election hacking. It was intended to suggest that such a thing could be reasonably possible, rather than the objectively insane rantings of a fascist cabal. Barr's aggressive move to force his department to come up with something, anything at all, to prove something sketchy must have been afoot in the Russian investigation and in Flynn's prosecution goes hand-in-hand with new efforts to immunize Flynn from his own guilty plea after Flynn admitted to lying to federal investigators about his own role as paid agent of a foreign power.
The Republican Senate, and especially Trump allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham, have been positively frothing in their efforts to assist.
In the meantime, here's one new thing we know: As president, Obama made clear to his subordinates that he would be staying out of whatever investigations or intelligence operations surrounded the incoming transition team. But he also asked to be kept informed if intelligence found reasons why he and his team should not be sharing classified intelligence with a specific member of the Trump transition team who had been making so many unusual contacts with the Russian ambassador, post-hacking effort, that the FBI could not assure him with confidence that Flynn wasn't acting as a foreign spy.
As we've seen, the FBI had good reason to be worried. Coupled with similar questionable contacts by Roger Stone, by Jared Kushner, by Paul Manafort, by Donald Trump Jr., and by other campaign-connected lackeys, intelligence experts were trying to figure out whether the whole Trump operation was a subsidiary of foreign saboteurs—during and after the most sophisticated foreign attack on U.S. elections in the nation's history.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--Mississippi Governor Pranked During Virtual Graduation Ceremony

An inspired bit of prankery here .
Somewhat surprisingly , Reeves did n't seem to mind becoming the 'butt ' @ @ @ @ @ pranked Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves so smoothly that it has the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ up .
The Republican governor was recognizing many of the state ’ s thousands of @ @ @ @ @ out on a normal graduation due to the coronavirus .
As Reeves powers through the @ @ @ @ @ coolly utters “ Harry Azcrac.
” His embarrassment is seen briefly immediately after the blunder @ @ @ @ @ Reeves carried the joke a bit further Tuesday , issuing props to the prankster .

An inspired bit of prankery here. Somewhat surprisingly, Reeves didn't seem to mind becoming the 'butt' of the joke.
Source: Mississippi Tribune
Bart Simpson would be proud.
Someone pranked Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves so smoothly that it has the rest of the nation — well, cracking up.
The Republican governor was recognizing many of the state’s thousands of 2020 seniors who are missing out on a normal graduation due to the coronavirus.
As Reeves powers through the list of names, he coolly utters “Harry Azcrac.” His embarrassment is seen briefly immediately after the blunder.
For his part, Reeves carried the joke a bit further Tuesday, issuing props to the prankster.
“Harry’s submitter has a bright future as a Simpson’s writer!” Reeves wrote.


crooksandliars--2020-05-20--President Tweety Threatens To Cut Funding To Michigan Over 'Illegal' Absentee Ballots

On the morning of massive flooding in the state of Michigan , President Ranty McTweety is threatening to cut off funding to the state over absentee ballots .
( Naturally , he got the details wrong . )
And this is exactly what Democrats predicted when Republicans refused to vote for the Orange Cheeto 's impeachment .
Via WXYZ-TV in Detroit : On Tuesday , Michigan Secretary of State announced that all registered voters would receive absentee ballot applications in both the August Primary Election and November General Election .
Trump erroneously tweeted Wednesday morning that Michigan is sending absentee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Benson 's decision was `` done illegally and without authorization . ''
He went on to say that he will ask to hold up funding to Michigan `` if they want to go down this voter fraud path . ''
There are 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan , and about 1.3 are on the permanent absent voter list .
That means the local election clerk mails them applications ahead of every election .
There are 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan , and about 1.3 are on the permanent absent voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerk mails them applications ahead of every election .
Benson said the Michigan Bureau of Elections has ensured all remaining registered voters receive an application .
Those getting the application in the mail will also get a cover letter with instructions .
Once a voter signs their application , they can mail it or email a photo of it to their local clerk , whose contact information will be on the application .
The application is also available for download at Michigan.gov/vote , and at that website , people can also register to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they always have an option to vote by mail .

On the morning of massive flooding in the state of Michigan, President Ranty McTweety is threatening to cut off funding to the state over absentee ballots. (Naturally, he got the details wrong.) And this is exactly what Democrats predicted when Republicans refused to vote for the Orange Cheeto's impeachment. Via WXYZ-TV in Detroit:
On Tuesday, Michigan Secretary of State announced that all registered voters would receive absentee ballot applications in both the August Primary Election and November General Election.
Trump erroneously tweeted Wednesday morning that Michigan is sending absentee ballots to all registered voters.
He said Benson's decision was "done illegally and without authorization." He went on to say that he will ask to hold up funding to Michigan "if they want to go down this voter fraud path."
Breaking: Michigan sends absentee ballots to 7.7 million people ahead of Primaries and the General Election. This was done illegally and without authorization by a rogue Secretary of State. I will ask to hold up funding to Michigan if they want to go down this Voter Fraud path!.. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2020
There are 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan, and about 1.3 are on the permanent absent voter list. That means the local election clerk mails them applications ahead of every election.
There are 7.7 million registered voters in Michigan, and about 1.3 are on the permanent absent voter list. That means the local election clerk mails them applications ahead of every election.
Benson said the Michigan Bureau of Elections has ensured all remaining registered voters receive an application.
Those getting the application in the mail will also get a cover letter with instructions. Once a voter signs their application, they can mail it or email a photo of it to their local clerk, whose contact information will be on the application.
The application is also available for download at Michigan.gov/vote, and at that website, people can also register to join the permanent absent voter list so they always have an option to vote by mail.


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Trump Doesn't Care If Pompeo Misused Government Resources, Because Real Men Don't Wash Dishes

Speculation about why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got Donald Trump to fire the State Department ’ s internal watchdog has centered around two investigations .
Inspector General Steve Linick was reportedly looking into Pompeo ’ s decision to allow weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates , and into whether Pompeo made staff do personal errands for him , like picking up the dry cleaning or walking his dog .
Whichever one it is , Trump thinks it ’ s just fine ; if it ’ s the latter , Trump thinks it ’ s fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now I have you telling me about dog walking , washing dishes and , you know what , I 'd rather have him on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes because maybe his wife is n't there or his kids are n't there , you know , ” Trump told reporters .
( Pompeo only has one child , an adult son . )
All that tells us is that Donald Trump does not care about the law or ethics—which we already knew—because Trump ’ s view that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t around to take care of Pompeo ’ s home life then a subordinate should do so ” goes against both of them .
According to the Office of Government Ethics : “ Executive branch employees must use official time to perform official duties only .
Except in limited circumstances , they are not allowed to perform activities other than official duties during their work day .
Employees may not direct or request subordinates to use official time to perform any activities other than official activities.
” This isn ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo ’ s use of staff to perform personal errands .
The current allegations have him asking a staff assistant , who is a political appointee , to walk the dog and make dinner reservations .
Last year , a whistleblower alleged that Pompeo and his family members were using diplomatic security agents for similar errands , with agents complaining they were “ UberEats with guns.
” This isn ’ t just something to wave off with the view that the big man is too important to do the little tasks .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be able to walk his own damn dog and make his own damn dinner reservations—that doesn ’ t make it appropriate to have another government employee use their official time on .
Pompeo has faced other questions about his use of government resources , including frequent trips to Kansas , where Republicans have tried to recruit him to run for Senate ; his wife ’ s presence on official travel ; his wife taking what one observer described as a “ quasi-official role , ” including running meetings ; and his use @ @ @ @

Speculation about why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got Donald Trump to fire the State Department’s internal watchdog has centered around two investigations. Inspector General Steve Linick was reportedly looking into Pompeo’s decision to allow weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and into whether Pompeo made staff do personal errands for him, like picking up the dry cleaning or walking his dog.
Whichever one it is, Trump thinks it’s just fine; if it’s the latter, Trump thinks it’s fine in typically sexist form: “And now I have you telling me about dog walking, washing dishes and, you know what, I'd rather have him on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes because maybe his wife isn't there or his kids aren't there, you know,” Trump told reporters. (Pompeo only has one child, an adult son.) All that tells us is that Donald Trump does not care about the law or ethics—which we already knew—because Trump’s view that “Hey, if the wifey isn’t around to take care of Pompeo’s home life then a subordinate should do so” goes against both of them.
According to the Office of Government Ethics: “Executive branch employees must use official time to perform official duties only. Except in limited circumstances, they are not allowed to perform activities other than official duties during their work day. Employees may not direct or request subordinates to use official time to perform any activities other than official activities.”
This isn’t the first time there have been complaints about Pompeo’s use of staff to perform personal errands. The current allegations have him asking a staff assistant, who is a political appointee, to walk the dog and make dinner reservations. Last year, a whistleblower alleged that Pompeo and his family members were using diplomatic security agents for similar errands, with agents complaining they were “UberEats with guns.”
This isn’t just something to wave off with the view that the big man is too important to do the little tasks. Even if you believe that—and seriously, Pompeo should be able to walk his own damn dog and make his own damn dinner reservations—that doesn’t make it appropriate to have another government employee use their official time on.
Pompeo has faced other questions about his use of government resources, including frequent trips to Kansas, where Republicans have tried to recruit him to run for Senate; his wife’s presence on official travel; his wife taking what one observer described as a “quasi-official role,” including running meetings; and his use of government housing.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Orange Julius Profiteering On Trump-Virus Pills

Who can say if Lord Damp Nut is actually taking hydroxychloroquine ( or if his handlers are just slipping him a Flintstones Vitamin and lying ) , and frankly , who cares ?
Dr. Manny Alvarez , senior managing editor of Fox News ' health news , says that it is `` highly irresponsible '' for Trump to claim that he 's now taking hydroxychloroquine .
He also wants the White House physician to explain what 's changed since studies have shown no benefits .
pic.twitter.com/QAxYVTM1kG So , the White House Physician responded to Uncle Rupert ( as one does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mysteriously did not confirm nor deny that hydroxychloroquine as part of Lord Damp Nut ’ s healthy regime : Sadly , our walking termite buffet and vice prznint Mike Pence announced he is not a customer of this miracle cure being promoted by Grifters Inc : Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday he is not taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive treatment for the coronavirus .
“ My physician hasn ’ t recommended that , but I wouldn ’ t hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor .
Any American should do likewise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News about whether he was doing so .
But what we do now know is that the Trump Crime Family has invested some Ameros in a company that makes the damn stuff : President Donald Trump and his allies in the conservative media sphere have repeatedly pushed the health benefits of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for patients who have contracted the novel Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) .
While scientific opinion on the efficacy of the drug for treatment of the COVID-19 disease is necessarily shy of consensus , Trump himself has a personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produces a brand-name version of the medication .
According to a Monday night report by the New York Times , Trump ’ s family stands to benefit from widespread use of the drug .
Per that report : If hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment , several pharmaceutical companies stand to profit , including shareholders and senior executives with connections to the president .
Mr. Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi , the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil , the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine .
Silly people !
Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away like a miracle in warm weather ?
UPDATE 1 – Tiger Beat ’ s morning email thingie tells us Lord Damp nut is blaming the victims again .
Shorter Lord Damp Nut : “ It ’ s the Olds fault that they died after taking my miracle cure.
” “ I ’ ve worked with doctors .
If you look at the one survey , the only bad survey , they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape .
They were very old .
Almost dead , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It was a Trump enemy statement.
” Trump is also getting some back-up from the GOP .
Rep. Roger Marshall ( R-Kansas ) , a physician , said his entire family is taking the drug as a preventative treatment , according to the Wichita Eagle .
“ I would encourage any person over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition to talk to their own physician about taking hydroxychloroquine and I ’ m relieved President Trump is taking it , ” Marshall said .
Rep. Mike Kelly ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , said hydroxychloroquine was one of the drugs he took , per the Washington Times .
“ I had a long talk with my doctors about it .
It was their suggestion , but , ultimately , it was my decision , ” Kelly said .

Who can say if Lord Damp Nut is actually taking hydroxychloroquine (or if his handlers are just slipping him a Flintstones Vitamin and lying), and frankly, who cares?
Fox News, that’s who!
Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing editor of Fox News' health news, says that it is "highly irresponsible" for Trump to claim that he's now taking hydroxychloroquine. He also wants the White House physician to explain what's changed since studies have shown no benefits. pic.twitter.com/QAxYVTM1kG — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) May 18, 2020
So, the White House Physician responded to Uncle Rupert (as one does!) and released a statement that mysteriously did not confirm nor deny that hydroxychloroquine as part of Lord Damp Nut’s healthy regime:
lmao literally nothing in here says he is taking it pic.twitter.com/R0krgeRLPR — Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) May 19, 2020
Sadly, our walking termite buffet and vice prznint Mike Pence announced he is not a customer of this miracle cure being promoted by Grifters Inc:
Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday he is not taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive treatment for the coronavirus. “My physician hasn’t recommended that, but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the counsel of my doctor. Any American should do likewise,” Pence said when asked by Fox News about whether he was doing so.
But what we do now know is that the Trump Crime Family has invested some Ameros in a company that makes the damn stuff:
President Donald Trump and his allies in the conservative media sphere have repeatedly pushed the health benefits of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for patients who have contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). While scientific opinion on the efficacy of the drug for treatment of the COVID-19 disease is necessarily shy of consensus, Trump himself has a personal financial interest in a French drugmaker that produces a brand-name version of the medication. According to a Monday night report by the New York Times, Trump’s family stands to benefit from widespread use of the drug. Per that report: If hydroxychloroquine becomes an accepted treatment, several pharmaceutical companies stand to profit, including shareholders and senior executives with connections to the president. Mr. Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.
Silly people! Don’t they know that the Trump-Virus goes away like a miracle in warm weather?
UPDATE 1 – Tiger Beat’s morning email thingie tells us Lord Damp nut is blaming the victims again.
Shorter Lord Damp Nut: “It’s the Olds fault that they died after taking my miracle cure.”
Longer version:
“I’ve worked with doctors. If you look at the one survey, the only bad survey, they were giving it to people that were in very bad shape. They were very old. Almost dead,” Trump told CNN’s Manu Raju. “It was a Trump enemy statement.”
UPDATE 2:
Trump is also getting some back-up from the GOP. Rep. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), a physician, said his entire family is taking the drug as a preventative treatment, according to the Wichita Eagle. “I would encourage any person over the age of 65 or with an underlying medical condition to talk to their own physician about taking hydroxychloroquine and I’m relieved President Trump is taking it,” Marshall said.
UPDATE 3:
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), who contracted the virus in March, said hydroxychloroquine was one of the drugs he took, per the Washington Times. “I had a long talk with my doctors about it. It was their suggestion, but, ultimately, it was my decision,” Kelly said.
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--North Dakota Company That Trump Promoted Awarded Another $1.3 Billion Contract To Build Border Wall

At this point Trump does n't seem to care how unseemly and brazen his daily activities appear to be .
Though Fisher Sand and Gravel 's original contract of $ 400 million awarded last December for a wall on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is still under audit for blatant corruption , Trump just awarded an even bigger contract to them .
And at over $ 40million per mile it 's the most expensive ever contract for Trump 's wall yet .
America , you voted for the swamp , you got the swamp .
Congratulations .
A North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from President Trump has now secured the largest border wall contract ever awarded , a $ 1.3 billion deal to build 42 miles of black-painted fencing through the rugged mountains of southern Arizona .
The company that won the contract , Fisher Sand and Gravel , has been repeatedly lauded by the president in White House meetings with border officials and military commanders , the result of a long and personalized marketing pitch to Trump and ardent supporters of his barrier project .
After its initial bids for border contracts were passed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tommy Fisher , cut a direct path to the president by praising him on cable news , donating to his Republican allies and cultivating ties to former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon , GOP Senate candidate Kris Kobach and other conservative figures in Trump ’ s orbit .
Fisher ’ s first and only other major border contract , for $ 400 million , is under review by the Defense Department inspector general after Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about improper White House influence on the procurement process .
The inspector general ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ongoing .

At this point Trump doesn't seem to care how unseemly and brazen his daily activities appear to be. Though Fisher Sand and Gravel's original contract of $400 million awarded last December for a wall on the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is still under audit for blatant corruption, Trump just awarded an even bigger contract to them. And at over $40million per mile it's the most expensive ever contract for Trump's wall yet.
America, you voted for the swamp, you got the swamp. Congratulations.
Source: Washington Post


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Kayleigh McEnany: Trump's Pill Is Fine For 'Waning Days Of Your Life'

So we have some questions for the press secretary of Orange Julius .
Kayleigh McEnany transferred to Harvard Law School and graduated , so she 's no slouch .
She 's clearly savvy enough to know that you do n't go on MSNBC when you work for Trump , you go on Christian Broadcasting Network .
They wo n't ask you tough questions , and you wo n't flub your answers , right ?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY : It was issued an emergency use authorization to use this as essentially like a right to try .
So , if you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is looking for a therapeutic , who has COVID and is looking for a therapeutic , hydroxychloroquine is something some doctors professed optimism about .
... You do have a right to try it .
It gives people a right to try in the waning days of their life when they are facing a fatal illness .
So , is Trump dying right now ?
[ The short answer is `` of course not , he was lying about taking hydroxy , just like he lies about everything , and I do too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the dead eyes of the lost-to-Hell . ]
And while we have you , Kayleigh , when exactly did you sell your soul ?

So we have some questions for the press secretary of Orange Julius.
Kayleigh McEnany transferred to Harvard Law School and graduated, so she's no slouch. She's clearly savvy enough to know that you don't go on MSNBC when you work for Trump, you go on Christian Broadcasting Network. They won't ask you tough questions, and you won't flub your answers, right?
JUST RELEASED: @PressSec @kayleighmcenany on @realDonaldTrump & Hydroxychloroquine: "The doctor did prescribe it for him and he took it after having several discussions with Dr. Conley about its efficacy..." The Doctor says, "the benefits outweigh the risks for the President." pic.twitter.com/o08OHMZshL — David Brody (@DavidBrodyCBN) May 20, 2020
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: It was issued an emergency use authorization to use this as essentially like a right to try. So, if you’re someone who has this, who is looking for a therapeutic, who has COVID and is looking for a therapeutic, hydroxychloroquine is something some doctors professed optimism about. ...You do have a right to try it. It gives people a right to try in the waning days of their life when they are facing a fatal illness.
So, is Trump dying right now?
[The short answer is "of course not, he was lying about taking hydroxy, just like he lies about everything, and I do too" Kayleigh McEnany did not say from behind the dead eyes of the lost-to-Hell.]
And while we have you, Kayleigh, when exactly did you sell your soul?


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Stable Genius Says He ‘Tested Positively Towards Negative’ For Coronavirus

Trump 's mental competence was again put into question this morning when he came out with this latest bit of gibberish .
Because Trump 's brain is so hard-wired now that nothing about his coronavirus response can ever be negative , even his test results get his propaganda treatment , which sounds utterly foolish , of course .
President Trump on Thursday offered a new take on his daily coronavirus test , saying that he tested `` positively toward negative . ''
Trump , who has been receiving daily diagnostic tests for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House that his most recent test came back negative .
`` I tested very positively in another sense , '' Trump added .
`` I tested positively toward negative , right ?
So no , I tested perfectly this morning .
Meaning I tested negative .
But that 's a way of saying it .
Positively toward the negative . ''
Trump 's entire ethos surrounding the coronavirus is the same as the old Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen song , except it 's the dystopian version from a world turned upside down .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negative Latch on to the affirmative Do n't mess with Mister In-Between

Trump's mental competence was again put into question this morning when he came out with this latest bit of gibberish. Because Trump's brain is so hard-wired now that nothing about his coronavirus response can ever be negative, even his test results get his propaganda treatment, which sounds utterly foolish, of course.
Source: The Hill
President Trump on Thursday offered a new take on his daily coronavirus test, saying that he tested "positively toward negative." Trump, who has been receiving daily diagnostic tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, told reporters outside the White House that his most recent test came back negative. "I tested very positively in another sense," Trump added. "I tested positively toward negative, right? So no, I tested perfectly this morning. Meaning I tested negative. But that's a way of saying it. Positively toward the negative."
Trump's entire ethos surrounding the coronavirus is the same as the old Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen song, except it's the dystopian version from a world turned upside down.
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
UPDATE: And the definitive take.


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Fox News' Dana Perino Gets An Earful When She Pushes Biden Spokeswoman To Name One Trump Lie

Biden spokeswoman Symone Sanders appeared on Fox News yesterday with Dana Perino , whose agenda seemed to be to somehow box Sanders in over Biden 's allusion to Trump 's lying ways during his Wednesday commencement speech .
Perino repeatedly pressed Sanders to specifically name the lies she thinks Trump has told .
“ But you don ’ t have [ a Trump lie ] off the top of your head ? ''
Perino asked , adding , `` I can ’ t think of one.
” “ I mean , there are so many , ” Sanders replied , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Well , no , I ’ m — no , I ’ m being honest , '' Perino purred .
`` Like , really , like what specifically — I would just like even , like , one example of a lie from the White House about the coronavirus pandemic.
” Sanders pounced .
“ Everyone that wants a test can get a test .
How about that lie , because everyone who wants or needs a test in this country is not able to access testing.
” Following up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in edgewise , Sanders cited another example of Trump 's lies about PPE .
“ There are folks in places from California to Michigan to Florida and in between who are sewing masks for front-line workers because they ’ re — they don ’ t have the proper PPE .
Nurses and doctors are going into operating rooms in trash bags , '' she said .
Perino gave in on that point , so Sanders spared her more humiliation .
“ I don ’ t want to take the whole interview to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` But the reality is , the administration has not been above-board here.
” Perino 's no fool .
She took that exit as fast as she can .
We could point to myriad lies Trump has told , and does tell every day .
He speaks the language of lies .
Dana Perino should have known better than to press Symone Sanders on that , given Sanders ' reputation as a straight shooter , unafraid to speak the unvarnished truth unapologetically .

Biden spokeswoman Symone Sanders appeared on Fox News yesterday with Dana Perino, whose agenda seemed to be to somehow box Sanders in over Biden's allusion to Trump's lying ways during his Wednesday commencement speech.
Perino repeatedly pressed Sanders to specifically name the lies she thinks Trump has told.
“But you don’t have [a Trump lie] off the top of your head?" Perino asked, adding, " I can’t think of one.”
“I mean, there are so many,” Sanders replied, prompting Perino to leap at the bait.
“Well, no, I’m — no, I’m being honest," Perino purred. "Like, really, like what specifically — I would just like even, like, one example of a lie from the White House about the coronavirus pandemic.”
Sanders pounced. “Everyone that wants a test can get a test. How about that lie, because everyone who wants or needs a test in this country is not able to access testing.”
Following up on that before Perino could get a word in edgewise, Sanders cited another example of Trump's lies about PPE. “There are folks in places from California to Michigan to Florida and in between who are sewing masks for front-line workers because they’re — they don’t have the proper PPE. Nurses and doctors are going into operating rooms in trash bags," she said.
Perino gave in on that point, so Sanders spared her more humiliation. “I don’t want to take the whole interview to run through them," she said. "But the reality is, the administration has not been above-board here.”
Perino's no fool. She took that exit as fast as she can.
We could point to myriad lies Trump has told, and does tell every day. He speaks the language of lies. Dana Perino should have known better than to press Symone Sanders on that, given Sanders' reputation as a straight shooter, unafraid to speak the unvarnished truth unapologetically.


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--Notre Dame President Cannot Answer A Single Question About His Decision To Reopen Campus

Sheesh , for a university president , Father John Jennings did not do a lot of homework before his interview with Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC .
Father Jennings was being interviewed about the University of Notre Dame 's decision to open up for fall semester classes , and he struggled and/or punted on every single question Mohyeldin asked him about that choice .
After he 'd summarized the range of decisions colleges and universities have announced around the nation , he came to Notre Dame , which has announced a condensed fall semester with no breaks , running from mid-August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their plans to have `` comprehensive testing , contact tracing , quarantine and isolation protocols , even social distancing and mask requirements , '' and asked how those will be enforced , particularly outside of class .
Jennings ' answer was basically , `` Lem me tell ya .
We just made the announcement , and we have 3 months to come up with something , but we 'll work it out .
It 'll be great . ''
The interviewer was not exactly satisfied .
MOHYELDIN : Why , if I may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that for a second , why not actually .
get those details in place before you make an announcement to find out if in fact you do have the capacity , you do have the infrastructure for contact tracing , you have the infrastructure with personnel to make sure that faculty are safe as well ?
Why not work those details out before you get students to commit to coming back to the campus ?
JENNINGS : We 're confident we have the infrastructure .
We 're confident we have the spacing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need .
But moving a university is like moving a battleship .
It 's a complex organization .
There are a lot of people involved .
They have to work together .
We 're going to do that in the next few months .
And so we had to set a target .
We had to set a goal , which we did , and which we will be working on in the next few months .
I 'm confident we 'll be ready when students come back .
Nope .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an answer at all .
Mohyeldin knew it , and pressed him again , this time making an even .
stronger argument for waiting until the spring semester for opening .
MOHYELDIN : Why not start from the most baseline safe approach of saying , let 's stick to the online classes for at least one more semester , given that there will be no fall break , your students are not going to be able to go home for the weekend , or I do n't know if you 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the weekends , but why not start with a very baseline safety measurement of saying let 's just make sure everyone continues with online classes for another semester and in the spring of 2021 , we can bring them back when we have a better understanding , maybe even a vaccine ?
JENNINGS : Great question .
Look , it depends on what you 're trying to accomplish .
At Notre Dame , the residential life of our students , the students interacting with one another involved in student organizations , involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one another , as well as with faculty is critical to the education we offer ... ( blah blah blah ) ... We want to educate these students in the best way and we think part of that is getting them here on campus , helping them experience residential life and the fullness of Notre Dame education .
He wants them to experience `` the fullness '' of residential life , student organizations , and the relationships they have with one another .
Pardon me , but has he ever seen what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let 's get.back to that enforcement of social distancing question , shall we ?
Has this dude ever been to a dorm ?
Mohyeldin asks about plans for an eventual ( inevitable , let 's be real ) outbreak , and Jennings produces an answer so uninformed you 'd think he was employed by the Trump administration .
MOHYELDIN : God forbid , if there is an outbreak , is there a plan ?
Have you thought about how that plan would look like if there 's unfortunately an outbreak of COVID-19 among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students back home ?
Would you be willing to shut down the university on a moment 's notice ?
JENNINGS : Look , what we have are facilities for isolation , for quarantining .
Students -- some students may get COVID .
That may happen .
But we have the facilities to treat them .
As you well know , for young people , this is not a highly dangerous disease .
If you 're young , if you 're healthy , if you get sick , sometimes you do n't even show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
... ( blah blah blah ) ...
The answer to your question is , yes , we have response to whatever eventualities occur .
We 're pretty confident that we can get these students back , that it will be healthy and safe place and we can complete the semester .
OH , NO PROBLEM , YOUNGSTERS !
YOU 'RE ALL HEALTHY AND CAN COME BACK FROM IT NO PROBLEM THAT KAWASAKI-LIKE SYNDROME ?
PSHAW AND THOSE STROKES ?
TOUGHEN UP KIDS AND WHO CARES IF WHEN YOU DO GO HOME YOU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A THANKSGIVING PRESENT OH MY GOD !
But wait !
There 's MORE !
Jennings goes even further to put the finest of points on the exclamation mark ending the sentence , `` Money is more important to us than the lives of your children and families ! ''
Mohyeldin asked him if packing the stadium with tens of thousands of people to watch Notre Dame play football was off the table , at least , and guess what ?
IT IS N'T !
IT IS N'T OFF THE TABLE , PEOPLE !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a `` challenge ! ''
Finally , Mohyeldin just straight up asked about the money .
`` If , in fact , the semester does not go as planned , is there any kind of tuition relief for those students who are not going to be coming back to campus ? ''
Jennings said , `` We 'll see .
I just do n't know the answer to that question because it 's hypothetical . ''
`` Hypothetical '' is not going to calm parents worried about their students getting sick , @ @

Sheesh, for a university president, Father John Jennings did not do a lot of homework before his interview with Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC.
Father Jennings was being interviewed about the University of Notre Dame's decision to open up for fall semester classes, and he struggled and/or punted on every single question Mohyeldin asked him about that choice. After he'd summarized the range of decisions colleges and universities have announced around the nation, he came to Notre Dame, which has announced a condensed fall semester with no breaks, running from mid-August through just before Thanksgiving. Mohyeldin noted their plans to have "comprehensive testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols, even social distancing and mask requirements," and asked how those will be enforced, particularly outside of class.
Jennings' answer was basically, "Lemme tell ya. We just made the announcement, and we have 3 months to come up with something, but we'll work it out. It'll be great." The interviewer was not exactly satisfied.
MOHYELDIN: Why, if I may, then, just push back on that for a second, why not actually. get those details in place before you make an announcement to find out if in fact you do have the capacity, you do have the infrastructure for contact tracing, you have the infrastructure with personnel to make sure that faculty are safe as well? Why not work those details out before you get students to commit to coming back to the campus? JENNINGS: We're confident we have the infrastructure. We're confident we have the spacing. We're confident we can get what we need. But moving a university is like moving a battleship. It's a complex organization. There are a lot of people involved. They have to work together. We're going to do that in the next few months. And so we had to set a target. We had to set a goal, which we did, and which we will be working on in the next few months. I'm confident we'll be ready when students come back.
Nope. Not good enough. Not, in fact, an answer at all. Mohyeldin knew it, and pressed him again, this time making an even. stronger argument for waiting until the spring semester for opening.
MOHYELDIN: Why not start from the most baseline safe approach of saying, let's stick to the online classes for at least one more semester, given that there will be no fall break, your students are not going to be able to go home for the weekend, or I don't know if you're going to offer them exemption to go home for the weekends, but why not start with a very baseline safety measurement of saying let's just make sure everyone continues with online classes for another semester and in the spring of 2021, we can bring them back when we have a better understanding, maybe even a vaccine? JENNINGS: Great question. Look, it depends on what you're trying to accomplish. At Notre Dame, the residential life of our students, the students interacting with one another involved in student organizations, involved in a myriad of relationships they have with one another, as well as with faculty is critical to the education we offer...(blah blah blah)...We want to educate these students in the best way and we think part of that is getting them here on campus, helping them experience residential life and the fullness of Notre Dame education.
He wants them to experience "the fullness" of residential life, student organizations, and the relationships they have with one another. Pardon me, but has he ever seen what it is he is talking about? Let's get.back to that enforcement of social distancing question, shall we? Has this dude ever been to a dorm?
Mohyeldin asks about plans for an eventual (inevitable, let's be real) outbreak, and Jennings produces an answer so uninformed you'd think he was employed by the Trump administration.
MOHYELDIN: God forbid, if there is an outbreak, is there a plan? Have you thought about how that plan would look like if there's unfortunately an outbreak of COVID-19 among your students? Would you consider sending students back home? Would you be willing to shut down the university on a moment's notice? JENNINGS: Look, what we have are facilities for isolation, for quarantining. Students -- some students may get COVID. That may happen. But we have the facilities to treat them. As you well know, for young people, this is not a highly dangerous disease. If you're young, if you're healthy, if you get sick, sometimes you don't even show symptoms. But you can get back. ...(blah blah blah)...The answer to your question is, yes, we have response to whatever eventualities occur. We're pretty confident that we can get these students back, that it will be healthy and safe place and we can complete the semester.
OH, NO PROBLEM, YOUNGSTERS! YOU'RE ALL HEALTHY AND CAN COME BACK FROM IT NO PROBLEM THAT KAWASAKI-LIKE SYNDROME? PSHAW AND THOSE STROKES? TOUGHEN UP KIDS AND WHO CARES IF WHEN YOU DO GO HOME YOU GIVE IT TO GRAMMY AND GRAMPY AS A THANKSGIVING PRESENT OH MY GOD!
But wait! There's MORE! Jennings goes even further to put the finest of points on the exclamation mark ending the sentence, "Money is more important to us than the lives of your children and families!" Mohyeldin asked him if packing the stadium with tens of thousands of people to watch Notre Dame play football was off the table, at least, and guess what? IT ISN'T! IT ISN'T OFF THE TABLE, PEOPLE! What is Jennings calling that? It's a "challenge!"
Finally, Mohyeldin just straight up asked about the money. "If, in fact, the semester does not go as planned, is there any kind of tuition relief for those students who are not going to be coming back to campus?"
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Silly Ayman.
Jennings said, "We'll see. I just don't know the answer to that question because it's hypothetical."
"Hypothetical" is not going to calm parents worried about their students getting sick, pal.


crooksandliars--2020-05-21--NM Gov. Fights Major COVID-19 Outbreak In Navajo Nation After Epic Federal Failure

The worst coronavirus outbreak in the country is now in Navajo Nation and the Trump administration ’ s response has been so inadequate that New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has stepped in to work with the nation and do what the federal government will not .
This week , CNN reported that the Navajo Nation has surpassed New York and New Jersey for the highest per-capita coronavirus infection rate in the U.S .
The nation spreads over Arizona , Utah and New Mexico but the city of Gallup , N.M. , which serves as a regional hub for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently in second place as having the most new cases , per capita , in the last two weeks and in first place for the most deaths during that period .
On The Rachel Maddow Show last night , Grisham said that the outbreak has been so bad that some days two patients an hour had to be transferred from that remote part of the state to Albuquerque and Santa Fe where there are larger hospitals with more acute and critical care facilities .
The reason the outbreak is so severe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in very tight quarters “ hundreds of miles from food , water , health care services , just the basics , ” thus making it “ ripe for having containment issues that you can ’ t get your arms around.
” Grisham said she “ sounded the alarm to the White House months ago ” about the impact of the pandemic on sovereign nations but , not surprisingly , the response was terribly inadequate .
So the state of New Mexico stepped in and partnered with the Navajo Nation to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give a shout-out to the Navajo Nation .
Both the council and the Navajo Nation president have been good partners and really effective leaders by having some of the strictest stay-at-home orders and curfews in the country , and we 're seeing a flattening in Gallup , that ’ s in Mckinley county , and in San Juan county , as a result , and we 're seeing the transmission rate finally beginning to decline .
But we are not out of the woods in Indian country around this country , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in the Navajo Nation either .
Grisham is also working with the “ incredible ” director of the Indian Health Services , Adm. Michael D. Weahkee to take over testing and contract tracing because , she said , they can do it faster .
The state is also investing in more broadband , water , electricity , and public safety and emergency response systems for that area .
Despite the Navajo outbreak , New Mexico is currently the only state to meet the White House gating criteria for Phase 1 of reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden campaign .
Asked by Maddow to confirm reports that she is being vetted as a running mate , Grisham dodged and deflected but did not deny .
She also hinted she ’ d be glad to take the job .
GRISHAM : I 'm a big Joe Biden fan , and I 'm doing my part , as the first-ever Democratic Hispanic governor in the country to make sure that we 're getting out Hispanic voters and minority votes across the country .
So that speculation , you put into vetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an endorsement , Rachel , but I appreciate your kind words .
We 're working on the campaign specifics that I should be doing , the chair-elect of the DGA , and then the rest of my work is to make sure , to your point , where you have significant issues going on in the state , you need to be focused on getting them addressed , and you know , New Mexico was the first state to test asymptomatic individuals .
We tested 7 % of our population , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will .
We are .
We ’ ve lowered our transmission rate .
We 're meeting our criteria .
We 've been very slow and steady .
But I am troubled today , I was troubled yesterday .
We need to do everything in our power to disrupt the lack of federal responding and support to protect our sovereign nations in New Mexico .
… We ’ re going to get a hold of this virus and we 're going to create a system where no one in the federal government can put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in harm 's way ever again .
Whether she gets the VP slot or not , I predict we ’ ll be hearing a lot from Michelle Lujan Grisham on the national stage in one role or another .

The worst coronavirus outbreak in the country is now in Navajo Nation and the Trump administration’s response has been so inadequate that New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has stepped in to work with the nation and do what the federal government will not.
This week, CNN reported that the Navajo Nation has surpassed New York and New Jersey for the highest per-capita coronavirus infection rate in the U.S. The nation spreads over Arizona, Utah and New Mexico but the city of Gallup, N.M., which serves as a regional hub for the Navajo and other Native American pueblos, is currently in second place as having the most new cases, per capita, in the last two weeks and in first place for the most deaths during that period.
On The Rachel Maddow Show last night, Grisham said that the outbreak has been so bad that some days two patients an hour had to be transferred from that remote part of the state to Albuquerque and Santa Fe where there are larger hospitals with more acute and critical care facilities.
The reason the outbreak is so severe, Grisham explained, is that intergenerational families live in very tight quarters “hundreds of miles from food, water, health care services, just the basics,” thus making it “ripe for having containment issues that you can’t get your arms around.”
Grisham said she “sounded the alarm to the White House months ago” about the impact of the pandemic on sovereign nations but, not surprisingly, the response was terribly inadequate. So the state of New Mexico stepped in and partnered with the Navajo Nation to get the job done.
GRISHAM: I want to give a shout-out to the Navajo Nation. Both the council and the Navajo Nation president have been good partners and really effective leaders by having some of the strictest stay-at-home orders and curfews in the country, and we're seeing a flattening in Gallup, that’s in Mckinley county, and in San Juan county, as a result, and we're seeing the transmission rate finally beginning to decline. But we are not out of the woods in Indian country around this country, in Indian country in New Mexico, and not in the Navajo Nation either.
Grisham is also working with the “incredible” director of the Indian Health Services, Adm. Michael D. Weahkee to take over testing and contract tracing because, she said, they can do it faster. The state is also investing in more broadband, water, electricity, and public safety and emergency response systems for that area.
Despite the Navajo outbreak, New Mexico is currently the only state to meet the White House gating criteria for Phase 1 of reopening.
Grisham has caught the eye of the Biden campaign. Asked by Maddow to confirm reports that she is being vetted as a running mate, Grisham dodged and deflected but did not deny. She also hinted she’d be glad to take the job.
GRISHAM: I'm a big Joe Biden fan, and I'm doing my part, as the first-ever Democratic Hispanic governor in the country to make sure that we're getting out Hispanic voters and minority votes across the country. So that speculation, you put into vetting, I don't know if that is an endorsement, Rachel, but I appreciate your kind words. We're working on the campaign specifics that I should be doing, the chair-elect of the DGA, and then the rest of my work is to make sure, to your point, where you have significant issues going on in the state, you need to be focused on getting them addressed, and you know, New Mexico was the first state to test asymptomatic individuals. We tested 7% of our population, we can do better than that, and will. We are. We’ve lowered our transmission rate. We're meeting our criteria. We've been very slow and steady. But I am troubled today, I was troubled yesterday. We need to do everything in our power to disrupt the lack of federal responding and support to protect our sovereign nations in New Mexico. … We’re going to get a hold of this virus and we're going to create a system where no one in the federal government can put the Navajo Nation or any sovereign nation, in harm's way ever again.
Whether she gets the VP slot or not, I predict we’ll be hearing a lot from Michelle Lujan Grisham on the national stage in one role or another.