crooksandliars--2020-12-24--Trump's Pardons Of Russiagate Cronies Remove Any Doubts Fix Was In From The Beginning

The coronavirus is raging across America .
Trump remains silent about it , abdicating his responsibility for the health , safety , and well being of Americans while derailing congressional legislation and COVID relief measures as he flies off to Florida for the holidays .
But the outgoing president did find the time between promoting voter fraud conspiracies and seditious actions to pardon war criminals and everyone convicted in Robert Muller 's special council investigation of RussiaGate .
On MSNBC Wednesday night , Andrew Weissmann , the former senior member of special counsel Robert Mueller 's team and former head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice department who prosecuted Manafort explained to Rachel Maddow that the Russiagate coverup was completed with Trump 's latest round of pardons .
Weissmann said , `` I think what you 're seeing , whether it 's the pardon of Paul Manafort or many others that we saw today and yesterday , this is what you get if you give the pardon power to a mob boss . ''
That includes Roger Stone and the seditious Michael Flynn who were convicted for either lying to the federal investigators , reneged on plea deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russia and Trump 's role in it in election interference in 2016 .
It 's hard to convict a narcissistic mafioso-like boss if those involved refuse to give evidence against that person .
The co-conspirators understand they will be rewarded with a presidential pardon if they cooperate .
It did n't help that Don Jr. , and Trump Sr. , were n't subpoenaed or forced to testify under oath .
Let us not forget that it was the firing of FBI Director James Comey by Donald Trump that triggered Andrew McCabe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ I was speaking to the man who had just run for the presidency and won the election for the presidency and who might have done so with the aid of the government of Russia , our most formidable adversary on the world stage .
And that was something that troubled me greatly , ” said McCabe .
John Gotti could n't stop Salvatore Gravano ( “ Sammy the Bull ” ) from flipping on him because the Teflon Don did not have the power to pardon his crimes so he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the pardon power and he rewarded his collaborators accordingly to protect himself .
Tim Miller writes : The Treasonous Pardon of Paul Manafort .
Trump , Russia , and the swamp won .
America lost .
When Special Counsel Robert Mueller tried to look into the details of the ties between Manafort ’ s Russian clients and the Russian hackers who were aiding the Trump campaign , they were stymied by his lies , his use of “ sophisticated communications security practices , ” and his foreign business partners ’ lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plea deal with the government , he promised to testify “ fully , completely , and truthfully ” about his actions—but he then breached that plea , repeatedly being caught in lies including about his communications with Russian intelligence during the campaign .
During a deposition with the FBI , Manafort ’ s deputy Rick Gates admitted that this was of course intentional on Manafort ’ s part .
That his plan was to block the truth from coming out , stay loyal to Trump , and wait for a pardon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We ’ ll be taken care of.
” Any person that calls `` RussiaGate '' a hoax you know is either uninformed , QAnon 'd , stupid , or profusely lying .
New legislation needs to handle the presidential pardon power since Trump abused it so thoroughly .
No president should be allowed to pardon those in his administration that commit crimes , especially crimes related to the governing of our country .
When Bill Barr had George H. Bush pardon those set to testify during Iran-Contra , which ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have been done immediately .
Now we see what a megalomaniacal person can do with such powers .

The coronavirus is raging across America.
Trump remains silent about it, abdicating his responsibility for the health, safety, and well being of Americans while derailing congressional legislation and COVID relief measures as he flies off to Florida for the holidays.
But the outgoing president did find the time between promoting voter fraud conspiracies and seditious actions to pardon war criminals and everyone convicted in Robert Muller's special council investigation of RussiaGate.
On MSNBC Wednesday night, Andrew Weissmann, the former senior member of special counsel Robert Mueller's team and former head of the criminal fraud section at the justice department who prosecuted Manafort explained to Rachel Maddow that the Russiagate coverup was completed with Trump's latest round of pardons.
Weissmann said, "I think what you're seeing, whether it's the pardon of Paul Manafort or many others that we saw today and yesterday, this is what you get if you give the pardon power to a mob boss."
That includes Roger Stone and the seditious Michael Flynn who were convicted for either lying to the federal investigators, reneged on plea deals or refused to speak about their dealings with Russia and Trump's role in it in election interference in 2016.
It's hard to convict a narcissistic mafioso-like boss if those involved refuse to give evidence against that person. The co-conspirators understand they will be rewarded with a presidential pardon if they cooperate.
It didn't help that Don Jr., and Trump Sr., weren't subpoenaed or forced to testify under oath.
Let us not forget that it was the firing of FBI Director James Comey by Donald Trump that triggered Andrew McCabe to set up a special counsel to investigate him.
“I was speaking to the man who had just run for the presidency and won the election for the presidency and who might have done so with the aid of the government of Russia, our most formidable adversary on the world stage. And that was something that troubled me greatly,” said McCabe.
John Gotti couldn't stop Salvatore Gravano (“Sammy the Bull”) from flipping on him because the Teflon Don did not have the power to pardon his crimes so he went to prison.
Donald Trump does have the pardon power and he rewarded his collaborators accordingly to protect himself.
Tim Miller writes: The Treasonous Pardon of Paul Manafort. Trump, Russia, and the swamp won. America lost.
When Special Counsel Robert Mueller tried to look into the details of the ties between Manafort’s Russian clients and the Russian hackers who were aiding the Trump campaign, they were stymied by his lies, his use of “sophisticated communications security practices,” and his foreign business partners’ lack of cooperation. Later, when Manafort cut a plea deal with the government, he promised to testify “fully, completely, and truthfully” about his actions—but he then breached that plea, repeatedly being caught in lies including about his communications with Russian intelligence during the campaign. During a deposition with the FBI, Manafort’s deputy Rick Gates admitted that this was of course intentional on Manafort’s part. That his plan was to block the truth from coming out, stay loyal to Trump, and wait for a pardon. “Sit tight,” Manafort apparently said. “We’ll be taken care of.”
Any person that calls "RussiaGate" a hoax you know is either uninformed, QAnon'd, stupid, or profusely lying.
New legislation needs to handle the presidential pardon power since Trump abused it so thoroughly. No president should be allowed to pardon those in his administration that commit crimes, especially crimes related to the governing of our country.
When Bill Barr had George H. Bush pardon those set to testify during Iran-Contra, which ended the entire investigations, something in Congress should have been done immediately.
Now we see what a megalomaniacal person can do with such powers.


Pardonpalooza: Night 2!

Just 24 hours after Pardonpalooza : Night 1 Donald Trump has dropped over 20 more pardons - this time settling up personal debts to allies , criminals and criminal friends .
In Wednesday 's pardon drop : Longtime ally Roger Stone , former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner 's father , Charles Kushner .
These pardons show that loyalists , well connected felons and family friends are rewarded while those truly deserving of clemency are denied it due to their uselessness to Donald Trump .
This also settles scores from the Mueller probe .
Manafort and Stone were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were convicted by juries .
Manafort actually served time while Stone had his sentence commuted immediately before he was due to report to prison .
That commutation is now a pardon .
Charles Kushner was actually prosecuted by Chris Christie in the early 2000 's for tax evasion , witness tampering and illegal campaign contrubutions .
Kushner 's witness tampering was not your run of the mill tampering .
He hired a prostitute to lure a witness - his BROTHER-IN-LAW - into having sex and video taped it via a hidden camera .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses wife - Charles Kushner 's SISTER .
The tampering failed and the brother-in-law and Kushner 's sister brought the tape to the prosecutors .
The prosecutors then found the prostitute and she quickly turned on Charles Kushner .
Also on the pardon list : Duncan Hunter 's wife .
Duncan Hunter was pardoned in the first round .
Now his wife is in the clear .
They pleaded guilty to using campaign funds for personal use .
Other pardons include people that actually deserve clemency because they were overcharged or innocent or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were people convicted of cyber crimes , firearm possession and mail fraud .
Who will be up for Pardonpalooza : Night 3 ?
My bet : Julian Assange , Martin Shkreli , Rudy Giuliani .
He is going to hold out to pardon his family and himself until the morning of January 20th .

Just 24 hours after Pardonpalooza: Night 1 Donald Trump has dropped over 20 more pardons - this time settling up personal debts to allies, criminals and criminal friends.
In Wednesday's pardon drop: Longtime ally Roger Stone, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner's father, Charles Kushner.
These pardons show that loyalists, well connected felons and family friends are rewarded while those truly deserving of clemency are denied it due to their uselessness to Donald Trump. This also settles scores from the Mueller probe. Manafort and Stone were both indicted by Mueller's team and were convicted by juries. Manafort actually served time while Stone had his sentence commuted immediately before he was due to report to prison. That commutation is now a pardon.
Charles Kushner was actually prosecuted by Chris Christie in the early 2000's for tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign contrubutions. Kushner's witness tampering was not your run of the mill tampering. He hired a prostitute to lure a witness - his BROTHER-IN-LAW - into having sex and video taped it via a hidden camera. He then sent the videotape to the witnesses wife - Charles Kushner's SISTER. The tampering failed and the brother-in-law and Kushner's sister brought the tape to the prosecutors. The prosecutors then found the prostitute and she quickly turned on Charles Kushner.
GROSS.
Also on the pardon list: Duncan Hunter's wife. Duncan Hunter was pardoned in the first round. Now his wife is in the clear. They pleaded guilty to using campaign funds for personal use.
Other pardons include people that actually deserve clemency because they were overcharged or innocent or clearly faced biased juries.
KIDDING. They were people convicted of cyber crimes, firearm possession and mail fraud.
Who will be up for Pardonpalooza: Night 3? My bet: Julian Assange, Martin Shkreli, Rudy Giuliani. He is going to hold out to pardon his family and himself until the morning of January 20th.


crooksandliars--2020-12-24--Christmas Eve News Dump: The Hits Keep On Coming!

Trump Appoints Anti-Gay Conversion Therapy Practitioner and Christian Extremist Marcus Bachmann ( Husband of Michelle ) to Advisory Panel - @ @ @ @ @ .The hits keep coming in the 11th hour ... https : //t.co/iYQ3ljSYX6 — One of @ @ @ @ @ right side of history ( @ dotcalmu ) December 24 , 2020

Trump Appoints Anti-Gay Conversion Therapy Practitioner and Christian Extremist Marcus Bachmann (Husband of Michelle) to Advisory Panel - Towleroad Gay News. ....The hits keep coming in the 11th hour ... https://t.co/iYQ3ljSYX6
— One of the 80 million on the right side of history (@dotcalmu) December 24, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-12-24--Crookie Award: Hubris-Filled Gasbag Of The Year, Jerry Falwell, Jr.

Jerry Falwell Jr 's sordid sexual proclivities and in-your-face abuse of his position as Liberty University 's president is an example of extreme hubris .
Suing Liberty U after he was fired is just blowing smoke at the fire .
I really do n't care what his kinks are , but when they involve his not-for-profit Liberty University , they matter .
Taxpayers make sure that university exists , and students ' penalties for too-short skirts and other `` sins '' contribute to their coffers .
In 2020 , Falwell , Jr. started out the year by claiming that COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea against Trump personally .
By the end of 2020 , Falwell had resigned from Liberty University , sued them , and then dropped the lawsuit after reports that the funds of that God-blessed institution were used to promote Donald Trump .
Lots of funds .
Many , many tax-exempt dollars .
In between those two events , he posed with his pants open and his arm around a young lady who is not his wife , admitted that his wife had an affair with Giancarlo Granda , but denied that he liked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report with texts and photos indicating otherwise .
Oh , and another student came forward with allegations of harassment by Becki Falwell too .
Is there a bigger hypocrite gasbag than this hubris-filled sack of sh*t ?
I think not , and for that he gets a Crookie .

Jerry Falwell Jr's sordid sexual proclivities and in-your-face abuse of his position as Liberty University's president is an example of extreme hubris. Suing Liberty U after he was fired is just blowing smoke at the fire.
I really don't care what his kinks are, but when they involve his not-for-profit Liberty University, they matter. Taxpayers make sure that university exists, and students' penalties for too-short skirts and other "sins" contribute to their coffers.
In 2020, Falwell, Jr. started out the year by claiming that COVID-19 was a biological weapon developed by North Korea against Trump personally.
By the end of 2020, Falwell had resigned from Liberty University, sued them, and then dropped the lawsuit after reports that the funds of that God-blessed institution were used to promote Donald Trump. Lots of funds. Many, many tax-exempt dollars.
In between those two events, he posed with his pants open and his arm around a young lady who is not his wife, admitted that his wife had an affair with Giancarlo Granda, but denied that he liked to watch in spite of a credible report with texts and photos indicating otherwise. Oh, and another student came forward with allegations of harassment by Becki Falwell too.
Is there a bigger hypocrite gasbag than this hubris-filled sack of sh*t? I think not, and for that he gets a Crookie.


crooksandliars--2020-12-24--Compare And Contrast: 1.7 Billion People Woke Up Today In Countries With Near Zero Virus

John Berman had on Dr. Ali Khan , dean of Nebraska Medical Center 's College for Public Health , this morning to talk about the nearly 120,000 americans spending Christmas Eve in the hospital , and the 3,359 Americans reported dead from coronavirus overnight .
`` That hospitalization figure , as it hits new records every day , almost now at 120,000 , why is it still going up ?
How is it that it continues to go up ?
New cases , there is some sign that it 's leveling off a bit , but the fact that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented levels , it just keeps happening , '' Berman said .
`` Good morning , John .
And yeah , it 's very disturbing .
And I 'll contrast your numbers with the fact that about 1.7 billion people are going to wake up on Christmas morning with near zero cases in Australia , New Zealand , China , Thailand , et cetera , et cetera , '' Dr. Khan said .
`` It 's actually quite disturbing .
The new cases are predictable .
Maybe about 20 % of Americans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % of Americans left to be infected .
So it 's not surprising , given how many people are susceptible to infection and the lack of appropriate public health measures to protect them and prevent the deaths .
`` I have two thoughts about the traveling .
The first is actually to those who did travel for whatever reason and they did n't quarantine themselves seven days beforehand and did n't take my advice about never go to high-risk areas , if you did travel , please , do n't compound your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and restaurants or houses of worship .
Remember that people can be infected and still look fine , so you may even want to consider wearing a mask within the house .
And limit your gatherings , please , if you did travel .
Second thought about this great advice from public health officials to not travel .
Guidance is not public health policy , so where 's the policy about intrastate travel , ensuring that there 's quarantine and testing before that happens ?
Why have we no longer heard about test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the primary strategy ?
Why is there no national tracing app ?
Why is there no national stipend ?
`` I mean , there 's all sorts of policy things that we can do that can still get these cases down .
And mask mandate is a good example .
More people would be saved -- more lives would be saved in January if every state did a mask mandate than would be saved by a vaccine in January . ''
We all know what .
An incompetent and malevolent creature in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , it spun out of control , and he doubled down .
Period .

John Berman had on Dr. Ali Khan, dean of Nebraska Medical Center's College for Public Health, this morning to talk about the nearly 120,000 americans spending Christmas Eve in the hospital, and the 3,359 Americans reported dead from coronavirus overnight.
"That hospitalization figure, as it hits new records every day, almost now at 120,000, why is it still going up? How is it that it continues to go up? New cases, there is some sign that it's leveling off a bit, but the fact that we keep filling up our hospitals at new unprecedented levels, it just keeps happening," Berman said.
"Good morning, John. And yeah, it's very disturbing. And I'll contrast your numbers with the fact that about 1.7 billion people are going to wake up on Christmas morning with near zero cases in Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, et cetera, et cetera," Dr. Khan said.
"It's actually quite disturbing. The new cases are predictable. Maybe about 20% of Americans have currently been infected, which leaves about 80% of Americans left to be infected. So it's not surprising, given how many people are susceptible to infection and the lack of appropriate public health measures to protect them and prevent the deaths.
"I have two thoughts about the traveling. The first is actually to those who did travel for whatever reason and they didn't quarantine themselves seven days beforehand and didn't take my advice about never go to high-risk areas, if you did travel, please, don't compound your risk now by going out to bars and restaurants or houses of worship. Remember that people can be infected and still look fine, so you may even want to consider wearing a mask within the house. And limit your gatherings, please, if you did travel. Second thought about this great advice from public health officials to not travel. Guidance is not public health policy, so where's the policy about intrastate travel, ensuring that there's quarantine and testing before that happens? Why have we no longer heard about test, trace, and isolate, which is the primary strategy? Why is there no national tracing app? Why is there no national stipend?
"I mean, there's all sorts of policy things that we can do that can still get these cases down. And mask mandate is a good example. More people would be saved -- more lives would be saved in January if every state did a mask mandate than would be saved by a vaccine in January."
We all know what. An incompetent and malevolent creature in the White House decided to politicize a virus, it spun out of control, and he doubled down. Period.


crooksandliars--2020-12-24--Crookie Award: Dangerous Misinformer Of The Year, Fox News

From ignoring primetime impeachment coverage , to covering for Trump 's coronavirus sabotage , to doing their best to endanger the health of as many Americans as humanly possible , to fearmongering over socialism in the middle of a deadly pandemic , the propaganda outlet has proven themselves to be a public health hazard along with a threat to what remains of our democracy time and time again .
Fox started off the year doing their best to make sure none of their viewers actually heard any of the evidence brought forth in the impeachment trial .
Once Republicans let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they proceeded to help Trump and his put the lives of Americans who were foolish enough to listen to them at risk by attacking lockdowns , downplaying the need for social distancing and masks , allowing Trump along with some of their hosts to hype the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine , and they 've continued to whine about public health measures all the way through the holidays at the end of the year .
For acting as a propaganda outlet for Trump and his enablers and for having so little regard for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to be trying to help kill off as much of their own audience as possible , here 's your Crookie Award , Fox News .

From ignoring primetime impeachment coverage, to covering for Trump's coronavirus sabotage, to doing their best to endanger the health of as many Americans as humanly possible, to fearmongering over socialism in the middle of a deadly pandemic, the propaganda outlet has proven themselves to be a public health hazard along with a threat to what remains of our democracy time and time again.
Fox started off the year doing their best to make sure none of their viewers actually heard any of the evidence brought forth in the impeachment trial. Once Republicans let Trump off the hook for his crimes, they proceeded to help Trump and his put the lives of Americans who were foolish enough to listen to them at risk by attacking lockdowns, downplaying the need for social distancing and masks, allowing Trump along with some of their hosts to hype the unproven drug hydroxychloroquine, and they've continued to whine about public health measures all the way through the holidays at the end of the year.
For acting as a propaganda outlet for Trump and his enablers and for having so little regard for the health of Americans that they really do appear to be trying to help kill off as much of their own audience as possible, here's your Crookie Award, Fox News.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Crookie Award:  The War Between Ivanka And Melania

The war between Ivanka Trump and First Lady Melania Trump is real !
The details about the Trump-on-Trump war were @ @ @ @ @ , former BFF of FLOTUS and author of Melania and Me : The Rise and @ @ @ @ @ the First Lady .
Molly Jong-Fast interviewed Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and Melania 's ex-BFF brought @ @ @ @ @ about the war between Ivanka and Melania here or check out Wolkoff 's interview on @ @ @ @ @ friend talked to CNN 's Alisyn Camerota about the relationship between Melania and her stepdaughter @ @ @ @ @ Award for these two is as deserved as they deserve each other .

The war between Ivanka Trump and First Lady Melania Trump is real! The details about the Trump-on-Trump war were spilled by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, former BFF of FLOTUS and author of Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady.
Molly Jong-Fast interviewed Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and Melania's ex-BFF brought receipts! Read the details about the war between Ivanka and Melania here or check out Wolkoff's interview on CNN. Melania's former friend talked to CNN's Alisyn Camerota about the relationship between Melania and her stepdaughter Ivanka Trump.
The Crookie Award for these two is as deserved as they deserve each other.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Crookie Award:  Most Selfish - Mitch McConnell

The most brazen power grabber in all of Washington also avoided the White House from August on , because of @ @ @ @ @ in October : The Senate Majority Leader admitted this week that he has not been @ @ @ @ @ August 6 , because of concerns that Trump is not taking COVID seriously .
MITCH @ @ @ @ @ n't feel that they were approaching the protection from this illness in the same way @ @ @ @ @ for the Senate .
What about all those Senators who went to the Amy Comey @ @ @ @ @ ?
Did you give them ANY warning ?
Any hint that maybe they should n't @ @ @ @ @ said , `` In so many words , McConnell said , ‘ I have stayed @ @ @ @ @ because the president is so incompetent , so dangerous , and so deluded that I @ @ @ @ @ my own personal health.
’ ” But he still wants Trump re-elected .
Sure .
@ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court over helping Americans deal with the fallout of the virus .

The most brazen power grabber in all of Washington also avoided the White House from August on, because of Covid. As I wrote in October:
The Senate Majority Leader admitted this week that he has not been to the White House since August 6, because of concerns that Trump is not taking COVID seriously.
MITCH MCCONNELL: I personally didn't feel that they were approaching the protection from this illness in the same way that I thought was appropriate for the Senate.
What about all those Senators who went to the Amy Comey Barrett superspreader event, Mitch? Did you give them ANY warning? Any hint that maybe they shouldn't go?
As Chris Hayes said, "In so many words, McConnell said, ‘I have stayed away from the White House because the president is so incompetent, so dangerous, and so deluded that I would not trust him with my own personal health.’”
But he still wants Trump re-elected. Sure. AND he's prioritizing stacking the Supreme Court over helping Americans deal with the fallout of the virus.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Crookie Award: 'Scrooge Eat Your Heart Out' Prize To Melania Trump

As our own Ed Scarce wrote in October of Melania Trump : `` Apparently she really hates Christmas -- and @ @ @ @ @ well -- and she 's not really interested in much else to do with being @ @ @ @ @ States . ''
You may recall she was n't a great shakes about Easter , @ @

As our own Ed Scarce wrote in October of Melania Trump: "Apparently she really hates Christmas -- and her decorations communicate that quite well -- and she's not really interested in much else to do with being First Lady of the United States."
What ever will the evangelical Trump supporters going to say about her saying FUCKING CHRISTMAS? — Logan Murphy (@Murphy111L) October 2, 2020
You may recall she wasn't a great shakes about Easter, either.
Congratulations, Melania, here's another Crookie for ya:


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Yuma Prison Warden Dies From COVID-19 After Dismissing Safety Concerns

The politics of stupid that end up killing people , completely unnecessarily .
YUMA , Ariz. ( AP ) - @ @ @ @ @ state prison that has seen a major COVID-19 outbreak has died after being hospitalized over @ @ @ @ @ Department of Corrections said .
Edwin Jensen was a warden at the Arizona State Prison @ @ @ @ @ houses more than 4,400 incarcerated people near the U.S.-Mexico border .
...
The prison is @ @ @ @ @ the largest COVID-19 outbreak within the state ’ s prison system , with more than @ @ @ @ @ the virus last week , officials said .
More than 1,500 employees have also self-reported @ @ @ @ @ pandemic began in March and most of the employees at the Yuma prison have said @ @ @ @ @ staff had been infected .

The politics of stupid that end up killing people, completely unnecessarily.
Source: Associated Press
YUMA, Ariz. (AP) - The warden of an Arizona state prison that has seen a major COVID-19 outbreak has died after being hospitalized over the weekend, the state Department of Corrections said.
Edwin Jensen was a warden at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma, which houses more than 4,400 incarcerated people near the U.S.-Mexico border.
...
The prison is currently in the midst of the largest COVID-19 outbreak within the state’s prison system, with more than 600 inmates testing positive for the virus last week, officials said.
More than 1,500 employees have also self-reported contracting the virus since the pandemic began in March and most of the employees at the Yuma prison have said they believe most of the staff had been infected.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Trump's Christmas Message To Mitch McConnell: "I WIll NEVER FORGET!'

Donald Trump 's crybaby persona hit a pinnacle of madness on Christmas Eve when he ranted and raved like a five-year-old not getting that red Tonka truck he wanted , but instead received a lump of coal for Christmas for being on the naughty list .
Trump did want to make U.S. history , and he finally did so by becoming the first sitting president trying to steal a presidential election that he lost , like a self absorbed authoritarian egomaniac .
This is one for the ages in American history .
Not that I want to entertain an imbecilic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is committing an act of sedition , but if the election was all RIGGED , then why did n't the Democratic party flip the Senate and win more seats in the House ?
What act of revenge will Trump use against the Senate Majority Leader ?
And of course : Where 's Trump 's Twitter ire at VP Mike Pence for not agreeing to his insane plan to have him try and overthrow the Senate on January 6th , and install Trump for another four years ?
The Senate and House will meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to officially count the Electoral College votes ( which Biden won 306-232 ) , and as president of the Senate , Pence is set to preside over this normally uncontroversial event .
On Wednesday night , the president retweeted a wild suggestion that Pence should use his role to toss out electoral votes from swing states won by Biden , falsely arguing the vice president has the right to demand new electors if he deems them legally illegitimate .
If Trump held his breath until he turned blue , that would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Joe Biden than his attempts at a coup .

Donald Trump's crybaby persona hit a pinnacle of madness on Christmas Eve when he ranted and raved like a five-year-old not getting that red Tonka truck he wanted, but instead received a lump of coal for Christmas for being on the naughty list.
Trump did want to make U.S. history, and he finally did so by becoming the first sitting president trying to steal a presidential election that he lost, like a self absorbed authoritarian egomaniac.
This is one for the ages in American history.
At a meeting in Florida today, everyone was asking why aren’t the Republicans up in arms & fighting over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election? Especially in the Senate, they said, where you helped 8 Senators win their races. How quickly they forget! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
VOTER FRAUD IS NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY, IT IS A FACT!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
Twitter is going wild with their flags, trying hard to suppress even the truth. Just shows how dangerous they are, purposely stifling free speech. Very dangerous for our Country. Does Congress know that this is how Communism starts? Cancel Culture at its worst. End Section 230! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
I saved at least 8 Republican Senators, including Mitch, from losing in the last Rigged (for President) Election. Now they (almost all) sit back and watch me fight against a crooked and vicious foe, the Radical Left Democrats. I will NEVER FORGET! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
Not that I want to entertain an imbecilic temper tantrum by a lying loser who is committing an act of sedition, but if the election was all RIGGED, then why didn't the Democratic party flip the Senate and win more seats in the House?
What act of revenge will Trump use against the Senate Majority Leader?
And of course:
MERRY CHRISTMAS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2020
Digby's response was perfect.
What a pathetic, whiny, world historical sore loser.I've never seen anything like this. A 3 year old is more controlled and mature when he doesn't get his way. https://t.co/pRmcTV80Wf — digby (@digby56) December 25, 2020
Where's Trump's Twitter ire at VP Mike Pence for not agreeing to his insane plan to have him try and overthrow the Senate on January 6th, and install Trump for another four years?
The Senate and House will meet in a joint session on Jan. 6 to officially count the Electoral College votes (which Biden won 306-232), and as president of the Senate, Pence is set to preside over this normally uncontroversial event. On Wednesday night, the president retweeted a wild suggestion that Pence should use his role to toss out electoral votes from swing states won by Biden, falsely arguing the vice president has the right to demand new electors if he deems them legally illegitimate.
If Trump held his breath until he turned blue, that would be a more mature reaction to his overwhelming election loss to Joe Biden than his attempts at a coup.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Crookie Award: Ted Yoho's 'F*cking Bitch' Slam On AOC

As we hear Republicans falling on their fainting couches everywhere over Jen O'Malley Dillon 's `` f*ckers '' remark , we remember Ted Yoho spewing forth on AOC before issuing a non-apology apology .
After calling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a `` fucking bitch '' within earshot of a reporter , Rep. Ted Yoho took to the House floor to deliver one of the most mealy-mouthed non-apologies ever for words he denied using .
`` I stand before you to address the strife I injected into the already contentious Congress , '' a rushed , seemingly uncomfortable Yoho began , speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I rise today to apologize for the abrupt manner of the conversation I had with my colleague from New York . ''
`` It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America but that does not mean we should be disrespectful , '' he continued in what was truly a decent start to what should have been an extremely straightforward mea culpa .
But instead , Yoho then spent the next few minutes offering excuses , indulging in some self-pity , and thumping his own chest in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't having it , instead making sure his remarks were in the Congressional record along with her outrage at his behavior .
By being an unmitigated a-hole and unrepentant misogynist , Yoho gave AOC one of her finest moments .
For his disgusting behavior on and off the House floor , we award Ted Yoho a Crookie Award .

As we hear Republicans falling on their fainting couches everywhere over Jen O'Malley Dillon's "f*ckers" remark, we remember Ted Yoho spewing forth on AOC before issuing a non-apology apology.
After calling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "fucking bitch" within earshot of a reporter, Rep. Ted Yoho took to the House floor to deliver one of the most mealy-mouthed non-apologies ever for words he denied using.
"I stand before you to address the strife I injected into the already contentious Congress," a rushed, seemingly uncomfortable Yoho began, speaking Wednesday to a nearly empty House chamber. "I rise today to apologize for the abrupt manner of the conversation I had with my colleague from New York." "It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America but that does not mean we should be disrespectful," he continued in what was truly a decent start to what should have been an extremely straightforward mea culpa. But instead, Yoho then spent the next few minutes offering excuses, indulging in some self-pity, and thumping his own chest in a caricatured display of martyrdom.
AOC wasn't having it, instead making sure his remarks were in the Congressional record along with her outrage at his behavior. By being an unmitigated a-hole and unrepentant misogynist, Yoho gave AOC one of her finest moments.
For his disgusting behavior on and off the House floor, we award Ted Yoho a Crookie Award.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Crookie Award: Civil Servant Fail Of The Year, Emily Murphy

Emily Murphy is a # Fail for 2020 that should never be forgotten .
She postponed essential transition activities to @ @ @ @ @ she went job hunting for herself because she KNEW Trump lost and she 'd need @ @ @ @ @ , 2021 .
Which mob boss will hire you now , Emily ?
Take your @ @ @ @ @

Emily Murphy is a #Fail for 2020 that should never be forgotten.
She postponed essential transition activities to please Donald Trump. Then she went job hunting for herself because she KNEW Trump lost and she'd need a paycheck after January 20, 2021.
Which mob boss will hire you now, Emily?
Take your Crookie Award and GO.


crooksandliars--2020-12-25--Crookie Good Guy Of The Year Award: Marc Elias And His Team Of 'Kraken Busters'

If there is one clear hero of the 2020 election season , it 's Marc Elias , the DNC attorney who headed up the team which fought all of the Kraken lawsuits Donald Trump and Republicans filed to try and steal the election .
With every suit filed and every appeal filed after each loss , Elias and his team were there with the documents , the analysis , and most importantly , the wins .
In the end , Elias and the team won 59 major lawsuits and all the associated appeals to the original action .
Trump won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of votes .
All of those actions and their associated documents are loaded up over on Democracy Docket .
With the 2020 election done , Elias has turned his attention to Georgia and the ongoing Republican efforts to try and suppress the voters who delivered the state to Joe Biden in 2020 .
You should subscribe to his Democracy Docket newsletter to stay current on their efforts too .
For all of his winning Twitter and courtroom ways , Elias is deadly serious about where our democracy is going and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans are demonstrating .
Trumpism has morphed from a racist attack on the first Black president into an all-out assault on the very idea of democratic elections .
In this sphere , Trumpism ’ s defining feature is a belief that every electoral outcome that does not favor Trump and his allies must be fraudulent .
Its logic is tautological—if Trump did not win there must have been fraud .
If there was fraud , Trump did not win .
Nothing more is required .
One might think that the simple end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply leave the White House on the morning of January 20th as a disgraced one-term president .
The Republican Party ’ s reaction to the Texas case suggests this will not be the case .
From my standpoint , Elias is a true American hero .
Also , he has an adorable dog .
For those two stellar achievements , Marc Elias gets my special Editors ' Choice Good Guy Crookie Award for 2020 .

If there is one clear hero of the 2020 election season, it's Marc Elias, the DNC attorney who headed up the team which fought all of the Kraken lawsuits Donald Trump and Republicans filed to try and steal the election.
With every suit filed and every appeal filed after each loss, Elias and his team were there with the documents, the analysis, and most importantly, the wins.
In the end, Elias and the team won 59 major lawsuits and all the associated appeals to the original action. Trump won one, a minor Pennsylvania case involving a handful of votes. All of those actions and their associated documents are loaded up over on Democracy Docket.
With the 2020 election done, Elias has turned his attention to Georgia and the ongoing Republican efforts to try and suppress the voters who delivered the state to Joe Biden in 2020. You should subscribe to his Democracy Docket newsletter to stay current on their efforts too.
For all of his winning Twitter and courtroom ways, Elias is deadly serious about where our democracy is going and what reforms we need to repudiate the authoritarianism Republicans are demonstrating.
Trumpism has morphed from a racist attack on the first Black president into an all-out assault on the very idea of democratic elections. In this sphere, Trumpism’s defining feature is a belief that every electoral outcome that does not favor Trump and his allies must be fraudulent. Its logic is tautological—if Trump did not win there must have been fraud. If there was fraud, Trump did not win. Nothing more is required. One might think that the simple end of this problem is for Donald Trump to simply leave the White House on the morning of January 20th as a disgraced one-term president. The Republican Party’s reaction to the Texas case suggests this will not be the case. Read on...
From my standpoint, Elias is a true American hero. Also, he has an adorable dog.
For those two stellar achievements, Marc Elias gets my special Editors' Choice Good Guy Crookie Award for 2020.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Devin Nunes Loses Another Defamation Lawsuit

Nunes may be the country ’ s runner-up for Most Lawsuits Laughed Out Of Court , losing only to his adored Donald Trump .
Law & Crime has the deets on this one , but here ’ s an overview : Congressman Devin Nunes , a California Republican , on Christmas Eve received the legal equivalent of a lump of coal in his stocking : a federal district court judge in Washington , D.C. dismissed a defamation case Nunes launched against The Washington Post and writer Shane Harris .
Thus , Nunes , the perennial loser of lawsuits , lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of several Nunes has filed against the Post in a lengthy docket of litigation .
This latest suit sought $ 250 million in compensatory damages and $ 350 in punitive damages .
The dismissal was the result of what L & C called “ serious blunders ” in the case .
In November , in a report on another Nunes defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post , Law & Crime ran down some of Nunes ’ previous legal exploits : Nunes ’ s lawsuits have repeatedly been rejected by courts , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fake cow and parody of his own mom—appears hell-bent on continuing to pursue litigation that is almost certain to fail .
Nunes ’ s latest lawsuit , filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia , is based on two sentences in [ WaPo reporter Ellen ] Nakashima ’ s Nov. 9 article detailing how one of the congressman ’ s former staffers , Michael Ellis , came to be installed as NSA General Counsel earlier this month .
But while Nunes may be losing in court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ lamestream media ” and the “ Deep State ” legal system .
In 2019 , L & C noted , Nunes raised over $ 11.6 million in campaign funds–while his opponent , Phil Arballo ( D ) , raised a mere $ 2.6 million .
Nunes was re-elected in November .

Nunes may be the country’s runner-up for Most Lawsuits Laughed Out Of Court, losing only to his adored Donald Trump. Law & Crime has the deets on this one, but here’s an overview:
Congressman Devin Nunes, a California Republican, on Christmas Eve received the legal equivalent of a lump of coal in his stocking: a federal district court judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed a defamation case Nunes launched against The Washington Post and writer Shane Harris. Thus, Nunes, the perennial loser of lawsuits, lost yet again. The case is but one of several Nunes has filed against the Post in a lengthy docket of litigation.
This latest suit sought $250 million in compensatory damages and $350 in punitive damages. The dismissal was the result of what L&C called “serious blunders” in the case.
In November, in a report on another Nunes defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post, Law & Crime ran down some of Nunes’ previous legal exploits:
Nunes’s lawsuits have repeatedly been rejected by courts, but the litigious congressman—who infamously attempted to sue a fake cow and parody of his own mom—appears hell-bent on continuing to pursue litigation that is almost certain to fail. Nunes’s latest lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, is based on two sentences in [WaPo reporter Ellen] Nakashima’s Nov. 9 article detailing how one of the congressman’s former staffers, Michael Ellis, came to be installed as NSA General Counsel earlier this month.
But while Nunes may be losing in court, he’s personally profiting by harassing the “lamestream media” and the “Deep State” legal system. In 2019, L&C noted, Nunes raised over $11.6 million in campaign funds–while his opponent, Phil Arballo (D), raised a mere $2.6 million. Nunes was re-elected in November.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Dominion Lets Rudy Giuliani Know It Intends To Sue Him For His Campaign Of Lies

Earlier in the week voting machine manufacturers Smartmatic and Dominion let it be known to conservative conspiracy peddlers Fox News and Newsmax that they would likely be filing lawsuits after the `` news '' outlets promoted 100 % fake , and known fake , claims about the voting machine companies somehow being in cahoots to cheat Donald Trump out of an election win .
While the barrier to successfully suing even the worst news outlet is very high , experts suggested that both companies have a very strong case .
Now Dominion Voting Systems has followed up with a threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove .
White House counsel Pat Cipollone and weird melting Trump bag man Rudy Giuliani have both been notified by Dominion that they must now `` preserve and retain all documents related to '' their false conspiracy claims against the company , and to expect an `` imminent '' lawsuit over their `` defamatory claims . ''
Both voting machine companies would seem to have the conservative conspiracy peddlers dead to rights on this one .
Giuliani and other `` presidential '' media blabbermouths have been gleefully inventing tales about Dominion and Smartmatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no sentient human could possibly believe them to be the truth .
Those hoaxes have been so widely broadcast that they now threaten the very existence of both firms—all because Trump allies must invent imaginary reasons for Trump 's very real loss at the polls .
So yes , please , sue these twits for all they 're worth .
It 's going to be embarrassing if one of the things that saves democracy from fascist conspiracy propaganda is the propagandists stepping too eagerly on a private for-profit company 's toes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Earlier in the week voting machine manufacturers Smartmatic and Dominion let it be known to conservative conspiracy peddlers Fox News and Newsmax that they would likely be filing lawsuits after the "news" outlets promoted 100% fake, and known fake, claims about the voting machine companies somehow being in cahoots to cheat Donald Trump out of an election win. While the barrier to successfully suing even the worst news outlet is very high, experts suggested that both companies have a very strong case.
Now Dominion Voting Systems has followed up with a threatened lawsuit that might be even easier to prove. White House counsel Pat Cipollone and weird melting Trump bag man Rudy Giuliani have both been notified by Dominion that they must now "preserve and retain all documents related to" their false conspiracy claims against the company, and to expect an "imminent" lawsuit over their "defamatory claims."
Both voting machine companies would seem to have the conservative conspiracy peddlers dead to rights on this one. Giuliani and other "presidential" media blabbermouths have been gleefully inventing tales about Dominion and Smartmatic, many of them so ridiculous that no sentient human could possibly believe them to be the truth. Those hoaxes have been so widely broadcast that they now threaten the very existence of both firms—all because Trump allies must invent imaginary reasons for Trump's very real loss at the polls.
So yes, please, sue these twits for all they're worth. It's going to be embarrassing if one of the things that saves democracy from fascist conspiracy propaganda is the propagandists stepping too eagerly on a private for-profit company's toes, but not embarrassing enough to turn down.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--DeSantis Spokesperson Deletes Twitter Account Amid Backlash For Tweet About COVID-19 Victims

There 's a saying that one is known by the company they keep , so in this case , it should n't come as any surprise that one of the worst governors in the United States has people on his staff that are loathsome human beings as well .
When Piccolo was named DeSantis ' spokesperson last July he was described as an `` edgy tweeter '' , his whole purpose seemingly to stir sh*t up .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis ‘ communications director , Fred Piccolo , has done away with his Twitter account he says in an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That decision came hours after he drew blowback for an early morning tweet Thursday criticizing a Reuters editor for trying to create a narrative with photos from the COVID-19 pandemic .
Piccolo , who maintained a self-described “ incendiary ” presence on the social media site , drew fire Thursday after writing a critical tweet to a Reuters Pictures editor for creating a thread sharing photos of struggle and loss at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ I ’ m wondering since 99 % ( of ) Covid patients survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of survivors for every one fatality ?
Otherwise you ’ re just trying to create a narrative that is not reality , ” Piccolo tweeted .
But the spokesman stands by the tweet , telling Florida Politics that the tweet was “ not insensitive.
” The media tends to focus on the number of fatalities , he said , noting that every death is tragic , but there are few stories about the 99 survivors for every life lost .
The grim reality for frontline workers and patients is captured by Reuters here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was too much for DeSantis spokesperson Fred Piccolo Jr , who tweeted that such pictures do not show reality , and that since 99 % of COVID patients survive , those people should be shown too .
Twitter 's response was quick .
Piccolo 's sh*t-filled Twitter account was soon deactivated , but his was n't his most idiotic or offensive tweet about the pandemic .
via The Orlando Sentinel : “ I ’ ve made people far angrier with other things in the past , this is just an observation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Piccolo said of his last tweet .
“ But I said this was going to be my Christmas gift to myself to get off of the medium , so I said let ’ s do it.
” Piccolo , who had formerly served as the spokesman for the Florida House Speaker ’ s office , has gained notoriety for his often acerbic Twitter account that has pushed misinformation about the coronavirus .
Piccolo questioned the efficacy of mask-wearing and mask mandates at least 16 times , a Sun Sentinel report found , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly than the flu at least three times .

There's a saying that one is known by the company they keep, so in this case, it shouldn't come as any surprise that one of the worst governors in the United States has people on his staff that are loathsome human beings as well. When Piccolo was named DeSantis' spokesperson last July he was described as an "edgy tweeter", his whole purpose seemingly to stir sh*t up.
Source: Florida Politics
Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ communications director, Fred Piccolo, has done away with his Twitter account he says in an effort to reduce stress in his daily life. That decision came hours after he drew blowback for an early morning tweet Thursday criticizing a Reuters editor for trying to create a narrative with photos from the COVID-19 pandemic. Piccolo, who maintained a self-described “incendiary” presence on the social media site, drew fire Thursday after writing a critical tweet to a Reuters Pictures editor for creating a thread sharing photos of struggle and loss at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m wondering since 99% (of) Covid patients survive shouldn’t you have 99 photos of survivors for every one fatality? Otherwise you’re just trying to create a narrative that is not reality,” Piccolo tweeted. But the spokesman stands by the tweet, telling Florida Politics that the tweet was “not insensitive.” The media tends to focus on the number of fatalities, he said, noting that every death is tragic, but there are few stories about the 99 survivors for every life lost.
This thread is dedicated to those saying we aren't seeing images of the reality of COVID-19 in hospitals across the U.S.
This is not an exhaustive list but I wanted to highlight the stories @reuterspictures photographers bring to light.
Photo by Callaghan O'Hare in Houston pic.twitter.com/94yD7b2Jq8 — corinne_perkins (@corinne_perkins) December 22, 2020
The grim reality for frontline workers and patients is captured by Reuters here in this photo gallery.
Apparently, that was too much for DeSantis spokesperson Fred Piccolo Jr, who tweeted that such pictures do not show reality, and that since 99% of COVID patients survive, those people should be shown too. Twitter's response was quick. Piccolo's sh*t-filled Twitter account was soon deactivated, but his wasn't his most idiotic or offensive tweet about the pandemic. via The Orlando Sentinel:
“I’ve made people far angrier with other things in the past, this is just an observation that I think was worthy of consternation,” Piccolo said of his last tweet. “But I said this was going to be my Christmas gift to myself to get off of the medium, so I said let’s do it.” Piccolo, who had formerly served as the spokesman for the Florida House Speaker’s office, has gained notoriety for his often acerbic Twitter account that has pushed misinformation about the coronavirus. Piccolo questioned the efficacy of mask-wearing and mask mandates at least 16 times, a Sun Sentinel report found, and has claimed that COVID-19 is less deadly than the flu at least three times.
WLRN reporter Danny Rivero shared a screenshot of the spokesman’s post.
And it appears that Fred Piccolo Jr. just deleted his account entirely. Here's a screenshot. https://t.co/tVdmTSh34p pic.twitter.com/FZJvQpA7iU — Danny Rivero (@TooMuchMe) December 24, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Andrew McCabe: Pardons Are 'Remarkably Disgusting' Undermining Of Justice

Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe pulled no punches while discussing Trump 's `` remarkably disgusting '' undermining of the system of justice that he is supposed to protect with this latest round of corrupt pardons .
During an appearance on this Thursday 's New Day on CNN , McCabe was asked by host John Berman what message the pardon of Stone and Manafort sends .
`` Well , John , the message that it send is if you are loyal to this president , if you help him obstruct justice , if you lie to prosecutors and lie to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judges and juries in an effort to cover his crimes , then he will pay you off with a pardon and give you the basically get out of jail free card at the end of the day '' McCabe replied .
`` It 's a remarkable -- it 's a remarkable act of corruption I do n't think we 've ever seen before .
You have a president who is actively engaged in undermining the system of justice that he is supposed to protect and defend .
It 's remarkably disgusting . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pardons were actually dangled , McCabe reminded the viewers that those communications were detailed in the Mueller report , and that `` These pardons are essentially the culmination of those acts of obstruction of justice .
What was seen and referred to in the Mueller report has now been completed .
The pardons were dangled and now they 've been delivered in return for protection of the president . ''
`` I do n't even know how to describe it .
It 's so obviously corrupt , it really kind of shocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was praising Paul Manafort for not cooperating , not the way that Michael Cohen did .
He went out of his way to say , you know , Paul Manafort is not talking .
He is not helping the investigation , but Michael Cohen is '' Berman replied , `` it 's worth noting here , Andy , that if Donald Trump just wanted to erase the Mueller investigation altogether , he 'd pardon Rick Gates , he 'd pardon Michael Cohen , but he 's not .
He 's not .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mueller team . ''
`` That 's right , '' McCabe agreed .
`` The man who 's responsible for ensuring that the laws are faithfully executed is rewarding people who obstruct justice , who lie and who cheat and continuing to punish those who admitted their mistakes and then worked with prosecutors . ''
McCabe went onto explain how Trump acted similarly in the Blackwater pardon , letting the ones who committed the war crimes off the hook , while the man who provided evidence and cooperated with the government still sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kushner 's father and Chris Christie 's explanation for why Kushner was prosecuted , Berman asked McCabe what he thought was coming next .
`` We are at the very beginning of this siege on justice and mercy , of course , the things that are supposed to generate or be considered when delivering a pardon .
There 's really no limit to where I think this president will try to go , certainly for his friends and associates who is face any sort of criminal concerns whatsoever , '' McCabe opined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bannon in that category , think about Rudy Giuliani , his own attorney in that category , but friends and family , folks who were simply associates and supporters of the administration could be walking away with essentially get out of jail free cards for anything and everything they 've done for the last four years . ''
`` We are at the very beginning of this story and it 's just kind of -- it 's frightening to think of what we 're going to see along the way . ''

Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe pulled no punches while discussing Trump's "remarkably disgusting" undermining of the system of justice that he is supposed to protect with this latest round of corrupt pardons. During an appearance on this Thursday's New Day on CNN, McCabe was asked by host John Berman what message the pardon of Stone and Manafort sends.
"Well, John, the message that it send is if you are loyal to this president, if you help him obstruct justice, if you lie to prosecutors and lie to Congress and lie to the courts and judges and juries in an effort to cover his crimes, then he will pay you off with a pardon and give you the basically get out of jail free card at the end of the day" McCabe replied. "It's a remarkable -- it's a remarkable act of corruption I don't think we've ever seen before. You have a president who is actively engaged in undermining the system of justice that he is supposed to protect and defend. It's remarkably disgusting."
After Erica Hill discussed the fact that the pardons were actually dangled, McCabe reminded the viewers that those communications were detailed in the Mueller report, and that "These pardons are essentially the culmination of those acts of obstruction of justice. What was seen and referred to in the Mueller report has now been completed. The pardons were dangled and now they've been delivered in return for protection of the president."
"I don't even know how to describe it. It's so obviously corrupt, it really kind of shocks the conscience."
"The president was praising Paul Manafort for not cooperating, not the way that Michael Cohen did. He went out of his way to say, you know, Paul Manafort is not talking. He is not helping the investigation, but Michael Cohen is" Berman replied, "it's worth noting here, Andy, that if Donald Trump just wanted to erase the Mueller investigation altogether, he'd pardon Rick Gates, he'd pardon Michael Cohen, but he's not. He's not. Why? Because those people cooperated with the Mueller team."
"That's right," McCabe agreed. "The man who's responsible for ensuring that the laws are faithfully executed is rewarding people who obstruct justice, who lie and who cheat and continuing to punish those who admitted their mistakes and then worked with prosecutors."
McCabe went onto explain how Trump acted similarly in the Blackwater pardon, letting the ones who committed the war crimes off the hook, while the man who provided evidence and cooperated with the government still sits in jail.
After discussing the pardon of Kushner's father and Chris Christie's explanation for why Kushner was prosecuted, Berman asked McCabe what he thought was coming next.
"We are at the very beginning of this siege on justice and mercy, of course, the things that are supposed to generate or be considered when delivering a pardon. There's really no limit to where I think this president will try to go, certainly for his friends and associates who is face any sort of criminal concerns whatsoever," McCabe opined.
"So you think about Steve Bannon in that category, think about Rudy Giuliani, his own attorney in that category, but friends and family, folks who were simply associates and supporters of the administration could be walking away with essentially get out of jail free cards for anything and everything they've done for the last four years."
"We are at the very beginning of this story and it's just kind of -- it's frightening to think of what we're going to see along the way."


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Crookie Award: Public Menace Of The Year, Proud Boys And White Nationalists

Supported and egged on by Trump , these `` very fine people '' represent an ever-growing threat to our democracy @ @ @ @ @ will remain long after Trump leaves office .
Whether it 's the Proud Boys , @ @ @ @ @ far-right militia movement , QAnon , these fringe groups have continued to grow and intensify @ @ @ @ @ effect '' that David Neiwert reported on earlier this year .
These extremists planned to @ @ @ @ @ revolt against COVID lockdowns , they fanned the flames of chaos during the George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ theories about contact tracers , and they celebrated and announced they were ready and waiting @ @ @ @ @ Leader after he told them to `` stand back and stand by '' during his @ @ @ @ @ And now we have a flood of right-wing eliminationist hate speech directed at the media @ @ @ @ @ following Trump 's refusal to concede the election .

Supported and egged on by Trump, these "very fine people" represent an ever-growing threat to our democracy and our national security that will remain long after Trump leaves office.
Whether it's the Proud Boys, the Boogaloo Bois, the far-right militia movement, QAnon, these fringe groups have continued to grow and intensify thanks to the "Trump effect" that David Neiwert reported on earlier this year.
These extremists planned to bomb a Missouri hospital to revolt against COVID lockdowns, they fanned the flames of chaos during the George Floyd protests, they spread conspiracy theories about contact tracers, and they celebrated and announced they were ready and waiting for marching orders from Dear Leader after he told them to "stand back and stand by" during his debate with Joe Biden.
And now we have a flood of right-wing eliminationist hate speech directed at the media, politicians and election workers following Trump's refusal to concede the election.
Here's your Crookie Award.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Crookie Award — Most Dangerous Fearmongering Claim: Biden Will Get Shot 3 Weeks Into Term!

Seventy-two years ago , back in October 2020 , Loser Trump was campaigning in Michigan .
For a variety of reasons , there had been talk in the media of the 25th amendment , and to deflect from that , Trump pretended the talk of the 25th was about BIDEN not him .
In so doing , he began spinning one of his fever dreams into an out-loud fantasy/prediction/warning about why the country absolutely HAD to re-elect him .
TRUMP : That 's why they 're talking about the 25th Amendment , right ?
Three weeks .
Three weeks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go , Kamala , you ready ?
Most liberal person in the Senate .
She makes Bernie Sanders look like a serious conservative .
Oh , heaven forfend a progressive Black woman became president ... never-mind the fact that he was putting the call out not-so-subtly to his psycho Neo-Nazi backers who are `` standing back and standing by . ''
You KNOW they are just waiting for the signal from him to carry out some evil order , and this sure sounded like signal to a lot of people listening .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous , and frankly , illegal .
Many wondered why the Secret Service should n't have escorted Trump right off the stage at that moment , given the fact that had any of us peons uttered those words , you know the FBI and Secret Service would be crawling all over our houses and electronic devices and likely placing us under arrest .
That 's why this egregiously dangerous statement , even for Trump , his Fearmongering Prediction receives A Crookie Award .

Seventy-two years ago, back in October 2020, Loser Trump was campaigning in Michigan. For a variety of reasons, there had been talk in the media of the 25th amendment, and to deflect from that, Trump pretended the talk of the 25th was about BIDEN not him. In so doing, he began spinning one of his fever dreams into an out-loud fantasy/prediction/warning about why the country absolutely HAD to re-elect him.
TRUMP: That's why they're talking about the 25th Amendment, right? Three weeks. Three weeks in, Joe's shot! Let's go, Kamala, you ready? Most liberal person in the Senate. She makes Bernie Sanders look like a serious conservative.
Oh, heaven forfend a progressive Black woman became president... never-mind the fact that he was putting the call out not-so-subtly to his psycho Neo-Nazi backers who are "standing back and standing by." You KNOW they are just waiting for the signal from him to carry out some evil order, and this sure sounded like signal to a lot of people listening.
It was beyond despicable. It was downright dangerous, and frankly, illegal. Many wondered why the Secret Service shouldn't have escorted Trump right off the stage at that moment, given the fact that had any of us peons uttered those words, you know the FBI and Secret Service would be crawling all over our houses and electronic devices and likely placing us under arrest.
That's why this egregiously dangerous statement, even for Trump, his Fearmongering Prediction receives A Crookie Award.


crooksandliars--2020-12-26--Crookie Award: Speech Of The Year, Kimberly! Guilfoyle!

Hey guys , remember that time when Kimberly Guilfoyle —Junior Mints ’ emotional cougar— promised the highest bidders , er @ @ @ @ @ dance ?
Kimberly got paid $ 15000 a month for fundraising and outreach from Brad @ @ @ @ @ extravaganza .
And her 'The Best !
is yet !
to come ! '
primal @ @ @ @ @ other memory of the Republican 2020 Convention , aside from the fact that it was @ @ @ @ @ to have a platform , except for 'we support the policies of Donald J .
@ @ @ @ @ Thanks for the Guilfoyle challenge , internet .

Hey guys, remember that time when Kimberly Guilfoyle —Junior Mints’ emotional cougar— promised the highest bidders, er, biggest donors a lap dance?
What is the name of this amazing new dance Kimberly Guilfoyle is doing? pic.twitter.com/GA0w6SpYTF — Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) December 20, 2020
Just sayin’.
Kimberly got paid $15000 a month for fundraising and outreach from Brad Parscale's Trumpian money laundering extravaganza.
And her 'The Best! is yet! to come!' primal scream will far outlast any other memory of the Republican 2020 Convention, aside from the fact that it was the first RNC to decline to have a platform, except for 'we support the policies of Donald J. Trump.'
PS: Thanks for the Guilfoyle challenge, internet.
Here's your Crookie, Kim.
Excerpted by permission from Mock Paper Scissors


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--Sen. Pat Toomey: Trump Going Too Far With Pardons, But Michael Flynn Never 'Committed A Crime'

Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on Sunday slammed President Donald Trump 's use of the pardon power even though he agreed with the pardon of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn .
During an interview on Fox News Sunday , Toomey said that he objected to the pardons `` in some cases . ''
`` I think the case of Michael Flynn , for instance , was completely legitimate to pardon him , '' the Republican senator remarked .
`` Because the prosecution was an abuse of power .
I do n't think Michael Flynn ever committed a crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he illegally lied to government agents about his dealings with Russia .
`` But some of these other cases , I mean , my goodness , '' Toomey continued .
`` We have tax fraud and bank fraud , witness tampering , obstruction of justice -- but because they were close to the president , they got pardoned ? ''
The Pennsylvania senator compared Trump 's actions to President Bill Clinton 's controversial pardon of financier Marc Rich .
`` I think it 's a misuse of the power , '' Toomey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is wary of limiting the president 's pardon power .
`` It 's a good discussion to have but it 's a tough call , '' Toomey opined .
`` I think it would be very challenging . ''

Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on Sunday slammed President Donald Trump's use of the pardon power even though he agreed with the pardon of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Toomey said that he objected to the pardons "in some cases."
"I think the case of Michael Flynn, for instance, was completely legitimate to pardon him," the Republican senator remarked. "Because the prosecution was an abuse of power. I don't think Michael Flynn ever committed a crime."
In fact, Flynn admitted that he illegally lied to government agents about his dealings with Russia.
"But some of these other cases, I mean, my goodness," Toomey continued. "We have tax fraud and bank fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice -- but because they were close to the president, they got pardoned?"
The Pennsylvania senator compared Trump's actions to President Bill Clinton's controversial pardon of financier Marc Rich.
"I think it's a misuse of the power," Toomey explained. He also said that he is wary of limiting the president's pardon power.
"It's a good discussion to have but it's a tough call," Toomey opined. "I think it would be very challenging."


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--WATCH: White Man Attempts 'Hit And Run' On Black Woman -- And Then Crashes Into Second Car

A white man who attempted to flee after hitting a Black woman 's car was brought to a standstill when @ @ @ @ @ second vehicle .
A woman using the name Cookie , who shared video of the @ @ @ @ @ was in a nearby store when she was informed that her car had been hit @ @ @ @ @ the woman can be heard confronting the man who allegedly crashed into her car .
@ @ @ @ @ apologizing and says that the vehicle belongs to his mother .
He then gets in @ @ @ @ @ drive away .
But the hit and run quickly comes to an end after the @ @ @ @ @ a second vehicle , leaving one of the SUV 's wheels off the ground .
@ @ @ @ @ man exits the car and runs away on foot .
The victim later explained that @ @ @ @ @ old and does not have a license .
Watch the video and read the tweets @ @

A white man who attempted to flee after hitting a Black woman's car was brought to a standstill when he accidentally slammed into a second vehicle.
A woman using the name Cookie, who shared video of the incident, said that she was in a nearby store when she was informed that her car had been hit.
In the video, the woman can be heard confronting the man who allegedly crashed into her car.
The man can be seen apologizing and says that the vehicle belongs to his mother. He then gets in the SUV and attempts to drive away.
But the hit and run quickly comes to an end after the man slams his SUV into a second vehicle, leaving one of the SUV's wheels off the ground.
At that point, the man exits the car and runs away on foot.
The victim later explained that the man is 17 years old and does not have a license.
Watch the video and read the tweets below.
This kid's gonna be haunted by this for the rest of his life #NoMusic pic.twitter.com/xQUIQVqUBo
— Filodeen ➐ (@filodeen) December 26, 2020
But ended up hitting two more cars. He took off running to get the owner of the car. Apparently he's 17, with no license, and didn't have permission to move the car.
— Cookie, RN (@CookieRunThangs) December 26, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--Ted Nugent Attacks Black Lives Matter As 'Soulless' And 'Stupid' In Holiday Interview

Conservative rocker Ted Nugent recently took a shot at the Black Lives Matter movement , calling it `` soulless '' and `` stupid . ''
In an interview that aired over the weekend , Sinclair broadcasting host Eric Bolling asked Nugent about Colin Kaepernick and other activists who have kneeled during the national anthem to protest systemic racism by police .
`` I identify those people as being real soulless , real stupid , '' the musician said .
`` They do n't even know what they 're doing .
I mean , they claim that somebody 's hands were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a lie .
I know the situation .
I 've studied those situations and nobody 's hands were up and nobody got shot .
So the entire premise of that so-called protest is based on a lie . ''
In fact , the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' slogan originated in Ferguson , Missouri after Michael Brown was shot and killed by police .
`` And they ca n't be that stupid , '' he added .
`` They know it 's a lie .
They 're just liars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our flag , um , they do n't deserve any respect themselves and they should be ashamed of themselves . ''
Earlier in the interview , Nugent also took time to slam President-elect Joe Biden and other Democrats for `` glaring criminality and abuse of power and marxism . ''

Conservative rocker Ted Nugent recently took a shot at the Black Lives Matter movement, calling it "soulless" and "stupid."
In an interview that aired over the weekend, Sinclair broadcasting host Eric Bolling asked Nugent about Colin Kaepernick and other activists who have kneeled during the national anthem to protest systemic racism by police.
Nugent responded by attacking the Black Lives Matter movement.
"I identify those people as being real soulless, real stupid," the musician said. "They don't even know what they're doing. I mean, they claim that somebody's hands were up and they got shot. That's a lie. I know the situation. I've studied those situations and nobody's hands were up and nobody got shot. So the entire premise of that so-called protest is based on a lie."
In fact, the "hands up, don't shoot" slogan originated in Ferguson, Missouri after Michael Brown was shot and killed by police.
"And they can't be that stupid," he added. "They know it's a lie. They're just liars. So when you see someone disrespecting our flag, um, they don't deserve any respect themselves and they should be ashamed of themselves."
Earlier in the interview, Nugent also took time to slam President-elect Joe Biden and other Democrats for "glaring criminality and abuse of power and marxism."


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger Rips Trump For His Election 'Scam'

Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is one of the few Republicans that has come out pretty forcefully since the election to counter the lies coming from the White House , right wing media , and Trump cult members in Congress from his own caucus .
Today he joined Dana Bash on CNN to talk about what we can expect on January 6th , and he shared some harsh realities that MAGA is going to have to accept : BASH : I want to look ahead to January 6th , when the Electoral College results will be before a joint session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Pence met with some Republicans at the White House this week .
A number of Senate Republicans , some House Republicans , have n't ruled out contesting at various points the election results .
What do you expect to happen ?
KINZINGER : I expect there will be a little chaos .
This is a scam , though .
To explain to people that somehow Congress can overthrow the certified results of every state that we can change an election outcome when there was not a single court case that had any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you believe that somehow the courts were inept in this whole process , if somehow you believe that this whole election was stolen , the reality is there is no impetus to overthrow an election even if you want to , and there is no ability to overthrow an election even if you want to .
All that is being done is certain members of Congress and the President , and , quote/unquote , thought leaders on Twitter are getting retweets , they 're getting followers , and they 're raising money on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is going to disappoint the people that believe this election was stolen , that think this is an opportunity to change it .
but instead of being disappointed in the people that led them on this grifting scam , they will somehow , you know , try to convince these people that it was , I do n't know , what is the new word - RINOs - in Congress , and not the Constitution that prevents this from happening in the first place .
We talk about the Constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'm sorry if that does n't mean the outcome was what you wanted .

Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is one of the few Republicans that has come out pretty forcefully since the election to counter the lies coming from the White House, right wing media, and Trump cult members in Congress from his own caucus. Today he joined Dana Bash on CNN to talk about what we can expect on January 6th, and he shared some harsh realities that MAGA is going to have to accept:
BASH: I want to look ahead to January 6th, when the Electoral College results will be before a joint session of Congress. President Trump and Vice President Pence met with some Republicans at the White House this week. A number of Senate Republicans, some House Republicans, haven't ruled out contesting at various points the election results. What do you expect to happen?
KINZINGER: I expect there will be a little chaos. This is a scam, though. To explain to people that somehow Congress can overthrow the certified results of every state that we can change an election outcome when there was not a single court case that had any legs. I mean, even if you believe that somehow the courts were inept in this whole process, if somehow you believe that this whole election was stolen, the reality is there is no impetus to overthrow an election even if you want to, and there is no ability to overthrow an election even if you want to.
All that is being done is certain members of Congress and the President, and, quote/unquote, thought leaders on Twitter are getting retweets, they're getting followers, and they're raising money on this scam. It is a scam and it is going to disappoint the people that believe this election was stolen, that think this is an opportunity to change it. but instead of being disappointed in the people that led them on this grifting scam, they will somehow, you know, try to convince these people that it was, I don't know, what is the new word - RINOs - in Congress, and not the Constitution that prevents this from happening in the first place. We talk about the Constitution, and we have to follow it, and I'm sorry if that doesn't mean the outcome was what you wanted.


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--Frank Luntz Slams Chris Christie After Trump Sabotages Georgia Republicans: 'It's Affecting Turnout'

Conservative pollster Frank Luntz on Sunday disagreed with former Gov .
Chris Christie ( R-NJ ) about whether President Donald Trump is hurting Republicans ' chances in the Georgia Senate runoff races .
During a panel discussion on ABC 's This Week , host Jonathan Karl asked Christie if Trump was undermining confidence in Georgia 's election system to `` torment '' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) .
`` The voters of Georgia can distinguish between the actions of David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and the actions of the president , '' Christie insisted .
`` David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can do in terms of advancing COVID relief for the people for the people of Georgia and the United States . ''
`` And the people of Georgia know that no matter what happens on Jan. 5 that Donald Trump will not be the president on Jan. 20th , '' he continued .
`` And the question is who do you want representing Georgia at that period of time , someone who will be objective and be a check on the Biden administration or someone who will just be a rubber stamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , Christie predicted that the Republican candidates will win their Jan. 5 runoff races .
`` Governor , this is affecting turnout , '' he pleaded .
`` We know it 's affecting turnout already , we can see on the ground , if you go down there , if you focus group , if you listen to these voters .
They 're so frustrated with what 's happening in Washington that they are not participating . ''
Christie interrupted : `` Frank , I 'm looking at the real numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I 'm looking at the real numbers . ''
At that point , ABC host Jonathan Karl ended the segment due to time constraints .

Conservative pollster Frank Luntz on Sunday disagreed with former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) about whether President Donald Trump is hurting Republicans' chances in the Georgia Senate runoff races.
During a panel discussion on ABC's This Week, host Jonathan Karl asked Christie if Trump was undermining confidence in Georgia's election system to "torment" Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
"The voters of Georgia can distinguish between the actions of David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and the actions of the president," Christie insisted. "David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler have done everything they can do in terms of advancing COVID relief for the people for the people of Georgia and the United States."
"And the people of Georgia know that no matter what happens on Jan. 5 that Donald Trump will not be the president on Jan. 20th," he continued. "And the question is who do you want representing Georgia at that period of time, someone who will be objective and be a check on the Biden administration or someone who will just be a rubber stamp for the Biden administration."
In the end, Christie predicted that the Republican candidates will win their Jan. 5 runoff races.
But Luntz disagreed.
"Governor, this is affecting turnout," he pleaded. "We know it's affecting turnout already, we can see on the ground, if you go down there, if you focus group, if you listen to these voters. They're so frustrated with what's happening in Washington that they are not participating."
Christie interrupted: "Frank, I'm looking at the real numbers! I'm not looking at polls but I'm looking at the real numbers."
At that point, ABC host Jonathan Karl ended the segment due to time constraints.


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--MassGOP Vice Chair With COVID Says He's 'Paying The Price' For Attending White House Hanukkah Party

Another Republican winds up in the hospital after attending one of these White House super-spreader events : State Republican official was hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending White House Hanukkah party : The vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee is battling COVID-19 after attending what he described as a largely maskless holiday party at the White House earlier this month .
“ I didn ’ t listen to the warnings of my own family , and now I ’ m paying the price , ” MassGOP vice chairman Tom Mountain said in a phone interview Saturday .
Mountain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks , said he likely contracted the coronavirus at the annual White House Hanukkah party .
The event took place amid the worst surge in COVID-19 this country has seen since the pandemic began .
“ No one can ever say for sure exactly where they got it , but I ’ ll say this : Before the party , I was in perfectly good health , ” he said .
“ Three days later , I was in the hospital with COVID , and it was all downhill from there.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said.
” I came very close — not once but twice — to them hooking me up to a ventilator.
” Mountain was released for the second time that Saturday after approximately eight hours in the hospital , and remains in recovery at his home in Newton with moderate symptoms .
“ There are good days and bad days , but today I ’ m having a bad day , ” he said .
“ I have horrible coughing fits , sweating profusely .
… I couldn ’ t even talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s getting a bit better.
” Now he wishes he would have listened to his wife , who cautioned him not to go and did not attend herself .

(Vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party Tom Mountain tells a Boston Herald reporter that “This election is being stolen from us. This election is being stolen from the duly elected president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. It is a corrupt system aligned against him," during a protest on Nov. 6, 2020.)
Another Republican winds up in the hospital after attending one of these White House super-spreader events: State Republican official was hospitalized with COVID-19 after attending White House Hanukkah party:
The vice chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee is battling COVID-19 after attending what he described as a largely maskless holiday party at the White House earlier this month. “I didn’t listen to the warnings of my own family, and now I’m paying the price,” MassGOP vice chairman Tom Mountain said in a phone interview Saturday. Mountain, 60, who was hospitalized twice in recent weeks, said he likely contracted the coronavirus at the annual White House Hanukkah party. The event took place amid the worst surge in COVID-19 this country has seen since the pandemic began. “No one can ever say for sure exactly where they got it, but I’ll say this: Before the party, I was in perfectly good health,” he said. “Three days later, I was in the hospital with COVID, and it was all downhill from there.” [...] “It’s not fun,” he said.” I came very close — not once but twice — to them hooking me up to a ventilator.” Mountain was released for the second time that Saturday after approximately eight hours in the hospital, and remains in recovery at his home in Newton with moderate symptoms. “There are good days and bad days, but today I’m having a bad day,” he said. “I have horrible coughing fits, sweating profusely. … I couldn’t even talk on the phone last week, but it’s getting a bit better.”
Now he wishes he would have listened to his wife, who cautioned him not to go and did not attend herself.


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--Bernie Sanders Blasts Trump: 'What The President Is Doing Right Now Is Unbelievably Cruel'

Sen. Bernie Sanders , who has been leading the charge for $ 2000 stimulus checks to Americans explained to ABC 's THIS WEEK that Trump is acting `` unbelievably cruel '' by denying the American people relief after his 11th hour refusal to sign the passed legislation by Congress .
Sanders said , `` What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel .
Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits .
They 're going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending .
We are looking at a way to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people .
There 's money in that bill .
He continued , `` And this president is diddling around and he may actually veto it .
My view is that given the terrible economic crisis facing this country , yes , we do need to get $ 2,000 out to every working class individual in this country , $ 500 for their kids .
But you ca n't diddle around with the bill .
Sign the bill , Mr. President , and then immediately , Monday , Tuesday , we can pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workings families of this country . ''
Steve Mnuchin the Treasury Secretary was negotiating this deal with Congress as a representative of the Trump administration .
However , Trump released an off-the-wall four minute video after Congress left town after passing a budget and a covert relief bill it took everybody by surprise .
Many of the agreed foreign aid that Trump complained about came from the his own White House .
Guest host Jonathan Karl replied , `` This was out of the blue .
I mean , the White House actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to sign it as soon as it hit his desk . ''
Sen. Sanders noted , `` No , not a word .
No , everybody assumed , everybody , that Mnuchin was representing the White House .
I talked to Mnuchin a couple of weeks ago .
And that was the assumption that everybody had . ''

Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has been leading the charge for $2000 stimulus checks to Americans explained to ABC's THIS WEEK that Trump is acting "unbelievably cruel" by denying the American people relief after his 11th hour refusal to sign the passed legislation by Congress.
Sanders said, "What the president is doing right now is unbelievably cruel. Many millions of people are losing their extended unemployment benefits. They're going to be evicted from their apartments because the eviction moratorium is ending. We are looking at a way to get the vaccine distributed to tens of millions of people. There's money in that bill.
He continued, "And this president is diddling around and he may actually veto it. My view is that given the terrible economic crisis facing this country, yes, we do need to get $2,000 out to every working class individual in this country, $500 for their kids. But you can't diddle around with the bill. Sign the bill, Mr. President, and then immediately, Monday, Tuesday, we can pass a $2,000 direct payment to the workings families of this country."
Steve Mnuchin the Treasury Secretary was negotiating this deal with Congress as a representative of the Trump administration.
However, Trump released an off-the-wall four minute video after Congress left town after passing a budget and a covert relief bill it took everybody by surprise. Many of the agreed foreign aid that Trump complained about came from the his own White House.
Guest host Jonathan Karl replied, "This was out of the blue. I mean, the White House actually had said or suggested that he was going to sign it as soon as it hit his desk."
Sen. Sanders noted, "No, not a word. No, everybody assumed, everybody, that Mnuchin was representing the White House. I talked to Mnuchin a couple of weeks ago. And that was the assumption that everybody had."


Scott Walker's Pizzagate

`` A mendacious tool . ''
That about sums up former Wisconsin Governor and Koch brothers-inserted flunky as well as anything .
This might not be his worst transgression ever , not even close , but it 's indicative of how Republicans seem to operate these days .
Do n't want to risk COVID but want some good guy points for supporting local businesses ?
Fine , just fake it .
We need to support local restaurants and small businesses in these difficult and trying times .
You know it , we know it , former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on the last part ?
Behold this priceless tweet from Saturday , in which Walker beams about a night out at downtown pizza joint San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana .
Gee , a blurry photo of a pizza that Scott Walker absolutely ordered , ate , and enjoyed on December 26 , 2020 sure did get a lot of action on Twitter , didn ’ t it ?
That ’ s because it ’ s a cropped photo from a Walker family San Giorgio outing…in 2019 .
Yes , Scott Walker cropped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had scarfed said pizza inside San Giorgio in the year 2020 , and then called on us all to support local restaurants and small businesses .
God bless the internet sleuths who cracked this case .
Walker felt the need to explain himself this morning .

"A mendacious tool." That about sums up former Wisconsin Governor and Koch brothers-inserted flunky as well as anything. This might not be his worst transgression ever, not even close, but it's indicative of how Republicans seem to operate these days. Don't want to risk COVID but want some good guy points for supporting local businesses? Fine, just fake it.
Jerk.
Source: Milwaukee Record
We need to support local restaurants and small businesses in these difficult and trying times. You know it, we know it, former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker knows it. Don’t believe us on the last part? Behold this priceless tweet from Saturday, in which Walker beams about a night out at downtown pizza joint San Giorgio Pizzeria Napoletana. Gee, a blurry photo of a pizza that Scott Walker absolutely ordered, ate, and enjoyed on December 26, 2020 sure did get a lot of action on Twitter, didn’t it? That’s because it’s a cropped photo from a Walker family San Giorgio outing…in 2019. Yes, Scott Walker cropped a year-old photo of a pizza, claimed he had scarfed said pizza inside San Giorgio in the year 2020, and then called on us all to support local restaurants and small businesses. God bless the internet sleuths who cracked this case.
This may be the saddest thing ever seen on twitter: Scott Walker cropped a picture of a pizza he had in October 2019 and RTd it as "Great Pizza tonight"
(H/t @IFNAlphaMale) pic.twitter.com/LpABSbIzEC — Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) December 27, 2020
Scott Walker isn’t just a mendacious tool. He’s a stupid one. pic.twitter.com/It3ekBNu5w — Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) December 27, 2020
Walker felt the need to explain himself this morning.
My family & I went to @SanGiorgioMKE last night. Great food. I used an old photo since we didn't take one last night. I'm glad this tweet has generated so much attention. I hope people support Gino and his team at @SanGiorgioMKE. Small business is hurting, & they need our support — Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) December 27, 2020
Still a jerk.


crooksandliars--2020-12-27--'Out-and-out Communists': Fox & Friends Host Throws A Tantrum Over Joe Biden's 'Centrist' Label

Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy on Sunday called the Democratic Party `` out-and-out communists '' after The New York Times noted that President-elect Joe Biden has picked a `` centrist '' cabinet to lead his government .
Campos-Duffy began the segment by defending President Donald Trump 's delay in signing a bill that provides money to keep the government running and to help with COVID-19 relief .
`` Nothing good happens with bills when you 're up against deadlines like this , '' she opined .
`` You 're saying , if you want your measly $ 600 of crumbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these other special interest projects that Nancy Pelosi loves .
All these stupid foreign policy programs that are about gender , you know , relief and all these other things that are in there . ''
According to Duffy , `` most common sense Americans '' are on Trump 's side .
Fox News co-host Will Cain took issue with The New York Times , which published a report that claims Biden `` leans centrist '' with his cabinet picks and governing philosophy .
`` Our political future , our country 's future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did 10 , 15 , 20 years ago , '' he insisted .
`` Simply returning to the Joe Biden of 2010 and the Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney Republican Party of 2012 and calling things centrist is n't going to work .
It quite simply is n't going to exist in 2022 , in 2021 . ''
`` Business as usual is over , '' Cain said .
`` Donald Trump has scrambled that idea .
Joe Biden will not , can not be who he was -- what was it -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We 're now headed into a new America . ''
Campos-Duffy argued that the Times had failed to recognize `` just how much the Democrat [ sic ] Party has changed . ''
`` There is a very powerful and growing wing of radicals , '' she asserted .
`` I would challenge you to say they 're not even socialists , many of them are out-and-out communists on the left . ''
`` There is a reason why he picked Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate because she is actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , '' Campos-Duffy added .
`` There was clearly a need to make a bridge to that left-wing radical side . ''

Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy on Sunday called the Democratic Party "out-and-out communists" after The New York Times noted that President-elect Joe Biden has picked a "centrist" cabinet to lead his government.
Campos-Duffy began the segment by defending President Donald Trump's delay in signing a bill that provides money to keep the government running and to help with COVID-19 relief.
"Nothing good happens with bills when you're up against deadlines like this," she opined. "You're saying, if you want your measly $600 of crumbs, you've got to pass all these other special interest projects that Nancy Pelosi loves. All these stupid foreign policy programs that are about gender, you know, relief and all these other things that are in there."
According to Duffy, "most common sense Americans" are on Trump's side.
Fox News co-host Will Cain took issue with The New York Times, which published a report that claims Biden "leans centrist" with his cabinet picks and governing philosophy.
"Our political future, our country's future is not going to look like it did 10, 15, 20 years ago," he insisted. "Simply returning to the Joe Biden of 2010 and the Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney Republican Party of 2012 and calling things centrist isn't going to work. It quite simply isn't going to exist in 2022, in 2021."
"Business as usual is over," Cain said. "Donald Trump has scrambled that idea. Joe Biden will not, cannot be who he was -- what was it -- six years ago, eight years ago. We're now headed into a new America."
Campos-Duffy argued that the Times had failed to recognize "just how much the Democrat [sic] Party has changed."
"There is a very powerful and growing wing of radicals," she asserted. "I would challenge you to say they're not even socialists, many of them are out-and-out communists on the left."
"There is a reason why he picked Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate because she is actually the most left-wing senator that the Democrats have," Campos-Duffy added. "There was clearly a need to make a bridge to that left-wing radical side."