crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Don Jr. Attacks Yovanovitch With ‘Enemies List’ Conspiracy Theory

Trump 's allies over at Judicial Watch launched another failed smear campaign this week , this time against former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , where they accuse her and the State Department of `` illegally monitoring '' a supposed `` enemies '' list of pro-Trump media personalities and others when , if the texts turned over by Lev Parnas are to be believed , the very opposite is true and it was them stalking her .
Apparently in Trump-world , looking at someone 's public social media feeds is now `` illegal , '' because that 's the so-called bombshell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fitton , among others , and being pushed by Trump Jr. this Sunday .
Here 's more on that from The Daily Beast : Pro-Trump ‘ Enemies List ’ Smear Flops : Donald Trump ’ s allies in Congress and the pro-Trump media are scrambling to find a counter-narrative to the Ukraine impeachment investigation that can shore up Republican support , even crashing into closed hearings in some kind of misguided protest .
[ ... ] Now , with few appealing options , they ’ ve latched onto their the most ridiculous claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search tool as a deep-state conspiracy theory .
For the past week , Trump ally and Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton and a chorus of conservative media voices have been fuming over a supposed “ enemies list ” compiled by the State Department and filled with right-wing Twitter characters .
But it turns out that the supposed list , if it existed at all , was just a run-of-the-mill social media search on widely available web analytics tool CrowdTangle .
Last week , Fitton started claiming that he had reason to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yovanovitch had “ unlawfully monitored ” a host of pro-Trump media personalities .
Fitton claimed Yovanovitch had requested monitoring of an “ enemies list ” through “ social media and other means , ” only to be rebuffed because her request was “ illegal.
” Fitton cryptically said , on Twitter and via press releases , that his group had enough information to “ investigate ” the idea that Yovanovitch , who was pushed out her job under alleged pressure from Rudolph Giuliani , demanded the illicit surveillance of a list of Trumpworld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s list in the Ukrainian embassy—our embassy !
” Fitton said .
“ Paid for with your tax dollars , in potential violation of the law.
” The list supposedly included Donald Trump Jr. , Pizzagate promoter Jack Posobiec , right-wing character Dan Bongino , and former Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka—all , notably , people with big enough social media followings to boost Fitton ’ s story .
As The Daily Beast article explained , Fitton offered contradictory information about the origins of this supposed list , and could not explain why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael McFaul was included , but that has n't stopped the story from spreading through the right wing media like a wildfire , and they wrapped up their article with this : As it turns out , though , Fitton is getting all worked up over absolutely nothing .
On Wednesday afternoon , Fitton revealed that the “ enemies list ” was just a social media search of public posts on CrowdTangle—a Facebook-owned social media analytics tool used by a variety of institutions , including media outlets .
It ’ s still not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists—Fitton hasn ’ t offered any proof beyond anonymous quotes , and the State Department didn ’ t respond to requests for comment .
The State Department has said publicly before that it uses CrowdTangle to follow discussion of news topics , meaning that Fitton , despite all the hype in pro-Trump media , hadn ’ t exactly revealed a secret surveillance tool .
Trump Jr. attacked Yovanovitch on Twitter , which was read back to him by Bartiromo during the interview above , because reading quotes from your guest pushing another Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just how they roll on State-Run TV .
Here 's Trump serving up a big helping of projection onto Yovanovitch , while accusing her of doing the same today on Fox .
BARTIROMO : I was reading a couple of posts and tweets of yours , and you accuse Yovanovitch of monitoring you .
Tell me what happened ?
TRUMP : I saw the reports , and they assigned people in the Ukrainian embassy apparently to monitor myself , other conservative figures ... Sean Hannity , Dan Bongino .
numerous others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing people of doing the same to her , because that is what happens .
When they do it , it 's sort of what the old liberal , the Democrat politics , you know , accuse them of doing all the things that you 're doing .
So a year later they come back and try to accuse us of it .

Trump's allies over at Judicial Watch launched another failed smear campaign this week, this time against former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, where they accuse her and the State Department of "illegally monitoring" a supposed "enemies" list of pro-Trump media personalities and others when, if the texts turned over by Lev Parnas are to be believed, the very opposite is true and it was them stalking her.
Apparently in Trump-world, looking at someone's public social media feeds is now "illegal," because that's the so-called bombshell being pushed by Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton, among others, and being pushed by Trump Jr. this Sunday.
Here's more on that from The Daily Beast: Pro-Trump ‘Enemies List’ Smear Flops:
Donald Trump’s allies in Congress and the pro-Trump media are scrambling to find a counter-narrative to the Ukraine impeachment investigation that can shore up Republican support, even crashing into closed hearings in some kind of misguided protest. [...] Now, with few appealing options, they’ve latched onto their the most ridiculous claim yet: portraying a mundane social media search tool as a deep-state conspiracy theory. For the past week, Trump ally and Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton and a chorus of conservative media voices have been fuming over a supposed “enemies list” compiled by the State Department and filled with right-wing Twitter characters. But it turns out that the supposed list, if it existed at all, was just a run-of-the-mill social media search on widely available web analytics tool CrowdTangle. Last week, Fitton started claiming that he had reason to believe that former United States ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch had “unlawfully monitored” a host of pro-Trump media personalities. Fitton claimed Yovanovitch had requested monitoring of an “enemies list” through “social media and other means,” only to be rebuffed because her request was “illegal.” Fitton cryptically said, on Twitter and via press releases, that his group had enough information to “investigate” the idea that Yovanovitch, who was pushed out her job under alleged pressure from Rudolph Giuliani, demanded the illicit surveillance of a list of Trumpworld luminaries. “They had an enemy’s list in the Ukrainian embassy—our embassy!” Fitton said. “Paid for with your tax dollars, in potential violation of the law.” The list supposedly included Donald Trump Jr., Pizzagate promoter Jack Posobiec, right-wing character Dan Bongino, and former Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka—all, notably, people with big enough social media followings to boost Fitton’s story.
As The Daily Beast article explained, Fitton offered contradictory information about the origins of this supposed list, and could not explain why Yovanovitch’s own name along with Michael McFaul was included, but that hasn't stopped the story from spreading through the right wing media like a wildfire, and they wrapped up their article with this:
As it turns out, though, Fitton is getting all worked up over absolutely nothing. On Wednesday afternoon, Fitton revealed that the “enemies list” was just a social media search of public posts on CrowdTangle—a Facebook-owned social media analytics tool used by a variety of institutions, including media outlets. It’s still not clear even if the purported list even exists—Fitton hasn’t offered any proof beyond anonymous quotes, and the State Department didn’t respond to requests for comment. The State Department has said publicly before that it uses CrowdTangle to follow discussion of news topics, meaning that Fitton, despite all the hype in pro-Trump media, hadn’t exactly revealed a secret surveillance tool.
Trump Jr. attacked Yovanovitch on Twitter, which was read back to him by Bartiromo during the interview above, because reading quotes from your guest pushing another Fox regular's debunked conspiracy theories on Twitter is just how they roll on State-Run TV.
She was doing the same to me apparently and other private citizens. Media wouldn’t cover a rogue Ambasador monitoring American citizens... I wonder why??? https://t.co/BvSVJE6wfw — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 16, 2020
Here's Trump serving up a big helping of projection onto Yovanovitch, while accusing her of doing the same today on Fox.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--'Militia' Gun Rally Won't 'Comply' With Pledge Of Allegiance

[ Above : At the gun-laden march in Richmond , VA , counter-protestors recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the @ @ @ @ @ militia-types respond -- to the pledge of allegiance -- with the chant `` We will @ @ @ @ @ see that Nathan Bedford Forrest 's Incel Irregulars are celebrating the life of Reverend Martin @ @ @ @ @ decking themselves out in Space Force cos-play outfits to protest the fact that the United @ @ @ @ @ of laws .
The problem of race in America has always been about white male @ @ @ @ @ a very credible threat of violence .
And white supremacy in America has always been @ @ @ @ @ Jefferson Davis , Strom Thurmond and George Wallace locked in mortal combat with the Almighty @ @ @ @ @ King , Jr .
In other words kids , for Nathan Bedford Forrest 's Incel @ @ @ @ @ million Republican supporters of Donald Trump , this is a holy war .
And holy @ @ @ @ @ history of ending well .

[Above: At the gun-laden march in Richmond, VA, counter-protestors recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag, and the militia-types respond -- to the pledge of allegiance -- with the chant "We will not comply"]
I see that Nathan Bedford Forrest's Incel Irregulars are celebrating the life of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. by decking themselves out in Space Force cos-play outfits to protest the fact that the United State is still a nation of laws.
The problem of race in America has always been about white male supremacy, backed up with a very credible threat of violence.
And white supremacy in America has always been about the Almighty God of Jefferson Davis, Strom Thurmond and George Wallace locked in mortal combat with the Almighty God of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
In other words kids, for Nathan Bedford Forrest's Incel Irregulars, and roughly 60 million Republican supporters of Donald Trump, this is a holy war.
And holy wars do not have a history of ending well.
Republished with permission from Driftglass


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Fox Lets Don Jr. Lie Again: 'Dad' Couldn't Pick Lev Parnas From A Lineup

DON JR : I met him at some fundraising events… .
I didn ’ t even realize he was Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ Israeli .
That ’ s the problem with how this world works , you take @ @ @ @ @ , if someone ’ s a donor , they get in line , they stood @ @ @ @ @ people .
I guarantee my father couldn ’ t pick this guy out of a @ @ @ @ @ t mean he hasn ’ t taken pictures with him .

Donald Trump Jr. lied on Fox News:
DON JR: I met him at some fundraising events…. I didn’t even realize he was Ukrainian, I thought he was Israeli.
That’s the problem with how this world works, you take a couple pictures with someone, if someone’s a donor, they get in line, they stood at a dinner with 50 people.
I guarantee my father couldn’t pick this guy out of a lineup, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken pictures with him.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Democrats, Stop Offering Up Hunter Biden To Moscow Mitch's Senate

Donald Trump is being impeached because of his immoral , illegal and corrupt actions against Ukraine .
He tried to force their newly elected president to announce an investigation into one of his own political rivals .
He committed attempted extortion by withholding desperately- needed congressionally approved monies for their defense against Russia .
Hunter Biden is not guilty of anything nor was he ever suspected of any wrongdoings in Ukraine .
Not until John Solomon , Rudy Giuliani and his band of thugs devised a scheme to smear Hunter Biden ( which would hopefully stick to Joe Biden ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News .
By having the president of Ukraine declare he was investigating the Bidens , Giuliani and Trump knew it would help tarnish Biden 's chances against Trump in a possible election match-up .
I 'm not supporting Biden 's candidacy , but facts are what they are .
We saw how effective that was against Hillary Clinton .
Never forget James Comey ‘ s role in helping to elect Trump with his 2016 October surprise .
On Sunday 's CNN State of the Union , Sen. Sherrod Brown signaled it was reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Bolton would testify .
Keilar : You just heard Alan Dershowitz .
He is a lawyer .
And , obviously , he 's key in this defense team .
He said that , if there are witnesses , even later , on the part of Democrats -- you want to hear , for instance , from John Bolton -- there will then be witnesses , he would expect , called by Republicans .
They can easily call Hunter Biden .
Are you prepared for that ?
BROWN : Fine .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- we take the position that we want to hear from witnesses .
I do n't know what Hunter Biden has to do with the phone call that was made ... No , it is not fine !
All witnesses that are called must be relevant to the Senate proceedings and not imagined from the warped mind of a Roger Stone 's ratf**king imagination .
By serving up Hunter Biden as a witness -- nothing to do with Trump 's actions that led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives , Dems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate hearing into a carnival show .
That ’ s exactly what Trump and his sycophants long for .

Donald Trump is being impeached because of his immoral, illegal and corrupt actions against Ukraine.
He tried to force their newly elected president to announce an investigation into one of his own political rivals. He committed attempted extortion by withholding desperately- needed congressionally approved monies for their defense against Russia.
Hunter Biden is not guilty of anything nor was he ever suspected of any wrongdoings in Ukraine.
Not until John Solomon, Rudy Giuliani and his band of thugs devised a scheme to smear Hunter Biden (which would hopefully stick to Joe Biden) did his name become trending on Fox News.
By having the president of Ukraine declare he was investigating the Bidens, Giuliani and Trump knew it would help tarnish Biden's chances against Trump in a possible election match-up. I'm not supporting Biden's candidacy, but facts are what they are.
We saw how effective that was against Hillary Clinton. Never forget James Comey‘s role in helping to elect Trump with his 2016 October surprise.
On Sunday's CNN State of the Union, Sen. Sherrod Brown signaled it was reasonable to call Hunter as a witness if John Bolton would testify.
Keilar: You just heard Alan Dershowitz. He is a lawyer. And, obviously, he's key in this defense team. He said that, if there are witnesses, even later, on the part of Democrats -- you want to hear, for instance, from John Bolton -- there will then be witnesses, he would expect, called by Republicans. They can easily call Hunter Biden. Are you prepared for that? BROWN: Fine. I think you bring in -- we're taking -- we take the position that we want to hear from witnesses. I don't know what Hunter Biden has to do with the phone call that was made...
No, it is not fine!
All witnesses that are called must be relevant to the Senate proceedings and not imagined from the warped mind of a Roger Stone's ratf**king imagination.
By serving up Hunter Biden as a witness -- nothing to do with Trump's actions that led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives, Dems are giving Republicans an avenue to turn the Senate hearing into a carnival show.
That’s exactly what Trump and his sycophants long for.
Stop it.
Stop it now.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Trump's Finances Appear Shaky, Opening Up More Opportunities To Buy Presidential 'Favors'

Reporter David Fahrenthold is responsible for perhaps 80 % of everything we know about Donald Trump 's ongoing business operations .
In a start-of-year summary of where things stand , Fahrenthold and other Washington Post reporters wrote up a terse rundown of the state of the presidential grift-o-matic ; they question , among other things , whether the Trump family purging their businesses of undocumented workers ( only after being caught , of course ) will raise labor costs and whether the hit Donald 's companies have been taking due to their association with , you know , him will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take other , similarly drastic measures .
Donald Trump only months ago sincerely , truly ordered the next G7 Summit be held at one of his own golf resorts , for example , and had the White House defending that obviously crooked money grab before backing down again .
He has gotten bolder in his attempts to funnel money into his properties , and his family has become less interested in keeping up pretenses of basic propriety , each year of his `` term . ''
It 's the news that Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sale of his Washington D.C. hotel that stands out .
The hotel has for three years been a hub of in-the-open petty bribery , with foreign and domestic political officials , corporate heads , and lobbying groups all booking time and rooms at the property in straightforward attempts to be seen and be noticed by the grifter in chief .
Some of the profits generated by foreign supplicants are allegedly donated away again by the hotel in an opaque and unprovable company promise to mitigate the brazen unconstitutionality of this profit-taking ; all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbyist , and industry groups goes to Trump and family .
It has remained one of the easiest and most plausibly legal ways of buying presidential goodwill short of Mar-a-Lago membership itself , and has no doubt boosted the hotel 's otherwise-disappointing performance in ways that President Me finds especially pleasing and compelling .
Selling the hotel for a half-billion dollars in an election year , however , opens up an entirely new avenue of grift .
To hell with the petty stuff ; if the royals of Saudi Arabia want a half-billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States president they can write a single check and be done with it .
If the same Russian oligarchs willing to polish Sen. Mitch McConnell 's record with the home crowd , to the tune of $ 200 million in investment , want to refinance their most loyal American defender , a man who yet again finds himself in steep debt despite every past attempt to save his bacon , they can spend two and a half times that much and own an American president outright .
It could be done via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's winning bidder could announce they have bought the man on state TV .
The short version is that Trump 's properties here and abroad continue to not do well , the supplications of supporters are still not nearly enough to match the damage done as the rest of the nation cringes away from them , we continue to know almost nothing about the true nature of Trump 's finances but all investigation suggests he is again burdened by massive debts , and in the pressure cooker of impeachment , campaigning , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear weapons is likely to become even more overt in squeezing whatever cash he can get from this nation , its wealthiest request-havers , and anyone else in the world needing a big government favor and willing to pay for one .
If you think the man can handle that sort of pressure without doing something astonishingly crooked and/or stupid , you have n't been paying attention .

Reporter David Fahrenthold is responsible for perhaps 80% of everything we know about Donald Trump's ongoing business operations. In a start-of-year summary of where things stand, Fahrenthold and other Washington Post reporters wrote up a terse rundown of the state of the presidential grift-o-matic; they question, among other things, whether the Trump family purging their businesses of undocumented workers (only after being caught, of course) will raise labor costs and whether the hit Donald's companies have been taking due to their association with, you know, him will compel Trump to sell off assets or take other, similarly drastic measures.
Donald Trump only months ago sincerely, truly ordered the next G7 Summit be held at one of his own golf resorts, for example, and had the White House defending that obviously crooked money grab before backing down again. He has gotten bolder in his attempts to funnel money into his properties, and his family has become less interested in keeping up pretenses of basic propriety, each year of his "term."
It's the news that Trump has begun to explore a possible half-billion dollar sale of his Washington D.C. hotel that stands out. The hotel has for three years been a hub of in-the-open petty bribery, with foreign and domestic political officials, corporate heads, and lobbying groups all booking time and rooms at the property in straightforward attempts to be seen and be noticed by the grifter in chief.
Some of the profits generated by foreign supplicants are allegedly donated away again by the hotel in an opaque and unprovable company promise to mitigate the brazen unconstitutionality of this profit-taking; all of the profits from domestic government, lobbyist, and industry groups goes to Trump and family. It has remained one of the easiest and most plausibly legal ways of buying presidential goodwill short of Mar-a-Lago membership itself, and has no doubt boosted the hotel's otherwise-disappointing performance in ways that President Me finds especially pleasing and compelling.
Selling the hotel for a half-billion dollars in an election year, however, opens up an entirely new avenue of grift. To hell with the petty stuff; if the royals of Saudi Arabia want a half-billion dollars worth of personal favors from the United States president they can write a single check and be done with it. If the same Russian oligarchs willing to polish Sen. Mitch McConnell's record with the home crowd, to the tune of $200 million in investment, want to refinance their most loyal American defender, a man who yet again finds himself in steep debt despite every past attempt to save his bacon, they can spend two and a half times that much and own an American president outright. It could be done via shell companies and offshore trickeries, or Trump's winning bidder could announce they have bought the man on state TV.
The short version is that Trump's properties here and abroad continue to not do well, the supplications of supporters are still not nearly enough to match the damage done as the rest of the nation cringes away from them, we continue to know almost nothing about the true nature of Trump's finances but all investigation suggests he is again burdened by massive debts, and in the pressure cooker of impeachment, campaigning, and potential war the television pitchman with nuclear weapons is likely to become even more overt in squeezing whatever cash he can get from this nation, its wealthiest request-havers, and anyone else in the world needing a big government favor and willing to pay for one.
If you think the man can handle that sort of pressure without doing something astonishingly crooked and/or stupid, you haven't been paying attention.
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Christine Todd Whitman: 'The American People Want To Know What's Behind This'

Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to lower the profile of the impeachment trial and prevent witnesses against Trump , and Chris Jansing talked about it this morning with Christine Todd Whitman and former Obama official Chris Lu .
`` Governor , you 've watched this before , how much impact over what happens the next couple weeks will have on the presidential race going forward ? ''
Jansing asked .
`` You know , it is hard to tell .
Obviously the Republicans are going to push it through as fast as they can with the schedule that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` He is trying to get it done at 2 in the morning so other people are n't watching , we know what the Senate will do , unfortunately .
I was trying to get two pictures to put together , one of Mitch McConnell with his quote to say he was not an impartial juror , and the other one raising his right hand , swearing his oath of office , swearing on the Bible , 'so help me God , ' he would be an impartial jurist .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole process ? ''
`` When you watch this , do you think there 's a not legit in terms of this is the way to do this to make this a fair process , but strategically is this the way to go ? ''
Jansing asked .
`` You know , the American people from everything that I have seen , people I talked to in polls believe that in a trial you have witnesses , and the American people would really like to know what 's behind this .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let witnesses who are in the room at the time testify to say there 's no 'there ' there .
But let 's get it all out .
This has been too convoluted , it is too important to our country .
I believe that in fact as far as the average person goes , there 's a frustration with the Republican tactic of no witnesses .
So unless they allow some witnesses , I 'm not sure how that 's going to play .
As you well know , it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lansing asked Chris Lu about why Republicans are so loyal to Trump , `` And is there anything you see about this impeachment process that could change that ? ''
`` Well , look , as the governor said , it is an eternity between now and November , but I would also argue probably an eternity between now and when we get to the witness phase of the trial .
we 've seen over the last two weeks not only the offer of John Bolton to testify , Lev Parnas , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , '' Lu said .
`` There are things that could happen in the interim that change the dynamics , but if we look at it now , Democrats are where they are , Republicans are where they are .
But I still believe there 's a group of people in the middle who will be , again , not members of Congress , people in the public that will be listening to this , trying to make up their mind as to what happened .
As Governor Whitman says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't know anything .
We have a strong case the Democrats made , but it is without the top tier of Trump officials testifying , and I think they need to testify so the American people know the full story of what happened . ''

Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to lower the profile of the impeachment trial and prevent witnesses against Trump, and Chris Jansing talked about it this morning with Christine Todd Whitman and former Obama official Chris Lu.
"Governor, you've watched this before, how much impact over what happens the next couple weeks will have on the presidential race going forward?" Jansing asked.
"You know, it is hard to tell. Obviously the Republicans are going to push it through as fast as they can with the schedule that Mitch McConnell has announced," Whitman said.
"He is trying to get it done at 2 in the morning so other people aren't watching, we know what the Senate will do, unfortunately. I was trying to get two pictures to put together, one of Mitch McConnell with his quote to say he was not an impartial juror, and the other one raising his right hand, swearing his oath of office, swearing on the Bible, 'so help me God,' he would be an impartial jurist. You wonder why the public is skeptical of the whole process?"
"When you watch this, do you think there's a not legit in terms of this is the way to do this to make this a fair process, but strategically is this the way to go?" Jansing asked.
"You know, the American people from everything that I have seen, people I talked to in polls believe that in a trial you have witnesses, and the American people would really like to know what's behind this. If there's nothing there, why not let witnesses who are in the room at the time testify to say there's no 'there' there. But let's get it all out. This has been too convoluted, it is too important to our country. I believe that in fact as far as the average person goes, there's a frustration with the Republican tactic of no witnesses. So unless they allow some witnesses, I'm not sure how that's going to play. As you well know, it is a lifetime between now and November."
Lansing asked Chris Lu about why Republicans are so loyal to Trump, "And is there anything you see about this impeachment process that could change that?"
"Well, look, as the governor said, it is an eternity between now and November, but I would also argue probably an eternity between now and when we get to the witness phase of the trial. we've seen over the last two weeks not only the offer of John Bolton to testify, Lev Parnas, and a GAO report that the president broke the law," Lu said.
"There are things that could happen in the interim that change the dynamics, but if we look at it now, Democrats are where they are, Republicans are where they are. But I still believe there's a group of people in the middle who will be, again, not members of Congress, people in the public that will be listening to this, trying to make up their mind as to what happened. As Governor Whitman says, the truth of the matter, we don't know anything. We have a strong case the Democrats made, but it is without the top tier of Trump officials testifying, and I think they need to testify so the American people know the full story of what happened."


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--John Cornyn Dismisses Criminals Surrounding Trump As 'Grifters And Hangers On'

Sen. John Cornyn ( R-TX ) made it clear this Sunday that there 's no amount of open criminality that 's ever going to move a single Republican to finally hold Trump accountable for his actions .
When asked by Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan if the Senate should hear from former NSA John Bolton , Cornyn proceeded to attack the House impeachment hearings rather than answer the question : CORNYN : Well , I find it curious that Chairman Nadler of the Judiciary Committee called this a rock solid case .
But if the House is n't prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they produced in the impeachment inquiry , maybe they ought to withdraw the articles of impeachment and -- and start over again .
This is n't the Senate 's responsibility to make the case .
This is the House 's responsibility under the Constitution .
The Senate 's supposed to decide the case sitting as a court of impeachment .
[ ... ] So , this is really on the House to make that decision .
They can continue to process additional witnesses in the House .
They could even vote on additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me seems to undermine or indicate that they 're getting cold feet or have a lack of confidence in what they 've done so far .
Cornyn may get his wish if the Senate proceeds with this cover-up in the manner we all expect them to this week .
Cornyn then rejected the findings of the nonpartisan GAO , which reported that withholding the aid to Ukraine violated the law : BRENNAN : You reject that government watchdog report , the GAO report , that does say there was a violation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime and something that no one had ever dreamed in the past would have been -- risen to the level of impeachment .
This is one of the basic problems with the House 's case -- BRENNAN : -- to that question of the President withholding aid for personal gain , which is the allegation ?
SCORNYN : Well , it 's -- it is -- he has been charged with abuse of power , which is not treason , which is not bribery , which is not a high crime and misdemeanor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in history where a President has been impeached for a non-crime for events that never occurred .
Ultimately , the investigation never took place and ultimately the -- their aid was delivered .
Cornyn was then asked whether the newly released documents from Lev Parnas should be allowed as evidence during the Senate trial , and Cornyn attempted to dismiss the information as `` hearsay . ''
When Brennan pointed out the fact that it was a letter from Rudy Giuliani , and not hearsay , Cornyn proceeded to attack Parnas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself with as merely `` grifters and hangers on , '' as opposed to ... campaign managers , National Security Advisers and people he apparently trusts to run shadow foreign policy for him trying to dig up dirt on political opponents .
It included a number of things , including documents that have been revealed recently by Lev Parnas , an indicted business associate of Rudy Giuliani .
Among them , a letter that says that Rudy Giuliani himself was acting with the approval and knowledge of the President when he was reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Should all of these items be admissible during trial ?
BRENNAN : Well , that -- that is certainly what the -- the White House is arguing .
But I want to ask you about the legal brief that Democrats did submit .
CORNYN : Well , as you know , Margaret , I was a judge for thirteen years in -- in state courts and in no court in America would that kind of hearsay be admissible .
But having said that , I would be -- CORNYN : Well , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of somebody who is under indictment in New York , the southern district of New York , and who 's trying to get leniency from the prosecutor and who has ties to Russian oligarchs .
CORNYN : -- had a lot to do with our elections and disinformation campaigns , and this could be part of that .
BRENNAN : And you certainly would have knowledge , since you 're on Senate Intelligence on that .
But given what you 're saying are Lev Parnas ' ties to Russian oligarchs , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't it trouble you that he was working so closely with Rudy Giuliani , who is acting on the President 's behalf and saying he was acting on the President 's behalf ?
CORNYN : Well , there 's no question that there have been a -- a series of grifters and other hangers on that have associated themselves with the President 's campaign or claimed to have special relationships with the President .
But this is not the issue that the Senate 's going to be deciding .
We 'll take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the impeachment managers want to rest their case on the credibility of somebody who 's under indictment in the Southern District of New York with extensive ties to Russian oligarchs and organized crime , as you point out , then that 's their choice .
It 's not the Democrats ' fault that Trump has chosen to surround himself with criminals with ties to Russian oligarchs .
Cornyn also told Brennan that he did n't have any questions for Rudy Giuliani relevant to the impeachment hearings , even though he 's up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornyn gave us a preview of the farce we 're in for this week as Republicans in the Senate do their best to keep the public from watching them continue to cover up for this corrupt administration .

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) made it clear this Sunday that there's no amount of open criminality that's ever going to move a single Republican to finally hold Trump accountable for his actions. When asked by Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan if the Senate should hear from former NSA John Bolton, Cornyn proceeded to attack the House impeachment hearings rather than answer the question:
CORNYN: Well, I find it curious that Chairman Nadler of the Judiciary Committee called this a rock solid case. But if the House isn't prepared to go forward with the evidence that they produced in the impeachment inquiry, maybe they ought to withdraw the articles of impeachment and-- and start over again. This isn't the Senate's responsibility to make the case. This is the House's responsibility under the Constitution. The Senate's supposed to decide the case sitting as a court of impeachment. [...] [...] So, this is really on the House to make that decision. They can continue to process additional witnesses in the House. They could even vote on additional articles of impeachment. But this to me seems to undermine or indicate that they're getting cold feet or have a lack of confidence in what they've done so far.
Cornyn may get his wish if the Senate proceeds with this cover-up in the manner we all expect them to this week. Cornyn then rejected the findings of the nonpartisan GAO, which reported that withholding the aid to Ukraine violated the law:
BRENNAN: You reject that government watchdog report, the GAO report, that does say there was a violation of the law? CORNYN: Certainly not a crime and something that no one had ever dreamed in the past would have been-- risen to the level of impeachment. This is one of the basic problems with the House's case-- BRENNAN: But isn't it central-- CORNYN: --is the Constitution-- BRENNAN: --to that question of the President withholding aid for personal gain, which is the allegation? SCORNYN: Well, it's-- it is-- he has been charged with abuse of power, which is not treason, which is not bribery, which is not a high crime and misdemeanor. So, this is the first time in history where a President has been impeached for a non-crime for events that never occurred. Ultimately, the investigation never took place and ultimately the-- their aid was delivered.
Cornyn was then asked whether the newly released documents from Lev Parnas should be allowed as evidence during the Senate trial, and Cornyn attempted to dismiss the information as "hearsay." When Brennan pointed out the fact that it was a letter from Rudy Giuliani, and not hearsay, Cornyn proceeded to attack Parnas and the other criminals that Trump has surrounded himself with as merely "grifters and hangers on," as opposed to... campaign managers, National Security Advisers and people he apparently trusts to run shadow foreign policy for him trying to dig up dirt on political opponents.
It included a number of things, including documents that have been revealed recently by Lev Parnas, an indicted business associate of Rudy Giuliani. Among them, a letter that says that Rudy Giuliani himself was acting with the approval and knowledge of the President when he was reaching out to the president of Ukraine. Should all of these items be admissible during trial? BRENNAN: Well, that-- that is certainly what the-- the White House is arguing. But I want to ask you about the legal brief that Democrats did submit. CORNYN: Well, as you know, Margaret, I was a judge for thirteen years in-- in state courts and in no court in America would that kind of hearsay be admissible. But having said that, I would be-- BRENNAN: It's a letter from Rudy Giuliani. CORNYN: Well, I would be careful before crediting the veracity of somebody who is under indictment in New York, the southern district of New York, and who's trying to get leniency from the prosecutor and who has ties to Russian oligarchs. BRENNAN: Well, yeah, he-- CORNYN: The Russians have-- BRENNAN: --exactly, but-- CORNYN: --had a lot to do with our elections and disinformation campaigns, and this could be part of that. BRENNAN: And you certainly would have knowledge, since you're on Senate Intelligence on that. But given what you're saying are Lev Parnas' ties to Russian oligarchs, which is often shorthand for Russian mafia, doesn't it trouble you that he was working so closely with Rudy Giuliani, who is acting on the President's behalf and saying he was acting on the President's behalf? CORNYN: Well, there's no question that there have been a-- a series of grifters and other hangers on that have associated themselves with the President's campaign or claimed to have special relationships with the President. But this is not the issue that the Senate's going to be deciding. We'll take the issue of evidence as it comes. If the impeachment managers want to rest their case on the credibility of somebody who's under indictment in the Southern District of New York with extensive ties to Russian oligarchs and organized crime, as you point out, then that's their choice.
It's not the Democrats' fault that Trump has chosen to surround himself with criminals with ties to Russian oligarchs. Cornyn also told Brennan that he didn't have any questions for Rudy Giuliani relevant to the impeachment hearings, even though he's up to his neck in this scandal.
Cornyn gave us a preview of the farce we're in for this week as Republicans in the Senate do their best to keep the public from watching them continue to cover up for this corrupt administration.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--In Surprise Move, NYT Endorses Elizabeth Warren AND Amy Klobuchar

The New York Times shocked a lot of people last night when they announced they would endorse Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for the Democratic nomination .
WARREN : I think the old left-right division , yeah , there 's a lot of that , but I think it 's a very different division in America .
An America that working for a thinner and thinner slice at the top and not working for much of anyone else .
REPORTER : Is that enough to bridge , you know , this system 's , the ecosystems of misinformation , hyperpartisanship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even more practically , is it enough to get anything passed in a Mitch McConnell senate ?
REPORTER : Why do n't talented people want to continue to work for you ?
KLOBUCHAR : But they do .
I hope you meet the people outside in the hall .
I may not be the leading candidate right now , but I have beaten , like , 19 people , including every governor .
And so you ca n't run a presidential campaign if you have a dysfunctional work environment .
My campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 years .
My state director has been with me for 7 years .
The acting chief of staff has been with me for 4 years and on her third baby .
Mara Gay , who is a member of the Times editorial board , was on Morning Joe to talk about it .
`` You know , listen , the party is extremely divided and this is really our way of narrowing that field and also just pointing out to voters there is more than one pathway forward here .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we believe , are the best standard bearers for those two paths , but also just kind of reimagining , taking a step back and reimagining what electability really means , and trying to broaden that vision , '' Gay said .
`` The amount of votes that Donald Trump won by in 2016 was extremely narrow .
So there 's more than one way to build a winning coalition , so this is a nod to that as well . ''
`` So Mara , let me ask about the divide on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Of course , about a month ago or so , you had Labor getting really beaten badly in Britain , especially in the northern part of Britain , because it was believed that he overpromised .
That is a complaint that 's been made of these two Democrats , Bernie and Elizabeth .
Yet you all found that Senator Warren , her approach was more realistic than Bernie Sanders .
Explain that , '' Joe Scarborough said .
`` Sure .
You know , Senator Warren 's history actually in deal making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than has come across so far on the campaign trail .
We did have a little bit of encouragement to her to hold on to that and let go of the maturity that some of the far left have called for .
Her proposals are extremely serious and we really take her seriously as a candidate and believe she actually knows how to work well with others and , listen , this is somebody who used to be a Republican .
She really is a convert to the Democratic party .
Let 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Scaroborough wanted to know why Warren does n't talk more about being a Republican .
`` I think she could talk about it more , you 're absolutely right , but she does talk very compellingly about her brothers .
most of the majority whom are Republicans .
And she talks how even though her family disagrees about a lot , they agree , for example , that companies like Amazon are quite powerful , too powerful , for the amount of taxes that they pay .
She talks about the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thing that was most impressive to us .
Not that this is an ideological divide about left or more moderate in the party , but Elizabeth Warren might be , along with Amy Klobuchar , the best people to save the middle class .
We believe that is the challenge facing us today , '' Gay said .
You can read the endorsement here .
Links to the interview transcripts of all the candidates are at the top of the page .
I 've been saying for months that Klobuchar is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the fact that every single `` civilian '' I 've talked to brings her up and talks about how much they like her .
It 's logical that people torn between poll leader Biden , Bernie , and Warren would look for someone they see as the best compromise .
On air last week , I predicted she would be second or third in Iowa -- although I acknowledged that it was just a guess .
People do n't normally pay much attention to endorsements -- except when they validate what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Quad City Times endorsement last week -- this , after their endorsement of Bernie in 2016 .
What does this change ?
Well , it means a lot of people will take a second look , and it will funnel a lot of donations her way , because she is gathering viability .
And that means it takes some of the sheen of inevitability off Joe Biden .
As to Warren -- The Times took her a lot more seriously than Biden .
That probably reassures many people as to her electability @

The New York Times shocked a lot of people last night when they announced they would endorse Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for the Democratic nomination.
WARREN: I think the old left-right division, yeah, there's a lot of that, but I think it's a very different division in America. An America that working for a thinner and thinner slice at the top and not working for much of anyone else. REPORTER: Is that enough to bridge, you know, this system's, the ecosystems of misinformation, hyperpartisanship, things that are -- REPORTER: Even more practically, is it enough to get anything passed in a Mitch McConnell senate? *** REPORTER: Why don't talented people want to continue to work for you? KLOBUCHAR: But they do. I hope you meet the people outside in the hall. I may not be the leading candidate right now, but I have beaten, like, 19 people, including every governor. And so you can't run a presidential campaign if you have a dysfunctional work environment. My campaign manager is the same one I've had for 14 years. My state director has been with me for 7 years. The acting chief of staff has been with me for 4 years and on her third baby.
Mara Gay, who is a member of the Times editorial board, was on Morning Joe to talk about it.
"You know, listen, the party is extremely divided and this is really our way of narrowing that field and also just pointing out to voters there is more than one pathway forward here. I think that senators Klobuchar and Warren, we believe, are the best standard bearers for those two paths, but also just kind of reimagining, taking a step back and reimagining what electability really means, and trying to broaden that vision," Gay said.
"The amount of votes that Donald Trump won by in 2016 was extremely narrow. So there's more than one way to build a winning coalition, so this is a nod to that as well."
"So Mara, let me ask about the divide on the progressive side between Bernie and Elizabeth. Of course, about a month ago or so, you had Labor getting really beaten badly in Britain, especially in the northern part of Britain, because it was believed that he overpromised. That is a complaint that's been made of these two Democrats, Bernie and Elizabeth. Yet you all found that Senator Warren, her approach was more realistic than Bernie Sanders. Explain that," Joe Scarborough said.
"Sure. You know, Senator Warren's history actually in deal making shows she is more of a pragmatist than has come across so far on the campaign trail. We did have a little bit of encouragement to her to hold on to that and let go of the maturity that some of the far left have called for. Her proposals are extremely serious and we really take her seriously as a candidate and believe she actually knows how to work well with others and, listen, this is somebody who used to be a Republican. She really is a convert to the Democratic party. Let's not forget that," Gay said.
Scaroborough wanted to know why Warren doesn't talk more about being a Republican.
"I think she could talk about it more, you're absolutely right, but she does talk very compellingly about her brothers. most of the majority whom are Republicans. And she talks how even though her family disagrees about a lot, they agree, for example, that companies like Amazon are quite powerful, too powerful, for the amount of taxes that they pay. She talks about the middle class most compellingly, and that was the thing that was most impressive to us. Not that this is an ideological divide about left or more moderate in the party, but Elizabeth Warren might be, along with Amy Klobuchar, the best people to save the middle class. We believe that is the challenge facing us today," Gay said.
You can read the endorsement here. Links to the interview transcripts of all the candidates are at the top of the page.
I've been saying for months that Klobuchar is the dark horse in this race -- mostly based on the fact that every single "civilian" I've talked to brings her up and talks about how much they like her. It's logical that people torn between poll leader Biden, Bernie, and Warren would look for someone they see as the best compromise. On air last week, I predicted she would be second or third in Iowa -- although I acknowledged that it was just a guess.
People don't normally pay much attention to endorsements -- except when they validate what they already believe. Klobuchar also got the Quad City Times endorsement last week -- this, after their endorsement of Bernie in 2016.
What does this change? Well, it means a lot of people will take a second look, and it will funnel a lot of donations her way, because she is gathering viability. And that means it takes some of the sheen of inevitability off Joe Biden.
As to Warren -- The Times took her a lot more seriously than Biden. That probably reassures many people as to her electability.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Even C-SPAN Is Cut Off From Covering Senate Impeachment Trial

Journalists are angry about the new restrictions on their coverage , which they say will prevent them from interviewing lawmakers about the Trump impeachment trial .
From the New York Times : Even sedate C-SPAN is aggrieved , calling on the Senate to allow its television crews to document the trial , instead of the government-controlled cameras that — as was the case during Bill Clinton ’ s trial 21 years ago — will limit what viewers see and hear inside the Senate chamber .
[ ... ] The effect , reporters say , is to make it harder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic political moment — including which senators are doodling or snoozing during testimony .
In stark contrast with the coverage of State of the Union addresses , a few stationary cameras controlled by a Senate office , rather than an independent news organization , will provide the only viewpoint of the trial floor .
“ Those cameras operate under very strict guidelines : They show the person who is speaking , and maybe some wide shots , ” Terry Murphy , vice president for programming at C-SPAN , said in an interview .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reacting or listening .
Having our own cameras in there would allow us to cover the trial with a much more full picture of what ’ s going on.
” C-SPAN wrote to the Senate majority leader , Mitch McConnell , in December , formally requesting access .
As of Saturday , the network had heard nothing back .

Journalists are angry about the new restrictions on their coverage, which they say will prevent them from interviewing lawmakers about the Trump impeachment trial. From the New York Times:
Even sedate C-SPAN is aggrieved, calling on the Senate to allow its television crews to document the trial, instead of the government-controlled cameras that — as was the case during Bill Clinton’s trial 21 years ago — will limit what viewers see and hear inside the Senate chamber.
[...] The effect, reporters say, is to make it harder to chronicle the you-are-there details expected of a historic political moment — including which senators are doodling or snoozing during testimony. In stark contrast with the coverage of State of the Union addresses, a few stationary cameras controlled by a Senate office, rather than an independent news organization, will provide the only viewpoint of the trial floor.
“Those cameras operate under very strict guidelines: They show the person who is speaking, and maybe some wide shots,” Terry Murphy, vice president for programming at C-SPAN, said in an interview. “They can’t show others reacting or listening. Having our own cameras in there would allow us to cover the trial with a much more full picture of what’s going on.”
C-SPAN wrote to the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, in December, formally requesting access. As of Saturday, the network had heard nothing back.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--George Conway: Trump's History Of Mistreating Law Firms Finally Catches Up With Him

Conservative attorney George Conway asserted in a column over the weekend that President Donald Trump ’ s history of mistreating law firms is catching up with him .
In a Sunday op-ed for The Washington Post , Conway explains that Trump is now faced with sparse choices for legal representation in his impeachment trial after years of not paying attorneys and generally being a bad client .
Pointing to Trump ’ s choice of Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr , Conway writes : The president has consistently encountered difficulty in hiring good lawyers to defend him .
In 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel , Trump couldn ’ t find a high-end law firm that would take him as a client .
His reputation for nonpayment preceded him : One major Manhattan firm I know had once been forced to eat bills for millions in bond work it once did for Trump .
No doubt other members of the legal community knew of other examples .
Of course , being cheap wasn ’ t the only reason Trump struck out among the nation ’ s legal elite .
There was the fact that he would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take reasonable direction — direction as in shut up and stop tweeting .
Firms also understood that taking on Trump would kill their recruiting efforts : Top law students of varying political stripes who might be willing , even eager , to join a firm that provides pro bono representation to murderers on death row , want nothing to do with Trump .
In the end , Conway predicts neither Dershowitz nor Starr is likely to sway senators .
“ Any litigator will tell you that adding to your legal team on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produce better lawyering but , rather , chaos , ” he concludes .
“ In that sense , at least , Trump will be getting the representation he deserves .
”

Conservative attorney George Conway asserted in a column over the weekend that President Donald Trump’s history of mistreating law firms is catching up with him.
In a Sunday op-ed for The Washington Post, Conway explains that Trump is now faced with sparse choices for legal representation in his impeachment trial after years of not paying attorneys and generally being a bad client.
Pointing to Trump’s choice of Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr, Conway writes:
The president has consistently encountered difficulty in hiring good lawyers to defend him. In 2017, after Robert S. Mueller III became special counsel, Trump couldn’t find a high-end law firm that would take him as a client. His reputation for nonpayment preceded him: One major Manhattan firm I know had once been forced to eat bills for millions in bond work it once did for Trump. No doubt other members of the legal community knew of other examples. Of course, being cheap wasn’t the only reason Trump struck out among the nation’s legal elite. There was the fact that he would be an erratic client who’d never take reasonable direction — direction as in shut up and stop tweeting. Firms also understood that taking on Trump would kill their recruiting efforts: Top law students of varying political stripes who might be willing, even eager, to join a firm that provides pro bono representation to murderers on death row, want nothing to do with Trump.
In the end, Conway predicts neither Dershowitz nor Starr is likely to sway senators.
“Any litigator will tell you that adding to your legal team on the eve of trial most likely will not produce better lawyering but, rather, chaos,” he concludes. “In that sense, at least, Trump will be getting the representation he deserves.”
Read the entire op-ed here.


crooksandliars--2020-01-20--Beyond Monday's Gun-Laden March In Richmond, Militias' Plans For A 'Civil War' Look To Go National

Thanks to an encouraging tweet from Donald Trump , militias around the United States are preparing to assemble in Richmond , Va. , on Monday , to protest gun-control legislation—many vowing to bring their guns , in open defiance of Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s declaration of emergency and its accompanying ban on any kind of weaponry at the state Capitol .
On Friday , Trump tweeted an attack on Northam that aligned perfectly with far-right extremists ’ paranoid claims about the planned legislation : “ Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s what happens when you vote for Democrats , they will take your guns away.
” The Monday protest—which extremist groups are calling the “ Boogaloo , ” a reference to their long-hoped-for opportunity to declare a civil war against liberals—has inspired a number of such groups to declare their intent to show up fully armed .
Infowars ’ Alex Jones has preemptively declared that any violence that occurs will be a “ false flag , ” and has said he will be in Virginia to observe , because “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start in Virginia , and it looks like one may start again.
” Among the “ Patriot ” /militia organizations planning to attend are 3 Percent militia groups around the country , as well as the Oath Keepers , who specialize in recruiting military and law-enforcement veterans .
Stewart Rhodes , founder/leader of the latter group , gave an interview last week in which he made clear his intent to use the event as an opportunity to institute “ constitutionalist ” rule in Virginia and elsewhere .
The violent nature of the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI ’ s arrests of seven members of The Base , a neo-Nazi paramilitary group openly dedicated to training for a “ race war.
” The first three were arrested Thursday , including Canadian fugitive Patrik Mathews ; in addition to being caught with multiple weapons ( including an illegal automatic rifle ) and a large cache of ammunition , the men had spoken openly of attending Monday ’ s rally in Richmond and opening fire there .
Three more were arrested Friday in Georgia , charged with plotting the murders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as overthrowing the local county government .
A seventh member of the base—Yousef O. Barasneh , 22 , of Oak Creek , Wisc.—was also arrested Friday , charged with committing civil-rights violations by vandalizing a synagogue in Racine , Wisc .
What the militiamen plan to do in Richmond on Monday is anyone ’ s guess , though a number of them have been indulging in violent rhetoric while discussing their options .
Gov .
Northam ’ s plans call for prohibition of any and all weapons from the Capitol Grounds , enforced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a security perimeter .
However , that is likely to mean that most of the protesters will be circulating around downtown Richmond—which , as in Charlottesville , is when and where most of the planned violence is likely to occur .
The invading army of paranoid “ Patriots ” have received official encouragement both from Trump ( which was , in typical fashion , somewhat indirect ) and from religious leaders such as the Rev .
Jerry Falwell Jr. , who called for “ civil disobedience ” in response to the Legislature ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m pretty sure I ’ m gon na call for civil disobedience if the Democrats go through with this , '' Fallwell said .
“ And the hundred municipalities and jurisdictions who have passed resolutions to protect the Second Amendment ...
I think the police officers and the populace would not be opposed to just disobeying , just like sanctuary cities in liberal states refuse to obey federal law when it comes to immigration . ''
A number of the militia groups that plan to be in Richmond on Monday include organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Charlottesville , Va. , following the disastrous Aug. 12 , 2017 , “ Unite the Right ” rally in which an antifascist protester was murdered .
These include far-fight social-media personality Tammy Lee , a self-described Charlottesville organizer , who has been promoting an event called “ Militias March on Richmond ” and intends to bring her group , “ Declaration of Restoration.
” Others include such militia figures as New York Light Foot Militia member George Curbelo and Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia member Christian Yingling .
Joshua Shoaff , another social-media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ace Baker , ” not only has been urging his audience to attend the rally , but has been issuing death threats to an African-American Virginia legislator , apparently with the approval of Facebook , where he publishes his livestreams for his 540,000 followers .
“ You should be pulled out of office by the hair on your head , walking down the streets of the capital , walked up to the steps of a swinging rope that ’ s placed around your neck , because you , sir , are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Shoaff said .
“ And you would be a good example to set for the other elected officials who are doing the same thing.
” The Georgia militiamen who planned for a civil war in November 2016 in the event Hillary Clinton won the presidency , the Three Percent Security Force , are also planning to be there .
Founder Chris Hill told Talking Points Memo that his group plans to bring guns , “ using the Second Amendment to defend the First Amendment.
” “ My rifle is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a sign , it ’ s just like me holding up a piece of cardboard that says : shall not be infringed .
That rifle says I ’ m a free man.
” Among the most disturbing communications are those emanating from the far-right “ Patriot ” organization Oath Keepers .
The group has been urging its members to prepare for the rally for several weeks , claiming that they are working to encourage law-enforcement officers in Virginia to ignore Gov .
Northam ’ s orders : “ We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and State Police will refuse those orders and will stand down , but we want to maximize that outcome and we want to prepare the people of Virginia for the worst case scenario of attempted use of force by the Governor to carry out his orders.
” Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes is particularly keen on the movement “ Patriots ” are promoting in rural Virginia counties and towns to establish “ Second Amendment sanctuaries ” in which any state-approved gun-control laws are declared null and void .
Some of these counties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for “ local militias ” to organize to defend their position .
“ We ’ re not trying to promote a civil war by any stretch of the imagination , I want to make that clear , but we want to exercise our right under the Constitution to regulate and promote the order of a well-trained militia , and we want to fund that , ” said Travis Hackworth , chairman of Tazewell ’ s Board of Supervisors .
In a recent interview on the conspiracist “ Power Hour Nation ” interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to realize a longtime “ Patriot ” movement fantasy : Namely , establishing “ constitutionalist ” counties in which federal laws are null and void , and the county sheriff is the highest law in the land .
We 're seeing in Virginia , the rural areas , a lot of sheriff standing up and declaring that they will not enforce the new laws , or the new so-called laws , coming out of Richmond .
So , that 's a good sign and we 're seeing that across the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically a socialist , or I would call a Marxist , assault on the constitution across the country , and their number one target , of course , is the right to keep and bear arms , but not just that .
Also , free speech and assembly , your due process rights .
… You 've got a collision coming up in between the rural traditional American gun owners , quite a few of them veterans , in Virginia who simply wo n't comply and this crazy governor who thinks he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state police to do his bidding .
So , that 's the collision course we 're on , and we 're now seeing in Virginia something we have not seen anywhere else yet , is we 're seeing counties stand up and pass resolutions to form actual official county militia .
… I think this is the leftist agenda , disarm the American people no matter what you do .
They 're going to keep pushing .
And so , you have to accept that you 're going to nullify , you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comply and nullify , but you should do it as a united county behind your sheriff , with the sheriff and with all able-bodied men in the county as his posse , but you should also , as in Virginia , you should form a county militia as well , under the authority of the county government .
And the reason why you want to do both is you 've got a law enforcement function and a military function .
The sheriff 's posse is the law enforcement function and the militia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it 's also good because you might get a new sheriff that comes in and destroys the posse .
… So , I think it 's better to have both .
I think county militia and a posse .
But yes , under the authority of the government , with all the people in the county united behind their legislators , behind their county supervisors or whatever they call them in each state behind them united as part of the government .
That 's what a volunteer militia would be , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the authority of the county , but it 's staffed by volunteers .
That 's how the founders did it .
Rhodes ’ idea is that once the trend is established in Virginia , it will quickly spread to other states : And like the neo-Nazis eager to spark a “ Boogaloo , ” Rhodes believes the Virginia resistance could spark a national civil war : As longtime religious-right analyst Bruce Wilson observes , this agenda is very much in line with a longtime white-nationalist strategy first elucidated by William S. Lind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Cultural Marxism ” hoax .
It was refined further by such far-right figures as Richard Mack ( who followed Rhodes on the recent radio-interview program ) , leader of the Constitutional Peace Officers Association of America , a far-right law-enforcement outfit closely associated in recent years with armed “ Patriot ” standoffs in Bunkerville , Nev. , and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon .
Wilson notes that “ this is n't just about an inchoate mass of angry gun owners descending on Richmond .
In the background there 's sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The vision is to create citizens militias , under county sheriffs , in as many counties across the U.S. as possible .
Such a development would be quite hard for state and federal authorities to counter , because an open shooting war would merely swell the citizen militia ranks tenfold .
And consider a confrontation between state/federal troops or police and these militias ( or ‘ posses ’ ) ; if shooting breaks out , the state/federal authorities lose .
And if they back down , they also lose .
”

Thanks to an encouraging tweet from Donald Trump, militias around the United States are preparing to assemble in Richmond, Va., on Monday, to protest gun-control legislation—many vowing to bring their guns, in open defiance of Gov. Ralph Northam’s declaration of emergency and its accompanying ban on any kind of weaponry at the state Capitol.
On Friday, Trump tweeted an attack on Northam that aligned perfectly with far-right extremists’ paranoid claims about the planned legislation: “Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia,” he wrote. “That’s what happens when you vote for Democrats, they will take your guns away.”
The Monday protest—which extremist groups are calling the “Boogaloo,” a reference to their long-hoped-for opportunity to declare a civil war against liberals—has inspired a number of such groups to declare their intent to show up fully armed. Infowars’ Alex Jones has preemptively declared that any violence that occurs will be a “false flag,” and has said he will be in Virginia to observe, because “we’ve had two revolutionary wars basically start in Virginia, and it looks like one may start again.”
Among the “Patriot”/militia organizations planning to attend are 3 Percent militia groups around the country, as well as the Oath Keepers, who specialize in recruiting military and law-enforcement veterans. Stewart Rhodes, founder/leader of the latter group, gave an interview last week in which he made clear his intent to use the event as an opportunity to institute “constitutionalist” rule in Virginia and elsewhere.
The violent nature of the “Boogaloo” was emphasized this week by the FBI’s arrests of seven members of The Base, a neo-Nazi paramilitary group openly dedicated to training for a “race war.” The first three were arrested Thursday, including Canadian fugitive Patrik Mathews; in addition to being caught with multiple weapons (including an illegal automatic rifle) and a large cache of ammunition, the men had spoken openly of attending Monday’s rally in Richmond and opening fire there.
Three more were arrested Friday in Georgia, charged with plotting the murders of a local antifascist couple, as well as overthrowing the local county government. A seventh member of the base—Yousef O. Barasneh, 22, of Oak Creek, Wisc.—was also arrested Friday, charged with committing civil-rights violations by vandalizing a synagogue in Racine, Wisc.
What the militiamen plan to do in Richmond on Monday is anyone’s guess, though a number of them have been indulging in violent rhetoric while discussing their options. Gov. Northam’s plans call for prohibition of any and all weapons from the Capitol Grounds, enforced by state troopers who have set up a security perimeter.
However, that is likely to mean that most of the protesters will be circulating around downtown Richmond—which, as in Charlottesville, is when and where most of the planned violence is likely to occur.
The invading army of paranoid “Patriots” have received official encouragement both from Trump (which was, in typical fashion, somewhat indirect) and from religious leaders such as the Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr., who called for “civil disobedience” in response to the Legislature’s planned gun-control measures.
“I’m pretty sure I’m gonna call for civil disobedience if the Democrats go through with this," Fallwell said. “And the hundred municipalities and jurisdictions who have passed resolutions to protect the Second Amendment... I think the police officers and the populace would not be opposed to just disobeying, just like sanctuary cities in liberal states refuse to obey federal law when it comes to immigration."
A number of the militia groups that plan to be in Richmond on Monday include organizations that were banned by court-ordered consent agreement from Charlottesville, Va., following the disastrous Aug. 12, 2017, “Unite the Right” rally in which an antifascist protester was murdered. These include far-fight social-media personality Tammy Lee, a self-described Charlottesville organizer, who has been promoting an event called “Militias March on Richmond” and intends to bring her group, “Declaration of Restoration.” Others include such militia figures as New York Light Foot Militia member George Curbelo and Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia member Christian Yingling.
Joshua Shoaff, another social-media personality operating under the under the pseudonym “Ace Baker,” not only has been urging his audience to attend the rally, but has been issuing death threats to an African-American Virginia legislator, apparently with the approval of Facebook, where he publishes his livestreams for his 540,000 followers.
“You should be pulled out of office by the hair on your head, walking down the streets of the capital, walked up to the steps of a swinging rope that’s placed around your neck, because you, sir, are a tyrant and you’re committing treason,” Shoaff said. “And you would be a good example to set for the other elected officials who are doing the same thing.”
The Georgia militiamen who planned for a civil war in November 2016 in the event Hillary Clinton won the presidency, the Three Percent Security Force, are also planning to be there. Founder Chris Hill told Talking Points Memo that his group plans to bring guns, “using the Second Amendment to defend the First Amendment.”
“My rifle is not a weapon,” he added. “It’s a sign, it’s just like me holding up a piece of cardboard that says: shall not be infringed. That rifle says I’m a free man.”
Among the most disturbing communications are those emanating from the far-right “Patriot” organization Oath Keepers. The group has been urging its members to prepare for the rally for several weeks, claiming that they are working to encourage law-enforcement officers in Virginia to ignore Gov. Northam’s orders: “We are confident that many within the National Guard and State Police will refuse those orders and will stand down, but we want to maximize that outcome and we want to prepare the people of Virginia for the worst case scenario of attempted use of force by the Governor to carry out his orders.”
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes is particularly keen on the movement “Patriots” are promoting in rural Virginia counties and towns to establish “Second Amendment sanctuaries” in which any state-approved gun-control laws are declared null and void. Some of these counties, including Tazewell in southwestern Virginia, have called for “local militias” to organize to defend their position.
“We’re not trying to promote a civil war by any stretch of the imagination, I want to make that clear, but we want to exercise our right under the Constitution to regulate and promote the order of a well-trained militia, and we want to fund that,” said Travis Hackworth, chairman of Tazewell’s Board of Supervisors.
In a recent interview on the conspiracist “Power Hour Nation” interview program, Rhodes wants to use the opportunity to realize a longtime “Patriot” movement fantasy: Namely, establishing “constitutionalist” counties in which federal laws are null and void, and the county sheriff is the highest law in the land.
We're seeing in Virginia, the rural areas, a lot of sheriff standing up and declaring that they will not enforce the new laws, or the new so-called laws, coming out of Richmond. So, that's a good sign and we're seeing that across the country. … So, what you have is basically a socialist, or I would call a Marxist, assault on the constitution across the country, and their number one target, of course, is the right to keep and bear arms, but not just that. Also, free speech and assembly, your due process rights. … You've got a collision coming up in between the rural traditional American gun owners, quite a few of them veterans, in Virginia who simply won't comply and this crazy governor who thinks he can just use the National Guard and the state police to do his bidding. So, that's the collision course we're on, and we're now seeing in Virginia something we have not seen anywhere else yet, is we're seeing counties stand up and pass resolutions to form actual official county militia. … I think this is the leftist agenda, disarm the American people no matter what you do. They're going to keep pushing. And so, you have to accept that you're going to nullify, you're going to have to defy and refuse to comply and nullify, but you should do it as a united county behind your sheriff, with the sheriff and with all able-bodied men in the county as his posse, but you should also, as in Virginia, you should form a county militia as well, under the authority of the county government. And the reason why you want to do both is you've got a law enforcement function and a military function. The sheriff's posse is the law enforcement function and the militia is the military function, and I think it's also good because you might get a new sheriff that comes in and destroys the posse. … So, I think it's better to have both. I think county militia and a posse. But yes, under the authority of the government, with all the people in the county united behind their legislators, behind their county supervisors or whatever they call them in each state behind them united as part of the government. That's what a volunteer militia would be, like a volunteer fire department. It's under the authority of the county, but it's staffed by volunteers. That's how the founders did it.
Rhodes’ idea is that once the trend is established in Virginia, it will quickly spread to other states:
Every sheriff should have a posse, and that's the first step. And you need to revitalize your militia system. You've got to get it done one way or the other. Whether it's town militias or county militias, you've got to get it done. And where you don't have politicians willing to play ball and do that, the people themselves need to organize and train. We're going to start training groups across the country for that purpose to get people trained up. Then you got to replace them, replace them with those who will do it. That's what you got to do.
And like the neo-Nazis eager to spark a “Boogaloo,” Rhodes believes the Virginia resistance could spark a national civil war:
So yes, it could come down to a standoff. That's why it's important for, like I said, we want to reach out to the state police and National Guard as part of our mission when we go to Virginia, is reach out to them and encourage them to stand down because if they do act under the command of the governor, they come into a county, and they're resisted by the local militia or the sheriff and his posse, it will kick off a civil war in this country. That's what will happen. There will be a civil war between the left and the right and we'd prefer to see that not happen. That's where it's going to go.
As longtime religious-right analyst Bruce Wilson observes, this agenda is very much in line with a longtime white-nationalist strategy first elucidated by William S. Lind, one of the originators of the “Cultural Marxism” hoax. It was refined further by such far-right figures as Richard Mack (who followed Rhodes on the recent radio-interview program), leader of the Constitutional Peace Officers Association of America, a far-right law-enforcement outfit closely associated in recent years with armed “Patriot” standoffs in Bunkerville, Nev., and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
Wilson notes that “this isn't just about an inchoate mass of angry gun owners descending on Richmond. In the background there's sustained organizing by CSPOA and other groups. The vision is to create citizens militias, under county sheriffs, in as many counties across the U.S. as possible. Such a development would be quite hard for state and federal authorities to counter, because an open shooting war would merely swell the citizen militia ranks tenfold. And consider a confrontation between state/federal troops or police and these militias (or ‘posses’); if shooting breaks out, the state/federal authorities lose. And if they back down, they also lose.”
Published with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Dershowitz 1998 Contradicts Dershowitz 2020

These days , Alan Dershowitz is making the argument that Trump 's abuse of power is not an impeachable offense @ @ @ @ @ recollection of Alan Dershowitz from 1998 singing a completely different tune .
.
@ AlanDersh @ @ @ @ @ King Live , 8/24/98 01:41:04 DERSHOWITZ : “ It certainly does n't have to be @ @ @ @ @ somebody who completely corrupts the office of president and who abuses trust and who poses @ @ @ @ @ ” h/t Andrew Kaczynski who forwarded the video to Professor Tribe .

These days, Alan Dershowitz is making the argument that Trump's abuse of power is not an impeachable offense.
Lawrence Tribe has great recollection of Alan Dershowitz from 1998 singing a completely different tune.
.@AlanDersh comments on impeachment on Larry King Live, 8/24/98
01:41:04 DERSHOWITZ: “It certainly doesn't have to be a crime if you have somebody who completely corrupts the office of president and who abuses trust and who poses great danger to our liberty.” — Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) January 19, 2020
h/t Andrew Kaczynski who forwarded the video to Professor Tribe.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Schiff Throws Down: 'The House Calls John Bolton, Mick Mulvaney...'

Here 's tonight 's sound bite , courtesy of Rep. Adam Schiff , House Lead Manager .
It came after @ @ @ @ @ Senate a pack of lies in front of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ , while claiming that the House was unprepared for trial .
Schiff stepped up after @ @ @ @ @ `` The House calls John Bolton to testify .
The House calls Mick Mulvaney .
@ @ @ @ @ ready to present our case , ready to call witnesses , ready to see the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The question is : Will the Senate let us ? ''
Oh , @ @ @ @ @ tossed the gauntlet and Republicans refused to play , instead voting down Democratic amendments asking @ @ @ @ @ As I write , they 're getting ready to vote down the request for subpoenas @ @ @ @ @ , this will be the video of the day .

Here's tonight's sound bite, courtesy of Rep. Adam Schiff, House Lead Manager. It came after White House lawyers told the Senate a pack of lies in front of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court during the impeachment trial today, while claiming that the House was unprepared for trial.
Schiff stepped up after that presentation and said, "The House calls John Bolton to testify. The House calls Mick Mulvaney."
"We’re ready to present our case, ready to call witnesses, ready to see the documents," he emphasized. "The question is: Will the Senate let us?"
Oh, of course not. Schiff tossed the gauntlet and Republicans refused to play, instead voting down Democratic amendments asking for subpoenas for documents. As I write, they're getting ready to vote down the request for subpoenas for witnesses too.
Nevertheless, this will be the video of the day.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Frogs In Hot Water

Frogs In Hot Water

Trump said on video he would `` love '' to have his senior aides testify .
`` The Senate has @ @ @ @ @ president up on his offer , '' says Rep. Schiff .

Can you help us out?
For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--Chris Wallace: Mitch McConnell Is Losing Control Of The Senate

Fox News host Chris Wallace observed on Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) had been forced to “ back down ” on impeachment trial rules that critics said were designed to cover up offenses committed by President Donald Trump .
In a surprise move Tuesday afternoon , McConnell made changes to two of the most controversial aspects of his trial rules .
Evidence will now be automatically entered into the record ( unless a senator objects ) .
The new rules also gives House impeachment managers an extra day to make their opening remarks .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very last minute ?
” Wallace asked during an appearance on Fox News .
“ Because , clearly , there were four Republican senators — at least four — who were concerned about it , who said , ‘ Why do we have to rush ?
Why do we have to do this until 1 in the morning .
It makes us look bad . '
” “ I think it ’ s fair to assume that the only reason Mitch McConnell backed down — and he did back down , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace continued , “ is because… there were at least four Republican senators who said , ‘ Let ’ s soften this a little bit . '
” The veteran Fox News host said that it could be a sign that senators are open to having witnesses in the trial .
“ It does indicate that the whole question of witnesses is more up for grabs than many of us thought , ” Wallace stated .
“ It would seem to indicate that some moderate senators… are expressing concern .
Just remember , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he doesn ’ t have a majority , if the Democrats stand firm with 47 [ senators ] and then get four Republicans to jump over… then it ’ s Chuck Schumer who is really the majority leader .
”

Fox News host Chris Wallace observed on Tuesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had been forced to “back down” on impeachment trial rules that critics said were designed to cover up offenses committed by President Donald Trump.
In a surprise move Tuesday afternoon, McConnell made changes to two of the most controversial aspects of his trial rules.
Evidence will now be automatically entered into the record (unless a senator objects). The new rules also gives House impeachment managers an extra day to make their opening remarks.
“Why did they make this change at the very last minute?” Wallace asked during an appearance on Fox News. “Because, clearly, there were four Republican senators — at least four — who were concerned about it, who said, ‘Why do we have to rush? Why do we have to do this until 1 in the morning. It makes us look bad.'”
“I think it’s fair to assume that the only reason Mitch McConnell backed down — and he did back down, which is very rare for him,” Wallace continued, “is because… there were at least four Republican senators who said, ‘Let’s soften this a little bit.'”
The veteran Fox News host said that it could be a sign that senators are open to having witnesses in the trial.
“It does indicate that the whole question of witnesses is more up for grabs than many of us thought,” Wallace stated. “It would seem to indicate that some moderate senators… are expressing concern. Just remember, Mitch McConnell is the majority leader but if he doesn’t have a majority, if the Democrats stand firm with 47 [senators] and then get four Republicans to jump over… then it’s Chuck Schumer who is really the majority leader.”


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--IMPEACHMENT TRIAL: Rep. Adam Schiff Reads The Articles Of Impeachment

In the opening minutes of the Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump , Rep. Adam Schiff read the Articles of @ @ @ @ @ moment that was so powerful , your breath is taken away , even if you @ @ @ @ @ Impeachment numerous times before .
.
@ RepAdamSchiff ’ s opening was magnificent .
If @ @ @ @ @ owe it to yourself to find it and listen to it .
It made me @ @ @ @ @ teacher , mentor , and friend but as a lawyer , a professor , and @ @ @ @ @ an American .
Contrast it with tv lying lawyers , Sekulow and Cippolone .
This @ @ @ @ @ these bottom feeders : Opening , done .
Now we move on to amendments .

In the opening minutes of the Impeachment Trial of Donald J. Trump, Rep. Adam Schiff read the Articles of Impeachment. It was a moment that was so powerful, your breath is taken away, even if you have read the Articles of Impeachment numerous times before.
Twitter was in awe:
.@RepAdamSchiff’s opening was magnificent. If you missed it, you owe it to yourself to find it and listen to it. It made me proud not just as his teacher, mentor, and friend but as a lawyer, a professor, and, above all, as an American. — Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) January 21, 2020
So far @RepAdamSchiff presents evidence & Trump lawyers present rhetoric.
Not one reference to the actual evidence by team Trump yet. — Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) January 21, 2020
What Adam Schiff just did in his argument on the rules motion will be taught in law schools going forward. It was simply a master class on how to effectively argue a case. #ImpeachmentTrial #TrumpsRemovalTrial — (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) January 21, 2020
Schiff interlacing @realDonaldTrump's own words is freaking brilliant. — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) January 21, 2020
.@RepAdamSchiff ‘s presentation is masterful and overwhelming. Every competent lawyer listening to this knows what the outcome of this vote on the rules should be after this presentation. #ImpeachmentTrial — Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) January 21, 2020
Contrast it with tv lying lawyers, Sekulow and Cippolone. This is the best description of these bottom feeders:
As usual, it's impossible to understand what Cipollone and Sekulow are even doing unless you spend a lot of time watching Fox News and generally understand how state sponsored propaganda news works. — Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) January 21, 2020
Opening, done. Now we move on to amendments.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--WATCH LIVE:  Impeachment Hearings At US Senate

Today , the Senate will vote to start President Trump 's Senate impeachment trial with a resolution that sets up @ @ @ @ @ , including how long it will last and how long everyone has to speak .
@ @ @ @ @ set amount of hours to present its case for or against the president .
President @ @ @ @ @ House of Representatives in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
Impeachment @ @ @ @ @ president has been removed from office .
In the next phase , the Senate must @ @ @ @ @ that determination .
A Senate impeachment trial has happened only two other times in American @ @ @ @ @ modern era .
At the center of the Democrats ’ case is that Trump sought @ @ @ @ @ an Oval Office meeting until Ukraine announced investigations into former vice president Joe Biden and @ @ @

Via Washington Post on YouTube:
Today, the Senate will vote to start President Trump's Senate impeachment trial with a resolution that sets up the rules of the trial, including how long it will last and how long everyone has to speak. Each side will get a set amount of hours to present its case for or against the president.
President Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Impeachment does not mean that the president has been removed from office. In the next phase, the Senate must hold a trial to make that determination. A Senate impeachment trial has happened only two other times in American history and once in the modern era. At the center of the Democrats’ case is that Trump sought to withhold military assistance and an Oval Office meeting until Ukraine announced investigations into former vice president Joe Biden and his son.


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--SCOTUS Punts On Obamacare; Trump Will Lie Again For 2020

Rather than fast-track the latest challenge to Obamacare , the Supreme Court punted past the 2020 election .
And while that appears to be a win for the so-called Trump administration , it puts Trump 's 2016 lies about `` terrific healthcare at a fraction of the cost and it 's going to be so easy '' on the front burner for 2020 .
The outcome means Trump will face less pressure to articulate an Obamacare replacement plan during the campaign .
Republicans failed to agree on an Obamacare replacement when they had complete control of the federal government in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency , and they haven ’ t come up with a new plan since then .
A health care proposal developed by Trump 's Medicare chief Seema Verma was nixed last summer over her colleagues ' concerns it would have actually strengthened Obamacare rather than replace it .
Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach gets this right : By likely getting their wish to postpone a Supreme Court decision on this destructive lawsuit until after the election , Donald Trump and the Republican Party have succeeded in their quest to spare themselves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away health care from 20 million Americans and protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions .
Instead , the health care millions of Americans remains under attack and the same judge who already declared the entire law null and void will remain in the driver ’ s seat .
It ’ s time Donald Trump ended his war on America ’ s health care and the terrible threat to the health care of millions of Americans .
Do n't underestimate the memory capacity of those of us whose health insurance hung from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Healthcare as an issue has not been put on the back burner by SCOTUS .
It 's now clear that our healthcare as it is NOW is under threat from Republicans .
RELATED : Physicians are breaking with the AMA and endorsing single payer/public option plans .

Rather than fast-track the latest challenge to Obamacare, the Supreme Court punted past the 2020 election. And while that appears to be a win for the so-called Trump administration, it puts Trump's 2016 lies about "terrific healthcare at a fraction of the cost and it's going to be so easy" on the front burner for 2020.
Politico gets this wrong:
The outcome means Trump will face less pressure to articulate an Obamacare replacement plan during the campaign. Republicans failed to agree on an Obamacare replacement when they had complete control of the federal government in the first two years of Trump's presidency, and they haven’t come up with a new plan since then. A health care proposal developed by Trump's Medicare chief Seema Verma was nixed last summer over her colleagues' concerns it would have actually strengthened Obamacare rather than replace it.
Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach gets this right:
By likely getting their wish to postpone a Supreme Court decision on this destructive lawsuit until after the election, Donald Trump and the Republican Party have succeeded in their quest to spare themselves the political consequences of their effort to take away health care from 20 million Americans and protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Instead, the health care millions of Americans remains under attack and the same judge who already declared the entire law null and void will remain in the driver’s seat. It’s time Donald Trump ended his war on America’s health care and the terrible threat to the health care of millions of Americans.
Don't underestimate the memory capacity of those of us whose health insurance hung from John McCain's thumb in 2017. Healthcare as an issue has not been put on the back burner by SCOTUS. It's now clear that our healthcare as it is NOW is under threat from Republicans.
Trump promised there would be "a phenomenal healthcare plan in two weeks" 152 weeks ago.https://t.co/nDncsb3bzZ — Frances Langum 🧶 (@bluegal) January 21, 2020
RELATED: Physicians are breaking with the AMA and endorsing single payer/public option plans.
“As Physicians, We Prescribe Medicare for All”: Our open-letter—signed by more than 2,000 physicians—was published today as a full-page ad in the New York Times. pic.twitter.com/V79jzuxasc — Adam W Gaffney (@awgaffney) January 21, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-01-21--House Managers Denounce Midnight Mitch's 'Rigged' Senate Trial

Adam Schiff called a press conference this morning and passionately denounced Mitch McConnell 's attempt to control the process and keep the debate from the American people .
Via CNN : House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff , who is also serving as an impeachment manager , said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing the trial late into the night in `` hopes the American people will not be watching . ''
Yesterday , McConnell unveiled a trial plan that would give each side 24 hours over two days to present their side .
The trial is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day — meaning arguments could go until 1 a.m .
ET , or later if there are breaks .
`` They are compressing the time of the trial .
Whereas the Clinton trial managers had six hours a day to present over a course of days , they 're now presenting that we double the amount of time each day so that the proceedings can conceivably go well in the night when apparently Sen. McConnell hopes the American people will not be watching , '' Schiff said .
He added : `` This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial .
This is the process for a rigged trial .
This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence . ''

Adam Schiff called a press conference this morning and passionately denounced Mitch McConnell's attempt to control the process and keep the debate from the American people. Via CNN:
House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, who is also serving as an impeachment manager, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing the trial late into the night in "hopes the American people will not be watching."
Yesterday, McConnell unveiled a trial plan that would give each side 24 hours over two days to present their side. The trial is expected to begin at 1 p.m. ET each day — meaning arguments could go until 1 a.m. ET, or later if there are breaks.
"They are compressing the time of the trial. Whereas the Clinton trial managers had six hours a day to present over a course of days, they're now presenting that we double the amount of time each day so that the proceedings can conceivably go well in the night when apparently Sen. McConnell hopes the American people will not be watching," Schiff said.
He added: "This is not a process for a fair trial. This is the process for a rigged trial. This is the process if you do not want the American people to see the evidence."